A/N: I don't own the Harry Potter stuff, and if you're easily offended, stop reading now.
Chapter 20
"Are we interrupting something?" Severus and Andraste were shocked back to reality by the sound of Dumbledore's voice, and the presence f what appeared to be a roomful of people.
"Oh my God," Andraste said, removing herself from being wrapped around Severus so quickly that she nearly fell in the process.
"I think that is quite obvious, Albus," Remus interjected, struggling to breathe through his laughter.
"Can I help you all with something, or have we decided that my apartment is a good place to hold meetings?" Severus asked, irritation clear in his voice. Albus opened his mouth to reply, but was stopped by an excited shriek out of Andraste.
"JEREMY!" she shouted, jumping into the open arms of a man that Severus had never seen. "Severus, this is Jeremy Montgomery, the professor I told you about. Jeremy, this is Severus Snape, the Potions Master here."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Professor Montgomery." Severus responded, his voice nowhere close to pleased.
"Likewise, Professor Snape, but please call me Jeremy." Severus nodded in response, not feeling much like extending the same courtesy to his unwelcome guest. Andraste went to sit down, but Jeremy stopped her before she walked away; withdrawing a vial from his pocket and holding it out to her. Severus saw her body stiffen with hesitation when she looked up at Jeremy.
"Is this what I think it is?" she asked, taking the open seat next to Severus. Jeremy nodded slightly. "Very well," Andraste whispered as a glass of water appeared in her empty hand. The group watched in silence as she pulled the cork out of the vial and then downed the dark red contents in one quick drink, immediately chasing it with the water. "That still makes me want to throw up," she said with a weak smile.
"What did you just drink?" Severus demanded, but Andraste ignored him, keeping her attention focused on her old potions teacher.
"But how did you..."
"I still had some frozen," he interrupted.
"How long..."
"Right about now," he said, speaking directly from his mind to hers. Andraste smiled to acknowledge that she had heard him, and turned her attention to the others in the room.
"In case you're curious, tonight went wonderfully. I'm sure that the students really enjoyed themselves."
"That's wonderful to hear," Dumbledore replied, choosing to ignore the exchange that had just taken place before them. Severus, however, did not.
"Would somebody like to explain what just happened?"
"No," she replied softly, giving him a look that said it was very much not up for discussion. An awkward silence quickly fell over the group until Remus interrupted it, changing the topic back to the detention.
"So, I take it Severus didn't throw anyone off the boat?"
"Actually," Andraste laughed, "he did try to throw Hermione overboard, but he put her back on the deck as soon as she admitted that he was mean." The confused looks on everyone's faces was enough to draw Severus into the conversation to explain what she had meant. Once the group was involved in light-hearted banter, Andraste returned her focus to Jeremy, speaking directly into his mind. "It's good to see you."
"It's good to hear you say that. I was concerned that you may not feel that way."
"Well, technically, you didn't hear me and I didn't actually say it; but it is good to see you."
"Still a smartass, I see."
"Always, Jeremy. So, what brings you to Hogwarts?"
"I was actually quite curious about what brought you to Hogwarts." A small laugh escaped Andraste's lips as she thought of the best way to reply; a sound that drew the attention of everyone in the room.
"Would you like to share with us what you find so funny, darling?" Severus asked her, the tone of the last word particularly silky and venomous. Andraste had started to reply, but instead ended up with her face in her hands, trying to control the laughter caused by Jeremy quietly mocking Severus' tone.
"Daaaarlinng. Since when do you go for the dark, angry type?"
"Since I met him." Andraste stood up, stretching and addressing everybody in the room. "On that note, I am really rather tired. Maybe we could continue this over tea tomorrow? I assume that you will be staying a bit, Jeremy." The words of assurance from Dumbledore were interrupted by her old potion master speaking directly into her mind again.
"No. I believe we should go for a walk. It's been a long time. There's a lot to talk about."
"On second thought, I think I'll go for a walk. You'll join me Jeremy, won't you?" she said, not seeing the look on Severus' face because she was avoiding his eyes. She knew that Jeremy would follow, so she walked out without waiting for a reply from anybody; leaving behind a room of shocked faces.
Once Jeremy had left, Dumbledore broke the silence. "That was rather peculiar."
"Yes it was," Severus said, his voice coated in the ice they had so long expected from him. "Now if you will excuse me, I actually am tired." Minerva and Albus quickly said their goodbyes and departed, but Remus lagged behind just a moment.
"Something's wrong, Severus."
"You're quite right, Professor Lupin. You are still in my living room."
"Be reasonable for a minute. That wasn't very much like Andraste. Something is really off."
"I think that you assume too much, Lupin. None of us know Andraste well enough to know what is and isn't like her."
