Hiyas everyone. I have nothing fun to say. Read away.
As you know this is a fan fic. J.K. Rowling owns everything Harry Potter and I don't. I just own a new pair shoes.
Ch10- New hair and new shoes.
Delia woke up to a loud piercing ringing sound. She heard a groan and felt someone stir against her, reach over and shut off the alarm clock. Delia fell back asleep. Severus climbed out of bed. He pulled the duvet up to Delia's shoulders and thought I can let her sleep just one more hour. After that he set off for his morning routine. He came out of the bathroom fully dressed, whistling. Delia had awakened and was stuffing her pockets with her junk she had emptied out the night before. Severus came over and gave Delia a hug. He looked at her face. It was still puffy.
"Does your face hurt?" his voice was full of concern
"Just a little. I'll be ok, in the long run. I've got to go before I'm missed." Severus gave Delia quick peck on her forehead. Delia walked over to the door turned the knob and opened the door. She turned back at Severus and smiled then disappeared down the hallway.
Delia knew that this week was going to be weird. It was the first full week of classes. Everything was going fine up until Wednesday's Potion Class. Severus must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed because he was finding any reason to pick on anyone. Delia ended up getting detention for sneezing. She went through the rest of the day in a somber mood. She was tired of the Slytherins throwing things at her in classes. She was the talk of the school. She didn't like that.
Delia walked to the dungeons for detention to find a note from Severus:
I'm sorry I can't be here. I have a previous engagement. I've left instructions to a Potion. The ingredients should be set out on the desk and all there. If not you know where they are located. Don't wait for me to return.
Severus
Delia sighed and set to work on the Potion. She had no clue what it was for. But by judging from the ingredients it was for nervous tension. Delia prepared the potion. The main thing with it was simmering. It had to be stirred counter clock wise or as Severus had written it, anti-clockwise. Sometimes Delia felt as if she could speak and understand two Englishs. Delia sat down at one of the tables and took out her laptop. She was a lucky girl; her parents had given her a Sony Vaio with a DVD drive. She put in French Kiss. Her movie was half way over when Severus came into the classroom from his office. He was clad in a black dress robe. He walked over to the simmering caldron, took the spoon, poked at the solution and deemed it fine to have three spoonfuls. He sighed and sat down next to Delia who was shutting down her computer with Windows. He just shook his head as the computer made its log off noise.
"I'd ask what's up, but I better not," she said, "I can tell by your mood you'd rather not discuss it. But from the way you are dressed to the fact you were not at dinner and some nerve calming potion I made, you had to be doing something with your homies."
"Homies?"
"It's an American idiom meaning friends. An example of this is `Josh and Nicola are my homies.'"
"Yes, you could say I was with my homies. If THAT'S what you want to call them!" he said rather bored.
"No, not really. I can think of other names."
"So, can I. I'm going to make some tea care to join me? Allow the potion to cool and I'll bottle it later. I have a feeling I'll need more later."
Delia left Severus chambers just before curfew. She made it back to the common room to find out that this weekend was going to be a Hogsmeade weekend. Good she needed an afternoon out.
Delia rose earlier then normal. On Hogsmeade weekends, she always did. But this morning she had to eat breakfast early and get to the hair salon to ensure an early appointment. After two Quidditch Practices in the rain she was going to chop off her hair. She was tired of it always being soaked. She ate breakfast without Nicola and Josh. They agreed to meet in the Three Broom Sticks at one thirty. Delia set out for Hogsmeade at 8:30A.M. She set out on the cool morning. Once she was in town she went to "Magical Hair."
Delia had to wait ten minutes before they opened. She sat outside shops' door. Few students were about yet. As soon as the salon opened, Delia went inside. She got her favorite stylist, Janna. Janna about went postal when Delia told how she want her haircut. Delia wanted it cut to just past shoulder length by three inches. After an argument Janna finally gave in. Janna cut Delia's hair in a fashionable cut. Janna cut the hair around Delia's face so it framed it, nicely. Once her hair was cut, Delia looked in the salons mirrors. She couldn't believe the change! Her head felt lighter! The change was so drastic she didn't know what to think. She did like how her hair did its little curl into ringlets at the ends. Once Delia paid and tipped her stylist off she went.
Delia's next stop was shoes. She thought it was time for something with more of a heel then her old boring flat shoes that looked so chucky British. The shoes she had been wearing made her size 6 1/2 narrow look big. Delia tried two shoes shops before she found a pair of shoes that would fit her feet. She liked the fit so well she purchased two pair. She had to by black because that was what the school required for shoes, but they didn't care what kind they were. Delia was now the proud owner of pumps. Delia then went to her usual haunts such as Honey Dukes and Zonkos. She didn't buy much in there, but went in there for a good laugh. Her father always got a kick out of Filla Buster Fire works.
Delia spent the rest of her morning in the bookshops buying any interesting books she could find. At one fifteen Delia left for the Three Broom Sticks. As usual the place was a mess. Among the mess she found Josh and Nicola. They had a table back against the wall.
"Hey all," Delia said causally as if nothing was going on
"What on Earth," Nicola exclaimed, "did you do to your hair?"
"Had a cut? Why that noticeable?" Delia asked as if were old news.
"I should say so," Josh said. "Wow! After all those years! I have three sisters and you'd think I'd understand why women change their hair at the drop of a wizard's hat. And I'm the youngest! So I observed a lot! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some ladies to see."
"Well, Dee I like your hair, Just wish you would have consulted me instead of going off on a whim! I think uhhh you know will like it better!"
***
Delia was sitting in the Great Hall at supper. No one could believe she had chopped off her hair. Severus saw Delia and did a double take. To him Delia looked...cute. He couldn't wait to see her next. He hoped after dinner she would come visit him. Now that she was around the dungeon was less dreary. Severus hated to let her go it was selfish of him. But he wanted her around all the time. He couldn't get the last weekend out of his head. He yearned for her gentleness to be sleeping next to him. He wanted to hold and shield her. Severus also realized she had to finish this year and he remembered his seventh year was miserable with N.E.W.Ts. He also knew it wasn't going to be easy for Delia. She had to do a project every year to prove to the Ministry and WWB that she was learning and not wasting her time. They had a list of required things she was to do and she then had to do a yearlong research project. He was hopeful she would elect to opt for potions.
