The Adventures of The Misfit Professors
Chapter 14 Part 2
"A Fairly Undramatic Dramatic Evening"
By: Deep Shadows and Eckostalker
Alexis happily bounced back to into her quarters, feeling a lot better now that she finally had got to eat a full meal. Knowing Ron was coming, she igured that Severus's cologne on her was not a good idea, since Ron was already pissed at Severus over the whole boggart ordeal. She shivered in remembrance, shaking her head as she went and took a hot shower.
She dressed in jeans and a tank top, then went about making her bed as she waited for Ron to arrive. She heard the familiar swish of magical flames from her living room fireplace, and smirked at hearing Ron's imitation of Ricky Ricardo's voice. "Leexxyy... I'm home!"
Alexis sqealed happily, running out of her room and practically jumping into Ron's arms. He laughed, hugging her to him as he laughed. "Well, glad to see you too honey..."
"You need to visit more often! It's lonely here... Artimis is usually at the hospital, Remus is usually working, Severus... grr..." Alexis rambled, and he shook his head in amusement.
"I'm sorry. Things have been real stressing at work lately. Everyone's been runnning around like chickens with their heads cut off. Several smaller Muggle towns have been raided by groups of wizards. Problem is, no one can find out who these wizards are. And I have to make sure we get enough support for the next Quidditch World Cup, but everyone's freaking out and such..." Ron sighed, and Alexis frowned slightly.
She hugged him around the neck and kissed him on the cheek, speaking soothingly. "It's okay... you'll figure it out. You always do."
Ron shrugged unconvincingly, eyes downcast as he added in a low voice. "Not always. Still don't know who jumped Draco..."
Alexis cocked her head in confusion, and Ron explained. "I've been trying to look into it during my free time. Got my secretary to looking at records of local ex-wizard-cons even..."
"You secretary huh..." Alexis spoke with a frown, brows furrowed. She was getting pretty annoyed by his mentioning of a secretary. She was proving to be a lot of help to Ron lately... a little too much maybe...
But this is about Draco... it's okay if he gets help... wonder who this secretary is though... Alexis thought, trying to convince herself she was just extra help for her husband. She smiled at Ron smally, telling him as she took her mind off that subject. "It's baffled everyone. Don't beat yourself up over trying to find the culprits. It won't help if you're too stressed out to do any good. It wasn't your fault."
"I know, but I can't help thinking that I could've done something more..." Ron spoke, sounding a bit angry with himself as he stared hard at the ground.
Alexis sighed, pulling his chin over to make him look at her. " You did what you were suppose to do. Should be thankful that he didn't get killed. We'll figure this out soon... I know it." Alexis reassured him, and he nodded slowly looking at her with wearied eyes.
Alexis hugged him tightly, and he did so, though a bit more carefully. He kissed her once, then put his hands on her shoulders, smiling. "So, how are we doing huh?"
Alexis smiled smallly, looking down at her stomach. "Well, I think it has a sense of humor. Especially when making me sick in front of the entire Great Hall... Otherwise, we've been pretty good. God, I sound schizo now..."
Ron laughed, shaking his head as he pulled her to his side, touching her stomach lightly with a look of pure happiness. Alexis was glad now that he was happy with his mind off of working and such, and put her hand over his. He then sighed though, taking her by the shoulders and sitting her on the couch beside them. She looked at him with confusion as ron told her sternly.
"You stay here for a minute honey. I'll be right back. I've got to go talk to a certain Potion's Master..." He spoke, a look of slight anger on his features.
Alexis's eyes widened. He'll most likely beat the shit out of Sev for that stupid prank... but then he couldn't make me bacon for a while... he expressed his apologies, I guess I should stop Ron... She thought as Ron turned to leave the room on his mission.
"Ron? You're not going to leave me so soon are you?" Alexis whined in a quiet voice, the look of sadness on her face not so fake though. Ron stopped and looked back at her, in a conflict over his feelings.
"I'll be right back honey... it won't take too long... I promise..." He spoke soothingly, still heading towards the door, intent on expressing his anger to Severus.
Alexis lowered her eyes, frowning as she spoke quietly and sorrowfully. "But... you just got here... he can't wait or something?"
Ron stopped, looking at her worriedly as she sniffed, eyes becoming teary. Ron then made up his mind, quickly walking back over to her and sitting next to her, putting an arm around her shoulder and puuling her against his.
"Shh... I won't leave. I promise, please don't cry honey..." He cooed, Alexis smiling slightly as she leaned her head against his chest, sniffling once more and nodding. Ron smiled, pulling her head up and leaning in to kiss her softly. She smiled as her eyes closed happily, leaning back on the couch as Ron followed, never breaking the kiss.
He smoothed her hair away from her face lovingly and Alexis sighed happily, wishing that he could just find a way to work at Hogwarts so they could see each other as often as they liked. Alexis didn't sit well with the fact that her and Ron's time together were cut so short during the school year, but knew she couldn't get around it anymore now that she worked here.
