If The Crime Fits The Punishment - Chapter Fourteen
Title: If The Crime Fits the Punishment
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: no one under 18. this is grown up business. meaning lots of dirty words and sexual escapades.
Warnings: sex, some mild violence, gratuitous use of a Scottish brogue, lots of swearing and a cat that's plotting world domination. no, really!
Disclaimer: i don't own any of the recognizable characters in here. nor do i own places and events and the whole magical realm. everything belongs to J.K. Rowling. she is the genius and i merely bask in the glow of her talent. Kendra is mine, as is Wickersham. and the plot, such as it is. please don't hurt me or sue me or make disparaging comments about me or anything like that. i'm broke, i like pain and i've got a really wicked temper, which means i'll probably be mean back. you have been warned.
Author's Note: this was the only fic i used a beta on. with exception of Gin's work on Beyond Death, i think i do pretty okay on my own. and, as i wasn't savvy with HTML when i wrote this, all thoughts were denoted by the use of tildes ~...~
If The Crime Fits The Punishment - The Index
Chapter Fourteen: Two's Company
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Severus had decided to floo into his rooms directly to avoid any questions from the other teachers on staff until he and Kendra were once again comfortable around one another. He knew that having her there would not be a problem with Dumbledore. Perhaps he could find a place for her at the school. He was certain she could teach something to the worthless youth crossing the school's threshold for higher education.
Upon hearing his suggestion, she had given him a pained expression but had said nothing. He had assured her that he would make sure her things were moved, trunks of clothing and personal items to his rooms and her furniture to her family's home. He wondered if maybe she was apprehensive about actually returning to the school with him, but decided after a moment of thought that she would have told him so, had that been the case. She was not adverse to speaking her mind.
After he'd used a cleaning spell to remove Wickersham's opinion from his clothes, they left her flat, heading into the depths of the city to Diagon Alley. They would floo back to Hogwarts from The Leaky Cauldron, instead of Apparating into Hogsmeade. The journey was made in silence, her smaller frame walking next to his along the boulevard. The bright light of the sun reflected off her hair luminously, accentuating the paleness of her flesh. She was dressed in a pair of Muggle jeans and a tight fitting black tshirt with the words *Witches Have Hex Appeal* plastered across her chest in bright purple letters. Black oxfords with heels, shoes that looked like something a teacher would wear, covered her feet.
He was, he had to admit, amused by her tshirt. He knew clothes of a similar nature were popular with the youth of the Muggle world. Shirts with many different sayings were being sold in nearly every shop. What made hers so laughable was the fact that she was advertising who she was, and none of the Muggles knew. They thought she belonged to a certain group of Muggle teens trying to stand out and be different.
Teen! The idea staggered him as he realized her age in comparison to his. She was too bloody young. She should be in school still, not attaching herself to an old man like himself. Or hanging about with people her own age. He'd tried to convince her of this one last time before leaving her flat. She'd told him point blank to fuck himself upon hearing the suggestion. He wisely kept his mouth shut. He was certain, were he to mention it again, she would find a way to make the physically impossible possible. Why she had picked him, he wasn't certain. He could only be thankful that she had.
Severus stayed silent beside her as he and Kendra walked along. She wasn't certain what he was thinking, but it was undoubtably unpleasant, giving he was scowling hatefully at a passerby. When she realized it was a young man and he had been caught staring at her, she smiled to herself and enjoyed his jealousy. The passing women were glancing at him. All eyes held a mixture of confusion and fear. Perhaps a little bit of envy. He was a rather handsome man when not scowling and stalking about like a psyhcopath about to kill someone.
He looked rather yummy in his Muggle clothes, and she'd have never believed it, had she not seen it with her own eyes. His hair glowed in the sunlight, highlights of blue shining amongst the backdrop of the black locks. He was still in his usual dark garb, but without all the dramatic billowing. He looked at ease in the trousers and silk shirt. She wondered if he had any more like it in his armoire. The thought flitted away as they neared the darkened sign of The Leaky Cauldron. The pub had a public fire place that they would floo out of. Her uneasiness intensified, and she had to curl her hands into tight fists to keep her mind from screaming bloody murder in her head.
She had never liked going anywhere by the fireplace system. When she'd been a small lass, she'd had a horrid experience with floo powder and harbored an unusual fear of it. To this day, she broke out in sweats just looking at a hearth. But she said nothing to Severus. She didn't think he would be happy to hear her whine about it, and she could well imagine what kind of insults he would hurl at her.
Oh, she had no doubts that he would make fun of her in a manner so vile, she'd want to beat him. She may love him, but she had no qualms about who he was. He was still Severus Snape, brilliant Potions Master and most loathsome teacher at Hogwarts. He wouldn't change that because he had feelings fer her. Her brain danced crazily through her skull, singing off key. ~He likes us. He likes us. He really, really likes us!~ She told it to behave itself and concentrate on the upcoming task. She had to floo to Hogwarts, whether she wanted to or not.
Severus let her go first, still being something of a gentleman. Manners were important. Maybe not his, but other people's were. He merely wanted to show her that he could be polite, when the need arose. He watched as she took her handful of floo powder and stepped onto the grate. Her face looked pale, her eyes wide with something. Fright? She took a breath, managing to get her destination out without stuttering. The green flames swirled up about her body and she was gone. He waited a few moments before stepping onto the grate himself, then called out his destination clearly. In a conflagration of green flames, he disappeared after her.
When Severus stepped out of his hearth and shook himself off, his attention was grabbed by the sound of..... retching. He followed his ears to his bathroom, to find Kendra kneeling over the porcelain bowl. Her back arched as she heaved, her hair fanning out around her and hanging into the bowl. When the retching subsided, she sat back, resting her back against the wall nearest her. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she swallowed and tried to regain her normal breathing. Her face was almost as green as the floo powder flames, covered with a fine sheen of sweat. 'Kendra?' he asked her, his voice stern.
She pried her eyes open and looked up at him. Thin wisps of hair stuck to her forehead, marking it's unnatural palor. Her mouth opened, then shut again. She closed her eyes and tried to keep control of the gag reflex. When he was certain she was not going to vomit again, he leaned over her, slipping his arms under her to lift her off the floor. She nestled against him without complaint, allowing him to carry her to the bed. 'Stay here. I shall be right back. I'm going to go brew a potion to control the nausea.'
'Severus, I'm fine!' she protested. He was halfway to the door and he stopped, turning to look at her with one of his eyebrows hitched so high, it nearly met his hair line. His gaze pointedly took in her still pale skin and the trembling of her body from the spasms. ' I've never cared to travel by way of the floo network. I had a traumatizing incident when I was a wee lass, and it's stuck with me since. I guess this was a particularly violent episode. I swear to you that I'm fine.'
' I have cause to disbelieve that, Madam. If you would care to know, your face was the exact shade of Slytherin green just moments ago,' he snapped at her. If the stupid chit couldn't take care of herself any better than that, it was a miracle she was still alive. He returned to her side at the bed and glared down at her threateningly. 'You will lay in that bed and take the potion I brew for you, or I will be forced to use extreme measures!'
