It took Ron three days to realize that Harry was going to kill him. After the long-awaited library confession and well-deserved snogging, Ron walked the Halls with Hermione, silently holding her hand and thanking anything that came in his path that she was finally his. As he went to bed that night, he knew that he should wake Harry and tell him, but seeing his best mate finally at peace made disturbing him just not worth it.
What made it worse was that it was now Monday, and he still hadn't done it. What would he think? How awkward would it be? Didn't he say kiss her already? It's just Harry. Bloody Hell.
Ron looked in the mirror and ran his fingers through his hair. "Harry, I kissed Hermione." He said tentatively. He cleared his throat. "Harry, I kissed Hermione and it was ruddy Brilliant."
Looking in the mirror, he said it one more time, trying not to squeak. "Harry, I kissed your best mate, and now she's my girlfriend."
"Git! He's not going to care." His reflection replied.
"Bugger off!" Ron snapped back feeling foolish for having used the mirror in the first place. "I'll tell him today." He affirmed and when the mirror laughed back in his face, he stormed towards the bedroom feeling much more self conscious than he had intended.
"Tell me what?" Harry asked standing in the doorway.
"Uh, Harry?" Ron began looking nervous.
"Spill it mate before you have a seizure." He told him as they grabbed their bags and headed off to the common room.
"I took your advice." He said a little too fast. He winced wishing he had taken a breath before he said it. "About Hermione."
It took a few moments to realize what he meant and when they descended the stairs towards the waiting crowd it dawned on him exactly what he meant.
"You snogged her?" he whispered looking at him.
"Er, yeah." Ron admitted reluctantly.
"How was it?" Harry probed starting to smile.
"Brilliant!" Ron said happily as his girlfriend came into view. His lopsided grin was enough to convince Harry pushing them together was exactly the most brilliant thing he could have done. Laughing they walked towards Ginny, Neville, Seamus and Hermione, Ron feeling very much relieved that he told him.
As they entered the Great Hall, the staff table was nearly full, all seated except for Hagrid and Miss MacAlister. The clouds magically transfigured above were sparse and the sky was a blue that reminded them of the potion they brewed the previous week. It had been colder than expected that morning and they were glad for their warm robes. Upon entering Ginny and Hermione began covertly talking a mile a minute pointing when they took their seats. "I was right!" Ginny announced.
"I do believe you are but who could it be?" Hermione probed as Lavender and
Parvarti decided to join in on the conversation.
"What? Tell us!" Lavender said looking at Ron thinking something very naughty must have been going on.
"Look at the staff table." Ginny said pointing towards the empty seats. Hagrid noticably absent never took breakfast, but Ms. MacAlister usually did. She was absent, but in her place, was a white flower, placed where her plate would be.
"Third day in a row. Someone has a crush on the librarian." Ginny said triumphantly as the doors blew open and she walked inside.
Pavarti and Lavender put their heads together and smiled. "Wonder who it could be!" Pavarti asked looking around the room. "How romantic!"
Ron looked at Harry, Neville, and Seamus, muttering, "Mental. Girls are definitely mental."
"Well, half the male population is infatuated with her." Lavender announced looking at Harry, then at Neville, then at Draco, then at Seamus, and then towards the Ravenclaw table. "She's so beautiful, even with the glasses."
"She's not beautiful, she's gorgeous," Dean added as they waited for the plates to arrive. "You have to admit that. Madame Pince was a dried up prune."
Hermione kept quiet and watched the staff table as the librarian walked in from the outside. Dressed in her black robes, her black gown with pale blue stitching neat and proper, Ms. MacAlister walked forward. Her hair was pinned as tightly as Professor McGonagal's was and her face was alabaster white except for the fact her cheeks were rosy from the cold. With her nose in a book, still red from her walk, she glided towards the staff table oblivious to the stares around her. Hermione's eye glanced towards Professor Snape who tried not to be obvious about his eyes straying her way. Professor Lupin, having only returned the night before sat next to Professor Dumbledore nearly obstructing his view. She sat down, put her book aside, and picked the flower up. Slowly closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply and smiled.
