OCTOBER 1993
The month of October came to an end and brought with it a crisp, cool breeze that sent a chill through the bustling village of Hogsmeade. Ordinarily calm streets and shops were swarming with the visiting Hogwarts students, all of them giddy with excitement in being set free from the castle, their pockets burdened with unspent allowances. Zonko's Joke Shop, the Three Broomsticks, and Madam Puddifoot's were doing exceptionally well on that particular Saturday afternoon. A lesser frequented shop waited further down the street, its doors marked by a misshapen stack of cauldrons and its foyer void of patrons. This was Georgeanna's desired destination and she opened the door with a slight push, the bell overhead signaling her arrival.
She breathed in the smell of iron and silver, woodsmoke, and dust. A fire crackled in the corner, a large black cauldron bubbling away with something goopy and green. Shuffling forward from the back of the shop, a young man appeared before her with his arms wrapped around a rather large pewter cauldron, his dark curls bouncing slightly against his forehead. "Welcome to Ceridwen's, how can I… Georgie!" With a smile that could rival the sun, Niall hastily set down his wares and rushed over to Georgeanna, hugging her about the waist and lifting her off of the floor. "You should've told me you were coming into town! I would have asked for the day off." He placed her back onto her feet and held her at arm's length. "You look amazing. I see Hogwarts has been treating you well. Gosh, it's good to see you." He slid his arms from her elbows down to her hands, refusing to let her go completely.
"I wanted to surprise you." She squeezed his hands and let go. The young man continued to grin widely at her, his eyes crinkling joyfully. She couldn't help but to return the gesture; his warm and friendly demeanor quite infectious. They'd maintained their friendship over shared letters during the months they'd been apart. When Georgeanna had learned of the upcoming visit to Hogsmeade, she had offered her assistance to Professor McGonagall as an extra chaperone for the trip. She saw the outing not only as a perfectly valid excuse to visit her friend, but also to break away from the castle even for a short time. The weeks that had followed her confrontation with the Boggart and the passing of the full moon left her yearning for a bit of an escape.
Once the Headmaster had been made aware of the presence of the Boggart, he sought to be rid of it immediately. Remus had intervened and offered to use the creature in his third-year class to teach the students 'Riddikulus,' the spell used to repel and banish Boggarts. He had even extended the invitation to Georgeanna to be present during that particular lesson should she wish to learn as well, but she had immediately – albeit politely – refused Remus's offer. She had no desire to be in the same room as that horrendous creature again and asked instead if he would teach her at another time one-on-one, to which he had obliged.
She had also maintained her distance from Severus, as well. The beginnings of a rumor had spread throughout the faculty of the suggestive manner in which they had been discovered by Mr. Filch, but the Potions Master had been quick to see an end to such nonsense before it could fully take hold. He'd made it quite clear to any who'd dared to ask – Albus, mainly – that there was absolutely nothing going on between himself and Ms. Earnshaw, and anyone who claimed differently should silence themselves immediately. Even with that being said, Severus had been acting strangely around her ever since that night and it made her feel like he was waiting for her to mentally crack. Georgeanna disliked his fragile treatment of her even less than his normally cruel indifference. He'd not said an unkind word to her in the weeks since and had taken to excusing himself from her presence whenever a disagreement arose, simply using his absence to replace his normally biting remarks.
"You did! It's the best kind of surprise I could ask for. Do you have time to catch up or do you have to get back? We could go for a drink at TB. Id' love to hear all about what you've been up to lately." Georgeanna had missed the way Niall easily guided the conversation in a way that she only had to provide minimal effort to keep him going.
"I suppose I could spare an hour or two," she smirked, knowing full well that she had intended to spend most of her afternoon with him if he wasn't busy. "But I've already told you everything in our letters."
Stepping quickly behind the counter and retrieving his jacket, Niall was back at Georgeanna's side before she could blink. "Well, I want to hear about it all in person!" He linked her arm with his and led her from the shop, flipping the sign on the door from 'open' to 'closed'. Together they crossed the crowded street and made their way to the Three Broomsticks, carefully maneuvering threw the dozens of students milling about.
