Eye of the Beholder

Author’s note

Chapter 17. An Unexpected Visitor
Monday noon.
 
Sasha walked from the dining hall to Snape’s dungeon, her stomach in knots. He was not there at lunch today, so she assumed he had taken his meals in his rooms. She had not seen him since the morning after the dance. It had been a difficult and emotional two days for her.
 
She was acutely disturbed by how he had acted the morning after they got together. She woke up in his bed to see him watching her, his face cold and unreadable. She had smiled at him, and said ‘Hi’, but she could immediately feel the tension emanating from him. He had smiled a brief response, but immediately his face fell back into his impassive, unemotional mask. She hated when he did that, as she had no idea what he was thinking, or feeling. He had not reached out to touch her, and although she wanted to, she did not dare reach for him.
 
Once he realized she was awake, he quickly moved the covers aside and climbed out of bed. She sat up and watched as he walked to the armoire, opening it and gathering up the clothes that he would wear that day. His body was surprisingly fit, she thought. His shoulders were broad, which emphasized the narrowness of his lean waist. His skin was pale, and the contrast to his very black hair emphasized this fact. He had long, muscular legs, but she did not dare stare too much, incase he turned around and caught her. He seemed oblivious to the fact that he was standing there, near-naked, in front of her. His clothes in hand, he looked over his shoulder and addressed her as if she were a student, and the events of the evening before had never happened.
 
"You should wait for a while before going back to your room," he said without emotion. "The majority of the students will be gone within the hour, and it will be better for you after they have left the dormitories. I will leave you one of my robes. It will cover your dress, so nobody will question you why you are still wearing it today." With this he lay a black robe over her neat pile of clothes on the chair.
 
"I have things to attend to today and tomorrow, and may have to leave Hogwarts. I will expect you in the lab on Monday, noon, as we agreed before." His tone was brisk, and none of the tenderness she experienced the night before was there. Dismissing her presence in the room, he walked towards the bathroom. Just before he entered, he stopped, and turned back to her. It looked like he was about to say something else to her. Instead, he just continued to probe her with those emotionless, black eyes. She returned his stare, challenging him, willing him to come back to the bed and talk with her, hold her, anything.
 
Without a word, he turned around, entered the bathroom and closed the door with a firm shut. The sound echoed slightly in the cold bedroom, and in Sasha’s heart.
 
Sasha felt numb. Well, she had asked to spend the night with him, and he had obliged. However, she never remembered him coming to bed, and she did not think he had even bumped into her during the hours they shared his bed. She could not believe that things had ended this way after what they had done the night before. Slowly, in a state of disbelief, Sasha got out of bed and donned her clothes for the previous night. She picked up his robe and placed it around her shoulders.
 
She felt defiant against Snape’s advice, and she did not care if anyone saw her leaving his dungeon rooms. She walked out of his room, his office, and the potions class door. Thankfully, the hall was empty.
 
She was so confused. As she walked towards the Ravenclaw common room, she tried to think what could have happened to cause the sudden change in Snape. The only conclusion she could come to was that it was the next morning, and with a bit of distance from all the excitement of their touches, he had come to regret it. The realization that he was denying what had occurred between them, effectively rejecting Sasha, was crushing. She willed the tears not to form as she climbed the stairs to the common room. It didn’t matter, they came anyway, spilling out from her sad, gray eyes.
 
It was now Monday, and she would see him for the first time since that morning. She did not know what to think, or how to act. She stopped before his office door, her heart anxiously pounding in her chest. Gathering her courage, she knocked and entered. He was not there. As she entered the room, the sight of the office, so familiar to her, made her feel worse. She now associated it with him, his arms and his kisses. Trying to ignore the increasing feelings of dread and anxiety, she walked heavily into the lab.
 
He was there, sitting in his usual spot at the far table. He had the vials and bottles from phase one of the experiments set up on the tables, and he was reading from a tomb. He looked up when she entered the room.
 
Sasha stopped in the doorway. He still had that empty, carefully controlled look on his face, and his black eye were boring two holes right through her. Neither said a word in the mounting tension.
 
