Chapter 4 - Playing Along
In spite of his parting words it was nearly a week before he saw her again. He preferred to take his meals in his quarters, and it finally dawned on him one day that if he never came out of the dungeons she had no reason to be around him. After all, the whole point was that people SEE them together. He sighed and set aside the latest article he'd been working on for a German Potions Periodical. He could come back to it later. After all, one kiss wasn't going to get Dumbledore to give up his schemes forever.
He was just coming up the stairs to the Great Hall when she began to descend them, a furious look on her face. She stopped when she saw him and held out a list.
"If you didn't want to play along, fine, but I'm not going to run his imaginary errands anymore," she spat, as he took the list from her. "Maybe you could just floo him every morning to ask what he needs so he won't have any excuse to send ME!"
"Shhh! You'll give the whole thing away," he whispered, stepping upwards until he was looking down at her. "Besides, I never said I didn't want to play. Dumbledore will be coming to my office for tea tomorrow night. He likes to discuss my propensity for handing out detentions on the first of every July. If you're there at 6:30, I think we can be suitably occupied by the time he arrives."
As he spoke he could see the beginnings of a smile on her lips. "Alright," she said finally. This was going to work out better than she'd thought. She watched him as he turned back toward the dungeons, then narrowed her eyes as he gasped and grabbed his arm.
Severus didn't turn to see if she'd noticed his behavior, but took off at an enhanced pace for the dungeons. By the time he made it off the grounds his mark burned intensely. He cleared his mind before he apparated to the Dark Lord's side, knowing that the string of curses he was thinking would not be well received.
There had been no attacks planned for tonight that Severus recalled being asked to participate in. When he arrived, he found that the circle had formed and took his place quickly. The Dark Lord was already pacing impatiently before them.
"I believe several of you have reports for me?" the man hissed. Many of the Death Eaters looked around uncomfortably, but Severus was prepared. His head did not turn, which was good, as he was called upon first.
"I overheard Dumbledore speaking with his fireplace before his last meeting. It appears that he is now in close contact with Beauxbaton. There has been no word from Durmstrang, but I DO know that Karkaroff is not in contact with Dumbledore. Also, he has sent Hagrid away this summer, and I get the impression that he went to find giants, though I believe they've already pledged themselves to you."
"Excellent, Severus, certainly better than your performance for our last meeting. MALFOY?" The Dark Lord's eyes turned suddenly from Severus to Lucius, who stood beside him.
"Yes, my Lord?" the man said silkily. For the thousandth time Severus wished that they could reveal their faces. He imagined that his old friend looked as terrified as he did, in spite of his smooth voice.
"I believe you were in charge of Madam Longbottom's demise. Has that been accomplished?" Severus knew it had not. Neville's grandmother had gone into hiding on his information only last week.
"My Lord, the house was destroyed, however we have been unable to – "
"Crucio." Severus suppressed his cringe as Lucius fell to the ground, whimpering. He thanked Merlin on his old friend's behalf that Draco wasn't here to see this. At least Severus managed not to make any noise.
The punishment was short-lived. The Dark Lord had much else to accomplish. "Manasa?" he asked, his attention diverted from Lucius before he'd even scrambled to his feet. Severus didn't help him up. He'd learned a hard lesson about that, years ago. No one spoke as a witch on the other side of the circle shook her head. Severus took a moment to realize how odd it was that the Dark Lord asked no more of her, nor did he punish her for having nothing to report. The interrogations continued. Several plans had succeeded, but more had failed. To everyone's surprise, no new plans were made. Apparently they were being given the week off.
When the order was given to disapparate, Severus left, relieved. This had been the first time since the Dark Lord's return that he had escaped a meeting without punishment. He couldn't ever remember the trip to the castle taking so short a time, and thought that he might have a quick word with the Headmaster. Although he had nothing new to report, this would be an excellent opportunity to let Kimber know that he hadn't quit playing.
