Chapter Twelve--Green-Eyed Monster
Severus looked around himself, making sure no one was watching. The Hospital Wing was indeed empty. Still, he didn't know how to go about this. It was noon and Georgie slept like the dead by his side, still snoring and slightly drooling. Dumbledore had come in earlier, held a conversation and then left again, and that girl hadn't stopped snoring. She would miss lunch and be cranky if she woke and had to wait for dinner-he'd seen her that way a few times before.
How to wake her though? He considered yanking her braid, her dumping a glass of water on her. She had snored right through conversations and his moving about. Perhaps a stun spell, he grinned wickedly as he eyed his wand which sat on the table beside him. He didn't want to hurt her, he reasoned. What was he talking about? Of course he'd love to hurt her, it was fun and she deserved most of it. But not today. She was kind, he couldn't make her hate him just yet. But later, oh yes...He thought mischievously.
He frowned, then grabbed his wand. He mustn't break character, must he? And he grinned--though he could easily bend hers. "Rictusempra."
Slowly her shoulders curled up and her back arched like a cat's as her head bobbed down below her line of sight. "Ahhh!" She wailed, getting louder. Her head came up and gripped the side of Snape's bed, her eyes wide and alert and level with Snape's. She giggled and snorted and grabbed her sides gasping for breath. "You jerk!" She shrieked, in between a hearty guffaw and twittering out her nose. "Not fair! I can't return it 'cuz you're a broken man...." She hiccuped and cackled.
He looked at her solemnly as she snickered and tried not to break eye contact with him. "I'm serious." She chortled ridiculously, "You're awful!" She wanted to slap him, and tried her hardest to frown at how displeased she was, but it just came out as a roar.
He just watched her blankly as she fumbled about looking for her wand, as if she were the day's entertainment. He eventually muttered the counter-curse and it still took her a minute to get herself under control. Finally she looked up into his prankish eyes and pointed her finger weakly at him. "I-really-don't-like-you!" She gasped.
He smirked at her. "Good. Now I don't want you to miss lunch, and then Dumbledore wishes to see you."
Georgie, stretched out and yawned, then cracked her back and massaged her aching neck. "How long are you in for?" She tried to look menacing at him.
"I assume you're asking how long I am to remain in the Hospital Wing for?" He annoyed her purposely. "I'm here until this evening. By then all the potions and healing spells will have done their best, so I may leave then."
Georgie nodded at this. Her stomach growled angrily, and she put her hand over it. "Hmm, I guess I'd better get off to lunch then. I'll come back later and visit and annoy, if you'd like."
Snape shrugged, so Georgie shrugged back. Whatever she thought. "See you later then." She popped up and returned to the dungeons for her shoes. Leaving him watching her. Odd female, he thought.
After lunch and many discrete and vague explanations as to why she missed breakfast, Georgie made her way up to Dumbledore's office. He seemed to have sensed that she was there, because on knocking on the door, it was immediately opened onto the face of the man himself.
He poured her some tea and the both sat beside a chess-set set up between two couches off to the side. They chitchatted for a few minutes, but Georgie didn't pry or try to rush the man. He had his own timing and his own way of saying things. And say things he did.
The man explained how Snape was regularly coming home with cuts and broken bones and the such, and how risky it was trying to get him discretely to Madam Pomfrey, that it would set tongues going and start unnecessary fears in motion. Besides often Madam Pomfrey was called away or the injuries were beyond her sphere of knowledge. Georgie swallowed, and jumped in that she was positive that they weren't seen last night. The old man smiled and assured her that he didn't believe them to have been seen. Georgie wondered what he was trying to get to saying, he had piqued her interest.
Finally, he proposed at last that since Georgie was now a close friend of Snape's and privy to his secrets and living down there with him....that she could learn some Mediwizardry and learn to patch him up herself.
"You're joking?" She starred open-mouthed at him when she finally found her voice.
"Not in the least. You'd only learn the basics: how to remedy cuts, broken bones, burns, poisons, protection against elements...things such as that. Oh yes, and Cruciatus and the like..." He spoke slowly, almost as if an afterthought.
"I think I'm going to be sick..." Georgie murmured.
"If you didn't feel sick at the thought of a friend going through that, I'd have doubted you...." He nodded.
She sighed and shook herself, "What does Severus say about this? Have you asked him?" Somehow she figured Snape would pitch a fit and vehemently oppose.
"I proposed it this morning. He's agreed...that is if you agree." He set his teacup down on the table gently. "Really, it's a wonderful opportunity. We will send for special textbooks for you, and you'll learn from Pomfrey once a week. It will have to remain a secret, as we don't offer Mediwizardry training to all the students here. But I urge you to consider this carefully. Not only is it assisting Severus, but you'll be gaining some valuable training that might come in useful later on in your life--even if you don't choose to follow that career path." His eyes twinkled.
She looked him in the eye, "I accept," She said unsmiling. Damn, what was she getting herself into? She wondered at herself, but it had deeply interested her--special training and textbooks, keeping it all a secret. "I just wish he weren't going out getting ripped apart all the time in the first place." She murmured and looked at her hands in her lap, not completely comfortable with sharing her feelings on the subject.
Dumbledore patted her knee; "He's doing this of his own free will now. The ministry heads have released him of all blame and debts owed for his many years of faithful and dangerous service for our side. It's not been made public of course. He's on his own personal vendetta now. He wants to see Voldemort fall more than anyone else I've ever met has." He frowned a little at this, "But I wouldn't stop him from seeing this out to the end. Not for the world." He looked her in the eyes. She nodded, understanding his meaning.
They discussed that she would get her books this next week and begin immediately her lessons guided by Pomfrey. She'd also get her own little store of medical potions and many bandages to keep down in the dungeons. She was excited, but also a little upset. She didn't know whom at though. Voldemort? Yeah, probably.... She rose when it was time to leave and she thanked Dumbledore and gripped his hand warmly as she left.
She returned to the dungeons and cleaned the place up a bit--actually a lot, when it came to her own room. She had so many dirty clothes and her toys were laying about all over her floor. She frowned, slightly disappointed in herself for letting it get that bad. Oh well, she shrugged as she picked up a squirt gun and returned it to it's place.
She had time to hop in the bath and relax for a few minutes. It was heavenly, she breathed deeply and cleared her mind of everything except the steaming water and how cute her toe-sies looked poking out at the other end. She really was nutters, she grinned at herself. She toweled herself off and slipped into her voluminous bathrobe.
Standing before the open wardrobe, she quickly picked out an all-black long-sleeved top and a long black skirt. She didn't feel up to standing out today, and black was lovely for disappearing into crowds with. Besides that, but she looked out at the window at the pelting rain, and thought it sort of mirrored her moodiness at the moment. The rain every single damn day was getting to her. She knew it wasn't normal at all to have such a rainy season, but still she detested it.
She undid her hair and tied it back into it's usual poofy-ponytail. She nodded approvingly at her reflection in the mirror. The black did make her look skinnier. Her chubby, wide face seemed to look slimmer. "Cool," she spoke approvingly in a whisper under her breath.
She turned before heading up to dinner and scrambled on top of her covers of her bed, grasping the bedposts for balance. She began to jump and hop around, and she skipped back and forth, flailing her arms every which way and kicking the pillows into the walls. She was soon out of breath and feeling ten-times lighter. Smiling, she flopped down into the covers and slid off the mattress. She slipped into her shoes-the nice ones not the sneakers, and headed for the door smiling. What wonders a little jumping about does? She speculated. Excellent stress-relief.
At the dinner table, she and Hagrid griped to Professor Binns about the weather near constantly. Binns had to keep reminding them that it had no effect on him whatsoever. Hagrid then commented on her looking skinnier, and Georgie flung her arms around his massive neck and bear-hugged him. He looked startled, but quite pleased. He grinned and turned red at odd moments for the rest of the meal.
Dumbledore stood and announced that Hogsmeade weekends would be starting next week, and that unlike past years, third-year students would not be able to participate this year. A collective groan arose throughout the Great Hall on hearing this, but that was that. Hagrid tacked on and so that just Georgie could hear, "On account of 'em past third-years, no doubt."
Hagrid tried to get her to go down to Hogsmeade when he was chaperoning, and Georgie, shrugged and agreed to it quickly enough. Hell, it might be fun, and she hadn't spent nearly enough time with Hagrid lately. She told him she was looking forward to it, and scooted off from the table and headed out the Great Hall
She popped her head into the Hospital Wing, and she spotted Snape sitting bolt up in bed scowling. God bless his heart, she pouted playfully to herself, he's back to normal. She snorted at her inner theatrics as she crossed the floor between them.
"So how's the patient?" She asked cheerfully.
He turned and glared at her. "That good...?" And her eyes connected with Madam Pomfrey's and they both grinned at each other.
"I came to see that they were feeding you..."
"House elves sent up some food." He sneered and nodded towards some empty plates on a table across the room.
"Oh." She smiled. "So what shall we do now then?"
"I only want to get out of here." He glared at the poor older woman stocking a cabinet a few paces away.
"Where to?" Georgie asked, drawing his attention away. "Morocco? Siberia? Ireland?"
"Pardon?" He looked a bit confused.
"Erin gra mo chroi...."
"Excuse me?" He spat.
"Oh, nevermind." Georgie walked over to Pomfrey and out of Snape's earshot. "How long must he stay here?" she whispered.
"Oh, he can leave whenever. He's fine--take him away. I just like making the tyrant suffer." She grinned toothily.
The two ladies grinned to themselves slyly, and then Georgie rolled her eyes right before turning to return to Snape.
"So, you wanna hear my opera?" Snape immediately had his wand pointed in her direction. "Silent but deadly," she complained to herself. "Geesh, everyone's a critic!" She lamented loudly. "Fine, well if you don't want to hear my birdsong, I guess there's nothing left for us to do but get outta this place." She grinned cheekily. "Can ya walk?"
He glared daggers into her. "Okay, fine. You can walk," She answered her own question, then scratched her head absently.
Snape hopped up from his bed and disappeared into a side room, where he reemerged minutes later dressed in his own robes. He glided across to where she stood and looked to Georgie.
"Okily, let's go. Thanks Madam Pomfrey. I'll try not to return him here very often!" She giggled and the ladies waved each other off.
After turning the first corner, Snape asked in low tones, "So are you doing it?"
She almost laughed aloud at this. Of course she knew what he was talking about, but if she didn't...doing what exactly? Doing narcotics, doing well in school, doing the cha-cha, doing her hair, doing nude modeling....hell she seriously considered answering, 'Yes, I am PMS-ing. Thank you for asking.' Just for gross-out-the-Snape factor, but decided against it. She grinned much broader than the question called for and answered simply, "Huh?"
"You know very well I meant are you going to take the Mediwizard training?" He growled.
"Oh!" She gasped in mock surprise. "Of course I am," She turned on him and chuckled, as if he were a mere little boy asking something ridiculously stupid.
"I'm glad." He stated, though without feeling.
Georgie looked at him sideways, smirking. Oh really, she reflected, but let it alone.
All eyes turned on the pair as they both strode silently into the Slytherin Common Room and just as abruptly entered their own rooms. Georgie managed to wink at the twins and grin at another girl she'd met in Herbology before being sucked into the vortex that was their rooms.
Snape flopped himself down on his couch and crossed his arms over his chest, sneering and looking menacingly about the room. Georgie hovered just inside the closed door, hands on her hips. "Are you feeling alright?" She asked. He snarled at her that he as fine.
"Do you need anything? Tea, food, bigger fire?" She motioned towards the medium-sized blaze.
He looked at her disdainfully. "Oh!" She exclaimed. "I guess I am sounding a bit like your mother. I apologize." She crossed the room, navigated the table and plopped herself down on her couch.
Snape was silent a moment, for effect more than anything else he realized. "My mother would never bother to inquire as to how I was, or whether I needed anything."
