Chapter Fifty-Nine: Skimming the Lake

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Skimming the Lake

Friday, 19 March 1999

It seemed churlish to walk out empty-handed next to a witch carrying three shopping bags. Severus slung his cloak over one arm. "May I carry those for you?" Levitating them would be impractical and rude in the increasingly crowded pub.

"Just this one, thanks," Helena said brightly, handing him the smallest but heaviest bag. "Birthday present for my mom," she explained. "Got it at Krebbin's in Diagon Alley. It's a model of Hogwarts in a crystal globe, like a snow globe, but really big. She collects snow globes. She'll love it."

Severus became aware that people were watching them leave the pub, probably wondering what such a beautiful, famous witch was doing with a wizard like him. But still, he stood straighter as he opened the door for them. It was gratifying to be seen leaving the Broomsticks with such an exquisite and talented young witch.

The two stepped out into the cool night air. "I think it's a bit tacky, myself," Helena said, "but the detail is pretty amazing, and the seasons change. As they are actually changing, I mean."

"Yes, I have seen it on display. I understand that it is a popular item. Though expensive." Severus cast a wandless Levitation charm, and the heavy bag floated along beside them. He made a gesture to Helena, and she let her bags go as he cast a second charm on them.

Helena shrugged. "I suppose. I still have a hard time with Galleons and Sickles and such. You'd think after almost a year here, I'd have it down pat. I actually do better with pounds."

"It is not a very logical system," Severus replied.

"Everything always seems either far too cheap or far too expensive," Helena said as they started out the street. "Did you have a good evening, Professor? Did I miss much?"

"You may call me 'Severus,' if you wish," Severus said. "It was fine. I learned about the holiday plans for everyone at the table."

Helena laughed at his long-suffering tone. "Going anywhere yourself over the Easter break?" When Severus shook his head, she said, "Neither am I. I did think about going home for a few days; I could get a Portkey, but . . ." She shrugged.

"You live . . . on Piggery Lane?" Severus asked. He only remembered that it was one of the side streets in Hogsmeade.

"Actually, Bog End," Helena said. She giggled. "Always thought 'bog' was a funny word."

"I believe it was once Boggart's End, but the inhabitants disliked the association," Severus said. Albus had told him something of the sort.

"I actually think that's better," Helena said as they turned the corner. "Bog End always makes me think of a toilet flushing, for some reason."

Severus quirked a smile. "Yes, I can see that."

"You don't have to walk me home," Helena said. "I can manage the bags."

"I am pleased to," Severus replied. "It isn't far. Although if I could make use of your own bog, I'd appreciate it."

"Of course!"

He should have gone before they left the pub, he thought, after two pints of beer. Embarrassing to have to ask a witch to use her loo. A strange one, at any rate. Not that Helena was strange, but he scarcely knew her.

"It's just here," Helena said as they reached a small house. "I have the rear half, so the entrance is around back. It's a bit dark. Have your wand free for a Lumos?"

Severus obligingly took out his wand and cast a Lumos for them. It wasn't much, but it kept them from stumbling on the uneven path. A lamp came on at the back door as they approached, and he pocketed his wand again.

The door opened into the kitchen, and there was a small living room through a door just beyond that. Her flat was cheerful, though somewhat sparsely furnished. The lack of furniture was made up for by colourful hangings and other decorative objects that adorned the walls and shelves. Helena saw him looking at an intricately woven cloth with a beaded fringe on the shorter edges.

"My Grandmother McCarthy is Guyohkohnyo...of the Cayuga nation. That's something my Great-aunt Ida did for me, with some traditional patterns combined with a few of her own design. It's a shawl, but I like to look at it, so I hung it there rather than wear it."

"Ah. Very nice," Severus said.

"The bathroom's through my bedroom," Helena said, indicating a partially open door. "Help yourself."

Severus took as little time as possible, and when he returned to Helena's living room, she was sitting on the sofa, a broom across her lap and her wand in her hand, and apparently giving its charms a tune-up. She looked up and smiled at him.

"You know, Severus, I was thinking of taking a quick ride. Would you like to come along?"

"I haven't got a broom with me."