Inside the pub was just as packed with only a handful of seats left unoccupied. Niall led Georgeanna over to the bar where he managed to find two seats together. After expressing a fond greeting to Madam Rosmerta, who was also very happy to see Georgeanna, they sat and ordered drinks – a stout for him and a butterbeer for her – and settled in for a conversation. The afternoon passed with pleasant ease. Georgeanna had even allowed Niall to convince her into trying a bit of his beer. She had found the beverage to be quite bitter and wasn't pleased with the way it settled heavily in her stomach. Instead, Niall had ordered a half pint of pumpkin ale for her and Georgeanna liked that much better. It was far lighter than the stout and had a lovely aftertaste of allspice and caramel.
"Everything will go back to normal once Black is caught. Personally, I can't wait for these dementors to go back to Azkaban. They're terrible for business. Most of our usual clients won't make the trip out now. Too nervous about coming into contact with those nasty things." Niall grimaced and looked out of the window, almost expecting that he would see a dementor just beyond the glass. "So, tell me, what's been going on up at the castle? Surely you've got loads of gossip to share with your good friend Niall." The young man wiggled his eyebrows at her and took another large gulp from his pint glass.
She laughed and shook her head. "Honestly, I can't think of anything else to tell you. Classes have been keeping me quite busy and any free time I have is spent studying or with Remus." Shrugging her shoulders, she thought about how Remus had become consumed with work in preparing for mid-term exams. She'd been spending an awful amount of time in her office alone, only her books and parchment notes to keep her company. In an attempt at friendship, she'd tried to spark a conversation with the librarian, Madam Pince, with disastrous results. The older witch shushed her each time she spoke and then harshly demanded that she remove herself from the library. Georgeanna had not yet mustered up the courage to go back.
"Ah, yes, your friend Remus. You know, you never told me how you managed to get back into contact with him. How did you two become friends, anyway? He looks quite a bit older than you." Niall studied Georgeanna as she took the time to answer, her finger tracing over the handle of her mug.
There were several details concerning her reunion with Remus that she knew couldn't share with anyone. While she wanted to be able to be open with Niall, the truth of how she met Remus and what had brought them back together would reveal the secret of her condition. She was not ready for such a thing to be known by him. "He is older, yes. I met him when I was a child, during the war… I actually don't remember how," she lied. "We lost contact over the years. As fate would have it, we met again this summer when Albus offered us both positions at Hogwarts. Very small world, if you ask me."
Niall watched with an odd look on his face as Georgeanna powered through her answer. She smiled tightly and chugged the last gulp of her ale. "Shall we get another round?" Niall raised his hand to signal Rosmerta but Georgeanna tugged his sleeve and pulled his arm back down to the bar.
"No, thank you. I think it's best that I check in with the other chaperones and see how everyone's doing."
"All right," Niall said disappointedly. "Perhaps we can meet for lunch soon?"
Georgeanna slid from her stool and wobbled slightly on her feet. She blinked slowly, allowing herself to regain her balance. "That would be lovely. I'm not sure when that will be exactly, but I'll write to you when I know."
He was beaming as he joined her, offering to cover their tab even though Georgeanna refused, and they departed the Three Broomsticks quite happy with the time they'd spent together. Georgeanna walked Niall back to Ceridwen's, the sun having cooled slightly during their time indoors. "I had a great time, Georgie, as always. Make sure you come visit soon, all right?" He grabbed her hand and raised it to his face. Niall brushed his lips over the skin of her knuckles and Georgeanna flushed madly. She hadn't been expecting such an intimate gesture from him.
She gulped rather loudly as he let go of her hand. "I'll… I'll see you around, then."
"I truly hope so." Niall tilted his head and looked at her through lowered lids, taking a step closer. Georgeanna's initial reaction was to back away but she didn't want to come off as rude. He swept his finger over her ear and pushed the lingering hairs behind her shoulder. "If it's not too forward to ask, I'd like to spend much more time with you, Georgeanna." She froze as he leaned down, his eyes focused on her parted lips.
Panicked, Georgeanna faked a cough and covered her face with her hands, taking a large step backward. "Excuse me, I had a tickle in my throat." She felt heat in her cheeks as she attempted to smile, feeling dreadfully awkward.
Niall's face fell but he swiftly masked his discontent with a chuckle and told her that she should take some Pepper Up Potion once she got back to the castle. "Take care of yourself, all right?" He raised a hand in farewell and entered the shop, not bothering to flip the 'closed' sign back around. Georgeanna stared at the door for a moment before she urged her feet to carry her down the main street in search of another member of the staff, her mind in a tizzy as she walked.
