Again, for Liz, who I adore!
Disclaimer- Not mine
Monuments and Melodies
Chapter Twelve- Flushed
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It was late one night, now deep into autumn. The wind was howling outside Grimmauld Place's spidery windows, blowing leaves to and fro. Ginny could just make out the shadow of a looming tree leaning, bent by the force, from her place at the table. Severus, of course, was too absorbed in another of his varying potions texts to notice this. The two drank cup after cup of tea in their own silence.
Suddenly, a door slammed, and Ginny looked away from the window, turning her gaze to the noise's direction. "What was that?" she asked. Severus did not look up from his book.
"It's just the wind."
A spout of heavy footsteps clanked overhead. Her eyes hit the ceiling, following each pounding mark. "It certainly doesn't sound like the wind to me," the red head said, standing and walking to the bottom stair of the kitchen steps.
"Hello!" she heard someone call from upstairs.
Ginny looked back to Severus, who had finally decided to remove his nose from the book, "Who would be arriving at this time of night?"
"I have no idea," he said, standing up as well and coming beside her. Together, they looked up the stairwell, "Remus came in earlier tonight, and as far as I know, no one else plans on staying here."
"Malfoy?" Ginny guessed. Severus shook his head.
"No, Draco is renovating Malfoy Manor. He would have no need for coming her. Potter perhaps?"
"I doubt Harry would stay here."
More footsteps came from above, s second pair this time. Remus's calm monotone was just barely made through the ceiling boards though it was too muffled to understand what he was saying.
Severus looked up to listen for a moment, but quickly gave up. Ginny, he could see, was still giving her rapt attention.
"Why is that?" he said, calling her mind back.
"What?"
"Why wouldn't Potter stay here?"
Ginny frowned, "Severus, that is hardly something you need me to answer. This house did belong-" She stopped suddenly, looking back up at the ceiling. Somebody else- the intruder- was talking. Brown eyes widened at the sound, "Good Godric," she murmured.
"What?" Severus questioned, looking back up at the ceiling as well, "Who is it?"
But Ginny wasn't listening. Her hand grasped the railing, using the wooden bar to push off and fly up the stairs. "Virginia!" Snape called after her, but she paid him no heed. Eyes glazed over, she was running full speed to the foyer and up the next flight of stairs. Severus followed.
The voices were slowly growing in volume, but Severus was moving to quickly to listen. As Ginny reached another landing, she hurried off it and down the twisting corridor. Severus did his best to keep up, stopping abruptly to her back as he slid around a corner. Ginny was just standing there, looking straight at the two men they had heard speaking downstairs. It was Remus as they had recognized, and another man- a red headed man, with his back turned to them.
"Charlie?" Ginny murmured.
The red headed man turned around, his blue eyes pale and watery. He was short and stout, much like Severus remembered him as a student- probably still shorter than the Potions Master himself. His face was different- grimmer, gray, and lined with scars and wrinkles. He look like a man twice his age, even when he was still so young.
"Gin," he said, looking hard at his sister, taking in every detail, "You're alright."
Severus almost cringed at these words. He knew they were so far from the truth.
He could barely look at the woman as she fell into her brother's hold, tears streaming down her face. Charlie's arms wrapped around her tight, refusing to let go. Severus saw the man's face twisting and contorting. He was trying not to cry.
"You're alright, you're alright…" he kept saying, muffled by Ginny's hair, "You're alright," he still said as his voice began to crack, "You're alright, you're alright," he still said as he began to sob. But Ginny remained silent as ever, tears streaming down her gaunt cheeks. Her profile leaned on his shoulder.
Severus felt an odd pang in his chest. Ginny was his to protect, wasn't she?
Remus was looking as awkward as ever. His right hand rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Looking down, it was almost as if he refused to meet Severus's gaze.
Severus did not want to be here, watching Ginny weeping in another man's arms- even if that man was her brother. It just didn't feel right. He didn't like it.
Suddenly, and swiftly, he turned, cloak billowing behind him as he hurried to his room- his sanctuary. When the door was locked, he fell on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
What was wrong with him?
