Jupiter walked into the detention hall. She was, she knew, 15 minutes early for her detention with Professor Snape, but she didn't care. She sat down at a desk and pulled out a mirror. She stood it up on the desk in front of her, and began perfecting her appearance. She wanted to look good for detention.
King, who was sweeping in the detention hall at the time, spied the girl sitting at the desk primping.
"Good afternoon, miss," he said, walking up to her.
"Hello King!" she said happily, "I'm just waiting for Professor Snape to come in. Pandora and Freddie aren't here yet either." King nodded quietly.
A dark figure loomed in the doorway of the detention hall, scrutinizing its occupants with cold, fathomless eyes. He stepped in slowly; his robes billowing like an ebony cascade behind him. He glanced momentarily at King, giving him a quick nod of recognition. He walked briskly towards the head of the hall, seating himself abruptly in the desk positioned there. He glimpsed up for a moment, surveying the occupants again, than delving into an array of documents upon the desk.
"Hello, Mr. Snape, good to see you," King turned to Jupiter, "Well, I've got to go now, I'll be seeing you around."
He walked past Snape and out the door.
Jupiter waved goodbye to King and sat up straight in her seat, brushing some imaginary lint off her chest, and then stood. She would have to nerve herself for this. She'd been mentally gearing herself for it all day, and by gods, she was going to do it. She took a deep breath to steady herself. She wasn't consciously aware of it, but six years of pent-up infatuation was all resting on this one event. If it came out well, she'd be more delighted than ever. If it fell through...she didn't even want to think about that.
She walked swiftly over to the desk where Snape was searching through papers and cleared her throat politely.
"And what on earth do you want?" Snape asked irritably, looking up at her.
"Well, Professor Snape...I wanted to know," her face burned red and she cast her eyes downwards as a nervous, embarrassed smile crept onto her face, "Will you go to the ball with me?"
He heart pounded hard in her ears, and she knew she must be blushing. Please say yes, she thought, please oh please!
Snape's expression went stark, as the girl muttered her question. His cold ebony eyes glazed over, transforming into a bland look and his sallow complexion seemed to pale even more, his skin appearing strangely translucent. His eyes seemed to stare straight through Jupiter, not directly at her. He'd noticed her a lot in his classes. She was his pet student, and she always got A+'s. Not to mention that she was extremely pretty, in his eyes, with her long black hair and her piercing blue eyes. He was quite fond of her, but it was only as a student...wasn't it?
Oh gods, though Jupiter, I actually did it, I've gone and asked him. And now he's going to say no! The adrenaline that had gotten her this far filtered away.
"Jupiter…er, Ms. Vrij," He stammered. Was the incredulous Snape finally at a loss for a backlash? His raven eyes glanced down towards the array of paper littered across the desk. He was searching desperately for a way out. His eyes slowly trailed back up towards the girl's lovely sapphire. It had been so long since any woman had ever paid him attention in the slightest, and now here he was, being asked to a school function by one of the prettier girls in Slytherin, a chance he would have died for when he was a teenager. Yet, he was no longer a teenager. Could he allow himself to do this one thing? This one harmless thing? His inner child begged and pleaded, do it. The man inside Severus Snape, not the cold, cruel professor, but the unloved, scorned man said yes. Yes he could. But...No, it was all too hard, all too soon. For all he knew, she was only doing it on a dare. He was probably reading too much into it. Yet somehow, it didn't seem so...
"…I highly doubt that such a thing would be…appropriate," He managed to utter softly, his silky voice loosing all emotion. He glanced away immediately, unwilling to meet the child's eyes. His stood abruptly, turning away and walking towards the door briskly.
""Ms. Vrij, when your colleagues arrive will you please come down to my class room. I shall meet you there," and thus Severus Snape uncomfortably retreated.
Jupiter looked crestfallen. Tears welled up in her blue eyes and she resisted the urge to break out into sobs. She knew, deep down, that he would say no. He was, after all, a teacher. But he had seemed reluctant in his answer. Jupiter thought about it, clinging to her last bit of hope. Maybe he only said no because it was...appropriate. She hated the word. Now, more than ever. She blinked the tears out of her eyes and pondered sitting down and waiting for her classmates.
