Chapter 27 - He worries, She worries
Hi everyone.. Here is the next instalment.
Hope you all enjoy it. Thank you for the reviews and continuing support.
Please read and enjoy, I will post again on Wednesday or Thursday.
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Snape looked up as Jane stepped into his office. "So, what have you been up to this afternoon?"
Jane smiled at him. "I watched Hermione's friends playing wizard's chess."
Snape stiffened. Damn Potter! Couldn't he keep his nose out of anything? "I see." He had to concede though, that he preferred that to her being harassed further by his Slytherins.
Jane thought he sounded disappointed. "You don't like him?"
"He is a student, it isn't my place to like or dislike him." Snape answered tightly.
"You don't like him." Jane repeated.
Snape sighed, resigned to the fact that she wouldn't rest until he told the truth. "I believe the feeling is mutual." He admitted reluctantly.
"Oh." Jane sounded disappointed.
Snape noticed her disappointment and gave in. "Of course, if you like him that is fine." He conceded.
Jane smiled, then walked across the room and gave him a quick hug. The large black bird sitting on the windowsill was surprised by Potion Master's lack of reaction to the act. "Thanks. Sorry if I worried you."
Snape struggled, successfully, to control the blood that threatened to rise to his face at the fleeting contact. While Jane had become quite comfortable touching him in general, an uninvited hug was still something to be treasured. "You, bathroom, wash for dinner." He ordered abruptly. "I have to see the Headmaster this evening so I thought we might eat together down here first." Snape wasn't sure, but he thought he saw her stiffen at the mention of Dumbledore.
Jane moved towards the bathroom and Snape turned his attention back to his work.
"Severus." The girl was watching him from the door.
"Hmm," he answered, not looking up.
"I want you to be careful too. You're not the only one who worries."
Snape stopped correcting. Slowly he looked at her, wondering just what that damned boy had told her. The last thing he wanted was for her to be worrying about him. It was uncalled for - he knew the risks, he knew what he was doing, or rather not doing now that the Dark Lord knew of his role as a spy. That, he thought, would have to change - Snape knew he would have to re-prove his loyalty if he was to continue to be of use in the fight against the dark, and that carried significant risks he didn't really wish to think about.
"Go!" He ordered, exasperated by the fact that this girl seemed to read him like a book. As Jane retreated to the bathroom to wash, the large black bird also retreated, flapping away on silent wings, unnoticed by either the Potions Master or his ward.
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When Jane returned from the bathroom, Winky and Dobby had finished setting the table. As always, it was laden with all sorts of delectable dishes in an attempt to encourage his young charge to eat. Upon her return from the hospital wing, he had been so concerned at her thinness, and her reluctance to eat without ongoing encouragement that he had recruited the two house elves into the battle for Jane's health.
Snape was amused by the House Elves' endeavours to fatten her up. Dobby would bounce up and down. "Dobby says Miss Jane must eat. Dobby brings food." Then with the suddenness of elven magic, some new plate of food would appear before Jane, and she would eat it. She would eat everything placed in front of her now, initial hesitation overcome. Obviously, the times scrounging on the street for the smallest scraps of food had taught her to waste nothing.
Snape knew he would have to stop the House Elves at some point, preferably before Jane looked like an elephant, but he also felt his ward was still far too thin and small. For the moment he was happy to have them take care of the task of ensuring she was properly fed. It left him to worry only about her safety, and that was causing enough problems in itself.
Jane's safety was his almost constant preoccupation, particularly since Draco's failed attempt to use magic against her. His uncertainty about the reasons for the unreliable effect magic had on her only increased his concern. Even if magic had failed once, there was no reason to imagine it would fail again, and that would leave her vulnerable unless he could find some way to protect her from magic permanently. She, of course, wouldn't know that, and before he warned her, he wanted to know where her protection came from. It wouldn't do to worry her if it was unnecessary because the protection she seemed already to have was reliable.
Snape knew perfectly well that it would only be a matter of time before many of the students of his own house, in particular, would try to use magic against her again. He hoped they would contain their curiosity about her protection, but he also knew he was hoping in vain, so he wanted to know what provided that protection before that time came. He believed the knife had something to do with it and he hoped to find out for certain later that evening.
Jane took her seat across from him and filled her plate. It pleased him to see her feeling comfortable enough to do so without his continued encouragement. "Jane, I was wondering if I could borrow your knife for the evening. The Headmaster has expressed an interest in it."
Jane looked up at him with a strangely cold look in her eyes that he couldn't fathom. "Of course Severus, anything for you." She smiled and the coldness disappeared.
