A/N: Same as last chapter applies, please review!
Lyria set the bucket down with a thunk, causing water to splash out all over her leg. She muttered something incomprehensible before setting down the mops. "So you haven't taken off yet, I see," she teased, noticing that Severus was already in the room.
"You don't think I scare that easily do you?" Severus grinned, hair held back by a kerchief. He took one of the mops and looked around the room. "I'll start on one side and we can meet in the middle?"
"Sounds fine. You only don't scare easily because you didn't clean out room sixteen this morning. Mrs. Cooper's son had a bit of a tantrum." She grabbed the other mop.
"Again?!" He sighed, shaking his head as he wet the mop and took it to the other side of the room.
"Oh yes, again. He broke the nightstand this time. I don't know how he did it, all I can figure is he jumped off the thing." She scowled. "Little monster."
"I do not know how a parent can stand to have children behave like that. And then the teachers who have to put up with them." He shook his head. "I do not envy them."
"Neither do I... though I can't say I have any sympathy for a parent. If you teach your children to mind, it's not a problem."
Swiping the damp mop over the floor, Severus hummed. "I do agree with that." He looked up and watched Lyria working for a moment. It was almost funny to hear her talking about making children mind. "So, I suppose you would beat your children into submission." He chuckled a little, not at all serious.
"Only if they were cheeky little swots like you," she retorted, smiling.
"I am offended." He placed one hand over his heart. "You wound me, Lyria, really."
"However shall I live with myself?"
Severus grinned. "I think you should apologize to start with, then you should make me biscuits."
"And do you know where I think you should put these hypothetical biscuits?" She smirked.
"I am sure I could imagine.... though I doubt it would be very comfortable."
"No, probably not," she agreed.
"So does this mean I don't get biscuits?" Severus pouted.
"This means that you are not special, and you will have to wait until I want biscuits too."
"What if I promise to help you make the biscuits?"
"Well in that case, you might get some." She smiled.
He smiled widely, already planning on badgering Lyria into the kitchen at some point. He was very much in the mood for Shrewsbury biscuits and tea.
"If you're especially well behaved," she added, pushing the mop across the floor.
"I've been such a very good boy." He put on his best "innocent" face. "I've helped you cook and clean and I haven't messed my room or broken anything."
"Congratulations, you're officially better behaved than the five year old in residence here." Lyria smiled. "But you have, admittedly, been a great deal of help."
"It has been my pleasure, honestly." He smiled as he continued to mop.
"And... well... it's been nice to have a bit of company," she admitted.
Severus paused for a minute. "For me as well."
She smiled and then quickly went back to mopping.
Dropping his head, Severus went back to his mopping, working his way to the centre of the room. "How often do you normally clean like this?"
"Pretty much just as necessary," she replied. "It's high traffic, so that's fairly often, though... my mother used to do it. She made me stay upstairs, always said I was getting underfoot."
"Hmm." It must be difficult for her, Severus realized, doing this work. Not just because she would be the only one doing it, but also because it was her mother's job. He was gladder than ever that he was here to offer his assistance.
"Things aren't all that busy today... you might even get your biscuits after we finish in here."
Severus had some trouble suppressing his whoop of joy, however he could not stop the grin that spread across his face. "Brilliant!"
She laughed, secretly glad to see him pleased over it. "Don't let it get around, now, people might think I'm nice. We mustn't have that."
"Oh, of course not." He chuckled. It would not do to have just anyone try to be friends with the young witch.
Lyria had made her way to the center of the room already; while she hadn't been the primary mopper until very recently, both her parents had taught her efficiency. She leaned against the mop. "Whatever you do, don't mention it to my brothers."
"Oh, bother. And here I was just about to run out and tell Zachary and Oliver."
"Go ahead, but by the end of the week there'll be an article in the Daily Prophet suggesting that I fancy you."
He frowned at that. "Just for being nice to me? That makes no sense."
"That's my brothers," she said dryly. "They turn everything into an excuse to heckle me."
