Slytherin & Gold

Slytherin & Gold

Chapter 2

Viviane


Viviane woke slowly. She knew it was still early by the direction of the light through the window. With a twinge of guilt, she realized it was Wednesday and she had not written down her ideas for the Yule Ball. She would have to go meet with Severus in his office. A shiver ran down her spine as she knew his office must lie just beyond his classroom, as hers did. She didn’t want to go in there, but there was nothing for it. She had agreed to be on the committee, besides Professor Flitwick would be there.

Instead in going to breakfast, she ate in her room so, she could jot down her ideas. Besides, she didn’t want to see Severus just yet. After emptying all her ideas out of her head onto the parchment, she showered and dressed. She decided to wear her emerald green robes, with the gold trim. They framed her décolleté nicely. Looking in the mirror, Viviane wondered if Severus would think she looked pretty in the outfit. A girlish fancy, she knew, he had never shown any real interest in her.

After her morning class, Viviane stayed her office instead of going to the Great Hall for lunch. She had some research to do for next weeks classes. There was a knock at her open door. She looked up from her desk and didn’t see anyone “Do “Down here dear” came a voice. Viviane stood and saw tiny Professor Flitwick, the Charms Master.

“Hello Professor Flitwick” she said as she came around the desk to greet him properly.

“I just have a moment, I wanted to catch you at lunch, but you weren’t there. Anyway, I can’t make it to the meeting about the Yule Ball this afternoon. I have a previous appointment. Please tell Severus I’m sorry and I will be at next weeks meeting.” Viviane just got to say goodbye as he hurried off.

She felt her heart skip. She wasn’t sure if it was because she wanted to be alone with Severus or because she didn’t.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Viviane walked slowly towards Severus’ office trying to sort out her feelings. She stood in the doorway of the classroom and was overcome by images from her brutal dream of the previous night. She saw Severus, busy clearing his desk. How could she of ever imagined such horrible things about him ? Her heart warmed as she looked at him. Busy with his work, he had let his hair fall into his face, that always made him seem so young and vulnerable. He looked up at her suddenly.

“I’ll just be a moment here, if you would like to go through to my office ?” he indicated the door behind him. “I’m sure Professor Flitwick will be along soon.”

“No….he won’t,” she said softly, still not coming any farther into the room. Severus looked up at her sharply. “He said he had another appointment today and for us to discuss the plans.”

“ Very well”, he said and opened the door to his office for her to walk through. Viviane walked slowly past him as he held the door to his office open. Taking in the scent of him and the heat of his body as she passed.

Severus took away one of the upholstered chairs, he had put around a small round table. Viviane sat down slowly, as she was looking around his office. So like him, she thought, such a variety but all carefully placed. The personification of a well ordered mind.

“So what sappy kind of decorations shall we use this year ?” Severus said sharply.

Viviane looked at him evenly for a moment, then with determination took a parchment out of the pile of books she had been carrying. “I took the liberty this morning of working up a few ideas”, she said laying the parchment on the table.

“So that’s why you were not at breakfast.” He was roughly flipping through a book he had pulled off his desk.


She looked up at him, she didn’t realize he would care if she were there or not. “Yes ……. I wanted to get this down on parchment to ….give us a point of discussion. I would like to get your opinion.”

“Anything you want to do is fine, just tell me what you need me to do.” Oh no, she thought, you are not getting off that easy.

“Severus !” she said sharper than she had meant to. “I said I would like your opinion …….please.” She pushed the parchment over towards the empty chair. Severus lay down his book and sat down. He started reading the parchment. She could not tell if he liked what he read or not. He seemed to be scowling less, if that was any indication.

“I ……um …..yes, very nice. I am a bit worried about live animals though. Perhaps Flitwick could enchant some ice sculptures of forest creatures instead.”

Viviane’s eyes lit up and she smiled at him. He likes it, she thought. “What a wonderful suggestion, Severus. That will be lovely”. With his eye for order and hers for beauty, they would make a great pair.

“May I ….um…..offer you a cup of tea ?” Oh, Viviane thought, maybe he does like my company.

“Yes ….thank you …….that would be nice.” There was a tense silence, while he made the tea using his wand to bring water to an instant boil.

“Do you think the flowers on the Christmas trees will be too much ?” she asked when Severus set the tea on the table.

He set a cup in front of her and looked into her eyes. The moment was suspended, a spark seeming to fly threw the air between them. Viviane held her breath and searched his eyes for any hint of feeling. Severus finally cleared his throat, “No, no …..if it’s done with restraint it will be charming”.