She decided that it was more important to wait in here for her classmates than to leave, crying, about something that no one would understand. They would chide her for being so ridiculous in the first place. Maybe she was just a silly little girl, in the throes of teenage mood swings, but she felt the way she felt. She l...liked Severus Snape very much. She sat down and cried silently into her hands.
Jupiter was torn inside. Obey, or follow her emotions? She had to talk to him. Talking was always the answer. But she didn't want to disobey. She also knew that once she got there, there wouldn't be any talk of what had happened. There would only be tension and pain. But it was tension and pain with him there. She got to her feet resolutely and ran out of the room, hoping no one would noticed her teary face. The running soothed her raging emotions.
Severus was rushing like a mad man toward the confines of his office. There he would be safe from the prying azure eyes of that girl; that horrid girl. What types of indescribable thoughts were rushing through his mind? He shook his head firmly, his silken ebony hair swaying obediently with the motion.
He reached his office in due time, and he threw open the wooden door with great force, slamming the door hastily behind him. He collapsed forcefully against the wooden structure, relieving some of the pent up emotion with in him. His stone cold veneer was beginning to disintegrate like mad. That succubus was draining him for all he was worth. He placed a shaking hand to his forehead, brushing flecks of sweat away vigorously. This was grating heavily on his touchy nerves.
He had to brush these inappropriate feelings away, before something he would regret would occur. He was respectable professor; respectable professors did not have relations with students. He shook his head again, more heartily this time. He had to rid his mind of these impure thoughts. They were clouding his thinking…
There was a sudden knock upon the door that forcefully pulled him from his reverie. His eyes widened. Who could possibly be here? Perhaps it was a teacher, yes a teacher. He straightened himself up, attempting to pull himself together.
"Hello…" His voice trailed off straight away after opening the door. It was she. Her crestfallen cobalt eyes gazed up at him imploringly. He sighed greatly, yet opened the door further for her to step in. He was about to close the door, but he changed his mind and left it slightly ajar.
"Yes, Ms. Vrij, how may I help you," He managed out normally, hoping this conversation would not lead where it was destined to go.
Jupiter opened her mouth to speak, but shut it again. She realized she didn't know what to say.
How could Jupiter put to words what she was going through? It would, without doubt, be stupid of her to tell him everything. It seemed wrong to look him in the face and let all the things she felt come rushing from her heart and out her lips.
Her eyes were burning with the tears she dared not cry. Her heart was burning with the feelings she dared not feel. Her mouth was burning with the words she dared not say.
Nothing good ever came of pouring your heart out to someone. It relieves you for a second, but only for a second, because afterwards you sit, in that awkward silence, and your heart dies a thousand times waiting to hear those confirming words, that one phrase that you can't live without.
She'd been through it before, but never so seriously as this. This, above all things, could never be. Despite her great efforts at control, at that thought she burst out with a great sob and, embarrassed, hid her face in her hands. She regained her composure as best as she could and looked back up at Snape.
"Um," she said, and forced herself to look into his cold face. Her heart was going crazy, she wanted to faint, to escape this. But there was no hiding from her feelings. They would still be there when she awoke, and stronger the next time she saw him.
"I know I'm being silly," she began, but cut herself off. Never say what you think the other person is feeling, you may be right.
"I, um..." she bit her lip, and continued, "I wish you could go with me."
It was feeble and it didn't even scratch the surface of her seething pain and hope. It was all she could think of. She could only hope that he could sense her feelings from the look in her eyes, which were still blurred with tears. She blinked them away, angry at herself for being so ridiculous, but still more came.
Snape's previous words caught in his throat, at the sight of the tears staining her cheeks. He was going to lash at her, tell her that this was crazy, that this was impossible. Yet, now all he wanted to was pull her into his arms, and tell her everything would be alright. He was mad.
He turned his face away from her, closing his eyes momentarily. He had to clear his mind and gazing into her eyes was helping none. He took a deep breath and exhaled instantaneously.
"Ms. Vri...Jupiter, this is..." He stammered, pausing momentarily. Her eyes seemed to be welling up again. Oh, why was she doing this? Couldn't she fall for a man her age? Couldn't she be 35? He heaved a sigh and then took a deep breath.
"I am sorry, yet you know the rules. I can not break them for any reason..." He responded slowly, advancing upon her slowly. His dark raven eyes connecting with hers, a strange indistinguishable emotion stirring within.
