#7 ~ The Ghost and Lady Snape

Disclaimer: All characters belong to JKR (except Marcus Delaluci). All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 29 ~ Peeves Gets Them Again


“You should be returning any minute now,” Peeves said. He wore a little gloating expression on his wide face. Hermione frowned at him.

“Peeves, what are you hiding?” she asked the poltergeist, who threw up his hands innocently.

“I’m hiding nothing,” the spirit said, with a sneaky grin.

Hermione didn’t like this. Peeves only smiled like that when he knew something no one else did. “You ARE hiding something!” she accused, putting her hands on her hips.

The poltergeist just shook his head. Hermione was about to say something else to the little man, when suddenly, she fell…fast.

She was falling at a remarkable speed, feeling as if she left her stomach left behind on the astral plane. Colors soared past her as she tumbled through the air. Her astral clothing disappeared and she plummeted downward naked. She fell on to the divan, into her body with a sudden jerk. She opened her eyes and sat up, gasping as her insides caught up to her. She looked at her husband, who was resting peacefully on the divan next to her. Suddenly he sat up, holding his stomach and looking around rather wildly until his eyes fell on her. He grinned weakly.

“WoooHahh!” said Marcus, sitting up on his divan, smiling, “what a fucking rush!”

Hermione tried not to scowl at him, but didn’t do too well as he grinned at her wickedly. He knew she had probably been scared to death, and was loving it.

“Ah children, you all made it back!” said Albus, clapping his hands as he rose from the armchair. He looked tired, as if he had been worrying. And he had been. He looked at the three of them.

“Alistar?” he asked, looking somber.

“Gone. Kaput. In other words he is no more,” Marcus answered him. The Headmaster sighed with relief.

“Thank the gods,” he said, bowing his head for a moment. Then he looked up at the three. “How are you feeling?” he asked, looking especially at Marcus and Hermione.

“Thirsty,” Hermione replied, pouring herself a glass of water from the pitcher on the table next to her, and drinking it straight down. Next to her, Severus did the same. Peeves materialized, grinning broadly.

“Like your trip back?” the poltergeist asked Hermione, still grinning.

“You could have told us how the return would be, Peeves,” she scolded the completely unrepentant spirit.

“What? And ruin the surprise?” the poltergeist said, raising his eyebrows.

Pissed, Hermione searched for the opening to her robes pocket so she could get out her wand and hex the poltergeist.

“Well, gotta be going. It was a real blast,” the poltergeist said quickly, fading out.

“Damn,” Hermione said as she finally managed to get her wand out.

“Don’t worry. He’ll be back,” Marcus said, “Once he realizes I haven’t lifted the spell I put on him.”

Sure enough, Peeves rematerialized, scowling. He looked at Marcus.

“You let me run off without lifting the spell,” the poltergeist exclaimed, swooping in front of Marcus with a frown, his arms folded.

Marcus shrugged. “No one told you to piss off Lady Snape,” he said, drawing out his wand and pointing it at the poltergeist. He muttered a few words under his breath, and a black stream of energy enveloped Peeves. The poltergeist shuddered and writhed as Marcus held the stream on him for over a minute. Marcus ended the spell, and the poltergeist dropped to the floor.

Hermione frowned at Marcus.

“That was dark magic,” she said disapprovingly.

“And?” Marcus said, lifting his eyebrows at her.

Hermione started to say something really nasty about his use of dark magic on Peeves, but then thought better of it. If she were going to act better toward Marcus, she might as well start now.

“I was just saying…” she said lamely. Severus quirked an eyebrow at her, surprised she held her tongue.

Marcus put away his wand and hopped to the floor.

“All right. I’m out of here, going back to my own bed tonight. I’ve missed it,” he said, “Good night Headmaster. Good night, Lord and Lady Snape,” he said with a curt little bow. He spun on his heel and left the room of requirement without another word.

Hermione looked at Albus, then at Severus.

“That’s it? That’s all he had to say about this? That he was going to bed as if nothing happened?”

Both wizards shrugged. “That’s how Professor Delaluci is, Hermione,” Albus said, “If he dwells on what happened tonight, he’ll do it alone.’

Severus hopped down from his divan, and straightened his robes.

