AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
Judith needed allies. At the moment, she may have Severus' attention, but that would not last if Hermione remained in the picture. Although Severus was polite at lunch, he stole glances at the fireplace, as if willing his friend to return. The longer the lunch wore on, the shorter his answers became until they were monosyllabic. Once the meal was over, he darted to Honeydukes. Judith watched him search the boxes of chocolates, his eyes lingering on one box or another. If he was buying for himself, he would've known what he wanted. No, he was buying for someone else, that person being Hermione.
Judith took a handful of floo powder as her muscles tensed. What was it about Hermione Granger that everyone found so irresistible? She wasn't physically or emotionally attractive, nor did she have some hidden talent that anyone would find useful. As far as Judith was concerned, she was a useless cripple who was more worthy of pity than love. Yet somehow Hermione still managed to capture everyone's attention. People still fawned over her and fell at her feet, awaiting her next order, knowing if they did not comply she would throw a tantrum. If Judith didn't find an ally against Hermione Granger she was going to lose Severus. Once again, Hermione would get everything she wanted, not caring who was hurt in the process.
She clenched her jaw. No, Hermione was not taking one more thing from her. By the time this was all over, she would know what it was like to be alone without anyone's affection. Judith would see that Hermione lost what little she had until she was reduced to nothing.
Still, Judith would need an ally in that endeavor, someone who couldn't see the whole picture, someone who would be too blinded by their own whims to consider any ill-intentions on her part. Fortunately, she knew where to turn.
Judith threw the floo powder into the fireplace. The green flames erupted brighter than the Christmas tree behind her. Soon, the face of Headmistress McGonagall appeared amidst the embers.
"Headmistress," Judith began in the sweetest voice possible. "I apologize if I've disturbed you."
"It's no trouble at all," Minerva gave her a small smile. "Sundays tend to be a slow day."
"I understand perfectly. Not much happens in skin care over a Sunday either."
"I presume things went well with Severus yesterday."
"They went very well," Judith grinned. "He's a charming man, even if he denies it. In every sense of the word, he's a prince. He is one of the most fascinating people I've ever met."
"He does have a way of keeping one's attention anyway, though I don't know if I'd call him a prince."
"Oh I think he is a prince. A perfect gentleman in every way."
"He must've been on his best behavior to elicit such high praise from you," Minerva chuckled.
"Yes," Judith paused. "I just wonder how to keep things going."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't want to push Severus too hard, but I'd like more chances to see who he is. Every time we talk, he seems closed off. Sure, he's polite, but it's clear he isn't used to getting close to people. He has the mysterious man thing going for him, yet it saddens me that he doesn't trust me enough to let me in."
"Sadly Severus has learned not to trust people." Headmistress McGonagall frowned. "It's a skill he's learned from being a spy."
"Yes, but he should know I mean no harm. I only want to get to know him, see what we can be to each other, build on our growing connection, create something more beautiful than we could ever imagine."
"Deep inside he knows you only mean well, but getting him to behave as if that's true that may prove difficult."
"Yes, so I may need help creating more circumstances for us to meet." Judith winked. "The Leaky Cauldron meeting worked quite well, and I would like another opportunity like that."
"I can tell him that you would like to see him at the Leaky Cauldron again. Due to the bet, he'll have little choice but to go."
"Oh no," Judith shook her head. "I fear if he only sees me because he's been coerced then he won't want anything to do with me. It has to look spontaneous, as if it's a coincidence I'm there."
"That's going to be difficult," the Headmistress scratched his chin.
"True, but we can think of something together. There has to be a time when he's relaxed, more receptive to my advances."
"I'm not sure when that would be. If he's not alone sulking he's working on some type of project with Hermione."
"Yes, Hermione," Judith tapped her foot. "She may be our answer though."
"How?"
"I'd like a chance to see him amongst colleagues, when he's most relaxed, a chance where we can talk and he can build trust in me. If he sees me interested in his world, he may be more willing to let me in."
"That may be doable."
