For the longest time no one said anything. They just stood there gaping at each other. Then Draco burst out laughing. They all slowly turned to look at him. Appalled that this would be his response to what they had just seen. He looked back at them as if he had done no wrong, 'What?'
Hermione, embarrassed and frustrated, huffed at Draco and sped out of the room. Pomona glanced at Neville who appeared to be suppressing his urge to vomit. 'Neville, Dear, are you ok? I'll just… take Mr. Longbottom to see Madame Pomfrey. Lovely to see you.' She said as she glanced back at Severus and Jordan who were still frozen in their rather compromising position.
Minerva was standing stock-still; looking at the Slytherin Heads of House has if her sanity had just broke. There was a smile on her face, but it was not kind.
Draco still stood behind her grinning ear to ear. His father was definitely going to hear about this. Severus would never live it down.
The silence was broken when poor Professor Flitwick came walking into the room, 'What's the matter here, Mrs. Weasley said something about- Oh Christ.' He gasped as he averted his eyes. 'Mr. Malfoy, explain?'
Severus stood and gave Draco a deathly stare, 'Do not explain, Mr. Malfoy.' He then took the top of Jordan's dress and covered her, adverting his eyes to the floor.
Professor Flitwick turned and looked at Severus, then to Minerva. 'Minerva, what is going on?'
'It's none of your business, Filius! Leave this instant…and take Mr. Malfoy with you!' She bellowed not breaking contact with the two before her.
The Charms professor exhaled as if he had been done a disservice and turned pulling Draco with him. Draco gave Severus a thumbs up as he left the room.
Minerva still stared at the two of them and swallowed hard.
Severus looked at her and spoke, 'Minerva, I can explain-'
'Hush, Severus. I wish to speak my mind. But first help Ms. Brooks rise to a more suitable position.'
Severus did so looking into her eyes apologetically. Jordan stared back at him sufficiently horrified, but thankful for his ministrations. She turned to look at a jovial looking Minerva. They both looked at her as if she had two heads.
She rushed toward them, enveloping them both in a constricting hug. 'Oh I knew you'd end up together!' They both looked at each other totally shocked at their boss's reaction.
'Granted, I wish I didn't have to find out this way, but nevertheless, it will be a lovely story to tell your children. Oh! Luna assured me it would be soon, but I had no idea she meant within a few weeks of you seeing each other again!'
Severus moved away from her and glared at Minerva. 'Ms. Lovegood told you?'
'Oh now, Severus, don't get your pants in a twist. I have a part to play. She had to tell me. You two are the most important couple in the wizarding world right now and I am one of the most powerful witches in that world. Did you honestly think you could hide this from me?'
Severus' features softened a bit, but he still looked a pale shade of green. 'We seemed to for a little while… I can't believe this. How could I have been so foolish…'
Minerva looked up at him and gaped. 'Oh come on now, Severus! This isn't the first time I've caught you in a rather compromising position.'
Jordan glanced up at Severus and smirked at the look on his face, if looks could kill. She reached over and grasped his hand. At this, his attention turned to their intertwined hands. He looked up at her face and gave her a half-smile.
Minerva looked at them both, pleased with what she saw. 'If you two don't mind following me to my office. There are some things we need to discuss. I'll give you a minute to compose yourselves.' She walked toward the door and stood outside in the corridor.
Severus quickly grabbed his wand and took her wrists. 'What are you doing?' She said as he began to move his wand in a swirling motion.
'The bandages have done their work, but I'm placing a glamor on your wrists. Minerva can't see the scars or she'll know. Thank Merlin your robe sleeves were long enough to hide them just now.' He stopped moving his wand and when she looked down at her wrists, all she saw was, unblemished skin. 'That should suffice. You'll have to wear it until your scars heal fully.' He stowed his wand away and began rolling his sleeves down, buttoning them into place.
Jordan retrieved her knickers and pulled them on. Smoothing her dress back into place, she glanced up at him.
He was watching her methodically as he buttoned the last of the buttons on his sleeves. She stepped over to him and ran her fingers through his hair.
'Thank you.' She said as she kissed his cheek. As she pulled back, she could see a glimmer of red rush into his cheeks.
He grabbed her waist and pulled her into him. 'No. Thank you.'
She looked up at him, confused.
'A conversation for another time.' He let her go and took her hand pulling her towards the door. Then he stopped abruptly and looked at her sternly, 'Remember. Let me do the talking.'
She nodded her head and smiled. 'Of course.' With that they walked out into the corridor.
Minerva turned and grinned at them. 'Shall we?'
They walked rather close on the way to the Headmistress's office as to embrace each other's hands, never ceasing to touch. Something seemingly unnoticed by Minerva.
