"I have to admit that I was surprised when Dumbledore asked me to take you for a make over," Xiomara Hooch said as they strolled down the London sidewalk. "Why the sudden change?"
Morgan who had anticipated this question responded with the only answer she could think of, "it's, er, a man."
"Really, that is interesting. Any one I know?"
"Morgan grinned slightly as she looked the other woman in the eye, "I really don't want to say yet, you know in case he doesn't . . ."
"Ah, I understand. If you need any advise in that area feel free to ask away. I do have quite a bit of experience with the weaker sex." She leaned close to Morgan, "that's the M. E. N. Anyhoo the best place to do this right is here in London. We'll go to Maulkin's in Diagon Alley for a few things later, but the Muggles really do this sort of thing well. So lets get you some clothes and then we'll do facials and hair this afternoon."
Several hours later Morgan actually found herself having a good time. Xiomara was good company and very flattering. She turned so the elder woman could see the dress. It was tight and black, the square top had small straps and somehow managed to be very flattering to her small breasts, while the skirt came several inches above her knees.
"If I had a body like that honey I wouldn't be hiding it," Hooch commented eyeing her legs.
"I'm too skinny, and besides looks shouldn't be important if a man likes me for who I really am."
She was answered with a snort, "Rhege, men are like cattle. Once you can convince them to come into the corral, then you can worry about branding them. The trick is that you've got to rope them in somehow and I really think that dress is some good strong rope."
It had been a long time since Morgan had worn anything other than loose frumpy garments and the feeling of the soft materials on her skin was delicious. Many of the garments she found were actually comfortable and flattering and the two left the stores with as much as they could carry. "I's a good thing I've been frugal these last years, this is costing me a fortune."
"Oh and we've yet to introduce you to Pierre."
"Pierre?"
"He's going to work magic with your hair and makeup this afternoon, after we have lunch that is."
Morgan enjoyed a light conversation with the other witch as they ate lunch. She found that several glasses of wine had lightened her spirits over this ordeal quite a bit. As they joked and chatted Morgan was grateful that Xiomara could have a decent conversation without delving into her own personal life too much.
After lunch the two women headed to the salon. Pierre was a small, feminine man who tried not to grimace as he examined her hair and her skin. What am I getting myself into letting this little widget poke and prod me?
"Madmoiselle, it is a good thing that you have come to me. Oui! And not a moment to late. I will make you magnifique!" The man said kissing his fingers, "we must teach you the fine art of hair and makeup so that you will be able to reproduce the masterpiece no?"
The two women reclined in their chairs as assistants in purple and blue smocks swarmed them. Morgan gritted her teeth and began to flick at her nails nervously. They coated her face in one thing after another, washing, scrubbing, peeling. The guinea pig of a woman eyed them warily while they brushed something onto her hair and wrapped it in foil. Finally her hair washed and dried Pierre came at her with scissors flying. The small man turned her toward the mirror to show her the new haircut.
"See? It is very simple and one that you should be able to do with no trouble oui?"
"Uh, yeah. I guess so," Morgan responded. Her hair did look nice, it was a much lighter shade of blonde now, cut in layers that gently surrounded her face.
"Now, I will show you how to apply the makeup and you must watch very carefully. Thank the stars your complection is not to bad." The man brought out a small bag of makeup and explained what each was and their purpose. He spoke to her as he applied them, explaining the best technique and the best colors for her. "This liner and gloss will be good for the day oui? These are darker for the evening. Darker liner on the eyes would be best for evening as well." Pierre turned her back to the mirror, eyeing her response to her reflection, "magnifique oui?"
Morgan eyed the woman in the mirror, she was pretty, fresh faced. Who is that woman she wondered as Xiomara came over. Hooch she noted who had not opted for any changes still wore the same short spiked hair style. The woman looked exactly the same as when they walked in the door.
"Wow. See, I told you he's a genius. You look great. Thanks Pierre," Madam Hooch said grabbing the bag of supplies from the man and leading them out the door." Lets go crack that whip shall we?"
(((((
They arrived back at the school too late for dinner so Morgan ate alone in her rooms. For a long time she stood in front of the full length mirror eyeing the woman she saw. Tight black pants of some stretchy material hugged her slim legs and a corset style top made her waste seem very small. She barely recognized her own face, yes Pierre was a genius. She was anxious to get out of her rooms but wasn't sure traipsing around the school like this was a good idea so she decided to take the back stairs down to Snape's office to see what he thought.
She knocked softly before pushing the door open apprehensively. "Professor Snape?" The man turned at her voice and Morgan watched his eyebrows rise.
"Can I help you Miss...?" the Potions Master asked casually. Pausing after his odd response Morgan realized he didn't recognize her, "and may I ask how you got in here?"
Mischievous thoughts ran through her head as she responded, "I walked in the front door. Ran into Professor McGonagall on the way in and I must say she is looking well." The woman paused again to see if he'd caught on to her yet and when he continued to stare her devious little mind decided to really play it up. "I was going to post a note but then I decided to come in person instead," she moved into the room, shutting the door behind her. "I waited for you to Owl me and when you didn't I thought maybe you'd forgotten my name or something so you couldn't find me could you?"
Snape watched the woman as she came into the room. While not a classic beauty, he found her very attractive in an exotic sort of way. She had slim yet womanly curves and something about her eyes did look familiar. He had gone out for a few drinks in Diagon Alley several months ago but surely he'd remember meeting a woman? "Was I going to Owl you?" the dark man asked nonchalantly.
"You said you were, but then you had consumed an awful lot of Firewhiskey." Morgan moved closer to Snape, "you were still pretty drunk when you left my place that morning."
