On the walk back to Hogwarts, Lorelei felt her alcohol induced giddiness fade away. In its place remained a dreamy happiness that required no chemical enhancement. She watched the man who made sardonic look sexy. He was searching the shadows, using the light from his wand to guide the way.
Severus had offered his arm again outside the Three Broomsticks, and they still walked connected with her hand upon his forearm. In a bold move, she slid her fingers down his sleeve and gently took his hand in hers. He stopped and gazed thoughtfully at their entwined fingers and then resumed walking without comment. His hand tightened briefly around hers, tugging her back into movement. Lorelei felt euphoric, grinning at the night sky, feeling the firm, cool, flesh pressed against her own. She felt like singing.
"Is that from another musical?"
Severus' question brought Lorelei back to herself. She had sung On this night of a thousand stars aloud. How embarrassing. She said, "Yes, Evita, by the same Muggle who wrote the songs I sang for Tonks."
"Where did you come by this knowledge of Muggle music?" He seemed genuinely interested.
She tilted her head to watch his face as they ambled. "That's a long story. Hmmm...I'll try to give you the condensed version. Once upon a time, a naive girl met a handsome man named Vaughn at one of her mother's parties. The girl had just turned nineteen, and wasn't having any luck getting a teaching position, since she had the handicap of youth and inexperience to overcome." Lorelei made a face. "Vaughn was flatteringly appalled that Dumbledore would require seven years of teaching experience." She paused. "With me so far?"
"I'm riveted. Pray continue."
"All right, so the poor girl spilled all her troubles and Vaughn, in turn, confided that he worked in the Ministry and was looking for someone just like her to help with a special project."
"Someone young and inexperienced?"
His sarcastic tone made her smile. "Well, yes, and the naive girl thought that working for the Ministry in trade for their recommendation for positions was a good deal. It was supposed to be easy. Sing a bit, hang out with musicians for a few weeks every summer."
"Provide information enabling the Ministry to press Illegal Use of Magic charges."
Wow. That sounded even worse when he said it. Did he despise her for it? She waited for him to let go of her hand. He didn't.
He said, "You may have heard rumours as to my prior association with a person who shall not be named. They are true. I have worked for an even more despicable group than the Ministry for personal gain. I will always feel regret for that time in my life." Severus looked intently into her eyes. "However, I will not dwell in guilt and self-pity. I have changed, and I will continue to make restitution wherever I can- but I have moved on."
"So have I."
They walked in silence for a few moments, and then Severus said, "How does working for the Ministry relate to your knowledge of Muggle music?"
"Sometimes wizards join Muggle groups- mostly so they can be the lead singer and gain fame, fortune, and all the groupies they can...well...handle. Anyway," Lorelei said, "when you hang out with enough musically inclined Muggles, somebody's bound to have a passion for musicals that they simply have to share."
"As you now share your...passion...for musicals with others?"
Did he have to say that in such a dark, seductive, voice? His avoidance of any personal passion while calculatingly twisting her insides with his suggestive words was starting to—no, she was she was beyond getting shirty. It was time she dished out what she'd been taking. She pulled against his hand to make him halt. "Was that a song request? Since you seemed to like the one I sang Tonks—" He had all but called her a man-eating siren and slammed the door in her face after referring to it, but that counted as liking didn't it? "—how about I finish it?" If this didn't break Severus' facade of composure, nothing would. Lorelei poured herself into The Music of the Night.
As the last note faded away, she opened her eyes and let the man she desired see into her heart. He moved closer. So close, she could feel the warmth of his skin. For a man known for coldness, he really did radiate heat. Perhaps it was their combined heat. Lorelei knew she was blushing yet again, heart racing in anticipation. He bent his head. She closed her eyes and parted her lips.
He whispered, "Thank you" in her ear and gently pulled her hand in encouragement to resume their journey.
She wrenched her hand from his.
"Lorelei?"
Ha! Emotion at last! Severus the Stoic was perturbed. Was the expression on her face that disturbing? She probably looked like the incarnation of Medusa and he was worried about being turned to stone. Lorelei had always been told that she had very expressive eyes. She wondered what they were saying right now. She hoped her eyes were saying he was the biggest bloody git in the universe. That he was unbelievably stupid for passing up the opportunity she had served him on a silver platter. Unfortunately, Lorelei knew her expression was also revealing the hurt she wished desperately to hide. Severus probably thought he was yet again avoiding emotionality while letting her know he cared, but caring just wasn't enough any more. She wanted to sob- no, she wanted to scream.
Lorelei stalked off the path, away from the castle and toward the lake.
"Wait."
"Piss off!"
He followed her. Was he worried she was going to do something rash? She was- but she'd prefer to do it without an audience. "Are you hard of hearing? Go back to your gloomy dungeon and leave me alone." She resumed her march to the lake.
.
Severus hadn't meant to scorn Lorelei; he had just been so overwhelmed by her song, her face, her lips. He had intended to kiss those uplifted lips, but had turned aside in fear. Fear of being overcome with passion. Fear of losing control.
The obviously hysterical woman threw off her cloak and blithely proceeded to remove her jumper as well.
"What are you doing?" he said. "Stop at once!"
She ignored his command and bent forward to remove her boots. The front view was every bit as lovely as the back. He cleared his throat, losing his ability to articulate at the sight of Lorelei's...assets...displayed so advantageously in black lace.
The sight of the daft woman removing her trousers to reveal more black lace mobilized Severus into speech. "Do not even consider—."
"You practically told me to go jump in the lake," Lorelei said. "Don't blame me for taking you up on it."
Severus watched in disbelief as Lorelei waded through the dark shallows and dived into the deeper water. She came to the surface, laughing madly. "You should see your face! Did you think I threw myself in to let the Giant Squid end my misery?"
Apparently, making an arse of him had restored the impossible woman's good humour. She called, "Come on in, the water's fine- after a Warming Charm."
She didn't expect him to join her, which is why he removed his robes and shirt and placed them on the cloak by Lorelei's scattered things. He took off his shoes, placed his socks neatly inside the footwear, and added the items to the pile before strolling across the grass and into the water.
.
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A/N: Phantom of the Opera always makes me sigh...happily! lol. The whole jump in the lake thingy is due to a story review in which I asked the author if next chap her heroine would jump in the lake and hope the giant squid ended her misery. See what happens when you review? You inspire authors...AND yourself! So Review for Merlin's sake! I appreciate all my Reviewers and really do use your input...Pride and Predjudice will feature in chapter 14...thanks to Vitreum: )