They sat back up after a few minutes, Alexis leaning against Ron's chest contentedly as he smiled. He too his wand and flicked it, and suddenly a bag reading Honeydukes on it appeared on the table in front of them. Alexis smiled widely, looking up at his smirking face.
"Thought a few sweets wouldn't hurt... well, a bag. Little more than a fesw... but hey, the more the better right?" Ron spoke, leaning forward and pulling the bag to them. He reached in, handing a chocolate frog to her expectantly. Alexis took it, not bothering to tell him that she wasn't hungry due to Severus's breakfast. But she didn't want to ruin his happier mood. He nodded with satisfaction, unwrapping his own. Alexis nibbled on hers as Rn practically swallowed his, reaching in the bag for another random sweet. Alexis had barely finished her chocolate as Ron reached for a fourth peice of candy. He stopped it halfway to his mouth, looking at Alexis with confusion.
She smiled at him smally, and he spoke with concern. "Are you okay? You're not eating a lot..."
"Well, I'm actually pretty full." Alexis told him, tossing the wrapper on the table. Ron cocked his head in confusion, then smiled as he spoke. "So you're actually eating good?"
Alexis nodded, replying. "Yep. Pretty good. Severus-"
"What did Severus do now." Ron growled, narrowing his eyes.
Alexis shook her head quickly, explaining. "No! Actually, it was something good. He's cooking my food now, like my own personal chef..."
"He's what?" Ron asked with amazement, staring at her with confusion.
"Yeah! He's like, changing all these gross vegetables into meat by-products or something like that. All I care about is that thet look like meat, and taste like meat. It's awesome." Alexis sighed happily, and Ron looked deep in thought.
"Well, at least he's doing something useful..." Ron mumbled, hugging Alexis to him for reassurance. Alexis rolled her her eyes with amusement, leaning into him happily. They cuddled peacefully for a while, Alexis held protectively in his arms. They talked of menial events every now and then, though they were more than content to stay quiet in each other's company.
Eventually Alexis started to doze, Ron running his hand gently through her silky hair, when she was startled awake by a heavy flapping. She looked up as an owl swooped into the room, flying lazy circles around them before diving down on top of the candy bag. It shook itself, then turned to them, a letter in it's beak adressed to Ron. He took it with confusion, and the owl jumped up, taking off again through the window.
Alexis sat up from him, watching him curiously as he opened the letter. He read it at first with a look of curiousity, which quickly turnd to an angered scowl. He finished it with a frustrated growl, throwing his head back and closing his eyes as he frowned. Alexis took the letter out of his hand, reading it quickly.
She was a little more expressive in her feelings.
"Italy?! You're going to Italy? For A MONTH?!" She yelled, glaring angrily at the letter.
"I can't beleive this..." Ron grumbled darkly, rubbing his temples. Alexis angrily slapped the letter onto the couch besie her, crossing her arms with indignance.
Ron took it then, reading it once more and snapping as he read it aloud. "'There is a conference to discuss and apply new Quidditch rules. The conference will take place over a month as the rules will have to be agreed upon and officially assigned.' Bullshit!" He growled, throwing the letter away from him with disgust and laying his head back again with a scowl.
Alexis looked at him, sighing deeply as she lay on his chest, curling up against him. After a moment, he put an arm around her back, speaking resignedly. "I'm so sorry honey... these stupid idiots-"
"I know. It's your job. You can't help it." Alexis spoke quietly, hugging him tighter. She won't see him for a whole month... only through letters could she talk to him. And he would be gone through...
"Christmas!" Alexis groaned her thought aloud, and Ron lifted his head up with wide eyes. He shook his head in disbeleif.
"Oh, no freaking way..."
Alexis's eyes teared up, realizing that this conference would prevent Ron from joining them for Christmas. That on top of not knowing if Draco will be awake by then...
Alexis sniffled, a knot of sorrow growing in her chest. Ron sat up and wrapped her in his arms lovingly, laying his head on hers as she cried into his shirt. "It's November! You're going to miss Christmas with us!" Alexis wailed, burying her head in his shirt. Ron hugged her tighter, shaking his head.
"I wouldn't miss Christmas if I had a choice honey. You know I wouldn't. But this job... I... I can't not go. I have to..." Ron spoke apologetically, holding Alexis as she cried on him. She sniffled as she looked up at him with red eyes. "I, I know. It's j, just... Why can't t- they do this next m, month?"
Ron shook his head with a lost expression, and Alexis nodded sorrowfully, laying back on him as she sniffled back her tears.
They stayed that way for a little while, and eventually Ron sighed, looking down at her. "Alexis, I have to go soon to pack. I have to leave tomorrow unfortunately."
Alexis looked up at him, then nodded, sitting up off of him and hugging herself as Ron sat up. He frowned, caressing her cheek with his hand as he spoke. "I'll write you as often as I can, okay? And I get you an awesome christmas present when I get back. You can bet on that."
Alexis nodded, attempting at a smile, but failing horribly.
