After they were Famous – Part 1
A/N: This is sequel to Wrongs Darker than Death or Night and will probably not make a lot of sense if you have not read that story.
We started writing a long time ago so the story only follows the events of the first four HP books. We have taken inspiration from some little things later in the series, but it is all obviously now the property of an alternate universe. Any reviews are greatly appreciated.
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Florence made her way up the spiral steps to Professor Dumbledore's office on Sunday morning. She and Severus had enjoyed breakfast together in the kitchens and she had had to drag herself away for her appointment with the headmaster. She regretted having agreed to the meeting, the tug to be with Severus was making her feel as though she had left something important behind. Florence wondered how she would manage to force herself out of the dungeons in the morning to go back upstairs and teach her classes. It didn't feel like they had had long enough just to exist together. She stood in front of the door for a moment, composing her emotions before knocking.
"Come in," came the unmistakable voice of Albus Dumbledore.
Florence turned the door handle and was greeted by the familiar warmth and lemony smell of the headmaster's office. He had his head in the grate and appeared to be calling a house elf.
"Take a seat my dear; we are just waiting for Branson before we get started."
Florence felt her brow crease into a frown. He hadn't mentioned that Branson would be here. Was she losing her job? No, it had only been a couple of weeks since she assumed responsibility for Ravenclaw and Filbert Flitwick would be gone on his travels after Christmas. Her fears eased slightly by logic, Florence sat in one of the chairs in front of the Dumbledore's desk.
There was another knock at the door. "Come in."
Branson came in and took the other chair next to the desk.
A house-elf popped into existence next to the headmaster and he wasted no time in ordering up a plate of sausage and red-onion relish sandwiches. "Can I get anything for you?" He enquired of his two professors.
"Just tea thanks." Florence requested, having already breakfasted.
"If there's any coffee...?" Branson smiled hopefully and said in an undertone to Florence "There never is when I ask, but somehow Albus can always persuade them to find some."
Florence smiled at him.
Branson regarded her carefully for a moment and then smiled widely back.
Clearing his throat, Professor Dumbledore took his seat opposite them. "Florence, as you may or may not be aware, Branson is my eyes and ears in the Department of Mysteries." He began.
"You're an unspeakable?" She turned to Branson in surprise, cutting the headmaster off.
"I'm many things." Branson winked.
"He has asked me if he might be able to stay on at Hogwarts." Dumbledore continued. "I am loathed to mess the students around anymore than I have already." The headmaster paused to take ownership of his sandwiches and hand the other professors their beverages.
Branson reached out for his cup of coffee and hugged it with his hands, staring into the cup as if it were filled with liquid gold. Florence could not contain another smile.
"Florence, I was hoping that you would consent to two things for me." He continued, sniffing a sandwich and then pausing to nibble it.
"What can I do, short of give up my post?" She looked from one man to the other, hoping that wasn't what they were getting at.
"Well... up until three years ago, Alistor Moody was my trusted confidant within the Auror office. Sadly, he is no longer up to the task. I was hoping that you would consent to continuing to share your timetable with Professor Leggett and spending the rest of your time keeping an eye on things for me at the Ministry of Magic." He polished off a second triangular sandwich with relish. "I wouldn't want to take you away from your duties as the new Head of Ravenclaw, so you will not be expected to spend an undue amount of time away from the castle. We can discuss the finer points at your convenience."
Florence again found herself looking from one man to the other. She enjoyed working with Branson, he was a very supportive person to have around. She felt as though she had known him forever although it hadn't even been three months. Although he would never say it, Severus didn't hate him either. Heather had spoken highly of Branson too; she even went as far as attributing her snagging of Sirius to Branson's help. Florence nodded "I would be honoured." She found herself saying as she sipped her tea.
"I'm delighted." The Headmaster beamed. "I can finally get the both of you onto long-term contracts." Albus turned to a cabinate behind his desk and began rifling through its contents.
"Branson, are you a Commodo Wizard?" Florence felt the pieces in her mind click.
There was a stillness in the room that felt like it had a personality of its own. Branson paused with his coffee cup half way to his mouth and the headmaster sat up straight, whatever he had been doing forgotten.
Branson's violet eyes looked to Dumbledore uncertainly. The Headmaster nodded to him. "How did you know?"
