Disclaimer: Most of it still isn't mine. I would be in a better place financially if it was. J
A/N: I am SOOOOO Sorry for the update delay. Life overtook me for a bit. Money issues, car issues, kids issues, job issues, you name it, we have lived it in the last months. Chris and Sev just kinda got lost amongst the more important aspects of my world. I promise an update no later than 2 weeks from now. J
A/N again: The title of this chapter has nothing to do with the actual mirror and everything to do with the fact that Chris and Severus are mirror images of one another….so alike, and yet completely opposite.
Chapter 9
The Mirror of Erised
The week flew by for Chris. In her classes Chris has moved on from Halloween to other muggle holidays and their origins and traditions. As soon as her last class leaves on Friday, Chris heads back to her room. She has not been this nervous about something as simple as dinner in a long time. She dresses in a cute black dress that comes to just below her knees. She pairs it with red heels and a matching belt and purse. She leaves her long hair down for once, spelling a little curl in it and holding it back with a thin headband with a large rose on the side of it. She is almost finished with her make up when a knock comes at her door. She waves her hand and the door opens a little.
"Who is it?" She calls, poking her head out the bathroom door a little.
"It's Severus," he calls back, sounding almost unsure. As soon as she hears his voice the door opens the rest of the way.
"Come on in and have a seat," she replies, "I'll be ready in just a moment." She hurries to finish dressing and then pulls a black, hooded cloak around her shoulders. The cloak is lined in scarlet silk that sets off the rest of her outfit. Severus is sitting on the couch with his back to her as she comes out. She takes a moment to take a deep breath. "I'm ready," she says as soon as she gets a smile on her face. He stands and turns to face her. He too has cleaned up well. His shoulder length black hair is pulled back in a low ponytail. He is dressed in jet black robes with silver embroidery along the edges. He loses his usual composure for a moment when he sees her, but catches himself quickly.
"You look lovely, Christine," He says simply. Somehow, Chris finds herself blushing.
"Thank you, I have to admit, you clean up nicely too." She smiles, and there is a little teasing in her voice. Severus steps around the couch and offers her a formal bow before offering her his arm.
"Shall we go then?" He asks as she slips her hand into the crook of his arm.
"Of course," She replies, the high color never leaving her cheeks. He leads her through the castle to the statue of Gregory the Smarmy he taps a spot on the statue with his wand and the statue moves to reveal a long, dark tunnel. A simple "Lumos" spell illuminates the tip of his wand and they begin the walk down the hall, as soon as they are both in, the passage closes behind them. The passage opens into a side street in Hogsmead.
"I apologize for the walk; I couldn't imagine you preferring the floo in heels." He says as he holds the door for her.
"Thank you, that would not have been a great idea." She giggles.
They walk the short distance to The 3 Broomsticks and take a seat at a booth in the back corner. The pub is not very busy at the moment and Chris is glad of it. She is not certain she wants everyone to know she is here, alone, with Snape. It is only a moment before Madame Rosemerta is at the table.
"Hello loves," She says, her bright amethyst jewelry sparkles in the low candle light, "The usual for you Severus?"
"Yes, please, Rosemerta," he says with a nod.
"And Chris, Butterbeer or something stronger tonight?" she gives Chris a tiny wink that causes Chris' blush to return.
"A bit stronger tonight, Firewhiskey neat please," she orders quickly.
"Of course dear," she looks to Snape. "Jarus has his famous rhubarb braised pork tonight if you're interested in dinner."
"We are," he looks at Chris, "is that acceptable?"
"Oh yes," She smiles, "It's one of my favorites."
"Won't be a tick," Rosemerta nods and turns on her bright purple heels and heads towards the bar.
"Well then," Chris smiles across the table at him.
"Yes, well then," He says simply. "I can't help but repeat you look lovely."
"Thank you again," she smiles, "I don't have opportunity to dress up often so I take the chances as they come."
"I don't know," His tone is a little teasing now, "you looked… dressed up… on Halloween."
"That?!" She laughs, "That was a muggle Halloween costume. It's how they dress when they pretend to be us."
"They think all witches look like that?" he asks, his tone not changing, though his face shows a bit of interest.
"Well, no… some think just the opposite. They see us with green skin and warts on our faces and long creepy fingers… more of a hag than a witch."
"I see," He says, "Well, if all muggles thought witches looked like you did on halloween, I believe there would have been far fewer burnings at the stake."
Luckily Madame Rosmerta arrives with their drinks and Chris avoids commenting by taking a sip of hers. The burning liquid rolls down her throat and brings with it a sense of confidence.
Small talk and innuendo continue through the meal. Each having a couple drinks and feeling comfortable and confident by the time the meal is over. Severus pays for the meal and then smiles at Chris.
"I must say, Christine, I have never enjoyed a Slytherin loss so much"
"Nor have I enjoyed a win as much," she answers. Severus holds the door for her and they move towards the passage.
"Would you like to continue the evening with a cup of coffee?" he asks
"If you are making it, then very much so."
"Of course," he leads the way down to his chambers and takes Chris' cloak as they enter. His cool fingers lightly brush over the bit of shoulder that is exposed by her wide necked dress and a small shiver passes up Chris' spine. She smiles to herself as she moves to take a seat. She watches him in silent interest as he mixes ingredients in the small coffee pot. She is impressed with his precision and concentration even on this simplest of pseudo-potions.
