I do not own anything Harry potter, JK Rowling does. I do own everything else. I am sorry it took me awhile to post the next chapter. I hope you like it. I will be posting more here soon.
Chapter 4 coming to an agreement
Morning found Snape looking out of one of the large windows facing the forest. He hadn't seen Merlina all morning and against his better judgment he felt concern. Everyone thought him an unfeeling bastard but he knew better. He just kept the façade up so he didn't get hurt. It was something he had done since childhood. Something coming out of the forest caught his sharp eyes. *Merlina,* He thought. *What is she doing in the woods?* He felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. He turned to face Sirius and crew. "What do you want?" He snarled. Sirius looked like he hadn't shaved in days. "Have you seen Lina?" Snape pointed to the woods where she had emerged from. "There." Seeing her crossing the yard Sirius's jaw tightened. "What is she doing there?" Snape gave him a cold look. "How am I suppose to know?"
Sirius gave him a nasty look and turned down the hallway. Snape watched the group wondering much the same thing. Sirius met her at Hogwart's entrance. She tried to push past him. He grabbed her arm. "What are you doing?" Her gaze swept the small group as she pulled away. Her eyes were still ringed. James gave her a soft look. "Lina you look like hell." They held each other's gaze in silence. The others felt a stir in the air as did Snape who was not far behind. He stopped knowing the stir meant a great power was converging. The last time he had felt something like that was before the war with Voldamort. James's bright blue eyes widened in fear. Merlina turned away leaving the group behind barley noticing Snape who was frowning deeply. Sirius faced the young assistant. "What's wrong?" James looked at him. "She's scared."
"Of what?" Asked Sirius. James shrugged. "I don't know but it has to be bad. She don't scare easily." George grunted, "It's probably Snape." James shook his head. "No it's bigger than that." Sirius sighed. "Then we better keep an eye on her." They all nodded in unison. Snape watched them leave then proceeded to his class musing over his own dark thoughts.
Merlina was the last one to arrive in class. Snape watched her pass noticing a leaf still in her hair. "Miss Pendragon you're late!" She gave him an exasperated look and set her clipboard down. "Class read your chapter then we'll start." Merlina went to sit in her normal spot when she felt a heavy hand on her shoulder. She turned with her fists clenched. Snape held the leaf up. "Oh." She said relaxing. "I would appreciate it if you would keep your friends out of my class." He watched her jaw tighten as her lips drew into a thin line. Expecting a heated retort he braced himself. "Fine." She said barley audible and went to sit by the window. Disappointment washed over him. Some perverted part of him enjoyed arguing with her just to see the fire in her eyes. He scowled deeply and began the potion lesson. She silently went about her rounds helping the students. More than one noticed her sullenness. At the end of the day she left in silence. Snape sat at his desk sipping bitter tea feeling the beginnings of a headache.
Merlina sunk into the couch watching Zoie. The large wolf was gnawing at a bone Sirius had given her. Sighing Merlina stood up and went to the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror. *Damn , I do look bad.* She thought. She set up her contact cases and removed her lenses. When she looked back into the mirror one light blue eye and one light green eye looked back at her. She splashed some cold water on her face and ran her wet hands through her hair smoothing it and undoing some of the tangles with her fingers. She undressed and inspected her body frowning at her reflection. Between her breasts was an angry red and purple circular scar. She heard a knock at the door and threw her tank top and shorts on. "Hold on!"
She opened the door to find herself graced with Snape's scowl. "I believe you forgot this." He handed her the clipboard. She took it silently and began to turn away. She felt a powerful hand grab her chin. Severous looked into her eyes. "Is that your true color?" A chill went down her spine. "Yes." She whispered. He her in his smoldering gaze a moment longer. "Disgusting, no wonder you wear contacts." Her eyes flashed. "Piss off." She felt his fingers tighten in her cheek before he released her. She slammed the door in his face. Snape smiled to himself. Her eyes didn't bother him that much actually he found it interesting, but he would never admit it to her.
Unable to sleep, Snape roamed the corridors. For once much to his disappointment they were deserted. The soft sound of music floated towards him. *Maybe,* he thought,*I was wrong.* He followed the sound as it twisted and turned down the hallway. It reminded him faintly of a Celtic type music but somewhat different. The music lead him into the night air of the gardens. He stood in the shadows watching. On the stone benches sat Merlina James and a young student the potions master didn't recognize. The student was playing a guitar that overwhelmed his small frame. James helped him as Merlina played a set of silver panpipes. *That child needs to be in his dorm.* Snape thought angrily. *She has no regard for the rules.* Even though no rules had been broken something about the scene bothered him and made him want to interrupt it. Merlina was the first one to notice him looming over them. She gave him a curious look with her odd colored eyes. She could see the anger flash in his dark eyes, she braced herself mentally. "Snape." She drawled.
