Warning: This chapter contains some content not suitable for people under sixteen.
The Midnight Hour
CHAPTER NINE: Vervei Lattus
A long cold week passed by, Ginny had completed her sentence of detentions and thoroughly enjoyed it. As the week passed, Ginny and Severus got to know each other better, and their understanding of each other grew slightly. Severus had begun to prepare for his trip according to the list Dumbledore had given him, but he had not told her about it yet. As time passed it became harder to talk about it, and even think about it.
Severus sat in his office, provided warmth by the fireplace raging near by. He kept watch over a simmering potion as he planned for the lessons his classes were to learn while he was away. He hadn't forgotten Dumbledore's comment about tying up his affairs. He wondered if the Headmaster knew what was going on between him and the youngest Weasley. Surely, if he did, he would put a stop to it. Ginny's week of detentions was over, and she had 'remedial' potions two nights a week, but other than that he was stretched for reasons to see her. They had both decided that it would probably be better if Ginny didn't have too many detentions, it would probably seem suspicious. In an hour Ginny had one of her scheduled remedial potions lessons, so Severus was happy to find things to occupy his mind while he passed the time.
In the Gryffindor common room Ginny and Hazel were doing their divination homework together, laughing as they did it. They were given an essay to write on all of the omens they had seen in the past year and the effect it has had on their life. Naturally, they had seen no omens, so they predicted death in all sorts of ways, describing narrow escapes thanks to the devices of tooth floss and toe nail clippings. They had also predicted the arrival of great fortune, swindled, according to the stars, by a vicious gambling habit which lead to alcoholism.
"Well, I think I have died seven times, wasted away three fortunes, eaten thirteen poison Bertie Botts and found my true love twice, once in the form of a giant squid, and another time in the form of a tall, dark and handsome broom closet." Ginny stated, drawing her last full stop in the shape of a grim. Hazel laughed, writing the last few words of her essay. When she finished she looked around.
"I wonder where Colin is." She said, Ginny smiled.
"You know Hazel, I don't think that there is much chance that he is going to ask you out. He is so slow sometimes. You should ask him out." Ginny told her, Hazel looked affronted.
"I know this is stupid, but I am a bit old fashioned, I think he should have the guts to ask me out. And if he doesn't… well… tough!" Hazel said, still looking around. Ginny laughed.
"He's over there." She said, pointing to the lounge in the darkest area of the room, away from the fire. He sat there with Dennis, in a heated conversation about something; he looked over at Hazel and Ginny and waved. Hazel turned away and made a looked at a random spot on the wall. Ginny motioned to Colin, and pointed to her, he nodded. "Hazel, he's coming over." Ginny said excitedly, Hazel didn't turn around.
"Good." Was all she said, Colin made his way across the common room and tapped Hazel on the shoulder, she turned around and smiled at him.
"How are you?" He asked, she shrugged and looked away. "Hey, can we talk?" He said, Hazel nodded eagerly and stood up. They walked a few meters away from Ginny, but before long she saw Hazel leap at Colin and crush him into a hug. He laughed and kissed her on the cheek. Ginny wished that it was that easy for her and Severus to be together. Hazel gave Ginny a wink and walked off to a lounge near the fire with Colin. Ginny smiled and packed her books away, it was probably time for her to get going.
Severus heard footsteps coming toward his office and looked at the clock on his wall, it would probably be Ginny. He stood up from his seat and walked over to the door, opening it and peering out.
"Miss Weasley." He said she looked at him. "Detention will be in my office this evening." He told her, he held the door open for her and she walked in. When he shut the door she spoke.
"What's the special occasion Severus?" She asked, standing on her toes to kiss him on the lips.
"None really. I have a potion brewing that I cannot move into the classroom." He explained in a bored voice, she nodded and pulled him close to her.
"So, what are you brewing?" she asked.
"I'll let you guess." He told her and held her hand, and led her over to the fireplace. She scrunched her nose up at the smell. The potion was a dark grey colour, very thick, and it reeked. She pulled a potion encyclopaedia from a pile of books on Severus' desk and started flicking through it. He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist as she read. "Try that one." He said pointing to the page she was on.
"Is it a Fortif Meritus?" she asked.
"No." he replied, she furrowed her eyebrows.
"But you said to try that one." She said.
"I know." He replied, kissing her on the forehead. "Why isn't it a Fortif Meritus?" he asked, she looked at it closer.
