The rest of Thursday moved slowly for Olivia. She made polite small talk at the head table, sitting beside Ivan again at dinner. Olivia couldn't help but steal glances towards the dark wizard. He looked the same as he always did, always so expressionless.
Did he know she was upset? He'd have to be daft not to notice that she was purposefully not sitting with him. So... did he just not care?
This made her feel even worse about the entire situation. She decided sleep would help; she'd figure it out in the morning while Severus was in class, and she could just spend the day with Poppy. When she awoke the next morning, Olivia still wasn't sure if she was overreacting or if Severus truly was deserving of her petulance. Deep down, she didn't feel like she was being childish, but she could see how he might take it that way. Olivia had always prided herself on being able to sense how others felt - it went above empathy; it was almost a part of her magic she felt. A true, unbiased empathetic connection to others. For whatever reason, Severus Snape wasn't ready for intimacy. She'd rather have him as a friend than lose him completely, so she decided to apologize that evening when she went down to brew.
The young witch donned her uniform for the day, opting to skip out on breakfast with the others to sit with Poppy over some porridge and tea. She found first thing in the morning; this would be preferable over listening to the loud clattering of the Great Hall. Donning her Mediwitch cap, she strode out of her room and towards Poppy's office. The tea tray and breakfast had already arrived, Poppy glancing up to offer a genuine smile at the witch. They sat in silence for a few moments before Poppy had enough.
"Alright, spill it," Poppy blurted out. Olivia gave her a questioning look, furrowing her brows in confusion. Truth was, after dinner the night before, Minerva, nosey witch that she was, scampered off to the hospital wing to gossip with the Mediwitch, filling her in on the latest news of Severus and Olivia playing cold shoulder with one another. Minerva had promised to get some answers from Snape, and Poppy hoped to get some from Olivia as well. "You look as if a dementor has sucked every ounce of happiness from you," she teased.
Was she that obvious?
"Nothing's wrong, Poppy. Just a bit tired".
"Nonsense. I'm sensing issues with a certain hard-headed brooding wizard," She folded her arms across her chest, refusing to be swayed from the conversation. She really cared for the girl and, like Minerva, wanted Severus to be happy as well.
"Alright, fine. But this stays between us. If he even remotely suspects me of gossip, what little friendship remains will be broken," Olivia warned, the older witch nodding, her eyes opened wide and the obvious desire to hear the juicy details. Olivia smirked and rolled her eyes at the obvious eagerness for les ragots.
"As you well know... I might have a small...very small... crush on Severus," she grimaced, embarrassed at her confession – she sounded like an immature schoolgirl. Poppy nodded her head and waved her hand in a 'hurry up and move on' sort of way. "Well... we kissed for the first-time last night," Olivia was cut off by the squeal from the witch across the table. Olivia giggled as she blushed, getting ready to continue her story before getting interrupted.
"Was it good? Oh, I bet it was good..." Poppy was on the edge of her seat.
"Poppy! Merlin, Severus is going to kill me". Olivia rubbed her hands over her face, pressing the heels of her palms into her eyes.
"No one is going to believe an old biddy like me anyway, my dear. Humor an old woman," she pleaded.
"Fine. Yes, it was... oh, merlin who am I kidding? It was absolutely magical, Poppy. I was sure he would have to floo you to treat my coronary. His lips... mmm. I can't even think about it without getting butterflies," Olivia was flushed and trembling now.
She couldn't seem to stop talking! Did the witch drug her tea with a tongue-loosening potion? No, she wouldn't do that.
"Oh, Olivia! That is so romantic! What next?" Poppy just couldn't contain her excitement.
"Nothing," she shrugged her shoulders and looked off to the side, hiding the tears that were starting to fall.
"What do you mean nothing? Did he hurt you?" The maternal witch was becoming angry. She wouldn't put it past Severus to use that silver tongue of his to berate the woman, to push her away. Why couldn't the boy just relax and enjoy life? The lad was so frustrating.
"No, no Poppy, he didn't hurt me. We were interrupted. Someone broke into his potions stores and he stormed off. He thought it was Potter and became completely irate. I mean, who cares? He's just a kid! It made me feel cheap and disposable. Am I overreacting? This is the third time something like this has happened. He must be as frustrated as I am; but it just feels like he isn't interested. Is there someone else? Am I barking up the wrong tree, so to speak?" Olivia took the hanky the elder witch handed out to her, wiping her tears away.
"Oh, my dear girl. Severus is such a hard nut to crack. Frankly he deserves a good bludger to the head. Don't give up on him yet," she reached out a hand, brushing her thumb over the back of Olivia's hand. It was comforting for the young witch to know she had someone rooting for her.
"Should I apologize to him? I'm going down there to brew tonight," she offered.
