Disclaimer: Really, do you ever just want to type "YES, DAMN IT, IT'S
MINE!"? :D Of course it's not mine. Sheesh.
****************
6. Of Serpents And Hags
****************
The fire in the Slytherin common room was burning low in the grate, early in the wee hours of the morning, when something moved from the fluffy bed of ashes below it – a head appeared, shaking dust from itself, and two jewel – like red eyes surveyed the dark, empty room.
Moments later, a thin, pale, silvery gray serpent slithered forth, steam rising from its white - hot scales. It moved across the threadbare carpet in an abrupt, zigzagging fashion, as if looking for something…
The Ashwinder paused, it's eyes glowing in the shadows as they searched out the darkest, most secluded place in sight.
The sharp eyes settled on a barely discernable crack in the stone wall, which was covered with a tapestry – a black forked tongue slid out to taste the air, and the snake crossed to the fissure, leaving a fine trail of dust in it's wake.
***************
Ginny was sitting on the edge of her bed, slipping a glass of water and feeling miserable, contemplating the day.
She choked and coughed when the door to her bedroom was thrown open, and Severus stalked in. She gasped as she saw that the tail of his robes had great, smoldering holes in them.
"What happened?" She set aside her water and stood up, her head still pounding from the single glass of wine she'd downed the night before.
He crossed his arms and stared down his nose at her through the tiny tendrils of smoke rising around him. His hair was in a crazy tangle, and his burnt robes looked as if he'd slept in them – which he probably had…
"I only stopped by to warn you, Virginia, to check your rooms for Ashwinder eggs - a foolish Slytherin attempted to use floo powder in the common room last night, and it resulted in the near destruction of my own rooms." He said tightly, his usually deep, silky voice sounding hoarse.
"Oh my God!" Ginny hurried over to him, her hands clasping his robes. "Are you all right?"
He shrugged off her touch with a sneer. "Get a hold of yourself, Weasley – I'm perfectly fine. Just a stroke of bad luck, is all."
"Is the fire out?"
"Would I be here if it wasn't?" Severus turned away, only to pause in the doorway.
"I might recommend a refresher course on the danger of misusing magical fires for your class today, Professor,"
Ginny was tempted to childishly stick her tongue out at his back as he swept out of the room, but her head hurt too badly.
All she could think about was that he could have died of smoke inhalation, if he hadn't woken up in time to extinguish the fire…
Thank God he was all right…
Well, she amended thoughtfully, if being his usual, grouchy self was considered normal…
She wandered off to her classroom, opting to skip breakfast in favor of finding a charm to banish her hangover.
****************
Severus mourned the loss of several shelves of ingredients in his private store later that morning – thankfully, he'd managed to contain the fire with a freezing spell, and had prevented damage to his considerably more important, rare collection.
He was sitting at his desk during the lunch break, when he saw Ginny's red head with its black, feathered hat pop around the door.
He kept his eyes on his work, ignoring her completely, although he had to hide a small wince as he reflexively swallowed and the soreness of his burned throat flared.
"Hello…just thought I'd drop by and see how you were faring," the girl said brightly, walking right up to his desk as if she had every right to be there.
Severus tried very hard not to note to himself that she had been the only one that day to inquire further about his well being.
"I am well," he managed to mutter, concentrating on dipping his quill pen into his crystal ink well, uncomfortable in a way he'd never known beneath the scrutiny of her eyes.
"I'm very glad to hear it – it would have been awful if you'd died, and had to haunt the school with the rest of the ghosts…" she said merrily with a small, musical laugh that drew his nerves taut.
"I very seriously doubt I would ever return as a spirit, Virginia." He stated coldly. He looked up at her at last "May I assume there is another reason you are still present? I have work, you see."
The twinkle went out of her brown eyes, and he cursed himself.
"I'm terribly sorry to have disturbed you, Professor Snape – the next time some terrible misfortune occurs to you, I'll remind myself not to bother!"
"I don't understand why you bothered in the first place – it's not as if anyone here wouldn't be glad to see the back of me," he growled at her retreating back, dropping the quill back into it's stopper. He watched her freeze, and bit his tongue in punishment. Why had he said that?
"I would," he heard her whisper stubbornly, and then she was gone.
He stared at the mess he'd made of the paper before him and pushed it away with a snarl.
He'd subconsciously gone fishing for that response, and she probably knew it.
Disconcerted, he didn't realize how much time had passed as he stared down at his desk, until the next class began arriving.
******************
Ginny scowled as her students stubbornly refused to pay her any mind.
They looked on her as being one of them, which was fine by her – as long as they listened to what she had to say.