Putting down her cutlery, she reached down and pulled the shinny silver knife from her pocket, placing it on the table. Its design had to be more than a mere coincidence. The coiled serpent handle, serpents with emerald eyes, it had to have some significance - it would have been a beautiful knife for a Slytherin. HE would have been proud to own it. His own were, in fact, a pale imitation of the knife that now sat on the table before him.
"You don't mind?" Snape knew how attached she was to the knife. It was the only thing she had to call her own, and the only link she had to her past, the pleasant and not so pleasant. It also meant protection to her, something he knew she would be reluctant to forgo.
"Of course not, I'm going to get it back aren't I? And besides, it isn't like I will need it. Draco apologised this morning, and you said no one could enter your chambers without express permission except for me so I should be safe right?"
Snape nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, you will be safe and you will get your knife back." He paused before continuing. "So Draco apologised did he? I was rather hoping he would after our brief chat yesterday."
"Whatever you said must have worked then. He said he had been unnecessarily harsh and asked me to forgive him."
Snape chuckled briefly, that would have hurt Draco's pride, apologising to a Muggle, even if it had barely been an apology. He wished he had been there to see it. They finished their meal chatting about nothing. Snape found himself enjoying her idle chat, pleasantly surprised that he had grown so accustomed to having another in his chambers after such a long period of self-induced solitude.
As the elves returned to remove the debris of their meal he broached a subject he knew his young charge felt uncomfortable about. "You know, I would like it if you would join me for meals in the great hall."
"I know." Jane answered, suddenly quiet.
"What do you think?" Snape encouraged.
"I can't."
"I don't understand."
Jane looked at him. His face showed genuine concern. "I am scared alright?" She admitted. "I realise I have met most of them in classes with you, but I haven't met them all together at the same time, and I'm not ready to yet."
Snape nodded. "Alright. I understand. I just want you to know that I would like it, no pressure."
Jane smiled. "I promise I will try."
Snape nodded, that was the best he could hope for. "I must be off. The Headmaster is expecting me." He reached for the knife. It was warm, almost hot, to his touch. That was strange, particularly in the coolness of his dungeon chambers. "I shouldn't be too long. Hermione should be here soon, and you can work here tonight if you like."
Jane nodded. "Thank you Severus."
Hi everyone.. Here is the next instalment.
Hope you all enjoy it. Thank you for the reviews and continuing support.
Please read and enjoy, I will post again on Wednesday or Thursday.
***********************************************************
Snape looked up as Jane stepped into his office. "So, what have you been up to this afternoon?"
Jane smiled at him. "I watched Hermione's friends playing wizard's chess."
Snape stiffened. Damn Potter! Couldn't he keep his nose out of anything? "I see." He had to concede though, that he preferred that to her being harassed further by his Slytherins.
Jane thought he sounded disappointed. "You don't like him?"
"He is a student, it isn't my place to like or dislike him." Snape answered tightly.
"You don't like him." Jane repeated.
Snape sighed, resigned to the fact that she wouldn't rest until he told the truth. "I believe the feeling is mutual." He admitted reluctantly.
"Oh." Jane sounded disappointed.
Snape noticed her disappointment and gave in. "Of course, if you like him that is fine." He conceded.
Jane smiled, then walked across the room and gave him a quick hug. The large black bird sitting on the windowsill was surprised by Potion Master's lack of reaction to the act. "Thanks. Sorry if I worried you."
Snape struggled, successfully, to control the blood that threatened to rise to his face at the fleeting contact. While Jane had become quite comfortable touching him in general, an uninvited hug was still something to be treasured. "You, bathroom, wash for dinner." He ordered abruptly. "I have to see the Headmaster this evening so I thought we might eat together down here first." Snape wasn't sure, but he thought he saw her stiffen at the mention of Dumbledore.
Jane moved towards the bathroom and Snape turned his attention back to his work.
"Severus." The girl was watching him from the door.
"Hmm," he answered, not looking up.
"I want you to be careful too. You're not the only one who worries."
Snape stopped correcting. Slowly he looked at her, wondering just what that damned boy had told her. The last thing he wanted was for her to be worrying about him. It was uncalled for - he knew the risks, he knew what he was doing, or rather not doing now that the Dark Lord knew of his role as a spy. That, he thought, would have to change - Snape knew he would have to re-prove his loyalty if he was to continue to be of use in the fight against the dark, and that carried significant risks he didn't really wish to think about.
