Chapter 17: Are You the Now or Never Kind
Satsobek followed Lucius around to the alley between The Three Broomsticks and Honeydukes. "So what did I do now?" She shouted after him, hoping she sounded a bit teasing or challenging.
As soon as Satsa rounded the corner into the alley, Lucius pinned her back against the side wall of the tavern. "It's more like what you're not going to do." He whispered, glancing around to make sure no one had followed them.
"You said you had a proposition for me." She said rather mildly as she swallowed her pulse. She suddenly didn't feel cold anymore.
Lucius turned his sensual gray eyes on her and smirked. "Indeed I do, love" He replied, leaning a little closer to her. She caught another whiff of his rather exotic cologne and it made her heart flutter. "Would you like the chance to really prove that you want to play your little game with me?"
Satsa only nodded, finding herself unable to speak.
His smirk grew and his eyes sparkled. "Then here's the deal." He said, leaning even closer and lowering his voice to a husky whisper. His breath felt warm on her cool skin. "There is a study session in the Astronomy Tower tonight. If you really think you can handle me, come to the session and we'll see if you're everything you act or if you're all puff and shadowboxing."
Satsobek summoned her sexiest smile. "Oh I'm everything I show and more. I assure you of that." She told him coolly, much too coolly for the way she was feeling right now.
"We'll see." Lucius sneered. He gave her a brief kiss on the cheek before turning and striding out of the alley.
Satsa felt as though she could just scream. She leaned against the wall panting from a mixture of exhilaration surprise and fear. Most of all she felt fear. What did he have planned tongiht? Regardless, she had to go. Her reputation was more at stake now than ever. She just wished she had been given more warning. A gust of freezing wind blustered up the alley making her shiver. It was probably time that she started back to the castle. She was having dinner with Severus and then gods knew what with Lucius after that and she wanted to look good enough to eat for both of them.
She stepped back out onto the street and headed towards the edge of the village, hoping to avoid seeing Sirius. She didn't think she could face him now but sure enough, there he came up the road. He waved to her and jogged up to meet her.
"'lo Sirius." She greeted softly.
"Hello, Satsa." He returned with a slightly forced smile. "What did Malfoy want?"
"Oh, there's an Astronomy study tonight after the feast." She answered as they began to trek back to the castle.
"So I guess that means you won't be coming with us tonight." He said sounding disappointed.
Satsobek suddenly felt as if she had swallowed a chunk of frozen metal. "Oh shit." She snarled, running a hand roughly through her hair. "I completely forgot."
"Easy, Satsa. No worries." He told her, touching her shoulder. "I actually thought it best if you didn't come anyway. It might be a trap."
Satsobek nodded rather guiltily. "You're probably right." She conceded.
"We'll take care of it." He assured her.
On a whim, Satsa raised on tiptoe and kissed Sirius on the cheek. "Thank you, Sirius." She said sweetly.
Sirius blushed and smiled. "You're welcome." He replied, touching two fingers to his cheek.
The Great Hall had undergone a grand transformation for the Halloween feast. The floating white candles had been replaced with jack-o-lanterns and live bats fluttered about the rafters. Satsa smiled inwardly as she walked in. She was envisioning Heket darting about chasing them.
"Satsobek!" She wheeled around when someone called her name and found Severus was striding towards her. "Come, darling. I've saved seats for us" He led her over to an empty space at the table and helped her get seated before sitting down himself.
Satsa spied Lucius sitting across the table from her and to her left a few seats. She caught his eye as she sat down and they exchanged knowingly sinister smiles. His gaze drifted down her shapely form, making Satsobek's insides twist. She gave her silky hair a toss and directed him with a flick of her hand to raise his eyes.
This passage between Lucius and Satsa went unnoticed by the rest of their housemates.
"How did you enjoy Hogsmeade, Satsobek?" Severus asked, as he served himself a spoonful of boiled potatoes.
Satsa pried her eyes away from Lucius as she answered. "Oh yes. It's a lovely little place." She replied rather absently, pouring herself some pumpkin juice. "How was your day there?"
"It was excellent." He answered, with a thin but warm smile. "It's so wonderful to get out of the castle for awhile."
"Indeed." she answered in a distant voice. Her dark eyes had wandered back to Lucius. She was busy planning her actions for this evening. Lucius was obviously very experienced and all but fearless. He thought she was as well.
"Something is still on your mind, Satsobek." Severus said, none to tactfully.
She smirked. "It's nothing, Severus." She lied, as she began to eat. She quickly cast her eyes around the Great Hall. "The decorations in here are just stunning, and thus a little distracting."
The clock chimes began to sound the hour of eight. Satsa's stomach surged. It didn't seem like an hour had passed. She saw Lucius rising from his seat along with a few other Slytherins and she followed in suit.
"Where are you running off to?" Severus asked, watching her sling her shoulder bag over her shoulder.
"Astronomy study." She replied. "Aren't you coming?"
He shook his head, throwing his greasy locks across his face. "No. I think I can afford to miss this one."
She smiled to mask her discomfort. "See you tomorrow then." She said as she turned to leave the Great Hall.
"Until tomorrow." He returned as he went back to his dinner.