Georgie squirmed uncomfortably. "Sorry." She had guessed that Severus' family wasn't the true family that Georgie's were to her.
He whirled around and caught her eye. "It's not your fault," he soothed.
"Still..." She looked downcast.
"How about your guitar?" He asked lightly.
Smiling at the pathetically obvious change of topic, Georgie nodded and got to her feet. She returned a minute later without her shoes and having gained her guitar. She sat down once more and began to tune it, muttering to herself.
"You realize," piped up Snape. "That's you are going to have to say 'No' to me someday." She couldn't tell if he were being serious or not, and what was he talking of anyway.
She met his gaze and said steadily, "When you give me a reason for such a censure, I assure you I will say no." She starred him down forcefully. "Until then," She turned to her guitar again, speaking more to it than to him. "I enjoy playing it, and right now I'm not opposed to playing it for you. So long as you can manage to somewhat hold your tongue on the subject of my singing, I will continue to enjoy the pastime." And with that said, she continued tuning.
Severus was mildly impressed at that outburst, though of course he had no intention of holding his tongue for anyone. Though the force behind it almost convinced him to. Still he was amused, to say the least.
Snape, needn't have worried. Se felt so self-conscious she only sang one song, and it appeared to be a moody one at that.
Last night I dreamt
that somebody loved me,
no hope - but no harm,
just another false alarm.
Last night I felt
real arms around me,
no hope - no harm,
just another false alarm.
so, tell me how long
before the last one?
and tell me how long
before the right one?
this story is old - I KNOW
but it goes on.
this story is old - I KNOW
but it goes on.
Snape sat at attention, leering the entire time. And Georgie kept frowning at that. After awhile, she got sick of watching his reaction, and it made her uneasy. So she eventually set the guitar aside with finality, and burst out, "I'm tired." As she lay back and settled herself into her couch. It was true--she was extremely tired. But more emotionally than physically.
They spent another hour in this boring way, not one word exchanged between the both of them. Finally with a great sigh, Georgie stood up, and bid Snape a good night, then exited, leaving him where he was.
He was thinking. About things. Severus Snape wasn't used to thinking like this, emotions and caring and all that. He knew he cared for his friend Dumbledore more than anyone else in the world. He was the greatest friend and a mentor of sorts too. The old man was teaching him intriguing things about others and about himself that he'd never dreamed of. Never dreamed of second chances at all....
But Georgie was...different. She was a girl. Oh course, he slapped himself physically, then glancing to make sure he truly was all alone in that room. But, there were other things as well. She was unpredictable, to say the least, he sneered. But fascinatingly so. At first he found her dizzying and annoying. Now, it was different somehow. He really liked having that little brat around. And he respected her, though he'd never ever let her know that. Perhaps it was just different for him. Going from a best friend who was well over one hundred years old to one who was only 21.
But he knew it wasn't the age. It wasn't that she was stubborn, or anything. It was more in how she saw things in him, sometimes only the good things. How she changed the subject when he tried to bring up painful things, or things harmful to himself, or his past.. He frowned at that. Perhaps, that wasn't such a wise procedure for her to follow. But he shrugged.
Also there was only one instance when she was frightened of him. Though he loved trying to get her back up and make her skin jump, he was fascinated by this girl who so readily forgives a Death Eater when one had killed her relative, then welcomes him back to his place of friendship once more. Odd girl, he mused for the umpteenth time. The things she said all fascinated him, or else startled him at the least. He wanted to know what she was afraid of, for some reason... But she was strong enough, his hand reached up to the spot on the back of his neck remembering that strength.
Well, she was still a puzzle. Unreadable--perhaps all females are as enigmatical? He posed. But he thought that her being there was good. He didn't expand on why, as he was getting a headache and felt uncomfortable trying to figure out a female for so long in the first place. Not his style, he sneered at himself as he rose and went off to his bedchambers.
The next morning Snape turned and saw to his dismay Georgie bounding down the hallway straight for him, like a rabid wolverine he stood unmoving. She hopped up and beaming like an idiot, "Severus, will you go to Hogsmeade tomorrow afternoon with me?"
He wondered why he needed her to go with him, "Why?" He narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, I just want to jump you, beat the hell out of you, then leave you for dead back behind Zonko's." She snorted. "Geesh, nah, I am going to meet a friend of mine at the Three Broomsticks. I want you to come along and meet her." She saw his face, and pouted pathetically. "Puh-lease?" She whined.
He glowered down at her; "I have no intention of going to met a friend of yours." He began quite angrily.
"Please, please, please!" She persisted interrupting him. "You'd be the best-est most perfect person in the world. It'd hardly take any of your time, and this person's really, really cool and really smart." She pleaded. She knew he had no objection to the Three Broomsticks and Hogsmeade or even going out in this weather.
Snape still refused, so Georgie kept on him about it, until very late that night, he gave in. "Yipee!" Georgie hollered and spun around the room.
"Keep your voice down!" He snarled.
"Aw, Severus, you're the best! I knew you'd come around. Trust me, it'll be great." She stuck her tongue out at him.
"I highly doubt that," He countered dryly.
The next evening found Georgie and Snape crossing the outskirts of Hogwarts, heading for the front gates. Of course, lamented Georgie, the weather had to suck, as she pulled her cloak even tighter around her throat.
They had set up to meet up with Orris McDade obviously that very afternoon. Georgie had received a letter from her yesterday ran off ecstatic to tell then twins, and then had to just make sure Severus would actually go.
Orris knew all about him not knowing, and was delighted by the idea. She wasn't to mention anything about this being pre-arranged, but Orris was determined to whisk him away from Georgie and get him to herself as soon as she could. Georgie warned truthfully, that she'd better meet him first before she jumped on the man. Orris described what she'd be wearing and agreed to pose as a friend from Georgie's past. It was to be great fun, all in all.
Georgie kept grabbing Severus' arm excitedly and twittering off about this and that. Snape wanted to murder her at that moment. She was driving him to distraction. He just wanted to drink his Butterbeer, meet this woman and then be off.
The both swept into the Three Broomsticks and stopped just inside the door, Georgie looked around for a woman with a burgundy scarf tied around her neck. She looked uneasily around the room as Snape regarded her humorously. Georgie was just glad Snape was in a relatively good mood.
She started as she finally spotted Orris. She had her back to them and her head was bent down over something, perhaps a book. She was wearing a beautiful black velvet dress, very form-fitting. Georgie loved her already.
She yanked at Severus' arm and led him over to the table, tapping the woman lightly on the shoulder and exclaiming "Orris!"
The woman flung down the book and grinned kindly, eyes twinkling. "Georgie! Long time no see! How are you?" She gushed beautifully. She indicated the empty chairs at her table. "And you must be her friend Mr. Severus Snape."
Georgie almost died right then and there. Snape just continued to stare open-mouthed at the women as she offered him her hand. Giggling, Georgie elbowed him softly, and he shook himself out of the uncharacteristically Un-Snape-like moment. They shook hands and Snape's jaw returned to normal, as did his steely demeanor. Orris was gorgeous--truly. And she did everything beautifully. She was graceful and elegant even. Orris and Georgie took turns 'catching-up' on each others' lives as that was supposed to be the story.
Both Georgie and Severus could barely take their eyes from her. She was captivating. She was well read. She seemed to have traveled heaps more than Georgie, and had an interesting story to tell for every occasion. Georgie thought if Snape wouldn't take her, heck she would. She was so perfect! And she was engaging Snape in conversation. Georgie just sat there watching as the two conversed, silently sipping her butterbeers.
Snape stumbled at first--clearly out of practice for such a social setting. It had been a long time.... But he adapted quickly and flawlessly. Georgie was proud of him. He didn't share nearly equal of his life to what Orris shared of hers, but Georgie put it down to shyness. Ha! Snape, shy. Funny....But she never dreamed they'd hit it off so well--at least Snape wasn't visibly upset with her yet. Georgie worried a teensy bit when she would tell him--probably during the next week--how he'd take it. She figured ranting and raving and yelling and accusing. But she was going o make sure he understood Orris had had no part in any of this--it was all Georgie's fault.
Georgie's mind seemed to have left, the table, left the building, left the town and was now somewhere in orbit...But the glint off of Miss McDade's silver bracelet caught her eye and she snapped out of it. Georgie stole a glance at her watch. Dinner was almost over, damn! Georgie made discreet eye contact with Orris and winked at her.
Georgie rubbed her head unmistakably and put in when the conversation allowed, "Hey, Listen." Looking at them both. "I've got a bit of a headache so I'm going to head back to the school. You both look pretty comfortable. You guys finish up your conversation and drinks here. And Orris I'll drop you a note tomorrow, okay?" She jumped up and was out the door before Severus had a chance at protesting.
Georgie made it into dinner just in time, and she was famished! Her nerves must be eating for two these days. Georgie woofed down the food then joined Hagrid after the meal on a walk around the grounds with Fang. They had a fabulous time and were soaked to the skin when they burst into Hagrid's cabin to make good use of his blazing fire.
They played cards for hours sitting down on the floor before the fire, Fang's head resting in Georgie's lap. "He only likes you because you pet him more'n I do." Hagrid sniffled jealously, and Georgie giggled at that. Reassuring him that his dog only had eyes for him. They chatted about everything, students, classes, friends, other teachers (especially Snape, Georgie always noted--Hagrid always worried for her). She assured him that they were fast friends and she had proved herself capable of taking on Snape's moods and didn't fall for any of his rubbish. He grinned and patted her shoulder heartily at that.
At eleven, Georgie yawned and gave Hagrid a hug and thanked him for the good company and warm fire, before dashing back out into the downpour. Georgie virtually ran through rounds and high-tailed it back to the dungeons. The Common Room was empty and Severus hadn't returned. You sly devil, she grinned evilly. She was rather pleased with herself, she acknowledged as she set about making a fire and drying her things off.
At a few minutes past midnight with Georgie lying out in her dressing gown on the couch before the fire, Snape barged through the door. Georgie pretended to not look up as he entered and concentrated very, very hard at her book in her hand. He strode over to stand behind her, "Is your headache improved?" He asked quietly.
She looked up at him quizzically. "Yes. Thanks. I went on rounds. You don't have to. So, did you have a nice evening?" She questioned casually.
"Yes, I believe I did." He said seriously and then with a slight air of confusion. "Do you know her very well?"
"Orris? She's a casual friend, not horribly close," she admitted. That was true, she told herself. And the less Severus believed her to know about her friends' life, the less he'd try to ask her.
"I gathered as much. She's really not anything like you." He pronounced slowly.
"Gee, thanks." Georgie laughed.
"I didn't mean--"
"Severus, I was joking. Chill-freaking-out. I know as well as you do that we are nothing alike. She's fabulously beautiful and sophisticated and graceful. I'm--" She burped. Then held her hands up as if to say, 'See?'
Severus almost smiled at this. But Georgie was so happy. Of course it might tumble down when he learned the truth but oh well...while it lasted.
"So....do you have any plans?" She asked ambiguously, never raising her eyes from her book.
Snape paced about the room and ran his thing fingers through his hair, "We're meeting for coffee tomorrow." Georgie hooted and hollered inwardly.
"Oh, Orris you mean? I was just asking if you had any plans at all. Cool. You and Orris." She nodded as if the thought had never occurred to her before and returned to her book, as Snape was no doubt be kicking himself over his slip, she guessed. He knew if Georgie knew about this, she'd make a field day of it--as he would for her had it been her making the Coffee dates--though it wasn't a date! He carefully assured himself. He had to be calm and collected, also cautious. But Severus Snape was always cautious.
Georgie slept like a baby, grinning like a fool through her drool-filled unremembered dreams. She had waited until Severus had gone off to bed, before she dashed out and sent Miss McDade a short note. Georgie warned that if She and Snape were still talking to each other by the end of the day Georgie would break the truth to Severus, but Georgie assured Orris that everything would be fine. Georgie hoped to receive a reply by the end of the day.