He would ask Dumbledore where her quarters were. That should be enough to make the old man suspicious, whether he'd seen them kissing or not!
When he arrived at her quarters to tell her what he'd done, she wasn't there. This seemed odd, as it was nearly two in the morning. He resigned himself to telling her tomorrow and headed downstairs only to find her again on the staircase.
"I've been looking for you," she scolded. All signs of her shyness seemed to have disappeared.
"While I've been looking for you, no doubt," he answered smoothly. He was an accomplished liar, and suddenly he was very glad of that fact. "I had to ask Dumbledore where your quarters were this evening."
Something unreadable passed behind her eyes before she answered. "Oh, brilliant! We should go there now and see if he'll be curious enough to listen outside the door!" They ran for the fifth floor and barricaded themselves inside, Kimber giggling quietly.
"What shall we say? Minerva's quarters are right next door, so I'm sure that's where he'll go," she whispered.
"Well, I suppose it's unlikely that you'd be awake, so perhaps I should wake you up?" He, too, kept his voice low in case someone was already listening. She ran into the bathroom, emerging a moment later in a tasteful nightshirt that was just a tiny bit too short. Severus decided he didn't mind. She was obviously gearing up for a fight that would take them into the hallway where they might be seen.
Suddenly he was nervous. He was about to act out a lover's spat with a scantily clad woman. Not that he'd never done that before, but it had never been ACTING before. He wasn't quite sure just how far she wanted to take this little deception. She winked at him as she jumped in bed and closed her eyes. He noticed immediately that her shirt had slipped off her shoulder and thought that might be a good place to start.
His hand ran over the smooth skin of her shoulder, up her neck, and into her hair. This was only the second time he had ever seen her with it down, and he was glad for the chance to feel it. "Kimber?" he said hesitantly, not quite whispering.
She stretched a little, then sat up as if startled, though she was smiling widely. "Severus! What are you doing in here?" she asked harshly, her expression changing in an instant. She pulled the covers up over herself protectively and glared at him.
"I thought if you weren't too tired maybe you would join me for tea."
"And you didn't bother to rethink that when you saw I was asleep?! How did you find out my password, anyway!" she exclaimed, her voice rising. Severus was smiling now as well. The girl could improvise almost as well as he could. Perhaps he had better reclassify her under Ravenclaw.
"Tea or no?" he asked coldly, reverting to his normal mode of conversation almost instinctively.
"Tea," she spat, winking at him again. She followed him into the small kitchen and watched as he made the tea. When the pot whistled Severus thought he heard giggling from the other side of the wall.
When he handed her a hot mug, she was fighting back giggles of her own. "I only wanted to talk, you know," he said quietly.
"I'm sorry," she said finally as she set down her cup. "I'm just a little grumpy when someone wakes me up at –"she paused to lean over and look at the clock. "TWO THIRTY?!" she exclaimed. "Bloody hell, Severus, whatever you want to discuss had better be damned important!"
"Well," he began sheepishly, "It seemed important when I woke you. I guess I didn't realize it was that late." He knew he was mumbling, and their listeners couldn't hear him, but he was pretty sure she would remedy that.
"DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS THAT LATE?" she asked incredulously. "Oh for Merlin's sake, Severus! Out! Get out!" She sat down her tea with a thump, not caring that it sloshed onto the table. Severus had to admit that the effect was perfect.
She opened the door forcefully and shoved him out. The obvious sniggering from next door was nearly enough to make them both burst out laughing, but Severus was far too experienced an actor. "But Kimber," he began, his voice still quiet.
"FORGET it, Severus. Whatever it is, you can tell me about it tomorrow, during the DAY, when normal people are AWAKE!" The door slammed impressively and he stared at it for a moment, realizing for the first time that every one of these little acts was going to make him look like the fool.
"Bloody hell," he muttered under his breath. He turned and trudged back to his own quarters, vaguely noticing his own disappointment at not getting to kiss her this time. Then he remembered tomorrow's plans. Thankfully there wasn't much left of the night.
