I do not claim ownership to any of J.K. Rowling's characters, and I am not making any sort of profit from this. It's simply for a larf. Please R&R. Thanx. ~ZiMsta
REVELATIONS
"I understand, Headmaster. May I ask how things are proceeding with the Giants?" Snape's low voice shook Genevieve to her senses. She opened her eyes slowly, finding herself in foreign surroundings. She saw Snape standing next to a fireplace, staring intently into the flames. She propped herself on her elbows in the large, black bed, taking a better look around. Judging by the lack of decor, and the overwhelming sense of meticulous cleanliness, she was in Snape's private quarters. She sat up fully and called out to him, losing heart when she realized that her voice was still gone. She looked to the fire that Snape was gazing into, and saw Dumbledore's ghostly head floating in the orange flames, his face looking grave.
"I will keep you informed by post, Severus. Right now I believe that you have more pressing matters to tend to. " Dumbledore said, nodding in Genevieve's direction. Severus spun around, his eyes flashing in the firelight. He looked at her only briefly, then turned back towards the fire, lowering his tone to an almost inaudible whisper. "We shall speak again soon, Albus. Please keep yourself safe." He said, leaning very close to the fire. "I will, Severus, and I urge you to do the same. And the same for you, Ms. Hemlock." Dumbledore said, then with a pop, disappeared from the flames. Snape turned and looked at her again, seeming to have a hard time maintaining eye contact.
"You are awake. How do you feel?" He asked, moving toward the bed. Genevieve opened her mouth to speak, feeling foolish for not remembering that she couldn't. She just shrugged. Snape reached over to a mahogany desk that set near the bed, grabbing a quill, parchment, and ink well. "Tell me what happened, including the spell that removed you voice." He demanded. Genevieve took that quill and parchment, and began writing about how Draco and Harry had captured her, and that she did not hear the incantation that Malfoy had used. She finished, motioning the parchment toward Snape. He snatched it away from her, reading quickly. He jolted with anger, crumpling the parchment and hurling it into the fire. "What was the spell?! Think you silly girl! I cannot help you if I do not know the incantation!" He almost shouted. Genevieve's lip quivered as she asked for another parchment with her hand. Snape growled, and deciding not to waste any more time, dropped an entire stack in front of her on the bed. She took a piece and quickly explained that Malfoy had not said it loud enough for her to hear. Her hand was shaking as she handed it to Snape.
This answer didn't seem to settle well with him. He tossed the paper back to her, putting his palms flat on the bed, trapping her much like he had in his office. "THINK! WHAT was the SPELL?" He demanded, getting dangerously closer still. She didn't like this at all, and out of reflex, she pushed out her hands, shoving Snape backwards and away from her. He was clearly shocked as he stumbled on his robes, steadying himself by grabbing onto the desk. She didn't recall ever seeing him so enraged, his nostrils white with fury. Never the less, she glared at him, writing Why don't you ask Malfoy?' on the parchment, then throwing it at him. Snape's lip twitched as he took the paper in his fingers, then read it. His composure did a complete 180° .
"Mr. Malfoy is no longer here at Hogwarts. A lot has happened in the past three days, Miss Hemlock" He stopped a moment, looking strait into her eyes. "Lord Voldemort has once again risen to a more powerful state then anyone could imagine. You and I are the only persons left in the castle. Most all of the students have gone home to their families. Malfoy, as well as many of the other Slytherins I'm sure, have sided with Lord Voldemort. Dumbledore is working endlessly to gain as many allies as possible." He finished, his face about five shades paler than normal, his body rigid.
Genevieve couldn't believe it. So much had happened in such a short period of time. "We thought you had disappeared at the hands of Voldemort. A house elf found you and retrieved me at once. Are you hungry?" Snape asked suddenly. It took Genevieve a moment to collect her thoughts, then realized that she was famished. She nodded quickly. Snape moved to a cupboard next to his desk, pulling out a large bar of Honeydukes Chocolate. "This is all that I have at the moment. We will go to the kitchen when time allows." He explained, handing her the chocolate. She took the bar, unwrapping it with fumbling fingers. "You're shaking. Here, give it to me." Snape snatched the candy from her hands and proceeded to unwrap it. He broke off a large chunk, handing it to her, then put a small piece in his mouth. Genevieve had never seen Snape eat candy of any sort, as he didn't really seem the type. She found it rather amusing to say the least.
"When you are able to stand, we will go to the library and find a counter curse for your voice." Snape said, covering his eyes with his hands and messaging his temples. Genevieve threw back the blankets that covered her, jumping strait out of bed. She hadn't realized how weak she was, until her legs gave way and she fell right into Snape, who barely caught her. "What in the hell are you doing?" He barked, pulling her upright. She looked up at him, blushing, and giving him a weak, embarrassed smile. He was not amused.
"Well, if you insist on getting up, then we will go. Can you walk, or do you prefer repeatedly falling on your face?" He snapped. Genevieve pulled away from him, wobbling in her place. She pulled out her wand, pointing it at herself. "Leviartum." She mouthed, and to her great surprise, her body levitated only inches above the ground. She was smiling triumphantly at Snape, who was raising his eyebrow at her.
"Very well. Come along." He mumbled, motioning her toward the door. Genevieve floated along next to him, out the door and toward the Library. She and Snape wouldn't usually hold a conversation, but it irritated her that she couldn't speak to him. She had many questions about how Voldemort had managed to become so powerful. But alas, they continued on in silence, Genevieve finding the emptiness of the halls quite unnerving.
