Know Thy Enemy

Know Thy Enemy

This story is based on characters and situations owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copy write or trademark infringement is intended.

Chapter 5

The next day at breakfast I do not have to wait long for Severus’ arrival. Indeed I had expected the boy to wait until the last possible moment before entering the halls yet, upon further thought I suppose it makes sense that the Slytherin would arrive so soon. As early as it was, the Great Hall was practically deserted.

The small bit of chatter instantly stops when Severus enters. Even from my seat I can easily see the changes in Severus’ appearance. His hair fairly gleams under the multitude of floating candles, the dark strands appear to be finer than acromantula silk, the inky black color in exact contrast to the ghost white paleness of his skin. I watch one of Severus’ potion stained fingers absently pull at the collar of his ebony robes, the expensive fabric, though simple in design, was extremely elegant, and in that moment I am once more pleased with Black and Potter’s tastes.

“Come here Severus.”

Severus shoulders stiffen but he does not falter in his steps, and when it becomes clear to all those in the halls that the boy will be seated on my side there is a small buzz of noise, a few of the students even rushing from the halls to, undoubtly, retrieve a few of their housemates.

“You slept well, yes?”

“As well as can be expected.” Severus’ large, aristocratic nose wrinkles in distaste. If it wasn’t due to such a distinctive feature the boy would appear more oriental than European, given the state of his pin straight jet black hair and the pale expanse of alabaster skin.

“The Princes are Italians are they not?”

I can see Severus’ whole body stiffen, his back ramrod straight as he spreads a thin layer of marmalade onto a bit of toast. “My grandmother is, yes. I am not sure about the others…” It is clear the boy has no wish to discuss anything related to his Mother, and I can understand of course given that the whole school knows of her blood traitor status.

“There are not many of them left and because your Mother is a blood traitor the line will die out soon since, as purebloods, I am sure the Princes disowned her, and by default, you.”

Severus slams the butter knife down to the table he’d been using, his eyes like black fire as he gazes at me. His whole body was shaking with anger but he kept his lips pressed tightly together.

I merely roll my eyes, a small chuckle escaping my lips as I place a bowl of porridge in front of Severus. Ignoring his shaking figure I add dried cranberries and raisins to the meal, before pouring a small amount of milk over the mixture. “Eat.”

Severus’ nose wrinkles again in distaste but, remembering his unbreakable vowels, or so I assume, the man sighs softly, and placing his piece of toast down I watch with silver eyes as Severus’ slender fingers take up a spoon before he dips it into the porridge.

“I hate you.”

I toss my head back in laughter before preparing a similar meal for myself. “Good. It’s a change from all the brainless fangirls.” We eat our food in silence, and when Severus finishes he places the spoon down before rising to his feet. “Sit down, Severus.”

Glaring at me the boy sits down in a huff, his arms crossed over his slight chest as he lifts his substantial nose in the air, disdain clearly being shown in his movements. Calmly I finish off my meal, taking my sweet time as I enjoy the warm porridge before placing my spoon in the now empty bowel.

“Severus, I am pleased that you find yourself comfortable enough to speak plainly with me. I enjoy this and will not deter you from your chosen words if you wish to continue on in such a manner. However, if you behave this way again while you and I are in public then I shall have you on your belly licking my shoes clean before you can finish saying the word ‘quidditch.’ Do you understand?”

Severus mouth presses into a thin line, his pale fingers lacing as he rests his hands atop the breakfast table. “Perfectly.”

“Good. You are excused.”

Stiffly the boy rises to his feet, and turning on his heels a smirk passes across my lips as I watch him stump out of the Great Hall.

***

It is dinner before I see Severus again. If it were anytime other than Newt week then his presence would have been felt by me at lunch. However, due to the long hours of testing most of the years had their own lunch periods. When the boy enters the Great Hall I can tell that the day for him has been long. He appears a bit haggard and stressed but indeed that is how everyone fares during Newt week.

When those inky black eyes turn towards me I can see the weight of the world seeming to appear on his shoulders before, noticing my gaze, Severus quickly straightens his shoulders, his back ramrod straight, his chin pointing just a bit in the air as he stiffly makes his way towards me.