"I'm sorry," He whispered, merely an inch away from her. His mind was screaming at him to back away, or else all would be lost. Yet, he couldn't back away. He just couldnt.
Jupiter was weak with emotion. His voice was telling her it was impossible, but his body language told an entirely different story. She couldn't move, she was too saturated with feelings. Hope, fear, depression, obsession, lust held her tight to the spot. She looked up at him with jewels of hopeful tears in her eyes. He was standing only an inch away, she could feel the warmth of his body, his sweet breath on her face.
She shut her eyes and her chest shook with sobs, and she was so weak in the knees at having him so close that she could have collapsed, there and then. But she stood her ground, and forced her eyes open, lingering on his sharp features.
Severus drew in sharply, as the Jupiter visibly fought back her emotions before him. They were so close, only mere breaths apart. Yet, it seemed an entire planet separated him. A gap he shouldn't attempt to weather, he reminded himself, it would only lead to hardships and pain; which was the last thing he desired.
His ebony eyes narrowed on the girl's, as numerous thoughts on the situation ran through his mind. But there she was, so close to him...She smelled strongly of mint, combined with pheremones, which made his head spin, made his hands tingle, made his heartbeat hasten in his chest. His reasoning was beginning to fade fast and if he did not soon find an escape from this, he would be kicking himself greatly afterwards. Why was he still here? That questioned echoed endlessly in his head. There were many reasons why, yet all more unlikely than the last.
He shook his attention from thought and focused it back upon the girl. His raven-hued eyes softened unmistakably for the first time in a long while. A gaunt hand was raised from his side and brought to the girl's face, as he brushed a few strands away from her charming cheek. He could hear her breath quicken at his touch and he pulled away instantly. This was wrong. She shouldn't be in this office and he should be dispensing her, her detention. He turned away rapidly, his long black robes swishing with the sudden movement.
"You shall be exempted from your detention, Ms. Vrij, please return to your dormitory," He stated, almost pleaded. He couldn't allow this to happen, he was going to stop. And tomorrow when he saw her, it would be like normal. A professor addressing a student, nothing more.
Jupiter's heart fell again. So...close...so close they were almost touching, and she had let him get away. She couldn't take it anymore and burst into tears. Crying, she didn't know if she should leave or stay. She wanted to leave, to run away forever and never come back. Maybe go into the forest and live there. Or, if she was lucky, die there. She wanted to get away from this awful man she felt so much for, to get away from everyone who could never understand.
But she couldn't bear the thought of being away from him. She slid down the wall she'd been standing by, and sat down, her head resting on her knees. She couldn't leave. People would see her cry, and think her weak. Or worse, they might ask why, and then she might tell them, and...she couldn't even finish her train of thought, but sobbed harder and curled up tighter in anger at herself and pain.
Severus did not hear the retreating footsteps that he so wanted to hear exiting his room. Instead, he heard a stifled sob and the crumpling of the girl against the wall. Snape brought his hands to his head, delving for shelter from the situation he had driven straight into. It was his fault that girl was in tears and he felt like a monster. But, he thought to himself, would I feel more like a monster if I comforted her, took her in my arms and kissed the tears away? Wouldn't I feel more terrible if the scent of mint and girl drove me to do things I know I would regret?
He growled and turned around in frustration. Facing the girl, his innards melting upon the sight of her. She looked devastated, how could he be so cold? So cold to a girl who had, in the six years he'd known her, shown him nothing but intelligence and kindness. He took a few steps forward, considering his next actions. He could get in serious trouble. He could be fired, arrested, hurt. Jupiter's shoulders shook with sobs. Tears that Snape had brought on fell to the flagstones. Screw it, screw everyone! He bellowed in his head, he was acting like a bumbling idiot.
He knelt down beside her, hesitating for a moment. But, slowly, he wrapped an arm about her shoulder, hugging her to him, as he gently stroked her raven hair. He swallowed hard, this was quite awkward, but for once in his life, he didn't feel out of place.
