It took some time, but now I can proudly present the next chapter. Yay! Thanks again to my wonderful reviewers, you really made me want to write faster [didn't work, I admit, but the good intention is what counts ;) ].
HunnySnowBunny: Hope your curiosity gets satisfied. Hope this chapter was worth the wait ;)
c-fleurbleue: Merci, I'm really flattered if people think it's funny. That's what I'm writing it for.
Redundant Goddess: Sorry, no vampires :[ But a lot of tension … Glad that you like it.
Rikka: Now you made me blush *blushesandstammersincoherently*. Thanks!
Cassandra: Some things never change – too right ;P So glad that you like the story.
Seeing Red
She looked up at me. "Why do you consider our liaison unfortunate?"
I almost did a double-take. What in Heavens name was wrong with that girl? I stared at her incredulously, because I couldn't quite believe she was being serious. But seeing the questioning look in her eyes there was no doubt about that.
"You don't really expect me to answer that?" I growled nonetheless, trying to sound as intimidating as possible. I have to admit that I was quite satisfied with the result.
"Yes, I do."
Hrmphf! So much for intimidation. I had to try another approach.
"Well, in that case, let's see. I am teaching at this school, you are a student. You are probably in one of my classes. I am considerably older than you, judging from our positions in this institution. Still we're having an affair." There, I had said it. "If I asked you to concentrate, could you possibly draw a connection between those facts and my earlier statement?" I added mockingly.
She had apparently not grasped the concept of sarcasm yet.
"Yes, I can understand the obvious reasons for why our involvement is ill-fated. But somehow that didn't stop us from starting it, Professor."
"I was under the impression that we had no idea who actually started it. But even so, you may consider it ended now."
I was her turn to do a double-take. "You're breaking up with me?" She actually had the nerve to sound indignant. "You don't even know me," she complained, "and you're breaking up with me?"
I preferred not to answer, and she didn't peruse the topic. I didn't know how I deserved this blissful silence, but I was grateful that we managed to get to the Great Hall without further discussions.
~*~
"I'm hungry."
"Me, too."
"Shut up, both of you."
"But, Draco …"
"I said shut up, Goyle."
"But I'm really…"
I turned and glared at him. He shrank back from me, but not as quickly as he should have. Oh Merlin, was I losing my edge? This night presented me with the most abject horrors imaginable. Whenever I thought things could not get any worse … well, then they did. It was time to act, and fast.
We had made it back to the Great Hall, which was a miracle considering the fact that we had been touring this castle for over an hour. Really, if Filch was a pest, he was nothing compared to that green eyed fur-ball of his. I swear that the memory of a pair of fluorescent green eyes will haunt me forever. Mrs Norris had showed up three times on our way to the Slytherin common room and twice on our way back to the hall. Each time we had ducked into a corner or hid in a classroom or cupboard. There are no words to describe the horrors one encounters when hiding in a cupboard with Crabbe and Goyle. I'm shuddering at the mere recollection.
Opening the entrance doors to the Great Hall ever so slightly, I realized that more troubles were lying ahead. Our victims were gathered in the hall, so we could not march in and simply reverse the curse.
Damn!
"We need to lure them out."
"But how, Draco?"
"Just be quiet and let me think", I commanded, and they obeyed. The newly established silence gave me a chance to hear the conversation that was going on in the hall. Obviously, the group had woken up without any memories (yeah, the curse had worked, I was a genius), split up and searched the castle. They were just sharing their discoveries when I commenced my eavesdropping. Dumbledore and McGonagall were sitting at the high table, Snape was standing opposite with his arms crossed, a very annoyed look on his face and a very sulking Granger at his side. The duo of Potter and Weasley was lounged in some chairs a little further away.
"So this is a school?" Potter just asked, and Dumbledore nodded. "And you're the headmaster?"
Dumbledore nodded again, and I wondered how in Merlin's name they had found out about that. "And you are a teacher", Potter went on, this time directing his question at McGonagall, "As is my father." Snape nodded slightly at this comment, and I had to keep myself from fainting.
Father?
Hang on now, how much had I really muddled with their brains? Whatever had given them the idea that Snape was Potters father? Now I had another notion to add to what was rapidly becoming a collection of Unthinkables.
"And what have you found out?" McGonagall now asked Potter and Weasley.
"Harry here is a superhero," Weasley said excitedly, and I fought the urge to smash my head on the doorframe.
"Well, I can do this … stuff," Potter elaborated, and began waving his wand around.
Dumbledore cut in. "As much as I hate to disappoint you, I believe that you are not the only one in the possession of certain powers."
I watched Potter's face fall, as Dumbledore explained about Hogwarts being a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"So you mean to say that we can all … do magic?" That was Granger's voice. She sounded doubtful. "Then why don't we have wands?"
"Maybe we lost them during whatever happened before we passed out," suggested Weasley, and I heard shuffling as everyone began searching the hall. It wasn't too long before Professor Snape growled "Here!" and held out a collection of wands. Through the crack between the doors I could see McGonagall and Dumbledore reaching for their wands without hesitation. Even Weasley and the Mudblood managed to identify their wands instinctively.
"And what have we here?" I heard McGonagall ask. Peering inside I saw her holding up a shiny flowing piece of fabric which reminded me of my father's Deatheat- … I mean, his robes for special occasions. Ahem.
Since nobody identified the silvery cloak, it was cast aside for the time being and I made a mental note to investigate this matter later. Right now I was rather busy taking in the latest developments.
My head of house was speaking. "Apart from some encounters with ghosts and talking portraits we have nothing valuable to contribute."
"You have spoken to a ghost?" Dumbledore inquired, positively interested.
"Yes," that was Granger again, "It was quite informative, really."
