10. Fred And George Strike Again
*******************
A/N: Okay, first off - yeah, it's been a long time since I updated. I've been spending my time in seedy motel bars, and therefore have been unavailable to write. : D
I want to apologize for the last chapter - it was short, and really boring - really, really boring. I hated it. Just so you know, I am fully aware it sucked, and I don't really know why I posted it. Oh wait - it was the hatchet thing. ::cough:: Don't you just love pressure and death threats?
Also, if you guys want to get verbally assaulted by our dear old Snapey, I suggest you check out CryingCinderella's 'Ask Snape Anything' fic. It's NC- 17, so be warned. He's a right bastard, let me tell ya. Gotta' luv him.
I'm also apologizing in advance for this chapter - in case you guys haven't noticed, I sometimes have a freakishly extensive vocabulary - I've been accused by my elders of making up words - and I also have a penchant for infrequently used words. Like 'penchant', or 'meritorious', or 'gallimaufry'. ( ? ) Right - anyway, thanks to those of you who have continued to review, and so kindly taken the time to remind me to get off my lazy ass and update. ::sniff:: You truly make life worth living. Sorry if this one isn't up to snuff.
-Key
P.S. If you think I'm weird, thanks for noticing. :D
*******************
Twenty minutes later, Severus found himself wondering at the extent of his own patience.
At any other time, the surplus of stupidity crowded into the Great Hall would have had him mentally tearing at his hair.
He wasn't even sneering.
Yet.
"Enervate!"
Severus bestowed a glare on the two Hufflepuff boys who'd managed to stupefy each other senseless, and watched them drag themselves unsteadily off the floor.
"I suppose we should all be thankful you two at least managed to hit your targets," he snapped, "instead of any innocent bystanders. Have you forgotten what little you have managed to learn, already?"
"Er - Professor? Perhaps another demonstration is in order?"
Severus narrowed his eyes at the familiar voice and slowly turned to look at Harry, who stood in a circle of wide-eyed Gryffindors, absently twirling his wand and looking deceptively innocent.
He gave the younger man a very suspicious once over and then nodded shortly. "Very well, Mr. Potter. Since you're feeling brave."
A wave of snickers came from the Slytherins present.
They took their places, and Severus felt his lip curl slightly as he caught Harry's eye.
Harry, he noticed, did not bother to bow.
He was aware of the crowd of students watching in silent awe. They were obviously sure a battle royal was imminent, and most of them didn't want to miss a chance at seeing their crabby potions professor get knocked on his ass.
Setting his jaw, he stifled a sudden urge to sneer outright and waited impatiently for the count, staring Harry down in an icy, abrasive way that usually set his dueling partners to wincing and looking away.
Potter didn't bat an eyelash.
Severus wasn't surprised at his lack of response to his tried and true intimidation tactics. The boy never had been the type.
He allowed the slightest of smiles to cross his lips, as if he knew something Harry didn't - and that was what threw him, what made the young man blink.
Severus used the small distraction to his advantage and immediately hit Harry with a Confundus charm, which he just as quickly countered.
The brat then tried unsuccessfully, to make use of the tickling curse, Rictusempra, to which he quickly responded with Furnunculus - and again Harry managed to utter the counter curse and escape.
Harry swiftly rebounded with an impressive but immature Densaugeo hex, which was ridiculously easy to counter.
Soon, Severus was tiring of Harry's apparent need to show off. He was about to use Petrificus Totalus when he was momentarily distracted by a suspiciously wild wrist movement of Harry's, at what time, embarrassingly, the younger man managed to successfully strike him with an Itching curse.
Instantly an intolerable crawling began beneath the surface of his skin, and despite his best efforts to retain control over himself, Severus found himself almost bending over back wards to try and assuage the extreme discomfort he felt. He sent a glare at Harry, who was watching his antics with a familiar wide, sparkling grin.
Snarling, Severus gritted his teeth and dug his fingernails into the skin at the base of his neck, as a new torturous itch sprang up.
He heard the crowd of students howling as they watched him practically dance around the dais, and he tightened his jaw, forcing himself to straighten his back and remain still despite the screeching of his nerve endings.
It wasn't often he was the subject of someone's laughter, and the fact that half his students were standing about with the nerve to do exactly that infuriated him.
Potter was going to pay for this.