Georgie did in fact receive a letter and it was full of hopeful praise and it agreed that Georgie should break it gently to Severus that very evening--before things got out of hand. She praised Snape enough, and that in and of itself seemed really odd. McDade was jumping to conclusions about Snape's emotions, Georgie figured, as they'd hardly gotten to know each other. But she wondered also at Snape's lack of, well anything, on returning from his Coffee 'date,' as Georgie teased him about it outright now. He seemed to be wholly unmoved and almost unenthusiastic. Just embarrassed every time it was brought up. Perhaps he was a very personal person with his love life, and didn't let anyone other than the object know. Of course it must be so, for God's sake, this was Professor Snape!
Georgie laughed when she caught herself thinking worrying about how the two of them got on. They had to have truly hit it off, otherwise Severus wouldn't have agreed to meet with her the next day for dinner in town. She was hoping to catch Snape alone so she could 'confess.'
She cornered him that evening finally alone. He was down on his couch after dinner reading some heavy ornately bound book. He glanced up at her as she passed through the doors. She would usually take this opportunity--hell any opportunity--to tease him about his new lady friend, but now wasn't the time obviously.
She sat gingerly down on her couch and bit her lip as she stared at him and tried to breathe deeply as she gathered her courage.
"Georgie, whatever you want to say. Say it." Severus didn't even look up.
"I swear you have eyes in the back of your head." She shook her head.
"I do." He looked up and smiled a bit mischievously. But Georgie didn't smile back, and Snape's smile soon disappeared on noticing this. He set his book down.
She took a deep breath. "Okay, please don't interrupt me because I have to try to get this out as quickly as I can, otherwise I won't have the courage to and it must be said." He nodded curtly and she hurried on, hardly ever taking a breath.
"I've only known Orris for a few days, a little over two weeks. I never lied; I just left heaps of stuff out, okay? Anyway, here's the thing. I thought you could use a, well...a friend, a Lady-friend. So I put out an ad for you in the Daily Prophet. I didn't use your name or anything--don't worry. But most of the replies were ludicrous, everyone's except Orris'. She seemed perfect for you! So I wrote to her and arranged a meeting."
"Miss McDade had nothing to do with any of this, the ad or anything. All she wanted to do was meet you. She genuinely likes you I think. Now, you can yell at me or hex me or whatever. I know I shouldn't have done it at all--that you never in a bazillion years would have done such a thing. I decided to do it anyway, I figured you'd probably wring my neck, but this deserved a try. I'm so sorry." She stopped here and looked at how Snape was handling it. He was completely white, his lips were drawn into a tight thin line and his eyes were black, but dull.
There was a pregnant silence in the air. "Say something." Georgie urged. "Please."
Severus' face slowly began to burn underneath, and turned from white to pink in fury. And say something he did. Georgie cringed as the first onslaught hit her ears. But she deserved it and would take it.
The man paced around the room bellowing and hissing and pointing his finger at her. She felt awful when she realized that, yes, she probably shouldn't have interfered in his private life like that--and on such a public scale. That it could have been dangerous had she given out information about his past...She admitted she hadn't considered these things fully, only slightly and in passing. It was probably an invasion of the man's privacy as well.
It was awful hard to just accept his words and not fight and argue and barb back, but she bit her lip hard and held her tongue as best as she could. Amazingly his tirade was over much quicker than she would have guessed it to be. He sat down and just stared at her. She felt tiny.
"I'm sorry." She repeated soberly.
"Forgotten." He offered at last, after seeming to hold his breath for a few minutes.
"So, Miss McDade knew nothing about this?"
"Well, I forced it on her. I told her on replying to her first letter that I was a friend of a man who wouldn't do it himself. I'll give it to you so you can see her response. She said that whatever I did was fine, she just wanted to meet you. She seemed very eager," she smiled a little at this.
Severus' eyes twinkled a little at that. "I've no doubt of her enthusiasm." He murmured.
"So are you still going to see her now?" She asked cautiously.
"Yes." Silence.
"I'm happy for you." Georgie confessed earnestly and she beamed on him.
Severus looked at her oddly, making Georgie laugh outloud. "What? That I wish you happiness? Is that beneath me or something? Damn, I'm not so shallow!"
He calmed her by stating that he wasn't thinking her shallow. He just shrugged and looked out the window, not looking like anything. He didn't know what to think of her. He was torn between flattery and hatred at what she'd done, but now he wasn't really angry any longer. Only, a bit confused. Deflated.
This whole situation seemed too fixed and planned, for it to be real. He felt he ought to go with the woman McDade, that he ought to laugh at her jokes and ought to ask her out again. It was logic. Of course he really didn't know her yet, but he recognized that Georgie was right--she did seem a good match--liking the same things as he did and all. She even had the same sort of reclusive temperament. It was all too new to him, though. He'd give it time and see how things worked out.
Georgie and he talked for awhile longer and Georgie brought out her textbooks to show him some engaging entries about internal bleeding treatments. He smiled at her, but perhaps thought her a little crazy. But he figured it would be a better career path than her Butterbeer scheme, so he tried to encourage it as best as he could, to even act thrilled at all the droll things she shared from those pages. Yes, by underhanded and devious suggestions he might be able to sway her from her foolish path...act the part of fate himself a bit.
By the end of the evening they were friends again, and Georgie was bouncing on the couches doing a self-invented Hula dance. Snape hadn't the foggiest what a real Hula dance would even look like, so he couldn't compare it to what it ought to have been, and rip it to shreds. She had explained that Hula told a story, and she narrated to him as she went along. Her dance had something to do with opening up an icebox and stealing all the ice cream away....
October passed by in a blur. Georgie did wonderfully in all her class, except for Herbology and Care for Magical Creatures where she refused to work with Manticores for two entire weeks, out of objections to something or other. She taught one of Minerva's classes and it went well, not as well as when Minerva herself handled the students, but at least the didn't kill her in the process... Georgie goofed off with the class and they seemed to have a smashing time of it, while not realizing the basic principles Georgie had sneaked into the lesson.
She kept her nose buried in her Mediwizard textbooks near constantly, but managed to find time to not neglect her friends. The twins even assisted her and Snape when Georgie bore a hole from just outside the Slytherin Common room directly to the dungeon.
Snape stood and glowered at the three of them the entire time, but at least he got his way that it wouldn't lead directly to Georgie's room as that might prove dangerous. She would do it regardless of how he tried to stop to stop her, and he hadn't the patience for another long battle with her. It was well past midnight and the Corrosive Potion ate through the stone walls quickly. They had already informed the house-elves of their plan, and they didn't seem to really care, as it wouldn't lead directly into the kitchens, but rather end up just outside of the secret-entryway. Snape was going to put tons of charms and locks and guards on it when it was finished, and he really wished they'd hurry this up so he could get on to other things.
The twins were thunderstruck to observe their nasty, greasy Potions Master aiding and abetting their friend in her silly schemes. They both caught the eyes of another and grinned, both thinking that perhaps he's not such a lost cause as was previously thought!
Severus met almost every other day with Orris. About a week into the relationship Georgie stopped writing to the older witch. If her epistles turned to be too full of Severus, she figured it might lead to a delicate situation later on. So every so often she'd send off a neutral letter by owl, just asking how she was and telling her what she was up to…in a vague sort of way.
Georgie had fallen out of love with Orris a few days after she'd told Snape about the ad. Georgie still felt that she was a splendid person, but she just couldn't find enough common ground to stand on between the both of them. Orris was too grand and serious, though still friendly and nice. Georgie felt that really she was being foolish-that she had no grounds or reasons to be so panicky or prejudiced. By all logical accounts, Georgie should still be in awes with the woman. But she wasn't.
So the couple met often. Orris visited Hogsmeade once more and all three of them met for lunch one rainy day. But Georgie felt the odd-man out and turned down a second invitation. Orris even visited the castle. It was a whirlwind romance that seemed to be actually working. And Severus seemed to be genuinely happy.
Georgie got to test out her new Mediwizardry skills one evening when Snape came home with a laceration on his leg. He explained that the Death Eaters were interrupted by some friendly Auror fire, and they all apparated away immediately. She fixed him up quickly and professionally, then forced him to drink down a light sedative potion she'd brewed two days earlier. She then turned on him and forced him to go to bed immediately while she cleaned up her supplies.
The hot topic with the twins was of course the Halloween Feast and the added dance. Georgie had been assisting Minerva in one of her beginning classes when she'd cleared her throat and proceeded to read the announcement from the tiny scrip of parchment. The dance was for fifth years and above and the present class had not consisted of fifth years or above. Loud cries of disappointment and injustice sailed throughout the air for a few minutes, before Minerva silenced them all with one quick word. But the damage was done. The load of them looked surly and barely paid any attention to a word spoken over the next two hours.
Georgie felt bad for them. She remembered what it felt like to be excluded just because of one's young age. Though she wasn't looking forward to the dance. She loved dances, it just would be awkward here, she'd be out of her element.
A few minutes before lunch, Georgie jogged downstairs to deposit her books in her room. Snape was standing at the bookcase just inside the door searching for a book. She greeted him warmly and tried to kick him as she breezed past. He turned and almost silently locked her door just as she reached it, so she threw her whole weight into the door and it didn't budge. She wheeled around and laughingly, "Severus, you suck."
He smirked at her and turned back to his bookshelf. Georgie muttered the counter-curse and dropped her books on her desk-she was trying to be a bit cleaner here, she reminded herself. On shutting her door behind her, she approached Snape. "What are you doing this weekend? I wanted to show you this cave--"
"I've got plans with Orris." He interjected without facing her.
Georgie's heart sank. She felt a tiny bit dejected and hurt, but tried to hearten up. "Oh, well that's fine. Another time then. No biggie." She walked briskly from the room.
She was hurt. That they were spending so much time together. Georgie wasn't jealous of course. But she was missing her friend's company. More and more lately whenever she'd wanted to do something or go somewhere he had plans with 'her'. She knew it was a natural consequence of her hooking them up--and she didn't begrudge either of them this. They were happy, so she was happy. She wanted him to get out more and to have more varied experiences and to meet women, so she had to just fortify herself. Disappointments came in life, she knew that. Hell, she'd face bigger ones than that in her lifetime. It was just hard to see the whole picture, when she was feeling abandoned by her friend.
She entered the Great Hall and winded her way up to her seat. She'd tried sitting with the Slytherins again, but she wasn't too keen on repeating the experience anytime soon. They were lovely kids, but their conversation was a little limited, she admitted to herself though she hated doing it. She always prided herself that she was young and could relate to most people, but the very young ones--the ones at only eleven--she found almost tedious having to explain basic things to, sometimes repeatedly. She really needed to work on having more patience.
Lunch came and went and directly after the meal, Georgie tailed Minerva up to her office. Minerva smiled to herself realizing that Georgie had something on her mind that she wanted to tell her. They chitchatted into the cozy room and Minerva waved her arm and tea appeared before them. Georgie politely turned it down, but Minerva busied herself with her own cup, every so often looking at the frenzied state of her young friend.
The talked a little about the classes and the 'stupid dance' as Georgie put it, then there was a lapse. Georgie jumped on it. "You know the lady Orris?" Minerva nodded and ceased smiling. Georgie had once confided about what she'd done with placing the ad and all. Minerva hadn't been pleased and had lectured good-naturedly on it for an hour, but she eventually admitted that she believed Orris might be a good influence on Snape.
"Well," Georgie kept on. "I'm sick of her." Minerva broke into a smile at these words, but allowed her friend an explanation. "I mean," she rambled looking at the ceiling. "She hasn't changed a whit. She is still very friendly and sophisticated and everything that's perfect for Severus. And Snape doesn't appear changed or moved or anything at all..." She bemoaned.