Florence wondered what it had been that had tipped her off. "Over the last two months you have felt like a guardian angel." She admitted. "You know just what I need to hear, and have a way with Severus even I can't compete with." Florence gave the headmaster a sideways glance. "Heather said that you talked to her for two minutes and knew that she was sad and exactly how to help her with Sirius. She said you knew just how to get to him and she didn't have to tell you much at all." Florence supposed it was Branson's way with everyone that had told her he wasn't ordinary.
"I didn't think I had been that obvious." Branson looked uncomfortable and looked to the Headmaster again.
"Branson is one of only three Commodo wizards known to exist at this time." Professor Dumbledore explained.
"I find it makes people wary of befriending me." He admitted. "Everyone doubts whether I truly enjoy their company."
"I don't know much about them." Florence admitted. "I only know what I have read, but there isn't much available on the subject."
"Enough to make a diagnosis." Branson was uncharacteristically subdued. "I naturally pick up on the emotions of those around me and respond accordingly. It's completely subconscious." He told her. "I react how they need me to. It doesn't always feel that way though."
"How many people know?" Florence wondered.
"Only yourself and Albus at Hogwarts."
"Oh..." Florence felt like she had made an imposition. "I won't tell anyone." She assured.
"Don't feel bad about it." He smiled slightly. "It's usually the people I feel most affection for that figure me out."
Florence was slightly taken aback by the admission, "affection?"
"Oh, don't get me wrong. I didn't mean anything romantic." He clarified hastily. "I have come to consider Severus and yourself good friends." He explained. "When I was teaching here before I didn't like to spend time with Severus at first, he turns me into such an Ass-hole." His brain catching up with his speech, Branson blushed. "Sorry Headmaster." He added in an undertone.
Florence grinned. It had never occurred to her that the bumbling, forehead slapping-ly inappropriate Branson that always seemed to surface around Severus was just the sort of direct and no-nonsense personality that he needed in a friend.
"I have grown fond of him though, and just have to trust that whatever personality comes to the forefront in his presence will be the right one, no matter how much I might feel like a git... or how angry it makes him."
"I know he likes you." Florence assured. "He wouldn't be so creative with his insults if he didn't."
"You and he...?" Banson began.
Florence felt unsure and looked at her hands. Severus wouldn't want her up here gossiping about them with the castles two biggest busy-boddies. It was all too new and raw.
"You don't have to tell me." Branson hastily reached out a hand and put it on the arm of her chair. "It's none of my business, as Severus would delight in telling me." His smile was so warm and understanding that Florence beamed back at him, hoping that would be communication enough.
Branson's face broke into a grin as well. "It's alright, isn't it?" His question was unmistakably rhetorical. He touched her shoulder and stood. "I think I have imposed on the two of you long enough, I'll let you both get on with your days." Branson offered Florence his hand to help her stand.
"That's alright, Bran, I have something I would like to talk to the Headmaster about myself. That is, if you have time?" She turned hopefully to the older wizard.
"Of course, my dear," he assured her with a smile. "Thank you Professor Leggett, be assured that your secret will not leave this room." He added to Branson as the Irishman left the office.
"Professor, why did you bring me here last year?" Florence asked, getting straight to the point.
"Why you, or why at that time?" He poured them both more tea.
"Both." Florence hadn't thought of it as two questions, but was now equally intrigued to hear both answers.
"As you know, the post of Defence against the dark art professor has been a difficult one to fill. I have reason to believe it was jinxed by Lord Voldemort. That is the reason I never gave the job to Severus. Those that have held the post have been dealt some unfortunate fates." He explained slowly. "I had reason to believe that once Voldemort was finally destroyed, the post could be filled permanently. I was hopeful that point would come this summer, as you know that it did. I was hoping that either yourself, who was in post, or professor Leggett, who was instrumental in the fall of Voldemort, would assume the post permanently. As it turned out, my carefully laid plans worked rather too well and Hogwarts has ended up with two professors. This is also fortunate for me, as I get two very useful views on the Ministry of Magic at the same time." He explained. "Quite simply, I brought you here as soon as I thought it was safe to do so."
"You had been putting off bringing me here?" Florence wondered just how long her fate had been at the whim of this eccentric old man.
"You understand me." He said simply.
But it wasn't that simple. "And you wanted me here because of my connections in the Ministry of Magic, My reputation against the Dark Arts or my connection to Severus?" That was the real question she had been asking.
