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Heiress of Prince
folder
HP Canon Characters paired with Original Characters › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
4
Views:
2,489
Reviews:
11
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
HP Canon Characters paired with Original Characters › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
4
Views:
2,489
Reviews:
11
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
All characters, universe, and rights property of JKR/Scholastic/WB, I in no way own or profit from anything to do with Harry Potter or subsequent story elements.
A Lab of His Own
A/N: LadySin, Femme Bono, Hannah, Missanimegirl, you asked for it, so I'm back at the keyboard for real this time! More chapters are extremely nigh! Everybody do a dance!
*****
Snape splashed the cool water across his face one last time, rinsing away the last traces of shaving foam. He met his gaze in the mirror as water formed tiny drops on his eyelashes, “ugly as ever, old man,” he told himself, scowling at the way his hair was pulled back from his face, revealing the mangled flesh of his neck. It didn’t bother him too much, he’d never allowed himself the fantasy of one day becoming a handsome man, and how much worse could he really get? Already with the hair and the eyes and the nose…where was the sense in vanity? Still, it was just his luck to be so viciously scarred on the outside as well as the in. He was pleased to note that the wound was looking better, no longer red and gnarled and angry, it was now white and smooth. Any observer who didn’t know better would guess he’d been carrying that scar for years, thanks to Julianna’s wondrous ointment.
Severus spent the greater part of his days in the lab closest to his rooms. He’d been briefly surprised when Julianna explained, during their resumed tour, that there were multiple laboratories scattered throughout the manse but found it exceedingly logical, “the Princes used to be a very large family, with a proclivity for potions, but were also largely tempermental, territorial, and ferocious when interrupted. Fortunately, they could afford to be so and almost every bedchamber is connected with a perfectly well-appointed lab for personal use,” she explained as she led him down a flight of stairs to a subterranean level. Severus was pleased that his workshop was underground, so similar to those he’d used for years at Hogwarts, and subsequently fashioned at Spinner’s End, “Make whatever changes you like,” she advised, “I want you to make yourself completely comfortable here, you’re no guest, afterall. If there’s any additions you would like, feel free to order anything from anywhere and put it on the Prince account. There are more galleons in the Prince coffers than you and I could spend in three lifetimes so have at it,” she laughed. Snape had been very uncomfortable with the sentiment at first, but was growing accustomed to the idea of using Prince resources.
Since the tour, he’d barely seen hide nor hair of her for days…not that it bothered him. Snape was under the impression that some project had inspired her and she’d thrown herself fully into its completion. He was the same way when an intriguing potion came to light, becoming obsessed with the project and unwilling, or unable, to concentrate on anything else. She still appeared for meals, but was usually too distracted to make more than the most banal of pleasantries before disappearing again immediately thereafter. Then, three days ago, she arrived at breakfast wielding a small jar in hand and a brilliant smile on her face. Snape was so disarmed by that smile that he didn’t even think to question her when she came upon him and began dabbing the ointment on his neck with gentle fingers. At first touch, the balm was icy cold, with a pleasant tingle, followed by the curious sensation of poisonous heat rising to the surface of his skin. He could almost feel the contaminants leeching out of his pores and being replaced by cool relief. Julianna watched the reaction with wide eyes, asking him questions about what it felt like. She produced a notepad and a quill and began taking furious notes. Severus watched her with raised brows, bursting with questions but unwilling to disturb her thoughts. As she snapped her notepad shut, he opened his mouth to speak. Before he could utter a word, she produced a simple leather string, and stepped behind him, gathering his long hair in her hands, brushing it back and gathering it into a thick tail at the nape of his neck, “Ointment goes on twice a day and please try to keep your hair off your neck, I think it’s best if we avoid any irritation,” with that she began jotting notes down again and swished toward the door.
Snape grasped for something to say, though unused to desiring anyone’s company he came up short, “see you at tea?” he called weakly.
