A/N: All characters in this story (other than my own OC creations) are the property of JKR. I am happily borrowing her wonderful world. M warning for mature references. Updated 04/15/12
Chapter 51 – The Crush
"Severus?" Andrea breathed in astonishment, her voice barely above a whisper.
What she saw was unfathomable – beyond shocking. Severus was embracing one of his students.
His arms clutched the young girl as rapturously as a dog in heat. Seemingly unaware of Andrea's presence, his hands remained in place, strung low across Danielle Van Norman's back. In blissful splendor, the girl returned his caress as her voluptuous body molded around him with the stickiness of hot wax. Yet Severus was not pushing her away.
No! It can't be – it's not possible, Andrea thought. I must be dreaming. Taking a small step back, she blinked several times as the blood drained from her face. If she was dreaming, her wayward mind had turned it into a cruel and vicious nightmare.
Although Severus was sinking fast, his will had not completely succumbed to the love potion's enchantment. A small part of him recognized Andrea was there, but he couldn't think why that should be. Focusing again on Danielle, he tried vainly to push her away, but his body had become the enemy. It wanted the girl – wanted her like nothing before in his life. Reacting as a man possessed, his arms crushed Danielle's slim frame against his own. The burning rocket fuel of the girl's potion forced the blood to surge painfully into his over-heated groin.
Raw, burning lust – Andrea had seen it in Severus's eyes. The black orbs had barely registered her presence before closing in a mist of desire, his mind much too preoccupied to care about consequences. Turning away in disgust, she stumbled gracelessly backwards before flinging herself up the steps in a mad rush to get away. But, no matter how quickly she tried to run, the horrible vision of the entangled lovers clung to her like stinging nettles.
Snuggled protectively in Snape's embrace, Danielle felt the glory of triumph. But it was the gleaming arrogance in the young woman's eyes that sparked a new fire in Severus's drugged brain. What was he missing? Hadn't he seen something odd in Danielle's memories just moments ago? Staring down into her icy, blue pools, he remembered the vision of her treachery.
"NO!" Snape shouted in a sudden eruption of anger. "Get out!" he spat. "Get out of here – now!" He shoved her away, his expression murderous. Every physical nerve and fiber of his maleness rebelled against the command as he fought to maintain his mental balance.
"No," Danielle whimpered. "You can't mean that. Don't you want me? Can't you feel it? You must know how much I love you …" Her voice trailed off as the impact of her failure began to sink in. Slowly, she backed away. "Professor?"
"I said get out!" he shouted again. His resolve was growing weaker by the minute, and his need remained painfully evident as a roaring erection pressed traitorously against the fabric of his slacks. With a demon's growl, he reached out to grab her.
Snape's thunderous voice, however, had finally brought Danielle to her senses. In an instant, she realized the depth of her mistake. The concentrated potion should never have been used as a draught. So why had she dumped it – untested – directly into his coffee? Was she so desperate for his affection that she'd ignored the risks? Yes, she admitted, and now her beloved professor was paying the price. Instead of the romantic encounter she'd imagined, her meddling had created a monster.
"Professor, I—"
"AAGHH," he bellowed, barely holding himself back. The sound came at her like a physical blow, forcing Danielle to lurch away from his grasp. Her triumphant expression had suddenly turned to fear.
"God, I'm sorry. I never intended this to happen," she whimpered. Slowly, Danielle reached out her hand to him, but like a striking cobra, he grabbed her wrist.
"Leave me. I do not want to hurt you," he whispered hoarsely, his body quaking with restraint as he tried to release her.
Frantically, Danielle attempted to break free, but Severus was too strong. Telltale beads of sweat had appeared on his upper lip as the young woman's closeness continued to take a toll on his resolve.
"Get out of my sight," he spat. "Do it – do it now!"
With all her might, Danielle obeyed. Like a cork springing from a bottle, her wrist slipped through his sweaty grasp. Finally free, she took one last wistful look in Snape's direction, but the madness in his wild eyes frightened her to the core. With the speed of a fleeing gazelle, she dashed up the stairway just as Andrea had done only moments before. Severus was now alone.
Snape's expression had turned to panic. The effects of the girl's creation surged forward to replace his ebbing fury. This was no simple love potion. Instead of mere infatuation, it had caused an explosion of lust. The girl's inventive twist had turned the overdose into pure poison. Gasping, Severus bent over the desk as visions of the young witch flooded unchecked into his brain. An antidote was the only option, but he was in no condition to brew it. All he wanted was to go after Danielle, beg her forgiveness, and attack her like a rutting bull, blindly fornicating till not an ounce of strength was left in his body. Groaning again, he forced himself to think. I must maintain control.