"See, she likes it." Ginny whispered to Hermione.
"Who ever it is, he's really doing a smashing job of making her happy." She answered looking at the rest of the table.
Professor Dumbledore clapped his hands and the food was served. He looked her way, smiling and asked, "Ms. MacAlister, someone has seen fit to surprise you again with flowers."
"Yes, headmaster. I am quite speechless." She answered letting the petals grace her lips as she passed it under her nose.
"I must admit, I myself have been given to flights of fancy in my youth. It's so invigorating to be young." He said glancing over to Professor McGonagal who overhearing his confession began a lengthy conversation with Professor Lupin. Her blush was so evident that Remus quietly asked if she were unwell, and her answer was to ignore his question entirely and ask about what he had in store for the 6th year students.
"I daresay, whomever has seen fit to think of me has more on his or her mind than schoolwork. But I am flattered all the same." She answered winking in the direction of the headmaster.
They both smiled as her glance graced the Potion's master briefly.
Later that day, during Defense against the Dark Arts, Professor Lupin announced they would be studying hexing to follow Bogarts. The Bogarts, a tool he seemed to like using, allowing them to face their fears without danger of harm.
"Today, we're going to continue with Bogarts whereas on Friday, we will be witnessing a duel using hexes. Mind you, we will not be using hexes. Ms. MacAlister, our librarian, and myself will be demonstrating how to effectively throw off hexes rather than show you how to use them. That means, when class is concluded," he said looking rather intently at Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy, "students attempting to use them will have dentention for a solid month. Keep that in mind."
Hermione, after class, put up the notice that the prefects were going to be deciding on what mode of dress the Halloween ball was going to be. "I'm voting for muggle dress. Professor Dumbledore said that even the teachers were going to participate this year."
"Really?" Ginny asked as she looked at Professor McGonagal. "Fancy her in something other than tweed? No I didn't think so."
Part 2
The library was crowded for a Monday night. It was lights out at 9 and at two minutes till, Ms. MacAlister began shooing everyone out. She had a feeling they remained because they could, and she knew that if she permitted them to linger, curfews would be broken and she would never hear the end of it.
"Out, all of you shoo." She said smiling.
Once empty, she sat at her desk and sighed. What a long day. "Am I disturbing you Ms. MacAlister?"
"Not at all Severus. And no one's around so cut the Ms. MacAlister nonsense." She said rising. She looked at him and immediately felt his alarm. "What's wrong?" She asked coming out from behind the desk.
"He commanded my presence tonight. No doubt Potter will be feeling ill later. He was enraged." He said as she closed the door to the library and followed him. "He's not pleased at all."
"Are you all right, you look pale?" She said putting a hand on his forearm.
"I'll be better in a bit. Lucius Malfoy is coming tonight. Lock your door. I don't want him seeing you."
"I'm not afraid of Lucius." She said looking at him. His hair was long and blocking his deep brown eyes. She moved a stray lock from his face and watched him look at her. He took her hand and moved from his face. Stop distracting me. I need you to listen.
"I'm serious Lexi, he's dangerous and far from stupid." He said as they stopped in front of the large staircase towards the staff quarters. Plus you're beautiful and I don't want him anywhere near you.
"What has he told him? Why is he coming?" she asked stopping short.
She sensed his renewed alarm. "He wants to check the wards on the school. I'm to let him in and see if he can get up towards the common rooms. He wants to be able to get to Potter, Weasley, and Granger."
She blanched. "Will you tell Professor Dumbledore?"
"Of course. But you must remain hidden. I have no doubt that if he sees you, he will lust after you as many no doubt still do."
She smiled. Do you lust after me? I wonder... "I will. But you must see me after."
He nodded that he would, and tried to relax. She called him on his attempts to thank her for their talk on Friday night. "Schoolmaster, thank you for the flowers. I know you sent them. Sly dog. You've started some juicy rumors. As if you didn't know."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." He said smiling in return with an air of innocence.
