Summary: Hogsmeade weekend! Yay! Review… PLEASE… I've got an illness…and the only cure …in more cowbell…er…I mean, reviews!
Chapter Six: Hogsmeade
Failing miserably to find Severus, Tahlia decided to continue her task the next morning. Walking to the library after a Snape-less breakfast, Tahlia heard a familiar voice calling her. A female voice.
"Tahlia! Wait!" Tahlia turned to find a girl running towards her. Bright red hair ...Lily? "Hey! Where have you been all this time? I know you probably don't need my help anymore, on your schoolwork I mean, but you never come around Alice and me anymore. We've missed you!" the girl said sweetly while patting Tahlia's arm.
"Oh... I'm real sorry, Lily. I've actually been just ...around. I wasn't sure if you and Alice would be too busy studying for the N.E.W.T.s. So I thought I'd just leave you be." Tahlia began playing with the buttons on her sweater.
"Nonsense! I spotted you at our table yesterday, but I was on my way out. I made it my mission to find you today... Which I have! How about you and me go to Slug Club together?" Lily smiled pointing in the direction on their potions classroom.
"Is there a meeting today?" Tahlia started excitedly, "Yesterday I got an invitation from Slughorn, but I never finished reading the letter. I didn't think it would be so soon! Of course I'll go!" The girls made their way down the hall. While walking, Lily nudged Tahlia with her elbow.
"Are you going with Sirius Black?" Lily asked between a giggle.
"Oh...no. He asked me to Hogsmeade, but that's all. I'm not even sure if I'm going there with him. What gave you that impression?"
"Well, I hope I'm not being too bold, but you know that little Weasley boy? The first year? William ...or maybe Bill? Bright red hair? Anyway, he told James last night that you and Sirius were at the the bridge yesterday ...snogging like mad!" Lily chuckled. "If you do decide to go along with him, to Hogsmeade, James and I are going to that fluffy tea shop ...you two should come along."
"Thanks, I'll think about it." They entered the classroom and made their way to the circle of people near the front. Tahlia and Lily took the two seats nearest Professor Slughorn's seat and the meeting began.
At dinner that night, Tahlia decided to sit back at the Ravenclaw table. She took a seat near the front of the hall and began to serve her dinner. Looking up, strait ahead of her, was Severus, eating his dinner. A smile crept onto her face. He was also sitting alone. A little while after, Severus stood up from his seat and made his way out of the hall. Tahlia quickly set her things away and followed after him. Finding him about to turn the corner down to the Slytherin dungeons, she yelled to him.
"Severus! Wait!" She ran up to him and took hold of his left arm, causing him to jerk mid-step. "I need to talk to you," she pleaded. He shrugged her hand away and leaned against the wall behind him. He brought his hand up near his face, and fixed his attention on his nails.
"What is it?" he droned monotonously, not looking up from his hand.
"I didn't mean what I said the other day." She pushed the boy's hand down, away from his face. "And if it makes a difference, you were right about Sirius." Focusing instead on the opposite wall, Severus began.
"Well ...No one says your a stupid twit," he almost whispered. "But I wouldn't go as far as to include me in in that group ...yet."
Tahlia sighed desperately, "Will you just sit with me again?"
"Fine." He finally turned his gaze at the girl. "Tomorrow, after classes. I'll meet you in the library." He turned to continue when Tahlia called him again. Severus looked over his shoulder at her.
"Will you go to Hogsmeade with me?" She put her hands behind her back to stop herself from fingering her buttons.
"What about Sirius?" Severus' forehead wrinkled.
"What about him?" She walked towards him. "I don't want to go with him. I want to go with you." The boy looked down at her; he couldn't help but smile at her own grin.
"Alright. I'll go. Only because I need a new quill." She jumped and swung her arms around him.
"We'll have so much fun! I promise you!" she sqeeked. He maneuvered out of her grasp trying to conceal an amused grin. Severus though her too easily pleased, like a child. He often found himself speculating the connotation of this trait. He determined it was a pleasent and rather amiable attribute.She let go and turned to make her way to her dormitory. Severus did the same.
