Disclaimer: Everything recognizable from the Harry Potter universe belongs to J K Rowling, no infringement is intended to any copyright holder
Beloved on this Earth
~ 0 ~
Snape sat in his empty dungeon classroom attempting to mark pitiful fourth year homework essays. The work however, was of such a poor standard that it required barely any attention and his mind had turned, as it so often did lately, to the puzzle of who was responsible for Lois's wrecked room. He had initially been utterly certain that he would have the culprit apprehended within days, but almost two weeks later and he didn't have even a single suspect.
Calvin Spinks, a seventh year Slytherin prefect, had been assigned the task of making discreet enquiries within his House. Snape was well aware that there were times when not questioning students directly could be beneficial and Spinks he knew, would be able to get the information far easier than he would himself. Luckily he also knew he could trust the seventh year with the delicate chore. For a Slytherin, Spinks had an unusually strong streak of decency running through him, so much in fact Snape had initially wondered how he had been sorted into Slytherin at all. The answer though had soon become apparent; Spinks had a burning ambition to succeed and was prepared - within limits - to do whatever was necessary to see that he did. He was therefore one of the few Slytherins who was well regarded by all of the Houses, including his own.
Unfortunately Spinks had turned up nothing, which meant either that the perpetrator had managed to stop themselves from bragging about their crime (which frankly pretty much ruled out anyone in Slytherin) or that they were from another House entirely. Annoyingly that meant for the moment Snape was back to square one. Spinks, who was almost as frustrated as Snape in failing his mission, was now attempting to ferret out information from the other Houses, but that would obviously be a much slower process.
Growing impatient Snape had even considered for an insane second asking Potter if he knew anything. Heaven knew the boy seemed to have a knack for sticking his nose where it didn't belong. Thankfully he had come to his senses before he had made a fool of himself. If Potter did know anything, he would have been running around trying to solve the crime himself and after almost five years, Snape knew the boy well enough to be able to recognise the signs if he was attempting to meddle.
In the absence of any other immediate options, Snape had decided to lay a trap in the hope the culprit might return. He doubted Dumbledore would be happy if he actually maimed anyone, so he had regretfully settled instead on a painful, but not deadly, Hordulcerous Hex that would be remotely activated by any hand other than Lois's on her chamber door. Once the guilty party entered her room, they would find their faces and upper bodies instantly covered in boils and suppurating sores that would not only be highly noticeable, but would also necessitate a visit to Madam Pomfrey to heal them, thus allowing Snape to identify and apprehend the miscreant. He knew neither Poppy nor Lois would go along with his plan, so he had intended to inform them of his actions only after the event.
The alarm he had set up to inform him that the trap had been sprung had gone off two days ago, just as he was about to start teaching a class. He had ordered his confused students to pack up the equipment they had spent five minutes unpacking and sent them to the library to write an essay. Unfortunately after a hurried dash to the Infirmary, Poppy had informed him that no one had attended with the symptoms his hex would have caused and other than frightening the life out of a skiving first year Gryffindor when he arrived, his efforts had been wasted.
More maddening still, after checking he had discovered that no student had been absent from class that day and none of the professors had cancelled a lesson either. He could only surmise therefore, that whoever had tried the handle had either been wily enough to test for wards before they actually entered the room, or that the alarm had been triggered by an accidental touch. Annoyed as he was by his lack of success, at least one good thing had come out of it: After taking him to task for risking injuring a student, Poppy had been as concerned as he was and had agreed to keep an eye on Lois's chambers without alerting her to the fact.
Snape looked up, pulled from his contemplation as the cause of his worries entered the classroom after only the briefest of knocks on the door.
'What are you doing here?' He asked suspiciously. While he had made a point since the break-in of seeking her out at regular intervals during the day, he had learnt to be wary when she did the same. For some reason she had taken to descending on him at odd moments, her only intent apparently, to torment him half out of his mind with desire before disappearing when they ran the risk of being discovered.
'I just felt like visiting you.' She smiled innocently and he felt his stomach clench with pleasure at the sight of her.
'I'm very busy.' He said in a hard voice, turning away and pretending to focus on the scrolls in front of him before she noticed his reaction.
'Too busy to say hello?' Lois teased walking towards his desk. It had been two weeks now since they had become lovers and she was happier than she could ever remember being. Her only real gripe was that despite her attempts to convince him otherwise, he continued to insist that they keep their relationship a secret. Although certainly not happy about it, she had reluctantly gone along with his request - at least as far as not actually telling anyone about them went. She had no intention of lying however, if she should be asked outright and she also had no intention of making it easy on him either. In the privacy of his chambers Severus was tender and considerate but outside of them, in an attempt to deflect suspicion, he was colder and more distant than ever. Lois had therefore made it her goal to cause him as much discomfort as possible during his working day and nothing pleased her more than appearing unannounced and startling an unwilling response out of him.