"Are you sleeping better?" she asked as they decided to walk around the halls for a while.
"Yes, you always did know just what to do." He admitted as they rounded the corner.
"That's my job Severus. Empaths do that, they make it better for others."
"But who makes it better for you? You still didn't answer my question from the other night. Do you still have nightmares?" He asked concerned, worry shadowing his face.
"I don't think that's relevant." She said avoiding it.
"I do. You must tell someone. It isn't healthy to keep it to yourself."
"Don't worry so much, it'll make you lose your hair. Ask Alistair." She said laughing. "How was your day? Melt any cauldrons today?"
"No, thankfully. First years are so clumsy. I didn't get that far. But I managed. I see that Remus has returned. Did he come to see you?" He asked as they continued slowly through the old halls.
"Yes, we're dueling on Friday. Showing the 6th years what to expect. I'd invite you but there's enough rumor going around who fancies me."
He laughed. "You should do that more." She told him stopping.
"Your impish influence has its merits." He answered smiling back.
"Thank Merlin for something! If your back were any straighter it'd snap Severus. Live it up! I realize your reputation for being the Dark mysterious Wizard has its appeal, but really!" She said poking him. "Your fan club has quite an imagination."
"What are you talking about?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"Apparently, with the departure of stodgy Madame Pince, the library has become quite the haven for spurned lovers, victims of unrequited love, and those desperate for the attentions of said Potions Master." She said as seriously as possible. She walked around him like a predator, barely touching him as she passed.
"Your demented." He answered rolling his eyes.
"You've been a naughty schoolmaster. Making all those girls randy little temptresses." She said admonishing him as she tried not to laugh. He felt the hair on his neck raise up as her words came to his ears. He inhaled deeply trying to not be affected, but it was no use. He inwardly groaned. He wanted her and damn him he knew she knew that too.
"You are truly demented, you realize that don't you?" he said blowing her off but laughing at her attempt to embarrass him.
"Part of my charm. Did you hear they want to have the Ball in Muggle dress this year? Even the teachers are going to participate. I think, given your cult following, if you were to show up dressed to kill, so to speak, swooning would be quickly back in fashion. Randiness would run rampant."
"Very funny. I don't believe you." He said nearly blushing. "No one in their right mind would do such a thing."
"Trim your hair, wear all black, give all those lusty witches something to swoon about. I guarantee that yours will be the most popular class at Hogwarts."
"If we all have to participate what will you be wearing?" he asked trying to not feel self conscious about his appearance. Feeling this she answered walking up to him and standing nose to nose.
"Something randy myself." She answered laughing again. She was baiting him and he knew it. She rounded him again and whispered in his ear, her lips so close they nearly touched it. "I thought to wear something to tempt even the Potions master, but that would be redundant since you have already seen all my girly bits."
"Lexi, you're playing me." He told her crossing his arms. "Badly."
"You were baiting me Severus, turnabout is fair play. I dare you to look dashing. Even handsome." She said sticking her tongue out.
"Dare me? I don't think anyone has ever dared me to do anything." He said leaning against the wall.
"They'll be spiking the punch you know. I may just cut loose. Let my hair down, you never know what I'm capable of." She said confidently, winking at him. "I might even wear, red. But that would ruin my already famous reputation as a prim and proper bookish librarian. Repressed and prudish."
"I have no doubt what you're capable of, even going to the extent of distracting the 7th years. Bookish, I would have never thought that. You are not even remotely repressed and prudish."
"No? How would you know? And distract only the 7th years? I had hope to distract more than that." She said looking right through him grinning mischievously. She stood within inches from him and dared him to smirk back at her.
"Stop this. It will only get you into trouble." He told her trying not to feel self conscious that she'd realize he wanted her to dress that way.
"And what will you do schoolmaster, give me detention?" she said in a mock fright. "Please, I promise to be very naughty." She walked to him, around him whispering in his ear again, her voice low and husky. "Very, very, naughty." He groaned again feeling certain stirrings he'd been desperately trying to keep quiet. Bookish and prude, Merlin, I hope not.
