Chapter 19, What I would call "The Climax".
Viola left that classroom in a daze, heading off automatically to Arithmancy. Her lower lip tingled rather impressively; she had bitten it. She had bitten it when Snape said he loved her, and she had to forcefully stop herself from saying it back. She didn't mind the sharp pain it had caused, because it was so important that she not let herself believe that she was in love with Snape. That was ridiculous.
Not in love with him perhaps, but it sure was hard to tell. She couldn't seem to stop thinking about him, and until now she hadn't even noticed that she no longer had a crush on him, but something much, much more. This needed to stop, she decided. That was quite enough, it was going too far. She was not in love with Snape! What would everyone think?
She couldn't stay away though, it was impossible, she felt like she was too far gone to fight it anymore. She was lonely; the next couple of weeks were completely devoted to studying, NEWTS were approaching after all, and everyone was absorbed in their own notes and revision. She avoided Brandon like the plague, and he seemed content to keep his distance as well, at least for the time being. She thought his decision to leave her alone might have something to do with Snape staring him down from the staff table when he approached her during meals. She allowed herself to think that it was finally over, and she might not have to worry about him anymore. This thought pleased her immensely, and she was prepared to start moving on with her life a little bit at a time. She wanted to see Severus again.
It took her three weeks to get up the nerve to go to him, three weeks of staring at him in Potions classes and getting the same heated look in return. She was convinced that he would not turn her away, and so she found herself in front of his door one evening, debating with herself.
It was hardly a long debate. She made up her mind and knocked quietly.
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Brandon saw her.
She would have had no way of knowing he was there; he was very quiet, sneaky, following her. He had tailed her through the halls with the intention of having her again, forcefully, the way he knew she liked it. This endless studying for exams was leaving students high strung, and Brandon was feeling an urge to blow off a little steam with his girl. He hoped she would put up a fight, so he would have the pleasure of restraining her, maybe hurting her . . . it all felt so good to think about.
He saw her from under his invisibility cloak (a gift from dad) at the other end of the corridor. He watched, slightly confused, as she knocked on Snape's door.
He was consumed by the sight of her, the way she looked when she thought she was alone. He enjoyed watching her this way, keeping an eye on her. He assumed she needed some assistance with homework; why else would she need to see Snape? That Viola, he smiled to himself, always so meticulous with homework, so enthusiastic to succeed. Pointless for her to even try, of course, a muggle like her couldn't hope to succeed in this world. All she would ever be was his whore, the Dark Lord would make sure of it soon, if what his father had been preaching all these years turned out to be true.
Snape's door creaked open slowly, and Brandon's insides turned to ice at what he saw. The Potions Master hesitated slightly when he saw who was at his door, but it took only a few seconds for him to enfold Viola in a gentle embrace, drawing her into his rooms while he kissed her and shutting the door behind them. Brandon felt additional wards going up around the room, and the door flickered and then became invisible, a blank wall.
He stood there for what seemed like a long time, fists clenched at his sides, not making a sound except for his heavy breathing whistling in and out of his nostrils. Never had he felt such rage, such hatred for anything. This went beyond his usual fits of temper, beyond his violent urges. This anger emptied him of feeling, leaving a frighteningly rational person in its place. A simple, rather clever plan formed in his head, one that he was sure would work. He simply needed to employ some rumours he had heard around the common room, rumours he had never believed about Snape but served his purpose now. Plotting his sabotage, he made his way to the owlery, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
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Albus Dumbledore was just heaving himself out of his ornate armchair with a despondent sigh, feeling quite a bit older than normal. He still had work to do, but felt far to weary to even look at it. He was just waving the passage to his personal rooms open with his wand when he heard a frantic scratching at his window.
Surprised, he turned around to witness one of the school owls scrabbling madly at the glass with its claws, its eyes wide and desperate, with a note crumpling it its beak. The old headmaster's curiosity was prickled, and forgetting his fatigue momentarily, he moved to the window to let the creature in. The poor owl was in such a state of excitement that Albus was unusually tempted to break its little neck in exasperation. Once he read the brief, anonymous note though, all he could feel was hideous dread. His throat dry, sleep forgotten, he rushed off as fast as he could to the dungeons.
