Chapter sixteen - Mag and Lou-Ann

Severus left for Minffordd early on Saturday. Walking quickly over the path leading to Hogsmeade, he disapparated the moment his feet crossed the boundaries of the Hogwarts grounds. In the dark alley where he always apparated to if he visited Magdalena, he removed his cloak, shrinking it with a tap of his wand and putting it in his coat pocket. He was wearing a three-quarter-length black coat over a white button-up shirt and a grey pantalon. Being so used to wearing a cloak on a daily basis, he usually wore a long coat in the Muggle world. He felt rather naked without it.

He continued on his way, walking through the small village he knew so well.

He hadn't seen Mag longer than usual, normally visiting her the first Saturday every other month. But last month had coincided with the Triwizard Ball, and he hadn't wanted to miss Gina opening the dance. He smiled a little at the memory of her tight, green dress. Watching at her dance with the French girl had been worth postponing his visit.

There were children playing with crayons in front of the house, two boys and a girl. They fell silent when Severus walked past them. They watched silently as Severus knocked.

'Hello,' one of the boys said very quietly.

When Severus raised an eyebrow in response the little girl started sniffing.

The door was opened and a small woman with a round face and short, blond hear appeared. She cast a glance at Severus and the children, than yelled something over her shoulder.

'Màg, Severus is scaring the neighbour kids again.' She smirked at him. 'Come in will you. And try not to make people cry. Don't worry honeys,' she cooed at the kids, when Severus walked past her into the tiny hallway of the cottage . 'It's only Sev. He's a little like a bat. Looks scary but they have rèally tiny teeth so he's basically harmless.' She winked at them and closed the door.

'My favourite teacher of young children,' the woman said sarcastically. 'Thanks for showing up this time.'

Severus rolled his eyes at her. 'I didn't do anything, he said, hanging his coat on the coat rack. 'The brat just started crying.'

'Well she saw yòu.'

'Thanks Lou-Ann.'

'Your welcome sweety. Mag is making stew and it's at a critical stage, so come in and dòn't startle her. Maybe you can try to smile for once.' To her obvious surprize Severus actually smiled a little at this while he walked into the living room, which had an open kitchen were a dark haired woman with very dark eyes was bustling around with a ladle and a bunch of parsley.

Her eyes started twinkling when she saw Severus, and she hurried forwards to give him a tight hug.

'Hi Mag,' he said, giving her a one armed hug and kissing her on the cheek.

'Hi bruv.'

'Christening him with parsley won't help much I think Mag,' Lou-Ann said, coming into the room.

'It won't hurt,' Mag said smiling. 'Can you make tea Sev? I'm almost ready with the stew for tonight.'

'Is that a second smile?' Lou-Ann said incredulously. 'Look at him Mag! Quickly, before it's gone!'

'Glad to see you are as hyperactive as usual,' Severus said sneering while tapping the kettle to boil water. 'Shouldn't you go chalk with the children for a bit? Calm down?'

Severus and Lou-Ann bickered while Mag put a last hand to the stew and they sat down with tea and -in the case of Lou-Ann- Chocolate Chip Cookies in the living room five minutes later. Severus was just asking if it was really a good idea for Lou-Ann to eat sugar in her state when Mag suddenly put down her tea and cut off Lou-Ann's snappy retort.

'You do look different Severus.' She tilted her head. 'You dò smile more.'

'I tòld you,' Lou-Ann said while crunching up a Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Mag ignored her. She smiled her kind and loving smile at Severus. 'I'm just glad to see it Sev.'

Severus hesitated. He hadn't want to say anything, but he felt his lips curl up almost involuntary. Not that he was fighting it thàt hard...

'I met this girl,' he said, looking in his teacup. A genuine smile broke out on his face. He looked up and met Mag's dark eyes. She was looking happier than he had seen her in years. Lou-Ann looked positively stunned, and momentarily lost for words, which did not happen often. He was sure her speech would return soon though. Before he knew what happened, Mag had jumped up and hugged him so tightly it was almost painful. He patted her on the back, a little embarrassed.

Mag took a really deep breath when she sat down again. Lou-Ann silently handed her a cookie and took two herself. Severus looked at Lou-Ann and shook his head a little.

'Nothing to say for a change, do you?'

