Olivia's POV
The next evening I snuck out of the castle again after hours. I still wanted to go for a fly, feel the wind in my hair. The moon was almost full but not quite and I soared over the trees of the Forbidden Forest with plenty of light to see by. Owls and bats flew around me, not seeming to mind my presence in their airspace. When I started back towards the castle I saw someone down by the lake. Thinking it might be Dumbledore and Snape again, I dropped to the ground just outside of the forest and applied my Disillusionment Charm. I made my way quietly to the edge of the lake. By the time I reached the figure a second person had climbed out of the water of the lake. It was Viktor Krum and he was wearing nothing but boxer shorts, his hair sopping wet. The other figure was Karkaroff and I was close enough to see that he was letting his eyes wander inappropriately over his student's body. I had to stop myself from chuckling and just smiled.
"You will do just fine tomorrow, Viktor," Karkaroff said, putting a hand on his shoulder as the two walked back towards the Durmstrang ship, "You just have to keep your head. Concentration is key."
Krum just nodded, looking moody and surly. I couldn't help but think maybe he was a bit annoyed with his headmaster's clearly perverted behavior.
I watched the two of them go into the ship together and jumped when a hand closed on my shoulder.
"Olivia, really?" Snape's voice said.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh, it's just you. You scared the crap out of me. I thought maybe it was a teacher…or a bad guy."
"I am a teacher, Olivia…and a bad guy," he said.
"You're not a bad guy," I said, rolling my eyes.
"What are you doing out, besides spying on Karkaroff?"
"Well he is a creep. Did you see how he was leering at Krum?"
"He always has been a bit off color…but still. You shouldn't be out after curfew without permission."
"I needed to fly and clear my head."
"Fly during the day, like normal people."
"But then there aren't any bats…and I like the moon better than the sun."
"Right," he said with a snort, "…Have you already been for a fly?"
"Yes."
"Then off to bed."
"Yes sir," I said with a small smile that he couldn't see, since I was invisible.
It was several days before Snape told me it was time to start work on the potion for the second task. Since the night by the lake, I had been researching the Gilly Draught. It wasn't an extremely complicated potion, but it had to be watched carefully for the last few hours before it was finished. It would take a full twenty-four hours of stewing before it could be bottled.
"We'll start after dinner tonight," Snape told me on Thursday morning after his class.
I had also been thinking a lot about what he had told me. About the Mark and the Dark Lord growing stronger. I was worried. Who wouldn't be? If he came back, people would die…and Snape could easily be one of them. The thought made my heart jump and I always forced it from my mind and concentrated on something else.
I hurried through dinner that evening, eager to start my work with Snape.
"What's your hurry, Liv?" Alex asked me as I drained my cup of Pumpkin Juice.
"I'm helping Severus with a very important potion," I said, smiling.
"Something you can't tell us about?" Brandi asked.
"It's to do with the second task, isn't it?" Alex added, grinning.
"Maybe," I said mischievously.
"Ooh. Well we know you can't tell us… but can you give us a hint?" Brandi asked eagerly.
"Well…the Black Lake. That's all I'm saying," I said quickly, standing up, "See you guys later."
I hurried down to the dungeons, stopping by the dormitory first to change out of my school robes. I dressed quickly in a short black skirt, an emerald green top and heels that I borrowed from Brandi's trunk. I stood in front of the mirror a moment, checking my reflection, then I brushed my hair, added some eyeliner and lipgloss, and left.
I knocked on the door to the Potions classroom and was told to enter. I opened the door and shut and locked it behind me. Snape was sitting at his desk. He was dressed the same as always, but I could tell he had brushed his hair since dinner and added a dash of cologne. I smiled at him and he smiled back, looking me over.
"Let's get started, shall we?" I said, approaching his desk.
"With the potion," Snape said.
"Of course. That's what I meant."
Snape smirked and shook his head.
"Alright, you get the cauldron ready- size 4," Snape said, "I'll gather the ingredients."
"Yes Professor," I said with a little smile. He paused, looked at me, shook his head again and walked over to the supply cupboard.
I got the cauldron he wanted and set it up. He laid the ingredients out on the counter, then got a textbook off his desk and opened it to the page with the Gilly Draught.
"We'll start with asphodel and bat spleen. I'll take care of the spleen, I know you don't like organs. You get the silver dagger and slice the asphodel."
I nodded compliantly and began to slice the roots.
An hour later we started the fire beneath the cauldron. Snape checked the book.
"Once it starts to boil, we add diced gillyweed," he said.
"On it," I said, sliding the gillyweed across the counter to me and picking up the knife.
"No, no," Snape said, coming up behind me, "Like this."
He pressed himself against me and took the knife in hand. I smiled and chuckled quietly as he rested his chin on my shoulder while he showed me how to dice the gillyweed. When he had diced it all, he laid the knife down and put his arms around my waist. He kissed me neck softly, his warm breath on my skin causing chills.
There was a knock on the door and he sprang away from me.
"Shit," he whispered, "Please, God, don't' let it be Moody."
I quickly turned back to the counter and started shredding the knotgrass I knew we would need later. Snape opened the door and I peeked over my shoulder to see Dumbledore standing in the doorway.
"Good evening, Severus. Olivia. How is the potion coming?" he asked.
"So far so good," Snape said, "It's not a particularly complicated potion."
"I know, just thought I would check. It has to be perfect."
"It will be, sir," I assured him, looking over my shoulder again. The headmaster smiled.
"Thank you Olivia. Severus, can I see you in my office when the two of you are finished?"
"Of course, sir…but it will be rather late," Snape said.
"I shall be awake," he assured him, "Don't keep Olivia up too late - she still has classes in the morning."