"No! You did nothing wrong. I say you torture the man. The only way to get through his thick skull is to fight fire with fire. Seduce him. Secretly of course. Play the innocent card; you have no idea what you're doing to him. Make him come to you. Men like the chase anyway. Severus might just need a kick in the pants to get started. Olivia smiled at her friend. She knew exactly what she was going to do.
XOX
Severus spent the rest of Thursday in a foul mood. It was bad enough he had managed to upset the girl, but now he had Minnie up his arse nagging him about what he did to Olivia.
Merlin. Why did she assume he had done something to her? It wasn't his fault they got interrupted again. It's not as if he yelled at her or anything.
After dinner he went straight to his chambers for a large glass of wine. He'd stare at his hearth, watching the flames dance, and fantasizing about the young witch that seemed to be quickly slipping through his fingers. It didn't go unnoticed, how she immediately moved on to the young Durmstrang. He was more classically handsome than Severus. He probably had more to offer. Severus was broken, who'd want him anyway. Once she learned about him, she'd leave. So, he might as well cut the ties now.
But he didn't want to. He wanted to hold her, touch her, please her. He never should've left. He should've taken her straight to his chambers, potions be damned. But he just couldn't let Potter get away with anything. No, Severus Snape chose chasing after a child over his own pleasure. He was a deeply fucked up man. Angrily, he threw back the rest of his wine, opting for something stronger for the rest of the night.
As usual, the Potions Master regretted his own torment he put his body through. Now he'd have to take a sobering potion before he could teach. There was a sick part of him that wanted to keep the migraine and nausea, a punishment for his actions. But he'd never be able to get through classes without hexing a student.
Classes went by as usual, he opted for more practical lessons today over lectures. He wanted to sit and stew more. When it was time for lunch, he chose to stay in his office. No need to watch his witch flirting with another man. Not your witch, he sneered. His thoughts were interrupted by a certain bossy Scottish witch.
"Severus Snape. Am I to assume that you'd ignore me all day?" Minerva came stomping into his office, arms crossed over her chest.
"That is exactly what you are to assume, and obey, Witch. How is that you keep finding the need to enter when my doors are shut? I's sure you are quite aware, Minerva, that curiosity did, in fact, kill the cat".
"If you didn't want interruptions, you'd ward the door Severus. Its lunch so there's no reason you'd be expecting students. Face it. You're dying to talk to me, and your subconscious is letting me in," she smirked, proud of herself.
"Merlin be damned. I am not discussing anything with you," he scowled and took out some parchments to grade.
"Fine. You sit there and eat while I talk. You can bloody well listen". Minerva placed a few tea sandwiches on the table and some tea, naturally. Severus rolled his eyes and scoffed a bit. He'd be fine not eating; he rarely ate lunch anyway. Still, the tea seemed like a good idea, for his head at least. He picked up the teacup and took a small sip. He enjoyed the floral scent wafting from the tea and the slight burn on his tongue and throat from the temperature. If Minerva McGonagall was good for one thing, it was knowing how he liked his tea.
"Alright, now. Tell me what you've done this time to the girl. She didn't come to breakfast or lunch and didn't sit with us yesterday. I'm not taking no for an answer".
"We were interrupted again after we kissed,". Severus slapped a hand over his mouth as he shot Minerva the most terrifying look he could muster. The witch just clapped her hands together and hooted.
"You've lost your touch, Severus. I thought I would have a harder time getting you to drink the tea, you're slipping in your old age, my friend," she winked at him.
A bloody tongue-loosening potion. Clever witch. He'd get her back. Perhaps he really would poison her catnip. He'd be compelled to answer all her bloody questions until the potion wore off. Thankfully he only had a sip so it wouldn't last more than twenty minutes. He might be able to fight off the affects for that long.
"So. A kiss you say? How very... chaste. Nothing more? Merlin I'd have thought you'd be shagging by now".
"First of all, we keep getting interrupted, not the least of which was your little fiasco. And secondly, it wasn't just a kiss, it was the... first... time..." he was gritting his teeth, begging Merlin to allow him to Stop. Fucking. Talking. But alas, there was no mercy to be had today.
"What? You hadn't kissed the girl yet? I saw your paws all over her the other night - frotting, I might add - and you hadn't even kissed her yet? What interrupted you this time? I swear it wasn't me!"
"My Caterwaul charm went off, Potter was stealing from my personal stores," he gritted out.
"It couldn't have been Potter; I broke up a party that was happening in the common room and he was there".
"Obviously... he slipped away".
Minerva was genuinely surprised by this. She had an urge to ask many more questions, more intimate questions so she'd have some dirt on the man. But suddenly it didn't seem as humorous, she could see the man was pained.
"I'm sorry Severus, truly. I won't ask anything more of you. I just... you seem to do this to yourself, my boy. Just..." she trailed off, not knowing what to say. "Just let yourself be happy for once, hmm? Merlin knows you deserve happiness, my boy".