Ron stood, pulling Alexis up with him and hugging her once more, kissing her on her head. Alexis inhaled deeply, drinking in the scent of him and hoping it would last her for the next month. She had never been away from Ron that long before, so this wasn't going to be a great month.
Eventually he pulled away, looking at her lovingly and apologetically as he brushed her hair away from her face. He leaned in and kissed her, whispering softly. "I love you. And if Severus does anything else like that boggart again, I'll rip his arms out."
Alexis smiled smally, kissing him again. He sighed deeply, looking exhausted from all the current stress and walked towards the fireplace. He stepped into it, Alexis watching him. He smiled at her, blew her a kiss, then flooed himself to the Manor, Alexis watching him go with desolate emerald eyes.
Severus rolled over in his bed, hugging his pillow and burying his head in it. He inhaled though his nose and pulled back very quickly, the pillow smelling like Alexis.
"Oh hell no." He snarled as he got up and walked into his bathroom, shaking his head at the demon drawn on his mirror. He opened the bathroom cabinet and picked up his bottle of cologne, intent on spraying his bed down with it. He picked it up and it was oddly light. He opened it and his face went white with anger.
"WHYTE!" He growled in anger as he stormed back into his room, opening his drawer and pulling out a pair of his black slacks. He changed into them quickly, putting his boots on in frustration as he cursed Alexis's name. He neglected to change his shirt, seeing as the message was 'I can only help one person a day...(Today isn't your day)'. He stormed out of his room, knowing it was about dinnertime and that Alexis was probably in the Great Hall, wether she was hungry or not. He marched in fury, hoping that Alexis had simply stolen his cologne, and not dumped it as he feared. He walked through the doors and looked at the head table, seeing a slightly disheartened Alexis next to a saddened Artimis. He kept marching. He walked up to Alexis and asked her, quite loudly in fact.
"Alexis Catherine Whyte-Lupin-Callabella-Weasley, Where is my COLOGNE?" Severus demanded, inhaling after finishing her mouthful of a name. She looked at him with shock and asked.
"Cologne? Huh? You wear cologne? I don't have any of your cologne?" Alexis replied indignantly.
"This morning... I asked you why I smelt my cologne when you were in my bathroom. You said you didn't know. What did you do with it?" He asked her once again, angered at her and not really thinking about where he was.
"Ohhhhh, that cologne? Ok... um... ummmm..." Alexis drew out and Severus didn't have the patience for it.
"WHYTE!" He yelled in a warning, leaning on the table, looking her in the eyes.
"Okay, okay... I kinda relieved you of it... yeah... Believe me, you'll thank me later." She told him and he glared, hissing at her.
"Relieved me of it how?" He questioned her with as much venom in his voice as he could muster.
"I think the mermaids are enjoying it, or dying from it... second one's more likely..." Alexis replied and Severus snarled at her.
"You poured it down the DRAIN! What right did you have to pour my cologne down the drain?" Severus asked her with indignance.
"I... just .. um... I'm sorry.. I'll buy you some better smelling kind." Alexis spoke whiny-ish and Severus growled at her.
"I like that kind. Couldn't you just have sat in the living room while I made breakfast and left my shit alone?" He hissed at her and he could see that Alexis was borderlining tears.
"You dind't specify where I had to sit, I was curious ok?! So kill me..." Alexis whined and Severus growled lowly to her.
"If you weren't a woman and pregnant, I would kill you..."
"It's just cologne!" Alexis cried and Severus shook his head in anger.
"MY cologne, to which you had no right to touch!" Severus informed her, so angry that her tears were not affecting him.
"I'll buy you a new bottle." Alexis told him, crying now.
"That's not the point! The point is that I wanted to use my cologne to get your smell out of my bed and you dumped it down the drain, forcing me into an inconvience. And the reason I am now out of cologne and my bed smells like you is because of my doing something nice for once and making you food-" Severus ranted angrily but was cut off.
"Severus, that is enough. I think she got the point." Remus interjected and Severus looked at him, wondering where in the world he had came from. Then Severus realized that he just had this entire arguement in front of the entire Great Hall. Oh shit... Severus thought as he looked to see a couple hundred eyes watching him. Severus shook his head, looking down at the table he was gripping with now white knuckles.
"Whyte, see me later in my office." He told her and then turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, much to his embarrassment. He walked to his office and grabbed out his spare shirt and changed, putting on his spare cloaks as well. He sat at his desk and slammed his head on it, sighing in frustration.
"That woman will be the death of me..." He murmured as he laid his head on his desk.
Alexis decided she would join the Artimis in the Great Hall for dinner, even though she wasn't going to eat. She'd have to wait for Severus to eat dinner. The whole thought of depending on Severus to not starve kind of unnerved her, but she knew she really had no choice, unless she wanted to eat vegetables for the remaining seven months of her pregnancy.
She sat next to Artimis once in the Great Hall, both now matching with desolate looks on their faces. Alexis sighed deeply, taking a pear from a basket on the table and picking up a fork, pokng holes into the fruit distractedly until Artimis finished her meal. Alexis never got a chance to talk to her as Severus suddenly appeared in front of her, a look of rage on his features as he demanded loudly.