*************************
Ginny's lingering headache was abruptly forgotten in light of the news she received.
"You did what?"
Harry was still laughing, his green eyes bright, dancing with mirth.
"I used the Itching Curse. It was hysterical - "
Ginny groaned. "Let me guess - you used the tampered with one didn't you? The one Fred and George came up with - "
" - the one that lasts four hours, with no counter. Yes - and did he deserve it, the crusty old - "
"Harry!" Ginny shook her head and sat up in her bed, immediately reaching for her robes.
"Gin! What are you doing?" Looking alarmed, the grin finally dropped form Harry's face, and he put out his hands to stop her. "You can't get up yet - "
Ginny pushed his hands away impatiently, shaking her loose red curls from her eyes as she swept the robes around her and stood shakily. "That was cruel, Harry."
"Ginny, I'm sorry - I didn't know it would upset you so badly! I thought you'd get a laugh out of it - and hey! Speaking of cruel! You were the one who used it on me that time - do you have any idea what it was like for me, itching like that, and thinking I'd have to - "
"By making the poor man look like a fool in front of his students? You should know better, Harry Potter!" Ginny ignored him, and took a few experimental steps forward, her legs trembling beneath her weight.
" - and with my best friends bloody little sister, no less -"
"I mean, he's already surly and completely anti-social! Make it all the more difficult for me, why don't you!"
She ignored his confusion, and then shocked look of understanding that stole across his handsome features before she stopped at the Infirmary doors, snapping at him over her shoulder, " - and he's 'mature', not 'crusty'!"
"Ginny, wait! Tell me you aren't going to do what I think you're going to do!"
Harry sounded positively horrified. He knew very well what she was going to do - she'd been the one to talk her brothers into placing a certain loop - hole in the curse, way back when she'd had fancied him.
"It's none of your business what I'm going to do, Harry - but, you can wish me luck."
Harry's mouth dropped open and she smiled in satisfaction as she pushed through the doors, a determined expression on her pale face.
*******************
Ginny found Severus in his dark dungeon rooms, seeing him for the first time with his robes discarded, trying to scratch his back while cursing the air blue and searching through an endless assortment of potions.
The scene was so uncharacteristic she actually did allow herself a smile before she wiped it away and rapped hard on the doorframe with her knuckles. If she looked too hard at his rumpled appearance, the swath of lean muscle and pale skin his unbuttoned white shirt revealed, she'd never be able to unglue her jaw from the floor.
She watched him spin around to face her, a very unwelcoming expression on his face, his hand working furiously just under the back collar of his shirt.
He looked surprised at seeing her, but only briefly, before he turned back to continue searching among his supplies.
"Why are you out of bed?" He asked in an ill-tempered, impatient voice.
Ginny swallowed as she watched the starkness of his black hair fan across the pure white linen of his loose shirt. He reached for a book on an upper shelf and her mouth went dry at the sight.
Severus Snape had just used the word 'bed' in her presence.
Ginny shook herself and stepped into the large room, which was located just off his office.
"Harry told me about what happened."
He never stopped in his actions long enough to look at her directly. He snorted darkly, and gave his forearm a rough, clearly unsatisfying scratch before pushing his hair behind his ear and turning back the cuffs of his shirt.
Ginny eyed the light sprinkling of soft, dark hair over the strong, corded backs of his hands and forearms, feeling slightly faint.
She cleared her throat and frowned. "What are you looking for? If it's something for the curse, you won't find it - Fred and George made it nearly unbreakable."
"I should have known your two miscreant siblings had a hand in this," Severus snapped fractiously, rubbing the tip of his nose with one knuckle.
Ginny again held back a smile, and walked into the room without waiting for an invitation. She had to sit down. She was feeling much better, but her legs were far from steady, and the dull throb at her temples was making her feel weak.
He turned on her finally as she dropped exhaustedly into a velvety soft looking wingback several feet away, in front of the empty hearth.
"Please, make yourself at home," he said with brittle sarcasm, raising one hand to slip inside his unbuttoned shirtfront.
Ginny looked away from the tempting sight and fumbled in her robe pocket for her wand before she realized she'd left it sitting on her bedside table.
"Do you always keep it so bloody cold and dark in here?" She found herself griping.