"Because it says here that the Fortif Meritus smells like dirt. That one just smells like poo." She told him, he snickered.
"That's right. Keep looking." He told her, she flicked through the pages until she found another potion called Vervei Lattus.
"That one." She said pointing to it, it fit the description.
"And it is not meant to smell like poo," he told her, "It smells like rotting corpses." Ginny shuddered.
"It says that it is a really strong life preserving potion." She said and turned to look at him.
"Indeed it is." He said in his dull, droning potion master voice.
"Why are you brewing tha-" She was cut off by his lips pressing against her own. He kissed her passionately and ran his hands down the small of her back, and then back up, resting them on her waist, and pulled her sharply against his body, she kissed him harder, bringing her hands and resting them on his shoulders. After kissing for a short time longer she pulled her body slightly away from his and brought his hand up to her breast. He stopped kissing her.
"Ginny…" He begun, but she put her finger to his lip. He kissed her finger and then brushed it off his lip. "Are you sure?" He asked.
"Of course I am sure." She told him, before kissing him again. He let his hand roam over her the top of her robes. It had been quiet a while since he had touched a woman in this way and his body reacted accordingly. After a few more minutes of feverish kissing Severus stepped away from her. Tell her, he thought, she smiled at him sweetly taking his hand in her own.
"So, what's the potion for?" She asked, he wanted to tell her the truth.
"It is for seventh year potions tomorrow." He lied, he cursed himself for his dishonesty. He tried to tell her, he really did, but instead the lie came out. Damn it.
"Interesting." She whispered looking at the potion again. "It stinks!" She said scrunching up her nose, he laughed and sat down on the chair behind his desk, she sat at the one in front.
"I've got the game against Ravenclaw this weekend." She told him and he gave her a sign of acknowledgment.
"The Ravenclaw team is really strong this year." He warned her, she did her best to look offended.
"Oh, so you don't think Gryffindor can beat them, then?" She asked, he smirked.
"You've got no chance" He drawled, she laughed. "As long as Potter keeps his eye on the snitch and not on you he should be fine. But that isn't to say you have any chance in beating Slytherin." He told her pretentiously, she laughed.
"The Slytherin team is a joke, if ever I saw one." She said.
"I don't think you have a chance against them to be honest. Malfoy's got a good team this year." Severus explained, he had supervised them at training on several occasions.
"What, has he finally decided to use Crabbe and Goyle as bludgers?" She asked, and he chuckled. "And plus, doesn't the fact that I am on the Gryffindor team mean anything?" she asked, with an air of snootiness.
"Well, I do hope for your sake that you win, but my loyalties towards the Slytherin team run deep." He explained.
"Your loyalties run deeper than love?" she asked with a cheeky smile.
"As a matter of fact, no. I really don't care too much if Slytherin do loose to you, but how would it look if I suddenly started cheering for you at the match?" He asked, Ginny laughed.
"I think it would be pretty interesting actually." She said, and leant over the desk to peck him on the lips. "So, were you much of a quidditch player in your day?" she asked, he shook his head.
"No, not really. I never tried out for the team, and even if I did I wouldn't have made it in, I was happy just to watch." He said, before looking at his desk and shuffling a pile of parchment, pushing it aside.
"I didn't have much choice when it came to quidditch. According to my brothers I was either a chaser or the quaffle. When I refused to play when I was little Bill and Charlie would pick me up and throw me to each other." She explained with a laugh, he smiled at her.
"Well, it paid off. You didn't turn out too bad."
"I suppose I should take that as a compliment." She sighed "Thanks." There was a knock on the door and Ginny rushed to snatch up a piece of parchment, grab a quill and open up a text book at a random page.
"Enter." Severus called, busying himself with some marking. The door opened and Hagrid walked into the office. "Hello Rubeus." Severus said, ignoring Ginny.
"Snape, Ginny." Hagrid said with a nod of his head. "Here's the stuff yeh asked me ta get." He said, handing Severus a small Hessian bag. "Well. G'night then." Hagrid said before walking out. As soon as he closed the door behind him Ginny stopped writing. Snape put the bag in his draw quickly.
"What's in it?" Ginny asked motioning to his desk.
"Centaur hair, flobberworm gel, things like that." He explained as thought it wasn't important.
