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

Chapter 37 ~ The Day Wears On

Severus walked several blocks away from the Hogs Head before stepping into an alley and removing his disillusionment spell. His shimmer received curious looks from passersby, but it wasn’t uncommon. Only Aurors took an overt interest. Still, it wasn’t illegal to move about that way.

As he walked to the nearest public apparition point, Severus felt damn good. Hermione always seemed to know what he needed, even when he wasn’t exactly sure himself. And he needed what she gave him at the inn, just the way it happened. Severus was the kind of man who held his emotions in check, finding his release and satisfaction in physical expression. He understood what was going on between himself and Hermione and knew they had to work on their relationship, particularly if they were to take the next step and bind themselves together for the rest of their lives. He didn’t expect perfection, but a relationship that worked for both of them.

Still, the witch walking to that wall and positioning herself for sex was overwhelming to him…much better than anything else she could have said to him. He couldn’t resist her offer…her willingness to submit as proof of her commitment to him.

So he fucked her, and was glad he did. That memory of taking her would help him in the days to come.

The wizard stepped into the designated apparition area and disapparated.

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Draco had come through Malina’s browbeating relatively unscathed, though his ears still burned, and he had to retrieve the necklace several times before he pointed out to the irate witch that if he hadn’t given her the ring she would be dead now. It was the only way he found out she had been abducted. This sobered the witch, and after some coaxing, she returned the necklace to her throat and promised Draco she would wear it constantly while on the road.

He brought Malina to the Manor and they had a light lunch, then retired to his study where they engaged in a bit of heavy kissing and petting, Draco murmuring over and over how much he was going to miss her as their passion intensified. Malina had just undone the buckle of his trousers, the wizard resting back against the arm of the sofa, his gray eyes smoldering and chest rising and falling rapidly as she lowered his zipper when the house elf winked in.

Startled, Malina straightened guiltily, turning bright red. If the creature had just waited a minute longer, he would have been treated to quite an eyeful.

“I is sorry, Master Draco. You has a guest,” the elf said with its ears flattened to its head.

Draco scowled at the creature as he fixed his clothing, Malina still looking quite embarrassed.

“From here on out, all elves are to knock before entering my presence when I have a guest,” he seethed at the little creature.

“Yes, my Lord,” the elf squeaked, bowing apologetically, “Should I lets him in?”

“In a moment. Escort Malina to my library,” Draco said, helping Malina up from the sofa and kissing her apologetically, “Whoever it is, I’ll get rid of him quickly. Wait for me.”

Malina nodded then followed the house elf through the study and out the rear door.

Draco scowled as he ran his fingers through his blonde hair. Whoever this was, they had horrible timing.

Presently the house elf returned through the main door, followed by Severus. Draco was surprised to see the tall, pale Potions Master. They usually met up at Hogwarts.

“Professor,” Draco said, walking toward him and extending his hand.

Severus took it and shook it firmly.

“Draco,” he said by way of greeting, “I hope I didn’t arrive at an inopportune moment.”

He thought Draco looked just a tad bit frustrated when he entered.

“No, Professor,” Draco lied, “Please have a seat. Would you like something to drink? Eat?”

Severus shook his head and sat down in one of two armchairs resting before the fireplace. Draco took the other and looked at the wizard expectantly.

Severus launched right in to his reason for being there.

“I am going to the revel tonight, Draco, as Rosier’s guest and will be spending several days there. I delivered the elixir to him today. The competition will be beginning soon. I wanted to give you the details as Rosier gave them to me, and ask that you attend tonight’s revel. You do not have to stay, but in case Bella and Voltaire put in an appearance I would like to have an ally with me,” the dark wizard said.

Draco frowned slightly. He had wanted to spend as much time as possible with Malina before she left on tour. But if the Potions Master felt he needed him…

“At Rosier’s manor?” the blonde wizard asked.

“Yes,” Severus replied.

“I’ll be there,” Draco said, “Now what is happening with the competition?”

Severus proceeded to tell him.

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Malina wandered around Draco’s huge library, looking at all the titles. Books covered every wall from floor to ceiling, and there were globes, maps and antiques of all types scattered around the room.

