Monday, November 30th 1981
Severus woke up at sunrise, happily surprised that he had slept twelve hours uninterrupted – something that hadn't happened in over a month.
He moved to get up from the armchair where he had slept, but sharp pain stopped him – his shirt had stuck to his wounds, making it painful to move.
So that's why I slept: blood loss.
He looked down his side, his black shirt was rigid with dry blood and his armchair had a large red stain.
The only reason he hadn't bled to death was the Wiggenweld potion he had taken which had caused his wound to close a little as he slept.
I need to get this shirt off. He thought with a grimace, forcing himself to stand up.
"Shit- fuck!" he growled as he walked to the bathroom.
After divestoing his trousers and pants, he quickly got under the hot shower spray with his shirt on and slowly removed it; he then washed the cuts and the rest of his body.
When he left the shower, he noticed the cuts were still bleeding so he bandaged them up before getting dressed.
As he put on his white undershirt, he was reminded of the Counter-Curse Potion he hadn't yet prepared, for his clothes were still making him itchy
Vowing to brew it before lunch, Severus walked to the Great Hall and sat at the high table, keeping his meanest scowl on, discouraging everyone from trying to have a conversation with him.
He had breakfast without as much as muttering a good morning to his colleagues.
And Florence didn't show up for breakfast that first day.
Florence had had breakfast with her kids and Eileen in her living room quarters.
Her godmother took the kids to the daycare centre at 7 o'clock and she decided it was time to go to the dungeons to start her month as Severus' assistant.
When she got to the potions lab, Severus hadn't returned from breakfast yet, so Florence let herself in and started to prepare what Pomfrey had asked for the Hospital Wing: Bruise-healing paste, Calming Draught and a Blood-Replenishing Potion.
After thirty minutes, Florence had three cauldrons self-stirring themselves and had to wait forty minutes to add the next ingredients and change the stirring pattern.
So she walked around the room, finding the door that led from the lab to his private quarters and walking in; the memories of the last time she had been there filling her mind – and the image of Severus lying on his bed with a concussion, so pale and immobile, made her shiver.
Florence glanced at the door that she knew led to his bedroom and felt her body responding to the proximity to his bed, her veela stirring in her mind, scenting his perfume but not seeing him anywhere – but Florence quickly leashed her.
Then she turned around to leave his quarters before he got there, but her eyes fell on the armchair – and on the large dark-red stain on it.
That's... blood! And a lot of it! She frowned, her heart starting to pound.
Could he be in his room? Bleeding to death all alone and-
But before she had reached the door to check if he was in there, she heard a noise by the lab door and turned to see him standing there, looking paler than usual, and angry.
"I see you let yourself in," Severus said slowly and venomously.
"You're bleeding," Florence looked at the armchair again then at him.
"I don't see how that's any of your business, Delacour." he didn't give her any sign of amiability.
Florence didn't reply to his rude words, she just looked into his eyes, trying to sense through their bond what had happened to him.
Werewolves.
Her eyes got bigger as she saw through his memories that he had three deep cuts on his back and werewolves had done them.
"Don't get in here again," Severus was speaking again, before she could say anything, "I'm being forced to accept you as my assistant, I don't have to accept your presence in my private quarters, Miss Delacour."
She frowned, although she couldn't say she was surprised by his hostility – she had been expecting it – but he was being unnecessarily cruel to her.
She just hid her pain behind a smile and replied: "Don't worry, Prof. Snape. I'll do my best to make this obnoxious situation the less insufferable as possible for both of us."
Then she walked towards him and right at the door she turned to him, "And it's Mediwitch Delacour," then she went back to his laboratory.
He said nothing else, following her to his lab and locking the door of his private quarters with a flick of his wand.
Then he left for his morning classes.
Great Hall
At lunch, Florence entered the Great Hall and walked straight to Pomfrey before finding het own seat.
"Poppy, has Severus seen you since yesterday?"
The school mediwitch frowned, "No, dear. Why?"
"Damn stubborn man!" Florence whispered in anger, "He's hurt. I saw blood on his armchair – lots of it."
Pomfrey looked concerned but just shook her head, "I can't just go to the dungeons and force him to let me take a look at his wounds, Flor."
"I know. I'll make him show them to me before the day is over," she bit her lip, sharing her concerns next: "How often do you think this happens? Him getting hurt and not seeking medical attention?"
Pomfrey let out a sigh, "More times than we can imagine for sure," she paused before adding: "This past month things haven't been easy for him."
Florence closed her eyes briefly, her heart clenching at the thought of him mending his own wounds alone, choosing not to go to her house and let her heal him lke he once did.
"And how is he behaving with you?" Pomfrey asked, "Have you two talked?"
Florence snorted, "Talk? If I didn't know him, I'd think all he can do is growl and be rude. But I was expecting some of that, so all is going according to my expectations so far."
"Speaking of the devil," whispered Pomfrey, motioning something behind Florence.
