Forces at Bay
Chocolate Frog: (Bronze) Igor Karkaroff - Prompts:Coward, Exchange, Burn, Champion
Extra Prompt; a kiss
The soft winged back chair seemed to engulf him, his head was perfectly placed on the pillowing surface. His brows were furrowed, eyes shut, his black hair shining in the low candle light of his room. His breaths were steady, but his heart was pounding in his chest as he tried to contain his thoughts.
Snap
Creak
Snap
Creak
Snap
Creak
He kept flipping the lid open and shut, repeating the motion until the hinges on the small box wore out – using reparo, then starting the cycle all over again. It was something he had never considered doing before, to be fair – he thought he would be long since buried and forgotten.
Yet here he was, eyeing the box trying to exchange courage for bravery.
Snap
Creak
Snap
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked, and he jumped, the box snapping shut, popping it into an inner pocket of his robe. "You missed dinner in the Great Hall."
"I was busy," he drawled, leaning back into his chair, extending a hand to her – feeling the relaxation of muscles at her touch, as she came round, he could tell she had been crying. "What happened?" He asked, his tone concerned.
"It's nothing, really," the curly haired girl replied, offering up a smile, giving his hand a firm squeeze. He pulled her closer, down onto his lap, scooping her legs so they hung over his knees – her head resting in the crook of his neck, her hands resting on her lap as he stroked her hair. There was no need for words, he just waited until she started to relax, the tension leaving her body – letting out a hefty sigh. "We were studying the ill effects of curses, and, I…had flashbacks to the war. In class. I was fully awake – but I could see it all so clearly. I wasn't even in the classroom anymore. I just started screaming." She shuddered, fiddling with his robe. "The day hasn't really been the same-" she didn't have to say you know, because her partner, currently giving her comfort and warmth – had also experienced panic attacks since returning to the school.
"Shall I give you one of my sleeping potions for a dreamless sleep," he drawled, breathing in the smell of her shampoo, the traces of parchment and her scented liliac cream. "It is almost your bed -time." He teased, achieved the desirable result of having her chuckle, turning her nose into his shoulder.
"Can't I remain here with you?" She whispered, moved her hands along his chest, fiddling with the buttons, "I don't have any particular desire to share a space with Zabini tonight."
"Mhm," he growled, fighting the urge to remover her lips from his neck – where she was currently working her way up to his jaw. "We had a deal, Hermione." He was suddenly very aware of the bare skin of her legs, touched by the fabric of her skirt as it swept over her knees, flowing up towards the tucked in button down that currently was not shielded by her robe – her tie not around her neck, and several buttons were undone.
He cleared his throat, and stood up, causing her to squeak in surprise – followed by a huff as he set her on her feet. Walking to his cabinent, he pulled open the door while trying to snuff out the feelings the were currently trying to burn through his self control. They had agreed to wait, no physical "hanky panky", as Minerva says, until Hermione had graduated. Professor – student relations were frowned upon, so they communicated mostly through letters, and infrequent visits to the Room of Requirement. It was not nearly enough time spent together, but it was enough to fuel the fire within them – they were each other's champion, confidant and ultimately, they wanted more. Which is what made the few moments spent alone so hard, the aching to see her was met with the unyielding desire to make love to her.
Scanning the shelves, he plucked the right potion and turned round, seeing the look on her face. "Unhappy, are we?"
"Remind me why we agreed," she paused, hearing the footsteps of a student walking by, careful not to let the secret out. A select few students knew, and those didn't even attend the school. All of her friends were banned, at wand point, from compromising their relationship. The teachers new, and had agreed with their course of action – given the special circumstances. Those adults who had seen them in Hogsmeade didn't appear to have said anything, many assumed – according to Harry – that she was his nurse. Which of course was an absurd notion to Hermione, but Snape found it rather amusing. "-that we could not be together?"
His chuckle was filled with mirth, walking forward to place the vial in her hands – placing a kiss on her lips when she tried to speak, drawing away just as fast, walking her to the door. "Try to finish your assignment time Miss Granger," he drawled, giving her one last pat on the bum as she stepped out of the room. "I will not make exceptions, even for war heroes."
She glared at him as he retreated, especially at the way he seemed to grin like the Cheshire cat in the dark – watching her leave with satisfaction.
Reaching into his robe pocket, he held the box in his hand.
Creak
The ring sat there, begging him to say the words. The bright shine on the 7 diamonds, sitting in a triangle shape above the marquise diamond center, sitting on the slim golden band. And yet, here it sat, and had sat, for almost six months.
Perhaps he was a coward after all.
/
He was running, sprinting, through the halls to the grounds– feeling the heavy chill of winter as she nipped at his exposed flesh – the bare skin of his torso, muscles tight as he clenched his fingers into fists, the sound of the fabric of his pyjama pants as they moved with his rapid motion. The alarm, sounding like a banshee screeching, had occurred around 3 am. Prefects had made sure the students were safe in their houses, but the Head Boy and Girl where no where to be seen.