Professor Dumbledore sat back in his chair and regarded her. "I bring few professors here for just one reason."
Florence found his non-committal statement infuriating. "Then what was the reason you put off bringing me here?"
"Now that question has a much more telling answer." He sighed and stood up, moving to look out of his office window. "I assume from your earlier question that you know why Severus chose to leave Voldemort's service?" He enquired.
"Yes." Florence didn't like the rising implication that she had been played like a chess piece by this venerable old wizard. Florence also wondered why the headmaster felt entitled to talk so freely about Severus with her. Did he know that they had spent the weekend together?
It occurred to her that the hushed conversation she had witnessed with the house elf when she came in may have been about more than breakfast. Albus did appear to know every facet of what was happening at Hogwarts. Florence could even remember him giving her a few knowing looks when she had been a pupil. The house elves must keep him up to date on the private lives of everyone in the castle. She felt rather violated. In the last year, had he known every night whether or not Severus had been in her bed? The realisation was accompanied by a fierce sense of injustice. Albus may have done Severus an incredible favour once, but no one had the right to that level of voyeurism.
Dumbledore didn't speak for almost a minute. "I sent the first man I ever loved to prison." He told her. "Thirty years later I was presented with a young man who had also done atrocious things, but his love for another appeared to have saved him." The Headmasters voice was quiet but Florence found herself captured in his words. "I could not send Severus to the same fate. There is hope for anyone with a heart capable of such emotion."
Florence knew that Dumbledore had told no one else this, not even Severus himself.
"I hoped I could help him find solace here, but he has never fully forgiven himself for the things he did as a Death Eater." Albus returned to his chair. "I think he has always considered you his salvation. I was hoping that by bringing you here, he would finally see that it was he who saved himself. I was hoping that you would help him find forgiveness."
There was another long pause. Fawkes shuffled along his perch but didn't appear to wake up. "As for why I put it off...? I knew that if I brought you here, to that job, and something happened to you, as it so nearly did, that Severus would never forgive me." Dumbledore leaned back. "Like all men, I fear hurting those that I hold dear, and I do hold Severus very dear. While I am not certain that he fully forgives himself yet, you have done a far greater thing than I ever anticipated. You appear to have renewed him with a love I can only guess about." He leant forward and took her hand in his. "And a far better place Hogwarts is for your contribution." He added.
Florence found herself smiling again, her irritation at his meddling almost forgotten.
"I hope that answers your questions. I do not always find it easy to be as direct as I should be."
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Following a morning of almost unprecedented discovery, Florence tired early and was pleased to retire to bed with Severus. Just her third night in the dungeons, she hadn't expected a disturbed one so soon. Severus woke in distress and he and Florence found themselves slipping back into an old and comforting routine. She joined him in the bath after reluctantly sending for a house-elf to fetch them both clean night clothes and bring warm towels. She had toyed with the idea of forbidding the house elf to speak of it, but wasn't certain of her authority over them. Making a mental note to clarify the house elf situation with Minerva McGonagall, Florence dimmed the candle light in the bathroom.
The familiarity of their routine was more comforting than she had expected. They washed one another quietly in the half light. She found that she had so much more empathy for him and his nightmares since the joining of the subconscious minds.
Florence was surprised when Severus said "I need to take the sleeping draft."
Not only was this usually a silent ritual, but she had never expected Severus to want to take the potion. "Severus?"
"Not much, just enough to get me to the morning." His long fingers found hers in the water. "I'm exhausted." He sighed, leaning forward to rest his head on her shoulder.
Florence bit her bottom lip, bringing her free hand up to cup the back of his head. "Are you sure?" She whispered.
He sighed again. "I want to be able to spend time with you. I'm going to struggle to even teach my classes tomorrow if this continues."
They sat quietly in the warm water together for several minutes.
"Come on," Florence murmured to him. "Lets get you back to bed."
She climbed out of the water and went to check if the house-elf had been back. There was a pile of large towels on the bottom of the bed along with clean attire, fetched from her rooms on the third floor. She threw on her own robe, hastily added another log to the fire and returned to the warmth of the bathroom, holding out a towel for him. Seeing him get out of the bath, the reality of his words hit her; he really was in a state of exhaustion. His eyes were hollowed and his sharp features more exaggerated than ever, the frown line between his eyebrows like an angry gash.
