Chapter Forty-Seven: Exotic Concoctions

Rated for some sexually explicit language and a very brief sexually explicit scene about two-thirds of the way through the chapter.

PART FIVE

Chapter Forty-Seven: Exotic Concoctions

Thursday, 11 March – Friday, 12 March 1999

Severus lay in bed, attempting to blank his mind and fall asleep. But every time he began to relax, a witch's face popped into his head, and not the one he would have expected. He had been worried about Hermione. He was still worried about her. He was almost certain that he was in love with her. But it was Poppy's face that kept returning to his thoughts. And not just her face. Her breasts, her legs, and everything in between. Her face as she smiled at him, her face as she came, her face as she laughed, and her face as she wept for him. Most especially, though, her face as she came. Despite having had sex with Gareth earlier in the evening, he felt his cock react to the thought of Poppy coming, Poppy coming with his cock in her, Poppy coming with his fingers in her, Poppy coming with his tongue on her clit. It was all Minerva's fault. She shouldn't have mentioned that Poppy might like to spend more time with him. He just might have to begin practising Occlusion regularly again if he couldn't get such images and thoughts out of his mind.

They had an agreement, and that was that. It wouldn't be a smart thing to let it happen again, even if they were tempted. And he would be sure to avoid any temptations. Besides, if he even made a move toward her now, she might misinterpret it after what he had accidentally blurted out the last time they'd made love. And if she approached him, that would be more worrisome. She might hope that he had meant it and be looking for something he couldn't give her. That was unlikely, though...she'd probably be more worried that he had meant it. She could never really want to be with him, a former Death Eater, with all of his psychic baggage, moral debts, and emotional problems. It was good that he wasn't in love with her, he thought; it would be far harder for him if he were. He was grateful she had spent any time with him at all.

It had been a peculiar, spontaneous thing, their getting together, Severus mused. She hadn't even thought of him that way before he had flirted with her, he was sure, and he certainly hadn't thought of her that way until Gareth mentioned her attractiveness. She had become highly sexually attractive to him, but his feelings toward her hadn't changed, not really. He did like her, of course, but she was still just the warm-hearted mediwitch who had taken care of him when he had needed her professional services, a colleague who was somewhat more congenial to spend time with than others, a friend who was understanding and affectionate; that was all. Even though she was dead sexy. And even though he really wanted to be with her again, fall asleep with her in his arms, and wake up with her beside him.

His attraction for Poppy wasn't like it had been with Minerva, he thought, when he had suddenly discovered her attractiveness at the same time he discovered that he loved her. He still did love Minerva, very much, and always would. And she still was somewhat attractive to him. Oddly, though, he thought that even if Albus really were dead, he wouldn't want a romantic relationship with Minerva. He didn't think they were actually compatible enough to be lovers in a long-term relationship...although if she ever needed his help, he would give it. Of course, Minerva didn't feel the same about him as he did about her, and that probably played a role in his feelings, too. She was still a good friend, though, and despite the fact that he would have preferred not to discuss either Hermione or Poppy with her, at least not right then, it had been kind of her to be concerned about him.

Poppy, on the other hand . . . she really was very attractive to him in a very basic way, even if he hadn't discovered that until recently. Severus suspected that, although the Adfectus had only revealed to him that he loved Minerva deeply and truly and had not itself manufactured the love, there was some aspect of the spell that had encouraged or enhanced his physical attraction to her, perhaps not manufacturing the attraction, but magnifying it. He doubted that he would have ever become so aware of her as a sexually attractive witch if he had discovered his love for her in a more normal, ordinary way...whatever that might mean for a wizard as confused as he was and as bitter and aloof from others as he had been for so much of his life.

With Poppy, however, his experience was almost the opposite: he had come to like and respect her during his time at Hogwarts, and his affection for her had grown over the past couple of years. He had been aware of this, but hadn't really thought much about it until he had discovered his attraction to her. Their physical intimacy had unveiled the depth of the affection he already felt for her, and this new aspect of their relationship...temporary though it was...had certainly enhanced his regard for her, and it had brought him to feel even closer to her. A sense of warmth and tenderness came over him as he thought of being closer to Poppy, both emotionally and physically.