He had tried to kiss her. She could be wrong, but what other reason would Niall have for leaning so close to her face? And with that soft look in his eyes… She shook her head. No, it wasn't possible. Niall was a very handsome man with a bright, magnetic personality. There was no way he would ever be interested in someone like her. They were just friends.
Georgeanna had never felt romantic inclinations toward another person before. She wouldn't know what to do in an intimate situation even with the instructions spelled out in the air before her. The only men she'd been close to in her adult life could be counted on one hand. Niall was truly a pleasure to be around and she considered him to be a good friend. Remus was her family, the older brother she never had. Albus was her employer, her mentor, and the closest to a paternal figure in her life. And Severus… Well, she wasn't sure what Severus was to her exactly.
Up ahead, she saw a group of children forming around the Deputy Headmistress. Georgeanna skirted around the crowd to stand at the front by Minerva, falling back into her role as a chaperone. Before long, the students had formed up to be led back to Hogwarts following a very enjoyable visit to town. Georgeanna chatted politely with Minerva as they walked up the long path to the school, although her mind was otherwise preoccupied with the final events of her afternoon. As much as she had wanted a break from the castle, she now couldn't wait to return and fall back into the less confusing routine of her job.
NOVEMBER 1993
Sirius Black had somehow managed to break into Hogwarts. Following the delightful Halloween feast, the Gryffindor students had come to find that the portrait of the Fat Lady leading to their common room had been shredded in an attack by the escaped convict. The Headmaster had directed that all of the Houses were to sleep in the Great Hall for the night while the staff searched the school for any sign of Black. Georgeanna was worried that Black was managing to sneak around undetected and was gaining ground on Harry. Had Sirius been able to enter Gryffindor common room, there's no telling what tragedy could have taken place.
Remus had become more tense and watchful over Harry following the incident, often inviting the boy for tea in his office and taking the time to teach him extra lessons. Georgeanna was pleased that they were bonding, as Remus had told her they'd spend the better part of the afternoon together on Halloween and he had finally told the boy of his old friendship with his parents. She hoped that their relationship would continue to grow and that Harry and Remus would form a true connection. She knew only too well the feeling of needing someone who understood your past without judgment.
While there had been no further sign of Sirius Black for over a week, the dementors had been an ever constant and eerie presence. Georgeanna heartily disliked the way they made her feel when she saw them. They were fearsome, inky creatures that made her insides twist and left her aching with a hollowness even from a distance. Remus told her that dementors fed on the happiness of humans, leaving behind only fear and sorrow. How creatures like that had managed to come into his world was beyond her level of comprehension, but she desperately hoped they would catch Black soon enough and be gone from Hogwarts for good.
She strolled along the edge of the Forbidden Forest, having just ended her time with Hagrid's class and his lesson on flobberworms, and was enjoying the last of the sun's warmth that clung to her cloak against the prying fingers of an autumn wind. She enjoyed the quietness of the trees and the shuffle of fallen leaves in the breeze. She breathed in deeply, inhaling the aroma of earth and grass and withering flora. Her boots crunched against hard ground. The forest reminded her of her tiny cabin in France and she wondered how her old home was faring. Had it been discovered? Would someone new have moved in and made it their own? If so, it was probably for the best as she had no sudden urge to return. The few good memories of that place were tucked away safely within her mind and everything else had been abandoned within the cabin walls when she left.
The scuffling of feet alerted her to another's company. She looked around but saw no one near. She heard the noise again and turned to the cluster of trees, mouth opening in surprise at what she saw. A large black dog was watching her from the shadows, its eyes dark eyes trained on her with apprehensive curiosity. She could smell the grime on its fur, the scent carrying in the wind. She made no movement, either toward or away from the animal, and they both stared at each other for a long moment. The dog gave a deep sniff and stepped out from behind a tree trunk, inching toward her with steady steps.
Georgeanna had learned about many of the fantastic creatures that called the Forbidden Forest their home, but she never would have thought to find such a common animal as a stray dog wandering about. She thought of how close Hogsmeade was to the school and that perhaps the dog belonged to someone in town. "Are you lost?" she asked, her voice a soft rasp. The dog continued to stare unblinking at her, making Georgeanna believe that it was inspecting her in some way. It sniffed at her again and pawed closer, stopping only a few feet away. "Are you from the village?" It sat on its back haunches and tilted its head as if contemplating her line of questioning.