Snape stood. "Sasha," he said. She walked over and slowly set her bag and lab book on her table. Not your table, you idiot, she reprimanded herself, his second table. You have no claim to him, or any of his possessions, and don’t ever forget that.
 
Snape pulled a stool over next to his, and indicated for her to sit. She did, and hoped he did not hear how loudly her heart was still beating.
 
Snape looked down at Sasha. It was painfully obvious that she felt uncomfortable in his presence. He did not blame her, as he was living up to his reputation as an uncaring git. He ached to reach out and put his arms around her, and let her know he was so sorry. Sorry for not holding her first thing in the morning, after they woke up. Sorry for not talking with her, and letting her know he still wanted her. It was just that he could not. It was not in his nature to apologize, and frankly, he needed some time to sort out his feeling towards her. He needed to think things through before he fully committed to getting involved.
 
These past two days apart had helped. He was slowly coming around to the idea of seriously getting involved with her. However, he wanted to make sure she was ready for him. Once he committed there was no going back.
 
He had decided to test her resolve. If she backed off after his initial rejection, well then maybe she was not that serious about him after all. He had to make sure she knew what she wanted, because to get involved with him meant there were many strings attached.
 
Snape decided it was best to get down to business. He began to explain to her the process involved in the next phase of the experiment. As the potion discussion became more in-depth, both of them began to relax somewhat. It was a neutral subject, one they could easily talk about without getting too personal.
 
After about an hour of discussion, Snape was surprised when he heard a familiar whoosh sound coming from the fireplace. Both he and Sasha stopped and turned to see Dumbledore’s head floating there.was was the look of seriousness on his normally pleasant face was the most disconcerting. Snape stood up, alarmed.
 
"Severus. I was just informed that you have a visitor on his way down to the dungeon. It is Lucius Malfoy. I thought I should warn you." Dumbledore looked pointedly at Sasha, then back at Snape. In an instant he was gone, the fireplace cold once again.
 
Sasha looked up at Snape to see his already black eyes narrow, and she could feel a change in him. He looked at her and was about ask her to leave, or possibly hide in his room, when he saw Lucius sweep into the lab.
 
Sasha turned to regard him. At all her time at Hogwarts, she had never seen Lucius Malfoy. The family resemblance to Draco was unmistakable. His pale blond hair was tied back by a black ribbon, giving him an ageless appearance of refined elegance. There was something about him that immediately terrified Sasha. He was unmistakably handsome, but there was an aura of evil that surrounded him. Something deep in her conscienceness was screaming out at her. It was his hair. There was something about his long, pale hair that frightened her to her very being. Trying not to shake, Sasha move back very slightly on her seat so that she contacted Snape. Without appearing to, he brought his hand up and placed it flat against her back in a gesture of reassurance.
 
"Lucius, to what do I owe this, unexpected, visit?" Snape said in his cold, controlled voice.
 
"Tut, tut, Severus. Do you always greet your visitors in such a warm and welcoming manor? One would think that being brought up in the upper class of society, at least you would have the manners to introduce me to your, friend, before you insulted me." His tone of mocking pleasantness could not mask the undertone of hostility between the two men.
 
Lucius turned his attention to Sasha. One look at her and he knew. There was no mistaking the long scar across her face. Lucius still remembered how the tip of the searing whip had barely made contact above her eye, but had carved deeply into her cheek and jaw. This had to be the same girl. How utterly ironic, he thought, that she would end up here, with Snape. Now, he had to determine why she was here in his dungeons over the Christmas holidays, and if she held any importance to Snape. He did not give a fig about the girl. What was important was if he could somehow use her to exact revenge on Snape.
 
Lucius meanwhile had been slowly removing his gloves, finger by finger. He strode over to Sasha with an air of absolute confidence. He stopped right in front of her and took in her whole appearance in one, sweeping gaze.
 
"And who might you be, my dear?" he asked with false warmth.
 
"That, is none of your concern Lucius," Snape replied coldly, before Sasha could respond.
 
