Chapter 11- Reactions

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He didn't want to attend the Quidditch match. Still embittered over team trials, Severus intended on spending the time in the restricted section of the library. Yesterday, Professor Slughorn had approved his request to borrow The Mind's Eye. The dismissive manner in which the man had done so had raised the boy's ire, but he'd concealed his feelings. If Slughorn hadn't been so impatient to leave to preside over one of his precious 'Slug Club' meetings, he might've refused. The tome dealt with Legilimency.

Severus put off the library out of pride. When the Slytherin team was leaving for the pitch and the rest of the house was preparing to depart for the stands, Erik Greyback noted the direction of his steps in the entry and sneered, "Not supporting the house, Snape? What, will you go cry in the library over your lost position instead?"

Coming from the boy who had cried like a girl when hexed, the insult didn't sting much. Behind Erik, his crony Jugson scratched his head in bemusement.

"Why would Snape go to the library when he could cry in his room?" Promptly cuffed on the ear by Keane, he protested, "Ouch! Well, he could!"

"Erik don't think he's gonna cry, dunderhead. He's saying Snape hasn't the goolies to pretend to be a good sport, like him."

Severus had almost smiled, until he heard,

"Laurie, such language, I'm shocked." He was more taken aback to hear Keane referred to as Laurie than Eris' laughing voice. Her friends looked on impatiently as she smilingly chided, "Don't worry about his goolies, boys, worry about your own in the match with Gryffindor."

After the girls strolled off, Erik snapped, "My sister may have taken you up like a stray animal, but that doesn't get you anywhere with me, Snape."

Once again, Jugson forestalled Severus' curt response with an ingenuous observation. "I don't think he wants to get anywhere with you. I think he'd rather get somewhere with Eris. She's prettier…and nicer…and a gir...Ow! What'cha do that for, Laurie!"

"Lane, shut your stupid mouth and get a move on. Hurley will have our hides if we're not dressed out soon." Shoving his pal down the corridor, Keane warned, "And if you forget to call me Laurence one more time, I'm gonna…"

The two jogged away, the threat inaudible to the pair left behind.

Erik's jaw thrust out pugnaciously. "Was Jugson right, Snape? Are you trying something on with my sister?"

"If I were, it would be none of your business." The words spoken without thought seemed to reassure the sixth year.

"That means you're not. Good. Keep it that way."

Watching Greyback swagger off, Severus expelled a harsh breath and resignedly turned back to fetch his cloak. As Jugson had correctly stated, he would pretend to be a good sport. He would support the house team, and hope that Sutton was knocked off his broom. Fetching the cloak, his eyes were drawn to a particular desk. The memory of Eris' kiss made it hard to study there. He'd begun studying at another desk when Tom was out of the room.

He'd acted as though the incident was indeed the 'random snogging' his roommate had termed it. Eris seemed to accept his withdrawn manner and remote politeness. Anyone watching their interaction in class since then would think her as cheerfully friendly as ever. Severus knew better. He'd seen the hurt behind her smile.

Bruised feelings hadn't kept her from sharing his text. Or from slanting him glances that tempted him into practising Legilimency. Unable to resist, he'd begun to extract memories from her whenever they were in class together.

The first one Severus had 'seen' was Eris kissing him. He hadn't noticed that her hands trembled before. Several other times, he retrieved memories about her covertly watching him in class, in the common room, or in the Great Hall. She seemed to admire the dexterity of his hands. Eris liked his lips, too.

Severus slammed the lid on both the trunk and his thoughts, hurrying from the room. Outside, he slung the cloak over his shoulders and crossed the grounds along with the rest of the latecomers. Most students arrived long before the match began, finding some enjoyment in being part of the crowd gawping and gossiping about their fellow students. The appeal of such things escaped him.

Once in the stands, he removed his omnioculars and glanced around. The Gryffindors were singing some running out tune as usual. They made Ravenclaws sound good. The sun burnishing red hair caught his eye. He adjusted the lens and viewed Lily Evans smiling at one of her friends. She looked pretty and dignified at the same time, as befitted her position of Head Girl.

"Go Slytherins!"

His gaze transferred to five girls holding up a silver banner that proclaimed the words in flashing green letters. At the end, Eris laughed at something Narcissa said. She didn't look dignified, but she was pretty…and sexy.