"Lexi, this isn't funny."
"I think it is." She replied standing too close to him. She could feel his desire rise. His heartbeat quickened as she flirted with him.
"Always at my expense."
"Never Severus. Merlin knows not at your expense. Just because you don't think you're attractive, doesn't mean others don't find you that way." She answered completely serious. He looked at her, and she continued to look at him. She never lied to him, and he knew it. She was so close to him, the hall was deserted and suddenly he had thoughts of kissing her right there.
His breathing continued, a bit quicker than he might have wanted it to. Silently, he begged his heart to slow so she wouldn't notice, but he failed. She kept prowling around him. "Some might find the dark mysterious type a very BIG turn on."
"Go to bed." He said as the finally reached the staff wing. Or I won't be responsible for my actions.
"Party pooper." She announced looking at him, disappointed. "It would be nice if you would at least admit you think I'm attractive."
"Good night Lexi, remember do not come out for anything." He reminded her protectively.
"Promise me you'll come back when he's gone. I want you to tell me everything." She said in all seriousness.
"I will. Now go." He said checking his watch.
She closed the door behind her and he watched the wards go up to keep her in. He breathed a sigh of relief knowing Lucius, Nott and Crabbe would not get a look at her when they came in. He walked out of the staff wing and into the hallway where the three of them stood.
"Severus." Lucius Malfoy said staring at him. "I take it that you are aware that he wants us to test the wards on the common rooms."
"I am."
"Then we need to make this look good. I do hope you understand why our Lord didn't tell you about this." He said as all three began to curse him at once. Again, and again they hurled at him curses not meant to kill but meant to inflict pain.
He dropped to the floor in excruciating pain. His screams echoed throughout the hall. The alarms went off moments later when Malfoy tried to get to the Gryffindor common room.
Within minutes they were gone. Professor Snape his eyes shut tight in agony lay in the fetal position twitching and convulsing on the floor.
Professor McGonagal and Professors Lupin and Flitwick were the first to arrive.
"Remus, get Ms. MacAlister and Poppy." She shouted as Draco, who had been on patrols rounded the corner and ran to their aid.
"Mr. Malfoy, please go to the headmaster's office. The password is Canary Crèmes. Tell him that there's been an attack on Professor Snape."
Draco ran so fast that he slid into the door, while simultaneously, in Harry and Ron's bedroom, Harry awoke from a dream, and his scar prickling so acutely that he fell off the bed crying out in pain. He couldn't see and his head hurt so much that he wanted nothing more than to die on the spot.
Ron jumped out of bed as did Neville and Seamus. "Mate what's wrong?"
"V-Voldemort is... angry, right hacked off." He screamed out in pain then went unconscious.
Neville ran down the stairs and out the portrait towards the headmaster's room when Professor Dumbledore was on his way towards the staircase where Snape lay screaming himself. Madame Pomfrey was trying to get him stable before they transported him to the hospital wing.
"P-Professor Dumbledore!" he said still running. "It's Harry! His s-scar w-was hurting, then he passed out. What do we do?"
Professor Dumbledore looked at Professor McGonagal and said, "Minerva, go and see to Harry, get him to the hospital wing and we'll see this all settled there."
She swept passed him, dressed in her tartan dressing gown and followed Neville to the Gryffindor Dormitory.
Part 3
Professor Lupin banged on her door for three straight minutes waiting for her to open it. He had known it was her way to shower and get ready for bed, since she had lived with Tonks for the past four years. When she finally answered, her hair, magically dried hung around her like a mass of burnished curls.
"What's wrong Remus? Oh, not Severus! What happened?" she said alarmed. Grabbing her robe she covered the white linen of her nightgown and ran down barefoot towards the hospital wing.
He followed; as best he could, knowing she'd outrun him every time. When she arrived she not only found Professor Snape lying on the bed still twitching as Madame Pomfrey worked on him, but Harry as well, still unconscious on the bed across the way. Next to him sat Ron and Neville, who upon her arrival, stared openly at her walking towards them.