And she turned to see Severus walking into the Great Hall by the side-door.
As Severus walked into the Great Hall, the first thing he saw was Florence talking to Pomfrey – and was certain she was asking the mediwitch about him.
He walked by her and whispered: "None of your business, Delacour."
"Well, I've made it my business, Snape," she replied just as sharply.
He just glared at her and she smiled – making him feel slightly stunned for the first time in years.
Anger rose inside of him once he could think clearly again, but he refused to address that, so he walked to his usual chair beside the Headmaster and sat down.
"How was this morning with Florence?" Dumbledore asked him.
"Annoying."
"Ha! I highly doubt that," replied the Headmaster, smiling.
Florence sat beside Severus, and she was not about to let the subject of his wounds go: "Before your class at two, do you want me to–"
"I want nothing from you!" He growled low at her.
"Really? Nothing?" she looked at him with a teasing smile, clearly meaning something sexual.
But instead of giving her an opening, Severus got even angrier and stood up, leaving the Great Hall.
Dumbledore sighed as they watched him go, "He's afraid."
"I know," Florence replied softly, "I was expecting some rudeness so that's not surprising. But if he takes it too far, I'm leaving. I came here to show him I care and hear an apology, not to be mistreated."
"I understand," said Dumbledore.
When Florence returned to the potions lab after lunch, Severus wasn't there.
She wasn't expecting him to be after the way he stormed out of the Great Hall earlier.
She worked in silence as she finished the potions and sat at his desk to grade papers for him.
She sighed happily as she settled onto his cushioned chair, smiling – it smelled strongly like him; she unashamedly touched her nose to the back cushion and inhaled, feeling like a teenager simping after her crush.
Then she looked around the lab room, realising she absolutely loved being there, she felt safe and comfortable being surrounded by his things and his scent.
She worked the whole afternoon alone.
In the evening
Severus walked into his lab at a quarter after five only to find out it wasn't as empty as he had hoped it to be.
"What are you still doing here?" he rudely asked.
"I'll be leaving in twenty minutes, don't get your wand in a knot," Florence replied with a smile that just annoyed him further.
He dropped loudly onto his desk the thirty essays that he had to grade that day – an improvement from the sixty of the other day – then he sat and picked one up to start reading.
But five minutes later he had read that same essay three times, and yet couldn't remember one single word.
"Can you at least be quiet?" he growled.
"I'm almost done, Severus. I'll be leaving soon."
"It's Professor Snape, Mediwitch Delacour."
She lowered the spoon she was holding into the cauldron and glared at him.
I am the one who should be furious, not him!
It was obvious he wasn't happy to have her there, but Florence couldn't comprehend his terrible mood.
She finished bottling the potions and cleaned the cauldrons by magic, chuckling as she remembered another time she'd done in that castle.
Severus sneered, "I'll tell the students to leave their dirty cauldrons for you from now on, since you seem to find cleaning them so amusing."
She sighed, "Just remembering the first time I did that here. Do you remember?"
He didn't answer out loud; of course he remembered, their detention for fighting Potter and Black by the lake had been to clean up Slughorn's dirty cauldrons.
Severus looked up at her, Florence was focusing on bottling the last Potion, so he allowed himself to stare. The desire to walk to her and tell her how sorry he was for all he'd said to her was nearly overwhelming – but the fear of being laughed at stopped him.
Florence felt her heart race when she felt through their bond his desire to apologise, but she frowned at his fear, "When have I ever laughed at you, Severus?" she asked softly.
His face turned angry, "Every time you made it clear I was good enough to fuck but not to give you my ring."
Florence stopped bottling and stared at him in surprise: "Wow, you're truly overthinking that. You always said you knew my true answer to your question – and that hasn't changed," she said and resumed what she was doing.
It was his turn to frown.
Had he heard it correctly? She said her true answer hadn't changed?
Impossible! It's certainly a trap! She can't still want to marry me, not after-
"I'm done here," she said and he blinked, seeing she had finished cleaning the worktable.
"Leave then," he said, looking down at his essays again.
But she didn't move, "Do you want me to take a look at your wound?"
Severus tightened his grip on his quill; he wanted to say 'No', just to spite her, but he knew he would have to get that looked at soon.
"Fine," she heard him grumble.
Florence walked towards him, stopping by his desk.
"Well, stand up and get your shirt off," she ordered.
He begrudgingly stood, unbuttoning his black waistcoat, avoiding thinking how close she was, how he was about to remove half his clothes in front of her and-
"Damn it, Severus!" she exclaimed as she saw the large blood stain in his white undershirt, "Why didn't you call me last night to take a look at this? Why didn't you go see Pomfrey at least?" she immediately moved him to a better position and began to check the deep gashes for any signs of lycanthropy infection.
"I took some potions," he said, "It'd would be fine in a day or two, if it weren't for all the bleeding."