The roar of the crowd increased in volume. The match was set to begin. Captains shook hands so briefly they might as well not bothered. The players rose into the air. The game was on.

"Why didn't he take it in? Why'd he pass?"

An indignant boy behind him asked the question Severus had mulled over while watching Sutton pass the quaffle to Graham instead of taking it in to score. The team-mate hadn't expected a throw and dropped the ball. A Gryffindor Chaser had swooped in to recover the fumbled pass. Severus concluded that when it really counted, Clive lacked the bollocks needed to succeed.

What an amazing steal by Potter, who looks ready to lead his team to victory!

Was there some unwritten rule that the Quidditch commentator had to be a Gryffindor who was as biased and offensive as possible? Gideon Prewett would find himself the sufferer of numerous 'mystery ailments' if he didn't watch his mouth. The Slytherin crowd muttered to hear about every nice catch and play by their rivals, while their own brilliant moves went un-remarked.

Gryffindors Score!

Boos and hisses filling the cool air around him became offset by the raucous cheers of the section wearing accents of scarlet and gold. Severus directed his omnioculars toward Tom, who was tirelessly seeking the snitch. His roommate was a natural, gliding and diving with a competence Greyback had perhaps equalled, but not surpassed.

The Slytherin and Gryffindor Seekers raced to be the first to catch the gleaming snitch. The winged ball was elusive, but they both kept up the chase.

Slytherins score, oh bugg…I mean…Benton blocked that bludger, unfortunately…erm…fortunately…allowing the goal.

Slytherin cheers temporarily drowned out the irritating commentary. The match continued with endless teeth grinding praise of Gryffindor and hopes that Slytherin heads would be bashed or noses broken…jokingly, of course. Severus began to wonder if Prewett had a death wish. He stood on the bench to see above the crowd when the commentator screamed,

Wilkes and McKinnon are neck and neck, both Seekers reaching for the snitch! Wait, McKinnon's broom accidentally nudged Wilkes'. The Gryffindor Seeker glides ahead…Finlay McKinnon has caught the snitch. Gryffindors Win!

The hair on the back of Severus' neck stood up when he watched Tom fly close to the other Seeker and point his finger in an ominous manner. In a way, he hoped the Gryffindor had nudged Tom on purpose. It would make what was coming easier to take. He stood still while all around him, housemates griped and complained and booed the team now celebrating down on the pitch.

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She wanted to teach him a lesson. Weeks had passed since Eris had gone to Snape's room and kissed him, but thoughts of Severus still haunted her waking moments. The girl didn't even want to think about the dreams she'd been having. In Potions and DADA, she would intend to ignore him, but always ended up sneaking looks at his lips and hands. They were so diabolically clever.

Last night, instead of slipping out to see if a boy who really knew how to make her purr was in the courtyard, she'd forced herself to stay in the common room. If she hadn't asked Dani to play Exploding Snap, Eris knew that she would've started wondering if she was mental, obsessing over a boy that gave no sign of thinking about her in the same way.

Instead, after watching cards become confetti the previous evening, her cousin had asked, "What kind of book would have the title The Mind's Eye?"

"A book explaining the Arts of the mind, why?" Eris had seen that text in her grandfather's private library. It dealt with magic not taught in school- Legilimency and Occlumency. Penetrating and defending the mind against penetration by others.

"Snape was reading it at lunch." Dani made a face. "He shoved it into his carryall when he saw me looking. Is it Dark Arts or something?"

"Not Dark Arts, but hardly common reading, either," Eris replied distantly, her brain whirling with thoughts. Legilimency…could that be why she kept thinking about him, especially during the classes they sat side by side? Was he deliberately bringing up those memories…sharing them…while pretending to be unaffected by the kiss that was starting to drive her spare?

Now, as she entered the DA classroom, Eris decided to go through with the plan her tired brain had concocted after yet another night of broken sleep. Tonight was a full moon, and she had to deal with Severus before figuring out what she was going to do about the Marauders.

She used what her grandfather Tyr had taught her. Fela hugr- Old Norse for hiding thought. What others called Occlumency, he taught using the Norse name Vald- control. Eris controlled her mind, concealing thoughts of the Gryffindors.