Once dinner was over Delia walked down to the dungeons. She wasn't going to stay long. There was a chess tournament being held that night in the Hufflepuff Common room. Delia was planning on entering. She walked into the classroom to see there was light coming from the office. She walked over to the partly open door and knocked softly. The door opened to reveal Lucius Malfoy.
"Delia Wheelrite! The exchange student! Please come in! Your Professor and I were having a lovely chat." Malfoy reached for her hand, shook it and pulled her into the tiny office. "I haven't seen you since last summer! How are you enjoying Hogwarts?"
Delia was wide eyed. "Good," was all she could allow to escape her from her lips.
"Do take my seat dear" Malfoy suggested, his voice dripping with extra politeness. "It seems as if this office isn't set up for visitors."
"No-no. I'll come back later. I was just going to talk to Professor Snape about my project. I can see he has company. Sorry for bothering you two. I'll just get going now."
"No, do stay!" Malfoy insisted pulling Delia to the chair and making her sit down. "Don't let me be disturb our first ever exchange student from her studies. I'm interested to know what you have chosen as your annual project!"
"Miss Wheelrite hasn't chosen anything yet," Severus said in a firm voice. "But we were considering poisons."
"Very exciting," Malfoy said with zeal, "I do hope it goes well."
"Well, I haven't picked anything yet," Delia said nervously. "Tell you what Professor Snape, I'll swing by later."
"Thank you Miss Wheelrite I think-" Severus said before Malfoy cut him off.
"No. Miss Wheelrite please do enlighten me about America. You are from where? I'm sorry I've forgotten."
"Kansas. It's right in the middle. I'm from a small town called Derby. It's a town outside Wichita. You know what I find funny Derby is spelled D-E-R-B-Y. But here you would say `Darby' instead of `DER-by'. But back home we say DER-by instead of Darby." Malfoy laughed, Severus just sat behind his desk with a forced smile.
"Derby is outside where?" Malfoy asked. "I didn't get the name. I've never heard it."
"Wichita," she said, "it's from the Wichita Indians. They lived by the Little Arkansas and Big Arkansas where they met up to flow into the Main Arkansas River. There's a museum there today. Back home if you say Arkansas River instead of Are Kansas River it's a bad thing. We even have a city called Arkansas City, but for short everyone calls it Ark City." Talking about home seemed to calm Delia's nerves. Malfoy stood behind Delia's chair, leaning on it. She didn't like him being so close. She couldn't help but feel his cold knife-like eyes all over her. It made Delia feel horrid. She wanted to leave.
"Mr. Malfoy don't you have somewhere to be," Severus implied.
"Yes, regrettably I do. You take care Severus. Miss Wheelrite, it was nice to chat with you about Kansas. I must stop by again to hear more. I bid everyone good night." He took some Floo Powder threw it in the fire and left. Delia sat back in the chair breathless. She didn't realize she had been holding her breath. Severus came over to her side, put his hand on her head and fondled her hair soothingly.
"If," Severus said in a growl, "I catch that bastard looking at you the way he was I will kill him!" Severus voice softened, "Delia you must be feeling terrible. He's a married man. He shouldn't have been doing that. No man should ever look at you like that."
"I know," Delia whispered softly. All of a sudden she didn't want to enter the chess tournament. All she wanted was Severus to keep his fingers in her hair. Severus sat on his heels, brushing Delia's hair over her ear.
"I like what you did to your hair," he whispered in her ear in his silky soft voice. "It makes you look cuter then what you are. The shoes add a nice touch too. Shows off your sexy ankles, nicely."
Delia giggled and blushed. The thought of her ankles being sexy was enough to keep her scarlet for the rest of the night. Severus planted a fiery kiss behind Delia's ear. He stood up with a groan. "I can't stay like that for long anymore. My legs won't take it!" He moved back over to behind his desk and sat down throwing his long legs up onto a pile of papers. He leaned back in his desk chair massaging his temples. "I've got a headache," he declared.
"What from?"
"Malfoy, that bastard. Pardon my language."
"He gave me a headache too. The dork."
"If," he snapped, "when speaking of Malfoy, do not use such a kind word."
"Fine, I'll call him a butt cheese next time."
Severus laughed hard. Delia had never heard him do this before. "Delia, that is... imaginative. Malfoy is a butt cheese." He began to howl, tears coming to his eyes. "I have just found a use for American English, to call Malfoy a butt cheese. The whole bloody lot of them could be considered bleedin butt cheeses."
"May I ask what he was doing here?" she asked apprehensively.
"Oh trying to get me to go out with him and the other...I shouldn't be laying this on you."
"It's all right," she said reassuringly, "I'm not afraid."
"I respect your courage. However, it's my problem and would prefer the less you know to be best. The less you know about Malfoy and his homies the better off you are. The more they think you know, the worse off you'll be, the less the better. They know something is up between us. Their little spies have told them. What Malfoy wanted was you and I to go with him this evening. I knew it was a trap. I was arguing with him and then you walked in. Malfoy thinks I'm brilliant to have you as my plaything, as he puts it. His words to me were `Why don't you bring your plaything and come along? We all want to play too!' disgusting!" Severus shuddered. Delia had a look like she was going to be ill.
"I'm not a plaything!" She exclaimed irritated.
"I know that! I don't think of you as my plaything. You are more to me then that sordid word."
"What am I then?" she asked.
"You are my sunshine in a dark dungeon. My cutie, sweetie, dear, much adored, Freakin Kansan, dearest and friend. I care about you a lot. If anything were to happen to you I'd lose my mind. Do you play chess?"
"Oh somewhat. I'm no great player. Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm in the mood for game. Would you like to play?"
