A/N: He he he. Sorry about that cliffhanger you guys. I don't normally do
that, but I thought it would be a cool ending. This next chapter has the
long awaited meeting of Cassandra and Methos, (This is for you, Tea.) I
want you to vote on who should make the Quidditch team (check ending
notes). Well, I wont keep you waiting any longer here is chapter 18: In
Which Enemies Meet
Chapter 18;
NOCK NOCK
Methos made a strangled noise in the back of his throat, and closed his eyes, going pale. Severus held on, concerned. Methos's jaw clenched and he grit out'
"Tell her I cannot meet with her now. I will talk to her later with Dumbledore."
"All right." Severus went to the door while Methos sat on the bed and put his head in his hands. Opening the door suddenly Severus almost got hit in the face by a knocking hand.
"He can't talk right now," Severus said, his voice cold and his eyes gleaming. "He will meet with you and Dumbledore later. Good Day." With that he slammed the door in her face. She stood there for a moment, stunned, before walking dazedly away. 'What was that prick doing in that immortal's room? He? Hmm…'
Inside the room Severus turned back to Methos and sat next to him on the bed. He placed a comforting hand on his back and starting playing with the short hairs on the back of his neck. Methos stretched his neck out like a cat and let his head fall, enjoying the light massage. It was a few minutes before he spoke again, his voice much stronger and more normal than before.
"I don't know why she affects me like that. I'm really not afraid of her…I guess it's more what she could do that I'm afraid of. I don't want to loose you."
"You aren't going to."
"I know that, but-"
"You're instincts are telling you otherwise, and you're used to trusting your instincts."
"Yes." Methos laughed. "We're finishing each other's sentences already."
"Great minds…"
"Think for themselves. And I know of two great minds that are going to be late for class." Methos stood up strait and inhaled deeply and held it before letting it out slowly and opening his eyes. He was calm now, his fight or flight response squashed (for now.) He turned and smiled at Severus. "I'm much better now, thank you." He leaned in and captured Severus's lips in a sweet soft kiss. "I really am," He said once they stopped. Severus smiled back.
"I'm glad. I wish we could stay longer, but we have to get to class."
"Yes. It is rather important for us to be there, being the teachers and all."
"Har, har. Very funny," Severus paused again, once more serious. "You're sure you're ok?"
"I'm sure. You'd be able tell if I wasn't." Severus nodded, knowing it for truth.
"True enough. Well, I will see you later."
"That you will." They kissed again; this time goodbye and Severus left Methos to get cleaned up in a swish of black cloth.
Dinnertime…
The day had continued on with no opportunity to talk with Dumbledore and Cassandra. Adam now sat watching the last student leave his classroom. He sighed and heard his stomach growl in response, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since last night's dinner. He closed his eyes. It wasn't the first time he's gone without dinner and it won't be the last. He could always go down to the kitchens later and get food from the elves. He opened an eye when he heard the door open. Severus stood there, leaning against the doorjam, watching Adam at his desk. Methos smiled.
"Why hello, love. What brings you up here away from your dungeon?"
"You do. I came to bring you to dinner." Methos waved a dismissive hand.
"You go. I'm not hungry." His statement was punctuated by a rather large growl from his stomach. Methos glared at the offensive organ. "Traitor." Severus chuckled.
"Come on, Methos. You cannot hide up here forever. You have to eat sometime, as I'm sure your stomach will agree." Methos made a face at him, and crossed his arms, stubbornly sitting at his desk.
"I'm not going. You can't make me."
"Now you're being childish," Severus sighed. "Fine. Stay up here and starve, if it pleases you, you big chicken. See if you're getting any tonight." Severus turned and left. Methos sat there for a moment, then jumped up and rushed after him.
"Wait for me! I am coming!" He ran out the door and smack into Severus, who was waiting for Methos just outside the door. Severus steadied the immortal, and smirked at him.
"I knew you'd see it my way. Come along." He started to walk away and Methos, realizing he had just been conned, started after him, grumbling all the way.
They arrived at the Great Hall with little more fuss than some louder grumbling as they neared, but Methos entered of his own accord. He refused to even look at Severus until after they had sat down. And then, it was in the form of a glare.