With an almost impossible effort, he forced himself to stand and pulled an empty caldron from the cupboard only to thrust it onto the lab table with a bang. After lighting the fire with his shaking wand, he barely managed to throw in the first few ingredients. But as he frantically examined the available additives, he began to panic. The normal antidote, he realized, would never work. It was much too weak. He needed something stronger – something powerful enough to overcome the effects of the overdose – but what? Dimly, as if looking through a sea of gelatin, he tried to think. His body wouldn't move, and visions of Danielle kept leaping to his mind. Each time the fantasies appeared, they drove into his groin like a parade of fiery lightning bolts, his hips thrusting forward as his imagination overwhelmed him.
"Dammit," he screeched. A horrible pain like fire began to replace the throbbing lust in his groin, and he knew he couldn't take much more of this. There was no other option. He needed help, and he needed Andrea. Only she could provide the spark of energy that could help him cut through this insanity and help him gain control. That was the key – control and a clear mind.
Trying to stay calm, Severus began to visualize his next move. He hoped the measured, practical thoughts would push back his raging desire for Danielle. Focusing on his office, he began to take a small step and then another. If I can just get to the fireplace … Painfully, he managed to pull himself along from desk to desk till he reached his goal. Once there, he flung a pinch of Floo powder onto the grate.
"Andrea," he called out weakly. "Help – me – please …" His words erupted in short gasps as the waves of lust continued to roll through his body.
Only a few minutes earlier, Andrea had burst into their apartment and thrown herself on the bed. There must be an explanation. It wasn't real – it couldn't be real.Severus would never do this. His loyalty had seemed unquestionable. But now, as the dreadful images replayed before her eyes, she began to wonder. Had she been blinded by love? Searching for an answer, she stared blankly at the stone wall as the feelings of betrayal and rejection marched like an advancing army through her stomach.
Without thinking, she crushed his pillow into her arms and hugged the old, faded material to her chest. As she inhaled, the faint smell of cloves immediately arose like a specter from the permeated cloth to mingle elusively with his masculine scent. It produced an instant ache. Why? Why had he done this? Surely, if it were true, she would have seen it before – in his eyes. But as she remembered the look in those smoldering orbs, she knew it had to be … impossible …
Lost in her misery, Andrea almost missed the weak, yet demanding voice that called to her from the fireplace beyond. The words seemed far away and indistinct, but they annoyed her. Not now, she thought. Whoever it was could bloody well wait. Wanting only to be left alone, she stuffed her head under the quilt to blot out the sound, but almost instantly, she heard it again. Only this time it was louder.
"Andrea, answer me." The demand poked like a saber through her senses. The low, tortured voice was unmistakably clear. Severus was calling to her.
Damn him to blazes. What was he playing at? Putting her hands over her ears, Andrea tried to ignore him, not wanting to hear his feeble excuses or listen to his lies. But, something in his tone made her hesitate. It wasn't like him to call for help. His pure, stubborn pride usually prevented such foolishness.
Hearing Severus's plea for the third time, she finally snapped to attention. There was no mistaking it now. He must really need her help. Cursing herself for a fool, she leapt off the bed and knelt by the grate.
"What's the matter?" she asked anxiously. Perhaps now she would get some answers.
"You must come," he said in a ravaged voice. "Come to my lab … I-I've been poisoned. Please … hurry. You must listen to me!"
"I'll be right there," she answered, all thoughts of betrayal immediately dismissed.
For the second time that afternoon, she hurried down the stone steps to her husband's lab, but a quick search found it deserted. Trying the Potions office next, she found that it, too, appeared vacant, but the door had been left wide open. Strange, she thought. Where could he have gone? Intending to search elsewhere, she turned to leave, but an odd scraping noise stopped her in her tracks. It was coming from behind the desk. Before she could react, a low moan yanked her attention to the floor.
"Oh my God," Andrea cried out and instantly dropped to Severus's side.
He lay crumpled in a ball, his skin glistening strangely in the pale light. The chair was overturned next to him, and his hands remained glued to the wood, the object providing a handy anchor for his trembling limbs. Lighting her wand, Andrea examined his eyes. Finding them glazed and dilated, she gently touched his forehead. Just as she'd feared, the skin was cold and clammy, and his frock coat was soaked with sweat. Maybe he was going into shock. Alarmed, her heart began to beat loud and heavy. She was no mediwitch, but she knew she had to get him to the hospital wing fast.