"I have a few. You can choose one." She opened her cupboard. "In fact . . . have you ever ridden a Thunderbolt?" She reached in and pulled out a broom with a shiny, black handle and a polished silver grip.

"A Thunderbolt? No, I haven't." Even though he was no broomstick afficionado, Severus almost salivated at the sight of the sleek, though somewhat oddly configured, broom. At one end, a handful of carefully groomed, fine, curved black twigs gave a nod at the origin of the broomstick, at the other, a wedge-shaped silver handle presented a rider with a perfect grip that would conform itself to the individual rider. Rather than having a straight stick, the Thunderbolt possessed a gentle s-curve about two-thirds of the way up, presenting the rider with a mount that perfectly combined comfort with control. He had been disinclined to accept her invitation, but the Thunderbolt presented an entirely irresistible temptation. In the wizarding world, it was like a Rolls Royce and a Ferrari rolled into one.

Severus reached out with a tentative hand and caressed the handle. It seemed to shiver and grow warm beneath his touch. "Do you think I could? Would it carry me?"

"It should. It's not as sensitive as a wand, and the Thunderbolts are pretty stable," Helena replied. "As long as you're a competent flyer, the broom should carry you just fine. It is much more sensitive than the broomsticks you're used to flying, though. You do need to be careful at first, especially when turning or changing altitude at high speed."

The Thunderbolt was one of only two commercially produced broomsticks in the world that had a core to it like a wand...usually the feather from a winged beast, such as a Hippogriff or a harpy. They were exorbitantly priced, but Severus presumed that Helena had got hers through some sports promotion.

"If anything were to happen to it..." Severus began.

"If anything happened to it, it would be an accident, I'm sure," Helena said. "And as long as you take it easy at first, get used to it, I doubt you'll have an accident with it." She grinned at him. "Want to come? I love flying at night, and there's a beautiful route I enjoy taking here. Say you'll come, Severus! I so rarely have company when I fly these days. Please do!"

"Yes, all right," Severus said with a nod. Helena seemed so charmingly yet sincerely eager to have his company. Her smile was quite disarming. He quirked a smile. "You have twisted my arm."

"Okay, the first thing to remember when flying a Thunderbolt is that because of the core, they're far more responsive to intent than an ordinary broom. I hear that you're an Occlumens, so you shouldn't have trouble with that aspect of it. You just need to make sure that a mere passing fancy or indecision about which way to turn doesn't get picked up on by the broom as an intent. Being a dithery sort of person can easily send you into a tailspin, but you don't look dithery."

"I can dither about some things, though I'd never confess it publicly, but I doubt very much that flying would induce any 'ditherish' tendencies in me." One corner of his mouth twitched up.

Helena laughed. "Good."

"It seems . . . awkward, though, taking your best broom out," Severus said, still feeling cheered by Helena's own bright spirits, but with an uneasy feeling that something could go terribly wrong...especially riding such an expensive and sensitive broomstick.

"It's fun to give someone a treat," Helena replied. "Besides, I've been test-flying the new Nimbus Victory, and I owe them my report next week. I've made some tweaks to the charms, so I need to take at least a few more flights before I write the report. You'll also be doing me a favour by coming with me." Her bright blue eyes sparkled in merriment. "If the Victory has some problem and I have to make an emergency touchdown, you'll be on hand to save me!"

Severus nodded. "Very well."

Helena handed him the broomstick and smiled up at him. "You are always such a serious one, Professor Snape of Slytherin House." She tugged lightly at his lapel. "Do you ever wear anything but black?"

Severus stepped back, unsure what to say, but it seemed that she didn't expect a response, as she turned around and picked up the other broom from the sofa and set it to lean against the wall by the kitchen door.

"Let me just grab a cloak and change my shoes, and we can go," Helena said.

As Helena disappeared into the bedroom, Severus wondered whether the younger witch had been flirting with him or just being friendly. He wasn't sure whether he would like her to be flirting with him or not. She certainly was one of the most stunning women he'd ever seen, and she was well-liked by her colleagues and by the students from every House. Should he flirt with her? If she were unreceptive, he could insult her, and things could become very uncomfortable at school, particularly if she thought he was pressing his attentions upon her in his position as Deputy Headmaster. No, best to wait and see whether she were unambiguously flirting with him first, and then take things slowly, be sure of her intentions and expectations. He didn't want to find himself entangled in a messy relationship...or any relationship. Besides, he remembered that she had been engaged to Viktor Krum, who had been one of the fatalities in the Battle of Hogwarts. She might not wish to be involved with someone else this soon, whether it was a romantic relationship or even just a sexual fling. Even flirting could also be just that: a bit of flirting, not an expression of interest in anything more.