Minerva stood from her chair, placing a hand on his shoulder before banishing the tea settings and summoning a real lunch for the man. She closed the door behind her and headed back to her office, Poppy said she'd meet her there to fill her in with what she'd learned from Olivia.
XOX
Olivia was mentally psyching herself up to brew after dinner. She had gone to the great hall but avoided Severus again. She'd heed Poppy's advice and wait for the wizard to come to her. She decided she would throw on her typical brewing attire, after all she really did understand the importance of lab attire. Still, she'd try to look as cute as possible.
She looked through her trunk until she found her favorite pair of dark denims. They were loose enough that she could breathe but tight in all the right places. She paired it with a black woven sweater, tight fitting as well. After all, she couldn't have a lot of hanging fabric, could she? That could be a fire risk after all, she chuckled to herself. As she was leaving, she twisted her hair into a messy bun and grabbed her discman.
Olivia loved listening to music as she brewed, she found silence made her anxious. Besides, she wanted to ignore Severus so at least her songs could keep her company. This past summer when she was visiting family in America, she had her youngest cousin burn her a few discs with all the most popular songs for her to listen to. She took one final look in the mirror before closing her door and walking to the dungeons.
She reached Severus' door around 9:00. She didn't want to get there too late or too early in the evening. She knew Severus wouldn't appreciate students watching her going in and out of his office but if she came after curfew... well, they tended to get themselves into situations. She rapped on the door, feeling antsy while she waited for the man. Somehow their silence with each other had made her feel intimidated and shy.
The door slowly opened to her; Severus looked reticent as he gazed upon her. "Good evening, Miss Wright. To what, may I owe this...visit?" Severus allowed his eyes to review the witch. She was dressed in muggle attire tonight. If she was trying to make herself less attractive to him, it wasn't working.
Merlin, it had been a long time since he saw a woman in muggle jeans. There was just something attractive about the tight denim material leaving very little to the imagination. A witch's robes hid too much, he decided.
"I was hoping we could pick up where we left off, Severus," Olivia purred. She hoped he would misunderstand her double entendre and judging by the flush on his cheeks and elevation of his eyebrow, she was successful. "I have some brews I need to complete, that is if your offer still stands to allow me liberties with your supplies?".
Severus' heart beat out of his chest when she said she had come to resume their previous activities. Unfortunately, it seemed his libido was doing the thinking tonight.
Of course, she meant brewing.
"Of course, come in". The Potions Master stepped aside so Olivia could access the room. The witch walked over to where she saw a row of cauldrons. She grabbed one of the newer looking models and placed it in the work area Severus had cleared for her.
"What is it you wish to brew?" He was a curious man and wished to be informed of how she would use his equipment. Plus, it was the perfect excuse for small talk. It didn't take a Legilimens to know she was still upset with him. Though he still didn't understand why.
"Well, I think tonight I'll just brew what potions and remedies I've had to use from Poppy and replace what we used for the tournament. So that would be some burn paste, pain potions, anti-nausea potions, and some prenatal potions. Oh! And I probably should brew some contraceptives while I'm at it".
Severus cleared his throat, anxiously. "Prenatal potions? And contraceptives? You've gone through the supply of those brews already, have you?". Severus knew she wouldn't need a prenatal or contraceptive due to him.
Who was she needing it for? Had she fraternized with Ivan more than he had suspected?
"Ah, that's privileged information, Severus. The witch deserves some privacy. But it wouldn't hurt to protect the other young witches we've brought. Merlin help them and their teenage hormones," Olivia admonished.
So, not for Olivia then. Good.
"Indeed, apologies. Come. I keep my supplies over here," Severus guided her to his storage shelves to gather the required ingredients. He'd definitely have to do an inventory soon so he could place an order for replacements. "Do you require any assistance?".
Olivia thought for a moment. She wanted him to help her, of course she did. She wanted him close by and craved his attention. But she was supposed to be on the colder side towards him, at least according to Poppy. Besides, he did strike her as the type to be overbearing and hover.
"Thank you, Severus. I think I'll be fine though. I brought my music to keep me company". She smiled, hopefully giving the illusion of positivity and indifference instead of the sadness and disappointment she was truly feeling. She pulled out her music and placed the earphones over her head, adjusting the thin foam-covered metal earpiece until it was more comfortable.
The Mediwitch would push play and then begin her brews. With any luck, she could have most of them done, or at least in stasis, by midnight.
XOX
Severus trudged over towards his desk. He'd do some markings while she was brewing.
If Olivia could ignore him, he could ignore her back.
He started marking, noticing the second-year essays had more red ink on them than they normally would. Perhaps it wasn't a good idea to grade while he was feeling so cantankerous.
But how was he supposed to focus when she was so distracting? Who listens to music while brewing? How could a person even focus on the sounds the brew was making, the color, the texture, when they were too busy gyrating and humming.
