Chapter Fifteen--Plans and a Visitor
It was close to midnight by then, so Severus hoped Georgie had gotten back before him and she had started the rounds. They both shared the responsibility these days. He relished it for the chance to dock points and she because she just liked wandering about in the dark bumping into things.
He moved silently down the broad corridor, ears listening for out-of-place sounds as he wound his way back to the dungeons. He picked up the soft sound of footfall up ahead so he glided over to a dark spot just around the corner from the approaching offender, he put his back up to the wall and a sly grin spread across his face.
The person rounded the corner and Snape stood transfixed as it entered a shaft of light cast down from a high window. It was Georgie he grinned, doing the rounds in her gray nightgown and fuzzy slippers. He took off rapidly to catch up with her. She didn't hear his footsteps or sense his presence, so he kept back just over her shoulder and out of her forward view. He smiled at her obliviousness to everything around her as she gazed out of windows and up at the moon, peered around doorways, her eyes darting aimlessly this way and that, never realizing that Severus was almost touching her back the entire time.
She led him down this corridor and that, never encountering another soul. Several times he almost purposely gave himself away, but he waited patiently for the right time. At one point she passed by the open door of a room she'd never seen before and she stopped abruptly, as did Severus. But she took a big step backwards before he could react.
She'd thumped backwards into something that wasn't there a second earlier, she thought with horror. Her stomach fell away as she determined it was human form. "Ah!" She shrieked and took off at a sprint without looking back. She kept screaming, and Severus thought quickly, I've got to catch her, she's going to wake the whole castle. So he took off after her, following through corridors, always just out of her fleeting backwards-glancing sight line.
She galloped down stairs and found herself by the dungeons, she chose to smash through the door to the outside rather than run the risk of their being no one to help her in the Dungeons. Severus arrived at those doors, and rolled his eyes at how foolish a victim she would really be. Goodness, running outside? He smashed through the same doors and bounded across the lawn towards her. She appeared to be trying to lose her pursuer by dashing around the corner to the back of the building. Snape gained ground on her as she stumbled through a wilder patch of ground. He called her name loudly, but she couldn't hear him. This was insane.
She kept turning around to see a figure in black chasing her down, no matter how she tried to lose him. She had horrible thoughts of Death Eaters in hoods, which forced her to run on even though her lungs felt about to fail her completely. She thought for a moment that she might die out here.
He finally could reach out and grab hold of her shoulders. She shrieked as she was slowed down. He was yelling "Georgie!" at her hoarsely, but she was still flailing about wildly. She turned around and jumped at the assailant and smashed his nose. The figure howled in pain, and Georgie seized her chance and bowled the figure over, and pummeled it with her fists clenched in fury and fear as she sat on top of the person, losing all sense of control.
Severus was clasping his nose as his eyes watered in pain, as he tried to dodge her fists pounding his chest. When he could see clearly again, he twisted his legs around her and brought her to the ground and grappled for position on her stomach. She was yowling as she tried to fight off his hands, she was sure she was going to be killed or worse.
"Georgie!" He bellowed over and over again, finally getting quieter and quieter as her fighting slowed down and ceased. She lay back on the ground looking up focusing and finally recognizing her friend. "Severus?" He nodded in the darkness around them. She reached up her hand and lashed it out across his cheek. Her slap had knocked his jaw to the side. He looked down on her solemnly. "I guess I deserve that."
She screwed up her face and began to cry silently. He pouted and lifted her up under one of his arms. "I'm sorry." She sobbed. "I hit your nose, and you're probably going to bruise everywhere, and I shouldn't have over-reacted, but I've been thinking these thoughts about how vulnerable Hogwarts was and stuff--how Orris was able to get into my rooms, and when I saw a person in black take off after me, I automatically assumed the worse…" She mumbled on.
"No, I'm just as much to fault. I should have called your name right when you bumped into me. I was too amused at your expression. I wasn't thinking clearly. I tried calling after you after that, but you were out of range. I deserved it."
"You do not deserve that." She sniffed holding him at arm's length. "We both are loonies I suppose," trying hard to grin.
"shall we forgetthis?" Severus offered her his hand.
She looked at it, "Only if you forgive me." They shook hands. "We'll speak no more of it then." She suggested.
"I shouldn't have slapped you," she said woefully.
"That was the first intelligent thing you did." She rolled her eyes at him and they both laughed.
"Well, you don't have to like it all so much. You're such a sadist Severus." Her eyes twinkled at the banter.
"True. You've found out my little secret, but I know yours as well. You like to fight as much as I do." He grinned cockily.
"Man, it sucks for someone else to know what you're thinking. I just wished I got to knock you down. It's not fair you're always getting to do it. Next time we switch, okay?"
Snape pulled her to her feet wobbly. "No wands. Here's your chance." He turned and sped across the dark ground. Georgie gave a squeal of delight, and lifted the hem of her nightgown and took off tearing and bounding like a bear. She darted after him as he bobbed, weaved and spun to try and vex her and staying just out of her reach. She finally got close enough and leapt at his shoulder, sending him flying over backwards. "Ha!" she strutted and preened above him right before his leg swept both of hers out from under her.
Later they entered quietly by the back entranceway not expecting to encounter anyone at such a late hour. Minerva however had just returned from some papers from her own classroom and she was waiting. She looking down at them as they entered and starred at them in pure shock. Severus was beaming with blood streaming from his nose as he held Georgie closely under his arm, and she in her nightgown and with disheveled hair, clung shivering around his waist. The both had grass in their hair. Both of their smiles melted away as they recognized her presence before them. "Damn," Georgie muttered just audible enough for Severus to hear.
They were all paralyzed and no one spoke at first. Minerva eventually broke the silence, "Good Lord, what have you two been doing?" Her voice rose dangerously.
"Fightning." Severus said simply. "We ran out of room in our study, so we took it outside. Man-to-man, so to say." He smirked sardonically.
Minerva looked to Georgie for an explanation. Georgie wanted to criticize and ask her why she thought Severus wouldn't be telling the whole truth, but she held her tongue on the matter. "We like fighting." She volunteered, trying very hard not to laugh.
She just bore her eyes into them, then shaking her head disbelievingly, "You both are ridiculous." And she walked away.
They looked after her for a moment then turned again towards the dungeons. Once there, Georgie attacked Snape's nose with her Mediwizarding supplies--which thankfully wasn't broken. Severus felt slightly uncomfortable having her breathing all over him a few mere inches from is own face.
When she's patched him up, she slapped him lightly on the shoulder, "Okay off to bed." He glared at her at this and stayed where he was on the couch. She got to her feet and got rid of the cloths she used to wipe his blood up with. When she was finished. She came up behind him as he sat upright on the couch. She stuck her chin out and lay her chin on his shoulder. "Fine, be all pissy from not enough sleep tonight. I've got Divination first thing in the morning. See if I care, goober." She giggled haughtily in his ear. "Goodnight." And she popped up, picked out a long blade of grass from Snape's hair and deposited it in his lap as she went away.
November was fast speeding away from them and on the first day of December Georgie was moping about in the lounge practicing wand-less magic by herself. Her bare feet gripped the back of the couch as her head dangled off the edge of the couch. The blood had been rushing to her head for the past ten minutes, and it was going to be a bitch to stand up after this, she reminded herself. She frowned and scratched her nose as she sent books from the bookshelf soaring to the center table.
She was quite good at moving objects about (even while perched upside-down), but her command of other spells was seriously lacking. She could start fires and lock doors, plus a few other simple spells. But she was shooting for a Banishing Charm. She was making slow progress, and she wasn't too pleased with herself. Wand-less Magic had been an option to the seventh year students at The Institute and she'd signed up for it. There were only four other students in her class and the instruction was personal and thorough.
She'd worked on her light casting spell earlier before ditching the entire effort. When she spoke 'Lumos,' a glowing ball of light was supposed to appear hovering above her palm. So far she'd gotten sparks.
She dropped the books down on the table and groaned. It was rainy and there were intense winds outside. Trees and branches had fallen down all-over the grounds last night.
She swiveled her head to the cheery fire burning away in the fireplace. She stretched her hands out towards the fire, battling with the gravity trying to drag them down to the carpet. She drew the fire out of it's housing in the hearth and sent a column of the glowing-warm flames straight out into the air, sustaining it there for several minutes, always frowning hard in concentration. It was high enough in the air that the carpet, tables and couches weren't going to get singed as the flames vaulted the furniture, but the heat was blowing against her face and rustling through her hair. The flames seemed to draw her into them….
"That one's shape's more solid than the last."
Georgie's eyes snapped to look up her body, past her feet to the man who'd entered. The flames were sucked back into the confines of the fireplace the moment she broke concentration. Severus watched them go, then looked down the body to the face of his friend. "How goes Lumos?" He questioned her. He ran his cold finger down her bare foot and walked away to put his books away. Georgie convulsed involuntarily. It tickled her and Snape knew it.
He returned to the room. She pointed her finger up at him shakily. "Georgius Dormiens Nunquam Titilandus."
"You weren't sleeping though." He corrected. "You should not have bare feet when it's December. This is a castle and these are Dungeons," He tried to sound helpful, but his face remained expressionless. "Besides," His eyes turned to the windows. "The rain and wind will make even this place damp after awhile."
She drew her head up and swiveled her body so that she was now sitting normally with her feet on the floor. Her head swam for a second and her eyes rolled back into her head for a second, then everything came back into focus. Snape watched her from his seat on the other couch.