"I hope you realize," Methos hissed at him, "That if Cassandra shows up and DOES confront me in public, I will most likely be made to leave."
"I won't let you go," Severus hissed back. Methos just harrumphed.
"Just remember, that this is all YOUR fault." Severus's lip twitched, and he nodded. This seemed to appease Methos, and the ice on his shoulder started to melt. The two were chatting a little more friendly, (flirting is more like it) when Methos felt the Buzz. He stiffened, and his eyes fixed on the doors.
"She's on her way." Severus reached over and gave his hand a comforting squeeze, and Methos squeezed back, grateful.
Outside the Great Hall Cassandra paused as she felt the Buzz. It was only for a moment, but Remus, who was walking next to her, noticed.
"Are you alright?" Cassandra looked at him for a moment, blinking, before smiling at him.
"Yes, I'm fine. Let us go eat." Remus nodded, grinning. He pushed open the doors, and they entered. Cassandra's eyes went strait to the teacher's table…there. He was not there this mourning…HIM!
Methos watched as the doors opened and Remus and Cassandra entered. He watched her look, then her eyes fixed on him. They widened, and he felt the blood drain from his face, though his expression did not change. Her face flushed a deep red with anger, and she started walking swiftly towards him. If at all possible he tensed up even more, and now had Severus's hand in a death grip.
Most in the Great Hall were now watching as Cassandra rapidly approached the teacher's table, her anger growing more apparent by the second. All were watching as she broke into a ran and leapt at Methos over the table, and screamed in a language long dead,
"DIE HORSEMAN!" Methos, who had seen it coming, ducked under the table, and cried a high-pitched eep! The two were now on opposite sides of the table. He responded in the same language.
"Cassandra, please reconsider this, you don't want to…"
"Don't tell me what I want to don't want to do! You monster, you can't tell me what to do anymore!"
"I'm not trying to," Methos responded, still in that language, just a tad too hotly. Cassandra went livid, jumping back over the table, she attacked.
He ran.
Around the end of the table, where Hagrid sat, he ran behind the teachers with Cassandra hot on his heels. He tried again.
"Cassandra, remember what McLeod said? He wants me to live, that should count for something!"
"It counts for nothing. You didn't kill his village, you didn't enslave and rape him, did you?"
"No, but that's besides the point…"
"THAT IS EXACTLY THE POINT!" Cassandra ranted. Bear in mind that all this conversation has been in some language that died out centuries ago that only those two know of. From an outside point of view this scene is quite funny, but for those involved it is quite vexing. With her cry she sprang forward, once again attempting to get her hands around Methos's neck. Methos, using all 5000 years of survival training, ran for his life, being that even though it wouldn't kill him, dieing wouldn't be pleasant, and ended up back where he had started. But, by now, Methos was getting fed up. This whole situation was ridiculous. He was a better fighter than she was, so why was he running? He spoke again, still in the ancient language, and now his voice was less pleading and more confident.
"Cassandra, that is not the point. The point is you have refused to get over something that happened over three thousand years ago! That's a long time, even for us!"
"YOU MURDERED ME! You raped me and made me your slave! You got me to trust you then gave me up to that bastard, Kronos!"
"SO WHAT!" Methos roared, for now he was angry as well. The whole hall was silent, watching this spectacle. Dumbledore stood, preparing to intervene. It had been amusing at first, but this was going to far. Methos continued, oblivious to everything else, "You're not the first to get such treatment, nor were you the last! And not just by me. I have known people who had it much worse than you, and behave much more maturely." Dumbledore interrupted them now, calling,
"Adam." He didn't hear and continued.
"You refuse to see this from the eyes of the times. You look at it with modern sensibilities, for all your origins. The world was different then Cassandra. I was different. The world can change, why can't I?" Cassandra sneered.
"A leopard can't change it's spots." Dumbledore tried again.
"Cassandra." It didn't work once more.
"I'm not a leopard, Cassandra, and I don't have spots. I'm a man. And men can change."
"You're not a man, you're a monster!"