Severus was distracted indeed. The young witch allowed her hips to sway slowly, seductively at times. At other times, he noticed her hips undulating and oscillating to the music he wasn't privy to. The silent seduction of her dance was actually almost more distracting than if she allowed him to hear the music as well. She seemed really keen to this particular song; Severus decided to cast a modified amplification charm, allowing her music to be heard outside of her headphones.
You start a conversation, you can't even finish it
You're talking a lot, but you're not saying anything
When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed
Say something once, why say it again?
Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh-oh-oh
Severus couldn't say he actually enjoyed the song, or the person's voice. But he could understand why she felt the urge to wiggle her body. The beat was decent at least. The song finished and he readied himself to inform her that he cast the amplification charm, but then another song started, and he got lost in the lyrics.
Though I've tried before to tell her
Of the feelings I have for her in my heart
Every time that I come near her
I just lose my nerve as I've done from the start
Every little thing she does is magic
Everything she do just turns me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for her goes on
Severus felt his body tense as he continued to listen. It was disturbing how well that song seemed to express what he was feeling. Olivia continued to slowly dance, languidly moving her hips from side to side. He longed to stand behind her, press her body flush against his and allow her to continue dancing against him. Everything about her truly did turn him on, just as the song had suggested.
He continued to watch her flit about the room. Her head averted away, drawing attention to the subtle stretch of her throat.
He'd like to kiss her long neck. Nibble it. Nuzzle her jawbone with his nose.
He watched her reach for her stirring rod, tracing the delicate patterns into her brew as required. He stared at her hands, her delicate wrists as she performed. Every movement had elegance and economy, was swift and deft. The jut of her wrist bone, marvel
of engineering, holds the secret, and as a connoisseur, he yearns to inspect it at closer quarters, by eye and by touch.
Just what he doesn't want - the untimely stirring of what could become
by not so slow degrees a major bonk.
Not now, please... It's like an old tired, foolishly friendly, mostly forgotten dog
that's chosen an awkward moment to rouse and shake itself from its basket
and demand a romp.
Down, boy, down. The dog reluctantly behaves, settling down for another long nap.
XOX
Olivia was enjoying her music. At first, she started dancing in the hopes of distracting Severus, but after a few songs she couldn't help herself. Her cousin had made a really good mix cd and she couldn't fight the urge of dancing. She was successful in allowing Severus the safety of not hearing her attempts at singing, but a few hums snuck out every now and then.
Psycho Killer from The Talking Heads had just started when she noticed the volume change in her headphones. Severus had obviously charmed her music to play out loud but for the time being, she'd pretend she didn't notice. When the next song came on, she was immediately drawn to Severus. The lyrics really spoke to her: Every Little Thing She Does is Magic by Sting.
Communication really was an issue with her. Perhaps she'd go with her gut and speak to Severus instead of just listening to Poppy.
She removed her headphones, allowing them to encompass the nape of her neck as she turned to look at Severus. It was hard to not notice the way his eyes were locked onto her form. She'd hold out on her conversation a bit longer. Perhaps the elder Mediwitch did know how to attract the man. Choosing to not embarrass the wizard, she cleared her throat before drawing attention to herself, pausing her music.
"Severus? I was wondering if you could take a look at this contraceptive potion. I wouldn't trouble you, but I want to make sure it's done properly. I wouldn't want any more accidents this year while we are visiting".
Severus was snapped away from his libidinous thoughts but her gentle voice. Running a hand over his face, he stood and promenaded around her cauldron, making note of the hue, shimmer, and smell. Her brew was perfect but surely, she knew that. Perhaps this was just an excuse to get him close by?
Well, he certainly wasn't going to fall for it. He hadn't done anything wrong and wasn't going to apologize, nor was he going to fall for her hyper sexuality that seemed to ooze from every inch of her person. He'd been caught and interrupted more times than he could count, and Merlin forgive him if he added one more to that list.
Severus assured the woman the brew was perfect. Standing a bit too close to her person. He could feel the heat radiating off of her, her magic crackling against his own as he felt the tell-tale pull, he seemed to have with the witch. He whispered praise in her ear before reaching around her for some phials.
He helped her fill each glass trinket with the potion, enjoying how their silence allowed him to observe the little things about her that would otherwise go unnoticed. The slight curve of her upper lip, the way her pulse proudly thrummed against her neck the closer he got to her. He was finding it difficult to resist the woman so he thought it would be best to call for the conclusion of the evening. Olivia agreed, yawning. She had been brewing and dancing for 2 hours while she worked on her potions and could use some rest.
"Good night, Severus. I hope to do this again soon". Olivia reached up, tucking a tendril of hair behind his ear and kissing his lips with a quick peck before turning to leave. The dark wizard stared after her as she retreated, hoping for another visit, sooner rather than later.
