Soft Simmer

By: Rizu Rauznoe

Brought to you by: Streex Animation

Disclaimer: Please read the prologue for the disclaimer.

Chapter One: Memory Mansion, Lonely Lover

I slowly walk down a path I have memorized. It is worn down by all the times myself and others have used it. Its stone path slowly winding to his house. A mansion that is beautiful. Precious jewels line the marble structure. No jewel has been stolen yet. His garden is like none other. More flowers and bushes than you can count. A green house is out back. He sells flowers every once in a while. I can see the dome where is pool is at. A pool that is a good six yards deep. The water is a deep blue. Just as he always liked it.

I hold a package for him. An early birthday present. I know its about another 5 months but I don't care. I brought it for him because it will be awhile before I see him again. It also depends if he will start to work at Hogwarts also.

I worry he is with another girl or even another boy. He was close to one boy. I worry he might be sick or hurt. I worry he might die soon. Our love is strange. He is in Slytherin and I am in Gryffindor. We were always the gossip of the school. Most Slytherins loathed him. Lucius Malfoy and his gang got the Slytherins to calm down. Lucius was one of my love's best friends. James Potter and Sirius Black reluctantly helped us keep it down, too. Remus Lupin was always there to help. He was jealous of my love. Remus had something for me that I could never return.

But… I long for him. I miss his smile. I miss his voice speaking quietly and sweetly to me. I miss his warm hug . I miss his kisses. He has such soft kisses. He puts such passion into them. He puts more love into them than anyone else has kissed me.

I worry he's with someone. I wonder if he has forgotten about me.

About half way down the path, I see his house. I see another muggle car beside his. His green convertible beside the stranger's blue volts wagon. A "bug" car as he called it.

I see a person at his door. He is a man. One with short black hair and yellow tinted skin. He has very slim eyes. The person I love comes out the door. His shoulder length hair that is black. His true bright green eyes hidden behind black contacts. He two boys kissed on the cheek.

I came a bit closer. I didn't need to worry. It was just his friend, a good friend, Iruri Kasada. They did this as a joke to ward off other girls. I wasn't affected by that. I saw it a joke. I knew the two liked to play around. Once in a while, Iruri would take it took far. But my love backed off. Iruri got in his car and started to leave. I walked into the grass so he could pass me.

I finally reach my love. He clasps me in his arms. He tightens slowly. I wonder what is on his mind. I wondered if he wanted…no! that couldn't be on his mind. Minerva, I thought to myself, why would he want to do that. Why would I even think about that. But he did have his own way of expressing love. A very unique way.

"She's dead," he tells me out of the blue.

"Who is 'She'" I ask.

"Crystal Smith," He replies, "She was killed by a dragon about a week ago. Sadly, I was with her when it happened. I tried to save her but I couldn't. I got scars from it. Terrible ones. I wrote to you so you could come over. I wanted to be comforted by another not a male companion but a female one. I chose you above all my friends."

"Sev, I-" I am cut off by his hand pressed against my lips. He looks at me square in the eyes. Sorrow is filled in his eyes.

I knew he was engaged to her. This didn't make me happy. I thought I would be glad the day she left for good, But I felt sorrow for him, my Severus. I thought once she left I had another chance with him. I knew he loved me as much as he loved her.

He let go of me. He kisses my hand softly. He barely even touches it. He jestures me to go inside. I follow him into the living room.

It's a white room with many antiques and priceless items. Rare furniture fills the room. Muggle photos line the fire place. All framed in elegant frames. I notice a picture of myself and him. A picture he took when we were fourteen. Other pictures shown him and his friends. A few of James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin. Quite a few of Lilly Evans, his sister, his older sister.

I sat down on the blue couch. He sits on a recliner nearby. He called to someone called "Ruby."

A girl about sixteen years old entered the room. She had dark brown hair pulled into pigtails. She has pale skin. Her reddish brown eyes made her look like a vampire. She wore a maid outfit.

Severus didn't respond to her as if he was in love with her. Still, jealousy filled me. I wondered if he was just holding back feeling so I wouldn't think they were in love.

"Ruby is not alive," he told me hoarsely.

"What is she then? A zombie?" I responded calmly.

"I am an Android," Ruby said, "created by Master Severus Snape."

"You are still my love," he tells me, "No one can replace you or Crystal."

"You just wanted me to come over," I said," just to show me your new invention?"

