Sorry you guys. I know this is a shorter chapter than most. Enjoy anyway.
It's snowing in London! Only problem is that the dogs keep pissing in it.
Shoot them down.
Shoot them down
Shoot them dooowwwwwwwwn
Chapter 9
"The *bodies*, Sev. We need to see the bodies."
He merely looked at me, wearily, the way a mother would at an exasperating child: **No dear, Santa Clause doesn't exist... only in your imagination...**
"Without any proof of those, we can't actually do anything."
**Yes, some people *do* believe in him... but you don't have to...**
"They've been returned to their parents, right?"
**Good girl! Now then, whose the cleverest little thing in the whole wide world?**
"And stop looking at me like that!" I eventually yelled. Severus dropped the books onto the bed and sat down beside them, crossing his legs and putting on his glasses. He picked up one of the large volumes and began to read. Now he was attempting to ignore me. Hah! Amateur.
I began to pace the room. We had agreed earlier that firstly, we should be asking ourselves *how* the victims were murdered and not *who*. With the problem of Dragonsalt and Voldemort on our hands, we could be pointing fingers at everyone who is anyone.
Severus was still ignoring me. No, he was now marking some homework.
"Severus, please answer me," I begged. He stopped marking the papers and looked up at me, over his glasses. He seemed to be giving me a look of deepest appraisal, using those black eyes of his to their greatest effect. "Yes?"
He sighed. "We still have the corpses. The Ministry has given us an extended lease of them."
"So, when can we see them? Sev this is-"
"Vital?" He glared at me, "you think I'm not aware of that? Fuck it all, Isaac, just shut up and leave me be. For now. Go and annoy Dumbledore, *please*. I happen to have work to do."
"What's that supposed to mean, you 'happen to have work to do'?"
"Well, what do you think?" He snapped. "I want to get this done before I can worry about a necrophile running amok!"
"Bastard," I muttered. "Bastard, bastard, *bastard*..."
"Isaac, stop...." He muttered, putting his face in his hands and drawing them through his hair. At that moment, he suddenly seemed so much older and careworn and, to tell the truth, my heart split into two. I know how corny that sounds, but it's true. I felt very stupid and scared all of a sudden.
"I'm sorry." I leaned back on the table facing Severus. He murmured something I didn't hear. "What was that?"
"I said, I know you are. It's not your fault. You've always been annoying and you always will be. I understand *completely*" He continued to mark the papers. I began to wonder what really went on within that cranium of his. I guess it isn't too difficult to think that he naturally despises everyone around him, but the thingis, I know he doesn't. Fuck it.
Instead of replying angrily, I walked over to the bed, sat on it and massaged Severus' shoulders. Unsurprisingly, he was very tense. "Sev," I murmured, "I'm sorry, it's... the thing is, this person isn't just a threat to Hogwarts... and, with this ... person.... maybe they're using something... a different sort of magic that we mayn't have heard of... and that's what's worrying me. We don't know anything about our murderer... could have the ability to destroy most of our present world.... Really, Severus, I won't bother you *ever* again if that's what you want."
His shoulders began to shake with laughter.
"I'm serious, I won't... about *anything*" His shoulders shook harder and I stopped massaging. "Bastard."
He pulled me back. "Isaac, forgive me... I didn't mean to laugh."
"And?"
Pause. "And to be so mean..."
"And?"
Another pause. "I can't think of anything else...."
"Oh yes....?"
"Oh yes! And to ignore you.... though you did ask for it... I've told you time and time again, Isaac, about the bodies. You never listen to me. Not ever," he sighed again. "And people wonder why I'm so cranky."
I let him kiss my hand.
"Will you be coming down for dinner tonight?" He asks.
"Unless you have any other plans...."
"No. Well yes, marking these dratted papers. They're all shite anyway.... I shouldn't bother."
I laughed before planting a kiss on his forehead and murmuring a quick 'I love you'. With Severus, you never dare to say anything sentimental out loud... unless you're stone cold drunk (which he then records and keeps in his archives for blackmail).