'Yes.' He muttered tensing as he felt her approach him from behind, his seated position allowing her to wrap her arm over his right shoulder, which edged towards his waist on the opposite side, squeezing gently.
'Lois.' He warned gruffly feeling his heart rate speed up as she gently nibbled on his earlobe.
'What?' She breathed against his ear causing him to shudder at the sensation of warm breath against his skin.
'You have to stop that – I have a class in five minutes.' He tried to say firmly, but the words were sluggish and indistinct as treacherous desire flooded his body.
She only laughed softly burying her head in the sensitive hollow of his shoulder and biting the tautly corded muscle she found there with delicate teeth. With a tortured groan Severus grabbed the hand clutching his waist and stood up, pulling her roughly round to face him and in one fluid movement lifted her by the waist and sat her atop his desk. He stepped instantly forward, her feet falling to rest on the chair he had just vacated, her knees grasping his slim hips tightly.
'Don't start something you cannot finish.' He murmured in a honeyed voice bending slightly to place aggravatingly brief butterfly kisses on her lips.
Lois sighed with pleasure as he turned his attention to her neck, his hands burning through the thin silk of her blouse as they slid over her back in a caressing motion. 'I've got all the time in the world.' She managed slightly breathless, almost forgetting for a moment just who was supposed to be seducing who. 'You're the one with a class about to begin Prof.' She smiled wickedly. He swooped down at her challenging words, his kiss deep and drugging as she quickly lost all sense of time and place, panting up at him when he finally drew slowly back, seemingly as rattled as she was, his breathing harsh and laboured, his hands not quite steady.
Gazing into his passion filled face, she was suddenly overcome with such a deep and abiding love for the stern man standing in front of her, she could hold it in no longer. 'I love you.' She blurted out, almost immediately freezing with horror as she realised what she had said. What the hell was she thinking? Severus wasn't ready for this yet, and she was desperately afraid he might be panicked into calling an end to their relationship now she had revealed the true extent of her feelings.
She quickly ducked her head, refusing to look at him as she felt his body stiffen in shock. While she was still vainly trying to think of something to say to negate the seriousness of her words, she felt his long fingers grasp her chin, drawing her head up so that he could see her face. For long moments she attempted to keep her gaze turned away, but he kept his hands in position until she could delay the inevitable no longer. When she finally lifted her eyes to meet his, she saw thankfully that they were not filled with pity or worse yet rejection, but instead glittered an intense burning black, a strangely exultant cast to his harsh features.
'Severus…' She began and ground to a halt as she struggled for words, her eyes gleaming wetly as she struggled to hold back the weak tears of relief that were threatening.
'Shh.' He murmured soothingly, his long fingers settling at either side of her jaw to cup her face, his thumbs brushing a fleetingly gentle touch across her lips before he angled her head slightly, lowering his own until their lips met in a kiss that seemed to last forever.
She was totally oblivious to anything but him until he jerked suddenly away from her, watching dazedly as he drew his wand from his sleeve and pointed it at the wooden classroom door, which slammed loudly shut in response. A disgruntled yell could be heard from the other side and Lois gave a soft groan as she buried her head in his robes.
'Time for class I guess.' She said shakily, her emotions zigzagging wildly between terror at how easily her careless words could have cost her everything and wild joy that she no longer had to hide her feelings from him.
'It would seem so.' He nodded ruefully lifting her down and escorting her to the door. It was only after she came back down to earth much, much later that she wondered a little despairingly if she would ever hear her words spoken in return.
***
'Remus I'm just not in the mood right now.'
'You never are and I'm quite certain it isn't a matter of mood.'
'What does that mean?' Lois questioned defensively.
'It means that you're afraid to face the Boggart and you're making up excuses to avoid it.'
'No I'm not.' She said with an attempt at breezy nonchalance that fell far short.
'Well in that case what are we waiting for? Everything's ready.' Remus said pointing to a trunk on the floor. 'We've got a Boggart, an empty classroom, the time. In fact the only missing ingredient is a student, which would be you, ready and eager to soak up my expert knowledge.'
'I'm really tired though and I think I may have a cold coming on.' She said a shade pathetically, her head drooping and her shoulders slumped. 'I honestly don't think I'd be up to it today.'
'Lois, you've had some reason or another for not doing this every day for the past week. It's not going to get any easier constantly putting it off. Why don't you just bite the bullet and do it?'
