XV: Melting the Ice

Chapter XV: Melting the Ice

Charis had got back from Grimmauld Place an hour ago and was snuggled up on her sofa with Lily on her lap and a cup of tea in her hand. It had started to rain, and she found it quite cosy to listen to the rain drum against the window. But she was worried. Quite a lot had happened at the Order headquarters that evening, with Snape telling off Moody and Morgana's subdued behaviour, and even though everyone had seemed quite cheery after Molly's excellent cake, Charis had sensed that her best friend had been hiding something. And Charis thought she had been proved right by Morgana leaving rather hastily whilst everyone else had lingered in the kitchen, bidding each other farewell before leaving for their homes. Now Charis was hoping that her friend had returned home safely.

Suddenly, there was a faint humming noise coming from her bedroom. Lily heard it first and craned her neck, ears pointing straight up and the hair at her neck standing up. But she quickly seemed to decide that the noise was nothing to worry about and settled back down, stretching and closing her beautiful green eyes to go back to dozing. Charis, however, had no intention of staying put on the sofa. She knew the humming sound well, and she quickly put down her tea, shrugged her little cat off her lap and headed for the bedroom.

The humming was coming from her nightstand, and Charis' heart leapt with joy. She had most certainly not expected Morgana to make contact with her tonight, not after the Slytherin had barely said goodbye. But sure enough, the little mirror that was propped up against her lamp was vibrating slightly and thus producing the humming noise.

Charis flopped onto the bed in front of the mirror, and sure enough her best friend was peering out at her, looking pale and tired.

'Are you alright?' Charis asked, a worried note in her voice. 'You left without saying goodbye.'

'I know. Sorry about that,' Morgana replied, hoping her friend wasn't upset with her. 'I didn't feel like hanging around and have Molly mothering me anymore.'

'Molly cares a lot for you,' Charis pointed out. 'So do the others. Remus sends his greetings, and Tonks said she hopes you'll remember that you two have a dinner date tomorrow.'

Morgana gave a halfhearted smile. They were all very nice and kind, Molly, Remus and Tonks. Even Dumbledore had his moments. But still, Morgana felt uncomfortable. She did not want any of them to think that she needed to be taken care of. She could do that herself. Most of the time, anyway.

'Snape really went for Moody, didn't he?' Charis said, once more feeling in awe. 'He really told him what he thought about his methods. And I agree. I mean, Azkaban? After a month of training?' Then her voice became very soft. 'What happened there, Morgana?'

Morgana opened her mouth to speak but quickly closed it again and started gnawing at her lower lip, and Charis realised that her friend wasn't up to answering her question. Naturally, she regretted having asked. But to her utter surprise and relief, Morgana made a suggestion.

'Can I come over?'

Charis raised her eyebrows. 'Of course! Do you want to stay the night?'

Morgana hesitated. 'I'll have to be at the Ministry at seven. Physical evaluation. I'd be leaving very early, and I wouldn't want to wake you. It's a Saturday, after all.'

'It's okay,' Charis said quickly, seeing the chance of her friend coming over and pouring out her heart becoming fainter by the second. 'You can have my bed, and I'll sleep on the sofa. I bet I won't hear you leave.'

'We'll see, okay?' Morgana said, now regretting her idea of visiting Charis slightly. Sure, it would be wonderful to just sit and chat with her best friend, but stay the night? Morgana doubted she would sleep, and keeping Charis awake with her pacing was the last thing she wanted.

'Will you be using the Floo?' Charis asked.

'I'll have to check with Madam Nutkins if it's okay for me to use her fireplace. Should be alright. Otherwise I'll Apparate in.'

'Don't let me wait too long,' Charis chirped and then hurried to the lounge to tidy up a bit. She never noticed that Morgana's bedroom didn't disappear from the mirror. Obviously, Morgana had not bothered with tucking her mirror away, and therefore the connection was still active, very much to the pleasure of the owner of the third looking glass.