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Viola wasted no time with words. Without breaking the kiss she began to unbutton Snape's robes as he carelessly warded the room with one hand. Their clothes ended up everywhere; they laughed together, throwing robes and undergarments onto the floor. His shirt ended up on a doorknob, her jeans slung over the back of a chair.
Viola shrieked with laughter when he lifted her on top of his grand piano, and it was so infectious that he was forced to join in as he hoisted himself on top of her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and giggled when his erection poked her thigh.
"Stop stabbing me!" she grinned and nipped his neck playfully.
He grinned back, in unusually high spirits, and gave her opening another little jab. "Take that, Miss Rienne."
"I will take nothing of the sort, Professor Snape."
His tongue darted out to flick her nipple teasingly while he slipped himself inside her. She gripped his shoulders and pulled him closer, laying her head down on the cool ebony of the piano, sighing as he thrust powerfully.
Later they tumbled somewhat clumsily onto his bed, their arms about each other, completely naked and obviously aroused. He hovered over her, kissed her cheeks and mouth , pinched and tweaked her nipples into hard peaks and teased her opening with the tip of his erection. She smiled at him mischievously as she dragged her nails lightly down his chest and wrapped her hand around his cock, squeezing until he gasped. She felt drunk with lust; her head was spinning and she ached with the need to feel him inside of her again. She attempted to pull him into her but he brushed her hands away, raising a crafty eyebrow.
"Patience, Love, or I may have to restrain you." the velvet chocolate voice was tangible on her skin, causing her to shiver deliciously. He set about kissing her again, probing her mouth deeply with his tongue and sweeping his rough hands up and down her body. Her hands tangled in his hair and she bucked her hips upward, seeking some sort of friction.
He placed his palm over the triangle of blond hair at her pelvis and gently made her lie still, still with that eyebrow arched irresistibly.
"Please stop teasing me, Severus." she pretended to pout, and he actually laughed.
"My dear Viola, I plan on driving you thoroughly mad before I take you."
"You're evil."
He made no reply, only smirked, and with a firm hand on her belly to prevent her from squirming, darted his tongue over her clitoris. She gasped and he looked at her thoughtfully for a second or two before getting off the bed and rummaging around in one of the drawers of his armoire.
"What are you looking for?" she inquired, making herself more comfortable on his down filled pillows. He turned back around to face her, unconcerned about his nudity and blatant desire, with a long green silk sash held loosely in his hands.
"I wonder if you might enjoy . . ." he walked back to her and knelt on the bed. "Many people do, you see." And he proceeded to tie her wrists to the slats of his headboard.
Right away Viola's guts clenched into a tight knot. She breathed deeply and closed her eyes. She could trust him, she knew she could, and so she allowed him to restrain her, willing herself to concentrate only on the pleasurable things he was doing to her. When his mouth drifted again below her navel and into her most private region her whole body went rigid, and her arms tugged at the bonds. The knot tightened, not yet uncomfortably so, but it reminded her too vividly and for a terrifying second she was convinced that when she opened her eyes she would see Brandon leering at her instead of Severus. She was afraid to pull on the sash anymore, because if she did it would get tighter and bite into her skin and cut her . . .
"Stop."
He stopped.
"Untie me."
He untied her without hesitation.
"Thank you." she couldn't meet his eyes.
He lay down beside her and pulled her into a soft hug, letting her rest her head on his chest.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled. "It's not that I don't trust you."
"You don't have to apologize if I did something you didn't like." he assured her.
"I wanted to let you, but . . ."
"Is this what he did to you?" he gestured as if to indicate the whole bondage situation.
She hesitated. "Yes." she said after a moment of contemplation.
Snape was enraged. Having his suspicions regarding Brandon Carter confirmed made him want desperately to seek the little bastard out and inflict some sort of horrible pain.
Viola saw the dangerous glint in his eyes and sought to remove it. Both hands on the sides of his head, she planted a hearty kiss on his mouth, pulling him over until he was straddling her.
