Potions: What would a Girl Do without It?
By Slave4Severus
Disclaimer: I still do not own any of J.K.R. characters. Even though I wish I did.
Sometimes he truly despised the weather. The rain in Scotland never fell from the sky in the same manner as it had previously. If the day began with a soft, misty drizzle it could turn within a heartbeat and become an icy, drenching downpour. It was one of these notorious releases of nature that welcomed the Potions Master back to his humble lodgings. The rain pelted his black robes with merciless abandon, coming down in driving sheets that penetrated every inch of his skin with icy pinpricks.
Severus gritted his teeth and marched through the waterlogged grounds, feeling the mud ooze into his Oxfords and turning his feet into cold stumps of flesh. Within record time, the Potions Master crossed over the threshold of the hidden passage that lead into a secluded part of his dungeons, away from prying eyes. Not that any sane individual would be loitering about this late at night, even Filch had the need for sleep. The stone wall replaced itself silently behind him, cutting off mother nature's raging tantrum with an effective thud.
With a wave of his wand, Severus divested his dripping face of water before drying the rest of his clothes and person. A softly mumbled cleansing spell took care of the grainy wetness in his boots, as he threw back the hood of his cloak to assess any other damage caused by prior…events.
His hands trembled as they ghosted over his form, locating two sore ribs during the silent inventory. Thankfully, Lucius received more bouts of Crucio than he had, being a vital link in the Dark Lord's plan to extradite the girl from the castle. He had lost count over the past hours how many times they all had been cursed, only that few remained conscious enough to apparate back to their homes; their emergency portkeys having been activated by their staggering comrades.
Severus straightened and pulled his robes straight beneath his cloak, hoping his hands would not give away too much of the nights proceedings. He wished he could retire to his chambers, but his duty to Albus came first, the blasted old man!
The signature scowl well in place, he turned toward the wall that would emit him into the dungeons. "Ostendo absconditus," he hissed, his wand gracefully swishing at the stone, which immediately obeyed by radiating green light; opening grudgingly.
Before Severus could move into the hallway, however, a solid and invisible object collided with his own tall frame. His senses already being piqued to an extreme, he immediately focused on the dull sound of a body hitting the dungeon wall before him.
'Potter!'
His jaw clenched painfully, his eyes narrowed into black slits, and his hand shot out to get a hold on that damnable invisibility cloak that foolish boy seemed to think nobody knew about. He would teach that bloody Gryffindor this time…however, his clenched fist returned empty.
His wand resurfaced with agile precision, his hushed words lifting the obvious concealment charms, "Finite Incantatem Maximus."
Severus' instincts seemed to get the better of him, pushing his feet forward toward the newly visible figure that possessed copious amounts of hair, his left hand clutching the neck and lifting the body a few inches off the ground.
Delicate hands clutched furiously at his forearm and wrist, trying to get his grip to loosen in vain. His gaze moved from her hands to her face, his fingers tightening imperceptibly at her identity.
"Leaving us so soon, Miss Flint?" Severus schooled his anger into the silky strands of his voice. The stupid girl actually thought she would be able to leave this castle without being found out! Then again, she had been dangerously close to accomplishing her task.
'How very Gryffindor,' he thought uncharitably, as he watched her laboured breathing.
Perhaps a small taste of what awaited her beyond the walls of Hogwarts would stop her from this foolishness. His hand lifted her a little more, eliciting a jump in her pulse rate, which beat heavily against his middle and ring finger.
Her eyes had grown large and glassy, her pupils fully dilated in the soft green glow of the fire, while she stared at him unblinkingly. Not that it unnerved him in the least. He was not, however, prepared for the tip of her small tongue to wet her parched lips as she stared at him.
Severus stepped away from her instantly relinquishing her throat, vaguely monitoring her gasping intakes of breath, her eyes never leaving his person.
"Follow me," he scowled effectively, pivoting on the ball of his toes and striding down the hall.
So help her, if she did not follow.
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Alanna hardly noticed walking through the dank and drafty dungeons, following him with only ten paces between them. Her mind was busily trying to digest and catalogue what had happened only a few minutes prior, undoubtedly to be reviewed during another dream-filled night.