Severus looked over at Helena as she came out of the bedroom, a long, lightweight greyish-blue cloak around her shoulders, which shimmered as she moved. Not an Invisibility Cloak, but a Chameleon Cloak: once its charms were activated, she would blend in with the background much as with a Disillusionment Charm. A good cloak for flying.

She smiled up at him. "Ready?"

He nodded once and hefted the unfamiliar broomstick.

"Let's go, then. We'll start slowly, just take a few turns around the house before we go anywhere, let you get used to the broom."

They stepped out into the cool, crisp night air, and Severus was glad of his cloak. It would be even cooler at altitude. He noticed that Helena was wearing thin racing gloves, no doubt charmed to keep her hands comfortably warm so that she could maintain a good grip on her broomstick. He had no gloves, but he could always cast a warming charm if need be.

"First thing, mounting. It's got a different design to its cushioning charms. There's an additional charm that supports your knees, and there's a set of Charmed stirrups that emerge from the broomhead, such as it is, as soon as you've settled into the broom and properly positioned your knees."

Severus activated the broom so that it floated beside him, and then he clambered on somewhat awkwardly. He shifted his hands and settled his knees into the cushioning charm, bending his legs so that his feet came up behind him, then he felt the stirrups spring out. They hit him in the ankles and stung. He swore under his breath.

Helena laughed. "That still happens to me sometimes. It will feel peculiar at first, having stirrups, but believe me, you'll like them, especially with the manoeuvres you can do with that baby. Yes, that's right, just put your toes through them so they point toward the ground. Good."

It was an unusual flying posture, but quite comfortable now that he was in it, almost in a kneeling position. Severus could see how it could be good both for speed and for long-distance flying, as it was aerodynamic, but comfortable. Cored broomsticks weren't allowed in any regulation Quidditch games, but they were sometimes seen in racing, particularly some of the long-distance endurance races that spanned continents.

"Okay, now just rise up, straight up, maybe ten or twelve feet. This is one of the best brooms for hovering and vertical flying. There's very little drift to it." Helena watched him rise straight up in the air, wobbling only slightly side-to-side, but with no forward drift. She smiled and nodded in approval. "Very good!" She quickly was astride her own broom and she joined him in the air. "All right, the stirrups aren't there just for comfort, they also give you a measure of control. Fly forward very slowly and experiment with pressing first with one foot then the other. No, no, not that much!"

He spun in the air, and when he came to a stop, he nearly stalled and fell, he was so startled, but the broom twitched and quickly levelled off.

"Sorry, Severus. I wasn't clear in my description. You only need the slightest indication of pressure on the stirrup. Combine that with the usual weight shifts and intentional directions to the handle, and you have very precise control of the broom even at very high speeds."

"How fast does it fly?" Severus asked as he slowly flew in circles around her, first in one direction, then the other.

"This Thunderbolt model is supposed to top out at one-eighty, but I've only managed bursts of about a hundred forty-five on a straight course, and one hundred twenty, if you're talking still maintaining good control and manoeuverability."

"Miles per hour...or kilometres?"

"Miles per hour. Don't you try to fly that fast tonight, though, Professor! We might be scraping you off the side of a mountain!"

Severus shook his head. He was now practising varying his altitude as he flew, finally doing a corkscrew up thirty feet above Helena and then corkscrewing back down to hover beside her. He could tell that she was working at keeping the Nimbus Victory from drifting forward as she hovered, but the Thunderbolt floated easily, hovering in place with no effort from him at all. He did a quick three-sixty, swivelling in place, and he smiled and shook his head in admiration.

"Have the basics down now, Severus? Ready for a little night flying?"

"I think so." He nodded. He was eager to see how fast he could fly once they got to a good cruising height.