"I really wish you would teach me how you do that," she says with a smile as he hands her a steaming cup.
"As I told you before, family secret," he sits opposite her in a comfortable chair and sips his own drink.
"Not the coffee, though that would be nice, you change when you are mixing things. Your face is softer, maybe even a bit younger. You are so focused on what you are doing. You can tell you love it." She praises him without thought, though it is obvious he doesn't get honest praise very often.
"If I could, I would. Unfortunately I have never been able to teach that. It's why I want the dark arts job. I can teach spells and wand work, thought processes and attention to surroundings. Potions really are more of a talent than a skill. You have to know whether the fire is too hot or cool by feel and by instinct. You have to smell the perfume of a perfect mixture of ingredients. You must sense the one thing that a potion needs to do your bidding. Those things can no more be taught than a metamorphmangus can teach you how to change your height without spell or wand."
"I see. I will leave it to the master then," she smiles.
"That is best," he smiles teasingly; "a cauldron in the hands of an unskilled amateur is a highly dangerous thing."
"It is," she laughs, "and I am truly an unskilled amateur." She drains her cup and sets it on the table in front of her. "I suppose I should be getting back soon," she says, making no move to get up.
"You could…Maybe even should," he says coolly.
"But?" She asks softly
"But you don't have to." He sits forward in his chair, his long fingers folded and his elbows resting on his knees.
"What else would you suggest I do then?" Chris also sits forward, she crosses her ankles demurely.
"I would suggest," his voice takes on a silky note, "That you stay a while longer, that we have another drink or two, that perhaps after I pour them I join you on the couch, and that you contemplate allowing me to share breakfast with you." Chris looks at him a long time. There is silence as she thinks over his proposal.
"How about that drink then…" is her only reply.
It is much later when Chris awakens. She doesn't remember putting on the long black silk shirt that she finds herself wearing, but she is glad for its warmth. She looks up at the sleeping man beside her and smiles. She places a small, gentle kiss on his chest before snuggling closer to him and drifting back off to sleep.
Chris wakes the next morning to an empty bed. She sits up slowly and looks around the room, finding it also empty, she slides out of bed. She feels very odd and out of place without him here. The darkness of the room that seemed so perfect last night seems more than suffocating now. She checks the shirt she is wearing to make sure it's long enough and then steps slowly to the open bedroom door. She peeks out and finds Severus sitting at a small desk in front of him is a line of potion bottles, each a different size and each containing a different colored potion. Chris watches silently as he makes a note and then moves the bottles around, makes another note and moves them again several times before stepping up behind him.
"Good morning," She says softly.
"Good morning, Christine," he says as he sets his quill down and turns to face her. He is in black pajama pants and a thin robe that falls open as he turns.
"It's a bit early to be grading isn't it?" She asks with a note of teasing in her voice.
"This, it's not grading. Just a project I am working on," he answers dismissively. He stands and moves to meet her in the middle of the room. His hands slide around her waist and hers move up his arms. Chris turns her face up to his and she leans into him a little. "Would you care for some breakfast? We have missed it upstairs but we could have something sent down."
"Sounds wonderful…" she lays her head on his chest a moment and closes her eyes. Severus kisses the top of her head and then steps back a bit.
"The bathroom is right through there," He nods to a door across the hall from his room. "You are welcome to freshen up while breakfast is on its way."
"Thanks," Chris gets up on her tip toes and kisses him softly before turning to get cleaned up. Chris collects her clothing from the night before and heads in to take a shower. She spells her underthings clean and transfigures her cocktail style dress into something more comfortable, but still cute. By the time she has showered and spelled her hair straight and dry and slipped into her dress breakfast is laid out on the coffee table. She moves to sit in the chair and they eat in companionable silence. Severus sits back on the couch with his coffee cup as Chris does the same in her chair.
"It seems we have to discuss some things," he says. His tone is not harsh, but also doesn't have the softness it bore the night before.
"So it would seem," she answers, a bit nervous suddenly.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my time with you last night, Christine," he pauses a moment, choosing his words carefully. "I do not believe, however, that it would be in either of our best interests to share what happened with anyone."
"No, I don't suppose it would," she says, pulling her legs up under her to sit cross legged in the chair, her dress just long enough to cover. "I had no intention of blabbing to the world anyway though."
"I didn't think you would," he answers with a small smile. "I was simply stating it for the record. I would like to see you again, soon, but discretely."
"I am staying here for Christmas break." She answers with a small smile.
"I, however, am not able to. I have some business matters to attend to in London, but perhaps I will make it a point to return as soon as I am able to."
"I would like that." Is Chris' only answer. A clock on the wall softly chimes the hour and Chris lets out a sigh as she looks up at it. "I had better be going, I have tests that must be graded today so that my 5th years can use them to study from."
"I understand… It never is done is it?" He stands as she does and offers her a hand, leading her to the door.
"No, it would probably end sooner for me if I didn't put things off, but that is what always seems to happen. I will be grading these papers right up till the moment class begins tomorrow." She answers with a small laugh as they stop beside the book case.
Severus just smiles and slides his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him. He leans down and places a tender kiss on her lips.
"Have a good day, Christine. I will see you tonight, at supper" he says before opening the hidden door.
"You too, Severus." She blushes a deep red at meeting his eyes and seeing the look in them. She turns quickly and her heels click on the stone floor as she disappears down the hall.
