Okay y'all, just some fair warning. This chapter gets a little intimate near the end, and just in case the chapter title has you wondering, Jessica does not change into her reptilian form and get it on with the big guy. He he. Anyway, enjoy.
Chapter Eight – The Basilisk
The moment Lucius Malfoy left his private chambers, the livid Potions Master hastily picked the bottle of brandy up by the neck and howled angrily as he threw it wrathfully into the fireplace. As the glass shattered, the maple coloured liquid splashed across the stone bricks and trickled down the walls.
Still enveloped with rage, Snape took a running step towards the side table and kicked it over, shattering the pair of snifters that fell to the floor. Snape heaved angrily before releasing a long, fuming roar.
Knowing that the problem wouldn't solve itself if he continued to destroy everything in his quarters, Snape collapsed back onto the couch and squeezed his white-knuckled fingers in his hair. He pulled and he squeezed until his head hurt all over. With his eyes shut tight, Snape tried hard to regain some composure long enough to conjure a plan.
But what could he do? What – could – he – do?
There was no easy way out. There was never an easy way out. Snape's entire life was constructed with roads paved with frustrations and complications. The first thing he'd have to do is alert the Headmaster. Dumbledore would have to know Jessica was in danger.
In danger of what, though? Snape asked himself. Getting pregnant? Without the use of some very black magic, only the Potions Master himself could make that happen – and he was expected to. So what would happen if Voldemort returned to find out his daughter was still a virgin? That would be it for Snape. He couldn't just answer to the Dark Mark with some lame excuse for not fulfilling his obligation.
I'm sorry my Lord, but she just wasn't ready yet. Snape shook his head at the ridiculous thought that had crept into his mind. Nobody came to the Dark Lord with excuses. It was suicide!
It was useless trying to escape the inevitable. If someone managed to stop Voldemort's return Snape could easily postpone, but it was still inevitable. Voldemort would return some day and he would expect to have another heir sitting on the Slytherin throne.
Snape shook his head again, realizing that there was nothing he could do. Unless Snape wanted to expose himself to the Death Eaters as a traitor, he had to do exactly what was expected of him.
He had to collect the Virgin's Blood.
* * *
That night Jessica was sitting alone in Madam Pomfrey's office completing the day's entry log. She leisurely dipped her quill into the inkbottle and wrote the rest of Harry Potter's report on the bottom of the parchment.
Harry was in the other room fast asleep. Jessica could hear the faint rumble of his snoring and smiled to herself. The poor boy, she said to herself, he needs all the rest he can get. And all because of Gilderoy Lockhart and his stubborn pride.
Jessica neatly stacked the report away in Madam Pomfrey's desk and set the quill and ink aside. She tried as best she could to push the chair out quietly as she stood. Only making a whisper of a sound, Jessica pushed the chair back into the desk and blew out each of the candles. She wrapped a black cloak around her shoulders and tied it tight before reaching for the small candleholder on the corner of the desk.
The door to the office automatically locked itself as soon as Jessica slipped into the infirmary. Harry was still asleep in his bed snoring softly. Regardless, Jessica kissed the tips of her fingers and waved them at the young boy.
"Good night, Harry," she whispered before leaving the Hospital Wing.
The corridors were unusually cold and dark. The candle in her hand did very little to light her path, but she knew it very well. Hopefully Snape would be there in her quarters waiting for her. Over dinner she had not mentioned her unpleasant encounter with Lucius and very much wanted to warn Snape of his deviant behaviour.
Jessica was half way down the corridor when she heard it again.
"I want to kill … I want to kill!"
Jessica stopped just as suddenly as if she had run into an invisible wall. Her ears perked up and listened carefully. This time the voice seemed to come from right beside her. It was loud and sounding more murderous than it had the last time.
With her heart pounding in her chest, Jessica slowly tiptoed down to the end of the corridor. She walked alongside the wall and kept her eyes peeled. Although she couldn't sense anyone near her, Jessica was almost expecting someone to jump from the shadows.
Around the corner Jessica could hear a faint slither, like something was being dragged across the stone floor. It was slow, rhythmic. Almost a soothing sound.
Slowly, Jessica peeked around the corner and when her eyes met those of the largest monster she had ever come across, her breath froze in her throat and the candleholder clattered to the floor.
Jessica was left in darkness except for the slivers of moonlight coming in from the windows. Its glossy scales glittered in the light and Jessica came to realize exactly how large this snake-like beast was. Although Jessica had always been fond of snakes, this one made a particular exception.