"SILENCE!" Dumbledore finally had enough. "You will stop this immediately. The two of you are acting like children and fools, and I know from experience that you two are neither. The two of you will follow me to my office and we will settle this like the responsible adults we are. And if you are going to argue, do it in English. Now follow me." He turned back to the students. "You all may eat now and do not worry, this spectacle will not happen again." He turned and walked towards the door. He paused by Severus and Remus. "You two follow as well. I have a feeling you will need to be there." They nodded and the two rivals followed their immortal companions and Dumbledore out of the Great hall.
TBC
A/N: I'm so sorry this took so long to come out…I have been so busy you wouldn't believe it, and not to mention just a little case of writer's block. I also started, foolishly, three more stories, Chiaroscuro Minor, Chiaroscuro Major (Lord of the Rings/Forgotten Realms) and a third untitled story (Highlander/SG-1. The first part will be posted shortly…sometime this week.) So I will be working on all four simultaneously. Check them out…they're cool (at least I think so.)
Now…Quidditch tryouts! I need to replace Oliver Wood, The Twins, Alicia Spinet and Katie Bell (I think. If I can't think of anybody or don't get enough votes, then they get bumped back a year. Also, who was the third chaser? I can't remember.) I also need to replace Lee Jordan as the announcer. Ok. The replacement possibilities are;
Ron Weasley – keeper or chaser
Colin Creevy – beater or chaser
Denis Creevy – beater or keeper
Ginny Weasly – beater, keeper, or chaser
Neville Longbottom – keeper or announcer
Dean Thomas – beater, chaser or keeper
Seamus Finnegan – beater or announcer
Original Character – any
Miscellaneous cannon character – any
Ok, those are the choices. I need to know! You wont get a new chapter until you vote. (isn't emotional bribery wonderful!) Anyway, in the next chaper there's the truce and Quidditch tryouts. Please R/R! thanks
Ps- the chapter title is weak…if there are any suggestions, feel free to tell me.
Lurae- I hope I explained the Cassandra/Methos thing enough in this chaper. If I didn't, e-mail me. I'll be more than happy to explain. Cassandra is doomed to be a weakling due to some unrealistic writers and lack of practice. I can't tell you about the horsemen. You'll just have to wait and see.
The Light Goddess- I'm glad you like it. I'm also glad that you think the slash works so well, it's my first slash story, so I was a little nervous. I've gotten nothing but good thoughts, though, so…I love Methos as well.
SilverCatofBast- I'll e-mail you the information. My e-mail is scarletjedi not immotaljedi so don't be worried. There's not much, but I'll send you what I know. I would have sent it earlier, but I've been so busy, I finally have some down time, (yay!) I'm glad you like the story. About the elvish…sorry. I get them confused. When I'm done I'm going to go back and revise this story because a few others have pointed out some inaccuracies as well.
Vertigo- I love you too.
Tea- I had this exact same idea as soon as read a story where Cassandra talks to Sirius. I thought 'what if she was a teacher there.' Then I thought, 'Methos would make a good history of magic professor.' Then I thought, 'it would be hilarious to have them meet up again, I can do it in the great hall with lots of witnesses…' well, this story started out as just an excuse to write that scene, and it turned out to be the hardest thing to write. I wanna thank you for suggesting it, though, since I was going to do it differently, but I thought, 'why not. It's why I did this story in the first place,' so here it is. This chapter is for you. I don't normally dedicate things, but I felt you deserve some credit.
Vampire Child- I'm sorry to leave you hanging for so long. I'm glad I made you happy, and thanks for the show info. I want to see that episode SO BAD!!! Oohh! Anyway, I hope you did well on your exams; I (so far) didn't fail one. Thank the gods they're over.
Just a little sidenote before I finish the thanks – I'm Christian. I believe in a God. But I say things like 'thank the gods' and 'thank the goddess' and in my mind it avoids saying the Lord's name in vain. (like I'm such a good little Christian girl anyway, but…I'm fussy about some things) I picked them up from Methos, actually. From stories I've read. Just a little tidbit. Now, last but not least;
WyldeHorse- I am evil with that cliffhanger, aren't I. Well, here's the second part. The third will be coming later this week. My geo teach is Wilk…and she's just plain mean. Nobody I know who has been in her class has liked her or her teaching style. Just my luck huh? Good luck with your teach.
