Ravenrin & Slytherclaw

RAVENRIN & SLYTHERCLAW- Chapter 20

As Argenta lay in the arms of her lover, the morning’s light bathing them, warming the now chilled room as the fire had gone out sometime during the night, the woman she had seen in the restaurant was now in her parent’s home, cosy in the lounge with her mother.
“So my dear Amelia, what brings you here so early in the day?,” Clara dared to ask.
“Your daughter is who brings me here dear Clara. Do you know who your darling girl was out with last night?”
“She told us that she was out with her friend from school, saying a final goodbye before she heads off to Romania. If she wasn’t with Honeysuckle, then please tell me who it was instead Amelia.”
“Were you aware that your daughter has a boyfriend? Well, the term ‘boyfriend’ is one I use very loosely, as the gentleman I saw her with was an older man my dear,” Amelia said with a triumphant smile on her face.
“An older man, you say. Argenta has never shown any inkling of being in a relationship with any man of any age,” Clara mused. She had noticed that her daughter had been rather preoccupied over the past few weeks and had just realised that this older man must be the cause of her brooding.
“Would you care to know just who this older gentleman is?,” smirked Amelia, eager to tell this woman just who her daughter was seen with.
“Do divulge. Any information of this mysterious man would be greatly appreciated.”
“It would be my pleasure. The gentleman I saw your dear daughter with looked suspiciously like that hook-nosed Potions Master of Hogwarts, Professor Snape,” the stuck-up woman said as she sat back from her leant forward position, waiting for her ‘friend’ to take in the news she had just thrown under her snooty nose.
“Severus Snape? Argenta’s Head of House? Impossible!,” Clara fumed. She watched the face of Amelia widen into a very wicked grin that suggested that she had won one battle against Clara.
Just then, Argenta sauntered into the lounge, still in the clothes she had been wearing the night before.
‘Shit! Mrs-I’m-Out-With-My-Non-Husband is here. And it looks like the cat is out of the bag if Mother’s face is anything to go by,’ thought Argenta as she lowered her body into a chair as far away from her mother as was possible and polite in company.
“How is Honeysuckle dear? Ready to go?” Clara’s voice was quite steely, a warning to her only child that she was awaiting a decent answer.
“All packed and just fine and dandy as ever Mother,” Argenta chirped as she poured herself a very strong cup of coffee that had been provided by a house-elf earlier. Silence covered the three women as they sipped on their chosen hot beverage until the grandfather clock in the hallway chimed the hour.
“Oh Gods, is that the time? I really must be going. It was nice to catch up with you Clara and to meet you again Argenta,” Amelia simpered as she rose from the sofa. Argenta followed her out into the hallway and took her clock from the side and held it out for the older woman.
“I know you have told my mother that you had seen me in the restaurant. I wonder, should I tell her of your own tête-à-tête with that lovely looking young man you were there with?” Amelia’s almost triumphant face fell at these words.
“You wouldn’t,” she hissed, glancing around to ensure no one human or otherwise overheard.
“Oh I definitely would and will, right now,” Argenta confirmed as she marched back into the lounge and stared her mother straight in the face.
“I have some revolutionary news for you Mother. When out last night, I spotted your chum here in the rather large window of a posh Muggle restaurant.”
“What of it? Many of my friends frequent Muggle restaurants and alike,” Clara confirmed. She looked slightly bored.
“Ahhh, but there is more Mother dearest. The gentleman I saw her with was not her husband Alfredo. He was much younger and very good looking too.” Argenta now had a very large smile plastered on her face but was soon brought down to earth, fast.
“You were not with Honeysuckle last night, were you? I have been told that you were seen with an older gentleman, in the very same restaurant you say that you saw Amelia. I wish to know who he is and how long you have been seeing him Argenta.”
“Amelia told, I know that she did already. That is her reasoning on being here. Ok, he is someone I trust deeply and I have known him for sometime.”
“Precise details Argenta. Don’t skirt around the truth. I would like real hard facts.” Clara’s face was now ashen and stone-like.
“Ok, ok. I have known him for the past 7 years, but didn’t really get to know him until this past year. His name is...., must I tell you?”
“Yes.” The curt reply gained a quick and equally curt nod from Argenta. Her hands were sweaty and shaking. She took a large, deep breath.
“He is Severus Snape,” she confirmed to her now fuming mother.
“He is old enough to be your father my girl. How long have you been...... with him?” Clara clearly refused to ask if there was a physical attraction but knowing her only child, guessed that that was the main reason for the relationship. Severus Snape wasn’t the best looking of men and Clara knew that Argenta could do better.