As they got back under the covers she couldn't imagine ever having sent him away, although she knew in her heart of hearts that she had needed to do it at the time. He had done things, horrible things, but he was paying for them every day of his life.
Severus picked up the sleeping draft from next to the bed and handed it to her. Florence wondered why he wanted her to dose him, but he interrupted her thoughts. "I don't want to take it, but I don't know what else to do." He looked despairing.
Florence had to ask. "Why does it bother you so?"
His black eyes met hers with an honesty that still caught her off guard, even after the last few days. "When I first started teaching at Hogwarts, I couldn't sleep. It became a problem and Poppy began giving me doses of the sleeping draft." His eyes flickered from the bottle in her hands and back to her face. "After a while, I started to brew it for myself. If I wasn't teaching or expected in the Great Hall, I would sleep." He admitted. "Albus noticed when I began to neglect my Slytherins."
Florence felt like she had had more revelations that day than anyone should be allowed in twenty four hours. But it had left her feeling fiercely protective of him.
"If you don't want to take it, we'll find another way." Florence was determined. They would be happy and healthy if it was the last thing she achieved.
Severus shook his head. "I don't want to sleep my days away anymore. I haven't for a year." They sat, looking at each other for a long moment. "It is still an unpleasant memory though. Now I just want to sleep enough."
Florence wished there was a way that she could protect from his disturbed sleep, some way that she could promise him that if he were to drop off, it would be alright. Held by those tired, honest eyes, Florence leaned in to him until their noses touched. "Whatever you ask me to do, I will." She whispered.
His hand caught hers and he turned his head to nuzzle at her neck, and then rested his head on her shoulder again. "Just enough potion to get me to the morning."
"Ok." Florence encouraged him to give her room to make the measurement, she used the bottle top to make a rough dosage that would only give him aided sleep for three or four hours and handed it to him.
Severus swallowed the sleeping draft without enthusiasm. Taking the bottle back from Florence, he replaced the cap and set it down next to the bed with finality.
Florence slid down in the bed and held out her arms for him. If he had to sleep drugged, he would do it in her arms. The gratitude on his face stripped away the last of her defences.
Realising that a lot had been shared with her that day, Florence decided to confide something to Severus in the few minutes she still had left before he would succumb to the sleeping draft. "It was difficult to leave you this morning. I don't know how I'm going to cope with teaching tomorrow." Not only had she neglected to give her classes a second thought, but the tug to be with Severus had never been stronger.
"I'll come straight to you at the end of the day." His long nose nudged against her breast.
"Severus, I don't want you to come to my rooms anymore. You have your library and laboratory down here, upstairs is just a room with no one in it."
"Then you should collect some things and come down here." His long fingers curled around her robe and he tried to nuzzle closer.
Florence lay and listened to his breathing for what felt like an eternity. She could sense his frayed nerves with every exhale. Finally it began to slow, and with a sigh of relief she breathed "I love you" against the top of his head, wanting it to be the last thing he heard.
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Forty-five minutes after his last pupil had left detention, Severus found himself still waiting for Florence. After rushing back to his chambers to make sure there was tea made and logs on the fire for when she arrived, he was becoming fractious at her absence. Rising from his chair, crossing the room and yanking the door open in one fluid movement he was confronted by the slightly smug face of Branson Leggett, violet eyes twinkling worse than the headmaster's usually did.
"What are you doing here?"
"Not looking for a friendly welcome, so don't trouble yourself." Branson brushed off Severus' rudeness with a wave of his hand. "I have a message from a beautiful woman to ease your mood."
Severus couldn't believe that Florence would send this imbecile to see him.
"Hang on, how did you know I was here, I didn't even knock?" Branson frowned.
"I didn't. Contrary to popular belief I cannot see through solid oak." Severus was rapidly losing his patience. "Now, give me the message and leave." He commanded, as he would with one of his slower pupils.
"Blimey, she's not done your conversational skills any good."
Severus' hand twitched at his side as he fought the urge to pin Branson to the dungeon wall and make him talk. He settled for waiting patiently. Branson's brain would catch up with his mouth sooner or later.
Branson was pleased to note that in the room behind Severus there was now a glowing fire and what looked like a couple more sticks of comfortable furniture. Remembering himself, Branson looked up to see the much less comforting countenance of his friend. "Florence asked if I would tell you she would be late. Apparently there was an issue with one of her Ravenclaws..." Branson felt as though he should say more. "I know that Filbert was with her... so I shouldn't think she'll be too long." He slowed, suddenly feeling awkward.
