Rules Were Made to be Broken

Thankie again to Shemmy Whemmy Goose for betaing! *sloppy kiss*


I am where I have been for the past hour. Sitting at my desk, in MY chair, drinking a large glass of brandy and making my way through a packet of cigarettes, occasionally shaking my head to myself, occasionally sighing in disbelief.

I cannot believe that she ran out like that. More so, I cannot believe she even started it. So damn close, Severus, yet so far again. Perhaps if I had taken it a little slower she would have stayed…perhaps if I’d taken it faster she would have stayed…perhaps if I’d done the can-can in a tutu she would have stayed – I can run through all the perhapses, maybes and what ifs I like, it isn’t going to make a damn bit of difference. Once more I’ve lost Hermione. Then, just as I take another long drag of my cigarette someone all but beats my office door down bellowing, “Let me in right now you greasy fucking git!!”

Ah, someone who knows how to address me in the proper ma, I , I see.

“It’s unlocked,” I sneer in return.

The door flies open and there stands one pissed off looking werewolf. Fabulous. Behind him stands Hermione, whimpering, tears dripping down her cheeks, pleading with Lupin. “Just leave it, Remus. Please.”

“HOW DARE YOU!” he yells at me, veins pulsing in his neck, his face red with anger. Not very becoming, Lupin, not at all.

How dare I? Ah, crap, he knows. Buy some time, Severus, it’s the best way to go. I glance at Hermione and she seems to be trying to tell me something with her eyes as tears continue to flood from them.

“How dare I what?” I reply as nonchalantly as I can.

“How dare you fuck my wife! ” he screams back. Hermione let’s out a whimper and buries her head in her hands.

“I hardly forced her to do it,” I reply. So Hermione has told him…how intriguing...perhaps not all is lost after all.

“Hardly forced her to? She was not in a state to be making those sort of decisions, you bastard!”

“Hermione appeared to be perfectly sound to me, Lupin.”

What the heck is he on about? Merlin, Hermione, if you are going to lie to him you could have at least informed me as to what sort of bullshit line I was supposed to be feeding him back! I give her another questioning look but she will not look at me.

“She was just a child!”

“Hermione is far from a child!”

Then just as he screams at me, “She was your fucking student!” I am stupid enough to retort, “It’s not my fault if you can’t keep your wife happy!”

All falls silent. And then again, in unison, “You what?” and my very intelligent, “Oh, shit!”

Oh, crap. Oh crap oh crap oh crap. Severus’ foot, meet Severus’ mouth.

And thy eyy eyes betray me. Why is it that only now I spy Hermione’s panties lying in the corner of the room? Why is it that I can’t tear my eyes away from them quick enough? Why does Lupin have to follow my gaze? You’re screwed, Severus, and not the way you’d intended for the night.

Lupin stares at them, then at me. His mouth is gaping open and I begin to wonder wha what sort of curse he is going to place on me. I don’t care…I just care that Hermione is going to be all right. Time for Snape the martyr once more. I don’t care if I get fired, I don’t care if Lupin turns me into a pumpkin or Fluffy’s play thing, I don’t care if I never live to see the light of another day – Hermione is not going to lose her perfect life over stupstupid encounter with a great greasy git like me. It is quite clear she doesn’t want me – so be it. I’ve sacrificed my happiness for her before and I’ll willingly do it again….dear gods, Severus, just do it before you become one big jelly-like ball of sappiness…

“It’s not her fault, Lupin. I forced her to…she didn’t want to…I cast a charm over her…”

“Hermione? Is that true?” Lupin turns on his wife and I can see him hoping beyond belief it is the truth but knowing in his heart that it is not. Poor git.

Hermione looks at me just briefly. “No, it’s not true. Severus did not force me to do anything.” She’s staring at her feet, looking like she wishes she could become one with the flagstones. You’re not the only one, Hermione.

“She is lying!” I yell, begging that Lupin will believe me. I don’t deserve Hermione – certainly not in this way. “Hermione, it was my fault! Don’t try and protect me, you stupid girl!”

“She is my wife!” Lupin explodes, drawing closer to me, his hand on his wand. I reach for my own, and there we are – my wand pointing right at his nose, his wand pointed right at my groin. Touche, Remus. I can feel beads of perspiration dribbling down my forehead. I can see Lupin’s hand wavering in uncontrolled anger as he grips his wand so tightly I swear I can hear it start to splinter.

“Stop it!” Hermione screams back. She glares at me, then at Lupin. “Just STOP IT!”

We both turn to look at her, almost having forgotten she was there.

“Damn the both of you!” she hisses at us, and then storms out of my office, slamming the door behind her.

“Hermione!” Lupin calls pointlessly behind her. Then he wheels around on me again. “See what you’ve done? You can’t look at anything without turning it to shit, can you Snivellus?!”

And then my door slams once again. And all is silent and still except the thumping of my heart in my chest, leaping about as if it is trying to escape me.

Fuck it – I am not taking this sitting down! Getting to my feet I swoop off after them…