"As these are my 'private' rooms, and you are a rather unexpected, and unwelcome, I might add, guest here, I don't see why it should be any of your concern how I choose to keep them," Severus drawled a bit absently, though his deep voice still held it's usual biting sarcasm.
"Well be a decent host to this unwelcome visitor and start a fire, will you? If my teeth chatter any harder I'm going to fall off this chair," she responded, chaffing her upper arms pointedly through her robes.
He made an abrupt growling noise and pointed his wand at the cold hearth.
"Incendio!"
A blazing flare erupted, making Ginny draw back. She sent him a dirty look and curled her knees up to her chest. The chair smelled deliciously of him, and was amazingly comfortable.
"Now, will you kindly tell me why you are still here? Did you come to watch me squirm in discomfort?"
Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes. "I came to help you, you mistrustful git. Luckily for you, I know just how to alleviate the symptoms."
"You must be joking," Severus stated slowly, watching her through his hooded eyes scathingly.
"Oh for God's sake, Snape - you're really a conceited one! Assuming I'm trying to get in your knickers, aren't you?" She laughed at the thoroughly disgruntled expression on his face.
"Can't you go harangue Potter for a bit? I'm sure he wouldn't mind listening to that prattling tongue of yours,"
"The effects are going to last for up to four hours, you know," Ginny said imperturbably. She studied her fingernails and watched him out of the corner of her eye as he scratched the skin under his lean, shadowed jaw vigorously.
"Four hours? I'll be in bloody ribbons by then," he snarled in frustration.
"You have to take a hot bath with a virgin," Ginny commented suddenly, her eyes watching him closely for his reaction.
The large, rather heavy looking book he'd taken into his hands suddenly slipped out of his grasp, and hit one booted foot with an unpleasant thud.
Ginny hugged herself tightly, and laughed so hard she choked. The look on his face!
He voiced some obscure curses and ended with a loud, frustrated growl that wiped Ginny's grin from her face.
He finally seemed to give up, and leaned against the wall, closing his eyes, looking absolutely miserable, and more vulnerable than she'd ever seen him.
She stood up from her seat and walked towards him, and he reopened his eyes to look directly at her. The emotion emanating from the intelligent, piercing black gaze was dark and dangerous.
A soft warmth flooded her chest, and she couldn't pull her stare from his.
Ginny sighed and reached up to slide her fingertips along his jawline. Her heart thudded painfully as he closed his eyes, and seemed to lean into her touch. She felt a smile curve her lips and she used her fingernails to scratch lightly behind his ear.
He moaned slightly, and Ginny grinned. "You're lucky I just happen to be willing."
**************
Severus felt his eyelids snap back open at her words, and he took a quick step away from her, trying to ignore the tormenting, unrelenting itch just below his skin.
Ginny just looked up at him with sleepy, seductive eyes and walked after him.
"I know, it does sound unrealistic, but you know Fred and George - "
"S - stay away from me," Severus began warningly, absently clawing at a vicious itch on his upper thigh.
He saw her reach out a hand, and took a hasty step back, and walked through the door, into his office.
"Severus - "
He swiftly put his desk between them, shaking his head. "There's no way in hell! I'll bloody stand here and scrape myself raw before - " He was cut off by Ginny, who somehow managed to dive across the desk and attach her mouth to his.
Instantly he felt the odd irritation beneath his skin fade significantly. He sighed in relief, and then pushed her away as he realized what he was doing.
"I insist you cease this!"
Ginny dropped her arms and had the cheek to run a finger down the center of his heaving, bared chest.
"I'll meet you in the bathroom in five minutes," she said huskily, licking her lips.
He felt his heart skip a beat, and he stared at her in fascinated horror.
"For goodness sake, Severus, was only teasing. It only has to be a hot bath 'drawn' by a virgin. My brothers aren't so mean," Ginny finally sighed in exasperation, pulling away from him. "Besides, do I really look like I'm in any shape to seduce you?"
Severus swallowed inaudibly and allowed his eyes to drop to the front of his trousers momentarily as she walked away towards his bathroom.
"God, yes."
*****************
To Be Continued
A/N: Update A.S.A.P. guys! Sorry again! THANK YOU!
