Bright Snake Scales
author: Lucinda
main characters: Severus Snape, Drusilla
fourth in the 'Brave Snake' series
rating: pg13-16
disclaimer: I hold no legal rights to Severus Snape (property of JK Rowling) or Dru (property of Joss Whedon).
distribution: Twisting, OADNT, Paula, Jen & Cat if they want, anyone else please ask first.
note: AU post season 5 BtVS, AU post book 3 for Harry Potter.
"What's in the wardrobe, my dragon?" Drusilla still sounded sleepy as she leaned up on one elbow, her pale skin contrasting with the black silk bed sheets and her dark hair.
He smiled at her, debating the advantages of just skipping the Welcoming Feast altogether. "Clothing, my silly princess. The Welcoming Feast is tonight, and it simply wouldn't do to arrive improperly attired."
"We could be animals, and stay naked..." Her fingers trailed along her shoulder, falling towards one breast in an obvious suggestion.
"But wouldn't you like to go to the feast?" He smiled, appreciating the view. This year would be so much more enjoyable... "The Great Hall has been enchanted so that you can look up and see the stars."
"Truly? I will be able to see the stars from inside?" She sat upright, her seductive efforts forgotten. "Have I anything suitable to wear?"
"Considering that you have two wardrobes filled with pretty dresses, I should hope so, my sweet. Why not that deep red dress, with the black beadwork?" He smiled at her, amused by her excitement. What would she do when she finally realized that since the enchantment simply showed the sky overhead, they could sit there in the daytime, seeing the sunlight without truly being in the sun?
"Mmmm... that will do. Can you pass me the stockings?" She slid off the bed, moving towards the chair where she'd draped her garter belt and a lovely jet choker.
They took their time preparing for the feast, playing a bit as they did. His own robes were black, of course, much as they'd always been. "You look radiant, my sweet dark princess. Shall we go?"
They made their way up from the basement, and emerged into one of the side halls that connected the Great Hall with the ground floor classrooms. Hearing a rattling sound, Severus glanced over. Sibyl Trelawney had just descended from the slender spiraling staircase that lead to her personal chambers. She was dressed in this greenish robe with a pale yellow gauzy overlay, draped with more necklaces of beads and charms and more beads than he would have thought any three women should wear at once.
"Severus... Did you enjoy your vacation?" Sibyl asked, her mouth tipped into a slight smile.
Smirking at her, he nodded. "I found it a most... liberating experience, Sibyl. Permit me to perform the introductions. Sibyl Trelawney, this is Drusilla Cambridge. Dru, this is Sibyl, the Divinations instructor. Dumbledore thought that you could use an assistant this year, as the last one was so taxing for you."
"An assistant... That must be why the signs pointed that this year would be easier." With a firm nod, Sibyl looked over Drusilla. "I look forward to this. We shall have to speak after the feast, to sort out how things shall go."
"Of course, pretty pet." Drusilla's smile had a trace of amusement.
They both watched as Sibyl walked towards the Hall, rattling with every step.
"And she's teaching people how to See?" Dru snorted, one hand waving dismissively. "No wonder Dumbledore thought she needed help."
"Sibyl needs far more help than just that, my love." He took her hand, tugging her towards the hall. "We don't want to be late, do we?"
"But my dragon, we are late." Dru giggled, taking his arm to enter the Hall.
They swept into the hall, and he led the way to his normal seat, pleased to see that the one to the left of it was empty. With a hint of a smile, he pulled the chair out for Drusilla, before sliding her up to the table. It was so much easier to hear all the whispered questions and comments from the students this year as they all tried to guess who the lovely woman beside him was, and why she was there. A quick glance showed another unfamiliar face, a scowling, scarred, with one eye rolling wildly in it's socket. Presumably, that was the new Defense Instructor. It looked as if he'd either learned what he knew the hard way, or had sought to test his knowledge.
They watched the Sorting, and Dru kept leaning over to whisper comments about the frightened little lambs. The stars were delightful, and she kept glancing up at them, smiling every time that they were still 'here inside with us'. She giggled a bit at the ghosts, though the Bloody Baron seemed to frighten her. All in all, things seemed to be going normally.
