To Covet and Consume

I finish the last essay and end my marking on a surprisingly high note. It seems Miss McKinstry has actually paid a modicum of attention and learned quite a bit in this year’s class. The same cannot be said for her dismal performance last year. I pat myself on the back for reaching another dimwit as I file the marked parchment.

I clear my desk and organize my drawers before lifting my eyes to find my assistant. She is in her zone again; chopping, slicing, measuring, and adding away. I admire her contentedly from my desk.

I watch her in class quite often but in here, alone, I do not have to be covert about it. I can watch her move from cauldron to cauldron freely without worry that any of her classmates will catch my lecherous gaze. She sucks her lower lip into her mouth as she concentrates on pounding the willow bark into a fine powder. I too bite my lip at the sight.

As much as I prefer her hair down, there is something to be admired when she pins it up haphazardly with her spare quill. My eyes drift down along her elegant neck. The urge to approach her and kiss her pulse point is unexplainably strong. I stand now, deciding to continue my strategic assault on her senses. With sight and smell well underway I move in and begin my logical moves to the undeniable checkmate.

I slowly slither intricately between the tables and chairs. I have to stay one step ahead of her and predict which of the three cauldrons she will tend to next. The element of surprise is my only ally in this battle.

As my payment moves to add the last vital ingredient to her final cauldron, the other two sit and simmer for the desired period of time, I slip in close and wait for her to pick up the sterling stirring rod. Her delicate hand moves over the handle and carefully places it in the thick substance and begins the required stirs. The tip of my nose wants nothing more then to bury itself behind her ear, but I force it to remain calm. This is my game. I wish my body would just concede and agree with me. She moves the rod just as carefully even though it is the last step. She scrougifies the instrument and sets it back down on her work station, then she turns her wand on the fire and lowers the temperature 7.5 degrees and allows it to simmer.

Now that it is safe I give my nose what it desires and ever so slightly touch the spot on her neck directly behind her earlobe with the tip of it. I pull back instantly after silently inhaling the scent. I remain close, but when I lean in again I let my lips brush her earlobe in a whisper, \"Well done, Miss Granger.\"

All movements cease and I hear words catch in her throat. Immune to me my arse! I grin, remaining close but not touching. My dress shirt caresses the back of hers but no part of my physical being is touching her. My breath, I make sure, is strolling gingerly through the curls that refuse to remain in that haphazard twist on the top of her head.

Her body reacts before she can utter a word and a slight shiver flows over it, goose bumps trailing in its path as it reeks havoc on her body; if I were not standing so close I may have even missed this subtle reaction. I fear I find it endearing indeed.

\"Thank you, sir.\" She swallows after forcing those words out.

It seems her sense of touch mingled with the caress of my voice is the key to her breaking point.

I reach out around her, my inner arm warming her shoulder even through our combined two layers of clothing. I reach forward and take her wand hand in mine gently and whisper again near her ear lobe, \"Continre\".

The magic to produce this simple spell flows from both of us and into the wand. I can feel the pull of her magic through my arm and chest, and wherever our bodies are in contact. If I can feel hers, I am positive she can feel mine. It is the most bizarre sensation when another\'s magic obeys your command. I must research this... This is quite unheard of as far as I know. I will dwell on this new information another day.

I remove my hand from hers, but as I pull back I allow my fingertips the novelty of tracing their retreat along the back of her hand, wrist and up her arm. \"This potion has a delicate brewing process, which you accomplished flawlessly.\" I say smoothly. She turns to me and flushes prettily as I continue, \"The Continre spell is a simple spell Flitwick and I produced to protect the just as delicate simmering process. It is used to contain all magical properties that might be diminished through the steam release while the potion gently boils. Therefore, the potion created will have a heavier concentrate and so less of a dose will produce the same desired effect as the regularly required text book amount.\" We are standing quite close as I spout off the complement and new knowledge.

\"Should I place the spell on the others?\" She moves past me, and our clothed legs brush slightly in the process. How I wish she was wearing her skirt.

I follow her. \"No. This spell does not help any potion containing selgna seed or root of heather.\"

Her eyes widen, \"But on everything else?\"

I nod. \"Of course, if a potion is meant to have no wand magic preformed near it then I would not even attempt the Continre charm. Your guess is as good as mine at the possible outcome, but to test its effect may be disastrous.\"

She nods as she turns off the heat under the other cauldrons. \"Did I finish in a timely fashion, Professor?\" She asks, her back to me, as she prepares another potion for Poppy for bottling.

\"Yes. As I said before...\" I move over to her with the glass vials she will need, \"well done.\"

My lips do not touch her lobe this time but my chest flattens against her upper back and shoulders as I reach around her to hand her the vials. I can feel her heartbeat pound against my own.

\"Thank you, sir,\" She shivers.

\"Cold, Miss Granger?\" My facade of concern in place, \"I can turn up the heat if you like?\"

She almost chokes on my innocent innuendo. \"No, sir, that will not be necessary.\"

Oh, I think it is quite necessary, Miss Granger.