They rose to fly above the houses and trees, and Severus followed Helena's lead, flying just to her left. They flew in the direction of Hogwarts at an easy speed, just coasting along. The night air was refreshing, and Severus shifted his hands forward, stretching, then relaxed into the flight.

"We won't cross the Hogwarts grounds, just skirt them, then fly over the Forbidden Forest. From there, I like to fly over the mountain opposite the castle, and then I take a zig-zag course around the mountains on the other side until I turn and come back. There's a lake that I like to skim over, but we don't need to do that, if you don't feel like it."

"Sounds fine to me," Severus said. "Lead on!"

When they reached the boundary of the Hogwarts grounds, they skirted the edge, but followed the wall around toward the Forbidden Forest.

"How do you like the new Victory?" Severus asked.

"It's not a bad broom, but they aren't going to like my report, I'm afraid," Helena replied. "It's going to need a little more work before they release it, and they want to have it out in May, in time for the anniversary."

Severus nodded, though she wasn't looking at him, and they were both silent. Severus glanced over at Helena. It was an anniversary fraught with emotion for them both, he was certain; although they might experience it differently, they neither of them would find it a purely happy occasion.

As they reached the tree line, Helena gradually picked up speed, and Severus increased his accordingly.

"Severus!"

Severus looked over at her, and she gestured, pointing up. He nodded, and they began to climb. They sped over the train tracks toward the mountain, Helena gaining altitude quickly, and Severus following easily, though her cloak made her body a mere blur in the sky. She hadn't pulled up the hood, however, and her long black hair billowed in the wind. He was now just behind her, and she looked over her shoulder a few times to make sure that he was still there. Reassured, she sped up and headed for the top of the mountain, cresting it at high speed, then dropping down and following the contour of the mountain on the other side. They were now going too fast to converse easily, but Severus welcomed the speed, the cold air in his face, wind whipping his hair back, the exhilaration of following the dips and humps of the mountain. The silver grip of the broom warmed to his touch; he would need no warming charm for his hands when flying this broom.

Helena led him southwest around the next mountain, and Severus could see lights from a few isolated houses and the twinkling of some distant Muggle village, but they rounded the mountain, and now the only twinkling came from the stars above. Helena looked back and signalled, hand down, palm toward him, and she slowed. He came along beside her.

"Want to skim the lake?" she asked, indicating the long, narrow loch they were approaching from the north.

"I'll give it a try," Severus said.

"Don't feel you have to fly too low or too fast, only as low and fast as you are comfortable flying," Helena said. "It's hardly worth an icy dip for just a bit more of a thrill."

"I will exercise caution."

"You do know how to swim?"

"Yes, but I don't plan on it tonight." He'd got the feeling of the Thunderbolt now, and he was sure of himself, but he wouldn't take any risks and get too close to the water. Speed, on the other hand . . .

"Good. Skim out to the far end of the lake then meet up before we turn and fly back? That okay with you?"

He nodded.

He'd never skimmed a lake on a broomstick before, though he'd seen it done. Potter, the show-off, had once tried it during their third year and ended up in the loch. He'd been fished out by a teacher...Professor Gamp, Severus remembered now...and served a week's detention indoors with Madam Pince.

Helena took off in front of him, pushing the Victory to its limits. As much as Severus had been eager to rocket forward himself, he slowed to watch Helena. She was magnificent: she flattened herself against her broom, her long black hair streaming out behind her, her arms out to her sides, holding onto the broomstick only with her legs, her ankles hooked around it. She picked up even more speed as she approached the surface of the lake, and she stretched out further, lying prone along the broomstick but her hands now dipping lower, skimming the surface of the water. The trick with skimming a lake was for the rider to get close enough to the water to touch it with her hands or feet but without getting the broom wet or caroming off the water, becoming unstable and crashing. A little splash back was acceptable, but if the broom hit the water, if the contact itself didn't cause the rider to crash, drenching it thoroughly would.

Severus nodded to himself and took off after Helena, pushing the broomstick to fly as fast as he dared, but he didn't bring it as close to the surface of the lake as she had. He brought it low enough to be able to reach down with one hand and skim his fingertips along the surface, but he then pulled up when the broomstick rocked from side to side. The Thunderbolt levelled off immediately, though, and he looked ahead to see that Helena was rapidly approaching the far shore of the lake, now bringing her broom up several feet above the surface and beginning to slow to normal cruising speed.