"Meritorious." "Gallimaufry - mixture. Mendacious Mettle Missappropriate Miscellany Noxious Ordeal Oration perplex ravenous jaded zealot
*******************
A/N: Okay, first off - yeah, it's been a long time since I updated. I've been spending my time in seedy motel bars, and therefore have been unavailable to write. : D
I want to apologize for the last chapter - it was short, and really boring - really, really boring. I hated it. Just so you know, I am fully aware it sucked, and I don't really know why I posted it. Oh wait - it was the hatchet thing. ::cough:: Don't you just love pressure and death threats?
Also, if you guys want to get verbally assaulted by our dear old Snapey, I suggest you check out CryingCinderella's 'Ask Snape Anything' fic. It's NC- 17, so be warned. He's a right bastard, let me tell ya. Gotta' luv him.
I'm also apologizing in advance for this chapter - in case you guys haven't noticed, I sometimes have a freakishly extensive vocabulary - I've been accused by my elders of making up words - and I also have a penchant for infrequently used words. Like 'penchant', or 'meritorious', or 'gallimaufry'. ( ? ) Right - anyway, thanks to those of you who have continued to review, and so kindly taken the time to remind me to get off my lazy ass and update. ::sniff:: You truly make life worth living. Sorry if this one isn't up to snuff.
-Key
P.S. If you think I'm weird, thanks for noticing. :D
*******************
Twenty minutes later, Severus found himself wondering at the extent of his own patience.
At any other time, the surplus of stupidity crowded into the Great Hall would have had him mentally tearing at his hair.
He wasn't even sneering.
Yet.
"Enervate!"
Severus bestowed a glare on the two Hufflepuff boys who'd managed to stupefy each other senseless, and watched them drag themselves unsteadily off the floor.
"I suppose we should all be thankful you two at least managed to hit your targets," he snapped, "instead of any innocent bystanders. Have you forgotten what little you have managed to learn, already?"
"Er - Professor? Perhaps another demonstration is in order?"
Severus narrowed his eyes at the familiar voice and slowly turned to look at Harry, who stood in a circle of wide-eyed Gryffindors, absently twirling his wand and looking deceptively innocent.
He gave the younger man a very suspicious once over and then nodded shortly. "Very well, Mr. Potter. Since you're feeling brave."
A wave of snickers came from the Slytherins present.
They took their places, and Severus felt his lip curl slightly as he caught Harry's eye.
Harry, he noticed, did not bother to bow.
He was aware of the crowd of students watching in silent awe. They were obviously sure a battle royal was imminent, and most of them didn't want to miss a chance at seeing their crabby potions professor get knocked on his ass.
Setting his jaw, he stifled a sudden urge to sneer outright and waited impatiently for the count, staring Harry down in an icy, abrasive way that usually set his dueling partners to wincing and looking away.
Potter didn't bat an eyelash.
Severus wasn't surprised at his lack of response to his tried and true intimidation tactics. The boy never had been the type.
He allowed the slightest of smiles to cross his lips, as if he knew something Harry didn't - and that was what threw him, what made the young man blink.
Severus used the small distraction to his advantage and immediately hit Harry with a Confundus charm, which he just as quickly countered.
The brat then tried unsuccessfully, to make use of the tickling curse, Rictusempra, to which he quickly responded with Furnunculus - and again Harry managed to utter the counter curse and escape.
Harry swiftly rebounded with an impressive but immature Densaugeo hex, which was ridiculously easy to counter.
Soon, Severus was tiring of Harry's apparent need to show off. He was about to use Petrificus Totalus when he was momentarily distracted by a suspiciously wild wrist movement of Harry's, at what time, embarrassingly, the younger man managed to successfully strike him with an Itching curse.
Instantly an intolerable crawling began beneath the surface of his skin, and despite his best efforts to retain control over himself, Severus found himself almost bending over back wards to try and assuage the extreme discomfort he felt. He sent a glare at Harry, who was watching his antics with a familiar wide, sparkling grin.
Snarling, Severus gritted his teeth and dug his fingernails into the skin at the base of his neck, as a new torturous itch sprang up.
He heard the crowd of students howling as they watched him practically dance around the dais, and he tightened his jaw, forcing himself to straighten his back and remain still despite the screeching of his nerve endings.
It wasn't often he was the subject of someone's laughter, and the fact that half his students were standing about with the nerve to do exactly that infuriated him.
Potter was going to pay for this.