"Don't be angry," she pleaded with him, looking directly into obsidian eyes, their noses barely an inch apart. "Lets just enjoy ourselves, he's never going to touch me again."
"If he ever does, I'll - "
"He won't." she interrupted, then kissed him again. The kiss deepened and they both got carried away, nearly clawing at each other by the time Severus pulled away. He dangled the discarded sash suggestively in front of her.
"Would you like to try this on me?"
She pondered this proposition for a minute or two, blushing cutely as he egged her on. Finally, she took the sash from him and used it to bind him to the bed the way he had done to her.
The two of them had a great time with their little game. Viola quickly got used to the idea of being in control and began to enjoy torturing him. She teased him mercilessly with her mouth and hands until he was nearly ready to beg for his release.
"Oh yes . . ." He hissed when she slowly lowered herself onto him, leaning forward to release his hands, which he then placed on her hips, guiding her movements. They moved lazily together, breathing together, and finally they finished together. It was the most sublime thing either of them had ever felt, and they were simultaneously asleep within seconds.
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A loud, urgent pounding on the door woke Severus prematurely. Viola slept peacefully on, unaware, on his chest. The knocking persisted, and he knew it must be Albus there; who else would be able to find the door?
He carefully got himself out from under Viola, managing miraculously not to wake her. He threw on a dressing gown and knotted it tightly around the waist as he made his way to the door. He swung it open and there was Dumbledore, fist still raised to knock on the now absent door.
Snape swallowed hard and regained his composure immediately. "May I help you, Albus?" he asked graciously in his usual drawl.
"Severus, are you alright?" He looked pale and aged with anxiety.
"Of course, I was just about to retire . . ." he made as if to shut the door but Dumbledore stopped him and entered the room. As fast as he could, Snape slammed the door to his bedroom closed with a flick of his wand. Albus started slightly at the loud bang, and looked suspiciously at the door, which was now locking itself.
"I received a note informing me that you were hurt, Severus." The old man explained, still eyeing the door with a calculating expression.
"Pardon?" Snape was genuinely confused.
"An anonymous letter, that stated you were badly injured was sent to me by means of one of the school owls, and I merely came to see if you were in need of assistance." the fear had left the old man's face, and his eyes twinkled with relief. "I'm glad to see that it is not so." He spotted Snape's shirt, dangling carelessly from the bathroom doorknob and smiled. "I shall get to the bottom of this prank tomorrow." he indicated Viola's jeans, hanging from the back of a chair. "It looks as if you have company."
Severus's heart fell, and he wondered if he had just been caught. "Headmaster, let me explain the circumstances -"
"No need to explain, Severus, there is nothing wrong with seeking out a bit of company . . ." he trailed off, smile gone, suddenly bemused. He had just noticed Viola's uniform robe laying in a black puddle on the floor.
Everything crumbled just then.
"Severus, a student?" he lifted the robe, as if looking for a name on the inside of the collar. He spotted the Head Girl badge first though, shiny and damning, pinned to the front. "What were you thinking? I asked you to keep an eye on her!" he flung the robe to the floor in disgust. "Get her out of your bed, into her clothes, and into my office immediately." The old man was livid, Snape had only ever seen him this angry once before, and he had been a child then, just as frightened as he was now. As Dumbledore turned to storm out, Severus felt his left arm begin to throb mysteriously.
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The headmaster stood and went to the window, where a sleek black bird had perched and begun scratching at the glass patiently. The moment Albus had removed the letter from the strange bird's leg it was off again, screeching loudly as it tore out into the evening outside. Dumbledore read the note and, sighing heavily, refolded it as he took his seat across from Viola.
She refused to look at him. She hung her head and looked diminished, mortified. Her hair was dishevelled and her lips were red and swollen still from rough kisses; normally those features on a woman would appear beautiful, the immaculate glow of a thoroughly loved woman was impressive and a lovely thing, but on her, one of his own children, it looked horridly lecherous.
It took him a long time to speak, all the while watching her watching her Head Girl badge sitting on the desk between them. She finally met his eyes by inclining her head, looking bleak, and the old man found his voice.