Leaning forward, Severus sped up, the occasional updrafts from the lake not disturbing the Thunderbolt in its flight at all. He was grinning when he pulled up next to Helena where she was hovering above the rocks at the edge of the water.

Helena smiled at him and held up her hand. "I knew I could get a real smile on your face with that broom," she said with a laugh. "Come on, Severus, high five!"

Severus shook his head and rolled his eyes, but he slapped her palm.

"That was fun," he admitted. He looked at her with admiration. "And you . . . you were . . . glorious. I can't believe you're teaching Flying at Hogwarts and refereeing House Quidditch games."

She shrugged.

"Why?"

"Have an hour? Or a week?" She shook her head. "It's too much to explain. I don't even know if I can."

Severus spun around just for the fun of it, then came up beside her again. "I have time." She might be well-liked and much-admired, but Severus didn't think she had any real friends at Hogwarts. She sometimes seemed as alone as he was. He remembered what Gareth had told him about the fact that being good-looking and out-going hadn't saved him from the pain in his life. He was there; he could listen. "I have the time, Helena."

Helena looked out across the loch. "All right." She nodded. "Let's rest before we fly back."

Severus flew over to a large, flat rock near the water's edge and set down, but got a bit caught in the stirrups and didn't dismount very gracefully. Helena followed him, and when she landed and dismounted, she drew her wand. A quick swish, and there was a comfortable redwood bench with wrought iron arms and a gently curving back.

"Nice," Severus said as he sat down.

"Glad you like it," Helena said, "but it's one I do a lot. Nothing special." She gave Severus a slight smile as she sat down next to him. "I haven't shared it with anyone in a while, though, so I suppose that makes it special tonight."

"So, why are you teaching at Hogwarts?" Severus asked, not letting her changed the subject.

Helena sighed and tucked one leg under her. She stared out at the dark water. "You weren't around after...you were injured, yourself. And then over the summer . . ." She shook her head and sighed. "Rolanda couldn't come back. It was pretty clear that she wouldn't be well enough by September, if she ever were going to recover and be able to come back, or even want to return. The Headmistress was going to advertise the position, but I told her I would take it. I'd thought perhaps just until they could find someone else, but then as I thought about it, I realised that . . . that it would enable me to stay here, give me something to do, give me some time . . ."

"But why this? There must have been other things you could be doing," Severus said. "And why stay here at all?"

"It was easy. I could just do it. I was here, the job was here, I knew I had to do something, and this was easy. And it's turned out to be pleasant."

"All right, that's the short version," Severus said. "What's the story behind that version? I said I had time. I meant it."

Helena turned her head and looked up at him. "You are one surprise after another, Severus."

He raised an eyebrow.

"I never would have taken you for the . . . the listening type, the sympathetic ear." She looked away quickly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that to sound like it probably did."

"Others have said far more offensive things about me," Severus said, one corner of his mouth turning up.

They sat quietly for a while, listening to the water lapping against the stones.

"You probably know that I was engaged to Viktor Krum," Helena finally said softly, not looking at Severus. "I flew with him during the battle. You know what happened, that he died. I saw him die. I tried . . ." Helena swallowed. "I tried, but it wasn't enough. There were Dementors. People were casting Patronuses, but there were so many Dementors. I'd never felt anything like it in my life. I cast my own Patronus, chasing away the one that had been after me, but there was another one . . . it was swooping down on Viktor. He tried to outrun it, but he . . . the Dementor must have affected him. He lost control of his broom. I tried to cast again, but I . . . I . . . I couldn't. Nothing happened. Then Viktor was hanging from his broom, and I tried to catch him, but I wasn't fast enough, not on my broom and not with my wand, and he fell." She blinked rapidly and wiped at her tears with her fingertips.

Severus didn't know what to say.

Helena took in a deep breath and let it out shakily. "Someone on the ground tried to break his fall with some spell. I followed him down, but I wasn't fast enough. Again." Helena choked back her tears. "It wasn't the fall that killed him. He landed hard, but he was still alive. A Death Eater killed him, blasted a hole right through his chest. He hadn't . . . he hadn't even been able to defend himself." She swallowed and tried not to cry. "And I was just a second too late. I killed the Death Eater, but I was too late."