Just as the rest of the Order, Snape had returned home directly from Grimmauld Place. He had a lot to do before term started, and tonight was as good a night as any to draft lesson plans and prepare quizzes. He was, after all, in a hell of a mood, and who would be a better victim for that than second-year Hufflepuffs? They would be given a pop quiz during their very first lesson in September. But just like Charis, Snape was unable to put the evening's events from his mind. That Morgana had bumped into Lucius Malfoy made Snape want to wring not only Moody's neck but also Lucius', and the failing of her Patronus worried him no end. As did the shape of said Patronus. A peacock! Snape pinched the bridge of his nose in order to fight off a beginning headache. A peacock was the most unfortunate shape Morgana's Patronus could take. It was very clear that the magnificent bird represented Lucius Malfoy and the love the girl had felt for the man. And when he had broken her heart, he had cast a shadow over her happiest memory and thus crippled her Patronus. And although remembering her feelings for Lucius produced more sorrow than pain, Morgana was – for the time being – unable to move on. Hopefully, for the sake of her soul, she would learn how to let go soon. Otherwise, she would always carry a great sorrow in her heart, a destiny which Snape didn't wish upon his worst enemy. He knew how it felt. He, too, was holding on to a love that had brought him more heartache than joy.

'Good thing I did not have to walk. It's raining Crups and Kneazles out there.'

Morgana's voice carried from the lounge to the mirror in the bedroom and ripped Snape out of his thoughts. He could hear the girls quite clearly, but unfortunately, he could neither see them settling down on the sofa nor Lily crawling onto Morgana's lap with a little mew.

'I think someone's missed you,' Charis commented.

'Ruddy snake bait,' Morgana muttered, but she couldn't resist petting the little fur ball. She was quite surprised that an animal as sweet and innocent as this little cat wanted to be close to her.

'Looks like I don't have to be in at seven after all,' Morgana said after some moments. 'Moody's owl arrived just when I was about to leave. He wrote that I don't have to do the physical tomorrow.'

'I'd be jumping with joy if I were you!' Charis said, but Morgana seemed to think differently.

'I guess I am being let off because Snape told Moody I should be let off.' There was a slightly sour tone in Morgana's voice, and Snape scowled. If Moody was about to make life difficult for Morgana...

'Snape was right!' Charis countered. 'You shouldn't take part in the training while your hand is still healing. So I think you should follow Snape's advice. I mean, he was clearly worried about you, to have gone for Moody like that. And so am I.'

Morgana sighed and hugged Lily tighter towards her, and for anyone who didn't know her, this would have been quite a cute image. But for Charis, this was alarming. Morgana was not the type to hug a cat like a teddy bear.

'Looks like I don't have the nerves to be an Auror.'

'Don't be ridiculous, Morgana!' Charis burst out at once. 'Why would you say that?'

'An Auror who cannot even conjure a Patronus when faced with Dementors isn't up to the job. So maybe, Moody wants me to take the day off to reconsider my choice of employment.' Then she shrugged and looked at her friend with such a wretched expression that Charis barely could keep herself from hugging Morgana.

'Could I borrow a jumper? I'm freezing.'

Charis quickly nodded, frankly a bit relieved about the sudden change of topics. 'Sure, come on. I'll let you choose one.'

They headed for the bedroom where Charis opened her wardrobe.

Morgana wrinkled her nose. 'Got anything that is not blue?' she asked, in a tone that was so much like her old self that Charis could hardly believe she had sounded so sad only a few heartbeats ago.

'I do actually!'

'Bet it's purple, then.'

Charis giggled. 'Nope.' She stared rummaging around and finally fished out a big, baggy grey sweater. 'It's not sexy, but it's comfy!'

Morgana wrinkled her pretty little nose once again but accepted the sweater without any further comment. She was cold enough to have settled for Hufflepuff Quidditch robes. Still, she couldn't keep herself from having a nose in Charis' wardrobe for something nicer.

'And what, my dear, is this?' she exclaimed suddenly, holding up a pair of dark blue lacy knickers. 'Are we dressing up for someone?'

Charis promptly blushed, snatching the knickers from her friend who was now grinning broadly.

'Spill!' Morgana demanded and settled on Charis' bed, knees pulled up to her chest and arms wrapped tightly around them.

'Grindling has asked me out for a drink,' Charis answered quickly, so quickly that it was hard to hear what she was saying. 'But I don't know if he means a "drink" drink, or just a drink. So I thought either way, I should make an effort.'

Morgana's jaw dropped. 'You bought sexy underwear to wear for your boss?'

Snape's jaw, however, tightened to a point when he could hear his back teeth gnash. Grindling Gibbons? The Ravenclaw heart-throb who'd been the only boy handsome and wealthy enough to even outshine Lucius Malfoy when they had been at Hogwarts? Was this twit trying to make a move on Charis? And was she letting him?