At the front of the class, Professor Postlethwaite sniffed and used a handkerchief to wipe his watery eyes. His voice was a raspy whisper as he began his lecture on giants. Sitting beside the boy who acted as though he were alone at the table, Eris went along with his pretence for half an hour.

When she finally felt his gaze, Eris turned and looked directly into his face. Dark, penetrating eyes widened as she deliberately brought a 'memory' to the surface.

They were in the infirmary, with privacy curtains drawn. Eris helped Severus ease his robes off and began to unbutton his shirt, slowly. After each button was released, she leaned forward and kissed the flesh revealed, smiling up at the boy who stared down at her with a flush on his cheeks, looking mesmerised.

Once the shirt was unfastened, the girl slid her hands up his chest and pushed it off lean muscled shoulders. Pressing Severus back against the cot, she kissed him teasingly before unbuttoning her own robes and allowing them to pool at her feet. Pulling her tee up and off, she licked her lips and shook back her hair. Lips curving at the way his eyes flared, Eris reached for the bra's front clasp.

"Stop it!"

Snape's hiss brought Eris out of the remembrance of last night's dream. How ironic, she'd awakened with a pounding heart right after that, when he'd sat up and reached out to undo the clasp for her.

Severus' face was just as flushed as in the dream, but his eyes were black with anger, not tenderness and desire. He was breathing quickly. Maybe it wasn't anger. Fiercely satisfied, Eris stood and called, "Professor, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'm afraid I…I'm going to be sick…May I go to the infirmary?"

"Of course, Miss Greyback,"

She went to the infirmary, dutifully drank a Nauseous No More potion and returned to Slytherin house. Eris stayed in her room, trying to complete a few assignments before the sun set. Narcissa and Emma came into the dorm after the school day was over, demanding,

"What was wrong with you?"

"Was it something you ate? Do you think I'll get sick too?"

Replying to the second question, Eris smiled. "No, Cissy, you won't get sick. You had lobster salad at lunch, not shrimp. I'll be fine. I was just a bit queasy, is all."

"I'd be queasy too, if I had to sit by Snape." Emma grimaced. "He scowled at you so horribly Clive threatened to hex him after class."

"He didn't, though, right?"

Narcissa frowned. "Would you care?"

Damn it, she would, but admit it? Not even if she really was a Hufflepuff. Eris said, "I don't want Clive to get into trouble over me. I'm trying to set him up with Claire."

Her friends nodded in understanding. "She's in the common room right now, stroking his ego over how chivalrous he was." Emma smiled.

The three snickered a bit at the thought, and then sobered when Claire walked in and asked, "What's so funny?"

"Me, getting sick from seafood," said Eris.

The brunette looked at them askance. "You've got a twisted sense of humour, then."

"Don't we know it," she agreed. They all smiled and turned the subject to Clive and how Claire could spend more time with him. While the others speculated wildly, Eris thought about what she was going to try to do that night, when the others left for dinner.

Using the Chimera charm to present an illusion that she was sleeping in her bed, Eris snuck down to the kitchen and nicked a sandwich and litre of water. She ducked into an empty classroom and ate her makeshift dinner. After watching the sun set through the class window, she slipped out of the room and toward the nearest exit.

Eris pushed through the gates of Hogwarts and took the path into Hogsmeade. Once at the Shrieking Shack, she stopped. Closing her eyes, she silently chanted the Animagi transformation spell.

The feline ran around the back of the shack and crept beneath the underbrush bordering the forest to lie in wait. She knew the 'boys' would sneak out to roam the forest soon. Her ears tilted forward, catching the sounds of animals approaching. Crouching low, blue eyes narrowed in order not to have their shine detected by the dog who led the small, strange group forward.

Her face wrinkled and her upper lip pulled back, but 'Elpis' didn't hiss when the massive canine passed by. The werewolf padded along silently after his noisier companion. Amber eyes paused for a moment on her hiding place, but the wolf took no action. He moved on, a rat scurrying in his wake. Sharp claws extended, but the girl's mind overrode her temporary body's natural urge to pounce on the rodent. A moment afterwards, a stag made his way through the dense shrubbery. Waiting for the deer to pass almost out of sight, she eased out from cover and began to follow their trail.

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Severus had deliberated whether or not to even attempt to catch his enemies breaking school rules that night. Failure was starting to wear on him. He was no Javert, to suffer endless misery for some grand cause. He was much more pragmatic. There were other ways to make the bastards pay for their numerous offences.

