A Song for Severus ~ (Not Update, but Edit)

Chapter 34 ~ A Few Words First

Hermione did not show up at breakfast the next morning. Severus knew she was having breakfast in her rooms with Volaria. He wondered if she would now neglect her original project because of the young witch.

He finished his breakfast and headed back to his rooms. As he approached, he saw Hermione leaving her rooms dressed in her lab coat. So, she was going to keep working. He noticed she started up the hall without warding her door.

“Hermione,” he called, stopping in front of her door.

Hermione scowled at him. She was still angry about yesterday.

“Yes, Severus?” she snapped, walking back as the wizard studied her door.

“Where is Miss Riddle?” he asked her, frowning.

“Why, in my rooms,” Hermione replied. “She’s reading, and I taught her how to use the floo to order her lunch. She’ll be fine.”

”It’s not her being fine that I am concerned about. Did you take any precautions before you left the witch in there?” he asked her.

“No. What kind of precautions?” Hermione asked.

Severus turned the knob to her rooms and opened the door. He frowned at Hermione for a moment then entered. He found Volaria sitting in an armchair in the study reading a book about Transfiguration.

“Hello Professor Snape,” she said smiling at him.

Severus didn’t answer but walked up to the floo, pulled out his wand and muttered a spell, Volaria watching him. Severus added his signature to it so it would be next to impossible for someone else to remove.

Hermione walked up to him, scowling.

“What did you do?” she asked him, her hands on her hips.

“I warded the floo so she could speak through it, but not use it,” Severus said, leveling his black eyes on Volaria, “I will also be warding the door so she can’t leave your rooms. We can’t afford to have her wandering around the castle.”

Volaria looked up at him, her blue eyes wide.

“You’re locking me in?” she asked him.

“Yes, I am. Hermione should have done it before she left you alone here unsupervised. Fortunately, I am not as trusting as she is, Miss Riddle,” Severus said darkly.

“Severus, Volaria would have stayed here,” Hermione said to him.

“There’s no guarantee of that. Witches her age become bored quite easily. She may be tempted to explore her surroundings. We can’t afford that. She is currently an unknown…she needs to stay that way,” the wizard said firmly. “Besides, I don’t trust her.”

“But Severus,” Hermione began, “you don’t know…”

”Precisely. I don’t know what she’s capable of and I don’t want to be surprised,” Severus replied.

Hermione’s face turned black.

“Now you just wait a minute, Severus Snape,” she started.

Volaria stared at Severus for a moment, then said, “No, Hermione. I don’t blame him really. A lot of people would feel the same way about me if they knew who I really was. I just showed up here. No one knows about me really. Considering my background, I don’t blame the Professor for being careful. I understand, Professor. It’s all right.”

Severus stared at the witch, then turned and looked at Hermione.

“Definitely Ravenclaw material,” he said, “She understands and accepts the situation Hermione. I suggest you do the same while she is in your care. Precautions must be taken.”

Hermione looked at Volaria.

“You really don’t mind, Volaria?” she asked the young witch.

“No. Aunt Bella often locked me in when teaching Voltaire things she didn’t want me to see. I’m used to it actually. As long as I’m not put in a cell or manacles…I can handle it,” the witch replied.

Severus didn’t think a cell or magic-dampening manacles was too far off the mark, but didn’t say anything.

“All right. I’ll come back at lunchtime to check on you,” Hermione said to the witch.

Volaria nodded and returned to reading her book. Severus exited the rooms, followed by Hermione. He pointed his wand at her door. Hermione stopped him.

“I’ll ward it,” she said, pulling her own wand and placing a ward on the door.

“Add your signature,” Severus growled at her, “She might be able to break wards.”

“Really Severus…you act like she’s a criminal intent on our destruction,” Hermione complained as she added her signature to the ward.

“She’s descended from one of the worst criminals that ever plagued the wizarding world. That is enough to warrant keeping an eye on her,” he replied, “I expect you to be vigilant Hermione…particularly since I will be gone for a few days. Exactly how long I’m not sure.”

Hermione stared at him.

“Where are you going?” she asked, suddenly feeling cold inside.

Severus looked up and down the corridor, then cast a silencing spell around them

“I am going to deliver the elixir to Rosier and try to find out any details I can about the competition. Most likely I will be invited to stay a few days,” Severus said to her, studying her face.

Ah, there it was. Worry and concern.

“But Severus…” Hermione began, protesting, “So soon?”