In spite of his parting words it was nearly a week before he saw her again. He preferred to take his meals in his quarters, and it finally dawned on him one day that if he never came out of the dungeons she had no reason to be around him. After all, the whole point was that people SEE them together. He sighed and set aside the latest article he'd been working on for a German Potions Periodical. He could come back to it later. After all, one kiss wasn't going to get Dumbledore to give up his schemes forever.
He was just coming up the stairs to the Great Hall when she began to descend them, a furious look on her face. She stopped when she saw him and held out a list.
"If you didn't want to play along, fine, but I'm not going to run his imaginary errands anymore," she spat, as he took the list from her. "Maybe you could just floo him every morning to ask what he needs so he won't have any excuse to send ME!"
"Shhh! You'll give the whole thing away," he whispered, stepping upwards until he was looking down at her. "Besides, I never said I didn't want to play. Dumbledore will be coming to my office for tea tomorrow night. He likes to discuss my propensity for handing out detentions on the first of every July. If you're there at 6:30, I think we can be suitably occupied by the time he arrives."
As he spoke he could see the beginnings of a smile on her lips. "Alright," she said finally. This was going to work out better than she'd thought. She watched him as he turned back toward the dungeons, then narrowed her eyes as he gasped and grabbed his arm.
Severus didn't turn to see if she'd noticed his behavior, but took off at an enhanced pace for the dungeons. By the time he made it off the grounds his mark burned intensely. He cleared his mind before he apparated to the Dark Lord's side, knowing that the string of curses he was thinking would not be well received.
There had been no attacks planned for tonight that Severus recalled being asked to participate in. When he arrived, he found that the circle had formed and took his place quickly. The Dark Lord was already pacing impatiently before them.
"I believe several of you have reports for me?" the man hissed. Many of the Death Eaters looked around uncomfortably, but Severus was prepared. His head did not turn, which was good, as he was called upon first.
"I overheard Dumbledore speaking with his fireplace before his last meeting. It appears that he is now in close contact with Beauxbaton. There has been no word from Durmstrang, but I DO know that Karkaroff is not in contact with Dumbledore. Also, he has sent Hagrid away this summer, and I get the impression that he went to find giants, though I believe they've already pledged themselves to you."
"Excellent, Severus, certainly better than your performance for our last meeting. MALFOY?" The Dark Lord's eyes turned suddenly from Severus to Lucius, who stood beside him.
"Yes, my Lord?" the man said silkily. For the thousandth time Severus wished that they could reveal their faces. He imagined that his old friend looked as terrified as he did, in spite of his smooth voice.
"I believe you were in charge of Madam Longbottom's demise. Has that been accomplished?" Severus knew it had not. Neville's grandmother had gone into hiding on his information only last week.
"My Lord, the house was destroyed, however we have been unable to – "
"Crucio." Severus suppressed his cringe as Lucius fell to the ground, whimpering. He thanked Merlin on his old friend's behalf that Draco wasn't here to see this. At least Severus managed not to make any noise.
The punishment was short-lived. The Dark Lord had much else to accomplish. "Manasa?" he asked, his attention diverted from Lucius before he'd even scrambled to his feet. Severus didn't help him up. He'd learned a hard lesson about that, years ago. No one spoke as a witch on the other side of the circle shook her head. Severus took a moment to realize how odd it was that the Dark Lord asked no more of her, nor did he punish her for having nothing to report. The interrogations continued. Several plans had succeeded, but more had failed. To everyone's surprise, no new plans were made. Apparently they were being given the week off.
When the order was given to disapparate, Severus left, relieved. This had been the first time since the Dark Lord's return that he had escaped a meeting without punishment. He couldn't ever remember the trip to the castle taking so short a time, and thought that he might have a quick word with the Headmaster. Although he had nothing new to report, this would be an excellent opportunity to let Kimber know that he hadn't quit playing.
He would ask Dumbledore where her quarters were. That should be enough to make the old man suspicious, whether he'd seen them kissing or not!