It was just as well that they weren't going to continue their fling, or he would begin to fancy himself in love with her, Severus thought as he fell asleep, but he would still miss it.

Severus opened the door for Hermione as they left the Three Broomsticks. It had been somewhat awkward, particularly when he repaid her Muggle money, reminding them both of their single date, but then they began to discuss their day, and they both relaxed a little. Hermione was trying to decide whether or not she should forego the classes that she had thought she would take during the summer. Alroy told her that she would never make any progress in her Animagus training if she didn't have more time to devote to it, and was encouraging her not to take any Muggle classes over the summer but to spend the time working with him.

Severus felt that his decision not to date Hermione helped him to give her better advice, thinking about what was best for her rather than considering what would be better for him, or whom he would prefer Hermione to be spending her time with. He encouraged her to concentrate on her Animagus training. Muggle classes could wait. He was also no longer as jealous of Alroy now that he realised that he was married and about to become a father. Not that that would stop some wizards from making a play for an attractive young witch whom they were mentoring, but he didn't think that Alroy was that sort. Besides, he had other friends of his own now; Hermione wasn't his sole friend...and if he hadn't lost her friendship after having aborted their dating, he felt fairly confident that she would remain his friend even whilst they each spent time with others.

As they walked down the high street toward the lane that led to Professor Gamp's house, Severus asked Hermione if she would like to do anything else that evening, but she said that she had had a long week and she wanted a quiet, early night.

"You are really feeling better, though?" Severus asked.

"Yes, just fine. I think it was from having done too many Animagus exercises yesterday afternoon and then Apparating all the way to London immediately after. I woke up feeling fine this morning, although Gareth still made me take it easy today. I always thought that apprenticeships were supposed to be something more like indentured servitude with some educational benefits, but he's very flexible with my schedule, even if he is a bit rigid about what he has me doing. I am learning a lot, though. I have to say that I think that Arithmancy is highly underutilised. And the commissions we get tend to be very unimaginative. Of course, I don't think that Gareth particularly tries to get work."

"The Ministry uses it. I don't know to what extent, but they have an Arithmancer in each Department, I believe. I think that the Department of Mysteries has several, but as they are the Department of Mysteries and highly secretive, that is pure speculation."

"I doubt that they are any more imaginative at the Ministry than most other people are, and it certainly didn't seem to inform any of their decisions during the war. You can make great demands of Arithmancy; it has so much potential."

"But the results are complex and require interpretation, which most people don't have the patience for, preferring divination...and without sufficient information, or with some key fact unknown, Arithmancy is no better than reading tea leaves."

"That's not so. You can do magical transmutations, and you can do reductions and expansions on the calculations. You can even ask your calculation to reveal unknown variables...you might never discover what the variable is, but you know it's there and that it is influencing events. I'm learning how to do those operations right now. Arithmancy is a powerful tool. It helped save your life, Severus."

"You, Minerva, Albus, and the Healers saved my life. But I am glad that you enjoy Arithmancy, Hermione."

They reached the gate to the property.

"Thank you for having dinner with me, Hermione. I hope you have a good weekend."

"I think it will be, although I had wanted to go to the Quidditch match and see Ginny play, but after not doing very much today, I'd rather not ask Gareth for the time to go."

"It would probably please Miss Weasley if you were there."

"We'll see. Good night, Severus. Maybe we will see each other sometime next week."

"Yes, that would be nice. I have duties, of course, but perhaps one evening."

"We could get Gareth to come with us. I think he gets bored. He's done so many interesting things in exotic places in the world, and now he's in Hogsmeade living with his mum and supervising me."

"Yes, if he likes." The three of them hadn't gone out together in a couple months. "Good night, Hermione."

Severus walked for a few minutes before Apparating to the Hogwarts gates. He felt peculiarly deflated. It had been a perfectly nice evening, but something had changed. It was as though once he had admitted to Hermione that he wanted to date her and yet they weren't dating, his anticipatory pleasure was diminished. He thought that she was also a little distant, though he could hardly blame her for that. But this was supposed to have been a date. He should have found some nice secluded spot to do a little romancing at about this point of the evening, trying to get beyond the first kiss to something more, perhaps touching her thigh beneath her skirt...though she had been wearing jeans that evening...or trying to caress her breast. Instead, they'd had a quick meal at the Three Broomsticks and he had walked her home and left her at the gate to the house. They had scarcely even touched on anything personal at all in their conversations that evening.