The monster's eyes bore into hers and it slowly slithered towards her. She could have sworn the monster had a malevolent, hungry smile plastered to its face.
"Get away!" Jessica screamed as it continued to slither nearer.
As the creature continued to move Jessica was able to make out a small figure on the stairs behind it. It was clad in black and looked as if it had a Muggle camera sitting atop of it.
"Mighty Merlin," Jessica gasped.
Next moment, she realized it was a student. The small boy was unmoving and completely undetectable when Jessica tried to use her senses to determine whether or not he was still alive.
"What have you done?" she asked the hissing creature. "Get away from me!"
Then, to Jessica's utter amazement, the creature replied.
"You shall not fear me, child." Its voice was coarse and echoed loudly down the corridor. Surely its volume would alert someone. "For I am the one who will protect you and has protected all of those who came before you."
Still trembling with fear, Jessica carefully stepped away only to see the slithering snake-like monster creeping closer towards her. "I don't know what you mean. Please, stay back! I'll scream for help!"
"Scream, and those who come to me will falter before me. Death meets all of those whose eyes catch sight of mine," the snake bellowed.
Jessica looked deep into the ruby eyes of the Basilisk and absentmindedly began walking towards the creature instead of away. "Then why am I still alive?" she asked.
Its mouth opened a gentle ways, displaying a mouthful of long, shards of poisonous fangs. "I do not harm my master, or anyone whose veins preserve his blood. I can smell it, Jessica. You are one of them."
"One of what?" she questioned. "How do you know my name?"
Curiosity and a strange sense of longing had Jessica yearning to reach out and touch the scaly skin of the Basilisk. Its eyes were rapidly moving back and forth, taking in everything in sight.
"Salazar Slytherin brought me to the castle to protect him and those like him. I have been summoned to restore his dying wish, that his race remain pure, and unblemished. I must stop those who are unworthy of learning magic, those like him." The Basilisk motioned its beady eyes towards the fallen body on the stairs.
"Who has summoned you?" Jessica questioned. "Was it you who wrote that message about me on the wall?" she asked, although she couldn't quite fathom how a snake could possibly write a message in blood on the wall, or what it had to do with the Chamber of Secrets.
"I have done nothing of the sort," the Basilisk confessed. "I only do as I am asked. I will not question my master, only obey him."
"But who?" Jessica asked again.
"Only those who carry the Mark of a Slytherin may summon me," it said. "And only those may command me. Others only wish to destroy me."
A spark of pity ignited in the pit of Jessica's stomach. She looked at the beast and then cautiously reached a hand out to touch it. The Basilisk moved very slowly as Jessica's hand caressed the front of its face.
A moment later she heard footsteps.
Somebody was coming. The footsteps were coming from behind her. Jessica looked at the Basilisk and stepped away from it. "You must go," she told it. "Leave. Leave now!"
Almost in the blink of an eye, the Basilisk moved along and disappeared around the corner. Jessica could hear it slithering away and before the footsteps reached her, the slither had faded away.
A petrified gasp sounded from the staircase where the student's body had been discovered. Jessica skipped quietly over to the top of the stairs and felt something squish under the toe of her shoe. When she looked down she saw that she had stepped on a grape.
Professor McGonagall was leaning over the body of the small boy. She was settling her hands on his chest as if feeling for a heartbeat. When McGonagall looked up to see Jessica she gasped again. "Jessica," she said, sounding alarmed. "What has happened?"
Jessica remained silent as a second set of footsteps made way up along the staircase. It was the Headmaster coming along. He was clad in a long, woolly dressing gown and a nightcap. He looked first at Jessica and then down at Professor McGonagall and the boy.
"Petrified, Albus," McGonagall said. "We must take him to Poppy immediately."
The look Jessica saw in her great uncle's eyes seemed almost dangerous. She stared back at him blankly, unsure if she should feel threatened by this intent look. "Jessica my dear, what are you doing about the castle alone?" the Headmaster questioned.
Not looking like she was either surprised or sorry for what had happened, Jessica wrapped her black cloak tight around her body and shook her head. "I was just going to my quarters," she insisted.
Dumbledore did not look happy or convinced.
"I didn't do anything!" Jessica insisted harshly.
The Headmaster calmly shook his head. "Jessica," he began warningly. "I want you to leave immediately. I will speak to you first thing in the morning."
"I said I didn't do anything!" Jessica repeated.