'Alright,' she nodded, not at all certain she wanted to know what he would consider extreme. She settled herself more comfortably against the pillow, waiting for him to return. The mattress beneath her was comfortable. She decided to just close her eyes and rest. She had almost fallen asleep when she heard the latch on the door click.
Severus stood at the end of his bed, watching Kendra as she slept. Her head was tilted to the side, her arms crossed loosely over her stomach. He smiled faintly. He'd never watched a woman just sleep before. Certainly never in his own bed. It was, oddly enough, terribly relaxing. He felt the tension and concern drain away. It had truly scared him to see her with her head hung over the toilet. As he didn't get sick, he was unsure of how to deal with a sick woman. 'You can stop staring at me, Severus. I'm not sleeping,' her voice startled him out of his strange musings.
Her eyes opened to stare up at him quietly. She looked a touch better than when he had left, but he came forward with the small glass vial anyway. He held it out to her wordlessly, merely staring at her until she took it from him. His arms crossed over his chest, his expression a frown until she unstopped it and put it to her lips to drink. 'URG!!!!' she choked out as the first taste slithered down her throat. 'Ye gods, that's vile! Are you sure you're not trying to poison me?'
'Were I trying to poison you, you can be assured that I would not just hand it to you. At any rate, I prefer to look at my victim when I kill him,' he replied in an emotionless tone. She wasn't sure if he were joking or not, so she let it go for the moment. Her gaze fixed on the vial in her hand. This had to qualify as cruel and unusual punishment somewhere. If only she could distract him a moment, she could dispense with the offensive potion without him knowing she'd not drunk it. 'You will have to take that sooner or later, as I have no intention of moving until you do. The faster it's over and done with, the better you'll feel,' he commented lazily, as if he had read her mind.
Screwing up her face in disgust, she lifted the vial to her lips once again. He watched her silently as she swallowed the golden colored potion down in a hurry. Her eyes scrunched up and her lips formed a series of complex and distracting movements as she handed him the empty container. He took it from her, nodding at her compliance in a faintly superior manner. She frowned at him, then a thought occured to her. 'You didn't put anything else in there, did you?' she asked him suspiciously.
' I use a bloody truth serum once. Once! And you'll never let me live it down! Do you distrust me that much?' he snapped angrily, sounding very much like her Potions teacher from school instead of her lover. She grinned at him to let him know she intended to dangle that particular sin in front of him as long as she could get away with it.
' I wouldn't say I distrust you. I just do not completely trust you. Now answer my question, please,' she returned, her grin replaced by a flat expression. He scowled down at her for a moment, trying unsuccessfully to intimidate her. She crossed her arms over her chest, then yawned sleepily. She continued to stare at him, despite the fact that her eyelids were growing heavier. She yawned again, then shot him her own scowl. His face never changed as he watched her until she fell into a deep, charm enhanced slumber. He had no guilt over slipping it into her potion. She did, after all need her sleep to combat the bug she'd picked up.
' It is wise that you do not fully trust me, brat. I'm not a man to be trusted,' he chuckled as he stepped out of the bedroom. He had things he needed doing, and he wouldn't be able to perform them if he had to concern himself with Kendra's well being.
~*~*~*~*~
The room was illuminated by a pair of candles, one on either side of the bed. As Kendra sat up and stretched, she noticed the trunks that had been sitting in her flat earlier that day. They were set neatly against the far wall, awaiting her attention. A great wicker basket sat atop one of the trunks. She smiled and called out, 'Wickersham!'
A huge ball of black fur launched itself upon the bed, landing in her lap. The cat purred loudly, voicing his joy at seeing her. She scratched him behind his ears and under his chin. He, in turn, soaked up the attention he felt was his due in as regal a manner as he could manage. Severus had gone and retrieved her things from her flat for her, including her only companion of the last year. She wasn't sure what had prompted him to go a fetch everything for her, but it didn't matter. She found the gesture sweet. She'd never tell him that, though. He'd likely skin her alive for even saying such a thing.
Pushing His Royal Pain in the Arse cat out of her lap, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. She felt a little wobbly, but better than when she had first stepped out of the hearth. He had obviously used a cleaning charm, because her hair was once again soft and squeaky clean. The door to the room was cracked a bit, telling her that Severus had wanted to ensure she slept peacefully yet be able to hear her if she needed him for something. She pulled the door open and stepped out into the living area. He sat on his leather sofa, a book held up before him as he read. Until Wickersham jumped into his lap and butted the book away with his broad black head. 'Oh, you're out here to make my life hell again, are you?'
'Me-row,' the tom said disdainfully. Snape sighed and pushed the furry body from his lap.
'Oh, good. Does that mean it's my turn to sit upon your lap?' Kendra asked softly. His head turned toward the sound of her voice. She offered him a faint smile.
' I suppose you may sit in my lap, if you insist,' he gave a long suffering sigh. She grinned and moved toward him. His hands were there to assist her down onto his lap. She curled herself up, tucking her feet under her legs. She rested her head against his shoulder, her arms linking about his neck as she sighed contentedly.
The faint scent of Victorian roses tickled his nose, wafting up from her hair as she nestled into him. His gut clenched as hot need rolled through him. He'd been too long without a woman before she'd come along. When he'd brought her back to Hogwarts the first time, he'd reveled in the notion that he could have her when ever, where ever he wanted her. When she had gone, his body had registered many long, loud complaints to the fact that he was no longer exercising regularly, Kendra's body being his play ground. Her unique fragrance had clung to his bed sheets, bringing illicit dreams with them. His body had hungered for her for the entire month she'd been in London. Even mass quantities of alcohol hadn't helped curb his desire for her.
Now she was back and her unique scent, made up of the first hints of spring combined with the roses, clinging to her hair was driving him over the edge. His body was reacting in the only way it knew how. Or even wanted to. It was growing hard beneath her curved bottom. He bit off his groan, wondering if she thought he was as lacking in self control as he did. Her head shifted under his chin. She was looking up at his face. He didn't dare look at her. He'd lose his restraint if he did.
Her tongue licked a path along the edge of his tightly clamped jaws. He groaned. His arms closed about her body, crushing her against him. She wiggled her backside against his lap, teasing his rock hard cock. 'We shouldn't do this, Kendra,' his voice came out strained.
'Why not?' she asked simply, drawing back some so she could look into his face. His eyes were closed, his lips compressed.
'Because, it wasn't all that long ago that you were kneeling over my toilet, vomiting like an athlete in an Olympic game,' he replied steadily. Through his tightly clenched teeth.