Jupiter leaned into him, and it felt like a dam burst inside of her. Her tears came harder and faster, tears of relief. She shook uncontrollably and buried her face into his shoulder. His robes smelled of dungeon and chemicals, but at this moment it was like roses, it was the best smell in the world, and Jupiter loved it. After a while the tears wouldn't come anymore and she sighed deeply. No words were needed right now. Something that she had been dying for, going after for six years had finally happened. She could have died happy at that moment, resting there in his arms.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Snape's eyes widened, as the girl fell back into him. His usual thoughts of "What in bloody hell are you doing," ran from his mind, letting way for fear and uncertainty. He may be much older than the girl, yet she was most likely more experienced in this province than he would ever be. He and women were like water and oil, they contradicted upon meeting and were much happier upon departure. Now, here he was with a young woman in his arms, and he had no idea what to do. This was most likely the stickiest situation he had ever taken part in.
He sighed and shifted slightly, not taking his arms from around the girl. He wasn't quite ready to remove himself from his illicit bliss, just yet. Also, he wasn't ready to do any more. He quite frankly would never be. He closed his eyes and rested his head against the cold stone wall, the coldness seemingly fading in light of the events. The man inside him was happy, and the rest of him was content to allow this...for now.
Jupiter's pounding emotions settled down, and she was filled with an overwhelming sense of peace, and happiness. She took one of Severus's hands in her own and admired it. Jupiter had a soft spot for beautiful hands, and rarely had she seen better than the ones Snape had. He had long, tapered fingers and defined wrist bones. His hands were cold, and trembling slightly. She rubbed his hand with her two warm ones, trying to drive away the cold.
She pressed his fingertips to her forehead and shut her eyes. It was so nice to feel and smell his skin. She moved his hands down and brushed the back of it with her cheek, and she kissed his wrist gently.
She turned her head up and looked at his face. His expression was hard to read, but he had his eyes shut and looked drained. She put her head on his shoulder and gazed up at him. She ran her fingers along his cheek, he had such soft skin!
Severus shivered visibly at her touch. She obviously could not see the potent effect she was having on the man. More than his hands were getting tingly at her entrancing smell, her feminine touch. His logical side was sending up warning signals. Now, it was he who wanted to run. He wanted to rid himself of this place and the siren that was calling to him so vociferously. He couldn't budge, however. He could try with all his might, yet he knew he was trapped in this woman's grasp. Hopefully, she would not learn that she had the man under her spell. God knows he wouldn't be able to stop himself from finishing anything she started.
She turned to face him totally, and leaned her head on his shoulder. He could feel her hot breath on his neck, and it was sending electricity through him. His ebony eyes opened slowly, glancing down at the girl. Her smell intoxicating him, it was sending him higher than he had been before. His logical side began screaming, and a sense of urgency filled him. He had to leave; he had to get out of there before he lost himself. He untangled himself from Jupiter's grasp, and stood without ado. He helped her to her feet and turned away once more.
"I must go. Please, tell your friends in detention that they are exempted," He stated, his voice husky and breathless. He was still attempting to recover from the recent events. With his brief statement of farewell, he was off with a billow of black robes.
Jupiter was hurt, but not much more so. She was hurt in the way you are upset when someone wakes you from a nice dream in a warm bed and drags you out into the colder air of reality.
She gathered her wits about her. She fixed her hair the best she could without a mirror, and walked to the door. She had a thought, and ran back to his desk. She grabbed a piece of paper, and began writing. The she dropped the note on the desk.
She strode out of the room in her normal, dignified way.
Then the room was empty of her, save for a lingering scent of the mint perfume she wore and a note bearing the message:
"Thank you a thousand times, I can't wait to see you again.
Love,
Jupiter"
***
Lacci had seen the whole thing, hiding outside the doorway. She hadn't really taken it in. She didn't understand it. But she understood one thing. She skipped after Snape, who was walking quickly down the hallway. Soon she was 3 feet away from him.
"Will you go to the ball with me?"
Snape gave her a frightened look.
"Only asking..." she said, shrugging offendedly and backing away.
***
As the day dragged on, Jupiter got more and more restless, yearning to be back with her professor, wrapped in his warmth, surrounded by him. She began to get depressed, and horribly aware of how addicted she'd become to him, in such a short time.
She curled up in a corner of the Slytherin common room, feeling sorry for herself. Lacci bounded over and poked her knee.
"Joopie-Woopie, why so gloopie?"
"I need to talk to Snape."
"Oh," Lacci said simply. She thought for a moment, a hard thing for her to do, "Here, I fix! Take my jacket and go! Go to the Three Broomsticks!" and Lacci tossed her cloak onto Jupiter's head and ran off. Dazed, Jupiter stood and put the cloak on. Then she got up, and headed to Hogsmeade. It was probably not allowed, but she would do it anyway.