”I have been out of circulation more than a month, Hermione. I need to get back into the loop and find out what is happening with the Death Eaters first hand,” he said quietly.

Hermione’s face fell. Severus smirked just a bit.

“Why the long face, witch? It was your intention to give me a wide berth for an undetermined length of time. My absence will facilitate that, will it not?” the wizard asked her silkily.

Hermione looked at him. It was one thing to have Severus here and cut off, where she could see the effects and feel her power over him. It was another thing to have him gone and in a dangerous situation that he might not come back from.

“It’s…it’s different Severus. I’d know you were here and safe,” Hermione said, her eyes glistening now.

“Oh, so that makes your enforced estrangement easier to bear, knowing that I would be in my rooms alone…without you…possibly pining?” Severus replied, arching an eyebrow at her, “I imagine it ruins your sense of…control…power…to have me spend my time immersed in other activities.”

Hermione stared up at him.

“Severus…you aren’t doing this because I said I wouldn’t sleep with you, are you?” she asked him.

Severus studied her.

“It may have something to do with my decision, Hermione. The truth is, I’m not needed here. You have your project and the young witch to supervise. You have no time for me, and if you did have time, by your own admission you wouldn’t spend it intimately with me in any case. I don’t believe in self-torture, Hermione. I refuse to sit in my rooms night after night, twiddling my thumbs or wanking off because you haven’t decided to “let me in” yet. I understand you are trying to 'teach me a lesson' by making yourself unavailable. But I am not the kind of man to sit and wait idly by for another person to make a decision concerning me. You have my heart witch, but I will not be controlled by my desire for you…or punished by that desire. I have work to do and plan to do it rather than hover about you like a shadow begging for your forgiveness. I did what I did to protect you. I will not apologize for it. And I will not let you dangle your charms before me and not be able to touch you. I will return, and maybe then…maybe then you will be more understanding,” the wizard said to her.

Then he checked the corridor again, and seeing no one, leaned and kissed Hermione gently on the lips. His dark eyes met hers soberly.

“I must go now and meet with Rosier. I will see you when I see you, witch,” the Potions Master said.

Severus removed the silencing spell and walked with robes billowing to his office and let himself in, glancing at her once more, then disappearing, closing the door behind him.

Hermione remained standing in the corridor trying to come to terms with what just happened. Had she driven Severus back into his dangerous lifestyle by arbitrarily cutting him off?

She scowled slightly as she walked down the hall and through the hidden doorway that led to the subdungeons.

True, she had made her decision without attempting to talk to him first. But he had treated her like a child, not taking what she wanted into consideration. Was turnabout fair play in this case? It seemed not. She was guilty of the same offense as he was, acting without giving Severus a chance to explain his side, or to come to some kind of agreement. She had wanted to punish the wizard. When it came to their sex life, Hermione was the one in control. Yes, the wizard did act like a caveman at times, scooping her up and finding the nearest bed, but if she truly wanted to stop him…she could.

Was it possible she was becoming too familiar with the Potions Master? They had been together for two years, and the wizard had changed quite a bit for her to try and keep her happy. Did she take him for granted now? Had she pushed him away because she felt she had the control in the relationship? Severus was not a wizard to be controlled. Any kindness or thoughtfulness he acted with was because it was in him to conduct himself in such a way. Any unthoughtfulness was usually because he thought he knew best. He was older than she was and possibly wiser though it was hard to admit sometimes, particularly since he was so relationship-challenged. Severus was still learning her. Hermione needed to realize she was still learning him as well. She didn’t know the wizard as well as she believed she did.

Today, Severus had shown her he was not a man to be led by his nose…or his cock. He’d all but told her that when he returned…the status of their relationship would be up to her. He’d also said he wouldn’t allow himself to be punished by his desire for her.

It was never Hermione’s intention to make him feel that way.

The witch walked down the long stairwell and was almost at the bottom when she stopped, turned and began running back up the stairs. She couldn’t let him leave like this. She needed to tell him at least she’d be willing to talk, to come to some kind of understanding before he left so he’d know what he felt did matter to her.

Hermione pushed through the doorway and ran out into the corridor, almost colliding with several Slytherins on the way back to their house after breakfast. She then ran to his office and entered, then pulled the torches in the proper sequence to open the wall to his study. It seemed to take forever to slide aside. She caught the sound of apparition and let out a wail.

“Noooo, oh Severus! No!” she cried, running to the bedroom. But she was too late.

