Chapter 10: Just when things were looking up

Severus returned to the school just before students' curfew and decided that he would spend the remainder of the evening in his own quarters to prepare for the expedition. He took the most direct path to the dungeons and as late as it was; he encountered no one along the way.

As he re-familiarized himself with a number of defensive spells that would be most useful against harpies, he decided that he would prepare a batch of replenishing potions which Poppy could use to supply the hospital wing and Lottie would have a few on hand for the day or possibly two that he would be gone. Once he'd finished preparing the potions, he finally went to bed, exhausted from having slept little the night before. He settled beneath the covers in his most comfortable position, cleared his mind of any concern or thoughts, and drifted off to sleep.

His dreams were of the decimated encampment and the injured people that were left in its wake. They were small compared to the giant, faceless aggressors that stomped the tents flat and swatted the little people like bugs.

There was a knock on the door and he shuffled over to open it. Lottie stood waiting for him. He cleared his head quickly and ushered her in.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "Are you unwell?"

"I'm fine," she whispered moving in close. "Are you?"

"What are you talking about? I'm perfectly healthy," he growled. "Why are you here?"

She pushed him against the door and kissed him. "I'm here because you want me to be," she answered. "Isn't this what you want? Your own songbird locked up in a cage just for you?"

"No," he said, pushing her out to arm's length. "I don't want a prisoner. I want..."

"You want to be loved," she finished for him, gently removing his hands and leaning against him. "And that's why I'm here. You can't tell me that you don't want me. You want someone to love you and I've answered the call."

She grabbed his crotch and fondled him. His body responded in kind. "I can't. Not with you being pregnant."

"Don't be a child," she whispered. She let her robe drop to the floor before divesting him of his own garments. "You know you want it, Severus."

He picked her up as she wrapped her legs around his midsection and adeptly slid herself onto him. He began to sweat as they fell onto his bed and the rhythmic motion set his pulse racing. He felt his whole body contract as he climaxed within her.

"That's not all you have in you," she teased, as she nibbled at his Adam's apple and he went erect again. "Yes, darling. I didn't think so."

He flipped her onto her back as he thrust into her and she called out in ecstasy. "Don't stop, Severus. I love you."

Severus didn't remember falling asleep. More importantly, he realized, as he opened his eyes and looked around a brightly illuminated room that was very much not his own, he didn't remember falling asleep in Camelot's bedroom. There he was, however, in her bed and covered by only a sheet; his robes tossed over her dressing table chair and she was nowhere in sight. He grabbed his clothes and dressed quickly.

He opened the bedroom door and saw Camelot asleep on the couch, a book in her hand. He tried to gently take the book from her but the movement startled her awake.

"G-g-good morn-ning," she said, sitting up. "F-f-f-feeling better?"

"How did I get here? The last thing I remember we were in my quarters," he explained.

"N-no, we w-weren't," she replied. "Y-y-you showed up last n-n-night ve-ry late. You w-w-were n-not yourself."

"So we didn't...?" he asked carefully, his face growing hot.

"Well," she said, sliding her feet off the couch so he could sit down. "N-not exactly."

"Shouldn't that be a yes or no answer?" he asked, feeling far more humiliated than he ever thought possible.

"You w-w-were ve-ry..." she stopped and searched for a word before continuing, "ex-cited when you arrived. I got you to bed and... helped y-y-you calm a b-bit before I gave you the sleeping draught th-that was sent for me. Un-der the cir-cumst-tances, I th-thought you w-w-wouldn't want anyone else to know."

"I'm not even certain what in Merlin's name happened to me," he said.

This time, Lottie blushed. "I th-th-think I might," she replied, automatically assuming a physically defensive position to protect her abdomen. "M-m-mind you, it w-w-wasn't done on pur-pose."

"What wasn't done on purpose?" he asked, noting her change in posture and realizing exactly why she'd moved. "I won't hurt you. Just tell me."