Still facing Sasha, Lucius moved his eyes to address Snape. "Protective, aren’t we Severus? I was just curious why a student would be here, in your private lab, alone with you, over the holidays." He said each point meaningfully, as if accusing Snape of doing something inappropriate. "You know I am just looking after the welfare of the students at this school, Severus," Lucius said innocently. "Even the, less fortunate, ones." This last statement was uttered in such a cold, indifferent tone, it was an obvious stab at Sasha’s marred appearance. She blanched at his rude comment.
 
Snape turned to Sasha. "I think it is best that you let Lucius and I discuss matters alone." His eyes were imploring her to leave, and not say one word. She understood his silent plea, and just nodded her head in agreement. She picked up her belongings and was headed out the door, watched carefully by both men, when Lucius spoke.
 
"Why Severus, it’s not necessary for her to leave. What could possibly be so taboo that it cannot be discussed between oliendiends," he said quietly. His tone implied the three of them, but this reference was lost to both Sasha and Snape.
 
Snape just looked at her. "Go, Sasha." It was a command not to be disputed. Her heart racing, she left quickly.
 
Snape waited a moment until he was sure she was out of earshot. He walked quickly over to Lucius.
 
"What are you doing here?" he accused between clenched teeth.
 
Lucius ignored the question, and taunted Snape with a cruel grin.
 
"Well, well, well, so Snape has a little crumpet neatly tucked away in his rooms, now. That is a surprise. And here people were questioning why you never participate in the Dark Revels anymore. Just wait until they find out." Lucius walked around Snape, taking his gloves and slapping them down on the lab table.
 
Lucius continued, his back to Snape. "You should keep an eye on your little friend there, Severus. You never know, the other Death Eaters may like a little taste of crumpet themselves…." He trailed off, the unspoken threat left hanging in the air.
 
Snape just looked at Lucius, fury and dislike clearly etched in his face.
 
"What do you want Lucius?" Snape asked. He was in a delicate position here. If he denied anything with Sasha, Lucius would smell it out immediately. And he could be ruthless. It would be best to find out what he wants and get him out of there.
 
Lucius smiled, his back still to Snape. I’ve got you, Snape, he thought. He turned to face him. Lucius dropped the pretenses.
 
"What I need is your talents. What I want is the usual. There is a Dark Revel planned to celebrate the New Year, and we will require your potions. Both those intended for the unfortunates, and the ones for the Death Eaters. I do hope you can deliver on time."
 
Snape regarded Lucius distastefully. He felt relief, since this was a standard request, but he did not want him to know that. "I will have to make them from scratch. It will take about 10 days assuming I have the ingredients on hand."
 
Lucius raised and waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. He walked over and retrieved his gloves from the table. He started to walk back to the door, but paused in front of Snape.
 
"One more thing. I must also insist that you attend this time. And by attend, I do not mean stand around and observe the fun and games, although I am sure you get off on that." Lucius looked Snape up and down quickly, as if assessing something distasteful in front of him. "I mean actively participate. Like you used to. You may have proved your loyalty to Lord Voldemort," Lucius moved his face in close to Snape’s, "but you still have to prove it to me." This last statement was made with a venomous hiss. The two men regarded each other, and it was not clear which one hated the other more.
 
Snape spoke first. "I don’t have to prove myself to anyone, Lucius, especially to you." Lucius turned and walked towards the door. He paused, pivoted and regarded Snape a moment, his cruel smile revealing perfect, white teeth.
 
"Oh really, Severus? I think you do. Especially if you don’t want to find your little bit of crumpet offered up to the other Death Eaters. You can imagine, after consuming your wonderfully concocted potions, how Avery would love to loosen her up with a little foreplay, then slice her up into little pieces; sever a hand here, a foot there. And you know from personal experience how, under the influence of the very potion you would brew, she would be begging for more during the whole process." Lucius grinned away. He had the upper hand, and both men knew it.
 
Snape kept his composure, not revealing his pounding heart or the way the sweat broke out on his palms and chest. Lucius tugged on his gloves, a gloating smile playing around his lips.
 
"I will be in touch soon, Severus, to check on the progress of the potions. And, of course, to deliver your invitation."
 
With that, Lucius turned and confidently walked out the lab door.