Her hair, free of its usual confinement flowed nearly to her waist, an unruly mass of perfect curly waves. Her skin, so clear and creamy was only marred by the worried look on her face. And her deep green eyes looked in horror at the two men lying on the beds before her.
"Tell me Mr. Weasley," she said, her deep green robe flowing to the floor, and brushing him as she passed, "Was he in much pain when he woke?"
"Y-yes, he said that V-v w-was hacked off." He stammered unable to take his eyes off her. His gaze lowered embarrassed as he noticed her bare feet.
"Stay with him. I must check on Professor Snape." She answered her robe coming loose as she ran to his bedside.
Never in his life had he seen anything more beautiful, besides Hermione. She was so lovely; he couldn't help but watch her as she ran to the Potion Master's bedside.
His eyes were tightly closed. He hands in balled fists at his sides as the twitching continued. Madame Pomfrey spoke to her as she attempted to touch him. "Lexi, it's bad, they used Crutacius, at least four times, from different people, and two to cause him to spasm violently. He never had a chance to get his wand out. He has to relax; you have to help him. I can't get him to take the potions. He won't open up. Do what you can while I see to Potter."
Ron watched as she sat near him. He could see her very upset by his condition. She wrung her hands nervously and sat on the chair next to his bed. She wiped a tear away from her eyes and took a deep breath. "Severus. It's me... it's Lexi. Sh, I'm here. Don't,"
He flinched when she touched him. She began to cry. Ron was biting his lip as he watched her. "Open your eyes." She said as she caressed his cheek and began to deep breathe. "That's it, Sh. I'm here. We need you to open your eyes. Poppy and I are going to take the pain away. Sh. Trust me, I'm here. I won't leave. Severus, feel me, open your eyes. I'm here and safe." She said taking his balled fist and began rubbing the inside of his wrist.
Ron watched, normally horrified at staring at Snape, as she unwound his fingers and put them against her cheek. "See, you're going to be alright. You have to listen to me now. You need to...that's it open your eyes, it's me. Hi there." She said softly as she smiled weakly at him. He looked up at her as the spasms overtook him again. His eyes never left hers as she spoke to him again, soothing him.
"L-Lexi, th-they did it, ju-just to." he said pain coursing through him. She inhaled deeper and looked at him intently. "Lu-Lucius. Noo-tt. BBBe."
Across the way, Ron watched her fascinated by what he saw. "I know. Sh, bastards."
"G-glad y-you weren't there." He stammered still twitching.
"You need to drink this. It will help." She said leaning in and lifting his head to drink one of the five vials of fluid.
After taking it, she massaged his fingers humming softly. When he became a bit calmer he asked, "Potter, is he alright? Did they get through?"
"No Severus. They didn't. He's going to be fine. You-know-who got really mad and sent him a blistering headache. He's napping across the way."
At this point when Snape tried to look over and Ron looked away. But as soon as he was in no danger of being caught he continued to eaves drop.
"Drink this one now." She said sitting next to him on the bed. She held his head up again and repeated this until all his potions were consumed. "Now, are you feeling a bit better?"
"Yes. Thank you." He answered looking up at her and closing his eyes. She held onto his hand and moved his hair away from his eyes. "I'm glad you listened to me." He told her enjoying her touch so much he sighed.
"Me too, even though I could have hexed them into next summer. Bastards!" she told him as she rubbed his temples, the tears running down her face.
"I hate when you cry." He said looking at her sadly. A tear had hit his cheek and he flinched still in pain.
"Can't help it. Side effect of taking your pain. Or would you rather twitch? Didn't think you really liked feeling pain, but I still don't know all your randy little secrets..." she said smiling wickedly.
"Demented." He told her haltingly.
"Flirt." She told him back.
Ron stared in disbelief. He should be horrified. The most beautiful teacher at
Hogwarts flirting and being flirted with, by Snape. But truthfully he found it oddly okay.