The animal was thin and lanky with matted fur and pointed ears. Even in its seated position, the top of its head was nearly at Georgeanna's waist; which she supposed wasn't saying too much as a great deal of the students were taller than her. Its paws were coated in a layer of mud and there was loose dirt on its nose and face. She'd never owned a pet as her mother had been against having animals in the house and her father always sided with her mother, and yet Georgeanna felt the tug to comfort this animal as if it were her own. "Poor thing, you must be starving." At her words, the dog barked so loudly that she flinched, her heart jumping in her chest. The dog straightened up into a proper sitting posture and licked its grubby lips.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I don't have any food on me…" She felt disappointed that she could not offer the creature even the tiniest bit of nourishment. Suddenly coming up with what she thought was a brilliant idea, she backed slowly away from the dog and told it that she'd be right back, knowing full well that it couldn't really understand her. She hurried up the hill to the castle, slowing her steps only when visible to the students lingering in the courtyard, and hastily made her way to the lower level that she knew housed the kitchen. Approaching the portrait of the fruit bowl, she ran a finger softly over the painted pear and watched as it jiggled and twitched. The portrait came away from the wall to reveal a large opening.
She crossed the threshold and stepped into the massive kitchen. The room was the same size as the Great Hall above it and was swarming with no less than fifty house-elves. She cleared her throat, not wanting to interrupt as they prepared for dinner, but needing help navigating the large space. "Excuse me?" Every single pair of eyes in the room immediately landed on her. Cries of 'Mistress Earnshaw' and 'Miss Georgeanna' echoed off of the stone walls. More than a dozen elves surrounded her, eager to assist in whatever she could possibly need.
"Could you please tell me if there's any leftover chicken from lunch?"
"Is you hungry, Miss?" an elf with large green eyes and a round nose squeaked.
"Em, not exactly, I just need a bit of meat to, well, to take outside."
"Mistress Earnshaw needs a picnic!" another elf proclaimed, setting off a string of reactions before Georgeanna could argue against it. Within seconds the elves had prepared a small basket of chicken, cold cuts, cheeses, bread rolls, and jam. Everything was handed to Georgeanna with such care as if it was the most precious gift the elves could offer her. Not knowing how to politely refuse their dedicated work without seeming ungrateful, Georgeanna thanked the elves and had to repeatedly turn down their offer of packing her desserts as well.
She scurried from the kitchen and exited the castle hastily. Skirting around the edge of the courtyard as to not draw attention to herself, she was able to return to the site where she had left the dog only to find that it was no longer there. She peered into the trees but it was difficult to see anything within the dark mass of the forest. Sighing, she walked the perimeter of the tree line and searched for the dog. Her lips were dry as she attempted to whistle for the animal. Eventually, she gave up, emptying her basket of the chicken and rolled slices of ham and turkey and leaving it in a pile at the edge of the forest. She figured that if the dog was hungry enough, it would find the food without problem.
Georgeanna was disappointed as she returned to the castle once more. She glanced over her shoulder several times, hoping to catch a glimpse of the stray dog but the elusive creature seemed to have disappeared. After returning the basket to the kitchen – the elves asking her if they could get her anything else, anything at all – she headed toward the destination of her next class: Potions. She was quite early, but she couldn't see a point in traveling all the way up to her room only to come back down to the dungeon when she was already where she needed to be.
Glad to have her cloak still on her, she wrapped the material further around her body as she entered the frigid potions classroom. The desks were empty and the chairs scattered from their previous occupants. A certain surly professor was nowhere to be seen, so she began straightening the chairs and organizing the state of the room. This afternoon class was to be seventh-year N.E.W.T. students. Only the absolute best selection of the graduating class was allowed to take part in lessons in their final year, handpicked by their exam scores and unmatched potential - or so Severus had haughtily explained to her. She supposed it must have taken a certain kind of dedication to want to take N.E.W.T. level Potions. She'd noticed early on that a majority of the fifth and sixth-year students had dropped it from their curriculum completely. Whether that fact was owed to not requiring it for their desired future careers or that they finally had the choice to evade Snape, she couldn't be sure.