"Wonderful. I shall guard you secret with my life, in that case."
"I'd appreciate that." The head of the mop slid on the still slightly wet floor, and Lyria yelped as she lost her footing and landed on the floor beside her mop.
"Are you okay?" Severus gasped. He dropped his mop and was at Lyria's side in a flash. He was sure that she would resent him treating her as though she was "weak" but his instinct was to make sure she was not injured.
"Yes, I'm alright." She got to her feet. "Teach me to watch it when the floor's wet, that will, but I'm alright." She was certain she was blushing. If that wasn't embarrassing, she didn't know what was.
"Lyria..." he grinned slyly. "Be careful when the floor is wet."
She picked up her mop and thwacked him with it.
"Ouch!" Severus rubbed his head and smiled. "Okay, I deserved that."
She laughed a bit. "You most certainly did."
"Hey! There was no need for you to agree with that!" He laughed in return, still rubbing his head. She had a strong arm, that one.
"Oh, hush. I'm going to make you biscuits in a minute."
Severus grinned and chimed in a sing-song voice. "Thank you Lyria."
"You're welcome, Sev," she chanted back.
He wrinkled his nose. "Sev?"
"I'm heckling, don't trouble yourself. I wouldn't dream of using it on a regular basis."
"Actually... I don't mind it all that much. Though if anyone else were to use it, I think I would have to hex them."
"Aw, that's flattering."
He shrugged. "Well, you are going to make me biscuits."
"So I get to call you Sev. Come on, let's pick up the mops and we can go down to the kitchen."
Nodding, Severus picked up both mops and the bucket. "Lead the way."
Lyria led him first to the bathroom where she dumped the bucket down the drain, then to the closet to store everything neatly away. "Alright, come on. You and your biscuits... of course, I'll have to wash my hands."
"You say that like it is a bad thing." Severus laughed.
"Of course not." She smiled.
"Well then, let's get to it!"
Lyria tied her hair back again - it had been falling out - and then washed her hands. "And what kind of biscuits are you after?"
Severus washed his hands as well, making certain to dry them thoroughly. "Shrewsbury biscuits, if you don't mind." He prepared himself for another smack, considering that he had picked one of the most difficult biscuits to prepare.
She tossed flour at his face but began pulling out the ingredients she'd need. "Somehow I predicted that."
"I did say I would help..." As though that would make it any better.
"Too right you will."
Not knowing where anything in the kitchen was, but knowing the recipe by heart, Severus began to prepare the ingredients while Lyria pulled them from various cupboards.
"I get the idea you've done this before."
"Only a few times." Severus gave a small smile. "I used to bake with my nana before she died. She would mind me while my parents worked."
"Mum taught me. It was the one thing only I got to do with her, she never taught the boys."
"Your brothers do not seem like the cooking type to me, anyway." Severus smirked and flicked a little flour back at Lyria. "However, this is a good look for you."
"Oh, you're in trouble." She took the neatly measured cup of flour and threw it at him.
He glared at her for ruining his precisely measure flour and promptly doused her with sugar.
Lyria laughed, grabbing the bag of flour this time in order to have more to pelt him with.
Because Lyria had already grabbed the most logical weapon, Severus randomly threw whatever he could. Sugar, baking powder, and salt were among the most logical choices.
"You're lucky I didn't grab eggs," Lyria called, tossing flour at him and trying to use a pan as a shield.
"Yes," Severus shouted back, "Well I almost grabbed the oil!"
"Don't even think about it!"
"You stay away from the eggs and I'll lay off the oil!"
She couldn't resist. Lyria grabbed an egg from the counter and chucked it at him.
Though he tried to duck, Severus was not quite quick enough and he got splattered on the forehead by an egg. With a glare, he ran up to Lyria and dumped the measuring cup of oil over her head.
Lyria shrieked, throwing as much flour as she could manage at him.