As they sat in the high backed chairs in Minerva's office they were found out, 'I need not mention how your coupling should be discreet in the presence of your charges?'
'Oh, of course.' Jordan said rather hastily, trying to please her boss. Severus shot her a rather warning look and cleared his throat. 'It is very likely that, despite our ill attempts to hide this relationship, our snakes will come to the conclusion we are together or they will start viscous rumors. In that case would it not be pertinent to, how you say, spit it out?'
Jordan looked at Severus, completely forgetting his orders to let him do the talking, with an apologetic expression. Minerva looked at them both with her hand resting on the arm of her chair, seemingly thinking over the Potion Master's proposition.
He was obviously right. They reeked of longing. There was no way in God's green earth they would be able to hide such passion from their Slytherins, even if their goings-on where behind closed, hopefully silenced, doors. Upon the more clever ones figuring them out, there would be a scandal throughout the school. She couldn't have them make this relationship look indecent. Luna had warned her about the hubbub their relationship would cause. She couldn't have it reflect back on the school and she certainly cared about them too much to put their relationship in a bad light from the start. That would make their mission that much harder.
She seemed to come to her decision, 'Very well, Severus. I trust your better judgment. Now, I seem to have 'jumped the gun' as it were and came to conclusions before asking questions. Does this mean that you two are indeed together? Because I would hate to force anything on you.'
Jordan gave Severus and admiring look that told Minerva everything she need to know on her account, but what about the man who had seemed to resign his love life to be long over with the death of the only woman he ever loved?
Severus looked up from the hole he had stared into the floor at Minerva and then to Jordan. She looked positively radiant. He would have done anything for her before their coupling, but now that they had somewhat consummated their feelings and he had almost lost her because of his own misplaced anger, he decided he would move heaven and earth for her given the chance. He swallowed hard, glancing at the ground and smirking at her, 'Jordan is…' He wet his lips trying to find the right words to describe his feelings for her, 'the most intelligent, kind, and beautiful woman I have ever had the pleasure of coming in contact with. I am in awe of her growth over the years and only hope she allows me to assist her in her further growth.' He said giving her a knowing glance.
She couldn't keep looking at him. His words were so passionate and humbling. He was actually in awe of her? How could this man that seemed to be a tyrant in every sense of the term be so thoughtful and caring? She breathed in sharply and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
He stood and walked to her pulling her up and trading places with her, pulling her back down into his lap. Kissing the top of her head fully has he drew her into him.
She cried happy tears into his black, frock coat and felt as if she would be overcome with every fiber of his being.
He looked up to see Minerva dabbing at her eyes. Who knew Severus could be so caring and sweet? All it took was Jordan. Minerva agreed that she was no doubt all of the things Severus described her as, but the way he strung his words together even made her, in her old age, swoon and tear up. She pulled herself together, 'Well, I have no doubt you both will evolve and continue to draw from each other's strength and resilience. I wish you the very best. I know you will conduct yourselves with your usual grace and menace and do our school proud. Now, how soon would you like to reveal your relationship?'
Severus had been patting Jordan's head to soothe her and upon hearing Minerva's words, he himself was finding it hard to control his feelings. His Transfiguration Professor was finally praising him after all of these years. He snapped to attention upon hearing the last bit and Jordan moved her head up to look at him. 'What to you think, Sev?' She said with a hint of excitement in her voice.
He thought a moment, 'Personally, I'd like to tell everyone as soon as possible, but there does need to be some kind of resilience to contain our excitement.'
'Perhaps we could send letters to the parents the night of the beginning of school feast and I can present you both to the school that night as well?'
Jordan looked to Severus, 'I think that sounds perfect don't you?'
Severus looked at her and smiled, he still looked rather odd doing it, but she found it to be quite arousing as well. 'I agree.' Then he gently pushed Jordan up off of him and stood. 'Now, if that is all, Minerva-'
'Actually, Severus, I did have one more bit of advice that could probably save you both a bit of embarrassment.' Minerva chided.
He turned and quirked an eyebrow up to her.
'Maybe put a silencing charm on the room your inhabiting the next time you go exploring?' She said with a slight smirk.
Severus visibly straightened, obviously still rather embarrassed at the state his superior and his fellow staff had found them in earlier. 'Yes. Perhaps that wouldn't be ill advised. I do believe I got carried away last time,' He responded looking down at the witch in his arms. 'Thank you for understanding, Headmistress. I assure you, it will never happen again.'
'I hope not Severus. Now, you kids run along and play. I have paperwork to catch up on.' She said smiling at them and sitting down at her desk to submerge herself in her work.
Severus turned and calmly opened the door for his partner. And off they were, down to the dungeons.