Ch. 17: Tiffs and Hugs

Severus and Tabatha had been fairly busy the last few days working on Tabatha practical application of magic and it was safe to say that Severus was more than impressed. Every spell, from the peaceful first year incantation of Wingardium Leviosa to the much more advanced Accio and Disillusionment Charms, that Tabatha attempted she pulled off flawlessly. Tonight in Severus classroom they were onto potions and it would seem that her potion making was also exquisite. Her Draught of Peace was perfect, but it was while watching her make the Draught of Living Death that Severus became completely unnerved. His eyes glared at her as she crushed the Sopophorous bean with the dull edge of a silver knife to get more juice from it, and watched the liquid turn to its smooth, black currant-color at the halfway stage then how it proceeded to a light shade of lilac. The final wonder was as he watched her finish the potion by stirring it counter-clockwise seven times, then adding one clock wise swoop and repeating that over and over until the potion became clear as water.

Tabatha smiled down at her creation then glanced over to Severus who was now leaning onto the next table glaring at her paler than normal.

As she looked at him confused, Severus pointed at the cauldron and then finally spoke up. His voice was a bit shaky

"W..what formula did you follow to make that" he glared at the potion and back up at Tabatha.

Tabatha was taken back but started looking through her piles of parchment notes in front of her. Going through a small stack she thumbed around until she finally found a small piece of parchment and handed it to Severus.

Looking at the paper Severus felt a bit of familiarity, it was heavily marked with scribbles, margined notes and parts crossed out, written over or smuggled off. Though the disorientation shined the perfect formula, and he had only seen this once before. His eyes glanced over to locked and undisturbed cabinet in the back of his room, and then glanced back over to Tabatha.

"You.. you wrote this?" He pointed the piece of parchment towards her as he spoke.

Tabatha was completely confused. "Well... umm... ya. Who else would have?"

Severus closed his eyes tight, a bit of his temper was coming and he really didn't want to use it on her. He raked his fingers through his hair closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Tabatha, none of the potion books available to students have this particular formula in it. I would like to know how you acquired it."

Tabatha eyes brows furled together and she cocked her head to the side.

"Yes I know it's not in a book, because I told you I wrote it" Tabatha looked at Severus again and saw the frustration in his face. Licking her lips and now taking her own deep breath she continued.

"Severus, I have read every book in your office plus God knows how many you've drug out of the library for me these past three months. Now I'm not saying I've read everything there is to know on the topics of each ingredient for this potion, but I'd like to think that I have the mental capacity to take knowledge I gained on my own and add it to the knowledge given to me in a potions formula book and then use each of those ingredients to their best ability."

Severus was floored; over fifteen years ago he too had done basically the same thing. However his work was, and hopefully would always be, locked up in the cabinet at the back of the room. He looked back at Tabatha, who appeared to be a bit put out at this moment.

He basically accused her of doing something wrong, of not being able to pull off this feat on her own; he had accused her of cheating. The truth is what actually happed was that he failed to remember how brilliant she was.

He looked at her, her face was held fast but eye were piercing and the shimmer of moisture was detectable, he had hurt her. Tabatha held her intellect in the highest esteem, and he gave her the mental equivalent of a slap. Severus looked down in shame, he was too familiar of how that felt, he too always thought his mind was his greatest and only gift. He felt like an ass.

"I'm so sorry Tabatha" Severus voice shook a bit. "I should have known better"

Tabatha looked down as well and slowly walked over to Severus stopping about a foot away from him.

"I wouldn't lie to you Sev..." her voice was a whisper

"I...kn" Severus started but Tabatha cut him off. "Let me finish."

Severus glanced up and then back down quickly and shook his head in agreement. Tabatha then continued.

"I wouldn't lie to you Sev, and part of me wants to be very angry at you from not trusting me." Tabatha bit her bottom lip and glanced off then came back to looking at the floor. "Logically however I know you haven't known me long, and really you know nothing of me, hell, I know nothing of me."

Severus looked up to speak but stopped as she raised her hand to gesture she wasn't finished yet.