Severus put a tentative hand on her shoulder. "I am sorry. I know that must have been hard, it must still be hard."

Helena nodded, unable to speak, her tears rolling silently down her cheeks.

Severus patted her shoulder, then he awkwardly put his arm around her. She turned toward him and buried her face in his cloak and began to sob. Severus rubbed her back and let her cry. He didn't think that there was anything that he could say to her that would help. Finally, he felt in his pocket and found a clean handkerchief. He offered it to her silently.

Helena wiped her face and blew her nose. "Thank you," she said softly.

Severus nodded. "Keep it."

"And thank you for not telling me that it wasn't my fault or that Viktor wouldn't blame me," Helena said, wiping her nose again and sitting back. "People always say those things, and they don't help at all. I know it all already."

"I know people like that. Well-meaning, but . . ."

Helena nodded. "But can you see that I just didn't feel like I could go back to everything at home as though it all hadn't happened? I felt as though . . . as though it would be like trying to pretend that Viktor had never been in my life, or trying to forget that I hadn't been able to help him when he needed me. Going back to everyone else I knew but who hadn't been here and who couldn't really understand, it just didn't seem right."

Severus nodded. "I see that."

"And my family would want to help me get over it, and I didn't want to get over it. Not yet." She put her head back and stared up at the stars. "They'll want me to do healing rituals. That's why I don't want to go visit at Easter."

"There's no point in punishing yourself forever, though," Severus said. "Suffering your grief and guilt so intensely. Not in the long-term." He couldn't follow his own advice very well, but it might still help her.

"I know." Helena nodded and sighed. "And I will . . . not get over it, I hate it when people say to get over it. But I will move forward, and when I do go home, I will be ready for the rituals. But I'm just not ready yet."

Severus, his arm still around her shoulders, gave her a squeeze. "Then wait until you're ready. And in the meantime, we are all very fortunate you are here."

Helena smiled up at him. "Thanks. It's nice to be appreciated."

"Believe me, you are appreciated...certainly by all the males on the Hogwarts Quidditch teams!"

"Hmmph." Her smile faded slightly, and she looked back out across the water. "You know the other thing that bothers me?"

"I'm sorry if I was rude," Severus began, suddenly realising that referencing her attractiveness probably wasn't the most suave or sensitive thing he could have done at that moment.

"Don't worry about that," she said with a sigh. "I'm used to it. But that wasn't at all what I meant."

"What, then?"

"Viktor was my 'fiancé,' not my husband. Some people . . . it's as though they think that I should grieve less because we weren't married yet. It's as if, had we married the day before the battle, I'd have a greater right to mourn long and deeply." She blinked rapidly. "It makes me damned angry, actually. Some idiots even seem to think it's romantic...tragically romantic, but romantic."

"They are, as you say, idiots," Severus said.

"And I enjoyed meeting Becky today, but she never knew Viktor except as a figure in the sports pages of the paper. She knows what happened, and she's sympathetic, and she really was very decent, but I couldn't seem to talk to her about it." Helena sighed. "And it's not her fault. I know that. She is a good friend. Well . . . I suppose that's a sign that I'm right not to go home over the Easter vacation. Not yet."

"It might be good to be around people who know you, though, people who care about you, whether they can completely understand or not," Severus said.

Helena nodded. "I know. But I just can't yet . . . I will, though. After the anniversary. At the end of May. I'll go then."

"That is a good thing, though I hope you don't stay away."

Helena laughed softly. "My contract carries me through the end of the school year, so I'll be back at least for a little while. I've put off making any decisions about what I'll be doing after that, but I may stay...if not at Hogwarts, at least in Britain. I like Hogsmeade."

"Good."

"I feel better, Severus. Thank you for listening. You must have a lot of your own troubles and grief."

Severus quirked a smile. "I actually forgot them for a short time whilst you were talking about yours."

"Good!"

