Chapter twenty-nine - Too much confrontation

The following morning breakfast was just as noisy as it had been for the past week. It started when Gina and Jonne entered the Great Hall, with a group of Slytherin boys yelling at them and Oliver Cooksey whistling loudly. Gina suppressed the urge to cast an Entomorphis Jinx on him and instead ignored everyone. There had been a few pieces about the champions in the Daily Prophet that week and they were getting more and more attention. Like it had before, it coincided with Gina receiving a lot of advances from boys, which she could miss like a toothache.

'Calm down,' Jonne grinned seeing the expression on her face.

'I àm calm,' Gina growled at him. He looked surprised, and even Gina was a little taken aback.

'I'm sorry,' she added quickly.

She felt jumpy and nervous lately. She was still startled by Severus extreme response yesterday. She had noticed the other champions looked nervous too. If professor Dumbledore and madame Maxime were anything like señor Gonzalez, they were pressured a lot to study hard and practise spells as often as they could.

Gina had had multiple meetings with señor Gonzalez in the past few weeks. He had started giving her work schedules and lists of books he wanted her to read, which was very irksome, as Gina wasn't at all motivated. She enjoyed her lessons, spending time with her friends and Severus, and studies for her English and Spanish exams which would take place in June, and besides that didn't have much time or energy left, much to señor Gonzalez' dismay. The champions hadn't been told what the nature of the third task would be, and Gina privately thought Gonzalez should trust her abilities and leave her alone. Though she realised the chances of that were less than zero.

Gina stared at the high table. Severus wasn't present, but mister Tindale was. The Triwizard Tournament wasn't the only reason it was noisy and noisy among the students lately. Rumours had come up about Tindale's presence at Hogwarts, saying that he was still at the school to keep an eye on how the school was run.

Rumours were circulating in the corridors that Dumbledore was in conflict with the Ministry of Magic. Gina wondered how much of it was true. She had heard before that Dumbledore did things his own way, and that the Ministry had given him a free range to run the school he thought was best for years, but that the current minister of Magic wasn't equally pleased with every decision Dumbledore made.

That moment Jill dropped in the seat next to her.

'Morning,' Jill said. Her already high voice sounded two octaves higher than usual. Jonne stared at her while she grabbed a bowl and poured coffee in it.

'Um- Jill?'

'Hm?'

'That's a-' Jonne pointedly looked at the bowl, in which Jill put six sugar cubes, stirred and took a few gulps.

Gina stared at her half emptying the bowl, than decided to intervene.

'Give that here,' she said, taking the bowl from Jill's hands. 'Can you give us a moment Jonne?'

Jonne rolled his eyes at her, than stood up and was in conversation with a pretty Ravenclaw ten seconds later. Hearing about Clair Bridgewaters pregnancy hadn't made him blink twice. When Gina had asked him about how he felt about her being knocked up by another guy, he had dryly said he felt like he was going to be a Godfather, and he wouldn't have touched her in the first place if he had known she was so fertile. Apparently Clair hadn't found his joke funny.

Gina turned to Jill.

'Do you have another date tonight Jill?' Gina asked quietly so the group of Hufflepuffs girls next to them wouldn't overhear.

'Oui. I think we are going to...' Jills eyes widened.

'What?' Gina asked.

'You know...' Jill looked around before leaning over to Gina and whispering. 'Water the plants.'

'That's- um.' Gina looked confused. 'Is that slang for shagging?'

'Whàt?'

'Sex, Jill.'

'Oh- yes.' Jill nodded. 'I think so. I mean, it's the third date and he um- well, he said...' Jill blushed scarlet and mumbled something unintelligible.

'You don't need to do anything honey,' Gina said. 'Third date doesn't mean anything. Only do things when they feel right. Tell him you are doing something at a pace you are comfortable with or not at all.'

'Right.' Jill looked pointedly at her piece of toast. 'I àm curious...'

'And you feel have a good feeling about Bentley?'

'Yes, I have,' Jill said smiling a little.

'Than have fun,' Gina smiled at her, giving her a squeeze.

At that moment señor Gonzalez stopped in front of them, having made his way over from the high table.

'I would like a word in the common room señorita Aldaya.'

Gina swallowed her mouthful of toast. Señor Gonzalez hadn't come to see her about her night time wanderings, but he would undoubtedly want to discuss her progress with her studies. Feeling gloomy, Gina followed him to the carriage.

On Friday Gina descended down the stairs leading to the dungeons quickly and saw an empty corridor ahead of her, but cursed under her breath when suddenly someone came hurrying around the corner when she was a few feet away from Severus' office. To her surprize it was Hannah, looking very flustered, and very busted. Her hair was even a little ruffled.

Hannah turned a brighter shade of red than a blushing Weasley brother. Gina realised she probably came out of the Slytherin common room or one of the empty dungeons. Who would have thought...

Hannah stared at Gina, wide-eyed. Gina knew Hannah must think Gina was on her way past Severus his office to one of these destinations too.

'I won't mention this ever again if you won-' Gina began.

'Deal,' Hannah blurted out. 'Thanks Gina.'

She almost ran past her.