"Sure," she replied shrugging her shoulders
He opened a drawer to his desk, pulled out a walnut colored box and dusted it off. "I fear it's been ages since I used this set. I've had it since I was fourteen. It was the last Christmas present I received from my mother." He opened the box. Delia looked over and saw the most elegant chess pieces she had ever seen, the white were Mother of Pearl and the black pieces were Onyx. The chessboard was black and white marble. He set up the board. "Seeing as I am in the company of a lady, you may make the first move."
Thirty minutes into the game Delia was doing bad. Most of her important pieces had been destroyed. The game ended when Severus's bishop took Delia's king. "Check mate," Severus called out. Immediately the smashed pieces restored themselves.
"I told you I wasn't a great player." Delia said.
"You are better then what you let on. Very good game."
"Thank you," Delia replied plainly. "How can you still be sitting like that?" Severus still had his feet on the stack of papers. The one nice thing about Wizard Chess was you just had to call out the positions.
"Many years of practice."
"I just hope your feet aren't on my assignment I handed in!"
"Speaking of assignments I have to grade! You know I hate grading papers. It's the same thing stated forty different times!"
"Tell ya what!" Delia said confidently, "I'll throw in a joke on my next paper."
"Very amusing, Delia."
"Fine! I won't. But don't gripe to me if an essay is dull. Seems as if you have stuff to do. I'll leave you to it."
"Don't leave me," he protested. "It's only eight thirty! Stay! Keep me company while I grade some papers."
"Ok, I'll stay," she said giving in.
"Good, now let me give you some advice. Don't become a teacher."
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. You know I haven't thought about what I am going to do with my life. My folks would like me to go to college. They'd like KU or K-State, but I don't think so. But I do think they would go for OSU or OU Or maybe Nebraska.
"What is KU, K-State, OSU and OU and what is Nebraska some school?" Severus asked confused.
"Oh sorry sometimes I forget and talk Kansan!" she said. "Ku is University of Kansas, I don't know why we call it KU when it should be called UK. K-State is Kansas State University. OSU is Oklahoma Sate University. OU is University of Oklahoma. Nebraska is a state north of Kansas. And I know you are going to ask what is Oklahoma."
"Your guess is correct," he said picking up a quill.
"Oklahoma is a state south of Kansas."
"Do you want to go to any of these universities?" he asked picking up a stack of essays.
"My parents want me to. I haven't decided what I want to do. I don't think a university back home is up my alley. I've been here too long. I'd feel weird. I'm not a Muggle anymore. My folks don't understand. If I were to go to a university I'd like to go to Oxford or Cambridge. I've been in the UK too long. I'm not as Kansan as my friends and family."
"What made you choose to come here? I know there is a school in Salem for witches only. I was offered teaching position there for a year. I didn't go because I couldn't leave here. I did recommend one of my former students. She writes me once in a while from there, saying it's completely different from Hogwarts."
"You know it's a story as to why I'm here. I could have gone to the school in Salem. I could have also attended Beauxbatons or Durmstrang. But I choose to part of an exchange program. The reason I picked Hogwarts was language and location. My French is bad, my mom is from Quebec. That wouldn't have been a problem. Durmstrang was just too cold and too far, plus learning the languages spoken there...whew...no thanks. My parents were big on my coming home for breaks and stuff they thought I could get into Edinburgh or London easier. Plus, the plane ride wasn't as long. And since I spoke English that made my transition easier. Now you wanna here the funny? At the school in Salem there is a British schoolgirl who is part of the same program as me. We write to each other. We've met a few times when she's home and I happen to be in the London area or in Salem doing some shopping."
"Interesting. Be thankful you didn't go to Durmstrang. You were better off here. Your headmaster would have been Igor Karkaroff. He is a coward. Former Death Eater, he left when I left."
"Are you for real?" she asked shuddering.
"I wish I could say I as joking, but I'm not Delia and you know it. I would never joke about such matters."
"I guess in the end this was the right choice then," she said softly.
"At least you have Dumbledore on your side. Voldemort fears Dumbledore. You are safe as long as you are here."
"I thought Voldemort was long gone."
"That is what he wants you to think. He's somewhere Delia. I know." Severus spoke in a soft voice. "He's gaining strength. He's very much alive."
"How do you know?" she asked quickly. "I mean have you seen him?"
"Several things for one. You know my...erm...Dark Mark...it's been burning. There have been many of that butt cheese Malfoy get-togethers. The Death Eaters have a plan. It's not a pretty sight. I know what it is. But I doubt it will work. The Ministry has been informed. Malfoy will just come up with another. I'm not telling you anymore from the look on your face. You look colorless. I've gone and upset you! I think you have had enough upsets for the night."
"I'm ok, really. Fine and Dandy. Never felt better."
"You don't lie very well," he Severus grasped his left forearm as if it were in pain and exhaled through his teeth.
"Are you OK?" Delia gasped.
"No," he said pulling up his sleeve looking at his Dark Mark, which looked to be burning black. "You would think after so many times this happens I'd be used to it."
Delia stood up and walked over behind to Severus putting her arms around his neck. Severus noticed that she was wearing her charm bracelet. Her hands were petite and graceful compared to his he observed as he clasped his left hand with Delia's right. His forearm was hurting less now. Delia pulled away.
"I'll be back. I need a drink," she said.
"What do you want?" Severus asked.
"Water is fine."
"I'll get it." He scooted his chair back and walked out of the door. He returned with a goblet of water. Delia had sat back down in the chair in front of his desk. Delia took the water and drank the goblet dry.
"Thanks. I needed that," she said.
"Do you need more? Judging by the way you gulped that down I think you are a bit dehydrated. I'll bring in a carafe." He stepped out of his office and returned with a carafe of water. He refilled Delia's goblet and set the carafe on his desk. "You shouldn't make yourself so thirsty. It's not good for your well-being."
"No, it's not." She said drinking down the second goblet of water. She refilled her goblet. This time she didn't drink it down as fast.
"If you need more I'll get you some. What did you have to drink today?"