"Can you stop being angry for five seconds and think about this?"
"Get out." Remus sighed and left Severus sitting on the couch, getting angrier by the minute and feeling like a total fool.
"So what did you want to talk about, Jeremy?" Andraste asked once they had left the dungeons. Professor Montgomery stopped and turned towards her.
"It's been 15 years. Can't I just want to say 'hi' without a ton of people there?"
"It was never that simple with you."
"Are you still holding a grudge?"
"No, Jeremy. I moved on with my life a long time ago."
"That's good to hear, Princess. So, how do you like teaching?"
"I love it. I've already used a lot of the things that I learned from you."
"Then you must be a wonderful teacher," he said, the egotism in his eyes very sincere.
"We'll see. I've already missed half of my classes because of some injury or other."
"Yes, I've heard as much. You need to learn to stay out of trouble."
"You know I've never been able to do that. It seems to be attracted to me."
"And I'm sure you still think you're innocent in all of it," he said, the double meaning very clear to Andraste.
"I'm sure that what's there is there. I don't believe in blame anymore."
"That's good to hear, Princess. Now run along and get some sleep. We'll talk at breakfast tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Jeremy." Andraste turned and headed back to the dungeon, knowing that Severus was probably rather angry with her, but not really caring. When she got back to his chambers, he was sitting on the couch waiting for her. "I thought you'd be in bed by now," she said casually.
"You've only been gone 20 minutes. Maybe now that everyone is gone you'd care to explain what just happened."
"You wouldn't understand."
"Try me."
"Drop it, Severus," she snapped, "accept for once in your damn life that you don't get to be privy to everything that goes on in the fucking world." Severus opened his mouth, as if to respond, and then closed it again and sat there staring at her, anger burning in his eyes. After a few minutes passed with each unwilling to back down, he announced his intention of getting some sleep and stormed to the bedroom.
Andraste watched him leave, wishing that she understood enough to explain and make him understand... but even if she did, he would hate her for it; that much she was sure of. "Not that he doesn't hate me now" she thought. She threw herself down on the couch, and with a wave of her hand the stereo that had been in her room appeared on the table before her and immediately started playing. She placed a quick charm on the room so that the sound wouldn't escape and bother anyone, and then turned the radio up as loud as she it could go without making her ears bleed.
Severus laid on his bed and stared at his ceiling for what seemed like hours before he decided to check on Andraste. He hadn't heard her leave, so she must still be in the living room. When he got up and opened the bedroom door, his room was filled with the sound of loud music, American muggle by the sound of it. He stood at his door for close to 20 minutes, trying to decide what he should say... if he should even bother to talk to her. Finally, he headed to the living room, part of him hoping for resolution, part of him wanting to express his total displeasure with her.
"Did you plan on going to sleep tonight?" he asked her. Andraste immediately stopped singing and her eyes shot open.
"You scared me."
"I am so sorry," he said, sarcasm running over his words. "Did you plan on sleeping tonight? It's nearly six and we have class in a few hours."
"I'm not tired, but you should really get some rest."
"I've been sleeping," he lied.
"No, you haven't. I've had to turn up the music three times to drown out how loud you were thinking."
"At least you had the manners to do that much," he retorted, his anger starting to rise to the surface again.
Andraste's irritation quickly matched his, and she shot him a look that could have killed a lesser man. "Did you just come in here to fight, or do you actually have something worth hearing to say?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. You seem to be feeling better, so there's no reason for you to continue staying here," he snapped, immediately regretting his words, but refusing to take them back.
"I was hoping you'd say that," she retorted, refusing to show how much he had just hurt her. "I was getting rather sick of having you babysitting me constantly."
"Then get out," he told her, the volume of his voice starting to rise.
"Fine!" Andraste waved her hand, causing everything of hers that was in his rooms to disappear, and stormed out through the door. She briefly considered going back into her own room, but knew full well that she was far from capable of sleeping; so she turned right instead, heading for the nearest door.
The morning air was chilly, but Andraste failed to notice; too preoccupied with her inability to decide between crying and screaming. Times like this she would normally call for Sarine and ridden until her mind and body were numb, but now that wasn't even an option. "Coming here was the biggest mistake I've ever made," she thought to herself, tears starting to stream down her cheeks. "Why did I even come?" she wondered. "Why did I get involved with that potions bastard? Why did Jeremy have to show up, just when life was starting to be so wonderful?" Without even realizing that she had started to fly, Andraste looked down to find herself floating far above the ground.
"What are you doing all the way up there?" Jeremy called to her mind. "Damnit," she thought to herself. "Why did he have to bother her now?" She looked down to see him staring up at her.
"This isn't a good time, Jeremy."
