Rosearia

Rosearia's heart felt like it was beating out of her chest as she slammed the door to Severus's chambers. She ran down the hall, apparating back to her room midstride, and collapsed breathless onto her bed. She couldn't keep the smile off her face. She hugged him. She hugged him. She hugged HIM! Ohhh and it felt so good too...she thought, remembering the feel of his body pressed up against hers. The feeling of her breasts pressed against him had her tingling all over. She couldn't believe that she had hugged the dour professor. Poppy would just die! No, she wouldn't even believe it.

She thought about their plans to meet tomorrow for flying lessons as she readied for bed. He really is nice under that severe mask. He didn't even comment on the horrors I went through, didn't look at me with pity. He accepted it and acted as though it didn't change a thing. She smiled, replaying the scene in her head. Remembering how he had tried to look mad, but couldn't quite pull it off. He just interrogated me on not having a formal education. That is so like him. Her good mood damped when she thought about what she had shared with him. She felt bad that she had left out the most important detail. The reason why her sisters had been disposed of the moment she showed any magical ability. She herself didn't know until her grandmother had told her the terrible truth the night before she was found dead of a heart attack in her bed. Only Poppy knew the whole truth about her, and that's the way it was going to stay, no matter how badly she wanted to confide in the enigmatic Professor Snape.

She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow after she had washed up, exhausted from the night's adventure.

Severus

Severus stood in the middle of the training grounds with a broom in each hand. He had discarded his flowing outer robes, leaving him in his fitted Potions Master jacket, black trousers and his dragon hide boots. He ignored the looks students gave him as they passed by as he waited. He cast a tempus charm wandlessly in front of him.

2:57pm

"I guess she's never heard of being early to an engagement." he said grumpily, not wanting to admit to himself that the reason for his nasty mood was due to his fear of her not showing up. He was about to incinerate the brooms and return to his research in the dungeons when he caught sight of a mass of blood-red curls exiting the front doors of the castle. He let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding as she made her way over to him. She had also decided against her usual attire, opting instead for a long sleeved grey tunic with a black leather over bust corset and tight black pants. He stared at her, his mouth going dry. She bounded to a stop in front of him, as big smile on her face.

"Hello, Severus! I am so excited for our lesson!" she gushed as she pulled her long hair back into a high ponytail, attempting to get every piece, but failing miserably, as curls bounced loose to frame her face.

He silently conjured some water into his suddenly parched mouth and swallowed before frowning down at her. "You're late."

She blushed sheepishly, "Ahh yes, sorry about that. We got a few more admits this morning, and Madame Pomfrey asked me to take vitals before I came down. It took a little longer than expected"

He huffed "Humph well, I suppose that is forgivable. What are you wearing? Those pants are to tight for proper flight, and where are your shoes?" Noticing for the first time that her feet were bare.

She looked bewildered "What? Oh I never wear shoes. I enjoy the feeling of the ground beneath my feet, or water. I love the water. And the pants are stretchy. See?" She pulled at the cloth covering her thigh. It stretched outward easily, and she beamed. "It's muggle! They're called 'yoga pants'. Super comfortable."

He grunted and thrust one of the brooms forward. "Here, this one is for you."

The broom was light brown and polished to a high shine. It had glistening silver footrests on either side and looked brand new. It was brand new, as he had bought it early this morning in Diagon Alley, but he wasn't going to tell her that. "I had the footrests adjusted to your height, so it will be easier to fly"

She gripped it tightly and looked like she was about to hug him again. She seemed to know that he had gotten it for her "Oh, Severus...it's perfect! Thank you so much!"

"Yes, well, you need a broom if you are going to learn to fly, and the ones here are subpar. Now!" He snapped and she stood straight, her face determined, and the lesson began. "Lay your broom on the ground at your feet on the right side. Good. Now hold your hand over it, and say 'UP'." "As a command, not a question." "Now mount it." "No, not sidesaddle." "Because sidesaddle is for animals, not a broom. You will fall off." "Try it then, if you know so much." "Ha! See? I said you would fall. Didn't make it five feet off the ground. Now, throw a leg over it and straddle it. Yes. Slide back a bit. Good. Now kick off and hover a few feet in the air."

She hovered for a second or two and flew in a circle. "I think I've got it!" she exclaimed and glanced back at him. She smiled mischievously and flew in a tight circle around him. When she got behind him again she whispered into his ear "Catch me if you can"

He whipped his head around as she took off across the grounds. He growled and broke into a run, throwing the broom out in front of him and jumped onto it. He shot off like a bullet after her. He chased her around the towers and over the trees of the Forbidden Forest.

Unbeknownst to them, quite a crowd had gathered at the windows inside to watch their lesson, with many unbelieving that the dark dungeon bat and the beautiful new mediwitch were getting along so well. The most surprised was Professor McGonagall, who stood watching out a window in the Great Hall. She jumped when she felt a hand on her back. "Albus, must you startle me so?"

"My dear, you are to fun to startle. Though it is normally not so easy. What are you looking at?"

"Severus and that new apprentice. He is teaching her to ride a broom. Who doesn't know how to ride a broom? Anyway, he looks almost...happy. They seem to be getting along rather well after their spat on the first day. It is rather hard to believe."

"Ahh yes. I thought those to might go well together." Minerva glanced at him confusedly and shrugged, returning her gaze outside just as the two flew off. As Dumbledore watched Snape chase the witch over the grounds, he thought They are coming together faster than I thought. Good. My plan is falling into place.

