A/N: Thank you everyone for the reviews! It honestly felt amazing to know that there are people out there that read and love my story. I felt so appreciated, and I am so grateful for all of you.
Severus arrived back home and made himself a cup of tea. He sat in his library and read until it was time for bed. When his tea was done, it felt odd to not mutter a, "Goodnight, Potter" before climbing the stairs to his room.
He stopped in the small hallway on the second story of his home. On the left was his room and bathroom, and on the right was her room. He turned the knob and entered. It was incredibly clean. He wondered if she had used magic earlier in the day.
Prior to her visit, this room had always sat empty. He never had guests over, and he wasn't exactly fond of the room that had belonged to his parents. The slightly smaller room across the hall was his preference, even though he had to spell the house around to get the bath connected to his room.
Further, he walked into the room. He took a seat at the end of the bed, and then he smelled something. Reaching behind him, he pulled a sleeping pillow out from under the duvet and shams. Pressing his nose into it, he inhaled the vanilla scent that he thought he smelled at the funeral.
He thought back to the women he'd had encounters with. None of them smelled of vanilla. None of them smelled of grass, and none of them smelled of fresh cotton sheets. He really began questioning the potion now. The scent of grass from his love potion always filled the air on days when he was in the quidditch pitch.
Curiosity filled him now. In a way, Laurette embodied two of the three scents. He furrowed his brow and he tried to think about what that could mean, other than a total coincidence. Of course, the girl was attractive. Her eyes were mesmerizing and to this day he felt a child-like peace and looking into them. Her body was gorgeous. While he prided himself in his professionalism, he would have to be blind to have not noticed how she had grown into a young woman.
His mind wandered to the moment when she blushed before the funeral. He recalled when he touched on a thought of hers about his 'tall and strong' frame. He doubted that she had any sort of romantic feelings for him. Most students lost their nerves once a crush had developed, and it was hideously obvious for everyone.
He realized now that it had been an incredibly long time since he'd had any women over to his home. He obviously couldn't do it when Laurette was there. However, he was surprised that he hadn't realized the absence until now. He couldn't deny that she kept him feeling content while she was with him for the past few months.
The next day, he dressed in his usual apparel for the wedding of Bill and Fleur. He looked forward to speaking with Laurette and asking how her first night went alone in her new home. He assumed she was likely up late redecorating.
When he arrived at the wedding, he couldn't help but look for her. His eyes were drawn to a woman with a perfect silhouette. She was across the giant tent that the backyard wedding was being held in. She looked tall in an elegant blue dress with off the shoulder straps and polished curls swept to one side. His eyes looked at the slit in her dress. It went halfway up the woman's thigh exposing pale flesh.
Then the mysterious woman turned around, and Severus felt shame creep over him. It was Laurette. It was his barely seventeen-year-old student. He'd never seen her dressed in something so stunning. It made her look ten years older. And she looked so tall, he never would have thought it to be her. He honestly thought it was a relative of Fleur's with some veela blood.
Laurette hadn't even picked out the dress. This was all Severus's house-elf's doing. The only reason she spelled her modest dress heels to be taller was because the dress was so long, and her hemming spell was wrinkling the satin fabric.
Steadily, he moved to the open bar and asked the barkeep for a glass of Fernet Branca straight. He took a deep sip and looked around. Trying to reassure himself that he was not attracted to a student half of his age.
His thoughts were interrupted when music began and individuals began taking seats on either side of the aisle. Severus found a spot by himself near the back. He was occupied in his own mind quite deeply, so he was slightly surprised when Laurette plopped down next to him.
"Thank you," she said to a waitress that took her butterbeer glass. Severus handed over his empty glass as well.
"I see you managed to arrive," he snickered at her as she rolled her eyes, but their conversation didn't last a moment longer due to Bill walking down the aisle with his mum. After that, they all rose as Fleur went down the aisle with a man that was likely her father.
The ceremony was brief, and then came dinner. Severus found a seat next to his old Potions Master, Horace Slughorn. He also sat with a few individuals that he knew from his days at school and in potion making career.
Laurerette sat with all of her friends, who seemed to be pairing off. Of course, Ron and Hermione had been a couple for some time now. But Ginny and Luna were also clearly together by the way they wrapped their arms around each other and shared a few discrete kisses. Not only that, both of the twins had dates as well, although Laurette didn't know them from school.
When the sun had set and romantic lighting filled the tent, she felt more alone than she had in quite some time. She got another butterbeer from the bar. She downed the third one while she was standing around with Ginny and Luna, and when they went to go dance she had a fourth and began to feel something of a buzz.
Laurette had never had more than two butterbeers in a day before. She felt lightheaded but also as though anything someone said was far funnier than it was. When she sat her fourth glass down, she turned to see a man standing near her.
"How're you doing, Laurette?" The man held out a large hand, which Laurette shook, feeling calluses and blisters under her fingers. This had to be Charlie, who worked with dragons in Romania. Charlie was tall with broad shoulders. He had a good-natured face, which was weather-beaten and so freckly that he looked almost tanned; his arms were muscly, and one of them had a large, shiny burn on it.
She had not seen Charlie since she was a first-year and he helped them rehome Hagrid's dragon. There was no other way to describe it, Charlie was an absolute babe. She noticed the words flowed more smoothly from her lips with the butterbeer buzz.