"It... it's part of a siren's body," she said. "The Sirens' call. Usually, it is done by choice but I d-d-don't have that cont-trol right now. Add in con-cep-tion and well... the house n-n-needs to be ven-ted."

"Wouldn't everyone else in the house have been affected?" Severus asked. "They will have to be warned."

"Someone w-was going to air the house," Lottie replied. "I am s-surprised that it was still so st-t-trong. It's been m-m-months and surely s-s-some one should have n-n-noticed at Christmas."

"I suppose that depends on whether or not they remained in the house after Christmas morning," he admitted. "Things were not precisely pleasant that morning."

"I g-g-guess not," Lottie said, looking away. Her eyes fell on the kettle that had been left for her use by the elves. "I'll put on some water for tea."

"You needn't bother on my account," Severus replied. "I should return to my quarters for a shower and make a call to Grimmauld."

"Oh, al-all right then," she said, standing as he did. She followed to open the door for him. "I h-h-hope you are b-better now."

"I regret causing you inconvenience last evening," Severus replied. "Of course, you understand that I was not behaving normally and would have never troubled you otherwise."

Lottie nodded as she bit her lip. He walked out the door and she shut it behind him slightly harder than it probably needed, but he was too preoccupied with getting in touch with someone at Headquarters before the youngsters started an orgy to notice.

Unlike the previous night, he wasn't able to return to the dungeons unseen and those students who stayed behind for the holiday were quick to note the direction from which he came. Pathetic attempts to remain stone faced to avoid his wrath were undermined by quiet whispers and snickers as he marched past, determined to reach his destination quickly.

As soon as he returned to his quarters, he first used the fire to call Grimmauld Place but no one answered. It was possible, he thought, that they hadn't heard the alarm ring out if they were having breakfast but more probable that no one was in. He then tried the Burrow which he found to be bustling with activity when he spoke out.

"Good morning, Severus," Molly said as she closed the door separating the kitchen and front rooms for a little more quiet. "You're calling bright and early."

"I was wondering, Molly," he said, trying to sound nonchalant, "if anyone had remained behind at Headquarters last night?"

"Oh, heavens no!" she replied. "After what Ginny told us about needing to open the windows and air the place; I wouldn't let anyone remain behind. That was a very useful assignment you gave her, Severus. It was clever of you to let the children know what needed to be done without having to explain it outright."

"Yes, that sort of a conversation would have indeed been awkward," Severus said, thankful that she couldn't see his embarrassment through the fire. "I am pleased that no one suffered any ill effects."

"None whatsoever," Molly said. "You're welcome to stop by, if you like. We're having a little friendly get together."

"Thank you, but no," Severus said. "I have a great deal of work to do."

He ended the call and started to use some clearing charms to freshen the air in his quarters as it, to him, still smelled. There was a definite downside to residing in the lower levels of the castle as he had no windows to open. He tidied up as he tried to figure out why he would have thrown his own things around the room. He picked up the robes he was wearing the previous evening and the smell hit him like a boulder. His clothing was saturated with sex; even a cleaning charm wouldn't eliminate the odor, in his opinion. He tossed the offending garments into the hearth where they burned quickly.

The influence from his clothing was pronounced and he decided that he couldn't bother to do another thing until he had a shower; a very cold shower. He stepped into his bathroom and proceeded to remove the smell from his body. It wouldn't do for him to go about the school having those urges all day long.

Once he felt purged of the sexual tension, Severus dressed in fresh robes and realized that he'd need another set made to replace the ones he'd burned. He sent an order to Madam Malkin's as she had his measurements of file and then made his way to the Great Hall for lunch. The tables were in a much more intimate arrangement as there were so few students left in the castle.

He sat next to Minerva who greeted him quietly. "Good afternoon, Severus," she said. "How was last night?"

"What?" he replied before he realized that she was referring to the Order meeting. "We have decided to wait until the harpy brooding season is over before trying to locate the entrance to the grotto where the soul jars are being held."

"How long might that take?" she asked casually but before he could answer; Professor Flitwick walked in and took his place. "You're quite late, Filius. Everything all right?"