Standing up, Dumbledore cleared his throat slightly, surveying the room. "It's good to see so many familiar faces back again, and encouraging to see the new ones as well. Those of you who are returning will have noticed that we have two new faces at the Head Table. Professor Alastair Moody will be our new Professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts." He paused while the scarred man stood and glared around the room. "The other new face is Miss Drusilla Cambridge, who will be assisting Professor Trelawney in Divinations."
Drusilla smiled, eagerly standing up and waving at the students. "Hello, little lambs. I'm so pleased to be here."
She sat down again, still smiling as the Headmaster repeated the rules about the Forest and the Third floor. Severus let his attention drift, knowing that there would be students who didn't listen, just like every year. A corner of his mind wondered if they might just... vanish, and he resisted the urge to lick his lips. No, best not try such a thing - Dumbledore would know. He always knew.
Instead, he turned his attention to the students, amused by some of their speculations. It was amazing how much easier it was to hear things now.
"A new Divinations assistant? She's pretty."
"Too bad such a lovely woman's stuck with that old loon in the tower."
"I wonder if I can get some special tutoring? She inspires all sorts of visions, if you get my drift."
"Why is she smiling at Snape? He's just… that's vile."
"Hey Hermione, do you think that she'll be a better teacher than Trelawney?"
"I don't see how she could possibly be worse. That woman sees death omens everywhere."
"Why is she looking at Professor Moody like that?"
"Who cares? Why is she… she did not just lean over and kiss Snape! Tell me she didn't."
"Do you think there might be something odd about her? I mean… lambs?"
"Do you think Snape slipped her a potion? I mean, there's got to be a potion to get… well, to catch a woman's attention."
"Where did she come from? How did she get the position?"
"Maybe my father can learn more about her…"
"Thank Merlin that we got a pretty teacher now."
"Why didn't I sign up for Divinations?"
Chuckling, he looked at Drusilla. "It seems that you've got quite a few fans, my sweet."
"How charming. Run and catch, the lambs all play in the blackberry patch… Do we catch the lambs?" She smiled, her nails tracing over his arm, over the place where he'd once borne the Dark mark.
"If we do, we must let them go relatively unharmed." He reminded her, nodding towards Dumbledore. "He would be dangerous to cross."
"I suppose. But this shall be an interesting year. I can feel it in my bones…" She smiled, her eyes turning once more towards the stars.
end Bright Snake Scales.
author: Lucinda
main characters: Severus Snape, Drusilla
fourth in the 'Brave Snake' series
rating: pg13-16
disclaimer: I hold no legal rights to Severus Snape (property of JK Rowling) or Dru (property of Joss Whedon).
distribution: Twisting, OADNT, Paula, Jen & Cat if they want, anyone else please ask first.
note: AU post season 5 BtVS, AU post book 3 for Harry Potter.
"What's in the wardrobe, my dragon?" Drusilla still sounded sleepy as she leaned up on one elbow, her pale skin contrasting with the black silk bed sheets and her dark hair.
He smiled at her, debating the advantages of just skipping the Welcoming Feast altogether. "Clothing, my silly princess. The Welcoming Feast is tonight, and it simply wouldn't do to arrive improperly attired."
"We could be animals, and stay naked..." Her fingers trailed along her shoulder, falling towards one breast in an obvious suggestion.
"But wouldn't you like to go to the feast?" He smiled, appreciating the view. This year would be so much more enjoyable... "The Great Hall has been enchanted so that you can look up and see the stars."
"Truly? I will be able to see the stars from inside?" She sat upright, her seductive efforts forgotten. "Have I anything suitable to wear?"
"Considering that you have two wardrobes filled with pretty dresses, I should hope so, my sweet. Why not that deep red dress, with the black beadwork?" He smiled at her, amused by her excitement. What would she do when she finally realized that since the enchantment simply showed the sky overhead, they could sit there in the daytime, seeing the sunlight without truly being in the sun?
"Mmmm... that will do. Can you pass me the stockings?" She slid off the bed, moving towards the chair where she'd draped her garter belt and a lovely jet choker.
They took their time preparing for the feast, playing a bit as they did. His own robes were black, of course, much as they'd always been. "You look radiant, my sweet dark princess. Shall we go?"
They made their way up from the basement, and emerged into one of the side halls that connected the Great Hall with the ground floor classrooms. Hearing a rattling sound, Severus glanced over. Sibyl Trelawney had just descended from the slender spiraling staircase that lead to her personal chambers. She was dressed in this greenish robe with a pale yellow gauzy overlay, draped with more necklaces of beads and charms and more beads than he would have thought any three women should wear at once.