"I wish you wouldn't sit like that. When you right yourself, you like sick and green and it catches me off guard." He began to write something on a piece of parchment.
"Lumos sucks." She moaned bitterly.
"That good?" He sniggered without looking up. "What did you do all day?"
She was supposed to meet Pomfrey today for a lesson after her Herbology class, but the dear lady decided to attend a conference on the latest treatments of boils and skin irritations. "I read. Burned stuff. Read some more. Burped." She answered disinterestedly. "Oh, I finished Remus' potion. It's in the usual place in the cabinet behind your desk in the classroom." She burped.
"I hope you didn't drink any of it."
"'Course not, I just put it in your supper." He grinned at her for that.
"How about some music?"
"I'd rather not play right now." She apologized, she was feeling too lackadaisical to play.
"Don't need to. Bring your music-player." Her face lit up. Severus usually was all contempt towards her Muggle things.
"Okily dokily." And she returned with it a few seconds later.
"I figured most of my music that had words were a bit too heavy, so I bring you classical."
"I like opera…" Severus volunteered, still not looking up.
She flipped through the discs in her hands. "I would suggest Carmina Burana or, hmm, Turandot, Madama Butterfly, La Traviata, Tosca, La Bohème or …Aida, Carmen, Don Giovanni or …."
"You like Puccini. Which would you prefer?"
"I prefer Italian over German any day. Um, prolly Turandot, it's got one of my fave songs."
"Well then let's have it and turn it up loud."
"Severus, I'm surprised at you!" She pretended to scold him. She plopped the disc inside and turned it on. "Some thunder for the rain," she murmured.
She lay back on her couch and closed her eyes listening to the music fill her with emotions. Italian wasn't one of the many languages that she spoke, and she was glad of this. So when she would listen to her opera, the music and the passions would speak for themselves. She could tell when the singer was hurt, or angry, or in love…it was all on account of the music.
When her favorite song Nessun Dorma played she sat up to her knees on the couch and leaned over the end of the couch facing the fire. She lifted the flames and sent waves crashing down to the floor of the hearth grating in time with the music. Her arms swept back and forth as she made wild gestures to control the dancing flames. When the climactic ending blared through the speakers, she brought small individual orbs out of the fireplace and up into the air above her head. They burst noiselessly like fireworks. She was moving her hand like a conductor would, frantically and controlled. The ending was fast and furious and she was out of breath as she collapsed on her sofa, warm-faced and grinning like a fool.
She turned her head. Severus was staring unabashedly at her in total amazement. Georgie felt really shy and embarrassed. "The music helps," She ventured.
"I guess so." He nodded numbly.
She lay back down and closed her eyes once more.
When the album stopped she hopped up and threw in another disc, but didn't stick around to enjoy it. Her Mediwizardry Cabinet was out of a potion she used to treat organ damage and she'd bought bezoar and it was going to go bad of she didn't make the potion today. She was such a procrastinator, she hung her head as she got to her feet, but she always got things done on time at least. She couldn't let others down.
She packed up her cauldron and her ingredients. She used Severus' if she needed any others, but she thought she had everything. She stumbled out into the room. "Brr." She commented, as she set her cauldron down on the empty couch and turned back to her room. She returned wearing socks and trying to pull on both shoes while in a tottering standing position. She hefted up her cauldron and headed for the door.
"Need anything?" He turned away from his papers and looked to Georgie. She smiled and shook her head, "Nope thanks for asking though." She took a step and stubbed her toe. "Damn!" and she bit her lip, as she managed to hold onto her cauldron and to not drop it on her other toe.
Severus called at her, "You've been surprisingly devoid of vulgar language lately." He goaded.
"Hey Snape?" She tried not to smirk as he looked at her over at her expectantly.
"Fuck you."
He actually laughed at that. "I almost missed that. Almost."
She passed through the door and called over her shoulder "You thought that was good, you just wait. It's all been bottled up…"
He laughed to himself and shook his head. He was still amazed that she hadn't lost interest with the whole Mediwiardry 'thing' as she so basely put it. Her stores that she kept up weren't just for burns and lacerations. She had cold and flu potions, antidotes to most everything--poisons included; to minor mishaps with hexes and charms gone bad. Very thorough. He was proud of her.
She burst back through the door. "I forgot to tell you we're out of Bugleweed for Lupin's next potion, but that's a full month away and I was wondering if you had Goldenrod for the Anti-Hemorrhage." He stood up and disappeared into his room and returned with three jars in his hand.
"Here's the Bugleweed; just put it back in the cabinet." He handed to her. "There's not much Goldenrod, so I brought Yarrow, which will work just as well."
She beamed at him accepting the jars, "Severus, You're the absolute best! I'll replace them when I shop next time." She assured him.
"No need. I go into Hogsmeade once a week. Just tell me when we're out of something." He called after her as she pranced out of the room once more.
The heat in the stuffy classroom was making her head swim. True, her inner thermostat usually ran cold, she guessed the dampness in the castle did have something to do with it. Also the fumes from this particular potion she found particularly rancid. She coughed a bit and snatched up a quill from Severus' desk to scratch out the ingredients she'd used up. She fastened it to the outside door of the cabinet using her wand and then turned to her still simmering brew.
She stood over it and peered into the depths of the mustard-colored mixture. It really did smell awful, she held her nose as she backed away and tried not to gag. Seating herself on a desk she contemplated the fact that it was December already and she hadn't the foggiest what she was going to get Severus for a Christmas present. She decided that she'd probably stick around Hogwarts for the holiday, but she didn't know what Severus' plans would be. She kicked her toe nervously into the desk leg.
She'd probably get him a book. But that sounded so droll! She knew that he valued books most, but still…it had better be one hell of a book. Maybe something fun also, some toy like the water gun. Looking down at her own attire that day, she pondered the possibility of something pertaining to Quidditch. She was wearing her favorite Muggle football team's kit that day. "What is 'Man Uted?' anyway?" He'd asked once a few weeks ago when she'd donned a red beanie with that printed on the brim. "Muggle football. The absolute best team around." She gushed. "Manchester United." He still looked to be in the dark. "Oh."
Perhaps a poster or a scarf or something. He wouldn't go for team robes at all, he wouldn't dress so distinctly or colorful. The Morrismount Manglers was his favorite team--they were sure underdogs, and not at all popular with the masses. Gawd, she hated this. She really wanted to get something nice and useful, but the man wasn't an easy person to shop for. And she'd have to do it again for his birthday again, she groaned to herself. She lifted her eyes and saw that the potion was ready. The mustard yellow had mellowed to a softer, brighter gold. At least it ceased to smell like ass and she smiled to herself. She bottled the stuff up agilely, labeled the bottles, and then cleaned up her area.
She sat a minute longer, waiting for the cauldron to cool. Ordinarily she'd use a Freezing Charm on it for a moment to bring down the temperature, but she felt lazy today, and she wasn't in a hurry.
That weekend Georgie used the Floo Network to visit Diagon--or to be more specific Knockturn Alley. Severus had said if she'd ever wanted to go there he'd accompany her, but she was trying to shop for him, for his Christmas present, and she couldn't very easily tell him to turn his back so she could purchase something for him. She wandered slowly and seemingly aimlessly towards Gringotts and the streets beyond. She dressed inconspicuously, or so she tried. She wore dark colors and tried not to smile or catch others' eyes as she ambled onwards.
She ducked inside a store with books in the front window. It was a tiny shop, near the back and off to a side street. The proprietor didn't appear to be there so Georgie took her leisure as she scanned the shelves for something that might be of interest to Snape. Nothing, nothing, nothing….She shook her head to herself and frowned as she craned her neck to see the topmost shelves. All the mass-produced books he'd probably already read: dark arts or no.
"A-hem." A voice sounded behind her. She turned slowly and saw a bent old witch now standing at the counter against the back wall. "Can I find something for you?" She eyed Georgie with a look of dissatisfaction.
"Actually," Georgie considered for a moment before walking over to the counter. "I'm looking for a book on Potions--but it has to be something special." She hurried on smoothly.
The old woman considered this for a moment before unexplainably walking into a back room. Georgie turned around uneasily and leaned against the counter nonchalantly. She turned when the old women thrust a book into her hands. Georgie frowned and looked down at the dusty tome in her hands. It was massive--weighed a ton, she thought. It was leather-bound and it smelled funky.
"It's very old and very rare." Those words seemed to light up Georgie's eyes excitedly, and the old witch took note of that. "Only seen one other in my life--and that was years ago," the old woman cackled. It was Ancient and Powerful Potions: Medieval Secrets. Severus had to like this, she smirked. It was just up his alley.
Georgie paid for it and slunk from the shop, fumbling to put her money-purse away. It'd cost an arm and a leg--well not really, but she was positive that the old witch had taken advantage of her, and she grumbled to herself as she plodded along. Not only was it expensive, but it was heavy. She poked her wand out of her sleeve and mumbled a Lighten-Up spell, and that helped considerably.
She glared at the passerbys who eyed her strangely. Georgie never really blended in anywhere. She was too dark, or exotic, or strange to blend in anywhere enough to be not noticed and starred at. Some days she hated it, other days she loved the attention. This wasn't one of those days.
Severus thought she was in Hogsmeade and she'd persuaded Rosmerta to let her use her back fireplace. Rosmerta had laughed outright at her, joking her about having a secret life and being sneaky. Whatever got her through the day, so long as she could use the fireplace. Georgie liked Rosmerta: she was jolly, gorgeous and popular. Plus she was surrounded by Butterbeers all day, and every day was an adventure with such lively bunches of people that she saw.