' I feel much better. And it's obvious you missed me as much as I missed you,' she whispered at him. Her hand found one of his, moved it so that it cupped her full breast. It was heavy in his palm, the peaked nipple stabbing his flesh in invitation. His fingers curled around the prize in his hand without permission from his brain. He was ready to pull back when said muscle decided to start speaking to him again. ~Leave off, you prat! You know you want this as much as the rest of you does.~
The illogic of that statement was enough to make his head pound with one hell of a headache. His brain had to be inhaling the fumes from his potions, because the last thing it had said had made absolutely no sense. He groaned, wondering if St. Mungo's would hold a bed for him. He was beginning to think he would need it. Surely no one else's brain spoke to them the way his did. Or even at all. He had to be losing his mind.
His thoughts of insanity were shattered apart when Kendra slipped from his lap, going to her knees on the carpeting in front of him. His eyes goggled as her hands reached for the fly on his trousers. She obviously lacked common sense. She should be in bed, resting. Didn't she know that? ~She obviously does. It appears she's trying to get you there, as well. Why are you fighting her? Why not?.....~
'Right, you! Enough of this! Piss off!' he growled out loud. Kendra looked up at him, startled. A moment later, her face took on a hurt look and he groaned when he realized she thought he had been talking to her. His hands reached out for her, pulling her close to him so he could give her a squeeze. 'Not you. It's my..... oh bugger. I doubt you'll take me at my word. But I swear I was not talking to you.'
' If not me, who? Certainly not Wickersham? I don't see that he's done anything,' she looked at him expectantly. He sighed, raking a hand through his hair absently.
' I know this will sound so stupid that you'll most likely have my arse carted off to St. Mungo's. But it's the truth. I was talking to my...... my brain,' he finally finished, his voice barely above an ashamed whisper. He didn't look at her, waiting for her laughter to ring out over the room. Instead, she merely chuckled and returned her attention to his fly.
'Then they shall have to cart my arse off with yours. I seem to experience the same troubles with mine,' she said as her fingers pulled the zip down. He stared down at her bent head, wondering if she were only humoring him. ' In fact, just this afternoon when we were at The Leaky Cauldron, my brain was dancing about like a crazy person, singing a childish song to itself. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who has a very opinionated mind.'
By the time she had finished her statement, her hand was curled around his cock. He sucked a breath, his hips arching toward her questing fingers. She leaned forward, her lips pressing a tiny kiss into the head of his erection. He curled his hands into her hair, wondering if she were only going to tease him. Her mouth opened, sent a puff of hot air across his engorged shaft. He jerked in her hands for a moment before her lips closed over the head.
He groaned again, longer and louder than the previous one. She went down his shaft as far as she could, until his head rested against the back of her throat. Then she pulled away, stroking her tongue along his entire rigid length. His hips thrust upward, shoving himself into her mouth deeply. Her hands curled about his thighs to steady herself, then she began bobbing, keeping a slow, sure pace that was making him crazy with the need to bury himself inside of her.
Her mouth was hot and tight and moist around his hard cock. She kept a steady rhythm, never slowing down so he could lose the feeling of euphoria that was beginning, but never speeding up so he could reach his orgasm. She was torturing him with her slowness. He couldn't take it any longer. Letting lose a feral growl, he pulled her off of him by her hair. None too gently.
She didn't complain, seemed to be as excited by it as he was. He stood so he could shuck his trousers. Her jeans followed shortly after. He dropped back down onto his sofa, his hands about her waist to pull her down after him. She landed on his lap. The heat of her pussy was pressed against his thigh. He flexed his leg, grinding the hard muscle against her core. She moaned and wordlessly lifted her hips. His hands acted as a guide, positioning her center over the head of his cock.
She lowered herself onto him, groaning happily as he filled and stretched her. His head stabbed at her as he began to slowly rock his hips. Her hands found his thighs, settled over them to balance herself and began thrusting herself up and down the length of him. His hands wrapped themselves about her hips, helping guide her movements.
Kendra knew she shouldn't be doing this. The two of them should have spent the evening really getting to know one another. Getting settled, as it were. But the feel of his cock hardening against her bottom had stripped away some of her resolve. The highly erotic scent rolling off him, old leather and spicy liquor, had made her stomach tighten. Desire had welled up like water from a broken pipe. And the only thing she'd been capable of thinking was of feeling him push himself inside of her.
'Harder,' she whispered. His hands went under her shirt, pulling her bra away from her breasts so he could cup them. Run his thumbs over her tight nipples. His hips rocked up, stroking his cock hard and deep and fast. She bounced her hips up and down on his shaft, her bottom smacking loudly against his legs in the silence of the room.
She drove herself down onto his plunging erection, groaning loudly and muttering obscene things to him under her breath. He was already swelling within her, preparing for his orgasm. One of his hands left her breasts, slipped between her thighs. Her clit was slickened with her juices. He flicked his finger over it, making her body shudder. Several more hard flicks had her hips bucking against his, straining for release. 'Please!' she moaned, the tightening in her belly and thighs telling her she was nearly there.
His thumb took the place of his finger, grinding on the nub of flesh. She wailed loudly, her back going rigid. His hips continued slamming his cock up into her, allowing the contracting of her muscled walls to milk him into his own climax. They both slipped over the edge together, sharing the gloriously mind numbing experience of simultaneous orgasm.
As the glow wore off, Severus leaned back against the sofa behind him, his arms automatically holding Kendra up in his lap. She had gone limp and was now merely trying to catch her breath. Her body shook with after shocks. He pulled her into his lap, settling her body against him. She was nicely flushed, and both were sweating.
'That was.....' he never got to finish his sentence. An owl swooped out of his fire place to land on the seat next to him. A small, rolled up piece of parchment was tied to the bird's leg. Snape sighed and pulled the ribbon holding the note in place. The owl blinked at him as he unrolled it and read the words it contained. A muttered curse escaped him mouth before he summoned a quill with his free hand. He scribbled a hastily written reply, then rolled and retied the note. The owl disappeared the way he had come.
'Severus?' Kendra's voice was breathy as she spoke.
'That was a summons from the Headmaster. We are expected to attend the evening meal,' he replied, lifting her into his arms as he stood.
'We? Don't you mean you? Can't you ignore it?' she asked as she snuggled against his chest. All she wanted was to curl up with him in the bed and continue what they had just started. She had alot of time to make up for.
'No, brat. I mean we. He's most certainly demanded that we attend. I'm afraid that I cannot say no,' he set her on her feet once they reached the bedroom. ' I would recommend you clean yourself up and get dressed. Unless you intend to go to the Great Hall like this?'
She blushed as he looked her over. His voice held a certain amount of suggestive warmth in it that deepened the blush. She shook her head and hurried to make herself presentable. She'd known she would have to face Dumbledore eventually, but certainly not this soon. She wanted a shower, but settled for a cleansing charm instead. There wasn't enough time for a shower, given that Severus was already cleaned and dressed.
Kendra opened a trunk and pulled out a set of robes in a deep yellow orange. The color of flame. She slipped them on, making sure to finger comb her hair into some semblance of order. When she had completed her impromptu toilet, she turned to find him watching her. He nodded his approval and lead her from the room.