He walked through the open potrait hole and into the dark common room. The only light came from a blazing fire. An older boy was sitting in a chair in the corner eyeing him. Fire relfected and flickered in his water blue eyes as the warm light spilled over his face and frame. He was long and thin and had silvery blond hair down to his shoulders. The boy sat up and walked slowly towards Severus.
"Snape." He nodded. "Take a seat." The boy pointed pointed his wand at Severus and yelled something he had never heard before. Suddenly he felt excrutiating pain seer throughout his entire being, like tiny pins slowly being pushed into every inch of his body. He fell to the floor, convulsing, then Lucius released the curse. He walked towards the boy clutching his stomach on the ground. Placing a firm hand over Severus' mouth, he spat. "I'm going to make you an offer...and if you are smart, you will not pass it up." He gave a throaty laugh and continued, "Because if you do decide to decline this invitation, there will be very ghastly consequences." A repugnant smile stretched across his face.
Boys and girls lined the main hall along with each head of house. Each child handed their professor a small, square piece of parchment as they passed. A permission slip. Tahlia looked around her. In the Gryffindor line she spotted Lily waving at her, holding hands with James. I thought she hated Potter? Not far behind, she found Sirius leaning against the wall looking strait at her. She stepped out of line and made her way towards him.
"Are you still mad at me?" he mocked.
"No. I'm not mad at you. I just wanted to let you know I won't be able to accompany you today. A friend of mine doesn't have anyone to go with, and I don't want them going alone... Or staying here," she said slowly, trying to look Sirius in the eye, but failing and quickly averting her eyes every five seconds.
"I thought you didn't have any friends." He looked at her confused and suspicious.
"Well, I do. ...And that's that," she said quickly. She turned and walked to the back of the Ravenclaw line. After five minutes, Lily, James and Sirius had exited the hall. Tahlia looked around for Severus but didn't see him. Now she was next in line. She handed her permission slip to Professor Flitwick and walked towards the door. She looked one last time behind her, then turned back and made her way across the path. Just then Severus walked quickly to her side from a bench just outside the exit. "Severus! I thought you had stood me up!"
"No. I've just been waiting here. Freezing, I might add. No thanks to you. What were you doing, writing another potion book?." he deprecatingly spat.
"Nevermind that," she quickly recovered, "Where do you suppose we should go then? I've never been." Her hands were slightly shaking, part out of excitement, part out of nervousness.
"There isn't much there. Nothing very interesting. Although, I need a new quill or two. We can go to Scrivenshaft's then."
After exiting the quill shop, Tahlia turned to Severus. "Well that wasn't very fun. At all. I thought there were fun things to do here...you know...Sweet shops! And pubs! I get to choose the next stop!" She turned around and spied a large, bright looking building with glowing windows and a blue door. The Three Broomsticks. "There! Let's go in there!" She pulled Severus' hand and raced to the cafe. They walked in, but not very far. It's packed!
"Do you want to go somewhere else? Where there are fewer people?" Severus almost had to shout over the noise.
"I guess... even thought it's warm and cozy in here," she whined as she followed the boy back outside, into the cold air.
"Let's go have a look at the shrieking shack," he smirked. They walked around the back of The Three Broomsticks and found a path that led into the wooded area near the lake. After walking a few minutes, Tahlia saw an old house though the trees. It looked off balance and dark. They climbed over a large, collapsed tree that blocked the path and into a large, open area. The house was now in plain sight. Severus sat on a large boulder a few feet a way. Tahlia just stared. The door swung open and slammed shut repeatedly. Is that the wind? Curtains from the open windows swayed in the breeze. The house seemed to sigh. Her heart rate soared and she anxiously looked to Severus. "There's something in there," she whispered, remembering all the stories Remus told her about the house. She walked sideways towards Severus, not looking away from the house.
"Is that the shrieking shack? Remus said it's the most haunted place in the whole of England." Severus pulled two small, glass bottles from his pocket.
"Pumpkin Juice?" Tahlia sat next to him and took a bottle.
"We aren't going in there, right?" She took a drink and looked at the boy.
"No. We'll just stay here." He looked at Tahlia then back at the ground.