“I think Mr. Delaluci has the right idea,” he said, looking at Hermione, “bed sounds good to me as well.” He held out his hand. “Come, wife…let us retire.”

Hermione slid off the divan and took his hand. Severus tucked her arm into his, and bowed to Albus.

“Good night, Headmaster, and thank you for watching over us,” the Potions Master said.

“You’re welcome my boy,” Albus replied, “maybe you would be kind enough to share your adventure with me via a pensieve?” The Headmaster looked hopeful.

“Certainly, sir,” Severus replied, giving him a small smile. Hermione took her arm out of her husband’s, walked over to the Headmaster, stood on tiptoe and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you, Headmaster,” she said softly. Albus blushed, bringing his hand to where she had kissed him. He looked down at her kindly.

“It was my pleasure, Lady Snape,” he replied.

Hermione walked back over to Severus and took his arm. They both walked toward the door. She looked back at Albus.

“Goodnight, sir,” she said.

“Goodnight, my dear,” Albus replied.

Severus and Hermione exited the room of requirement, heading for the stairwells and their room.

Peeves rose weakly from the floor, holding his stomach, still shuddering.

“That wizard is evil, I tell you. Pure evil,” the poltergeist said, looking at Dumbledore, who smiled at him.

“No, Peeves.” The Headmaster replied, “ Not evil. Just complicated.”

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Endora looked at Cassandra intently as the Obeah extinguished the fire, then rose and stretched.

“Is it over?” the witch asked.

“Yes, it is. The dragon man is fine. You helped him greatly, Endora,” Cassandra said, smiling down at her.

“I’m glad,” she said. Then she fell silent. Cassandra looked at her with a slight frown.

“What is wrong, my friend?” she asked, reaching down and offering Endora her hand. The witch took it and the Obeah drew her up. Endora stretched as well, they had been sitting for over six hours and her joints were stiff. Plus she was still feeling the effects of her night with Marcus. She looked at Cassandra.

“Well, I just don’t know what I am supposed to do now,” she said, “I can’t go back to living my life the way it was. The very idea makes me sick to my stomach.”

Cassandra laughed. “What you do girl, is live! Marcus has shown you that you have much passion to offer a man. Now you go out and make up for all the lonely times.”

Endora considered. “Yes,” she said, “I think I will live a little. I feel different now.”

“You feel alive,” Cassandra said. Then the Obeah searched her face, “and how do you feel about Marcus?” she asked.

“Well, Marcus is wonderful, but he has a lot of issues. I’m just starting out and I think I need to find a more mellow wizard. He’s a wonderful lover, but I’m sure there are others out here just as good. I can’t base a relationship totally on sex, can I?”

Cassandra nodded, “A wise woman wouldn’t. As for Marcus, he is complicated. He has little control, and is extremely rude,” she said, smiling at the memory of his passionate kiss. “Someone needs to take time with him, show him kindness and care. Open up his heart.”

“You could do that, Cassandra. You haven’t had anyone serious in a long, long time. And I know you prefer a man who is a challenge,” Endora said encouragingly.

Cassandra stared out over the ocean, listening to the song of the waves.

“Yes, it has been a long time,” she agreed, “and the dragon man is very sexy, yes?”

“Oh yes,” Endora breathed, remembering.

“Almost too sexy,” Cassandra said, “Not only will I have to hold him off, but myself as well, I think. Taking time is important, and he needs to learn patience.’

Endora grinned. “Well, good luck with that,” she said, “you’ll certainly have your work cut out for you. He’s irresistible.”

“I think I can handle him. We will see. I will invite him here shortly. Will you be my contact?” the Obeah asked Endora.

“Of course,” Endora replied, embracing the woman warmly.

Cassandra took the witch\'s arm.

“That decided, let’s go up to my home and nyam. I have some salt fish and akee, and a bit of jackfruit.”

Endora licked her lips hungrily. She loved Cassandra’s cooking.

“Any calaloo?” she asked hopefully. Cassandra shook her head. “Not this time, my friend. I will make it for you the next time you visit me.”

“Fair enough,” Endora replied, keeping in step with the Obeah.

They walked up the trail, arm in arm, both thinking quite kindly of a violet-eyed dragon man in need of love.

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A/N: There are a couple more chapters left. Please review.