***
King, who was sweeping in the detention hall at the time, spied the girl sitting at the desk primping.
"Good afternoon, miss," he said, walking up to her.
"Hello King!" she said happily, "I'm just waiting for Professor Snape to come in. Pandora and Freddie aren't here yet either." King nodded quietly.
A dark figure loomed in the doorway of the detention hall, scrutinizing its occupants with cold, fathomless eyes. He stepped in slowly; his robes billowing like an ebony cascade behind him. He glanced momentarily at King, giving him a quick nod of recognition. He walked briskly towards the head of the hall, seating himself abruptly in the desk positioned there. He glimpsed up for a moment, surveying the occupants again, than delving into an array of documents upon the desk.
"Hello, Mr. Snape, good to see you," King turned to Jupiter, "Well, I've got to go now, I'll be seeing you around."
He walked past Snape and out the door.
Jupiter waved goodbye to King and sat up straight in her seat, brushing some imaginary lint off her chest, and then stood. She would have to nerve herself for this. She'd been mentally gearing herself for it all day, and by gods, she was going to do it. She took a deep breath to steady herself. She wasn't consciously aware of it, but six years of pent-up infatuation was all resting on this one event. If it came out well, she'd be more delighted than ever. If it fell through...she didn't even want to think about that.
She walked swiftly over to the desk where Snape was searching through papers and cleared her throat politely.
"And what on earth do you want?" Snape asked irritably, looking up at her.
"Well, Professor Snape...I wanted to know," her face burned red and she cast her eyes downwards as a nervous, embarrassed smile crept onto her face, "Will you go to the ball with me?"
He heart pounded hard in her ears, and she knew she must be blushing. Please say yes, she thought, please oh please!
Snape's expression went stark, as the girl muttered her question. His cold ebony eyes glazed over, transforming into a bland look and his sallow complexion seemed to pale even more, his skin appearing strangely translucent. His eyes seemed to stare straight through Jupiter, not directly at her. He'd noticed her a lot in his classes. She was his pet student, and she always got A+'s. Not to mention that she was extremely pretty, in his eyes, with her long black hair and her piercing blue eyes. He was quite fond of her, but it was only as a student...wasn't it?
Oh gods, though Jupiter, I actually did it, I've gone and asked him. And now he's going to say no! The adrenaline that had gotten her this far filtered away.
"Jupiter…er, Ms. Vrij," He stammered. Was the incredulous Snape finally at a loss for a backlash? His raven eyes glanced down towards the array of paper littered across the desk. He was searching desperately for a way out. His eyes slowly trailed back up towards the girl's lovely sapphire. It had been so long since any woman had ever paid him attention in the slightest, and now here he was, being asked to a school function by one of the prettier girls in Slytherin, a chance he would have died for when he was a teenager. Yet, he was no longer a teenager. Could he allow himself to do this one thing? This one harmless thing? His inner child begged and pleaded, do it. The man inside Severus Snape, not the cold, cruel professor, but the unloved, scorned man said yes. Yes he could. But...No, it was all too hard, all too soon. For all he knew, she was only doing it on a dare. He was probably reading too much into it. Yet somehow, it didn't seem so...
"…I highly doubt that such a thing would be…appropriate," He managed to utter softly, his silky voice loosing all emotion. He glanced away immediately, unwilling to meet the child's eyes. His stood abruptly, turning away and walking towards the door briskly.
""Ms. Vrij, when your colleagues arrive will you please come down to my class room. I shall meet you there," and thus Severus Snape uncomfortably retreated.
Jupiter looked crestfallen. Tears welled up in her blue eyes and she resisted the urge to break out into sobs. She knew, deep down, that he would say no. He was, after all, a teacher. But he had seemed reluctant in his answer. Jupiter thought about it, clinging to her last bit of hope. Maybe he only said no because it was...appropriate. She hated the word. Now, more than ever. She blinked the tears out of her eyes and pondered sitting down and waiting for her classmates.
She decided that it was more important to wait in here for her classmates than to leave, crying, about something that no one would understand. They would chide her for being so ridiculous in the first place. Maybe she was just a silly little girl, in the throes of teenage mood swings, but she felt the way she felt. She l...liked Severus Snape very much. She sat down and cried silently into her hands.