"Oh?"
"Yes," the Headmistress grinned. "There is a staff Christmas party on the 21st. At times I have been known to invite outside guests. Usually they're Board members, but for you an exception can be made."
"Ooh a Christmas party," Judith's eyes lit up. "I would love that very much."
"Are you free on the 21st?"
"If I'm not, then I'll make myself free."
"Perfect," the Headmistress had a twinkle in her eyes. "We may have a little Christmas romance in the castle yet."
"There's nothing more magical than a Christmas romance."
"Agreed."
With that, the Headmistress disappeared. Judith stared into the dying flames, her expression that of a basilisk who had just killed its victim.
Soon, very soon, Hermione would know exactly what it felt like to lose the people closest to her, and she would have nobody to blame but herself.
"Blow molds?" Severus raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Hermione used her cane to maneuver across the room. "I thought the students would enjoy some authentic muggle decorations this holiday season."
He snorted.
"What? Do you not like them?" She leaned on her cane.
"That Noel candle is authentically hideous," he replied before he felt a tap on his leg. He startled before turning to Hermione, whose cane had grown long enough to touch him. She leaned on the table for balance with a grin.
"I'll have you know that candle is my favorite decoration," she replied.
Severus turned to the plastic candle. It was red except for white poinsettias and a white banner with the word "Noel" in the middle. Even more jarring was the bright yellow plastic contraption passing for a flame on the top. Must it be such a gaudy shade of bright yellow?
"My parents have one on their front porch, and I bought one for my first Christmas on my own," she continued. "It's beautiful to me."
"Obviously it bears some sentimental value for you, but it's still quite," he pressed his lips together.
"Festive, happy, joyful."
"Tacky."
Once again, her cane tapped his shin. He scowled. "You did not tell me you were beginning your demonstration."
"I didn't intend to begin my practice, until you began insulting my blow molds. I must defend their honor."
"At least the candle is not as terrible as the snowman." He glanced at the snowman wearing a black top hat, with a sprig of holly on it. The plastic coal for eyes, buttons, and the nose was inoffensive enough, but the red scarf was enough to give him a headache from the bright festive cheer.
"I love that snowman."
"So you do," he glanced at the Nativity blow molds, which according to Hermione cost hundreds of galleons because they were still together as a set. Best not to say anything about how he doubted that flimsy manger could hold anything more than a light blow mold baby. The less said about the Santa and reindeer blow molds hanging from the ceiling, the better.
"I think they look festive, and I plan to keep them in my quarters once I take the Defense Against Dark Arts position," her voice softened. "Assuming I get it."
"You made it to the demonstration phase. That is already an accomplishment."
"It means little to make it this far if I do not have a job to show for it."
"You can fly, and have proven your assistive devices are excellent combat mechanisms," he pointed to his thigh. "As evidenced by the mark you've left on me for insulting your precious candle."
"I didn't tap you that hard."
"On the contrary, you broke my femur."
"You endured curses from Voldemort, yet a tap from a cane is enough to bruise you?"
"You are stronger than you realize," he softened his expression. "Don't ever forget that."
"I won't," she stood up straighter.
"That being said, this practice will consist of two parts. The first will be you using your assistive devices to fight," he gave her a side eye. "Which you have already done."
She smirked as she waved the cane, still balancing herself on the table.
"The second, is flying. We will see if you can use your cane in the air as a weapon, not just as a way of maneuvering. It would be too cumbersome to have your walker and wheelchair in the air as you levitate, but the cane could be a formidable weapon."
"Agreed." She tapped her cane onto the ground. A blue shield made a circle around her body.
Severus pulled out his wand and fired a stinging hex. It bounced off the shield, almost striking his leg. With the wave of her hand, she pulled out her wand and began firing. Each hex Severus dodged. Even if they were closer to him than they'd been a month ago, he was known for his evasion. There was a reason he was Voldemort's second in command after all. All he needed to do was focus on her left where she was weakest. All would fall into place then.