Professor Snape shot her one of the glances he specially reserved for Gryffindors. It should have glued her to the spot, but she wasn't as impressed as she should have been. Was Snape losing his edge as well? Horrors upon horrors!
"We seem to have been … involved," Granger said, and I began to really worry about what I had done to their minds. I mean, they couldn't be serious, right?
"In what?" Weasley asked.
Potter was quicker on the uptake. "Ugh, you're having an affair with my father?"
Weasley seemed to catch on, "Oh, you mean with each other?"
"It is over!" explained Snape through clenched teeth.
"Yak", said Weasley.
I closed the door quietly and turned to my companions.
"We have completely destroyed their sanity," I announced calmly. They looked at me as if this was nothing new – well, in a way it wasn't. Dumbledore had been senile since the day he was born and I suspected Potter to be deranged since You-know-who's curse went ever so slightly wrong.
I decided on a course of action. "I say we charm something in that hall to scare them, and when they've stumbled out we can get in and do the counter curse."
~*~
This had gone badly.
Somehow I had blundered out what was going on between me and him, even though I had not intended to.
And now he hated me even more and the two boys – Harry and Ron, as they had called themselves – were disgusted. I couldn't really see why. It was inappropriate, true, but Snape was an intriguing person. I mean, come to think of it, I can see what must have attracted me to him. He had fascinating eyes, a mesmerizing voice and … and I should stop swooning this instant. Get a grip, Granger.
Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were about to voice their opinions, but never got around to doing so. For suddenly, hell broke loose.
At first, I didn't know what had happened. I heard screeching and rusty clanks, and spun around to face a multitude of attackers. The armoury in the hall had come to life. Hollow knights raised their swords and advanced on us. Now this was bad!
I screamed and headed for the door, closely followed by Ron and Harry. The heavy footsteps of our pursuers indicated they were gaining on us. Professor McGonagall was behind us, shouting, "Get out, stay together!"
I looked over my shoulder before we dashed out and saw Dumbledore and Snape taking up the fight. They had their wands raised, but didn't know what to say. They were backing away towards the doors as well. I couldn't help feeling a pang of anxiety on behalf of … you know … him.
Outside in the hallway, Professor McGonagall urged us into a small antechamber and went to help the others. They reappeared within seconds, having given up the fight and decided to run.
We collapsed on the chairs in relief when we heard the metallic steps grow fainter.
"What was this?" Ron panted, and Dumbledore shook his head.
"My guess is as good as yours."
Snape, who was still standing close to the door, looked ready to commit murder. "Foul play, that's what this was."
Before he could elaborate on that, the door was swung open forcefully and he received a blow to the head, which sent him sprawling to the floor. A lonely knight's armour had located our refuge and approached quietly. Now that Snape was helpless on the floor, the knight thing raised its sword.
Not thinking, not knowing what I did, I jumped up. Wand pointed at the attacker, I screamed, "Finite Incantatum!" I didn't know where the words came from. I didn't control the way I moved my wrist and flicked my wand. It just happened, and the knight froze in the shower of sparks that shot at him.
Whatever had fuelled it was gone. It was just a lifeless piece of decoration once again.
I dashed over to where Snape was trying to sit up, rubbing the back of his head. All thoughts of reason were forgotten as I launched myself at him.
"Are you alright?" I asked breathlessly, tugging at whatever piece of him I could get my hands on.
He managed to hold me at a distance long enough to regain a standing position. I got up as well.
"Thanks to you. You seem to have remembered a spell."
I just nodded, not taking my eyes off him for a split second.
"Look, I'm sorry!" I blurted out, "For all that I've said. I know you haven't seduced me or anything, and I'm not going to report you, I think this is mutual, or maybe I initiated it, but I don't feel forced or anything and I'm just glad that nothing has happened to you-"
I was positively hysterical, I couldn't stop, I was so relieved that he was okay. I would probably have gone on all night, if he hadn't taken to drastic measures to shut me up.
He leant in and kissed me.
Oh. Oh my god.
This was not your average thank-you-kind of kiss. This was quickly becoming a passionate frenzy.
At first I was shocked, but as the kiss deepened, I cast aside all doubts. As he encircled me in his arms, I allowed my fingers to slip through his hair and bade my sense of reason farewell. Wow, that man could kiss … I closed my eyes and gave in to the sensation of his lips touching mine, his tongue touching mine …
He broke the kiss and looked me in the eyes. I realized I was swaying slightly, and he looked rather breathless himself. I was vaguely aware of the muttered comments from the others (ranging from a disapproving "ahem" from McGonagall to retching sounds from Harry and Ron). Nothing of that mattered right now, not with that man in front of me, these eyes, these lips … There was a hunger in his eyes which was partly disturbing and partly turning me on.
Before I had time to reassemble myself, we were kissing again.
He didn't look like he was ever going to stop.
Well, neither was I.
~*~
It was hilarious to see them scramble out of the Great Hall. The enchanted armoury followed them down the hallway, and we could slip into the hall unseen.
"Right, now position yourselves in the exact places as before," I ordered. "This is going to restore their memories instantly, so we will have to be careful to get away quickly. We don't know how far they've gone, and we must not be caught."
Father would kill me. Or worse, he might tell mother. I shuddered at the thought (shuddering at thoughts was becoming a very disturbing habit).
We established eye contact, and intoned the words at the same time.
"QUIDQUID LATET APPAREBIT!"
Again, ribbons of light sparkled from our wands and met in the middle.
Now, whatever they were doing, they would instantly get back all their knowledge about themselves and all of their memories.
Whatever they were doing.
*********
Author's Note (short and pointless):
Hehehe …
Oh, by the way, tell me what you think. Thanks.