Her nerves flared to life as she trailed behind him, through the corridors of the dungeons toward the upper floors and, eventually, the Great Hall. She was not looking forward to this meeting. She had been a quiet, mousy, model student. Now she was here as a wanton sex goddess. That certainly wouldn't look good to her former Headmaster. And all the others on staff as well. 'Bloody hell!' she muttered under her breath, her gaze fixed on her feet. She ran straight into Snape's back when he stopped.
'Do watch where you're going! he snapped at her irritably. She looked up into his face, completely lacking an expression, and stuck her tongue out at him. He stared at her as if she'd lost her mind.
'Piss off,' she hissed. He frowned a moment before she gave an exasperated sigh. 'Oh, for the love of the gods! Get a sense of humor, won't you? I'm as bloody nervous as you are. Snapping my head off won't make it any less difficult for you. Let's just get this over with so we can go back to the dungeons where I'll have you at my mercy.'
That got a smile out of him. He heaved his own sigh, then straighted his all black robes. She grinned at him, leaning up to place a kiss on his cheek. 'You look bloody handsome. Let's go, then.' He nodded and pushed the doors open, allowing her to step in before him. All eyes in the room were glued to the two of them as they approached the staff table.
She couldn't help but notice the smiles on both Dumbledore's and McGonagall's faces. The others in the room were staring at Snape in a sort of disbelieving horror. He gave them a very typical snarl and headed for his usual place at the table. An extra chair was pulled up next to his, on the side closest to all the teachers. Obviously where they wanted Kendra to sit.
The two of them took their seats and food magically appeared on the platters before them. As she eyed all the savory morsels of sustanence, she felt her stomach turn over on itself. The thought of eating was suddenly tossed aside. She certainly didn't want a repeat performance of earlier. If Severus thought that she needed more sleep, he'd potion or charm her to sleep and not feel guilty. And the last thing she wanted was for him to do that to her again.
She took small bits of food, not noticing that several people were watching her as she moved the little pieces around on her plate, pretending to eat them. A few morsels made it into her mouth, but they sat in her stomach like lead. The meal had been underway for some time before the Headmaster broke the strained silence. 'Miss MacLeod, I believe. You graduated last year. If I remember correctly, you outscored Miss Granger in just about every class you took.'
'Yes sir, Professor. You remember correctly,' Kendra nodded, pushing her plate away. Severus watched, noticing she'd barely touched her food. He glanced at her as she stared at Dumbledore, his look of concern not going unnoticed. 'Thank you for inviting me to join you for dinner.'
'Nonsense,' Dumbledore smiled, the twinkle in his eye flashing as he spoke. ' It wouldn't be fare to leave you locked up in the dungeons while Severus came and ate with us.' No one at the table missed that the two of them had gotten decidedly paler at the remark.
'You're looking well, Kendra,' McGonagall winked at her. Kendra managed a faint smile. She was beginning to feel that the whole mess was putting her off her food. Her stomach seemed to be churning, and oddly, her head felt fuzzy. She reached for the glass goblet of water by her plate, her hand shaking ever so slightly. Severus had to put it in her hand to keep her from knocking it over. She took a sip, then looked to him.
' I'm sorry, but I think I might need to go lay down. I'm suddenly not feeling all that well,' she told Snape softly. His black gaze studied her carefully for a moment or two, then he nodded and stood from his chair. 'Once again, thank you for inviting me. Unfortunately, I've not been feeling well as of late, and I think I need to go lay down for a short while.'
'Let me escort you,' Severus took her elbow in his hand. She was looking terribly pale, and he intended to see her to the dungeons, to make sure she got there alright.
'No, I'm fine. I can manage. I would hate to pull you away from your meal. Stay and enjoy yourself,' she encouraged, a faint smile hovering about her lips. He shook his head, his mouth tightening into the thin line it took when he was losing his patience. 'Severus, please. This is awkward enough as it is. I can manage, I swear.'
He stood by the table, the expression on his face telling her he wasn't convinced. But he let her elbow go. She did manage two complete steps before her body crumpled. He was barely in time to catch her before she hit the stone floor. Scooping her unconscious form up into his arms, he stalked for the doors. He could hear chairs scraping the floor behind him, but paid no attention. Instead of turning for his dungeons, he turned the opposite direction and made his way to the hospital wing. Poppy was almost always there, even when classes were not in session. He was sure he'd find her in residence now.
~*~*~*~*
Kendra came awake slowly, feeling the softness of a mattress beneath her back. A cold compress had been applied to her forehead, and the blankets were tucked about her. She still felt fuzzy and light headed, but the nausea was gone. Small blessing, but better than none. She could hear faint voices a few feet away, and had to strain to hear them. She knew one of the voices well. Severus was arguing heatedly with someone.
'Well, can you tell me how long this sickness will last? Honestly, Poppy! You're being purposely obtuse, and I've no patience for it tonight,' he snapped. Poppy? Madam Pomfrey? She stole a glance about and realized she'd finally made it to the hospital wing.
'Calm down, Severus! One would think you would know by now that your tempers don't scare me one bit! If you would give me a moment, I will answer your questions,' the medi witch told him, her tone conveying that she was in charge here.
'Do go on, then, oh knowledgable one!' he sneered as he made a mocking bow. Poppy ignored his behavior and gave him a sharp look.
'Well, based on what you told me, I performed several tests and they all point to the same thing,' she told him, waiting to see if the thick headed lout would catch on.
'AND?' he demanded after several moments of silence. Obviously not. She sighed and shook her head.
' I've honestly got to wonder how you managed to get yourself a woman, as brainless as you appear to be,' Poppy told him, pushing on before he could make another remark. 'All I can say is it might be best if you find other accommodations for you and her, Severus. A dungeon is no place for a child.'
'Are you daft, woman? The Slytherin House is down there, along with plenty of classrooms! Children are perfectly well left to wander those halls! Besides, Kendra is no child in need of being raised! Not that I asked for your opinion on the subject! And there's no need, what so ever, for you to point out the difference in our ages. I'm perfectly aware of that, thank you.'
Poppy rolled her eyes in exasperation, then grabbed the man by his robes and jerked him down until their faces were eye to eye. 'How can such an excellent teacher be this dim? Are you completely cracked? Kendra is pregnant, you half wit! She's going to have a baby!'
'Baby?' he asked shrilly. 'Are you certain?'
'Yes, Severus. I'm certain. Congratulations. You're going to be a father,' Poppy said, wondering why women were the ones with all the brains.
'How could this have bloody happened?' he demanded, shouting the words at Poppy as if the entire thing were her fault.
'Severus Snape, if you don't know that by now, you've no business bedding that girl! Or any other!' Their voices faded into the back ground as Kendra pondered what she had just heard.
'A baby?' Kendra whispered to herself. She was pregnant? How on earth had that happened? ~If you don't know,~ her brain said snottishly. ~I'm certainly not telling!~ She was going to have a baby!
'Holy bajeebers!' her voice echoed quietly through the air.......
end chapter fourteen.