Severus hadn't felt so carefree in longer than he cared to remember. Chasing after this crazy witch, hearing her laughter drift back to him on the wind filled him with emotions he thought long dead. He narrowed his eyes and sped up, the distance between them shrinking steadily. He was right behind her when she glanced back again. Surprise flashed over her face and he smirked at her. She grinned back at him, a competitive glint in her eye. She shot up through the cloud line a second later. He followed close behind and held an arm in front of his face as he flew through the fluffy barrier. He popped out and hovered above a sea of white. He looked around, turning in a full circle, searching for her. It was silent, without so much as a whisper. There was no wind to move the clouds, and everything looked frozen in time. He heard the tiniest swish of air behind him and whipped around, expecting to see her. Nothing. Now he was getting worried. Did she fall? This is her first time flying. He called for her.

"Miss DunBroch!" no answer. He pulled out his best teacher voice, the one that made the first years cry "DunBroch!" Still nothing. He tried to quell the rising panic, and he for the first time he said her first name "Rosearia!"

He heard giggling coming from above him and he glanced up. There, hovering upside down right above him, was Rose. He frowned as relief flooded through him. She giggled again at the look on his face.

"Oh Severus! Were you worried about me?" she blinked at him, her face a mask of innocence.

"No." he said coldly.

Her smile faltered. "Severus...I didn't mean to upset you." She floated down in front of him, turning right way up. "I am sorry."

His eyebrow arched and she let go of her broom, reaching out to touch him. Her broom rocked and jumped, her hand snapped back to grip the handle and she let out a terrified squeak. He couldn't help himself, he chuckled. She stuck her tongue out a him and nudged him. "You still haven't caught me yet, Severus."

He smirked and reached out to touch her. Just as his fingers were about to brush her she dived down back through the cloud barrier. He sped up to her this time, easily catching the up. He let go of his broom and snagged her around the waist. She screamed as they fell through the sky, he pulled her into him as she covered her face. Just before they hit the ground he whispered. "Arresto Momentum"

They froze an inch above the ground. After a moment she peeked out above her fingers. They settled to the ground gently and, seeing that they were not dead, she raised up, her face pink. She struck his chest in mock anger. "You're crazy! You almost killed us!" she continued to scold him, slapping his shoulder and chest playfully every few words. He growled low in throat, grabbed her tiny waist firmly and rolled till he was on top of her. He snagged both of her small wrists and pinned them to the ground on either side of her head before he knew what he was doing. Her gasp made him freeze. He looked down at her, her full red lips were parted slightly, her cheeks were a rosey pink and her hair had broken free of the band and the curls lay around her. Her gasp made her breasts press into his chest. Her big blue eyes were bright.

"Severus?" she said breathlessly.

Rosearia

He's going to kiss me. The tension around them was palpable. Heat pooled low in her abdomen. She waited for it. Wanted it. She stared into his deep black eyes and waited for him to kiss her. She nearly groaned when his face melted into his cold stone mask and he rolled off of her. He stood and walked a few paces away as she stood and dusted off her clothes. She took a few calming breaths before she walked up to him. "Severus? Is everything okay?" She touched his shoulder gently. He didn't look at her. He held out his hand and the brooms zoomed into it.

"We should be getting back."

She frowned, but fell into step beside him as he started through the trees. Eventually, she had to ask. "Severus did I do something wrong?"

He froze and she nearly walked into his hard back. His shoulders were tense as he thrust an arm out in front of her, and he didn't turn around when he spoke "Apparate us back. I know you can."

Hurt filled her at his cold tone. She brushed her fingers lightly against his arm and they appeared outside the doors to the Great Hall with a soft pop. He jerked away from her and started down the corridor that led to the dungeons. She frowned at his back until she could see him no longer before she entered the hall. She walked up to the staff table and sat beside Poppy, poking at the food that appeared in front of her absently, her mind on the potions professor.

"Are you alright, Rosearia?" came Madame Pomfrey's motherly voice next to her. She glanced up at her mentor and saw the concern there. She sent her a smile that she didn't feel.

"Oh I am fine, Madame Pomfrey. Merely thinking over my flying lesson."

A certain knowing twinkle glinted in Poppy's eye "Uh huh. I know all about that. How did your lesson with Professor Snape go?"

Rosearia's eyes widened in surprise "Oh! I didn't know you knew. Severus was an excellent teacher."

"Oh honey everyone saw you two on the grounds. Was Severus cordial?" Poppy was positively popping with glee, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

She blushed slightly "He was, yes."

Someone cleared their throat behind her. She spun around with a large smile, hoping to see the dour Potions professor, but came face to face with the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Her smile slipped "Oh, Professor Lockhart. How are you?"

"Wonderful, really. Now are you and our dear Professor Snape an...item?" he asked, no small amount of disgust evident on his face. She frowned, her dislike of the arrogant man growing.

"Not that it is really any of your business, but if you must know, the answer is no."

He smiled in what she was sure he thought to be a charming way, but to her it felt fake. "Oh good. Well there was something else I wanted to ask you, dear."

She sighed inwardly, but plastered a polite smile on her face. "Oh? And my name is Miss DunBroch."

His oily smile slipped a bit "Right. Miss DunBroch, Professor Snape and I are collaborating on a class on dueling later on in November, and I was wondering if you would be so kind as to attend. In case there are any unfortunate accidents."

Relief filled her and she grinned at him "I'd be delighted too!"

"Wonderful! Wonderful! Ill send along a memo with the date when it is finalized."

She nodded and returned to pushing food about her plate until Poppy stood to leave. She followed her back to the Hospital Wing and occupied herself with the care of her patients.