“Mmm,” she replied, nodding as she closed the door with her foot.
*****
Since coming to Prince Hall, Severus had unlimited time to pursue whatever he wished. Hogwarts had certainly offered unlimited resources, but not the benefit of such unfettered time, invaluable in potions pursuits. He had begun several experiments which had been little more than theoretical scribblings in his ledgers before, working long into the night on Elixir of this and Draught of that.The quiet had suited him, and for several days he was content to see Julianna only at meals, but after the day's adventure, he began to…miss her.
The revelation struck him as he was adding a tricky little toxin, Shade Sap, into its neutralizer, crushed Citrine. Miss her? I can’t miss her! I don’t miss! Alarmed, Snape neglected to take care with the vials he was handling, tipping a single drop of sap onto his hand.
“Bullocks,” he yelped, “Piss and shit! Oh Merlin’s flaming sack!” his hand began to sizzle and putrefy, black bubbles erupting from his skin. Quickly, he tossed the crushed Citrine from the other vial directly onto the hand. The sizzling stopped but the bubbles remained, wriggling disgustingly, just as Julianna walked in.
“Oh,” she said, wrinkling her nose, “oh, that smells horrid, is that your hand?”
“Bullocks,” he cursed again, mortified.
She made her way to a cupboard and returned with a brilliantly pink crème, “having a good day?” she handed him the salve and perched on a nearby stool.
Snape tilted his head in thanks for the crème, applying it in swift, perfunctory circles, “Well let’s see, I made an apprentice mistake and nearly burned my hand off, but no one has tried to torture or kill me, no students have regurgitated on me, no Potters or Weasleys have accused me of underhanded deeds and I haven’t murdered my only friend and ally so, all in all, one of my better days,” he finished with a growl. Even as he said it, he regretted it, knowing he was covering his embarrassment with spite. Not really the best way to make ground with the pretty girl, mate.
Julianna grinned at him, “There’s that Prince charm! How does your neck feel today? Any changes?”
Cheeks tinged with shame, Snape replied more civilly,“It feels normal again, thank you, I’ve been meaning to pick your brain about how you concocted it, and the anti-toxin.”
“Of course! I’ll show you the process as soon as I get my notes consolidated, if you looked at them now you’d only get a headache. Now, what did I come down here for? Oh yes, we’ve been invited to dine at the Pillings' tonight, it’s short notice but if you’re feeling up to it we really ought to go. Would you mind terribly?”
Snape grimaced, “A dinner party? I confess I don’t really do very well at dinner parties. I thought you Princes didn’t really do neighbors either.”
“Severus, dear, that’s not much of a confession. I know, I’d rather stay at home too, but it doesn’t do to alienate all the neighbors, and Constance and Irving really are not so bad. Besides, cousin, we are British, we endure!” she raised a fist in mock huzzah.
“I don’t have anything to wear,” he appealed. What’s the point in retiring if I still have to attend parties?
“You do,” she replied.
Severus crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her. Julianna met his gaze, her head slightly cocked. Normally his stony silence intimidated anyone who dared oppose him.
“You’ve already decided for me, haven’t you?” he asked.
“I have,” she admitted.
“So why did you even ask me, if I don’t have a choice?” Severus glared.
“Isn’t it so much better if you do?” she smiled her sly grin.
“Fine. I would be delighted to accompany you to dinner tonight at the Picklingss,” he said through gritted teeth. Nice, Snape, real grown up.
Julianna beamed at him, a genuine smile of glee. She crossed to him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, “Thank you,” she said, taking his hand in hers, “I was dreading going alone. I didn’t think you’d really give in. Pick you up at 7?” she winked, and sashayed out of the room.
Severus stood in the middle of his lab with his cheek burning where her lips had touched, thunderstruck by what had just occurred. He looked down at his half black-hand, “Well old boy, best we get you ready for a party.”