"Let's see," she said thinking. "At breakfast I had glass of water and pumpkin juice. Lunch I had a butter beer. Then at dinner I had pumpkin juice. Then I had a drink when I got my hair cut."
"You shouldn't be drinking butter beer at the moment! I mean you know..." His voice trailed off.
"Oh that! Never mind about that. I came down here to tell you that...we're in the clear...no worries...I was going to tell pronto but you had your visitor...things went a little haywire...well you were here."
Severus was relieved but at the same time disappointed in a small way. If she was with his child he was prepared to do the noble thing and marry her. He also realized she was still young. Then it crossed his mind she's a virgin! If he was going to make love to Delia it wasn't going to be because they were drunk. It was going to be because he loved her and it was mutual. He preferred that she be his wife before he thought about children. He had read a little about Kansas and the people there. He gathered they were straight laced, being from protestant and catholic backgrounds. He really didn't know much about Delia's background and if her parents were catholic or protestant.
"You seem out of it, Severus. You've been quite," Delia said waking Severus from his thoughts.
"I'm fine. I was just thinking that's all. Delia what are your parents like?"
"What are my parents like?" she asked taken back, confused. "What do you want to know?"
"Anything." He brought his desk chair over by Delia.
"Well they are reasonable. They miss me. My dad owns a restaurant, like I told you and my mom is part owner of a hair salon in Derby with her best friend, Elle. Elle's my godmother. My mom and Elle were best buds growing up in Canada."
"Wheelrite sounds like an English last name."
"It is!" Delia laughed. "Ready for plot twist number two?"
"What's number one? Then I'll let you know if I'm ready for two."
"Number one is the day you kissed me."
"I think I can handle two," he said with ease.
"My dad is English."
"Really? This story gets more and more interesting. Keep telling it!"
"My grandmother Wheelrite is German. Back in WWII she married my grandfather who was a pilot. My dad was born in Newquay Cornwall. I never knew my grandfather; he died before I was born. My dad went to France to the Culinary Institute. Then he got a job in Toronto and met my mom. They married and moved to Derby. Dad had a job working in a hotel restaurant in Wichita. Once my parents moved in, my grandmother bought a house in Wichita and stayed. My mom's parent's still live in Quebec. I see them twice a year. I don't have much family here in England, just a few cousins. But I have more in Germany. I learned to speak German from my grandmother. Can you believe she has eight brothers and sisters?
"Wow!' Severus exclaimed. "I just have one sister. And she's my twin."
"For real? Cool. I'm an only child."
"So I bet another reason your parents wanted you here was ties to the UK."
"Makes since. I've thought so myself. Can you believe the Ministry sent a delegation to my house? They were so hung up on getting me here!"
"Who was there? I'm just curious."
"Well there was Arthur Weasley, Barty Crouch and ew ew ew!" Delia shuddered all over.
"You mean HE was there?" Severus said with intent in his voice.
"Yes, when I get home at Christmas I'm burning that chair he sat in! EW!"
"They sent those three. I expect it was humorous."
"It was! I came in from swimming at the pool that afternoon. I came in through the garage door. I didn't know they were there. I yelled mom what's for dinner we're hungry and started to go upstairs with my friends. We weren't paying attention. We wanted to play Nintendo. I was still in my bathing suit and hand on flip-flops and pair of shorts. I even had a sunburn from swimming. My friends weren't looking any better." Severus laughed hard. The image of Malfoy in Kansas was funny. Arthur Weasley in Kansas was even more hilarious. He lost it completely when he thought of Barty Crouch sitting in a suburban Middle Western home. Once Severus had stopped Delia continued.
"Well all my friends left and I sat in the living room. My father was on his way home. The delegation had dropped by with no warning. Here was my mom serving these guys Cokes and ham sandwiches. And mind you they were dressed in robes. Mr. Weasley was looking around the house having the time of his life. Mr. Crouch was having a chat with my mom. And Mr...well he just looked miserable. I ended up showing Mr. Weasley my Nintendo. I really don't remember much because I was eleven. All my friends thought it was weird. To this date they still think that was odd."
Severus laughed again. "I wish I had a pensive handy. I'd like to see that memory! Weasley in your house!" Severus went back to howling with laughter.
"Then two months later I ended up here. And from there you know the rest."
Severus was nonetheless still howling with laughter. It was the funniest thing he had heard in ages. Just the thought of Mr. Weasley in America would be keeping him laughing for hours. "You know, I remember Dumbledore showing your parents around a week before the school term started. You were walking behind your parents."
"I was like, yah ok sure whatever. I was almost twelve. The whole time I was thinking `I'm going here, why again?' I just wanted rid of my parents. I guess every twelve year old would. They were acting weird. I do remember dad having a cow when say your class room!" Delia started to laugh, "He was all weirded out for days. To this date he keeps asking if I've been poisoned. Well since my dad didn't like it I was like yah man cool. Whaoooooo, yah man! First years are annoying. If I was anything like they are, I'm apologizing now for giving you trouble."
"You did give me trouble. That mouth of yours! Everyone else was saying what a nice quiet girl you were. Could have fooled me!"
"The only time I did get lippy and aggravating was in your class. Anywhere else I was quiet. Must be something in the air down here that does that." Delia shrugged. "Now days I'm not as lippy as I once was. I guess I've calmed down. I mean look at me; I whacked my hair and bought these shoes. I got tired of the knee socks. Then the other day I caught myself reading Witch Weekly instead of my usual magazines. I'm starting to scare myself. I think I'm sick." She placed her hand on her forehead.
"No you aren't. You're just turning into a lady. Every girl becomes on in due course. With what you have put up with in the last few weeks, I'd say you are making the transition just fine."
"Thanks for the womanly advice." She stood up feeling kind of numb. "I never thought I'd ever get womanly advice from you. I am going to go and take a hot bubble bath then I am going to write my mother a lengthy email. I've had too much today to deal with. My head hurts." She walked to the door with Severus in tow, he opened the door and walk with her into the cold classroom. "You don't have to walk with me."
"I need to tell Dumbledore about Malfoy. So I might as well walk with you until we reach a parting point."