When Dumbledore was gone, Snape shut the door, but this time he didn't lock it. I turned and looked at him.
"Damn," I said softly.
"I'm sorry," he said, "I shouldn't have pushed the boundaries. …It won't happen again."
"It can't happen again," I agreed reluctantly, "…The potion is boiling."
"Right, uh…gillyweed," he said, nodding to me. I scooped up the diced gillyweed and walked over to the cauldron. As I was walking back, I twisted my ankle and hit the ground.
"Ow!"
"Are you okay, Liv?" Snape asked hurrying over to me.
"Stupid- fucking- shoes," I growled, ripping the heels off and throwing them across the room.
"Don't say fuck," Snape said, helping me to my feet.
I looked up into his black eyes and licked my lips.
"Fuck," I whispered.
He shook his head.
"Is your ankle okay?" he asked. I tested it and winced.
"I'm fine," I said.
"No," he said, "You're not. Come here."
He led me over to his desk and sat me down in his chair.
"I'm fine, really," I insisted.
"Let me see," he said, touching my foot gingerly, "It looks like it's swelling up."
I scowled and crossed my arms.
"Sit here," he said, walking over to the supply cupboard.
He rummaged around a moment, then came back with a jar filled with water and some sort of slimy green plant.
"What is that?" I asked as he unscrewed the jar.
"Murtgrass."
"And what is Murtgrass?"
"What Murtlaps build their nests in."
"Yes because that totally answered my question," I said sarcastically.
"Well you know what a Murtlap is," he prompted.
"A rat-like creature with a sea anemone-type growth on it's back. Lives in coastal Britain. Eats crabs and lobsters and the feet of people who step on them."
"Build their nests in Murtgrass when they go to have babies," Snape said, "Now hold still."
He smiled and pulled out a plant not dissimilar to seaweed. He draped one leaf across my bare foot.
"Hey, that's cold!" I exclaimed.
"Don't be such a baby," he said, draping another leaf across my foot, "Be still."
"Hmph."
I sat still while he wrapped my foot with the leaves.
"You need to sit still while it dries, then you can take it off," he said.
"Yes Professor," I said innocently, 'accidentally' letting him look up my skirt.
He exhaled slowly and stood up.
"Sorry," I said sheepishly.
"We need to talk about what Albus said. About you going down into the lake. I don't think it's such a good idea," he said.
"I'll be fine, Severus. It's not like I'll drown," I said, rolling my eyes.
"There are other things in the lake besides water. Grindylows and giant squids and snakes…and shrakes."
"I'm not scared of snakes, Severus. And shrakes are only found in the Atantic Ocean, not lakes. …Besides, it was my understanding that I'd have an escort of Merpeople," I said, "And if I did go down, it wouldn't take the full hour of the effect of the Gillyweed to do what Dumbledore wants me to do. I could gather potions ingredients from the lake."
He didn't say anything for a minute, then sighed.
"If you really want to, I won't stop you," he said, "Just be careful."
"I will be," I promised, smiling.
Snape walked over to the cauldron to check on the Gilly Draught and proceeded with the next step of the potion. The Murtgrass around my ankle still hadn't dried. I watched impatiently as Snape continued working on the potion alone. I groaned and put my feet up on his desk. He got the book off the desk and brought it to me.
"Here," he said, "You can read out the next step of the potion for me."
Snape's POV
At midnight, I insisted Olivia go to bed.
"You have classes tomorrow. The potion is almost done anyway, then it has to stew for 24 hours."
"What time should I come tomorrow night? It has to be watched carefully the last few hours," she said.
"I think ten o'clock should suffice. I'll let Filch know Dumbledore gave you permission to help me with the potion, in case he catches you out after hours."
"Cool," she said smiling. She stood and walked towards the door.
"Don't forget your shoes," I said, nodding to the corner where she had tossed them.
"Right, thanks," she said, walking over and getting them. I had never noticed how cute her feet were until I had been binding her ankle. Her feet were small and pale and her toenails were painted emerald green. I watched her feet as she walked out the door, her shoes in her hands.
"Goodnight Severus," she said, smiling at me.
"Goodnight," I said quietly.
She left, shutting the door behind her. I finished the rest of the potion alone, remembering that Albus wanted to talk to me. I hoped desperately he didn't know what we had been doing before he knocked. I chastised myself for being so weak and for pushing the limits of my own boundaries. I was an idiot. Would Albus really fire me? He couldn't'. With the Dark Mark growing clearer, he wanted me close. But what if he did? What if the Mark burned and I didn't have Albus behind me? I would take Olivia and flee. No, it would too dangerous for her. I would flee alone… but I couldn't leave Olivia. What if I just went back to Him…as a Death Eater.
I pushed the frightening thoughts away and finished stirring the potion. Then I left the dungeons and headed up to the headmaster's office, trying not to let anxiety take hold of me.
As it turned out, Albus only wanted to talk about Karkaroff and the Mark.
"I feel certain he will flee if the time comes," I told him, "He's frightened. He betrayed many and fears the wrath of the Dark Lord."
"Good, good. That is one less Death Eater we have to worry about. Have you heard from Lucius?"
"Not in regards to the Mark, no…but he would hardly put that in a letter," I said, "Still…we must have someone with him if He is getting stronger."
"Well I am certain Pettigrew has found him but now…but I suspect he is not the only one."
"You suspect someone? And you will not tell me who?"
"Not at this time, no," he replied.
I scowled as he peered down into the basin of Pensieve on his desk.
"…Are you going to let Olivia help with the second task?" he asked without looking up.
"Yes," I said, scowling, "…Will you make sure the Merpeople stay with her the whole time. …God forbid something should happen…"
"Of course, Severus. I wouldn't intentionally put her in a dangerous situation."