Chapter Twelve – Christmas Morning
A/N: if it's italics and it says that Snape is singing, then he's singing alongside Sarah. If he's singing and there's bold and italics phrases mixed up, then his is the bold and hers is the italics. During those songs, they'll be singing in unison during both bold and italics, kay?
Severus was eagerly awaiting Minerva's fire-call when at long last, right at nine, she fire-called him and stuck her face into the fire.
"She's ready. Terrified, but ready," she announced.
"Excellent! Here, or there?" he asked the animagus, who scowled. "What? She may have changed her mind."
"There, Severus," she said. "I don't want anyone intruding, so close off the Floo network, and we've shrunken the gifts that she has in her pockets. Don't even think about it, they're already wrapped."
As soon as she was available, she used the fireplace to go to his living room, and almost gasped in shock at the sight of his workings. He smirked at her being blindfolded, flicking his wand to empty her pockets and return the packages to their original size. He placed the Floo Powder in front of her, and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"I'd like to spend tonight at the castle, if that's alright with you," he said, and she nodded as she took a handful of powder and threw them down, calling out Snape's office. The Potions master sealed off the Floo Network then and there, using the personal one in his room, warding it so that only he could get in and out. He then stepped in and went ahead to his office at Hogwarts, just as he remembered it from when he was teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"Can I open my eyes now?" Sarah asked, and he chuckled at her.
"Not quite. There was one more thing that I've been meaning to give you after missing your birthday, but… I haven't been able to quite yet," he explained.
"Oh. Um, since we're talking about birthdays…" she began.
"No," he cut her off harshly, but lowered and gentled his tone. "No, I don't want to lose my train of thought. Oh, fine. What were you thinking, you daft woman?"
"Well, um," she admitted sheepishly pulling out a vial. "I smelled this potion, but I read that it smelled different to everyone. I was wondering what it smelled like to you."
"Hm," he smirked. "I can't tell you the name if you're hands are covering it."
"I know. I know what potion it is already, but I just want to know what you smell from it. I already got an answer from Headmistress McGonagall," she admitted sheepishly. "It wasn't an easy task. It's not a poison, I promise."
Severus sighed in either defeat or disgust, she couldn't tell which.
OoOo(Severus PoV)oOoO
"Fine," I said sighing in exhaustion, but stopping momentarily. I wafted my hand over the bottle, sending the fumes my way. 'Damn!' I silently cursed. "Amortentia."
"Yes, sir. Please, Professor?" she begged, and I knew I had already promised and I was a man of my word, after all.
"Fine. Potions ingredients, dark chocolate," I rattled, and something unfamiliar hit my nostrils. I frowned, furrowing my brow. "And… what is that last one? I can't tell…"
"Oh," she said dejectedly, but I then realized why I couldn't pinpoint it. I held onto her shoulder, sniffing her gently.
Oh, sweet merlin, the third scent was her.
OoOo(Sarah PoV)oOoO
"Oh," I said, upset that he couldn't find the final one. I knew who it was, after all – Lily bloody Potter, a dead woman. He was still pining after a corpse after all this time.
He grabbed me by the shoulder, and I froze as he began sniffing some more, as if to determine the scent's origins somehow by continuing to sniff at it. I was almost ready to cry, and I could feel him stiffen next to me.
"Sarah," he murmured. "I've got an idea, but I won't be sure until tomorrow. Can you wait until then? I'll tell you then, I promise. Wizard's honor."
I wanted to tell him no, but all I could manage was a nod. I went to bed, sobbing my heart out that night, knowing I wasn't the one for him even though he was the one that I needed now. He was like my own version of heroine or crack-cocaine. I don't remember falling asleep, but I woke up to the sound of rushing feet above me. I frowned – oh yeah, I was still in Hogwarts. Snape was still pining after Lily Potter.
'No he's not,' the tiny voice whispered in my head again. Who was that voice, and why did it feel like I was being guided by it? it had helped me on Halloween but who – or what – was it?
'Yes, he is,' I argued back silently, the sobs racking my body.