"Get Dumbledore," Severus breathed weakly.
"No," she replied trying to be firm. "You need to see Poppy."
"No!" he gasped. "Get Dumbledore. Y-you need to make the antidote. Dumbledore can help you. Go. Go now."
"But antidote for what?"
"For the love potion, you stupid woman." He had raised his voice as strongly as he could, but the effort had cost him. With a smack, his head fell back on the cold, stone floor.
"Love potion?" Andrea parroted back. "You mean … you didn't … you were never … Oh my God." The realization practically slapped her in the face. Flushing in embarrassment and worry, she realized he was right. She had been stupid, but there was no time to think about it now. After tossing some Floo powder in the grate, she called Dumbledore. Within minutes Albus had stepped through, followed shortly by Madame Pomfrey.
"I hope you do not mind, but I thought it best that Poppy assist us," Dumbledore explained.
"You'll get no argument from me. Come right this way," Andrea said, motioning the two forward. "He collapsed on the floor. Over here."
As they surrounded the fallen man, Poppy did a quick check of his vital signs and promptly donned a severe expression. Clearly worried, she flicked her wand to conjure several blankets and then proceeded to click her tongue in disapproval.
"What has he gotten himself into this time? Between the potions and the bites and God knows what else this year, I seem to be treating both of you more than anyone else in the school," Poppy grumbled. "I should put a plaque on one of the beds: 'Reserved for Snapes only.'"
"The bite was last year," Andrea replied lamely, earning her a glare from the nurse. "Is he all right, Poppy?"
The mediwitch was not at all happy. It was obvious his condition was worsening. Severus, it seemed, was going mad. His eyes had rolled back into his head, and his limbs had begun to shake with a cruel vengeance. It wasn't long before the moaning began.
"Dan-Danielle," he cried out. "Come back to me. Please … Danielle …" After calling her name several times, he completely lost control, his voice dropping to a low whisper. The words hissed from his lips and rambled on, the rant covering a multitude of crude, lecherous things as he yearned for the young witch.
Dumbledore raised an amused eyebrow and fought back a smile. Tactfully, he said nothing but instead stole a glance at Andrea.
"Yes, of course I'm mad," she replied to his unasked question. "Why wouldn't I be? He's going to get himself killed over this … this … ridiculous …" Unable to finish, she threw up her hand and bit her tongue. If Severus weren't so ill, she'd be furious with him. When the crisis is over, she thought, there's going to be a lot of explaining to do.
"I gave him a calming draught – sent it directly to his stomach," Madame Pomfrey announced. "But it doesn't seem to be having an effect." It was true. The man continued to rock back and forth on the floor as he continued to mumble in an incoherent dialogue. "Let's move him to the hospital wing."
"No, not yet. Not until we make the antidote. We might need his help," Dumbledore reasoned.
"You can't be serious," Andrea objected. "He's in no condition to help. He can hardly talk, let alone think about a complex brew like this. Isn't there anyone else? Severus said you might be able to—"
"No, I am sorry. If this was a standard love potion, I would be glad to try, but it is not. I am afraid this one is a bit over my head. I can assist with the mixing, but we need Severus to show us the way." Using his wand, Dumbledore slid Snape out from under the desk and moved him in front of the fire. "Andrea, help me lift him. Gently, now."
Together, they levitated the body a few feet in the air, making it easier for the headmaster to speak.
"Severus, you must help us," he said softly. Leaning close, Albus tried to get his attention. "What ingredients do we need from the storeroom?"
The response was slight, but clearly he had heard the headmaster's request. Snape's breathing changed to short gasps, and the mutterings diminished slightly. Andrea noticed his eyes. They were moving rapidly around the room in an attempt to focus.
"Albus, let me try." Andrea placed her hands on the sides of her husband's head to steady the shaking before looking directly into his eyes. For several long minutes they stared at each other as Andrea began to reach out to him with her thoughts. She'd never attempted anything quite like this before, and she wasn't sure what would happen. In any case, it made sense to try.
Tentatively at first, Andrea entered Severus's mind, but she saw only his most recent memories: Danielle, his coffee cup, a half-filled cauldron, Danielle again as he looked at her cleavage. This wasn't working.