Georgie wandered back to Diagon Alley and slipped seamlessly into the throng of the afternoon shoppers. Georgie herself bought a book on Mediwizardry spells and eyed some enchanted jewelry in shop for robes. They were gorgeous, but she didn't feel up to anything enchanted after the dance. The twins had found them infinitely useful, and Georgie even suspected that Niamh was secretly seeing Professor Lupin--or at least they were spending heaps of time together. It would be against the rules she'd guess, but so the hell what if it were--if they were both happy with the situation. It was probably better that it was Niamh because Georgie was spending a lot of time with Siobhan and her crass and cutting style of conversation actually appealed to Severus' nature more than Niamh's polite one.
She wound through the crowds--trust her to go on a weekend--up to a street vendor selling Funnel Cakes. She couldn't resist. Well, she could, but why should she? They were some friend dough concoction supposedly originating from some islands somewhere. She took her time making her way back to the Leaky Cauldron, munching on the flaky pastry. Minerva'd introduced her to her first Funnel Cake as Georgie had never before even heard of them. It was love at first bite.
She waited a few minutes before returning through the fireplace allowing her stomach time to settle. Severus would love it if she came home and threw up on the floor. Chances were she'd pass out on Rosmerta's floor before she got as far as Hogwarts.
But she didn't pass out on Rosmeta's floor, she'd staggered to the front room and thanked the woman in heels for the use of the fireplace and made her way outside--waving at students she knew who were enjoying themselves on a Hogsmeade Weekend.
She huffed up the hill towards Hogwarts' gates in the drizzle and mist. It would be kind romantic being out here on a day like this, Georgie considered as she swung her cloak's long hemline back and forth as she walked. Like a tale of old Avalon, But that it was so mundane here. People were normal people, magic was simple magic, and there wasn't any feeling of extraordinary mystique or legend anymore. Days came and went, people did things, ate things, said things. She felt sorely deceived by those writers of fairy stories and old legends--though some were indeed historically acurate. It was just the embellished tales that had let her down. She shifted her bundles in her arms as she approached the large castle, tripping slightly on her own feet. Hell, even this was just made of stone--not out of the clouds or mist. She coughed deeply in the cold, and wondered if anything really ever had been…
Severus sat at his desk in his rooms. He had finished grading papers hours ago and his lesson plans were prepared up until way into the New Year. December used to be the least favorite month of his childhood, but he didn't feel the same about it anymore. Sure he had enjoyed the snow and the break from school, but having to spend so much time with his family always killed what joy he could muster. Other students came home with stories of traditions and festivities, of great-uncles having too much to drink and of Christmas pantomimes, but the young Severus Snape had kept his mouth closed.
Dumbledore and Georgie and the rest of the staff were all the family Severus had now, and though he couldn't stand most of them and their peculiarities most of the time, he was glad of their presence. He fingered his quill in his hand distractedly, he still hadn't gotten her a Christmas present. Sure Christmas was a long way off, but he liked to prepare these sort of things ahead of time. Georgie may be a procrastinator, but Severus Snape would not allow himself to fall into that habit of hers.
The lounge was too quiet for him, or not quiet enough, he glared at the cackling fire in annoyance. She was off shopping or something in Hogsmeade he had assumed, as she'd walked away in that direction, swinging gaily in the gray fog until she disappeared from his view at the window. He sighed. Sometimes, when she pranced about so femininely like that he wished his best friend had been born a boy instead.
He pushed his chair back. Perhaps if he asked Albus…the old man might have an idea of a Christmas present. He was always more sensitive and had known more women in his life than Snape had allowed in. He turned out the candles with his wand as he passed through his door.
Georgie returned and deposited her bundles in her room--hiding Severus' book in the bottom of her wardrobe. Not as if he'd snoop, heavens no! But it made her feel more, Christmas-ey. The students still had another week of classes. Minerva had warned her that most of the students' minds wouldn't be all there the entire last week, so Georgie was of course eager to witness it.
She lit a fire in the lounge fireplace and returned to her room. In her desk drawer she gather colored papers and spello-tape and scissors. And set to work with decorations. She really didn't know what possessed her to make these things--perhaps even last year she would have proclaimed this a waste of time, but this year… Part of her just wanted to do it to see if Severus would get upset, the other part of her wanted to do it because she knew that Severus hadn't had a happy childhood and he might secretly enjoy these. Though he'd probably be damned before he'd ever let her know that, she sniffed, agitated.
She strung up loops of red and green paper, cut angels out for hanging up, raided Severus' supplies for Mistletoe--Oh, he was going to really kill her, she grinned evilly. She found pictures of stars and cut hideous snowflakes out of folded paper. She used the shiny, metallic paper for gleaming green trees and holly, golden stars, and silver bells. The bells really didn't look like bells at all Georgie thought as she held them out for inspection.
When she was satisfied with the lot of it all, she scooped it up into her arms and padded out to the lounge. She hung Mistletoe beneath the door to the Common Room and the metallic papered decorations she affixed to the ceiling. She dragged a chair around the walls as she stretched to reach the decorations up into place. When she turned to survey her work, she allowed that it looked rather juvenile reaching every which way, with the hem of her skirt still damp from being outdoors, but she didn't care--the walls had been bare out here for too long.
She was reaching above her head to tape up a juvenile snowflake by the window when she heard a sound at the door. She turned and sulked slightly. It wasn't a knock though, perhaps someone had brushed against the door. She waited. And she heard it again. Georgie set the snowflake down on the back of the couch and went to open the door.
She threw the door open and she half-expected Severus to stand there, tall before her eyes. But instead she almost missed the great black dog sitting at her feet. Georgie looked around confusedly, how the hell did it get inside? Georgie asked the dog that question, but as she said it she saw that Slytherins were streaming in and out of the Common Room's entrance, most leaving it open for long periods. "Oh…" She nodded, then looked down at it.
"Well, doggie, I wonder what you're doing here in Hogwarts. Does doggie want some munchies?" She asked it in baby-tones as it stood up and trotted inside the door. It sat down on it's haunches by the fire and starred at her. What a mild-mannered pooch, she grinned. Georgie ducked into her room momentarily then returned sighing. Unfortunately her 'munchies' were not the kind to agree with a dog's palate.
The dog remained by the fire and Georgie approached it and scratched it's dark head. "What a good dog! You stay here and I'll steal you some food, okay?" She turned on her heel and stalked from the room towards the kitchens.
She returned minutes later trying to conceal a plate-shaped object wrapped in brown paper. The dog was lying before the fire and it sat up as she entered. Georgie swept over to it's resting spot and tore away the paper. The plate was filled with beefs from last nights' dinner, the house-elves had turned a curious eye on her when she'd requested only meat and no Diet Coke.
She set the plate before the dog, who cocked his head to one side then the other regarding her. "Oh, for heavens sake. Eat it dog! It's good for you!" She rattled the plate a little. The black head stuck out over the plate and the nose sniffed the beef cautiously. Georgie rolled her eyes. Finally it's muzzle snapped out and gobbled up a string of beef. "Good," Georgie declared triumphantly. She walked away to get it some water from the bathroom. When she returned it was eating the food with more gusto, Georgie observed. She set the wide cup of water next to the food plate. The dog eyed her only for a second before returning it's attention to the beef. "Oh, Severus is going to murder me tonight."
Georgie walked to the bookcase and selected a book and returned to the couch, but progress was slow because the beast was lapping up the water and snorting noisily as it chomped on the meat. Finally the sounds died down and Georgie managed to gain a page uninterrupted. The creature poked it's head around the corner of the couch Georgie was stretched out on and came to a stop before her. She turned from her book and looked down at the dog. It lifted it's large black paws to the edge of the seat cushion and managed to flop his shaggy head on Georgie's lap. Big smelly dirty dog, Georgie pondered for a moment, before reaching out one of her hands to begin scratching his ears.
They sat like this for a while, Georgie reading her book and turning pages with one hand, while with the other indulging the mutt's scratching whims.
About an hour before dinner Severus came in from the Common Room, robes billowing behind him. Georgie set her book down and greeted him warmly. He came around to stand behind her, "What happened today with you?" He looked up at all the decorations with a look she couldn't read. Distaste, uneasiness, who knows with him…. "Went shopping, decorated a bit, and I found a new friend." Severus hadn't caught sight of the dog yet. "It's a doggie," she indicated with her free hand.
Severus leaned over her, "Hello Sirius." And he walked to the bookshelf.
"You know the doggie's name!" Georgie squealed enthusiastically. "How ever…?" She stopped.
He waved his hand dismayingly at her from the bookshelf, "He's not a 'doggie', Georgie, he's a man." He said evenly.
Georgie stopped scratching the beasts' head and froze.
"You're joking me." She challenged Severus.
"I am not joking you. He's an Animagi."
Georgie looked into the eyes of the dog and the dog seemed to be doing the same to her at the same time. "Severus, this isn't funny…"
Georgie withdrew her hand and pushed herself up further on the couch, ready to leap over it if she had to. Of course she knew if Severus knew this dog, er, man than he wasn't to be feared, but still.
