Learning to Live Chapter 14: The Afterparty and the Morning After
Note: Sorry this took so long to come out with. I needed some inspiration. The Wedding Date followed by Love Actually gave it to me. Get ready for a bit more fluff. And (perhaps) some action/drama.
Buffy managed to maintain a straight face until they were out of earshot of the Great Hall. Then she giggled and pulled Severus in for an even more passionate kiss. "We better get going before more students see us," Buffy whispered.
This time, they made it to Severus's rooms before they had to kiss again. It was like a dam had broken and they couldn't stop it. They stumbled into the Potion Master's black and silver bedroom. Surprisingly enough, the sheets were silk, as Buffy discovered when she tumbled onto them.
Sev's fingers went to remove her dress and she stopped him. "You don't want to see…." she let the thought hang in the air.
His lips curled into the sweetest smile as to told her, "I've told you, love, everything about you is beautiful. Each mark is a part of you, something that's made you the most amazing, stunningly gorgeous woman I've ever had the pleasure of meeting."
At this, the blonde was stunned and only reacted when the dress had been pulled down her shoulders. Carefully, Severus was placing a kiss on each scar that marked her skin. He moved his way down, never pausing in his routine, determined to show the tiny girl how special she was.
Once he finished, he moved back up and gathered her in his arms. The costume from the evening still covered Severus. This did not satisfy the Slayer.
Each piece of the costume was removed with the same diligence that Severus had used only minutes earlier. Then the two were simply together. "I-I don't think we should go any farther- yet," Sev proposed.
Buffy was silent for a few moments before she nodded, "You're right. I don't want to complicate what we both know is going to be a very complex relationship. But for tonight could you just…hold me?"
The raven-haired potions master gathered her up in his arms and pulled her under the covers and did just that-held her. All night.
Buffy woke late the next morning to find Severus gone. "Sev?" she asked to the empty room.
His smooth voice floated into the room, "Yes love?"
She felt the blood rush to her cheeks as she heard him, "What time is it?"
"Half past two. I only just woke up an hour ago. Dumbledore asked me if you would mind joining him for dinner this evening at 5. It seems that some issues concerning Mr. Potter have come up," Severus told her.
"Well then. We have two and a half hours. You wanna go for a walk? I could use it, I think," she suggested.
"My dear, you just might want to get dressed first."
"Oh. Yes. Um. Give me twenty minutes."
"I'll do better than that. Novus Niveus Oriens," he said, waving his wand. Buffy's hair was done and she was dressed in one of her Slaying outfits, the ones that the students never saw.
Buffy eyed him cheekily, "Now Sev, do you really want all the boys in the school to see me in this?"
"I don't know, it might do wonders for them. What, you too scared of the little boys in this school?" he said.
"Fine, let's go," she challenged.
"Yn cyfareddu Dduwies," the Potions Master managed before she left the room. Immediately, she was back in traditional wizarding clothing, except made of a gorgeous green velvet-like material. "My grandfather did know a great many lovely little spells like that." A playful twinke glinted in his dark eyes.
"It's lovely…though a bit much for the middle of the day."
"Fine then," he waved his wand, muttering a word or two under his breath. And the she stood there dressed in a pair of jeans, a sweater, and a pair of American cowboy boots.
She grinned and said, "This is good. I can deal with this. Now let's get going."
Buffy and Severus took a walk around the perimeter of Hogwarts. "Bloody Hell, the entire school is watching us," he scoffed as they went to enter the building again. They looked up to see every window filled with the faces of nearly every person in the school looking at them.
"Hmm, now the question would be: to shock them or leave them hanging?" Buffy asked.
Sev began to answer, "I'm really in a bit of a playful mood today, and I do love shocking the hell out of-"
Whatever he was going to say was cut off by Buffy pulling his mouth to hers. The kiss wasn't all the different from the one the previous night, but it was, in a way. Professor Summers wanted him, the snarky Potions Master.
"That should give them something to talk about until Christmas."
Much later that evening….
"Good evening, Buffy," Albus Dumbledore greeted her, looking at her over his half-moon eyeglasses. "You did 'shock the hell out of them' today, you know."
Her cheeks were blushing a furious shade of red. "Umm, so, what is this about Harry?"
"Well, obviously, we can't put him back with the Dursleys. However, the Weasleys are heading to Romania to visit the dragons and Remus is going to go to Tibet for a retreat. Neither Minerva nor I can take hime. I was hoping that you might want to apply for foster care of him."
"Will I get it?"
"Buffy, my dear, you will. I can guarantee it. You are the only person other than myself who has proven herself completely capable of protecting Harry from anything that flies this way. And you proved your loyalty to him by nearly dying for him. All you need to do is sign right here," he said, pulling out a roll of parchment.
"You had this all planned out, didn't you?"
"Yes, and even checked with Harry. I knew you would say yes, you love that boy like he's your own," the older man told her. Her eyes watered with tears.
"Thank you, Albus," she murmurred as she launched herself at him, hugging him so tightly that she nearly cracked his ribs.
A/N: Now, sorry for such a very, very short chapter. More will be coming very soon. Spring Break is up and I'm home for the whole week.
In response to a few reviews:
I kind of took the episode Seeing Red and played with it a bit. I (sort of) explored the idea "Spike didn't get hit by a sudden conscience."
Someone (not me) needs to make up a proper name for Severus/Buffy fics. There aren't enough out there and I've loved every one I've read.
More detailed/funnier/more romantic stuff will be coming. 1) I don't write romance very well, I have to be in a certain mood. 2) I'm not feeling very funny right now. 3) My brain's fried. Spring Break is the cure to all these ailments.
A friend has offered to write the more romantic scenes, as that is not my area of expertise. However, I'm not going to trouble her if no one is really interested.
Question: Does anyone want me to find Remus a romantic interest?