Gareth had said that things might be awkward for a while. That was probably all it was. It had still been nice to see her.

He entered the castle and ran into Pomona Sprout, almost literally.

"Severus! I thought you were out...I was going to look for you, but Albus said you weren't in tonight."

"I was out. Now I am in." Severus wanted to get to his rooms. He had nothing against the Head of Hufflepuff, but although they had always been cordial with each other and collegial as their jobs might require it, he found her less than diverting. He never quite understood what Flitwick saw in her.

"I just wanted to tell you..." She looked around as if for spies, then beckoned him to follow her into the staff room.

Severus bit back a sigh and followed her, unable to imagine why she would want to speak with him in private, but not sufficiently interested to try to imagine it.

"Filius and I are having a little get-together in Ravenclaw Tower tonight after curfew. Just drinks and a few snacks, nothing fancy, but we would like it if you came. If you are able to," she added nervously.

Staff had occasionally asked him to join them when they had impromptu parties, but as he almost invariably refused the invitations, most stopped asking him. He would only go if Albus twisted his arm or if he had some other reason for it...they did tend to drink and gossip at these things; he could sometimes learn some interesting information.

"I am unsure I am able," Severus said.

"Minerva and Albus will be there, and a number of other staff. You might enjoy it."

"I may, but do not expect me." He hesitated. "I do appreciate the invitation, however."

Pomona smiled cheerfully. "I won't expect you, but I will be optimistic!"

Severus walked down to Slytherin and checked on the common room. He liked to drop in unexpectedly. Kept them on their toes. He told the captain of the Quidditch team to keep a close eye on the Gryffindor strategy the next day when they played Hufflepuff. After the Easter holidays, the next match would be Slytherin-Gryffindor, and although it wasn't quite as much fun as it had been when Minerva had been Head of House, the rivalry between the two teams was still strong.

He spent the next hour in his office, reading third-year essays. It was painful. He hated having to teach them to write along with trying to teach them Potions, but half the time, he couldn't tell whether they understood anything about the topic. They certainly couldn't express whatever it was they had managed to understand. He had to proceed on the assumption that if he didn't understand what they were trying say, they didn't understand what they were saying, either.

Curfew came, and Severus checked the corridors outside Slytherin. Duffy was on patrol that night, and he didn't think she liked coming down to the dungeons, and he doubted that she checked very carefully. He started toward his quarters, then hesitated. He could go up to Flitwick's just for a little while. He wouldn't have to stay long. No one would probably talk to him, anyway, other than Albus and Minerva. He was not good with small talk and parties. Flitwick had always been decent to him, though, and he'd spent a lot of time practising duelling with him over the past few months. Filius would probably be pleased if he showed up for a little while.

Severus turned and headed up to the seventh floor and Flitwick's suite.

He presented himself to the portrait guarding the Head of Ravenclaw's rooms, and the portrait automatically opened the door to him. He must be on a guest list of some sort. There were a few people there already, but the first person he noticed was Poppy. She was wearing mauve- and lilac-coloured robes with an abstract leafy pattern woven through the fabric, and she looked very pretty, like a flower in a soft, misty spring dawn.

Pomona, dressed in dusky blue and brown, was at his elbow within seconds. "Severus! I'm glad you could come! Would you like a drink? Filius is playing bartender tonight and is getting very experimental, so you can have anything you like."

"I think just water, thank you," Severus replied.

"Oh, go talk to him. Make him happy and ask for something exotic. He could make you something nonalcoholic but interesting, if you like."

Severus nodded stiffly and crossed the room to where Filius had set up a bar, trying not to look at Poppy, who was standing nearby talking to Vector. They were supposed to be behaving normally in public...and in private, as well. He wouldn't have avoided her at a gathering before this, but he would not have sought her company, either. He had noticed Albus sitting in an armchair over in the corner, Hagrid, Cahill, and Sharon Carter gathered round and listening to him tell a story. It was remarkable to see Cahill with his mouth closed for once. Severus had thought the man never listened. He scarcely stopped talking long enough to draw breath.