She'd obviously been too easy on them.
Ginny searched her mind, and then came upon the perfect solution.
"The Basilisk is what we'll be studying today – also known as the King of Serpents," she said loudly, tapping her foot impatiently.
That had definitely gotten her classes errant attention. The lot of them turned around in their seats to stare up at her silently.
"As I'm sure you all already know about the events of my unfortunate brush with Hogwarts resident Basilisk, we won't waste time with questions about it. Suffice it to say, it was a very large, very dangerous creature, and I'm quite lucky to be here."
"Now, does anyone know how the Basilisk is created?"
She smiled in satisfaction as a dozen hands shot up.
*******************
Ginny's first teacher's meeting proved to be rather enjoyable.
Especially since she had the opportunity to see Severus so uncomfortable he was practically scratching at the door to get out of the teacher's lounge.
Dumbledore was outlining the rest of the term and some changes he had made in the schedule – including the addition of a Halloween Ball.
Ginny, who was watching Severus with great interest, noticed his skin go slightly green.
He excused himself soon after.
"What's gotten into him?" She found herself asking out loud.
Albus smiled. "Severus isn't terribly fond of social events, Ginny. He had a rather bad experience at a Hogwarts ball once."
"A ' bad' experience, Albus?" Minerva snorted.
Ginny was dying to ask what had happened when no further information seemed forthcoming, but decided it would be improper.
She left the meeting later, wondering what could possibly have happened to him that had been so awful it still affected him so badly…
***************
Severus gave her a nasty glance.
"You must be joking, Virginia."
Ginny crossed her arms and cocked her head slightly. "Should I take that as a resounding no?"
He looked up from the cauldron he was busily stirring, and narrowed his eyes. "Yes."
"Is the thought of escorting me the ball so very abhorrent?" Ginny thought for a moment, and then shook her head. "Wait – don't bother answering that – I already know what you're going to say."
Severus turned away, walking into his storeroom. He returned moments later with several black feathers in hand.
She wrinkled her nose at the potion boiling before her. "What is that you're brewing?"
He bent his dark head as he carefully dropped the feathers in. "A potion that drives away annoying women," he muttered lowly, adjusting the flame beneath the cauldron.
Ginny frowned and moved away towards the door. "Well, seeing as you're so determined to spend the rest of your life alone, I won't bother you anymore – tonight, anyway."
**************
Severus was surprised to note that Ginny barely paid him any attention at all over the next few weeks – other than a cheeky smile at dinner, or when she passed him in the hall, she seemed to have given up on pursuing him.
The thought gave him mixed feelings, and he didn't care for that one little bit.
At dinner one evening, a few days before Halloween, he arrived to discover an odd witch sitting in Minerva's place, and discovered her to be Albus's sister. Minerva had been called away on important business, and 'Bertie' was going to take over teaching Transfigurations for a day or two.
He frowned suspiciously as they were introduced – he'd never known Albus had had a sister…and then every thought went flying out of his head as he stared at the woman in horror. He'd finally gotten a good look at her, and truly wished he hadn't…
The woman had to be the most god – awful ugly creature he'd ever seen.
The hag was some ten years his senior, had large buckteeth, and white streaked gray hair. There were moles everywhere he looked – and her voice was about as pleasant to listen to as fingernails screeching on a blackboard.
He managed to keep himself civil as he murmured a greeting – but he was afraid there was an obvious look of disgust on his face as he noticed she was almost as wide in the hips as she was tall.
Too late he noticed she'd taken a quite immediate fancy to him. He had to keep plucking her disturbingly hairy, plump hand from his leg throughout dinner – and on top of that, Ginny was laughing – 'laughing' – at him on his opposite side all the while!
"If you please, Madam, restrain yourself!" He finally gritted out at Bertie through his teeth.
He turned a black look on Ginny who snorted beside him, and clapped a hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking as she struggled to keep from laughing out loud.
Bertie giggled obnoxiously beside him and Severus groaned.
The evening got worse from there.
"Severus – Albus tells me there is to be a ball in a few days time…"
He froze as he raised a fourth glass of wine to his lips. He dared a look at Bertie from the corner of his eye, and winced as she opened her thick- lipped mouth to ask something he instinctively knew was coming.
"Er, yes, Bertie…there is – you'll excuse me for a moment." At which point he rose, setting down his glass, and grabbed Ginny by the arm, practically dragging her out the back entrance of the hall into a cold corridor.
"Another stroke of bad luck, Professor?"
He scowled down at her as she grinned up at him, blowing a strand of red hair from her eyes.