'No, he's not!' the voice repeated stronger and firmer. 'Trust me, I'd know. He's not pining after a Potter anymore, he just doesn't know how to express himself well. He never has, and he never will. Give him time, little one.'
"Sure he's not," I grumbled, heading down to the lobby of Snape's private quarters. I gaped at the gifts that the staff had all gotten him, and noted that they were already in two piles on opposite sides of the tree. "Hey."
"Sarah," he began slowly. "I – the third smell… I – I've got an idea, but I'm still not entirely sure. There's just one little problem with this and – oh, confound it, I'm horrible at these types of things! Just – just take a seat."
For some odd reason I felt turned on, but I pushed it aside to remind myself that he was still a teacher, and I a student. After a few minutes, he stood up from across the room, clearing his throat as I picked at the petals on a sunflower I'd found in my room that morning. From Dobby, ironically enough, even though I'd only seen him once, the sweet little elf. He started singing, and slowly crossing the room in small (for him) steps.
My dearest friend, if you don't mind?
I'd like to join you by your side,
Where we can gaze into the stars,
And sit together, Now and forever.
For it is plain as anyone can see
We're simply meant to be.
I cut off mid-word in the final stanza, my eyes upon a small black box that Severus was pulling out of his pocket as he reached me. I stared in shock at it, not wanting to believe it.
(3rd PoV)
"You – I'm your third smell? You – you want to me to marry you?" Sarah asked shocked, touched, and all-in-all overwhelmed. Severus nodded, trying to make eye contact, and failing miserably. "Yes. Yes, yes you daft genius! Yes!"
"You – you'll really look past all my issues?" he asked, and she nodded as he hesitantly pulled the ring out of the box to reveal that it was on a necklace. "May I?"
"As you wish," she murmured, holding her hair up. She'd wanted to say 'I love you', but it was the same thing to some people.
"Princess Bride," he smiled. "Wesley says it to say 'I love you' to Buttercup. And now, Sarah, As you wish."
"Wait – what?" she whispered, and he smiled as he pulled her closer to him. "You're…letting me control the – the intimate part of this? I mean, I know I'm the girl and all, but this – I'm terrified. I don't think – I mean, I've never even been kissed, let alone touched inappropriately by anyone! And – oh my Snakes, this is – wow… how – Impossible…"
He watched as her own little self-induced panic attack unfolded and she collapsed onto his lap, her head landing on his shoulder. Out of nowhere, Madame Pomfrey appeared in the fireplace. Severus scowled as she intruded, glaring at her for ruining the moment.
"What?" she whispered. "Severus, what on earth did you do to her now?"
"Proposed," he shot back in a deadly whisper. "And you will tell nobody. I'll tell who I'll tell, no sooner, no later. Got it?"
"Sure," she smiled. "It's about time, you know."
"Shut up and get out," he snapped quietly so as not to wake his charge – no, fiancée – who slept peacefully. He watched amused as the young woman slept, a soft smile on his face. He didn't know it, but Madame Pomfrey had already gone to the Headmistress.
"Minerva," she objected stubbornly.
"No, Poppy," the animagus spat angrily, "No, no, and infinitely no! Leave them alone, I've been trying to get those two together since I first saw her at his house the day he took her home for the first time before you healed her. Do. Not. Ruin. This. For. Them."
"Fine," the mediwitch huffed. "Fine. But don't blame me if she gets pregnant before the end of the year!"
"Don't worry, Poppy," the headmistress soothed. "Severus is an adult, and so is she. They can handle themselves, I'm sure."
OoOoOoOoO
"Hm," Sarah murmured as she finally woke up, something hard and unnaturally warm underneath her, almost moving.
"Good morning," the Potions master whispered as he weaseled his arm around her abdomen. "I daresay I've been looking forward to this for a while. I just didn't have the heart or nerve to risk my job over this."
"You love me. Oh my snakes, I'm engaged," Sarah recalled suddenly. "I'm engaged to the dungeon bat. How much better can life get?"
