Chapter 5. Severus and Sanctuary
That night, Severus waited until he was certain that she was asleep. This meant waiting until she began to snore, something he was sure she would never do if she were really awake. Though, as snores went, it was very ladylike and elegant. Severus lit his wand just enough to cast a dim light. In the light which emanated from the tip, he could see that a hair had come loose on her pillow.
Very cautiously, he reached for it. The moment his whole hand and crossed the center line of the bed, Severus gasped in pain and jerked it back. There were, just as Nagini had promised, four puncture wounds in his hand, just like bite marks. What kind of curse did she use? he wondered, as his hand began to bleed copiously. Obviously she used real venom, he added, as he wrapped his hand tightly.
Nagini watched gleefully the next morning as Snivellus tried to top the bleeding from his hand.
"I did warn you," she said cheerfully as he ate breakfast left handed. Snivellus glared at her.
"I don't suppose you'd be willing to tell me the antidote for your venom."
"Maybe. Let's see if you can figure it out on your own first."
"Right, I'll just sit here and bleed to death, then," he groused.
"What happened to the genius you were boasting of yesterday?" Nagini asked innocently.
"It took a team of healers a week to cure Arthur Weasley! There's only one of me!" he nearly shouted.
"Who's he?" Nagini asked curiously.
"The man you bit at the Ministry"
"Well, I'm afraid you're in no danger of bleeding to death, but I'll keep my fingers crossed for an infection."
"Thank you for those kind and reassuring words of comfort," Snivellus said sarcastically.
Nagini divided her time during the next few days between her garden and the baths. Snivellus, to her disgust, did not bathe once the entire time, though she gave him ample opportunity. He also had a disgusting habit of putting back on his clothes from the day before. Nagini had taken to having Narcissa change the bedclothes every morning. She could actually see the grey spot from grease on his pillow cases.
She was dangling her feet in the fish pond one afternoon when she heard him come up behind her.
"Did I give you permission to come in here?" she asked angrily, quickly pulling her feet out of the water.
"I've just realized that the last thing I need for that antidote is a Venomous Tentacula leaf."
"Clever Snivellus, you've figured it out," Nagini said patronizingly. "It only took you a week. Go ahead and take one, then get out of here."
"What is this," he asked caustically, struggling with her plant for a leaf, "your inner sanctuary or something?"
"Yes!" Nagini said impatiently, "And your greasy self is desecrating it! Get lost!"
Snivellus didn't move, which might have been unwise, considering the Venomous Tentacula was out for revenge.
"What are the fish for?" he asked nosily.
"I eat them!" Nagini shouted, finally losing her composure, "Now get out!"
"How do you like them cooked?" he asked stubbornly.
"Like this!" Nagini snarled irritably, reaching into the pond, seizing a fish, and biting its head off. Snivellus turned green as she chewed and swallowed. He eyed the body of the fish still wriggling in her hand queasily.
"Well that explains the fishpond," he said, pathetic in his attempt to sound casual.
"Are you going to leave?" Nagini asked.
"Not until I find out what I could do to get you to stop hating me."
Nagini sighed. I could remove him forcibly, but I'd have to be half-snake to do it. I hate it when people see me like that. I suppose I just better answer. She considered her answer seriously as she finished her snack.
"If you bathed regularly, and I succumbed to insanity, I'd like you a lot better," she said honestly.
Snape turned on his heel and left. Nagini smirked. She'd hurt his pride, the only vulnerable part of him, just by being honest.
On the last day of their so-called 'honeymoon' he once again invaded her private space. She ignored him at fist, continuing to prune her miniature whomping willow.
"What!" she demanded finally, after his hollow black stare made her scalp prickle for longer than she could bear.
"If I took a bath,' he said quickly, "would you pretend no to hate me at the feast tomorrow night?
Snivellus's pride seems to have over come his hatred of hygiene, at least temporarily.
She narrowed her eyes. "Just what would this pretense involve?" she asked suspiciously.
"Holding my hand, pleasant conversation, saying you enjoyed your honeymoon, a kiss in public, complementing my abilities…"
Nagini snorted. "Abilities? I don't think so." She considered the rest of the deal seriously. Humiliate a dirty Snape at the feast , or be nice to a clean Snape at the feast? She made up her mind.
"No praise, no kiss," she stipulated, "and I'm the judge of whether you are clean enough or not!"