Chapter 18;
NOCK NOCK
Methos made a strangled noise in the back of his throat, and closed his eyes, going pale. Severus held on, concerned. Methos's jaw clenched and he grit out'
"Tell her I cannot meet with her now. I will talk to her later with Dumbledore."
"All right." Severus went to the door while Methos sat on the bed and put his head in his hands. Opening the door suddenly Severus almost got hit in the face by a knocking hand.
"He can't talk right now," Severus said, his voice cold and his eyes gleaming. "He will meet with you and Dumbledore later. Good Day." With that he slammed the door in her face. She stood there for a moment, stunned, before walking dazedly away. 'What was that prick doing in that immortal's room? He? Hmm…'
Inside the room Severus turned back to Methos and sat next to him on the bed. He placed a comforting hand on his back and starting playing with the short hairs on the back of his neck. Methos stretched his neck out like a cat and let his head fall, enjoying the light massage. It was a few minutes before he spoke again, his voice much stronger and more normal than before.
"I don't know why she affects me like that. I'm really not afraid of her…I guess it's more what she could do that I'm afraid of. I don't want to loose you."
"You aren't going to."
"I know that, but-"
"You're instincts are telling you otherwise, and you're used to trusting your instincts."
"Yes." Methos laughed. "We're finishing each other's sentences already."
"Great minds…"
"Think for themselves. And I know of two great minds that are going to be late for class." Methos stood up strait and inhaled deeply and held it before letting it out slowly and opening his eyes. He was calm now, his fight or flight response squashed (for now.) He turned and smiled at Severus. "I'm much better now, thank you." He leaned in and captured Severus's lips in a sweet soft kiss. "I really am," He said once they stopped. Severus smiled back.
"I'm glad. I wish we could stay longer, but we have to get to class."
"Yes. It is rather important for us to be there, being the teachers and all."
"Har, har. Very funny," Severus paused again, once more serious. "You're sure you're ok?"
"I'm sure. You'd be able tell if I wasn't." Severus nodded, knowing it for truth.
"True enough. Well, I will see you later."
"That you will." They kissed again; this time goodbye and Severus left Methos to get cleaned up in a swish of black cloth.
Dinnertime…
The day had continued on with no opportunity to talk with Dumbledore and Cassandra. Adam now sat watching the last student leave his classroom. He sighed and heard his stomach growl in response, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since last night's dinner. He closed his eyes. It wasn't the first time he's gone without dinner and it won't be the last. He could always go down to the kitchens later and get food from the elves. He opened an eye when he heard the door open. Severus stood there, leaning against the doorjam, watching Adam at his desk. Methos smiled.
"Why hello, love. What brings you up here away from your dungeon?"
"You do. I came to bring you to dinner." Methos waved a dismissive hand.
"You go. I'm not hungry." His statement was punctuated by a rather large growl from his stomach. Methos glared at the offensive organ. "Traitor." Severus chuckled.
"Come on, Methos. You cannot hide up here forever. You have to eat sometime, as I'm sure your stomach will agree." Methos made a face at him, and crossed his arms, stubbornly sitting at his desk.
"I'm not going. You can't make me."
"Now you're being childish," Severus sighed. "Fine. Stay up here and starve, if it pleases you, you big chicken. See if you're getting any tonight." Severus turned and left. Methos sat there for a moment, then jumped up and rushed after him.
"Wait for me! I am coming!" He ran out the door and smack into Severus, who was waiting for Methos just outside the door. Severus steadied the immortal, and smirked at him.
"I knew you'd see it my way. Come along." He started to walk away and Methos, realizing he had just been conned, started after him, grumbling all the way.
They arrived at the Great Hall with little more fuss than some louder grumbling as they neared, but Methos entered of his own accord. He refused to even look at Severus until after they had sat down. And then, it was in the form of a glare.
"I hope you realize," Methos hissed at him, "That if Cassandra shows up and DOES confront me in public, I will most likely be made to leave."
