6. Point Me

Two weeks later Claire was sitting in the backyard enjoying the sun on an unusually hot day when she heard someone knocking on the front door. She stood up and hurried to open it.

'Severus! It is so good to see you!' she exclaimed with a smile.

'Good afternoon, Claire, I hope I didn't come at a wrong time,' Snape replied.

'No, not at all. I was just outside sitting in the sun.'

The man took a good look at her and raised an eyebrow. Claire wore nothing but a small bikini, unknown to her, in Slytherin green. There was something in Severus' look that made her blush.

'Sorry, I'll throw something on. Go outside, there's some cold lemonade on the table.' Severus nodded and grabbed a glass from the kitchen before sitting down at the table in the backyard. He always loved this part of the cottage. There weren't many trees but they were tall and old, almost like being on a meadow in the middle of a forest.

'So, what are you up too?' Claire asked when she arrived wearing a white tank top and a khaki short which accentuated her light tan nicely.

'I sold your bookstore.'

'Really? That is wonderful Severus? But how?'

'It seems there was a man who really wanted to buy the store and your flat.' He pulled out an envelope from his inner pocket – he wore his wizarding robes. 'Here is the money. It is not very much but it will suffice until you can find a job.'

The girl took the envelope and opened it.

'Not very much? That is brilliant, Severus! Thank you! Finally, I can pay you the rent.'

Snape almost choked on his lemonade.

'Rent? What are you talking about?'

'The rent for this cottage.'

'I didn't ask you to pay rent.'

'I thought you just forgot it.'

'I do not forget things. I did not tell you to pay rent because I do not want you to pay anything for being here.'

'Severus, you have to be —'

'I am serious, Claire. Even if it is not entirely my fault that you were abducted by Death Eaters, it is my responsibility to hide you to prevent further attacks which is not something I would accept money for.'

Claire chewed her lips then nodded. She knew Severus made up his mind.

'Alright. Thank you Severus, for everything.'

He nodded then leaned back in his seat and watched the tree leaves moving in the slight summer breeze. However, Claire watched him with a gentle smile on her face.

'It is rude to stare, you know, even in the wizarding world,' he drawled.

'I'm sorry but sometimes I'm just … I'm fascinated by you,' Claire replied and she felt suddenly very hot. She cleared her throat. 'And how are things going?'

Snape rolled his eyes then started to talk about a book he just read. They talked for a while until Severus announced he have to leave. The sun already went down.

'You can stay, you know. It's still your house and I won't mind it.'

They stood at the front door.

'I have to go. The Headmaster wants to talk tomorrow and I have to rest before it.'

'I'm sure it's not that torturing than a meeting with the Death Eaters and that – You-Know-Who.'

The man sighed.

'You would be surprised,' he replied with a scowl and opened the door.

'Thank you for visiting me Severus. I wish we could communicate somehow. Oh, yes, I almost forgot: I wanted to ask you if I can install the telephone in the house. I can walk to the town to use a payphone but this would be more comfortable. I will pay the bills of course.'

'Very well. Do I have to sign something?'

'No, it will be under my name.'

'Just don't let the mechanics touch any of my possessions.'

'I won't, I promise. Have a good night, Severus.'

'Good night, Claire.'

When she closed the door behind him, Claire sighed and cursed.

'For fuck's sake, I can't fuck up our friendship.' But she knew it was too late: for a year now, his velvety voice haunted her dreams; she wished he would stay again for the night so she would know he is just down the hall, his lean body covered in the sheets; she could watch his long and elegant fingers and imagine what those fingers would do on her body, or more importantly, inside of it.

~0~

Claire, fortunately, didn't have to wait long for another visit from Severus. He arrived late at night from a Death Eater meeting. He was in a bad mood, Claire couldn't see any bruises or wounds on him but he was shaken. She offered him soup and bread which he accepted than he pulled out a bottle of Fire Whiskey from a kitchen cabinet, took two glasses and brought it to the backyard. It was lit with string lights – Claire's idea – and it was lovely. Severus poured whiskey in the glasses and pushed one towards the woman. She cautiously tasted it.

'God, Severus, this is horrible,' she said in between coughs.

'It is strong and that is what I need now,' he murmured and drank his whiskey in a gulp. He refilled his glass.

'Rough night?' asked Claire in a low voice.

'You could say that.'

For a while they remained silent. Claire sipped on her alcohol, after getting used to its taste, it wasn't that bad. Severus unbuttoned his cloak and robes and pulled them off. He wore a white button down underneath. He pulled out his wand from his cloak and put it on the table before filling his glass for the third time.

Claire eyed the wand curiously.

'Severus …'

'Hmm?'

'Can I touch … your wand?'

He looked at her questioningly.

'I beg your pardon?'

'Your wand. Can I touch it?'

'Claire, it is very inappropriate for a young woman to ask this from a man.'

Claire blushed. For several seconds they didn't talk just looked in each other's eyes. Then Snape cleared his throat and pushed his wand towards Claire. She took it in her hands carefully. When she touched the black polished wood, it felt cold at first, but then suddenly, she felt something warm under her fingertips. Her breathing and heartrate quickened.

'Are you feeling well?' Severus asked.

She looked up at him.

'Honestly, I don't know.'

'Your face is red.'

'Maybe it's just the whiskey but when I touched the wand … I felt something. And I still feel it.'

'What do you feel?' Snape's tone was serious. The woman looked back down at the wand in her hand

'Warmth, and some kind of force. Energy. That's it, energy, coming from the wand. Is it possible? Because I don't think I'm that drunk.'

With two quick steps, Severus reached Claire, leaned down and studied her closely.

'How much did you drink?'

'Only a few sips from that whiskey.'

Snape straightened up and he pulled up Claire as well by her hand.

'Claire, I want you to close your eyes and concentrate on that energy you feel coming from the wand.'

'Severus what the hell is going on?'

'Just do what I said,' the wizard said briskly.

'Alright, alright …,' Claire scoffed and shut her eyes. Snape circled her, stopped behind her, and leaned to her ear.

'Let the energy flow into your body. Into your hand, through your veins. Feel it everywhere in your body.'

Claire found it very difficult to concentrate on the energy with Severus whispering in her ear with his dark and smooth voice. She felt something between her legs but it was not that something coming from the wand.

'When you ready, try to find the core of the energy in you. You still have to feel it everywhere but there has to be a strong core which is now connected with the wand.'

Claire didn't understand what's happening to her but tried to do what Severus told her. She almost gave up when she found something in her. She couldn't tell exactly where it was or what it was but she knew it has to be it.

'I found it,' she whispered.

'Good. Now, when you're ready, open your eyes and move the wand in the direction of the trees. You don't have to say anything just concentrate and try to push the energy you feel through the wand towards the trees.'

The woman took a deep breath, opened her eyes and flicked the wand. Suddenly, a beam of light came out from the wand and landed on one of the trees with a crack. Claire yelped and turned to Severus.

'What the hell was that?'

'That, Miss Adams, was magic. Congratulations, it seems you are a witch.'