Severus woke up on Saturday morning feeling quite good. He lay on his back in bed, looking up at the green velvet canopy above him. Today was going to be a good day, he thought to himself, as long as James and Sirius kept to themselves. Severus thought of last night, and the kiss he shared with Haylie, and smiled. They were going to Hogsmeade together today for her birthday and tonight he was going to an anti-Muggle meeting.
He kicked his legs over the side of his bed and walked to the lavatory, still smiling. Severus turned on the shower and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He caught sight of himself smiling and realized it was something he hadn't seen in awhile. He stepped out of his black pajama bottoms and pulled off a Pink Floyd t-shirt. Just because he hated Muggles didn't mean he was too proud to admit Muggle rock bands were quite good. After his shower he pulled on a pair of khaki colored pants and a green robe. He looked at himself in mirro,r which told him he looked just fine.
Severus gave himself one last glance and hopped down the stone steps to the Slytherin common room. Haylie sat in the common room looking very pretty indeed. Her sienna curls hung lazily down and she wore a pale blue dress.
"Do you like it?" she smiled, twirling around. "I conjured it myself."
"It's… nice," Severus said, unsure what to say to her. After getting back to the common room the night before, they rather awkwardly said good night. No kissing, seeing as the moment had been lost down at the lake.
"Well, would you like to go then?" she smiled, heading for the common room door.
"Uh huh," he said stupidly, cursing the silly noise he made. She really did look quite becoming.
It was a really beautiful day, the sun was shining, and it was mild and clear. A few billowy white clouds grazed the sky and a slight breeze blew past them, noticeably ruffling the hem of Haylie's dress. The leaves on the trees that lined the path to Hogsmeade were just starting to turn a golden yellow and fat, red apples were scattered among them.
"I really hope they don't show up in Hogsmeade today," she said bitterly.
"If they do, they'll have more than singe marks on their robes," Severus smirked.
Haylie laughed and suddenly grabbed his hand, intertwining their fingers. Severus felt the surge of electricity from it and gave her hand a little squeeze.
They crossed through the large golden archway that announced they were in Hogsmeade and High Street was bustling as usual. Students filed in and out of Honeydukes and Zonko's, teachers walked happily into Three Broomsticks, and an old hag dodged down the alley that lead to Hog's Head.
Severus was determined to make Haylie's first trip to Hogsmeade memorable, he wanted to take her everywhere. "Where would you like to go first?" he asked.
"Hmmm how about Honeydukes?" she said brightly.
"Excellent! Have you ever had Fizzing Whizbees?" Severus said enthusiastically, leading her into the sweet shop.
Haylie smiled mischievously at him, "No, I haven't."
"Oh they're great!" he said, piling Fizzing Whizbees into a bag. "They crackle in your mouth…..oh and what about Ice Mice?"
Haylie laughed again. "No, Severus, I haven't."
He handed her an Ice Mouse, which was a frozen, blue cube with a sugary mouse inside. She smiled sweetly and took it.
After Honeydukes, they decided to go to Three Broomsticks for lunch. Severus and Haylie sat down at a booth and a young waitress came to take their order.
"Good afternoon, my name is Rosmerta, I'm new, can I take your order?" she asked.
Severus looked at her, she looked familiar somehow. "Didn't you go to Hogwarts?" he asked.
"Yes, I graduated last June," she smiled. "You're the Slytherin seeker, right?"
"Yes I am," Severus said proudly.
"I tried out for Hufflepuff two years ago, but I didn't make it," Rosmerta said. "Well what can I get you two?"
After they placed their order and Rosmerta had left Severus looked back at Haylie and smirked.
"I'm having a really great time," she beamed.
"Me too," he smiled back. He could feel her foot gently rub against his own beneath the table.
He was determined to get her a present while they were in town, but couldn't think of what she might like. In fact he spent the entire afternoon thinking about it, they went to Zonko's, Dervish and Banges, almost everywhere in Hogsmeade, yet he couldn't find the perfect present. The sun was starting to get low and he was feeling quite angry with himself for still not having anything.
"What would you like to do now?" Haylie asked as they walked past a small store front. Severus looked her shoulder into the window of the store, on display were different pendants, and the idea suddenly hit him.
"Actually," he said, "I'll be right back, I, uhh, think I saw Lucius," He left her outside the store and dashed inside. He ran up to the counter which held hundreds of pendants. He scanned them all over, none of them were right. He glanced over his shoulder at Haylie who had just become immersed in a conversation with Stella Sinistra.
He looked back down at the pendants and it jumped out at him, a silver serpent twisted into an 'S' shape with green jeweled eyes. He looked up at the old witch behind the counter. "I'll take the serpent," He said quickly, looking over his shoulder again.
"Very well, sir," she said, slowly taking the snake charm from behind the glass. "Would you like a silver chain as well?"
"Yes," Severus said impatiently as he watched the witch slide the serpent onto a silver chain.
"Twelve Galleons," she announced.