****
They spent what seemed like hours in the library, Snape studying dozens upon dozens of books, Genevieve floating around the library to retrieve them. She brought him one entitled, 'Fleeting Follies and Sour Spells', but he tossed it aside as if it were a piece of rubbish. "Do sit down. You are distracting me." He said, not looking up at her. She removed her levitating spell and took a seat across from him. Her eyes wondered around the library for a moment, but always seemed to come to rest on Snape. She noticed that his hair was getting longer, the tips that brushed the faded pages of the book he was studying forming small curls. It was still greasy in appearance, but oddly didn't seem that bad. It quite suited him.
Her gaze moved from his hair, to his hands, which lay gently on the pages that he read. His fingers were long and thin, graceful in the use of the delicate art of Potions. His eyes were beyond black, if there was such a thing. But they held a small sparkle that was brighter than the North Star. Genevieve noticed that her heart was beating faster now, and she could not comprehend why. Her body gave a small jolt when she became aware that the dark eyes that she had been admiring were staring back into hers.
"Has Malfoy cursed you eyes as well? Or have you acquired a slight staring problem?" Snape snapped at her. She felt the blood rushing into her cheeks as she opened her mouthbut simply mouthed an apology. Snape glared a moment, then grabbed one of his multitude of books, sliding it across the table to her. "Make yourself useful." He mumbled, returning to his search. Genevieve's hand trembled as she opened, 'Complex Curses and How to Catch Them', thoroughly embarrassed by her behavior.
Why was she suddenly looking at Snape in that manner? He had more often than not been very cruel to her, and she had never really considered him to be an attractive man, physically or otherwise. Then again, there was something about those black robes, his secretive manner, his strait forward attitudeEven that hooked nose, it all seemed very appealing to her. She shook her head, trying to snap out of it. There were more important matters at hand. Returning her voice. She looked down at the random page she had opened to, and was shocked to see a drawing of a man, clutching his throat. "The Ventiartum Nox" The spell that removed ones voice.
Genevieve's eyes searched feverishly for a counter curse, and she found it. Her body was filled with a surge of excitement and she waved her hands furiously at Snape, but he could not see. She thought of maybe throwing something at him, but decided that that probably would not be wise. So she slammed the palm of her hand on the table, causing Snape to nearly fall out of his chair in shock.
"DO NOT DO THAT AGAIN!!!" He roared, standing from his chair fully and looking visibly shaken. Genevieve didn't have time to feel bad as she pointed urgently at her book. Snape seemed to realize why she had grabbed his attention in such a way. He hurried over to her side of the table, standing next to her. He put his hand on the back of her chair and leaned down for a closer look. Genevieve watched his face, which was mostly hidden by his curtain of shoulder length hair.
"I believe this will work. Stand up, Miss Hemlock." He demanded softly, watching her as she stood. He pulled out his wand and pointed it directly at her. "Seniartis Nillia!" He said firmly, and a shot of purple light erupted from his wand. It wrapped itself around Genevieve's throat, and she felt as if she were being strangled. She dropped to her hands and knees, gasping for air. She felt two hands grab her arms in an attempt to steady her.
"It will be over soon." Snape said quietly. No sooner had the words left his mouth that the spell was complete. She gasped for breath, Snape helping her back to her feet. She looked at him, his face filled with worrisome anticipation. "Speak, Miss Hemlock." He said hopefully. Genevieve didn't know what to say. It was like testing a microphone in a crowded room. She looked at Snape, and her mouth formed a slight grin. She threw her arms around him, and his body tensed instantly. He was taller than she was, but her mouth managed to reach his ear.
"Thank you." She whispered, relieved to hear the sound of her own voice again. Snape remained completely still, his breath held. Genevieve pulled away, looking at his face. He stepped back quickly as if her embrace had burned him. "YYour welcome, Miss Hemlock." He stumbled over his words. He turned abruptly and began walking out of the library. Genevieve followed.
"You will stay in my quarters tonight. The password isI will escort you down there. I have matters to attend to that are of the utmost urgency." Snape said as he quickened his pace. "Are you leaving Hogwarts? Will I be here by myself?" Genevieve asked, catching up to him and walking at his side. "I assure you, you will be safe. And you will not be alone. There are still three remaining house elves." He said tersely, stopping in front of his chambers. "When will you be back? You aren't going to do anything dangerous are you?" Genevieve persisted. The prospect of being alone at a time like this was unthinkable.
"I think I preferred you without your voice." Snape growled, looking away from her. Genevieve sucked in her breath, glaring at him. "You can be a vindictive bastard sometimes, you know that?" she shot at him. She had expected him to be angry, but he only grinned maliciously. "Well, we all have our moments, don't we?" He said, staring at her. "Yes, but your 'moments' seem to remain in constant place!" She retorted evenly. Snape let out a highly sarcastic laugh, the first laugh he had ever conjured in her presence. "Well spotted, Miss Hemlock. And it has only taken you seven to muster up the courage to say it to my face." His grin faded in mid-sentence, and he was looking very perturbed now.
"I do not give a damn what you think of me, Hemlock. If I were you, I would refrain from revealing and of your further, revelations. Now plug-your-ears." He demanded through clenched teeth. Genevieve continued to glare at him, but obeyed, sticking her fingers in her ears. She removed them only when she saw the wall move to one side, opening to reveal Snape's private quarters. She followed him inside, suddenly feeling very foul about the whole situation. "Do not leave this room until I have returned. If you need any assistance, use the fire to call the house elves." Snape instructed as he went to a wardrobe, pulling out a long, black hooded cloak. He pulled it over his shoulders in one swift motion, clasping it as he headed back to the door. "Good Evening." He barely grumbled, not looking at her as he left the room. He was gone.
