An Unexpected Visitor

It was early afternoon before a house elf returned to his rooms with the news that its mistress had awakened and awaited him in the solarium. Severus straightened his clothing out and made his way through the house to a waiting Narcissa. Her hair was damp still, and she wore a nightgown and robe, and sat stiffly in her chair. After he had sat down, Narcissa looked at him apologetically, and reached for his hand. He squeezed her hand and smiled at her, trying to put her at ease.

\"I\'m sorry about breakfast Severus. I trust the house elves were accommodating?\" She relaxed visibly when he nodded and graced her with another rare smile. \"Good. I overslept a bit, I\'m afraid.\" She shrugged, trying to appear casual, but her eyes clouded over a bit as memories of the almost nightly dream came back to her.

Severus squeezed her hand a little tighter and shook his head. \"Its fine Narcissa. I used the time well. Did you eat yet?\"

She nodded but avoided his eyes. She laced her fingers in his and traced her thumb idly on his hand, and he swallowed a lump, ignoring the feelings that had been so long buried and were now coming to the surface. \"Are you hungry still, or would you care to join me for a walk?\"

She raised an elegant eyebrow at him and looked down at herself, and then back up at him. \"Like this?\"
He chuckled and stood up, pulling her with him, enjoying the soft sound of her laughter that tinkled around him like bells. \"Come now, you would deny me the pleasure of your company to change? You look beautiful Narcissa, and this is your house. You shouldn\'t worry so much about propriety.\"

She blanched and nodded her head, slipping her arm easily through his, and lacing her long graceful fingers back with his, which were large and strong, and yet gentle at the same time. She focused on his hands as they walked, trusting in him to lead them. His nails were blunt but clean, and there were small scars that crisscrossed the backs of them. They were kind hands, ones she had never seen coming at her in anger, and for that they were beautiful to her, imperfections and all. He said something and she looked up at him and smiled weakly. \"I\'m afraid I was wool-gathering, Severus. What did you say?\"

He had noticed her studying his hands and was ashamed at how weatherworn and scarred they were, when compared to the slim gracefulness of hers. He returned her smile just as weakly and repeated his words. \"Would you like to go for a swim with me?\"

She blinked at him and then slowly nodded her head, pleasantly surprised at the unexpected question. \"Do you have swimming trunks?\" When he nodded she smiled and continued speaking. \"I am very glad you came to see me, Severus.\" I didn\'t realize how much I had missed being your friend until I didn\'t have you anymore.

\"My pleasure, of course.\" I wish I had never left you, not with him, and not alone afterwards. And I\'ll make it up to you, I promise.

They walked along in companionable silence until they reached their rooms, and with a small kiss on his cheek, she slipped her arm out from his and made her way into her rooms to get changed. He watched her until the door had clicked shut behind him, and then entered his own rooms. He found his swimming trunks and slipped them on, and then stood in front of the mirror evaluating himself.

Too pale, muscles that were not as well defined as they were a few years ago, hair lank and legs too long, a nose that seemed to large for his face and was hooked, making him usually avoid mirrors, and he found it easy to believe that no one could ever find him attractive. Why did he think he even stood a chance with Narcissa? He slipped a robe on and went back out to the hall to wait for Narcissa, long fingers laced together as he leaned against the wall.

Narcissa slipped her swimsuit quickly, putting her robe back on over it, and stood in front of the door for a few minutes before opening it. She saw Severus leaning against the wall, looking bored, and walked over to him, taking his hand this time, and playfully tugging him off the wall. Her face had a flush of color in it, and she looked better then she had in months.

Severus chuckled and curled his fingers with hers, and began walking with her downstairs, towards the back of the house, where the indoor pool was located. When they arrived, he opened the glass doors, removed his hand from hers, and with a smile bowed and motioned her inside. She laughed softly, and again he was reminded of the delicate peal of bells sounding in the wind. She walked to a stone bench set alongside the pool, which was fashioned roughly after a Roman Bath, and slipped off her robe and into the water with a sigh. \"Come now Severus, don\'t be shy. It feels marvelous.\" And indeed it did, as the water was heated to just the right temperature, and the water caressed her body softly as she sank into it up to her neck, sitting on a low stone wall along the entire edge of the pool, made for just that very thing.