"And I've had friends around me, people to talk to," Severus said. He thought a moment. "You know, we're beginning a programme after the Easter holiday. A sort of counselling programme for the students. And the staff will be offered some counselling beginning the last few days of the holiday, especially if they volunteer to be available to the students to talk to, and they can continue with it, if they want to. It might be good for you." He hadn't thought of including Helena in the programme since she wasn't a full-time staff member and was only nominally on the faculty as the Flying instructor. But some students might actually prefer to talk to her...she was young, closer to their own ages than any other staff, she was pleasant, popular, attractive . . .

"I'd like that," Helena said. "A few of the Quidditch players seem quite affected by the battle and other events of the war. I'd like to be able to offer them a friendly ear. I don't know how helpful I would be, though."

"Anyone who requires more than that, there will be professionals available," Severus explained.

"All right, yes, count me in," Helena said with a nod. She looked up at him and gazed at him a moment. "Is this part of your job description as Deputy Headmaster?" she asked softly. "Take the staff for a flight or a walk and let them cry all over your cloak?"

Severus shook his head. "That's more the description of a friend, I think," he whispered, hoping she didn't mind him thinking of himself as a friend. Gorgeous, intelligent, popular, she could find far nicer friends than he.

She smiled, though, and her bright eyes met his dark ones. "Good. I'm glad." Her gaze moved from his eyes to his lips and back again. "Maybe you wouldn't mind then, if I . . ." She reached up and kissed him lightly on the cheek. She paused, holding herself still beside him, and he felt the warmth and solidity of her petite form leaning against him.

"Helena," Severus whispered, his breath meeting hers. He swallowed and parted his lips, then he bent his head and kissed her cheek lightly as she had kissed his.

Helena turned her head and rested her forehead against his shoulder. They sat there quietly for a few minutes, then Helena took a deep breath and sat back, leaning against the back of the bench.

"It's getting late," she said. "We should be getting back."

Severus nodded as she stood and her broomstick leapt into her hand.

"What do you say to a race?" Severus asked as he mounted the Thunderbolt, this time a bit more gracefully than the first time. "Just to the other end of the lake?"

Helena grinned. "I'd love it...just don't crash! The Thunderbolt is fast, but very sensitive at high speeds!"

Severus smirked. "Don't worry about me. Just try to keep up on that new broom of yours."

"All right...ready, set . . . go!"

Severus took off like a shot, amazed by the acceleration of the Thunderbolt. He looked back. Helena was gaining on him, and he urged the Thunderbolt faster. The acceleration of the new Victory might not be as impressive as that of the Thunderbolt, but Helena was an experienced and talented flyer, and the Victory was no slouch when it came to speed. He looked back again, and she was almost on his tail. Severus leaned into the broom, holding on tightly, concentrating on keeping the broomstick level and straight on course. He thought he had to be going at least ninety, possibly faster, but Helena continued to gain on him. She was now only a half a broomstick's length behind him. Gritting his teeth, Severus focussed on speed, transmitting his desire to the broomstick, and he felt the Thunderbolt accelerating. They were closing in on the far shore, and Severus just managed to push the broom in a final thrust forward, and he crossed the edge of the lake a full two lengths ahead of Helena. He wasn't high enough, though, and he had to pull up quickly to avoid hitting the treetops.

His heart pounding, Severus levelled off twenty feet above the tops of the trees and slowed to a gentle coast. He let out a shaky breath. He had been so intent on beating Helena, he'd almost crashed the broomstick into the trees. Only almost, though. He looked back and Helena drifted up to him, a broad grin on her face.

"An exhilarating broomstick, isn't it?" Helena asked. "I was a bit concerned you might have trouble pulling up in time, you were accelerating so much at the end, but it's very responsive."

"It's an amazing broomstick," Severus agreed. He smiled at her. "Someday, I would like to see what you can do with it. I'm sure I didn't get to one-twenty, let alone one forty-five."

"Maybe sometime." They flew around the mountain in silence, heading back toward Hogsmeade. "If you're free at all this weekend, maybe you could help me with the final speed tests on the Victory, and then when we're through, I could put the Thunderbolt through its paces for you." She looked over at him and grinned. "Your own private, one-broom, one-witch rodeo show."

He grinned back. "If you're the witch and this is the broom, it will be a very exciting 'rodeo,' I'm sure."

Helena laughed shortly and picked up speed. "Let's get back to Hogsmeade, then, so I can get some rest before the performance!"