She looked over at him her eyes wide and beseeching and he felt himself wavering for a second before his professional instincts took over – he'd given her every opportunity to make the decision herself, now it was time to force the issue. 'Look, you have to do this if you want to pass your exam – no exceptions.' He said firmly.
She nodded reluctantly and heaved a heavy sigh. 'Yeah, I know. Okay then let's get on with it.' She said rubbing her hands nervously together.
'Umm Lois, what exactly is it we're going to be seeing here?' Remus asked suddenly watching her curiously.
'A zombie.' Lois admitted with an embarrassed groan. 'It's so stupid; I mean I know they don't exist. I said I know they don't exist.' She repeated loudly, when the DADA Professor appeared horrifyingly as though he was about to tell her something she really didn't need to hear if she planned on ever sleeping again. 'But when I was ten I snuck out of bed to watch this horror film my dad had forbidden me to see and nearly frightened myself to death. I think it must have scarred me for life.' She said with a small shudder, a bead of sweat appearing on her upper lip.
'If it was upsetting you so much, why didn't you turn it off?' Remus asked perplexed.
'I don't know.' Lois said impatiently. 'I couldn't help myself – I'm as bad now. When I'm flicking through the TV channels late at night and I see one on, I just can't seem to stop myself from watching for a few minutes. Through my fingers of course.' She confessed. 'They still give me nightmares.'
At that, the tatty old trunk rattled menacingly as if the Boggart was fully aware it was the object of their conversation. Lois paled at the sound and groaned sickly.
'Ready then?' Remus asked loudly pretending he hadn't heard anything and propelling her swiftly towards the centre of the room.
'No.' She muttered belligerently. 'And if you were my friend you wouldn't be making me do this.'
'Stop trying to make me feel guilty Lois - it isn't going to work. Just remember it will all be over in ten minutes and when it is, you'll wonder why on earth you were so frightened in the first place.' He assured. 'Now are you positive you wouldn't rather do this with one of the classes? It really is much better the more people there are.'
'No, no.' She said quickly. 'Bad enough I've got to do this with you watching. I don't want to start screaming in front of a room full of thirteen year olds – I'd never live it down.' She muttered.
'All right then.' Remus said with a helpless shrug. 'Now, you know what's going to happen, so wand out and get your funny thought ready.'
Lois managed a small nod, her hand shaking badly. Pulling his own wand, Remus moved to the side of the room and shot her a quick encouraging smile before pointing it at the lid of his battered trunk, which sprang open amid a shower of sparks. Her breath left her body in a frightened whoosh as the animated corpse crawled awkwardly out of the cramped case, a low moaning noise accompanying its every move. Tension screaming, she watched terrified as the zombie straightened as much as its decomposing muscles would allow, its incredibly long arms already stiff and reaching hungrily for her. Remus winced unseen as he took in the creature's rotted flesh hanging limply from its face and throat as it began a tortuously slow, shuffling walk across the classroom floor towards the petrified woman.
'Riddikulus!' Lois gasped weakly and as she had imagined the zombie's body immediately fell apart, its unconnected limbs hitting the floor with dry, cracking sounds. Better, she thought with slight relief, nodding shakily. No wait, not better! All the separate pieces were quickly re-orientating themselves and making their own way towards her, unhampered by the fact that they were no longer joined to a body.
'Oh God.' She breathed in a tiny tragic voice, frozen with terror as a crawling hand inched its way ever closer. 'Remus, do something!' She begged as the head, missing its left eye, began rolling clumsily towards her. When the torso, which was still partially attached to the right arm, also joined the attempt to reach her, she gave up all pretence of courage and ran for the door with a panicked yelp. While she scrabbled madly for the handle, she heard a loud crack behind her and turned warily to see Remus, wand held out facing a glowing orb.
'Lois get back here! You nearly had it!' He ordered over his shoulder and she moved reluctantly forward her legs almost refusing to carry her. 'Riddikulus.' He said and stepped hurriedly to one side leaving her facing the zombie again, which had reappeared fully formed with another loud crack.
'Riddikulus!' She shouted, her voice trembling and this time the zombie melted into an oozing pool of green slime onto the stone floor, its putrid clothes floating lazily down on top to cover the mess.
'Excellent!' Remus said happily, briefly patting her on the back before grabbing her arm and pulling her swiftly from the room.
'What are you doing?' Lois asked dazedly, her heart hammering in her chest. 'I thought you said it wasn't gone till it exploded?' She said watching him lock the classroom door.
'It isn't, but I still need it for lessons and if we don't destroy this one I can use it again. Hopefully it will climb back into my trunk, but it won't do it while we're in the room.'