"A werewolf did this," she sounded furious, "You know very well that just a few potions and a couple of days won't make this fine!"
He didn't reply.
She moved her hands and her wand up and down his back, healing his wounds with several spells; he recognized a cleaning one, two stitching ones (witch she did slowly and with no anesthetics at all, and he refused to ask for some) and, at last, a complicated counter-curse.
As she worked, Severus rejoiced at how his skin didn't reject her touches as it did his own – her to touches were actually soothing and welcomed.
He looked at her with the corner of his eye, she seemed focused of healing him, genuinely concerned about him and angry at the risk he had put himself through.
He sighed, she couldn't have put a curse on him, whatever it was that was making his skin that irritated couldn't be her fault.
But it annoyed him that being that close to her made him feel very much aware of her beauty and sexiness, his heart pounding and palms sweating - meanwhile she could easily ignore him; he couldn't even sense her veela.
Little did he know that she had already finished healing him about five minutes ago and had been just pretending to be still working on his cuts, unable to control her need to keep on touching him.
Florence finally forced herself to stop and put her hands down, pocketing her wand, "You don't need to bandage these anymore, Severus, they're not going to bleed again – unless you decide to fight another werewolf," she finished with a glare.
"I won't. Thanks," he replied dryly, putting his undershirt back on once she walked away, "And it's Prof. Snape, Mediwitch Delacour."
She rolled her eyes, "Of course, sir. Sorry, Prof. Snape."
He glared at her, knowing she had called him 'sir' just to get a rise out of him; then he remembered something: "Are you taking that draught again?"
Florence looked at him in confusion, taking a moment to understand what he was asking: "Oh, you mean the Potentia Imperium? No. I am fully able to control my veela now," then she added: "I am not a hormonal teenager anymore."
Severus looked at her, remembering that she had accused him of acting like one not so long ago.
"Good night, Severus."
And she left.
Eileen had already arrived with the boys, when Florence walked into her private quarters.
"Mummy!" The twins shouted happily.
"Did you see dad today?" asked James, excitedly.
"Yes, I did, love," she replied with a forced smile, "We even worked together. Now you two go play a little in your room before bathtime."
"How was it today?" asked Eileen, once the kids were out of sight, "I can see by your face that something happened."
"Oh, nothing big," Florence said with a hint of irony, "He just got scratched by a werewolf and has been bleeding for the last twenty-four hours."
"Oh no!" Eileen gasped.
"The cuts weren't infected and I stopped the bleeding but... uggh! That son of yours!" she let out an exasperated sigh.
Eileen shook her head, "He has always been stupidly stubborn."
"You don't need to tell me. That's how we got here," Florence sighed, trying to calm down, "On a better note, I did sense that he wishes to apologise so... let's see what happens tomorrow."
"That's great! I can't wait for this tantrum of his to stop," Eileen shook her head in disbelief, "Fighting a werewolf and not looking for medical attention..."
"I know, right?" Florence replied, "Makes me want to finish what the werewolf started."
Then she went to the bathroom to get the boys' bath ready.
Later that night
Florence woke up from a very hot sex dream; having felt the heat of his body under her palms as she treated his wounds earlier had affected her more than she had let him know.
Touching him as he stood in front of her half-naked had started a battle against her own desires and the magic of the veela. And she refused to lose that battle until they had properly talked.
She tossed and turned on the bed, looking at the clock on the wall that told her it was 4:15 a.m.
She stared at the fire in the bedroom fireplace, her body burning just like those flames, letting her know she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep.
So she got up and walked to the kids' bedroom, spending the rest of the night there, watching them sleep, their father dominating her thoughts.
For Severus, that night was even worse than the previous ones.
All those times he had made love to Florence in the Room of Requirement decided to appear in his dreams, resulting in him waking up hard as a rock and desperately fisting his cock, forcing himself to ignore how awful the feeling of his hand against his own skin was.
He focused on the memories his dreams had brought forth: her body melting against his, the light-green of her eyes letting him know she needed him as much as he needed her; memories of her riding him, moaning, her delicious body covered in sweat, her head thrown back, his name leaving her lips as a song, begging for more, his cock spearing her ass as she climaxed and screamed under him.
"Fuck!" he groaned, close to orgasm but unable to reach it; he kept on thinking of those memories and finally climaxed after a few more pumps – but jerking off only left him even more frustrated.
Severus sat up on the bed, barely feeling any pain on his back after Florence had healed him, and looked at the flames in the fireplace; his body still burning, his skin still irritated.
He had to stop thinking about Florence – he had lost her, she was there only because Smethwyck owed Dumbledore a favour, so he sent his best mediwitch to do the job.
And she certainly is the best.
He admired her for the wonderful mediwitch she had become; he admired her for the wonderful woman she was – a woman he had been stupid enough to let escape through his fingers.
Fuck, if she's truly going to spend a month in the castle, then maybe I will have to start visiting Cassie again.