"I won't let you go," Severus hissed back. Methos just harrumphed.
"Just remember, that this is all YOUR fault." Severus's lip twitched, and he nodded. This seemed to appease Methos, and the ice on his shoulder started to melt. The two were chatting a little more friendly, (flirting is more like it) when Methos felt the Buzz. He stiffened, and his eyes fixed on the doors.
"She's on her way." Severus reached over and gave his hand a comforting squeeze, and Methos squeezed back, grateful.
Outside the Great Hall Cassandra paused as she felt the Buzz. It was only for a moment, but Remus, who was walking next to her, noticed.
"Are you alright?" Cassandra looked at him for a moment, blinking, before smiling at him.
"Yes, I'm fine. Let us go eat." Remus nodded, grinning. He pushed open the doors, and they entered. Cassandra's eyes went strait to the teacher's table…there. He was not there this mourning…HIM!
Methos watched as the doors opened and Remus and Cassandra entered. He watched her look, then her eyes fixed on him. They widened, and he felt the blood drain from his face, though his expression did not change. Her face flushed a deep red with anger, and she started walking swiftly towards him. If at all possible he tensed up even more, and now had Severus's hand in a death grip.
Most in the Great Hall were now watching as Cassandra rapidly approached the teacher's table, her anger growing more apparent by the second. All were watching as she broke into a ran and leapt at Methos over the table, and screamed in a language long dead,
"DIE HORSEMAN!" Methos, who had seen it coming, ducked under the table, and cried a high-pitched eep! The two were now on opposite sides of the table. He responded in the same language.
"Cassandra, please reconsider this, you don't want to…"
"Don't tell me what I want to don't want to do! You monster, you can't tell me what to do anymore!"
"I'm not trying to," Methos responded, still in that language, just a tad too hotly. Cassandra went livid, jumping back over the table, she attacked.
He ran.
Around the end of the table, where Hagrid sat, he ran behind the teachers with Cassandra hot on his heels. He tried again.
"Cassandra, remember what McLeod said? He wants me to live, that should count for something!"
"It counts for nothing. You didn't kill his village, you didn't enslave and rape him, did you?"
"No, but that's besides the point…"
"THAT IS EXACTLY THE POINT!" Cassandra ranted. Bear in mind that all this conversation has been in some language that died out centuries ago that only those two know of. From an outside point of view this scene is quite funny, but for those involved it is quite vexing. With her cry she sprang forward, once again attempting to get her hands around Methos's neck. Methos, using all 5000 years of survival training, ran for his life, being that even though it wouldn't kill him, dieing wouldn't be pleasant, and ended up back where he had started. But, by now, Methos was getting fed up. This whole situation was ridiculous. He was a better fighter than she was, so why was he running? He spoke again, still in the ancient language, and now his voice was less pleading and more confident.
"Cassandra, that is not the point. The point is you have refused to get over something that happened over three thousand years ago! That's a long time, even for us!"
"YOU MURDERED ME! You raped me and made me your slave! You got me to trust you then gave me up to that bastard, Kronos!"
"SO WHAT!" Methos roared, for now he was angry as well. The whole hall was silent, watching this spectacle. Dumbledore stood, preparing to intervene. It had been amusing at first, but this was going to far. Methos continued, oblivious to everything else, "You're not the first to get such treatment, nor were you the last! And not just by me. I have known people who had it much worse than you, and behave much more maturely." Dumbledore interrupted them now, calling,
"Adam." He didn't hear and continued.
"You refuse to see this from the eyes of the times. You look at it with modern sensibilities, for all your origins. The world was different then Cassandra. I was different. The world can change, why can't I?" Cassandra sneered.
"A leopard can't change it's spots." Dumbledore tried again.
"Cassandra." It didn't work once more.
"I'm not a leopard, Cassandra, and I don't have spots. I'm a man. And men can change."
"You're not a man, you're a monster!"
