Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter with the exception of my copies of the books and the plots to my fanfictions.
Xiomara hunched over her kitchen table with a warm cup of tea, trembling despite her warm coat. Albus shifted in his seat and cleared his throat, "Xiomara, I truly am sorry. I had no idea that he would arrive early, I swear."
"I know, Albus." She thought about his offer of a room in the castle, but this was the furthest point from Karkaroff that she could be without having walked off campus- and she would never do that because it would take her away from Albus' protection. "I'm fine, really." She lied, and she could see in his face that he didn't believe her.
"You don't want a room in the castle?"
"No." She poured more tea into both of their cups, "Tea, Severus?"
"No," he called from the front room and, at a look from Albus, added "but thanks."
"The offer's always open."
"Thank you."
Albus sighed and grabbed Xiomara's hand. "So you will be alright out here? Safe?"
"Even you won't be able to catch me off-guard." She laughed, a faux laugh designed to distract from the turmoil in her mind, but a laugh nonetheless.
"Will he be able to overpower you once you're on your guard is the better question." Severus said.
She sighed angrily and slammed her cup on the table, chipping the bottom. "He won't get close enough to overpower me."
"Do you honestly believe that?"
"Now, Severus," Albus interrupted, "I'm sure that Herr Karkaroff won't try anything while he's here."
"I don't know what Igor did, but I know him better than both of you- if he got away with it last time, then he'll probably try again." At that, she felt like an icy knife had been plunged through her insides.
"Severus,"
"It's true, Albus. Xiomara's best chances of surviving this ordeal unscathed would be to take a paid vacation."
"Severus, I don't need this right now." Xiomara picked up her tea and took a swig in hopes to sooth the queasiness that had come over her, but it only made her sicker. "Anyway, why should it matter if I stay out here? You know, and so does Poppy, so I imagine that I'll be just fine."
"If you say so; I believe that Igor requested a meeting with you and Minerva for around this time, Albus."
Albus' jaw clenched and he released a tense breath. "Are you joining, Severus?"
"I think I'll take up that offer of tea."
"I'm sorry, Xiomara. I'll come to visit later and see how you're doing." He gave her a tight hug and stepped out the door.
"Albus has been worrying about you."
"I wonder why."
Severus let out a low growl of a chuckle, "I know that you're upset about Igor's presence, but for the life of me I can't figure out how the two of you are connected."
"I don't know either." Xiomara kept her eyes trained on him as he stalked into the kitchen and retrieved a teacup.
"Oh, I believe that you do." He sat in Albus' recently vacated seat and allowed some tea to be poured into his cup.
"I'm sure as hell not going to tell you!"
He raised a hand to quiet her. "I didn't expect you to; I was planning on asking Igor tonight. I wanted to address the…" he rotated his cup with nimble fingers "proposition that you brought up this morning."
"And what would that be, again?"
"About my 'keeping Karkaroff away' from you."
"Ah, yes. Will you help me, then?"
"I don't see why I should."
Xiomara's insides writhed and wriggled as she watched his eyes dance over her, his thin lips slightly parted. "What if I… made it worth your while?" She put her foot to his and gently stroked his lower leg with her ankle.
His eyes bulged slightly for a moment, "I," his hand shook as he rotated his cup again. "I think we should discuss this later- in my private chambers."
She nearly recoiled, but she steadied herself. "When?"
"T- ten o'clock." His lips twitched and he pulled his leg away. "Until tonight, Xiomara." He slowly stood and walked to the door.
Xiomara stood and caught up with him, "Listen," she put her hand on his to keep him from opening the door.
His voice jumped up an octave, "I have to go."
"Please, Severus, don't change your mind!"
"I have to go. Ten o'clock." He shakily removed her hand from his and turned the knob until Xiomara ran her fingers across his neck and up into his hair, pulling him down to her eye level. "Xiomara,"
"Severus," she begged, "please!"
"Ten o'clock." His eyes flitted down and up her body once more, lingering on her waist and lips, before hurrying out of the house.
"Don't change your mind!" she pleaded and rested her forehead to the cool doorframe, thinking of the night with mixed feelings. After a few hours of pacing and trying to ignore her liquor cabinet, Albus returned.
"Are you doing alright, Xiomara?"
"Yes, quite well…" she sighed. "Can I get you anything?"
He smiled sympathetically, "No, thank you. Is there something else troubling you?" How could he have known?
She hung her head and nodded. "Yes, I suppose so."
"What's wrong?" he led her to the sofa and rushed to the kitchen to put water on for tea. He returned to her side while the water was heating up.
"Well, I don't think I know where to start…" she rubbed her temples and let Albus retrieve a couple cups of tea. "Thank you. I… to hell with it- I'm seeing Severus tonight and I think he expects more from me than I can give."
"What?" he adopted an incredulous look, "He wants…?"
She nodded grimly.
"Did… did you lead him to this conclusion?"
"What was I supposed to do, Albus? I was thinking on my feet! I was panicking!" she exclaimed, then continued somberly, "You've seen how he's looked at me."
He sighed, "Just be safe."
Interesting stuff will happen in the next chapter, I swear!