Under My Skin

Disclaimer: Don't remind me!

Chapter 3

Ron and Grace respectively met at their designated time that night, at seven sharp in front of the Great Hall. As they approached each other, Ron blushed and gave her a quick kiss on her soft cheek. He was wearing his favorite jeans with a blue button-up long-sleeve shirt. Grace, on the other hand, was wearing a knee-legnth strapless dark green summer dress with matching flip-flops. Her wavy dark hair was down, caressing her bare back. Ron eyed her body up and down for a few good seconds before he said sweetly, "Ready to go?"

"Where are we going?" she asked, as he held out his elbow and she took it.

"It's a surprise. Close your eyes," he whispered in her ear and she complied. They began to walk and she knew, at least, that they were now out of Hogwarts and onto a completely different terrain, for she could feel wet, moldy stones underneath her thin flip-flops. They were walking pretty fast, but Grace really didn't seem to notice; she was kind of put down because she hated surprises. Oh well, she thought somberly, at least he's trying.

"Open your eyes," he said seductively. She opened her eyes and was pleased by what she saw in front of her. It was a beautiful lake; not the Hogwarts Lake, but a very nice and peaceful lake with white lillies and huge stones surrounding the water. Grass was next to these stones, and apparently Ron had put a red and white checkered blanket in front of where they were standing, with a lunch basket. Although Grace didn't like surprises, she was definitely enjoying this.

"Oh, Ron. It's...beautiful," she complimented as he led her down to sit. She scooter closer to her and held her hand. He briefly noticed her discomfort, but it was soon replaced by peacefulness. "Where are we?"

"A very secret spot that I know of. Harry and I used to come here with - uhh- "

She chuckled and said"Other girlfriends?"

"Yeah," he said as he blushed. She laughed at his boyish tactics.

The evening was spent quite nicely, talking and eating and sharing pasts.

"So, you're married?" Ron asked as the pair walked barefoot around the lake.

"Um, if you want to call it that. Julian and I are very much in love, but...he doesn't want what I want," she replied in a saddened tone.

"And what do you want?" he stared into those gray blue eyes and sighed. Maybe this girl was going to be worth more than just a shag...and thirty galleons if I win the bet, he thought with a smirk.

She cleared her throat and supplied, "A career...a good name for myself. Don't get me wrong, I want love and all that stuff, but he has to know that right now I want a career, not a family. Julian wanted a big family and he was so wonderful, I didn't want to keep him from his dreams. So, yes, we are in the middle of a divorce in America; I'll probably have to leave every now and then."

"Oh, that's horrible," he faked sadness in his voice.

"Yes, it is. Ron, this has been a wonderful evening, but do you mind if we return to Hogwarts? I have a lot of things to plan for the new year. What about you and Harry's lesson plans? Are they coming along nicely?" she asked politely as they slowly gathered up their blanket, picnic basket, and put on their shoes.

"Well, Harry's pretty much been okay pertaining to his lesson plans, but I'm just the Quidditch instructor," he said proudly as they began walking on the moldy gray stone. They made their way slowly, which took a long time, as things began to change. Instead of the beautiful, peaceful scene, they were just accustomed to, the atmosphere was instantly changed back to the front of Hogwarts.

"How did-"

Ron chuckled softly and tucked a lock of black hair behind Grace's ear. "Magic, darling, magic. Good night, Grace." He took her hand and kissed her knuckles softly and walked off back to his room to swim in his self-confidence.

It was still pretty early in the night by the time Grace Vasquez got back to her rooms near the Arithmacy classroom in the Ravenclaw wing. She briefly thought more about Ron before there was a knock on the door.

Oh, come on!

When she opened the door, she was very surprised to see Harry Potter staring at her from underneath long, black eyelashes. "Hi," he said seductively.

"Hi, Harry. What can I do for you?" She was very tired and wanted sleep, but he seemed nice enough to pick up enough hints if she felt need to give them.

"I..." he stopped from what he was about to say and smirked. "I just wanted to see if you were alright," he stated simply.

"I'm quite fine," she replied befuddled. "Why do you ask?"