"It's just: Severus is never around. He's always out with her. And he doesn't seem to think she's the be-all end-all, you know? I mean if the man's to ever fall in love with her isn't he supposed to suffer from some signs? Some emotions? I mean for goodness sake, it's silly almost." She knew she was jumping haphazardly about the subject, she felt she needed to get it all out of her as soon as she could. "I mean, here I am slaving away for his better good, fixing him up properly, and he's off enjoying the nightlife! While I'm at home, my nose stuck in a book brewing him some damned potions!" She twitched and apologized for the language. She tried to remember that Minerva didn't think it colorful, but only a rather lazy way of expressing ones' self, and Georgie was starting to agree, but she hadn't as of yet kicked the habit.
"I know I'm sounding dumb, and that this is what I wanted for him--what he's wanted too. It's just not turning out to be anything that I thought it'd be. I thought we'd be the same friends as always, that he'd just have another girlfriend, and life would go on. Now he hasn't time for me. I think I created a monster...." She giggled and flopped her hands in her lap.
Minerva had been watching her over the top of her teacup and waited until she finished before she spoke. She set her cup down and appeared to be choosing her words carefully. "Severus is a man and quite capable of deciding for himself whether he's to spend time with this Miss McDade. You may not see the hold she may have over him and Severus is not bound to anyone to give proof of it's very existence."
"Perhaps you are jealous?" Minerva seemed to be speaking to herself, as if the thought only just occurred to her.
"Jealous!" Georgie howled in protest. "Of Severus! You've got to be joking! That's sick! I don't want anything to do with him like that! God, that's nasty."
"Georgie." Minerva chastised gently. "I meant of his time. Jealous of his time, you little funny fool." Georgie nervously laughed, only as a way to change the subject.
Pausing for another moment Minerva said, "You tend to have an over-romanticized view of friendships and relationships. It's a gift actually, because you may only see the good and the happy. In addition you impart that sometimes upon others, which is very wonderful and uplifting for others."
"But you are correct when you surmised that you may have created a monster. But this monster may only be a monster to you. It may be an angel of light to Severus and Miss McDade. You of course knew that this was a distant possibility--it always is when people go together. You wanted him to be happy, but you can't choose the course his happiness will take, unfortunately. Or maybe it is very fortunate indeed."
Georgie pouted and agreed understandingly. Minerva saw her emotions and added, "But things might again be as they were. Don't give up. These things take time, love." She reached out and patted her on the knee. "You may need fireworks for yourself, but knowing Severus for as long as I have, I doubt he's the whistles-and-bells sort of emotional love-sick type."
Georgie smiled gratefully at that and steered the subject away from Snape. They chatted for an hour more and had great laughs at poor Hagrid's expense. Georgie was glad for the occasion to laugh again and loved Minerva for putting up with all of Georgie's crap and baggage. When the got late, Georgie rose and thanked Minerva for listening to her and surprised the woman by giving her a quick hug to show her appreciation.
Georgie was already at the door when Minerva said something to cause her to turn back. "I didn't want to tell because I thought you'd take it the wrong way, but I believe I was a bit hasty in that assumption. I think also perhaps that your emotions tend to show a bit of jealousy for this woman, McDade. Perhaps you should address whatever you might have to be jealous of Miss McDade for. If you're feeling unworthy or not as beautiful--Georgie you're lovely. You're a lovely witch. We all think the world of you; you have nothing to prove to any of us. Just take a few moments and examine your conscience and motives, could you?" The woman grinned warmly and shooed Georgie out the door before she had time to protest.
Georgie stomped off to the dungeons like a spoiled child. I am not jealous of her! Her head hissed at her. I am fine the way I am. I'm a freaking genius, I'm doing well in life and I have lovely friends. Sure she's beautiful and graceful and perfect and has a job at the Ministry, but I don't care. Even her mind's inner-voiced was whining.
Georgie spied Mrs. Norris and almost trod directly over the cat. Shouldn't have been in my way anyway...
She sighed, thinking just how ugly she was being. Minerva was right. Georgie had known it for sometime, but wasn't willing to admit it. The McDade woman was perfect, Georgie could see no flaw and it galled her. Of course everyone had flaws. But she was perfect, Georgie thought sullenly. And I'm losing my best friend to someone who's perfect. This is what she wanted--him to be happy with the perfect woman. Georgie didn't need to be happy with the arrangement, because she wasn't part of the equation. So she puffed herself up and entered the Common Room having resolved to distance herself until she was under control.
The lounge was colder than average, and Snape was sure the feeble fire in the fireplace wasn't doing much to remedy this. Georgie wasn't as warm as usual. Perhaps the weather was finally getting to her. She snapped at him constantly and rarely cracked a smile, and when she did, it seemed forced. He knew that she was upset that he wasn't around as much as he used to be. He knew also that he was the cause of much of it, but he couldn't stop--why should he for her? He didn't know why, he frowned. Georgie had said it herself: "Orris is the perfect match for you." Orris was perfect Snape assented. Too perfect he thought sometimes, but he did have a nice time with her. How could one not? It is only natural to pet and fawn over kittens, was it not?
He felt need to spend as much time with her as he could--it was as if the day wasn't long enough for...everything. A very foreign sensation. Snape knew she was perfect rather than felt it to be so. But he reasoned that after time, things would just click and he'd realize it fully. He did like spending his spare time with her. She was very intellectual and kept up with all the latest happenings, plus she was very friendly. She was also gorgeous, and Snape realized that wherever they went all eyes were on them. It was such a different reaction for him: Here he was being noticed by people regardless of how he looked, acted or how he snapped at people. He wondered whom was taking advantage of whom if this was so.
Things were a mad whirlwind of school duties and spending time with her. She had kissed him on the cheek impetuously and Snape had stared after her dumbfounded as she waved and walked away from him into the night. Why would someone want to kiss him? Anyway? It was almost too much to be considered.
He honestly wished things were the same as they had been--between he and Georgie at least--Orris was fine. He almost hoped Georgie would be nosy and ask her stupid, prying questions. Almost, but not really. He would grudgingly act insulted at the impertinence of the questions, then eventually tell her what he thought. He wanted to know what she was thinking and to tell her his thoughts on everything. Somehow, things became less mixed when argued out before Georgie. She'd probably laugh it all off or burp or something ridiculous. It was good to have another point of view and he valued her opinion. He shook his head and cleared his heads of such thoughts. Valued her opinion...ha.
Georgie burst from her room, with her cauldron in hand, greeted him smiling, then excused herself as she headed off to the classroom. She had to make up some more burn salve. She had probably plenty, but she figured she should always have two full vials on hand. She was paranoid with her medical stores--almost as much as Snape was with his common potions. She sniffed at this, as she took the key out of her pocket and unlocked the dungeon classroom. But where Snape had poisons and Veritaserums, Georgie had healing and fixing potions. It seemed counter productive.
She sighed as she heaved the cauldron down in the center of the room. She glanced around the classroom, it was so stark and bleak. And at night it cast crazy shadows about the place. "Boo." She murmured to herself. She gathered the necessary potions without thinking and placed a fire beneath it.
Counterproductive, she pursed her lips. Sure is. He goes out with his poisons and tries to kill others, comes back half-dead himself, I fix him up so he can run out and do the same damn thing again. She knew it wasn't true. Snape wouldn't be one to enjoy killing anyone else--except Voldemort, she stopped herself. Thank God.
She stirred the potion absently. I liked blowing stuff up heaps more than fixing stuff up. But I guess those days are over. Last weekend when Snape had gone to London to meet Orris, Georgie was feeling...she'd wanted to admit to be frustrated or stressed, but now she realized it was indeed jealousy. Georgie had grabbed her cloak and at midnight took off for the Forbidden Forest.
She didn't venture far in--Hagrid had warned her about that time and again. She roamed the edges and with her wand, she blasted the hell out of several plants and trees. She figured she was far enough into the forest that no one up at Hogwarts had seen her, so she left a path of destruction behind her as she set fire to fallen limbs and offending bushes and shrubbery. At least it was warmer here among the burning and destruction. She really wished many of them had been Severus. Ah well, time will figure this all out, she sniffed, sounding a lot like Minerva. And also feeling a little more at ease.
She remembered her task and bottled the finished potion numbly and returned to the deafening silence.
The evening before Halloween Georgie was found lounging in her nightgown and slippers before the fire reading a Muggle novel about a navy submarine--she ate that stuff up like candy. It always amazed her that Muggles were so innovative--as to making a giant metal bubble sailing-ship--and to survive in it! With no magic! Amazing....
Snape had left to see Orris directly after dinner and Georgie hadn't had a chance to talk to him, but she was getting slowly and reluctantly used to it. She ended up going places by herself and still having a grand time, just like the Pre-Snape days she laughed. In Poland she sometimes turned down the company of others because she didn't feel up to their company, and what crazy days those were, she reminisced lightheartedly.
The rain was coming down again. It had subsided for a few days last week, but Georgie had hardly noticed. She told herself because she was so busy with classes: Divination and Defense Against the Dark Arts were taking a lot of her concentration.
She smiled and sighed warmly. She set aside her book for a second and cracked her neck with her hands at the base of her neck. She felt sore. Must not be getting enough sleep. She glanced down at her wrist. Mickey smiled up at her and told her it was just past ten. Georgie wasn't waiting up for Severus as he wasn't out spying and it was very unlikely he'd come from seeing Orris with scratches. And if he did, Georgie didn't want to see them, know of them or hear how he got them from her.
All of a sudden, she heard a light tapping noise. She craned her neck around and tried to determine from which direction the sound came. It seemed to be coming from the window. Georgie's heart leapt up into her throat? Was it a person trying to get in or something? She stood and stalked to the window straining to see if it were a person or just the wind rattling the panes. It was pitch black. She squinted and made out the faint outline of an owl using it's beak to tap at the glass. But the poor fellow was so wind-tossed he was having a poor time of it. She quickly unlatched the window long enough that he could fly in and escape the wind.
The stupid bird flew about the room excitedly and Georgie almost knocked him out of the air to get the note attached to his leg off. She hopped it wasn't for Severus as he wasn't here to answer it directly. She finally freed the note and saw with surprise that it said 'George' simply. Cool. She grinned. Who the heck could this be from? And at such an hour!
She opened it hastily and her face fell. It read:
You are in danger. Get out of Hogwarts immediately. You must go to the place with the ruins, but go instead to the house. Do not leave once there. Leave this moment. Go!
Sugar Lips
She held the paper numb for a moment. She knew this was from Severus--still it didn't exactly strike her as characteristically him, so then what the hell? Was this a joke? It was pouring rain outside! And go to the island? It was dark and windy. Georgie knew where it was. She'd guessed by the time spent in the air, the direction went and the shape of the coast where it was--at least vaguely. She just didn't let on as Severus had hoped to have it remain unknown. She trusted him, but still....she felt ill. Was this a joke? She kept second-guessing her own judgment in her mind.
Then with a sudden resolve, she ran to her room slipped into her shoes and threw her cloak over her nightgown. Almost as an afterthought she grabbed a small Muggle knapsack inside which she kept a first-aid kit of sorts, with potions included. She yanked up her broomstick and the owl and ran out into the hallway.
On flinging open the heavy side doors and becoming immediately soaked to the skin with the rain, she wished she'd done a Water-Proofing Spell earlier. Shivering, she muttered one, let the owl go and stuffed the note into her pocket.
She practically ran onto her broomstick, her teeth chattering in the wind. She hoped she wasn't heading into something foolish.
A/N--"In Fairbanks, Alaska, it is illegal to feed a moose an alcohol beverage." (Stupid Virgil Trivia Fact) Why would you want to? Oh yeah the song's the Smiths--assume it usually is. Won't be disappointed.
Nothing else to say. Peace and goodwill to most everyone. Cheers.