Smirking in pleasure I turn my body away from Severus as the boy seats himself, my voice a low drawl as I continue my conversation with Avery and Nott. We talk about inconsequential things, mostly about the upcoming Newts and the ones already past. I indulge in shepherd’s pie, and though my words and my gaze is focused on my two classmates, my whole attention however is on Severus.

From the corner of my eyes I watch as he settles down beside me, his body as stiff as it was earlier. The boy barely touches his serving of food, merely picking at it as his dark gaze continues to move towards the clock floating above the Head Table. Nott is rambling on about the three feet of parchment that was required writing for the use of unicorn’s blood and it’s effect on wizarding folk versus certain species of magical creatures and, in the middle of his small diatribe, I turn my body away from him to focus on Snape.

“You are not eating.”

“I’m not hungry.”

There is a short silence between us, the tension thick in the air as not only Nott and Avery watch, but a wide assortment of eyes from each house of Hogwarts.

“If you insist on behaving like a child than I shall feed you like one.”

Severus opens his mouth, perhaps to protest though that which he would have spoken will never be clear for, in the next instant, I have a spoonful of shepherd’s pie in his mouth. The boy sputters wildly, his dark eyes large in shock and indignation as his arms flounder around almost comically.

When Severus manages to get the spoon out of his mouth after chocking down the food he rasps out angrily, “What ar—” The question remained unfinished as I shove another spoonful of food in his mouth. Sputtering some more Severus dutifully swallows the food much quicker this time before glaring angrily at me. “What are you doing?”

“Why, feeding you of course.”

I can see Severus’ chest rising and falling as he takes in sharps breaths of air. The boy is preparing himself for a verbal assault I am sure, and when Severus opens his mouth once more I cannot help the smirk on my lips nor the laughter in my eyes as I force him to silence with another large spoonful of food.

“I can well feed myself.” The words are issued on a low growl once the food is swallowed.

“Ah my dear Severus, it is too late for that now. Perhaps, perhaps if you are a good boy tonight I shall let you be a big boy tomorrow and feed yourself.”

It is almost instantaneous, the angry red flush that blooms in Severus’ face, traveling down his neck and up to his ears. Rolling my eyes at the boy’s antics I casually fill the spoon up with the last of the pie since Severus hadn’t had much on his plate in the first place. Grinning widely from ear to ear I wrap my left hand around the boy’s throat. I can see Severus’ dark eyes grow large with fear, his mouth falling open, moreso with shock than obedience though I use the opportunity to finish feeding him.

I place the empty spoon down to the now empty plate, and once Severus’ angry bites are finished the boy opens his mouth wide. “Silence. Do not speak, Severus.”

Glaring at me with eyes of black fire Severus, however, dutifully snaps his mouth shut. Shaking my head from side to side as though at the display of a petulant child I simple tsk in the back of my throat, my elegant fingers pulling the embroidered handkerchief from my pocket. The square length of cloth is made of white silk, with the silver stenciled L.M. elegantly stitched in the corner. My hand that is still wrapped around Severus’ throat slowly trails up higher, my fingers assessing with the ease and familiarity of an object one owns.

I let my fingers stop at Severus’ chin, and though my hold is not painful I do squeeze the pale flesh for but a second, more than long enough for Severus to know that if I wish it I could have him choking and gasping for air, completely at my mercy. Lifting up my handkerchief I tsk again before turning Severus’ face this way and that as I dab at the bit of food around his mouth. When the boy’s mouth falls open again my grip on his chin tightens painful and my voice is sharp as I speak. “Silence Severus.” Dutifully his mouth snaps shut again. Nodding in satisfaction I release the boy’s chin before folding up my handkerchief and slipping it back in a pocket of my robe.

“Have some pumpkin juice.”

His hands are shaking. That is the first thing I notice though I am unsure if it’s out of embarrassment or rage. His face is still as red as an apple, and when the goblet of pumpkin juice reaches his lips Severus manages to spill a little of the orange colored juice down his chin. Shaking my head again I remove the goblet from his weak fingers, almost amazed that Snape, in his nerves, hadn’t dropped the thing all over himself.

“Must you insist on behaving like a child? I’ve already had to feed you must I clean you, again Severus?”

“I…”

With the swiftness of a formidable dueler I take Severus’ slight form in my arms, my lips meeting his in a searing kiss. I can taste the sweetness of the pumpkin juice on his mouth, and beneath that a taste that could only be defined as him. Grinning against his mouth I gently prop the boy’s lips. Though Severus’ mouth is soft it was set into a stubborn line. I can feel his nails digging into my shoulders as he hangs onto me, his hands still shaking though for another reason now I am sure.