At least after hours of fucking Rosmerta's brains out, he could sleep – even though not from pleasure, but from exhaustion.
However, he'd do anything to not have to jerk off with his sandpaper-like hands again.
Tuesday, December 1st 1981
Severus walked into his lab early in the morning and glanced at Florence; she was there already, hard at work, grading some papers on his desk; on the worktable, two potions were bubbling.
"Good morning, Se... sorry, Prof. Snape," she let out a small sigh as she corrected herself.
Severus stopped a few steps into the lab, looking at her; the need to walk to her and apologise was nearly uncontrollable... but fear of heartbreak froze him in place.
Yes, after lying to Voldemort for over a year, he was afraid of walking to the woman he loved and asking her to forgive him for being an idiot.
She's never forgiven any of my past mistakes, why would she forgive me now? She probably won't even listen...
"You're overthinking again, Severus," Florence said, still grading the papers.
"How many times will I have to tell you? It's Prof. Snape," he growled, leaving the lab and going to his classroom, refusing to believe that she would forgive him for what he had done and said that night, she had to be playing some game to ridicule him.
He felt anger taking over him; his body burning in need for her while his stupid heart tried to convince him that she'd never humiliate him if he tried to apologize.
But the only thing all those conflicted feelings were achieving was to make him ever angrier.
Florence had caught glimpses of his feelings and thoughts – and she could tell he was a complete mess inside.
When Severus closed the door between the lab and the classroom, she let her quill fall onto the desk and held her head in her hands.
She could understand him, she had refused his apologies in the past, but what stood out to her more than anything was that he didn't think he'd be forgiven.
He doesn't think he deserves forgiveness.
She glanced at the classroom door, thinking about going to him; she wanted to touch him and show him she loved him – that she always had and always would.
Then she realised he hadn't had breakfast, so she called the kitchens.
Severus started to regret not going to the Great Hall, his stomach was growling, giving him one more reason to be annoyed, but his students would be arriving in five minutes.
His mind was a mess, his feelings all over the place, his body burned in need, his skin hurt at the touch of his own clothes and, on top of it all, he was hungry.
He closed his eyes bringing his fingers to his temples, trying to think of anything that could possibly get his mind away from his hunger; he had received a reply from Rosmerta earlier that morning, and she had invited him to drop by whenever he wanted to, no hard feelings.
So that's what he'd do later that day: pay his ex-fiancée a visit and fuck her until he was exhausted.
The sound of a tray being put on his desk had him opening his eyes, startled.
Florence was in front of his desk.
"I asked the kitchens for something for you," she pointed at the tray on his desk, "Eat."
"I don't want anything," he lied, between gritted teeth, fighting to ignore the delicious smell of coffee and pastry.
"Then don't eat it!" she replied just as angrily, "I was just trying to be nice."
"Right. As if you care," he scoffed.
"That's the point, Severus: I do care!" she shouted, "Only you seem to have forgotten that! Do you think I'd be here if I didn't care?"
He didn't reply.
And she walked out of his classroom, back to the lab, slamming the door shut behind her.
Severus didn't wait another minute, as soon as the door closed, he ate the two croissants from the tray and drank the coffee, sighing in pleasure.
Florence still remembered his favourite pastry and coffee.
Fucking perfect.
He nearly moaned as he felt the sweet caffeinated drink going down his throat with the cream-filled croissants.
Florence walked back into the potions lab seething in anger.
Ungrateful little shit!
She was not his mother, if he wanted to starve, why should she care?
His refusal to talk to her like an adult was getting on her nerves.
"Damn him," she muttered, going back to his desk.
Great Hall
Florence sat beside Dumbledore at the high table during lunch that day.
"Where is my Potions Master, Florence?" he asked.
"Would it be too hopeful of me to imagine he's drowned himself in one of his cauldrons?" she replied bitterly.
Dumbledore looked surprised, "He hasn't apologised yet?"
She scoffed, "Apologise? He barely even talks to me, Headmaster. He growls and insults, but talking like an adult?" she shook her head, "No. And I can feel that he wants to talk, but he's acting like..." suddenly she realised where she had seen a similar behaviour: "Like James when I don't let him have bacon for breakfast then he goes the whole day acting like a little shit just to get on my nerves!" she sounded surprised.
Dumbledore chucked, "Give him a few more days, Flor."
She nodded, "Yeah yeah. I will," then she finished her food.
"Hey, look who's here," said Dumbledore after a while, smiling.
Florence raised her head and smiled too as she saw a familiar face walking into the Great Hall.
"Remus!" she exclaimed, walking to him and being wrapped in a warm hug, "What are you doing here?"
"I came to ask for your permission to take the twins out for a day of fun!"
"Of course! Come with me, I'll give you a written authorization and you can go to the school to pick them up."
And they walked together up the Marble Staircase to go to her quarters.
Severus was walking upstairs from the dungeons just in time to see Florence going upstairs side-by-side with Lupin.