'Come your hair a little, woman,' Gina called softly behind her. She saw Hannah quickly fixing her hair before disappearing up the stairs.

Gina waited a few seconds to be sure Hannah wouldn't return, than quickly threw herself at the office door, closing it behind her as quickly and quietly as she could manage. That had been close... She cursed her inability to preform an true Disillusionment Charm for the umpteenth time. Somehow, no matter how often she practised, she just couldn't get the hang of it.

Gina quickly crossed the office and walked into the sitting room, where Severus was sitting at the desk. He looked up when she entered.

'Who do we have here,' he said in a low voice. Gina smiled widely, dropping her bag next to the door. She walked over to him and leaned over him, pressing her lips against his.

They hadn't met up since his outburst when Jonne had kissed her neck. Gina still felt a little overwhelmed. She really liked Severus and she wanted to tell him she was not just having fun with him, but she didn't know how he would respond to her saying she might want to have an actual relationship, and not just sex. He could be very compelling and incredibly possessive but that had only been in regards to her being involved with other people. He never asked her how her day had been, or how her schoolwork was going, and the one time she had tried to tell him something about her friends he had raised his eyebrows and looked as if he had no idea who she was blabbering about, as if he didn't knòw Lorene and Irene. Honestly, they were in his bloody class.

'I need ten minutes to finish this,' Severus said, pulling back from the kiss and lifting her chin up to make her look at him. 'Get yourself a drink. And preferably undress a little, will you?'

Gina grinned and walked over to the little kitchenette.

'Those robes don't work on you at all,' he added casually from his desk, ruffling through a stack of papers. She looked around and saw him smiling at her. She felt her whole body tingling under his gaze and smiled back at him.

'If you would light a fire here every once in a while I might take your suggestion into consideration,' Gina said, turning around and waving her wand to make tea.

She sat down with a steaming mug of herbal tea a moment later. Gina took a sip, lost in thought for a moment. She wished she could discuss her feelings for Severus with Jonne. Jonne knew everything about her and she trusted him more than anyone. He knew of the situation Gina was in, being a royal and having rules, laws and expectations in her life that other people did not. She sighed and leaned back, staring at the ceiling without really seeing anything. She never planned to fall in love with a British half-blood wizard. And she didn't know what to do.

But every time they had discussed Severus Jonne had been very disapproving, apparently unable or unwilling to set aside his feelings about them being together. He had accusedly said last week that he thought Severus was trying to isolate her from her friends, which Gina thought was a ridiculous accusation. Surely Severus could be jealous, but when he realised Gina only wanted to be with him that problem would surely be solved. Gina understood why he didn't like the current situation, with them having to keep their relationship a secret. He had not told her as much but Gina could tell he dislikes it when she got attention from boys. Her fellow students obviously thought she was single.

She glanced over at Severus, bent over his papers. He was so different than the guys she had previously fancied, having something dark and hard about him. He could be so sarcastic and mean sometimes, and so intense and overwhelming when they were alone together. He dipped his quill in the ink pot again and looked up.

'Just a few more minutes.'

'Take your time,' Gina said softly.

When he looked up a minute later Gina stretched.

'How many essays do you grade a week? Five-hundred?'

'That sounds about right.' The corner of his mouth twitched.

'If you wouldn't give anyone homework for a week you would have mounts of free time.' Gina said.

'I would. It is reality sometimes too. It's called vacation.'

'You gave us a mountain of homework for autumn break.'

'Because I want everyone to pass their exams.'

'That's nice.'

'I have to teach the same curriculum twice to a student who is retained. It is very irksome.'

'What?' Gina looked confused.

'Grade retention, Gina.'

'I have no idea what that is.'

'Of course you don't.'

'English is my second language, Severus.'

'Yes, I heard they speak Spanish in Spain, actually.'

'Right...' Gina rolled her eyes at him. 'You could have said nothing, you know. Let me believe you care about the students grades. Their future.'

His lip curled.

'Did you talk to Flora Carrow?' Gina asked, thinking of something. She had seen her crying in the Entrance Hall today, and heard she had been very upset all day.

'No, why?'

'She was very upset. Crying her eyes out all day. I thought I heard she had Potions today.'

Severus looked rather confused. 'What is your point?'

'She is in your house,' Gina said slowly. 'You could talk to her, ask her what is going on. See if you could help with anything.'

'Still continuing with the jokes are you. I told you I don't appreciate them,' Severus said while he put the stack of essays aside and stood up.

'I'm not joking,' Gina said a little disbelievingly. 'At Promodores we have mentors we can discuss anything with and that keep an eye on you, and at Hogwarts you have your Head of House right?'

'Somebody probably told her she looked fat or something.' Severus poured himself a glass of wine. 'I don't interfere in student trifles.'

'You don't know what is going on if you don't ask.'

'These issues fall outside of the scope of my duties as a professor or Head of House,' he said impatiently.

'So in other words you don't give a fuck.'

'My level of interest in the matter is negligible, yes.' He sounded bored.

'You really can be a-'

He raised his eyebrows.

'Yes?' he said slowly.

'Never mind,' said Gina grumpily. He lip curled when he sat down next to her.

'I didn't know you had complaints,' he said airily.

