"Let me guess, you weren't watching where you were going."
"Of course not! I was to busy reading, what can you expect? Who can read, walk, and pay attention at the same time? Obviously not you Severus, seeing as you ended up on top of me."
Snape looked at Christine for a moment and then moved to get off. She sat up and began searching for her book. Severus seemed to find it first and handed it back with a questioning look on his face. "Advanced Potions IV?"
"Yes, don't look so surprised. What were you reading?"
"The same."
"Oh really? What a coincidence, what chapter are you on?"
"Basic mind and behavior control."
"Oh, I haven't gotten there yet, just got to death stoppers. Well anyway, I bet be off, see you later Severus."
"Goodbye." Christine watched as Severus walked away, his black hair delicately falling over his face, blocking his deep brown eyes from view. 'Why does he have to be so cold all of the time?' She resumed her walk to the gardens, the most peaceful place in Snape Manor. She thought it would be nice to go and sit by her favorite tree, a weeping willow, it provided plenty of shade from the sun and a bit of privacy. She settled down and began to read. She had just gotten to the chapter on simple mind and behavior potions, 'the same one Severus was reading' she mused in her mind, when she felt someone approach. "What do you think you are doing?"
"Nothing Severus, just reading under a tree."
"And why, may I ask, are you doing that?
"Because it gets me off! What do you think?" 'What the heck has gotten into him? Making it seem like its illegal to read under a tree!'
He snorted, "My my my, someone seems to have acquired a bit of an attitude lately."
Christine was getting a bit frustrated, she hated being interrupted while reading, epically to be mocked and interrogated. "Oh, Gee, I wonder why, with this absolutely perfect life I'm leading, I have developed an attitude. Who knows? Maybe I got it from you!" She could see the sly grin forming on his face, delighted that he seemed to be grating on her nerves. "My, my my, is it that time of the month Chris? Maybe you should make an irritably potion for yourself, that is, assuming you have the ability."
She wanted to rip his hair out. He crossed the line, big time. "I damn well have the ability! Why are you even here anyway?"
It took every ounce of will power in her not to hex him into oblivion. She hated it when people doubted her abilities, epically when it came to potions, and then suggesting that time of the month? That was just something no man should ever ask and expect to have children. "I came down to tell you that dinner will be soon. You seem to have lost track of time, your brothers were worried."
She laughed," Alex and Jordan worried? Well that's a laugh. Those two have never been worried about me a day in their life, I doubt they would start now."
"True, older brothers can be pretty heartless when it comes to younger siblings."
She laughed again, but this time, it was true. "You do realize that you're calling yourself heartless right?" He shrugged, "Yeah I do, I'm not as daft as many believe."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a while when Christine spoke up, "Are you hungry?"
Severus gave her a questioning look, "Excuse me?" Christine laughed, 'boys' "I said, are-you-hungry?" He still looked at her like she had lost her mind, "Why?" She just shrugged, "Because I'm not, and I didn't want to be the only one not going to dinner."
Severus thought for a moment then answered, "No, I don't suppose I am hungry." She looked up at him and smiled, "Good now sit, come on then." She patted the ground next to her for Severus to sit down on. He had been standing up the entire time and looked like he could use a rest, even though he would probably never admit it. He walked over and sat down next to her, she could tell he felt a bit awkward and decided to try and make him loosen up a bit. "Ya know, it's strange."
Severus tilted his head at her, "What is?"
"How I can go from wanting to hex you into oblivion one minute, to asking you to sit down with me the next."
"I do tend to do that to people, though not many get past the hexing stage. But you're going to just love me soon."
She felt her stomach drop; his voice was just dripping with sarcasm, "Why?" He took a deep breath, "Because I have to be the bearer of bad news."
'Crap, this doesn't sound too good.' "Goodness me, what news?"
He prepared himself for the explosion, "We are not going to be the only people staying here this summer, and someone is coming tomorrow on your mother's request and is staying in the room adjacent to yours."
She was getting a bit frustrated, she just wanted him to spit it out in one bit, "Oh god, what did my mother do now?" She said this more to herself than anyone else, "Who is staying?"
"Lucius Malfoy"
She wanted to scream, "And this was my mothers doing?"
"Correct, she caught word that the Malfoy's would also be going away on 'business' so she insisted Lucius stay with us."
She screamed, "I HATE MOTHERS!"
Then Severus practically read her mind, "Let me guess, and trying to marry you off?"
She let out a sigh, "Yes Sev, you would be correct. She won't start on Ashley till I'm good and engaged."
"And she picked Lucius?"
"No, she just heard me mention him once in conversation, I was, of course, being sarcastic about his 'Genius' when it comes to potions but she thought it meant I was head over heels for the boy, when in reality I find his fluid and sly demeanor quite annoying, besides, I want to marry someone I can have an intelligent conversation with. Not someone who expects me to shut up, sit at home, and knit. Id Avada myself before I knitted."
"Well, you still have hope then, as long as whoever you pick meets your mother's requirements."
She let out another derisive snort, "Sev, I don't think I have any chance in hell of finding someone me and my mother agree on."
"Well, what exactly does your mother want?"
"Three things, Pure Blood, Rich, and Lord Voldemort supporter, bonus points if he is a Death Eater."
Severus now was the one to let out a snort, "I can see why she love's Lucius."
"Yeah, that and he is the only pureblood to be interested in me, though I'm sure it is just due to the fact that I'm the only Slytherin girl in our year he cant touch, not due to lack of trying though."
He looked as if you were joking, "You can't be serious, only pure blood to be interested?"
"Don't act so surprised. With the looks I'm cursed with and my nose always in a book, it's not that hard to understand why I have a lack of available suitors."
"I still don't get it; you're so, so..."
"So what?"
"Oh nothing, never mind. We've been talking to long, suns past set, we should get back inside."
Christine shook her head, 'he's not telling me something, I just know it!' "Um, ok, sure. But Sev?"
"Yeah?"
She put up her best sad eyes,"Could you help me up?" He stood and pulled her up, a shock of electricity going through both of them when they touched. 'Well that was strange, but gosh, how did I get this stiff?' She stretched out a bit, unaware of the look she was receiving from Severus. They walked back to the manor and to her room. "Well, thank you for escorting me to my room."
"No problem, although that wasn't my intention, seems we are neighbors."
She had to hide her smile at the thought of her and Severus sharing a wall. "Lovely, and Sev, thanks for talking to me today. You are really nice when you're not trying to live up to your bastard reputation. Although I'm not sure why you were so nice to me today."
A thoughtful look crossed his face. "You know what Chris? I don't know why either."
"Well anyway, goodnight Severus."
"Goodnight Chris."
She walked into her room and got ready for bed. She was just about to change when she saw a note on her desk. She picked it up and began to read it.
Dear
Christine,
The second you get this, come to our room. We need to
have a little chat. Our room is on the third floor, second on the
right next to the picture of Fred, Severus and Maxine.
Your
Brothers,
Alex and Jordan.