Severus was gone.

Hermione’s amber eyes shifted back and forth, going over their conversation.

“Rosier. He said he was going to see Rosier. It’s day. Most likely he will be at his shop,” she said to herself.

She hurriedly left Severus’ rooms, exited his office and walked to her own rooms. She unwarded the door and let herself in. Volaria was in the same armchair, her face buried in the Transfiguration book. She was as studious as Hermione was in her younger days and didn’t even notice Hermione until she walked past her.

“You weren’t gone long,” Volaria said, putting down the book and walking into Hermione’s bedroom behind the witch. She watched as Hermione removed her lab coat and put on her robes, then a traveling cloak.

“Are you going someplace?” Volaria asked her curiously.

”Yes, I have to leave the grounds. It’s very important…but I should be back shortly,” Hermione said, tucking her wand into her robes pocket, “Now if I don’t make it back in time for lunch, go ahead and order what you like from the kitchens. You do remember how to do that, right?”

Volaria nodded.

“Good. Now you will be warded in, but the house elves can wink in and out and will have no problems bringing your food to you. Are you going to be all right?” Hermione asked her.

“Yes,” Volaria said.

“Good. I’ll see you when I get back,” Hermione said hurriedly, walking past Volaria and out the door.

Volaria heard Hermione casting the ward on the door. The young witch sighed then sat back down, picked up the book and started reading from where she left off.

Hermione moved quickly through the castle and out on to the grounds, walking double-time. Hagrid gave her a friendly shout as he saw her walking toward the main gate. He had a large burlap sack flung over his huge shoulder and it was wriggling wildly. The gods only knew what kind of creature he had got hold of this time.

Hermione let herself through the gate, warded it back and quickly disapparated.

She hoped she could catch the wizard in time.

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

Draco showed up at the Music Symposium at twelve o’clock with a very greasy bag of fish and chips only to find that Malina had been fired.

“But that’s no reason for you to stop dropping by,” Clarissa said cheekily to the scowling wizard. “We have quite the selection here.”

Clarissa drew in a breath that made her chest balloon a bit. Draco eyed her display, completely unimpressed.

“Did she say where she was going?” Draco asked Clarissa, ignoring her pass at him.

“No, she just took her money and left,” Clarissa replied, scowling a little at the wizard’s apparent thickness. Didn’t he know when a witch was coming on to him?

Without another word Draco exited the shop, Clarissa looking after him. He left the greasy bag he carried on the counter. Clarissa peeked into it. Ooh, fish and chips. Still hot.

She settled down on the stool behind the counter and began to eat the food right out of the bag, considering Malina and the wizard who had just left, more than likely in search of her.

Clarissa always thought Malina was rather odd, with all the black mugglish clothes she wore, and lack of proper robes for the most part. Even her lipstick was black most of the time, and she had a…a…tattoo. She didn’t seem suitable for someone like Draco Malfoy. Not in the least.

Naturally nosey, Clarissa had been curious to know if Malina was dating Draco…he was aristocracy after all and a pureblood. Clarissa was a bit of a bigot concerning muggle-borns, though she didn’t openly disparage them. She asked the dark witch about it but Malina said he was just her part-time employer, and he only came by to tell her when she was needed to do backup at the studio.

Clarissa didn’t believe the lie. He could send a toady to tell her something like that. Plus the way Draco would look at Malina sometimes suggested his interest was more than work-related. Well, it could be that he was just interested in the muggle-born as a plaything. Aristocrats often slummed, keeping woman that were unsuitable to their social status on the side. It was easier for Clarissa to accept that was the way of it between Malina and Draco than their having an actual relationship. Hell, she wouldn’t mind being Draco Malfoy’s plaything. There were bound to be perks. Jewelry, dinners, things of that nature. She wouldn’t mind that at all.

Clarissa sighed. It wasn’t going to happen. She had hinted at the wizard her willingness to engage him more than once, but he didn’t bite. There was no accounting for taste.

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

The moment Draco left the shop, he pulled out the tracking parchment.

“Track,” he said to it.

A map appeared. It was a park, Shropshire Gardens. Malina’s footsteps were stationary. She must be sitting someplace. Draco walked to the closest public apparition point. He wanted to talk to the witch and find out what she was going to do.

Draco was so concerned about Malina he failed to realize she was going to want to know how he found her.

******************************************
A/N: Another chappie. It took forever to write this. Sigh. I’ll be glad when I feel better. Thanks for reading.