McGonagall looked back and forth between uncle and grandniece with concern written across her face. Jessica's cheeks were flushed and Dumbledore's expression was very solemn.
"No, you didn't," Dumbledore finally agreed. "Now I want you to return to your quarters, Jessica. Go now."
* * *
Jessica slammed the door to her quarters as soon as she was inside. Professor Snape was sitting on the couch reading a book and jumped to his feet upon her entrance. His brows bent in speculation and he tossed the book down onto the cushion.
"Is something the matter?" he asked, although it appeared quite obvious that something had vexed the young woman. Without even sparing him a simple glance, Jessica stormed straight into the bathroom and left the door open just a tiny sliver, which hardly seemed inviting.
Regardless of how inviting it appeared, Snape strode over to the bathroom door and pushed it open. He stepped inside and clicked the door shut behind him. Jessica was standing at the basin in a crumpled form with her head buried in her hands.
Deciding to ease his way into this discussion, Snape cautiously approached Jessica and settled his hands over her hips. He soothingly rubbed her up and down. He massaged her for a long while before breaking the silence.
"Tell me what's wrong, Jessica," he said softly.
At first he had feared that Lucius Malfoy had gotten to her first, but as impetuous as he was at times, the man was not a fool. Lucius knew he couldn't trust Jessica enough to confess what Voldemort had in store for her. He had as much to hide as Snape did.
Slowly Jessica lifted her head enough to reveal red, swollen eyes and tear stricken cheeks. "There's been an attack," she said and wiped her eyes. "A boy was petrified like that cat, just outside of the Hospital Wing."
Snape's arms wrapped all the way around her waist and he settled his chin over her shoulder. "Did you see or hear it happen?" he asked.
Jessica shook her head. "No," she said rather hesitantly.
Snape tossed her a rather curious glance. "And Poppy?"
"She'd gone to her rooms not five minutes earlier." Jessica closed her eyes and tilted her head to lean against his.
"Well did you call for help?" Snape asked rather anxiously.
"No." Jessica shook her head. "There wasn't time. Once I realized what had happened, I already heard Professor McGonagall coming along. Uncle Albus happened to be right on her heels. And then he –"
Jessica choked back a fresh dribble of tears as she envisioned the grave look on her great uncle's face. It was as if he blamed her for what had happened to Colin Creevey.
"And then he what?" Snape encouraged Jessica to continue.
She walked out of his embrace and circled around behind him before sitting on the edge of the porcelain bathtub. She thought about how relaxing it would be to pour herself a hot bubble bath right now. It was her evening ritual to have a soak in the tub before going to bed, but none of the events that had occurred today were at all conventional. She needed something a lot more soothing than a hot bath.
"Severus," Jessica began softly, "do you think something is happening to me?"
He steadily leaned himself back against the basin and crossed his arms and his ankles. After a slow, deep breath Snape answered her question.
"Nothing is happening to you, Jessica," he assured. "Although I recognize that look on your face. You think this is all your fault."
"Is it?" she asked.
Snape eased his head back and forth. "I very much doubt it."
She wrapped her hands around her arms as if trying to warm herself. With her body rocking slowly back and forth, Jessica made a poignant face. "Uncle Albus doesn't seem too convinced. I wish you had seen the way he looked at me."
"If the Headmaster suspects you are responsible for anything, then it would be wise to listen to his reasoning. In our world, people are capable of accomplishing many things without even realizing what they are doing."
"One can hardly call this an accomplishment." Jessica lifted a single finger to wipe away her tears. She sniffed and tried hard not to free any more tears. "But what if I am responsible, Severus? What if I am somehow making all of this happen? Uncle Albus told me that the Chamber can only be opened by the heir of Slytherin, and unless I've got some cousins running around the castle that I'm unaware of, I'm the only suspected felon."
"Nobody suspects you of anything," Snape told her.
"Severus, too many people know who I am," Jessica reminded. "It's lucky that none of the students know or they'd all go crazy."
Snape stepped up to the bathtub and knelt down in front of Jessica. He took her hand in his and gently traced random patterns into her skin with his finger. "No one is going to find out, Jessica. Those who know, know not to tell, and we each know better than to suspect you have had anything to do with the attacks or the message on the wall."
Looking exceptionally dubious, Jessica combed her slender fingers through her hair in a frustrated manner and then collapsed into his open arms. Snape held on tight, braving the agony of her long fingernails digging into his back. He wore only a black, silk shirt and trousers. "Uncle Albus will no doubt contact the Ministry of Magic tonight, and then he wants me to see him tomorrow morning."