Jupiter was torn inside. Obey, or follow her emotions? She had to talk to him. Talking was always the answer. But she didn't want to disobey. She also knew that once she got there, there wouldn't be any talk of what had happened. There would only be tension and pain. But it was tension and pain with him there. She got to her feet resolutely and ran out of the room, hoping no one would noticed her teary face. The running soothed her raging emotions.
Severus was rushing like a mad man toward the confines of his office. There he would be safe from the prying azure eyes of that girl; that horrid girl. What types of indescribable thoughts were rushing through his mind? He shook his head firmly, his silken ebony hair swaying obediently with the motion.
He reached his office in due time, and he threw open the wooden door with great force, slamming the door hastily behind him. He collapsed forcefully against the wooden structure, relieving some of the pent up emotion with in him. His stone cold veneer was beginning to disintegrate like mad. That succubus was draining him for all he was worth. He placed a shaking hand to his forehead, brushing flecks of sweat away vigorously. This was grating heavily on his touchy nerves.
He had to brush these inappropriate feelings away, before something he would regret would occur. He was respectable professor; respectable professors did not have relations with students. He shook his head again, more heartily this time. He had to rid his mind of these impure thoughts. They were clouding his thinking…
There was a sudden knock upon the door that forcefully pulled him from his reverie. His eyes widened. Who could possibly be here? Perhaps it was a teacher, yes a teacher. He straightened himself up, attempting to pull himself together.
"Hello…" His voice trailed off straight away after opening the door. It was she. Her crestfallen cobalt eyes gazed up at him imploringly. He sighed greatly, yet opened the door further for her to step in. He was about to close the door, but he changed his mind and left it slightly ajar.
"Yes, Ms. Vrij, how may I help you," He managed out normally, hoping this conversation would not lead where it was destined to go.
Jupiter opened her mouth to speak, but shut it again. She realized she didn't know what to say.
How could Jupiter put to words what she was going through? It would, without doubt, be stupid of her to tell him everything. It seemed wrong to look him in the face and let all the things she felt come rushing from her heart and out her lips.
Her eyes were burning with the tears she dared not cry. Her heart was burning with the feelings she dared not feel. Her mouth was burning with the words she dared not say.
Nothing good ever came of pouring your heart out to someone. It relieves you for a second, but only for a second, because afterwards you sit, in that awkward silence, and your heart dies a thousand times waiting to hear those confirming words, that one phrase that you can't live without.
She'd been through it before, but never so seriously as this. This, above all things, could never be. Despite her great efforts at control, at that thought she burst out with a great sob and, embarrassed, hid her face in her hands. She regained her composure as best as she could and looked back up at Snape.
"Um," she said, and forced herself to look into his cold face. Her heart was going crazy, she wanted to faint, to escape this. But there was no hiding from her feelings. They would still be there when she awoke, and stronger the next time she saw him.
"I know I'm being silly," she began, but cut herself off. Never say what you think the other person is feeling, you may be right.
"I, um..." she bit her lip, and continued, "I wish you could go with me."
It was feeble and it didn't even scratch the surface of her seething pain and hope. It was all she could think of. She could only hope that he could sense her feelings from the look in her eyes, which were still blurred with tears. She blinked them away, angry at herself for being so ridiculous, but still more came.
Snape's previous words caught in his throat, at the sight of the tears staining her cheeks. He was going to lash at her, tell her that this was crazy, that this was impossible. Yet, now all he wanted to was pull her into his arms, and tell her everything would be alright. He was mad.
He turned his face away from her, closing his eyes momentarily. He had to clear his mind and gazing into her eyes was helping none. He took a deep breath and exhaled instantaneously.
"Ms. Vri...Jupiter, this is..." He stammered, pausing momentarily. Her eyes seemed to be welling up again. Oh, why was she doing this? Couldn't she fall for a man her age? Couldn't she be 35? He heaved a sigh and then took a deep breath.
"I am sorry, yet you know the rules. I can not break them for any reason..." He responded slowly, advancing upon her slowly. His dark raven eyes connecting with hers, a strange indistinguishable emotion stirring within.
"I'm sorry," He whispered, merely an inch away from her. His mind was screaming at him to back away, or else all would be lost. Yet, he couldn't back away. He just couldnt.