Severus looked around himself, making sure no one was watching. The Hospital Wing was indeed empty. Still, he didn't know how to go about this. It was noon and Georgie slept like the dead by his side, still snoring and slightly drooling. Dumbledore had come in earlier, held a conversation and then left again, and that girl hadn't stopped snoring. She would miss lunch and be cranky if she woke and had to wait for dinner-he'd seen her that way a few times before.
How to wake her though? He considered yanking her braid, her dumping a glass of water on her. She had snored right through conversations and his moving about. Perhaps a stun spell, he grinned wickedly as he eyed his wand which sat on the table beside him. He didn't want to hurt her, he reasoned. What was he talking about? Of course he'd love to hurt her, it was fun and she deserved most of it. But not today. She was kind, he couldn't make her hate him just yet. But later, oh yes...He thought mischievously.
He frowned, then grabbed his wand. He mustn't break character, must he? And he grinned--though he could easily bend hers. "Rictusempra."
Slowly her shoulders curled up and her back arched like a cat's as her head bobbed down below her line of sight. "Ahhh!" She wailed, getting louder. Her head came up and gripped the side of Snape's bed, her eyes wide and alert and level with Snape's. She giggled and snorted and grabbed her sides gasping for breath. "You jerk!" She shrieked, in between a hearty guffaw and twittering out her nose. "Not fair! I can't return it 'cuz you're a broken man...." She hiccuped and cackled.
He looked at her solemnly as she snickered and tried not to break eye contact with him. "I'm serious." She chortled ridiculously, "You're awful!" She wanted to slap him, and tried her hardest to frown at how displeased she was, but it just came out as a roar.
He just watched her blankly as she fumbled about looking for her wand, as if she were the day's entertainment. He eventually muttered the counter-curse and it still took her a minute to get herself under control. Finally she looked up into his prankish eyes and pointed her finger weakly at him. "I-really-don't-like-you!" She gasped.
He smirked at her. "Good. Now I don't want you to miss lunch, and then Dumbledore wishes to see you."
Georgie, stretched out and yawned, then cracked her back and massaged her aching neck. "How long are you in for?" She tried to look menacing at him.
"I assume you're asking how long I am to remain in the Hospital Wing for?" He annoyed her purposely. "I'm here until this evening. By then all the potions and healing spells will have done their best, so I may leave then."
Georgie nodded at this. Her stomach growled angrily, and she put her hand over it. "Hmm, I guess I'd better get off to lunch then. I'll come back later and visit and annoy, if you'd like."
Snape shrugged, so Georgie shrugged back. Whatever she thought. "See you later then." She popped up and returned to the dungeons for her shoes. Leaving him watching her. Odd female, he thought.
After lunch and many discrete and vague explanations as to why she missed breakfast, Georgie made her way up to Dumbledore's office. He seemed to have sensed that she was there, because on knocking on the door, it was immediately opened onto the face of the man himself.
He poured her some tea and the both sat beside a chess-set set up between two couches off to the side. They chitchatted for a few minutes, but Georgie didn't pry or try to rush the man. He had his own timing and his own way of saying things. And say things he did.
The man explained how Snape was regularly coming home with cuts and broken bones and the such, and how risky it was trying to get him discretely to Madam Pomfrey, that it would set tongues going and start unnecessary fears in motion. Besides often Madam Pomfrey was called away or the injuries were beyond her sphere of knowledge. Georgie swallowed, and jumped in that she was positive that they weren't seen last night. The old man smiled and assured her that he didn't believe them to have been seen. Georgie wondered what he was trying to get to saying, he had piqued her interest.
Finally, he proposed at last that since Georgie was now a close friend of Snape's and privy to his secrets and living down there with him....that she could learn some Mediwizardry and learn to patch him up herself.
"You're joking?" She starred open-mouthed at him when she finally found her voice.
"Not in the least. You'd only learn the basics: how to remedy cuts, broken bones, burns, poisons, protection against elements...things such as that. Oh yes, and Cruciatus and the like..." He spoke slowly, almost as if an afterthought.
"I think I'm going to be sick..." Georgie murmured.
"If you didn't feel sick at the thought of a friend going through that, I'd have doubted you...." He nodded.
She sighed and shook herself, "What does Severus say about this? Have you asked him?" Somehow she figured Snape would pitch a fit and vehemently oppose.
"I proposed it this morning. He's agreed...that is if you agree." He set his teacup down on the table gently. "Really, it's a wonderful opportunity. We will send for special textbooks for you, and you'll learn from Pomfrey once a week. It will have to remain a secret, as we don't offer Mediwizardry training to all the students here. But I urge you to consider this carefully. Not only is it assisting Severus, but you'll be gaining some valuable training that might come in useful later on in your life--even if you don't choose to follow that career path." His eyes twinkled.
She looked him in the eye, "I accept," She said unsmiling. Damn, what was she getting herself into? She wondered at herself, but it had deeply interested her--special training and textbooks, keeping it all a secret. "I just wish he weren't going out getting ripped apart all the time in the first place." She murmured and looked at her hands in her lap, not completely comfortable with sharing her feelings on the subject.
Dumbledore patted her knee; "He's doing this of his own free will now. The ministry heads have released him of all blame and debts owed for his many years of faithful and dangerous service for our side. It's not been made public of course. He's on his own personal vendetta now. He wants to see Voldemort fall more than anyone else I've ever met has." He frowned a little at this, "But I wouldn't stop him from seeing this out to the end. Not for the world." He looked her in the eyes. She nodded, understanding his meaning.
They discussed that she would get her books this next week and begin immediately her lessons guided by Pomfrey. She'd also get her own little store of medical potions and many bandages to keep down in the dungeons. She was excited, but also a little upset. She didn't know whom at though. Voldemort? Yeah, probably.... She rose when it was time to leave and she thanked Dumbledore and gripped his hand warmly as she left.
She returned to the dungeons and cleaned the place up a bit--actually a lot, when it came to her own room. She had so many dirty clothes and her toys were laying about all over her floor. She frowned, slightly disappointed in herself for letting it get that bad. Oh well, she shrugged as she picked up a squirt gun and returned it to it's place.
She had time to hop in the bath and relax for a few minutes. It was heavenly, she breathed deeply and cleared her mind of everything except the steaming water and how cute her toe-sies looked poking out at the other end. She really was nutters, she grinned at herself. She toweled herself off and slipped into her voluminous bathrobe.
Standing before the open wardrobe, she quickly picked out an all-black long-sleeved top and a long black skirt. She didn't feel up to standing out today, and black was lovely for disappearing into crowds with. Besides that, but she looked out at the window at the pelting rain, and thought it sort of mirrored her moodiness at the moment. The rain every single damn day was getting to her. She knew it wasn't normal at all to have such a rainy season, but still she detested it.
She undid her hair and tied it back into it's usual poofy-ponytail. She nodded approvingly at her reflection in the mirror. The black did make her look skinnier. Her chubby, wide face seemed to look slimmer. "Cool," she spoke approvingly in a whisper under her breath.
She turned before heading up to dinner and scrambled on top of her covers of her bed, grasping the bedposts for balance. She began to jump and hop around, and she skipped back and forth, flailing her arms every which way and kicking the pillows into the walls. She was soon out of breath and feeling ten-times lighter. Smiling, she flopped down into the covers and slid off the mattress. She slipped into her shoes-the nice ones not the sneakers, and headed for the door smiling. What wonders a little jumping about does? She speculated. Excellent stress-relief.
At the dinner table, she and Hagrid griped to Professor Binns about the weather near constantly. Binns had to keep reminding them that it had no effect on him whatsoever. Hagrid then commented on her looking skinnier, and Georgie flung her arms around his massive neck and bear-hugged him. He looked startled, but quite pleased. He grinned and turned red at odd moments for the rest of the meal.
Dumbledore stood and announced that Hogsmeade weekends would be starting next week, and that unlike past years, third-year students would not be able to participate this year. A collective groan arose throughout the Great Hall on hearing this, but that was that. Hagrid tacked on and so that just Georgie could hear, "On account of 'em past third-years, no doubt."
Hagrid tried to get her to go down to Hogsmeade when he was chaperoning, and Georgie, shrugged and agreed to it quickly enough. Hell, it might be fun, and she hadn't spent nearly enough time with Hagrid lately. She told him she was looking forward to it, and scooted off from the table and headed out the Great Hall
She popped her head into the Hospital Wing, and she spotted Snape sitting bolt up in bed scowling. God bless his heart, she pouted playfully to herself, he's back to normal. She snorted at her inner theatrics as she crossed the floor between them.
"So how's the patient?" She asked cheerfully.
He turned and glared at her. "That good...?" And her eyes connected with Madam Pomfrey's and they both grinned at each other.
"I came to see that they were feeding you..."
"House elves sent up some food." He sneered and nodded towards some empty plates on a table across the room.
"Oh." She smiled. "So what shall we do now then?"
"I only want to get out of here." He glared at the poor older woman stocking a cabinet a few paces away.
"Where to?" Georgie asked, drawing his attention away. "Morocco? Siberia? Ireland?"
"Pardon?" He looked a bit confused.
"Erin gra mo chroi...."
"Excuse me?" He spat.
"Oh, nevermind." Georgie walked over to Pomfrey and out of Snape's earshot. "How long must he stay here?" she whispered.
"Oh, he can leave whenever. He's fine--take him away. I just like making the tyrant suffer." She grinned toothily.
The two ladies grinned to themselves slyly, and then Georgie rolled her eyes right before turning to return to Snape.
"So, you wanna hear my opera?" Snape immediately had his wand pointed in her direction. "Silent but deadly," she complained to herself. "Geesh, everyone's a critic!" She lamented loudly. "Fine, well if you don't want to hear my birdsong, I guess there's nothing left for us to do but get outta this place." She grinned cheekily. "Can ya walk?"
He glared daggers into her. "Okay, fine. You can walk," She answered her own question, then scratched her head absently.
Snape hopped up from his bed and disappeared into a side room, where he reemerged minutes later dressed in his own robes. He glided across to where she stood and looked to Georgie.
"Okily, let's go. Thanks Madam Pomfrey. I'll try not to return him here very often!" She giggled and the ladies waved each other off.
After turning the first corner, Snape asked in low tones, "So are you doing it?"
She almost laughed aloud at this. Of course she knew what he was talking about, but if she didn't...doing what exactly? Doing narcotics, doing well in school, doing the cha-cha, doing her hair, doing nude modeling....hell she seriously considered answering, 'Yes, I am PMS-ing. Thank you for asking.' Just for gross-out-the-Snape factor, but decided against it. She grinned much broader than the question called for and answered simply, "Huh?"
"You know very well I meant are you going to take the Mediwizard training?" He growled.
"Oh!" She gasped in mock surprise. "Of course I am," She turned on him and chuckled, as if he were a mere little boy asking something ridiculously stupid.
"I'm glad." He stated, though without feeling.
Georgie looked at him sideways, smirking. Oh really, she reflected, but let it alone.
All eyes turned on the pair as they both strode silently into the Slytherin Common Room and just as abruptly entered their own rooms. Georgie managed to wink at the twins and grin at another girl she'd met in Herbology before being sucked into the vortex that was their rooms.
Snape flopped himself down on his couch and crossed his arms over his chest, sneering and looking menacingly about the room. Georgie hovered just inside the closed door, hands on her hips. "Are you feeling alright?" She asked. He snarled at her that he as fine.
"Do you need anything? Tea, food, bigger fire?" She motioned towards the medium-sized blaze.
He looked at her disdainfully. "Oh!" She exclaimed. "I guess I am sounding a bit like your mother. I apologize." She crossed the room, navigated the table and plopped herself down on her couch.
Snape was silent a moment, for effect more than anything else he realized. "My mother would never bother to inquire as to how I was, or whether I needed anything."