"What can I get you, Severus?"

"I was instructed to request something exotic."

Filius laughed. "Do you have something specific in mind?"

Severus looked at the array of bottles in front of and behind Filius, bending over to see them better. He had no idea what would qualify as an exotic drink.

"This all looks exotic to me," Severus said.

"How about I mix something for you?" Filius said, reaching for a glass.

A minute later, Severus sipped the dark drink. Filius looked up hopefully.

"I think I would prefer a glass of water...sparkling with a twist of lime," Severus added, trying to make it more interesting for Flitwick.

"Something else, then? I'd thought since you like coffee, something with Kahlua ..."

"It was sweeter than I would prefer," Severus said.

"Here, try my drink, Severus."

It was Poppy at his elbow, holding up her glass and turning her straw toward him. He did not drink through straws unless he was too sick to lift his head. He closed his lips around Poppy's straw and looked her in the eyes as he sipped.

Severus averted his eyes then turned to Filius. "That would be acceptable."

"Between the Sheets one more time, then!" Filius said cheerfully.

Severus almost choked.

"That's the name of the drink," Poppy explained quickly. "And don't ask Albus what he's drinking unless you want to embarrass him."

Severus looked over at Albus. His drink was creamy. Severus did not want to know what it was called.

"Whatever happened to martinis and gin and tonic?" he grumbled as he watched Flitwick mix his drink.

"I can fix you one of those, too," Filius said, wanting to please.

"Minerva is drinking a..."

"Please don't tell me," Severus said with a grimace, accepting his drink from Filius.

"A Tequila Sunrise," Poppy finished as the two stepped away from the bar. "Filius is just trying out some drinks from a bartending book Pomona got him for his birthday, and he's finding the ones with suggestive names amusing, so he's pushing those."

"What did he serve me the first time, do you know?" Severus asked.

"No...you could ask him."

Severus shook his head. "I cannot imagine Albus requesting a drink with a suggestive name," he said.

"He didn't. I think Minerva requested it for him. Filius has a list of some of the drinks and their ingredients."

"All right, what is Albus drinking?" Severus asked in a low voice.

Poppy looked around, grinned, then beckoned him closer. He bent toward her. She placed one hand on his shoulder, cupped her other by his ear, and whispered, "A Screaming Orgasm."

Severus could feel her breath on his ear. He straightened and looked down at her. His eyes seemed amused, although his expression did not appear to change otherwise.

"Do you think it is as good as ours?" he asked, pleased when Poppy blushed. "Our Between the Sheets is quite . . . tasty." He took a sip through his straw as he looked into her eyes.

"I don't think it could be as good," Poppy said. She blinked.

"It is very complex," Severus replied with a nod, then taking another sip.

"So you did get an exotic drink, Severus! Good for you!" Pomona said, suddenly appearing at his side. "I am sure Filius was pleased. Is it one of the ones with a naughty name?"

"I recommended it to Severus," Poppy said. "I thought he would like it. It's not too sweet."

Pomona looked up at Severus. "There's food, too. Help yourself!" She gestured toward a table set up in the opposite corner of the room.

Severus just nodded.

"It might be a good idea, Severus," Poppy interjected. "These taste nice, but they are quite alcoholic."

"I'll leave you in Poppy's capable hands," Pomona said, patting Severus on the arm. Severus twitched, but only slightly.

"Would you care for something to eat?" Severus asked, turning toward Poppy.

"Let's see what they have."

They walked over to the table, and Poppy filled up a plate with different little snacks. Severus put two black olives on his plate.

"You should eat more than that," Poppy said.

"It is all peculiar looking," he replied softly, not wishing to offend his hosts, but he picked up something that looked like a devilled egg, though the white was purple and the yellow was green. "And I can't tell what's in anything."

"Here, try this, I think you'll like it." Poppy held out a small pastry.

He took it from her, brushing her fingers as he did so. "I will trust you." His voice was low and dark.

Severus bit into it slowly, Poppy watching him. He chewed it, raising an eyebrow, then he put the rest into his mouth and nodded. "It is acceptable."

Poppy smiled. "Spanakopita. I thought you might like that."

"I believe I may have had it before."