She wandered up to the front of the class, standing beside Severus's desk and looking out over the expanse of the room. She imagined what it would be like to teach a class of her own. Bright young faces looking up at her, eager to learn. She, a beacon of education. A warm feeling surged within her. She had no particular talent that outshone the rest, but she believed that it would be delightful to share whatever she could of her own knowledge with the next generation of witches and wizards. Georgeanna wondered what kind of professor she would be. Kind and enthusiastic like Flitwick and Sprout, or terse and no-nonsense like Minerva? She certainly wouldn't be anything like Snape, with his boorish attitude and icy demeanor.
Chuckling to herself, she held her chin high and narrowed her eyes at the empty desks, seeing imaginary faces laced with fear and awe. She began to strut the length of the long wooden desk with measured steps, her hands laced behind her back in a similar manner to Severus. When she reached the cornered edge, she turned on her heel and wiped around, her cloak a billowing black cloud. An unpracticed sneer danced across her lips and caused her to giggle aloud. She shook her head, declaring inwardly that, no, she hadn't the skill to be as callous as Severus Snape.
Her laughter was cut short when she saw the figure of her mimicry standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest and an incredulous brow raised at her mannerisms. "Dare I ask what it is you're doing?" Severus stepped toward her, his arms falling to his sides. Their eyes remained locked on one another. Georgeanna straightened her back as he approached, puffing her chest slightly to match his posture. Severus ascended the dais and her resolve in continuing with her one-sided game wavered as he drew near. He loomed over her, his presence suddenly overwhelming. She inhaled a hint of smoke and herbs that lingered on his clothes and beneath that, there was something earthy she couldn't describe.
"I was early," she stated, attempting to keep her voice even and free of inflection.
He eyed her suspiciously. "Indeed," he droned as he stepped closer. Georgeanna suspected that he was trying to intimidate her with his size alone. She held her ground and didn't react to his closeness, tilting her head back to maintain eye contact. "So, tell me, why are you traipsing around my desk instead of preparing for the lesson? Or is it possible that you've failed to remember the minimal responsibility your position requires of you?"
She pulled back the grimace that tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Oh, yes, I'd quite forgotten what I'm supposed to do. Pray, what class is this?" Severus huffed and turned away but Georgeanna was hot on his tail. "Surely it couldn't be Herbology for it is far too cold and damp. Ancient Runes, perhaps? The environment seems fitting for boring your students near to death." Severus ignored her, circling around the back of his desk and flipping open his ledger. She stepped up to his side, peering up at him and glimpsing the frown hidden behind his dark locks. "Ah, Divination then!" Georgeanna reached out and grabbed Severus by the wrist, pulling his hand toward her. "Shall I tell you your future?" A breathy quality took over her voice as she mimicked Professor Trelawney. "Read to you the secrets hidden within?"
She ran a finger along his upturned palm, tracing the deep lines she found there. The skin of his hand was warm and smooth against hers. She was always surprised at this; she expected his skin to be as cold as his personality. Georgeanna moved her thumb over his fingers to straighten them out. The point of her game was slowly slipping away the longer she held his hand in hers. Licking her lips, she attempted to form a joke but found that none came to her. Her mind went blank, simply staring at his palm and refusing to look up into his face.
Curious, she tried to remember the details from the passages she had read in 'Unfogging the Future' about palmistry and examined the lines with serious contemplation. Closest to her on his hand was the heart line. It was strong and deep, beginning beneath his index finger and traveling over his skin where it ended abruptly under his ring finger in splintered ends. Her face twisted in disbelief, for she actually knew what such a break in the line meant. "You were in love," she whispered. "But… it ended."
Severus ripped his hand away and withdrew from her as if he'd been burned. "Enough of this foolishness! I don't know what childish antics you're allowed to partake in other classrooms, but I'll have none of them here. I've warned you that I expect a certain level of professionalism within these walls and I'll not take the time to tell you again." He turned back to his ledger and violently began flipping through the pages.
Georgeanna felt heat rise at the back of her neck. She felt utterly guilty for exposing something he absolutely had no intention of sharing with her. Even if she wasn't positive about the reading, his reaction had proven that she may have been correct. "Severus, I'm-"
He slammed the book shut. "Prepare the ingredients according to the lesson plan or leave. I don't care which you choose, so long as you make your decision…" He turned to her, his onyx eyes hard as stone, "… silently." She felt the sharpness of each syllable cut her down, leaving her to feel embarrassingly small. She scurried off to the storeroom, seeking to place a barrier between herself and the man who sought to murder her with his eyes alone. Georgeanna pressed her back against the wall, her hand resting over her fluttering heart. Hearing a chorus of voices and footsteps, she gathered the ingredients quickly and prayed for the lesson to go off without further incident.
