A Second Chance
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING; I JUST MESS AROUND IN J.K. ROWLING'S WORLD.
A/N: I know, I know; I'm horrible at updating. It's quite sad really. I'm going to try super hard though on the next chapter. I'm making a goal to finish the next one before May 6. Wish me luck!
Chapter Seven
Isi cursed under her breath and brought her bleeding finger to her mouth. She glared hatefully at the potato peeler sitting harmlessly on the counter. This is why she hated cooking. Her hands simply didn't have the dexterity needed to avoid sharp tools.
"Need some help?" Severus asked in an amused tone.
"No," she muttered tersely around her finger. "I said I would make dinner, and I will."
"What are we having, potato and finger soup? I'm sure it will taste lovely." He smirked as she chucked an unpeeled potato at him with her free hand.
"Will you just shove off?" Isi said angrily, taking her finger from her mouth and turning back to the potatoes.
"Where are your manners?" Severus asked as he pulled out a chair from which to watch the spectacle she was sure to make of herself.
"They left the same time you walked in," she replied without turning back around.
"Oh, perfect, I have a full day of dunderheads, and I get to come home to a half-crazed, savage woman."
Ducking to avoid the peeler which hurtled through the air, Severus chuckled just slightly.
"Next you'll be throwing knives at me, I suppose," he said dryly.
"Now that you suggest it," Her voice was almost wild, and as she lunged for the knife, she felt Severus' hands close around her wrists like stone cold manacles.
"I take back what I said, you're not half-crazed, you are completely off your rocker," he said, but as his dark eyes probed her own, it was clear he was searching for a single sign of sanity.
Isi couldn't keep it in anymore, and the gates burst open as she erupted into hysterical laughter. Despite his hands on her wrists, she managed to grasp at her sides as tears of mirth flowed down her cheeks.
"You really thought I was going insane, didn't you?" she cried out through her uncontrollable laughter. "Oh, Sev, I got you good."
At her words, Severus stiffened, and he dropped her wrists as if she was a hot metal fresh from the forge. His black eyes, turned into a steely glare, and his whole countenance seemed to darken in tone.
"Never do that, again, Isabelle," he growled in a low voice. "I was about to call in Poppy on account of your unexpectedly murderous behavior.
Isi's eyes widened, and her tears soon began anew in earnest. "I… I'm sorry, Sev. I…" She stopped as something in his eyes flashed, giving it all away. "You liar!" she cried suddenly. "You're having me on."
He grinned slyly and even laughed at her stunned face. "Yes, and it was certainly worth it. "
"I swear I'm going to kill you right now," she said, though her open grin diffused any fear Severus might previously have felt.
"I dare you," Severus replied in his dangerous voice of silk.
Isi met his eyes resolutely and thrust her head in the air. She daintily sniffed once before calmly collecting the discarded peeler and potatoes. She flipped her hair and threw Severus a very haughty look.
"I'm afraid I haven't time to engage in such frivolous and immature activities at the present time. You see, I have a very important responsibility. Now if you will kindly refrain from distracting me, I will return to my—our—dinner preparations." She nearly cracked up part way through her speech, but she managed to keep composure as she turned back to the counter once again.
Severus snorted and flicked a stray chunk of potato at her while her back was turned.
"We'll see how long this lasts," he said, earning himself a sharp rap on the knuckles with the peeler.
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Severus moved freely about his cauldron, pouring a new ingredient in now and then as he meticulously stirred the potion. His eyes narrowed, blocking out everything but his workspace in order to focus his determination more fully. It was all very key to the potion's success. To lose his concentration while brewing would be to lose the potency, and very possibly lose his life as well.
Just as he was dousing the flames, a soft knock came on the lab door. Severus sighed, pushing his hair from his face. No doubt Isabelle had some message from Albus or Minerva demanding his presence immediately. It was a Saturday night; didn't they have something better to be doing?
"Enter," Severus called, hiding his weary reluctance in his callous voice.
"Minerva came by a few minutes ago," Isi began as she opened the door. "She asked me to give you this."
He glared at the offending letter in her outstretched hand. Why did he always have to be right? At times like these, when he felt so drained of energy and hope, he wanted nothing more than to stay out of things for once.
"Give it here then," he barked sharply.
Severus tried to ignore Isi's openly sympathetic face as he snatched the letter out of her hand. She was always so perceptive in the most irritating of ways. It made him angry to no end that she could read him with such ease even when he was trying the hardest to keep his thoughts to himself. If he let her understanding expression allow him to spill even an ounce of what he felt inside, he would be reduced to a sobbing pile of mush in a short matter of time. That was just Isabelle's way. Merlin knows, he had experienced it enough times as it was.
