I do not claim ownership to any of J.K. Rowling's characters, and I'm not making any money from this. It's simply for a larf. Please R&R. Thanx. ~ZiMsta~
THE LITTLE SECRET
Genevieve found Selena standing next to the refreshment table, talking to the same young man she had been dancing with earlier. Genevieve hurried over, interrupting their conversation. "Selena, we have to go." She said, slightly out of breath. "What's wrong? Where's Severus?" Selena asked, looking concerned. "He lefthis armI don't know, he just told us to leave strait away." Genevieve explained, becoming increasingly worried. Selena set her glass down and took Genevieve's arm. "Excuse me." She said quickly, dismissing the very disappointed looking man she had been talking to. She pulled Genevieve aside, looking at her intently. "Did he say where he was going?" Selena asked in a whisper. "No. He just started grabbing his arm, then disapperated." Genevieve explained.
"We must go. Immediately." Selena insisted, and within seconds, they apperated back into Selena's cottage. "What's going on? Do you know where Severus went?" Genevieve asked instantly. Selena sat down in front of the fire, sighing. "It is not my place to say, Genevieve. He will tell you when he is ready." She said, not looking at her directly. "Is he in danger?" Genevieve persisted, her heart racing. He couldn't die now. He couldn't without knowing that she loved him. "I don't know." Selena answered. The room went silent.
Genevieve stayed up for hours after Selena had gone to bed, waiting for Severus to return. She lay in bed, her mind thinking of what horrible things could be happening to him. She wanted to help with whatever it was. She wasn't able to save her father, but she was not going to let the same thing happen with Severus. She had experienced too much loss already. Her heart couldn't take any more. She settled down into the bed Selena had made for her, and closed her eyes. "Don't leave me, Severus." She whispered, then drifted off to sleep.
****
She was running through a forest, as fast as her legs could carry her. They were chasing her. Her mother, Malfoy, Potter, Voldemort and Dylan. She was scared, and no matter how fast she ran, it wasn't fast enough. She looked ahead of her, and Severus was lying motionless on the ground. She cried out and called for him, but he did not move
Genevieve jolted, awakening and grabbing on to her pillow. She was breathing heavily, her cheeks moist with tears. She felt a set of fingertips on her temple, and looked quickly for their owner. Severus was sitting at the edge of her bed, looking down at her with gentle eyes." Severus?" She gasped with very little voice. "You were having a nightmare?" He asked, brushing the hair away from her face. She sat up, looking into his eyes.
"I love you." She said quietly. Severus looked slightly shocked, blinking his eyes a few times. "I was so frightened last night. I thought that I would never get the chance to tell you." Genevieve's voice wavered, tears building in her eyes. Severus continued to stare at her, lifting his hand toward her face. He used his thumb to wipe away her tears, remaining silent. Genevieve couldn't wait any longer, rushing forward and throwing her arms around him and hugging him hard.
"I thought you were gone" She mumbled into his shoulder. Severus put one arm around her back, and one hand over the back of her head. "You've not lost me, Genevieve. But only just found me." He whispered. Genevieve held him tighter, crying fully. He cared for her, and that was more than she could have ever hoped for. She pulled away from their embrace, taking his face in her hands. She realized then how incredibly exhausted he looked. She stood up and off of the bed, straitening her nightgown.
"You need to sleep. Lie down." She said, pointing at the bed. Severus shook his head, reaching for his trusted potion's pouch. Genevieve stopped his hand, which caused him to deliver her a stern look. "No potions. Sleep." She told him quietly. He gave up quite easily, lying down on the bed with a small groan. Genevieve covered him with the blanket, watching him as he watched her. She took a deep breath, turning away to leave him in peace.
"Genevieve?" Severus called out to her. She looked over her shoulder at him. His face remained very gentle. "And I, you." He said, barely moving his lips. Genevieve felt her heart struggle against her chest, desperate to leap from it. She smiled at Severus, then went into the kitchen. Severus loved her. He may not have said the specific words. But he said it with his eyes, looking at her as if she were the most amazing creature he had ever encountered. This brought on a joy that she feared she would never feel again.
