Solitude
Chapter 22 of 26
HechiceraA witch from the Andean altiplano arrives at Hogwarts to teach DADA. Culture clash, conflict, and smut ensue.
ReviewedA/N:
Thanks to my patient beta and Britpicker, RedSkyAtNight, coiner of the immortal phrase, “wank venue of choice.”
They dressed in silence, and he pulled her back onto his lap and kissed the top of her head. She sat for a few minutes with her arms about his neck and her face against his chest.
After a while he said, “We’ve missed dinner.”
She looked up. “They will be wondering where we are.”
“Perhaps not. You’ve got quite a set of lungs.”
Taking a key from his coat pocket, he handed it to her and said, “Go back to my rooms. I’ll go down to the kitchens and see if Morven can organize us something to eat.”
She had never been inside his rooms at the school before. They were much as she expected them to be: spare, and tidy except for the abundance of books stacked on every available surface.
Without hesitation she went directly to his bedroom, consumed with curiosity about this most private of spaces. It was stark to the point of asceticism, with only a dresser, a wardrobe, and a bed with a small table to one side of it. There were no pictures or other adornments on the wall, and the bed was covered with a simple dark-colored counterpane. Knowing that he would hate this invasion of his privacy but unable to resist the temptation, she rifled quickly through the dresser drawers. No surprises there: a modest supply of unremarkable, neatly folded clothing; a wand case with several spare wands in it; a velvet box containing a pair of worn gold cufflinks. Inside the wardrobe there was a set of dress robes, two identical black everyday cloaks, a heavy overcoat, two pairs of black shoes, and a pair of boots.
She opened the drawer of the small bedside table and got a considerable shock.
There were only two objects in the drawer, and one of them was a thick plait of black hair, fastened at the fatter end with a scrap of black ribbon, and at the other with a small gold clip in the shape of a jaguar, with emeralds for eyes.
Stunned, she sat down abruptly on the bed, and looked at the plait. There was still a faint scorched smell about it, and she could see the singed ends above the black ribbon.
“Having a look round?”
She gave a guilty start. She had not heard Snape come in, but he was standing in the doorway holding a tray of sandwiches. She opened her mouth to deny it, but the Veritaserum was evidently not yet gone from her system, because what she said was, “Yes. I was curious.”
“Find anything interesting?”
“You know that I did.”
When he did not reply, she said, “How do you come to have this?”
He set the tray of sandwiches on the dresser, and said, “After the duel, when they carried you away to hospital, it was left there on the table. I took it.”
She paused for a moment to absorb the implications of this statement, and it was only then that she noticed the other object in the drawer. It was a small bottle, the twin of the one he had Summoned from the potions cabinet not an hour before. She picked it up, removed the stopper, and poured into her hand a few drops of the same slippery liquid.
She looked up at him. “What you did to me, in the classroom, had you been planning it?”
“No. Thinking about it, imagining it . . . but not planning it.”
Suddenly she understood, and almost laughed aloud.
“So what is this doing here?” she asked innocently, holding up the little bottle.
She could see him struggling, and losing, against the diminished but still adequate level of Veritaserum in his blood. Clearly hating the words, but powerless to keep himself from uttering them, he said, “I use it when I’m by myself.”
“What for?”
“You know what for.”
“Tell me.”
“To have a wank.”
“To have a what?”
“You know. To make myself come.”
“And when you do that,” she said wickedly, “what do you think of?”
“You, mostly.” He was red with embarrassment. “Fucking you.”
She was enjoying herself mightily. Then his eyes met hers, and his look of discomfiture was replaced by a slow smile. “And you?” he asked, coming over to sit next to her on the bed. “Do you think of me and touch yourself when you’re alone in bed at night?”
“No,” she answered truthfully, and then was unable to prevent herself from adding, “I do it in the bath.”
He pushed her down on the bed, sliding his hand up under her shirt. “I know where there’s an excellent bath,” he said.
“Severus!” she laughed. “Get off me!”
“Why?”
“Because I am hungry. What did you do with those sandwiches?”