Georgie squirmed uncomfortably. "Sorry." She had guessed that Severus' family wasn't the true family that Georgie's were to her.
He whirled around and caught her eye. "It's not your fault," he soothed.
"Still..." She looked downcast.
"How about your guitar?" He asked lightly.
Smiling at the pathetically obvious change of topic, Georgie nodded and got to her feet. She returned a minute later without her shoes and having gained her guitar. She sat down once more and began to tune it, muttering to herself.
"You realize," piped up Snape. "That's you are going to have to say 'No' to me someday." She couldn't tell if he were being serious or not, and what was he talking of anyway.
She met his gaze and said steadily, "When you give me a reason for such a censure, I assure you I will say no." She starred him down forcefully. "Until then," She turned to her guitar again, speaking more to it than to him. "I enjoy playing it, and right now I'm not opposed to playing it for you. So long as you can manage to somewhat hold your tongue on the subject of my singing, I will continue to enjoy the pastime." And with that said, she continued tuning.
Severus was mildly impressed at that outburst, though of course he had no intention of holding his tongue for anyone. Though the force behind it almost convinced him to. Still he was amused, to say the least.
Snape, needn't have worried. Se felt so self-conscious she only sang one song, and it appeared to be a moody one at that.
Last night I dreamt
that somebody loved me,
no hope - but no harm,
just another false alarm.
Last night I felt
real arms around me,
no hope - no harm,
just another false alarm.
so, tell me how long
before the last one?
and tell me how long
before the right one?
this story is old - I KNOW
but it goes on.
this story is old - I KNOW
but it goes on.
Snape sat at attention, leering the entire time. And Georgie kept frowning at that. After awhile, she got sick of watching his reaction, and it made her uneasy. So she eventually set the guitar aside with finality, and burst out, "I'm tired." As she lay back and settled herself into her couch. It was true--she was extremely tired. But more emotionally than physically.
They spent another hour in this boring way, not one word exchanged between the both of them. Finally with a great sigh, Georgie stood up, and bid Snape a good night, then exited, leaving him where he was.
He was thinking. About things. Severus Snape wasn't used to thinking like this, emotions and caring and all that. He knew he cared for his friend Dumbledore more than anyone else in the world. He was the greatest friend and a mentor of sorts too. The old man was teaching him intriguing things about others and about himself that he'd never dreamed of. Never dreamed of second chances at all....
But Georgie was...different. She was a girl. Oh course, he slapped himself physically, then glancing to make sure he truly was all alone in that room. But, there were other things as well. She was unpredictable, to say the least, he sneered. But fascinatingly so. At first he found her dizzying and annoying. Now, it was different somehow. He really liked having that little brat around. And he respected her, though he'd never ever let her know that. Perhaps it was just different for him. Going from a best friend who was well over one hundred years old to one who was only 21.
But he knew it wasn't the age. It wasn't that she was stubborn, or anything. It was more in how she saw things in him, sometimes only the good things. How she changed the subject when he tried to bring up painful things, or things harmful to himself, or his past.. He frowned at that. Perhaps, that wasn't such a wise procedure for her to follow. But he shrugged.
Also there was only one instance when she was frightened of him. Though he loved trying to get her back up and make her skin jump, he was fascinated by this girl who so readily forgives a Death Eater when one had killed her relative, then welcomes him back to his place of friendship once more. Odd girl, he mused for the umpteenth time. The things she said all fascinated him, or else startled him at the least. He wanted to know what she was afraid of, for some reason... But she was strong enough, his hand reached up to the spot on the back of his neck remembering that strength.
Well, she was still a puzzle. Unreadable--perhaps all females are as enigmatical? He posed. But he thought that her being there was good. He didn't expand on why, as he was getting a headache and felt uncomfortable trying to figure out a female for so long in the first place. Not his style, he sneered at himself as he rose and went off to his bedchambers.
The next morning Snape turned and saw to his dismay Georgie bounding down the hallway straight for him, like a rabid wolverine he stood unmoving. She hopped up and beaming like an idiot, "Severus, will you go to Hogsmeade tomorrow afternoon with me?"
He wondered why he needed her to go with him, "Why?" He narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, I just want to jump you, beat the hell out of you, then leave you for dead back behind Zonko's." She snorted. "Geesh, nah, I am going to meet a friend of mine at the Three Broomsticks. I want you to come along and meet her." She saw his face, and pouted pathetically. "Puh-lease?" She whined.
He glowered down at her; "I have no intention of going to met a friend of yours." He began quite angrily.
"Please, please, please!" She persisted interrupting him. "You'd be the best-est most perfect person in the world. It'd hardly take any of your time, and this person's really, really cool and really smart." She pleaded. She knew he had no objection to the Three Broomsticks and Hogsmeade or even going out in this weather.
Snape still refused, so Georgie kept on him about it, until very late that night, he gave in. "Yipee!" Georgie hollered and spun around the room.
"Keep your voice down!" He snarled.
"Aw, Severus, you're the best! I knew you'd come around. Trust me, it'll be great." She stuck her tongue out at him.
"I highly doubt that," He countered dryly.
The next evening found Georgie and Snape crossing the outskirts of Hogwarts, heading for the front gates. Of course, lamented Georgie, the weather had to suck, as she pulled her cloak even tighter around her throat.
They had set up to meet up with Orris McDade obviously that very afternoon. Georgie had received a letter from her yesterday ran off ecstatic to tell then twins, and then had to just make sure Severus would actually go.
Orris knew all about him not knowing, and was delighted by the idea. She wasn't to mention anything about this being pre-arranged, but Orris was determined to whisk him away from Georgie and get him to herself as soon as she could. Georgie warned truthfully, that she'd better meet him first before she jumped on the man. Orris described what she'd be wearing and agreed to pose as a friend from Georgie's past. It was to be great fun, all in all.
Georgie kept grabbing Severus' arm excitedly and twittering off about this and that. Snape wanted to murder her at that moment. She was driving him to distraction. He just wanted to drink his Butterbeer, meet this woman and then be off.
The both swept into the Three Broomsticks and stopped just inside the door, Georgie looked around for a woman with a burgundy scarf tied around her neck. She looked uneasily around the room as Snape regarded her humorously. Georgie was just glad Snape was in a relatively good mood.
She started as she finally spotted Orris. She had her back to them and her head was bent down over something, perhaps a book. She was wearing a beautiful black velvet dress, very form-fitting. Georgie loved her already.
She yanked at Severus' arm and led him over to the table, tapping the woman lightly on the shoulder and exclaiming "Orris!"
The woman flung down the book and grinned kindly, eyes twinkling. "Georgie! Long time no see! How are you?" She gushed beautifully. She indicated the empty chairs at her table. "And you must be her friend Mr. Severus Snape."
Georgie almost died right then and there. Snape just continued to stare open-mouthed at the women as she offered him her hand. Giggling, Georgie elbowed him softly, and he shook himself out of the uncharacteristically Un-Snape-like moment. They shook hands and Snape's jaw returned to normal, as did his steely demeanor. Orris was gorgeous--truly. And she did everything beautifully. She was graceful and elegant even. Orris and Georgie took turns 'catching-up' on each others' lives as that was supposed to be the story.
Both Georgie and Severus could barely take their eyes from her. She was captivating. She was well read. She seemed to have traveled heaps more than Georgie, and had an interesting story to tell for every occasion. Georgie thought if Snape wouldn't take her, heck she would. She was so perfect! And she was engaging Snape in conversation. Georgie just sat there watching as the two conversed, silently sipping her butterbeers.
Snape stumbled at first--clearly out of practice for such a social setting. It had been a long time.... But he adapted quickly and flawlessly. Georgie was proud of him. He didn't share nearly equal of his life to what Orris shared of hers, but Georgie put it down to shyness. Ha! Snape, shy. Funny....But she never dreamed they'd hit it off so well--at least Snape wasn't visibly upset with her yet. Georgie worried a teensy bit when she would tell him--probably during the next week--how he'd take it. She figured ranting and raving and yelling and accusing. But she was going o make sure he understood Orris had had no part in any of this--it was all Georgie's fault.
Georgie's mind seemed to have left, the table, left the building, left the town and was now somewhere in orbit...But the glint off of Miss McDade's silver bracelet caught her eye and she snapped out of it. Georgie stole a glance at her watch. Dinner was almost over, damn! Georgie made discreet eye contact with Orris and winked at her.
Georgie rubbed her head unmistakably and put in when the conversation allowed, "Hey, Listen." Looking at them both. "I've got a bit of a headache so I'm going to head back to the school. You both look pretty comfortable. You guys finish up your conversation and drinks here. And Orris I'll drop you a note tomorrow, okay?" She jumped up and was out the door before Severus had a chance at protesting.
Georgie made it into dinner just in time, and she was famished! Her nerves must be eating for two these days. Georgie woofed down the food then joined Hagrid after the meal on a walk around the grounds with Fang. They had a fabulous time and were soaked to the skin when they burst into Hagrid's cabin to make good use of his blazing fire.
They played cards for hours sitting down on the floor before the fire, Fang's head resting in Georgie's lap. "He only likes you because you pet him more'n I do." Hagrid sniffled jealously, and Georgie giggled at that. Reassuring him that his dog only had eyes for him. They chatted about everything, students, classes, friends, other teachers (especially Snape, Georgie always noted--Hagrid always worried for her). She assured him that they were fast friends and she had proved herself capable of taking on Snape's moods and didn't fall for any of his rubbish. He grinned and patted her shoulder heartily at that.
At eleven, Georgie yawned and gave Hagrid a hug and thanked him for the good company and warm fire, before dashing back out into the downpour. Georgie virtually ran through rounds and high-tailed it back to the dungeons. The Common Room was empty and Severus hadn't returned. You sly devil, she grinned evilly. She was rather pleased with herself, she acknowledged as she set about making a fire and drying her things off.
At a few minutes past midnight with Georgie lying out in her dressing gown on the couch before the fire, Snape barged through the door. Georgie pretended to not look up as he entered and concentrated very, very hard at her book in her hand. He strode over to stand behind her, "Is your headache improved?" He asked quietly.
She looked up at him quizzically. "Yes. Thanks. I went on rounds. You don't have to. So, did you have a nice evening?" She questioned casually.
"Yes, I believe I did." He said seriously and then with a slight air of confusion. "Do you know her very well?"
"Orris? She's a casual friend, not horribly close," she admitted. That was true, she told herself. And the less Severus believed her to know about her friends' life, the less he'd try to ask her.
"I gathered as much. She's really not anything like you." He pronounced slowly.
"Gee, thanks." Georgie laughed.
"I didn't mean--"
"Severus, I was joking. Chill-freaking-out. I know as well as you do that we are nothing alike. She's fabulously beautiful and sophisticated and graceful. I'm--" She burped. Then held her hands up as if to say, 'See?'
Severus almost smiled at this. But Georgie was so happy. Of course it might tumble down when he learned the truth but oh well...while it lasted.
"So....do you have any plans?" She asked ambiguously, never raising her eyes from her book.
Snape paced about the room and ran his thing fingers through his hair, "We're meeting for coffee tomorrow." Georgie hooted and hollered inwardly.
"Oh, Orris you mean? I was just asking if you had any plans at all. Cool. You and Orris." She nodded as if the thought had never occurred to her before and returned to her book, as Snape was no doubt be kicking himself over his slip, she guessed. He knew if Georgie knew about this, she'd make a field day of it--as he would for her had it been her making the Coffee dates--though it wasn't a date! He carefully assured himself. He had to be calm and collected, also cautious. But Severus Snape was always cautious.
Georgie slept like a baby, grinning like a fool through her drool-filled unremembered dreams. She had waited until Severus had gone off to bed, before she dashed out and sent Miss McDade a short note. Georgie warned that if She and Snape were still talking to each other by the end of the day Georgie would break the truth to Severus, but Georgie assured Orris that everything would be fine. Georgie hoped to receive a reply by the end of the day.
