Chapter 8: Severus Contemplates
by ataraxis
Severus sat there for many a moment contemplating the scene he had just witnessed in Emma Malsby's quarters. Perhaps he had been hasty in jumping to the conclusion that Emma was a man. Maybe in her evening of relaxing she had invited another man over to help her unwind, maybe they had taken a bath together.
Perhaps he could Floo back to her place late enough in the evening to verify for himself that that was the case. The case being that Emma was not a man.
Of course, all of this rationalization could not detract from the fact that he had been aroused by the very male body he had seen. It was unexpected, as Severus had always been attracted to females.
Severus' conscience prodded him. 'Don't be kidding yourself, my dear man. You and I both know that you found one other man to be attractive, especially in his last year here at Hogwarts.'
Severus spoke aloud in response, "Nonsense, I did not find him attractive. Irksome, yes. Irritating at best, yes. Attractive, no."
He was tempted to hum to drown out his inner voice as it prodded him again in calling him a liar. He got up from his chair and went to his private lab to distract himself by brewing as complicated a potion as he could that would only take two hours to complete.
He would definitely be going back to Emma's room to confront the situation head on. He may have spent almost his entire lifetime as a Slytherin, but he knew deep down that he was also part reckless Gryffindor. He had never hesitated to go where he was needed, even if he had been unknowing of the situation that awaited him.
Severus wanted this all to be resolved. But then, as he stirred the nasty concoction he had thrown together, he thought about Albus and his mentioning the Floo and calling Emma.
It was all too confusing. Albus wanted Emma to not break someone's heart, perhaps it was the man who was currently residing in her rooms. Maybe it was himself that Albus wanted to spare from heartbreak. 'What is that conniving old wizard up to? Is the secret behind Emma's true identity something he wants me to find out? Or the reverse?'
Severus huffed in frustration as he threw in a handful of dried marigold petels and watched the potion turn bright yellow.
Instead of going to Emma's, Severus thought instead that he should visit Albus and confront the meddling Headmaster.
Severus snorted at that stupid idea wondering why he thought it in the first place. He knew he would never get a straight answer and therefore should not bother, as all it would do is give him a headache.
Severus finished his brewing of a numbing agent and looked up at the clock to see that enough time had passed that he felt he could safely enter Emma's chambers undetected.
He doused the magical flames under his cauldron and straightened his robes, throwing back his shoulders to marshal up enough conviction to do the self-assigned task before him.
He stood in front of the Floo, powder clenched in his hands, his breathing ragged.
Was it right to invade her privacy, especially to satisfy his curiosity. He could always wait until the morrow to ask her in person if she had a lover, and if that was why she tried to discourage his romantic interest.
However, that would not solve the identity of the man he had found physically attractive. He gave out a gusting breath of disgust at this Hufflepuff behaviour he was exhibiting and threw the powder he still held into the fire and called out the same destination as before, then he stepped into the fire.
Severus exited the fireplace as gracefully as one could from a Floo connection and noticed that the candles had been extinguished in the living room, and from an open door to his left a tiny flicker of glowing light could be seen.
Severus stealthily made his way to the door, careful to not knock over or bump into anything that may have impeded his path.
He sidled up to the left side of the door and cautiously peered around the opening. From the little light the single lit candle put out, Severus noticed one solitary figure lying in the bed.
His heart sped up, contemplating the implications of the sight before him. Maybe his first assumption had been correct, maybe Emma was a man.
Severus shook his head again to negate that thought; maybe the lover had already left and she was alone.
He took a deep, silent breath and exhaled slowly. It was now or never, he told himself.
He left his spot hugging the doorframe and entered into the bedroom, tiptoeing his way across the carpet. As he inched closer, the glow from the candle cast over the room allowed him to notice that the hair gracing the head of the person sleeping was darker, possibly a dark rich brown, like bittersweet chocolate or maybe black like his own.
It was definitely not the red tresses of Emma Malsby.
Just when he was about a foot away from the bed, Severus tripped on what he thought was a book, as his foot had come down on a slick, uneven surface and it slipped out from underneath him quickly, making him pitch forward towards the bed.
There was nothing he could do to right himself and he fell right over the person he had come to spy upon.
Severus heard a startled gasp, and felt the body beneath him shift. Severus looked up startled into the greenest eyes he had ever seen, greener even than he remembered belonging to Lily Potter, eyes that belonged to none other than Harry Potter, Lily's son.
A/N: Currently unbeta'd, but will be hopefully soon. I know this chapter is fairly short, but since it comes straight on the heels of the last chapter, I know you will forgive me :). Thanks to everyone who has reviewed.