When he arrived at her quarters to tell her what he'd done, she wasn't there. This seemed odd, as it was nearly two in the morning. He resigned himself to telling her tomorrow and headed downstairs only to find her again on the staircase.
"I've been looking for you," she scolded. All signs of her shyness seemed to have disappeared.
"While I've been looking for you, no doubt," he answered smoothly. He was an accomplished liar, and suddenly he was very glad of that fact. "I had to ask Dumbledore where your quarters were this evening."
Something unreadable passed behind her eyes before she answered. "Oh, brilliant! We should go there now and see if he'll be curious enough to listen outside the door!" They ran for the fifth floor and barricaded themselves inside, Kimber giggling quietly.
"What shall we say? Minerva's quarters are right next door, so I'm sure that's where he'll go," she whispered.
"Well, I suppose it's unlikely that you'd be awake, so perhaps I should wake you up?" He, too, kept his voice low in case someone was already listening. She ran into the bathroom, emerging a moment later in a tasteful nightshirt that was just a tiny bit too short. Severus decided he didn't mind. She was obviously gearing up for a fight that would take them into the hallway where they might be seen.
Suddenly he was nervous. He was about to act out a lover's spat with a scantily clad woman. Not that he'd never done that before, but it had never been ACTING before. He wasn't quite sure just how far she wanted to take this little deception. She winked at him as she jumped in bed and closed her eyes. He noticed immediately that her shirt had slipped off her shoulder and thought that might be a good place to start.
His hand ran over the smooth skin of her shoulder, up her neck, and into her hair. This was only the second time he had ever seen her with it down, and he was glad for the chance to feel it. "Kimber?" he said hesitantly, not quite whispering.
She stretched a little, then sat up as if startled, though she was smiling widely. "Severus! What are you doing in here?" she asked harshly, her expression changing in an instant. She pulled the covers up over herself protectively and glared at him.
"I thought if you weren't too tired maybe you would join me for tea."
"And you didn't bother to rethink that when you saw I was asleep?! How did you find out my password, anyway!" she exclaimed, her voice rising. Severus was smiling now as well. The girl could improvise almost as well as he could. Perhaps he had better reclassify her under Ravenclaw.
"Tea or no?" he asked coldly, reverting to his normal mode of conversation almost instinctively.
"Tea," she spat, winking at him again. She followed him into the small kitchen and watched as he made the tea. When the pot whistled Severus thought he heard giggling from the other side of the wall.
When he handed her a hot mug, she was fighting back giggles of her own. "I only wanted to talk, you know," he said quietly.
"I'm sorry," she said finally as she set down her cup. "I'm just a little grumpy when someone wakes me up at –"she paused to lean over and look at the clock. "TWO THIRTY?!" she exclaimed. "Bloody hell, Severus, whatever you want to discuss had better be damned important!"
"Well," he began sheepishly, "It seemed important when I woke you. I guess I didn't realize it was that late." He knew he was mumbling, and their listeners couldn't hear him, but he was pretty sure she would remedy that.
"DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS THAT LATE?" she asked incredulously. "Oh for Merlin's sake, Severus! Out! Get out!" She sat down her tea with a thump, not caring that it sloshed onto the table. Severus had to admit that the effect was perfect.
She opened the door forcefully and shoved him out. The obvious sniggering from next door was nearly enough to make them both burst out laughing, but Severus was far too experienced an actor. "But Kimber," he began, his voice still quiet.
"FORGET it, Severus. Whatever it is, you can tell me about it tomorrow, during the DAY, when normal people are AWAKE!" The door slammed impressively and he stared at it for a moment, realizing for the first time that every one of these little acts was going to make him look like the fool.
"Bloody hell," he muttered under his breath. He turned and trudged back to his own quarters, vaguely noticing his own disappointment at not getting to kiss her this time. Then he remembered tomorrow's plans. Thankfully there wasn't much left of the night.