'Oh I see.' Lois mumbled still feeling shaky and not entirely happy that he hadn't finished the Boggart off. 'I'm not doing it again though!' She rallied enough to inform him sharply.
'Why not? You did wonderfully Lois – I'm proud of you! And you can't tell me you don't feel a sense of achievement now that you've faced your fears.'
'Yes, I can actually!' Lois could say in all honesty. 'I was perfectly happy leaving that little fear unfaced and I didn't really achieve anything. I'm still terrified of it.' She said with a deep shudder walking ahead of him into the staff room.
'Terrified of what?' Snape questioned looking up at the sound of their voices and standing from his chair with a frown on seeing her pale features.
'We've just had a lesson with a Boggart.' Remus said with an apologetic glance at Lois as he made them a both a cup of tea, hers with plenty of sugar.
'Are you all right?' Snape asked examining her closely. She had probably seen something relating to her husbands death he realised his stomach tensing, partly with concern for her but mostly, he was slightly ashamed to admit, with jealously.
'No I'm not; it was horrible – a huge brain eating zombie.' Lois informed him plaintively and he felt guilty relief spread through him.
'It wasn't that bad Lois.' Remus chided and she rolled her eyes at him.
'Easy for you to say Lupin.' Snape said harshly. 'Still being terrified by tiny floating moons?' He mocked.
'Unfortunately.' Remus agreed calmly. 'And do your Boggarts still turn into grindylows?'
'No.' Severus snarled. 'Most of us have learned to control our foolish childhood fears by the time we reach adulthood.' He disparaged missing Remus's slight wince at the jibe, or the way his gaze sharpened on the comforting squeeze Severus briefly gave Lois's shoulder, before turning sharply back towards the DADA Professor with a dark glower. 'Now if you have quite finished scaring the wits out of my…' Snape stopped abruptly, unsure how to finish that sentence and blindingly furious with himself for speaking without thinking when he saw dawning comprehension flash across the werewolf's face.
'Your…. Lois?' Remus supplied helpfully his lips twitching.
Snape attempted to wither him with a look, but Lupin refused to cooperate so he settled for turning his back dismissively on the now grinning idiot and focussing on Lois instead. Unfortunately she was also grinning at him, obviously pleased by his slip, her blue eyes gleaming.
'Uh oh - I think the jigs up Severus.' She announced solemnly, distracted from her earlier fright by the entertaining conversation. 'And, may I point out, through absolutely no fault of mine - you have decidedly loose lips.' She teased reaching up to plant a quick kiss on them.
'And you Achelois,' Snape said pulling away from her with a jerk and heading for the door. 'Have the ability to try the patience of a saint.' He growled in a highly aggrieved tone, relenting when he saw her hurt expression. With a muffled curse he strode bad temperedly back towards her, pulling her into a brief, possessive kiss before heading for the door again, unable to prevent himself from shooting a triumphant look at a wide-eyed Remus Lupin as he left.
***
Trudging across the soggy school grounds the following day, Lois was very grateful for the pair of wellies Sorrel Sprout had lent her. Unfortunately although they were about the same height, their shoe size most definitely wasn't and Lois ran the very real risk of leaving the boots behind with every sinking step she took. She was concentrating so hard on not doing just that, that the sudden sound of Hugo Quade's voice at her side startled her.
'I forget to tell you this morning Lois, I actually went to your quarters last night to try to arrange this little jaunt.' He said offhandedly. 'But you weren't there.'
'Did you?' Lois asked vaguely not quite meeting his eyes. 'I was probably visiting Harry.' She mumbled uncomfortably. She had hoped that after Remus had found out about her relationship with Severus, it would mean an end to all the secrecy. Unfortunately, she had been quickly disabused of that notion when Severus had informed her that he had persuaded the other man to remain silent. Not sure she wanted to know what form him methods of "persuasion" took, she hadn't asked for any further details.
'Oh is that where you were?' Hugo said with faint surprise, his blue eyes gleaming with humour as he studied her averted profile. 'I must say you've surprised me there Lois. When I couldn't find you, I automatically assumed you were with Severus down in the "Dungeon o' Love."
His damning words spoken so casually had her whipping around to stare over at him open-mouthed. 'Wha…?! Why on earth would you…?' She trailed off as he shook his head in mock disappointment at her woeful attempts at denial. 'How do you know?' She conceded with a sigh.
'Well firstly you're an atrocious liar, secondly I'm not blind, I've seen how the two of you act together, and thirdly – and frankly the biggest giveaway of them all – Poppy told me. She came bounding out of her room just as I was about to leave and informed me that if I needed you, I'd find you in Snape's quarters.'