* * *
When the first drawer fell to the floor, Severus didn't shift. Obviously the sleeping potion was working. Still, I turned round to steal a glance at him just in case.
I breathed.
If Severus and Jenkins had taken pictures of the bodies in normal film, he would have done so - or at least, should have - in AutoChrosphyllis sensitive as well. Why he was so hesitant in showing them to me was another mystery I was going to have to work out.
There were files which I'd seen him place the developed photos into. These would be placed into the drawers of his large desk.
Severus shifted.
"No... no ... no. Where the fuck...?" I continued to rifle through the documents. There were a few papers - by that I mean essayish types with pencilled marks all over it. Severus' handwriting - which seemed useful so I put those aside to look at later. I came across a few photos, some of which I had seen, the ones I hadn't I also set aside, making a mental note where I had found them.
"Damn him!" I hissed under my breath. I had to go through another file.
Even without the potion, with a load of homework to mark a few hours before, only a sledgehammer could wake Sev up this night. The first drawer slid neatly into place. The second drawer was withdrawn.
Books. Pamphlets.... Photo cases.
The cases came out first. A little thrill ran through me as I opened them.
As I flicked open the catch with a rather subdued click, several negatives suddenly fell out. Most bizzarrely, they were empty.
The second case was full of empty negatives, but they had been cut from the roll. Had Severus wiped them?
"Isaac?"
Shit.
The voice sounded far nearer than I would have liked. He was behind me, his right hand sneaking up to the negatives. I handed them to him, trying to seem as calm as possible.
"What on earth-?" I turned round to answer, but before I could, he'd raised an eyebrow and said, "Ah... AutoChrosphyllis.... sorry Isaac, Dumbledore wouldn't allow it."
"Wh-"
"I don't know, didn't ask. Don't care much to be precise. We've got the locations, that's the important thing. We'll have to wait until the summer term to get a look at the bodies, anyway...-"
"But by that time..."
"I know, it'd be too late. We'll see, Isaac. I *am* tired and I've got too much on my hands at present to bother much with raped corpses. We are trying, maybe not our best, but we are trying.... I guess..." He looked thoughtful. "Next time, *ask*, though."
"I thought you were asleep." I replied softly.
"With the amount of sleeping draught you put into that cup, you could have kept me asleep for centuries. No, no, Isaac... you went about it the wrong way. I *am* a Potions *Master*... I could practically smell it from the door." He smiled. "No matter. To bed. I have only three papers to mark now. I'll join you soon."
Rising, I turned to the bed and saw a few wisps of smoke. I should have realised.
A bloody simulacrum.
* * *
Three weeks after that night, I was immersed in homework. Severus suddenly came into the study, grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the room.
There, in our chambers, sat Remus Lupin. When we entered the room, he got up and started to smile.
"Good news Isaac," he said. "We have something."
"Oh, Goodie, what?" I grinned.
"A stash of Dragonsalt was found in a secret vault in the walls of Gringotts," Severus had a shrewd look in his eye. "Only now... it's not so secret." Remus nodded. "The bags had the markings of one of the main Dragonsalt supplier in our world. This doesn't tell us much, but it *is* something..."
"You guys are really exited about this, aren't you?"
"Oh yeah," Remus smirked. "Big time. We have a link."
"Oh-?"
"Fingerprints have been identified...." Severus started.
"Really?"
"Belonging to Mr. Liljoy and Madam Hoota. Both work under the pseudonym of Georgee Grates. Both have fled to America, but we've got something to go on... that's... something." Severus sighed. "Well, we've told him now, you can piss off Remus."
"Well, I know when I'm not welcome... Are you coming Isaac?"
Severus cleared his throat and gave Remus an angry look. The man simply looked at him levelly and innocently. I had to stop myself from bursting out into peals of laughter. It was like seeing a remake of our relationship in short.
"Fine, you can stay. But... oh, forget it...."
