The Long Game
Chapter 3.
Xiomara gathered the chattering school children together over lunch and announced the change in chaperone arrangements.
'Who's going to take over Ma'am?'
'I'm not sure yet, but Professor Dumbledore is sending a substitute so I'm sure that we will know before the day is over.'
'Oh Lor' I hope it's not Snape,' piped up one of the Gryffindors to angry muttering from the Slytherin contingent, who genuinely seemed to admire their House Master.
'Professor Snape,' corrected Xiomara absently. Surely not. Surely Minerva hadn't planned this. Even she wouldn't be capable of playing such a long game and so deviously. Anyway, it was irrelevant now. Minerva couldn't have known that she would get on so well with Xavier. Xiomara realised that the normally chatty fifth-years were staring at the canteen door in utter silence. She followed their gaze until it fell upon the dreaded Professor Snape. He stood in the doorway glaring at them.
'Perfect,' she whispered under her breath. 'Professor Snape, what a nice surprise, please do join us for lunch'
He swept across the room, moving faster than she would have expected and stood looking down at the group with disdain.
'I have already eaten, thank you, Madam Hooch. By all means do continue with your meal. I shall have plenty of time to speak with you when the pupils have commenced their afternoon session'. He then sat at a nearby table, produced an academic paper from one of the hidden pockets in his voluminous robes and proceeded to read it, ignoring them completely.
Severus stared at the paper in front of him without seeing any of the words. He was fuming. How could Dumbledore send him to chaperone again? The first time, with Pomona had been bearable but this really was too much. With Xiomara Hooch of all people. It was intolerable. For weeks now the old duffer had been hinting that Severus should get to know her better. Frankly he couldn't see what all the fuss was about; the other wizards couldn't keep their eyes off her, the old fools. Certainly, her body was attractive enough, she was an athlete. And of course there were those distinctive yellow eyes that could pin you to a moment like a butterfly to card and when the light glinted off her spiky silver hair it was mesmerising….he pulled himself together hurriedly… but she had all the depth and subtlety of a bludger, despite having been a Ravenclaw. A man might as well fall for a Veela. When these field trips were announced he had suspected that Dumbledore might try to pair him with Xiomara but he had been relieved to discover that the Headmaster had sense enough to pair people who might have a hope of working together. If it weren't for the current emergency, he would not have been forced into this position. For a fleeting second a suspicion danced across his mind. No, he had seen the out-of-control quills with his own eyes and the crisis was genuine. It was just bad luck that he was sat here.
Lunch was over, the pupils had been led away to their afternoon sessions and Xiomara was steeling herself to join Snape at his table. He was totally engrossed in his academic journal and that allowed her to buy some time. She watched him reading. His focus was formidable. One could almost visualise his mind dissecting the information presented to it, analysing and cataloguing it. It was common knowledge that Snape was one of the most talented wizards of his generation. If he hadn't switched sides in the last war then it would have been much harder to defeat the Death Eaters – even once He Who Must Not Be Named had disappeared. She didn't really know what had gone on between Snape and Dumbledore and nobody ever talked about it at Hogwarts. What was obvious was that whenever there was trouble it was Professors Snape and McGonagall that Albus called for. She got up and sat at his table. He did not look up but pushed the coffee pot and a spare cup across to her. She poured herself a coffee and sat in silence drinking it. It was obvious he was baiting her and she was in no mood to indulge him. Eventually, Snape folded the journal and put it away. When he had stopped fussing he met her eyes for the first time.
'I trust you have been informed of the position at Hogwarts, Xiomara.'
'Yes, Severus, I was with Minerva when she was summoned back. I take it that there is no actual danger, merely some embarrassment to Hogwarts?'
'Merely some embarrassment?', Snape repeated her words back to her with an incredulous sneer 'Yes, Xiomara, how very astute of you. How unfortunate that your razor sharp grasp of the crisis is to be wasted so far from the actual scene. I am sure that it would be most helpful to Albus.'
Xiomara bit back a sharp retort 'Severus, was there anything in particular that you wanted to discuss with me or am I free to spend the rest of the afternoon as I wish?' she asked in a mild tone.
'Please do not let me detain you Xiomara. By all means do run along and find a broomstick to play with.'
Without another word, Xiomara took herself off to the Museum of Quidditch to calm herself. She felt tense and unhappy and even somewhat redundant, now that Snape was here to supervise the pupils when they weren't with Ministry staff. The day and the entire trip was shaping up to be a disaster, for her, if not for the students. How was she going to maintain a positive frame of mind and feel fabulous enough to seduce Xavier? Then again, maybe he wouldn't need much persuasion. He had been most attentive so far. She decided to focus on Xavier and let Snape go hang. Well, that was the theory, but the bloody man and his sneering voice would keep intruding into every happy scenario she built around Xavier. The battle to eject him from her mind left her exhausted. She realised with a start that it was time to go back to the hotel and she apparated back to the Ministry entrance. Snape was already shepherding the pupils into a crocodile as she appeared. She took her position at the back of the line.
