Chapter Five
"Consuela, may I see you in my office for a moment, after dinner?" Dumbledore asked, as he passed Consuela to his chair.
"Certainly, Albus," Consuela answered, before returning to her meal. It had been a week since her encounter with Professor Snape, and the two professors had barely spoken to each since. The only words exchanged between them were brief, one-worded sentences or extremely polite questions.
"Professor Gracewell, would you be so kind as to pass me the potatoes?" a deep, silky voice spoke in her ear, his warm breath on Consuela's neck causing her to give an involuntary shiver. Consuela had forced herself to take her usual spot beside Professor Snape again, so as to not cause speculation among the faculty and students. The entire school already knew of their "mishap" down in the dungeons with thanks to Draco Malfoy. Consuela did not want the students to create any embarrassing rumors, so she forced herself to put up with the mysterious Potions Master.
Not that she really minded. She was willing to admit to herself that she was strongly attracted to the former Death Eater. There was no use denying how she felt, no matter how cranky and difficult he was. But no matter how much of an attraction Consuela felt, she could not act upon it. These were dangerous times, and she could not become involved with anyone, especially Severus Snape.
"Ah, Professor Gracewell. So glad you could join us." Dumbledore said, watching a flustered Consuela Gracewell enter his office.
"I'm sorry I'm late, Albus," she gasped, clutching her side, and breathing heavily. "One of my students needed assistance with their homework." Consuela then realized that Dumbledore had said "us", and saw that Professor Snape was seated in a chair facing Dumbledore's desk. He awknowledged with a nod, which she returned.
Merlin, she's beautiful, Snape thought, watching Consuela as she took off her outer robes and plopped down in to the chair beside him. She was wearing black pants, which showed off her curves, and a tight maroon sweater. Her hair was piled on her head in a messy bun and her skin had a natural gleam to it.
Snape realized (much to his horror) about two seconds after he was finished taking in her appearance, that he had spoken his thoughts out loud. Both Dumbledore and Consuela looked at him in shock, and Consuela flushed.
Dumbledore looked extremely amused. It was a rare sight to see Severus Snape embarrassed, but when it did occur, it was quite the sight to see. "Yes, she is quite breathtaking, isn't she Severus?" Dumbledore asked. Consuela gave a nervous laugh, and her face darkened to the colour of her sweater.
Snape only grew paler, and stood up. "I must attend to the potions I'm making for Poppy," he said abruptly. He turned and walked swiftly out of Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore used all the inner strength he possessed to suppress laughter. Poor Severus, he is absolutely smitten. Dumbledore turned to look at Consuela, who was still watching the door Severus had left through. She was still looking embarrassed, but Dumbledore also saw confusion, sadness and longing in her eyes.
"Consuela, I have something to ask of you," Dumbledore said, causing Consuela to turn her eyes towards him.
"Yes, Albus, anything."
"How would you feel about joining the Order?" Dumbledore questioned.
"I would be honored, Professor Dumbledore," Consuela replied. Dumbledore observed her through his half-moon glasses.
"It will be somewhat dangerous, I must warn," he stated. Consuela nodded.
"I'm fully prepared for the danger Albus, I'm just happy I can help."
"Alright then. Our next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow night at seven. Just to make sure you get there safely, I'll have Professor Snape escort you."
"Alright, I'll be ready."
"Thank you, Professor Gracewell. That will be all."
The next night, Consuela stepped out of her shower and prepared herself for the meeting. She was nervous about meeting all these wizards and witches, who were highly skilled in the defense of the dark arts, and she was worried she wouldn't be able to keep up. She was just hoping they were a friendly bunch.
Consuela pulled on a pair of jeans and a nicely fitting white tank top (since she was supposed to dress in muggle clothes), before pulling her hair into a sleek ponytail. She decided against putting makeup on, and settled herself in her living room to wait for Professor Snape.
Fifteen minutes later, a gentle knock was heard on her door, and Consuela rushed to answer it. When she opened it, and saw Snape standing on the other side, she gasped. No longer was he wearing those ominous black robes that made him look so threatening, but a nice pair of black pants, and a white button up shirt. His black hair still looked the same, and his face was still impassive, but Consuela couldn't help but notice how unbelievably irresistible Professor Snape looked at the moment. She almost wanted to pull him inside, slam the door, and keep him to herself for the entire night.
Stop it, she forcefully reminded herself. No thinking of Snape in that way, remember, Connie?
"Are you ready, Professor Gracewell?" Snape asked. Hearing that low voice pushed Consuela over the edge, and she grabbed Snape by the collar of his shirt and slammed her door. Looking extremely surprised, Snape didn't realize what was happening.
Before he could make sense of the situation, Consuela pulled his head down and kissed him passionately and hungrily.