I winked at Remus and he grinend in return.
I was starting to like this guy.
Shoot them down.
Shoot them down
Shoot them dooowwwwwwwwn
Chapter 9
"The *bodies*, Sev. We need to see the bodies."
He merely looked at me, wearily, the way a mother would at an exasperating child: **No dear, Santa Clause doesn't exist... only in your imagination...**
"Without any proof of those, we can't actually do anything."
**Yes, some people *do* believe in him... but you don't have to...**
"They've been returned to their parents, right?"
**Good girl! Now then, whose the cleverest little thing in the whole wide world?**
"And stop looking at me like that!" I eventually yelled. Severus dropped the books onto the bed and sat down beside them, crossing his legs and putting on his glasses. He picked up one of the large volumes and began to read. Now he was attempting to ignore me. Hah! Amateur.
I began to pace the room. We had agreed earlier that firstly, we should be asking ourselves *how* the victims were murdered and not *who*. With the problem of Dragonsalt and Voldemort on our hands, we could be pointing fingers at everyone who is anyone.
Severus was still ignoring me. No, he was now marking some homework.
"Severus, please answer me," I begged. He stopped marking the papers and looked up at me, over his glasses. He seemed to be giving me a look of deepest appraisal, using those black eyes of his to their greatest effect. "Yes?"
He sighed. "We still have the corpses. The Ministry has given us an extended lease of them."
"So, when can we see them? Sev this is-"
"Vital?" He glared at me, "you think I'm not aware of that? Fuck it all, Isaac, just shut up and leave me be. For now. Go and annoy Dumbledore, *please*. I happen to have work to do."
"What's that supposed to mean, you 'happen to have work to do'?"
"Well, what do you think?" He snapped. "I want to get this done before I can worry about a necrophile running amok!"
"Bastard," I muttered. "Bastard, bastard, *bastard*..."
"Isaac, stop...." He muttered, putting his face in his hands and drawing them through his hair. At that moment, he suddenly seemed so much older and careworn and, to tell the truth, my heart split into two. I know how corny that sounds, but it's true. I felt very stupid and scared all of a sudden.
"I'm sorry." I leaned back on the table facing Severus. He murmured something I didn't hear. "What was that?"
"I said, I know you are. It's not your fault. You've always been annoying and you always will be. I understand *completely*" He continued to mark the papers. I began to wonder what really went on within that cranium of his. I guess it isn't too difficult to think that he naturally despises everyone around him, but the thingis, I know he doesn't. Fuck it.
Instead of replying angrily, I walked over to the bed, sat on it and massaged Severus' shoulders. Unsurprisingly, he was very tense. "Sev," I murmured, "I'm sorry, it's... the thing is, this person isn't just a threat to Hogwarts... and, with this ... person.... maybe they're using something... a different sort of magic that we mayn't have heard of... and that's what's worrying me. We don't know anything about our murderer... could have the ability to destroy most of our present world.... Really, Severus, I won't bother you *ever* again if that's what you want."
His shoulders began to shake with laughter.
"I'm serious, I won't... about *anything*" His shoulders shook harder and I stopped massaging. "Bastard."
He pulled me back. "Isaac, forgive me... I didn't mean to laugh."
"And?"
Pause. "And to be so mean..."
"And?"
Another pause. "I can't think of anything else...."
"Oh yes....?"
"Oh yes! And to ignore you.... though you did ask for it... I've told you time and time again, Isaac, about the bodies. You never listen to me. Not ever," he sighed again. "And people wonder why I'm so cranky."
I let him kiss my hand.
"Will you be coming down for dinner tonight?" He asks.
"Unless you have any other plans...."
"No. Well yes, marking these dratted papers. They're all shite anyway.... I shouldn't bother."
I laughed before planting a kiss on his forehead and murmuring a quick 'I love you'. With Severus, you never dare to say anything sentimental out loud... unless you're stone cold drunk (which he then records and keeps in his archives for blackmail).