She stayed in the kitchen, drinking tea and looking out the back window at the garden as she reflected on the past few days. She would peak out at Severus, who had fallen asleep almost immediately. She almost pounced on Selena when she came down the stairs rather loudly. Genevieve held her finger to her lips, signaling for her to be quiet. Selena gave her a funny look, so she pointed at Severus, who was stirring slightly. Selena suddenly understood, continuing into the kitchen on tiptoe.
"When did he get back?" Selena asked quietly. "I don't know. I woke up and he was here." Genevieve said, the corner of her mouth twitching in a desperate attempt to smile. She couldn't hold it back any longer, her mouth forming a large grin, her cheeks blushing crimson.
"You seem to be feeling better. You were very worried about him last night." Selena said, sitting down at the table. "Yes, I was. He didn't tell me where he was going, which unfortunately causes my over-active imagination to conjure up terrible things." Genevieve said with a small laugh. It was all right to laugh about it now, but it was certainly not a laughing matter the night before. Her ears perked abruptly when she heard a strange noise emerge from the living room.
"GENEVIEVE!" She heard Severus cry out. She leapt from her chair, dashing to the living room. She stopped next to the bed, noticing right away that Severus was having a nightmare. She kneeled down on the floor, Selena standing behind her and looking over her shoulder.
"You can'tPlease don't" Severus was mumbling louder and faster now, sweat building on his brow. Genevieve decided that he had had enough, and lay her hand on his sallow cheek. "Risanio." She whispered, and Severus' eyes snapped open. He looked around wildly for a moment, then slowly settled his eyes on Genevieve. He let out a heavy sigh as he pulled himself into a sitting position.
"Your rest was greatly disturbed, brother." Selena said with concern as she walked toward him. Severus ran his fingers through his usually tidy hair, looking away from his sister. "It was nothing. I'm fine." He tried to reassure her, but his voice sounded strange. Irritated and short, but trembling at the same time. Genevieve got a very strange feeling in the pit of her stomach, pieces of the complex puzzle suddenly falling into place. When her mother had put him under the Imperio curse, he had been forced to put out his left arm. His arm had pained him last night, and he fled. The nightmares. The angry dispositionGenevieve slowly got to her feet.
"You're a Death Eater." Genevieve's voice barely made it past her lips, her eyes looking down at Severus. He stared at her, his expression very steady. "You're a Death Eater. You're on Voldemort's sidejust like my mother." Genevieve's knees began to shake as she slowly began to back away from him. She should have known that things were going to wellit was bound to fall apart
"Genevieve, it's not what you think." Severus spoke, standing up and approaching her. Genevieve heard Selena leave the room, the she focused back on Severus. "Then what is it?" she asked in no more than a whisper, keeping her eyes away from his. He was quiet, and she could feel his gaze burning into her. It was like a giant hand was grabbing the back of her neck. "First, you must look at mePlease, Genevieve." Severus whispered. When she didn't respond quickly enough, he took her chin gently in his hand, bringing their eyes together.
"I am a Death Eater, as far as Voldemort is concerned. But I am also Severus Snape, potions master at Hogwarts, and Spy for Albus Dumbledore. I am a Spy, Genevieve. When my mark burns, I must be at Voldemort's side. And it must be this way until he is defeated." Severus' voice grew thicker as he explained, his eyes never leaving hers. "Did Dumbledore ask you to become a Death Eater, or was it a prior personal choice?" She asked him. She wasn't sure whether to be angry, hurt, or sad. She wanted to trust him so much, and his answer would likely be the determining factor.
"I was a Death Eater before I became a teacher. Albus has given me a second chance when most others wouldn't. He trusts me. I pray that you can do the same." His eyes were as Genevieve had never seen them before. He was sad, begging for her trust and forgiveness. She wanted desperately to give it to him, because she loved him. And love was supposed to overcome anything.