“We have only just began to see each other , but there was some sexual tension between us whilst I was still at Hogwarts. During my final year we did share a few moments together,” Argenta said, wishing that Amelia had not said anything.
“What kind of moments? You have just said that you had not.....done.....have you?” A deep flush crept up Clara’s neck and created rosy apple blossoms on her cheeks. She hated talking about anything to do with intimacies of the sexual kind, even with her own husband, hence why Argenta was an only child.
“We shared kisses and nothing more. But this wasn’t until near the end of her year. The first time was when he comforted me over Grandpa Zac’s death. Severus was extremely kind and caring, holding me in an awkward embrace. I was the one to initiate the kiss, as a thank you at first but then more passionately as I realised how much I liked him as a man and just not my teacher and Head of House.”
“I will have to tell your father young lady. You clearly and deliberately lied to us both. Get out of my sight,” Clara cried, her hands now covering her weeping eyes and turning away from Argenta. Dejectedly, Argenta went to her room and ran a deep, relaxing bath as she shed the previous night’s clothes off of her body.
‘Damn that woman! What to do now? Daddy will be furious when Mother tells him! Oh, I wish Honey was here right now,’ worried Argenta as she soaked in the lavender scented foam topped bath. She only got out of the bath when she heard the distinct raised voices of her parents and knew that she would soon be called upon.
“ARGENTA!! DOWN! NOW!,” bellowed Jules from the base of the stairs. She was dressed only in her nightwear, so grabbed her dressing gown and slipped on to her cold feet, her silver and green slippers that were a last gift from her Grandpa Zac. As she descended the stairs, she pulled on the dressing gown and was tying the belt around her waist as she entered her father’s study.
“Sit down Argenta.” Jules’ voice was very stern and icy, not the usual warm and welcoming tenor it normally was. This sent a shiver down Argenta’s back. Her knowing, that she was in trouble.
“Is what you mother has just told me true? Are you in a sexual relationship with your former teacher? Did this all start when you were still in school?” He barely took a breath as he rattled off his questions.
“It is true Daddy, but we were not having sex whilst I was in school,” Argenta lied. She knew if her parents ever found out the truth, it would kill them.
“And last night? What happened?”
“I admit I lied when I told you that I was meeting Honeysuckle. Instead, I was meeting Severus for our first official date at a Muggle restaurant. What happened after is between myself and Severus. We are both adults.” Neither parent disagreed with her last statement, but were upset over the fact she had lied to then and that was something she had never done before. Jules broke the silence.
“Are you going to carry on seeing him?”
“Yes, I am,” Argenta replied proudly, head held high.
“Then I am sorry to say that you can not live under this roof anymore. I regret having to do this Argenta, but that is how it is.” Argenta stood there like a statue, not really taking it all in.
“We shall buy you a flat in London, close to Diagon Alley so that you are not far from work,” Jules offered.
“When do you want me to leave?”
“I will look for a flat tomorrow and if I find one I deem suitable, that day. I suggest that you go back upstairs and start packing.” Clara was sat in front of the fire, in a large winged chair, dabbing her eyes with a very crumpled handkerchief in one hand and a tumbler of what looked like Firewhiskey in the other. Argenta turned and practically ran from the room. As soon as she was in her room once more, she wrote to Severus, letting him know that the cat was most defiantly out of the bag.
Severus,
That woman I saw in the restaurant, the one who is a gossip pal of my mother’s has told her about us. My parents are furious and Daddy has told me that as soon as he finds me a flat, I must move out! I did lie slightly to Mother about how long and what we have done together, but I only did that for you, to save you from losing your position at Hogwarts. I will write once I am in my flat and maybe you could help me settle in, maybe christen most of the rooms,(hint, hint!). I only lied because I care for you Severus, perhaps even….. I think I might be…..oh it can wait till I see you next.
Argenta xx

She sent the note and watched the owl take it into the night and into the darkness. Argenta then got up out of her chair and went to her wardrobe to pick out what she wanted to wear the next day. Once she had chosen, she magically packed everything else away neatly into her trunks that eventually were stacked by the door waiting to leave when told. She then climbed into her spacious king size bed, alone and scared of what would happen next. Argenta had always been brave and brazen, but now she just had no fight left in her. All because her parents had abandoned her to a future that was wholly unknown.