“So …. how have you been Severus ? Our school days seem like a life ago ago now, don’t they ?” Viviane wanted to engage him in conversation, other than about work. She gazed at him, her head tilting slightly to one side.

“Looking at you, it seems like yesterday” he said. She could feel her cheeks beginning to burn. He remembered her from their school days ? I had better get out of here, she thought, before I throw myself at him. Severus was not the kind of man how would like a woman being too forward with him.

“I’m sorry, I don’t want to keep you from your work. I know how busy you are” she said gathering her things and standing. “I should go.”

He stood following close behind her. Next weeks meeting, she thought, maybe we could have it in my office. She stopped suddenly, Severus bumped into her as she spun around in the doorway to the classroom. Their fronts pressed together. “Severus……. I…” She was becoming dizzy from their closeness. Their eyes locked. Suddenly, he leaned down and kissed her. Viviane was so shocked by the feel of his warm lips, the taste of him. Her head was spinning. Then abruptly he pulled back.

“I’m very sorry, Professor Trisstt, if I offended you” he said as he quickly turned on his heels, went through the door that lead to his private chambers and slammed the door behind him.

“Severus wait…..please” How could she explain the power he had over her. He had stopped before she could gather her wits enough to respond.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Viviane resolved to speak to Severus, after the evening meal. The meal had started by the time he came in. He was in a very foul mood, she could feel it. She tried to catch his eye, but he steadfastly refused to look at her. When she saw he was almost finished with his dinner, she took a chance. She laid her hand lightly on his knee and said softly. “Severus, may I speak with you ?” She felt his tenseness in the muscles of his legs.

“In the entry hall…… now” he growled in a low voice so no one, but she would hear. She nodded her agreement and rose to leave. She walked through the door behind Severus and then out into the entry hall. After a moment, he joined her.

“Professor Trisstt, I must again apologize for my behavior this afternoon.” He said crossing his arms tightly, in front of himself.

“No, Severus. It is I who should apologize. You took me by surprise.” His eyes narrowed, but she saw hope behind them. “I didn’t kiss you back because I was a bit shocked. Not because I didn’t like it. I liked being kissed by you.” She laid her hand on his crossed arms, that relaxed a bit. “I’d really like a chance to make it up to you.”

His eyes searched her face, as if he didn’t believe what he was hearing. “I would like that……” But he never got to chance finish that thought. Out of nowhere a dark form grabbed Viviane in a big hug and spun her around, her hair fanning out around them and laughing loudly.

“Viviane ! It’s so good to see you !” She finally looked down to see it was Sirus who had picked her up and swung her around, much to the amusement of some students in the hall. As Sirus put her down, she just had time to see Severus turn and stalk away, his black robes billowing out behind him in his haste.
“Severus wait…..” but she knew it was no good. “Come on, Sirus.” Viviane grabbed his hand and lead him to her quarters. At least they would cease being a spectacle for the students to watch.

Arriving in her quarters, she turned to look at Sirus. He looked well and happy, especially for someone who had spent so long in Azkaban prison for something they did not do.

“I’m happy to see you Viv, but I didn’t expect to be brought to your chambers this quickly.” Sirus said giving her a wink.

“Don’t get me wrong Sirus, I’m glad to see you……but…. oh damn !….Did it have to be just then ?” Viviane flopped into one of the arm chairs by her hearth.

“What does it matter when ? You were only talky to old Snape-y anyway.” She grimaced as he used his old nickname for Severus. “Oh…..OH…..Viv….I’m sorry. Your not still in love with him are you ? Bit of a cold fish, if you ask me.”

Viviane’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at Sirus and nodded. Sirus went over and sat at her feet, looking up into her face. She took a deep breath and let it out raggedly. “He kissed me today.”

“Well that’s great….isn’t it ?” he asked.

“I didn’t…….it wasn’t…. it was such a surprise. I didn’t have time to …… react before he thought he’d made a mistake and stopped.” She absent mindedly stroked Sirus hair as if he were in his dog form.

“Maybe I should talk to him.” Sirus offered. “We’re just good friends you and I , I could tell him that.”

Viviane laughed “Right, Severus is going to believe you don’t have any interest in me after that display ?”

Sirus looked up at her as she pet his hair. He stopped her hand and held it to his cheek. “I never said I wasn’t interested, Viv.” She sighed deeply , this was an old contention between them. “I know, I know …..it’s alwaeen een him. Lucky braggart !! Let me try, he can’t hate me anymore than he already does.”

Viviane got down onto the rug with Sirus and stared into the fire. “I don’t think so, Padfoot. I’ll just have to try and talk to him again” She looked pointedly at Sirus. “When your safely out of the castle.” After a stretch of comfortable silence she asked “So why are you here ? Did you come to see Harry ?”