"I drank a lot that night? Then I left your place in the morning?" he tried not to show the incredulity in his voice.
She watched as he stood stiffly, the deep baritone of his voice sensual as she reached out, gently touching his arm, "I have to admit after that much alcohol I was surprised that you were so, er vigorous."
Snape looked down at the woman as she spoke. Ye gods was she implying we had sex? Is it possible that I did such a thing? Severus recalled a few times in his younger days when he actually had imbibed so much that he'd passed out and did not in fact remember much the next day. "I take it I left quite an impression on you?"
The girl's cheeks flushed as she responded, "actually professor you left quite a few, ah, impressions on me." Morgan was very close to him now and her heart began to flutter. He smelled fresh and slightly spicy and as she placed her small hand on his firm chest she began to wonder if this was such a good idea after all. It was nice to be this close to him and he was very much a man. Her hands moved up his chest of their own volition "perhaps I shouldn't have come after all, but I...wanted..." I want, she thought, ye gods what I want.
Snape found that he did not mind the feeling of her hands on him at all. She intrigued him, soft and shy and she came to this school, to his dungeon seeking him? Had he really shared an intimate night in her arms? He found himself wanting it to be true just a bit and as her arms made their way around his neck Severus' lips lowered to brush hers in the softest whisper. "Tell me your name," he asked softly.
Morgan found herself shocked back into reality. What am I doing? This is Snape! She realized that what she'd started in fun had been taken a little to far, yet she didn't take her hands down as she answered, "Morgan."
His initial disbelief evaporated as Professor Rheged smiled at him slightly. While the Potions Master's eyes searched her he wasn't sure wether to be mad or really what to be. The woman was still touching him and even now that he knew who she really was? It was pleasant, reassuring. She didn't laugh at him for falling for the scheme at all, in fact the flush that stained her cheeks made him wonder if he hadn't been the only one caught up in the moment. "Professor Rheged, would you mind telling me what you're playing at?"
Morgan put her hands down, glancing at the floor as she stepped back a step. "I thought I'd come by to show you my make-over. When you didn't recognize me I guess I decided to test out those womanly wiles you say I don't have?"
The Potions Master crossed his arms and stared down at his colleague, "it's possible that I was wrong professor, I believe you may have some womanly affectations after all."
(((((
Snape pulled the yearbook out of the file at the library and took it back to a rear table. He flipped through the pages until he found the one he wanted, "Ramsey, Reems, ah Rheged," he spoke to himself. He grimaced slightly as he fingered her photo. The girl did seem familiar to him, same stringy hair and an unfortunately poor complection, with her huge eyes the chit actually resembled a house elf.
He could imagine that the other students, Slytherins included, had not been kind in light of her appearance. Severus tried not to think about the times he'd been the brunt of jokes about his own looks an demeanor. Potter, Black and Lupin had been especially horrid and many a time he acted out of fury rather than common sense.
Perhaps she's bitter at me as part of the whole group of students, he mused. She'd commented, 'I don't know Potter but I do know you.' That implies that 'I' did something or said something. Maybe it was something I didn't do? The Potions Master racked his brain and came up with nothing.
Once again he fingered the photo, he felt pity for the girl she once was. He wondered silently as he shut the book, what do I feel for her now?
(((((
That Sunday Morgan met Snape in his chambers, thankful that he'd had a glass of wine ready and waiting when she arrived. "Ever teach finishing school before Snape?"
The Potions Master ignored her snide remark as he began, "you must never forget that the men you will be dealing with are very dangerous."
"Idiots with wands, check"
"You should smile and laugh a lot which will flatter them. Not much actual conversation will be necessary as most of these men don't have an IQ higher than about three."
"Most or all?" Morgan asked innocently.
Snape spoke from between gritted teeth, "professor."
The woman grinned mischievously, "well slap my biting tongue but you set yourself up for that one."
Dark eyes narrowed at her, "you would be wise to take this more seriously."
"Of course I take this seriously. You teaching me how to be a woman? How could I not?"
"I'm doing this for your own good."
"Ok, ok. So smile and laugh a lot. I get it."
He stared at her for a moment longer before continuing, "try and keep the touching to a minimum. I'd say avoid it at all if possible."
"Right keep the cooties away," she said while writing on an imaginary pad.
"Stop that!"
"Stop irritating Snape," she pretended to write.
"Hmmmm," the dark man scowled.
"I'm listening. Tell me something I don't know."
"The foremost thing on these men's minds will be sex and how they can get it."
Morgan flipped her hand, "so they think with their pricks. And just how is that different from every other man on the planet? Present company excluded of course. I've heard you aren't susceptible to those kinds of, ah, urges."
The Potions Master swirled his wine as he thought, "contrary to popular opinion even I have physical desires just the same as every other man, or woman."
Her eyes went wide in mock horror, "it's alive! Egor come quick!"
Snape narrowed his eyes at her sarcasm,"and you professor? You have no physical needs? No use for a man at all?"
"Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding! We have a winner. Professor Snape has hit the jackpot!"
"Then everything I've heard about you is true, you are frigid. And what about the rumors that you're an hermaphrodite hmmm?"
Morgan stared at him in shock. Frigid I can take but someone is spreading rumors that I have male and female genitalia? That I could use them to pleasure myself? Eeeeew, she thought with disgust, "I am no such thing! Who said that Malfoy?"
"You can doll it out but you can't take it eh Rheged?"
She huffed her shoulders, "fine you've made your point. I'm sorry I promise I'll behave."
"You had better because by Merlin if you so much as begin to utter one more nasty remark I will be forced to curse you speechless."
The furious glare in the man's eyes gave credence to his remark and a now wary Morgan sat quietly while the Potions Master continued drone on though his lessons.