"How long have you known Severus?" Georgeanna asked as Remus poured her a cup of jasmine tea.
Remus sat back onto the couch with a smirk. "A very long time, unfortunately."
Rolling her eyes, she stirred a bit of cream into her cup and offered the container to Remus, who shook his head. "That's not a real answer, you know."
"Why are you suddenly so curious about Snape of all people?"
"I just feel like I don't know the slightest bit about him. It's been months and he's still such a stranger."
"What on earth could you possibly want to know?" Remus sipped his tea loudly, crossing one leg over the other and leaning back onto the velvety cushions. When Remus had accepted her invitation to tea, she decided that she would rather serve it in her room vice her office for it offered additional privacy for the conversation she had been planning. It had been two days since her potions class with Severus and she hadn't been able to stop thinking of what she had read on his palm about his lost love.
She ran her finger around the lip of her teacup. "You were at Hogwarts together, I know that much. It's quite obvious that you didn't get along then either based on how the two of you treat each other now. But I was curious if… If there was anyone in his life that he did like." At Remus's furrowed brow, Georgeanna sipped her tea and reached for a honey biscuit.
"I suppose he got on well with the other Slytherins." He accepted the biscuit she offered him. "From what I can remember, he was always alone."
Georgeanna felt a pang of empathy for the young Severus she never knew. She couldn't imagine what it would feel like to be surrounded by hundreds of classmates and not have a single friend. "That's awful," she pitied.
"No, he was awful. Always had to shove his big nose in where it didn't belong." He shoved the entire biscuit into his mouth, munching through as he continued. "I'll admit… James and Sirius didn't let him have it easy… but he should've kept away on his own… especially after Lily cut him off for good… I'll never understand how those two were friends to begin with." Remus reached for another biscuit just as Georgeanna set her cup and saucer on the table with a clatter.
"Lily? As in Harry's mother, Lily?" She turned to him on the couch, pulling her stocking feet up and wrapping her arms around her knees. "They were friends!?"
"Yes, for the first few years of school, at least. They had quite an awful falling out from what I remember."
Georgeanna couldn't believe what she was hearing. Lily, the girl who would grow into the woman that would become Harry Potter's mother, had been childhood friends with the ominous Severus Snape. Her mind raced with possibilities. Had Severus always been so gloomy, or was he ever a happy-go-lucky child? How long had he been friends with Lily and what had caused their relationship to end? "Do you… do you think he loved her?"
Remus gaped at her, a third – or was it his fourth? - biscuit balancing in the air soon to be dropped into his open mouth. His eyes widened and he let out a surprised snort of a laugh. "Love?! What has gotten into you?" He dipped the biscuit into his tea and raised it to his mouth, forgetting it once again as he continued to chortle. "Obsessed with her maybe, but only because she wanted nothing to do with him once she started dating James. But love? No, absolutely not. I don't think Snape's capable of such a feeling." He tossed the biscuit in his mouth and followed it with a swill of tea. She turned away from him, her eyes focused on the pattern of the carpet. She could still hear him chuckling to himself even as she focused on her own thoughts.
Georgeanna was positive that she had read Severus's palm correctly. She had even reread the passage in her book that corresponded with the heart line. His line was deep and short and had ended abruptly, forking out into splintered shallow ends. If Remus was right and the woman in question wasn't Lily, then who was the one who had broken his heart so thoroughly?
She dropped the subject and they finished their tea while discussing the upcoming Quidditch match. The match itself was the day following the full moon and she so desperately wanted to be able to attend. She'd learned that Harry was the Seeker for the Gryffindor team and that he was quite an exceptional player. To her surprise, the Gryffindor Beaters were none other than Fred and George Weasley, brothers to Harry's best friend Ron and, coincidentally, the owners of the Fanged Frisbee that had struck her in the face that past summer. She'd formally met the twin boys during one of their Transfiguration lessons with Professor McGonagall earlier in the term and had come to find that she rather enjoyed their rakish sense of humor. They'd been shocked to see her present in their class and even more so stunned by the fact that she had 'lied' to them about not being a professor. She argued that she hadn't actually lied, as she wasn't technically a teacher.