'I suppose there's no point in denying it then.' Lois said with a slight shrug.
'Not really, but I must confess I'm curious as to why you're keeping it a secret.' Hugo said, surprised by her lack of reaction. 'Is it because you're erm… embarrassed about your relationship?' He probed delicately.
'NO! This is all Severus's doing, not mine. He's got this bee in his bonnet about people judging me if they knew about us.' She pursed her lips in annoyance. 'Frankly I couldn't care less, but it's important to him so I haven't pushed it.' Hugo raised his eyebrows, silently questioning her acceptance of a situation she plainly wasn't happy with. 'And also because I thought it would get out soon enough without any help from either of us. I've fast come to realise it's next to impossible to keep anything secret in this place.' She admitted, a small smile tugging at the edge of her lips. 'You don't have a problem with it do you?' She asked suddenly a suspicious gleam in her eyes.
'Not me.' He said quickly, hands held up in a placating gesture. 'Whatever makes you happy. You are happy I take it?'
Lois let out a deep contented sigh. 'Yes. Very.'
Hugo nodded. 'Well that's all that matters I suppose.' He said almost to himself.
'So why didn't you come down to the dungeons last night once you knew where I was?' Lois asked when he said no more.
'Well I rather assumed Snape wouldn't have been very impressed to find me on his doorstep asking for you at that time of night.'
'Mmm, good point.' Lois agreed imaging what Severus's response would have been to that. 'He can be a little jealous sometimes.'
'Can he?' Hugo asked with a speculative look.
'Not manically.' She rushed to say. 'Just slightly… possessive.'
'Be careful you don't mistake jealousy for a sign of some deeper emotion Lois, it isn't always the case.' Hugo warned hearing the underlying satisfaction in her tone. 'Although maybe it is with him.' He said quickly when pain flashed briefly across her face.
'That's what I'm hoping.' Lois murmured, shaking her head when she spotted Hugo eyeing her with concern. 'Ignore me, I'm just feeling a bit worn out and weary today.' She said with a half smile.
'Probably because you're working too hard.' He informed her, happy to change the subject. 'I get tired just watching you sometimes.'
'I've got so much to learn though.'
'Maybe so, but you're not on a time limit! I know you came into this late, but attending Hogwarts should be a fun experience - however old you are.'
'I am having fun.' Lois assured him. 'In fact, this is a huge improvement on how school was the first time round.' She grinned.
He returned her smile, his own slightly regretful. 'I envy you sometimes Lois.' He confessed.
'Why on earth would you envy me?' She asked with amused disbelief. 'Here I am, blundering around not knowing what I'm doing, making a hash of things more often than not, and facing the looming prospect of failing exams that eleven year olds breeze through. I'm never going to set the magical world on fire Hugo. Might set myself on fire though.' She said wryly. 'No, I'm definitely the one who should be envying you - a fully qualified, successful wizard, with all of the hurdles of student life faced and overcome.'
'Yes, but that's precisely the reason why you're so lucky. You're at the stage right now when everything is new and exciting and at an age when you can really appreciate it, whereas I can barely even remember what that was like, let alone ever experience it again. There's nothing more exhilarating than an open road ahead, filled with limitless possibilities and opportunities.'
'That's true I suppose, but you're not exactly over the hill yourself.' She chided. 'If you're feeling stuck in a rut you could always try something new. What about teaching? Has your stint as Professor made you give any thought to taking it up permanently?'
'No, I've enjoyed my time here, but it's not something I'd want to do forever and certainly not teaching Care of Magical Creatures. Like I said, it isn't a difficult subject to teach, but Merlin's beard it should include danger money! I don't know how Hagrid expects anyone to get near enough to feed some of the monsters he's got on this years syllabus, let alone study them at close quarters!'
'I think the bigger the better as far as he's concerned.' Lois said honestly - she had heard a lot about Hagrid from Harry, speaking of which: 'Do you have any idea when Hagrid will be back yet?'
'Well, Dumbledore hasn't got an exact date, but it probably won't be too much longer now.'
'I'll miss you.' Lois said honestly.
Hugo smiled his left eyelid dropping in a slow wink. 'Don't let Severus hear you say that hmm? I've put a lot of time and effort into avoiding injury these past few months and I don't want it ruined at the last minute by exposure to a hitherto unknown beast – the green-eyed Snape.'
'It'll be our secret.' Lois promised amused. 'Now, what are you dragging me through all this mud to see anyway?' She asked as they finally came to halt.
