Chapter 5:
"Severus, Bena thank you for coming so quickly. I understand it is quite late, and we all would prefer to be in our beds, sleeping. However, Minerva has brought it my attention that I very rudely tread upon Severus's hospitality as to assume he would be willing to put you up for the night. My apologies Severus," and he bow his head to Severus.
Severus remains indifferent. Albus's head swivels as Minerva strides forward. "I would be more than willing to offer the guest room in my quarters, Professor Hummell."
Severus coughs lightly. I smile dazzlingly at the woman, declining her offer, "Though it is much appreciated, Minerva, I'm afraid Severus and I have been charged by the Headmaster to get along, despite obvious strains to our relationship. And I rather feel that the sooner we start, the sooner we shall succeed. At the moment, that fact that we are sitting calmly in the same room is more than I would have hoped. We have much catching up to do, and not much time before term commences. We must provide a unified face to the students when they return, must we not?"
"I am sure your reacquainting could wait until morning." She replies coldly, not willing to give me an inch of approval.
Albus can feel this going nowhere. Sighing loudly, he rubs his temples. "Minerva, there is no harm. They are husband and wife after all. My apologies for disturbing you all so late in the night. Now, please, go and get some rest.
"Bena, my dear, in the morning, Remus can begin showing what he has been teaching so far the year, and you shall be able to move in to your quarters. No, Minerva, it really is quite late, please, let us all get some rest." Albus silences her protests and stands, obviously dismissing us. I wonder how many more late night meetings we shall have to attend over the next few weeks, as Severus and I are scolded for our behavior. But as he has said, we are husband and wife. Interesting dilemma.
It is encouraging to see the protectiveness apparent from Minerva. Someone cares for Severus besides as a puppet for the plan. It is indeed nice to know he has raised some sort of feeling in at least one of his colleagues.
We all three take our leave from Albus. Minerva leads the way from his office, Severus following, head down. I take it, from his reaction to her, that Minerva McGonagall provides a sort of motherly figure to him. He is walking as a child who has knowingly gone against him mother's wishes.
I am unwilling to let this continue. I quicken my pace, so that I pass Severus and come to walk even with Minerva. Talking in a low voice but so that Severus may still overhear, "Minerva, I do not mean to flounce in here, immediately changing the rules and throwing the old ways to the wind. I have merely encountered a change in conscience and I feel perhaps certain aspects of my behavior ought to be modified. Most especially, taking care that certain secrets do not find their way out and the easiest way to do that is for Severus and I put aside our rather substantial reasons for quarreling and act as adults"
I am appealing to her sense of propriety, and I seem to have made an impression. Her mouth twitches and turns on us. "Enjoy the few days of quiet left. Soon enough, the children will be back and the battle will be on." She continues up the stairs, leaving Severus and I in the great hall watching her.
"What battle?" Severus intones.
I gulp, knowing full well I am treading on dangerous ground. "The final battle Severus; the day when Harry Potter takes on Lord Voldemort." Keeping me voice as neutral as possible. My head is already beginning to fill with visions of myself bowing to the Dark Lord, kissing his hems, lying about my loyalty, forced to do awful things...his voice all the while hissing in his ears.
I come back to myself quickly, and stifle the urge to vomit. Severus is staring at me, a look of mock concern passing over his features. We both feel odd at where to start again, now that we have been twice called out from our passionate embraces. Do either of us wish to take the initiative the third time?
I find that I do, if only to dispel the feeling of cold, dread and despair that has washed over me since leaving the headmaster's office. I start off briskly towards his rooms again, wishing the dungeons could be warmer. I am chilled through. Suddenly the day's events take their full toll on me and I find myself exhausted.
Striding purposefully up to his door, I speak the password clearly and enter. He follows immediately and quickly reseals the doors. I round on him, halfway through the room. He squares up to me as well, both of us measuring our opponent.
At the same moment we walk forward, capturing each other in our arms, lips roaming, hands groping, breaths being drawn sharply. I pull away, still struggling with myself whether this is the right thing to do. Nodding to more to myself than anything else, I walk into his bedroom. Before he can follow, I shut the door tightly, and seal it with my wand.
I hear him attempt to turn the knob, as I my back slinks down the door, ending with me hunched on the floor, stifling sobs at the sheer frustration I am feeling. He makes an annoyed sound and stalks off, presumably to the sofa. I cannot find the strength to raise myself off the floor, and continue to sob in a pile on the floorboards.
I roll away from the door, crawling slowly to the bed, covered with a black duvet, lined delicately with a dark green ribbon. Slytherin to the end, I note dryly. I carefully heave myself onto the bed, still crying. This is the first time in months I have allowed myself the indulgence.
I faintly register the sound of the lock clicking, and the doorknob turning. Before long, a long, thin body has entwined itself with mine. I make no protest, but curl myself into the strong arms and nestle my head into the crook of his shoulder, feeling at once safe and warm.
No words are spoken as we draw nearer each other, and I feel myself gently falling into the folds of sleep. I only hope Severus can forgive me my momentary lapse in our scheme. I can always blame it on the time difference in the morning, which is already too close.