Andrea sighed and began to use a different tactic. Instead of watching and searching Severus's thoughts, she concentrated on sending. If she could draw him in and make him listen, perhaps she could get his obsessive mind to respond. Peering down into his dark, black tunnels, she pictured a river. She lifted her robes and stepped in, easily imagining the flow of water running cool and smooth over her bare feet. Moving her hands in the mental image, she drew them up over her head and pictured the flow reversing. At the same time, she felt for his consciousness and drew him forward with her into the water. At first, Andrea sensed nothing of substance, but she knew he was there. She felt his presence all around her.
Good, she thought. Thinking it best to start with some simple directions, she began to project outward.
Be strong. Concentrate. Focus.
Immediately, she felt him. His mind was in pain, lurching above and below her – his existence seemingly separated into fragments of thought. Waves of desire flooded over her as she sensed the potion's effects. But he seemed unaware of her presence. From all directions she heard him speak.
Help me … I need you … Danielle … No … I must escape … this is wrong … Danielle …
The words blasted her in their intensity. Spoken without sound, the force of his mind threw the uncontrolled words into the void like primitive hexes.
Don't worry, Andrea said more forcefully. I'm here. Just relax and think slowly.
Andrea? Yes! Please … help me … I must think … Dumbledore … where is he?
He's right here. But we need your help. We don't know how to make the antidote.
The lab. Everything's ready. It's a standard mixture. Love potion cure … except … except. Help me … I-I can't remember … I … can't—
She sensed his panic, and along with it, the powerful pulsing desire. With a slam, Andrea was forced into a memory. She felt the grip as he held the girl's wrist, and watched as he breathed hotly onto her neck. His memory was fueling the insanity. She had to get him to focus.
Relax. Picture the words. What is it? What makes this potion different? Let it come to you.
Danielle … I need Danielle …
NO! You must think. The antidote. Concentrate on the potion—
You must tell her … cold … glacier … I need the ice worms … Danielle …
You're not making sense. Can you try to picture it?
Reaching into his brain to give him strength, Andrea saw an image forming. It was a jar surrounded with ice. The words Glacier solifugus appeared clearly on the label.
It's in the cold storage – in your storeroom. You need the ice worms to chill the heat?
Relieved, Severus forced himself to nod. He relaxed slightly, but when Andrea started to turn away, he began to moan again.
What is it? She asked.
Danielle …
No, no. Think of the ingredients—
No, dammit … listen to me, he interrupted sharply. There was a blast of swearing as Andrea felt the rage of his frustration. Danielle … I must have Danielle … get her …
But—
I need her skill … her potion … it's different. Severus physically shook his head, but he continued to stare into Andrea's eyes, trying not to lose contact. It's not love … it's more … she must tell us … only she knows. Again he repeated, I need Danielle … she made the poison …
"I understand. Don't worry," Andrea said aloud, suddenly breaking the connection. "Dumbledore, we need to get Danielle back here. She's the girl that created the potion." Looking at Severus, she continued, "I think she can help us brew the antidote. Can we get someone to search for her? Maybe in the Slytherin common room?"
"I do not think that is necessary." Dumbledore was looking out the door of the Potions office. Danielle was standing in the threshold.
"Professor," she began, "I came back to see if he was all right," the young girl admitted, her voice shaking with fear and concern. "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have … I mean … I … I just thought—"
Andrea walked straight up to the girl. The tall, young witch looked down on the older woman, the fear and regret causing Danielle's lip to quiver. Calmly, Andrea took the girl's hand. "Do you have the original instructions for the potion? We need to see it."
"Um," Danielle's eyes flew past Andrea and widened as she saw Professor Snape rocking back and forth on the floor. "Is he all right?"
"He'll be fine, but only if we can give him an antidote for this. You need to tell us what happened." Andrea pushed her out into the lab. "Don't be afraid. We're not going to hurt you."
Behind them, the two women could hear Snape groaning again. Horrified, Danielle tried to see into the office.
"You need to get started. What do we need?" Andrea's voice was calm but firm.
Danielle nodded and instantly flew over to Snape's worktable. "It looks like he started it, but I'll have to do it again. It's soaked too long." Speedily, she went about her work, lighting the cauldron and adding a few base ingredients. The girl frowned in concentration.
"What's next?" Andrea prodded. "I'll get it for you."