Severus continued, "He's godfather to Harry Potter--stays sometimes in the spare room down here. Helps out Dumbledore and the Ministry every so often. Probably here for the holidays." Looking at her, he added. "He's harmless." He didn't know if she'd heard about his escape from prison a few years ago over in Poland, but the Ministry had secretly cleared him this last year. So there was no harm done. The man secretly nettled Severus but at least he wasn't a murderer. Well, alright; not so secretly he admitted before himself…
Georgie, vaulted over the back of the couch, "Uh, I have to go check on something…" she muttered as she dashed out the door in her stocking feet.
"You'll have to excuse her--she's insane." Snape fondly explained to the dog. "She'll return for introductions before dinner, as she's running about with no shoes on." He smirked dryly.
The dog slowly morphed into a man with wispy black hair, who then crossed the room to extend his hand to the Potions Master. "Good to see you Snape." He spoke cordially.
"And you, Sirius." He motioned towards the couches. "Care for a drink before dinner?"
"Heck no, but thanks," he grinned broadly. "Maybe afterwards though. How are things?"
"Same as always. Classes with dolts for students, getting banged up by Death Eaters and Aurors alike. Life's peachy." He actually grinned at the man sitting opposite him.
Sirius Black hadn't let it pass unnoticed, Severus Snape had grinned. "I'm doing alright. It's a bother to get here though. Can't apparate on the grounds, and couldn't apparate into Hogsmeade as a dog…" He shook his head and crossed his legs casually. "Ministry's working me hard--keeps me occupied."
Severus nodded. They were quite alike in many ways, and working for the Ministry was the least of these similarities. Perhaps that was why they sometimes clashed so. "So did Georgie get you something to eat?" He motioned towards the empty plate and the cup by the fire.
Sirius thought, oh, so that's the girl's name. "Yes, she was kind enough to run off to the kitchens for a poor helpless dog." He sniggered.
Severus didn't like his tone, "Why must you come as a dog? And proceed to stay as a dog? You probably gave her a fright and it's not being completely honest with a person you're going to be seeing down here every day." He pointed out.
"Ladies always are more sympathetic to helpless animals." He laughed. "Didn't mean to scare her though. So…" he leaned forward. "Are you guys married or together or something?"
Severus Snape just stared at the man. He wasn't angry, wasn't insulted, just…well, numb at the question. "No, why ever would you ask that?"
Oh, Sirius had his many reasons, "She's living down here with you, she's not a teacher. I don't know, just made sense when I asked it."
"I live there," Severus lifted a thin finger towards his door. His voice was stern. "And she lives over there. She's a student--an older, graduated student. She's also a Slytherin. She's doing independent studies and Assistant Teaching and learning the language and the lay of the land." He spat out.
"That's all?" Sirius knew he was pushing it.
"She's my closest friend." Snape allowed. Sirius just nodded.
"Good to know." He remarked unaffectedly.
Severus changed the subject. It would be hardly proper for Georgie to return to find the two men talking about her.
Georgie did burst back through the door a few minutes later, all apologies and smiles. She extended her hand to the now-a-man Sirius and sat beside him on the couch and asked about his travel here. He replied warmly and answered her smiles with more of his own; he seemed everything affable and fun. Georgie traced a bit of the cocky to him--not like Severus' professional sort of cockiness, but Sirius Black was full of himself because he seemed to think himself irresistible. Georgie would ask Severus about that later.
She rose and admitted she had to find her shoes before dinner and stalked off to her room. Sirius' eyes followed her. Severus' eyes followed his.
Georgie brushed her hair and leered at the mirror as she tried to block out the muffled masculine voices streaming from the other room. This was her and Severus' space, they were the crazy ones and it just wouldn't be as much fun over the holidays to add one more to their merry number. But she would soon be proved wrong.
She joined the men again and suggested they go on up to dinner, and they both rose and followed her from the lounge. She pouted the entire way upstairs; this was going to suck.
After dinner Sirius went up to visit with Dumbledore and Harry, so Severus snagged Georgie into his room as she returned from the meal. "What?" She asked angrily. "I'm already upset enough about our holiday visitor." She pouted, leaning onto his desk and supporting herself on her elbows.
Severus grinned broadly from his chair. "Crazy intuition with you….I was just going to warn you, but I see no need…."
"He looks at me damn funny: like I'm piece of meat, or else a stupid child. Neither one I particularly like." She snarled.
"You read too much into him, He's harmless." He repeated.
"He freaking led me on about being a dog, I just think that's dishonest or something. I mean, sure he is a dog…at times, but still…. He's probably laughing up his sleeve at me as we speak." She puffed up mournfully. "Christmas is going to suck!" She whined.
Severus detested her use of the colloquial word 'suck'. "Everything will be as it always has been. Sirius Black is fonder of The Three Broomsticks and Rosmerta than he is of sticking around here. He won't disturb your studies, he knows what I go out to do; It will be fine." He assured her.
"Just so you know, I hate this. I said it from the beginning, so when something odd happens, don't blame me." Georgie coughed as she pushed open the door and walked through.
"You're being childish," Severus replied obstinately, "And stupid. Absolutely nothing's wrong here. You can still throw me to the ground on occasion if it'll make you feel any better. You can listen to music, go places, it's fine!" He followed her tensely into the lounge. He nodded to Sirius who was lounging on the couch by the fire watching them both.
Severus crossed the floor and stood close by her at the doorway to the Common Room. She leaned in, "I was just jerking you around--I'm not at all worried," she giggled. He sighed deeply then sneered; he had wondered what the devil she was ranting on about. But her face sulked into a frown of displeasure, "But don't ever call me childish." She glared at him for a moment. Severus looked at her intently as she spied Sirius watching them whisper together very closely.
"And just try to explain this one away." He didn't even have time to question her before she pointed her index finger straight up. Severus instinctually lifted his head and eyes to see what she was referring to, but by the time he'd spotted the Mistletoe she'd landed a great, loud, smack upon his cheek, and then dashed away out into the school.
Color rose to his face, Damnit Georgie, he thought. He slowly turned back into the room to face a grinning Sirius who had witnessed the whole thing.
Georgie decided to stay out until Severus' anger subsided, so she returned in time to join him for rounds and to apologize then. Severus' anger wasn't very long-standing with her, thank goodness, and they chatted normally as they wandered the halls in the dark. Georgie admitted that Sirius seemed like a fine person, heck, he was even funny--he'd make a good addition to the holiday and they'd all have a blast.
Severus reminded her that he'd be out late this coming week and reminded her to make sure Lupin got his potion in time. She rolled her eyes, and ignored him trying to be sensible. She complained about the dire lack of snow and told him that he should try and work on that before tackling something as big as Voldemort. He chuckled up his sleeve and assured her it was at the top of his list. She pouted, "See but you laugh. No snow…"
It did snow two days later, much to Georgie's delight and Severus' ambivalence. She tromped in one late afternoon after her classes, shaking her wet hair everywhere and stood before her friend who looked to be almost napping on the couch. She thrust out a jar. He peered into it obligingly. It was a jar of just snow, he thought. He squinted harder to see what she was wishing him to see. He looked up at her quizzically.
"It's Poland." She cackled and snatched it back and passed to her room.
"You're demented!" He yelled after her.
Georgie replied with a string of loose coughing and an expletive.
In Herbology, Georgie was beginning to out-grow her lessons--at least the degree of skill needed in that class, and by mid-week, Professor Sprout asked her to stay afterwards to discuss a new class-schedule. Georgie grudgingly blamed her Potions knowledge and Mediwizardry training--as she used most of them almost daily--for ousting her from the Herbology class that she enjoyed with her young friends, into another different year class after they returned from the break.
The door to the lounge slammed open, "Life sucks!" She cried as she stepped into the room. "Oh, goodbye Sirius," she called as the black dog hurried past her legs and out the door.
Severus poked his head out of his room, "Why does it suck?" He posed to her.
"Because Herbology's the only class I still have problems with. Today I couldn't remember this herb, well duh, it was an herb…" she rambled. "I know when it grows, what it's useful for, what it looks like…. But not the stupid name!" She slammed her books down on the couch in frustration. "Your language sucks."
Severus watched her--he knew better than to argue with her opinion of herself at that moment. "What is it used in?"
"Wit-Sharpening and Memory Restoratives…."
"Ginger root or Cowslip are used in both." He ducked back inside his rooms.
Georgie crashed onto her couch, "Probably Cowslip…I suck."
Severus came out and stepped around the couch to sit opposite her. "I'm going out tonight. Shouldn't be too late."
Georgie burped then coughed deeply. "I want to get so smashed," she confessed mournfully. "Fucking off-the-charts, drinking myself under the table."
"Because of not knowing the name of a flower?"
"No, just tired…." She looked at him. "Not as tired as you, though, I'd venture."
He didn't say anything, but continued to stare at her expressionlessly.
She sighed. "Severus, you sticking around for the holidays or going somewhere?" She crossed her fingers.
"Staying. I might go visit the house-elves, but I think I'm going to stay here. Have you made plans? Are you going to visit your family?"
"Nah, my parents are…busy. I'll owl them presents and stuff, but I haven't been home for a Christmas in such a long time…" And the last time she had, she'd spent Christmas Day playing with the house-elves and wandering around her family's large house by herself. Her parents were never quite the same after… She shook her head violently, "Nope, sticking it out here. We can hang." She teased
"Looking forward to it," He patted her knee and stood up unsmilingly. "I'm going to leave before dinner, so I'm going to see what the house-elves can make up for me."
She waved him off. Little sister would wait up for big brother and patch up his boo-boos.
A/N--thanks to everyone who is still reading this. Much appreciated.