******
A/N: I am running out of ways to describe the sassy way Julianna makes an exit, aren't I? So this chapter was a bit on the short side but at least it's something and there's loads in store for these two. Thanks so much to those who have already reviewed, and as always a huge thank you to my darling gorgeous Naeve, thank you x a bajillion for being my soundboard, editor, best buddy, baby sister.
Love and Snuggles x 100000
Ellie
*****
Snape splashed the cool water across his face one last time, rinsing away the last traces of shaving foam. He met his gaze in the mirror as water formed tiny drops on his eyelashes, “ugly as ever, old man,” he told himself, scowling at the way his hair was pulled back from his face, revealing the mangled flesh of his neck. It didn’t bother him too much, he’d never allowed himself the fantasy of one day becoming a handsome man, and how much worse could he really get? Already with the hair and the eyes and the nose…where was the sense in vanity? Still, it was just his luck to be so viciously scarred on the outside as well as the in. He was pleased to note that the wound was looking better, no longer red and gnarled and angry, it was now white and smooth. Any observer who didn’t know better would guess he’d been carrying that scar for years, thanks to Julianna’s wondrous ointment.
Severus spent the greater part of his days in the lab closest to his rooms. He’d been briefly surprised when Julianna explained, during their resumed tour, that there were multiple laboratories scattered throughout the manse but found it exceedingly logical, “the Princes used to be a very large family, with a proclivity for potions, but were also largely tempermental, territorial, and ferocious when interrupted. Fortunately, they could afford to be so and almost every bedchamber is connected with a perfectly well-appointed lab for personal use,” she explained as she led him down a flight of stairs to a subterranean level. Severus was pleased that his workshop was underground, so similar to those he’d used for years at Hogwarts, and subsequently fashioned at Spinner’s End, “Make whatever changes you like,” she advised, “I want you to make yourself completely comfortable here, you’re no guest, afterall. If there’s any additions you would like, feel free to order anything from anywhere and put it on the Prince account. There are more galleons in the Prince coffers than you and I could spend in three lifetimes so have at it,” she laughed. Snape had been very uncomfortable with the sentiment at first, but was growing accustomed to the idea of using Prince resources.
Since the tour, he’d barely seen hide nor hair of her for days…not that it bothered him. Snape was under the impression that some project had inspired her and she’d thrown herself fully into its completion. He was the same way when an intriguing potion came to light, becoming obsessed with the project and unwilling, or unable, to concentrate on anything else. She still appeared for meals, but was usually too distracted to make more than the most banal of pleasantries before disappearing again immediately thereafter. Then, three days ago, she arrived at breakfast wielding a small jar in hand and a brilliant smile on her face. Snape was so disarmed by that smile that he didn’t even think to question her when she came upon him and began dabbing the ointment on his neck with gentle fingers. At first touch, the balm was icy cold, with a pleasant tingle, followed by the curious sensation of poisonous heat rising to the surface of his skin. He could almost feel the contaminants leeching out of his pores and being replaced by cool relief. Julianna watched the reaction with wide eyes, asking him questions about what it felt like. She produced a notepad and a quill and began taking furious notes. Severus watched her with raised brows, bursting with questions but unwilling to disturb her thoughts. As she snapped her notepad shut, he opened his mouth to speak. Before he could utter a word, she produced a simple leather string, and stepped behind him, gathering his long hair in her hands, brushing it back and gathering it into a thick tail at the nape of his neck, “Ointment goes on twice a day and please try to keep your hair off your neck, I think it’s best if we avoid any irritation,” with that she began jotting notes down again and swished toward the door.
Snape grasped for something to say, though unused to desiring anyone’s company he came up short, “see you at tea?” he called weakly.
“Mmm,” she replied, nodding as she closed the door with her foot.
*****
Since coming to Prince Hall, Severus had unlimited time to pursue whatever he wished. Hogwarts had certainly offered unlimited resources, but not the benefit of such unfettered time, invaluable in potions pursuits. He had begun several experiments which had been little more than theoretical scribblings in his ledgers before, working long into the night on Elixir of this and Draught of that.The quiet had suited him, and for several days he was content to see Julianna only at meals, but after the day's adventure, he began to…miss her.