Finally, he could stand it no longer and a grin broke out on his face. The flour dust had gotten over Lyria as well when she threw it at him and between the oil and the flour, she looked ridiculous. He started to laugh, and laugh hard.
She laughed as well,
looking around at the mess. "So much for biscuits." She sat down.
He shrugged. "I think this was more fun anyway."
"It very well might have been. Although we do have to clean it up now."
"What I would not give just to be able to cast a Scourgify," he groaned.
"Soon, hopefully... bureaucracy at its finest still prevents it for now, though." She looked around. "It does look like we've had fun though, doesn't it?"
"If you consider minor acts of war fun, then yes, indeed we did." Severus grinned and brushed some flour from Lyria's shoulder.
She smiled. "I suppose we'd better clean up before we change just in case there's some unresolved tension and someone feels the need to douse the other in flour one more time."
"That is most likely wise." He did not fancy having to change his clothes twice.
"It'll mean that much less laundry." She darted to the closet and came back with cleaning supplies.
Shaking his head, Severus took a broom and began to sweep up the various and sundry dry ingredients from the floor.
Lyria wet a rag to wipe down the countertops, the stove, and practically every other surface in the room.
"We certainly did a good job, did we not?" Severus chuckled, gesturing around the room.
"I'd have to say so."
It did not take long for them to finish cleaning up, since it was almost all powder. However, Severus did not envy Lyria the mess that her hair would be. The thought of it made him chuckle again. He could not look at her with a straight face.
"You're laughing at me again, aren't you?" She demanded, though she was smiling. "You ought to see yourself."
Severus rubbed his forehead, having forgotten about the egg. "Oh yes..."
"You are no longer allowed to help me make biscuits." She smiled at him.
He pouted in mock sadness. "I guess I shall just have to bake without you then."
"I never said I wouldn't bake. You just aren't allowed to help." She rinsed off the rag.
"So... I still get my biscuits?" He smiled hopefully.
"Yes, you still get your biscuits," she laughed.
"Huzzah!" Severus cheered. He wanted to hug Lyria, but figured that might be pushing it, and so refrained.
She smiled. "Go wash up, I'll make you your foolish biscuits."
With all due haste, Severus finished sweeping the floor. Before bounding out of the kitchen, he put away the broom. "Thank you, Lyri," he called before scampering off to his room to get cleaned up.
She rolled her eyes but set about making biscuits for him.
There were very few people she'd do this for, she mused. If it weren't for having four brothers and a
father she could probably have counted them on one hand. Biscuit making did go faster without Severus
in the kitchen...
Coming back into the kitchen, clean
now, Severus pulled up a chair so he could sit with Lyria
while she baked. "I really did mean
it when I said thank you."
"I know you did, and you're welcome." She smiled at him briefly, but quickly focused on her work again.
"I would offer to help, but..."
"You aren't allowed near anything messy, even if I did initiate the food fight," she finished for him. "Besides, I really don't mind, I'm practically done preparing them."
He was very excited by the prospect of getting biscuits and it caused Severus to rock in his chair. His sharp eyes watched every move Lyria made, wanting his treat to be perfect. He had no complaints at all. The young woman certainly was not lying when she said her mother had taught her the way around the kitchen.
She sensed he was staring, and she smiled a bit to herself. He didn't interrupt, however, so she said nothing until she'd slipped the baking sheet into the oven. "It goes much faster when I'm not being bludgeoned with sugar," she told him, finally turning to face him.
"You know you brought that upon yourself." Severus smiled easily, feeling more comfortable here in this little kitchen than he had ever felt at home.
She grinned. "Who, me?"
"No, the other brunette baking cookies." Severus stuck his tongue out at Lyria, feeling incredibly childish and not really caring.
She returned the gesture. "Well if you want these biscuits, you mind your manners, you prat."
He put on a look of shock. "I am the model of perfect manners. I do not know what you are talking about."
"At least you got the egg off your face." She grinned.