Georgie did in fact receive a letter and it was full of hopeful praise and it agreed that Georgie should break it gently to Severus that very evening--before things got out of hand. She praised Snape enough, and that in and of itself seemed really odd. McDade was jumping to conclusions about Snape's emotions, Georgie figured, as they'd hardly gotten to know each other. But she wondered also at Snape's lack of, well anything, on returning from his Coffee 'date,' as Georgie teased him about it outright now. He seemed to be wholly unmoved and almost unenthusiastic. Just embarrassed every time it was brought up. Perhaps he was a very personal person with his love life, and didn't let anyone other than the object know. Of course it must be so, for God's sake, this was Professor Snape!
Georgie laughed when she caught herself thinking worrying about how the two of them got on. They had to have truly hit it off, otherwise Severus wouldn't have agreed to meet with her the next day for dinner in town. She was hoping to catch Snape alone so she could 'confess.'
She cornered him that evening finally alone. He was down on his couch after dinner reading some heavy ornately bound book. He glanced up at her as she passed through the doors. She would usually take this opportunity--hell any opportunity--to tease him about his new lady friend, but now wasn't the time obviously.
She sat gingerly down on her couch and bit her lip as she stared at him and tried to breathe deeply as she gathered her courage.
"Georgie, whatever you want to say. Say it." Severus didn't even look up.
"I swear you have eyes in the back of your head." She shook her head.
"I do." He looked up and smiled a bit mischievously. But Georgie didn't smile back, and Snape's smile soon disappeared on noticing this. He set his book down.
She took a deep breath. "Okay, please don't interrupt me because I have to try to get this out as quickly as I can, otherwise I won't have the courage to and it must be said." He nodded curtly and she hurried on, hardly ever taking a breath.
"I've only known Orris for a few days, a little over two weeks. I never lied; I just left heaps of stuff out, okay? Anyway, here's the thing. I thought you could use a, well...a friend, a Lady-friend. So I put out an ad for you in the Daily Prophet. I didn't use your name or anything--don't worry. But most of the replies were ludicrous, everyone's except Orris'. She seemed perfect for you! So I wrote to her and arranged a meeting."
"Miss McDade had nothing to do with any of this, the ad or anything. All she wanted to do was meet you. She genuinely likes you I think. Now, you can yell at me or hex me or whatever. I know I shouldn't have done it at all--that you never in a bazillion years would have done such a thing. I decided to do it anyway, I figured you'd probably wring my neck, but this deserved a try. I'm so sorry." She stopped here and looked at how Snape was handling it. He was completely white, his lips were drawn into a tight thin line and his eyes were black, but dull.
There was a pregnant silence in the air. "Say something." Georgie urged. "Please."
Severus' face slowly began to burn underneath, and turned from white to pink in fury. And say something he did. Georgie cringed as the first onslaught hit her ears. But she deserved it and would take it.
The man paced around the room bellowing and hissing and pointing his finger at her. She felt awful when she realized that, yes, she probably shouldn't have interfered in his private life like that--and on such a public scale. That it could have been dangerous had she given out information about his past...She admitted she hadn't considered these things fully, only slightly and in passing. It was probably an invasion of the man's privacy as well.
It was awful hard to just accept his words and not fight and argue and barb back, but she bit her lip hard and held her tongue as best as she could. Amazingly his tirade was over much quicker than she would have guessed it to be. He sat down and just stared at her. She felt tiny.
"I'm sorry." She repeated soberly.
"Forgotten." He offered at last, after seeming to hold his breath for a few minutes.
"So, Miss McDade knew nothing about this?"
"Well, I forced it on her. I told her on replying to her first letter that I was a friend of a man who wouldn't do it himself. I'll give it to you so you can see her response. She said that whatever I did was fine, she just wanted to meet you. She seemed very eager," she smiled a little at this.
Severus' eyes twinkled a little at that. "I've no doubt of her enthusiasm." He murmured.
"So are you still going to see her now?" She asked cautiously.
"Yes." Silence.
"I'm happy for you." Georgie confessed earnestly and she beamed on him.
Severus looked at her oddly, making Georgie laugh outloud. "What? That I wish you happiness? Is that beneath me or something? Damn, I'm not so shallow!"
He calmed her by stating that he wasn't thinking her shallow. He just shrugged and looked out the window, not looking like anything. He didn't know what to think of her. He was torn between flattery and hatred at what she'd done, but now he wasn't really angry any longer. Only, a bit confused. Deflated.
This whole situation seemed too fixed and planned, for it to be real. He felt he ought to go with the woman McDade, that he ought to laugh at her jokes and ought to ask her out again. It was logic. Of course he really didn't know her yet, but he recognized that Georgie was right--she did seem a good match--liking the same things as he did and all. She even had the same sort of reclusive temperament. It was all too new to him, though. He'd give it time and see how things worked out.
Georgie and he talked for awhile longer and Georgie brought out her textbooks to show him some engaging entries about internal bleeding treatments. He smiled at her, but perhaps thought her a little crazy. But he figured it would be a better career path than her Butterbeer scheme, so he tried to encourage it as best as he could, to even act thrilled at all the droll things she shared from those pages. Yes, by underhanded and devious suggestions he might be able to sway her from her foolish path...act the part of fate himself a bit.
By the end of the evening they were friends again, and Georgie was bouncing on the couches doing a self-invented Hula dance. Snape hadn't the foggiest what a real Hula dance would even look like, so he couldn't compare it to what it ought to have been, and rip it to shreds. She had explained that Hula told a story, and she narrated to him as she went along. Her dance had something to do with opening up an icebox and stealing all the ice cream away....
October passed by in a blur. Georgie did wonderfully in all her class, except for Herbology and Care for Magical Creatures where she refused to work with Manticores for two entire weeks, out of objections to something or other. She taught one of Minerva's classes and it went well, not as well as when Minerva herself handled the students, but at least the didn't kill her in the process... Georgie goofed off with the class and they seemed to have a smashing time of it, while not realizing the basic principles Georgie had sneaked into the lesson.
She kept her nose buried in her Mediwizard textbooks near constantly, but managed to find time to not neglect her friends. The twins even assisted her and Snape when Georgie bore a hole from just outside the Slytherin Common room directly to the dungeon.
Snape stood and glowered at the three of them the entire time, but at least he got his way that it wouldn't lead directly to Georgie's room as that might prove dangerous. She would do it regardless of how he tried to stop to stop her, and he hadn't the patience for another long battle with her. It was well past midnight and the Corrosive Potion ate through the stone walls quickly. They had already informed the house-elves of their plan, and they didn't seem to really care, as it wouldn't lead directly into the kitchens, but rather end up just outside of the secret-entryway. Snape was going to put tons of charms and locks and guards on it when it was finished, and he really wished they'd hurry this up so he could get on to other things.
The twins were thunderstruck to observe their nasty, greasy Potions Master aiding and abetting their friend in her silly schemes. They both caught the eyes of another and grinned, both thinking that perhaps he's not such a lost cause as was previously thought!
Severus met almost every other day with Orris. About a week into the relationship Georgie stopped writing to the older witch. If her epistles turned to be too full of Severus, she figured it might lead to a delicate situation later on. So every so often she'd send off a neutral letter by owl, just asking how she was and telling her what she was up to…in a vague sort of way.
Georgie had fallen out of love with Orris a few days after she'd told Snape about the ad. Georgie still felt that she was a splendid person, but she just couldn't find enough common ground to stand on between the both of them. Orris was too grand and serious, though still friendly and nice. Georgie felt that really she was being foolish-that she had no grounds or reasons to be so panicky or prejudiced. By all logical accounts, Georgie should still be in awes with the woman. But she wasn't.
So the couple met often. Orris visited Hogsmeade once more and all three of them met for lunch one rainy day. But Georgie felt the odd-man out and turned down a second invitation. Orris even visited the castle. It was a whirlwind romance that seemed to be actually working. And Severus seemed to be genuinely happy.
Georgie got to test out her new Mediwizardry skills one evening when Snape came home with a laceration on his leg. He explained that the Death Eaters were interrupted by some friendly Auror fire, and they all apparated away immediately. She fixed him up quickly and professionally, then forced him to drink down a light sedative potion she'd brewed two days earlier. She then turned on him and forced him to go to bed immediately while she cleaned up her supplies.
The hot topic with the twins was of course the Halloween Feast and the added dance. Georgie had been assisting Minerva in one of her beginning classes when she'd cleared her throat and proceeded to read the announcement from the tiny scrip of parchment. The dance was for fifth years and above and the present class had not consisted of fifth years or above. Loud cries of disappointment and injustice sailed throughout the air for a few minutes, before Minerva silenced them all with one quick word. But the damage was done. The load of them looked surly and barely paid any attention to a word spoken over the next two hours.
Georgie felt bad for them. She remembered what it felt like to be excluded just because of one's young age. Though she wasn't looking forward to the dance. She loved dances, it just would be awkward here, she'd be out of her element.
A few minutes before lunch, Georgie jogged downstairs to deposit her books in her room. Snape was standing at the bookcase just inside the door searching for a book. She greeted him warmly and tried to kick him as she breezed past. He turned and almost silently locked her door just as she reached it, so she threw her whole weight into the door and it didn't budge. She wheeled around and laughingly, "Severus, you suck."
He smirked at her and turned back to his bookshelf. Georgie muttered the counter-curse and dropped her books on her desk-she was trying to be a bit cleaner here, she reminded herself. On shutting her door behind her, she approached Snape. "What are you doing this weekend? I wanted to show you this cave--"
"I've got plans with Orris." He interjected without facing her.
Georgie's heart sank. She felt a tiny bit dejected and hurt, but tried to hearten up. "Oh, well that's fine. Another time then. No biggie." She walked briskly from the room.
She was hurt. That they were spending so much time together. Georgie wasn't jealous of course. But she was missing her friend's company. More and more lately whenever she'd wanted to do something or go somewhere he had plans with 'her'. She knew it was a natural consequence of her hooking them up--and she didn't begrudge either of them this. They were happy, so she was happy. She wanted him to get out more and to have more varied experiences and to meet women, so she had to just fortify herself. Disappointments came in life, she knew that. Hell, she'd face bigger ones than that in her lifetime. It was just hard to see the whole picture, when she was feeling abandoned by her friend.
She entered the Great Hall and winded her way up to her seat. She'd tried sitting with the Slytherins again, but she wasn't too keen on repeating the experience anytime soon. They were lovely kids, but their conversation was a little limited, she admitted to herself though she hated doing it. She always prided herself that she was young and could relate to most people, but the very young ones--the ones at only eleven--she found almost tedious having to explain basic things to, sometimes repeatedly. She really needed to work on having more patience.
Lunch came and went and directly after the meal, Georgie tailed Minerva up to her office. Minerva smiled to herself realizing that Georgie had something on her mind that she wanted to tell her. They chitchatted into the cozy room and Minerva waved her arm and tea appeared before them. Georgie politely turned it down, but Minerva busied herself with her own cup, every so often looking at the frenzied state of her young friend.
The talked a little about the classes and the 'stupid dance' as Georgie put it, then there was a lapse. Georgie jumped on it. "You know the lady Orris?" Minerva nodded and ceased smiling. Georgie had once confided about what she'd done with placing the ad and all. Minerva hadn't been pleased and had lectured good-naturedly on it for an hour, but she eventually admitted that she believed Orris might be a good influence on Snape.
"Well," Georgie kept on. "I'm sick of her." Minerva broke into a smile at these words, but allowed her friend an explanation. "I mean," she rambled looking at the ceiling. "She hasn't changed a whit. She is still very friendly and sophisticated and everything that's perfect for Severus. And Snape doesn't appear changed or moved or anything at all..." She bemoaned.