"Alexis Catherine Whyte-Lupin-Callabella-Weasley, Where is my COLOGNE?"
Shocked at his sudden angered yelled and not remembering what the hell he was talking about, she asked him, feeling a bit offended at his accusatory tone. "Cologne? Huh? You wear cologne? I don't have any of your cologne..."
"This morning... I asked you why I smelt my cologne when you were in my bathroom. You said you didn't know. What did you do with it?" He spoke, and Alexis suddenly remembered that little event, now feeling mighty stupid for acting that rashly with his stuff, especially with his angered visage glaring at her.
"Ohhhhh, that cologne? Ok... um... ummmm..." She spoke, trying to think of an excuse. Not good enough.
"WHYTE!" He yelled, the warning clearly considered in her head. He leaned on the table, looking her in the eyes, making it so her gaze couldn't wander away from his penetrating one.
"Okay, okay... I kinda relieved you of it... yeah... Believe me, you'll thank me later." Alexis confessed apologetically, though still felt that he was way better off without the stuff. It smelled like a dead cat in her opinion.
"Relieved me of it how?" He asked with curiosity, but Alexis knew that he probably already had guessed.
"I think the mermaids are enjoying it, or dying from it... second one's more likely..." She replied, though was unable to keep out the last remark. Hey, it was probably true!
"You poured it down the DRAIN! What right did you have to pour my cologne down the drain?" Severus asked her indignantly, and Alexis felt the pang of guilt.
"I... just .. um... I'm sorry... I'll buy you some better smelling kind." Alexis told him resignedly, thinking he would be calmed with that and stop yelling at her in front of all the students.
"I like that kind. Couldn't you just have sat in the living room while I made breakfast and left my shit alone?" He hissed angrily, and Alexis stared at him with wide eyes, wondering why he was getting so worked up over an insignificant bottle of guy's perfume. It wasn't like it was the last bottle on the earth. And he never told her she couldn't tour his room. So there.
"You didn't specify where I had to sit, I was curious ok?! So kill me..." Alexis spoke, trying to sound indignant, but only managing a whine, feeling her face flush hotly and her eyes starting to brim with unshed tears.
"If you weren't a woman and pregnant, I would kill you..." He growled, and Alexis's breath caught in her throat with shock.
"It's just cologne!" Alexis cried now, a few tears slipping down her face. He'd kill me over cologne?! My god... did his mother give it to him or something? Why else would it be so important that he hates me for dumping the gross crap...
"MY cologne, to which you had no right to touch!" Severus informed her angrily, and Alexis's lip trembled as her vision blurred with confused tears.
"I'll buy you a new bottle." Alexis spoke softly, trying to calm him somehow.
"That's not the point! The point is that I wanted to use my cologne to get your smell out of my bed and you dumped it down the drain, forcing me into an inconvience. And the reason I am now out of cologne and my bed smells like you is because of my doing something nice for once and making you food-" Severus continued to vent, and Alexis lowered her head dejectedly, confused at his apparent disgust for her. She cried quietly to herself, his words lashing at her mentally.
"Severus, that is enough. I think she got the point." Remus interjected, and Alexis looked across at him thankfully. He stared at Severus hard, frowning. Severus quieted, looking at him, then around at the silent hall of students and teachers. Alexis sniffled, guessing that he had forgotten that he was berating her in front of an audience. He turned to Alexis again, forcing out a bit more quietly.
"Whyte, see me later in my office."
He then turned and stalked from the Hall, Alexis biting her lip to keep back crying. Remus put a hand on her shoulder, and she pulled away suddenly, not wanting to be comforted. Artimis leaned over to her curiously, but Alexis stood and quickly ran from the hall.
They all wanted to comfort and question her, but none of them even knew what was going on! Leaving was the best way to avoid probing questions and wary looks. She couldn't deal with those either. She ran to her quarters, locking the door behind her. She turned into the room, her tears lessening, when she stopped in surprise.
A familiar grey owl sat quietly on her coffee table, a letter tied to it's leg and a soft red rose in it's sharp beak. He watched her approach wth wide yellow eyes, letting Alexis take the rose from it's beak and untying the letter. It then swiftly took wing and floated silently out of the room.
Alexis smiled smally, thinking that maybe Ron had already written to her before leaving the Manor on his conference. She opened it, reading the graceful script to herself.
'My Dearest Alexis,
I apologize for the delay, work has been difficult lately, and I have been hard put to find any free time. I have been gifted, though, with a free weekend, and was hoping if you would mind sharing it with me. Our last talk eased me greatly, and I have since looked forward to another. Sunday, tomorrow, I had planned on lunch. Would you care to join me at The Crying Dragon Cafe for lunch? It's on the outskirts of Hoggesmeade. I would be most delighted if you would accompany me. I haven't many friends here as of yet, and I wish to see you so dearly. My thanks.