"And you still have oil in your hair... sorry about that." He did not look very sorry, despite the words. In fact, he looked rather pleased with himself.
"I haven't tried to tidy up yet. I've been making biscuits for one of the very few people I would still be making biscuits before after they so clearly abused me with baking products."
Rather than address the fact that Lyria had just told him that she did not mind baking for him, he continued to tease her. "As I recall, it was mutual abuse." Inside he was smiling knowing that she thought that much of him.
"Yes, but you started it. Oh, bother, I started it. Oh well." She shrugged.
"It was fun and that is what matters." He grinned and brushed some of the flour from her shoulder.
"Why thank you."
"Anytime. If you want to go clean up, I can finish up the biscuits."
"If you don't mind, I think I will."
"Go right ahead." He gestured to the door. "I'll be fine. I promise, I'll not make a mess of the kitchen."
"If you do you'll have to tidy it up," she teased on her way out. She cleaned up and changed - it took what seemed like half an age to get her hair clean and yank her brush through it - before returning to the kitchen.
On a cooling rack in the counter, neat rows of cut-out biscuits laid, waiting to be put into a tin for keeping. Severus was happily munching on one and sipping tea when Lyria returned. "Feel better?
"Most definitely," she replied. "Have you burned your tongue off yet, eating those the second they were done?"
Severus childishly stuck his tongue out at her. "No, I haven't. They are good. Would you like one?"
"I would, actually." She plucked one from its tray.
"Tea?" He offered a cup.
"You'd make a passable housewife." She smirked, taking the cup.
Severus shrugged, not rising to the bait. "There are worse things to be, I'd imagine."
"I suppose."
He grinned. "Of course, I cannot for the life of me, see you as one. Though, you do make a fine biscuit."
"What are you talking about? I'd be wonderful at it. Can you imagine me with a few little ones about?" She snorted. "Thank you, by the way, about the biscuits."
"It was my pleasure. Thank you for making them in the first place." He decided that it was wiser not to comment on the idea of Lyria having children. It would not be good for his head... or other assorted body parts.
"They really aren't half bad, if I can congratulate myself."
Severus chuckled at that. "Of course you may."
"Well I'm pleased."
He nodded and finished his treat. They were quite good. Severus drained his cup of tea and took it to the sink to wash. "Do you have a tin around that I could pack those in?" He washed his cup as well as the baking dishes.
"I'll pack them up, you finished them off." Lyria got a container from one of the cupboards.
Severus quickly finished washing the dishes. He did not understand why so many found it an unsavory task. "We make a good team."
"We do," she agreed. There was a moment's silence: not unpleasant silence, just... companionable.
It was an odd feeling for Severus, to be so completely at ease with someone. Even the menial kitchen chores were less oppressive with Lyria. Odd, he would have to think about it later.
"OWL scores'll be arriving soon," she said absently.
Severus nodded. He was a little concerned about his scores, but not overly. "They were not as bad as I had expected."
"I didn't think most of them were too bad. At least not the ones that are important for my further study."
"Yes, the ones I most need to excel in seemed the easiest, fortunately."
She nodded. "I suppose it makes sense, though, as one has to play to one's strengths."
"Logically. Do you think we will be in the same potions class next term?"
"I hope so. That'd be convenient, wouldn't it? Truth is, I'd better be if I think I'd like to be an Auror."
"We both need it. I am sure we did fine though." He smiled from his place at the sink where he was drying and stacking the dishes.
"I think so. I'm certain you did and I'm fairly certain I did well enough, too."
Severus blushed, irrationally pleased that she would be certain he did well. He knew he had done well, but he was not used to praise.
She too was silent, not quite sure what to say. It was a bit strange to praise him, but true; she was certain he'd done just fine... but no, that wasn't it, that wasn't the cause for feeling unsettled. Strange, she'd have to figure out what was going on later.
Grasping at straws, he searched for a topic to fill the silence, which was beginning to verge on uncomfortable. "What other classes are you going to be taking?" He was sure he sounded asinine, but it was better than looking it.