Florence's quarters
She finished writing the message authorizing Remus to get her sons out of the daycare centre and handed it to him.
"They will be so happy. Thank you for doing this. Sirius used to take them out for adventure days – that's how he called them – every week," she seemed sad, "They miss him."
"I know. And it's my pleasure, Flor. I'll bring them back here in the evening."
"Fine by me. Then we can have dinner together. What do you say?"
"I would never say no to dinner with you," he kissed her hand before leaving.
Florence smiled, if only she could make her heart change its mind, Remus would definitely be the perfect choice.
He was a sexy and intelligent man, a strong wizard and so sweet with her children.
She blinked away the tears and sighed, burying her sadness and focusing on how happy her sons were going to be for having an adventure day.
Dungeons
When Florence returned to the potions lab, Severus was there, and by the look on his face he had either got very bad news during lunch or gotten bit by a doxy. She chuckled at her silly thought, her heart a little lighter after seeing Remus.
Severus looked at her in anger; he had got a glimpse of her thoughts and knew she was thinking about the wolf.
That silly smile on her lips was because of Lupin. He felt his blood boil, his body shivering in anger and jealousy.
He watched as she kept on smiling while she worked, her happiness only fuelling his emotional distress and sexual frustration.
She seemed distracted enough that he could think freely without needing occlumency to hide his thoughts. He wanted to get up from his chair, got to her and press his body against hers, rub his nose on the curve of her neck and whisper in her ear all that he'd do to her, all the punishment he'd inflict on her delicious body for she had dared to smile because of another man.
He'd have her whimpering and panting in need just by the sound of his voice and his promises, and then he'd lay her on the worktable and lick her pussy for as long as he wanted, he'd make her cum in his mouth and then he'd fuck her.
The memory of the feeling of her tight cunt wrapped around his dick had him nearly cumming in his pants; her body arching as he forced his way deep into her body, making her take all of his cock, her moans echoing in the dungeons, her skin covered in sweat and the imperial jade resting above her breasts.
Florence felt suddenly a little too hot for comfort; she rubbed her neck, frowning. Her veela had been very quiet since her encounter with Remus – for as much as Florence wished she could love him, the damn magical being in her mind made it pretty clear that she was completely against that idea.
But if it wasn't her making Florence's body warm up, then there was only one other explanation: the Enchantment.
Florence gulped, slowly moving her head and glancing at Severus. And there he stood, his dark eyes were fixed on her and raw need clear on his face.
The moment her eyes met his, she had a glimpse of what he was thinking.
"Stop it, Severus," she whispered, quickly staring back at her cauldron, her face flushing.
He didn't admonish her for not using his proper title then; he could feel she was affected by what she'd seen in his mind and he wondered if he walked to her and wrapped her in his arms, would she kiss him back or would she throw him to the other side of the room? Would she moan his name or scream at him to get out of her life again?
They worked for some more minutes in silence and Severus was glad she wasn't thinking of Lupin anymore, but of her sons.
Images of the two boys having fun in the playground in Hogsmeade filled his mind and he smiled.
After a while, he heard her say: "This is the last batch of Burn-healing paste that Pomfrey has asked for the hospital wing. It still has to boil for another hour, before adding the last ingredient and…"
"I'm aware of the brewing steps; do I have to remind you who the Potions Master in this room is?" he interrupted rudely.
Florence glared at him, "Mediwitches are just as qualified for potion making and you know it, Prof. Snape," she took a deep breath, trying to control herself – being angry at him would only make her horny and miserable.
"As if," he replied petulantly.
She just stared at him, feeling like they would never be able to talk again without it turning into an argument.
"You know what," she continued, having had enough of his grumpiness, "I'll spend the next hour anywhere but here. So send a house elf after me, if you need me."
She grabbed her coat and walked to the door, wondering what she'd do if James turned that kind of annoying prick when he hit his teens.
She was opening the door when she heard:
"Dumbledore mentioned that your twins are registered Animagi already. Is it true?"
Florence frowned and turned around to look at him, confused about why he was asking her about the kids, her heart pounding.
"Yes, it is true," she replied, "They are extremely gifted young wizards."
Severus arched an eyebrow, noticing she was suddenly nervous.
"Is there a problem?" he asked.
"Not at all. I just don't want to talk about my kids with you. You'll probably end up insulting me or Sirius."
"Oh, I'm sorry," he said sarcastically, "I forgot how much you love the Gryffindors now. First Black, now Lupin."
"And there it is," she said turning around and opening the door, "Bye, Severus. Hope you're in class when I return in an hour," she added, scathingly.
"Don't worry. I'll be gone for the rest of the day, after I finish my classes. I'll be going out tonight," he drawled, writing something on the paper he was grading.
Florence stopped at the open door, her heart clenching at the thought of where he might be going that night.