*************************
Ginny's lingering headache was abruptly forgotten in light of the news she received.
"You did what?"
Harry was still laughing, his green eyes bright, dancing with mirth.
"I used the Itching Curse. It was hysterical - "
Ginny groaned. "Let me guess - you used the tampered with one didn't you? The one Fred and George came up with - "
" - the one that lasts four hours, with no counter. Yes - and did he deserve it, the crusty old - "
"Harry!" Ginny shook her head and sat up in her bed, immediately reaching for her robes.
"Gin! What are you doing?" Looking alarmed, the grin finally dropped form Harry's face, and he put out his hands to stop her. "You can't get up yet - "
Ginny pushed his hands away impatiently, shaking her loose red curls from her eyes as she swept the robes around her and stood shakily. "That was cruel, Harry."
"Ginny, I'm sorry - I didn't know it would upset you so badly! I thought you'd get a laugh out of it - and hey! Speaking of cruel! You were the one who used it on me that time - do you have any idea what it was like for me, itching like that, and thinking I'd have to - "
"By making the poor man look like a fool in front of his students? You should know better, Harry Potter!" Ginny ignored him, and took a few experimental steps forward, her legs trembling beneath her weight.
" - and with my best friends bloody little sister, no less -"
"I mean, he's already surly and completely anti-social! Make it all the more difficult for me, why don't you!"
She ignored his confusion, and then shocked look of understanding that stole across his handsome features before she stopped at the Infirmary doors, snapping at him over her shoulder, " - and he's 'mature', not 'crusty'!"
"Ginny, wait! Tell me you aren't going to do what I think you're going to do!"
Harry sounded positively horrified. He knew very well what she was going to do - she'd been the one to talk her brothers into placing a certain loop - hole in the curse, way back when she'd had fancied him.
"It's none of your business what I'm going to do, Harry - but, you can wish me luck."
Harry's mouth dropped open and she smiled in satisfaction as she pushed through the doors, a determined expression on her pale face.
*******************
Ginny found Severus in his dark dungeon rooms, seeing him for the first time with his robes discarded, trying to scratch his back while cursing the air blue and searching through an endless assortment of potions.
The scene was so uncharacteristic she actually did allow herself a smile before she wiped it away and rapped hard on the doorframe with her knuckles. If she looked too hard at his rumpled appearance, the swath of lean muscle and pale skin his unbuttoned white shirt revealed, she'd never be able to unglue her jaw from the floor.
She watched him spin around to face her, a very unwelcoming expression on his face, his hand working furiously just under the back collar of his shirt.
He looked surprised at seeing her, but only briefly, before he turned back to continue searching among his supplies.
"Why are you out of bed?" He asked in an ill-tempered, impatient voice.
Ginny swallowed as she watched the starkness of his black hair fan across the pure white linen of his loose shirt. He reached for a book on an upper shelf and her mouth went dry at the sight.
Severus Snape had just used the word 'bed' in her presence.
Ginny shook herself and stepped into the large room, which was located just off his office.
"Harry told me about what happened."
He never stopped in his actions long enough to look at her directly. He snorted darkly, and gave his forearm a rough, clearly unsatisfying scratch before pushing his hair behind his ear and turning back the cuffs of his shirt.
Ginny eyed the light sprinkling of soft, dark hair over the strong, corded backs of his hands and forearms, feeling slightly faint.
She cleared her throat and frowned. "What are you looking for? If it's something for the curse, you won't find it - Fred and George made it nearly unbreakable."
"I should have known your two miscreant siblings had a hand in this," Severus snapped fractiously, rubbing the tip of his nose with one knuckle.
Ginny again held back a smile, and walked into the room without waiting for an invitation. She had to sit down. She was feeling much better, but her legs were far from steady, and the dull throb at her temples was making her feel weak.
He turned on her finally as she dropped exhaustedly into a velvety soft looking wingback several feet away, in front of the empty hearth.
"Please, make yourself at home," he said with brittle sarcasm, raising one hand to slip inside his unbuttoned shirtfront.
Ginny looked away from the tempting sight and fumbled in her robe pocket for her wand before she realized she'd left it sitting on her bedside table.
"Do you always keep it so bloody cold and dark in here?" She found herself griping.