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He could hear it from the kitchen, like a toxic fume rising through the floorboards, causing his air to stop, his throat to choke. He could hear it, bounding up the stairs like the patter of children's first footsteps. He could hear it, like music drifting from that lone violin. He could hear it.
The sound was killing him, and he did not know why.
Just three days ago, the only remaining Weasley male had returned to England. It was an unexpected event for all, even Dumbledore himself. Therefore, people from all over had made their way to Grimmauld Place to catch a glimpse of the surviving man. Alarmed by the sudden swarm of humans, Severus had retreated to his room, only coming down early in the mornings to depart for the Grounds and returning late. Virginia had not been at the door.
In fact, it had seemed as though she had forgotten him. And why not? Her brother was home now. Obviously she no longer had time for stupid aging men who fancied her their 'friend'. Severus cursed his stupidity. Hadn't he learned a long time ago that there was no such thing as a true friend? Always, when something more important came in the way, he was out of the picture- betrayed and backstabbed. He had sworn he would never go through it all again. Why he had made a painful exception, he did not know.
And it was painful, more painful than he ever remembered, coming to realize that the one person he considered a friend in the midst of all the darkness shrouding his life was no more than a mere acquaintance. Severus was simply a replacement until those of real meaning in her life came along. He was suddenly and harshly aware that she was his student and not an equal. And he was suddenly and harshly aware that this was upsetting- in a mild way, of course.
But he could not fathom it! He had done everything for this woman! Who was it that had saved her, who had cared for her, who had grounded her time and time again? It was him! Not Lupin, not Albus, not Poppy, not Potter, and not even Charlie Weasley! And this was his reward- to be cast aside, ignored, forgotten as she spoon fed her poor brother!
And there she was, down in the kitchen with him, Charlie, her brother- the kitchen, her and Severus's spot. And there she was- laughing- laughing like her had never heard her laugh. Her soft voice hummed like the songbird to his senses, sweet and gliding in tones. Severus could not remember ever hearing such a beautiful sound…
But it was poison- a brilliant, honey poison that seeped into his mind, causing him to think of her and their now poor relationship once more.
Why could he not make her laugh like that?
And instead of reading in the hard wooden chair he now sat in beside his bed, Severus concentrated on hearing her voice- hearing the damned melody of her laugh once more. Even if he could not stand it and even if it angered him so, he had to listen because if he did, maybe, he could pretend she was laughing for him.
She wasn't.
He did not know how long he sat there- maybe seconds, maybe minutes, maybe hours trying to hold onto her voice. When it finally stopped, he was lost. And still he sat there, staring off into space, praying to Salazar it would come back- she would come back…
It was his last thought as he drifted off into a mournful sleep.
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"Severus?"
Thank you, Salazar…
"Severus, are you in here?"
The Potions master opened his eyes groggily, the first sight her red hair tumbling out to the doorway. Ginny had wedged herself in the barely open door, peering in with a look of concern.
"Come in," Severus slurred, "I'm over here."
Her brown eyes found him, slumped over in the chair and her brow furrowed. Closing the door softly behind her, she stood stiffly, "Did I wake you?"
"Yes." He sounded anything but pleasant.
"I'm sorry-"
"Did you need something, Miss Weasley?"
Ginny frowned, "I came up to check on you."
"Well, here I am. You may go now."
"Severus-"
"I'm sure you have business to attend to, Miss Weasley. There is no need to tarry here."
Ginny frowned, "My name is Virginia, Severus."
"Very well- Virginia- you're work here is done. You may leave."
"Please, Severus, come down with me. You have not been out from this room in ages."
"And why would you care about it in the slightest?" he snapped, standing and briskly walking to the window. He did not want to look at her.
It took a moment for her to answer, "I miss your presence, Severus," she murmured. It caught Severus off guard, her answer in that soft tone her voice seemed to carry. He suddenly felt the urge to turn around- to face her- to gaze at her. But he did not.
"You hardly act like it."
"What on Earth do you mean by that?"
"I mean you seem to be having a perfectly wonderful time without me," he hissed, still turned away.
"What would you know about it? You haven't even been down those bloody stairs to see me. It's seems you're having a perfectly wonderful time ignoring me!"
"Ignoring you?" he could not bear it any longer. He spun around, "I'm ignoring you! Ever since that blasted brother of yours returned, I have been nothing but- but a mere ghoul lurking above your kitchen!"
