Chapter Eleven
Rose had been considering showing to work on Thursday after Wednesday turned out to be very helpful; however, after Severus' sudden switch flip, she was ready to take the rest of the week off, or at least spend it away from Severus.
She didn't bother leaving a note for him, and Onyx never showed to prompt one from her. She spent Thursday and Friday studying the potions lesson plans in the library. She never had to worry about running into Severus: his time was spent in the Dungeons or in his flat, as far as she understood. When she thought about it, though, she really didn't know where he spent most of his time. Clearly, he had spent an exorbitant amount of time in the Forbidden Forest. What else did she not know about him? Anything relating to his past seemed to be deeply hidden.
How could she care for someone who never let her close, someone she couldn't fully know? But, clearly, she did. And where did that leave her?
-o-o-o-
The weekend arrived, refreshing and vibrant, and Rose was thrilled to spend most of it with Ella and Ximena.
Rose arrived at Ella's flat with homemade lemon macaroons, a perfect light dessert for a warm day. That, and a bottle of brut champagne.
As always, it was a welcome feeling to be distracted from thinking about Severus. Rose supposed this wasn't a very good sign, but didn't want to think about it further than that.
Ximena spoke about her assistantship with Professor McGonagall, and how she was being challenged to transfigure objects of larger proportions and of increasing difficulty.
"Ximena, are you an animagus? I assume you are," Rose asked.
Ximena's brown eyes twinkled a little in the light. "You tell me," she said, morphing into a bobcat, lounging languidly on the couch, twitching its ears. The bobcat had a ring of small pale dots in its fur surrounding its neck — a parallel match to the string of pearls that Ximena always wore.
Rose clapped, cheering, as Ella looked on proudly.
"Very well done," Rose said appreciatively as Ximena transformed back into a human, primly crossing her legs and smoothing her twill miniskirt.
Ximena took up her champagne glass again. "Any party tricks you two have?"
Ella laughed, holding her hands up. She had her feet kicked up beside Ximena on the couch. "Don't look at me. Unless you want me to heal your plants."
Ximena inclined her head, tutting, as if to say, "Of course you can do much more than that."
Ella winked at Ximena in response before turning to Rose. "You're up, Miss Brew."
Rose thought for a moment. "I'll need some props, first."
Ella groaned theatrically. "Well, I could do something with props!"
"I'll be back in a sec!" Rose called, dashing quickly to her flat.
She returned with a bowl and a few ingredients in small vials. She laid them on the coffee table, kneeling behind the coffee table as if presenting a show. She took out her wand melodramatically, then quickly tossed the ingredients into the bowl, adding the rest of the champagne bottle, and stirred the concoction with her wand.
The liquid changed color from a murky brown to a light, bubbly, gold color. She motioned for them to give her their champagne glasses, filling them equally.
Immediately, when each of them took a glass, they changed color. For Ella, a light jade color with the scent of rosemary and mint. A small puff of smoke floated above it, in the shape of a happily snapping Venus Fly Trap.
For Ximena, a pastel blue color with the scent of blueberries and cinnamon. A plume of smoke lingered above her glass, too, resembling a bounding bobcat frolicking in snow.
And for Rose's, pink tinted with the scent of rose and vanilla. The plume of smoke overflowed out of the glass, with a small bit sticking out, making the champagne glass itself seem like a bubbling cauldron with a ladle.
Ella and Ximena "oohed" and "aahed" appreciatively before the three of them clinked glasses and drank.
Ella stared at her glass from different angles. "Bloody hell. What is this? This is the best thing I've ever drunk."
Rose couldn't contain her excitement at her friends' approvals. "That's it! It adjusts to specifically what tastes you like in a drink. It's a drink, only for you!"
Ximena pursed her lips, playfully wrinkling her nose. "Yeah, it's alright, but should I turn into a bobcat again?"
-o-o-o-
Ella, Ximena, and Rose spent the rest of the afternoon lounging around chatting and playing the occasional card game. When it was time for dinner, they knocked on Oisin's door to join them for a meal and some drinks. Damon appeared behind Oisin in the doorframe immediately.
Ella affected disapproving shock. "You're hanging out without us?"
Oisin roared, and Rose could tell the two of them had been drinking, as well.
"Pot and kettle, Ella!" He laughed.
The five of them marched merrily to Hogmeade, settling in their typical corner of the Three Broomsticks Inn near the fireside.
After having dinner (fish and chips for all of them except Ella — falafel and chips), Oisin took the responsibility of getting the group drunk, ordering three total rounds of Dragon's Breath Whiskey shots.
Dragon's Breath not only was a spicy whiskey, but also a particularly strong whiskey. Rose was feeling warm and pleasant, especially feeling thankful that no one had brought up anything related to work.
After the group had had a few more drinks, Rose thought it would be as good a time as any to bring out her second party trick she had retrieved from her flat. There was a slight lull in the conversation, and Rose leaned conspiratorially forward, motioning for all of them to lean in, too.
This was unnecessary, of course, sine the Three Broomsticks Inn was packed, and no one was paying much to attention to anything except the state of their inebriation.