She watched him swiftly ascend the dungeon stairs, his cloak softly gliding over the stony steps. Her body had been undeniably humming with a warm tingling sensation since he had touched her and all too willingly appreciated the form he made. Her skin prickled uncomfortably beneath her clothing and shedding it seemed to be the most logical impulse her hormone driven mind could create. The steadying breath she took only filled her nostrils with his intoxicating scent, forcing her to bite down on her lower lip once more, promptly falling back another five paces.
She was being utterly ridiculous! Alanna had never felt this out of control in her life.
As she watched him cross the main entrance to the huge staircase leading to the second floor, she noticed the firelight dancing over his black hair, noting that it had been shorter the last time she had seen him. Alanna's eyes narrowed slightly. What did she know about this man?
It seemed very little, except that he had been the focus of her sexual energies for the past year now. Although, what man would have been hiding behind a hidden door in order to waylay a student in the middle of the night? What were his duties here in the castle, and what importance did he have to her father, to have been summoned to Flint manor?
Then it struck her.
The object of her dreams must be the caretaker!
It made perfect sense to Alanna. Only the caretaker of a huge castle such as this would be able to stalk around the school at night to make sure all of the ghosts and children were not running amok. The horrible little man with the cat must have been one of his associates; after all, the castle was too grand to be patrolled by only one.
This brought Alanna to the next question. How had he known her name? Yet again, who DID NOT know her name? This was all more confusing than she had the energy to contemplate.
"Keep up!" His voice was overly harsh and Alanna felt her steps quicken involuntarily. Where was he taking her?
A few more staircases and a couple of halls later, they found themselves before a huge statue of a gargoyle. His abrupt stop left her inches from stumbling headlong into his broadly cloaked back, subsequently forcing her blood into her face as she took a few steps back and waited.
'Maybe this is his office…caretaker headquarters.'
"Creamy nougat," he hissed softly, the gargoyle moving to the side to reveal another set of wooden spiraling stairs, which he took two at a time.
Alanna did not have time to contemplate the odd choice of password, as she followed him up the stairs. An odd sense of foreboding hit her like a ton of bricks, slowing her steps dramatically; why did she get the feeling that she may have gotten herself into a heap of trouble.
The doors to the office opened slowly as he approached them, leading into a circular room with an obscene amount of snoring paintings, odd silver instruments sitting on spindle-legged tables emitting little puffs of smoke. The focal point of the room, however, was the enormous, claw-footed desk. Alanna slowly followed him into his lair, watching him carefully as he situated himself close to the window and turned to face her. His eyes bore into hers with a cold regard, while his hand motioned for her to sit in one of his chairs before his humongous desk, covered with a multitude of papers and knickknacks, including a very old, and ratty looking wizard hat. The thought of him wearing something so atrocious made her arch her brow with something a kin to merriment.
Alanna slowly moved to the green armchair and was about to settle herself into it, when she heard a small raspy sound to her right, promptly searching out its origin. A small gasp of pleasure left her parted lips as she spotted the beautiful red and gold plumage of a phoenix sitting on his perch close to the fireplace. Without a second thought to its owner she quickly walked up to the bird, who looked at her sleepy eyed and questioningly. A small smile played on her lips, while she lifted her hand to pet his feathers.
"Touch nothing," he said softly. The man seemed to speak in command form only.
Alanna looked over her shoulder at him with furrowed brow, Fawkes sending him much of the same behind her. She returned her attention back to the bird and smiled at it sweetly, reluctantly leaving its side and seating herself in her chair.
Then she waited for whatever he had to discuss with to her to begin.
A few minutes of silence later she could not stand it any longer and graced him with her full attention. He stood at the window looking over the dark countryside without a glance in her direction. She could see his black clad frame leaning against the window, his arms folded before him, and his long, tapered fingers drumming impatiently against his forearms. Her body reminded her of his affect on it with another jolt, forcing her to cross her legs tightly to ease the throbbing somewhat.
"Good morning, Severus…Miss Flint."
She nearly jumped out of her chair in fright at the Headmaster's soft-spoken words, watching him come out of the shadows in a polka dotted nightshift and pink dressing gown. He looked over his half-moon glasses at her in questioning silence, while seating himself in the heavy leather wingback behind the desk. Too stunned to react to his presence, the older man shifted his attention from her.
"Albus…"
"I trust your evening went well, Severus?"
"As well as anticipated, but that is not why I had Miss Flint accompany me here tonight."
His name was Severus? Severus….hmm…Severus…Oh, Severus! No, No stop, stop not now! Alanna shook her head slightly, missing the flicker of merriment in the Headmaster's eyes.