"Ah, Madam Pomfrey," a pompous voice said from behind him. "It is eminently fortuitous that I should see you this evening at this board of sustenance! You may be interested to learn of certain researches I have conducted into the history of the wizarding dietary regimen from the earliest days of this millennium through to our own modern and enlightened times, tracing the patterns of salubrity and longevity in relation to dietary ingurgitations and correlating such with the vigour of the wizarding race."

Severus could feel his eyes begin to glaze over by the word "fortuitous." Cahill didn't stop talking, going on and on in that peculiar, repetitive cadence of his that seemed to bear no relation to what he was saying. Severus and Poppy sipped their drinks and cast each other glances.

"Madam Pomfrey," Severus said, taking advantage of a pause as Cahill took a rare breath. "I apologise for interrupting this fascinating discourse, but I believe that you were going to introduce me to another of Professor Flitwick's concoctions." He held up his glass and rattled the ice cubes. "Time for another."

"If you will excuse us, Professor Cahill," Poppy said, and she turned with Severus and headed back to the makeshift bar, where Filius was chatting with Carter and Hagrid.

"Did you have any idea what he was talking about?" Poppy asked under her breath.

"Other than that he was pleased to see you, no," Severus replied.

"So, is there something you would like to try next? I could ask Filius for his list."

"I thought that Albus's drink sounded interesting."

"It is sweet, however. You might prefer a Slow Screw whilst I have a Screaming Orgasm."

"I think I might enjoy that," he replied, looking into her eyes, his voice low and resonant.

They moved to the bar. Poppy put down her empty glass. Filius excused himself from his conversation and came over to see them.

"The same again?" he asked brightly.

"I believe that Severus will have a Slow Screw whilst I try a Screaming Orgasm," Poppy replied.

Severus fought a blush, but Filius just chuckled.

"Hagrid had one with whipped cream on his," Filius said, looking up at Poppy.

"I will try that, then," Poppy replied.

"And would you prefer a Slow Highland Screw, Severus? It's my own invention. I add a splash of Scotch."

"Fine."

Filius combined orange juice, sloe gin, and Scotch in what appeared a haphazard manner, shook it with some ice, and poured it into a tall glass. Severus took a swallow of his drink and only long-developed reflex control kept him from coughing.

"Well?" Filius asked.

"It's different," Severus said. He took another swallow. It grew on him. "That was a large splash."

"I see Cahill headed this way...sorry, Filius!" Poppy said urgently, her hand on Severus's elbow. She and Severus turned away quickly.

The two went over to where Albus was sitting. Minerva was perched on the arm of his chair. It looked as though Albus had switched over to hot cocoa, but from the sparkle in Minerva's eyes, Severus thought perhaps she had had a few stronger drinks. He was glad there was no Dark Lord trying to invade the castle that night.

"Poppy! Come here, my dear! Pull up a chair." Albus smiled up at them both.

Poppy looked around, and she was about to say it seemed that all were taken when Albus drew his wand and conjured one for her, in colours to match her robes, and with a pattern of little fleurs-de-lis. Severus stood behind Minerva, listening to the conversation, or trying to appear to, but watching Poppy across from him as she drank her Screaming Orgasm with whipped cream and licked the cream from her lips. Such lovely lips.

Albus turned his head and looked up at Severus. "I am happy to see you here, Severus."

"I thought it might be a diverting way to end the week," Severus replied, taking a swallow of his drink.

"Have you been trying some of Filius's concoctions? Or is that orange juice?"

"It is something he calls a Slow Highland Screw. I believe it has some orange juice in it. Between the Sheets was interesting, as well." Severus glanced over at Poppy. "I believe that I must take my leave, however. My own sheets are calling me."

"Can't you stay a while longer, Severus?" Minerva asked. "There's going to be music soon."

"It has been a long week," Severus replied. "And I think I should make a quick pass through the corridors." He looked around him. He did not completely approve of the amount of drinking going on, but people were having a good time. Except for poor Hagrid, who had been cornered by Cahill and was looking utterly bewildered. Severus finished off his drink, trying not to slurp at the end. He really did not like drinking from straws. Unless it was from Poppy's straw. That had been rather peculiarly titillating.