"I'm sorry to do this Viola," he spoke slowly and a bit apologetically, "But I'm afraid I must terminate your education here at Hogwarts."
She didn't even flinch, or show any sign that her worst fears had just been confirmed. She looked down again at her knees.
He continued: "You may continue your magical education through correspondence, or if necessary I will provide a tutor. You can take your NEWTS in the summer, but I must insist that you leave the school as soon as possible, tomorrow, if you can pack in time for the train."
"I will, Headmaster." her voice was hollow and dead sounding. Remorse welled up against the Headmaster's old heart, and he became slightly angry, at himself rather then at her, but he found himself nearly yelling at her anyway.
"You brought this on yourself child. You lied to me and put yourself in an unstable situation, you had to have known that you would be caught. If Professor Snape in any way pressured you into this -"
"Severus didn't force me to do anything." a tear dropped from her downcast eyes and hit her knee with a tiny splash. She watched the fabric of her robe absorb it while waiting for him to speak again.
He couldn't chastise her anymore, she was too obviously depressed. And he knew she wasn't upset about her expulsion, either. He could tell it was about Snape; it was breaking her young heart to have to leave him. With a hopeless sigh he summoned Severus with a pinch of floo powder. "Severus, your turn." he spoke to the man's head in the fireplace, then turned back to Viola, looking her square in the face. "Do no contact Severus Snape after you leave, for any reason."
"Will he lose his job over this?" she looked fearful.
"He will be leaving as well, yes. You may go start packing please." he dismissed her, and that was the end of that.
Briefly she wondered why she was not permitted to contact him, if he was going to be losing his job. She didn't see why the two of them couldn't be together, since neither of them had any affiliation with the school any longer. She wondered only briefly, though, and left before she could ask.
Viola left the Headmaster's office feeling as if she were made of lead. She was dreading the thought of packing, cringing under the harsh jeers from those blasted girls, hearing them cheer when she dragged her trunk up to the entrance hall and out of the school forever . . . Tears threatened to override her, and her chest felt heavy in the absence of her badge. She knew Severus would now be on his way to the office, probably ready to turn the corner at any moment, on his way to unemployment. She couldn't bear to stick around; the fear of taking responsibility for losing him his job was terrible, and she was too ashamed of herself to even steal a last kiss.
Packing could be done tomorrow, she decided, setting off shakily down the hallway. Before she was even out of site of Dumbledore's office, she heard heavy footsteps approaching her around the corner. Viola, suspecting that it was Snape, threw her gaze down and carefully watched her feet walk, grotesquely humiliated and too dejected to even look at him. All she wanted to do was forget everything for just a few hours, delay the pain for only a little while to try to straiten her head out.
Had it been Snape coming around the corner she would have been able to put her plan into immediate action, but unfortunately for her, someone else was lurking around the hallways, seeking her out. More unfortunate still: Snape was a few dangerous minutes behind this gentleman, oblivious, and taking his sweet time to get there. Had it only been Snape there, the situation would likely have gone quite a bit more smoothly.
Brandon rounded the corner on her at last, his previous temper now increased tenfold; she had never seen him so angry. The second she saw his expensive shoes her eyes snapped to his face, watching him carefully.
"Go away Brandon, I'm not ever going to see you again." Her voice sounded even and calm, surprisingly.
He exploded in tumultuous volume, advancing on her with fists clenched. Severus heard him even from his distance, and sped up his pace considerably.
"VIOLA YOU FUCKING WHORE!" He bellowed, backing her up into the wall. She sat down and tried to make herself as small as possible, covering her head with her arms, praying Dumbledore would hear him from his office and help her before she was killed. Brandon yanked her up by one wrist and pinned her to the wall. "HOW COULD YOU GO TO HIM? HOW COULD YOU FUCK SOMEONE ELSE, AFTER I'D HAD YOU AND YOU KNEW YOU WERE MINE?" he wound up and punched her right in the stomach and prevented her from doubling over with a white-knuckled grip on her hair. She wanted to cry out, but had only enough air in her lungs to moan in anguish.