Jupiter was weak with emotion. His voice was telling her it was impossible, but his body language told an entirely different story. She couldn't move, she was too saturated with feelings. Hope, fear, depression, obsession, lust held her tight to the spot. She looked up at him with jewels of hopeful tears in her eyes. He was standing only an inch away, she could feel the warmth of his body, his sweet breath on her face.
She shut her eyes and her chest shook with sobs, and she was so weak in the knees at having him so close that she could have collapsed, there and then. But she stood her ground, and forced her eyes open, lingering on his sharp features.
Severus drew in sharply, as the Jupiter visibly fought back her emotions before him. They were so close, only mere breaths apart. Yet, it seemed an entire planet separated him. A gap he shouldn't attempt to weather, he reminded himself, it would only lead to hardships and pain; which was the last thing he desired.
His ebony eyes narrowed on the girl's, as numerous thoughts on the situation ran through his mind. But there she was, so close to him...She smelled strongly of mint, combined with pheremones, which made his head spin, made his hands tingle, made his heartbeat hasten in his chest. His reasoning was beginning to fade fast and if he did not soon find an escape from this, he would be kicking himself greatly afterwards. Why was he still here? That questioned echoed endlessly in his head. There were many reasons why, yet all more unlikely than the last.
He shook his attention from thought and focused it back upon the girl. His raven-hued eyes softened unmistakably for the first time in a long while. A gaunt hand was raised from his side and brought to the girl's face, as he brushed a few strands away from her charming cheek. He could hear her breath quicken at his touch and he pulled away instantly. This was wrong. She shouldn't be in this office and he should be dispensing her, her detention. He turned away rapidly, his long black robes swishing with the sudden movement.
"You shall be exempted from your detention, Ms. Vrij, please return to your dormitory," He stated, almost pleaded. He couldn't allow this to happen, he was going to stop. And tomorrow when he saw her, it would be like normal. A professor addressing a student, nothing more.
Jupiter's heart fell again. So...close...so close they were almost touching, and she had let him get away. She couldn't take it anymore and burst into tears. Crying, she didn't know if she should leave or stay. She wanted to leave, to run away forever and never come back. Maybe go into the forest and live there. Or, if she was lucky, die there. She wanted to get away from this awful man she felt so much for, to get away from everyone who could never understand.
But she couldn't bear the thought of being away from him. She slid down the wall she'd been standing by, and sat down, her head resting on her knees. She couldn't leave. People would see her cry, and think her weak. Or worse, they might ask why, and then she might tell them, and...she couldn't even finish her train of thought, but sobbed harder and curled up tighter in anger at herself and pain.
Severus did not hear the retreating footsteps that he so wanted to hear exiting his room. Instead, he heard a stifled sob and the crumpling of the girl against the wall. Snape brought his hands to his head, delving for shelter from the situation he had driven straight into. It was his fault that girl was in tears and he felt like a monster. But, he thought to himself, would I feel more like a monster if I comforted her, took her in my arms and kissed the tears away? Wouldn't I feel more terrible if the scent of mint and girl drove me to do things I know I would regret?
He growled and turned around in frustration. Facing the girl, his innards melting upon the sight of her. She looked devastated, how could he be so cold? So cold to a girl who had, in the six years he'd known her, shown him nothing but intelligence and kindness. He took a few steps forward, considering his next actions. He could get in serious trouble. He could be fired, arrested, hurt. Jupiter's shoulders shook with sobs. Tears that Snape had brought on fell to the flagstones. Screw it, screw everyone! He bellowed in his head, he was acting like a bumbling idiot.
He knelt down beside her, hesitating for a moment. But, slowly, he wrapped an arm about her shoulder, hugging her to him, as he gently stroked her raven hair. He swallowed hard, this was quite awkward, but for once in his life, he didn't feel out of place.
Jupiter leaned into him, and it felt like a dam burst inside of her. Her tears came harder and faster, tears of relief. She shook uncontrollably and buried her face into his shoulder. His robes smelled of dungeon and chemicals, but at this moment it was like roses, it was the best smell in the world, and Jupiter loved it. After a while the tears wouldn't come anymore and she sighed deeply. No words were needed right now. Something that she had been dying for, going after for six years had finally happened. She could have died happy at that moment, resting there in his arms.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Snape's eyes widened, as the girl fell back into him. His usual thoughts of "What in bloody hell are you doing," ran from his mind, letting way for fear and uncertainty. He may be much older than the girl, yet she was most likely more experienced in this province than he would ever be. He and women were like water and oil, they contradicted upon meeting and were much happier upon departure. Now, here he was with a young woman in his arms, and he had no idea what to do. This was most likely the stickiest situation he had ever taken part in.