Minerva startled as he rounded the corner, gaping at his dress – as if her own nightgown and cap wasn't as much of a shocker . Other teachers, such as Hagrid, were already there – the man was always up at weird hours, so there was no point in asking him how he had come to be there so quickly.
"What happened?" He panted, glaring at those who were eyeing him in surprise – perhaps it was his dress, or the fact he wasn't trying to tower over anyone that surprised them.
"Death Eater." Professor Sprout said with a nod, gesturing to a short young man, easily only 18. Severous recognized him easily, "or a wannabe."
"Rosier. Junior." He stated plainly, the boy snarled something, fighting against the bonds that held him – Hagrid just chuckled.
"If it weren't for 'Mione, he might have gotten past me." He huffed, "Nasty little blighter."
"Where is-?" He asked, no longer panting, putting his hands on his waist, looking for her almost frantically as Hagrid continued.
"On her rounds, was our Hermione," Hagrid continued, "When she noticed this shifty looking rat in the corridor. Impersonating a student," the big man growled, "attacking a war hero no less."
He didn't even try to control himself, he was inside the boy's mind seeing the fast moving images of his intentions - and what he had done to Hermione. Stepping back, he scanned the area, looking – straining.
He caught sight of the curly hair before anything else, moving towards her, eyeing the dark bruises on her neck. Hs expression darkened, guilt flooding his system as she met his eye – still brave enough to offer up a smile. He wanted to cup her face in his hands, to wipe away a tear as it formed, but he was no less proud of her for smiling past the water rising around her eyes. "Aurors are on their way."
He took touched her gently, checked for other injuries, his eyes never leaving hers all the while.
"It should have been you!" The boy snarled, lunging forward, his beady little eyes on the scar on his neck. "It should have been you who died, you filthy traitor! And that little Mudblood whore!"
It took all his strength not to snap the little cretin's neck.
Hagrid certainly seemed to be having the same thought, "Ruddy fool forgot who won the war!"
"In the mean time, let us shut off the alarm and settle the students back down." Minerva commanded, selecting specific teachers to do so. "Severus, you can take Miss Granger to see Poppy."
They walked until they were safely inside, and he sprung on her like a panther, engulfing her in his arms. "I'm sorry." He kissed her head, gripping her head, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
"Severus." She whispered, carefully placing her hands against his skin, embracing the warmth as he stood there, shaking, emotions running high through them both. "It's not your fault." She breathed, shutting her eyes.
"I should have been with you." He said firmly, moving his hand to her throat – hesitant to touch the marks. "This is my fault."
"Hardly," she replied, sniffling despite her desire not to cry. "It's not your fault-"
"It isn't yours," he hushed her, kissing her again – just holding her there.
"It isn't ours." She rephrased, hearing the stubborness in his voice. "Severus, it isn't your fault. You don't have to protect me or save me." She countered, stepping back from him to study his gaze. "Which you don't believe." He was mute, just breathing. She sighed, rubbing her neck lightly.
"I do not want to make the same mistake again." He whispered, placing his hands on her shoulders, shutting his eyes. "I can not lose you."
"The same-" She asked, her expression changing as she began to understand – reaching up, cupping his face much like what he had wanted to do earlier, to kiss him. "That wasn't your fault either, Severus." She kissed him again, welcoming his arms going around her, lifting her off her feet for a moment.
Placing her down and pulling away, he cleared his throat, conscious of the thinness of his clothing. "Come," he drawled, putting a hand on her lower back to direct her to the hospital wing. They walked in silence, once again, one trying to avoid an argument – the other wallowing in misplaced guilt. Climbing the stairs, she started watching his body as he moved. It hasn't escaped her notice, the hardening of the muscles – she was the one who touched him after all. He must have spent time rebuilding, making them stronger. He had always been lean, now he had definition – the kind he could have used as a younger man.
"Have you been working out?" She blurted, catching the grin of satisfaction as he fought it away.
"Perhaps." He replied, turning as she squeezed his bicep, watching her expression and feeling as her fingers touched him again – a fun little smile on her features.
"When have you had time?" She wondered aloud, her eyes wandering down to the solid V of muscles against his hips. He chuckled, putting his hand on her head, pulling her into his body space.
"Not all of my time is thinking about you, Miss Granger." He whispered into her curls, smiling as she giggled at the silliness of the statement.
"Clearly," she teased pulling away to run her nails along his abdomen. "Severus Snape, you have been holding out on me."
He snorted, looking as they transitioned to the next floor, heading toward where Poppy was waiting for them. "Surely you would prefer a fit man to be your husband, rather than the creature you tended to in the hospital."
Hermione stopped, gaping at him. "Husband?"