"Dragon Heartstring and Unicorn hair are elemental opposites. Phoenix feather and Manticore Hair are elemental opposites. I don't remember the opposed element for Veela Hair," I mumbled, more to myself than anyone else.
"Also Unicorn Hair. A secondary substitute for Unicorn hair is Moonfilly blood, when freely given," Severus said from the wingback hair in the corner.
"Thank you," I replied, letting my head come down to rest on the plush ivory carpet.
"Why are you lying on the floor?" he asked.
"I told you this before. It's more comfortable."
"It's past curfew," he stated.
"Really. What are they going to do to me? Take house points?" I laughed.
"I think you're exhausted," Severus said to me, getting up from his chair.
"I agree. But I'm only doing it this once and it will be over in the morning," I said, rolling onto my back to look up at him, "I can see up your coat."
"Now you're just being silly," he said, giving me a hand to help me up.
"Thanks for the study area. It's just too loud everywhere I go."
"I understand. Sit down for a minute with me," he motioned to the seating in the room. I chose the chair opposite his and sat down. He gestured for me to wait a moment and walked into the kitchen. I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the back of the chair. I shivered a moment later and pulled the throw from behind my head to my lap. A shot of my wand to the fireplace a moment later left me more comfortable.
"Have a sip," he said, handing me a small glass with amber colored liquid in it.
"What is it?" I asked, wrinkling my nose at the strong scent.
"Ogden's Old. Fifteen year. You don't have to," he said, reaching for the glass.
"No, I will," I said, taking a mouthful. I promptly started coughing, great hacking chest coughs.
"Try breathing first. Maybe neat whiskey wasn't the best thing to start you on," he said, taking the glass from me and throwing several ice cubes and a squirt of water from his wand into it, "Try this."
I sipped again, the water and ice cooling the fire of the whiskey in my throat this time. It was surprisingly smooth going down and warmed my whole body.
"It's all right," I said, handing it back to him. I smiled sheepishly and he cleared his throat.
"Oh! Ginevra!" Severus cried, suddenly running to the bathroom.
"What?" I ran after him through the bedroom and into the bathroom.
"You're pregnant!" he said, frantically searching around in the cabinet.
"Yes, I am," I said, looking at him with suspicion.
"You can't have alcohol right now!"
"Severus," I said, shaking my head, "That's why I only imbibed two sips."
"Don't do it again," he warned, handing me a purple vial.
I sniffed it. This one wasn't flavored for my comfort, "What is this?"
"Sober-up potion," he said, handing me another, "And a hydrating solution."
"Sober-up? From two sips?"
"Just take them."
I did what he asked, just because I didn't feel like fighting. The first, as I thought, was not flavored and basically tasted like old vinegared socks and mothballs.
"Thuck! It puths my thung athleep," I said, glaring at him.
"It'll go away in a moment. Take the other," he said, leaning against the counter.
I downed it, glad that this one, pale blue in color tasted of spearmint.
"Thanks," I replied, looking into the bedroom at his bedside clock. 11:15.
"You really should be going. You have to be at the test early. Well, early for you," he said, leading me back into the living room.
"Noon? No, I'll be up by at least eleven fifty," I smirked, gathering up my books.
"Ginevra," Severus said, putting his hand on my arm as I started to walk out.
"Yes?"
"Would you please come here at six o'clock tonight? I promised you dinner," he said, eagerness shining in his eyes.
"Of course," I replied, "I don't blame you for not wanting to get me at my rooms. I'll be off now."
I smiled and reached up to him, tailing my hand along his jaw lightly before I flushed and walked out the door.
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"How are things going with Lavender and Seamus?" I asked Hermione as we walked out of the testing site.
"Well, of course Lavender isn't pleased and Seamus also is not happy about the consummation. But it will only be once and then we'll go to the doctor. We found one that's a squib, she understands what's going on and supports our decisions," she said, hitching her satchel up again.
"I have an appointment with a woman in Salem next week. I had to take a potion for the morning sickness today. Severus flavored it for me though."
"Snape being nice?" Hermione asked, quirking a brow.
"Yeah, who would have thought?"