It was close to midnight by then, so Severus hoped Georgie had gotten back before him and she had started the rounds. They both shared the responsibility these days. He relished it for the chance to dock points and she because she just liked wandering about in the dark bumping into things.
He moved silently down the broad corridor, ears listening for out-of-place sounds as he wound his way back to the dungeons. He picked up the soft sound of footfall up ahead so he glided over to a dark spot just around the corner from the approaching offender, he put his back up to the wall and a sly grin spread across his face.
The person rounded the corner and Snape stood transfixed as it entered a shaft of light cast down from a high window. It was Georgie he grinned, doing the rounds in her gray nightgown and fuzzy slippers. He took off rapidly to catch up with her. She didn't hear his footsteps or sense his presence, so he kept back just over her shoulder and out of her forward view. He smiled at her obliviousness to everything around her as she gazed out of windows and up at the moon, peered around doorways, her eyes darting aimlessly this way and that, never realizing that Severus was almost touching her back the entire time.
She led him down this corridor and that, never encountering another soul. Several times he almost purposely gave himself away, but he waited patiently for the right time. At one point she passed by the open door of a room she'd never seen before and she stopped abruptly, as did Severus. But she took a big step backwards before he could react.
She'd thumped backwards into something that wasn't there a second earlier, she thought with horror. Her stomach fell away as she determined it was human form. "Ah!" She shrieked and took off at a sprint without looking back. She kept screaming, and Severus thought quickly, I've got to catch her, she's going to wake the whole castle. So he took off after her, following through corridors, always just out of her fleeting backwards-glancing sight line.
She galloped down stairs and found herself by the dungeons, she chose to smash through the door to the outside rather than run the risk of their being no one to help her in the Dungeons. Severus arrived at those doors, and rolled his eyes at how foolish a victim she would really be. Goodness, running outside? He smashed through the same doors and bounded across the lawn towards her. She appeared to be trying to lose her pursuer by dashing around the corner to the back of the building. Snape gained ground on her as she stumbled through a wilder patch of ground. He called her name loudly, but she couldn't hear him. This was insane.
She kept turning around to see a figure in black chasing her down, no matter how she tried to lose him. She had horrible thoughts of Death Eaters in hoods, which forced her to run on even though her lungs felt about to fail her completely. She thought for a moment that she might die out here.
He finally could reach out and grab hold of her shoulders. She shrieked as she was slowed down. He was yelling "Georgie!" at her hoarsely, but she was still flailing about wildly. She turned around and jumped at the assailant and smashed his nose. The figure howled in pain, and Georgie seized her chance and bowled the figure over, and pummeled it with her fists clenched in fury and fear as she sat on top of the person, losing all sense of control.
Severus was clasping his nose as his eyes watered in pain, as he tried to dodge her fists pounding his chest. When he could see clearly again, he twisted his legs around her and brought her to the ground and grappled for position on her stomach. She was yowling as she tried to fight off his hands, she was sure she was going to be killed or worse.
"Georgie!" He bellowed over and over again, finally getting quieter and quieter as her fighting slowed down and ceased. She lay back on the ground looking up focusing and finally recognizing her friend. "Severus?" He nodded in the darkness around them. She reached up her hand and lashed it out across his cheek. Her slap had knocked his jaw to the side. He looked down on her solemnly. "I guess I deserve that."
She screwed up her face and began to cry silently. He pouted and lifted her up under one of his arms. "I'm sorry." She sobbed. "I hit your nose, and you're probably going to bruise everywhere, and I shouldn't have over-reacted, but I've been thinking these thoughts about how vulnerable Hogwarts was and stuff--how Orris was able to get into my rooms, and when I saw a person in black take off after me, I automatically assumed the worse…" She mumbled on.
"No, I'm just as much to fault. I should have called your name right when you bumped into me. I was too amused at your expression. I wasn't thinking clearly. I tried calling after you after that, but you were out of range. I deserved it."
"You do not deserve that." She sniffed holding him at arm's length. "We both are loonies I suppose," trying hard to grin.
"shall we forgetthis?" Severus offered her his hand.
She looked at it, "Only if you forgive me." They shook hands. "We'll speak no more of it then." She suggested.
"I shouldn't have slapped you," she said woefully.
"That was the first intelligent thing you did." She rolled her eyes at him and they both laughed.
"Well, you don't have to like it all so much. You're such a sadist Severus." Her eyes twinkled at the banter.
"True. You've found out my little secret, but I know yours as well. You like to fight as much as I do." He grinned cockily.
"Man, it sucks for someone else to know what you're thinking. I just wished I got to knock you down. It's not fair you're always getting to do it. Next time we switch, okay?"
Snape pulled her to her feet wobbly. "No wands. Here's your chance." He turned and sped across the dark ground. Georgie gave a squeal of delight, and lifted the hem of her nightgown and took off tearing and bounding like a bear. She darted after him as he bobbed, weaved and spun to try and vex her and staying just out of her reach. She finally got close enough and leapt at his shoulder, sending him flying over backwards. "Ha!" she strutted and preened above him right before his leg swept both of hers out from under her.
Later they entered quietly by the back entranceway not expecting to encounter anyone at such a late hour. Minerva however had just returned from some papers from her own classroom and she was waiting. She looking down at them as they entered and starred at them in pure shock. Severus was beaming with blood streaming from his nose as he held Georgie closely under his arm, and she in her nightgown and with disheveled hair, clung shivering around his waist. The both had grass in their hair. Both of their smiles melted away as they recognized her presence before them. "Damn," Georgie muttered just audible enough for Severus to hear.
They were all paralyzed and no one spoke at first. Minerva eventually broke the silence, "Good Lord, what have you two been doing?" Her voice rose dangerously.
"Fightning." Severus said simply. "We ran out of room in our study, so we took it outside. Man-to-man, so to say." He smirked sardonically.
Minerva looked to Georgie for an explanation. Georgie wanted to criticize and ask her why she thought Severus wouldn't be telling the whole truth, but she held her tongue on the matter. "We like fighting." She volunteered, trying very hard not to laugh.
She just bore her eyes into them, then shaking her head disbelievingly, "You both are ridiculous." And she walked away.
They looked after her for a moment then turned again towards the dungeons. Once there, Georgie attacked Snape's nose with her Mediwizarding supplies--which thankfully wasn't broken. Severus felt slightly uncomfortable having her breathing all over him a few mere inches from is own face.
When she's patched him up, she slapped him lightly on the shoulder, "Okay off to bed." He glared at her at this and stayed where he was on the couch. She got to her feet and got rid of the cloths she used to wipe his blood up with. When she was finished. She came up behind him as he sat upright on the couch. She stuck her chin out and lay her chin on his shoulder. "Fine, be all pissy from not enough sleep tonight. I've got Divination first thing in the morning. See if I care, goober." She giggled haughtily in his ear. "Goodnight." And she popped up, picked out a long blade of grass from Snape's hair and deposited it in his lap as she went away.
November was fast speeding away from them and on the first day of December Georgie was moping about in the lounge practicing wand-less magic by herself. Her bare feet gripped the back of the couch as her head dangled off the edge of the couch. The blood had been rushing to her head for the past ten minutes, and it was going to be a bitch to stand up after this, she reminded herself. She frowned and scratched her nose as she sent books from the bookshelf soaring to the center table.
She was quite good at moving objects about (even while perched upside-down), but her command of other spells was seriously lacking. She could start fires and lock doors, plus a few other simple spells. But she was shooting for a Banishing Charm. She was making slow progress, and she wasn't too pleased with herself. Wand-less Magic had been an option to the seventh year students at The Institute and she'd signed up for it. There were only four other students in her class and the instruction was personal and thorough.
She'd worked on her light casting spell earlier before ditching the entire effort. When she spoke 'Lumos,' a glowing ball of light was supposed to appear hovering above her palm. So far she'd gotten sparks.
She dropped the books down on the table and groaned. It was rainy and there were intense winds outside. Trees and branches had fallen down all-over the grounds last night.
She swiveled her head to the cheery fire burning away in the fireplace. She stretched her hands out towards the fire, battling with the gravity trying to drag them down to the carpet. She drew the fire out of it's housing in the hearth and sent a column of the glowing-warm flames straight out into the air, sustaining it there for several minutes, always frowning hard in concentration. It was high enough in the air that the carpet, tables and couches weren't going to get singed as the flames vaulted the furniture, but the heat was blowing against her face and rustling through her hair. The flames seemed to draw her into them….
"That one's shape's more solid than the last."
Georgie's eyes snapped to look up her body, past her feet to the man who'd entered. The flames were sucked back into the confines of the fireplace the moment she broke concentration. Severus watched them go, then looked down the body to the face of his friend. "How goes Lumos?" He questioned her. He ran his cold finger down her bare foot and walked away to put his books away. Georgie convulsed involuntarily. It tickled her and Snape knew it.
He returned to the room. She pointed her finger up at him shakily. "Georgius Dormiens Nunquam Titilandus."
"You weren't sleeping though." He corrected. "You should not have bare feet when it's December. This is a castle and these are Dungeons," He tried to sound helpful, but his face remained expressionless. "Besides," His eyes turned to the windows. "The rain and wind will make even this place damp after awhile."
She drew her head up and swiveled her body so that she was now sitting normally with her feet on the floor. Her head swam for a second and her eyes rolled back into her head for a second, then everything came back into focus. Snape watched her from his seat on the other couch.