Duffy arrived just then, and Severus knew that it was definitely time to leave. He said good-night to Minerva, Albus, and Poppy, looking down at Poppy's glass, then at her face, thinking that he could certainly give her a real screaming orgasm.

He managed to slip out after saying a quick good-bye to Pomona. Duffy was at the bar, and her back was to the door. He walked down the stairs, stopping on the landing between the fourth and fifth floors. Unless Poppy took another staircase, which would be illogical, as this one was the closest to both Ravenclaw Tower and the Hospital Wing, she would come past him. Of course, she might stay at the party. Just because he was thinking about giving her a real slow screw and a screaming orgasm didn't mean that she was having similar thoughts.

Severus stood in the shadows in the corner of the landing. After a few minutes, he heard light footsteps above him. They were coming closer. He looked up and saw Poppy coming down the stairs. She didn't see him. As she turned on the landing to go down to the fourth floor, Severus stepped out of the shadows, put his hand on her shoulder, and pulled her back toward him. She only gasped lightly, then she turned around and looked up at him.

"Severus! You gave me a fright!" she said in a hushed voice.

"I'm sorry."

"Were you waiting for me?"

"And if I was?"

"I was thinking of looking for you," Poppy whispered.

"You found me," Severus said.

Poppy gazed at him a moment, then she stepped closer, and Severus stepped back into the shadows. She followed. In the dim light, Severus could see her chest move with her breath, her creamy cleavage visible. He reached out and touched her, just brushing her throat and chest with his fingertips. He raised his eyes and looked into hers.

His fingers still playing across her skin, Severus murmured, "You did not want to stay at the party and have another Screaming Orgasm?"

"I thought I might find better elsewhere," Poppy breathed.

Severus grabbed her and pulled her into the shadows, lifting her and kissing her, pressing her against the wall. Poppy returned his kiss passionately, rubbing his back with one hand and reaching under his frockcoat with her other to massage his buttocks. Severus pounded his hips against her rhythmically, as though he was fucking her, then he insinuated one hand between them and began to rub her crux through her robes.

"Yes, Severus, but not here, not here," Poppy gasped.

Severus looked down at her and kissed her again, drawing her tongue into his mouth and sucking it. He broke away, stepped back, and looked around. He heard and saw nothing.

With a tug at her hand, he started down the stairs, pulling her behind him, then he stopped and looked up at her.

"Where to?"

"My rooms. They're close."

He nodded, and the two trotted down the steps. They reached the fourth floor and began to head for the Hospital Wing, but as they passed a side corridor, Severus stopped and pulled Poppy into it. It was dark but for some moonlight filtering through long, narrow windows along one side of the hall.

"I warded this against student entry a few days ago," he said in a hushed voice. "No one ever comes down here." He pushed her into an alcove. "I can't wait."

Poppy put her arms around his neck, kissing him, and he began to hike her skirts up, then held them in place with a light Sticking Charm. He stepped away and quickly unbuttoned his frockcoat and his trousers as Poppy pushed down her knickers.

Severus approached her again as he freed his erection from his pants. Poppy put her arms around his neck, and as he lifted her, she hooked her right leg around him, then her left. Holding her under her thighs, Severus pressed her against the wall and sought her entrance with his cock. He gasped as he entered her, then he muffled her cries and moans with his mouth as he repeatedly thrust into her, his shaft pumping into her as the head of his cock hit her deeply with each thrust. He pounded and thrust fast and hard without any pause; she stiffened and her grip on him tightened. Severus broke their kiss as he felt her pulse against him, watching her face as he continued to pump his cock. Poppy threw her head back, exposing her throat as she gasped and tried not to shout. Then Severus was coming as her orgasm still rippled around him. He pushed in once more as he came, deep inside her, pressing his forehead against the wall beside her head. He rested there, panting.

Severus swallowed, then he stepped back, letting go of her as her legs uncurled from around him. Poppy leaned against the wall, her eyes closed, catching her breath. Severus blinked, then he looked at her skirts and released the charm holding them up.

Poppy pulled up her knickers, then she let out a sigh and put her head against his chest, embracing him with her arms beneath his jacket.

Severus swayed slightly, then he whispered, "I do believe I am drunk." He hadn't really felt it until that moment.

Poppy giggled softly. "I know I am...just a little. Filius makes strong drinks."