"Yes it is. Come down." Andraste sighed, thinking how much she would love to tell him to go to hell for once, but floated downward anyway.
"Good morning, Jeremy," she said once she had touched the ground.
"Dumbledore mentioned that you have some great talents, I see now how right he is. I always knew that you're abilities exceeded even your wildest imagination."
"It's a thing," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "So, what are you doing up so early?"
"Wondering what you're doing up so late," he responded.
"Being a night person, as usual."
"Some things never change," he replied. Andraste breathed a soft sigh of relief when it appeared as though he wasn't going to push the subject. "I was thinking I'd sit in on your classes today, to watch my princess teach."
"I'm not sure Jeremy; Severus might not be comfortable with that."
"I have already sought Dumbledore's permission, and seeing as how he's the headmaster here, I don't think Professor Snape has a choice in the matter. Now, I believe it is nearing time for breakfast. Shall we?"
"Go ahead, I'll be along in a bit."
"Don't be silly. You're coming with me now," he replied, putting his arm around her waist and leading her back inside. They walked towards the Great Hall in quiet, Jeremy's arm still firmly around Andraste. When they turned the final corner to the entrance way, Snape was heading down the hall from the opposite direction. Andraste made an attempt to pull away from Professor Montgomery, but he tightened his hold on her waist, his nails digging lightly into her side.
"Don't be absurd, Princess," he whispered into her mind, "we haven't seen each other in ages." Andraste nodded her head slightly to show that she understood, and looked down, glad that Severus turned into the Great Hall before they did; the last thing she wanted right now was another confrontation.
When they walked into breakfast, Andraste allowed Jeremy to lead her to a chair beside him, instead of taking her normal seat beside Severus. The one reprieve of the situation, she thought, was that Professor Lupin was seated on her other side.
"Good morning, Andi, Jeremy." he said as they sat down.
"Good morning, Remus." Andi said, giving him the most sincere smile they could manage.
"Severus seems to be in quite a mood this morning, Andi. Any idea why that might be?" Andi opened her mouth to reply, but was cut short by Jeremy answering for her.
"Seems to me that's pretty much the norm for him, Remus."
"You're quite perceptive, Jeremy," he said, giving Andi an odd look. Andraste focused her attention on the empty plate before her, and then busied herself loading it with more food than she could eat in three meals. Jeremy and Remus carried on a conversation around her as she spent 45 minutes using her fork to rearrange the food she had put on her plate, eating very little in the process.
"Professor Andraste, a moment please," she heard said behind her. Breathing a deep sigh of relief that Severus was still speaking to her, she stood up; failing to notice that Jeremy was getting up as well. "I am quite certain that she can handle this conversation without you, Professor Montgomery." Jeremy sat, throwing Severus and Andraste unpleasant looks in the process.
"I suggest you be quick, Princess," he whispered into her mind. Andraste followed Severus out of the Great Hall, and into a small room that bordered the area. As soon as he shut the door behind her she leapt towards him, throwing her arms around him and kissing his face repeatedly. The feeling of his arms wrapping around her never came as she expected, instead he stiffened under her touch and moved away. "I don't think that is quite appropriate, Professor Andraste."
"What are you talking about Severus?"
"Professor Snape."
"What the hell is your problem?" she demanded, starting to get angry again.
"I don't have a problem. I simply wanted to tell you that I have other business to attend to today and that you will be conducting class by yourself, unless of course your Professor Montgomery would like to help you; since he'll be there anyway."
"Is that what this is about? I'm not the one that asked him to sit in on the class, Severus. Please don't take this out on me."
"This isn't about you, Professor Andraste," he replied, putting particular emphasis on the formality of her name. "I have things that need my attention."
"I love you, please don't do this."
"And I loved having you warm my bed, you are now free to go warm his. Good day." Andraste watched, in a state akin to shell-shock as he turned around and headed back out the door. She stood in the room, disbelieving what had just happened, for close to fifteen minutes; not even realizing time was passing until there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," she called out, hoping it was Severus. When Professor Lupin walked in, she did her best to hide her disappointment and be friendly. "Hi Remus, what can I do for you?"
"I have to get to my first class, but I was hoping you might have some free time after dinner so we could have tea."
"Actually, Remus..."
"We'd love to," Jeremy interrupted, announcing his presence at the same time. "Say, around eight?"
"That'd be great. I'll see you both then." Lupin flashed Andraste a quick smile and left.
"Speaking of classes, we'd better get you to yours, Princess." The way Jeremy phrased that suggestion made Andraste feel like she was back in his school, and her stomach turned.