"No, I wanted someone to be here for me," he replied, "and I am wondering if you would cook for me. Ruby has a bug in her program."

I stared Ruby in the eyes for the last time. She gave me back a lifeless icy look. Her lifeless eyes looked over to Severus. She spun around.

"Don't I look great in my new outfit, Master?" She asked lifelessly. She had a bit of happiness in her tone. She gave him a weak smile.

"You look wonderful," Severus smiled back. He walked up to her and hugged her. "Get back to work."

The android left to work. Severus soon left. He went to a metal door and went in it. It lead to his basement. Down there he had a lab. He doesn't like to be bothered when he is working.

I decided to get to work on dinner. He laid out the recipe he wanted me to cook. He wanted fish. He also wanted corn and mash potatoes for the side. He put out a note he already bought the dessert. I noticed he didn't have much choice for what he wanted to dinner. I thought he also me wanted for me to make a salad. I started cooking and was finished in about an hour.

He came up from his lab. He started to eat in silence. He didn't want to talk. The android came in.

"I am low on energy, master," She or should I say it said, "What should I do?"

"Let m guess you just activated her?" I said sarcastically.

He shot me a nasty look. She was filled with anger.

"She can go without filling up her energy for five days," he said, "She was just activated five days ago."

"How does she recharge?" I turned to the android, "How do you?"

"I don't know," it said, "It is not in my program."

"Minerva, is there any food left over?"

"Yes. About a serving worth of mashed potatoes and corn each and one piece of fish," I respond, "Let me guess she has to eat."

He nods.

"I made her to be human," he replies, "But after this refuel, she will have to eat everyday. Please go fetch the food."

I did as he said.

It sat beside him. She mocked him while he was eating. She learned how to eat.

"Don't get mad, Minerva," he told me, "Is it alright if I activate her emotions now?"

"I guess."

"Listen, carefully Ruby," he said, " Cat. Dog. Love for Money. Life for those who believe."

He shook a bit. He edged slowly towards her. His face turned slightly red. He them kissed her. He then broke away. Her skin color changed to a normal color but was still a bit pale. Her eyes focused in. Finally, life came to her eyes. She blushed.

"Master," it said, "How long was I asleep."

"I thought it wouldn't work," he said, "I thought she would be a failure."

It looked at me.

"Mistress Minerva, sorry for staring, but why are you looking at me like that?" it said, I mean she, "Is there something wrong with me?"

"No."

Her stomach grumbled.

"I guess I'm hungry. Are you to eat that Master?"

Severus shook his head.

"I'll deal with her Minerva," he said, "You look like a mess. You should take a bath. I got the bathroom redone."

I nodded and went to the bathroom. The bathroom was redone in pearl. The bathtub was about half the size of a pool. I filled it up with warm water. I undressed and got in. It was a comfortable tub. Someone came in. I stood up and grabbed my towel and covered myself up.

This reminded of the last time I was here. He expressed his love in a different way. The way he expressed his love kept me from becoming an auror. I had to be pure to become an auror.

It was Ruby. She had Severus' green bathrobe on. She blushed a bit.

"Is it alright if I join you?" she asked.

"To my knowledge, you are sort of female," I responded, "So you are allowed to join."

"My skin is getting dirty from cleaning," she said, "Since you are the same gender as me I thought you wouldn't mind."

I put my towel down and reclined in the water. She took of the bathrobe and to my surprise she wasn't that human. She may have had breasts but no, how do I put it, you know what I mean. She also had other female parts. She was just human shaped.

After our bath, she changed into her maid outfit. I got on my nightgown.

Severus found me in the halls.

"Your room is down the hall," he told me, "I'll be taking my bath."

"Why didn't you take one with me?" I asked sarcastically.

His face went red.

"It would be improper," he replied.

"I was just joking," I said laughing, "I noticed that your android wasn't built the way I thought you would build her. She wasn't that 'female.'"

"I built her to be a friend and a maid," he said, "I didn't build her to be a lover."

I went to my room. I couldn't sleep. I decided to join Severus in his room.

I walked into his room. He was reading a book. A subject I knew he liked. It was called Muggle Ways of Torture. He looked up at me. He didn't have his contacts in.

"Can't sleep either?" he asked me.

I nodded. He put his book on the table. He opened up the covers and I climbed in. He turned of the light and……