A beautiful mahogany writing desk sat in the corner, parchment and quills resting on top of it. Malina strolled over and sat down in the heavily cushioned chair behind the desk, running her hands over the gleaming desktop appreciatively. Draco owned some beautiful things. Malina stared at the quills and parchment for a moment, her heart full. Slowly, she drew a sheet of parchment over and removed a quill from the stand it rested in. She opened a bottle of ink, dipped the quill and began to write.

Severus’ and Draco’s meeting lasted about an hour and a half. The two wizards parted ways, agreeing to meet up at Rosier’s that evening about nine. The revel would be well on its way by then. Draco was sickened by the information that Rosier intended to feed muggles to starved lions for entertainment, and thought it might be fitting to throw him to the beasts under the guise of an accident, an errant wand flick perhaps that resulted in a misstep that sent him tumbling into the pit.

Severus knew how he felt, but the truth were they were both once again regulated to being impotent observers, the greater picture more important than the smaller strokes of depravity that made it up. Perhaps they could get away with a killing curse or two when it was clear the poor victims wouldn’t survive the attacks. That was the best they could hope for.

Malina finished writing her song, and when she heard footsteps approaching, quickly slid the parchment into the top drawer of Draco’s desk. She had some tweaking to do on it and knew Draco would insist on reading the lyrics before she was ready to share them. She’d retrieve the song later. Malina hurriedly replaced the quill in the stand and ink bottle in its original position, standing up when Draco entered the library.

“I’m sorry that took so long. Business,” Draco said to the witch as she walked from around the desk, “I hope you weren’t too bored.”

“No. I was fine, Draco,” Malina said as the wizard walked up to her and slipped his arms around her waist.

“How about a walk around the grounds?” the wizard asked her.

“Yes, that would be nice,” Malina said, kissing him lightly.

When she pulled away, Draco’s eyes were hot. She smiled at him.

“Now Draco…that was just a peck on the lips. That couldn’t have turned you on,” she said to him as the wizard tightened his hold on her.

“It didn’t turn me on,” he purred, “I never turned off.”

Then he kissed her hungrily.

They never did get around to taking that walk.

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Hermione returned to Hogwarts feeling vindicated. She promised herself when the Potions Master returned she would really make an effort to improve the way she treated him. For just a moment, she had felt it was possible she could lose him. She had never thought about that before…only about her leaving him. The statement he made about not allowing his desire for her to punish him made her realize that he could walk away rather than be hurt or controlled by her.

Gods, she didn’t want that.

She removed the wards to her rooms to find Volaria asleep in the same armchair she had been reading in earlier. An empty plate and glass rested on the table beside her. She must have had lunch. Hermione tip-toed by her and into her bedroom, where she changed her clothes, still feeling Severus’ ache as she did so. He had been very ardent…almost angry that she seduced him in such a way. Hermione smiled to herself wickedly. She loved the fact she could sway him that way.

Hermione slipped on her lab coat, tied her hair back in a ponytail and walked back through the study to find Volaria awake and blinking at her.

“You’re back,” she said, taking in her lab coat, “Did you take care of whatever it was you had to go do?”

“Yes, I did. And did you have a nice lunch?” Hermione asked.

Volaria nodded.

“I had pizza. I never had it before…it was delicious,” the witch said, “I could eat it every day for every meal.”

Hermione laughed.

“Well, you won’t be doing that, young lady. You have to eat balanced meals. I’ll be ordering dinner tonight, and you will be having a healthy portion of vegetables.”

Volaria made a face.

“Just no green beans. I loathe green beans,” the young witch said.

Loathe?

Hermione chuckled.

“All right, no green beans,” she agreed.

Volaria relaxed, then looked at Hermione curiously.

“What kind of project are you working on, Hermione?” the witch asked her.

Hermione looked at the young witch for a moment.

“It’s confidential, Volaria. I can’t tell you that. All I can say is that it is very important,” she said.

“I understand. I was just curious,” Volaria replied, though her face dropped.