Rose took out a small cotton satchel, waggling her eyebrows at all of them. "Have you guys ever tried Ivory Mushrooms?"
-o-o-o-
Apparently, they all had tried them before, and were absolutely ready to do so again.
Rose felt like she wasn't existing in her body, just a spirit floating around the Three Broomsticks Inn. The group had reached the point at the Inn when things began to get a little rowdy, even for sleepy Hogsmeade in the summer.
Hogsmeade had enough Hogwarts alumni stick around and work in town to make it a relatively young crowd frequenting the bars. Ella and Ximena were perched on bar stools, Ximena's legs draped over Ella's, whispering to one another. Oisin and Damon were attempting to win at Wizard Darts without much luck. Oisin cast Rose a forlorn look every so often, but not often enough for Rose to pay any heed.
Rose was by the fire, being chatted up by a particularly dashing burly redheaded wizard who she had absolutely no interest in. He had been telling her about his job at Gringotts Wizarding Bank, but her mind kept wandering. She was transfixed by the way the fire moved and by the lightheaded feeling that was overwhelming her. When, finally, he asked what she did for work, she answered without really registering it. She must have mentioned she worked with Severus, because he responded with the typical shock and crinkling of the nose at the mention of him (at least by those who knew of him).
In her current state, his reaction had no effect but to remind her of his name, something she hadn't registered as she had spoken it.
She had the sudden urge to leave the bar, now, to go see him.
She told the banker goodbye quickly, rushing to Ella and Ximena to rudely interrupt and tell them she was leaving, she would be okay, don't worry. Ella and Ximena were in the same inebriated state, so they couldn't argue with Rose's plans to travel back alone.
Rose began her trek to Hogwarts, but paused, staring at the dark dirt road up to Hogwarts once she reached Hogsmeade's edge. She shuffled her feet, debating, her mind spiraling with nightmarish visions of dangerous creatures.
She decided, even in her awful state and with the possible risk, she would attempt to apparate into her flat. She withdrew her wand, closed her eyes, and attempted to envision her flat as clearly as possible.
A rushing whoosh filled her ears and she felt a great pressure before landing with a crash onto hardwood floor. That was something she definitely needed to work on: sticking her landings while disapparating in rushed situations.
Rose slowly pushed herself into a sitting position, swiping her hair from her face.
As soon as she did, she was eye-level with black trousers. She looked up to see Severus frowning down his nose at her.
"No rest for the wicked, it seems," Severus said flatly. "Evidently I am also your babysitter."
Rose felt she was in such a deep fog that she couldn't properly form words. She blinked at him, mouth agape.
He knelt before her, taking her chin in his hand, and gazing at her eyes, one at a time. He released her chin with a sharp exhale.
"You shouldn't mix alcohol and Ivories. Foolish girl."
He studied her, his face creasing more. "Let me guess. You took them from my store and took them with your friends."
"But you said —" Rose slurred, but Severus interrupted her.
"That is not what I meant," he hissed.
Though Rose was extremely intoxicated, she still could recognize they were falling into their old pattern.
Rose's eyes began to well with tears beyond her control. Severus looked on in horror. Tears began to stream down her face silently.
Severus exhaled sharply again, looking away, then back at her. "Please, Rose. You're just drunk. I'm not … upset."
Rose wiped her eyes with her sleeve, suddenly realizing how close Severus was. She took his face in her hands, kissing him. He kissed back for a moment, before taking her wrists and holding her away from him.
"Enough. You're too drunk."
"Then when?" Rose heard herself say, a bit more desperate than she had meant.
He barked out a laugh, still holding her wrists. "You're asking me? Any time you're not in a vulnerable state. Any time."
He dropped her wrists into his lap, holding them.
Rose began to space out, and forgot where she was momentarily. She snapped out of her reverie suddenly, quickly saying, "I should leave. I'll go to my flat."
"No," Severus growled, holding her wrists. "I don't want you by yourself when you're in this state. It's … unsafe."
Rose thought this might be an excuse for her to stay, but one she was going to take readily.
She gazed up at him hopefully. "Do you have crisps or anything?"
A small smile crinkled one side of his mouth. "I can do better than crisps. Cheese toast?"
-o-o-o-
Rose awoke in a large, plush bed with all black sheets and a heavy emerald velvet covered duvet. She bolted upright, the events of the previous night rushing through her head.
Bullocks. He must really think I'm an idiot.
Rose tossed the sheets aside to find that she was wearing an oversized black button-down blouse and no pants, suddenly remembering Severus having to wrangle her into some sort of clothing item before bed after she had removed all her clothing for no apparent reason.
Rose took in Severus' bedroom in novel interest, though she had seen it just the night before. A beautiful oak armoire stood against a wall with two bookshelves surrounding it. One of the bookshelves mostly held decorative items: a complete snake skeleton, a deer antler shed, various jars of preserved plants or fungi. The other bookshelf held a variety of notebooks and older, antique tomes.
The bed had tall black iron posts and held misty dark green drapes. A large, black iron chandelier loomed above the center of the room. Black velvet curtains blocked all light from the two long rectangular windows.
