A/N: I know its taken a very long time to get a chapter out . . . its been difficult for more to sit down and write. But here it is ---finally--- and I'm hoping to get the next chapter out fairly soon as well. Thank you so much for waiting, and I hope you enjoy this chapter. And as always. . .please review!
Disclaimer: Okay folks, I own Beth, Laura, Quinn and Ashley so far, the rest are J.K.R.'s. You know this. I know this. Every one's happy. Or at least knowledgeable. Or something.
When the last student finally left, the classroom was a mess. Parchment littered the tables, half filled scrolls lay under the tables, broken quills spilled ink onto the tables. Chairs were scattered all over the room, there was a broken pile of glass in a corner, and there was even a dead lizard of some sort stuck to the wall.
Beth walked calmly and efficiently to the door, and firmly shut it. Then she let out one long whoop and spun herself into a dizzying dance of exuberant happiness that made her head spin.
Who would've thought that teaching a bunch of unruly kids---bless them all---would make her happy? Truly happy, dancing crazily alone in the empty classroom happy?
She spun in once more fast, loose circle, then danced her way around the room, tidying the mess left, singing as she went. It didn't take her long, and soon she was standing in the center of terrifyingly orderly room.
There HAD to be something else to do, right? She couldn't go back to her rooms, not yet. She needed to celebrate, she needed to dance, to scream, to DO something. . .
Charlie. She'd go find Charlie and she could share this wonderfully new happiness and energy that overtook her now.
In one fast move she yanked the hair tie loose from her hair, tossing it in the trash bin. Just as she was about to pull open the door, it swung open without her help, to reveal the tall and angry frame of Severus.
"What the bloody hell are you doing?!" His face was red, blushing with rage and the terror of change. His chest heaved, and his eyes fixed wildly on hers. She was staring at him, with that damn smile on her face, and here he was a fraction away from having a panic attack. Damn her to hell for it.
"What the bloody hell are you doing?!"
"I heard you the first time" And indeed she had. Her voice was low and her lips curved upwards as she looked, and considered. She was a logical, reasonable, responsible adult, wasn't she? She took one swaggering step forward. And Severus was definitely logical and responsible, if not reasonable. She took another. He was looking scared now, eyeing her suspiciously. Pleased, she took another step towards him. She wanted to celebrate, didn't she? And what better way to celebrate a new emotion, then with a new experience?
What was she doing, the damn woman? Severus took another step back as she stepped forward. He came down to yell, to scream, to make sure she was far too intimated by him to ever, ever take control of his classroom. . .but somehow, his plan just wasn't working. He stared at her as she smiled back. Her hair was loose and spilling wildly over her shoulders, her body draped in black, making the colors of her even more vivid. . . the red of her hair, the white of her skin, the blue of her eyes. . .even the spice of freckles dashed over the bridge of her nose stood out. Her lips were as red as her hair, and she smiled at him, a smile that assured him trouble was soon to come.
Then those damnable lips moved, and her voice came as in warning.
"I'm restless."
Then she gathered her body and leaped, her long legs wrapping around his waist, those red lips pinning his, that tight, demanding body close against his. And his automatic reaction, the sharp pointed tip of lust that shot through him, sent his blood dancing and his mind numbed. Her mouth was busy against his, and his hands cupped her bottom, pulling her closer to him. When her hands began to work on the buttons of his robes, he drowned in the sensation of it, the wonder of it, and moaned his approval.
Then the sound of it, the knowledge that it came from him and was all her fault, sent a shock through him, and the reality of the situation sank in.
Immediately, he dropped her, staring openly as she landed, shocked and shaken, but steady on her feet. Her blue eyes stared back at him, confused and hungry.
When he spoke, his voice was dry and crisp, the hard lines of it cutting into her soft skin.
"For your sake, and your sake alone, I will pretend this never happened." When her jaw dropped open, he scanned the classroom, managing a small nod. "Your work is tolerable. Neither your family, nor Dumbledor, would be very happy to find you out and away from the safety of Hogwarts, due to hormones and habit."
Her eyes flashed and she took a threatening step forward. He held up a hand and continued.
"You have insulted us both, by attempting to initiate random sex as a mindless way to pass the time." Severus ignored the low growl that came from her, and took a step back as she advanced. "This will never happen again, and I will keep your filthy . . . habits to myself. That is all."
Then he was gone, with the sound of his footsteps and the lingering insults still imprinted in the air.
Beth whirled around, grabbing a clear crystal from his desk and heaved it at the door he slammed in her face. The crystals shattered, raining down like falling stars, to lay, dimmed and broken and the cold stone floor.
Trapped in helpless anger, she stomped her foot, spun around, and sank to the ground. Tears filled her eyes, making her curse, mortified that she was so close to crying. Temper tears, she assured herself, willing them away. Nothing but temper. And she had every right to be angry. Filthy habits, indeed! Implying that she had sex with random people. . .as a way to pass time! That ignorant bastard!
The broken crystal on the floor, dull shards of something great, so easily ruined and broken. . . they began to tremble, then to move, until the crystal was whole and glowing with inner fire once more.
Beth closed her eyes and took one long deep breath. Slowly she stood, picking up the crystal and placing it gently on his desk. Then she just stood there and stared.
If I insulted him by my actions. . .why did he look so . . . scared?
Slowly, the light crept back into her eyes, and her lips began to curve.
Why indeed?
She turned to look at the closed door, and her smile grew.
"Well, now," She murmured. "This could be . . . interesting."