The revelation struck him as he was adding a tricky little toxin, Shade Sap, into its neutralizer, crushed Citrine. Miss her? I can’t miss her! I don’t miss! Alarmed, Snape neglected to take care with the vials he was handling, tipping a single drop of sap onto his hand.
“Bullocks,” he yelped, “Piss and shit! Oh Merlin’s flaming sack!” his hand began to sizzle and putrefy, black bubbles erupting from his skin. Quickly, he tossed the crushed Citrine from the other vial directly onto the hand. The sizzling stopped but the bubbles remained, wriggling disgustingly, just as Julianna walked in.
“Oh,” she said, wrinkling her nose, “oh, that smells horrid, is that your hand?”
“Bullocks,” he cursed again, mortified.
She made her way to a cupboard and returned with a brilliantly pink crème, “having a good day?” she handed him the salve and perched on a nearby stool.
Snape tilted his head in thanks for the crème, applying it in swift, perfunctory circles, “Well let’s see, I made an apprentice mistake and nearly burned my hand off, but no one has tried to torture or kill me, no students have regurgitated on me, no Potters or Weasleys have accused me of underhanded deeds and I haven’t murdered my only friend and ally so, all in all, one of my better days,” he finished with a growl. Even as he said it, he regretted it, knowing he was covering his embarrassment with spite. Not really the best way to make ground with the pretty girl, mate.
Julianna grinned at him, “There’s that Prince charm! How does your neck feel today? Any changes?”
Cheeks tinged with shame, Snape replied more civilly,“It feels normal again, thank you, I’ve been meaning to pick your brain about how you concocted it, and the anti-toxin.”
“Of course! I’ll show you the process as soon as I get my notes consolidated, if you looked at them now you’d only get a headache. Now, what did I come down here for? Oh yes, we’ve been invited to dine at the Pillings' tonight, it’s short notice but if you’re feeling up to it we really ought to go. Would you mind terribly?”
Snape grimaced, “A dinner party? I confess I don’t really do very well at dinner parties. I thought you Princes didn’t really do neighbors either.”
“Severus, dear, that’s not much of a confession. I know, I’d rather stay at home too, but it doesn’t do to alienate all the neighbors, and Constance and Irving really are not so bad. Besides, cousin, we are British, we endure!” she raised a fist in mock huzzah.
“I don’t have anything to wear,” he appealed. What’s the point in retiring if I still have to attend parties?
“You do,” she replied.
Severus crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her. Julianna met his gaze, her head slightly cocked. Normally his stony silence intimidated anyone who dared oppose him.
“You’ve already decided for me, haven’t you?” he asked.
“I have,” she admitted.
“So why did you even ask me, if I don’t have a choice?” Severus glared.
“Isn’t it so much better if you do?” she smiled her sly grin.
“Fine. I would be delighted to accompany you to dinner tonight at the Picklingss,” he said through gritted teeth. Nice, Snape, real grown up.
Julianna beamed at him, a genuine smile of glee. She crossed to him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, “Thank you,” she said, taking his hand in hers, “I was dreading going alone. I didn’t think you’d really give in. Pick you up at 7?” she winked, and sashayed out of the room.
Severus stood in the middle of his lab with his cheek burning where her lips had touched, thunderstruck by what had just occurred. He looked down at his half black-hand, “Well old boy, best we get you ready for a party.”
******
A/N: I am running out of ways to describe the sassy way Julianna makes an exit, aren't I? So this chapter was a bit on the short side but at least it's something and there's loads in store for these two. Thanks so much to those who have already reviewed, and as always a huge thank you to my darling gorgeous Naeve, thank you x a bajillion for being my soundboard, editor, best buddy, baby sister.
Love and Snuggles x 100000
Ellie