"Don't give me that, Weasley – if you'd been sitting next to that great erumpent in there all evening you'd have wanted to escape, too."
"I think Bertie is quite…entertaining," Ginny managed before she burst out laughing again, holding her stomach and turning away from him.
Severus rolled his eyes and grasped her shoulder, pulling her back to face him.
"Virginia – "
"I – its Ginny," she gasped, still giggling. "I'll only answer to Ginny."
"Ballocks…oh, very well, 'Ginny'…tell me you haven't an escort for the ball as of yet."
"Well, now that you ask –"
"Ginny." Her name came out as a growl.
"Well, no, but –"
"Thank God. Don't say another word – I'll be escorting you."
"But you said –"
"Forget what I said," he snapped in exasperation. "Tell me you'll go with me."
She pursed her lips and proceeded to look as if she were thinking hard.
"Ginny!" He hissed through is teeth in warning.
"Oh, all right! Of course I'll go with you – but I think poor Bertie will be absolutely heartbroken!" Ginny lost control of herself and began giggling again.
Severus glared at her and threw the door open, walking back into the hall.
Ginny followed him a few moments later, red cheeked.
"Wait, Snape – here comes Bertie. Isn't she sweet? I do believe she has a 'crush' on you, Professor."
Severus sneered at her before Bertie came even with them.
"Professor Snape," she whined through her protruding teeth, "I was wondering if perhaps you might care to escort me to the ball?"
****************
Ginny turned away and had to bite the cuff of her robe sleeve to keep from howling at the horrified expression on Severus's face.
"Er – well, you see, Bertie, I would normally be honored…but Professor Weasley has already accepted my offer that we go together…I do hope you'll understand."
Bertie looked crestfallen. "Oh! Well…all right, then, Professor," she said, her chins quavering, and moved away after shooting Ginny a rather snide look.
Severus nearly collapsed with relief beside her.
Ginny shook her head, and sighed, clapping a hand on his arm comfortingly.
"You poor man…it must be awful for you, being so p – popular with t –the ladies!"
Ginny turned and walked away, receiving odd looks from the students as she walked up the aisle to the front entrance of the great hall, nearly crying with her laughter.
*****************
To Be Continued…
A/N: Sorry it took so long to get that up – hope it wasn't too silly. Thanks to everyone for reviewing ! – Key
* An Erumpent is the Wizarding world's equivalent to an elephant, I think. : D Just in case you were wondering…
****************
6. Of Serpents And Hags
****************
The fire in the Slytherin common room was burning low in the grate, early in the wee hours of the morning, when something moved from the fluffy bed of ashes below it – a head appeared, shaking dust from itself, and two jewel – like red eyes surveyed the dark, empty room.
Moments later, a thin, pale, silvery gray serpent slithered forth, steam rising from its white - hot scales. It moved across the threadbare carpet in an abrupt, zigzagging fashion, as if looking for something…
The Ashwinder paused, it's eyes glowing in the shadows as they searched out the darkest, most secluded place in sight.
The sharp eyes settled on a barely discernable crack in the stone wall, which was covered with a tapestry – a black forked tongue slid out to taste the air, and the snake crossed to the fissure, leaving a fine trail of dust in it's wake.
***************
Ginny was sitting on the edge of her bed, slipping a glass of water and feeling miserable, contemplating the day.
She choked and coughed when the door to her bedroom was thrown open, and Severus stalked in. She gasped as she saw that the tail of his robes had great, smoldering holes in them.
"What happened?" She set aside her water and stood up, her head still pounding from the single glass of wine she'd downed the night before.
He crossed his arms and stared down his nose at her through the tiny tendrils of smoke rising around him. His hair was in a crazy tangle, and his burnt robes looked as if he'd slept in them – which he probably had…
"I only stopped by to warn you, Virginia, to check your rooms for Ashwinder eggs - a foolish Slytherin attempted to use floo powder in the common room last night, and it resulted in the near destruction of my own rooms." He said tightly, his usually deep, silky voice sounding hoarse.
"Oh my God!" Ginny hurried over to him, her hands clasping his robes. "Are you all right?"
He shrugged off her touch with a sneer. "Get a hold of yourself, Weasley – I'm perfectly fine. Just a stroke of bad luck, is all."
"Is the fire out?"
"Would I be here if it wasn't?" Severus turned away, only to pause in the doorway.
"I might recommend a refresher course on the danger of misusing magical fires for your class today, Professor,"
Ginny was tempted to childishly stick her tongue out at his back as he swept out of the room, but her head hurt too badly.