Cooly, she replied, "Charlie? I am better than the last time I saw you, hiding a dragon through the castle in the middle of the night."
He gave a hearty laugh, "Want to dance?"
"Yes," she replied, trying not to sound too enthusiastic. Again, she took her large and calloused hand as he led her to the romantically led dance floor.
Almost immediately after they entered the dance floor, the music changed to something slow-paced. He looked at her and she gave a sly smile as they wordlessly agreed to dance even though it was not the type of dancing they originally expected.
Her heart gave a flutter as he put a hand on her lower back and pulled her towards his chest. She placed her other hand on his shoulder, feeling the muscles that were under his dress shirt. He pulled her even closer to whisper a compliment in her ear, "You are absolutely stunning…"
As her breasts pressed against his strong body, she felt her lions tingle. She batted her eyes and replied, "You clean up nicely yourself." She thought that she smelled a hint of firewhiskey on his breath, but she didn't care. Quite honestly, she would have accepted a bit of romance from anyone tonight, and she was intrigued that it was probably one of the most gorgeous men at the wedding.
Across the room, Severus Snape was eying the interaction. He knew they both had been drinking, Laurette more than she had probably in her life. Watching, he saw Charlie whisper something to her that made her turn her head back in a laugh. He saw Charlie's gaze follow her neck down to her chest when she wasn't looking.
He knew what it felt like when everyone paired up during a war. Death Eaters and Order members alike paired up almost immediately during and after the first wizarding war. It's not as though Severus didn't trust Charlie. He was a respectable man, but Severus couldn't keep his eyes off of Laurette.
A thought entered Severus's mind. He not only wanted to just be sure Laurette was safe and protected from anyone that could harm her, but he wanted to hold her that closely. He blinked slowly and deliberately, as though that would push the obscene thought from his mind.
He blamed his wandering mind on the fact that he was holding his fourth drink of the evening, and the romantic lighting and scenery was a bold reminder that he would be going home to an empty house likely for the remainder of his life. He'd never admit how much he actually enjoyed Laurette's company over the summer, and he knew it would be something he would miss.
More time passed, and Severus began feeling fatigued, wanting to go home, but he wanted to be sure that Laurette made it home safely, and she was still dancing with Charlie. They took a momentary break once to go to the bar where they both took a shot of firewhiskey.
The firewhiskey burned as it went down Laurette's throat. It made her feel differently as well. Her sly remarks to Charlie's conversation began getting a touch sloppy. They returned to the dancefloor, and both of them began getting more handsy than they were previously. As another slow song came on, Charlie's hand lingered far down her back to the top of her bottom, and Laurette ran her fingers in the back of his hair.
Severus sighed. He wanted to return home, but he was concerned about her. He was fully aware that Laurette was an adult and she was in a place full of her friends where everyone cared for her, but he also knew how alcohol changed situations, and he did not want something happening that she wouldn't normally agree to if sober.
However, another hour passed, and the crowd greatly thinned out. Severus found himself sitting next to Minerva, and his attentive eye on Laurette did not go unnoticed.
Minerva rolled her eyes, "She is fine, Severus! Charlie Weasley is a fine man, and quite honestly, they would make an agreeable pair."
Severus looked at the woman, "I am only concerned that she gets home safely is all, Minerva."
"Well, it is late, and I must be going. I suggest you get home soon as well." She spoke as though he was a student of hers once again. He gave the woman a half-smile and wished her goodnight.
When he looked back to the dancefloor, Laurette and Charlie were gone. He looked around and then saw them exiting the tent. He moved quickly to follow them into the Weasley's home. When he entered, Ron and Hermione looked surprised to see their professor. Fred and George were also sitting on the couch with their partners. However, Laurette and Charlie weren't to be seen as the green in the fireplace died down.
"Charlie took her home," a sober Hermione said. Clearly, Severus was not the only one keeping tabs on the newly independent Laurette.
The fireplace burned green once more, and Charlie returned. "Professor Snape!" Charlie approached Severus. Next to Percy, Charlie was probably the most talented Weasley in the subject of Potions, so the two never had many negative interactions. He couldn't say the same for the Weasley twins that looked uncomfortable on the couch.
Charlie and Severus exited the home once again and made casual conversation until Severus found himself able to bid the man goodnight and apparate to his own home.
The next morning, Laurette woke up in her transformed bedroom on the top floor of her hidden London home. She was still in her dress on her massive bed. She vaguely remembered transforming it into an even larger bed last night so she could properly spread out.
She rubbed her eyes, noticing she had a mild headache. Then she recalled that she lived alone and didn't have any pain-relieving potions. She'd have to get dressed and walk to a muggle market if she wanted relief.
Slipping her dress off, she went to take a shower. That alone made her feel much better. Wrapping herself in a bathrobe, she went downstairs to her dining area. She drank a glass of water while the tea brewed.
That is when she recalled her dream from last night. It was a confusing dream. She was dancing with Charlie, but when she pressed up against his chest and looked up, it was Professor Snape looking down at her, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
She felt safe and protected in her dream. She felt cared for and not alone. She also felt warm between her legs as she remembered the feeling of her breasts against his own chest. There was no denying that she found the professor to be attractive, and she could never deny that he made her feel a way that no one had before, but she hadn't given a romantic tendency much thought before, but the dream proved to her that the tendrils of thoughts were occurring in her mind whether she focused on them or not.