'Horseflies.' He said pushing open a gate and allowing her to precede him through it. 'Which despite their name can't actually fly, although they do have wings. Pixies and leprechauns use them in much the same way as humans use muggle horses. These are only babies, but they won't be very much bigger even when they're fully grown.' He informed her leading her over to a low fenced paddock.
'Oh they're adorable!' Lois breathed looking down at the tiny creatures. Perfect miniature horses of varying sizes, the smallest no bigger than the palm of her hand, the tallest no higher than five inches and all of them with glowing, cobweb fine iridescent wings sprouting from either side of their backs.
'They are pretty little things.' Hugo agreed smiling at her enraptured expression as he turned to grab a handful of hay to feed them. 'But the females –'
'Ouch!'
'– Bite. Lois what's the first rule in Care of Magical Creatures?' He asked in a resigned tone as she cradled her sore arm to her chest and fixed him with an accusing glare, which wilted at his words.
'Until I know what they are, keep my damn hands out of the cage no matter how harmless they seem.' She recited glumly.
'And the second?'
'The cuter they look, the sharper the teeth and more painful the sting.'
'And do you finally believe me now?' He asked with a bemused shake of his head. 'No! Don't just heal it.' He said quickly as she reached for her wand.
'Why? Are they venomous?' Lois asked worriedly.
'No, but it would serve you right if they were.' He grumbled turning her arm until he could see the purpling bruise appearing just above her wrist, a small trickle of blood oozing from a spot where the skin had been broken. 'Even so, you're going to need to clean it with more than just a spell – horsefly bites are particularly prone to infection.' He said handing her his handkerchief to press over the wound.
'It seemed so friendly.' Lois said eyeing the tiny creatures balefully now. 'And it ran towards me. I didn't think it would turn like that.'
'The males don't – they're herbivores, but a large part of the females diet is made up of blood.'
'A vampire horse?' Lois said with horror stepping even further away from the pen.
'Well sort of,' he agreed. 'But no more so than a mosquito is - it couldn't have done you any real harm.'
'Whose blood do they drink?'
'Woodland creatures – voles, mice, rabbits.' He said reaching over the fence to carefully pick up a one of the smaller horses and stroke its silky mane. 'This one's a male, you can tell by its smaller size and the markings on its wings. Do you want to hold it?'
Lois examined the horse warily. It certainly seemed friendly, but then so had tiny Count Horsula over there, right before it had attempted to drain her dry. 'Er, not right now Hugo.' She refused with a shake of her head, having completely gone off the animals. 'But thank you for bringing me to see them.' She said sincerely very grateful for the time he and all the other professors had spared her since her arrival.
'Fair enough.' He agreed with a smile, lowering the creature back into the fenced area. 'We should probably get you back to the castle so Poppy can take a look at your wrist anyway and next time, I promise I'll stick to toothless magical creatures.'
'I think that might be best.' She said with a grin.
*****
Lois removed the heat from her bubbling cauldron with a relieved sigh. It was getting very late and she had been working on the potion for well over an hour already; at this stage she didn't much care if it was perfect – she was just glad it was done. Straightening her back with difficulty, she swivelled on her stool to look over at Severus and was pleased to see he had also finished whatever he had been working on. All of his supplies and equipment were gone and he now had only a stack of open scrolls piled in front of him.
'I think this is ready Severus… Are you okay?' She asked in concern seeing him pinch the bridge of his nose with a wince as her loud words broke the silence.
'Fine, just a slight headache.' He said tiredly. 'The combined fumes of fire weeds and stinging nettles always seem to affect my sinuses.'
'Oh you poor baby.' Lois teased consolingly, her eyes narrowing speculatively as a sudden thought struck her. 'Umm Severus, do you remember when I very first came here how Harry said I made him feel better in the hospital with a touch?'
'Yes.' He said with a bitter curl of his lips that conversations regarding the young boy always generated. 'Why do you ask?'
'Well the other week after he had his accident in Elena's class, I thought for a minute that I might have… done it again. ' She admitted cautiously. 'That's if I ever really did it in the first place of course.' She amended hurriedly.
'I thought you said you weren't having any success with your experiments?' Snape questioned sharply.
'I'm not.' Lois rushed into speech. 'Poppy's mashed poor Clive practically to bits and…'
'Clive?'
'The dummy. She's named it.' Snape rolled his eyes and Lois continued with a slight smile. 'Anyway like I said, she's done it some really serious damage and I can still barely feel anything and most of the time nothing at all but…' She trailed off uncertainly.
'Mr Potter is somehow different?' Snape questioned a hard edge to his voice.
'I'm not sure. I mean I was fine until I hugged him –'
'You hugged him?' Snape asked in disgust, but Lois ignored him.
