Chapter Ten: Trysts

By half past eleven the evening following his confinement to his bed and banishment from his classroom, Severus had enough of starting at the four walls and decided he needed a walk. The day had proved to be exceedingly boring, with the main event of it being his two hour midday sleep. During his many hours bed-bound Severus concluded that the only time that staying in bed late meant something, was when he was atop of Hermione! The thought brought a mammoth smile about his face.

Severus strolled through the deserted corridors seeking out any students who may have eluded the ten o'clock curfew; it was sort of a sport for the Potions Master, who enjoyed tallying up how many students he had caught out of bed for whatever reason, and how many Gryffindor points had been taken.

To his dismay he met nobody on his way, patrolling up and down the many halls of Hogwarts, and so he decided that a trip to the Astronomy tower, a hot spot for trysting and over hormonal students at such a late hour. With a spring in his step, Severus stomped up the tower stairs and peeked through the slightly ajar door which led onto the large astronomy balcony. With as little noise as he could to enforce the fright of which he could inflict upon the thrusting couple, Severus pushed open the door further and stood in the shadows momentarily.

A flash of shiny black hair caught his eyes swiftly as the figure rolled of its back and atop of the other which was panting loudly and whispering something inaudible. In the darkness it was almost impossible to determine who the pair where and to who's house they belonged, even with the soft light of several candles partially lighting their silhouettes, and just as he was about to move forward to split the romping couple, one of the voices spoke causing his blood to boil and him to reach for his wand.

"Albus!" called a soft voice which reeked of pleasure. Severus thrust his wand arm forward sending a spell at the male of the pair, who was flung backwards, still completely naked, up against and the stone wall at the rear. The other figure gasped as Albus was pulled out and away from her and shot a glance to the culprit of their premature separation.

Without a glance for Septima, who was desperately trying to cover herself up with a pair of maroon underpants, Severus strode towards Albus who was cowering and pinned against the wall.

"Severus- I-"

Cutting the stuttering boy of Severus thrust his wand firmly into the boys throat who chocked and gasped for air.

"I could do it you know Potter, ring your little neck right here and right now. You'd deserve it."

"For what!" protested Albus, as he tried to deter any eye contact with his godfather.

"She's a child!"

"She's seventeen Severus and we both wanted to."

"You both wanted to!" he roared. "I don't give a flying fuck what you wanted, she is my daughter and I come up here to find you fucking her!" Severus felt quite nauseous as the words ran afoul of his lips.

"We were not fucking Severus. I love her and she loves me, we waited for ages and now the time is right."

"I will say when the time is right boy!" bellowed Severus once more into Albus' face.

"What, when she's thirty? Severus she is a grown woman who needs not ask her father's permission to sleep with her boyfriend."

"Professor," corrected Severus with a snarl. "And you are not her boyfriend. She has no time for boys!"

"Obviously she has!"

Severus dug his wand further into Albus' throat but the younger wizard was determined to stand up for himself.

"Keep your mouth firmly shut Potter before I shut it for you."

"You do that Severus and see what it changes…nothing! I'll still love her."

"It is not love otherwise you wouldn't be doing that now! She's seventeen!"

"And from what I heard," retorted Albus with a snarl, "you fucked Hermione when she was seventeen, so don't be a hypocrite!"

Severus plunged his free hand into Albus' face, and watched with delight as blood pored from his nose.

"Dad!" protested Septima in tears. "Stop it please!"

Severus turned briefly to Septima with a look of nothing but disgust and then turned back to Albus who was smeared in blood.

"Go near her again and I'll kill you," stated Severus softly and silkily.

"One punch will not stop me Severus. I love her and would die for her!"

"Well that may just be the case mightn't it Potter, because if I see you even speaking to her I'll break every little, worthless, bone in your puny body. Understood?"

"Yes," said Albus with a sigh.

"And I shall be informing the Headmaster of your rendezvous and also your parents."

"I don't care Severus! Don't you get that, I don't care about anything but your daughter."

"Nether do I Potter which is why if you open your mouth one more, Filch will be cleaning your blood of the walls up here for months."

Albus gulped as Severus turned back to Septima. "Get dressed," he said in disgust.

With a look towards Albus, Septima dressed and followed her father down the astronomy steps where he was waiting at the bottom with a snarl.

As he saw her Severus began to walk quickly ahead and Septima had to jog to keep up with him.

"Why do you have to be such a fucking bastard!" she said venomously and Severus stopped mid step and spun on his heals.

"Why do I what?" he asked rhetorically and Septima took his silence as an opportunity to continue.

"Why did you have to make a beautiful thing feel so dirty?"

"Because that's what it was Septima."

"No it wasn't Dad. Albus and I love each other.

"Since when?"

"Since as long as I can remember," informed Septima as her and her Father continued their walk.

"Then why keep it a secret."

"We all have secrets Dad," she replied a little accusation in her voice.

"And what pray tell, do you mean by that?"

"You know exactly what I mean. I know you have a past Dad."

"Obviously," drawled Severus.

"But I don't know what."

"Because you don't need to."

"Then you needn't know about Albus and I."

"Oh but I do. You are my daughter-"

"And you are my Dad."

"This argument is futile Septima."

"But I want to know about you Dad. You are my Father and I feel I don't know you."

"You do Septima, just not the old me."

"But can't you see Dad, that I want to know the old you. I just want my Dad and I feel I haven't got you at the moment. You're always busy or moody."

Severus sighed and pulled Septima into a hug. "Septima, my angel, soon I will tell you about it all, but not now. I don't think I can bear the look of hatredin your eyes just like your mother used to give me."

"Why would Mum hate you Dad? She loves you."

"Now she does but at one point she hated me. I did something terrible Septima, I was a horrible person."

"Maybe but look at you now!"

"I've just assaulted a student Septima and that scares me. Maybe I haven't changed too much, maybe I am the man I was."

"From I can gather from the little information I have, you are not."

"Dad I love you I really do, but you have to give me some freedom to live."

"I know angel, but its hard for me. You're my baby."

"No I'm not Dad I've grown up."

"Just be careful Septima that's all I ask."

"We were Dad I promise-"

Severus scowled her. "I never meant contraception Septima; because you won't be needing any of that, for you won't be seeing Potter again. What I did mean was generally be careful."

"I will see Albus again Dad," she said with a growl as she turned and strode off to Gryffindor tower leaving Severus irate and in a whirlwind of anger. He punched the brick wall opposite him in annoyance feeling one of his knuckles crack and seeing his skin pour with blood.