Humbly,
~Jason Kinsler~'
"Well, I don't see the problem with it..." Alexis mumbled to herself, though she was hoping this was a letter from Ron. Seeing a new face that wasn't caught up in the drama in her life would be nice. And everyone needed a friend, as long as that was how it stayed. And she could do with a trip out of the school...
"But I should tell someone. They'll be mad if I don't. But who? Already promised I wouldn't stress Artimis with Jason... I'll tell her about him later, after a few more outings with him, to see if he'd get along with Artimis. Remus... no, he's going to the hospital to help Artimis with Draco... who can I talk to? Neville won't really know what the hell is going on... Hagrid won't agree with me leaving. Damn! The only bloody person I can talk to is Snape! And he's mad at me..." Alexis muttered to herself quietly, shaking her head. She smelled the rose distractedly, then placed it in a jar she summoned, putting it on her coffee table without a thought. She set the letter in a desk drawer, plopping on her couch tiredly.
"Hmm... could pick up Sev's cologne while I'm in town..." Alexis mumbled to herself, sitting in the peacful silence of her room until she had to face said-person in his classroom.
St. Mungo's Hospital... Room 546...
Artimis stood talking to the doctors as Remus looked over the unconcious Draco. He really didn't understand why all the wizards and witches in St. Mungo's, the most trained and capable healing facitlaity in the wizarding world, could not cure him of this coma. He shrugged as he looked at the sleeping man before him. It must have taken twenty men to do this to him... But then again, Draco isn't invinicible... There is something supicious about this... I wonder?... Remus thought as he heard Artimis walked up next to him. He looked at her and witnessed the sorrow in her eyes. She was hurting from this, hurting so badly that she wouldn't tell anyone. Remus could see that she wished for her husband to get up and look at her just by looking in her eyes. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she instinctively covered her more noticable pregnant stomach with the hand.
"They say he could wake up soon, or that he may ne-" He heard her words catch in her throut as she choked on her tears. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and she buried her face in his shoulder, letting her tears flow.
"I will be ok. Soon everything will be ok." Remus comforted her, wrapping her in an embrace even though he himself doubted his words. Would Draco ever wake up? And worse yet, when Draco woke up, would he know who he was, who Artimis was? Remus didn't know the answers to these questions, but he wouldn't let Artimis see his doubt, not when she despreately clung to him as a pillar of strength. Artimis quieted after a moment wiped her eyes, looking at her husband lying in the bed before them.
"Do you think he can hear us?" She asked and Remus looked at him, and then at the torn woman before him.
"Maybe not me, but I am sure he can hear your voice." Remus told her and she smiled, sitting in the chair by his bed. Remus pulled up another chair and sat next to her, looking at his proverbial son-in-law with anguish. It was breaking Artimis's heart to see Draco this way, and by that it was breaking Remus's heart to see her heart breaking. He heard her begin to whisper softly to Draco, her delicate hand slipping under his and holding it gently. Remus vowed then and there, watching his daughter cry over her husband that he would find whoever had done this, and rip them limb from limb. Remus stood, putting his hand on Artimis's shoulder and she looked up at him with glistening eyes.
"I am going back to Hogwarts. Please don't stay here all night. You need your health as much as he needs his. Promise me?" He asked of her and she looked at him and nodded slowly. He bowed his head and walked out of the door, planning on doing a little research of his own.
Severus set up his workstation in his classroom, wondering what the school thought now. He had just made two announcements to the whole bloody school and he knew it. One was that Alexis was in his quarters, which could be alright, if he had failed to mention his bed smelt like her. Severus regreted losing his cool on Alexis, but there was nothing he could do about it now but make her dinner. He wondered if she would even show up after his blowup, but he also knew that nothing would deter Alexis from a meal. He began working diligently, his back to the door as he made Alexis steak. He had already cooked macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes, not feeling like expending the magically energy when he could just cook it and she would be able to eat it. He had both those pots leviatation over a fire, keeping his concentration on them and the transfiguration at hand. Severus noticed that the fire was too hot and moved his hand to lower the flames. Instead he moved his hand to close to the fire, thus burning his hand.
"Godddamnit!" He hissed, moving the pots off the fire and moving over to the cabinet that held his burn salves as a string of colorful curses wre emitted from him in pain. It really hurt and he got the salve out rubbing it on his burned finger and palm. He let out a relieved sigh and turned as he witnessed Alexis standing at the door.
"Your food is almost ready." He told her, moving back to the table, taking his salve to the table with him. He summoned a plate, some silverware and a goblet of apple juice, just to spite Alexis. He began to put the food on the plate, wondering why Alexis wasn't sitting at his side like a hungry dog like she normally would be. He looked over his shoulder and saw Alexis sitting at the back table in his classroom.
"Whyte, I mean, Alexis, why are you sitting all the way back there?" He asked her, finishing putting the plate down.
"Cause." He heard her seak with hestiation and insecurity.
"Well, If you want to eat, you better come here, casue I am not your waiter." Severus replied back, keeping his tone as light and as unsarcastic as possible. He knew she was afraid he was still mad, and he was, but she was right when she said it was just cologne. He would get some tommorow during lunch.