"Then we will worry about this then," Snape insisted. "So, until tomorrow morning…" Snape untied Jessica's black cloak and slowly let it fall to the floor, "… you and I will do nothing…" he whispered an incantation to make the faucets on all four walls of the bathtub spill hot, fragranced water into the large tub as he unzipped the back of her nurse's gown, "… but enjoy a pleasurable, hot bath…" he nuzzled his mouth into the crook of her throat and coated her with kisses, "… and a night in each other's arms."
Snape's fingers brought the zipper to the small of Jessica's back and then reached up to slowly bring her arms out of the sleeves. Jessica hesitated for a moment before Snape was able to whisper his reassurance into her ear.
"I think I can manage to take your mind off of all that has happened tonight," he told her. "If you'll let me."
Jessica let the helpless look in her green eyes speak for her. She surrendered to his touch and let him ease the gown over her hips and to the floor. The ivory linen material fell to the floor and Snape backed away a couple of steps, smiling cunningly as he admired the half naked witch in front of him.
A moan grumbled low in his throat and Snape slowly began to work at the buttons of his shirt. Jessica smiled bashfully and shielded her rosy cheeks with her hands. Over the sound of the water spilling into the tub, Snape thought her heard something that resembled a soft giggle.
He put his wand down next to the edge of the tub and sniggered at Jessica before peeling his shirt back, exposing his lean, bare chest. Jessica stepped out of her shoes and stepped towards the edge of the tub. She sat along the porcelain rim and waved her hand back and forth in the hot, bubbly water.
"It's just right," she told him as he was unfastening his pants.
When he just about had them off, Jessica swiftly scooped up her hand and splashed him with water and bubbles.
"Hey!" Snape exclaimed as his trousers dropped to his ankles. He stomped out of the black garment and hastily wiped his skin dry. "I suppose you think you are going to get away with that, young lady."
Amidst her giggling, Snape cautiously approached Jessica wearing nothing but his black knickers and suddenly grabbed her around the ankles before tipping her backwards into the tub. She had almost managed to scream before plummeting under the surface of thick, foamy bubbles.
Jessica came up spitting water in every direction and wiping the bubbles from her face. She shook her head and took a deep breath before catching sight of the Potions Master laughing at her. Jessica growled in anger and splashed him again.
He merely blocked his face with his arm and kept on chuckling. "Since I plan on getting in there with you anyway, it seems insensible trying to soak me now."
With a pile of soapsuds atop her head, Snape thought Jessica looked rather amusing as she glared angrily at him. She sat on the far side of the bathtub and brought her arms out and leaned them along the brim, waiting patiently for him to join her.
"That wasn't funny," Jessica declared.
As badly as she wanted to stay angry with him, Jessica found her eyes wandering; perusing the pale flesh she had seen so little of. Even travelling together over the summer, Jessica had never seen the Potions Master fully undressed before. She waited eagerly, feeling her body temperature skyrocket as he reached to strip himself of his last piece of clothing.
Her heart was racing inside her chest, threatening to burst right through. Jessica anxiously rubbed her neck and shoulders where her pulse beat wildly. She almost wanted to look away, feeling so overwhelmed and apprehensive with this grand breakthrough.
Instead, Jessica looked up into his eyes and watched the deep, dark pools as the Potions Master stripped himself naked. He dropped the knickers aside and slowly stepped over the edge of the bathtub one leg at a time. The tub was deep and with the bubbles, he was covered from the naval down. He smoothed his way across the tub and sat down beside Jessica.
With her eyes still locked to his, Jessica opened her hands to him and swallowed hard. Snape could easily make out the apprehension in her eyes and eased his way into a gentle kiss. He let his lips graze softly across hers and then lifted his hands from the water to caress her face.
As he kissed her, Jessica touched her hands to his chest and began massaging tenderly. He had a fine dusting of chest hair and Jessica liked to pull delicately on the soft wisps.
Snape hummed softly before pulling out of their kiss. He smoothed Jessica's wet hair away from her neck and looked at the straps of her bra peeking out of the bubbles. "Why are you still wearing that?" he teased.
Her brows rose shrewdly. "I presume it's because you hadn't quite finished undressing me before helping me in."
"Ah yes, I seem to remember now," he said. Snape reached around to her back and found the clasp holding her bra in place. "Well, I suppose I should start where I had left off."
