Un Désire Dangereux *COMPLETE*
Les liens qu'accrochent
Alors, a short chapter, I know. But I wanted to get this info out before I
start with the lemons. ;) Have no fear, one more chapter coming soon.
X. Les liens qu'accrochent
Once they did finally get around to blending the potion and setting it to
brew, Vivienne found herself coming to Severus' study every evening thereafter
to check its progress. Severus, likewise, always met her there either opening
the door upon her arrival or by showing up shortly after herself. They shared
many conversations over the simmering cauldron and many smoldering kisses. Their
conversations wound through any number of subjects, from the things she observed
in the hallways watching students and teachers, to the catastrophes he'd averted
in the Dark Arts classroom, and from shady potions they had learned to brew
because of their jobs, to the things they had seen and done on assignments.
Severus was amazed to find such a confidante, for here was the first person he
felt could accept the things he had been forced to do under duress.
On one such night, he had even brought her into his quarters and let her take
a lingering look at his Dark Mark and robes, while she brought down her beret
with the French Auror symbol--a wand emitting seven sparks on a background of
two triangles, one red and one green (red for sacrifice, green for hope) as well
as her own tattoo, a sword surrounded by feathers on her back right shoulder.
She explained that the symbols were indicative of her occupation and title.
"As Aurors, we are volunteers serving France
faithfully and with honor. Every Auror you stand alongside is your brother at
arms, and as such you regard each other with unwavering and straight-forward
solidarity which must always bind together members of the same family, because
that is what we are. We must be respectful of the order's traditions, honoring
our superiors. Our discipline and camaraderie are our strengths, courage and
loyalty are our virtues. We should be proud of our status as that of an Auror,
as we are la crème de la crème. We are taught to display this pride, by
always having exemplary turnout, always impeccable in manner and dress. Our
behavior, ever worthy, though modest, and our living-quarters, always tidy."
"We are, in a word, elite soldiers. We have trained vigorously, maintaining
our wands as weapons, as if it were our most precious possession. We are
instructed to keep our bodies in the peak of condition, always fit. And a
mission, we were taught, once given to us becomes sacred to us, and we will
accomplish it to the end at all cost. That is our pledge, almost word-for-word.
Does that sound familiar?" she finished, smiling.
"I don't know which it sounds more like, the Order or the Death
Eaters," Severus said dryly, a glass of wine in hand.
"Um, the Order I think," she said, pausing for another sip of wine.
"We use a bird symbol too. A Falcon. On all our parchments, it is seated on
its perch, a symbol of a bearer who is ready and serviceable for high affairs.
The feathers on our tattoos and cloaks are for cunning, bravery, pride, and
intelligence. Just like the animal. Regal, yet trained to kill. In combat, we
act without relish of our task, or hatred. We will give respect to the
vanquished enemy and will never abandon neither our wounded nor our dead, nor
will we under any circumstance surrender our wands or our selves. Respect, or
war without relish, I think is something your Death Eaters would not
abide."
"Quite the opposite really. Killing and destruction are acts of
revelry." He stared contemplatively into his empty glass.
"I know," she said cocking her head to the side at she gaze at him.
"There were dark wizards enough at home. It was posing as their cohorts and
comrades that taught me how vile they can be truly." He looked back at her,
as if disbelieving his own ears. She nodded, assuring him of her veracity.
"Oh yes, I too have had my fill of doing any number of dark deeds to get
close to bringing someone down. I have done things I never would have expected,
all in the name of currying favor with those who would gain power only to abuse
it. Voldemort is not the first, he is simply the worst and the best backed. But
that is why I am here, and why you are here, why we both work so hard for what
we know we must accomplish. Because it cannot be allowed. That is why I know you
are such a good man, and a brave one."
"How do you know what I am? Or that I am really who I claim to be?"
he asked, cupping the back of her head and bringing her forehead down to touch
his.
"Because I know here," she said, pressing a fist to her chest.
"I have met dark wizards, sociopaths, and those greedy for power. I have
sent any number of them to prisons just like Azkaban. You are not like them,
Severus." She tipped his chin up with her hand and touched her lips to his.
"You are so much more."
*les liens qu'accrochent = the ties that bind