As you know this is a fan fic. J.K. Rowling owns everything Harry Potter and I don't. I just own a new pair shoes.
Ch10- New hair and new shoes.
Delia woke up to a loud piercing ringing sound. She heard a groan and felt someone stir against her, reach over and shut off the alarm clock. Delia fell back asleep. Severus climbed out of bed. He pulled the duvet up to Delia's shoulders and thought I can let her sleep just one more hour. After that he set off for his morning routine. He came out of the bathroom fully dressed, whistling. Delia had awakened and was stuffing her pockets with her junk she had emptied out the night before. Severus came over and gave Delia a hug. He looked at her face. It was still puffy.
"Does your face hurt?" his voice was full of concern
"Just a little. I'll be ok, in the long run. I've got to go before I'm missed." Severus gave Delia quick peck on her forehead. Delia walked over to the door turned the knob and opened the door. She turned back at Severus and smiled then disappeared down the hallway.
Delia knew that this week was going to be weird. It was the first full week of classes. Everything was going fine up until Wednesday's Potion Class. Severus must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed because he was finding any reason to pick on anyone. Delia ended up getting detention for sneezing. She went through the rest of the day in a somber mood. She was tired of the Slytherins throwing things at her in classes. She was the talk of the school. She didn't like that.
Delia walked to the dungeons for detention to find a note from Severus:
I'm sorry I can't be here. I have a previous engagement. I've left instructions to a Potion. The ingredients should be set out on the desk and all there. If not you know where they are located. Don't wait for me to return.
Severus
Delia sighed and set to work on the Potion. She had no clue what it was for. But by judging from the ingredients it was for nervous tension. Delia prepared the potion. The main thing with it was simmering. It had to be stirred counter clock wise or as Severus had written it, anti-clockwise. Sometimes Delia felt as if she could speak and understand two Englishs. Delia sat down at one of the tables and took out her laptop. She was a lucky girl; her parents had given her a Sony Vaio with a DVD drive. She put in French Kiss. Her movie was half way over when Severus came into the classroom from his office. He was clad in a black dress robe. He walked over to the simmering caldron, took the spoon, poked at the solution and deemed it fine to have three spoonfuls. He sighed and sat down next to Delia who was shutting down her computer with Windows. He just shook his head as the computer made its log off noise.
"I'd ask what's up, but I better not," she said, "I can tell by your mood you'd rather not discuss it. But from the way you are dressed to the fact you were not at dinner and some nerve calming potion I made, you had to be doing something with your homies."
"Homies?"
"It's an American idiom meaning friends. An example of this is `Josh and Nicola are my homies.'"
"Yes, you could say I was with my homies. If THAT'S what you want to call them!" he said rather bored.
"No, not really. I can think of other names."
"So, can I. I'm going to make some tea care to join me? Allow the potion to cool and I'll bottle it later. I have a feeling I'll need more later."
Delia left Severus chambers just before curfew. She made it back to the common room to find out that this weekend was going to be a Hogsmeade weekend. Good she needed an afternoon out.
Delia rose earlier then normal. On Hogsmeade weekends, she always did. But this morning she had to eat breakfast early and get to the hair salon to ensure an early appointment. After two Quidditch Practices in the rain she was going to chop off her hair. She was tired of it always being soaked. She ate breakfast without Nicola and Josh. They agreed to meet in the Three Broom Sticks at one thirty. Delia set out for Hogsmeade at 8:30A.M. She set out on the cool morning. Once she was in town she went to "Magical Hair."
Delia had to wait ten minutes before they opened. She sat outside shops' door. Few students were about yet. As soon as the salon opened, Delia went inside. She got her favorite stylist, Janna. Janna about went postal when Delia told how she want her haircut. Delia wanted it cut to just past shoulder length by three inches. After an argument Janna finally gave in. Janna cut Delia's hair in a fashionable cut. Janna cut the hair around Delia's face so it framed it, nicely. Once her hair was cut, Delia looked in the salons mirrors. She couldn't believe the change! Her head felt lighter! The change was so drastic she didn't know what to think. She did like how her hair did its little curl into ringlets at the ends. Once Delia paid and tipped her stylist off she went.
Delia's next stop was shoes. She thought it was time for something with more of a heel then her old boring flat shoes that looked so chucky British. The shoes she had been wearing made her size 6 1/2 narrow look big. Delia tried two shoes shops before she found a pair of shoes that would fit her feet. She liked the fit so well she purchased two pair. She had to by black because that was what the school required for shoes, but they didn't care what kind they were. Delia was now the proud owner of pumps. Delia then went to her usual haunts such as Honey Dukes and Zonkos. She didn't buy much in there, but went in there for a good laugh. Her father always got a kick out of Filla Buster Fire works.
Delia spent the rest of her morning in the bookshops buying any interesting books she could find. At one fifteen Delia left for the Three Broom Sticks. As usual the place was a mess. Among the mess she found Josh and Nicola. They had a table back against the wall.
"Hey all," Delia said causally as if nothing was going on
"What on Earth," Nicola exclaimed, "did you do to your hair?"
"Had a cut? Why that noticeable?" Delia asked as if were old news.
"I should say so," Josh said. "Wow! After all those years! I have three sisters and you'd think I'd understand why women change their hair at the drop of a wizard's hat. And I'm the youngest! So I observed a lot! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some ladies to see."
"Well, Dee I like your hair, Just wish you would have consulted me instead of going off on a whim! I think uhhh you know will like it better!"
***
Delia was sitting in the Great Hall at supper. No one could believe she had chopped off her hair. Severus saw Delia and did a double take. To him Delia looked...cute. He couldn't wait to see her next. He hoped after dinner she would come visit him. Now that she was around the dungeon was less dreary. Severus hated to let her go it was selfish of him. But he wanted her around all the time. He couldn't get the last weekend out of his head. He yearned for her gentleness to be sleeping next to him. He wanted to hold and shield her. Severus also realized she had to finish this year and he remembered his seventh year was miserable with N.E.W.Ts. He also knew it wasn't going to be easy for Delia. She had to do a project every year to prove to the Ministry and WWB that she was learning and not wasting her time. They had a list of required things she was to do and she then had to do a yearlong research project. He was hopeful she would elect to opt for potions.