He watched as Snape tried to smile. And her beautiful skin, in the moonlight looking at Snape the way he knew Hermione looked at him. She was right. They fancied each other. And as bizarre as it seemed, he was all right with it.
"Ron?" Harry asked looking up at him.
"Hmm." He said still staring at her.
"What happened?"
"You fell off your bed after he sent you a wicked headache." Ron answered turning his attention to his best mate. He didn't mention what he had seen or why. He just was glad to have Harry back.
Part 4
Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagal stood at the end of the hospital wing considering their options. An escort had returned Ron and Neville to their room, and Snape still had Lexi by his side.
"You were right to bring her here Albus. I see that now." Professor McGonagal told him as she watched her tend to him.
"Empaths are rare. But my reasons besides her obvious safety were personal and prejudiced. She needed him and he her." He said as they watched how comfortable the two seemed to be.
"They could have killed him. But they didn't. They did it because they wanted to." She said spitefully. "We'll be needing aurors now."
"Yes, I was hoping to avoid that. He told me that they intended to check the efficiency of the wards but I didn't think they would harm him just to keep the appearance of an attack. I believe Lucius envies Severus' place in Voldemort's esteem. Having failed him in the past, he's jealous of his loyalty. And Severus is paying for it."
They walked towards Madame Pomfrey. "Professors. He's lucky. He should stay here until morning."
"Thank you Poppy. I daresay, Ms. MacAlister has everything well in hand." He replied. "Good night. Shall I walk you out Minerva?"
"Thank you. I would be delighted." She answered as they walked away from the room.
"You should rest Lexi. I know how much this takes out of you." He said calmer than he had been. She watched as he still twitched a bit and hoped it would subside by morning. She had helped him remove his robes and coat and propped his pillow behind his head, sitting closer to him, running her fingers through his hair.
"You need to be quiet. This is my job, being repressed and prudish is just a disguise. I'm fine." She told him as she continued to touch his forehead. "Rest Severus, or I'll not be able to properly allow you to ogle at my girly bits. How else can I maintain my bookish reputation?"
"By going to bed. You're practically in this one as it is." He said finally noticing she was sitting next to him in her bedclothes.
"And who's to say this isn't exactly where I want to be at this moment?" she told him in his ear.
"Demented." He said inhaling the fresh scent of jasmine.
"Absolutely. You love it; you'll be a hero this time tomorrow. Your fan club will being having kittens over this." He groaned. "Ah, just the reaction I had hoped for, you are a man after all."
"Let me sleep." He demanded closing his eyes.
"I doubt you can with that poking around."
"Lexi!" he groaned aloud.
"Shutting up." She said smiling, never leaving his side for a moment.
Part 5
By morning the entire school knew that Lord Voldemort tried to attack the Gryffindor Common room. By lunch, everyone also knew that they nearly killed Professor Snape and that Harry had only been released from the Hospital Wing.
At dinner, Professor Dumbledore had decided it was time to let them know that measures were going to be changed in order to keep Death Eaters from invading Hogwarts again.
"Once again Lord Voldemort has seen fit to test us. As a measure of safety, we will be having Aurors patrolling the halls day and night, as well as I am sad to say, having to cancel all Hogsmeade trips. Quidditch will also be cancelled and that I am sad to say, is also a shame, but desperate times call for desperate measures. The Halloween ball will proceed as scheduled, which from what I have been told his to be muggle dress. So tuck in everyone and enjoy the remainder of the evening."
Tonight was the one night she would have off from duties in the Library and she intended to spend it relaxing. She was tired the night before and staying up most of the night and then falling asleep with Professor Snape asleep next to her numb arm was not the best way to get rest.
Lexi entered the great hall in muggle clothes hoping not to attract too much attention. Sadly it didn't work.
Seamus upon noticing her walking dressed in low rise denims a deep green peasant blouse and boots nearly choked on his food because he had never seen her with her hair down. Hermione looked at her wondering why Ron had not even been phased by her appearance and Neville, who blushed at anything remotely attractive couldn't even look up from her plate.