The word made him feel slimy. *Amazing how one word can do that.* He thought. Out loud he said, "What this student doing up after hours?" Merlina looked at her companions before answering. "Practicing." He gave them a disdainful look. "Go back to your rooms and twenty points from your house whichever one that is." Merlina looked at the boy then at Snape trying to keep a straight face. Her eyes were filled with merriment. He growled at her. "What is so funny?" She laughed out loud , "The boy is in slytherian." As her statement sunk in his expression grew blacker. James felt a prickle of fear go down his spine. Merlina and Snape stared at each other as the boy got up bidding them goodbye.
James and Merlina looked at each other then James nodded. "I will see you later." She smiled, watching him leave. "Please sit professor." Snape didn't want to sit but sat anyway. She was watching him as intently as he was watching her. The silence finally became unbearable. "What do you want?" He snapped. He could see her flinch slightly. Her eyes were still ringed and her face was still drawn and wary. *She still isn't sleeping.* He thought absently. "I just thought we could get to know each other." His expression never changed, making her feel like a fool. "Now why would I want to do that?" The statement dripped with venom. She sighed as if dealing with a fussy child. "Because, you are not the insufferable bastard you pretend to be and……." She grew silent, unable to stop himself he growled. "And?"
She held his eyes. "To prove I am not the fraud you seem to think I am." He snorted. "How would you know what I think?" She shrugged. "There are many people in this world, you are but one of them."
"And pray tell," He glared at her, "What is that suppose to mean?" She ran a hand through her hair. "There are many bastards in the world, I should know I've met many of them. You are not one of them." For once he was actually speechless. *Could she see through his façade? Did she see through his illusions?* He wondered. Still he refused to be baited so she could run to her friends laughing. "My dear," his voice was pure sarcasm, "I do not prefer to spend my time with happy little college freaks such as yourself." He seen her wince, almost feeling bad for being the cause of it. She nodded in resignation looking at her hands. "As you wish." She got up to leave stopping when he said, "What was that boy's name?" He could have sworn he heard her say something under her breath then louder, "Genesis Omega." He watched her disappear into the bowels of the school. "Genesis Omega?" He thought. *Beginning and end? Is that a joke? If it is it's not funny.* He scratched his chin. *If that is the boy's real name I wonder who named him.* He stood up not sure where he should go at first then decided to go to his rooms. *Oh well,* He thought, *I'll have more than enough time to find out.*
The next morning as usual, Merlina entered the classroom ignoring Snape looking as if she never slept. He frowned at her. *How long has this been going on?* He thought, then *How long is she going to last?* His thoughts were interrupted by the students. He noticed a small blonde haired boy at the door. "Who are you?" He snapped. The boy handed him a parchment with Dumbledore's seal. "Genesis Omega." The boy said. Snape snorted. *So that really is the boy's name.* He thought as he slid a glance to Merlina. Her face was as cold as her two colored eyes. He wondered why she wasn't wearing her contacts. He motioned for the boy to be seated. "What house are you in?" He could have sworn he seen the corners of her mouth quirk but if they had there was no sign now. "Slytherian." The boy said. Snape shook his head knowing she found this funny. Her face never betrayed her emotions and finally he sighed taking his frustrations out on the class.
Lunch came and went so did dinner without Merlina's presence. Snape wondered at it but came up blank. He left the dining hall hoping to run into her, disappointed when he didn't. As he approached his chambers he saw her with her head against the door to her room. Having heard his footfalls she looked at him forlornly. He fought with several feelings, wanting to help her, wanting to ignore her, wanting to kiss her, and wanting to scream at her to quit making him feel anything for her. Her eyes were dark with exhaustion as she smiled faintly.
He had done some research on a new potion that was stronger than the last. He hoped she would let him test it. He approached her carefully, standing as close as he would allow himself. "How are you sleeping?" He asked. She looked into his face for something but his face was a rigid mask. "You know how I sleep sir." He nodded. "Then would you let me try something new?" She raised an eyebrow. "You want to help me?" He grunted. "No I am helping myself by making sure you do not interrupt my sleep at night and I can test a new potion I created." Confusion flashed across her face. "So you want me to be your lab rat?" A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth but he quickly hid it. "Of a sorts." She thought about it for a minute then sighed. "O.k. as long as it's not poison, but first I must walk Zoie." She opened the door and let the huge wolf out.
Zoie sniffed Snape's robes wagging her tail. "Come with us then we'll perform your little experiment." Not really wanting to go but seeing no other way out he shrugged and followed them outside into the courtyard. Zoie frisked around barking like a little puppy. Snape watched in amusement. Merlina threw a stick ans the wolf brought it back. Merlina scratched her ear then turned to Snape. "Do you want to pet her?" Snape shook his head. She grinned and grabbed his hand. He gave her a shocked look his composure gone. She smiled and laid her hand on top of his guiding him. "Like this." She murmured. The animal's fur was soft and almost silky but the thing he noticed most was how hot Merlina's hand felt against his own. He buried his fingers in the dog's thick fur. *This is actually quite pleasant.* He thought.