He heard Alexis reply a low 'Ok' and then he saw her move up a couple of seats. Severus sighed and rolled his eyes, shaking his head at her.
"Unless you want me to throw this delicious looking steak at you, you better get over here." Severus told her, hoping she would get over her fear of him. She was showing more fear of him now than when he let a boggart loose on her. He heard her footfalls and she was next to him. He moved away from her plate, going to the other side of the table.
"If it tastes funny tell me. And the mashed potatoes and mac n' cheese are real, I didn't transfigure them." He stated as he sat down, looking at her. He looked over her plate and then took a tentative bite of the mashed potatoes. She looked up at him and rasied her eyebrow at him.
"Why are you watching me eat?" She asked, turningher shoulder to him and he shurgged, picking up his book he was reading earlier. He went to reading it and Alexis was eating quietly, an amazing feat if there ever was one. After a few moments of relative silence he spoke.
"I forgive you." He stated, turning a page in his book, wondering her reaction. He heard her gag as if she were choking and he lowered his book to see her look at him with wide eyes.
"Excuse me?!" She spoke demandingly and he nodded, looking at her.
"You're excused." He mused and he went back to reading his book. He heard her whispered under her breath as she took a bite.
"You are such a jerk."
Severus shook his head and turned the page, making much more noise with this action as he whispered lowly.
"And I am sorry." He stated and he knew she didn't hear him. He saw her look at him curiously and then went back to eating after a moment of apparent confusion.
"I said I was sorry." He spoke a little louder, making so that his voice was an audible whisper as he lowered his book to look at her. He watched her lower her fork and look at him with wide eyes.
"You are apoligizing to me? After you wanted to kill me... Over COLOGNE! And you are apoligizing! Oh yes, I forgive you, Severus, of everything, oh yeah. Regardless of the death threat, I forgive you." She told him very sarcastically and Severus shook his head.
"Would you rather I not apoligize and keep on being angry?" He asked her in all seriousness, becasue he didn't bode to well with someone mocking him when he apoligized. It was downright infuriating. After a moment of thought, Alexis looked won at her plate and whispered.
"No. But wonder if you actually mean it half the time." She told hima nd he was appalled.
"I have yet to apoligize to you and not mean it." Severus told her in his own defense. If he was going to take the time, energy and courage to say he was sorry then he was going to damn well mean it.
"Yeah, but everytime you apoligize, you go around and do something just as bad or worse." She told him and he rolled his eyes.
"Here's lets cut to the chase... Do you accept my apoligy or not?" He asked her with no intent of finishing that conversation, becasue she had just shot his arguement out of the water. She mocked rubbed her chin in thought and he closed his book over his hand, knowing that her collecting her thoughts would take awhile. She answered quicker than he expected.
"Yes, I do. But if you ever yell at me like that again, I'll... do something... yeah." She told him and he snickered.
"Deal. As long as something doesn't involve disembowment or photo-sharing." He stated and Alexis snickered eating a bite of her mashed potatoes. Severus caught a whiff of her food and his stomach grumbled at him. He realized that he hadn't eaten since breakfast this morning. Alexis must have heard his stomach grumble because she laughed and and rolled her eyes at him. He scoffed and summoned himself a plate and helped himself to some macaroni and cheese. He ate in silence with Alexis, both of them consumed in their consumption. After Severus finished his food he had a taste for something differnet. He summoned a house elf and requested popcorn. Within a minute he had a bag of steaming salty popcorn. Alexis was still savoring the last few bites of her steak as he began to eat his popcorn. She finished her food and set her plate aside, smiffing the air. He could tell she wanted some popcorn, but he wasnt entirely sure he wanted to share. He cleared the workstation table and propped his feet up on it, holding his bag of popcorn. Alexis looked at him curious and he picked up a piece and chucked it at her, it hitting her in the forehead. She stared at him in confusion for a moment and then picked up the piece off of the table in front of her and chucked it at him. He moved his head and opened his mouth, catching it in his mouth and eating it. He saw her staring in shock and he swallowed, rolling his eyes.
"That is what i was hoping you would do." He mused and she snorted.
"Could have bloody warned me." She told him and he picked up another piece and chucked it at her. This time she caught it in her mouth, making Severus shake his head. He summoned the house elf once more and asked for another bag of popcorn. Another one was brought and given to Alexis.
"Bet I can catch more than you can." He dared her and he saw the glint in her eyes of a challenge.
"Is that so? I'll have yopu know that I am a champion at this, I beat Fred, George AND BILL! Man he was hard... Boy's got a neck like a giraffe." Alexis stated as she picked up a piece and chucked it at him. He caught it and smirked, eating it and stating.
"One."
With that he chucked a piece of popcorn at her and she caught it. This began an elaborate game of catching the popcorn in thier mouths. After half an hour of that Severus was full and Alexis was munching on her bag, not wanting to waste it by throwing it at him.
"I won you know." He told her and Alexis shook her head.
"Nuh uh.. those two didn't count, they bounced off of your forehead before you caught them." She told him and he snorted.