'Madam Hooch I would appreciate it if you could lead us back to the hotel, I will keep an eye on the back of the line and make sure that we all get back together in an orderly fashion.'
Xiomara felt rather slighted. She was perfectly capable of watching them and making sure they got back in one piece. Just then Xavier came racing around the corner.
'Oh I am glad I've caught you. Professor Snape has agreed to allow the students to enjoy some muggle activities tonight so I wondered if you'd like to have dinner with me? I thought we could have a muggle evening of our own.'
Suddenly Xiomara felt rather more cheerful. Tonight might be the night. She gave him her most dazzling smile and accepted
'When you're quite ready, Madam Hooch' Snape scowled.
Xiomara flicked a smouldering look at him over her shoulder and set off back to the Hotel at a brisk pace. She had two hours to get ready and she needed every minute of it. She was determined to look fabulous for Xavier and, as a bonus, she would have an opportunity to show that vampire bat just how fabulous she was and what he was missing out on.
In two hours Xiomara managed to have a bath, depilate, exfoliate, moisturise using a concoction that made her skin glow and coif her hair with a sprinkling of crystals throughout. Her dress was an amber colour that set off her eyes and she wore a delicate gold chain with an intricate carved tigers-eye pendant that rested in the hollow of her throat. As she walked through the lobby and into the office all conversation ceased and muggles and wizards alike watched her pass. Xavier was in Accalia's office, deep in conversation with Accalia and Snape, but sprang to his feet as she entered.
'Xiomara, I did not think that it was possible for you to look even more beautiful but you have proved me wrong.'
Snape glanced at her and looked away. He did not acknowledge her presence again as she made her goodbyes and left on Xavier's arm, smiling up at him.
'Your poor mother, having to deal with Severus all evening, and on her own too,' Xiomara commented to Xavier as they walked through St James Park to the restaurant he had selected.
'They are old friends. She has always enjoyed Severus' company' Xavier responded mildly.
'You're joking!'
'No, they are both Slytherins and have always had a lot in common. My Mother was an expert on poisons. During the war she and Severus were much thrown together. In fact, he is the reason that I became so interested in potions. After my father was killed, Severus looked out for me, even though I was a Hufflepuff like my father and never had that Slytherin brilliance that he and my mother have.'
'They don't…they're not…?' too shocked to be able to articulate the question.
'No they're just friends,' said Xavier evenly, looking quizzically down at her.
'Thank God for that,' breathed Severus 'at least now we can have a decent conversation without that woman preening all over the place. I don't think she has a brain cell in her head. I cannot think how she was sorted into Ravenclaw.'
'Have you ever actually held a conversation with her, Severus?' asked Accalia as she summoned the House Elves to bring more drinks and serve dinner.
'I tell you, it's impossible. The woman is always wriggling and contorting and grimacing and giggling in corners with Minerva.'
Accalia laughed warmly at the image and just shook her head at Severus. She knew him well enough to know that there was no point in arguing with him. 'Tell me about Lucius' latest attempts to have Dumbledore discredited,' she changed the subject and Severus, rising to the challenge, entertained her as only he could – with biting sarcasm and withering commentary. It was a rare pleasure for him to be in the company of someone who enjoyed indulging in malicious conversation without actually being a back-stabbing bastard. And yet, by virtue of long acquaintance, Accalia knew that Severus' mind was elsewhere. When, at midnight she bid him goodnight she had her proof.
'That bloody woman is still out gallivanting, although she is fully aware of her responsibilities to her charges. I'm surprised at Xavier. I would have thought that he would have more sense than to fall for such blatantly superficial charms.'
Accalia merely smiled at him and watched affectionately as he walked towards the stairs. She knew he would climb all the way to the thirteenth floor rather than apparate or take the private lift. It was his way of punishing himself for being so distracted by Xiomara Hooch.
He really did think that last flight of steps would kill him. God how had he become so unfit? It was as well the war was over and the Dark Lord missing, presumed dead. If he had to start spying again now, he didn't think he'd survive it. The fire door to the thirteenth floor afforded a clear view of all the bedroom doors. The corridor was quiet and, as he had seen the students come in exhausted after their muggle theme evening, he felt confident that nothing untoward was going on. Just then he heard a door handle being turned and, out of habit, he stepped back into the shadows and watched, unseen. Xiomara's door opened and Xavier came out. Snape had never realised how much effort it took to breathe. He tried to remember how it was done. Xiomara came to the door. She reached up and stroked Xavier's face; he took her hand and pressed her knuckles to his lips. They shared a private smile and then Xavier walked down the corridor away from Snape and towards the special lift that ran between Accalia's office and the 13th floor. Xiomara closed her door and, some time later, Snape found that he had not actually suffered a stroke. It seemed that he was still able to breathe and move. His bedroom was at the opposite end of the corridor from hers. He entered quietly and lay down on the bed fully dressed. He did not sleep.