"Sweet Jesus!" he gasped looking at her. Even Draco looked at her with ravenous eyes.
"Ron?" Hermione asked as he looked at her. "I only have eyes for you Mione."
"Good answer." She said looking at Dean. "Close your mouth Dean, you're drooling on the table."
"Headmaster." She said as she arrived to eat.
"Ms. MacAlister. How is your charge?" he asked as Hermione noticed that Professor Snape was absent.
"Not happy at the moment but he's mending. Teaching Potions was actually fun. He made me promise not to let certain people get away with too much." She said looking at Harry, Ron, and Hermione and winking.
"She's teaching Potions tomorrow. I am in heaven." Seamus said putting another helping of potatoes on his desk.
"Yeah, if she shows up to class like that! Gawd!" Dean echoed whose answer got him a well-deserved smack from Ginny.
"She'll hex you into tomorrow. She's not just a pretty face." Answered Hermione feeling the need to defend her intelligence.
"No, she's all legs and hips and merlin I'd love to run my fingers through that hair." Harry said smitten. Hermione could not believe that they were all acting so wantonly.
"She's spoken for mate." Ron blurted out closing his eyes in mortification as he tried to stop the words that came out of his mouth.
"What? No!" Hermione replied faster than anyone else did. "Oh, Nothing. Good joke Ron. Prat. You lot better keep it gentlemanly. She's a teacher!"
"A hot teacher." Replied Harry staring.
"I have two words for you Harry Potter." Hermione said knowing what would turn his libido off. "Minerva McGonagal."
Harry rolled his eyes in disgust. Okay, that's about as bad as Snape in a dress. Thanks Mione. Thanks a lot.
The table collectively groaned and returned to finishing dinner. Ron only smiled. When they walked back to the common room, he told Hermione everything he had seen and waited for her to lecture him on spying.
She responded to him by crying. "What's wrong?"
"It's so..." she continued to ball. "Oh Ron."
She threw her arms around him and wept. Usually uncomfortable by such a display he just sat there and held her. It was when he saw her standing in front of them did he speak and try to move.
"Ms. MacAlister." He said trying to get up.
"Sit Mr. Weasley, it's okay, I won't tell. Hello Hermione." She said looking more like a student than staff.
Hermione wiped her eyes, and smiled. "Hi. What are you doing up here?"
"I need you to know something but I don't think it's good to let Harry know just yet." She said sitting in the large overstuffed chair.
"Sure. Ms-"Ron stammered.
"Lexi, you can call me that in private okay? Breathe Ron. It's perfectly normal." She said laughing, just like Hermione.
He looked at the floor trying not to get too aroused by her appearance, or the way she smiled, or the way she smelled.
"Er, sure." He said uncomfortable, "how do you do that?"
"Because I'm an Empath. I figured you realized that last night when you saw me with Professor Snape." She told him matter of factly.
"Why don't you want Harry to know?" asked Hermione realizing that Voldemort would get it from him via Occulmency.
"Sorry. But I can't risk that bit get into the wrong hands. Ron, you have to promise me you won't tell? All you know is that I helped Professor Snape because I am very good with Potions. Understand?"
"Sure, Lexi, no problem." He said, as Hermione felt honored to be in her confidence.
"You also cannot tell anyone else what you saw last night either." She told him looking at him with a fierce protectiveness. "I don't need the added speculation about my private life, or his."
"Because if they knew you were partial to anyone they could hurt them. Right, I can understand that." He told her looking at Hermione the same way.
"It was Professor Snape who sent you the flowers." Hermione said smiling.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." She said with a straight face.
"Remus said Tonks and Uncle Alistair are coming. Fun, and no fun in the same sentence."
"I see where you get your influences from!" Ron blurted out. His ears reddened and everyone laughed.
"I've got to go. I just thought you should know. Ron, be careful. Voldemort will use you two against Harry. Bet on it. Watch your back." She said walking towards the portrait.
"We will. Thanks." He said looking at her wondering if what he'd just been told wasn't something he already knew deep in the back of his mind.