"SILENCE!" Dumbledore finally had enough. "You will stop this immediately. The two of you are acting like children and fools, and I know from experience that you two are neither. The two of you will follow me to my office and we will settle this like the responsible adults we are. And if you are going to argue, do it in English. Now follow me." He turned back to the students. "You all may eat now and do not worry, this spectacle will not happen again." He turned and walked towards the door. He paused by Severus and Remus. "You two follow as well. I have a feeling you will need to be there." They nodded and the two rivals followed their immortal companions and Dumbledore out of the Great hall.
TBC
A/N: I'm so sorry this took so long to come out…I have been so busy you wouldn't believe it, and not to mention just a little case of writer's block. I also started, foolishly, three more stories, Chiaroscuro Minor, Chiaroscuro Major (Lord of the Rings/Forgotten Realms) and a third untitled story (Highlander/SG-1. The first part will be posted shortly…sometime this week.) So I will be working on all four simultaneously. Check them out…they're cool (at least I think so.)
Now…Quidditch tryouts! I need to replace Oliver Wood, The Twins, Alicia Spinet and Katie Bell (I think. If I can't think of anybody or don't get enough votes, then they get bumped back a year. Also, who was the third chaser? I can't remember.) I also need to replace Lee Jordan as the announcer. Ok. The replacement possibilities are;
Ron Weasley – keeper or chaser
Colin Creevy – beater or chaser
Denis Creevy – beater or keeper
Ginny Weasly – beater, keeper, or chaser
Neville Longbottom – keeper or announcer
Dean Thomas – beater, chaser or keeper
Seamus Finnegan – beater or announcer
Original Character – any
Miscellaneous cannon character – any
Ok, those are the choices. I need to know! You wont get a new chapter until you vote. (isn't emotional bribery wonderful!) Anyway, in the next chaper there's the truce and Quidditch tryouts. Please R/R! thanks
Ps- the chapter title is weak…if there are any suggestions, feel free to tell me.
Lurae- I hope I explained the Cassandra/Methos thing enough in this chaper. If I didn't, e-mail me. I'll be more than happy to explain. Cassandra is doomed to be a weakling due to some unrealistic writers and lack of practice. I can't tell you about the horsemen. You'll just have to wait and see.
The Light Goddess- I'm glad you like it. I'm also glad that you think the slash works so well, it's my first slash story, so I was a little nervous. I've gotten nothing but good thoughts, though, so…I love Methos as well.
SilverCatofBast- I'll e-mail you the information. My e-mail is scarletjedi not immotaljedi so don't be worried. There's not much, but I'll send you what I know. I would have sent it earlier, but I've been so busy, I finally have some down time, (yay!) I'm glad you like the story. About the elvish…sorry. I get them confused. When I'm done I'm going to go back and revise this story because a few others have pointed out some inaccuracies as well.
Vertigo- I love you too.
Tea- I had this exact same idea as soon as read a story where Cassandra talks to Sirius. I thought 'what if she was a teacher there.' Then I thought, 'Methos would make a good history of magic professor.' Then I thought, 'it would be hilarious to have them meet up again, I can do it in the great hall with lots of witnesses…' well, this story started out as just an excuse to write that scene, and it turned out to be the hardest thing to write. I wanna thank you for suggesting it, though, since I was going to do it differently, but I thought, 'why not. It's why I did this story in the first place,' so here it is. This chapter is for you. I don't normally dedicate things, but I felt you deserve some credit.
Vampire Child- I'm sorry to leave you hanging for so long. I'm glad I made you happy, and thanks for the show info. I want to see that episode SO BAD!!! Oohh! Anyway, I hope you did well on your exams; I (so far) didn't fail one. Thank the gods they're over.
Just a little sidenote before I finish the thanks – I'm Christian. I believe in a God. But I say things like 'thank the gods' and 'thank the goddess' and in my mind it avoids saying the Lord's name in vain. (like I'm such a good little Christian girl anyway, but…I'm fussy about some things) I picked them up from Methos, actually. From stories I've read. Just a little tidbit. Now, last but not least;
WyldeHorse- I am evil with that cliffhanger, aren't I. Well, here's the second part. The third will be coming later this week. My geo teach is Wilk…and she's just plain mean. Nobody I know who has been in her class has liked her or her teaching style. Just my luck huh? Good luck with your teach.