"A mere ghoul makes more of an effort to be noticed than you do! You don't even make a sound up here! I was surprised to find you alive!"
Severus grimaced, stomping over to her, "And why did you come up here in the first place!"
"I already told you," she cried, "I miss you!"
"Spare- what?"
"I miss you."
Severus could feel the color draining from his face. She had said that, hadn't she? "What?"
"I miss you!" she said, her cheeks glowing red.
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why- why do you miss me? Why in Salazar's name would you miss me?"
Ginny looked to her feet. She could feel her face aflame, "Because- because you are my friend."
Severus still felt skeptical. He could not trust her. She betrayed him. She had forgotten him. But she just said she hadn't! She missed you.
"And why am I your friend?"
Ginny looked baffled by this question, "How could you not be? I have never spoken to anyone in the way I speak with you. And," she added embarrassedly, "the fact that you have kept me grounded time and time again."
Severus did not know how to respond. This woman in front of him, with her wild hair and her flushing face was embarrassed and this time it was not because he had humiliated her in front of a class. It was because he had helped her. Severus had helped her.
But suddenly his thoughts loomed to the laughing he had heard not long ago. He frowned, "I do not make you laugh."
Ginny looked up at him curiously, "Is that necessary?"
"Shouldn't it be?"
The red head shook her head, "No."
Severus looked down at her, staring at her blushing face. He could make out the trail of freckles crossing her nose and cheeks. Ribbons of soft red hair drifted across her forehead, shadowing her bright brown eyes now wide and clear. It was amazing, he thought, how someone such as herself could still look so beautifully innocent. And she was beautiful- so gloriously beautiful. He could not take his eyes off her.
His lips were on hers before he knew what was happening. This was not him, this was not the man he claimed himself to be! he thought in vain as his hands fell around her tiny waist. At first, she did not respond, too shocked to move, but slowly her lips began to move against his own and her hand wrapped around his neck. Severus pulled her closer, feeling her tremble at the touch. The kiss was soft and innocent and broken and melancholy all at once. It felt like she was hanging on for fear life, her arms tight and her kisses full of need. It felt like she needed him.
Suddenly, rational thought flew back into his head. What was he doing? This woman- no, this girl- she was a young girl who had been his student, no less, was not supposed to be in his arms. She was not supposed to be kissed like a vile man as himself. He had been her teacher! He was at least twenty years older than her! This was wrong!
Harshly, he pushed her away. Ginny fell back, stumbling a bit to keep her balance. Her cheeks were even more flushed than before, and she looked breathless, her eyes glittering. If it was possible, she looked even more radiant than before. Such a beautiful creature should not be near him. He was suddenly aware of his ghastly looks, self conscious of his overly large nose and his greasy hair. Severus knew he was not a handsome man and surely, she must think the same. What a fool he was.
She was watching him. He could feel her eyes upon him. She was probably trying to hold in her laughter- the silly, ugly Potions master trying to kiss his old student. She was probably getting a kick out of the whole situation! He scowled.
"Severus?" Ginny asked softly, coming closer to him and placing a dainty hand on his shoulder. He could not bear to look at her.
Violently, he smacked her hand away, storming out of the room. Oh, what a fool he was!
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Ginny heard the door slam behind her. She still turned around, even knowing he was gone, still hoping he had not left the room. He was not there.
Slowly her stinging hand reached up to touch her lips. She could still feel his lips moving there- a feeling she doubted she could quickly forget.
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A/N- I can't say I'm entirely happy with this chapter… Something just seems off. So, after much debate, I decided to finish this story. It is, now, AU after HBP, but it felt wrong to stop just because of that. Have no fear- this story will be finished. I promise. I am also so very sorry for the wait. I promise to get the next chapter out sooner. I felt almost a block with writing this one, and could not seem to get it done- but here it is.
I must thank all my fabulous reviewers who never fail to make me smile. Again, please forgive my spelling and grammar mistakes. I have no beta and while I try to get them al, I do miss a few- ok, a lot.
That being said PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! I swear, I update sooner with more motivation! AND LONG AND RAMBLY IS VERY ACCEPTABLE!