She turned around slowly and looked at him, asking softly: "Don't you have anything you'd like to tell me, Severus?" she took a few steps towards his desk, "Anything at all? I promise I'll listen."
He frowned, looking suddenly confused and angry.
"Now, don't tell me you're also a mind-healer, Mediwitch Delacour?" his voice dripped with sarcasm, "Tell me: exactly what do I need to get off my chest so that my life will be nothing but rainbows and sunshine?"
She exhaled, controlling her anger, "You know what you have to say, Severus. Say it and see what happens," she tried again.
He stood up, looking into her eyes.
And for a moment Florence thought he was going to talk to her about that night, but he just shook his head and walked into his private quarters without another word.
Florence stood in the lab for a few minutes, her heart bleeding in her chest – Severus not only refused to talk to her but was probably going out that evening to spend the night with Rosmerta.
A sob left her throat and she walked our of the lab as the tears started to fall, slamming the door on her way out, going for a walk around the castle to distract her mind.
She reached the first floor and looked at the lake through the tears, remembering the lake duel, when Severus and she had duelled against James and Sirius... and more tears fell.
She missed her friends, if it weren't for Remus, she knew she'd be miserable. He had also lost his friends a month ago, so they had become each other's rock.
As if she had summoned him, she saw Remus running through the snow towards the castle, two little black-haired boys running after him, laughing and squealing happily with snowballs in their hands. She smiled; the sweet way Remus looked after the twins was heart-warming.
If only... she sighed heavily, watching them play for a while before deciding to pay Pomfrey a visit.
But when she walked into the hospital wing, she found it empty.
Florence looked around the silent infirmary and the memories came back to her; she had found out she was expecting two boys there – after she had rolled down the spiral staircase of the Astronomy Tower.
She touched her flat belly, remembering she had seen her third baby for the last time in there as well.
She wiped her eyes, hearing footsteps on the corridor.
"Florence!" exclaimed Pomfrey walking towards her, "Is something wrong, dear?"
"No. I just came here to chat with you."
"And cry," added Pomfrey with an understanding smile, "He hasn't apologised yet?"
Florence shook her head, "No, and I don't think he will. I can see that he wants to, but... I tried being nice to him, I told him my true answer to his proposal hasn't changed, I even asked him point-blank if he had anything to tell me!"
"And he didn't say anything?"
Florence scoffed, "Oh, he did say something alright. Always something rude and sarcastic," she looked out the window, exhaling, "I won't be able to stay here for a whole month like this. As things go, I'm planning on leaving next week."
Pomfrey just nodded, "I know he regrets what he said that night, Florence. He told me so."
"And I believe you, Poppy. But I can't say the words for him! I see it in his eyes: his pain, his regret and his desire," she paused, feeling pain constricting her chest, "He's going out tonight to fuck someone," she whispered.
Pomfrey rolled her eyes and exhaled loudly, "Have you ever tried having sex with another man?"
"Yes. But I can't," Florence smiled sadly, "I tried it with Sirius and I really wish I could do it with Remus. But I don't feel anything when they touch me," she paused, feeling anger rising and adding bitterly: "Meanwhile, Mr Grumpiness only has to whisper in my ear and I'm moaning like a cat in heat."
Pomfrey just looked at her with compassion, it was clear she was suffering, "Remus is such a great man."
"Yes, he is. He took my boys for an adventure day this afternoon," Florence smiled, wiping the tears.
"I know! I saw them a few minutes ago. He was taking them to your quarters."
"I'll be going then. Thanks for listening to my pain, Poppy," she hugged the school's healer.
"Anytime, my dear."
Florence cleaned all traces of tears from her face before walking into her quarters.
Remus and the twins were on the rug in the living room; he was throwing toys up in the air, and the boys had their hands up, making the toys float near the ceiling.
"What's going on here?" she asked, closing the door and smiling.
"Mummy!" the twins exclaimed and ran to hug her – making all the floating toys fall on Remus' head.
"Thankgoodness these are made of plush!" said Remus, laughing.
"Did you have fun today?" she asked the twins.
"Yes!" they shouted.
"It was so cool that Moony picked us up!" exclaimed Nicholas.
"Just like Padfoot used to!" added James, "We had a great adventure day!"
"I'm glad to hear that!" she hugged them again, touching their heads, noticing their hair was long enough to go past their shoulders, "It's time to get a haircut, don't you two think?"
"NO!" both boys exclaimed, their hands going to their heads, as if protecting their hair.
"Dad has long hair," started James.
"We want to have long hair too!" finished Nicholas.
Florence just stared at them, looking at Remus as if asking him for help.
But her friend just shook his head, there was nothing they could do, the boys loved their father.
"Fine," she conceded, "You can stop protecting your heads now. I won't make you get a haircut, if you don't want to," the boys lowered their arms, "Let's go to the bathroom, I'll give you two a bath," the boys obeyed, "Remus, would you ask the kitchens for our dinner?"