"Better?" Severus asked, then recalled a conversation. "Your family was spied on a few nights ago. They miss you, apparently, and are all desperately crying without you. Well, most of them, I believe. There's bound to be some heartless bitch or bastard who hates you, you get that in every family. Sometimes their hatred just spreads too quickly to the other members, and then the other members realize what they've done wrong after something drastic – like faking a death or a near-death experience – happens to the hated party. Now, my love, I believe there are gifts to be opened from the rest of the staff…"
"Go ahead, I'm not opening your present," Sarah said sadly shaking her head, startled when he handed her a box. "I'm not opening your presents!"
"Read it, you silly girl," Severus teased, and she almost dropped it in shock. "Yes, they got you presents as well. Shall we?"
A few hours later, Sarah was looking around at the wrappings, which Severus then neatly cleaned up with a lazy flick of his wand. Numerous books and advice from the teaching staff, especially in the subjects that she was going to be taking, and Hagrid had even given her some fudge to help remind her of home and to let her know she was welcome at Hogwarts. Sarah had smiled and stuck it next to the fire to melt it, which Severus thought was a wise idea. From the teachers who wouldn't be having her in class, like Professor Sinistra in Astronomy, she received different candied goods. Severus had scowled at that until she got a vomit flavored bean on her first try of Berty Bott's Every Flavor Bean.
She stared at what the other teachers got him, most of which were potions ingredients and magazines, and she sighed in exasperation. Her gift for him was nothing, nothing compared to the engagement he'd given her for Christmas.
"That wasn't your present from me, you know," he said softly as he came up to her a second time. "This one was." She stared at the larger box, and realized what was in it from numerous fanfics about him: a protection amulet of some sort. She opened it to reveal the very gift that she was giving him for his birthday. "What's wrong?"
"I was going to give you one for your birthday," she murmured, and he smiled gently, bringing her to face him.
"Thank you. I'll wear it with pride when I get it, I promise. Shh, don't cry," he murmured to her as the tears began flowing down her cheeks. "It's the thought that counts, pet. Shh, Sarah."
The tears kept flowing, and he gently put his face in front of hers to comfort her, as if he were about to kiss her. He yanked away, blocked the Floo Network to his quarters, and raced back to her side. She started outright sobbing, and he picked her up, putting her in his lap and rocking her from side to side gently cradling her in his arms. Recalling something, he knew she wouldn't be able to handle it yet, but he had to try at least to prove he was serious, right?
He was hesitant, and unsteady, having never done this before. After a few seconds he recomposed himself, bringing his mouth to hers, gently pushing his lips to her cheek just shy of her mouth, whispering soothing words to her. He'd seen many times when Lucius had done so with Narcissa while she had been pregnant with Draco. Surely a teenage girl losing her family's normal tradition for the first time created the same kind of situation to a degree almost, right? After a few minutes, and after her sobbing had faded into whimpering, he moved slowly but steadily. He could almost feel the fear radiating off of her, and he hesitantly stole her first kiss from her lips.
OoOo(Sarah PoV)oOoO
I was so upset about this Christmas. First my parents were gone, then I was in a castle I'd only been in for a few days, in a completely non-home-like quarters of Severus Snape (no complaints about him, though), and add in the shock that he'd proposed to me, and wanted me of all people, who was probably about thirty years his junior. Well, let's just say that adding all these little factors together caused a dam inside me to finally break, and I had meant to keep them in, I swore I would, but the waterworks came anyways.
It was a shock that he was touching me, really, and most especially my face with his long slender fingers that he was so used to using to expertly make countless potions in his lifetime. I wanted it to stay like that, but he left to block the Floo and return. He began moving towards me as if to kiss me. I wanted to mouth rape him, but I'd get killed if I did. No, it was better to let him control this one, so long as it didn't get too terribly intimate. Right? Yup, you bet.
What shocked me more was that he was soon whispering things to me in an attempt to soothe me, and the poor man thought it was something he'd said or done wrong. No, he was the perfect one for me, he was my anchor now, he meant the world to me, and I'd do anything to make him happy. I let my sobbing fade into whimpering, trying to get myself under control for him without the use of his heartbeat.
All my control failed me when his lips connected with mine.