"Oh, just fine," he replied. "Just stopped off to visit our guest. I think something might have been bothering her but she said it was just because of her hormones. Looked as if she'd been crying to me."

Severus couldn't imagine what happened between the time he left and Flitwick arrived that could have upset her so much. She hadn't seemed bothered by his interrupting her night at all; not that he could recall any of it. Surely, she wasn't upset by that? It wasn't as though he had control of himself. No, she was more sensible than that, he decided. He'd stop by her quarters and determine if she needed a calming draught.

After lunch was finished and everyone had filtered off to their afternoon activities, Severus made his way back to Camelot's apartment. He knocked and waited for a few minutes before the door opened. He was expecting to see her standing there but was instead greeted by Kreacher.

"Good afternoon, Master Snape," he said, sounding as insincere as ever. "Miss isn't having visitors, Sir."

"Where is Camelot, Kreacher?" Severus asked.

"Miss is currently indisposed, Sir," Kreacher mumbled in response.

"Is she well?" he prodded.

"Miss is well," Kreacher replied, most unhelpfully.

"Then I want to see her," Severus said. "Now."

Kreacher reluctantly opened the door and admitted him to the sitting room. He shuffled off to take the boiling kettle from the fire and made tea. Seeing that she wasn't in the sitting room, Severus walked over to the bedroom and noticed her garments on the bed. He knocked at the bathroom door after hearing a small splash of water from her movements.

"Are you in there, Camelot?" he asked.

"No, it's a rabid b-b-bab-boon," she replied. "Who w-w-would you expect to be in here?"

"I want to speak with you," he said. "I hope you won't be much longer."

"Hope all you like," she snapped.

"I want you to come out of there," Severus growled. "Or I'm coming in after you."

"Tough," she snarled back.

She jumped as he threw open the door and immediately sank beneath the thick layer of bubbles in the very large tub until just head and shoulders remained above water.

"Get out of here," she said, pulling her dripping wet hair away from her face. He could tell from her face that she had indeed been crying as her nose was swollen and her colorless eyes were rimmed by the red, inflamed blood vessels in her eyelids. "Why are you here, anyway?"

"Checking on you," Severus replied. "Professor Flitwick said that you were distressed. You have been crying."

She shrugged her shoulders at him, "S-so? W-w-what? You w-wanted to w-watch?"

"Don't be facetious, Woman," he replied, handing her a towel as he sat on the edge of the tub. "I came to ensure that you were not in need of a calming draught. How long have you been in here?"

"N-n-none of your busi-ness, she answered, setting the towel on the ledge next to her.

"A fair while, I'd say," he said, taking her hand and viewing the wrinkles on her fingertips. "I want to speak with you."

"I w-w-w-will be a few minutes more, Sn-nape," she said, taking her hand back.

"I want to talk to you," he replied. "Now get out of there."

She immediately stood and the bubbles from the bath slid down her body as she took the large towel and wrapped it around herself. She stepped out of the bathroom and went to get her robes and he followed her. He wasn't leaving until he got to the bottom of this crying nonsense. "I w-w-want to get dressed," she announced.

"I'm not stopping you," he said. "Your clothes are right there."

"Fine," she grumbled, drying off and setting the towel aside. It was the first time he'd really seen the belly that was starting to protrude from her and it seemed odd that there was a developing human within.

"I want to know why you were crying," he demanded.

"I'm p-p-preg-nant, for Christ's Sake!" she swore as she pulled her robe on over her head.

"Well, that's certainly nothing to be upset over," Severus said. "There must be another cause for it."

"Y-y-yeah, sure, and wh-when you f-f-fig-ure it out; y-you come and talk to me," Lottie said. "Do one th-thing for me though."

"What?" he asked.

"Say my name," she requested. He looked at her as if she were quite mad. "M-m-my name. Say it."

"Camelot," he said. "Why?"