After a long while discussing Quidditch, upcoming holidays, and the overall drama that came with residing among a hundred adolescent teenagers, Remus rose to his feet and prepared to head back to his quarters. "Have you made any plans to see your friend in the village? What was his name?"
"Niall."
"Yes, Niall. Have you spoken to him since…" Remus wiggled his eyebrows in a way that made her want to shove him to the floor. She'd shared her secret of the interaction with Niall during the Hogsmeade visit and Remus had been no help whatsoever, simply teasing her about how she had run from the first man to show interest in her.
"No. I don't know what to say. What if things are awkward between us now?"
"Do you like him?" Remus stood between her and the door, his hands shoved into his jumper pockets.
"As a friend? Yes, of course. He's lovely. But as something more… I really can't say." She leaned onto the arm of the couch, propping her head upon her hand. "It's not as if I'm looking for anything romantic from him."
"Well, you know what they say: Love comes when you're not looking for it."
Georgeanna rolled her eyes. "And what makes you the sudden expert? I don't think you've ever told me of any potential love interests."
"That's neither here nor there," Remus grinned sheepishly. "Women aren't exactly lining up at my door."
"They might if you unlocked it every now and then." She smiled encouragingly up at him. "You've got a lot to offer someone. And I think it helps that you're not completely hideous."
Remus guffawed, throwing his head back in exaggeration. "Oh, thank you for that! The burden of being a werewolf has been lifted now that I know I'm not so terribly ugly."
Georgeanna slid to her feet and crossed the room to her friend. He was a head taller and looked down at her with a gentle smirk. She had the sudden urge to hug him, and so she did. Remus was a tad surprised by the unexpected action but wrapped a single arm around her in turn. "At least we have each other. If all else fails, we can grow old and miserable together," she joked, although the nagging feeling that her words were true wouldn't shake loose.
"Nonsense. I'll surely be tired of you long before then." She shoved him away and pouted playfully. They shared a laugh and wished each other a good night, Remus departing from her room with the promise that he would host tea next time.
Georgeanna vanished the tea tray from her coffee table, sending it back down to the kitchen, and changed into her nightclothes. She lay in bed, her mind racing with thoughts of Niall and kisses and romance and Severus and his unknown love. Her head felt heavy with such excessive ponderings and she decided that sleep was the best way to escape. Wrapping herself in her comforter, she pulled her knees into her chest and let her eyelids fall closed. She allowed herself to dream of a future where she wasn't so pathetically, desperately alone and someone would love her, furry friend and scars included.
Georgeanna felt completely and utterly miserable. It was the night before the full moon and her body had rescinded all functional control. She sprawled atop her bed, covers twisted around her legs. Boiling heat beneath her skin forced her to kick them off and the cold sweat that followed made her yearn for their warmth. She turned onto her stomach and buried her head in her pillow, muffling the painful groan that she could no longer restrain. Her bones were brittle twigs bending in the hands of the werewolf that desperately fought to escape her.
In her aching delirium, she could hear her heartbeat against the inside of her skull; a forceful rap, rap, rapping echoing within her head. She pressed her face further into the pillow and sought to drown the incessant noise by cupping her hands over her ears. Her blood crashed like ocean waves in her veins. Rolling onto her back, she cried out in frustration as the knocking sound continued to badger her.
It was the door. Someone was at the door.
She desperately reached for her wand on the bedside table and waved her arm, the door opening fully at her wordless command. How she longed to see Remus standing there, knowing that he was to bring her Wolfsbane Potion that evening. She had been so out of sorts that she hadn't left her room all day. McGonagall had come looking for her after she'd turned up absent for Transfiguration and had suggested to Albus that Georgeanna remain in bed for the day. She was in absolutely no condition to be a functional human being and it would only serve to raise suspicion among the students. Albus had agreed, and all of Georgeanna's class attendances had been canceled for that day and the next.
A figure moved toward her, tall and dark. She brushed the hair from her face and rubbed the agony from her clouded eyes. "Severus," she rasped. "It's you." The potions master was the last person she'd expected to see. "Where is Remus?" She struggled to sit, propping herself half up on her pillows and half on her elbow.
"Indisposed. I trust I don't have to explain the cause."
"No," she huffed, sitting up further against the wishes of her throbbing spine. Had she known Severus would be visiting she'd have attempted to dress in more than just her chemise and robe. All things considered, she found it difficult at this point to care that he saw her in her pajamas. "Thank you for… for coming." She rested her head back against the headboard, her neck somehow unable to support its weight.