Rose jumped up from the massive bed, opening the door to the bedroom to find Severus waiting for her at a small table in the kitchenette. He eyed her slowly up and down, his nose crinkling.
He stood, offering her his hand. "Let's go."
Rose took a step back. "Let's go? Where? I'm not even dressed!"
Severus rolled his eyes, waving his wand quickly. Rose's skirt she has been wearing the night before, a pink miniskirt, appeared below the dress shirt. Rose took the dress shirttails and tied them together at the waist.
"Better?" Severus asked, before extending his hand to her again.
Rose nodded, taking his hand. He pulled her to him tightly, wrapping one arm around her waist. Without warning, they apparated. Rose's bare feet slapped onto a stone floor as they landed.
Rose glanced around her. "The prefects' bathroom?"
Severus released her, walking to two baths and turning on the faucet taps. "Close, but not quite. Did you know that bathroom has a twin?"
He turned to her, smirking. "Meant for staff, but never utilized."
"But if any staff can come in here, then —" Rose started, but was interrupted by an eyeroll from Severus and a swift flick of his wand to lock the door.
"There. Happy?" He said, picking out scented bubbles for his bath. He had chosen rose-scented soap absentmindedly.
The room had beautiful white and gray marble floors, lit by sunlight filtering through an assortment of stained-glass scenes that took up the largest wall: one showed a dragon soaring across Hogwarts grounds, one showed the Hogwarts library with books floating about, and a much larger one that showed each of the animals that represent each Hogwarts house milling about in a forest scene. Marble partitions surrounded four baths of varying sizes and shapes, providing for privacy.
Severus was already disrobing. Though Rose could barely see him, she turned away, hurrying quickly to her own bath. She, also, chose rose-scented bubbles.
Rose still felt mellow, and wondered if she was feeling residual effects from the drinks and mushroom from the night prior. The inescapable sluggishness and embarrassment of a hangover would find her, eventually.
She could use a wash after her night out getting drinks sloshed on her left and right at the Inn. The bath had filled quickly, and was the perfect temperature: just warm enough, but not too warm. She dunked under the water quickly, finding that the bubbles were not only very well-scented, but also magic. When she emerged from the water, her hair was washed and conditioned, and her body was perfectly clean without feeling sudsy.
She floated and sloshed around in the bath a little before remembering she wasn't alone.
After a moment of shy indecision, she felt resolute: she was not going to let this opportunity go to waste.
"Severus," she called.
"What?" He responded irritably.
"What if I came over there?"
She heard him snort in surprise. "And what if you did?"
Rose paused. "Do you want me to?"
She heard him huff impatiently. "Of course, Rose. We went over this last night. Or perhaps you don't remember."
Rose had already pulled herself from the bath and was standing beside his bath.
She rested her hands on her hips. "I don't remember. Happy?"
Severus surveyed her naked frame unabashedly. "Now I am."
Rose stepped into the bath, lowering herself into it. She had seated herself directly across from Severus.
"Come here," he commanded, his voice husky.
Rose obeyed, wasting no time, and straddling him. She could feel him hard beneath her already.
Severus closed the gap between them, kissing her urgently. She was taunting him while they kissed, grinding gently on his erect member.
"You're torturing me," he whispered in between kisses.
"You've been torturing me longer," she whispered back, biting his lip and sucking it.
He pulled back, kissing her neck and her breasts, then rolling her nipples between his thumb and index finger. "I've wanted you since you arrived here," he murmured into her neck. "I win."
Rose guided his shaft into her, gripping Severus' broad shoulders and pushing him into her deeply. She gasped as she took his full length. His cock was the perfect shape: not too short or long, and extremely girthy. Severus was breathing heavily, gripping her hips, his eyes shut with pleasure.
Rose rode him slowly at first, but didn't want to control herself any longer. She rode him fast, the water moving with her and sloshing over the sides of the tub. Severus had lost any ounce of self-control, too: he was moaning loudly, watching her every movement with eyes almost shut.
Severus jerked, gripping her hips tightly, pushing himself into her as her came. He moaned loudly, now unable to keep his eyes open.
When he had finished, he kissed each of her breasts, then her lips.
"Get off," he ordered her.
"Make me."
"Fine," he sighed, lifting her up and laying her on her back on the side of the bath. He stayed in the bath, pulling her to the edge of the bath so that her legs were bent over his shoulders.
He gripped her thighs tightly, kissing the inside of her thighs higher and higher. She felt his pointed nose graze her clit, and then he pressed his mouth to her clit, kissing it, then took it in his lips, licking it slowly in circles.
Rose felt lightheaded and her legs began to shake. Severus pushed two of his fingers into her, and immediately she came, her body convulsing with pleasure. She hadn't realized how loud she had been moaning until she realized it was echoing in the cavernous bathroom.
Severus leaned his head against her thigh, his hair damp and rumpled. "It was alright?"
Rose laughed. "Yes, you couldn't tell?"
He grinned mischievously. "Oh, I could tell."