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wanna catch up on all my stuff? check this link out. its got everything! The Ultimate ldf Fic Index
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: no one under 18. this is grown up business. meaning lots of dirty words and sexual escapades.
Warnings: sex, some mild violence, gratuitous use of a Scottish brogue, lots of swearing and a cat that's plotting world domination. no, really!
Disclaimer: i don't own any of the recognizable characters in here. nor do i own places and events and the whole magical realm. everything belongs to J.K. Rowling. she is the genius and i merely bask in the glow of her talent. Kendra is mine, as is Wickersham. and the plot, such as it is. please don't hurt me or sue me or make disparaging comments about me or anything like that. i'm broke, i like pain and i've got a really wicked temper, which means i'll probably be mean back. you have been warned.
Author's Note: this was the only fic i used a beta on. with exception of Gin's work on Beyond Death, i think i do pretty okay on my own. and, as i wasn't savvy with HTML when i wrote this, all thoughts were denoted by the use of tildes ~...~
If The Crime Fits The Punishment - The Index
Chapter Fourteen: Two's Company
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Severus had decided to floo into his rooms directly to avoid any questions from the other teachers on staff until he and Kendra were once again comfortable around one another. He knew that having her there would not be a problem with Dumbledore. Perhaps he could find a place for her at the school. He was certain she could teach something to the worthless youth crossing the school's threshold for higher education.
Upon hearing his suggestion, she had given him a pained expression but had said nothing. He had assured her that he would make sure her things were moved, trunks of clothing and personal items to his rooms and her furniture to her family's home. He wondered if maybe she was apprehensive about actually returning to the school with him, but decided after a moment of thought that she would have told him so, had that been the case. She was not adverse to speaking her mind.
After he'd used a cleaning spell to remove Wickersham's opinion from his clothes, they left her flat, heading into the depths of the city to Diagon Alley. They would floo back to Hogwarts from The Leaky Cauldron, instead of Apparating into Hogsmeade. The journey was made in silence, her smaller frame walking next to his along the boulevard. The bright light of the sun reflected off her hair luminously, accentuating the paleness of her flesh. She was dressed in a pair of Muggle jeans and a tight fitting black tshirt with the words *Witches Have Hex Appeal* plastered across her chest in bright purple letters. Black oxfords with heels, shoes that looked like something a teacher would wear, covered her feet.
He was, he had to admit, amused by her tshirt. He knew clothes of a similar nature were popular with the youth of the Muggle world. Shirts with many different sayings were being sold in nearly every shop. What made hers so laughable was the fact that she was advertising who she was, and none of the Muggles knew. They thought she belonged to a certain group of Muggle teens trying to stand out and be different.
Teen! The idea staggered him as he realized her age in comparison to his. She was too bloody young. She should be in school still, not attaching herself to an old man like himself. Or hanging about with people her own age. He'd tried to convince her of this one last time before leaving her flat. She'd told him point blank to fuck himself upon hearing the suggestion. He wisely kept his mouth shut. He was certain, were he to mention it again, she would find a way to make the physically impossible possible. Why she had picked him, he wasn't certain. He could only be thankful that she had.
Severus stayed silent beside her as he and Kendra walked along. She wasn't certain what he was thinking, but it was undoubtably unpleasant, giving he was scowling hatefully at a passerby. When she realized it was a young man and he had been caught staring at her, she smiled to herself and enjoyed his jealousy. The passing women were glancing at him. All eyes held a mixture of confusion and fear. Perhaps a little bit of envy. He was a rather handsome man when not scowling and stalking about like a psyhcopath about to kill someone.
He looked rather yummy in his Muggle clothes, and she'd have never believed it, had she not seen it with her own eyes. His hair glowed in the sunlight, highlights of blue shining amongst the backdrop of the black locks. He was still in his usual dark garb, but without all the dramatic billowing. He looked at ease in the trousers and silk shirt. She wondered if he had any more like it in his armoire. The thought flitted away as they neared the darkened sign of The Leaky Cauldron. The pub had a public fire place that they would floo out of. Her uneasiness intensified, and she had to curl her hands into tight fists to keep her mind from screaming bloody murder in her head.
She had never liked going anywhere by the fireplace system. When she'd been a small lass, she'd had a horrid experience with floo powder and harbored an unusual fear of it. To this day, she broke out in sweats just looking at a hearth. But she said nothing to Severus. She didn't think he would be happy to hear her whine about it, and she could well imagine what kind of insults he would hurl at her.
Oh, she had no doubts that he would make fun of her in a manner so vile, she'd want to beat him. She may love him, but she had no qualms about who he was. He was still Severus Snape, brilliant Potions Master and most loathsome teacher at Hogwarts. He wouldn't change that because he had feelings fer her. Her brain danced crazily through her skull, singing off key. ~He likes us. He likes us. He really, really likes us!~ She told it to behave itself and concentrate on the upcoming task. She had to floo to Hogwarts, whether she wanted to or not.
Severus let her go first, still being something of a gentleman. Manners were important. Maybe not his, but other people's were. He merely wanted to show her that he could be polite, when the need arose. He watched as she took her handful of floo powder and stepped onto the grate. Her face looked pale, her eyes wide with something. Fright? She took a breath, managing to get her destination out without stuttering. The green flames swirled up about her body and she was gone. He waited a few moments before stepping onto the grate himself, then called out his destination clearly. In a conflagration of green flames, he disappeared after her.
When Severus stepped out of his hearth and shook himself off, his attention was grabbed by the sound of..... retching. He followed his ears to his bathroom, to find Kendra kneeling over the porcelain bowl. Her back arched as she heaved, her hair fanning out around her and hanging into the bowl. When the retching subsided, she sat back, resting her back against the wall nearest her. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she swallowed and tried to regain her normal breathing. Her face was almost as green as the floo powder flames, covered with a fine sheen of sweat. 'Kendra?' he asked her, his voice stern.
She pried her eyes open and looked up at him. Thin wisps of hair stuck to her forehead, marking it's unnatural palor. Her mouth opened, then shut again. She closed her eyes and tried to keep control of the gag reflex. When he was certain she was not going to vomit again, he leaned over her, slipping his arms under her to lift her off the floor. She nestled against him without complaint, allowing him to carry her to the bed. 'Stay here. I shall be right back. I'm going to go brew a potion to control the nausea.'
'Severus, I'm fine!' she protested. He was halfway to the door and he stopped, turning to look at her with one of his eyebrows hitched so high, it nearly met his hair line. His gaze pointedly took in her still pale skin and the trembling of her body from the spasms. ' I've never cared to travel by way of the floo network. I had a traumatizing incident when I was a wee lass, and it's stuck with me since. I guess this was a particularly violent episode. I swear to you that I'm fine.'
' I have cause to disbelieve that, Madam. If you would care to know, your face was the exact shade of Slytherin green just moments ago,' he snapped at her. If the stupid chit couldn't take care of herself any better than that, it was a miracle she was still alive. He returned to her side at the bed and glared down at her threateningly. 'You will lay in that bed and take the potion I brew for you, or I will be forced to use extreme measures!'