"YOU SLUT! FUCKING MUDBLOOD TRAMP, I CAN SMELL HIM ON YOU!" he punched her again, this time on the chest, sending painful bolts into her breasts. He began to pummel her, she was seeing lights burst behind tightly sealed eyelids. His screams were punctuated by the hateful thud of his blows on her flesh. Now she was screaming in pain and terror and couldn't stop herself, couldn't do anything to get away from him.
"I TOOK YOU AND MADE YOU MINE! YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN BE LOOKING AT OTHER PEOPLE, AND YOU SLEEP AROUND WITH TEACHERS! HOW MUCH DID HE PAY YOU TO FUCK HIM? I'LL MAKE YOU DIE, BITCH -" he was suddenly pulled away from her. She opened her eyes just in time to see Snape, Severus, deliver a stunning blow to Brandon's jaw.
"Severus!" a booming voice sounded from the entrance to the Headmaster's office. She couldn't turn her head to see its source, she was glued to what was happening before her, almost in slow motion. Snape's arm outstretched, his robes billowing out in his trademark fashion; he was putting every ounce of his weight into this punch. His brooding face looked unusually passionate, and his over-emotion had driven colour to his cheeks. Brandon's lip split against his teeth, and a fine spray of blood speckled his face and Snape's fist red.
The slow-motion effect ended abruptly and Carter dropped to the ground instantly, groaning faintly, but not moving.
"Severus, get into my office now."
Snape looked up, his face blank, to finally notice that Dumbledore had been approaching them as fast as his old age would allow.
Snape was breathing hard. "I should escort Viola to the hospital wing, Albus." she noticed the use of her first name.
"She can make it there herself, Severus, in my office now."
Before anyone could speak again, Viola hurried away.
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Neither man had touched his tea. It sat between them on the small table, chilling slowly under the icy glares that were being exchanged. Finally, Dumbledore spoke; in a firm voice that left no room for argument or interruption, he delivered his carefully weighted speech to the stony-faced Potions Master. It began obscurely, like so: "Severus, what can you tell me from your last Death Eater meeting?"
Snape was startled, but managed to hide it. He had forgotten to see Dumbledore after that meeting, he had been . . .
"It was hardly a meeting, Headmaster, but the general atmosphere spoke volumes." He let out a deeply held breath. "They are going to move soon, very soon. I don't know when, he will summon us when the time comes."
"Severus, you will leave this school. Don't say anything!" he raised his hand to halt the younger man, who was opening his mouth to protest. "You will leave this school, and you will leave the country. Your employment here is terminated."
"Why should I leave the country?" Snape didn't think Dumbledore could ever get angry enough to not want to share a country with someone. The loss of his job, however, was not so surprising. His left arm still ached and he rubbed his Dark Mark absently.
Instead of answering right away, Dumbledore threw a piece of folded parchment his way. Severus, confused, read the letter silently. By the time he was halfway through it his face was hot with anger; by the end he was terrified:
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
It has been brought to my attention by the offspring of one of my dearest followers, that my servant, Severus Snape, is in fact working for you as well. I am of course aware of his employment at your school, but I am referring instead to Severus's espionage.
True, I have noticed a decline in his enthusiasm and performance, and maybe I should have seen it when he failed to end your life so many years ago, but I never imagined he would defect from me.
I understand that he has probably been a great assistance to your noble cause, that of destroying yours truly, but I am afraid I cannot let a thing like this go unpunished. I apologize beforehand for killing our mutual puppet, but you must understand how important it is for me to make an example of him.
I'll see you soon Albus,
Lord Voldemort.
The forthright politeness of the letter chilled Severus profoundly, as did the ominous closing statement and signature scratched neatly into the parchment in scathing red ink. He looked up despairingly at Dumbledore, at a loss for words.
"Severus, I don't even want to discuss your affair with Miss Rienne, or your assault on the Carter boy. I have dealt with Viola and the authorities will deal with Brandon. You are, as I said before, to leave the country. Do not inform anyone of your whereabouts, not even me." the words were heavy and final.