'I-' She felt her breathing accelerate when he put a hand on her thigh. When she looked into his eyes she blushed.

'I'd love to hear them.'

Gina grinned. 'Oh shut it.'

'No really. It is of the utmost importance to me...' he said in a soft voice, leaning over her and kissing her neck. Gina threw her head back and closed her eyes in enjoyment.

'You are a jerk,' she mumbled. He pushed her shirt down and suddenly bit in her nipple. Her mouth formed a shocked O but before she could protest he had placed his mouth over her nipple and started caressing it with his tongue. He let his hand wonder up her leg and pushed her panties aside. She wriggled under him when he paused for a moment, gasping of anticipation.

'Am I,' he said in a low voice, kissing her neck again. 'So what are you doing here?'

She groaned in protest when he stroked carefully around her vulva.

'You are good in bed,' Gina groaned. She opened her eyes just in time to see his eyes narrow at her words. 'It makes up for your flawed personality.'

He pinched a nipple between his fingers.

'So in other words, you do not care I am a douchebag to everyone else as long as I fuck you until you start rambling in Spanish.' His voice had become low and silky. Gina started shaking when he finally stroked her, spreading her wetness around her vulva and pushing two fingers inside her.

'Sí, claro,' Gina brought out gasping.

She was smiling now, a blissful look in her eyes when he pushed his fingers in and out of her slowly. Severus wasn't smiling. He watched her close her eyes and curving her back at his touch, than stopped.

'Go to the bedroom,' he said curtly. Way past any point to argue, Gina let out a deep sigh and stood up, pulling her shirt over her head while she walked over to the door. On the threshold, she turned around. Severus took his glass of wine from the coffee table and took a swig. He looked pointedly at her skirt.

'Take it off. Everything.'

She obediently removed the rest of her clothes. She was trembling with anticipation. Excruciatingly slowly, he finished his wine and then unbuttoned his trousers. A groan escaped Gina's lips when he stood up.

'You are so mean,' she said when he slowly walked over to her.

'And you are a terrible listener,' he said, putting his hands on her waist and pushing her backwards, into the hall. 'I told you to go into the bedroom.'

She kissed him fiercely, pushing him against the wall. He caressed her buttocks with his hands, stroking her buttocks seam and almost stroking her vulva. Gina felt the wetness between her legs drip in the insides of her thighs. Mad with lust, Gina made to pull his shirt over his head. She wanted to feel his bare chest against her skin, being fed up with the fabric between them. He pulled away her hands and held them above her head, pushing her wrists against the wall.

'Please take it off,' Gina begged. She wondered if he had scars he was embarrassed about. She thought she had felt something on his back before. Could he possibly think she would care about something so superficial?

'Please, I want-'

'Just lie down,' he growled.

Her eyes met his for a second and she backed away until her knees hit the side of the bed. He was on top of her a second later. She gasped when freed his cock and penetrated her, filling her so deeply she couldn't help but moaned softly. When he pulled back slowly and pushed back into her hard she closed her eyes in enjoyment.

She decided to give it another try. She wanted this... Tilting her pelvis to receive him even deeper, she started unbuttoning his shirt, but he took her wrists again and held them above her head with one hand. Her breasts were heaving. She was panting but also couldn't help feel a little rejected when she looked into his dark eyes.

Than he leaned in and kissed her, caressing her lips in such a lovingly fashion while slowly moving in and out if her she felt the feeling ebb away. Than he suddenly pulled back. He let go of her wrists and rubbed her clitoris, stroking her. She groaned in protest and after ten seconds, started to groan of pleasure.

He slowly descended, kissing her neck and planting wet kisses on her collarbone. When he took her nipple in his mouth she moaned.

Applying just the right amount of pressure with his hand, she wriggled under him, feeling hot waves built up inside her. She didn't want to finish without him inside her.

'Now, Severus. Please,' she begged.

The moment he penetrated her again she came, relishing in the feeling of him contracting inside her. Delicious wave after wave washed over her, intensified by the feeling if him emptying himself inside her. When he pulled back she remains panting, her sensitive spot between her legs throbbing delightfully. Severus sat up and looked at her for a moment, than started buttoning up his trousers and shirt. Gina watched him silently. She wanted to say something but somehow didn't dare. She slowly sat up.

'That was really nice,' she said quietly.

'Good.' He didn't look at her when he stood up. 'Get dressed, I want you out before curfew.' He walked out if the room and came back with her clothes, throwing them on the bed.

'I- Okay.'

She got dressed feeling a little tense and followed him into the sitting room. If Severus had been anyone else she would made an effort to talk about the elephant in the room, get it out of the way, but seeing the cold look in Severus his eyes she didn't speak. She knew he would bite her head off, and she felt too vulnerable so soon after sex to cope. His soft touch had woken something intense and overwhelming inside her and she didn't know how to deal with those emotions at the moment. She didn't kiss him after hesitating for a second but took her bag from the floor next the door.

When she opened her mouth he cut in impatiently. 'It is five to nine. I don't want you to stay so close to curfew again. Hurry up.'

Gina froze at his cold voice, than nodded curtly, and quickly left.