Chris Carter and 1013 Productions own the X-Files. JK Rowling, Warner Brothers and Scholastic own Harry Potter. All I own is this story line, every Harry Potter DVD and a complete collection of X-Files DVD's.
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A/N This story is set anytime during Sorcerers Stone through Prisoner of Azkaban of HP (although it contains information in all the books) and after X-Files episode "Emily", but before "Requiem".
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Consciousness came back slowly to Scully nor did she try very hard to wake up. She felt a heavy weight on her chest but ignored it. She just wanted sleep...and forgetfulness. But by inexorable degrees she awakened--her eyes opened--they focused on the dark beams of the wooden ceiling above her--and realized that the weight on her chest was Snape's head. His one arm was curled underneath her, and his other hand was wrapped around her arm possessively. But her watch hand was unencumbered. She lifted it to her face and gasped--breakfast was in 20 minutes!
"Psst, Severus, wake up!"
"Dana," he mumbled, and pulled her tighter.
"Wake up, wake up now! Severus, wake up!" She tried to roll over, but was unable with the weight of him on her.
He lifted his head and looked into her eyes.
"You have to take me back to my guest room," Scully insisted. "It's almost breakfast! Twenty minutes 'til"
He got up quickly and pulled her to sitting. She slid off the bed to put on her shoes and ran her hands down over her clothes to smooth them. He was already in the other room and she went to find her jacket.
She was ready first and waited for him by the door. "What are you doing?", she asked impatiently.
"Putting on my coat."
"Okay--no. We don't have time for you to button every last button. We're going to be late."
"I refuse to be seen by anybody unless I'm fully dressed."
"Aren't you hearing me? We're going to be late."
"No we won't. I know a shortcut the students don't."
Little reassured, she tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for him to finish. She looked at her watch. Fifteen 'til. But finally he was ready and he opened the door for her.
He took her down yet another unfamiliar hallway and to a door she hadn't seen before. It scraped open to reveal a set of spiral stone steps and he took her hand. They ran up the curling passage until she felt completely dizzy, then he opened another door, which to her surprise was right across from her guest room.
"How come I've never seen this...?" She wondered.
"Because you never asked."
They looked at each other, and suddenly a silence fell on them both. There was too much to say, too little time to say it.
She reached into her pocket, pulled out her key. "You better go," she said. "I'll see you at breakfast."
And he turned back towards the hidden passage. But before he slipped through he turned back towards her. They locked eyes again, and he reached for her. She flew into his arms...
Then a door opened. Scully and Snape stepped back from each other. Mulder's smile faded to concern when he saw who she was with.
But before any of them could speak, Professor McGonagall came hurrying down the corridor.
"Oh, Severus, I didn't expect you. Are we all ready for breakfast then...?" Then she broke off, eyes narrowing with realization.
But Snape did not seem inclined to explain his actions. "I'll see you at breakfast," he said to Scully before he disappeared through the hidden staircase.
Left alone with Mulder and Scully, McGonagall's eyes flicked over Scully's outfit, the same one she'd seen her in late the previous night. "Do you need a few minutes to change, Agent Scully?"
"Yes. Thank you," and she ran into her room and shut the door. She was shaking as she shed her rumpled clothes and put new ones on. Then she looked into the mirror to wash her face and touch up her makeup, and she was appalled that her hands were still shaking too badly to apply anything. Then she took out her contacts and put them in solution to soak.. She didn't have a second pair. She'd have to wear her glasses today...
As if contacts and makeup were her biggest problems. She felt a weird shaft of guilt when she remembered Mulder's face when first she saw him this morning. Then she felt angry with herself, and with him, for making her feel that way. Nobody owned her, she could associate with anybody she wanted. But Mulder already believed she was too emotionally involved with this case. The last thing she needed was for him to have extra ammunition to support that belief.
"Oh well, the damage has already been done. I can't do anything more than to brazen it out."
And with that, she opened her door and joined Mulder and McGonagall.