Part 6
There was a knock on Snape's door. He was sitting in his chair a blanket across his knees and hot tea on the table next to him. The potions he was made to take made him feel cold but it took the racking spasms away so he figured it was a good trade off.
"Knock, knock... room service! I have come bearing food for the invalid." Lexi announced opening the door. "Get your manly bits under cover. I shall not look, although I may peek, you cannot ever be sure."
He smiled coughing at the same time as she brought him a plate of hot food and a tray full of sweets. He had showered and trimmed his hair, which to her irritation still fell into his eyes but he looked much better for the cleaning.
"I am fully capable of walking down to dinner. I cannot fathom why you would wait on me. I'm perfectly well now."
"Sure, so if Death Eaters came to pick my bones would you be able to hex them?" she asked in all seriousness.
He had to admit it. "No. But I can eat without assistance. I do appreciate the sentiment though."
"I have ulterior motives." She said deviously.
"And pray tell me what deviant things you want in return for this tray of roast chicken and tarts." He asked rising to walk to his table.
"If you only knew schoolmaster." She smiled serving him his dinner, "if you only knew."
He laughed again, this time without coughing. "You realize Ms. MacAlister, you only use the term 'schoolmaster' when you're thinking deviant thoughts."
"Fitting isn't it, the whole idea of forbidden fruit. Apple schoolmaster?"
"Temptress now are we?" he asked looking at the proffered piece of food.
"Would you have me any other way?" she asked sitting on the arm of the chair taking a bite and holding it out.
"No. But it's always the bookish ones that are the most," he said clearing his throat...
"Demented." They both said causing them to laugh hysterically.
"And, how is that bad? Should I come back in my school uniform? Would that be too naughty?" She said pushing a little.
"Lexi, I have never found the school uniform the least bit attractive." He said knowing she knew his statement was the truth.
"Good. They're better birth control than charms." She said laughing. "You didn't answer my question. Bite?"
"No, your dinner was more than enough to satisfy my appetite at present." He answered drinking some pumpkin juice. In truth he was exhausted. She was right to have something brought up. He would have looked weak, and that was the last thing he wanted to have the students see him as.
"Sad, to be ignored, again..." she sighed. "At present, that does sound exceptionally promising? Will there be a time other than the present when you won't be satisfied, by my bringing you dinner of course..."
"You are never ignored. You cannot walk into a room and be ignored." He told her as he rose to meet her halfway. His eyes seemed to answer her where he refused to speak them aloud. Oh no Lexi, you won't get me that easily. Try harder.
"It takes only one Severus. Then the rest don't matter." She answered moving that lock that seemed to annoy her field of vision out of his face. "I know you understand my meaning." Only too well. You smell wonderful.
"Yes I do Lexi. You look tired." He told her as he passed her and sat back down. He could feel her near him. He ached to move her hand and touch her. It was bliss to touch her but he wouldn't. He couldn't. He didn't dare. I won't be able to stop who could?
"I am, but it's all right. I plan to snuggle down onto my bed and sleep soundly all night. Whereas you, my libidinously challenged schoolmaster will have a difficult time, even with the potions." She said as she sighed loudly. Her grin was evil, pure and simple, teasing and taunting him.
"Naughty librarian." He muttered smirking back at her with an evil grin of his own. "Someone should teach you to be nice to your teachers."
"Really?" she countered walking up to him and putting her boot on his chair, her eyes intently staring at his. "And who's gonna make me. You? Not tonight schoolmaster, off to bed now. See you after Gryffindor and Slytherin. I'll give you the details of their torture tomorrow. I promise I won't really scare them too much. It should be fun."
He shook his head laughing. "Deviant."
"Goodnight. Sleep peacefully. If you dare." She said winking mischievously.
When the door to his apartments closed, he groaned loudly. There was nothing but truth in the words she said to him. He wouldn't sleep soundly. He would toss and turn all night thinking of the naughty librarian high heeled boots and scent of jasmine.