"But I still caught them." He told her and she bowed her head, not saying anything. He sighed and watched as she plopped her own feet up on his table. He rolled his eyes at her, normally would have yelled at her for it, but was in too much of a relaxed mood to get all tense about her feet on the table. He was silent as he thought of what he needed to do tomorrow.
" I have to go to town tomorrow." He groaned, thinking about needing more cologne. He saw Alexis look at him in curiuosity.
"Me too..." She stated and he was curious as to why.
"What for?" He asked, wondering why she needed to go to town when she rarely like to leave the castle. If she went someone would have to go with her, becasue Artimis was very wary of any family members out and about in Hoggesmeade alone.
"Cause i do, why do you?" She asked him and he shrugged.
"I need more cologne and i think i need a new supply of shrivelfigs and chocolate do you need to go?" Severus told her, noting on how he and Selena nearly deplenished his stash of the candy the other night.
"Got several things I have got to do, Have got to get my candy stashed refilled, need some new dragonhide gloves for my next class, need to go by the cafe casue I got a letter from jason, need to tell Madam Rosemerta more about you..." Alexis told him and he cut her off.
"What did you say?" He asked, incrediously thinking that she didn't just say she was going to see Jason again.
"Which part, Madam Rosemerta or the dragonhide gloves?" Alexis covered, but he wasn't buying it.
"The Cafe with Jason part... Are you going to see him again?" Severus asked with a hint of worry. He had a bad feeling about Jason being back in the picture.
"Well... Yeahmaybe." She stated quickly and Severus looked at her seriously over his boots.
"Does Ron know?" Severus asked, wondering if Alexis's husband had approved of this meeting, which he doubted.
"No, he doesn't need to know. It's just lunch and it's cause we are friends." Alexis defended to him and he didn't believe it.
"So why not tell your husband about your friend then?" Severus questioned, inadvertantly grabbing a handful or popcorn.
"Because he doesn't like my friend." Alexis told him and Severus's first thought was. That makes a lot of us...
"So where are you going to lunch then?" He asked and Alexis raised an eyebrow at him.
"Why do you want to know?" She questioned and Severus covered his initial response which would have been 'So I can come keep an eye on you...'
"So I can avoid that place like the plauge. I don't trust Jason Kinsler and it unnerves me to think he could be lurking around where I lurk." Severus stated and Alexis thought in it on it a moment.
"Ok, the Crying Dragon Cafe." She told him and he couldn't believe she gave him this information so freely. Maybe her pregnancy had caused her to be too trusting, which could be dangerous when it came to Jason. But Severus decided to make Alexis think he didn't think it was that big a deal.
"And what are you telling Rosmerta about me?" He asked, knowing the woman had some kind of fascination, he guessed he could call it, with him.
"Oh nothing, just your favorite color, your hobbies and other stuff like that..." Alexis began and Severus looked at her in shock.
"What? Why would you do that?" He questioned her.
"Just answering some friendly questions." Alexis spoke and he grumbled.
"That woman is too friendly in my opinion. What did you two sit down over coffee and decided 'lets talk about Severus?'" He asked with shock.
"No, it was just passing conversation between two friends. You know, you should go talk to her." She told him and he crossed his arms.
"I will not date that woman. No you, or anyone will change my mind." He stated, knowing Alexis was trying to play matchmaker.
"I'm not saying you should, just go make friends with her, so then you'd actually have friends." She chided and he glared.
"I have friends... Dumbledore is my friend..." Severus countered and Alexis raised an eyebrow at him.
"Ok then, well, I am going to bed." Alexis stated, yawning and Severus looked at her formulating a plan.
"Alright. I shall expect you at 8:30 for breakfast. And then we shall go to Hoggesmeade together during Lunch until your lunch date, because Artimis would skin me alive if I let you go unattended. Mr. Kinsler will be responsible for your safety after that." Severus told her, not giving her room to argue. His real thoughts on the other hand were that he needed to get a hold of an aquaintance of his to start intercepting the mail going to Jason Kinsler. It paid sometimes to be an Ex-Deatheater, but only sometimes. Alexis nodded to him and walked out of the classroom, shaking her head. Severus then turned, cleaned up the littered popcorn, and then walked to his own quarters. He turned on his stereo and fell asleep, ignoring the fact that his bed smelt like his bane.
"I won you know." Severus spoke after his and Alexis's actually decent and somewhat normal popcorn fight.
"Nuh uh... those two didn't count, they bounced off of your forehead before you caught them." Alexis snapped, refusing to let Severus think he had won.
"But I still caught them." He persisted stubbornly and she bowed her head, thinking silently. Yeah, you say that now... you just wait till I dump the whole bag on you... we'll see how many you catch then... Then she smirked, leaning back and propping her feet on his desk in the same manner that he had, wanting to see if he would scold her with annoyance. To her surprise, he refrianed from saying anything, merely shaking his head and leaning back further, seeming to think on something. Alexis shrugged, staring up at the ceiling and chomping on some more cold popcorn.