All she could think about was that he could have died of smoke inhalation, if he hadn't woken up in time to extinguish the fire…
Thank God he was all right…
Well, she amended thoughtfully, if being his usual, grouchy self was considered normal…
She wandered off to her classroom, opting to skip breakfast in favor of finding a charm to banish her hangover.
****************
Severus mourned the loss of several shelves of ingredients in his private store later that morning – thankfully, he'd managed to contain the fire with a freezing spell, and had prevented damage to his considerably more important, rare collection.
He was sitting at his desk during the lunch break, when he saw Ginny's red head with its black, feathered hat pop around the door.
He kept his eyes on his work, ignoring her completely, although he had to hide a small wince as he reflexively swallowed and the soreness of his burned throat flared.
"Hello…just thought I'd drop by and see how you were faring," the girl said brightly, walking right up to his desk as if she had every right to be there.
Severus tried very hard not to note to himself that she had been the only one that day to inquire further about his well being.
"I am well," he managed to mutter, concentrating on dipping his quill pen into his crystal ink well, uncomfortable in a way he'd never known beneath the scrutiny of her eyes.
"I'm very glad to hear it – it would have been awful if you'd died, and had to haunt the school with the rest of the ghosts…" she said merrily with a small, musical laugh that drew his nerves taut.
"I very seriously doubt I would ever return as a spirit, Virginia." He stated coldly. He looked up at her at last "May I assume there is another reason you are still present? I have work, you see."
The twinkle went out of her brown eyes, and he cursed himself.
"I'm terribly sorry to have disturbed you, Professor Snape – the next time some terrible misfortune occurs to you, I'll remind myself not to bother!"
"I don't understand why you bothered in the first place – it's not as if anyone here wouldn't be glad to see the back of me," he growled at her retreating back, dropping the quill back into it's stopper. He watched her freeze, and bit his tongue in punishment. Why had he said that?
"I would," he heard her whisper stubbornly, and then she was gone.
He stared at the mess he'd made of the paper before him and pushed it away with a snarl.
He'd subconsciously gone fishing for that response, and she probably knew it.
Disconcerted, he didn't realize how much time had passed as he stared down at his desk, until the next class began arriving.
******************
Ginny scowled as her students stubbornly refused to pay her any mind.
They looked on her as being one of them, which was fine by her – as long as they listened to what she had to say.
She'd obviously been too easy on them.
Ginny searched her mind, and then came upon the perfect solution.
"The Basilisk is what we'll be studying today – also known as the King of Serpents," she said loudly, tapping her foot impatiently.
That had definitely gotten her classes errant attention. The lot of them turned around in their seats to stare up at her silently.
"As I'm sure you all already know about the events of my unfortunate brush with Hogwarts resident Basilisk, we won't waste time with questions about it. Suffice it to say, it was a very large, very dangerous creature, and I'm quite lucky to be here."
"Now, does anyone know how the Basilisk is created?"
She smiled in satisfaction as a dozen hands shot up.
*******************
Ginny's first teacher's meeting proved to be rather enjoyable.
Especially since she had the opportunity to see Severus so uncomfortable he was practically scratching at the door to get out of the teacher's lounge.
Dumbledore was outlining the rest of the term and some changes he had made in the schedule – including the addition of a Halloween Ball.
Ginny, who was watching Severus with great interest, noticed his skin go slightly green.
He excused himself soon after.
"What's gotten into him?" She found herself asking out loud.
Albus smiled. "Severus isn't terribly fond of social events, Ginny. He had a rather bad experience at a Hogwarts ball once."
"A ' bad' experience, Albus?" Minerva snorted.
Ginny was dying to ask what had happened when no further information seemed forthcoming, but decided it would be improper.
She left the meeting later, wondering what could possibly have happened to him that had been so awful it still affected him so badly…
***************
Severus gave her a nasty glance.
"You must be joking, Virginia."
Ginny crossed her arms and cocked her head slightly. "Should I take that as a resounding no?"
He looked up from the cauldron he was busily stirring, and narrowed his eyes. "Yes."
"Is the thought of escorting me the ball so very abhorrent?" Ginny thought for a moment, and then shook her head. "Wait – don't bother answering that – I already know what you're going to say."
Severus turned away, walking into his storeroom. He returned moments later with several black feathers in hand.
She wrinkled her nose at the potion boiling before her. "What is that you're brewing?"
He bent his dark head as he carefully dropped the feathers in. "A potion that drives away annoying women," he muttered lowly, adjusting the flame beneath the cauldron.
Ginny frowned and moved away towards the door. "Well, seeing as you're so determined to spend the rest of your life alone, I won't bother you anymore – tonight, anyway."