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Latest 25 Reviews for Soroche
75 Reviews | 5.52/10 Average
Definitely one of the more unusual stories I've read, but i liked it very much, particularly them telling sirius that they were married lol. Glad it had a happy ending also!
"You should have told me."
Told him what? That she was pregnant, or that by doing the mental-link magic she'd be flung into this dreamworld, almost not getting out of it? Or did Snape really only killed Voldemort at the cost of his own life?
Lovely story.
Beautiful story. I'm. Not usually a reader of Snape paired with and OC but Rawa was a fascinating and believable character.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Oh wow, thank you so much! Lucky for me, I wrote this story before I was ever involved in the fandom or had read any fanfic at all. If I had, I'd have known how averse people are to reading SS/OFCs because of the prevalence of Mary Sues, and I'd probably have lost my nerve and/or second-guessed every line. As it was, I toiled on in blissful ignorance.
Response from Ljpjcg (Reviewer)
No, I think it was fantastic and I'm glad you shared this. She had many facets and her life was very interesting to read about.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Oh wow, thank you so much! Lucky for me, I wrote this story before I was ever involved in the fandom or had read any fanfic at all. If I had, I'd have known how averse people are to reading SS/OFCs because of the prevalence of Mary Sues, and I'd probably have lost my nerve and/or second-guessed every line. As it was, I toiled on in blissful ignorance.
Response from Ljpjcg (Reviewer)
No, I think it was fantastic and I'm glad you shared this. She had many facets and her life was very interesting to read about.
*snip*Dear Miss Akapana,I am writing to offer you the position of Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts for the coming academic year, as word of your extraordinary talents has reached my ear.* It is rumoured, for example, that you possess the power to compel truthfulness; such a skill would likely prove quite valuable when dealing with the garden-variety magus adolescens. I would be remiss in my duties if I failed to advise you that we have had some difficulty in keeping this position filled during the past decade: more than one of your predecessors has unfortunately lasted less than a year. However, I feel certain that if your magical abilities are as your reputation has led me to believe, you will have an excellent chance of success.If you are agreed, I will send a conveyance for you at your earliest convenience.Sincerely yours,Albus DumbledoreHeadmaster*I cannot imagine why it has reached one ear and not the other, but there you have it. HAHAHAHAHA! That is AWESOME! LOVE IT! 
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Why, thank you! I tried to make it appropriately Dumbledore-y.
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
It IS! So perfect! Love that bearded wizard!
Response from Fishy (Reviewer)
Oh - and you're quite brave to introduce ayahuasca into your fic. I spent a summer in Peru and that vine is some NASTY stuff!
fascinating plan, I love how Rawa wants to believe in Snape, but no wonder she's concerned.
“Come with me, dear,” she said. “You and I need to have a talk with Dumbledore.” oh my, yes she does.
“When you sacrifice the losers on big stone pyramids,” she said. ROFL, she does have a point. Isn't there some question about whether it was the losers or the winners that were sacrificed?
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Indeed there is--but I'm taking license to decide that Rawa has inside info.
Way to get Ron ferretboy behaving. Snicker
I thought I envied the magical folk for Reparo and Evanesco, but a mosquito repelling charm? Want.I love the interaction between Rawa and Sev, her pov on his nose is hysterical and good for her sniping back at him.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
I can't tell you how pleased I am that Soroche is getting a read!
Poor Hagrid, he did ok in the mountains going to see the giants, but then he walked so there was time to adjust.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Well, also the Andes are much taller than any mountains anywhere in the UK. Cotopaxi--which is where the Yachay Wasi school is located--is 5000 metres high.Worst. Headache. Ever.
What a fascinating character your Rawa is, I'm sure she'll make quite the impression on Hogwarts.
Better. And try to remember that my name is Esnep. He's gotten to like it, hasn't he? that's so cute :o)
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
At least he's paying attention!
Brutally honest description of one approach to teaching - a female version of Snape. Given the view of professors in canon and film, Ron's observation seems dead on. Hence, establishment of authority by penalizing those who vocalize the obvious. Shades of Umbridge. This is assuming you wish to display a character defect of the protagonist. Cannot rate this chapter because it is not clear this is intended as a character defect.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Nope, not intended as a character defect at all. She's not punishing Ron for stating the obvious--she's punishing him for saying something disrespectful and inappropriate to the venue.When I was teaching high school, I would definitely have called a student out for remarking audibly that I was fuck-worthy.I don't see it as Umbridge-like at all.