"Um, Defense Against the Dark Arts... Transfiguration and Charms, and then... I don't know. The program I want requires five, though, so I suppose I'll continue Arithmancy or something."
Severus nodded. "I have Herbology, CoMC, Defense, Transfiguration, and Charms."
"I don't know if I'll take a sixth," she said. "I did badly enough on Runes this time and I don't even want to think about Herbology."
"Well, I don't really have much of a choice." He laughed, knowing that most students avoided Herbology and CoMC if they could. He, however, had to take them for his course of study.
"I wouldn't mind Runes, and I'm sure it'd be useful, but further study would require doing well on the OWL and let's just say I don't have my hopes up." She smiled a bit. As long as she had five classes, she was fine, and she couldn't say she'd be heartbroken if she had to take something a little easier to fill her schedule.
"You could try Divination," he suggested jokingly, draining the last of his tea.
She made a face. "I'd rather have my toenails pulled out, thank you very much."
That did it, Severus fell out of his chair, laughing uncontrollably.
Lyria laughed a bit as well. "Well it's true," she replied. "It's just ridiculous. Astrology, honestly, explain to me how one in every twelve people have the same fate."
He snorted, trying to control his breathing and pull himself off the floor. "Indeed. And," he gasped, "seeing your future in tea- tea leaves!" He snickered again, righting himself in the chair.
"I'd likely tell the teacher where to put the tea leaves, which would probably be frowned upon." She grinned.
"I don't doubt that." Severus smiled back, looking into his cup and snorting again.
It was nice to hear him laugh, see him smile, but it made that unsettling feeling she couldn't quite pin down resurface. She busied herself with a biscuit.
Sighing, Severus looked from his cup. "I have some summer work to do. Would you like to study with me, or are you busy?"
"I think things should be fine without me until I need to start dinner." She smiled.
"Lovely." Thinking for a minute, he asked shyly, "How about we study up in my room. That way your brothers can't bother us."
She smiled. "That sounds fine."
Nicking a few more biscuits and refilling his mug, Severus stood. "Well, shall we?"
Lyria got up as well. "I'll run up and get my things and meet you there, then?"
Severus nodded and made his way up to his room quickly. He refused to embarrass himself further by having Lyria see his room a disgrace.
Lyria made her way upstairs a bit more slowly and looked around the room. Most of her things were still in her book bag; she didn't usually study in here anyway, so it was best to make things easy to carry. She caught sight of herself in the mirror and hastily brushed her hair back again before going down to room twelve.
His room in order, though he should not have expected less, Severus spread his things out on the floor, laying a blanket down and grabbing his pillows, to make it more comfortable. There was not really a table that they could both use, so he assumed that the floor would be safer (and more neutral) than them both sitting on the bed.
The door was open, so Lyria simply stepped into the room. "Hi."
Looking up from where he lay on his stomach, he smiled. "Hello. Make yourself comfortable."
She sat down on the blanket, setting her bag down next to her.
"So what would you like to start on? Potions, Charms, DADA, or Transfiguration?"
"Um, let's do Potions. Start with something easier to warm up."
Severus nodded and pulled his Potions text to the front. The book was a bit battered and obviously well used, but he did not really care. Lyria was not like the others in his house, and besides, the material was still good.
Lyria rifled through her own book bag for a moment and found the necessary book. Hers was in slightly better condition than his, but only because only Dylan had "used" it... if it could be called using the book.
"Okay, so, it says we are supposed to read the first chapter and write a three foot essay on the healing properties of the ingredients mentioned." Three feet was not a lot. Severus was not sure he could finish the assignment in that little space.
"That's going to require some maneuvering, isn't it? I suppose the trick'll be to read it and prioritize..." Lyria was already pondering how to organize such an essay to get the most use out of the space.
He nodded absently, already beginning to skim through the chapter.
Lyria did likewise. The two lapsed into silence, both companionably reading.