He sighed and shifted slightly, not taking his arms from around the girl. He wasn't quite ready to remove himself from his illicit bliss, just yet. Also, he wasn't ready to do any more. He quite frankly would never be. He closed his eyes and rested his head against the cold stone wall, the coldness seemingly fading in light of the events. The man inside him was happy, and the rest of him was content to allow this...for now.
Jupiter's pounding emotions settled down, and she was filled with an overwhelming sense of peace, and happiness. She took one of Severus's hands in her own and admired it. Jupiter had a soft spot for beautiful hands, and rarely had she seen better than the ones Snape had. He had long, tapered fingers and defined wrist bones. His hands were cold, and trembling slightly. She rubbed his hand with her two warm ones, trying to drive away the cold.
She pressed his fingertips to her forehead and shut her eyes. It was so nice to feel and smell his skin. She moved his hands down and brushed the back of it with her cheek, and she kissed his wrist gently.
She turned her head up and looked at his face. His expression was hard to read, but he had his eyes shut and looked drained. She put her head on his shoulder and gazed up at him. She ran her fingers along his cheek, he had such soft skin!
Severus shivered visibly at her touch. She obviously could not see the potent effect she was having on the man. More than his hands were getting tingly at her entrancing smell, her feminine touch. His logical side was sending up warning signals. Now, it was he who wanted to run. He wanted to rid himself of this place and the siren that was calling to him so vociferously. He couldn't budge, however. He could try with all his might, yet he knew he was trapped in this woman's grasp. Hopefully, she would not learn that she had the man under her spell. God knows he wouldn't be able to stop himself from finishing anything she started.
She turned to face him totally, and leaned her head on his shoulder. He could feel her hot breath on his neck, and it was sending electricity through him. His ebony eyes opened slowly, glancing down at the girl. Her smell intoxicating him, it was sending him higher than he had been before. His logical side began screaming, and a sense of urgency filled him. He had to leave; he had to get out of there before he lost himself. He untangled himself from Jupiter's grasp, and stood without ado. He helped her to her feet and turned away once more.
"I must go. Please, tell your friends in detention that they are exempted," He stated, his voice husky and breathless. He was still attempting to recover from the recent events. With his brief statement of farewell, he was off with a billow of black robes.
Jupiter was hurt, but not much more so. She was hurt in the way you are upset when someone wakes you from a nice dream in a warm bed and drags you out into the colder air of reality.
She gathered her wits about her. She fixed her hair the best she could without a mirror, and walked to the door. She had a thought, and ran back to his desk. She grabbed a piece of paper, and began writing. The she dropped the note on the desk.
She strode out of the room in her normal, dignified way.
Then the room was empty of her, save for a lingering scent of the mint perfume she wore and a note bearing the message:
"Thank you a thousand times, I can't wait to see you again.
Love,
Jupiter"
***
Lacci had seen the whole thing, hiding outside the doorway. She hadn't really taken it in. She didn't understand it. But she understood one thing. She skipped after Snape, who was walking quickly down the hallway. Soon she was 3 feet away from him.
"Will you go to the ball with me?"
Snape gave her a frightened look.
"Only asking..." she said, shrugging offendedly and backing away.
***
As the day dragged on, Jupiter got more and more restless, yearning to be back with her professor, wrapped in his warmth, surrounded by him. She began to get depressed, and horribly aware of how addicted she'd become to him, in such a short time.
She curled up in a corner of the Slytherin common room, feeling sorry for herself. Lacci bounded over and poked her knee.
"Joopie-Woopie, why so gloopie?"
"I need to talk to Snape."
"Oh," Lacci said simply. She thought for a moment, a hard thing for her to do, "Here, I fix! Take my jacket and go! Go to the Three Broomsticks!" and Lacci tossed her cloak onto Jupiter's head and ran off. Dazed, Jupiter stood and put the cloak on. Then she got up, and headed to Hogsmeade. It was probably not allowed, but she would do it anyway.
***