"That was still very good. Even drunk, we're good. We are very good fuckers. We fuck good together. Or well. We fuck very well." Severus gave a short, sharp laugh.

"I think we should go to my rooms and drink some tea. And a lot of water. And maybe take a prophylactic Headache Potion."

"You are the professional. I will follow your advice," Severus said. He let go of her and gestured toward the corridor. "Lead on!"

Poppy giggled again. She pointed at his trousers. "We may not see anyone...or no one may see us...but you might want to button up."

Severus looked down. He smiled. "It would be very naughty to walk around Hogwarts with my dick hanging out. Even if it's not hard."

"Very naughty, Severus," Poppy said, beginning to tuck him away and button his trousers.

"'T'sall Cahill's fault. I didn't get to eat enough. My ingurgi...ingurgi...ingurgitation was insufficient," Severus said, watching her button him up.

Poppy laughed. "He really is hard to take, isn't he?"

"Can't imagine why Minerva hired him. She's us'ally so sensible. I'm surprised he hasn't killed any students from deadly...um...deadly boredom."

"I think it was hard to believe that Binns was really gone. We all kept thinking he would just rematerialise somewhere."

"Hope he's happy," Severus said, putting his arm around Poppy's shoulders as they walked to the main corridor.

"Should we be walking this close together?" Poppy asked.

"I'm your patient. You are patiently treating me for excess...excessive Cahill ex...posure."

Poppy laughed, and Severus kissed the top of her head. "I like making you laugh, Poppy Pomfrey."

They made it to her rooms without encountering anyone, though a few portraits roused and watched their progress.

Severus sat down on the couch and Poppy went into her kitchen. When she came back out with a tall glass of water for him, he had slumped sideways against the arm of the sofa, looking a bit like a rag-doll.

"Severus," Poppy said, poking him. "Here's some water. Drink the entire glass."

"Then I'll have to pee," he said, taking the glass from her. "I think I already have to pee." He looked up at her and said very seriously, "I don't drink, you know."

"You had your share tonight, and so did I. You drink that water whilst I fetch us each some Headache Potion from my bedroom. And if you have to pee, you know where the toilet is."

He nodded. "I always try to pee in toilets. I don't like peeing in the woods or into a bottle."

Poppy smiled. "Well, you're in luck. There's a nice, modern loo just feet away. Drink your water!"

Poppy was in the bedroom when she heard Severus go into the loo. She was none too steady, herself, but she thought that she was a bit better off than Severus. The liquor had obviously hit him suddenly and hard. She had rarely seen him drink anything alcoholic over the years that she had worked with him. As a spy, she supposed, Severus probably hadn't thought it safe to drink and become vulnerable, and given his character, he probably didn't like the idea of losing control, either. Poppy smiled, thinking of his serious declaration that he preferred to pee in toilets. He was most definitely drunk.

She came back out just as Severus was stumbling toward the couch.

"Here's your Headache Potion, Severus. I took mine, now you take yours."

Severus sat down with a thump and looked up at her with pitiful eyes. "I don't think I feel very well, Poppy."

"You take this potion and I'll get you some nice tea."

"I don't want to be sick."

"I know you don't, love. Just take your potion and lie back."

Severus nodded. "You are like an angel," he said.

Yes, most definitely drunk, Poppy thought with a smile.

A few minutes later, Poppy was back with a pot of tea. Severus was lying on his side holding his stomach.

"You need to get out of that jacket, Severus. You're sweating. You'll make yourself sicker."

Severus let her help him out of his frockcoat, then flopped back against the back of the couch, closing his eyes.

"Now, drink your tea, Severus."

"I feel sick."

"I know you do. The tea has a lot of ginger in it. It will help."

Severus opened his eyes. "Are you sure?" he asked sceptically. Tea was hardly a potion, after all.

"I am sure."

"Okay, Poppy."

He sat up and took the cup of tea she poured him. Severus sipped it, then he looked up at Poppy as she poured her own tea.

"You are a wonderful witch, Poppy."

"Thank you, Severus."

"I'm just a sad, pathetic, miserable bastard," he said morosely, "and you are a wonderful witch."

Oh, dear, happy drunk to maudlin drunk to miserable drunk. "You are wonderful, too, Severus, or you wouldn't be with me. Drink your tea."