He shifted from one leg to the other and rested his shoulder on the doorframe. "Well, I've known Ron for a very long time and I also know what he usually does to women on first dates...brought you to our lake, did he?" He knew Ron's plans because Ron had told him everything down to the very last move he would make. He saw Grace nod her head slowly as she said, "Oh, won't you come in?"

He stepped inside her large quarters and welcomed himself to the off-white leather couch next to the white marble fireplace. "So, what does he do?" she tried to ask him like it really wasn't any interest to her, but she sat by him on the couch and stared at him intently.

"Brings girls to the lake. Asks them about themselves and such, especially what they want in life: that's the key. If he's determined to get a good shag out of her, he'll bring a blanket and picnic basket. Then he'll take off his shoes and guide the girl around the lake while holding her hand. If he doesn't get a shag by the end of the night, he does something even worse: leaves the girl hanging by telling her good-night and kissing her on the hand. Of course, he talks to her the next day and asks if she wants to get together sometime and she agrees because of his boyish good looks. But, by the fifth date, if he doesn't get fucked, he leaves the poor thing... and expects me to take care of her."

He felt bad for Grace now, because apparently she had a felt a little something for Ron. "What a prick," he heard her mutter under her breath and he smirked, but quickly hid it when she turned and looked at him.

"Thanks for the news, Harry," she replied gruffly. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to get to sleep."

"I...okay." And he left. The nerve of that woman, he thought to himself angrily. Here he was, trying to tell her all of Ron's secrets to women (even if they weren't true) and she was getting all huffy to him. No matter, he'd get her in his bed one way or another.

-

'It's pretty pathetic when I go to McGonagall because I'm bored', Severus thought to himself lazily the next day. He was on his way to one of his mentor's quarters when he was stopped short by Vasquez. Rather, they bumped into each other while he wasn't looking. She was holding a book and had small-framed glasses on. Gray blue (which was turning out to be her favorite color for clothes because it brought out her eyes) robes hung loosely on her shoulders and her hair was tied up in a long braid.

"Watch where you're going, Vasquez," he said coldly.

"Me! You were the one not looking where you were headed. I swear, if you weren't old enough to be my grandfather, I'd-"

He was so close to her body by this time, he could feel the angry heat bouncing off her very curved tan figure. "Pray tell: what would you do?" he asked with the most silky voice he could muster. He noticed that Vasquez's knees gave way just briefly, but she held her poise once again.

She smirked and replied, "Oh, Professor Snape. I wouldn't do anything to you anyway. I could probably get in trouble for hurting the old senile geisers around Britian like you. Please, old man, continue with whatever you were doing." She was about to skip along but a strong hand grabbed her elbow.

"I'm not old. Now see, Albus is old, child. Minerva is pretty old, but I am not," he replied with gritted teeth.

She chuckled and said, "But I bet Albus and Minerva could get 'it' on a lot better than you."

"Why you little-"

"Severus? Grace? What's going on here?" Minerva McGonagall gave them a stern look and Severus guiltily dropped her elbow.

"Nothing," they replied together and both looked at each other with a menacing glare quite childishly.

"Enough, you two. Severus, was there something you needed?"

"Yes, I was coming to see you."

"Don't you have any other friends to go cry to?" Grace asked innocently.

Severus snorted and retaliated, "You've got no room to talk, Vasquez. You're the one that went to Minerva a few nights ago claiming I did God knows what to you."

"Oh, puh-lease. You are NOT that important in my list for me to go complaining about you."

"Right, right. So that's why you probably waste your time while you're alone coming up with insults for me, is it? Or is there something else you do alone that you most definitely can't get a male to do?"

"Shut the fuck up!"

"ENOUGH! BOTH OF YOU!" Minerva carried herself with grace over to the two acting like children and pointed a finger in one direction. "Professor Vasquez, I would appreciate it a great deal if you were to go along and do whatever it is you were going to do. And keep your comments and hands to yourself."

She sighed and replied, "Yes ma'am. See you later, old man." And before Severus could say something back, she was quickly walking back to her quarters.

"In my office, now, Severus Snape," Minerva commanded with a pink tint to her face.

Severus sighed and replied, "Yes, ma'am."