Once dinner was over Delia walked down to the dungeons. She wasn't going to stay long. There was a chess tournament being held that night in the Hufflepuff Common room. Delia was planning on entering. She walked into the classroom to see there was light coming from the office. She walked over to the partly open door and knocked softly. The door opened to reveal Lucius Malfoy.
"Delia Wheelrite! The exchange student! Please come in! Your Professor and I were having a lovely chat." Malfoy reached for her hand, shook it and pulled her into the tiny office. "I haven't seen you since last summer! How are you enjoying Hogwarts?"
Delia was wide eyed. "Good," was all she could allow to escape her from her lips.
"Do take my seat dear" Malfoy suggested, his voice dripping with extra politeness. "It seems as if this office isn't set up for visitors."
"No-no. I'll come back later. I was just going to talk to Professor Snape about my project. I can see he has company. Sorry for bothering you two. I'll just get going now."
"No, do stay!" Malfoy insisted pulling Delia to the chair and making her sit down. "Don't let me be disturb our first ever exchange student from her studies. I'm interested to know what you have chosen as your annual project!"
"Miss Wheelrite hasn't chosen anything yet," Severus said in a firm voice. "But we were considering poisons."
"Very exciting," Malfoy said with zeal, "I do hope it goes well."
"Well, I haven't picked anything yet," Delia said nervously. "Tell you what Professor Snape, I'll swing by later."
"Thank you Miss Wheelrite I think-" Severus said before Malfoy cut him off.
"No. Miss Wheelrite please do enlighten me about America. You are from where? I'm sorry I've forgotten."
"Kansas. It's right in the middle. I'm from a small town called Derby. It's a town outside Wichita. You know what I find funny Derby is spelled D-E-R-B-Y. But here you would say `Darby' instead of `DER-by'. But back home we say DER-by instead of Darby." Malfoy laughed, Severus just sat behind his desk with a forced smile.
"Derby is outside where?" Malfoy asked. "I didn't get the name. I've never heard it."
"Wichita," she said, "it's from the Wichita Indians. They lived by the Little Arkansas and Big Arkansas where they met up to flow into the Main Arkansas River. There's a museum there today. Back home if you say Arkansas River instead of Are Kansas River it's a bad thing. We even have a city called Arkansas City, but for short everyone calls it Ark City." Talking about home seemed to calm Delia's nerves. Malfoy stood behind Delia's chair, leaning on it. She didn't like him being so close. She couldn't help but feel his cold knife-like eyes all over her. It made Delia feel horrid. She wanted to leave.
"Mr. Malfoy don't you have somewhere to be," Severus implied.
"Yes, regrettably I do. You take care Severus. Miss Wheelrite, it was nice to chat with you about Kansas. I must stop by again to hear more. I bid everyone good night." He took some Floo Powder threw it in the fire and left. Delia sat back in the chair breathless. She didn't realize she had been holding her breath. Severus came over to her side, put his hand on her head and fondled her hair soothingly.
"If," Severus said in a growl, "I catch that bastard looking at you the way he was I will kill him!" Severus voice softened, "Delia you must be feeling terrible. He's a married man. He shouldn't have been doing that. No man should ever look at you like that."
"I know," Delia whispered softly. All of a sudden she didn't want to enter the chess tournament. All she wanted was Severus to keep his fingers in her hair. Severus sat on his heels, brushing Delia's hair over her ear.
"I like what you did to your hair," he whispered in her ear in his silky soft voice. "It makes you look cuter then what you are. The shoes add a nice touch too. Shows off your sexy ankles, nicely."
Delia giggled and blushed. The thought of her ankles being sexy was enough to keep her scarlet for the rest of the night. Severus planted a fiery kiss behind Delia's ear. He stood up with a groan. "I can't stay like that for long anymore. My legs won't take it!" He moved back over to behind his desk and sat down throwing his long legs up onto a pile of papers. He leaned back in his desk chair massaging his temples. "I've got a headache," he declared.
"What from?"
"Malfoy, that bastard. Pardon my language."
"He gave me a headache too. The dork."
"If," he snapped, "when speaking of Malfoy, do not use such a kind word."
"Fine, I'll call him a butt cheese next time."
Severus laughed hard. Delia had never heard him do this before. "Delia, that is... imaginative. Malfoy is a butt cheese." He began to howl, tears coming to his eyes. "I have just found a use for American English, to call Malfoy a butt cheese. The whole bloody lot of them could be considered bleedin butt cheeses."
"May I ask what he was doing here?" she asked apprehensively.
"Oh trying to get me to go out with him and the other...I shouldn't be laying this on you."
"It's all right," she said reassuringly, "I'm not afraid."
"I respect your courage. However, it's my problem and would prefer the less you know to be best. The less you know about Malfoy and his homies the better off you are. The more they think you know, the worse off you'll be, the less the better. They know something is up between us. Their little spies have told them. What Malfoy wanted was you and I to go with him this evening. I knew it was a trap. I was arguing with him and then you walked in. Malfoy thinks I'm brilliant to have you as my plaything, as he puts it. His words to me were `Why don't you bring your plaything and come along? We all want to play too!' disgusting!" Severus shuddered. Delia had a look like she was going to be ill.
"I'm not a plaything!" She exclaimed irritated.
"I know that! I don't think of you as my plaything. You are more to me then that sordid word."
"What am I then?" she asked.
"You are my sunshine in a dark dungeon. My cutie, sweetie, dear, much adored, Freakin Kansan, dearest and friend. I care about you a lot. If anything were to happen to you I'd lose my mind. Do you play chess?"
"Oh somewhat. I'm no great player. Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm in the mood for game. Would you like to play?"