"I wish you wouldn't sit like that. When you right yourself, you like sick and green and it catches me off guard." He began to write something on a piece of parchment.
"Lumos sucks." She moaned bitterly.
"That good?" He sniggered without looking up. "What did you do all day?"
She was supposed to meet Pomfrey today for a lesson after her Herbology class, but the dear lady decided to attend a conference on the latest treatments of boils and skin irritations. "I read. Burned stuff. Read some more. Burped." She answered disinterestedly. "Oh, I finished Remus' potion. It's in the usual place in the cabinet behind your desk in the classroom." She burped.
"I hope you didn't drink any of it."
"'Course not, I just put it in your supper." He grinned at her for that.
"How about some music?"
"I'd rather not play right now." She apologized, she was feeling too lackadaisical to play.
"Don't need to. Bring your music-player." Her face lit up. Severus usually was all contempt towards her Muggle things.
"Okily dokily." And she returned with it a few seconds later.
"I figured most of my music that had words were a bit too heavy, so I bring you classical."
"I like opera…" Severus volunteered, still not looking up.
She flipped through the discs in her hands. "I would suggest Carmina Burana or, hmm, Turandot, Madama Butterfly, La Traviata, Tosca, La Bohème or …Aida, Carmen, Don Giovanni or …."
"You like Puccini. Which would you prefer?"
"I prefer Italian over German any day. Um, prolly Turandot, it's got one of my fave songs."
"Well then let's have it and turn it up loud."
"Severus, I'm surprised at you!" She pretended to scold him. She plopped the disc inside and turned it on. "Some thunder for the rain," she murmured.
She lay back on her couch and closed her eyes listening to the music fill her with emotions. Italian wasn't one of the many languages that she spoke, and she was glad of this. So when she would listen to her opera, the music and the passions would speak for themselves. She could tell when the singer was hurt, or angry, or in love…it was all on account of the music.
When her favorite song Nessun Dorma played she sat up to her knees on the couch and leaned over the end of the couch facing the fire. She lifted the flames and sent waves crashing down to the floor of the hearth grating in time with the music. Her arms swept back and forth as she made wild gestures to control the dancing flames. When the climactic ending blared through the speakers, she brought small individual orbs out of the fireplace and up into the air above her head. They burst noiselessly like fireworks. She was moving her hand like a conductor would, frantically and controlled. The ending was fast and furious and she was out of breath as she collapsed on her sofa, warm-faced and grinning like a fool.
She turned her head. Severus was staring unabashedly at her in total amazement. Georgie felt really shy and embarrassed. "The music helps," She ventured.
"I guess so." He nodded numbly.
She lay back down and closed her eyes once more.
When the album stopped she hopped up and threw in another disc, but didn't stick around to enjoy it. Her Mediwizardry Cabinet was out of a potion she used to treat organ damage and she'd bought bezoar and it was going to go bad of she didn't make the potion today. She was such a procrastinator, she hung her head as she got to her feet, but she always got things done on time at least. She couldn't let others down.
She packed up her cauldron and her ingredients. She used Severus' if she needed any others, but she thought she had everything. She stumbled out into the room. "Brr." She commented, as she set her cauldron down on the empty couch and turned back to her room. She returned wearing socks and trying to pull on both shoes while in a tottering standing position. She hefted up her cauldron and headed for the door.
"Need anything?" He turned away from his papers and looked to Georgie. She smiled and shook her head, "Nope thanks for asking though." She took a step and stubbed her toe. "Damn!" and she bit her lip, as she managed to hold onto her cauldron and to not drop it on her other toe.
Severus called at her, "You've been surprisingly devoid of vulgar language lately." He goaded.
"Hey Snape?" She tried not to smirk as he looked at her over at her expectantly.
"Fuck you."
He actually laughed at that. "I almost missed that. Almost."
She passed through the door and called over her shoulder "You thought that was good, you just wait. It's all been bottled up…"
He laughed to himself and shook his head. He was still amazed that she hadn't lost interest with the whole Mediwiardry 'thing' as she so basely put it. Her stores that she kept up weren't just for burns and lacerations. She had cold and flu potions, antidotes to most everything--poisons included; to minor mishaps with hexes and charms gone bad. Very thorough. He was proud of her.
She burst back through the door. "I forgot to tell you we're out of Bugleweed for Lupin's next potion, but that's a full month away and I was wondering if you had Goldenrod for the Anti-Hemorrhage." He stood up and disappeared into his room and returned with three jars in his hand.
"Here's the Bugleweed; just put it back in the cabinet." He handed to her. "There's not much Goldenrod, so I brought Yarrow, which will work just as well."
She beamed at him accepting the jars, "Severus, You're the absolute best! I'll replace them when I shop next time." She assured him.
"No need. I go into Hogsmeade once a week. Just tell me when we're out of something." He called after her as she pranced out of the room once more.
The heat in the stuffy classroom was making her head swim. True, her inner thermostat usually ran cold, she guessed the dampness in the castle did have something to do with it. Also the fumes from this particular potion she found particularly rancid. She coughed a bit and snatched up a quill from Severus' desk to scratch out the ingredients she'd used up. She fastened it to the outside door of the cabinet using her wand and then turned to her still simmering brew.
She stood over it and peered into the depths of the mustard-colored mixture. It really did smell awful, she held her nose as she backed away and tried not to gag. Seating herself on a desk she contemplated the fact that it was December already and she hadn't the foggiest what she was going to get Severus for a Christmas present. She decided that she'd probably stick around Hogwarts for the holiday, but she didn't know what Severus' plans would be. She kicked her toe nervously into the desk leg.
She'd probably get him a book. But that sounded so droll! She knew that he valued books most, but still…it had better be one hell of a book. Maybe something fun also, some toy like the water gun. Looking down at her own attire that day, she pondered the possibility of something pertaining to Quidditch. She was wearing her favorite Muggle football team's kit that day. "What is 'Man Uted?' anyway?" He'd asked once a few weeks ago when she'd donned a red beanie with that printed on the brim. "Muggle football. The absolute best team around." She gushed. "Manchester United." He still looked to be in the dark. "Oh."
Perhaps a poster or a scarf or something. He wouldn't go for team robes at all, he wouldn't dress so distinctly or colorful. The Morrismount Manglers was his favorite team--they were sure underdogs, and not at all popular with the masses. Gawd, she hated this. She really wanted to get something nice and useful, but the man wasn't an easy person to shop for. And she'd have to do it again for his birthday again, she groaned to herself. She lifted her eyes and saw that the potion was ready. The mustard yellow had mellowed to a softer, brighter gold. At least it ceased to smell like ass and she smiled to herself. She bottled the stuff up agilely, labeled the bottles, and then cleaned up her area.
She sat a minute longer, waiting for the cauldron to cool. Ordinarily she'd use a Freezing Charm on it for a moment to bring down the temperature, but she felt lazy today, and she wasn't in a hurry.
That weekend Georgie used the Floo Network to visit Diagon--or to be more specific Knockturn Alley. Severus had said if she'd ever wanted to go there he'd accompany her, but she was trying to shop for him, for his Christmas present, and she couldn't very easily tell him to turn his back so she could purchase something for him. She wandered slowly and seemingly aimlessly towards Gringotts and the streets beyond. She dressed inconspicuously, or so she tried. She wore dark colors and tried not to smile or catch others' eyes as she ambled onwards.
She ducked inside a store with books in the front window. It was a tiny shop, near the back and off to a side street. The proprietor didn't appear to be there so Georgie took her leisure as she scanned the shelves for something that might be of interest to Snape. Nothing, nothing, nothing….She shook her head to herself and frowned as she craned her neck to see the topmost shelves. All the mass-produced books he'd probably already read: dark arts or no.
"A-hem." A voice sounded behind her. She turned slowly and saw a bent old witch now standing at the counter against the back wall. "Can I find something for you?" She eyed Georgie with a look of dissatisfaction.
"Actually," Georgie considered for a moment before walking over to the counter. "I'm looking for a book on Potions--but it has to be something special." She hurried on smoothly.
The old woman considered this for a moment before unexplainably walking into a back room. Georgie turned around uneasily and leaned against the counter nonchalantly. She turned when the old women thrust a book into her hands. Georgie frowned and looked down at the dusty tome in her hands. It was massive--weighed a ton, she thought. It was leather-bound and it smelled funky.
"It's very old and very rare." Those words seemed to light up Georgie's eyes excitedly, and the old witch took note of that. "Only seen one other in my life--and that was years ago," the old woman cackled. It was Ancient and Powerful Potions: Medieval Secrets. Severus had to like this, she smirked. It was just up his alley.
Georgie paid for it and slunk from the shop, fumbling to put her money-purse away. It'd cost an arm and a leg--well not really, but she was positive that the old witch had taken advantage of her, and she grumbled to herself as she plodded along. Not only was it expensive, but it was heavy. She poked her wand out of her sleeve and mumbled a Lighten-Up spell, and that helped considerably.
She glared at the passerbys who eyed her strangely. Georgie never really blended in anywhere. She was too dark, or exotic, or strange to blend in anywhere enough to be not noticed and starred at. Some days she hated it, other days she loved the attention. This wasn't one of those days.
Severus thought she was in Hogsmeade and she'd persuaded Rosmerta to let her use her back fireplace. Rosmerta had laughed outright at her, joking her about having a secret life and being sneaky. Whatever got her through the day, so long as she could use the fireplace. Georgie liked Rosmerta: she was jolly, gorgeous and popular. Plus she was surrounded by Butterbeers all day, and every day was an adventure with such lively bunches of people that she saw.