"What did you to to him?"
"Agreed to a date?"
"Snape? A date?"
"Stop being so surprised every time he shows a human tendancy."
"I'll try. What kind of date is it?"
"I don't really know. Muggle."
"I'll go ask him. Meet me in my rooms."
"You'll go ask him?"
"Yeah. I have to give him these papers anyway," she replied heading off, "Oh, yes, password is 'do your homework'."
I laughed, heading in the opposite direction. When I got to the floo I threw in a liberal amount and called.
"Oh dear Tonksy baby,"
"Gins?" Came her voice back.
"Yeah. Hermione asked me to call you to her rooms. I have a date."
"A date?" Minerva McGonagall's head popped through, replacing Tonks', "You don't need her, you need me."
"You?"
"I am a transfiguration mistress."
"All right. Come to Hermione's rooms, both of you," I rolled my eyes and laughed.
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"So, Remus," McGonagall said after I had let the three of them into Hermione's rooms, "You dated our darling Severus for a while- any pointers for Ginny?"
"Minerva," Remus said warningly.
"What? It's not like it's a secret."
"Yeah, we all know," Hermione said.
"And you?" Remus addressed me.
"Yup, me too," I laughed.
"Fine," He sighed, "Severus and I were friends for a while before Tonks and I started having problems. He had made it known a while before that he would not be opposed to having a relationship with me. So, one night, at headquarters…"
"One night at headquarters what?" I cried.
"One night they bounced into bed and Remus didn't let him out for hours," Tonks finished.
"Fantastic?" McGonagall took the words right out of my mouth.
"Ginny is a lucky girl."
"Now is he as hung as she said he was?" Hermione pressed.
"Depends. How big did she say?"
"More than eight inches," Tonks replied.
"True," He smiled, "Now, Minerva, Tonks, Hermione, let's find dear Ginny an outfit that'll make Severus want to show her exactly how wild he is.
We all went back to my rooms and they decided that everything I owned was just too wizardy we journeyed to Tonks' closet where many a scandalous outfit was produced.
"Wow, Gins, that's absolutely smoldering," Hermione said, motioning me to turn in a circle for her.
"Thanks," I smiled. I stood in Tonks' closet, my ankles and feet covered with clothes. I turned around for the gathered group, the floaty silk swirling around my legs softly. I wore a cream colored corset top with black piping around the top and bottom and along the boning. I was laced with black ribbons in the back and closed with frog closures in the front. A vibrantly colored skirt fell to mid-calf orange at the waistband and flowing to light red and then a deep crimson at the hem. A simple pair of black heels completed the outfit. Minerva wrapped a sheer cream colored wrap around my shoulders and on second look I saw that it was shot with gold threads.
"Let's leave your hair down tonight," Tonks suggested. I agreed and sat down patiently for her to put my makeup on.
"Remus, tell me more. My Mum and Tonks led me to believe that the thing between you and Severus lasted a bit longer than a day/night."
"And day/night, day/night, day/night, day/night…" Tonks quipped.
"Nymphadora, do you want her to know or not?"
"I want to know," Hermione inserted.
"I as well," I said.
"Severus was a good lover. I won't call him kind or gentle. No use getting your hopes up. While the sex was fantastic the best part of out relationship was the equality and the loyalty. No one ever doubted who's side Severus was on, even if I was wrong. He'd tell me that later. This may be a bit graphic, but, it's the best way I know to describe the even footing we were on in our relationship: In male on male sex there's a man and a man-woman. At times I was the man. At others I was the man-woman, if you catch my deeper meaning."
"Wow. I never want to think of Snape getting it in the arse ever again. No offence meant, Remy," Hermione said.
"None taken," he said as Tonks threw a hint of berry shaded lipstick on my lips. She frowned and replaced it with a deep wine color.
"Blimey, I forgot," Hermione said, jumping from her seat, "Harry and Ron are coming today."
"When are they going to be here?" I asked.
"Tonks! Moony!" Came Ron's voice from the sitting room.
"Speak of the devils," Hermione said, rushing up to greet them. They came back into the bathroom where Tonks and Remus and I sat.