'Alright,' she nodded, not at all certain she wanted to know what he would consider extreme. She settled herself more comfortably against the pillow, waiting for him to return. The mattress beneath her was comfortable. She decided to just close her eyes and rest. She had almost fallen asleep when she heard the latch on the door click.
Severus stood at the end of his bed, watching Kendra as she slept. Her head was tilted to the side, her arms crossed loosely over her stomach. He smiled faintly. He'd never watched a woman just sleep before. Certainly never in his own bed. It was, oddly enough, terribly relaxing. He felt the tension and concern drain away. It had truly scared him to see her with her head hung over the toilet. As he didn't get sick, he was unsure of how to deal with a sick woman. 'You can stop staring at me, Severus. I'm not sleeping,' her voice startled him out of his strange musings.
Her eyes opened to stare up at him quietly. She looked a touch better than when he had left, but he came forward with the small glass vial anyway. He held it out to her wordlessly, merely staring at her until she took it from him. His arms crossed over his chest, his expression a frown until she unstopped it and put it to her lips to drink. 'URG!!!!' she choked out as the first taste slithered down her throat. 'Ye gods, that's vile! Are you sure you're not trying to poison me?'
'Were I trying to poison you, you can be assured that I would not just hand it to you. At any rate, I prefer to look at my victim when I kill him,' he replied in an emotionless tone. She wasn't sure if he were joking or not, so she let it go for the moment. Her gaze fixed on the vial in her hand. This had to qualify as cruel and unusual punishment somewhere. If only she could distract him a moment, she could dispense with the offensive potion without him knowing she'd not drunk it. 'You will have to take that sooner or later, as I have no intention of moving until you do. The faster it's over and done with, the better you'll feel,' he commented lazily, as if he had read her mind.
Screwing up her face in disgust, she lifted the vial to her lips once again. He watched her silently as she swallowed the golden colored potion down in a hurry. Her eyes scrunched up and her lips formed a series of complex and distracting movements as she handed him the empty container. He took it from her, nodding at her compliance in a faintly superior manner. She frowned at him, then a thought occured to her. 'You didn't put anything else in there, did you?' she asked him suspiciously.
' I use a bloody truth serum once. Once! And you'll never let me live it down! Do you distrust me that much?' he snapped angrily, sounding very much like her Potions teacher from school instead of her lover. She grinned at him to let him know she intended to dangle that particular sin in front of him as long as she could get away with it.
' I wouldn't say I distrust you. I just do not completely trust you. Now answer my question, please,' she returned, her grin replaced by a flat expression. He scowled down at her for a moment, trying unsuccessfully to intimidate her. She crossed her arms over her chest, then yawned sleepily. She continued to stare at him, despite the fact that her eyelids were growing heavier. She yawned again, then shot him her own scowl. His face never changed as he watched her until she fell into a deep, charm enhanced slumber. He had no guilt over slipping it into her potion. She did, after all need her sleep to combat the bug she'd picked up.
' It is wise that you do not fully trust me, brat. I'm not a man to be trusted,' he chuckled as he stepped out of the bedroom. He had things he needed doing, and he wouldn't be able to perform them if he had to concern himself with Kendra's well being.
~*~*~*~*~
The room was illuminated by a pair of candles, one on either side of the bed. As Kendra sat up and stretched, she noticed the trunks that had been sitting in her flat earlier that day. They were set neatly against the far wall, awaiting her attention. A great wicker basket sat atop one of the trunks. She smiled and called out, 'Wickersham!'
A huge ball of black fur launched itself upon the bed, landing in her lap. The cat purred loudly, voicing his joy at seeing her. She scratched him behind his ears and under his chin. He, in turn, soaked up the attention he felt was his due in as regal a manner as he could manage. Severus had gone and retrieved her things from her flat for her, including her only companion of the last year. She wasn't sure what had prompted him to go a fetch everything for her, but it didn't matter. She found the gesture sweet. She'd never tell him that, though. He'd likely skin her alive for even saying such a thing.
Pushing His Royal Pain in the Arse cat out of her lap, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. She felt a little wobbly, but better than when she had first stepped out of the hearth. He had obviously used a cleaning charm, because her hair was once again soft and squeaky clean. The door to the room was cracked a bit, telling her that Severus had wanted to ensure she slept peacefully yet be able to hear her if she needed him for something. She pulled the door open and stepped out into the living area. He sat on his leather sofa, a book held up before him as he read. Until Wickersham jumped into his lap and butted the book away with his broad black head. 'Oh, you're out here to make my life hell again, are you?'
'Me-row,' the tom said disdainfully. Snape sighed and pushed the furry body from his lap.
'Oh, good. Does that mean it's my turn to sit upon your lap?' Kendra asked softly. His head turned toward the sound of her voice. She offered him a faint smile.
' I suppose you may sit in my lap, if you insist,' he gave a long suffering sigh. She grinned and moved toward him. His hands were there to assist her down onto his lap. She curled herself up, tucking her feet under her legs. She rested her head against his shoulder, her arms linking about his neck as she sighed contentedly.
The faint scent of Victorian roses tickled his nose, wafting up from her hair as she nestled into him. His gut clenched as hot need rolled through him. He'd been too long without a woman before she'd come along. When he'd brought her back to Hogwarts the first time, he'd reveled in the notion that he could have her when ever, where ever he wanted her. When she had gone, his body had registered many long, loud complaints to the fact that he was no longer exercising regularly, Kendra's body being his play ground. Her unique fragrance had clung to his bed sheets, bringing illicit dreams with them. His body had hungered for her for the entire month she'd been in London. Even mass quantities of alcohol hadn't helped curb his desire for her.
Now she was back and her unique scent, made up of the first hints of spring combined with the roses, clinging to her hair was driving him over the edge. His body was reacting in the only way it knew how. Or even wanted to. It was growing hard beneath her curved bottom. He bit off his groan, wondering if she thought he was as lacking in self control as he did. Her head shifted under his chin. She was looking up at his face. He didn't dare look at her. He'd lose his restraint if he did.
Her tongue licked a path along the edge of his tightly clamped jaws. He groaned. His arms closed about her body, crushing her against him. She wiggled her backside against his lap, teasing his rock hard cock. 'We shouldn't do this, Kendra,' his voice came out strained.
'Why not?' she asked simply, drawing back some so she could look into his face. His eyes were closed, his lips compressed.
'Because, it wasn't all that long ago that you were kneeling over my toilet, vomiting like an athlete in an Olympic game,' he replied steadily. Through his tightly clenched teeth.