"Sev...can I call you Sev?" The boy pointed his finger down his throat, gesturing nausea. "Nevermind then. I just wanted to tell you, I didn't mean what I said in the library that day. I was just upset." She set her bottle on the ground next to her feet and took Severus' and did the same. Then slowly, she snuck her arm around his. He turned to her and remained quiet. She whispered under her breath, "I think it was because you didn't tell me not to go with him, and ask me to go with you instead."
"What? Well, don't be sorry. What you said to me was completely true." He quickly turned his face to the house. "I'm not exactly dashing ...I know no one peticularly wants to kiss me," he confessed. "It's my dad's fault, you know, he's hideous." Tahlia laughed and turned his face back to hers. With her hand on still on his chin, she studied him.
"I find you intriguing. And your eyes ...captivating," one of the corners of her mouth raised, in a half smile, "and I'd snog you." She snorted, stifling the laugh that was meant to conceal her embarassment at this very, unbeknownst to her, true statement.
"If you dressed a little better, I might consider it," he played along.
"Oh, shut up!" She leaned her head on his shoulder. Severus supressed a wince and held his breathe. Tahlia closed her eyes and sighed. After a few minutes she sat up and looked at Severus sincerly. "Would you really not kiss me? Because of something like the way I dress?" she whispered.
"What?" He jerked his head at her. She scooted towards him. She felt his body slightly twitch as their legs pressed against each other's.
"If I asked you to, would you kiss me?" She pinched the inside of her cheek between her teath and began jerking at the buttons of her jacket.
"Ok," he uttered under his breath, not quiet sure what he was agreeing to, or why he had agreed to it. She smiled shyly as a soft pink crept across her cheeks. She licked her lips and closed her eyes as she leaned into him. Severus gave her a quizzical look. She peeked her eyes open then sighed. "Well?" she half-shouted. "What are you waiting for?"
"I'm a bit out of practice is all," he curtly reasoned. She thought for a while then started. "So you have kissed a girl before?" she asked, sounding a more than a little let down.
"Er...A few. It's just that I've been too busy lately," he lied cooly.
"Oh... Well nevermind that." She wet her lips again and coyly smiled as she found Severus watching her. She ran her hand over his eyes, shutting them, then continued with the tips of her fingers down his cheek and under his jaw. "Don't look," she warned. Severus stood quiet and nodded as he swallowed the huge lump in his throat.
She leaned into him and closed her eyes. She took one last breath, then curtly and tenderly embraced his lips with hers. His were warm and soft, and his kiss, gentle. she grinned enormously and leaned away. He stood still and kept his eyes closed as a smug smile crept across his face. "Is that all then?" Tahlia clicked her tongue. He peeked throught one eye, then opened both of them. He readjusted himself and returned the usual smirk to his lips.
"Come on. I'll buy you some candy from Honeydukes. You wanted to go to the sweet shop, right?" He put out his arm and she weaved hers through it. He hesitatingly submitted and they made their way back towards the town. Turning around the front of the cafe, Tahlia noticed a boy staring at them, scrutinizing. She turned to Severus and whispered to him.
"Why is Lucius Malfoy so interested in us?" Severus nervously turned his head at him. Lucius winked at him before getting up and making off. Severus nervously cleared his throat and explained to Tahlia.
"Oh, yes. Him ...You'll never believe what he relayed to me just last night." They turned another corner and he continued. "Apparently he's 'in love' with you ...or something like that. He wasnt too happy to hear I was going with you today." She had a concered look on her face. "But don't worry, I dealt with him alright."
He held his breath, as to not laugh. Her eyes widened. "He's in love with me?" She wore a strange smile. Severus nodded, but abruptly transformed his movements, and shook his head swiftly.
"No." She laughed and pinched his arm.
"Ow. Would you be so kind as to not attack me every time I make a joke? You are a lot stronger than you think." He rubbed at the sore skin under his over coat.
"Ok. I'll stop...Just as soon as you stop taking advantage of my trust in you ...You know I'm not usually one to be gullible ...I guess you just bring out the worst in me." She shifted her weight onto the ball of her foot and reached her lips to the canyon of his cheek. He gave her hand a tight squeeze before letting go and turned her shoulders towards a bright window with golden letters glazed across it. Honeydukes.