They rose and flew over the mountaintops, taking as straight a route as possible back to the village. They landed several feet from her door, Severus having an easier time dismounting without being caught up in the stirrups this time.

"So, I've been thinking. Saturday or Sunday?" Helena asked. "Sunday is a little better for me, but I could meet tomorrow instead, if you prefer."

"Sunday is fine," Severus said with a nod. He had no duties that Sunday; he didn't even need to be at meals if he didn't want to be.

"Good! Then what about . . . ten o'clock? Then we could have lunch after. A picnic, maybe. I'll bring it."

"That would be fine," Severus replied.

Helena waved her wand, opening the door to her flat and turning on the kitchen light. Severus followed her to the door and handed her the Thunderbolt.

"Thank you, Helena. That really was a treat."

Helena leaned the two brooms against the wall just inside the door. "Thank you, Severus. I'm glad you joined me. It was fun." She looked up at him seriously. "And I appreciated our conversation, too. Thanks."

He nodded. She really was very lovely, high cheekbones, delicate jawlines, beautiful, glossy black hair, amazingly blue eyes set off by her dark skin, and a lithe, compact, fit young body with curves in just the right places, beautiful perky breasts, rounded hips, and a narrow waist. She was luscious. They scarcely knew each other, though, and they both had to work at Hogwarts . . . Nonetheless, Severus raised his hand and brushed his fingertips over her cheek. When Helena didn't react, he ran his fingers along her jaw. She seemed to shiver under his touch, and she closed her eyes. Slowly, he bent toward her. It seemed a long distance and time slowed. His lips met the smooth, soft skin of her cheek. Helena's hands rose and rested on his chest, but she did not push him away. Severus stepped forward as his lips moved down to hers, and she backed against the wall. He kissed her softly, then pulled back and looked down at her.

She shook her head. "Severus, I..."

"I'm sorry, Helena," Severus whispered. He began to step away, but she grabbed his cloak and pulled him back toward her.

She stretched up on tiptoes and pulled him down into a kiss. Helena's lips were soft against his, soft and sensual. Severus gathered her into his arms and lifted her up, his arms under her gossamer-light cloak, one hand under her firm buttocks, all the while continuing to kiss her lips and then pressing her against the wall. Her arms were around his neck, and now one leg hooked around him, pulling him closer as he deepened the kiss. She twined her fingers through his hair, and he lowered his head, kissing her throat, gently sucking and licking, then moving to her ear. She gasped and clutched him harder. Severus began to move his hips, pressing into her, moving slowly, rolling and rocking against her. His erection was growing as he pushed into her crux, stimulating them both through their clothing. The tip of his tongue traced her ear, then entered, and he teased her ear in time with his thrusts, which grew faster as his arousal grew.

"Ah, ah, haaaa–ahhhh!" Helena grasped him tightly. Both her legs were around him now, and her eyes were closed. "Oh, god, Severus, this is . . . oh, good, but . . . but we shouldn't . . . oh, but don't stop . . . but we shouldn't. Oh, god."

"No . . . no, we shouldn't," Severus said, stilling with his erection pressed against her. He was shaking, and his legs felt weak. He was extremely aroused, and he had no doubt that Helena also had been enjoying it. But something felt . . . off.

"I'm sorry, Severus," Helena said softly. "I'm sorry. If I were to . . . to do this . . . I would, with you . . . you understand. I would, but I just think . . . maybe it's not the right time. I hope you understand."

"No, you're right," Severus said, letting her go gently as she lowered her legs. He took in a deep breath. "I hope this hasn't, that I haven't..."

"We're still on for Sunday, aren't we?" Helena asked, looking up at him.

Severus averted his eyes and nodded shortly.

Helena reached up and touched the collar of his cloak. "I'd like to think I found a new friend today, Severus."

Severus smiled shyly and nodded. "Yes, all right." He turned and pulled the doorknob of the half-open door, then turned back. "I'm sorry if I..."

"Don't be sorry, or I'd have to apologise, too. See you Sunday!"

He nodded. "Sunday."

NEXT

Chapter Sixty: Perfect Timing

Friday, 19 March 1999

Severus seeks out Minerva to inform her of the attack on Malfoy and to ask her for personal advice. His timing is not as bad as it could be!

Characters: Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall