1 Chapter 11 – The Kisses
'Arrgh,' Karen grumbled as her hands squeezed either side of her head.
'Too much to drink?' Dumbledore asked.
'Yeah, something like that,' Karen replied. She lay on her back fully dressed on a hospital bed, eyes shut wishing the throbbing in her brain would go away.
'I thought I'd check up on you, make sure you're alright,'
'Thanks Albus, its only a hangover, I'll live,' Karen managed to open her eyes long enough to realise there was daylight beaming through the windows. 'What time is it?'
'Eleven o'clock,' Dumbledore said, bringing over a jug of water and a glass. 'Drink some water, it'll take your headache away,'
'Thanks,' Karen said as she watched him set the jug and glass down.
'Do you remember how you got here?' He asked with a smile.
Karen slowly sat up, squinting, she propped herself up against the pillows and poured some water into the glass. By the look on Dumbledore's face the story of how she got there must be rather amusing to him and highly embarrassing to her.
'No, no I don't,' she said dreading the reply.
'Well, Professor Snape had to fill me in on some of the details…'
Karen sunk into her pillows a bit and holding her glass of water between her hands, she took a sip waiting for Dumbledore to continue. '…You were in his office and fell over,'
'I remember that,' Karen said 'but I thought I collapsed 'cause that's all I remember,'
'Well evidently not, he helped you up and thought it best to get you to Madam Pomfrey. But you didn't want his help and tried to get here yourself,'
'Oh dear,' Karen said sinking further into her pillows, her headache was noticeably disappearing while her face was getting noticeably redder.
'Oh dear indeed,' Dumbledore continued. 'Apparently you ran off from Severus and being the gentleman he is he tried to follow you to get you here safely. You weren't in the best of states,' Karen just smiled up at Dumbledore and he continued, 'I was the one who found you,'
'Where was Severus then?' Karen asked curiously.
'He hadn't caught up with you yet,'
'Oh,'
'I was asleep but was woken when I heard an argument, a very one-sided argument, but shouting all the same. I investigated the noise, which was coming from outside my office and found…you. Just you,' Dumbledore stopped and smiled at Karen.
'Was I arguing?' Karen asked knowing that it must have been her.
'Yes,' Dumbledore said in a way to make Karen ask a further question,
'Who with?'
'A-hem,' he cleared his throat. 'A suit of Armour,' Karen had to laugh. 'You seemed to think that it was guarding the entrance to the hospital wing and when it wouldn't let you in you swung at it. Missed completely of course and collapsed on the floor. Severus came sprinting around the corner at this point, when he realised you were fine I sent him back to his office and carried you here myself,'
'I owe you some thanks then,' Karen said smiling from ear to ear. She didn't find the story too embarrassing.
'Yes you do,' Dumbledore said.
'Ok… Thank you. And to show my appreciation how about I buy you a drink?' They both chuckled and Dumbledore said he had to leave, "things to do". After Karen got the all-clear from Madam Pomfrey she rushed to her room for a wash and change of clothes. She couldn't wait to tell Amber about her drunken escapades.
Karen was going to Amber's office when she realised she had never been to it nor knew where it was. So she headed for the Great Hall, lunch was being served so she could get something to eat and hope Amber was there at the same time.
Amber was there, eating a packet of pretzels.
'Hey! It's crazy drunken lady!' She said looking up as Karen approached.
'You heard then?' Karen smiled as she sat next to Amber.
'Hee-hee! What d'you mean "heard?" I was there!'
Karen looked at Amber puzzled.
'What are you talking about?' Karen said as a cheese sandwich appeared in front of her along with a bag of crisps. Karen liked to put the crisps in her sandwich and picked up the packet.
'Didn't you see the money I left on your bed?'
Karen still looked blankly at Amber.
'The money I owe you?'
Karen's face didn't change.
'Your winnings?'
'Winnings?' Karen eventually said.
'Yeah! Your winnings! You gave Snape a huge smack on the lips right in front of me and demanded your money. Two weeks have past, but I don't mind paying up. I take it you don't remember?' Amber said reading the horrified look on Karen's face.
'I… I kissed him? The bet? He knows about it?' Just then Karen looked up to the two huge open doors of the Great Hall. Standing in the door way was Snape. 'Severus,' she whispered. She looked at him in what she hoped was an apologetic way. Snape stared back at her, saying nothing and giving no facial expression he turned sharply and strode off back the way he came. 'Severus!' Karen said again this time a little louder. She jumped to her feet, threw down the packet of crisps that were in her hand and sped off after him.
Briskly walking past the students trying not to cause commotion Karen turned out of the hall and broke into a sprint. She dodged people who were in her way with precision and leapt down the stairs to the dungeons. She spotted a black figure go through a door, slamming it shut. 'Severus,' Karen said walking to the door. She racked her brain for something to say, 'Can I talk to you?'
There came no answer so Karen tried the door. It was locked. She knocked but still there was no response. Karen thumped the door, hurting her fist in the process, 'C'mon Severus, let me talk to you, I can explain,'
Still there was nothing. Karen getting frustrated banged wildly on the door, after her hands became red she booted the door and stood still when she heard a voice from within.
'You'll never get in, I've charmed the door,'
'Please let me in,' she said gently.
'Go away, Karen,' Snape hadn't used her first name until now.
'I really have to explain things, Severus,'
'Explain what? That you used me?'
'I called that bet off ages ago!' Karen said automatically. 'I don't even remember last night, I was so drunk. Professor Nettles only just told me what I did 5 minutes ago. I didn't know,'
Snape went back to being silent. Karen looked down, 'I've gotta go Severus. I have to get a new set of Quidditch balls from London,' Karen turned and made her way down the corridor.
'No you don't,'
Karen spun round and saw Snape standing outside the door he had just been hiding behind.
'What?' Karen asked, her voice being carried down the corridor.
'I found that Golden Snitch you were looking for,'
Thinking that a conversation at opposite ends of a corridor was a dumb idea Karen walked towards Snape.
'You found it? How did you know it was missing?' She asked.
Snape turned away and walked into his office leaving his door open. Karen took this as an invitation so she followed him in. He walked past his desk and opened a door at the back of the room. He went inside and again left the door open for Karen to follow. She stepped inside and took a good look around; this was Snape's bedroom. It was a square shaped room, quite a lot smaller than Karens and it was very dark as there were no windows. At the very back of the room was a huge four-poster bed not unlike her own; it had emerald green drapes around the sides and she could just see a wardrobe behind that. A small wooden table with two chairs sat in the middle of the room and there was a big comfy looking chair, again in emerald green, next to the fireplace. Snape pointed his wand into the fireplace and it ignited, a wave of warmth passed over Karen as the room lit up. She sat at the little table and noticed the shelves full of books bordering the room. Snape was in a corner of the room with his back to Karen, when he turned back he was carrying a tray with a teapot and cups. He placed it on the table and sat himself down. He poured tea into each of the cups and pushed one in Karen's direction.
'Milk?' He asked not looking at Karen.
'Yes, please,' Karen said watching him. He magicked up a little jug with a spoon and put it in front of Karen next to her tea. She poured the milk into her tea wondering why wizards only magic up certain things. She remembered how Amber carried a bottle of wine to her room but magicked up the glasses. They must have their reasons. She stirred the tea and looked up at Snape. He held his teacup between his long fingers and sipped his milkless tea.
'So what was this bet then?' He asked Karen. She was waiting for him to answer her question first but she let him have control of the conversation.
'When I first got here I betted Amber I could kiss you, she didn't think I could,' Karen told it how it was.
'Right,' Snape said waiting to hear more.
'But I called the bet off, I gave her the money and conceded,'
'Why?' Snape asked.
'Why?' Karen repeated. 'Because… it wasn't fair on you. I couldn't do that to you,'
Snape looked into his tea and the corner of his mouth pulled up into a sort of smile. 'I can see that smile, Severus,' Karen put down her cup and reached out to his. He watched her closely as she took it from his grasp and placed it on the table. She took his hands in hers, they were a little cold. She pulled them inwards causing Snape to lean across the table. His smile disappeared and was replaced by a curious, nervous look. She leant forward over her half of the table. Her lips an inch from his, feeling his nervous breath on her face she closed her eyes and closed the gap. A warm tingly feeling went right up the back of her neck as the gentle kiss lingered.
If someone asked Karen where she was she couldn't answer, she probably couldn't even remember her own name. All she knew was that she was kissing Severus Snape and nothing else in the world mattered. While both of their worlds melted away and they were engulfed in each other a sudden bang brought them back to reality. They broke apart and looked at each other, both a little shocked about what just happened. Another bang came from the same place as the previous one, someone was in Snape's office. Karen grabbed a cup and just then Professor McGonagall came into the room.
'There you are Severus, a couple of your students were fighting in the hall, I've left them outside your office for you to punish,'
Karen hadn't really spoken to McGonagall much, apart from the odd hello at breakfast and in the corridors she hadn't conversed with her at all. 'Hello Karen,' McGonagall said.
Karen turned and said hello. Snape got up and looked at Karen, he didn't say anything but Karen got up and decided to leave. The three moved into Snape's office where McGonagall left first, Karen looked back at Snape,
'Alright?' She whispered.
Snape smiled like Karen had never seen, he nodded wide-eyed. Karen smiled back and walked out of his office. She passed the two Slytherin boys who were looking quite frightened. As Karen got to the end of the corridor she just heard Snape shouting at the students in the distance. She looked over her shoulder, smiled to herself and walked on air back up to her room.
'Arrgh,' Karen grumbled as her hands squeezed either side of her head.
'Too much to drink?' Dumbledore asked.
'Yeah, something like that,' Karen replied. She lay on her back fully dressed on a hospital bed, eyes shut wishing the throbbing in her brain would go away.
'I thought I'd check up on you, make sure you're alright,'
'Thanks Albus, its only a hangover, I'll live,' Karen managed to open her eyes long enough to realise there was daylight beaming through the windows. 'What time is it?'
'Eleven o'clock,' Dumbledore said, bringing over a jug of water and a glass. 'Drink some water, it'll take your headache away,'
'Thanks,' Karen said as she watched him set the jug and glass down.
'Do you remember how you got here?' He asked with a smile.
Karen slowly sat up, squinting, she propped herself up against the pillows and poured some water into the glass. By the look on Dumbledore's face the story of how she got there must be rather amusing to him and highly embarrassing to her.
'No, no I don't,' she said dreading the reply.
'Well, Professor Snape had to fill me in on some of the details…'
Karen sunk into her pillows a bit and holding her glass of water between her hands, she took a sip waiting for Dumbledore to continue. '…You were in his office and fell over,'
'I remember that,' Karen said 'but I thought I collapsed 'cause that's all I remember,'
'Well evidently not, he helped you up and thought it best to get you to Madam Pomfrey. But you didn't want his help and tried to get here yourself,'
'Oh dear,' Karen said sinking further into her pillows, her headache was noticeably disappearing while her face was getting noticeably redder.
'Oh dear indeed,' Dumbledore continued. 'Apparently you ran off from Severus and being the gentleman he is he tried to follow you to get you here safely. You weren't in the best of states,' Karen just smiled up at Dumbledore and he continued, 'I was the one who found you,'
'Where was Severus then?' Karen asked curiously.
'He hadn't caught up with you yet,'
'Oh,'
'I was asleep but was woken when I heard an argument, a very one-sided argument, but shouting all the same. I investigated the noise, which was coming from outside my office and found…you. Just you,' Dumbledore stopped and smiled at Karen.
'Was I arguing?' Karen asked knowing that it must have been her.
'Yes,' Dumbledore said in a way to make Karen ask a further question,
'Who with?'
'A-hem,' he cleared his throat. 'A suit of Armour,' Karen had to laugh. 'You seemed to think that it was guarding the entrance to the hospital wing and when it wouldn't let you in you swung at it. Missed completely of course and collapsed on the floor. Severus came sprinting around the corner at this point, when he realised you were fine I sent him back to his office and carried you here myself,'
'I owe you some thanks then,' Karen said smiling from ear to ear. She didn't find the story too embarrassing.
'Yes you do,' Dumbledore said.
'Ok… Thank you. And to show my appreciation how about I buy you a drink?' They both chuckled and Dumbledore said he had to leave, "things to do". After Karen got the all-clear from Madam Pomfrey she rushed to her room for a wash and change of clothes. She couldn't wait to tell Amber about her drunken escapades.
Karen was going to Amber's office when she realised she had never been to it nor knew where it was. So she headed for the Great Hall, lunch was being served so she could get something to eat and hope Amber was there at the same time.
Amber was there, eating a packet of pretzels.
'Hey! It's crazy drunken lady!' She said looking up as Karen approached.
'You heard then?' Karen smiled as she sat next to Amber.
'Hee-hee! What d'you mean "heard?" I was there!'
Karen looked at Amber puzzled.
'What are you talking about?' Karen said as a cheese sandwich appeared in front of her along with a bag of crisps. Karen liked to put the crisps in her sandwich and picked up the packet.
'Didn't you see the money I left on your bed?'
Karen still looked blankly at Amber.
'The money I owe you?'
Karen's face didn't change.
'Your winnings?'
'Winnings?' Karen eventually said.
'Yeah! Your winnings! You gave Snape a huge smack on the lips right in front of me and demanded your money. Two weeks have past, but I don't mind paying up. I take it you don't remember?' Amber said reading the horrified look on Karen's face.
'I… I kissed him? The bet? He knows about it?' Just then Karen looked up to the two huge open doors of the Great Hall. Standing in the door way was Snape. 'Severus,' she whispered. She looked at him in what she hoped was an apologetic way. Snape stared back at her, saying nothing and giving no facial expression he turned sharply and strode off back the way he came. 'Severus!' Karen said again this time a little louder. She jumped to her feet, threw down the packet of crisps that were in her hand and sped off after him.
Briskly walking past the students trying not to cause commotion Karen turned out of the hall and broke into a sprint. She dodged people who were in her way with precision and leapt down the stairs to the dungeons. She spotted a black figure go through a door, slamming it shut. 'Severus,' Karen said walking to the door. She racked her brain for something to say, 'Can I talk to you?'
There came no answer so Karen tried the door. It was locked. She knocked but still there was no response. Karen thumped the door, hurting her fist in the process, 'C'mon Severus, let me talk to you, I can explain,'
Still there was nothing. Karen getting frustrated banged wildly on the door, after her hands became red she booted the door and stood still when she heard a voice from within.
'You'll never get in, I've charmed the door,'
'Please let me in,' she said gently.
'Go away, Karen,' Snape hadn't used her first name until now.
'I really have to explain things, Severus,'
'Explain what? That you used me?'
'I called that bet off ages ago!' Karen said automatically. 'I don't even remember last night, I was so drunk. Professor Nettles only just told me what I did 5 minutes ago. I didn't know,'
Snape went back to being silent. Karen looked down, 'I've gotta go Severus. I have to get a new set of Quidditch balls from London,' Karen turned and made her way down the corridor.
'No you don't,'
Karen spun round and saw Snape standing outside the door he had just been hiding behind.
'What?' Karen asked, her voice being carried down the corridor.
'I found that Golden Snitch you were looking for,'
Thinking that a conversation at opposite ends of a corridor was a dumb idea Karen walked towards Snape.
'You found it? How did you know it was missing?' She asked.
Snape turned away and walked into his office leaving his door open. Karen took this as an invitation so she followed him in. He walked past his desk and opened a door at the back of the room. He went inside and again left the door open for Karen to follow. She stepped inside and took a good look around; this was Snape's bedroom. It was a square shaped room, quite a lot smaller than Karens and it was very dark as there were no windows. At the very back of the room was a huge four-poster bed not unlike her own; it had emerald green drapes around the sides and she could just see a wardrobe behind that. A small wooden table with two chairs sat in the middle of the room and there was a big comfy looking chair, again in emerald green, next to the fireplace. Snape pointed his wand into the fireplace and it ignited, a wave of warmth passed over Karen as the room lit up. She sat at the little table and noticed the shelves full of books bordering the room. Snape was in a corner of the room with his back to Karen, when he turned back he was carrying a tray with a teapot and cups. He placed it on the table and sat himself down. He poured tea into each of the cups and pushed one in Karen's direction.
'Milk?' He asked not looking at Karen.
'Yes, please,' Karen said watching him. He magicked up a little jug with a spoon and put it in front of Karen next to her tea. She poured the milk into her tea wondering why wizards only magic up certain things. She remembered how Amber carried a bottle of wine to her room but magicked up the glasses. They must have their reasons. She stirred the tea and looked up at Snape. He held his teacup between his long fingers and sipped his milkless tea.
'So what was this bet then?' He asked Karen. She was waiting for him to answer her question first but she let him have control of the conversation.
'When I first got here I betted Amber I could kiss you, she didn't think I could,' Karen told it how it was.
'Right,' Snape said waiting to hear more.
'But I called the bet off, I gave her the money and conceded,'
'Why?' Snape asked.
'Why?' Karen repeated. 'Because… it wasn't fair on you. I couldn't do that to you,'
Snape looked into his tea and the corner of his mouth pulled up into a sort of smile. 'I can see that smile, Severus,' Karen put down her cup and reached out to his. He watched her closely as she took it from his grasp and placed it on the table. She took his hands in hers, they were a little cold. She pulled them inwards causing Snape to lean across the table. His smile disappeared and was replaced by a curious, nervous look. She leant forward over her half of the table. Her lips an inch from his, feeling his nervous breath on her face she closed her eyes and closed the gap. A warm tingly feeling went right up the back of her neck as the gentle kiss lingered.
If someone asked Karen where she was she couldn't answer, she probably couldn't even remember her own name. All she knew was that she was kissing Severus Snape and nothing else in the world mattered. While both of their worlds melted away and they were engulfed in each other a sudden bang brought them back to reality. They broke apart and looked at each other, both a little shocked about what just happened. Another bang came from the same place as the previous one, someone was in Snape's office. Karen grabbed a cup and just then Professor McGonagall came into the room.
'There you are Severus, a couple of your students were fighting in the hall, I've left them outside your office for you to punish,'
Karen hadn't really spoken to McGonagall much, apart from the odd hello at breakfast and in the corridors she hadn't conversed with her at all. 'Hello Karen,' McGonagall said.
Karen turned and said hello. Snape got up and looked at Karen, he didn't say anything but Karen got up and decided to leave. The three moved into Snape's office where McGonagall left first, Karen looked back at Snape,
'Alright?' She whispered.
Snape smiled like Karen had never seen, he nodded wide-eyed. Karen smiled back and walked out of his office. She passed the two Slytherin boys who were looking quite frightened. As Karen got to the end of the corridor she just heard Snape shouting at the students in the distance. She looked over her shoulder, smiled to herself and walked on air back up to her room.