“Yeah…and I have some business with Dumbledore.” He was staring off into the flames as well. “Do you mind if I stay here ?” He changed before her eyes into Padfoot, the large black shaggy dog.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Padfoot.” She said petting him fondly. “I’ll take you up to Gryffindor Tower and you can stay with Harry. I don’t want Severus hearing rumors you spent the night in my chambers. In any form.” The big dog barked disappointedly.

Viviane got up and went to the door, opening it to let the dog out. She took him to the tower and left him with his delighted godson and friends.

When would she be able to talk to Severus again ? She at least knew he cared for her, somewhat. But would he ever put aside his pride and admit it ?

**************************************************


Severus

Severus was determined to go to dinner. He would not let Viviane keep him in his rooms. He would go to dinner, as he did every night. By the time he got there, dinner had started, so few noticed him enter. Viviane did however. She watched him walk the full length of the hall to take his seat. He felt so self conscious when she watched him, it just made him more irritated than he already was. He resolved to eat next to her, but he would not look at her. Though, in his minds eye, he could still see her as she looked when he entered. When he was almost done, he nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a hand on his knee.

Viviane leaned over to him and said softly “Severus, may I speak with you ?” Her touch on his leg sending sparks through his body, eliciting a sudden response from between his legs.

Trying to gain some composure he growled “In the entry hall…… now” in a low voice so no one, but she would hear. She nodded her agreement and rose to leave. She walked through the door behind him. He waited a few moments for …things…to settle down and so it would not look as if they were leaving together. Soon enough he joined her in the hall.

Stealing himself for the tongue lashing that was inevitably going to come, he said, “Professor Trisstt, I must again apologize for my behavior this afternoon.” He crossed his arms tightly in front of himself.

“No, Severus. It is I who should apologize. You took me by surprise.” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It made him a bit suspicious. His eyes narrowed. “I didn’t kiss you back because, I was a bit shocked. Not because I didn’t like it. I liked being kissed by you.” She laid her hand on his crossed arms. He could feel her soft touch, it made him want to believe her. “I’d really like a chance to make it up to you.”

His eyes searched her face. Did he just hear an overture from her ? “I would like that……” But he never got to chance finish that thought. Out of nowhere a dark form grabbed Viviane in a big hug and spun her around, her hair fanning out around them and laughing loudly.

“Viviane ! It’s so good to see you !” Sirus said.

Sirus Black !! Always that damn Black getting in the way. Acting awfully familiar with Viviane. What a fool he had been, thought Severus, to believe even for a moment she wanted him. He strode away immediately leaving this disgusting display behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Over the next few weeks, Severus became more of a tyrant then usual. His moods ranged from cranky to frustrated to enraged. It was bad enough, that Dumbledore had a talk with him about it, after walking by the dungeons to hear Severus berating Longbottom for melting yet another cauldron.

Thankfully, Flitwick had come to the planning sessions for the Yule Ball, so he did not have to be alone again with Viviane. He sat beside her at meals, but rarely talked to her. He had been trying very consciously to avoid her.

She didn’t seem as cheerful as she had before. He supposed it was because her boyfriend Black had left the castle. A part of him was still haunted by what she had said, “Not because I didn’t like it. I liked being kissed by you. I’d really like a chance to make it up to you.” If only that had been true. Maybe, he thought bitterly, she was only going to use me as a substitute, since Black wasn’t around.

At least he was sleeping now. He would drink some of the dreamless sleep potion before bed each night. It saved him from his haunted dreams of Viviane.


*************************************************


Viviane

Severus would not talk to Viviane. When she tried, he immediately gave excuses, class, work, head of house duties. Anything, so he would not have to talk to her. But she could feel his pain. Especially during their meetings with Flitwick. Since there were only the three of them in the room, they had to talk to each other, had to look at each other. She wanted so much toe hie his pain away.

Viviane was having the same dream every night now. She had begun to look forward to it, like a comfortable old pillow.


Viviane awakes in her bed. She walks out into the halls of Hogwarts enjoying the quiet. She always takes the same path down to the dungeons. Walks through the same door. There is a figure lying spread eagle on the bed, his black tendrils of hair fanned across the pillow and some on his face. His bare chest moving in rhythm to his slow breathing. She crawls into bed next to him as he sleeps and snuggles into his side, throwing a possessive leg over him. He stirs slightly and instinctively wraps his arm around her and pulls her close. She falls asleep again, here, in her dream. It doesn’t matter if he knows she’s there. She enjoys the feel of him, the scent of him. This is where she belongs.