She took her hand away to let him pet the dog. He felt disappointed. No one had touched him in so long he had forgotten what it felt like. He realized he liked it. *Probably more than I should.* He thought. She watched him with amusement. He looked up seeing the merriment dancing in her eyes. "Aren't you afraid of me?" She shook her head. "No should I be?" His black eyes smoldered dangerously. "Yes." A grin broke across her face. "Maybe." She said softly. "You should be afraid of me." He studied her his eyes finally settling on her long graceful hands. They were hands that could comfort or inflict pain. He then looked at his own not seeing much of a difference.
"Now why on earth should I be afraid of a child such as yourself?'' She lifted his chin to stare into his eyes. A chill crawled from her fingertips down his spine. "Because," She began, "I am not what I seem." She saw his eyes glint dangerously. "Neither am I." Her smile became almost bestial. "Ah, but I know more about you than you think. You know nothing about me." He snorted and pulled away from her. "I know enough." She frowned. "Like what professor?" Waving his hand he said. "You are at the top of your class, you and your friends are very close, you have your own ideas on how things should be done. You are a typical college ninny." She kept her laughter restrained. "Is that all?" He nodded glaring at her.
"Professor, I know you are more observant than that. Tell me the truth." She touched his knee. "Please." That one word had cut him deeper than any she had ever said. He couldn't refuse. "You are a loner most of the time, you are strong and intelligent." She chuckled. "You are observant and secretive." He paused not wanting to give her the satisfaction of how much he knew. She raised an eyebrow. "And?"
He looked at her thoughtfully. "You seem to have a mental link with James." He watched to see her reaction. "You're right, I do have a link with James." He couldn't help but ask. "Is he?" She watched his face. His jaw tightened. "My boyfriend? Fiancé? No." Not knowing what to say he simply said, "Is there?" She shook her head. "No, no one can stand me."
*How could any one not want to be with her?* He thought. Out loud he said. "I don't believe that." Her smile became a tight line. "Believe it." He watched the wolf run towards the woods. "Why?" She studied his profile. He reminded her of a black wolf. "Because they say I am obnoxious, driven to the point of insanity, violent, moody, inflexible, and have unrealistic expectations of myself and others." He looked at her. She couldn't read his expression. "You also have insomnia." She nodded. "That too." He looked back to the forest. "You don't seem that bad." She laughed the sound was rich. "You obviously don't know that many women." He looked down at his hands his dark hair covering his face. "No but the ones I do know I wish I didn't." Curiously, she leaned towards him. "Why?" He turned to look at her. Their faces were inches apart. "My dear," He drawled, "I'm sure you have met Professors Sprout and Trelawney?" He could see the grin on her lips. "I have." She said. "Then you know how they act." She nodded he raised an eyebrow. "Need I say more?" Not able to keep it back anymore, she chuckled. When she composed herself she said. "You poor man." Surprising himself he smiled back. It was a good feeling not only to smile but to find someone who actually understood him. "I believe we should go back now." She nodded rising when he did. She whistled for Zoie. The dog followed trying to sniff under the potion master's robes. He shooed her away making her bark at him. "Silly dog." He muttered. Merlina chuckled.
They found Sirius in the hallway. He gave them a suspicious look. "Are you alright?" His question was directed at Merlina but he glared at Snape who stood as cold and as emotionless as a statue. Sirius bent down to scratch the wolf's ear. "What do you mean?" Merlina inquired sweetly. Only Snape noticed it dripped with venom. "I told James I would keep an eye on you." She bit back an angry remark. *Damn him.* She thought. Out loud she said carefully. "You tell him I am fine. I am helping the professor with an experiment and he needn't worry so." She flexed her hand wanting to smack the look of concern off of Sirius's face. He felt sorry for her, she hated that. He never took the time to really know her thinking she was only friends with James and crew because they felt sorry for her and watched over her like a little sister.
*If only he knew the truth.* She thought. *Now James is an other matter, we are bonded, and he can pick up on my feelings.* She thought, much to her disappointment. She frowned watching Sirius shrug and walk down the hallway. Snape saw the muscles in her jaw tighten. "You should be pleased." She shot him a look of pure malice. "He is quite good looking." She caught the mirth in his voice. "I am sure sex would never be boring, Miss Pendragon." His eyes twinkled. She snorted. "If he is such a fine catch why don't you chase him?" Surprise at how much of himself he heard in her voice he replied. "I'm allergic to dogs." She gave him an evil look. "Me too." He chuckled . She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Anyway, doggie style is not my favorite position." He raised an eyebrow. "That was more than I needed to know." She laughed as they continued down the hallway to his chambers.