Twelve Galleons? Bloody hell that was a lot of money. He fished around in his pocket and took out the twelve Galleons, leaving him with just one Galleon and a few Sickles. He threw it on the counter impatiently, hoping Haylie wouldn't walk into the store.
The witch took the money and then proceeded to put the necklace in a box. Severus drummed his fingers on the counter, my God this woman was slow.
"Would you like it gift wrapped?" she asked.
Severus suddenly heard the door bell jingle behind him and with out thinking he grabbed the necklace box from the woman and stashed it in his robe. He turned around, but it wasn't Haylie, it was Stella.
"Severus! What's this big meeting I heard about tonight that you and Lucius are going to?" she asked.
"Sorry, Stella, it's top secret. Can't tell you. Good bye!" he ducked past her and left the shop.
"Is everything all right?" Haylie asked.
"Of course!" he said happily as they left Hogsmeade. The sky was becoming a pale yellow color and the billowy clouds overhead now had a gold lining. He wanted to make sure the day ended appropriately and he still had to give her the necklace. "We should watch the sunset…" he said and realized it sounded like a question and statement at the same time.
"That sounds great!" Haylie smiled. "I know the perfect place!"
Severus looked at her quizzically, how did she know the perfect place? "Well I know a good spot too…."
But Haylie wasn't listening, she grabbed his hand and started dragging towards Hogwarts. She didn't let go for fifteen minutes when they stopped on a cliff overlooking the grounds and lake. Remarkably, it was very close to the place Severus had initially wanted to go.
"How did you know about this place?" he asked her, smiling.
"I have my secrets, Severus Snape," she smirked and sat down, her legs dangling over the edge of the cliff.
He sat down next to her, kicking his own legs over the edge. It was a beautiful place and he often came up here occasionally to be alone. "Did you have a good time in Hogsmeade?"
"I did!" she smiled, looking out at the bright orange sun.
"Good," he said softly, reaching into his pocket and finding the necklace. "I'm really happy that those prats didn't show up."
She looked back at him and smiled warmly. He instantly felt a jolt surge through him, it was something about the way she smiled. He took his hand out of his pocket, holding the little velvet box. "Happy Birthday, Haylie," he said as he handed her the box.
"You got me a present?" she said looking at him with her mouth gaping open.
"Of course I did."
"Severus I…." she stammered.
"Why don't you open it?" he smiled.
She took the box from him and he watched in anticipation as she opened the lid and saw the silver serpent. A smile crept across her delicate features and she looked up at him. "It's beautiful."
"So you like it?" he asked, probably a bit too enthusiastically.
"I love it, no one has ever given me anything quite like this before," she said with a small laugh. "Could you put it on for me?" she asked.
"Okay…" he said watching her pull her tendrils to the side and turning her back to him. He took the necklace and wrapped an arm around her, clasping it in the back. He let his fingertips graze along her collar bone, her skin was so soft and smooth…. He could feel her shudder beneath his gentle touch and she turned around to face him, letting her hair go as it fell idly down her shoulders.
He wanted to kiss her, badly. He wanted to taste her lips that were still had a tint of red on them from when she had a Sugar Quill. He wanted so badly to stroke her shoulders and feel that silky skin again.
"Thank you," she finally said, breaking the silence.
"You're welcome," he said, staring into her big brown eyes. At once he closed the gap between them, kissing her softly at first then a bit firmer. He felt her wrap an arm around him and kiss him firmly back. Severus lowered her onto the ground, enjoying the taste of her. It was unlike any other kiss. He felt her tongue slip into his mouth and her fingers were now running through his hair. He gently stroked her cheek, just light enough to send a shiver through her. Then he traced her jaw line and lightly grazed his hand across her neck and collarbone. He felt the necklace beneath his finger tips and let his hand linger there for a moment before cradling her head, kissing her feverishly.
Sometime later Severus sat up, breathing heavily and looking out over the lake. The sun was gone and seemed to have been gone for quite awhile. Moonlight now shimmered against the lake's surface and the sky was littered with sparkling stars.
Haylie sat up next to him, smoothing down her hair. "It must be late," she said looking up at the bright moon.
Severus looked down at his watch, it was a quarter to ten. He cursed to himself; he told Lucius he would meet him in Hogsmeade at ten. "Haylie, I'm sorry, I need to go."
"Go? Go where?" she asked, looking confused.
"I promised Lucius I would meet him in Hogsmeade in just fifteen minutes," he felt thoroughly awful. Haylie looked at him, as if trying to decide why she wasn't invited to Hogsmeade. Her eyes suddenly showed something like understanding and it made Severus feel uncomfortable. Did she know about the anti-Muggle meeting?
"Okay, I'll just head back up to the castle," she said with a smile.
"Ill walk you there," he said, there was no way he would let her roam these grounds at night.
The pair laughed and giggled the whole way up to the castle. Severus was feeling so immensly happy that James and Sirius hadn't shown up. The day, so far, had been perfect. He kissed Haylie good night and left her in the Slytherin common room. After narrowly avoiding McGonagall he was back outside, on his way to Hogsmeade.
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