Branson thought that "Thank you" would have been the natural response to his conveyed message. But now they had both stood there for far too long without saying anything. He awkwardly drummed his fingers on his thigh and said, "Well, I'll be going then..."
Severus stepped back inside his chambers and slammed the door.
Still shaking his head as he made his way down the fourth floor corridor, Branson almost ran into Florence. "Oh, Bran," She stopped in her tracks. "Did you see Severus?"
Raising his eyebrows, Branson gave her a weak smile. "Yeah, I saw him."
"Thanks so much. I've still not managed to make it back to my rooms after class; I'm going to have to go straight to the Great Hall for dinner." She confided. "Was Severus ok?"
"Oh, you know Severus. Never one to show a lot of thanks, he yelled at me and slammed a door in my face." Branson instantly felt bad for griping to Severus' lover and visibly winced.
"Do you put your foot in your mouth by accident, or just to make me think you're adorable?" Florence tried to make him feel better.
"If only I had that level of awareness." Branson sighed. "I'm just nipping to the owlery before dinner; I'll see you in the Great Hall." He made a vague goodbye gesture and continued down the corridor. Florence wondered briefly what had made him so subdued. He could usually be relied upon to provide all the light relief.
Florence hurried to back to her chambers. Tizanne, her owl, was asleep on her perch, a note still around her leg. Florence went over to her and tried to untie in gently so as not to wake the sleeping bird. Tucking the letter inside her robes, Florence set about selecting some more clothes. She enlarged her rag-bag and set about stuffing it with essentials. She went to hastily raid the bathroom; it was already a quarter past six.
Shrinking her bag of things and stowing it away in the folds of her teaching robes, Florence left her chambers, briefly glanced behind her before locking the door and headed for the Great Hall.
Cursing her new role as head of Ravenclaw for keeping her from Severus, Florence hurried down the steps into the entrance hall. At the same time, she was thankful for Filbert's presence until the end of term, he had volunteered to stay with her injured student until their parents arrived. Stepping through the doors into the Great Hall, she silently thanked Filbert again; his seat next to Severus was empty.
Sitting herself as casually as possible, Florence reached for the nearest jug of pumpkin juice to fill her glass.
"I didn't realise you would be usurping Filbert's Chair as well as his job."
"You snooze, you lose." Florence smiled to herself at Severus acerbic comment. Adding in an undertone "I'm pleased to see you too, by the way."
"What kept you?"
"Little Louise Figeon in first year had the most disastrous flying lesson, last period." Florence began, "she lost control of her broom and ended up nose diving into the lake. One of the lake creatures must have got to her as it took Hazel and Hagrid twenty minutes to find her and pull her out. One of her class mates was sent to find me so I could contact her parents; she has a broken leg and is utterly terrified."
Florence was pleased to note that although Severus didn't put much food onto his plate, what he did dish out, he ate. She had watched him push his meals round his plate far too many times.
Stepping into Severus' Dungeon Chambers, Florence let herself through the heavy curtain that separated his living and sleeping areas. She restored her things to their proper size and left her bag next to the bed.
When she returned Severus was just straightening up from stoking the fire. The new logs crackled and sparked, they must be damp. Looking at the full basket of logs, Florence realised that the house elves couldn't have brought them in long ago. It wasn't until you thought about it that you realised just how ubiquitous and unseen these helpful little creatures were. It had never seemed sinister to her before her meeting with the headmaster the day before.
"Come here." Severus beckoned.
Finding herself held against his chest, Florence sighed, she had not enjoyed her day. "How does one obtain a house elf?" She asked.
"You don't obtain them, you inherit them." Severus informed her.
"Did your family ever have house elves?" She asked.
"One." Severus settled his hand in the small of her back. "She went with my sister when she married. Why?"
"No real reason." Florence tried to sound casual. She had not wanted to share her discomfort on this topic with Severus; he had quite enough to be paranoid about. "I had just been wondering about the Hogwarts House elves."
"For a moment, I thought you wanted one."
Florence wondered at this. If she had a house elf, would it be allowed to work at Hogwarts? If it did, would it also be answerable to Albus? She didn't want to quiz Severus about it.