"Go!" He ordered, exasperated by the fact that this girl seemed to read him like a book. As Jane retreated to the bathroom to wash, the large black bird also retreated, flapping away on silent wings, unnoticed by either the Potions Master or his ward.
**********
When Jane returned from the bathroom, Winky and Dobby had finished setting the table. As always, it was laden with all sorts of delectable dishes in an attempt to encourage his young charge to eat. Upon her return from the hospital wing, he had been so concerned at her thinness, and her reluctance to eat without ongoing encouragement that he had recruited the two house elves into the battle for Jane's health.
Snape was amused by the House Elves' endeavours to fatten her up. Dobby would bounce up and down. "Dobby says Miss Jane must eat. Dobby brings food." Then with the suddenness of elven magic, some new plate of food would appear before Jane, and she would eat it. She would eat everything placed in front of her now, initial hesitation overcome. Obviously, the times scrounging on the street for the smallest scraps of food had taught her to waste nothing.
Snape knew he would have to stop the House Elves at some point, preferably before Jane looked like an elephant, but he also felt his ward was still far too thin and small. For the moment he was happy to have them take care of the task of ensuring she was properly fed. It left him to worry only about her safety, and that was causing enough problems in itself.
Jane's safety was his almost constant preoccupation, particularly since Draco's failed attempt to use magic against her. His uncertainty about the reasons for the unreliable effect magic had on her only increased his concern. Even if magic had failed once, there was no reason to imagine it would fail again, and that would leave her vulnerable unless he could find some way to protect her from magic permanently. She, of course, wouldn't know that, and before he warned her, he wanted to know where her protection came from. It wouldn't do to worry her if it was unnecessary because the protection she seemed already to have was reliable.
Snape knew perfectly well that it would only be a matter of time before many of the students of his own house, in particular, would try to use magic against her again. He hoped they would contain their curiosity about her protection, but he also knew he was hoping in vain, so he wanted to know what provided that protection before that time came. He believed the knife had something to do with it and he hoped to find out for certain later that evening.
Jane took her seat across from him and filled her plate. It pleased him to see her feeling comfortable enough to do so without his continued encouragement. "Jane, I was wondering if I could borrow your knife for the evening. The Headmaster has expressed an interest in it."
Jane looked up at him with a strangely cold look in her eyes that he couldn't fathom. "Of course Severus, anything for you." She smiled and the coldness disappeared.
Putting down her cutlery, she reached down and pulled the shinny silver knife from her pocket, placing it on the table. Its design had to be more than a mere coincidence. The coiled serpent handle, serpents with emerald eyes, it had to have some significance - it would have been a beautiful knife for a Slytherin. HE would have been proud to own it. His own were, in fact, a pale imitation of the knife that now sat on the table before him.
"You don't mind?" Snape knew how attached she was to the knife. It was the only thing she had to call her own, and the only link she had to her past, the pleasant and not so pleasant. It also meant protection to her, something he knew she would be reluctant to forgo.
"Of course not, I'm going to get it back aren't I? And besides, it isn't like I will need it. Draco apologised this morning, and you said no one could enter your chambers without express permission except for me so I should be safe right?"
Snape nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, you will be safe and you will get your knife back." He paused before continuing. "So Draco apologised did he? I was rather hoping he would after our brief chat yesterday."
"Whatever you said must have worked then. He said he had been unnecessarily harsh and asked me to forgive him."
Snape chuckled briefly, that would have hurt Draco's pride, apologising to a Muggle, even if it had barely been an apology. He wished he had been there to see it. They finished their meal chatting about nothing. Snape found himself enjoying her idle chat, pleasantly surprised that he had grown so accustomed to having another in his chambers after such a long period of self-induced solitude.
As the elves returned to remove the debris of their meal he broached a subject he knew his young charge felt uncomfortable about. "You know, I would like it if you would join me for meals in the great hall."
"I know." Jane answered, suddenly quiet.
"What do you think?" Snape encouraged.
"I can't."
"I don't understand."
Jane looked at him. His face showed genuine concern. "I am scared alright?" She admitted. "I realise I have met most of them in classes with you, but I haven't met them all together at the same time, and I'm not ready to yet."
Snape nodded. "Alright. I understand. I just want you to know that I would like it, no pressure."
Jane smiled. "I promise I will try."
Snape nodded, that was the best he could hope for. "I must be off. The Headmaster is expecting me." He reached for the knife. It was warm, almost hot, to his touch. That was strange, particularly in the coolness of his dungeon chambers. "I shouldn't be too long. Hermione should be here soon, and you can work here tonight if you like."
Jane nodded. "Thank you Severus."