"Between yourself and Lupin I'm left with little choice. Should either of you miss a single dose, the entire school would be in jeopardy of facing two fully grown and feral werewolves." He punctuated his sentence with an ostentatious 'pop' as he removed the cork from a vial he had procured from his robes. Georgeanna could smell the smokey liquid before her eyes were able to focus on the shimmery gray-blue liquid.
She reached out, her wrist limp and hand lazy, and clutched to the bottle as Severus handed it to her. Using both of her hands to lift the vial, she drank the contents slowly. Sip by sip was all she could manage. The potion wormed its way down her throat and into the crevices of her body. Tasting all the more bitter than usual, Georgeanna struggled to finish the contents in their entirety, tipping her head back and using gravity to aid her. Eventually finished, she exhaled heavily and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. A single droplet had managed to escape down her chin and she caught it, licking it from her skin.
Severus could only watch, his face void of emotion. It was an odd and unfamiliar sight to see Georgeanna so devoid of her typical spark. Her originally subdued and quiet personality had bubbled and burst forth into a young woman who joined the staff in stories and laughter, who showed patience and kindness to the students, and who wasn't afraid to press her luck to the point of him snapping at her. The woman lying on the bed was a shadow, a meager imposter. He pulled the empty vial from her hand which had come to lay on her lap. Her eyes were glazed over as she stared at the wall in front of her, unseeing.
"Severus?" Her voice was barely a whisper as she called out to him.
He didn't answer but adjusted his posture as a way of letting her know he'd heard her.
Georgeanna continued to look straight ahead, her eyes lost in the pattern of the stone walls as they went in and out of focus. A stampede of wild horses ran freely through her head, the pain causing a bought of nausea to rise precariously into her throat. "Could you help me sleep?" She managed to raise her eyes to his then and he was taken aback by the paleness of her grey irises.
"Excuse me?"
She sighed heavily. Raising a hand to her forehead, she rubbed the space between her eyebrows with tender movements. "There's a charm, a sleeping charm, that Filius mentioned to me some time ago. I can't remember it."
Severus shifted his weight on his feet. "I'm just supposed to guess as to which charm you're referring to?"
Georgeanna lowered her hand and rolled her eyes to meet him. "Don't play daft. You know everything." She wasn't in the mood for his games. She knew damned well that he knew how to recite a simple sleeping charm.
Severus did indeed know exactly which charm she was asking him to use on her.
"It will only last for a few hours. You'll only awake to be in the same pain that you are now," Severus warned. She would fall asleep immediately, remain in a dreamless slumber for four to five hours, and then wake up as if nothing had happened. It was not a healing sleep; simply a way to pass the time.
She smiled weakly, blinking slowly at the pain behind her eyes. "I know." Her brow creased as she winced and he saw a shudder run through her body. "A short rest would be lovely." She slid further onto the mattress and rested her head on her pillow. Her wild hair sprawled all around her face and shoulders. Severus was struck by the image of her lying in bed, her robe falling open slightly to reveal the creamy skin of her throat and clavicle, her face gazing up at him with pleading eyes.
He could have easily reached for his wand, cast the charm, and walked away. It was waiting for him within easy reach, resting within the sleeve of his robe as always. Instead, he placed his palm on her forehead and felt the coolness of her clammy skin. She tilted her head to push into his hand, a gasping sound escaping from her parted lips. "You're so warm," she cooed. Unsure of his reasons for acting in such a way, he muttered the incantation and watched as her eyelids fluttered closed. Her chest rose and fell in even breaths and he knew then that she was fast asleep.
Turning to leave, an unsuspecting detail caught his eye. He warred with himself that it was not his place to act in such a way but the winning argument was that no one was around to witness the action. He hastily returned to Georgeanna's beside and pulled her blankets up over her, covering her exposed figure. She huffed thankfully in her sleep and wrapped her fingers around the plush material. Moving quickly before he could act on any more brash ideas, Severus exited her quarters and hurried to the dungeons where he could bury his head in his potions and rid himself of the scent of cinnamon and rose.
A/N: Hope you liked the update! Thank you for the follows and the lovely comments. They mean so much :) Special thank you to tibys, Anahit Pearl, and GreenLily26!
I have some pretty interesting scenes planned for the next update so make sure to follow or check back soon! Take care x - Faux