When he finished, Snape pulled the straps down her arms and then lifted the heavy, purple silk material from the water and threw it over the edge of the giant tub. It made a splat as it hit the porcelain floor and then slid along until it came to the basin.
"Now, that isn't all, is it?" Snape asked and peered down as if he could see through the bubbles straight down to Jessica's nether regions.
Playing innocent, Jessica serenely shook her head. Even as she did so, Snape could see her hoisting her hips up towards him, wanting to get rid of the last piece of material left between them. Snape wasted no time and put his hands right to her hips, eager to strip them down her legs beneath the water's surface.
Along with a splash, Snape pitched the silk underwear over the edge of the tub right from under the water. He then settled his hands back atop Jessica's hips and pulled her near, ready to recommence their kiss.
Jessica's body flamed with desire as her bare flesh rubbed most agreeably against his for the first time. She could feel his rigid yearning already and knew that if she played the right cards, he would be incapable of holding out on her any longer.
Snape gathered her close, rubbing his hands into her back and along her sides as he kissed her intimately. Jessica soon found her way into his lap and straddled him, leaving his solid erection rubbing dangerously close to her core.
As Snape tried to keep himself away from that particular aperture his need and desire worked hard against him. His hips were thrusting against her, wanting to feel her around him. The motion of his tongue between her lips and in her mouth became bleak and uneven as he tried to control himself.
"Jessica," he sounded desperately. "Stop."
She had been wiggling, teasing his shaft with her inviting pose. "I'm sorry," she whispered into his mouth between kisses. Jessica settled herself down, lowering her body down into his lap and leaving his throbbing erection pressed between their tummies.
As he settled back into another passionate kiss with tongues duelling and lips stroking affectionately, Snape brought his hands down to Jessica's hips and massaged his hands into her backside. He began to stretch his left arm around her tiny body while letting the other slither between the front of her legs until he could feel her tender flesh at his fingertips.
Jessica began to gasp vigorously as his nimble fingers replaced the stimulating sensations his gender had created. He massaged her carefully; evoking some of the most erotic sounds he had ever heard a woman make before finally pressing into her.
Even as he thrust into Jessica, Snape bucked his hips against her while using his left arm to squeeze her to him. She screamed wildly as he pleasured her and moved with him to increase the intense sensations.
Jessica held on tight to the edge of the tub with one hand and snaked the other down along his stomach and into his thatch of black curls before coming to the base of his manhood. Although this was the first time she had ever touched a man so intimately, Jessica boldly wrapped her hand tight around his shaft and began to pump in rhythm to his thrusts.
Soon he joined in the symphony of erotic pleasure and moaned his approval aloud. Snape closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. He thrust blindly into Jessica and marvelled in the sensations she was producing.
Jessica knew she was moments away from peaking. Her entire body was beginning to tingle and tremble with sheer pleasure. Her gasps became quick and shrill and before the Potions Master could reach his own, Jessica announced her climax with a spellbinding moan and her entire body melted into his.
She released him, unable to think of or feel anything but the orgasm he had just brought her. Jessica's eyes fell shut and her head dropped to his shoulder. Snape brought both of his hands up to her head and massaged his fingers into her hair as she recovered from the exhilaration.
Jessica breathed a heavy sigh and then pressed a kiss into his neck.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to him. "I wanted to bring you with me."
Snape hushed into her ear. "It's all right," he told her. "You'll get your turn."
Jessica lay quietly with her eyes closed for a couple of minutes. She let her fingers dance in the curls of hair dotting his chest while indulging in the sensation of Snape's warm hands softly caressing her naked flesh.
"Severus," she whispered after the long moment of silence, "are you familiar with the concept of synchronized swimming?"
Jessica could almost feel the muscles in his face twitch as he mustered a foul expression. "No," he answered.
"It's a Muggle sport where people perform dance-like movements together in the water," she explained. "I did this for a couple of years when I was living in London."
"I see. And this is relevant to what?" Snape asked rather insolently.
"Well, there is a lot of skill involved," Jessica continued. It's a lot of hard work. Synchronized swimming is very physically demanding." She could see by the look on his face that Snape wasn't at all interested in the concept. Jessica playfully rolled her eyes at him and then leaned over to whisper into his ear. "The point is… I can hold my breath for nearly three minutes."
***
He he he. Y'all know what she's thinking of, eh? Although I've never given it a try before, I think it would be quite interesting. Anybody have any experience with that little underwater activity? Perhaps you can help me illustrate how Jessica is actually going to get it done. J
Love you all and thanks for the reviews!!!
~ Lara