"Of course, Flor."
The four of them had a lovely dinner together, but the boys were absolutely beat; it wasn't even nine when Florence and Remus carried them to their beds.
Afterwards, the adults sat on the sofa, in front of the fireplace to enjoy some wine in peace.
"How are things with the-one-Tiffany-hates?" Remus asked.
Florence chuckled at his choice of words. "Did you hear he fought werewolves last Sunday?"
"Yes. Mad-Eye told me about that mess," he finished his wine, "And about that night, has Severus...?"
"No. But I can see in his eyes that he wants to apologise... however, earlier today I asked him if he had anything to tell me, and he just gave me a sarcastic answer and left," she shook her head, taking a sip of her wine.
"Severus's never been an easy person. I honestly don't understand how you stand his moods."
She just sighed, telling Remus what was really hurting her: "He said he's going out tonight."
Remus grimaced, understanding what that meant: "You know he probably said that because he saw us together at noon."
"No. I think he truly is..." she looked intently at Remus before whispering: "If I could... I'd drag you to that bed right now."
Remus blinked, surprised by her words. Then he moved closer to her and touched her face, "What's stopping you?"
"I don't feel any desire, Remus. None. Nada." she touched his face, "You make me wish I did," she leaned towards him and kissed his lips, hearing her veela making retching sounds in her mind as his tongue caressed hers.
It was a pleasant kiss, nothing more.
Florence broke the kiss and touched her forehead to his, "If I could choose, Moony. I'd choose you."
She closed her eyes and he caressed her hair, his arms around her, as she cried against his chest.
Earlier that day
Severus finished his last class of the day at four-thirty and went to his private quarters without going through the lab – in case Florence had returned.
He planned to shower and get to the Three Broomsticks before six – for the sooner he got there, the sooner he'd be able to go back to his room to, hopefully, finally sleep without a hard on.
At five, Severus sat in front of his fireplace to rest as he liked to do, just a few minutes of silence as he enjoyed a glass or two of firewhisky; but that evening Florence's words echoed in his mind: she'd asked if he had anything to tell her – he did! Of course, he did! But he just couldn't make the words leave his lips; he worried she'd just laugh at him and let him know she was dating Remus, and that he could shove his apology where the sun didn't shine.
A part of him felt that he deserved to hear that from her – he had accused her of sleeping with Remus while she cried the loss of their baby – which Severus felt guilty of having killed.
He downed his third shot of firewhisky and went to the bathroom to take a shower.
There, he tried to solve his hard on issue with his own hands – which once more only added to his frustration.
Then he got dressed and was ready to leave by six, as planned, when Dumbledore called him into his office to discuss the whereabouts of Bellatrix and her husband – apparently someone had seen them in an Italian beach.
For that reason, it was nearly ten when Severus got into the fireplace to finally go to the Three Broomsticks.
Remus was having a late-night drink at the Three Broomsticks after having had dinner with Florence and the kids in the castle. His mind replaying the delicious feeling of her soft lips against his, the sweet smell of her hair as he held her against his chest until she fell asleep.
He finished his firewhisky, hating himself for letting his heart fall for her; he knew hers was already taken by an idiot.
Then, as if he had summoned the blasted man, he saw Severus walk out of the pub's fireplace and move to the back without a word, as if he owned the place.
Remus instantly recalled Florence saying that Severus was going out to fuck someone.
"Fucking idiot," Remus muttered as he watched Severus on his way to make things close to impossible for him and Florence.
Severus' actions that night would crush her – she had hoped her going to the castle would mend their relationship at least a little, but it seemed the man wasn't interested in that.
Severus stormed into the pub and walked to the kitchen, not even looking around to check if he knew anyone there that night.
He just needed to fuck and go back to his own bed to sleep.
He found Rosmerta in the kitchen, kneading bread with an employee, and he didn't even greet them, he just wrapped his arms around her midsection, lifting her off the floor and carrying her to the office.
Rosmerta just shouted and giggled, loving the way he manhandled her, knowing that she was about to get fucked for hours.
Severus slammed the office door shut, sat her on the desk and took her mouth violently, pulling her dress open and kissing down her neck, licking between her breasts and stopping – all his senses telling him that was wrong, it was the wrong taste.
He ignored that odd feeling and bit her ear, hearing her sigh in pleasure; and again he paused – his brain saying it was the wrong sigh.
Once more, he chose to ignore that feeling of wrongness and moved his mouth to hers, to kiss her again but he had to stop before he retched – his inner voice shouting: That is the wrong taste!
Feeling his frustration and anger grow, Severus rubbed his nose down her shoulder, and growled – that damned voice telling him: This is the wrong fucking smell!
He lowered his head and just cursed out loud: "Fucking hell! Damn it!"
He turned around, running his hand through his hair, frustrated, angry, and confused, pondering what he should do.
"Severus," Rosmerta said in a low voice, a bit scared by his hectic behaviour.