Tuesday was one of the fullest potions days of the week. Andraste, not wanting to put forth the usual effort, half-heartedly gave the four classes the monotone speech that she had delivered to the third years the day before. When classes were finally over, Jeremy came up from his position in the back of the class to speak to her. "That was rather boring. A nice idea, but what happened to your personality?" Andraste wasn't sure how to answer that question, but was spared the necessity by a knock on the classroom door. She felt a small part of her involuntarily cheer up when Ron, Hermione, and Harry walked in.
"Hi, guys. How are you all doing?"
"Great, Professor Andraste," Hermione said. "We just thought we'd stop by and say hi before dinner."
"You're company is always welcome here, you know that. But I believe I owe you all some introductions. This is Professor Jeremy Montgomery; he's the headmaster at a the school I went to when I was younger. Jeremy, this is Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger."
"I've heard about you three from Professor Dumbledore. He holds quite a high opinion of you all. Although, Hermione, I must say; you remind me quite a bit of Professor Andraste when she was my student," Jeremy said to the young girl.
Andraste's entire body involuntarily froze up. It was nice to see what a compliment Hermione took that as, but not from who said it.
"I think you three should get down to dinner," she said quickly.
"It's okay, Professor Andraste. We have time," Ron said.
"Then go study!" she snapped at them, a bit harsher than she intended. The surprised trio gave her an odd look and headed for the door.
"What do you think that was all about?" Ron asked once they had left the classroom.
Hermione quickly held her finger to her lips to shush them, motioning that she was trying to listen to what Professor Andraste was saying to the newcomer, rather passionately by the sound of it.
"Jeremy, I swear to God, if you ever go anywhere near her I'll kill you myself."
"Jealous, Princess?" they heard him question.
Ron started to ask what was going on, but Hermione quickly covered his mouth, inching closer to the door so she could listen better.
"Just stay away from her."
"How dare you speak to me like that after all I've done for you? You know what I think, Princess. I think that you need a lesson in manners."
"I'm not your student anymore, Jeremy. You can't treat me like this."
"Very true. You are quite grown up now. I think we should go have a private talk in your room, don't you Princess?"
"No Jeremy. I think you should leave me alone and go back to whatever hell you crawled out of." The trios eyes all widened in unison as they heard what, judging by the quiet yelp, could have only been their professor being slapped.
"Do not ever speak to me like that again, you ungrateful bitch. Now about that talk."
"Get away from me!" she shrieked, the voices coming closer to the door. Quickly Hermione grabbed the boys by the arms and pulled them into a small cubby down the hall. The three students watched in horror as Montgomery half pulled, half pushed Andraste the short distance down the hall and into her room.
"Oh no. We have to find get help!" Hermione said, tears starting to run down her face.
"Snape should be in his room," Harry said, darting towards the Potion Master's office. They banged repeatedly on the door, Hermione close to hyperventilation.
"Go away!" a voice shouted from the other side.
"Please, it's..." Ron began, but the door was swung fiercely open by a very irate Professor Snape.
"I don't bloody care. GO AWAY!" he screamed at them, and then slammed the door.
"Oh my God, what are we going to do?" Hermione cried.
"I don't know," Ron said, starting to lose his calm as well. "Dumbledore is his friend."
"REMUS!!" Harry shouted, and darted towards where the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher would be without waiting for a response. The trio ran into Professor Lupin's office without knocking, barging in to a conference he has having with McGonagall and Flitwick. Remus looked up at the panicked students that were desperately trying to catch their breath. "What's wrong?"
"Professor Andraste..." Harry gasped, "in her room..."
"Stay here!" Lupin shouted at them, leaping his desk in one bound and disappearing out the door. Remus made it to the dungeons quicker than he ever had before, skidding to a halt in front of the guest room that Andraste had been using. "Alohamora!" He said urgently, his wand pointed at the lock. When the door made no signs of moving, he kicked it as hard as he could out of sheer frustration. The door caved inward, the frame splintering into several pieces. Had Remus not been preoccupied with insuring Andraste's safety, the sight that the broken door revealed would have made him physically ill. Professor Andraste was lying unconscious on the bed, bloody and naked; with several large bruises forming over what of her body Lupin could see. The rest of her was blocked by the man cloak of the man on top of her. The shock that Jeremy had at being interrupted gave Lupin's werewolf reflexes the time he needed to bound across the room, grab him by the neck, and throw him full-force against the bookshelf lining the opposite wall. Seeing the man clearly unconscious, Remus rushed over to Andi, hoping he wasn't too late. He had barely pulled a sheet over her body when Professor McGonagall rushed in, quickly followed by the students. "Harry, tell Madam Pompfrey that she's needed and get Professor Dumbledore, then all of you go back to your common room. I'll tell you when we know something. Minerva, you should stay with Andraste, I need to go tell Severus what's happened."