Volaria had hoped it was something ordinary and that maybe Hermione would let her come with her. But that wasn’t going to happen.

Hermione studied her.

“I know you’re a bit bored, Volaria, but you won’t be for long. You are going to have plenty to do…like learn how to use a wand. That will take a lot of focus and be very challenging,” Hermione said.

“A wand? Really?” Volaria asked her excitedly.

“Yes. Someone is going to have to take you to Diagon Alley to Ollivander’s and let you select one. It is better if no one knows you can do wandless magic. Most who can, hide it from general knowledge. It is more effective that way,” Hermione told her, “And in addition, I am relatively sure there are areas in your education that aren’t up to par for your age, so most likely you will have to bone up on your studies as well before you can attend classes. So this is just the calm before the storm. Life is going to get much more interesting for you if you can just be patient.”

Volaria smiled. It really was going to be more interesting.

“Well, I need to get to work, Volaria. I will be back around five…then we’ll do a bit of evaluation on your magical knowledge. All right?” Hermione asked the witch.

“Oh yes,” Volaria breathed.

“See you later,” Hermione said, then exited her rooms, warding the door with her signature as Severus instructed. Volaria seemed to be a sweet young girl, but maybe the Potions Master was right about the need for caution. Better safe than sorry.

Hermione descended to the subdungeons and into the hall leading to her lab. She pushed the door open to find the lab immersed in total darkness. She frowned. She always left a torch burning on low. She pulled out her wand.

“Lumos,” she said, the tip of her wand sending off a glow. Hermione looked around in horror. Her lab was in a shambles. Cauldrons, bowls and other equipment lay scattered all over the floor, her notebooks ripped, pages scattered all over. She turned her wand toward the cabinet that held the elixir. It seemed fine.

What the hell happened here? She located the torch sconces, put out her wand then lit the extinguished torches. Immediately she was attacked by a flurry of small blue bodies.

The pixies. They had somehow gotten out of the enclosure and destroyed the lab. Now they were after Hermione.

“Ow!” Hermione cried as the creatures converged on her, pulling her hair, biting at her hands and face and firing little blasts of fire at her as she flailed at them wildly, trying to protect herself.

Several tugged on her wand, trying to get it away from her, but Hermione slapped at them, knocking them away. More flew in to take their place and a few escaped into the hallway, chittering merrily at their newfound freedom.

“Get away from me!” Hermione hissed, trying to focus enough to cast a spell to stop them.

Finally she managed to get into a position to cast one, the pixies trying to soar away as she raised her wand and cast the same freezing charm on the little buggers that she did in Lockhart’s class in her second year. The pixies all froze in mid-air, immobilized. She then ran into the hall and froze the escaped pixies as well, directing them back into the lab with her wand, then moving the whole group back into the enclosure. She studied the doorknob. The pixies had fired blasts of heat at the knob until it melted. Well a repelling charm would take care of that. A few reflected sparks would teach them to leave the door alone.

Hermione repaired the door, cast a repelling spell on it, then closed and warded it securely from the outside. The pixies wouldn’t be escaping again. She looked on the counter and saw the creatures had removed the cloth that covered a dissected pixie under stasis that had died from the elixir. Hermione wasn’t sure how much the little creatures could actually process, but more than likely they just looked on it as a dead comrade and didn’t take it any farther than that, much like an animal will nose around a fellow creature then go its way.

Hermione looked around her lab and sighed. She wouldn’t be getting any work done today. She walked over to the door that led to the snake pit and checked it. Thank the gods it was still warded. The pixies hadn’t managed to get in there.

The witch removed her lab coat, picked up an overturned stool and placed it on top. She then began to gather up her notes, hoping she could repair them. She decided right then she would duplicate her research and put one set away with an update charm so any additions to her notes would be automatically recorded in the second set.

She scowled as she collected the ripped pieces of parchment.

Damned pixies.

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A/N: Damned pixies is right. Yeesh. Well Severus and Draco are going to meet up at Rosier’s. Will Bella put in an appearance? What’s going on with Fenrir, Eloise and Elizabeth? Hmmm. Hopefully we’ll find out soon. Thanks for reading.