"Do continue, Severus."
Severus moved from his position by the window and slowly approached the seated Headmaster.
"I found Miss Flint wandering the dungeon halls tonight, specifically the one that has a certain hidden passage leading to the outside of the castle," his eyes disdainfully roamed over her person.
"Is that so?" Albus looked at Alanna with an unreadable expression, her eyes returning the scrutiny full force.
"I have said all along, Albus, that this girl needs to be under constant supervision, having broken at least five school rules within her first night," he stood menacingly behind Alanna's chair, hoping to intimidate the girl even further.
Alanna felt his presence behind her and tried to focus on the Headmaster. It would simply not do to have impure thoughts of the caretaker while seated across the executor of her father's Will. Her mother would have been appalled; her heart clenched painfully.
"…that is why I suggest she should be confined within certain areas of this school…"
Alanna blinked, listening to what he actually had to say: he wanted to lock her up in this molding old heap of rocks?
"…and be punished for her infractions upon school rules, including…"
She had heard enough of this utter rubbish! Still, she found his dark, snarky attitude incredibly desirable. Alanna locked her eyes upon the Headmaster and folder her hands in her lap.
"Before I have to listen to another word, sir, I would like to advise you that locking me up within these walls will not accomplish anything."
He had just been adequately and rudely cut off from his tirade. How dare she? Severus straightened his spine to his full height, his face twisting in fury at the bloody chit.
Albus leaned against his chair and steepled his hands, watching a rather disheveled looking Miss Flint collect a surprising amount of courage, for a natural born Slytherin, and interrupt the most feared professor of his staff.
"Miss Flint, what were you doing in the dungeons tonight?" Albus watched her intently.
"I was merely curious…" she hated lying.
Severus leaned down closer before hissing: "Curiosity killed the cat."
"Yes, and satisfaction brought it back," the sentence had come out before she could stop herself, being one of her standard responses to her father's exact statement. Now, it had taken on a different meaning, however. Alanna forced herself not to groan.
Severus sent her a look of pure venom, his obsidian eyes glittering dangerously at her cheek. She was treading into very dangerous territory. Miss Flint would pay dearly for her cheek when he got the chance.
"That pathetic excuse of a lie could not even fool an inebriated centaur, Miss Flint," he replied smoothly.
Well, he did have a point. Nevertheless, Alanna was loosing her patience.
"Quite frankly, Mr. Severus, I do not give a damn what you choose to believe."
Deathly silence.
"How dare you speak to me this way? One hundred points…"
"Severus! Calm yourself. Miss Flint has not even begun her classes yet."
Alanna watched his face contort in anger with macabre fascination, his eyes shooting more than daggers at her. The bruises he had left on her neck dully throbbed beneath her sweater in a silent reminder of what the man was capable of doing. He really took his work seriously.
"Miss Flint, an answer please," Dumbledore had taken on his no-nonsense tone of voice.
Alanna sighed softly. "I was looking for something…"
Liar, liar!
"For what exactly?" Severus had enough of her antics.
"I was looking for the potions lab," her voice never faltered.
"Miss Flint, we do not have all night to discuss this matter. Either you will tell the Headmaster and me why you were looking for the potions lab, or so help me by Merlin's wand, I will be forced to retrieve the truth by other means."
"…other means?" Her voice was thick with desire.
"A glass of water, Miss Flint?" Dumbledore looked at the flustered girl over his glasses, trying not to reveal the smile that was threatening to manifest itself. "And no, Severus, Veritasserum will not be added to it."
Severus had the decency not to look crestfallen.
Alanna swallowed heavily, and shook her head at Albus. "I was searching for the lab in order to brew a muscle relaxant for myself. I experienced problems falling asleep, tossing and turning mostly. Since my release from the hospital I have been more than a little tense." The only thing she did not lie about was the part about tossing and turning in her bed; she hoped she was not blushing again.
"Why did you not return to Madam Pomfrey and asked her for the potion?" Albus was clearly a bit confused.
"Have you ever tasted a muscle relaxant potion, Headmaster? It is the vilest brew imaginable."
Severus lifted a dark brow.
"A few months ago I developed a topical solution that can be massaged into the skin, relaxing and penetrating stiff muscle tissue. I only wanted to use the lab brew enough to last me before my own cauldron and ingredients arrived."
