Ch. 4 Sleep and Sleepless
Tabatha's eyes fluttered open as consciousness returned to her, the room was dark expect for the soft glow of ambers in the large fire place before her. She pushed herself up on the soft mattress and blinking looked around. She pondered where she was for a moment until the events of last night flooded back to her; she was in Severus Snaps bed.
Last night after the horrible incident in the outer dungeons ante room Severus had offered his own inner bedroom to her. The other smaller chamber attached to the Potion masters office that Dumbledore had envisioned as Tabatha's room was stuffed full to the brim with containers and jars filled with all sort of magical items and at the time Severus was too drained to clean it out, even if it would only take a bit of magic. No he opted to sleep in his office on a leather sofa he had in the corner, and let Tabatha take his bed.
Tabatha sat up in the large four post bed, the dark wood soared up to the ceiling and yards of green curtains fell framing the bed itself. The sheets were black as night but soft and warm, the quilt on the bed matched the curtains except for what looked like a large crest right in the middle of it. In the center of the crest there was a large snake and above it a word in black calligraphy read; Slytherin. Peering out of the curtains she saw the fire place which though hard to see looked large and made of dark stone. In front of it sat a small leather loveseat and a side table, and on the walls were rows and rows of books. Tabatha's eyes sparkled she remembered something! She loved to read, and looking over the walls of Severus's room Tabatha was bursting to get up and explore. She was just about to pull the covers back when she heard a chime, she looked over to the side of the massive bed and there on a table was a small clock.
"3 am!" Tabatha sighed.
It's much too early to wake up she thought she was sure that her professor would keep her busy tomorrow and she should probably get as much sleep as possible. As Tabatha slid down the sheet and curled back against the pillow that same sent of musk leather and herbs enveloped her senses. She found it quite pleasant and soothing and looking at the curtains she felt she really liked the color green as well, soon Tabatha drifted back off to sleep.
On the other side of the thick stone wall another set of eyes were open and looking up at the dark grey celling. Severus Snape was having trouble falling asleep. Perhaps it was the event of the night, he pondered, a good knock in the head might keep someone up. Maybe it was the fact that his six foot one inch frame didn't quite fit the old dust leather sofa well. Maybe it was the aggravation of trying to come up with a lesson plan for someone other than a child.
No, Severus sighed. without wanting to he had to admit it, he was wake because less than twenty feet away from him, though two of those feet were stone, was a sleeping woman, in his own bed no less, and this was very unnerving to him.
Severus hadn't thought anything of it when he offered Tabatha his room, which he probably should have, looking back it wasn't quite his style. However he always prided himself on being composed and proper didn't he, and it was just good etiquette to give up your bed for the lady, wasn't it? Little did he know he'd be lying her wondering why the idea that she was sleeping where he normally sleep was having such an effect on him.
Closing his eyes a moment Severus accepted why. There has NEVER been a girl, woman, truthfully a female anything in his bed, or remotely connected to his bed. Close to thirty two years old and Severus had never experienced anything intimate with another person. The only person he ever close to was Lily.
Severus eyes flew open. "Lily" he swallowed, his eyes filling with tears. Here he was allowing his hormones or whatever to keep him up when he should have never even thought of anyone other than his sweet perfect Lily.
"gah" Severus groaned, turned over in to the sofa and buried his head into it allowing small quiet sobs to lull him into an empty cold sleep.
Authors Note: This is a shorter chapter but I felt that it was just the right length in and of itself like I said before I would love to hear any feedback people have I think that I could greatly benefit from comments and ideas Thank you so much!