Grinning even wider I deepen the kiss, my mouth massaging his own, and when the boy gasps loudly in a sound that could only be described as one of pleasure I strike with the quickness of a cobra, my tongue sliding between the thin lips. The taste of pumpkin juice is stronger here, but so is the taste that I’ve decided to call Severus. It is not very creative perhaps but I am not some fluffy Hufflepuff who writes poetry.

“…foy. Mr. Malfoy!”

I let my tongue return to my mouth, my arms still wrapped around Severus, the boy chest firmly pressed against my own as I turn my head in the Headmaster’s direction. “Yes, Headmaster?”

Dumbledore clears his throat, almost as though he’s done it before and he probably has since it took more than once him calling my name to get my attention. “After dinner I would like to speak with you in my office.”

“Of course Headmaster.”

The man nods slowly before his forever sparkling blue eyes turn to the trapped Slytherin. “I would like to have a word with you now however, Severus.” Severus’ mouth is wide open, his dark gaze wide with shock yet glazed in pleasure as he stares off into space. “Severus?”

Blinking owlishly the boy suddenly seems to come back to himself at the Headmaster’s probing. Glancing around with large eyes I watch as Severus sees what I’ve already noticed and not paid attention to—each pair of eyes in the Great Hall are trained on us. Flushing an even darker shade of red Severus stutters out a “yes, Headmaster” before hastily untangling his limbs from mine. Shakily rising to his feet Severus tries in vain to compose himself but it’s glaringly clear that it will take more than the handful of seconds he currently had.

“Severus.”

Severus’ frantic gaze turns back to me as I rise to my feet. Reaching out my right hand I take the dark strand of hair that had escaped its home between thumb and forefinger. In one swift movement I slip the long silky strand behind Severus’ ear. The boy offers me a weak smile, trying to downplay the situation or forget entirely what had just transpired but I will have none of that. With my hand still poised behind Severus’ ear I use the movement to take ahold of the thick ponytail, and tilting the boy’s head towards me I lower my head once more.

I can see Severus’ mouth stiffen in preparation for my lips but I bypass the pale mouth, instead I let my tongue slowly lick up the bit of pumpkin juice that had been spilt earlier, the pink appendage starting at the bottom of his chin before trailing higher, the motion stalling once I reach the corner of his lips.

Severus’ mouth is trembling now, no longer stiff and defiant as it was but a few seconds ago. Smirking knowingly I draw back. He had wanted a kiss. Severus had wanted me to kiss him again, I can see it in his eyes. The boy would never admit it though, at least not yet. With the smirk still on my lips I watch as Severus stiffly walks behind the Headmaster, the two of them leaving the Great Hall without much fuss.

Everything seems strangely calm. Too calm, I think. And in that moment that the thought passes through my head all hell breaks loose in the room. The loud exclamations of hundreds of students intent on being heard would have put a banshee to shame. Shrugging in nonchalance I take my seat once more, resuming my early activity as I procure a spoonful of shepherd’s pie. Bringing the warm food to my lips I enjoy the rich flavors before once more lowering the spoon down to my plate.

Glancing up I give Avery and Nott innocent looks as they’d been staring at me the whole time. “What?”

“Bloody freaking hell, Malfoy.”

I quirk a pale brow at Nott before eating another spoonful of food. “Hm?”

“Severus? Snape? Sniffling Severus Snape!”

“There is no need to yell, it’s so uncouth Nott.”

Nott snorts before lowering his voice though he does lean in closer as he speaks. “As if you’ll hear me over this damn uproar.”

I chuckle softly, and taking once more bite of food I discard the utensil to my plate before rising to my feet. “Come then. If you wish to speak properly I am sure we shall find a more befitting environment than the chaos that’s called the Great Hall.”

Nott follows after me immediately but Avery takes the time to finish off his pumpkin juice before tagging along. Even if he is not one to gossip I am sure what was just witnessed in the Great Hall will be the talk of Hogwarts for weeks to come.

Tbc…

a/n I do not have a beta so all mistakes are my own. If anyone notices any please let me know, I shall try to correct them asap. Thank you for reading, I hope you all enjoy ^.^