"It's just: Severus is never around. He's always out with her. And he doesn't seem to think she's the be-all end-all, you know? I mean if the man's to ever fall in love with her isn't he supposed to suffer from some signs? Some emotions? I mean for goodness sake, it's silly almost." She knew she was jumping haphazardly about the subject, she felt she needed to get it all out of her as soon as she could. "I mean, here I am slaving away for his better good, fixing him up properly, and he's off enjoying the nightlife! While I'm at home, my nose stuck in a book brewing him some damned potions!" She twitched and apologized for the language. She tried to remember that Minerva didn't think it colorful, but only a rather lazy way of expressing ones' self, and Georgie was starting to agree, but she hadn't as of yet kicked the habit.
"I know I'm sounding dumb, and that this is what I wanted for him--what he's wanted too. It's just not turning out to be anything that I thought it'd be. I thought we'd be the same friends as always, that he'd just have another girlfriend, and life would go on. Now he hasn't time for me. I think I created a monster...." She giggled and flopped her hands in her lap.
Minerva had been watching her over the top of her teacup and waited until she finished before she spoke. She set her cup down and appeared to be choosing her words carefully. "Severus is a man and quite capable of deciding for himself whether he's to spend time with this Miss McDade. You may not see the hold she may have over him and Severus is not bound to anyone to give proof of it's very existence."
"Perhaps you are jealous?" Minerva seemed to be speaking to herself, as if the thought only just occurred to her.
"Jealous!" Georgie howled in protest. "Of Severus! You've got to be joking! That's sick! I don't want anything to do with him like that! God, that's nasty."
"Georgie." Minerva chastised gently. "I meant of his time. Jealous of his time, you little funny fool." Georgie nervously laughed, only as a way to change the subject.
Pausing for another moment Minerva said, "You tend to have an over-romanticized view of friendships and relationships. It's a gift actually, because you may only see the good and the happy. In addition you impart that sometimes upon others, which is very wonderful and uplifting for others."
"But you are correct when you surmised that you may have created a monster. But this monster may only be a monster to you. It may be an angel of light to Severus and Miss McDade. You of course knew that this was a distant possibility--it always is when people go together. You wanted him to be happy, but you can't choose the course his happiness will take, unfortunately. Or maybe it is very fortunate indeed."
Georgie pouted and agreed understandingly. Minerva saw her emotions and added, "But things might again be as they were. Don't give up. These things take time, love." She reached out and patted her on the knee. "You may need fireworks for yourself, but knowing Severus for as long as I have, I doubt he's the whistles-and-bells sort of emotional love-sick type."
Georgie smiled gratefully at that and steered the subject away from Snape. They chatted for an hour more and had great laughs at poor Hagrid's expense. Georgie was glad for the occasion to laugh again and loved Minerva for putting up with all of Georgie's crap and baggage. When the got late, Georgie rose and thanked Minerva for listening to her and surprised the woman by giving her a quick hug to show her appreciation.
Georgie was already at the door when Minerva said something to cause her to turn back. "I didn't want to tell because I thought you'd take it the wrong way, but I believe I was a bit hasty in that assumption. I think also perhaps that your emotions tend to show a bit of jealousy for this woman, McDade. Perhaps you should address whatever you might have to be jealous of Miss McDade for. If you're feeling unworthy or not as beautiful--Georgie you're lovely. You're a lovely witch. We all think the world of you; you have nothing to prove to any of us. Just take a few moments and examine your conscience and motives, could you?" The woman grinned warmly and shooed Georgie out the door before she had time to protest.
Georgie stomped off to the dungeons like a spoiled child. I am not jealous of her! Her head hissed at her. I am fine the way I am. I'm a freaking genius, I'm doing well in life and I have lovely friends. Sure she's beautiful and graceful and perfect and has a job at the Ministry, but I don't care. Even her mind's inner-voiced was whining.
Georgie spied Mrs. Norris and almost trod directly over the cat. Shouldn't have been in my way anyway...
She sighed, thinking just how ugly she was being. Minerva was right. Georgie had known it for sometime, but wasn't willing to admit it. The McDade woman was perfect, Georgie could see no flaw and it galled her. Of course everyone had flaws. But she was perfect, Georgie thought sullenly. And I'm losing my best friend to someone who's perfect. This is what she wanted--him to be happy with the perfect woman. Georgie didn't need to be happy with the arrangement, because she wasn't part of the equation. So she puffed herself up and entered the Common Room having resolved to distance herself until she was under control.
The lounge was colder than average, and Snape was sure the feeble fire in the fireplace wasn't doing much to remedy this. Georgie wasn't as warm as usual. Perhaps the weather was finally getting to her. She snapped at him constantly and rarely cracked a smile, and when she did, it seemed forced. He knew that she was upset that he wasn't around as much as he used to be. He knew also that he was the cause of much of it, but he couldn't stop--why should he for her? He didn't know why, he frowned. Georgie had said it herself: "Orris is the perfect match for you." Orris was perfect Snape assented. Too perfect he thought sometimes, but he did have a nice time with her. How could one not? It is only natural to pet and fawn over kittens, was it not?
He felt need to spend as much time with her as he could--it was as if the day wasn't long enough for...everything. A very foreign sensation. Snape knew she was perfect rather than felt it to be so. But he reasoned that after time, things would just click and he'd realize it fully. He did like spending his spare time with her. She was very intellectual and kept up with all the latest happenings, plus she was very friendly. She was also gorgeous, and Snape realized that wherever they went all eyes were on them. It was such a different reaction for him: Here he was being noticed by people regardless of how he looked, acted or how he snapped at people. He wondered whom was taking advantage of whom if this was so.
Things were a mad whirlwind of school duties and spending time with her. She had kissed him on the cheek impetuously and Snape had stared after her dumbfounded as she waved and walked away from him into the night. Why would someone want to kiss him? Anyway? It was almost too much to be considered.
He honestly wished things were the same as they had been--between he and Georgie at least--Orris was fine. He almost hoped Georgie would be nosy and ask her stupid, prying questions. Almost, but not really. He would grudgingly act insulted at the impertinence of the questions, then eventually tell her what he thought. He wanted to know what she was thinking and to tell her his thoughts on everything. Somehow, things became less mixed when argued out before Georgie. She'd probably laugh it all off or burp or something ridiculous. It was good to have another point of view and he valued her opinion. He shook his head and cleared his heads of such thoughts. Valued her opinion...ha.
Georgie burst from her room, with her cauldron in hand, greeted him smiling, then excused herself as she headed off to the classroom. She had to make up some more burn salve. She had probably plenty, but she figured she should always have two full vials on hand. She was paranoid with her medical stores--almost as much as Snape was with his common potions. She sniffed at this, as she took the key out of her pocket and unlocked the dungeon classroom. But where Snape had poisons and Veritaserums, Georgie had healing and fixing potions. It seemed counter productive.
She sighed as she heaved the cauldron down in the center of the room. She glanced around the classroom, it was so stark and bleak. And at night it cast crazy shadows about the place. "Boo." She murmured to herself. She gathered the necessary potions without thinking and placed a fire beneath it.
Counterproductive, she pursed her lips. Sure is. He goes out with his poisons and tries to kill others, comes back half-dead himself, I fix him up so he can run out and do the same damn thing again. She knew it wasn't true. Snape wouldn't be one to enjoy killing anyone else--except Voldemort, she stopped herself. Thank God.
She stirred the potion absently. I liked blowing stuff up heaps more than fixing stuff up. But I guess those days are over. Last weekend when Snape had gone to London to meet Orris, Georgie was feeling...she'd wanted to admit to be frustrated or stressed, but now she realized it was indeed jealousy. Georgie had grabbed her cloak and at midnight took off for the Forbidden Forest.
She didn't venture far in--Hagrid had warned her about that time and again. She roamed the edges and with her wand, she blasted the hell out of several plants and trees. She figured she was far enough into the forest that no one up at Hogwarts had seen her, so she left a path of destruction behind her as she set fire to fallen limbs and offending bushes and shrubbery. At least it was warmer here among the burning and destruction. She really wished many of them had been Severus. Ah well, time will figure this all out, she sniffed, sounding a lot like Minerva. And also feeling a little more at ease.
She remembered her task and bottled the finished potion numbly and returned to the deafening silence.
The evening before Halloween Georgie was found lounging in her nightgown and slippers before the fire reading a Muggle novel about a navy submarine--she ate that stuff up like candy. It always amazed her that Muggles were so innovative--as to making a giant metal bubble sailing-ship--and to survive in it! With no magic! Amazing....
Snape had left to see Orris directly after dinner and Georgie hadn't had a chance to talk to him, but she was getting slowly and reluctantly used to it. She ended up going places by herself and still having a grand time, just like the Pre-Snape days she laughed. In Poland she sometimes turned down the company of others because she didn't feel up to their company, and what crazy days those were, she reminisced lightheartedly.
The rain was coming down again. It had subsided for a few days last week, but Georgie had hardly noticed. She told herself because she was so busy with classes: Divination and Defense Against the Dark Arts were taking a lot of her concentration.
She smiled and sighed warmly. She set aside her book for a second and cracked her neck with her hands at the base of her neck. She felt sore. Must not be getting enough sleep. She glanced down at her wrist. Mickey smiled up at her and told her it was just past ten. Georgie wasn't waiting up for Severus as he wasn't out spying and it was very unlikely he'd come from seeing Orris with scratches. And if he did, Georgie didn't want to see them, know of them or hear how he got them from her.
All of a sudden, she heard a light tapping noise. She craned her neck around and tried to determine from which direction the sound came. It seemed to be coming from the window. Georgie's heart leapt up into her throat? Was it a person trying to get in or something? She stood and stalked to the window straining to see if it were a person or just the wind rattling the panes. It was pitch black. She squinted and made out the faint outline of an owl using it's beak to tap at the glass. But the poor fellow was so wind-tossed he was having a poor time of it. She quickly unlatched the window long enough that he could fly in and escape the wind.
The stupid bird flew about the room excitedly and Georgie almost knocked him out of the air to get the note attached to his leg off. She hopped it wasn't for Severus as he wasn't here to answer it directly. She finally freed the note and saw with surprise that it said 'George' simply. Cool. She grinned. Who the heck could this be from? And at such an hour!
She opened it hastily and her face fell. It read:
You are in danger. Get out of Hogwarts immediately. You must go to the place with the ruins, but go instead to the house. Do not leave once there. Leave this moment. Go!
Sugar Lips
She held the paper numb for a moment. She knew this was from Severus--still it didn't exactly strike her as characteristically him, so then what the hell? Was this a joke? It was pouring rain outside! And go to the island? It was dark and windy. Georgie knew where it was. She'd guessed by the time spent in the air, the direction went and the shape of the coast where it was--at least vaguely. She just didn't let on as Severus had hoped to have it remain unknown. She trusted him, but still....she felt ill. Was this a joke? She kept second-guessing her own judgment in her mind.
Then with a sudden resolve, she ran to her room slipped into her shoes and threw her cloak over her nightgown. Almost as an afterthought she grabbed a small Muggle knapsack inside which she kept a first-aid kit of sorts, with potions included. She yanked up her broomstick and the owl and ran out into the hallway.
On flinging open the heavy side doors and becoming immediately soaked to the skin with the rain, she wished she'd done a Water-Proofing Spell earlier. Shivering, she muttered one, let the owl go and stuffed the note into her pocket.
She practically ran onto her broomstick, her teeth chattering in the wind. She hoped she wasn't heading into something foolish.
A/N--"In Fairbanks, Alaska, it is illegal to feed a moose an alcohol beverage." (Stupid Virgil Trivia Fact) Why would you want to? Oh yeah the song's the Smiths--assume it usually is. Won't be disappointed.
Nothing else to say. Peace and goodwill to most everyone. Cheers.