Georgie wandered back to Diagon Alley and slipped seamlessly into the throng of the afternoon shoppers. Georgie herself bought a book on Mediwizardry spells and eyed some enchanted jewelry in shop for robes. They were gorgeous, but she didn't feel up to anything enchanted after the dance. The twins had found them infinitely useful, and Georgie even suspected that Niamh was secretly seeing Professor Lupin--or at least they were spending heaps of time together. It would be against the rules she'd guess, but so the hell what if it were--if they were both happy with the situation. It was probably better that it was Niamh because Georgie was spending a lot of time with Siobhan and her crass and cutting style of conversation actually appealed to Severus' nature more than Niamh's polite one.
She wound through the crowds--trust her to go on a weekend--up to a street vendor selling Funnel Cakes. She couldn't resist. Well, she could, but why should she? They were some friend dough concoction supposedly originating from some islands somewhere. She took her time making her way back to the Leaky Cauldron, munching on the flaky pastry. Minerva'd introduced her to her first Funnel Cake as Georgie had never before even heard of them. It was love at first bite.
She waited a few minutes before returning through the fireplace allowing her stomach time to settle. Severus would love it if she came home and threw up on the floor. Chances were she'd pass out on Rosmerta's floor before she got as far as Hogwarts.
But she didn't pass out on Rosmeta's floor, she'd staggered to the front room and thanked the woman in heels for the use of the fireplace and made her way outside--waving at students she knew who were enjoying themselves on a Hogsmeade Weekend.
She huffed up the hill towards Hogwarts' gates in the drizzle and mist. It would be kind romantic being out here on a day like this, Georgie considered as she swung her cloak's long hemline back and forth as she walked. Like a tale of old Avalon, But that it was so mundane here. People were normal people, magic was simple magic, and there wasn't any feeling of extraordinary mystique or legend anymore. Days came and went, people did things, ate things, said things. She felt sorely deceived by those writers of fairy stories and old legends--though some were indeed historically acurate. It was just the embellished tales that had let her down. She shifted her bundles in her arms as she approached the large castle, tripping slightly on her own feet. Hell, even this was just made of stone--not out of the clouds or mist. She coughed deeply in the cold, and wondered if anything really ever had been…
Severus sat at his desk in his rooms. He had finished grading papers hours ago and his lesson plans were prepared up until way into the New Year. December used to be the least favorite month of his childhood, but he didn't feel the same about it anymore. Sure he had enjoyed the snow and the break from school, but having to spend so much time with his family always killed what joy he could muster. Other students came home with stories of traditions and festivities, of great-uncles having too much to drink and of Christmas pantomimes, but the young Severus Snape had kept his mouth closed.
Dumbledore and Georgie and the rest of the staff were all the family Severus had now, and though he couldn't stand most of them and their peculiarities most of the time, he was glad of their presence. He fingered his quill in his hand distractedly, he still hadn't gotten her a Christmas present. Sure Christmas was a long way off, but he liked to prepare these sort of things ahead of time. Georgie may be a procrastinator, but Severus Snape would not allow himself to fall into that habit of hers.
The lounge was too quiet for him, or not quiet enough, he glared at the cackling fire in annoyance. She was off shopping or something in Hogsmeade he had assumed, as she'd walked away in that direction, swinging gaily in the gray fog until she disappeared from his view at the window. He sighed. Sometimes, when she pranced about so femininely like that he wished his best friend had been born a boy instead.
He pushed his chair back. Perhaps if he asked Albus…the old man might have an idea of a Christmas present. He was always more sensitive and had known more women in his life than Snape had allowed in. He turned out the candles with his wand as he passed through his door.
Georgie returned and deposited her bundles in her room--hiding Severus' book in the bottom of her wardrobe. Not as if he'd snoop, heavens no! But it made her feel more, Christmas-ey. The students still had another week of classes. Minerva had warned her that most of the students' minds wouldn't be all there the entire last week, so Georgie was of course eager to witness it.
She lit a fire in the lounge fireplace and returned to her room. In her desk drawer she gather colored papers and spello-tape and scissors. And set to work with decorations. She really didn't know what possessed her to make these things--perhaps even last year she would have proclaimed this a waste of time, but this year… Part of her just wanted to do it to see if Severus would get upset, the other part of her wanted to do it because she knew that Severus hadn't had a happy childhood and he might secretly enjoy these. Though he'd probably be damned before he'd ever let her know that, she sniffed, agitated.
She strung up loops of red and green paper, cut angels out for hanging up, raided Severus' supplies for Mistletoe--Oh, he was going to really kill her, she grinned evilly. She found pictures of stars and cut hideous snowflakes out of folded paper. She used the shiny, metallic paper for gleaming green trees and holly, golden stars, and silver bells. The bells really didn't look like bells at all Georgie thought as she held them out for inspection.
When she was satisfied with the lot of it all, she scooped it up into her arms and padded out to the lounge. She hung Mistletoe beneath the door to the Common Room and the metallic papered decorations she affixed to the ceiling. She dragged a chair around the walls as she stretched to reach the decorations up into place. When she turned to survey her work, she allowed that it looked rather juvenile reaching every which way, with the hem of her skirt still damp from being outdoors, but she didn't care--the walls had been bare out here for too long.
She was reaching above her head to tape up a juvenile snowflake by the window when she heard a sound at the door. She turned and sulked slightly. It wasn't a knock though, perhaps someone had brushed against the door. She waited. And she heard it again. Georgie set the snowflake down on the back of the couch and went to open the door.
She threw the door open and she half-expected Severus to stand there, tall before her eyes. But instead she almost missed the great black dog sitting at her feet. Georgie looked around confusedly, how the hell did it get inside? Georgie asked the dog that question, but as she said it she saw that Slytherins were streaming in and out of the Common Room's entrance, most leaving it open for long periods. "Oh…" She nodded, then looked down at it.
"Well, doggie, I wonder what you're doing here in Hogwarts. Does doggie want some munchies?" She asked it in baby-tones as it stood up and trotted inside the door. It sat down on it's haunches by the fire and starred at her. What a mild-mannered pooch, she grinned. Georgie ducked into her room momentarily then returned sighing. Unfortunately her 'munchies' were not the kind to agree with a dog's palate.
The dog remained by the fire and Georgie approached it and scratched it's dark head. "What a good dog! You stay here and I'll steal you some food, okay?" She turned on her heel and stalked from the room towards the kitchens.
She returned minutes later trying to conceal a plate-shaped object wrapped in brown paper. The dog was lying before the fire and it sat up as she entered. Georgie swept over to it's resting spot and tore away the paper. The plate was filled with beefs from last nights' dinner, the house-elves had turned a curious eye on her when she'd requested only meat and no Diet Coke.
She set the plate before the dog, who cocked his head to one side then the other regarding her. "Oh, for heavens sake. Eat it dog! It's good for you!" She rattled the plate a little. The black head stuck out over the plate and the nose sniffed the beef cautiously. Georgie rolled her eyes. Finally it's muzzle snapped out and gobbled up a string of beef. "Good," Georgie declared triumphantly. She walked away to get it some water from the bathroom. When she returned it was eating the food with more gusto, Georgie observed. She set the wide cup of water next to the food plate. The dog eyed her only for a second before returning it's attention to the beef. "Oh, Severus is going to murder me tonight."
Georgie walked to the bookcase and selected a book and returned to the couch, but progress was slow because the beast was lapping up the water and snorting noisily as it chomped on the meat. Finally the sounds died down and Georgie managed to gain a page uninterrupted. The creature poked it's head around the corner of the couch Georgie was stretched out on and came to a stop before her. She turned from her book and looked down at the dog. It lifted it's large black paws to the edge of the seat cushion and managed to flop his shaggy head on Georgie's lap. Big smelly dirty dog, Georgie pondered for a moment, before reaching out one of her hands to begin scratching his ears.
They sat like this for a while, Georgie reading her book and turning pages with one hand, while with the other indulging the mutt's scratching whims.
About an hour before dinner Severus came in from the Common Room, robes billowing behind him. Georgie set her book down and greeted him warmly. He came around to stand behind her, "What happened today with you?" He looked up at all the decorations with a look she couldn't read. Distaste, uneasiness, who knows with him…. "Went shopping, decorated a bit, and I found a new friend." Severus hadn't caught sight of the dog yet. "It's a doggie," she indicated with her free hand.
Severus leaned over her, "Hello Sirius." And he walked to the bookshelf.
"You know the doggie's name!" Georgie squealed enthusiastically. "How ever…?" She stopped.
He waved his hand dismayingly at her from the bookshelf, "He's not a 'doggie', Georgie, he's a man." He said evenly.
Georgie stopped scratching the beasts' head and froze.
"You're joking me." She challenged Severus.
"I am not joking you. He's an Animagi."
Georgie looked into the eyes of the dog and the dog seemed to be doing the same to her at the same time. "Severus, this isn't funny…"
Georgie withdrew her hand and pushed herself up further on the couch, ready to leap over it if she had to. Of course she knew if Severus knew this dog, er, man than he wasn't to be feared, but still.