"Severus, Bena thank you for coming so quickly. I understand it is quite late, and we all would prefer to be in our beds, sleeping. However, Minerva has brought it my attention that I very rudely tread upon Severus's hospitality as to assume he would be willing to put you up for the night. My apologies Severus," and he bow his head to Severus.
Severus remains indifferent. Albus's head swivels as Minerva strides forward. "I would be more than willing to offer the guest room in my quarters, Professor Hummell."
Severus coughs lightly. I smile dazzlingly at the woman, declining her offer, "Though it is much appreciated, Minerva, I'm afraid Severus and I have been charged by the Headmaster to get along, despite obvious strains to our relationship. And I rather feel that the sooner we start, the sooner we shall succeed. At the moment, that fact that we are sitting calmly in the same room is more than I would have hoped. We have much catching up to do, and not much time before term commences. We must provide a unified face to the students when they return, must we not?"
"I am sure your reacquainting could wait until morning." She replies coldly, not willing to give me an inch of approval.
Albus can feel this going nowhere. Sighing loudly, he rubs his temples. "Minerva, there is no harm. They are husband and wife after all. My apologies for disturbing you all so late in the night. Now, please, go and get some rest.
"Bena, my dear, in the morning, Remus can begin showing what he has been teaching so far the year, and you shall be able to move in to your quarters. No, Minerva, it really is quite late, please, let us all get some rest." Albus silences her protests and stands, obviously dismissing us. I wonder how many more late night meetings we shall have to attend over the next few weeks, as Severus and I are scolded for our behavior. But as he has said, we are husband and wife. Interesting dilemma.
It is encouraging to see the protectiveness apparent from Minerva. Someone cares for Severus besides as a puppet for the plan. It is indeed nice to know he has raised some sort of feeling in at least one of his colleagues.
We all three take our leave from Albus. Minerva leads the way from his office, Severus following, head down. I take it, from his reaction to her, that Minerva McGonagall provides a sort of motherly figure to him. He is walking as a child who has knowingly gone against him mother's wishes.
I am unwilling to let this continue. I quicken my pace, so that I pass Severus and come to walk even with Minerva. Talking in a low voice but so that Severus may still overhear, "Minerva, I do not mean to flounce in here, immediately changing the rules and throwing the old ways to the wind. I have merely encountered a change in conscience and I feel perhaps certain aspects of my behavior ought to be modified. Most especially, taking care that certain secrets do not find their way out and the easiest way to do that is for Severus and I put aside our rather substantial reasons for quarreling and act as adults"
I am appealing to her sense of propriety, and I seem to have made an impression. Her mouth twitches and turns on us. "Enjoy the few days of quiet left. Soon enough, the children will be back and the battle will be on." She continues up the stairs, leaving Severus and I in the great hall watching her.
"What battle?" Severus intones.
I gulp, knowing full well I am treading on dangerous ground. "The final battle Severus; the day when Harry Potter takes on Lord Voldemort." Keeping me voice as neutral as possible. My head is already beginning to fill with visions of myself bowing to the Dark Lord, kissing his hems, lying about my loyalty, forced to do awful things...his voice all the while hissing in his ears.
I come back to myself quickly, and stifle the urge to vomit. Severus is staring at me, a look of mock concern passing over his features. We both feel odd at where to start again, now that we have been twice called out from our passionate embraces. Do either of us wish to take the initiative the third time?
I find that I do, if only to dispel the feeling of cold, dread and despair that has washed over me since leaving the headmaster's office. I start off briskly towards his rooms again, wishing the dungeons could be warmer. I am chilled through. Suddenly the day's events take their full toll on me and I find myself exhausted.
Striding purposefully up to his door, I speak the password clearly and enter. He follows immediately and quickly reseals the doors. I round on him, halfway through the room. He squares up to me as well, both of us measuring our opponent.
At the same moment we walk forward, capturing each other in our arms, lips roaming, hands groping, breaths being drawn sharply. I pull away, still struggling with myself whether this is the right thing to do. Nodding to more to myself than anything else, I walk into his bedroom. Before he can follow, I shut the door tightly, and seal it with my wand.
I hear him attempt to turn the knob, as I my back slinks down the door, ending with me hunched on the floor, stifling sobs at the sheer frustration I am feeling. He makes an annoyed sound and stalks off, presumably to the sofa. I cannot find the strength to raise myself off the floor, and continue to sob in a pile on the floorboards.
I roll away from the door, crawling slowly to the bed, covered with a black duvet, lined delicately with a dark green ribbon. Slytherin to the end, I note dryly. I carefully heave myself onto the bed, still crying. This is the first time in months I have allowed myself the indulgence.
I faintly register the sound of the lock clicking, and the doorknob turning. Before long, a long, thin body has entwined itself with mine. I make no protest, but curl myself into the strong arms and nestle my head into the crook of his shoulder, feeling at once safe and warm.
No words are spoken as we draw nearer each other, and I feel myself gently falling into the folds of sleep. I only hope Severus can forgive me my momentary lapse in our scheme. I can always blame it on the time difference in the morning, which is already too close.