Quicksilver

Quicksilver Chapter 4







Severus caught up with Electra in the library on Christmas day. He had been avoiding her all holiday since he found out she was staying, unsure whether to give her the gift he had bought her. He had woken that morning surprised to see she had got him a present after all, only some quills, parchment and ink, but he made up his mind that he had to give it her now. He fiddled with the small box in his pocket as he screwed up the courage to interrupt her.



“You know if you keep fidgeting like that, people will think you’re up to something.” She said, not looking up from her book. He smiled; she had noticed him after all.



“I just wanted to say thank you for the present. How did you know I needed it?”



“Well, you’re doing your NEWTs. I guessed you’d be busy enough and it might stop you scribbling in your textbooks.” She replied with a smirk.



“I wanted to give you your present in person” he said, partly true, as he held out the box.



“Oh Sev, you didn’t have to get me anything!” she protested.



“I wanted to, open it.” He told her. It was a small bracelet of green, silver and blue beads.



“I love it, it’s beautiful.” She gushed, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. He flushed at her emotional display. “A bit of a predictable choice of colour don’t you think?” she joked.



“Well, I thought of your house colours but I wanted a bit of green in there so you don’t forget me.” He replied.



“I could never forget you Severus.” She replied softly.







They spent much of the Christmas holiday in the library together, taking advantage of the fact that hardly anyone else had stayed and best of all, no ‘marauders’ to bother them.





They continued to meet when the students returned, becoming more comfortable in their friendship. However unbeknownst each to the other, they were beginning to feel inexplicably drawn to one another, unaware their friend felt more than friendship. That is at least until a strange occurrence.



“All students wake up and proceed to the Great Hall immediately. Do not pause to collect belongings, this is not a drill.” Flitwick’s voice called up to the dormitories one night.



“Whass goin on?” Hayley asked groggily, as they grabbed their wands and rushed down the stairs.



“I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” Electra replied. When they finally got to the Great Hall, she scanned the crowd, and instead of joining her friends on the Ravenclaw table, shoved her way through to where Severus was stood. Unlike most of the students who were in their pyjamas, he was still fully dressed at this hour and she guessed he had been sat up reading again. He had mentioned he had trouble sleeping.



“What’s going on Sev?” she asked when she reached him.



“I don’t know yet. Are you alright?” he asked, noticing to both his delight and discomfort that she was dressed in only a thin and small silk shorts and camisole set. It offered him a splendid view of her creamy flesh, however as she began to get cold, the arousing sight of her nipples standing conspicuously through the top spurred him into action.



“You look freezing, here.” He said, removing his Slytherin robes and fastening them around her shoulders. She shivered with excitement when his hands brushed her bare skin and smiled at him for the thoughtful gesture.



“Thank you.” She said shyly, sitting next to him on the Slytherin bench and leaning against him slightly, earning some curious looks from both their houses. He tried not to stare at the expanse of alabaster flesh exposed by the opening of the robes and drew his gaze to her tiny hands instead. He noticed a glint of silver at her wrist. He raised her arm to inspect it, his bracelet.



“We were told not to stop to collect anything. Why did you waste time picking up this instead of a warm robe?” he gently admonished, though he was pleased that she clearly cherished his gift.



“I didn’t, I was already wearing it.” She defended.



“You sleep with it on?” he asked incredulously.



“Yes, I never take it off, even in the bath.” She admitted. He felt very warm at the thought of her in the bath wearing nothing but his bracelet, dripping wet and beckoning him like Botticelli’s Venus. He looked up to the ceiling to distract his thoughts, then realised something. He looked over to the Gryffindor table and noticed Pettigrew, Black and Potter looking very worried and sheepish.



“Full moon tonight,” he surmised aloud, subconsciously edging closer to Electra protectively as he realised the gravity of the situation.



“You’re not suggesting what I think you are, are you?” she asked with a thoughtful frown.



“It is certainly a possibility.” He replied.



“How would a Lycanthrope get into the school?” she asked.



“There are rumours they live in the forbidden forest, probably some stupid first year sneaked out and didn’t shut the door.” He lied smoothly, knowing his promise to Dumbledore ensured his silence.



“Well, I’m glad I have the best defence student in the school here to protect me then.” She joked.



“Really? What makes you think I would protect you? Slytherin self-preservation dictates I should feed you to the beast and save myself.” He said sardonically, but with a quirk of the lips to show he was joking too.



“Come on, It wouldn’t come after you anyway, you’re too stringy.” She teased, poking him.



“Stringy indeed!” he feigned offense. “It would certainly eat you, especially if you insist on wandering the castle looking like some delicious meal.” He teased back, she realised the double meaning to his words and felt a flush rise. Their eyes met for a moment before they both looked away feeling foolish. They had gained a small audience with their little exchange. The Slytherins were wondering what an attractive, scantily clad Ravenclaw was doing at their table, sat with Snape the reject and wrapped in his robe. The other houses were wondering how that oddball Slytherin everyone was scared of had got Electra to sit with him, and marvelled at how nice he was with her.





“Look at Snivellus, putting on the charm for Elektra. Makes me sick, as if he has a chance.” Sirius snorted, glaring at the two.



“Remus has escaped and is in a whole lot of trouble, the entire school is in danger and all you can think of is a flaming girl.” James whispered crossly. “Seriously Pads, leave it. She chose to sit there, he didn’t force her. Maybe she’s daft enough to actually like the greasy git.”



“Maybe she’s just messing with his head, to lead him on then crush him. You know how clever these Ravenclaw girls are.” Peter encouraged, currying favour with his popular friend.



“All clear, you may return to your dormitories.” Called McGonagall.



“We haven’t been able to meet up as often lately, will I see you at our tree again soon?” she asked as students began filing out of the hall.



“I’ve been busy, I might start studying outside again soon.” He replied evasively. She knew there was something he wasn’t telling her but she decided it was not the time to ask.



“I have missed you again, here.” She made to remove the robe to return it but he stopped her.



“No, keep it for tonight. The house elves will return it when they take it to the laundry.” He protested, knowing she would catch cold without it on the long ascent through the draughty castle.



“Thanks Sev,” she replied, beaming. She jumped up and hugged him tight, planting a friendly kiss on his cheek before bolting off to join her housemates. He stood there a bit bemused for a moment; still feeling the pressure of her lips on his sallow cheek and the softness of her silk sheathed shin as it brushed his fingertips.



“Shut up Black or you’ll wish you were dead” he snapped icily at Regulus who was creased up with laughter.



“Yeah, sure she’s not your girlfriend.” He managed to reply, before traipsing off to the dungeon.







“Eew! You’re not bringing that Slytherin rag in here.” Stacy complained back in the Ravenclaw dormitory.



“Shut up Stace. I was cold, and it was very gentlemanly of Severus to lend it me. You’re just in a nark coz Andrew Goodwin wouldn’t lend you his robe.” Electra snapped. Her snappy friend had been flirting mercilessly with the 7th year Chaser for weeks to no avail.



Electra threw herself onto the bed and drew the curtains. Alone in the dark, she snuggled up into the oversized robe, breathing in the scent of Severus, imagining he was lay next to her, his arms tight around her. She dreamed of him that night; that they had left the castle together and spent the night in the rose garden, kissing, caressing and whispering lovingly to each other. She was disappointed when she woke and realised he wasn’t really there. As she dressed and put on her own school robes, folding his and leaving them neatly on the bed, she felt sad knowing they would be gone when she returned.