"I w-w-wanted to m-make sure you were n-n-not under the influence of the call," she replied. "Last night, you came here p-p-passionate that you loved me. Th-then you call-ed me Lily again. Th-th-that is h-how I knew w-w-what was wrong."

"What do you mean 'again'?" he asked. "I can hardly be expected to be held accountable for being under the influence of an exceptionally powerful magic."

"I'm n-n-not hol-ding you r-re-res-s-s..." she stopped, sounding frustrated. "I know it's n-n-not your fault, Snape."

"So what has all this crying has been about?" he demanded. "It seems a foolish waste of time if you already know that."

"I'm not m-m-made of st-teel," Lottie replied softly. "And being p-p-preg-nant isn't helping. I d-d-don't know if I am hap-py or sad or an-gry or ov-verjoyed m-most of the time."

"If I have hurt your feelings," he said uncomfortably, "I apologize. I did not form any intent to do so. Perhaps I should leave."

"An-swer me s-s-something b-be-fore you go. Do you w-want this child?" Lottie asked.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Severus asked. "The child has already been conceived."

"That doesn't m-m-mean you want it," Lottie replied.

"You are being ridiculous now," Severus said. "And I won't rise to the challenge this time. This emotional instability has taken hold of your senses and I will leave until such time as you have regained some semblance of normalcy."

"Y-y-you dr-dr-dragged me out of the bath to talk," she yelled. "And when the qu-question is one you don't like; you run off. B-bloody typical man."

"The question is both insulting and offensive," Severus said, heading for the door. "I have an obligation and a duty that I will fulfill. Good day, Camelot."

He slammed the outer door behind him roughly as he stormed back through the castle wondering why it was that he'd even bothered in the first place. He couldn't make that woman talk sense no matter how hard he tried. It was in her nature to be stupid, he decided as his mind raged. She had been from the beginning.

He remained in a foul humor the rest of the day and well into the next as he prepared for the students to return from their weekend holiday. He was coaxed out of his office when an explosion rocked the lower dungeon level.

He sped toward the Potions classroom where smoke billowed out from beneath the door. He nearly blew the door from its hinges with a charm and the few windows in the corridor opened of their own accord in response to the smoke. It was nearly impossible to see the desks where students usually worked but Severus was so well acquainted with that room that he navigated without trouble.

Finding the source of the explosion at the teacher's table, he quickly dispersed the bubbling goo from the cauldron. He found Kernfaul lying unconscious on the far side of the room. He levitated the man up to the hospital wing where Poppy attended him. Minerva rushed in only a few moments later to find out what had happened.

"His vital signs are very poor," Poppy determined after performing a number of diagnostic charms. "It will be touch and go for now. He will be unfit for duty for some time, however."

"How did this happen?" Minerva asked, her brow furrowed in concern.

"It appeared that a potion exploded," Severus replied. "I did not take the time to ascertain what he was brewing at the time but suffice it to say that he was fortunate that I was in my office at the time."

"I don't understand," Minerva said, looking at the fallen man. "He's always been a brilliant Potions Master. I can't figure out why he's had so many accidents this year."

"Must haf dozed off, Fraulein," Kernfaul coughed as he woke slightly. He groaned in pain as Madam Pomfrey got a potion into his mouth. "I get tired so quickly these days. I vill be fine in a few moments."

"It's going to take more than that to have you on your feet again, Professor," Poppy interrupted. "Your heart is very weak. Your classes will have to be cancelled for at least a week, if not two."

"No," Severus said. "I will take over the Professor's classes for the week. This close to exams is no time to fail the students in educating them."

Severus then left to take an overview of where Kernfaul's students were in their lessons for the year. He determined that the first thing they would need was a review of the basics. He spent the rest of that night preparing to step into a classroom for the first time in over two years.

Author's Note: Like always, I hope everyone enjoys this latest chapter. Many thanks to Lady Ruatha for the excellent help and guidance. I also want to thank those who have placed this story on their favorites and alerts. Please feel free to leave a review and/or PM me with questions. I appreciate them and will answer what I can without giving away spoilers.