"I don't know if I can sit by and watch you put yourself in constant danger, Severus." She reached up and touched his face, his hair caressing the back of her hand. "I can't lose you. You mean too much to me." She finished. Severus placed his hand over hers, gently pulling it away. "I can't stop now. Not when we are so close to beating Voldemort. If I quit now, we may lose our chance to rid this world of him." He told her. Genevieve knew that he was right, but that still did not take away the ache that she felt in her chest.
"Let me help you." She offered, figuring that if he were to die, she might as well die with him. Severus shook his head. "You can help me by staying alive. You have to stay strongfor me. You are now my everything, Genevieve, and I don't know what I would do if you were in dangeror worse. Especially if I were to be the cause." Severus broke their eye contact, looking at the floor.
"But my mother has to know that you are a Spy, and I'm sure she has told Voldemort. Severusshe killed my father and she will kill you too if Voldemort doesn't first. She seems to be determined to kill everyone I love." Genevieve said, refusing to allow the tears in her eyes to show. "You have to trust me, Genevieve. I cannot promise you that I will not die. I know that what I'm doing is dangerous, and I have know that from the start. But it must be done. If I don't do it, who will?" Severus was having an even more difficult time keeping eye contact now. Genevieve had never seen him like this before, and she certainly didn't like it. He had always been so strong willed and very sure of himself. Now, it seemed, he was not.
"I understand. I just hope you will think of me." She had lost this argument, but strangely, had won it at the same time. Severus' entire composure changed with her final words, and he actually smiled. He took her hands in his, holding them as if they were made of porcelain, his sparkling eyes kissing hers.
"I always think of you, Genevieve. You have played on my mind since the moment I first saw you at Hogwarts. I never thought that I would stand a chance of receiving your affection in return. A beautiful, clever young woman falling in love with a miserable, vicious old coot like me seemed impossible." Genevieve almost laughed as Severus finished, when an ever so light shade of crimson filled his cheeks. Severus Snape was actually blushing. Genevieve smiled at him, pulling him into an embrace.
"You are a miserable, vicious old coot. But you are also so much more, and I love you just the way you are." She spoke in his ear, closing her eyes. The scent of wolfbane and sage filled her nose as her cheek brushed against his hair. She pulled away from him only slightly, looking at his gaunt, pale face, which suddenly looked very serious. Her body tingled with a sensational urge to kiss him. So she leaned forward, closing her eyes and preparing her lipsbut Severus pulled away abruptly. Genevieve blinked a few times, then gave him a guilty look.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have" She tried to apologize, but Severus stopped her. "No, it's not that. Believe me, I want nothing moreI pulled away because" He was stumbling over his words again. "Severus, you're stumbling." She pointed out with a grin. He looked at her almost glowering. "What's the matter?" she quickly asked, hoping that that would make him stop looking at her like that. It was obviously too early in the relationship to be poking fun at him. It was Snape, after all. "I haveI'veneverbeenintimatewithawoman." He mumbled quickly. Genevieve understood now why he had pulled away. She really wanted to smile at his sudden innocence, but thought better of it. Instead, she simply ran her fingers through his hair, which surprisingly not greasy at all. Her hand then slipped to the nape of his neck as she moved forward again, placing her lips over his for the first time.
Severus tensed immediately, but also only momentarily. As the kiss went on, he began to pull her closer to him, pressing his hand against the small of her back. Genevieve had never felt the way she did now, with her lips against Severus'. It was a weightlessness that enveloped her whole body and eased her mind. Not even Dylan had been able to provoke this sensation. Thought she had never kissed a wizard before, she was sure these feelings had nothing to do with magic, in the sense of spells and enchantments. This was a very different kind of magic.