Severus clsoed his eyes and groaned with resignation to the room in general. " I have to go to town tomorrow."
Alexis cocked her head, wondering why he needed to when it was a Sunday. The Sunday on which she needed to go meet Jason. Uh oh, forgot about that.. Wondering what he would say, she spoke cautiously. "Me too..."
Like she predicted, he asked with a slight furrow in his brow, looking at her. "What for?"
"Cause I do, why do you?" Alexis stated simply, not sure if she wanted to tell him about Jason just yet and risk another yelling session.
"I need more cologne and I think I need a new supply of shrivelfigs and chocolate do you need to go?" Severus spoke, still not letting up on his persistance to know her reason for leaving the castle. Alexis thought a minute, wondering how she would bring it up without making it sound like a big deal.
She shrugged and replied. "Got several things I have got to do, Have got to get my candy stashed refilled, need some new dragonhide gloves for my next class, need to go by the cafe casue I got a letter from Jason, need to tell Madam Rosemerta more about you..."
She spoke, though was cut off as Severus asked demandingly. "What did you say?"
"Which part, Madam Rosemerta or the dragonhide gloves?" Alexis spoke a bit nervously, thinkng maybe she could distract his attention. No such luck.
"The Cafe with Jason part... Are you going to see him again?" Severus asked, frowning slightly, and Alexis knew she had no choice but to tell him.
"Well... Yeahmaybe." She stated quickly and quietly, lowering her eyes. She knew Severus didn't like the idea of Jason being around, but that really wasn't his choice to make, now was it?
"Does Ron know?" Severus asked then, and Alexis felt a pang of guilt. She quickly answered and defended herself, hoping to make it seem like nothing. "No, he doesn't need to know. It's just lunch and it's cause we are friends."
"So why not tell your husband about your friend then?" Severus questioned continously, reaching for some popcorn as he watched her scrutinzingly. Alexis squirmed uncomfortably, feeling bad that she hadn't mentioned anything to Ron yet, for good reason she thought.
"Because he doesn't like my friend." Alexis told him quietly.
"So where are you going to lunch then?" Severus asked, surprisingly not berating her further on that subject. Though he seemed just a little too curious on her plans tomorrow.
"Why do you want to know?" She questioned suspiciusly, watching him, thogh he kept a blank expression.
"So I can avoid that place like the plauge. I don't trust Jason Kinsler and it unnerves me to think he could be lurking around where I lurk." Severus stated sincerely it seemed, and Alexis knew that was for the most part true probably. SHe watched him carefully, thinking to herself. Why would he want to interupt me and Jason? I don't think he'd care... and I have to let someone know where I'm going to be at... he's a good a person to tell as any...
"Ok, the Crying Dragon Cafe." She confessed, and Severus looked almost surprised that she had told him. Alexis snickered internally, and Severus seemed to shake it off, asking her instead, seeming to want to get off the Jason subject.
"And what are you telling Rosmerta about me?" He asked, and ALexis smiled, knowing he would've picked that up.
"Oh nothing, just your favorite color, your hobbies and other stuff like that..." Alexis listed innocently. She knew that Rosmerta had a sort of crush on Severus, and as weird as that was, Alexis still found it kinda cute
"What? Why would you do that?" He askee incredulously. Alexis also knew though, that Severus had no attraction to the woman at all. More fun for Alexis.
"Just answering some friendly questions." Alexis defended, still smiling though.
"That woman is too friendly in my opinion. What did you two sit down over coffee and decided 'lets talk about Severus?'" He asked, looking a bit flustered.
"No, it was just passing conversation between two friends. You know, you should go talk to her." Alexis brought up nonchalantly, though she already knew Severus's answer before he voiced it.
"I will not date that woman. No you, or anyone will change my mind." He stated firmly, crossing his arms for emphasis.
"I'm not saying you should, just go make friends with her, so then you'd actually have friends." Alexis told him in defense of herself. She just thought it wouldv'e been nice for Severus to get to know someone else beside the ame professors he saw every year.
"I have friends... Dumbledore is my friend..." Severus mumbled, looking down at his desk. Alexis rasied an eyebrow, smirking at his statement.
"Ok then, well, I am going to bed." Alexis stated, her full stomach making her drowsy.
"Alright. I shall expect you at 8:30 for breakfast. And then we shall go to Hoggesmeade together during Lunch until your lunch date, because Artimis would skin me alive if I let you go unattended. Mr. Kinsler will be responsible for your safety after that." Severus stated with finality, and Alexis looked at him with shock. Well, there was a demand if I ever heard one... it almost sounded like he was worried that I leave to see Jason... that's funny right there. Well, then maybe I can get him to show me where to get cologne for him so he won't be all pissy anymore...
Alexis nodded, deciding not to question him any further, though she was still puzzled. He nodded back, and ALexis got up, leaving the classroom and shaking her head in the realization that she had pretty much spent all day with Severus Snape, and neither had tried to kill the other. That was a feat in itself. And it wasn't so bad either, surprisingly. Plus he's a good cook...