"Hello Moony, Minerva, Tonks, and Gin," Harry said, hugging us each in turn.
"Hello Harry," I smiled.
"You look smashing, darling," he replied.
"My baby sister there," Ron said warningly.
"Come off it, Ronniekins," I retorted, embracing him next, "Is it possible that you've grown even taller?"
"Possible," he smiled.
"He eats enough," Hermione said.
"He always has," I replied.
"Sit down, Ginny, we've got to finish your visage," Tonks said.
"We'll be in the sitting room if you need us," Minerva said, leading the others out of the room.
When Tonks pronounced me finished we came upon a rather passionate argument in the sitting room.
"So you're just going to sit there and wait until the law affects you and you can't choose who you're with?" Hermione crid.
"I don't know, Mione, I just don't know," Harry replied.
"You're Harry Bloody Potter, you could choose anyone!"
"Ministry does the selections," he said, looking to Minerva for support.
"You'll have your pick of women, Harry," she confirmed.
"I say that you grab that pretty young thing that we met at Ginny's wedding. Smith, wasn't it?" Ron said.
"Trinity?" Hermione and I exclaimed at once.
"She's not your type of girl," I said quickly.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"She's not the type just to bounce into bed with a pretty face," Hermione replied.
"Are you calling me a playboy?"
"If the shoe fits," Hermione muttered.
"Awesome, just awesome. I think she's sweet, so sue me."
"Anyway," Remus interjected, "You need to get going, Ginny. It's almost 6:00."
"You're right. I'll see you all later."
I sighed as I walked out the door. I took a turn towards my rooms so that I could pick up a handbag when I bumped into Trinity.
"Ready for the big date?"
"Yeah," I replied, "Where are you headed?"
"Tonks'. We're going to play monopoly tonight."
"Don't. Harry's there trying to convince us that the two of you should marry."
"What?"
"Basically he thinks you're pretty."
"Silly man," she smiled.
"Well, it's your choice," I said, shrugging my shoulders.
"Thanks for the warning. And you look good enough to eat, no pun intended."
"Trinity. What am I going to do with you?"
"I don't know. Have a good time though."
"Thanks," we parted ways and I went back to my rooms to get the bag I left.
I got to Severus' rooms at let myself in. I was about to call for him when I heard the first notes of an unfamiliar song. I looked at the clock. I was early. I focused on the music and followed it until I spied Severus sitting in his study, his fingers stroking ivory and black keys.
I stood mesmerized by the sight of him, his hair falling over his shoulders as he played.
Moments later a deep, rich baritone joined the piano.
I heard there was a secret chord
that David played and it pleased the lord
but you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
the minor fall, the major lift.
The baffled king composed hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
He sang, his voice low and mournful. The notes combined with his voice made my heart turn over and I suddenly yearned for my husband.
Suddenly the music stopped and he whipped his head over to look at me.
"That was beautiful," I whispered, unable to choke out more.
He merely inclined his head in acknowledgement, "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes. Are you going to tell me where we're going?"
"I suppose," He said, going to the hall closet, "I didn't buy you flowers."
"I didn't expect it," I snorted.
"But I did take the liberty of buying this," he said, pulling a muggle leather jacket out, "You see, as a half-blood I have an appreciation of muggle transportation. Have you ever ridden a motorbike, Ginevra?"
"A motorbike? You have a motorbike?" I asked incredulously.
"Yes, I do. Wear these," he said, handing me the jacket and a round hard thing.
"What is this?" I asked.
"A helmet. It goes on your head when you ride. Put it on outside."
I put on the jacket, surprised at it's weight. He also had obviously put a warming charm on it as well.
"Shall we?" he extended his arm.
"Where are we going?" I asked a second time. I took a moment to appraise his apparel, which was not usual robes. Instead he wore a pair of plain black trousers and a deep blue colored button up shirt. He wore a runic pendant around his neck and he looked fresh from a shower.
"Tell me, Ginevra, Can you dance?"
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Song is 'Hallelujah', written by Leonard Cohen. The version that I like best is by Rufus Wainwright. This is the song I heard in my head while writing this.