**************
Severus was surprised to note that Ginny barely paid him any attention at all over the next few weeks – other than a cheeky smile at dinner, or when she passed him in the hall, she seemed to have given up on pursuing him.
The thought gave him mixed feelings, and he didn't care for that one little bit.
At dinner one evening, a few days before Halloween, he arrived to discover an odd witch sitting in Minerva's place, and discovered her to be Albus's sister. Minerva had been called away on important business, and 'Bertie' was going to take over teaching Transfigurations for a day or two.
He frowned suspiciously as they were introduced – he'd never known Albus had had a sister…and then every thought went flying out of his head as he stared at the woman in horror. He'd finally gotten a good look at her, and truly wished he hadn't…
The woman had to be the most god – awful ugly creature he'd ever seen.
The hag was some ten years his senior, had large buckteeth, and white streaked gray hair. There were moles everywhere he looked – and her voice was about as pleasant to listen to as fingernails screeching on a blackboard.
He managed to keep himself civil as he murmured a greeting – but he was afraid there was an obvious look of disgust on his face as he noticed she was almost as wide in the hips as she was tall.
Too late he noticed she'd taken a quite immediate fancy to him. He had to keep plucking her disturbingly hairy, plump hand from his leg throughout dinner – and on top of that, Ginny was laughing – 'laughing' – at him on his opposite side all the while!
"If you please, Madam, restrain yourself!" He finally gritted out at Bertie through his teeth.
He turned a black look on Ginny who snorted beside him, and clapped a hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking as she struggled to keep from laughing out loud.
Bertie giggled obnoxiously beside him and Severus groaned.
The evening got worse from there.
"Severus – Albus tells me there is to be a ball in a few days time…"
He froze as he raised a fourth glass of wine to his lips. He dared a look at Bertie from the corner of his eye, and winced as she opened her thick- lipped mouth to ask something he instinctively knew was coming.
"Er, yes, Bertie…there is – you'll excuse me for a moment." At which point he rose, setting down his glass, and grabbed Ginny by the arm, practically dragging her out the back entrance of the hall into a cold corridor.
"Another stroke of bad luck, Professor?"
He scowled down at her as she grinned up at him, blowing a strand of red hair from her eyes.
"Don't give me that, Weasley – if you'd been sitting next to that great erumpent in there all evening you'd have wanted to escape, too."
"I think Bertie is quite…entertaining," Ginny managed before she burst out laughing again, holding her stomach and turning away from him.
Severus rolled his eyes and grasped her shoulder, pulling her back to face him.
"Virginia – "
"I – its Ginny," she gasped, still giggling. "I'll only answer to Ginny."
"Ballocks…oh, very well, 'Ginny'…tell me you haven't an escort for the ball as of yet."
"Well, now that you ask –"
"Ginny." Her name came out as a growl.
"Well, no, but –"
"Thank God. Don't say another word – I'll be escorting you."
"But you said –"
"Forget what I said," he snapped in exasperation. "Tell me you'll go with me."
She pursed her lips and proceeded to look as if she were thinking hard.
"Ginny!" He hissed through is teeth in warning.
"Oh, all right! Of course I'll go with you – but I think poor Bertie will be absolutely heartbroken!" Ginny lost control of herself and began giggling again.
Severus glared at her and threw the door open, walking back into the hall.
Ginny followed him a few moments later, red cheeked.
"Wait, Snape – here comes Bertie. Isn't she sweet? I do believe she has a 'crush' on you, Professor."
Severus sneered at her before Bertie came even with them.
"Professor Snape," she whined through her protruding teeth, "I was wondering if perhaps you might care to escort me to the ball?"
****************
Ginny turned away and had to bite the cuff of her robe sleeve to keep from howling at the horrified expression on Severus's face.
"Er – well, you see, Bertie, I would normally be honored…but Professor Weasley has already accepted my offer that we go together…I do hope you'll understand."
Bertie looked crestfallen. "Oh! Well…all right, then, Professor," she said, her chins quavering, and moved away after shooting Ginny a rather snide look.
Severus nearly collapsed with relief beside her.
Ginny shook her head, and sighed, clapping a hand on his arm comfortingly.
"You poor man…it must be awful for you, being so p – popular with t –the ladies!"
Ginny turned and walked away, receiving odd looks from the students as she walked up the aisle to the front entrance of the great hall, nearly crying with her laughter.
*****************
To Be Continued…
A/N: Sorry it took so long to get that up – hope it wasn't too silly. Thanks to everyone for reviewing ! – Key
* An Erumpent is the Wizarding world's equivalent to an elephant, I think. : D Just in case you were wondering…