Severus skimmed the missive quickly, finding precisely what he expected. He was being invited up for tea which would swiftly turn into a much more serious conversation if his instincts were correct, which was exceptionally likely. His narrowed eyes must have given it away because that next thing he knew, Isi's warm hand was in his, tugging him towards the fireplace.
"Come with me," she said in a quiet, yet quivering voice, barely able to contain her enthusiasm. "It's been awhile since last I was out, and you need a break. Minerva can survive just this once without you."
"I doubt it," Severus said, though the hesitation was clear in his voice.
Isi was quick to seize at any form of uncertainty, and it wasn't long before they were standing in Diagon Alley, hand in hand.
"Where to Severus?" Isi asked cheerfully. "After all, this is your trip."
"My trip?" He looked down at her dubiously. "You're the one who practically dragged me into the fireplace."
"Think of it as carpooling. Now where would you like to go?" she asked, turning to face him.
He glanced once at her expectant face and quickly turned away. She looked a goddess with all that bright happiness around her. The least she could do was tone it down a bit.
"Where, but the—" Severus' words were cut short as a strangled cry escaped from Isi's lips without any ostensible cause or warning.
He caught her just as she was crumpling to the ground, her hands gripping at her side in pain. Her eyes were wide with fear as she gazed up into Severus' frantic black eyes. His hand fluttered around her face, skimming across the skin. He was desperate for an answer and found it as he touched the long white scar running from her forehead and across her right cheek to just below her jaw.
Severus reached into his cloak pocket, groping around until his fingers wrapped around a small vial within. He brought it to his lips, yanking out the cork with his teeth, as he continued to support Isi with his other hand. When she finally swallowed the last of the potion, her body relaxed though he could tell by the look in her eyes that she was still in pain. Something was wrong. She was supposed to feel better, not just slightly better, but absolutely pain free.
As gently as possible, Severus lifted her into his arms, carrying her towards the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron. Isi's arms wrapped around his neck as tears coursed down her cheeks. He held her all the more tightly, pressing her to him while trying to fight off his own tears. If anything were to happen to her now, it would be all his fault. If anything happened to her… he didn't know if he could live through losing her yet again.
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"Well?" Severus asked, his voice hardened against the torrent of emotions he felt.
Isi was asleep on a bed in the Leaky Cauldron, her breathing shallow but even, as Poppy leaned over her, waving her wand and administering a few potions. The Matron's brow was furrowed but it cleared as she slipped her wand into her sleeve.
"She'll be all right. The magical means of transportation disrupted her still healing body, effectively reversing the work I'd already done. Luckily, I've managed to restore what once was, and it won't take as long as last time for her to be back on her feet. The only thing that worries me is the scarring and her limp. With the repeat damage, I'm worried they'll never heal properly."
Severus let out an almost imperceptible sigh as he ran a hand through his long hair. Isi had never complained about either the scarring or her limp, but he knew it wasn't easy. He could tell by her frustrated expression as he walked with her to the Great Hall that she hated the fact she could no longer keep up with his brisk strides. And on a number of occasions he had seen her stroking her scars particularly the jagged one across her face, while holding back tears. He had no desire to make her life even the tiniest bit more difficult by telling her that her limp would remain with her forever, made even worse by the fact that her scars would never fade. But it was better than the alternative. What were scars compared to death?
Severus felt himself release, as if letting out a breath after hours of holding it in. The danger was passed, and Isi was safe. She would be well enough to leave within a few days, and everything would go back to normal. Life would move on, and Isi would continue shining brightly in her place at Hogwarts. She would come home to their quarters, and they would continue bickering and fighting as they always did. It would hurt sometimes, but in the end they would make up and return to the warmth of friendship. They would be happy.
Severus smiled as he ran a hand through Isi's long raven hair. Funny, it took a disaster for him to realize he really didn't want her to leave after Christmas. In fact, as he watched her sleeping face, he discovered he never wanted her to leave again. Maybe... maybe Albus was right after all. Maybe they could be what they once were.
But as soft whimpers escaped her lips, he knew it simply wasn't possibly. There was too much danger; too much at stake. To be with her, would be to sentence her to death. There was no way around it. Time and time again, Severus had left her in order to keep her safe. It had hurt like none other to leave her. The pain never lessened over time, and it was never forgotten. For her, though, he would go through it over and over. And so, though it would tear apart his heart--his very soul—he knew that when the time came he would leave her life once again. He would leave, for her. Always for her.
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A/N So, certain aspects of this chapter weren't meant to happen yet. The same will go for the next few chapters as well. My updates have been so slow and irregular that I've decided to shorten the story a bit and make things move a little faster so I can finish sooner. Also you can blame my new found obsession for taking a lot of my time. I've started watching Doctor Who, and I absolutely love it. I'll be posting a few stories for that in the near future if anyone's interested. Reviews are greatly appreciated!!
Oh and let's not forget my amazing beta, debjunk. Many thanks to her once again.