He turned to her and tried to kiss her mouth again, struggling to ignore the feeling of disgust running through him, as he tried to find pleasure in the feel of her tongue against his, in her soft body rubbing on his.
She kissed down his neck and her hand closed around his cock through the fabric of his pants, making him groan – not in pleasure though, but in revulsion, his skin crawling because of her touches – his whole body screaming at him that that was completely wrong!
"Stop, Cassie. Stop!"
Severus held her hands away from his body.
He couldn't understand it! Not so long ago he found her hands on him at least a little bit pleasurable, but now they were intolerable.
"I have to go," he said, "I just remembered I have a meeting," and he left the office.
Remus frowned as he watched a very disturbed Severus walk back to the front of the pub, he hadn't spent fifteen minutes back there and he didn't look well, so Remus called him: "Severus? Hey. Sit, have a drink with me."
"Lupin?" Severus whispered, walking to his table and sitting down, "What are you doing here?" jealousy rising in him as he recalled seeing him going up the Marble Staircase with Florence at noon that day, and the sweet way she had smiled while thinking of him afterwards.
"I've just had dinner with Flor and the kids at the castle and decided to stop for a drink before going home," he honestly replied.
Severus frowned and ordered: "Remus. Look at me," and then he saw it: the wolf was thinking of the touch of Florence's lips against his, of her body on his chest, and the vanilla scent of her hair.
Remus felt his mind being suddenly invaded and saw the man in front of him transform into an angry beast.
"Severus. It's not what you're thinking!" Remus said, furious. "Talk to Florence! Apologise!"
But Severus wasn't listening, he looked like he about to jump on his neck.
"You were with her!" Severus growled.
"It was just dinner and we had wine after the kids fell asleep. We just talked and-"
"And kissed!" Severus said before getting up and going to the fireplace.
"Severus!" Remus called.
But he didn't stop, going to Hogwarts by Floo, his mind focusing on the third floor, hoping it was enough to take him to her fireplace.
When Severus opened his eyes, he was glad to see that it had worked: he had managed to floo to Florence's quarters – those were originally the quarters of the Head of the Slytherin House, after all.
Severus walked around, looking for her, but all he heard was silence; his mind picturing her asleep on the bed, freshly fucked and gorgeous – he knew very well how she looked after a good night of passion.
A low growl left his throat as he ran to her bedroom.
But she wasn't on the bed, her bed wasn't even untidy.
It seems they've done it in the living room. He thought, jealousy blinding him.
Or against the wall. He remembered how she loved to be cornered and fucked against the wall.
Then he heard the sound of the ensuite shower being turned on – and he stormed into her bathroom.
"Showering after fucking the wolf?" he said bitterly as he walked in.
Florence turned around startled, looking at him for a second as her brain acknowledged what he had said.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" she asked, angrily.
"Did the wolf make you scream, Florence?" he walked towards the shower stall, smelling her sweet scent, his body burning as his mind shouted that That was the right scent!
"Don't you dare get in here!" she was furious, but her veela was interested, the bitch heating up her body and purring in her mind, "I'm done with your moods, Severus!" she quickly washed her body and turned off the water, "Until you talk to me like an adult and not an angry teenager, you're not touching me!" she pushed him away from the stall entrance and walked out fully naked.
He watched her as she wrapped a towel around her body, his mind blinded by fury, "Is this what you did that night? You fucked him, washed quickly and came to the castle to heal and fuck me?"
Slap!
Florence slapped his face with all the strength she had; he had to put a hand against the wall to avoid hitting his forehead to it.
"When will you learn to shut up, Severus?" she asked in a low dangerous voice, "Get out of here."
He looked at her, she was wrapped in a towel and dripping wet in front of him, he didn't care that his face was burning or that she might kill him if he tried to put his hands on her, he needed her; his body didn't feel like his anymore. He'd go crazy if he didn't taste her skin, the bitter taste of other woman's kiss still in his tongue.
He took two steps towards her and Florence raised her head to him, her eyes instantly changing to that light-green shade that had him groaning in pleasure, but she didn't look horny – she looked murderous.
"What's that smell?" she hissed, getting close to him and sniffing his neck and his lips.
Then she gasped, taking a step back, shock and hurt in her face once she realized where he had been.
"How dare you come after me when you reek of another woman?" she lost control over her veela and a very strong wind blew in the small bathroom, fluttering the flames on the sconces on the walls, making water gush out of the shower head and the faucet.
Severus snapped out of his jealous rage and looked at her with concern.
He tried to touch her, but she growled at him: "Don't! Do not touch me! Get out of here, now!"
And he left the bathroom, going to the fireplace and calling for his dungeons.
Florence fell onto her knees on the titled floor, fighting to remain awake; her heart pounding and her veela crying inside her head; the anger, the pain and the need for blood had her panting and she knew she was going to faint, so she quickly conjured up a dress and then everything went black.