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Chapter Nine
EMBARRASSMENT
"Do I have time to change?"
They were making their way down to the dungeons at a brisk pace.
"No. The house-elves have all ready served the food."
They walked on.
"How did you know where to find me?"
"I have my methods, Miss Carver."
When they reached his room, he opened the door and allowed her to enter first. She walked in - and froze.
The memory of her earlier embarrassment rose up to colour her cheeks as she stared at the Sea Bass beautifully and prominently displayed on the table.
Fish!
It took a few moments before her anger could be translated into words, but then she turned on him.
"You really are the most pathetic dickhead," she spat. "Yes, I understood your little quip about my stars and the fish earlier, Professor. Just because you got a good view of my arse yesterday, you're behaving like an adolescent schoolboy who can't put the joke down...
"...I was sick. I was vulnerable. I was unconscious for God's sake! Some Good Samaritan you turned out to be! Well, I hope you enjoyed the show; and now if you don't mind, I think I'd rather eat in my room - alone."
She swept past him and strode along the corridor.
"Miss Carver..."
"Piss off!"
"Miss Carver - your room is in the other direction."
She stopped dead.
Fuck!
Mustering as much dignity as possible, she turned and began walking back the other way.
Snape was standing in the doorway, watching her. His arms were folded, his mouth smirking.
"And you may wish to know..." he said as she drew level with him. "...it was the house-elves' decision to serve Sea Bass and not mine."
She stopped again.
"Oh." She turned to look at him, abashed. "Sorry."
"Hardly an adequate response considering the accusations and abuse thrown at me, but I shall live. Shall we..?" He gestured to the room.
He's got some nerve, she thought as she walked meekly into the room. The crap I've had to put up with from him and he's complaining about my little outburst.
But she was hungry and the Sea Bass did look delicious.
Once again, the dinner began in silence and, tonight, that suited her fine. Her body was tight with embarrassment, for jumping to conclusions and for what she now knew he'd seen yesterday.
"I had no idea you played the piano, Miss Carver."
She jumped; his voice cutting through the silence.
She had to clear her throat before she spoke.
"There's no reason why you should, since you don't indulge in small talk."
"I had not credited you with talents of any worth."
She blinked. Could he actually hear himself?
"Well, thank you Professor," she said, tartly. "for what I think was an attempt at a compliment..."
She continued eating. She took a slug of wine.
"...and while we're dishing out compliments...I was impressed by that trick you did earlier with my door. It must be quite handy to be able to make things appear and disappear." She shot him a dagger look. "I wish I could do it sometimes."
"I am afraid you have to be born with wizard-blood, Miss Carver, and I detect no magic in you."
"Well, you do have wizard-blood, Professor, but I can assure you, I find nothing magical about you, either."
She chewed her food.
What the hell was that?
Why had she said that?
"...and so that I don't bother you tomorrow," she continued. "I shall tell you now that I plan to go for a walk tomorrow morning and then practice my playing in the piano room in the afternoon."
"Thank you."
Another silence.
"Have you...have you heard from Albus Dumbledore, by any chance?" she asked, quietly.
"We have communicated, yes."
"Did he give any idea when I might be going home?"
"Only that it cannot be before the full moon."
She looked at him, blankly.
"The full moon is in three days time," he added.
"I'm stuck here for another three days!" she cried.
"At least," he said, heavily.
She leaned back in her chair and put her knife and fork together. Another three days?! At least?!
"I think I need to get some fresh air," she said, rising from her chair.
Snape rose too, and held the door open for her.
"Miss Carver..."
She was half way down the hall. She turned to look at him.
"...do not stray too far. Things tend to look different in the twilight and it is easy to lose one's way. I have no wish to form a search party."
She wandered across the lawn towards her willow - towards the lake. The night air was still and hot; the sky a deep cornflower blue.
Bats swished overhead.
She walked by the lake, chewing absently on a piece of grass.
Three more days?!
Her mind reeled with all the reasons why she didn't want to stay here at all.
She walked heavily along the side of the lake until a beautiful perfume reached her nose.
She looked down. Her feet had crushed a small white, sparkling flower, and when she looked, there were hundreds of them growing around this section of the lake, all twinkling in the moonlight.
She bent down, picked up the one she'd crushed, and sniffed.
The scent was heady and heavy, but beautiful, like a powerful honeysuckle or mimosa. The perfume was so beautiful she couldn't help a delicious sigh escape her. She picked a little posy of them, and made her way back to the castle.
Back in her room, she arranged the flowers in her tooth glass and left them on the bedside table as she slept.