"As these are my 'private' rooms, and you are a rather unexpected, and unwelcome, I might add, guest here, I don't see why it should be any of your concern how I choose to keep them," Severus drawled a bit absently, though his deep voice still held it's usual biting sarcasm.
"Well be a decent host to this unwelcome visitor and start a fire, will you? If my teeth chatter any harder I'm going to fall off this chair," she responded, chaffing her upper arms pointedly through her robes.
He made an abrupt growling noise and pointed his wand at the cold hearth.
"Incendio!"
A blazing flare erupted, making Ginny draw back. She sent him a dirty look and curled her knees up to her chest. The chair smelled deliciously of him, and was amazingly comfortable.
"Now, will you kindly tell me why you are still here? Did you come to watch me squirm in discomfort?"
Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes. "I came to help you, you mistrustful git. Luckily for you, I know just how to alleviate the symptoms."
"You must be joking," Severus stated slowly, watching her through his hooded eyes scathingly.
"Oh for God's sake, Snape - you're really a conceited one! Assuming I'm trying to get in your knickers, aren't you?" She laughed at the thoroughly disgruntled expression on his face.
"Can't you go harangue Potter for a bit? I'm sure he wouldn't mind listening to that prattling tongue of yours,"
"The effects are going to last for up to four hours, you know," Ginny said imperturbably. She studied her fingernails and watched him out of the corner of her eye as he scratched the skin under his lean, shadowed jaw vigorously.
"Four hours? I'll be in bloody ribbons by then," he snarled in frustration.
"You have to take a hot bath with a virgin," Ginny commented suddenly, her eyes watching him closely for his reaction.
The large, rather heavy looking book he'd taken into his hands suddenly slipped out of his grasp, and hit one booted foot with an unpleasant thud.
Ginny hugged herself tightly, and laughed so hard she choked. The look on his face!
He voiced some obscure curses and ended with a loud, frustrated growl that wiped Ginny's grin from her face.
He finally seemed to give up, and leaned against the wall, closing his eyes, looking absolutely miserable, and more vulnerable than she'd ever seen him.
She stood up from her seat and walked towards him, and he reopened his eyes to look directly at her. The emotion emanating from the intelligent, piercing black gaze was dark and dangerous.
A soft warmth flooded her chest, and she couldn't pull her stare from his.
Ginny sighed and reached up to slide her fingertips along his jawline. Her heart thudded painfully as he closed his eyes, and seemed to lean into her touch. She felt a smile curve her lips and she used her fingernails to scratch lightly behind his ear.
He moaned slightly, and Ginny grinned. "You're lucky I just happen to be willing."
**************
Severus felt his eyelids snap back open at her words, and he took a quick step away from her, trying to ignore the tormenting, unrelenting itch just below his skin.
Ginny just looked up at him with sleepy, seductive eyes and walked after him.
"I know, it does sound unrealistic, but you know Fred and George - "
"S - stay away from me," Severus began warningly, absently clawing at a vicious itch on his upper thigh.
He saw her reach out a hand, and took a hasty step back, and walked through the door, into his office.
"Severus - "
He swiftly put his desk between them, shaking his head. "There's no way in hell! I'll bloody stand here and scrape myself raw before - " He was cut off by Ginny, who somehow managed to dive across the desk and attach her mouth to his.
Instantly he felt the odd irritation beneath his skin fade significantly. He sighed in relief, and then pushed her away as he realized what he was doing.
"I insist you cease this!"
Ginny dropped her arms and had the cheek to run a finger down the center of his heaving, bared chest.
"I'll meet you in the bathroom in five minutes," she said huskily, licking her lips.
He felt his heart skip a beat, and he stared at her in fascinated horror.
"For goodness sake, Severus, was only teasing. It only has to be a hot bath 'drawn' by a virgin. My brothers aren't so mean," Ginny finally sighed in exasperation, pulling away from him. "Besides, do I really look like I'm in any shape to seduce you?"
Severus swallowed inaudibly and allowed his eyes to drop to the front of his trousers momentarily as she walked away towards his bathroom.
"God, yes."
*****************
To Be Continued
A/N: Update A.S.A.P. guys! Sorry again! THANK YOU!
"Meritorious." "Gallimaufry - mixture. Mendacious Mettle Missappropriate Miscellany Noxious Ordeal Oration perplex ravenous jaded zealot