"Hm. I didn't know that centaur hair was a potion ingredient. It must be rare." She said.
"Well, there you go. You learn something new every day." He said, Ginny nodded. "So, are you staying here for the Christmas holidays?" He asked Ginny asked.
"I don't know, I think mum and dad want me to go to Grimmauld place." She told him. "That place gives me the creeps." She said.
"I don't particularly like it either." He agreed.
"So, what do teachers do for the Christmas break?" she hadn't really thought about it before.
"We take it in turns to take some time off." He said, "I have boxing day to New Year's day off this year." He said.
"Pity." Ginny tutted "I would like to see you for Christmas." She said.
"You never know, I might stop by Grimmauld place for a few hours." He said, Ginny smiled.
"Where do you live?" She asked "Sometimes I have to remind myself that you teachers don't live at Hogwarts permanently."
"A street called Spinner's End." He told her "It is about three quarters of an hour away from Grimmauld Place. But, yes, I do live somewhere else besides Hogwarts." He looked at the clock on the wall. "You'd better go." He told her, she agreed and stood up, he walked her to the door. When they got there he pulled her into soft kiss, running his hands over her breasts.
"Love you." She said before leaving his office and disappearing into the corridor beyond. Severus walked back to his desk and sat down, pulling out the bag Hagrid had given him. He opened up a book to a page which had the ingredients for a potion called manifestas alterium on it. He sighed and begun grind some centaur hair.
At lunch the next day Ginny overheard Hermione telling Ron some 'interesting' information about the potion they had seen in class earlier. She was saying that the bright orange colour was due to the fusion of oak root and flies wings.
"Is that Vervei Lattus?" Ginny interrupted, Hermione raised her eyebrows at her.
"No, Vervei Lattus is a greyish colour, we don't learn about that one." Hermione said confused.
"Okay, cool." Ginny said before turning to talk to Hazel and eating some of her bread roll. She thought over her conversation with Severus the night before and distinctly remembered him telling her that he was showing it to the seventh years. She looked over at him, but he was busy talking to Dumbeldore.
The wind howled unforgivingly as Severus made his way down to the quidditch pitch for the Ravenclaw versus Gryffindor game. He was surrounded by students who were eager to sit in the shelter of the quidditch stadium, away from the wind and snow.
Ginny sat in the Gryffindor change room shivering as Harry addressed the team. He was saying something about the crosswind and the snow. Ginny was to busy shivering to pay attention, and she had a feeling the rest of the team was too.
"Ginny!" Harry snapped, "Are you paying attention?" She nodded vaguely and he continued talking. She pulled her robes around her more tightly and tuned out again.
After another ten minutes of Harry's lecturing the Gryffindor team finally made their way to the pitch and mounted their brooms, Harry flew over to Ginny before the game begun.
"Good luck Gin!" He said.
"You too Harry." She replied. Shortly after the quaffle was released and Ravenclaw was in possession.
Severus watched as the new Ravenclaw chaser, Williams, snatched the quaffle away and threw it to Jenson. He could see Ginny's flaming red hair against the white snow, he watched her carefully as she gracefully swerved between players and away from a hurtling bludger. Jenson was just about to score a goal when Ginny snatched the quaffle out of his hands and zoomed towards her own goal posts.
"Weasley snatches the quaffle," commentated Lovegood, Snape was positively puzzled by that girl, she was a strange one. "Weasley passes to Robins, Robins to Bell, Bell to Weasley- and she scores! Gryffindor one, Ravenclaw nil. That was a lovely goal by Weasley, such a pity Lyons didn't save it. Gryffindor in possession again, Bell this time, heads towards- ooh, that was a nasty whack from the bludger, Jenson catches the falling quaffle, passes to Williams, passes to Jenson, passes to Remmington… ooh, quaffle dropped by Remmington, recovered by Weasley, he throws it to Weasley. Hmm, that sounded weird. Ronald passes to Ginevra… no, that doesn't sound right. Weasley to Ginny, no… they are both Weasleys…"
"Luna!" McGonagall warned, making quiet a few students giggle. In the time it took Luna to decide what to call the Weasley's Katie Bell had scored another goal.
After a long game of three and a half hours Potter finally caught the snitch, the final score was two hundred and thirty to eighty. The teams landed and trudged off to their change rooms, out of energy and breathless.
"You took long enough Harry!" Ginny sighed, throwing down her cleansweep and drinking some water.