Hagrid rides a flying motorcycle, but gets soroche? Perhaps the Aviation Regulatory Agencies class him as General Aviation and restrict him to below 5000 feet. Good touch with the finches and Filch. And she has brought a lovely assortment of hallucinogens and poisons. Good frisson at the end.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
I always figured Hagrid flew pretty low to the ground on the motorcycle--at any rate, nowhere near Cotopaxi's 19,000 feet.
A development chapter, but it still manages some drama. I take it the humor is that our heroine can understand American-style English.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Well, it's more that she can understand standard "textbook" versions of English, but not Hagrid's rather intense regional dialect. A bit like someone who had learned Spanish in school faced with someone speaking Argentine Lunfardo.
A powerful opening. Different.
Just found your story through Thanfiction-he drew a stunning picture from your story and I was fascinated and had to come see what it was about. This first chapter is amazing. While I am not very versed in South American lore, everything you have written so far has sounded right, has had the weight of a fully realized world and culture and is so different that what one normally finds in HP fanfiction. I love this line ____________________________________________________ What was a conveyance? she wondered. Another letter? Some kind of contract? Well, it hardly mattered—she had no intention of traveling half the world away to teach in a language that made her teeth hurt. _____________________________________________________ It made me laugh and it rings true.I love your discription of the condor, that he does not speak like a human would, that he is the voice in her head as well as his own powerful entity. And this sobered and warmed me at the same time___________________________________________________________________ Daughter, you know that no one is ever told when and where they are to die. __________________________________________________________________ Finally, I love that it costs something to use magic, to reach the spirit realm. It sounds weird that the high point of this chapter for me was her vomiting in the snow but, there you go. Wonderful chapter and I am heading on to the next with high hopes!
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Woot! I was so thrilled to get to the top of the commission queue and get that picture, but it honestly never occurred to me that it would result in more people reading my fic! Because it's an OC fic, it doesn't get a whole lot of exposure. Serendipity!I'm so glad you liked it, and thanks for the details. I researched this fic for several years before starting to write it, and the cultural and linguistic informatin is as accurate as I can possibly make it.
Lovely ending! Lovely! Original work? Plz?
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Thank you so much!Not sure I know what you're asking there?
Response from Pyttan (Reviewer)
Sorry about that; I blame my swedishness. I'm not always clear on all the english stuff. Have you got a story hidden somewhere here, that is all your own? You know, whithout borrowing the characters from the divine Rowlings? I absolutly think you are good enough, you see, and since I like your stuff I would like to read it. Yes I am shamelessly flattering you, so I can get to more of your stuff.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Ooh, flattery, my favorite. More, please!Thank you so much! I don't, at the moment, have anything finished. But I'm working on it. Are you in LJ?
Response from Pyttan (Reviewer)
LJ? No. I have no idea what that might be?
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
LiveJournal. Get thee thither.
Response from Pyttan (Reviewer)
I'm now thither, what to do now I wonder?
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Friend up. See you over there :-)
Great finish. Simple and understated, but perfect. :)
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Thank you.It's hard to let them go.
I think of the line from that song as it applies to Rowlings Severus Snape ...A man gets tied up to the ground, He gives the world its saddest sound, its saddest sound...mmmm.Lovely love story!
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Thank you so much--I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Aha! More is explained...so that's why Severus deviated from his usual custom by asking to use the pool when he requested the services of Malavi at The Wayward Wand. He was trying to recreate the scene of Rawa in the bath as closely as possible so that he could act out what he had wanted to do at the time...although it's not quite clear why he chose a cold pool instead of a hot bath. As I already noted when I left a review for The Wayward Wand, he must have chosen Malavi because she of all the women probably looks most like Rawa with olive skin and straight black hair.
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Well, the bath at Hogwarts was more like a pool in size, if not in temperature. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Scary! Hope he gets back in time! :)
Response from Hechicera (Author of Soroche)
Do you doubt him for a single moment?