Chapter 10: Spun, soft as silk, into a web
As he bolted for the door, she struggled to rein in the emotions and sensations that had overwhelmed her. Shaking her head as if to dissolve the images he had brought back to the surface, she gripped the edge of the sink and breathed deep. Knowing he must be hurting as well, or at least was reeling from the shock of finding himself literally face-to-face with everything his father had done, Cassie turned and ran out after him. She raced down the stairs to the first floor, looking left, right. No sign of him there, she hurried on to the first floor stairs and saw him sprinting toward the entrance hall on the ground floor. Halfway down yet bypassing students and professors alike, she heard the clang of one of the great oak doors slamming shut. Ignoring the questions being shouted at her, she looked down to see Severus and Dumbledore standing looking aghast in front of the great hall.
"Professor, what--" Dumbledore began. Cassie shook her head, cutting him off mid-question.
"Draco! He did the legili...thing!" She gestured helplessly, stuck on the word. "He saw everything," she exclaimed and stood quaking with fear and shock, wringing her hands..
Wasting no time, Dumbledore himself rushed to the door and, swinging it open, turned to Severus. "Help her. I'll see to him."
"Yes, Headmaster," Severus nodded once, and taking Cassie's arm, lead her steadily down the dungeon stairs and into his quarters. Ushering her into a green brocade armchair, he tapped his wand to the lamp on the table beside it, lighting a single flame to chase away the gloom of the darkened room. He took one look at her, still shivering wordlessly, her eyes lowered, and summoned a bottle of brandy and a snifter from the cabinet across the room. "Drink," he ordered, pressing the glass into her clammy hand. Turning to the fireplace, he flicked his wand at the grate, which erupted at once into a roaring fire. Then, kneeling in front of her as she sipped slowly and placed the glass on the table, he took both her hands in his and rubbed them.
"What happened?" was his only question.
"He...ah, had gotten into it with one of the other students, Barny Doge. They calmed down a bit when I told them to knock it off. And this was right at the end of class when they're starting to pack up anyway," she took another steadying breath, and clasped his hands. "He made some smart remark about how he could never understand what his father was thinking and I--I was stirred up already anyway from listening to the two of them...I said 'as well you shouldn't, Junior'. And he recognized it, that nickname. I'd called him that back at the Manor. I could see it in his face when he caught it. And he jumped up and screamed at me...and he ran out. I followed him. I didn't think he should be alone. I followed him into that second floor bathroom where Myrtle hangs out, and he turned on me. He called me a murderer and asked me how I dared do what I did. He--he freaking raised his wand and yelled that spell...and it just drudged everything up all over again. He saw it all too. He can't possibly be ready to see all of that first-hand. I'm a grown woman and I can't stand it."
Severus reached up and wiped her cheeks, and only then did she realize she had been crying.
"Dumbledore will deal with him. He's the best one for it. Now, what you'll need is rest." He rose saying, "Accio Pensieve" and pulling her up with him. He held her steady by one arm as he turned flicking his wand opening the door for the Pensieve. He settled it on the table beside them and touched the tip of the wand to her temple, dragging it away as it pulled not one, but multiple shimmering threads from her head. Sighing in relief, she felt the disturbing images dissolving away. Looking into the sieve as he dropped them, she watched as they swirled and churned in its depths. "Let's get you up to your room, you can have a lie down there and we'll make your apologies at dinner. I shall cover your duties tonight if you have them, you needn't worry."
"I don't, not tonight. But Severus, just hold me a minute," she said, sliding her arms around his waist and resting her head against his chest. "Just for a minute."
He hesitated only a moment, before placing his arms around her tightly and, knowing he would be damned for it later, lifted a hand to stroke her hair as he pressed his lips to the top of her head. Feeling his warm mouth on her, Cassie raised her eyes to meet his and found herself drowning in their inky depths. Not even stopping think, but going purely on feeling, she leaned up, brushing her lips to his. His lips parted as his arms viced around her, deepening the kiss and lapping at her, softly at first, then more urgently. Her arms snaked up, fisting in his hair as she claimed him, nibbling his lower lip and moaning when he reached up to cup her breast, grazing a thumb over her already sensitive nipple.
All at once, the fireplace flared and they broke apart, only to find themselves facing Dumbledore, who had stuck his head in the flue. "Severus," he spoke as though he'd noticed nothing amiss. "I have Draco with me and he's ready to talk here in my office."
"Yes, Headmaster. I will be there momentarily." With that, Dumbledore was gone. As he looked back at Cassie, Severus realized he still had an arm possessively around her waist. Taking one more breath, he pressed a light kiss to her forehead and swept off for the headmaster's office without another word.