"No." She dismissed. "I just wondered where they came from."
"The Hogwarts house elves are descended from those of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw."
"Not Slytherin?"
"He left the school after disagreeing with the others about the students being admitted to study magic and took his house elf with him."
"That was when he left the Chamber of Secrets?"
"Quite true,"
"So, who are the house elves loyal to? Are there any remaining descendants of those three founders?"
"Not that can be traced." Severus frowned. "They are loyal to Hogwarts."
Still no closer to understanding, Florence decided not to question him further. Looking into his face she asked "How are you?"
Severus let out a short and mirthless sniff of laughter. "Tired," He dipped his head onto her shoulder.
Florence enjoyed the warmth of his cheek against hers. She had stood in the bathroom doorway that morning and watched him shave. He hadn't seemed to notice that she was there, but Florence was too much of a realist to believe that could be true. By now, his cheeks were still smooth but just beginning to regain some of that masculine roughness; they were at their most delicious. She brushed a soft kiss on his jaw line. It was good to know that he could still speak to the woman in her. Florence smiled as she was reminded of her second night in the dungeon when he had fallen asleep on her, getting a little amorous in his unconsciousness. There had never been anything to worry about there. "I have some reading to do. Will you sit with me?"
"Of course,"
Florence settled herself with the new issue of Comparative Conjuring and was reminded after a few minutes of the little note tucked in her robe pocket. She put down the journal and eagerly retrieved the letter.
"Who did you get post from?" Severus surfaced from a potions paper that he seemed to be frowning at a lot.
"It looks like Heather." Florence tore the envelope.
Florence,
Just a quick note to let you know that you need to be at the dressmakers at 5 o-clock on Wednesday evening for your final fitting – only two weeks to go 'till the big day!
Heather. Xx
Florence felt reality return with a crash. It really was only two weeks until Heather and Sirius got married and contrary to how she had felt in the last week, there was indeed a world outside the walls of Hogwarts. A December wedding was very Heather – unique. "I need to go out on Wednesday evening." She told Severus. "Heather is getting married, I have bridesmaid duties."
Severus raised a single eyebrow, "Black?"
"Yes." Florence smirked a little. "Will you come with me?"
"On Wednesday?"
"No...To the wedding," Florence watched him carefully. He was not likely to be at his most compliant when this tired.
Severus nodded once. "If you want me to accompany you, you only have to ask."
"Thank you." Florence tucked her feet under his leg "It's the weekend after next." She set the note down on the coffee table; she would scribble a quick reply to Heather in the morning before her first class.
Wednesday would be a good time to tell Heather that she had returned to Severus. She would understand; it had only been a matter of time after all.
As Florence tried to find the item she had been reading before she had remembered her letter, she realised Severus was still looking at her.
"Heather won't mind my attending?" He asked.
"Not if I ask." Florence told him.
"And Black?" Severus almost managed to say it without curling his lip.
"It has been my recent observation that where Heather goes, so goes Sirius' nation."
Severus realised that he didn't know a great deal about Florence's relationship with Heather. He didn't know a great deal at all about her life after Hogwarts, aside from the fact that she had qualified as an Auror.
"Have the two of you been friends ever since you were at school?" He asked when she looked up at him from behind her papers. He remembered Heather from those days. If he recalled correctly she had done a rather impressive job of telling him off more than once, not something many non Slytherins would have tried.
Florence nodded with a small smile.
"How long had Heather been in Australia?" He couldn't imagine a friendship transcending that level of separation.
"She moved out there in 1984, there had only been a Wizarding community out there for a few years and their ministry of magic was just finding its feet. They needed good people to help build an infrastructure." Florence explained.
"You were apart for thirteen years?" He observed.
"Heather came home for holidays and occasions, I probably saw her once every couple of years. We have always owled one another too."
"Were you never tempted to join her?"
"To be honest, I've never liked to be in one place for too long. Ever since I qualified as an Auror I have taken on short term projects, helping communities, lecturing, consultancy, the odd find and capture for the Ministry. It took me all over the world and I liked that, I even got to Australia a couple of times."
"And now?" Severus found he had to ask. What if this was short term too? After all he didn't know what she had agreed upon with the headmaster. He realised for the first time that she may not be intending to stay at Hogwarts indefinitely.