"UmGenevieve?" Selena's voice broke their kiss, and Severus stepped away so quickly that he tripped and fell backwards onto the bed. Genevieve tried so hard not to laugh as she grabbed his hand to help him up. His face was red with anger and embarrassment as he straitened his robes, avoiding eye contact all together. "Sorry to interrupt, but you have an Owl." Selena finished, returning to the kitchen. Genevieve wasn't expecting an Owl, especially not here.
"It could be your mother." Severus said, sounding very much like the old, back to business Snape. She went into the kitchen, finding Olivia perched on the back of a chair. She wasn't looking very happy, and it was likely because Genevieve had completely forgotten about her when she and Severus had left Hogwarts. She bit Genevieve's finger quite hard when she reached for the letter, then flew away directly. Genevieve sat down and opened the parchment, nearly dropping it when she realized who it was from. She covered her mouth with her hand just as Severus came into the room. "Is it from your mother?" He asked, hurrying toward the table. Genevieve looked at him, slightly startled. "Um" she began, but she couldn't speak. She only shook her head 'no'. Severus sat down across from her, a look of intrigue on his face. "May I ask, from whom, then?"
Genevieve looked at Severus, then back at the letter.
Genevieve~
I have made a tremendous mistake. I can't stop thinking about you, and I can't believe I was foolish enough to let you go. I love you, Genevieve. I want to meet somewhere to talk about this. This weekend in London. Saturday. 4:00 at Harrods. Please, Genevieve. I miss you.
Forever Yours,
Dylan
Genevieve set the letter on the table, then stood up, heading for the back garden without a word. This was absolutely unbelievable. How could Dylan do this to her? Play with her heart like that, saying one moment that things weren't working, then turning around and telling her that he still loved her. Genevieve didn't know what to do, whether or not to meet Dylan. She thought of Severus and how much she cared for him. She wasn't sure how she was going to tell him.
"Are you going to meet him?" Severus' voice emerged from behind her. She spun around and looked at him. He was standing very erect, his shoulders thrown back slightly, his gaze steady and serious. Genevieve crossed her arms over her chest, running her bare toes through the soft grass. "I don't know. I can tell already that you rather I didn't." she said, looking at him with gentle eyes. "I am only concerned that it may not be what it seems. It could be a trap." He said, moving toward her. "Yes, it might be. But I don't think that is your only concern." She said, walking into the isles of black roses that were nearly taller than she was. Severus followed her. "You're right. It is not my only concern, but it is my main concern. Your safety always comes first." Genevieve could sense how close he was as they walked, and it was very comforting.
"Wellwhy don't you come with me? That way, if it's a trap, you will be there to help. And if it's not" She sort of trailed off, turning around and looking for his response. He stared at her with a pensive expression, much like the one he used so often in the classroom. "That choice, of course, is yours. But I will if you want me to." He said, folding his arms and trying to act indifferent. Genevieve smiled lightly, stepping very close to him.
"Severus, I'm not in love with Dylan. I used to care for him, but evidently he didn't care enough for me. I'm in love with you." She put her finger softly against his lips. "You're not going to lose me now. Not if I have anything to say about it." She said. Severus closed his eyes. It was as if she were looking at a completely different person. This was the side of Severus she had always wondered was hidden somewhere inside of him, and she was grateful to finally see it.
"Take a ride with me." He said, his infinite black eyes glittering. Genevieve nodded. "Alright. Let me get dressed." She said, starting to walk away. But Severus grabbed her arm. "No. As you are." He said quietly. Genevieve blushed, looking down at the pale blue nightgown she had borrowed from Selena. "Ok." She said. Severus stepped away back a few paces, then shape shifted into the powerful black stallion. She reached out to pat his nose, and this time he did not pull away. He nuzzled his way down her arm and over her shoulder, giving her a sort of hug. Oras much as a horse can hug someone. She kissed the side of his face, then with amazing agility that surprised even her, she threw herself onto his back. She clasped her hands around his mane just as he reared up, then took off into the forest. Soon, his mane just wasn't enough, so she wrapped her arms around his neck as they sped forward.
