Quicksilver

Quicksilver 7

After their dramatic announcement, Severus and Elektra’s housemates had very different reactions to their new relationship. Severus fortunately received mainly a good reaction; the Slytherins were mainly surprised that he had finally managed to ensnare himself a real girlfriend. The select few who still dared to tease him, Mulciber and Bella Black, were soon put off by his lack of reaction.
Only once, when they crossed the line, did he have to correct them with a decidedly nasty curse.

Elektra, however, was the subject of a House revolt. Many of the Ravenclaws sided with the Gryffindors in the house rivalries; especially when it was Duels between Snape and his gang and the Marauders. They all knew the history of their legendary battles and believed, as the Marauders did, that Snape was a no-good Death Eater in training. Stacy, who had always hated Severus, refused to speak to or even acknowledge Elektra. Of her old crowd, only Hayley would still talk to her or sit next to her in class. She spent a lot more lessons working with Regulus Black instead.

Despite this, she didn’t feel lonely. She felt she had outgrown her old acquaintances anyway and Hayley was a good friend, even if she did think Electra was weird for liking Snape over Sirius. Besides which, she had Severus. Even if his Slytherin friends were secretive around her, they didn’t insist on excluding her. The only problem was; the more she got to know the crowd he hung around with, the more worried she became. They were all power mad and had a loose concept of morality. She knew Severus was better than that, even as she understood how interesting the Dark Arts were to study, so why did he continue to associate with them?

They put their friendship conflicts to one side when they made time for each other. Whether it be studying together side by side in the library or sharing tender kisses and beginning to discover each other’s bodies in secluded areas of the castle and grounds, they managed to push the rest of the world out of their minds. Electra even started to believe that he was beginning to change for the better, as he had opened up to her and she could see the sweet and fragile soul he kept hidden behind his scowl. Her hopes were shaken when Stacy came into the dorm one day with a sneer on her face to rival Narcissa Black’s.

“You’re wanted.” She snapped.

“By whom?” She replied coldly.

“I don’t know, some bloody Slytherin. Honestly, Flitwick should do something if you’re bringing their kind to our door.” She complained snottily, but Elektra ignored her. She was already on her way through the common room and swinging open the heavy wooden door with its enchanted knocker. There outside, she found Lyndon Pugh, a sixth year who was friends with Regulus. He had a very uncomfortable look on his face.

“What is it, Pugh?” She asked, puzzled.

“Got a message from Black. Says Snape’s in the Hospital Wing.” He said shiftily. She shrieked and bolted towards the hospital wing without even pausing to thank him.

She ran down the staircases, along corridors and up more staircases and didn’t stop running till she reached the infirmary doors, leaning against them while she caught her breath. Pushing them open, she found Madam Pomfrey bustling about in a flurry of activity.

“Stupid boys, when will they learn?” she was heard muttering to herself.

“Excuse me Madam Pomfrey; I’m looking for Severus Snape.” Elektra asked tentatively, unwilling to disturb the nurse while she was busy.

“Over there.” Pomfrey sighed exasperatedly, pointing in the direction of one of the beds with curtains around. She popped her head round cautiously.

“Sev, are you ok?” she asked. He looked as though he were still in one piece but had angry red welts on his sallow skin.

“Elektra? What are you doing here?” he asked, surprised to see her, especially so soon after the incident.

“Reg sent his friend to get me. What happened to you?” she asked.

“Black happened.” He growled.

“Regulus?” she asked in shock.

“Sirius, obviously.” He told her, as though she were a silly child.

“What happened?” she repeated, beginning to worry.

“We had a minor disagreement, as usual.” He said sardonically. “I’m fine, just a couple of uncomfortable jinxes. I should be out of here soon enough.” She relaxed enough to sit on the edge of the bed and press a soft kiss to his lips. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. She slipped her arms around his thin frame and rested her head on his chest.

“I was so worried, when Pugh said you were in the Hospital Wing, I thought all sorts of things that could have happened.” She sighed. He stroked her hair soothingly.

“You came very quickly, I’m impressed.” He said softly.

“I ran all the way here from Ravenclaw Tower.” She said sheepishly.

“Then I thank you for your devotion, Love.” He whispered close to her ear; the close proximity and the silkiness of his voice made her feel all tingly inside.
She leaned up and kissed him again, a little more passionately than she had before, now that she was certain he wasn’t about to expire.

“I hate it when you get into these fights Sev. Was it four on one again?” she asked sorrowfully.

“No, for a change it was a fair match, if you can call it that. Black and Potter against me and Wilkes.” He replied. “They have been put in the beds opposite, and Wilkes is next to me.” He added. To reduce aggravation, Madam Pomfrey had put the Gryffindors and the Slytherins in beds as far as possible away from each other.

“You must be tired after all that running, rest with me a while.” He suggested.

She kicked off her shoes and swung her legs up to lie next to him on the cot, snuggling into him contentedly.

“I could stay like this for hours.” She sighed.

“That sounds like an excellent idea.” He murmured into her hair, kissing her head.

Their peace was disturbed by Madam Pomfrey coming in to give Severus his last potion. She shooed Elektra out, complaining about diminishing morals in the student body. She waited outside the curtained area for him. She saw Lily Evans leaving James Potter’s bedside and her eyes narrowed. How could that girl be Sev’s best friend one minute, then abandon him to date his worst enemy the next? Did she condone this kind of behaviour against her childhood pal? Elektra was distracted by Sirius Black’s surprised exclamation.

“Marshall?”

“What Black? What could you possibly have to say to me that would excuse you putting my boyfriend in hospital.” she snarled defensively.

“He started it.” Sirius snapped.

“Oh, what a mature response! What next; ‘a bigger boy made me do it’? You’re pathetic.” She spat.

“In case you haven’t noticed, he injured me too.” He defended.

“That’s no excuse. Why do you always have to start on Severus? What did he do to you that was so bad?” he asked

“Because he’s a snivelling, Dark-Arts obsessed freak and he and his friends are all Death Eaters in training. You should be careful around him Elektra, I’m serious.” He warned her.

“This conversation is over.” She replied, turning on her heel and storming back to Snape’s bedside, where he had just been given the all clear.

“Are you ok now?” she asked.

“Never better.” He replied, leaning down and kissing her a little more ardently than he usually would in public. He couldn’t resist the opportunity to bait Sirius.

“Where to now then?” he asked, in a much better mood now his girlfriend was with him again.

“I think Greenhouse five would be best.” She suggested.

“I thought you were up to date with your Herbology project?” he asked as they descended the stairs.

“I am, But I happen to have it on very good authority that greenhouse is empty all day.” She replied with a mischievous grin.

“Greenhouse five it is then.” He replied huskily.