Severus stared at her.
"I hope I understand this correctly, Miss Flint. First, you planned on breaking into the school potions lab. Secondly, you wanted to steal from the school stores, and attempt to bypass the wards of the private stores for more illusive ingredients. Thirdly, you want to set up a lab with your own ingredients and cauldron, which at Hogwarts is strictly forbidden, and finally, you commenced with this foolishness in the dead of night past curfew," Severus stated in a deadly lilting voice.
'Oh, bugger.'
"If you put it that way, then yes, that was my intent when I left my bed tonight," Alanna looked down at her hands meekly. She hoped the lie would pass their scrutiny.
If not, she could always tell them the truth.
'Hey, I hated this drafty old castle and want to get back home where the people aren't total nutters, and I am not being treated like an oddity to be ogled at.'
Now that would probably go over well!
"Miss Flint," Albus waited until she looked up at him. "The facilities are available to you whenever you need them, providing that you finish your work before the school enforced curfew."
A muscle in Severus' jaw tightened uncomfortably.
"I do want to explain to you, that your late parents and new guardians wish you to remain here at Hogwarts for the remainder of the school year. Thus, you are not allowed beyond the castle grounds under any circumstance. Failure to meet these rules will result in a form of punishment to be set by your head of house," Albus raised himself from his chair and looked at her amicably. "I am sure you will make friends very soon, Miss Flint."
Alanna rose from her seat, and bid the Headmaster a stiff good night.
"Severus, please escort Miss Flint to her chambers. We do not wish for her to get lost in the castle," Albus smiled knowingly at Severus, who snapped his head around giving Alanna a look of contempt.
"Of course, Headmaster," with a curt nod, he swept toward the door.
He passed Alanna without another glance, his forceful gate stirring the air behind him, filling it with his scent. Like a moth to the flame, she turned and followed him from the room. Did he do that to every woman?
Once again, Alanna kept herself at a safe distance of ten paces, as they ascended the staircases to Gryffindor tower. Only one thought swirled in her mind: did he remember her? Alanna swallowed forcefully.
Merlin she hoped not, and yet again, she wished he would! Could she be anymore pathetic?
Too soon did they reach the seventh floor and the darkened hallway beyond. She could make out the painting that would emit her into Hermione's chambers over his left shoulder, as they passed a shadowy patch in the hall. Without a hint of notice, Severus turned on her, retracing his steps to advance upon her once more. Alanna, having been lost to her own thoughts, did not expect to find a wall of black fabric obstruct her view of the hallway, and sidestepped him. Her shoulder grazed the stone wall before his hand shot out and trapped her against the wall, forcing her to look up into his furious face.
'Oh, shit.'
"I want to make one thing perfectly clear, Miss Flint. If I catch you stealing or brewing illegal potions under this roof, I will not refrain from turning you over to the proper authorities," he paused for emphasis.
"And if I catch you administering an illegal potion…again…I will not be held responsible for my actions," his sneer spoke volumes.
Alanna had problems focusing on anything other than his mouth, wishing he would finally shut up and kiss her breathless…that was until he threatened her.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "I will not take orders, or threats for that matter, from a glorified housekeeper, Mr. Severus. Now, if you do not mind I would like to return to my chambers," her eyes fell to his hands that anchored her against the wall before narrowing on him once more. "Do you not have some house elves to go push around?"
Severus leaned down toward her face, their noses close to touching. "It seems your father has been remiss in teaching you proper manners. I shall be happy to educate you further in that regard, Miss Flint," his voice barely made it past a whisper.
"My manners are impeccable, sir! It is your tongue, which forces me to stand up for myself," the thought of his tongue made her shiver slightly.
Severus straightened abruptly and looked her over coolly. With a swish of his robes, he turned and exited the tower, leaving a heavily breathing Alanna in his wake. He could hardly wait to get her into his classroom tomorrow. Loss of points would only be the beginning of her worries.
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Author's Note: There you go! Another chapter for my pretties! Thank you again for all of your reviews: LKLTB, Summerkins, ThouandI, Lucidity, Marc Darcy and all the others. Thank you also to the anonymous reviews I have been getting. Everything counts and I am happy that you are enjoying yourself. Next up: First day of school.
Thank you to Mystic, you wonderful little beta you!
Thank you to my muse and inspiration who makes my dialogue nice and snarky, PinkCorsair!