' I feel much better. And it's obvious you missed me as much as I missed you,' she whispered at him. Her hand found one of his, moved it so that it cupped her full breast. It was heavy in his palm, the peaked nipple stabbing his flesh in invitation. His fingers curled around the prize in his hand without permission from his brain. He was ready to pull back when said muscle decided to start speaking to him again. ~Leave off, you prat! You know you want this as much as the rest of you does.~
The illogic of that statement was enough to make his head pound with one hell of a headache. His brain had to be inhaling the fumes from his potions, because the last thing it had said had made absolutely no sense. He groaned, wondering if St. Mungo's would hold a bed for him. He was beginning to think he would need it. Surely no one else's brain spoke to them the way his did. Or even at all. He had to be losing his mind.
His thoughts of insanity were shattered apart when Kendra slipped from his lap, going to her knees on the carpeting in front of him. His eyes goggled as her hands reached for the fly on his trousers. She obviously lacked common sense. She should be in bed, resting. Didn't she know that? ~She obviously does. It appears she's trying to get you there, as well. Why are you fighting her? Why not?.....~
'Right, you! Enough of this! Piss off!' he growled out loud. Kendra looked up at him, startled. A moment later, her face took on a hurt look and he groaned when he realized she thought he had been talking to her. His hands reached out for her, pulling her close to him so he could give her a squeeze. 'Not you. It's my..... oh bugger. I doubt you'll take me at my word. But I swear I was not talking to you.'
' If not me, who? Certainly not Wickersham? I don't see that he's done anything,' she looked at him expectantly. He sighed, raking a hand through his hair absently.
' I know this will sound so stupid that you'll most likely have my arse carted off to St. Mungo's. But it's the truth. I was talking to my...... my brain,' he finally finished, his voice barely above an ashamed whisper. He didn't look at her, waiting for her laughter to ring out over the room. Instead, she merely chuckled and returned her attention to his fly.
'Then they shall have to cart my arse off with yours. I seem to experience the same troubles with mine,' she said as her fingers pulled the zip down. He stared down at her bent head, wondering if she were only humoring him. ' In fact, just this afternoon when we were at The Leaky Cauldron, my brain was dancing about like a crazy person, singing a childish song to itself. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who has a very opinionated mind.'
By the time she had finished her statement, her hand was curled around his cock. He sucked a breath, his hips arching toward her questing fingers. She leaned forward, her lips pressing a tiny kiss into the head of his erection. He curled his hands into her hair, wondering if she were only going to tease him. Her mouth opened, sent a puff of hot air across his engorged shaft. He jerked in her hands for a moment before her lips closed over the head.
He groaned again, longer and louder than the previous one. She went down his shaft as far as she could, until his head rested against the back of her throat. Then she pulled away, stroking her tongue along his entire rigid length. His hips thrust upward, shoving himself into her mouth deeply. Her hands curled about his thighs to steady herself, then she began bobbing, keeping a slow, sure pace that was making him crazy with the need to bury himself inside of her.
Her mouth was hot and tight and moist around his hard cock. She kept a steady rhythm, never slowing down so he could lose the feeling of euphoria that was beginning, but never speeding up so he could reach his orgasm. She was torturing him with her slowness. He couldn't take it any longer. Letting lose a feral growl, he pulled her off of him by her hair. None too gently.
She didn't complain, seemed to be as excited by it as he was. He stood so he could shuck his trousers. Her jeans followed shortly after. He dropped back down onto his sofa, his hands about her waist to pull her down after him. She landed on his lap. The heat of her pussy was pressed against his thigh. He flexed his leg, grinding the hard muscle against her core. She moaned and wordlessly lifted her hips. His hands acted as a guide, positioning her center over the head of his cock.
She lowered herself onto him, groaning happily as he filled and stretched her. His head stabbed at her as he began to slowly rock his hips. Her hands found his thighs, settled over them to balance herself and began thrusting herself up and down the length of him. His hands wrapped themselves about her hips, helping guide her movements.
Kendra knew she shouldn't be doing this. The two of them should have spent the evening really getting to know one another. Getting settled, as it were. But the feel of his cock hardening against her bottom had stripped away some of her resolve. The highly erotic scent rolling off him, old leather and spicy liquor, had made her stomach tighten. Desire had welled up like water from a broken pipe. And the only thing she'd been capable of thinking was of feeling him push himself inside of her.
'Harder,' she whispered. His hands went under her shirt, pulling her bra away from her breasts so he could cup them. Run his thumbs over her tight nipples. His hips rocked up, stroking his cock hard and deep and fast. She bounced her hips up and down on his shaft, her bottom smacking loudly against his legs in the silence of the room.
She drove herself down onto his plunging erection, groaning loudly and muttering obscene things to him under her breath. He was already swelling within her, preparing for his orgasm. One of his hands left her breasts, slipped between her thighs. Her clit was slickened with her juices. He flicked his finger over it, making her body shudder. Several more hard flicks had her hips bucking against his, straining for release. 'Please!' she moaned, the tightening in her belly and thighs telling her she was nearly there.
His thumb took the place of his finger, grinding on the nub of flesh. She wailed loudly, her back going rigid. His hips continued slamming his cock up into her, allowing the contracting of her muscled walls to milk him into his own climax. They both slipped over the edge together, sharing the gloriously mind numbing experience of simultaneous orgasm.
As the glow wore off, Severus leaned back against the sofa behind him, his arms automatically holding Kendra up in his lap. She had gone limp and was now merely trying to catch her breath. Her body shook with after shocks. He pulled her into his lap, settling her body against him. She was nicely flushed, and both were sweating.
'That was.....' he never got to finish his sentence. An owl swooped out of his fire place to land on the seat next to him. A small, rolled up piece of parchment was tied to the bird's leg. Snape sighed and pulled the ribbon holding the note in place. The owl blinked at him as he unrolled it and read the words it contained. A muttered curse escaped him mouth before he summoned a quill with his free hand. He scribbled a hastily written reply, then rolled and retied the note. The owl disappeared the way he had come.
'Severus?' Kendra's voice was breathy as she spoke.
'That was a summons from the Headmaster. We are expected to attend the evening meal,' he replied, lifting her into his arms as he stood.
'We? Don't you mean you? Can't you ignore it?' she asked as she snuggled against his chest. All she wanted was to curl up with him in the bed and continue what they had just started. She had alot of time to make up for.
'No, brat. I mean we. He's most certainly demanded that we attend. I'm afraid that I cannot say no,' he set her on her feet once they reached the bedroom. ' I would recommend you clean yourself up and get dressed. Unless you intend to go to the Great Hall like this?'
She blushed as he looked her over. His voice held a certain amount of suggestive warmth in it that deepened the blush. She shook her head and hurried to make herself presentable. She'd known she would have to face Dumbledore eventually, but certainly not this soon. She wanted a shower, but settled for a cleansing charm instead. There wasn't enough time for a shower, given that Severus was already cleaned and dressed.
Kendra opened a trunk and pulled out a set of robes in a deep yellow orange. The color of flame. She slipped them on, making sure to finger comb her hair into some semblance of order. When she had completed her impromptu toilet, she turned to find him watching her. He nodded his approval and lead her from the room.