"Severus... Did you enjoy your vacation?" Sibyl asked, her mouth tipped into a slight smile.
Smirking at her, he nodded. "I found it a most... liberating experience, Sibyl. Permit me to perform the introductions. Sibyl Trelawney, this is Drusilla Cambridge. Dru, this is Sibyl, the Divinations instructor. Dumbledore thought that you could use an assistant this year, as the last one was so taxing for you."
"An assistant... That must be why the signs pointed that this year would be easier." With a firm nod, Sibyl looked over Drusilla. "I look forward to this. We shall have to speak after the feast, to sort out how things shall go."
"Of course, pretty pet." Drusilla's smile had a trace of amusement.
They both watched as Sibyl walked towards the Hall, rattling with every step.
"And she's teaching people how to See?" Dru snorted, one hand waving dismissively. "No wonder Dumbledore thought she needed help."
"Sibyl needs far more help than just that, my love." He took her hand, tugging her towards the hall. "We don't want to be late, do we?"
"But my dragon, we are late." Dru giggled, taking his arm to enter the Hall.
They swept into the hall, and he led the way to his normal seat, pleased to see that the one to the left of it was empty. With a hint of a smile, he pulled the chair out for Drusilla, before sliding her up to the table. It was so much easier to hear all the whispered questions and comments from the students this year as they all tried to guess who the lovely woman beside him was, and why she was there. A quick glance showed another unfamiliar face, a scowling, scarred, with one eye rolling wildly in it's socket. Presumably, that was the new Defense Instructor. It looked as if he'd either learned what he knew the hard way, or had sought to test his knowledge.
They watched the Sorting, and Dru kept leaning over to whisper comments about the frightened little lambs. The stars were delightful, and she kept glancing up at them, smiling every time that they were still 'here inside with us'. She giggled a bit at the ghosts, though the Bloody Baron seemed to frighten her. All in all, things seemed to be going normally.
Standing up, Dumbledore cleared his throat slightly, surveying the room. "It's good to see so many familiar faces back again, and encouraging to see the new ones as well. Those of you who are returning will have noticed that we have two new faces at the Head Table. Professor Alastair Moody will be our new Professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts." He paused while the scarred man stood and glared around the room. "The other new face is Miss Drusilla Cambridge, who will be assisting Professor Trelawney in Divinations."
Drusilla smiled, eagerly standing up and waving at the students. "Hello, little lambs. I'm so pleased to be here."
She sat down again, still smiling as the Headmaster repeated the rules about the Forest and the Third floor. Severus let his attention drift, knowing that there would be students who didn't listen, just like every year. A corner of his mind wondered if they might just... vanish, and he resisted the urge to lick his lips. No, best not try such a thing - Dumbledore would know. He always knew.
Instead, he turned his attention to the students, amused by some of their speculations. It was amazing how much easier it was to hear things now.
"A new Divinations assistant? She's pretty."
"Too bad such a lovely woman's stuck with that old loon in the tower."
"I wonder if I can get some special tutoring? She inspires all sorts of visions, if you get my drift."
"Why is she smiling at Snape? He's just… that's vile."
"Hey Hermione, do you think that she'll be a better teacher than Trelawney?"
"I don't see how she could possibly be worse. That woman sees death omens everywhere."
"Why is she looking at Professor Moody like that?"
"Who cares? Why is she… she did not just lean over and kiss Snape! Tell me she didn't."
"Do you think there might be something odd about her? I mean… lambs?"
"Do you think Snape slipped her a potion? I mean, there's got to be a potion to get… well, to catch a woman's attention."
"Where did she come from? How did she get the position?"
"Maybe my father can learn more about her…"
"Thank Merlin that we got a pretty teacher now."
"Why didn't I sign up for Divinations?"
Chuckling, he looked at Drusilla. "It seems that you've got quite a few fans, my sweet."
"How charming. Run and catch, the lambs all play in the blackberry patch… Do we catch the lambs?" She smiled, her nails tracing over his arm, over the place where he'd once borne the Dark mark.
"If we do, we must let them go relatively unharmed." He reminded her, nodding towards Dumbledore. "He would be dangerous to cross."
"I suppose. But this shall be an interesting year. I can feel it in my bones…" She smiled, her eyes turning once more towards the stars.
end Bright Snake Scales.