Severus continued, "He's godfather to Harry Potter--stays sometimes in the spare room down here. Helps out Dumbledore and the Ministry every so often. Probably here for the holidays." Looking at her, he added. "He's harmless." He didn't know if she'd heard about his escape from prison a few years ago over in Poland, but the Ministry had secretly cleared him this last year. So there was no harm done. The man secretly nettled Severus but at least he wasn't a murderer. Well, alright; not so secretly he admitted before himself…
Georgie, vaulted over the back of the couch, "Uh, I have to go check on something…" she muttered as she dashed out the door in her stocking feet.
"You'll have to excuse her--she's insane." Snape fondly explained to the dog. "She'll return for introductions before dinner, as she's running about with no shoes on." He smirked dryly.
The dog slowly morphed into a man with wispy black hair, who then crossed the room to extend his hand to the Potions Master. "Good to see you Snape." He spoke cordially.
"And you, Sirius." He motioned towards the couches. "Care for a drink before dinner?"
"Heck no, but thanks," he grinned broadly. "Maybe afterwards though. How are things?"
"Same as always. Classes with dolts for students, getting banged up by Death Eaters and Aurors alike. Life's peachy." He actually grinned at the man sitting opposite him.
Sirius Black hadn't let it pass unnoticed, Severus Snape had grinned. "I'm doing alright. It's a bother to get here though. Can't apparate on the grounds, and couldn't apparate into Hogsmeade as a dog…" He shook his head and crossed his legs casually. "Ministry's working me hard--keeps me occupied."
Severus nodded. They were quite alike in many ways, and working for the Ministry was the least of these similarities. Perhaps that was why they sometimes clashed so. "So did Georgie get you something to eat?" He motioned towards the empty plate and the cup by the fire.
Sirius thought, oh, so that's the girl's name. "Yes, she was kind enough to run off to the kitchens for a poor helpless dog." He sniggered.
Severus didn't like his tone, "Why must you come as a dog? And proceed to stay as a dog? You probably gave her a fright and it's not being completely honest with a person you're going to be seeing down here every day." He pointed out.
"Ladies always are more sympathetic to helpless animals." He laughed. "Didn't mean to scare her though. So…" he leaned forward. "Are you guys married or together or something?"
Severus Snape just stared at the man. He wasn't angry, wasn't insulted, just…well, numb at the question. "No, why ever would you ask that?"
Oh, Sirius had his many reasons, "She's living down here with you, she's not a teacher. I don't know, just made sense when I asked it."
"I live there," Severus lifted a thin finger towards his door. His voice was stern. "And she lives over there. She's a student--an older, graduated student. She's also a Slytherin. She's doing independent studies and Assistant Teaching and learning the language and the lay of the land." He spat out.
"That's all?" Sirius knew he was pushing it.
"She's my closest friend." Snape allowed. Sirius just nodded.
"Good to know." He remarked unaffectedly.
Severus changed the subject. It would be hardly proper for Georgie to return to find the two men talking about her.
Georgie did burst back through the door a few minutes later, all apologies and smiles. She extended her hand to the now-a-man Sirius and sat beside him on the couch and asked about his travel here. He replied warmly and answered her smiles with more of his own; he seemed everything affable and fun. Georgie traced a bit of the cocky to him--not like Severus' professional sort of cockiness, but Sirius Black was full of himself because he seemed to think himself irresistible. Georgie would ask Severus about that later.
She rose and admitted she had to find her shoes before dinner and stalked off to her room. Sirius' eyes followed her. Severus' eyes followed his.
Georgie brushed her hair and leered at the mirror as she tried to block out the muffled masculine voices streaming from the other room. This was her and Severus' space, they were the crazy ones and it just wouldn't be as much fun over the holidays to add one more to their merry number. But she would soon be proved wrong.
She joined the men again and suggested they go on up to dinner, and they both rose and followed her from the lounge. She pouted the entire way upstairs; this was going to suck.
After dinner Sirius went up to visit with Dumbledore and Harry, so Severus snagged Georgie into his room as she returned from the meal. "What?" She asked angrily. "I'm already upset enough about our holiday visitor." She pouted, leaning onto his desk and supporting herself on her elbows.
Severus grinned broadly from his chair. "Crazy intuition with you….I was just going to warn you, but I see no need…."
"He looks at me damn funny: like I'm piece of meat, or else a stupid child. Neither one I particularly like." She snarled.
"You read too much into him, He's harmless." He repeated.
"He freaking led me on about being a dog, I just think that's dishonest or something. I mean, sure he is a dog…at times, but still…. He's probably laughing up his sleeve at me as we speak." She puffed up mournfully. "Christmas is going to suck!" She whined.
Severus detested her use of the colloquial word 'suck'. "Everything will be as it always has been. Sirius Black is fonder of The Three Broomsticks and Rosmerta than he is of sticking around here. He won't disturb your studies, he knows what I go out to do; It will be fine." He assured her.
"Just so you know, I hate this. I said it from the beginning, so when something odd happens, don't blame me." Georgie coughed as she pushed open the door and walked through.
"You're being childish," Severus replied obstinately, "And stupid. Absolutely nothing's wrong here. You can still throw me to the ground on occasion if it'll make you feel any better. You can listen to music, go places, it's fine!" He followed her tensely into the lounge. He nodded to Sirius who was lounging on the couch by the fire watching them both.
Severus crossed the floor and stood close by her at the doorway to the Common Room. She leaned in, "I was just jerking you around--I'm not at all worried," she giggled. He sighed deeply then sneered; he had wondered what the devil she was ranting on about. But her face sulked into a frown of displeasure, "But don't ever call me childish." She glared at him for a moment. Severus looked at her intently as she spied Sirius watching them whisper together very closely.
"And just try to explain this one away." He didn't even have time to question her before she pointed her index finger straight up. Severus instinctually lifted his head and eyes to see what she was referring to, but by the time he'd spotted the Mistletoe she'd landed a great, loud, smack upon his cheek, and then dashed away out into the school.
Color rose to his face, Damnit Georgie, he thought. He slowly turned back into the room to face a grinning Sirius who had witnessed the whole thing.
Georgie decided to stay out until Severus' anger subsided, so she returned in time to join him for rounds and to apologize then. Severus' anger wasn't very long-standing with her, thank goodness, and they chatted normally as they wandered the halls in the dark. Georgie admitted that Sirius seemed like a fine person, heck, he was even funny--he'd make a good addition to the holiday and they'd all have a blast.
Severus reminded her that he'd be out late this coming week and reminded her to make sure Lupin got his potion in time. She rolled her eyes, and ignored him trying to be sensible. She complained about the dire lack of snow and told him that he should try and work on that before tackling something as big as Voldemort. He chuckled up his sleeve and assured her it was at the top of his list. She pouted, "See but you laugh. No snow…"
It did snow two days later, much to Georgie's delight and Severus' ambivalence. She tromped in one late afternoon after her classes, shaking her wet hair everywhere and stood before her friend who looked to be almost napping on the couch. She thrust out a jar. He peered into it obligingly. It was a jar of just snow, he thought. He squinted harder to see what she was wishing him to see. He looked up at her quizzically.
"It's Poland." She cackled and snatched it back and passed to her room.
"You're demented!" He yelled after her.
Georgie replied with a string of loose coughing and an expletive.
In Herbology, Georgie was beginning to out-grow her lessons--at least the degree of skill needed in that class, and by mid-week, Professor Sprout asked her to stay afterwards to discuss a new class-schedule. Georgie grudgingly blamed her Potions knowledge and Mediwizardry training--as she used most of them almost daily--for ousting her from the Herbology class that she enjoyed with her young friends, into another different year class after they returned from the break.
The door to the lounge slammed open, "Life sucks!" She cried as she stepped into the room. "Oh, goodbye Sirius," she called as the black dog hurried past her legs and out the door.
Severus poked his head out of his room, "Why does it suck?" He posed to her.
"Because Herbology's the only class I still have problems with. Today I couldn't remember this herb, well duh, it was an herb…" she rambled. "I know when it grows, what it's useful for, what it looks like…. But not the stupid name!" She slammed her books down on the couch in frustration. "Your language sucks."
Severus watched her--he knew better than to argue with her opinion of herself at that moment. "What is it used in?"
"Wit-Sharpening and Memory Restoratives…."
"Ginger root or Cowslip are used in both." He ducked back inside his rooms.
Georgie crashed onto her couch, "Probably Cowslip…I suck."
Severus came out and stepped around the couch to sit opposite her. "I'm going out tonight. Shouldn't be too late."
Georgie burped then coughed deeply. "I want to get so smashed," she confessed mournfully. "Fucking off-the-charts, drinking myself under the table."
"Because of not knowing the name of a flower?"
"No, just tired…." She looked at him. "Not as tired as you, though, I'd venture."
He didn't say anything, but continued to stare at her expressionlessly.
She sighed. "Severus, you sticking around for the holidays or going somewhere?" She crossed her fingers.
"Staying. I might go visit the house-elves, but I think I'm going to stay here. Have you made plans? Are you going to visit your family?"
"Nah, my parents are…busy. I'll owl them presents and stuff, but I haven't been home for a Christmas in such a long time…" And the last time she had, she'd spent Christmas Day playing with the house-elves and wandering around her family's large house by herself. Her parents were never quite the same after… She shook her head violently, "Nope, sticking it out here. We can hang." She teased
"Looking forward to it," He patted her knee and stood up unsmilingly. "I'm going to leave before dinner, so I'm going to see what the house-elves can make up for me."
She waved him off. Little sister would wait up for big brother and patch up his boo-boos.
A/N--thanks to everyone who is still reading this. Much appreciated.