'I have so much to say and ask I could fill two books,' she blurted out between two bites. 'But I'll let Mag ask the questions.' She was silent for two seconds. 'Please ask the questions Mag.'

Mag smiled and took a sip of tea. 'May I?'

'Yes, Mag.'

Mag was positive beaming. 'What's her name Sev?'

'Gina,' Severus said slowly.

'God, he is in love,' Lou-Ann blurted out. 'Lòòk at him!' She fell silent and stuffed another cookie in her mouth. 'Sorry,' she mumbled.

'How did you two meet?'

Severus hesitated. He hadn't been planning on telling Mag about Gina and he had not thought this through at all. Just saying it was going to sound weird.

Lou-Ann was obviously having a powerful internal struggle not to interrupt the conversation again. She was starting to get a little red in the face.

'Well... She is Spanish. And eighteen,' Severus began.

Mag was beamed at him, taking in this information about his crush. So far so good.

'And she is visiting Hogwarts this year. She takes part in the Triwizard Tournament.'

Lou-Ann had stopped chewing. She looked a lot like a hamster, with one stuffed cheek.

'I do not understand,' Mag said after a while.

'She is a student Mag,' Severus said a little brusquely. Better get if out of the way, he thought. 'She is a seventh year student from a Spanish school of magic, and she is at Hogwarts because she was chosen to represent her school for the Triwizard Tournament, along with three others. She follows classes, including mine.'

Mag wasn't beaming anymore. She stared at him.

'You could get into so much trouble for that Sev,' she whispered.

'I'll be fine,' he said, still sounding a little brusquely.

'You are sleeping with a student.' Lou-Ann obviously couldn't take it anymore. She still hadn't swallowed her cheek-full. 'A student. At the boarding school you are teaching at.'

'Yès Lou-Ann,' Severus said with a sneer. 'Glad you caught on. Any more great questions?'

'Well, yes. Don't mind if I do. Who started it? You or her?'

'Lou-Ann...' Mag said in a slightly desperate voice.

Severus raised his eyebrows and took a long sip of tea.

'She did,' Lou-Ann said, sounding very surprised. 'You didn't initiated it, did you?'

'No.'

Lou-Ann smirked smugly.

'Why are you smiling?' Mag asked, looking stunned at this. 'This isn't fùnny. You're taking an awful lot of risk Sev.' She was looking close to tears now. 'You càn't get fired. You'll...' She didn't continue, obviously not wanting to think about that scenario.

'I won't Mag.'

'But-'

'Please trust me on this.'

Mag bit her lip.

Lou-Ann had started eating again. 'What's she like?' she asked between two bites. 'You know. Besides a strong personality. In control. Seducing you to risk your job to be with her.'

'Lou...' Mag groaned.

'It's romantic,' Lou-Ann protested.

Severus paused a moment before answering, looking in his teacup. He was smiling a little again. 'She's... perfect.' he said slowly. 'Witty, intelligent, funny and very sweet. She's experimental... Knows what she wants. Open minded. Beautiful...' His smile faded. 'A good person.'

He looked up to find Mag staring intently at him.

'Don't let this girl go Sev,' she said quietly after a long pause.

'I am trying,' he mumbled.

Mag hesitated. 'Does she know about your... past?'

He didn't say anything.

Mag swallowed.

'Please Sev. Please be careful,' she whispered. 'Don't tell her.'

'Whàt?' Lou-Ann said disbelievingly. 'Are you mad? I think this girl has the bloody right to know. He needs to tell her!'

'He just met her! He needs to know if he can trust her first. She'll knòw what would happen to him if he got fired. She'll have a huge-'

'I get it, Mag,' he said a little irritated.

'How did you keep it from her?' Lou-Ann wanted to know.

Mag closed her eyes, obviously giving up.

'I mean, does she think you just have a ugly tattoo on your arm? Walked drunk into the wrong tattoo shop or something?'

Severus shot her a deadly look. 'No Lou-Ann,' he said sneering. 'She isn't stupid. She just hasn't seen it yet.'

'But you hàve slept with her? Multiple times?'

'Lòu...'

'Yes Lou-Ann. I have.' He knew she wouldn't back down anyway.

'Wèll,' Lou-Ann snorted. She took another cookie. She looked like she was going to blurt out something she did not want to say, but couldn't hold in. 'That's impressive,' she concluded, sulking.