Lying in bed, drifting into the stage before sleep, a disturbing thought brought the boy to wakefulness. What if Elpis tried to satisfy her curiosity again? If he was patrolling the area near the Whomping Willow, he could prevent the Siamese from being harmed, or provide aid if necessary. Immediately, he rolled onto his side and crossly determined that he bore no responsibility for an errant feline. Let her negligent owner worry. Closing his eyes, he attempted to fall asleep.

A half hour later, Severus paced back and forth near the area he had first encountered the sleep-stealing annoyance. A baying sound came from the forest.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.

"Elpis, come!" he called, striding toward the sound, wand outstretched and illuminating the way.

Faintly, a frantic 'mee-e-ow' was heard. He broke into a run. A slight body burst from the thick underbrush. Throaty, yowling, frightened sounds made by the cat running toward him were soon drowned out by the furious barking of the dog who had just stepped out of the forest. Big, black, and threatening, the animal saw him and halted. Severus was filled with loathing for the bullying creature.

"Be gone or be hexed, your choice, mongrel." He strode forward, wand pointed at the canine while Elpis closed the distance between them. She rushed forward and sprang into his arms.

A deep, guttural howl echoed from within the forest. Hearing the sound, the dog abruptly turned and crashed back through the underbrush to disappear into the woods. Severus clutched the feline tightly and ran back toward the castle. He'd heard a howl like that before.

His blood ran cold at the thought of Lupin, the werewolf, loose in the Forbidden Forest. The boy's steps didn't slow until he was safely indoors.

The enchanted torchlight revealed the sorry state of Elpis' coat. Wet, muddy and matted with detritus from the forest, she looked like a bedraggled stray instead of a pampered pet.

He scowled. "I should let you crawl back to your owner and let them see the results of allowing you to roam at will." A tiny, forlorn mew and an imploring gaze caused him to sigh heavily. "I suppose they're used to your headstrong ways and wouldn't blink an eye. Very well, you're coming with me."

Tom's bed curtains were drawn, so he took the cat directly into the lavatory. She shivered and mewed pitifully, but otherwise remained still and accepting as he cleansed her short hair. Afterwards, Severus wrapped the Siamese in a towel and began patting her dry. It was disconcerting how the big blue eyes remained fixed on his the entire time.

"What the hell?" His roommate demanded sleepily, scratching his head while heading to the toilet.

"I found her running away from a dog, coming out of the forest. She was filthy, so I cleaned her up."

After returning to the sink to wash his hands, Tom asked, "Are you going to toss the kitty in the outer corridor and let her slink back to wherever?"

Severus looked down at the animal staring up at him. He shook his head. "No. I think her owner might be less careless in the future if he or she has to worry when their pet fails to return. We've got three extra beds. Elpis can sleep here."

When placed on the floor, the cat darted immediately for his bed, jumping onto the coverlet and curling up in the middle. Tom laughed. "I think our furry friend thinks she's your kitty, mate."

Reluctantly amused, Severus climbed beneath the covers and allowed the feline to lie on his chest after he pulled the bed curtains closed. Stroking the downy hair, he whispered, "Would you like to be mine?"

The purring that resulted made him smile.

A/N: Do you blame her for purring? LOL. What's not funny, to a writer who enjoyed replying to reviewers, is the official decree that responses within chapters are "not allowed" anymore. I guess we have to hope reviewers have accounts so they can receive a private message in return. The replies in preceding chaps have been cut, but I kept the names and added ♥ 's, 'cause I heart reviewers! Last chapter, I sincerely appreciated the reviews of ♥ 40/16 ♥ Camillia Vincent ♥ cupcakeswirl ♥ die Loreley ♥ ElspethBates ♥ Embellished ♥ FNP ♥ gothic-Wildhorse ♥ GraceRichie ♥ Jedi Knight Padme ♥ LiverpoolSoccerfairy ♥ Machiavelli Jr. ♥ NazgulGirl ♥ Slipknot 3113 ♥ Slytherin Love Goddess ♥ and sunny9847 ♥

Special thanks to Machiavelli Jr. for informing me that a 'running out tune' would be more likely than a fight song. : ) Editing...it's a good thing!