Zingaro

I own nothing from the Harry Potter universe. It all belongs to JK Rowling.

Chapter 42

For the first time in her memory, Paula Vance-Potter did not sleep at night. Instead she tossed and turned in the small double bed, thinking about that kiss. It had been so … it made her feel …she wanted so much to … Paula sighed and got up to make her umpteenth pot of tea. She’d been so flustered and surprised by the kiss that she’d not been able to read Severus. So in a panic she ran, locked herself in the safety of the vurdon and sat panting on the floor like a scared child.

Severus too took a while to fall asleep that night, but his thoughts ran a different line. He smiled as he remembered how she felt against him, her body so soft and yielding. That mouth, so warm and inviting, full, wide lips, her arousal, Gods he could still smell it. When he broke apart from her, needing air, he’d seen clearly the desire in her eyes, felt her need in her body language as she pressed against him without realising. She’d trembled and he knew if he’d let go then she would have fallen to the ground. Several times that night he was forced to ‘shake the snake’ before he was satisfied enough to sleep. He felt he’d also got a little payback for that dance she did at the Halloween ball. They were his last thoughts as his eyes finally closed.

After his last class of the morning, Severus made his way to Paula’s camp.

“Severus, mishto hom me dikava tute.” “I am glad to see you.”

He thought her voice had a strange shyness about it, though he could not be certain. “You said something yesterday. I want to know what it meant.”

“Much was said … and done last night, as well as in the day.”

“These words were the last said before you left.” Severus did not smile at her, nor did his face soften, when Paula instinctively read him she detected a certain amount of animosity still, with an underlying curiosity, and something else, but she was not willing to delve too deeply into that.

“Chces li tajnou vec aneb pravdu vyzvédéti, blazen, dité opily clovéc o tom umeji povodeti.”

“I believe it was something like that, though I cannot be certain of course.”

“"Wouldst thou know a truth or mystery, a drunkard, fool, or child may tell it thee."

“And that means what exactly?”



“That you hear what you wish to here and listen no further than your head. That an innocent child would listen with it’s heart and understand all that I told you yesterday, would have seen past a name, a long ago feud between children, a resentment that you have held over Harry and now aim at me. You asked for hery, I gave you hery, truth, and you turned it back on me, made me feel mrak‘s. Tainted. I am not. I thought you were my te' sorthene, my heart-friend, but you are not.”

“Your what? Heart friend? Paula you let me get close to you, knowing what you were keeping from me. You lied to me every day by keeping to yourself the fact that you are a Potter. Had you told me from the start perhaps I may have, in time, come to have at least a modicum of respect for you. But you did not.”

“And you do not keep secrets Severus? I do not wish to ching, (argue) not with you. Last night you choomanded, you kissed me. Why?”

“You kissed me back.” He argued, startled by the suddenness of her question. ‘Choomanded?’

“I ask you again, why?”

“I don’t know. It seemed appropriate at the time.” He told her lamely. This really was not the way he wanted their conversation to go.

“I have told you why it cannot happen, what it means in my culture.”

“Ha!” He barked. “Yes, your culture. What kind of society is it that rejects a child of thirteen, sends her out on her own with nothing but a wooden cart and the clothes on her back? What kind of culture would allow a group of men to see off a young woman with violence in their hearts and malice in their eyes? You speak of your ways and beliefs Paula, but what have they done for you, tell me that?”

Paula stared at him in disbelief.

He watched as her face crumpled and she ran into the forest. “Dammit.” “Riley.” He roared.”



Within Seconds Riley was at his side and they entered the forest, Severus shouting Paula’s name every few steps.

Riley stopped and nudged him. “What?” He whispered. The beast gave an image of Severus riding him. “Riley this is no time for a gallop. We have to find Paula before the centaurs do.” Again Riley nudged him, but with more urgency this time. Severus sighed impatiently. “Fine, but make sure I am not bounced off by one of these branches.” He clambered onto Riley’s back just as an arrow whizzed past the place where seconds before he’d been stood. He fisted Riley’s mane tightly as the beast reared and turned, head low and ready to charge at the three centaurs stood with their bows primed and ready to use.

Before they could let loose another arrow Riley charged at them, Severus laid forward over his neck and hung on for dear life as they ran head first at the now retreating centaurs.

Even then Riley refused to stop, he chased them until he was able to drive his horn into the flank of a centaur. Severus heard a scream as Riley pulled back then charged again, leaping over the fallen centaur in his eagerness to down the other two.

“Riley no. Stop. We need to find Paula. They are retreating Riley. Stop.” Severus barked.

Riley stopped reluctantly and turned about. He galloped through the trees as Severus clung to him, they raced through the forest until they emerged on the other side. Wide open fields as far as the eye could see lay before them.

“Now what? I cannot see her Riley, where … “

Severus’ stopped mid sentence when Riley turned and slowly walked a ways into the field. Paula sat with her back to them, her knees to her chest, arms wrapped round them, her cheek resting on her knee.

To Severus she looked like a lost child, sitting in the long grass, the breeze causing it to sway around her. Sliding off Riley, he approached her cautiously.

“Paula?”

When she did not respond he tried again.

“Paula look at me.”

She shook her head.

“Then at least speak to me. I should never have said those things. I was angry, I felt betrayed and did what I always do, I turned on you. I have always used my tongue to hurt and injure when I feel threatened in some way.”

(like a fool I give you my love and that is a threat? you hurt me, cause my heart to ache for Gods sake. I have never lied to you, I will go.)

“What? Wait. What did you say? Paula.” He called desperately as she stood and walked away. He had no idea what she said to him, but he knew was going to lose her for good if he did not stop her now, try in some way to make amends.

TBC