Still Waters Run Deep
Warning and all the disclamations is in prologue.
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AN: Thank you for Mersang beta this story and this chapter.
Mersang is also working through the earlier chapters of this story and the newer chapters, so bare with us.
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Chapter 8: The Ley Lines I
The sunlight is playing across Severus and Harriet's faces. It wants to wake them from their resting, through it is unable to penetrate an invisible protection blanket covering them from the night before. The sun rises to very high point on the eastern sky before the couple are roused.
Harriet is the first one to open her eyes. She hears strangest resonances. It's lovely, but not enough to tempt her to wake up and move away from the warmth that is encircling her body. However, the sounds becomes clearer, insisting not to be ignored.
The melody is soft and lyrical, rather like an angel singing. Slowly, she takes a peak to see who or what is trying to get her attention. There is no one in sight, and the music is withering away into nothingness; she does, however, seeing the most amazing vision and would jump if she were not snuggling up against Severus.
Harriet rubs her eyes, wondering if she is still dreaming. Her movements have woken Severus from his slumber; his peaceful face contorts into scowls, as is natural on him. Harriet is still mystified and in awe of her surrounding. She does not notice her companion has moved away from her the second he realised how inappropriate their positions were last night.
The morning has somehow vanished the dark gloomy forest and plain wet moor of last night into a magnificent landscape. Flowers bloom everywhere. She recognises a few flowering plants, though the rest are strikingly unusual; it all seems to be unearthly. The most amazing are those that she recognises as supposed to bloom in different seasons, but unbelievably in fully blossom at the same time, right in front of her. She knows this is not wizarding magic; they have yet able to achieving such magnitude power as this.
The scents of the flowers are extraordinary, blending into each other with an unexpectedly sweet serenity of fragrances. The green grasses and many plants are spread across the land, giving it an incredible lushness.
The forest is colourful; the trees leaves are ever changing into different seasons every few minutes, before starting the whole processed again. The forests are alive before their very eyes.
'Somehow I am very glad it is he that I'm sharing this with,' Harriet thinks, though she has yet to discover the significance of her feelings.
Harriet finally tears her gaze from the heavenly scenery to look at Severus. The scowl stuck on his face has marred him, making him look older and more bitter than he should. Harriet itches to touch his face and smoothing the scowl away. However, her hand freezes when hazel-green eyes meet with ebony. She is astonished to sees Severus reflecting on the scenery, with a strange expression of longing and contentment.
The shining depth of emotions she is witnessing seems to be unreal on this man's face. She is starting to see him in the new light; it stirrs a long forgotten sentiment. She is drowning in the deep pools of his eyes and blinks when Severus lips started to move.
"Miss Velius – Miss Velius…"
"Sorry, I …"
Harriet tries to think up an excuse for being caught staring, but her thoughts are blank. She blushes and turns away to regain her customary regal bearing, and does not look back at him until her heartbeats slow.
'This won't do! You're not fickle. Why are you thinking this man in this manner? Especially when you should have been thinking of Lucius instead?'
"Sorry; I did not catch what you were saying?"
"I believe last night, you told me about Dumbledore being arrested by Nott; is it true?"
She nods in confirmation, remembering why she came here. Silence descends upon them as both contemplate this troubling event. Harriet is the first to break the tension. She has never been good at dealing with negativities.
"Eh, what do you think could have caused this?" She points to the landscape, trying to steer away from depressing thoughts.
Severus shrugs his broad shoulders carelessly and returns to mulling over whatever he was thinking of before. Harriet bites her nail; maybe she should be more direct.
"Hmm, it looks like we going to stays here for a while. Could we talk?" She succumbs to the need to know him better. Severus arches his eyebrow slightly and sneers.
"I don't do small talk!"
Harriet looks at the man as if he is mad.
"But one must, at least, pretend to subscribe to the civilised conversation. It is expected of a man to talk to his companion."
Severus looks down imperiously at the child, who dares to lecture him on social conduct. He is not annoyed, but disturbed, by the familiarity. Who has girl have been reminding him of? Suddenly the sight of green eyes jolts him awake; they are the same shade as Harry's were.
'No, Harry is gone!'
Severus is lost at what to do with the girl. He shrugs it off and in his defensiveness he mentions his father, whom he has not spoken since he left home.
"I'm not sure you are correct. My father has never talked to anyone that he didn't care for." Implied in this is why Severus was so reserved in character.
However, it was not meant to taken literally. Maybe it due to the sadistic relationship that they had shared thus far, but Harriet believes the man's words were meant to drop a hint.
'Prick – if he meant he didn't care for me then he should've just said so,' she fumes, and insolently replies, "I suppose that explains why you turned out so well!"
Her tones once again setting him off; Severus face turns red with anger. No one dares to speak to him that way. He ignores the inner voice that whispers defiantly, 'One did, once.'
"You've no manners whatsoever, Miss Velius. I've warned you before to be careful if you wanted to live to ripe old age. Heed me well, child! Those who did not are long gone."
"Did you just threaten me?!"
"No, I'm just stating facts."
They hold a staring contest, each one's eyes full of loathing, and Harriet, in the end, is the first to back down. She gives a sigh and looks away, but the beautiful scene does not removed the sting in her heart. She feels uneasy; it seems she has taken another step away from the man.
'Why do I need his approval? Why am I thirsting for his gentleness, like he showed me last night?'
Confused, she calls to him.
"Mr Snape!"
She looks up when she receives no answer from Severus; his black gaze is steadily pouring over her. The impact of deadly stare is like a stiletto ready to kill, yet does not make her fear him; in fact, the feelings are opposite. It shocks her to her very core when she is able to give a name to that feeling.
'Desire! I desire him! How sick am I?'
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Gazebo on the Road to Nowhere
Ginny and Neville feel refreshed from a good rest. This turns to dread when they discover Harriet is nowhere nearby. There is no sign of struggle, or a note stating why she had leaved them. They have no idea what to do, except to continue to Order headquarters and ask for help there.
They hide a code message before departing to the next gazebo, and are surprised to see a figure already there, standing inside the safe haven, as they approach. They cannot believe their luck and Ginny is ready to scold her friend. However, it is not Harriet; it is her future sister-in-law.
"Hermione!"
"Oh, Ginny, Neville, what are you doing here?" she cries, embracing them both.
It has been years since she set eyes on these two. Now they have grown up and entered adulthood. Neville quickly relates their story and that Harriet, Albus' granddaughter, is missing.
"Sorry, but I didn't see anyone passing," Hermione admits regretfully. "But I have a feeling she is alright. I'm on my way to headquarters, too. Ma be the Order will be able to help."
"I heard you that you're with Professor Snape. How is he?" Neville enquires warily. In truth he did not care about the answer. It brings back bad memories that Neville had buried for the last few years.
"Yes, I am Professor Snape's Assistant. I left his manor yesterday, because I've not heard from Ron for a month. I've been worried about his mission."
"Ron?" Ginny heart tightens; it seems bad news comes in bulk.
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TBC……………
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