Her nerves flared to life as she trailed behind him, through the corridors of the dungeons toward the upper floors and, eventually, the Great Hall. She was not looking forward to this meeting. She had been a quiet, mousy, model student. Now she was here as a wanton sex goddess. That certainly wouldn't look good to her former Headmaster. And all the others on staff as well. 'Bloody hell!' she muttered under her breath, her gaze fixed on her feet. She ran straight into Snape's back when he stopped.
'Do watch where you're going! he snapped at her irritably. She looked up into his face, completely lacking an expression, and stuck her tongue out at him. He stared at her as if she'd lost her mind.
'Piss off,' she hissed. He frowned a moment before she gave an exasperated sigh. 'Oh, for the love of the gods! Get a sense of humor, won't you? I'm as bloody nervous as you are. Snapping my head off won't make it any less difficult for you. Let's just get this over with so we can go back to the dungeons where I'll have you at my mercy.'
That got a smile out of him. He heaved his own sigh, then straighted his all black robes. She grinned at him, leaning up to place a kiss on his cheek. 'You look bloody handsome. Let's go, then.' He nodded and pushed the doors open, allowing her to step in before him. All eyes in the room were glued to the two of them as they approached the staff table.
She couldn't help but notice the smiles on both Dumbledore's and McGonagall's faces. The others in the room were staring at Snape in a sort of disbelieving horror. He gave them a very typical snarl and headed for his usual place at the table. An extra chair was pulled up next to his, on the side closest to all the teachers. Obviously where they wanted Kendra to sit.
The two of them took their seats and food magically appeared on the platters before them. As she eyed all the savory morsels of sustanence, she felt her stomach turn over on itself. The thought of eating was suddenly tossed aside. She certainly didn't want a repeat performance of earlier. If Severus thought that she needed more sleep, he'd potion or charm her to sleep and not feel guilty. And the last thing she wanted was for him to do that to her again.
She took small bits of food, not noticing that several people were watching her as she moved the little pieces around on her plate, pretending to eat them. A few morsels made it into her mouth, but they sat in her stomach like lead. The meal had been underway for some time before the Headmaster broke the strained silence. 'Miss MacLeod, I believe. You graduated last year. If I remember correctly, you outscored Miss Granger in just about every class you took.'
'Yes sir, Professor. You remember correctly,' Kendra nodded, pushing her plate away. Severus watched, noticing she'd barely touched her food. He glanced at her as she stared at Dumbledore, his look of concern not going unnoticed. 'Thank you for inviting me to join you for dinner.'
'Nonsense,' Dumbledore smiled, the twinkle in his eye flashing as he spoke. ' It wouldn't be fare to leave you locked up in the dungeons while Severus came and ate with us.' No one at the table missed that the two of them had gotten decidedly paler at the remark.
'You're looking well, Kendra,' McGonagall winked at her. Kendra managed a faint smile. She was beginning to feel that the whole mess was putting her off her food. Her stomach seemed to be churning, and oddly, her head felt fuzzy. She reached for the glass goblet of water by her plate, her hand shaking ever so slightly. Severus had to put it in her hand to keep her from knocking it over. She took a sip, then looked to him.
' I'm sorry, but I think I might need to go lay down. I'm suddenly not feeling all that well,' she told Snape softly. His black gaze studied her carefully for a moment or two, then he nodded and stood from his chair. 'Once again, thank you for inviting me. Unfortunately, I've not been feeling well as of late, and I think I need to go lay down for a short while.'
'Let me escort you,' Severus took her elbow in his hand. She was looking terribly pale, and he intended to see her to the dungeons, to make sure she got there alright.
'No, I'm fine. I can manage. I would hate to pull you away from your meal. Stay and enjoy yourself,' she encouraged, a faint smile hovering about her lips. He shook his head, his mouth tightening into the thin line it took when he was losing his patience. 'Severus, please. This is awkward enough as it is. I can manage, I swear.'
He stood by the table, the expression on his face telling her he wasn't convinced. But he let her elbow go. She did manage two complete steps before her body crumpled. He was barely in time to catch her before she hit the stone floor. Scooping her unconscious form up into his arms, he stalked for the doors. He could hear chairs scraping the floor behind him, but paid no attention. Instead of turning for his dungeons, he turned the opposite direction and made his way to the hospital wing. Poppy was almost always there, even when classes were not in session. He was sure he'd find her in residence now.
~*~*~*~*
Kendra came awake slowly, feeling the softness of a mattress beneath her back. A cold compress had been applied to her forehead, and the blankets were tucked about her. She still felt fuzzy and light headed, but the nausea was gone. Small blessing, but better than none. She could hear faint voices a few feet away, and had to strain to hear them. She knew one of the voices well. Severus was arguing heatedly with someone.
'Well, can you tell me how long this sickness will last? Honestly, Poppy! You're being purposely obtuse, and I've no patience for it tonight,' he snapped. Poppy? Madam Pomfrey? She stole a glance about and realized she'd finally made it to the hospital wing.
'Calm down, Severus! One would think you would know by now that your tempers don't scare me one bit! If you would give me a moment, I will answer your questions,' the medi witch told him, her tone conveying that she was in charge here.
'Do go on, then, oh knowledgable one!' he sneered as he made a mocking bow. Poppy ignored his behavior and gave him a sharp look.
'Well, based on what you told me, I performed several tests and they all point to the same thing,' she told him, waiting to see if the thick headed lout would catch on.
'AND?' he demanded after several moments of silence. Obviously not. She sighed and shook her head.
' I've honestly got to wonder how you managed to get yourself a woman, as brainless as you appear to be,' Poppy told him, pushing on before he could make another remark. 'All I can say is it might be best if you find other accommodations for you and her, Severus. A dungeon is no place for a child.'
'Are you daft, woman? The Slytherin House is down there, along with plenty of classrooms! Children are perfectly well left to wander those halls! Besides, Kendra is no child in need of being raised! Not that I asked for your opinion on the subject! And there's no need, what so ever, for you to point out the difference in our ages. I'm perfectly aware of that, thank you.'
Poppy rolled her eyes in exasperation, then grabbed the man by his robes and jerked him down until their faces were eye to eye. 'How can such an excellent teacher be this dim? Are you completely cracked? Kendra is pregnant, you half wit! She's going to have a baby!'
'Baby?' he asked shrilly. 'Are you certain?'
'Yes, Severus. I'm certain. Congratulations. You're going to be a father,' Poppy said, wondering why women were the ones with all the brains.
'How could this have bloody happened?' he demanded, shouting the words at Poppy as if the entire thing were her fault.
'Severus Snape, if you don't know that by now, you've no business bedding that girl! Or any other!' Their voices faded into the back ground as Kendra pondered what she had just heard.
'A baby?' Kendra whispered to herself. She was pregnant? How on earth had that happened? ~If you don't know,~ her brain said snottishly. ~I'm certainly not telling!~ She was going to have a baby!
'Holy bajeebers!' her voice echoed quietly through the air.......
end chapter fourteen.
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