Severus drank his tea.

Poppy sat down in an armchair next to the sofa. She had a Hangover Potion, but it wouldn't work until a few more hours passed, at least. If she drank enough fluid before she went to bed, she might not need it. She looked over at Severus. He was sipping his tea with his eyes closed. When he finished it, she took his cup from him and refilled it.

"I don't think I should drink things with funny names," Severus said, seeming slightly steadier as he took the cup from her.

"It's the mix of alcohols, and they were very strong. We probably drank them too fast, too."

"Mmm." Severus drank more tea.

"Feeling any better?" Poppy asked a few minutes later.

Severus nodded.

"How's your tummy?"

Severus gave a crooked smile. "My 'tummy' is fine. The ginger helped. I just feel fuzzy and sleepy now."

"Good. Do you want something to eat?"

"I don't think so. I just want to go to bed. I should leave now."

"You would be welcome to stay, but you probably want to be down in Slytherin."

He nodded and sighed. "That's one chain that hasn't been cut."

"Is that the way it feels to you?"

"Most of the time, yes." He yawned, covering his mouth. "When I came back this autumn, I thought I was returning for my last year. It still might be. I don't know."

"You are thinking of resigning?" she asked, her eyes wide.

Severus shrugged. "I might. I don't know. I can't think of what else I would like to do. No idea has appealed to me. I could take my Order of Merlin money and open an apothecary or a general potions shop, but if I do that and it flops because no one wants to buy potions and ingredients from a Death Eater, I could lose everything. And the Ministry might say I'm a hero, but I am sure they would find a reason not to hire me, and I don't think I would want to work for them, anyway, and anything else that I've thought of sounds even worse than that. I might just live on my Order of Merlin money. If I'm careful, it could last a long time, particularly if I did some brewing on the side and sold to apothecaries and St. Mungo's."

"Have you talked with Minerva about it?"

"Not since August. I told her then that I might not be back for good, and my new contract ends on the last day of July this year, so she knows."

"Maybe you could just take a sabbatical," Poppy suggested.

"That sounds wishy-washy. I think I should be decisive. And I'd have to submit a plan for research."

"Minerva might not require that."

Severus snorted. "The Board of Governors would, though. Most personnel decisions are in her hands, but certain things still need to go through the Governors. Thankfully, the Ministry has rescinded most of its ridiculous laws that allowed it to meddle, so the Ministry's not a factor."

"The Governors wouldn't require that if it were an unpaid sabbatical. Minerva could just give it to you without their approval, like a leave of absence. You could do what you like for a year, and then come back."

Severus shook his head. "I think if I were to leave, I would never come back."

"I hope that whatever you choose to do, you are happy, but I hope that you stay. I'd miss you."

"You are probably one of the few who would," Severus said drily, though warmed by her words.

"I think more people would miss you than you realise," Poppy replied. "And if you stayed and more people came to know you better, I am sure that number would increase."

"Hmpf." He looked up at the clock. "I should leave."

"It is very late," Poppy agreed. "Let me give you some Hangover Potion to take in the morning."

Severus stood and pulled on his frockcoat as Poppy fetched the potion.

"Here you go. You can't take it any sooner than five hours after your last drink, or it doesn't work very well."

"I know that," Severus replied.

Poppy smiled. "Sorry...habit!"

He twitched a smile and took the potion from her. It was in the original bottle and there was only one dose left. "Do you have some for yourself?"

"That's the last, but I'm sure I can snag some from Pomona or someone in the morning if I need it. I'm fine."

Severus put the potion bottle in his pocket.

"Would you like to use the Floo in the infirmary?"

He shook his head. "I will appreciate the walk. It will help clear my head."

Poppy walked him to the door. "I'll see you tomorrow, Severus."

Severus paused, then he bent and kissed her cheek. "Good night, Poppy."

NEXT

Chapter Forty-Eight: A Wager with the Headmistress

Saturday, 13 March 1999

Goaded by Minerva, Severus places a wager on the abysmal Hufflepuff Quidditch team to beat Gryffindor in that day's game.

Rated T.

Characters: Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, Minerva McGonagall, Pomona Sprout, Poppy Pomfrey