"Sure," she replied shrugging her shoulders
He opened a drawer to his desk, pulled out a walnut colored box and dusted it off. "I fear it's been ages since I used this set. I've had it since I was fourteen. It was the last Christmas present I received from my mother." He opened the box. Delia looked over and saw the most elegant chess pieces she had ever seen, the white were Mother of Pearl and the black pieces were Onyx. The chessboard was black and white marble. He set up the board. "Seeing as I am in the company of a lady, you may make the first move."
Thirty minutes into the game Delia was doing bad. Most of her important pieces had been destroyed. The game ended when Severus's bishop took Delia's king. "Check mate," Severus called out. Immediately the smashed pieces restored themselves.
"I told you I wasn't a great player." Delia said.
"You are better then what you let on. Very good game."
"Thank you," Delia replied plainly. "How can you still be sitting like that?" Severus still had his feet on the stack of papers. The one nice thing about Wizard Chess was you just had to call out the positions.
"Many years of practice."
"I just hope your feet aren't on my assignment I handed in!"
"Speaking of assignments I have to grade! You know I hate grading papers. It's the same thing stated forty different times!"
"Tell ya what!" Delia said confidently, "I'll throw in a joke on my next paper."
"Very amusing, Delia."
"Fine! I won't. But don't gripe to me if an essay is dull. Seems as if you have stuff to do. I'll leave you to it."
"Don't leave me," he protested. "It's only eight thirty! Stay! Keep me company while I grade some papers."
"Ok, I'll stay," she said giving in.
"Good, now let me give you some advice. Don't become a teacher."
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. You know I haven't thought about what I am going to do with my life. My folks would like me to go to college. They'd like KU or K-State, but I don't think so. But I do think they would go for OSU or OU Or maybe Nebraska.
"What is KU, K-State, OSU and OU and what is Nebraska some school?" Severus asked confused.
"Oh sorry sometimes I forget and talk Kansan!" she said. "Ku is University of Kansas, I don't know why we call it KU when it should be called UK. K-State is Kansas State University. OSU is Oklahoma Sate University. OU is University of Oklahoma. Nebraska is a state north of Kansas. And I know you are going to ask what is Oklahoma."
"Your guess is correct," he said picking up a quill.
"Oklahoma is a state south of Kansas."
"Do you want to go to any of these universities?" he asked picking up a stack of essays.
"My parents want me to. I haven't decided what I want to do. I don't think a university back home is up my alley. I've been here too long. I'd feel weird. I'm not a Muggle anymore. My folks don't understand. If I were to go to a university I'd like to go to Oxford or Cambridge. I've been in the UK too long. I'm not as Kansan as my friends and family."
"What made you choose to come here? I know there is a school in Salem for witches only. I was offered teaching position there for a year. I didn't go because I couldn't leave here. I did recommend one of my former students. She writes me once in a while from there, saying it's completely different from Hogwarts."
"You know it's a story as to why I'm here. I could have gone to the school in Salem. I could have also attended Beauxbatons or Durmstrang. But I choose to part of an exchange program. The reason I picked Hogwarts was language and location. My French is bad, my mom is from Quebec. That wouldn't have been a problem. Durmstrang was just too cold and too far, plus learning the languages spoken there...whew...no thanks. My parents were big on my coming home for breaks and stuff they thought I could get into Edinburgh or London easier. Plus, the plane ride wasn't as long. And since I spoke English that made my transition easier. Now you wanna here the funny? At the school in Salem there is a British schoolgirl who is part of the same program as me. We write to each other. We've met a few times when she's home and I happen to be in the London area or in Salem doing some shopping."
"Interesting. Be thankful you didn't go to Durmstrang. You were better off here. Your headmaster would have been Igor Karkaroff. He is a coward. Former Death Eater, he left when I left."
"Are you for real?" she asked shuddering.
"I wish I could say I as joking, but I'm not Delia and you know it. I would never joke about such matters."
"I guess in the end this was the right choice then," she said softly.
"At least you have Dumbledore on your side. Voldemort fears Dumbledore. You are safe as long as you are here."
"I thought Voldemort was long gone."
"That is what he wants you to think. He's somewhere Delia. I know." Severus spoke in a soft voice. "He's gaining strength. He's very much alive."
"How do you know?" she asked quickly. "I mean have you seen him?"
"Several things for one. You know my...erm...Dark Mark...it's been burning. There have been many of that butt cheese Malfoy get-togethers. The Death Eaters have a plan. It's not a pretty sight. I know what it is. But I doubt it will work. The Ministry has been informed. Malfoy will just come up with another. I'm not telling you anymore from the look on your face. You look colorless. I've gone and upset you! I think you have had enough upsets for the night."
"I'm ok, really. Fine and Dandy. Never felt better."
"You don't lie very well," he Severus grasped his left forearm as if it were in pain and exhaled through his teeth.
"Are you OK?" Delia gasped.
"No," he said pulling up his sleeve looking at his Dark Mark, which looked to be burning black. "You would think after so many times this happens I'd be used to it."
Delia stood up and walked over behind to Severus putting her arms around his neck. Severus noticed that she was wearing her charm bracelet. Her hands were petite and graceful compared to his he observed as he clasped his left hand with Delia's right. His forearm was hurting less now. Delia pulled away.
"I'll be back. I need a drink," she said.
"What do you want?" Severus asked.
"Water is fine."
"I'll get it." He scooted his chair back and walked out of the door. He returned with a goblet of water. Delia had sat back down in the chair in front of his desk. Delia took the water and drank the goblet dry.
"Thanks. I needed that," she said.
"Do you need more? Judging by the way you gulped that down I think you are a bit dehydrated. I'll bring in a carafe." He stepped out of his office and returned with a carafe of water. He refilled Delia's goblet and set the carafe on his desk. "You shouldn't make yourself so thirsty. It's not good for your well-being."
"No, it's not." She said drinking down the second goblet of water. She refilled her goblet. This time she didn't drink it down as fast.
"If you need more I'll get you some. What did you have to drink today?"
"Let's see," she said thinking. "At breakfast I had glass of water and pumpkin juice. Lunch I had a butter beer. Then at dinner I had pumpkin juice. Then I had a drink when I got my hair cut."