The duel continued for five minutes until Severus noted a weakness in the barrier, one he'd created by firing in the area enough times. He flew above her and cast a stinging hex to her side. She squeaked before faltering. Severus caught her before she could hit the ground.
"The shield isn't perfect yet," she noted as he lifted her upright.
"Initially the shield was quite strong," he helped her stand onto her cane. "What you failed to notice is that I was concentrating my energy in a certain area."
"How? You seemed to be firing everywhere."
"I fired in different directions just enough to lure you into thinking I was firing upon you at random. In reality, my firing was concentrated on your left."
"Oh."
"Do not fret," he put a hand on her shoulder. "That was a common Death Eater tactic few were wise enough to recognize. We will work on you recognizing the pattern so you know where and how to refocus your shields, lest a student pick up upon it, or Lucius be selected to fight you in the demonstration. If you can defeat him in the demonstration, that will go a long way towards proving your proficiency in Defense Against the Dark Arts. I have no doubt you will defeat him handily, if called upon to do so."
"Thank you." She relaxed.
"There is no need to thank me for telling you the truth."
"Yes, and I appreciate you being patient with my faults. I am improving, even if it my pace must be slower than you would like."
"This is not a war, you are here voluntarily, and you are a competent student. Under those circumstances, it is a joy to teach you."
"It is a joy to be your student."
"I doubt that."
"It is. When you're relaxed, you are an excellent teacher."
"I'll remind you of that when Mr. Potter complains about the trauma incurred from his occlumency lessons."
"He understands why you behaved as you did, and has forgiven you. He'd love to get to know you better sometime."
"Perhaps when things are calmer I would be amenable to having lunch with him, provided you are there."
"Deal."
"Good, that being said," he flew higher. "I doubt you can capture me in the air."
"What?" She raised an eyebrow.
"You heard me," he smirked. "I do not think you can capture me in the air."
She blinked.
"I do not think you have enough speed and control of yourself to catch me."
"In that I fear you're correct." She gulped.
"Fearing I'm correct and being correct are not the same thing," he answered.
She kept her eyes on him.
"You've become faster with each flying lessons, and you are improving your turns. I will not go full speed, but I will expect you to catch me. Unless of course, you think I am superior to you, and you will never fly as well as I can," He gave her the smuggest Slytherin expression he could, the one he knew goaded every Gryffindor into challenging him.
She furrowed her eyebrows before closing her eyes taking to the air. He darted away from her once they were open, being careful to go slow enough that she would not become too overwhelmed by his movements. She soared behind him. Yet before she reached him, he spun to his right and continued forward.
"You jerk," she muttered as she used her cane to turn the corner, much slower than she would have liked.
"No Gryffindor has ever caught a Slytherin mid-flight," he boasted. "I doubt that will ever change."
"Well see about that," she took off after him. Before she could catch him, he took off to his left.
"Damnit," she used her cane to pivot to her left. Her movements were still shaky, but they'd improved. At least she was not descending. That was a modicum of progress.
"You're going to have to learn to turn faster than that, or else you'll never be able to do this," he began zig zagging through the air.
"I can do that," she raised herself higher and made as many turns as she could. When she came closer to him, she extended her arm.
"You must do better than that," he darted to his right and was off.
"You git," she burst out laughing. "You Slytherin git."
"I thought I wasn't a git."
"Usually you aren't," she chased him. "But today you are in rare form."
"What can I say? I am enjoying myself. It is not every day I can best you at something," he called.
"I'm enjoying myself too." Her laughter grew louder. "I'm starting to enjoy flying, even if you are so," she held out her arm. He flew away. "Hold still!"
"Where would be the fun in that?" He continued flying.
"None at all," she admitted before giggling and chasing him.
For the next half hour, they flew through the air. Despite Hermione coming close to grabbing Severus, she did not succeed in doing so. When all was said and done, she gave up, and he helped her land. Then, they went to Hermione's quarters for some cocoa, neither knowing which was more enjoyable: the flight, or the companionship.