"Why don't you try being seeker?" He asked as he plonked down on to the seat.
"Well, why don't I? What about next game?" Ginny said sarcastically, Ron coughed.
"It was a good game. Now get over it. We won in the end anyway." He said, starting to get changed. Ginny got changed slowly, out of energy from the game. She had played hard for three and a half hours and was in a pretty irritable mood, she took her quidditch robe of and unravelled her shirt. She pulled it over her head and left the room.
As she walked out she saw Severus talking to Professor McGonagall just outside.
"Good game Weasley." Professor McGonagall called out to her, she waved her thanks.
"I don't suppose you will be so lucky when you play Slytherin!" Severus drawled, she kept walking. I guess that means it was a good game, she thought with a smile.
Two days after the game, Ginny found herself rejoicing in the fact that she was on her way to a remedial potions lesson, she had not really been able to talk to Severus since her last remedial lesson and was definitely missing his company. She walked into the cold dungeon classroom and looked around, making sure Severus was alone, before kissing him passionately.
"I've missed you!" She told him with a smile, he nodded.
"It was a good game against Ravenclaw." He said, Ginny smirked.
"So, do you still think I have no chance against Slytherin?" She asked cheekily, he pecked her one the lips.
"No chance at all." He told her and she laughed. He intended to tell her about his trip this evening, he was ready to do it.
"Severus," She said, he looked at her "you know the Vervei Lattus potion?" She said, he nodded "Well, Hermione said that we don't learn that here."
"That's correct." He drawled, wondering what her point was.
"Well, you told me that it was for your seventh year class. But you obviously didn't show them. What is it for?" She asked. This was the perfect opportunity to tell her the truth,
"Madame Pomfrey likes to keep her potions up to date. Did I say it was for the seventh years? Hmm… no, it was definitely for the infirmary." He said, and silently cursed himself for lying. He was going to tell her the truth, he really way, but he just count say it. How hard is it to say, Ginny… I am going to go somewhere for Dumbledore. He tried to say it but he just opened his mouth and coughed instead. "Do you want to get a start on this week's potion?" He asked her, she nodded. He looked in the cupboard in the corner of the room and pulled out some valerian roots, asphodel in an infusion of wormwood, sopophorous beans and some other ingredients and placed them on a desk. This was another potion he had to make for his trip, he may as well give Ginny a head start while he was at it. "Do you have any idea what it is yet?" He asked her, she shook her head and he provided her with his textbook, opening it to the page titled 'Draught of the Living Dead'. "I should have started off with this potion, but I didn't the class was ready for it." He explained.
"It puts someone in a deep sleep?" She asked "No wonder Dumbledore doesn't want us to take any of it out of the room, it could be lethal."
"That's right," Severus begun "Okay, do you want to start preparing the ingredients?" She looked at the book and put the cauldron on the fire, and put in the asphodel. "You know," She said "I never thought I would say this… but potions isn't really that bad." She said.
"Well, that's encouraging to know." He said, and walked behind her. She picked up the knife and began to slice the sopophorous beans, he put his hands over hers and brought his lips down to her ear. "It's better," he whispered, warm breath blowing on her hair "If you crush it like so," he showed her how to crush the beans, "It gets more juice out." He said, she nodded and crushed the beans as he had shown her. As she was working he taught her alternative methods of preparing the ingredients occasionally accompanied with a soft kiss on the neck.
"You know," She said as she put the wormwood into the cauldron, "That is terribly distracting. How do you expect me to learn?" She asked, he sniggered.
"It isn't my fault if you can not concentrate, it just shows you are lacking focus my love." He hissed, she turned around quickly and kissed him passionately, running her hands all over his back, digging her fingers into his back. He moaned softly at her grip and pulled her body roughly against his own. He pulled his lips away from hers.
"You are very easily distracted Miss Weasley, I think that will need to go into your report." She raised her eyebrows and laughed.
"Well, professor, I think that that is more of a reflection on your teaching ability than my ability to focus." She stated matter-of-factly. He responded with another hard kiss.
A/N: Well, that it that chapter dusts hands. Okay, so it took a while, and I deeply apologize, I have had graduation and final assemblies and birthdays and much more to deal with. But, I can (unofficially) tell you that the next chapter will not take so long. So, thanks deeply for all of your reviews. I hope you enjoyed this!