"I wanted some security and when Albus offered me this I knew it would provide. I was never certain of how long I would stay," Florence admitted, "although yesterday morning I agreed to a long-term part-time contract. I'll be sharing my teaching duties with Branson and providing the Headmaster with insight into the running of the Auror office." She realised it was long past time to tell him.
Severus couldn't describe the relief that he felt. He lent forward and put the paper he was holding on the table. He used his now free hands to pull one of her feet into his lap.
"I'm sorry I didn't say before." Florence had been so caught up by the other revelations of the meeting that she had forgotten about the most important part.
Severus considered his vulnerability as he straightened the stocking seam that ran along her toes. There had never been anyone with whom he could show weakness without the need to lash out, no one but Florence. It was ironic then that she should be the source of so much of it at the moment.
Three days of unrelenting openness weighed heavily on his nerves. It had tired him more than lack of sleep had ever done, it had been difficult that day to snap back into his classroom persona. He yawned widely and, closing his eyes, leant his head back against the sofa cushions. He didn't seem in any frame of mind to stop though, realising that all he wanted was to be accepted into her embrace. He wanted her to rub his back until he fell asleep.
Depositing her foot back onto the sofa, Severus cleared his throat and stood up abruptly. "Tea?" He asked.
"Please," Florence watched him stiffly make them a pot of tea, feeling truly heinous for not telling him before now that she intended to stay at Hogwarts. She had made him ask. What that must have been like for him she didn't want to think. She ran her fingers through her hair in agitation, wondering how she could make it right.
Pouring amber tea into two cups Severus wondered at how he would ever cope with a conversation about her family. His attempt to learn more about her past had been undeniably brief before it had all become too much for him. He supposed that there were bound to be things about her that he did not yet know and would cause him to re-evaluate his impressions of her. Whether that be a tendency to move around a lot or revelations about past romantic entanglements, he didn't like to ponder. He could make no assumptions; he could only talk to her.
Setting the tea pot down with a sigh, he realised she was stood next to him. That was the second time that day she had caught him off guard with her presence. He had realised that morning when he finished shaving that she had been leaning against the bathroom door frame watching him. Had he become so accustomed to her presence? Was it being without her that he found so alien now?
As Florence laid a hand on his sleeve he realised that she would break him down to nothing, one defence at a time, and then with that gentle touch she would rebuild him.
"I should have told you straight away that I intended to stay. I'm so sorry."
Severus collected into his arms. It didn't matter; it only mattered that she were there now. "Take me to bed?" He asked, supposing that surrender was a far faster way to peace.
Florence nodded and pulled back from his embrace. She carried their cups of tea and followed him through the curtains to the bedroom.
He didn't bother undressing, he hadn't the energy, a flick of his wand and he was in a grey floor-length night shirt. Magic would drain him more, but it felt like less of an effort. Setting his wand down next to the bed, he got in under the heavy covers. Florence undressed down to her petticoats and got in next to him, passing him a cup of tea. They sat and drank in silence, cups occasionally chinking on saucers as they both avoided the obvious question. Florence eventually supposed it was her turn to broach the subject. "Do you want to take the sleeping draft?"
Severus wondered what would happen if he kept taking it, kept crawling into her arms at night for her to rub his back until he dropped off. Would it ever end?
Florence waited patiently as he put his cup down and rubbed his face with his hands. She knew he didn't want to but that he was afraid he might not sleep through the night without it. "Perhaps we need some sort of system." She suggested.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, what if you had one good night sleep with the potion and then one night without, we alternate?" Florence suggested, "And both happen regardless. You can't go without sleep but you also can't rely on that stuff forever."
"What about tonight?" He asked.
Florence wanted Severus to decide but he didn't look in any fit state. "Tonight, you take it. Last night wasn't a good one and you almost look grey."
"You always know how to make me feel better."
Severus was still able to be sarcastic, he would be fine. Florence allowed herself a small smile as she reached over him for the potion bottle.
Florence lay with him until he dropped off to sleep, then she eased out of bed and set about getting her things ready for the next day. She pulled a chair next to the bed so that she could sit and mark third-year essays and still be close to him, just in case he were to wake, she didn't want him to find her gone.
At ten-thirty Florence joined him in bed, making a pact with herself that the next night she would wake him if he showed any sign of distress, not wait for him to wake her in a state, she would stay awake and sit vigil.
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