"You shouldn't be drinking butter beer at the moment! I mean you know..." His voice trailed off.
"Oh that! Never mind about that. I came down here to tell you that...we're in the clear...no worries...I was going to tell pronto but you had your visitor...things went a little haywire...well you were here."
Severus was relieved but at the same time disappointed in a small way. If she was with his child he was prepared to do the noble thing and marry her. He also realized she was still young. Then it crossed his mind she's a virgin! If he was going to make love to Delia it wasn't going to be because they were drunk. It was going to be because he loved her and it was mutual. He preferred that she be his wife before he thought about children. He had read a little about Kansas and the people there. He gathered they were straight laced, being from protestant and catholic backgrounds. He really didn't know much about Delia's background and if her parents were catholic or protestant.
"You seem out of it, Severus. You've been quite," Delia said waking Severus from his thoughts.
"I'm fine. I was just thinking that's all. Delia what are your parents like?"
"What are my parents like?" she asked taken back, confused. "What do you want to know?"
"Anything." He brought his desk chair over by Delia.
"Well they are reasonable. They miss me. My dad owns a restaurant, like I told you and my mom is part owner of a hair salon in Derby with her best friend, Elle. Elle's my godmother. My mom and Elle were best buds growing up in Canada."
"Wheelrite sounds like an English last name."
"It is!" Delia laughed. "Ready for plot twist number two?"
"What's number one? Then I'll let you know if I'm ready for two."
"Number one is the day you kissed me."
"I think I can handle two," he said with ease.
"My dad is English."
"Really? This story gets more and more interesting. Keep telling it!"
"My grandmother Wheelrite is German. Back in WWII she married my grandfather who was a pilot. My dad was born in Newquay Cornwall. I never knew my grandfather; he died before I was born. My dad went to France to the Culinary Institute. Then he got a job in Toronto and met my mom. They married and moved to Derby. Dad had a job working in a hotel restaurant in Wichita. Once my parents moved in, my grandmother bought a house in Wichita and stayed. My mom's parent's still live in Quebec. I see them twice a year. I don't have much family here in England, just a few cousins. But I have more in Germany. I learned to speak German from my grandmother. Can you believe she has eight brothers and sisters?
"Wow!' Severus exclaimed. "I just have one sister. And she's my twin."
"For real? Cool. I'm an only child."
"So I bet another reason your parents wanted you here was ties to the UK."
"Makes since. I've thought so myself. Can you believe the Ministry sent a delegation to my house? They were so hung up on getting me here!"
"Who was there? I'm just curious."
"Well there was Arthur Weasley, Barty Crouch and ew ew ew!" Delia shuddered all over.
"You mean HE was there?" Severus said with intent in his voice.
"Yes, when I get home at Christmas I'm burning that chair he sat in! EW!"
"They sent those three. I expect it was humorous."
"It was! I came in from swimming at the pool that afternoon. I came in through the garage door. I didn't know they were there. I yelled mom what's for dinner we're hungry and started to go upstairs with my friends. We weren't paying attention. We wanted to play Nintendo. I was still in my bathing suit and hand on flip-flops and pair of shorts. I even had a sunburn from swimming. My friends weren't looking any better." Severus laughed hard. The image of Malfoy in Kansas was funny. Arthur Weasley in Kansas was even more hilarious. He lost it completely when he thought of Barty Crouch sitting in a suburban Middle Western home. Once Severus had stopped Delia continued.
"Well all my friends left and I sat in the living room. My father was on his way home. The delegation had dropped by with no warning. Here was my mom serving these guys Cokes and ham sandwiches. And mind you they were dressed in robes. Mr. Weasley was looking around the house having the time of his life. Mr. Crouch was having a chat with my mom. And Mr...well he just looked miserable. I ended up showing Mr. Weasley my Nintendo. I really don't remember much because I was eleven. All my friends thought it was weird. To this date they still think that was odd."
Severus laughed again. "I wish I had a pensive handy. I'd like to see that memory! Weasley in your house!" Severus went back to howling with laughter.
"Then two months later I ended up here. And from there you know the rest."
Severus was nonetheless still howling with laughter. It was the funniest thing he had heard in ages. Just the thought of Mr. Weasley in America would be keeping him laughing for hours. "You know, I remember Dumbledore showing your parents around a week before the school term started. You were walking behind your parents."
"I was like, yah ok sure whatever. I was almost twelve. The whole time I was thinking `I'm going here, why again?' I just wanted rid of my parents. I guess every twelve year old would. They were acting weird. I do remember dad having a cow when say your class room!" Delia started to laugh, "He was all weirded out for days. To this date he keeps asking if I've been poisoned. Well since my dad didn't like it I was like yah man cool. Whaoooooo, yah man! First years are annoying. If I was anything like they are, I'm apologizing now for giving you trouble."
"You did give me trouble. That mouth of yours! Everyone else was saying what a nice quiet girl you were. Could have fooled me!"
"The only time I did get lippy and aggravating was in your class. Anywhere else I was quiet. Must be something in the air down here that does that." Delia shrugged. "Now days I'm not as lippy as I once was. I guess I've calmed down. I mean look at me; I whacked my hair and bought these shoes. I got tired of the knee socks. Then the other day I caught myself reading Witch Weekly instead of my usual magazines. I'm starting to scare myself. I think I'm sick." She placed her hand on her forehead.
"No you aren't. You're just turning into a lady. Every girl becomes on in due course. With what you have put up with in the last few weeks, I'd say you are making the transition just fine."
"Thanks for the womanly advice." She stood up feeling kind of numb. "I never thought I'd ever get womanly advice from you. I am going to go and take a hot bubble bath then I am going to write my mother a lengthy email. I've had too much today to deal with. My head hurts." She walked to the door with Severus in tow, he opened the door and walk with her into the cold classroom. "You don't have to walk with me."
"I need to tell Dumbledore about Malfoy. So I might as well walk with you until we reach a parting point."