\"Why not have a break now before we begin with my latest research. We can discuss the properties and problems I have had to deal with thus far?\" I move back to my desk allowing her to regain her false sense of security. Just another sense I will have to ensnare.

\"That would be nice. I am starting to feel quite parched.\" She finishes bottling both completed cauldrons and cleaning up those two stations before she checks on her last cauldron with the spell on it.

\"I did not have time for dinner this evening. Would you care to share a bite of food as well?\"

\"Yes, please.\"

I head to my office, calling the kitchens instantly and informing them that my order I placed at breakfast today needs to be delivered soon. Seconds after my verbal demands to the elf, Miss Granger graces my office with her presence. She stands in the door way.

\"In here, sir?\"

I nod and motion to a seat in front of my Spartan desk. \"I should think so... I wouldn\'t want our food or tea to contaminate your hard work.\"

She takes the offered seat as the food appears on my desk. I have taken the liberty of ordering a variety of finger foods. I decided even before she entered my classroom that I could keep the meal light, as to not bare us down or hold us back for the rest of the evening. I shall also admit that it is not by coincidence that every piece of food on the platter is considered, at one time or another, an aphrodisiac.

The platter was decoratively done up by the house elf. I do not take any responsibility for that. Chocolate and vanilla are centered in the middle of the large tray; both sauces are contained in one circular container, and only remain separated by the bowl’s partition zigzagging across the diameter. Bananas surround the outside circumference of the bowl. Strawberries and raspberries are strategically placed around the peeled, whole bananas to leave the fruits standing completely erect. How very subtle, bloody house elves! Avocado, pineapple, and figs continue around to complete the ripple effect those blasted creatures must have been going for.

The erotic nature of the platter is not at all lost on Miss Granger; she herself has taken on the shade of a raspberry. I feign ignorance and reach for a slice of pineapple, dip it in the vanilla, and take a bite.

“This is supper?” She almost chokes on the question. Her eyes seem to be looking at every piece of fruit but ignoring the banana.

Interesting.

“It is. I asked the elves to bring us something light since we will not have much time to digest. They saw fit to supply us with fruits, I quite agree with their choice.” I say easily, keeping my voice low and soothing.

It seems my explanation has calmed her slightly. She takes a strawberry, and dips it in the chocolate. I watch her intently as she picks up a raspberry next. My payment seems quite determined to eat each piece of fruit on the platter in order from the strawberry, dipping each in the chocolate before popping them seductively in her mouth. Now, please remind me who is seducing who here?

I continue to eat my share of fruit when I find myself surprisingly disappointed that she is avoiding the bananas like they are hexed. I am sure the phallic nature of the fruit is not at all lost on her.

“We have something in common.” I can’t help but to disrupt and disturb her comfort level as of now.

“Sir?” She asks clearly confused.

“Our mutual hate for bananas,” I say slyly as a reach for the perfect fig and eat it plain, forgoing any sauce.

“Sir,” She blushes yet again, “I do not hate the fruit…I am just indifferent to the fruit when I have such other appetizing choices at my disposal.”

“Picking favorites are we, how very un-Gryffindor.” I finish the last bite of the fig and reach for a slice of pineapple.

“Well, you hate them, sir.” She shakes her head at me with a little smile. Deciding she doesn’t mind playing these mind games.

“I do, but at least they know where they stand with me.” I prepare a cup of tea for her, than meet her eyes, “Indifference can lead to confusion and utter sadness.” I say each word as blankly and seriously as possible.

I raise my eyes to her again and push the tea cup towards her side of the desk then I prepare my own.

She narrows her eyes slightly then shrugs and picks up a banana gently. “Fine, does this cure its sadness” She asks me this as she swirls the tip into the chocolate then slides it between her lips, sucking the chocolate off first. Oh, how I wish I were that piece of fruit.
She bites down (then again, perhaps I prefer my human form) and chews arching both eyebrows at me obviously intent on me answering.

“Perhaps,” I purr, “but it also may believe that you chose it out of pure pity, and that is far worse than indifference. But, how should I know the emotional problems of a fruit. You should ask it!”

“Thank you.” She finishes the banana and shakes her head at me as a smile takes over her face.

“And why, may I ask, are you thanking me?”

“I don’t know exactly, perhaps for toning down your witty but fairly cruel comments towards me, for inviting me to sit and enjoy a light snack with you, for blessing me with the offer of being your assistant; overall for feeling comfortable enough to show a different side of yourself compared to what I am used to.” Her eyes never leave mine and they show me nothing but how deeply sincere she is.

I just nod, honestly quite shocked at her words. I let the silence overtake us for a moment.

“Well then, if you are done mutilating that poor fruit we should head back to the labs and start the base.”

She smirks again, nods then moves back out of my office and into the classroom.

Her little speech would have a man of light second-guessing his strategic plan of seduction.

Her little speech would have not even registered in a man of darkness.

But I am a man of grey; her speech registered, but I am not second guessing a bloody thing.

I follow my payment into my labs, quite curious as to how she will react to her impending checkmate.
************************************************************************

Wow... longest chapter ever, and 15 is half written and was put on hold due to a migraine.

Hope you enjoyed.

Thanks goes out to my beta Amber!