Chapter 7:
I emerge from the bathroom, refreshed, though wearing the same robes as the night before. As only Severus, Albus and Minerva have seen me in them though, I feel I shall be fine.
Severus has dressed by this time as well, covered in far too many buttons and unrelenting black. He does not look in my direction as I walk into the main room, the sofa still sitting patiently in front of the fire.
He walks to the door, opening it like a gentlemen, and allows me first passage through the door. The walk to the great hall is silent, though companionable. Just as we are about enter for breakfast, Severus turns to me.
"I am not offended by the lack of physical interest, Bena, however I wonder if r persona allows for all that you have agreed to." His sneer is firmly in place.
"What have I agreed to, Severus?" I query, for in all honesty, I am beginning to wonder if all the silent looks and quiet nods have not gotten me in further than I can handle. I open my eyes wide at him, hoping he will take me seriously.
He does. "You have, if I am not mistaken, agreed to help Albus Dumbledore keep me out of the way of Mr. Potter; you have also agreed to help me show the old man he simply cannot change horses midstream. He explained to me, and the others in the Order, that the plan is simple. His behavior of late has been far from simple, and has gone against the plan.
"You have also agreed that in order to help me, you will escape immediate attacks from the Death Eaters by appearing to have switched r thinking, and are perhaps becoming sympathetic to the Dark Lord. Have I missed anything?"
I swallow, frightened that he read me so well, after eighteen years absence. "Yes, Severus, that it all."
"Good." And he flings wide the doors, interrupting everyone from their breakfast. I follow obediently afterwards, shuffling my steps.
Albus is not yet there, though is appears most of the other professors are. I take a seat between Remus Lupin and Sybil Trelawny. Severus positions himself between his fellow heads of house, Flitwick and Sprout.
"Hello," I nod to my companions, who are both looking at me peculiarly. Lupin breaks the ice first.
"You must be Bena Hummell. Albus said you would be here this morning. I trust Severus was pleasant company for you this morning." His pleasant warm smile belies no hint of subterfuge, so I take him at face value; that I am actually being asked about my morning.
Not being entirely certain of how hidden Severus and I are to keep ourselves, I nodded in agreement, "Yes indeed. And you are?"
"Oh, my apologies," he says, rubbing his hands gently on his trousers before offering his hand to me, "Remus Lupin. You'll be relieving me."
His golden eyes die for a moment, and I am struck with an unusual stab of guilt. I have taken away the one job this man could hold. Thrusting it down, I smile warmly back and take his hand. At this, Sybil Trelawny breaks into the conversation.
"You are married, Professor Hummel?" she asks, eyeing my ring, which I have worn dutifully the entire time. Remus looks startled. Sucking up my courage, I look her square on, catching Minerva's eye in the process.
"Yes, I am indeed married," I answer, and sensing her next question, "to Professor Snape, actually." Severus whips his head around, glaring. It was not in his mind to reveal our connection so soon. I, however, have many cards to play. If I am to ever empty my hand, I must start playing a little more recklessly.
Remus sputters on his orange juice. Trelawny on her eggs, bug eyes popping out her head. Sprout and Flitwick stop their conversation with Severus to look at us, where I am cautiously patting Remus on the back to stop his choking. The other professors are gaping as well. Then, in an instant, they all go from staring at me, to looking resolutely at Severus.
He mouth is open to answer when Albus walks in.
Good timing, uncle.
Albus walks in, resplendent in the morning, all signs of fatigue and forlorn vanished. I raise my eyes to his and in an instant I know he understand why all of his staff is quiet. Without saying a word, he takes his place at the head of the table, Severus two seats away on his left, me two to his right.
Remus has the courage to break the ice. A Gryffindor, if I remember correctly from Severus's rantings. However, it is not Albus he addresses, but me, "My pardons, Bena, I am afraid all of us here are at a bit of a loss. I rather you thought said your husband was Severus."
As though letting him in on the joke, I smile heartily, "Oh, you heard me quite correctly. Severus and I have been married these past eighteen years." Black eyes from across the table narrow and bore into mine coldly.
This comment again sets the table to silence. I raise my eyes to Albus's again, where they are twinkling merrily. For all that Albus may be frightened of an alliance between Severus and myself, the looks on his colleagues faces have momentarily superceded those fears. They are agog.
Severus is squirming. Never in his life, I am sure, has his private life been laid so public. Finally, Albus decides to end this. Albus raises his hands and gathers everyone's attention, "It is my hope that everyone will be open and accommodating to our new professor, who has much to learn about Hogwarts and its students in the following two weeks. Now, eat up." He gestures and goes about gathering himself some breakfast.
Slowly, the other professors follow suit. I decide to generously allow Severus a chance to explain himself, as I finish quickly and excuse myself. As I am leaving, I feel Remus's hand brush mine. I turn to face him, and he whispers, "This afternoon, my, I mean, r, office? I can go over where I'm at and what 'll be doing, now that 're here."
The casual touch could mean nothing. It could be innocent. But I know better. Damn. He remembers. The plot thickens. I avoid both Albus's and Severus's eyes, as I leave the hall, my hand burning from the werewolf's touch.
I emerge from the bathroom, refreshed, though wearing the same robes as the night before. As only Severus, Albus and Minerva have seen me in them though, I feel I shall be fine.
Severus has dressed by this time as well, covered in far too many buttons and unrelenting black. He does not look in my direction as I walk into the main room, the sofa still sitting patiently in front of the fire.
He walks to the door, opening it like a gentlemen, and allows me first passage through the door. The walk to the great hall is silent, though companionable. Just as we are about enter for breakfast, Severus turns to me.
"I am not offended by the lack of physical interest, Bena, however I wonder if r persona allows for all that you have agreed to." His sneer is firmly in place.
"What have I agreed to, Severus?" I query, for in all honesty, I am beginning to wonder if all the silent looks and quiet nods have not gotten me in further than I can handle. I open my eyes wide at him, hoping he will take me seriously.
He does. "You have, if I am not mistaken, agreed to help Albus Dumbledore keep me out of the way of Mr. Potter; you have also agreed to help me show the old man he simply cannot change horses midstream. He explained to me, and the others in the Order, that the plan is simple. His behavior of late has been far from simple, and has gone against the plan.
"You have also agreed that in order to help me, you will escape immediate attacks from the Death Eaters by appearing to have switched r thinking, and are perhaps becoming sympathetic to the Dark Lord. Have I missed anything?"
I swallow, frightened that he read me so well, after eighteen years absence. "Yes, Severus, that it all."
"Good." And he flings wide the doors, interrupting everyone from their breakfast. I follow obediently afterwards, shuffling my steps.
Albus is not yet there, though is appears most of the other professors are. I take a seat between Remus Lupin and Sybil Trelawny. Severus positions himself between his fellow heads of house, Flitwick and Sprout.
"Hello," I nod to my companions, who are both looking at me peculiarly. Lupin breaks the ice first.
"You must be Bena Hummell. Albus said you would be here this morning. I trust Severus was pleasant company for you this morning." His pleasant warm smile belies no hint of subterfuge, so I take him at face value; that I am actually being asked about my morning.
Not being entirely certain of how hidden Severus and I are to keep ourselves, I nodded in agreement, "Yes indeed. And you are?"
"Oh, my apologies," he says, rubbing his hands gently on his trousers before offering his hand to me, "Remus Lupin. You'll be relieving me."
His golden eyes die for a moment, and I am struck with an unusual stab of guilt. I have taken away the one job this man could hold. Thrusting it down, I smile warmly back and take his hand. At this, Sybil Trelawny breaks into the conversation.
"You are married, Professor Hummel?" she asks, eyeing my ring, which I have worn dutifully the entire time. Remus looks startled. Sucking up my courage, I look her square on, catching Minerva's eye in the process.
"Yes, I am indeed married," I answer, and sensing her next question, "to Professor Snape, actually." Severus whips his head around, glaring. It was not in his mind to reveal our connection so soon. I, however, have many cards to play. If I am to ever empty my hand, I must start playing a little more recklessly.
Remus sputters on his orange juice. Trelawny on her eggs, bug eyes popping out her head. Sprout and Flitwick stop their conversation with Severus to look at us, where I am cautiously patting Remus on the back to stop his choking. The other professors are gaping as well. Then, in an instant, they all go from staring at me, to looking resolutely at Severus.
He mouth is open to answer when Albus walks in.
Good timing, uncle.
Albus walks in, resplendent in the morning, all signs of fatigue and forlorn vanished. I raise my eyes to his and in an instant I know he understand why all of his staff is quiet. Without saying a word, he takes his place at the head of the table, Severus two seats away on his left, me two to his right.
Remus has the courage to break the ice. A Gryffindor, if I remember correctly from Severus's rantings. However, it is not Albus he addresses, but me, "My pardons, Bena, I am afraid all of us here are at a bit of a loss. I rather you thought said your husband was Severus."
As though letting him in on the joke, I smile heartily, "Oh, you heard me quite correctly. Severus and I have been married these past eighteen years." Black eyes from across the table narrow and bore into mine coldly.
This comment again sets the table to silence. I raise my eyes to Albus's again, where they are twinkling merrily. For all that Albus may be frightened of an alliance between Severus and myself, the looks on his colleagues faces have momentarily superceded those fears. They are agog.
Severus is squirming. Never in his life, I am sure, has his private life been laid so public. Finally, Albus decides to end this. Albus raises his hands and gathers everyone's attention, "It is my hope that everyone will be open and accommodating to our new professor, who has much to learn about Hogwarts and its students in the following two weeks. Now, eat up." He gestures and goes about gathering himself some breakfast.
Slowly, the other professors follow suit. I decide to generously allow Severus a chance to explain himself, as I finish quickly and excuse myself. As I am leaving, I feel Remus's hand brush mine. I turn to face him, and he whispers, "This afternoon, my, I mean, r, office? I can go over where I'm at and what 'll be doing, now that 're here."
The casual touch could mean nothing. It could be innocent. But I know better. Damn. He remembers. The plot thickens. I avoid both Albus's and Severus's eyes, as I leave the hall, my hand burning from the werewolf's touch.