* * *
When the first drawer fell to the floor, Severus didn't shift. Obviously the sleeping potion was working. Still, I turned round to steal a glance at him just in case.
I breathed.
If Severus and Jenkins had taken pictures of the bodies in normal film, he would have done so - or at least, should have - in AutoChrosphyllis sensitive as well. Why he was so hesitant in showing them to me was another mystery I was going to have to work out.
There were files which I'd seen him place the developed photos into. These would be placed into the drawers of his large desk.
Severus shifted.
"No... no ... no. Where the fuck...?" I continued to rifle through the documents. There were a few papers - by that I mean essayish types with pencilled marks all over it. Severus' handwriting - which seemed useful so I put those aside to look at later. I came across a few photos, some of which I had seen, the ones I hadn't I also set aside, making a mental note where I had found them.
"Damn him!" I hissed under my breath. I had to go through another file.
Even without the potion, with a load of homework to mark a few hours before, only a sledgehammer could wake Sev up this night. The first drawer slid neatly into place. The second drawer was withdrawn.
Books. Pamphlets.... Photo cases.
The cases came out first. A little thrill ran through me as I opened them.
As I flicked open the catch with a rather subdued click, several negatives suddenly fell out. Most bizzarrely, they were empty.
The second case was full of empty negatives, but they had been cut from the roll. Had Severus wiped them?
"Isaac?"
Shit.
The voice sounded far nearer than I would have liked. He was behind me, his right hand sneaking up to the negatives. I handed them to him, trying to seem as calm as possible.
"What on earth-?" I turned round to answer, but before I could, he'd raised an eyebrow and said, "Ah... AutoChrosphyllis.... sorry Isaac, Dumbledore wouldn't allow it."
"Wh-"
"I don't know, didn't ask. Don't care much to be precise. We've got the locations, that's the important thing. We'll have to wait until the summer term to get a look at the bodies, anyway...-"
"But by that time..."
"I know, it'd be too late. We'll see, Isaac. I *am* tired and I've got too much on my hands at present to bother much with raped corpses. We are trying, maybe not our best, but we are trying.... I guess..." He looked thoughtful. "Next time, *ask*, though."
"I thought you were asleep." I replied softly.
"With the amount of sleeping draught you put into that cup, you could have kept me asleep for centuries. No, no, Isaac... you went about it the wrong way. I *am* a Potions *Master*... I could practically smell it from the door." He smiled. "No matter. To bed. I have only three papers to mark now. I'll join you soon."
Rising, I turned to the bed and saw a few wisps of smoke. I should have realised.
A bloody simulacrum.
* * *
Three weeks after that night, I was immersed in homework. Severus suddenly came into the study, grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the room.
There, in our chambers, sat Remus Lupin. When we entered the room, he got up and started to smile.
"Good news Isaac," he said. "We have something."
"Oh, Goodie, what?" I grinned.
"A stash of Dragonsalt was found in a secret vault in the walls of Gringotts," Severus had a shrewd look in his eye. "Only now... it's not so secret." Remus nodded. "The bags had the markings of one of the main Dragonsalt supplier in our world. This doesn't tell us much, but it *is* something..."
"You guys are really exited about this, aren't you?"
"Oh yeah," Remus smirked. "Big time. We have a link."
"Oh-?"
"Fingerprints have been identified...." Severus started.
"Really?"
"Belonging to Mr. Liljoy and Madam Hoota. Both work under the pseudonym of Georgee Grates. Both have fled to America, but we've got something to go on... that's... something." Severus sighed. "Well, we've told him now, you can piss off Remus."
"Well, I know when I'm not welcome... Are you coming Isaac?"
Severus cleared his throat and gave Remus an angry look. The man simply looked at him levelly and innocently. I had to stop myself from bursting out into peals of laughter. It was like seeing a remake of our relationship in short.
"Fine, you can stay. But... oh, forget it...."
I winked at Remus and he grinend in return.
I was starting to like this guy.