'– and after that he suddenly looked better and I had a rotten headache so I thought maybe…. Oh it's ridiculous.' She said with a shake of her head. 'Never mind.' She muttered feeling foolish.
'No, it isn't ridiculous.' Snape said in a considering tone. 'Dumbledore himself suggested you might have a stronger connection to Potter because he was the first wizard you ever really came into contact with. Given that were true, it would be feasible I suppose that the connection has remained and maybe even grown stronger considering the amount of time you spend with him.' He said, the last words vaguely accusing. 'How long did the headache last?'
'Erm… Not long, I don't think.' She said taken aback by the sudden interrogatory tone.
'Did you tell Poppy?'
'Well no, I didn't –'
'And why not?' He asked impatiently. 'If it happens again, I want you to make sure you tell either Poppy or myself immediately.' He reprimanded.
'Do you really think it's possible then?' Lois questioned, ignoring the rebuke. 'I mean it hasn't happened before.'
'Hasn't happened before, as far you know. If something similar had occurred in the past, there would be no reason to connect any aches and pains you might have experienced as being transferred from a child you were caring for.' He pointed out reasonably. 'Or perhaps your… fondness for Potter and your newfound knowledge of your abilities have only now made it possible. In any event, whatever the reason, am I correct in assuming you are only mentioning it at this late stage because you would like to use me as a guinea pig?' He questioned with lazy amusement.
'Well I thought if you didn't mind…?'
'Go ahead.' He said casually standing up to walk towards her and stopping within inches of touching her.
'I feel silly now.' Lois confessed awkwardly looking up at him. 'I don't know what to do.'
'Do what you did to Potter.' He said with a flash of annoyance.
Lois shrugged and wrapped her arms swiftly around him, but instead of immediately pulling away as she had with Harry, the feel and smell of him as always set off fireworks in her body and she pressed herself instinctively closer, sinking bonelessly against him.
'I hope you didn't do that!' Snape gasped as she wriggled enticingly.
'Of course not!' Lois quickly denied glancing up at him slightly shamefaced. 'Can I help it if I find you wildly irresistible?' She said with small smile stepping away from him in an attempt to compose herself before trying again.
Snape looked down at her bent head and was filled as he always was, with a sense of awe at the deep and inexplicable attraction she felt for him. He wasn't a vain man by nature, so the whispered insults from the students had never bothered him, but he couldn't deny it was a heady experience being so completely desired by someone. Perhaps most pleasing was the knowledge that she wanted him warts and all. Other than the abortive experiment with the muggle shampoo, which had made not a blind bit of difference to his or anyone else's eyes, she seemed perfectly content with him just as he was. In fact, the way she gazed at him sometimes made him feel as though he was a Greek god, he thought with a trace of smugness. Maybe it really was love that made the difference he mused, before sharply reigning in his thoughts. He wasn't ready yet to even risk considering the possibility she truly meant what she had said, so he pushed his dangerous imaginings determinedly aside and concentrated on the woman in front of him once more.
'Are you quite sure you're up to this Lois?' He asked with a raised eyebrow as she moved back towards him. 'I wouldn't want you to injure yourself trying to suppress your… wild attraction was it?'
'Don't you worry about me - I have excellent self-control.' She informed him haughtily, ignoring his disbelieving snort as she placed her arms around him again and pulled him - this time - into a completely platonic hug.
A sudden high-pitched giggle had her head whipping around startled, as Peeves appeared through the classroom wall a moment later. His flight across the dungeon was brought to an abrupt halt by the sight of Hogwarts stern Potions master standing immobile in the middle of his classroom, wrapped in Lois's embrace. The ghost's shock lasted for only a second before his features lit with utter glee. His intense joy in Snape's obvious displeasure at being discovered in such a compromising position, easily overcoming the surface respect he generally afforded all the Professors. Energised, the small poltergeist jolted back into action, spinning in mad circles around the room.
'Lois Scott, Lois Scott, got Professor Snape all hot!' He trilled with malicious triumph.
It had all happened so quickly that Lois had had no chance to even consider releasing her hold on Snape, before the classroom door burst open and Filch came dashing in, breathing heavily and holding his broom out in front of him like a spear. The wizened old man froze on spotting Lois and Snape in the much the same manner as Peeves had, however unlike Peeves he obviously found no pleasure in the situation. 'Beg your pardon Professor.' Filch croaked his expression horrified. 'I had no idea you were in here.'
'Caught 'em smooching I did Filch,' Peeves lied merrily, floating down to hover cross-legged in front of the dismayed caretaker. 'Bold as brass they was, right in the middle of the classroom as well. What would the Headmaster think? Disgraceful it is and him a Hogwarts Professor.' He said with mock disillusionment before screeching with laughter again.
