I wanted to update the story on Thursday because it's my birthday and I thought it would be a gift for all of my readers. However my ex-boyfriend made me very angry and I had to relax somehow. And, well, this story is a therapy for me, in a way :)
Things are heating up a little now between Anna and Severus. Finally!
Still don't own anything, I wish I would be J.K. Rowling.
4.
The following day Snape and I stood up simultaneously from the breakfast table and we were heading to the Forbidden Forest when McGonagall addressed me:
"Anna, for a word, please!"
I told Snape to wait for me at the main entrance and I turned to the Headmistress.
"Yes, Minerva?"
"Would you be able to take lunch with me in my office? We have some things to discuss."
"Yes, I would. Is there any problem?"
"No, don't worry. I'll wait for you at 1 PM, you already know the password to the office."
"Alright, I'll be there. See you later!"
On our way to the clearing, Snape was more talkative than the previous night. More precisely he asked more questions about my potions studies, the books I was learning from, which plants and herbs I have. I answered all his questions but he just nodded or asked other questions.
After we came back to the castle, he hurried down to the dungeons and I went back to my rooms to read a little. At exactly 1 PM I said the password (lightning) for the statue next to the door of the Headmistress' office. When I stepped in, I saw a nicely set table for two. Minerva was sitting at her writing desk.
"Anna, take a seat, please, I will join you in a minute", and continued writing something on a parchment.
I really had to wait only a minute. When McGonagall sat down, delicious food appeared on the table.
"Let's start to eat!", she exclaimed. I was starving so I dig in my food happily.
"The reason why I asked you here", she started after a few minutes, "is that I wanted to know how do you feel yourself here, if everything is alright."
"Oh, yes, thank you. I'm having a really good time. Of course now, that the school year is very close, I'm starting to get nervous but luckily I hit it off with all my colleagues."
"I'm glad to hear it. Even with Professor Snape?"
I blushed a little. I hoped Minerva didn't see it.
"Even with him. He is very helpful."
The Headmistress raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
I told her about our journeys to the Forbidden Forest.
"This is a nice thing to hear, my dear, although I'm a bit surprised", she said with a small smile.
"Why?"
"Severus is loner. He doesn't like the companionship of other people or more precisely he tolerates only a few people."
"Are you among them?"
"Yes but he is still aloof with me."
"I thought so. You know, Minerva, I like to talk to my colleagues but basically I'm also a loner."
"I saw you sitting at the lake on your first day."
"Yes. I needed some space to process this whole new turn of my life. I like to be alone to think."
"I see. And what about your syllabus? Are you working on it?"
"I've already finished it. Do you want to talk about it?"
"Yes, of course."
It was 4 PM when I left Minerva's office. Before that she introduced me to Albus Dumbledore, well to his painting and she told me with a mischievous glint in her eye that if I need help with my colleagues, I can always come to her. I was pretty much sure that she meant only one colleague. Particularly when she shared a knowing smile with Dumbledore.
At 6 PM, I sat down to the dinner table in the Great Hall. Snape was already there.
"Good evening, Severus!"
"Good evening, Anna. You weren't here at lunch."
He noticed it? How sweet!
"No, I've had lunch with the Headmistress in her office. I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you."
"It is alright, I am not your guardian. I hope she wasn't very tiring with all of her questions."
"No, she was very nice. But you also asked me a lot of questions today."
"Touché. Except that I didn't ask how do you feel here and what do you think about your colleagues."
"How did you know?"
"I have known her for 30 years, most of my life."
"She wasn't tiring, though. Sometimes it's nice to be asked about how I feel."
He didn't answer me and we remained in silence for the rest of the dinner. After finishing off our food, we left the Great Hall together.
"Would you like to join us for a glass of fire whiskey or wine in the staff room?", I asked him when we reached our paintings.
"No, thank you. I have work to do."
"You need to rest sometimes."
"Brewing potions help me relax. That reminds me, I have something for you."
He disappeared behind the door but in a minute he was back. He had an old book in this hand.
"Read this book carefully and take notes about things you find important, interesting, if you don't understand something or it there are things you would change in the recipes. If you need help, you can use the library."
"Ye Good Olde Book o' Potions. Thank you, I'll start to read tomorrow. Are you sure you won't join us?", I asked him smiling.
"No. Maybe another time. Have a nice evening, Anna."
"You, too, Severus."
At that precise moment I had the urge to touch him. I smelled the scent of herbs on his clothes and something was dominating. Sandalwood, maybe? I looked at his face and he looked like searching for words. I looked deep in his eyes to encourage him.
"Good night", he said in a low voice and disappeared again behind his door.
It took me a week to finish the book. I'm a very fast reader but the text was very difficult, I had to do a lot of research and of course, I had to take notes. Occasionally I met Severus in the library but he never approached me, just nodded in my direction. We didn't talk much that week and he was pretty much absent.
On a Thursday morning, after breakfast, I ran after him when he left the Great Hall.
"Severus!"
We stopped outside, just in front of the doors. He turned back at took a few steps. He was standing very close to me.
"Yes."
"I've finished the book. And here are my notes."
I handed him the book and a Muggle notebook. He eyed the notebook and looked at me questioningly.
"I prefer notebooks to parchments. Much easier to handle, more practical. I hope it's not a problem."
"No, it is not. This is not a test."
"I'm relieved. As far as I know, you're merciless with your students."
"Is that so? Pray tell me, what you've heard."
"I've heard only a few stories but in all of them was at least one crying student."
He smiled very lightly and took another step in my direction. I could feel his breath on my face. He was looking in my eyes and used a very low, very deep voice. God, he is making me crazy.
"Do you think I would be able to make you cry?"
I took a deep breath and now it was my turn to step closer to him. My breasts were slightly pressed to his chest and I had to tilt my head back to look in his eyes.
"You know what, Professor?", I asked him in an equally low, sensual voice. "Check my notes and if you're ready with them, I will tell you the answer."
His almost invisible smile widened a little.
"All right then. Have a nice day, Anna"
"Bye, Severus", and with that he left to the dungeons.
I needed some air, I was absolutely and totally flushed. I needed to cool down. I started to run outside and with one eye I saw Minerva standing in a nearby corner. I've realized only a few days later that she had a meaningful look on her face.
Ah, Minerva!
It's your turn, my dear readers: R & R!