Starting to gain confidence, Danielle read out a list of ingredients and their quantities while Andrea took notes. Poppy came to help. Taking the list, she ran to the student storeroom, while Andrea began to rummage through Severus's private stores. In no time at all, everything was assembled and ready, including the ice worms. Carefully, Andrea explained what Severus had said about the unusual ingredient.
"Yes," Danielle answered, an increasingly confident look overtaking her fear. With extreme efficiency, Danielle went about her work, chopping and measuring as the bubbling liquid boiled softly in the small cauldron.
As they waited for it to mature, Andrea sat down on a stool across from the young woman. "Severus said your potion was different than a normal … potion," Andrea explained tactfully.
"Um, yes." As Danielle stirred the mixture, the girl's lower lip began to tremble. "Professor Andrea, please forgive me. I did a horrible thing. I … I think I might have—"
"He'll be fine," Andrea explained, flashing a brief smile to hide her own uncertainty. "Just tell me what happened."
After a few minutes, Danielle relayed the entire story. She began with her unusual partnership with the Weasley twins and ended with her encounter that afternoon with the Potions master. Courageously, she'd shared everything, including her decision to trick Professor Snape. After she'd finished, a large, hot tear dropped down the girl's cheek. "I could have killed him. He's going to be so angry. After he realizes what I've done, he won't even want to talk to me again and … and … I love him so much."
Danielle gulped, her face as red as a beet. Andrea expected her to burst into tears, but the girl was not weak. Instead, she stared back in defiance with wide, glistening eyes that reminded Andrea that bravery was not just a Gryffindor trait. Stoically, the girl stood ready to take her punishment.
Impulsively, Andrea gave Danielle a hug. She couldn't help but feel sorry for the girl. "Don't worry. Poppy's doing everything she can for him, and as soon as this is ready, he'll be perfectly fine. But I won't lie to you. He won't be pleased. You have to understand what you did was wrong."
"I know," Danielle replied. "It's just that I wished so hard that he …" The truth was hard to swallow, but she knew Andrea was right. Blinking quickly to hide the tears, Danielle dropped her eyes to the floor. "But I love him. I can't live without him. There'll never, ever be anyone like him."
Andrea sighed. She knew exactly how the girl felt. Of course, Andrea loved Severus, but long before she came to Hogwarts, there'd been another professor in Andrea's past – one that she'd loved very deeply. Ian McAdams was the Charms instructor at the Chicago Academy of Magical Arts where she attended school as a girl. He was tall and slim and cut a dashing figure in his brown, tweed jacket. Known for his quirky wit, the man had an excellent skill for motivating students and generating interest in the world of Charms.
"Danielle, can I tell you a story?" she asked. After the girl nodded, Andrea began. "I was in love with a professor, too. I know it may seem like a long time ago, but when I was a girl at school, I had a wonderful instructor that taught our Charms curriculum. He was absolutely brilliant and had a thoroughly wicked sense of humor."
Unable to stop herself, Danielle sniffed and gave a small smile. They were both thinking of Professor Snape's dry wit.
"I watched his every move," Andrea continued. "If he demonstrated a spell or told a story, I was sitting on the edge of my chair listening to his beautiful voice. He used to smile at me with a sly grin that I thought was only for me. I would dream about him constantly – thinking of him holding me and kissing me or bouncing our children on his knee. I knew it had to be true love.
"I know I was a favorite pupil of his, and because I got top marks in his coursework, he asked me to help him tutor some of the other kids. One day he took me aside and asked me to stay after class so he could explain what he wanted me to do. You can imagine how excited I was. I hardly heard anything he said. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Without thinking, I stepped closer, and just as I was about to throw my arms around him, there was a knock at his office door. When I turned around, I couldn't believe it. It was his wife."
Shocked at the parallel to her own situation, Danielle's face flushed in embarrassment. "Professor, I didn't mean to—"
"Wait. It's okay. Just listen to the rest of the story. As I said, just as I was about to swear my undying love to this wonderful man, his wife walks in the door. Immediately, he went to greet her. I remember it like it was yesterday. He took her hand like she was a queen, and he leaned over and kissed her cheek. As I watched them look at each other, I realized what a fool I'd been. The look they shared was one of true love. A love lasts forever." Andrea sighed as she remembered. "At least, that's the way it looked to me."
Danielle had stopped her sniffles and sat silently looking at her hands as she listened to the story.