Snape gave an annoyed growl at his words, pulling Lois's arms from around him and physically setting her to one side before moving to stand protectively in front of her. Lois wrinkled her nose affectionately behind his back; anyone would think they had been caught cavorting naked on a desk instead of simply hugging fully clothed. Peering around his tall form she saw Filch looking everywhere but at them and Peeves floating on his back, cackling wildly in between carolling his rhyme.
'Give her a kiss!' Peeves hooted impatiently, obviously unhappy with the lack of response his song was getting and eager, as ever, to stir up trouble.
'I suggest you desist your caterwauling and remove yourself from my classroom this instant Peeves or you will be very sorry.' Snape warned icily, but to no avail. The poltergeist only sang louder, careening wildly around the room now, moving so quickly that he failed to notice Snape pulling his wand and pointing it at his gaudily clad form before saying calmly, 'Solidous.'
Although unlike the rest of the castle's ghosts Peeves wasn't glowingly translucent, he still had the ability to float through objects at will. At Snape's spell however, he was startled to discover his spectral form becoming momentarily solid as he slammed at high speed into one of the desks, before being propelled backwards, and then through the desks behind him as he returned to his normal state. He howled in pain, cursing furiously as he shot upwards through the ceiling, a loud crash reverberating from the room above as he disappeared from view.
'I'd better go and see what damage he's caused up there.' Filch managed to choke out, obviously bitterly disappointed by Snape's taste in women and barely able to look the potions master in the eye.
'That sounds like an excellent idea.' Snape said with distant courtesy and Filch muttered his hasty goodbyes, the door closing quietly behind him.
'I guess you really can't keep secrets at Hogwarts.' Lois said with a smile in her voice, highly amused by the whole incident.
'Apparently not.' Snape agreed.
Lois looked over at him worried by his grim tone, but he said no more. 'Severus, you're not angry are you?' She asked hesitantly unsure of his mood. 'They don't really know anything, they were just being…. well, Peeves and Filch.' She tried to console.
'No not angry, just weary of the constant lack of privacy.' He said in an emotionless voice.
'Well that's what happens when you live and work in the same place.' Lois shrugged deciding now probably wasn't a good time to tell him about her conversation with Hugo either. 'So, do you want to try again or shall we just forget it for tonight?'
'No. I still have a perfectly good headache, which thanks to our uninvited guests is now immeasurably worse. It seems a great pity to let it go to waste.' He said sardonically, tugging her sharply towards him and linking her arms around his middle.
For a moment Lois debated taking him to task for his high-handed treatment before deciding to let it go this time and relaxing against him; he'd had a rough couple of days. 'Do you feel anything?' She asked finally, peeping up at him a minute later. He shook his head no. 'Me neither.' She admitted. 'Hmm, you're a lot taller than Harry is – try sitting down.' She instructed grabbing his hand and dragging him over to the high backed chair at his desk. 'Oh, now you're smaller.' She announced with displeasure as he sat.
'Can we get a move on woman?' Snape barked irritably when she continued to hesitate over what to try next. 'I was hoping to get to bed sometime before dawn.'
'Well if you were also hoping for me to join you there, you'd better stop being so ratty with me.' Lois huffed. 'I was only trying to get everything as close as possible to how it was in the Infirmary that day.' She continued in an offended voice.
'I see, am I take it you have decided height is now the solution to all this?' Snape mocked, real impatience looming.
'Fine, I'll just get on with it.' Lois muttered truculently wrapping her arms around him, the room utterly silent for long moments until a soft sigh escaped her as she lowered her cheek onto the top of his head, once again feeling nothing. 'I knew it wouldn't work.' She said not moving position, but raising her hands to caress the hair at the nape of his neck as his own arms wound around her waist.
'No.' He agreed sombrely. 'It would appear your feelings for Potter make him special somehow.'
'Maybe nothing happened with him either. Perhaps I just had a headache.'
'Perhaps.' He agreed, but his tone said he doubted it.
'I do love you, you know.' Lois insisted pulling back to stare deep into his dark eyes, feeling a strange urge to reassure him.
He nodded gravely, pulling her onto his lap and lowering his lips to hers, successfully silencing any further conversation. What he couldn't prevent however, was the cynical little voice that questioned just which of them exactly she was trying to convince.
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A/N Thank you all for your reviews and I'm incredibly sorry it's taken me so long to update. I've had a million and one problems – actual figure :) – and I just didn't have any time to write for a while. Then just as I was finally about finished with chapter 21, my blasted computer broke and had to be rushed off to be mended. Fixed now though thank goodness!