"He's going to kill me," was all Snape could say. His mind wrenched with memories, thoughts, all the things he had seen done to people, that they could do to him . . .
"Don't think about it Severus." finally there was some feeling in that voice, some sympathy. "And another thing, under no circumstances are you to contact Viola Rienne. I won't have you putting her in danger."
"I wouldn't dream of it." he didn't think he could live without her.
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Viola didn't bother with the hospital wing, Brandon was being trundled off by madame Pomfrey already and she wanted to avoid any location that housed him. Besides, there wasn't enough time. Instead she went outside into the chilly evening air and walked briskly strait to the greenhouses. She pushed open the door against the wind and there they all were, sitting at the other end of the long building amongst the slithering vines. Her friends.
They looked up simultaneously when they heard the door creak, identically startled. They looked at her for a second or two, silent. Gwendolen smiled warmly, then looked back to whatever she was drawing. Brianna waved, indicating that she should join them. Randy looked steadily at his hands, which were busy rolling a rather large joint. She felt nervous in his presence, but he was the first to address her.
"Get over here babe, I've got a fattie that wants to meet you."
So thankful and relieved, she went to sit with them. She felt self-conscious, she knew she must look pretty rough, a little battered and bruised, but they didn't comment and she loved them for that.
Eventually, as the smoke clouded around them, the tension went away and things were just as they should be. Randy made some stupid comment when Gwendolen pulled out her homework and they all laughed, Viola the hardest.
"What's my horoscope today Gwenny?" she asked.
"As if you still believe that divination shit," Randy scoffed at her, his voice sounding choked from the smoke he held in his lungs. He passed the dwindling joint to Gwendolen, who puffed idly as she consulted her star chart.
"Saturn is in Capricorn today, which means . . . you should . . . I don't understand what this means, Vi." she paused and passed the roach to Brianna. "I think this is wrong, it means you should be heading somewhere soon, like tomorrow, but Easter holiday isn't for months . . ." she consulted further, with the rapt attention of her friends following her every movement. Viola got handed the joint and she relished the taste of it; it had been so long since she last smoked, and it made her cough. "Here, this is simpler, Capricorn is sad today, getting her shit together today, and I guess this is to what we owe the pleasure of your company?"
"You got it, Gwenny dear, it has been far too long." she answered, smiling slightly.
"You're goddamn right Vi," Randy interjected. "We missed you."
"Yeah, thank god you're 'getting your shit together', as Gwenny so eloquently put it." Brianna grinned.
"Gwenny puts everything eloquently." Randy took the joint back from Viola, decided it was too small, and roached it.
Viola decided not to tell them she was leaving just yet. She was worried it would ruin the evening, and she so crucially needed to enjoy herself.
Much later, after the four of them had burned out, they left the greenhouse together and walked slowly (what is commonly known among my friends as 'stoner pace') to the castle. Viola held the door open for all of them, and perhaps by pure chance she glanced over her shoulder on the way in and paused.
A dark figure was making its way through the gates, and Viola watched him leave with a heavy heart, flooded with some unfamiliar sort of regret that could only be Love.
Randy noticed her staring and looked. "I wonder where Snape is going?" He mused, largely uninterested, and continued on his way with Brianna. Gwendolen, though, stayed behind, watching the tall form of the Potions Master disappear.
"You know Viola, I'm a much better astrologer than I let on, and there was an important bit of your horoscope that I didn't want to say in front of everyone."
Tears spilled unchecked out of Viola's eyes when Severus was completely out of sight. She looked bleakly at Gwen, curious.
"The two of you . . ." she wavered, wondering how exactly to explain what she had seen, fighting tears herself. "You will end up together, the two of you." she choked, and couldn't say anymore. She hugged her friend tightly and ran to catch up with Randy and Brianna, praying silently and with all her heart and soul that the misfortune the stars had spelled out for Viola and her lover would never come to pass.
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Well, I bet you all though I was dead. The last chapter is written and finished, all I have to do is type it and post it.
Please review, I need my crack.
Love Jeni
XOXOXOXOXOXOX