"Consuela, may I see you in my office for a moment, after dinner?" Dumbledore asked, as he passed Consuela to his chair.
"Certainly, Albus," Consuela answered, before returning to her meal. It had been a week since her encounter with Professor Snape, and the two professors had barely spoken to each since. The only words exchanged between them were brief, one-worded sentences or extremely polite questions.
"Professor Gracewell, would you be so kind as to pass me the potatoes?" a deep, silky voice spoke in her ear, his warm breath on Consuela's neck causing her to give an involuntary shiver. Consuela had forced herself to take her usual spot beside Professor Snape again, so as to not cause speculation among the faculty and students. The entire school already knew of their "mishap" down in the dungeons with thanks to Draco Malfoy. Consuela did not want the students to create any embarrassing rumors, so she forced herself to put up with the mysterious Potions Master.
Not that she really minded. She was willing to admit to herself that she was strongly attracted to the former Death Eater. There was no use denying how she felt, no matter how cranky and difficult he was. But no matter how much of an attraction Consuela felt, she could not act upon it. These were dangerous times, and she could not become involved with anyone, especially Severus Snape.
"Ah, Professor Gracewell. So glad you could join us." Dumbledore said, watching a flustered Consuela Gracewell enter his office.
"I'm sorry I'm late, Albus," she gasped, clutching her side, and breathing heavily. "One of my students needed assistance with their homework." Consuela then realized that Dumbledore had said "us", and saw that Professor Snape was seated in a chair facing Dumbledore's desk. He awknowledged with a nod, which she returned.
Merlin, she's beautiful, Snape thought, watching Consuela as she took off her outer robes and plopped down in to the chair beside him. She was wearing black pants, which showed off her curves, and a tight maroon sweater. Her hair was piled on her head in a messy bun and her skin had a natural gleam to it.
Snape realized (much to his horror) about two seconds after he was finished taking in her appearance, that he had spoken his thoughts out loud. Both Dumbledore and Consuela looked at him in shock, and Consuela flushed.
Dumbledore looked extremely amused. It was a rare sight to see Severus Snape embarrassed, but when it did occur, it was quite the sight to see. "Yes, she is quite breathtaking, isn't she Severus?" Dumbledore asked. Consuela gave a nervous laugh, and her face darkened to the colour of her sweater.
Snape only grew paler, and stood up. "I must attend to the potions I'm making for Poppy," he said abruptly. He turned and walked swiftly out of Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore used all the inner strength he possessed to suppress laughter. Poor Severus, he is absolutely smitten. Dumbledore turned to look at Consuela, who was still watching the door Severus had left through. She was still looking embarrassed, but Dumbledore also saw confusion, sadness and longing in her eyes.
"Consuela, I have something to ask of you," Dumbledore said, causing Consuela to turn her eyes towards him.
"Yes, Albus, anything."
"How would you feel about joining the Order?" Dumbledore questioned.
"I would be honored, Professor Dumbledore," Consuela replied. Dumbledore observed her through his half-moon glasses.
"It will be somewhat dangerous, I must warn," he stated. Consuela nodded.
"I'm fully prepared for the danger Albus, I'm just happy I can help."
"Alright then. Our next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow night at seven. Just to make sure you get there safely, I'll have Professor Snape escort you."
"Alright, I'll be ready."
"Thank you, Professor Gracewell. That will be all."
The next night, Consuela stepped out of her shower and prepared herself for the meeting. She was nervous about meeting all these wizards and witches, who were highly skilled in the defense of the dark arts, and she was worried she wouldn't be able to keep up. She was just hoping they were a friendly bunch.
Consuela pulled on a pair of jeans and a nicely fitting white tank top (since she was supposed to dress in muggle clothes), before pulling her hair into a sleek ponytail. She decided against putting makeup on, and settled herself in her living room to wait for Professor Snape.
Fifteen minutes later, a gentle knock was heard on her door, and Consuela rushed to answer it. When she opened it, and saw Snape standing on the other side, she gasped. No longer was he wearing those ominous black robes that made him look so threatening, but a nice pair of black pants, and a white button up shirt. His black hair still looked the same, and his face was still impassive, but Consuela couldn't help but notice how unbelievably irresistible Professor Snape looked at the moment. She almost wanted to pull him inside, slam the door, and keep him to herself for the entire night.
Stop it, she forcefully reminded herself. No thinking of Snape in that way, remember, Connie?
"Are you ready, Professor Gracewell?" Snape asked. Hearing that low voice pushed Consuela over the edge, and she grabbed Snape by the collar of his shirt and slammed her door. Looking extremely surprised, Snape didn't realize what was happening.
Before he could make sense of the situation, Consuela pulled his head down and kissed him passionately and hungrily.