"All I ask is that next time you just give me the benefit of the doubt for a moment before you go off assuming that I'm being dishonest with you. Can you please do that Sev?"

Severus looked up into her eyes then down again and nodded.

Tabatha turned away for a minute then brought her gaze back to Severus with a slight smirk.

"You know I figured on Halloween that you knew what happened when you assume something, evidently you need to work on that."

Hearing her now more pleasant and light tone made Severus look up at her. She had forgiven him, or was well on her way too. Severus was again astonished and stared into her eyes all he could say was "Thank you."

Tabatha smiled at him warmly and affectionately, "Were friends Sev, and friend have disagreements all the time, that doesn't mean I stop caring about you."

With that she took a step forward making her inches from Severus, but before he could register it, Tabatha had wrapped her arms around him and her head was on his shoulder as she hugged him tight.

Severus was hit with several different emotions and sensations all at once. Her arms held in him a strong confident embrace and as he slowly coiled his own arms around her in return he felt how soft she felt. Her face was resting on his shoulder and he could smell the scent of vanilla and roses from her hair. He closed his eyes a moment and allowed his senses to be overwhelmed, Merlin she felt good in his arms. He felt her left hand slowly rub his back ever so slightly, and then he heard her.

"Do you care about me too Severus?" Her voice was small.

Severus swallowed hard as he tried to find the right words. There were many words he could use, and the most accurate of these flooded his head and sat on the tip of his tongue as he closed his eyes tight and allowed the meaning of that word to wash over him. Opening his eyes again he decided use what he felt was more appropriate words for this situation.

"Tabatha, I hold you very dear to me". He then tightened his own grip slightly.

Tabatha moved her head and looked at him, they were face to face and inches apart and still embraced. Severus felt her breath on his cheek, it was warm and sweet, and his eyes darted around her face taking in everything he could trying to commit this to his memory.

Tabatha licked her lips and said softly. "I think it's about dinner time."

Severus nodded slowly "Yes I think your right we should go now".

Severus allowed his arms to loosen up and was just about to pull away from her when she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, letting her lips linger there for a second before pulling away completely.

Severus stood there for a moment and then glanced at her," you go on ahead; I'm just going to put this away." He pointed to the mess on the table. "I'll be right behind you."

Tabatha smiled but glanced around nervously as she walked to the door "alright then" she smiled back at Severus and she pulled open the door and walked out.

As soon as the door shut Severus' legs nearly gave out under him, he was breathing hard and his stomach felt like he was just pushed out a window. He was extremely happy that though Tabatha was pushed against him in her hug, it was only her top half that leaned in. If she had pressed against his whole body she would have seen just how much of a reaction she had on him.

He closed his eyes and the memory of feeling her against him filled his senses again. He thought of her hair, her sweet scent, and his amazement of how soft her lips where on his cheek. As these images flooded back his body started trembling a bit and he used the table to help him find his way to a chair. Finally sitting down he felt his breath rag in his chest.

He knew what emotion of desire was filling him and he was trying with all his might to overcome it. Closing his eyes again and focusing all his energy inward he used his mental discipline to help stifle the burning heat that was growing in his body. Finally once the trembling and wave after wave of need and desire calmed down he opened his eyes and looked at the door.

"Tabatha is your friend, she cares about you, don't screw it up!" he chastised himself then getting up he started to clear the table off.

Out in the Hall and around the corner from Severus' class room Tabatha was leaning against the stone wall. Her head was back, her eyes were closed and her checks where flushed. She had one hand resting over her heart and she was breathing deeply. Her mind recalled every sensation she felt holding Severus. How solid and strong he felt under his robes, how his hair brushed against her cheek as they hugged, and how it felt like a hundred volts of electricity hit her when her lips touched his warm cheek. She wondered how soft his lips were. With that Tabatha felt her stomach flip and her breath caught in her thought, suddenly her eyes flashed open and she looked back towards the classroom and then turning quickly started walking to towards Great hall.

"Severus is your best friend, don't screw it up!" She said silently to herself as she turned the corner.