"It was strange," Andrea explained. "I saw the look of love in their eyes, and somehow I knew. Something warm and wonderful was happening. But I also felt like I was intruding. I thought if I could have someone love me like that, I would be the happiest woman in the world. And as it turned out, I am. Professor Snape has made me very happy."
"No one will ever love me like that," Danielle replied dejectedly.
"Don't say that. You just need to give yourself more time. You're only eighteen and so very pretty. I'm sure there are dozens of guys that would bend over backward to ask you out. You need to give yourself a chance. It may not happen today, this month or even this year, but somewhere out there is a man that will love you and cherish you and want you there beside him every day for the rest of his life." Andrea reached over and squeezed Danielle's hand. "You just have to be patient."
Just as Andrea finished her story, Poppy hurried over. "Is the cure ready?" the mediwitch asked.
"Almost. I made it in exactly the same concentrated proportions as the original dose," she replied confidently. "The antidote should work just as fast. The only thing I changed was the addition of the ice worms. I agree with Professor Snape. They should help negate the … ah …" Blushing again, Danielle looked helplessly at Andrea. Just then, the small hourglass timer on the lab table dropped the last grain of sand into the bottom section and began to hum.
"Ready?" Andrea asked.
"Yes, Professor," The girl was finally smiling.
"Excellent, let's do it."
xxxxxxx
It wasn't until two days later that Severus finally woke up. Poppy wanted to make sure he was fully recovered before she let him out of her sight. The best way to do that was to keep him sedated. Andrea was sitting by his bedside in the hospital wing reading a book when he groggily opened his eyes. Slowly, he rolled them in her direction.
Without smiling, Andrea lifted her eyes from her book and glowered back.
"Good morning," Severus said uneasily.
"It's afternoon."
"And how long have I been—"
"Two days." Andrea interrupted. Her short replies revealed her displeasure.
Severus simply sat up and crossed his arms. He knew he was at a disadvantage and had decided to wait for his wife to reveal the rest. More was surely coming. Trying to appear disinterested, he glanced lazily at his fingernails.
With her blue eyes flashing, Andrea slowly closed her book and laid it on the nightstand. "So, my darling husband, you think I'm stupid," she accused as she glared at him.
"Ah, so that's it," he said, lifting an eyebrow. "That's all?"
"No. That's not all." Andrea's lips grew thin as she continued. "Are you so blind you can't even notice that a girl has a crush on you? I talked with Danielle and her friends this morning. She's had a crush on you for months. Couldn't you see this coming?"
"Why would I suspect—"
"Why wouldn't you?" Andrea interrupted. "Danielle told me she brought you things. Presents and-and food. She even brought you a raspberry crumpet."
"So?" Severus blinked. "How is that supposed to make me suspicious? When you brought me a crumpet the first time, you weren't attracted to me either."
"Oh, wasn't I?" Andrea responded angrily.
"But she's only a girl—"
"She's eighteen years old!" Andrea replied. "She's not a child anymore. She's a fully-grown, mature woman. Or hadn't you noticed?"
"I hadn't really—"
"Yes you did. You had to. How could you miss it? And while I'm thinking about it, why do you have to be so … so … ridiculously irresistible?"
"What?" This time Severus couldn't hold back. A rare smile spread across his thin face.
"Oh no you don't. I'm still mad at you."
"You're jealous. Admit it. You're actually jealous." With a great deal of effort, he forced himself not to laugh, but the smile remained. "There. Look at your ring," he smirked. "I've never seen it so green. And your cheeks – they're quite red. Are you 'hot' for some reason?"
"Stuff it, Severus."
"Perhaps I should take lessons from Professor Lockhart. He could teach me how to be – what do you Americans say? A gigolo?"
"You? A gigolo?" Andrea was indeed jealous, but the thought of Gilderoy teaching Severus to seduce women was too much. Her lips curled uncontrollably into a grin.
The soft shuffle of footsteps made them both glance toward the wing entrance. Dumbledore was approaching, and his expression was grave.
Ashamed by some of the things he'd said in front of Dumbledore during his recent adventure, Severus felt the need to explain. "Headmaster—" he began, but Dumbledore cut him off.
"Severus," he replied seriously, clasping his hands behind his back. "There is a problem. Professor Lockhart has gone missing."
A/N: Thanks to all that have added this story to your favorites or alerts. Lockhart is causing trouble again. Go figure. A special thanks again to my loyal reviewer Mrs. Volterra. Won't you join her? As always, thanks to my beta Fainting Fancies.