'Well... not exactly...' Charis sat down beside her friend, with her eyes cast down and her hands fiddling with the sheer fabric. 'I'm not thinking he'll see them or anything. I just thought if it's a "date", then it would be nice to feel like I am on a date and dress up a bit, that's all.'

'Do you want it to be a date?' Morgana asked, and Snape snapped the quill he had been holding in two.

'Well, he's really nice,' Charis admitted. 'But he's my boss.'

'And bosses are by definition no dating material,' Morgana interjected. 'I mean, look at Moody...' She gave a theatrical shudder. 'Now, tell me all about Grindling.'

'Well,' Charis started, 'he likes classical music, and his grandmother was a Seer. So he's very interested in divination, hence him ending up working in the Hall of Prophecies. I'm not sure where he lives, but I have the feeling it's in a really nice part of London. He mentioned being by the river a lot. He likes elf-made wine and wants to take me wine-tasting. He's sweet, witty and intelligent...'

'And you are smitten,' Morgana pointed out.

'He's my boss!' Charis wailed and turned a deeper shade of scarlet.

Morgana, however, smiled. Genuinely for what seemed to be the first time in months. Her Star Sister was falling in love. But what she thought was sweet and adorable was making Snape fume with rage.

'I'm sure you'll meet him soon.'

Morgana raised an eyebrow in surprise. 'I get to inspect your boyfriend?'

'He's not my boyfriend,' Charis proclaimed firmly. 'It's just nice to be able to spend time with a guy who's a little older, who's a bit more sophisticated and can have intelligent conversations. And he is very handsome... But I don't want to rush anything. And anyway, I might be all wrong! He might just want a drink!'

And Horklumps might fly, Snape thought, now crumpling up a piece of parchment without really noticing it. And if anyone should ask him about it, he would of course deny that the prospect of Charis Byrne dating was making him want to cast Unforgivable curses. But it was the dominant feeling in his chest at the moment, whether he liked it or not.

'There's only one way to find out then,' Morgana suggested. 'Go have a drink with him and see where things are going.'

'He was in Ravenclaw, too, you know. At Hogwarts,' Charis informed her friend.

'A match made in heaven, then.'

Charis giggled. 'Well, it's a good job he wasn't in Hufflepuff. You wouldn't let me near him.'

Morgana smiled. 'I wouldn't stand in the way of your happiness, kitten. Even if he'd been in Slytherin.'

Snape frowned. Did Morgana really mean this? Both these girls had had nothing but bad experiences with Slytherin males: both had been used, and both had had their hearts broken. Yet still, they seemed to think that there was hope.

Charis yawned. 'Urgh, is that the time already?' she asked. 'Seems like we've just had cake.'

Morgana rose at once. 'I should be going home.'

'No!' Charis protested. 'You don't have to.'

Morgana hesitated for a moment, and once more her teeth went to her lower lip. 'Frankly, I don't want to go,' she confessed. The mere thought of spending the night alone made her shiver even more than she already did.

'Then stay here,' Charis suggested, patting the space on the bed beside her, and Morgana once more sat down.

'Feels like this day has been several years long.'

'You must be exhausted,' Charis said, giving her friend a scrutinising look.

'Freezing, if nothing else,' Morgana replied, wrapping her arms around herself.

'You can always bunk with me,' Charis proposed. 'For you, I'll even wear a nightie.'

She got to her feet and started rummaging in her wardrobe once more, eventually producing some pyjamas and a nightshirt.

'Pick!'

Morgana pointed at the pyjamas. 'If that's okay with you.'

'Sure,' Charis assure her. 'I'll just go and brush my teeth then.'

She went from the room, leaving Morgana sitting alone on the bed. Of course, the Slytherin had no idea that she was being watched, and therefore didn't bother anymore with sitting up straight and putting on a brave face. Instead, she slumped back against the headboard and closed her eyes for a moment. She was so tired that she could have cried.

'Asleep already?' Charis asked jokingly as she returned, wearing her nightie that was so short that it barely covered her bum. 'Quickly, go get changed and get back here so I can tuck you in.'

She looked after Morgana as the latter left the room. She could have sworn that the Slytherin had been swaying slightly and was therefore worried. Certainly, facing Dementors would suck the energy out of anyone, but still she could not stop thinking about that there was something Morgana was not telling her, something that had nothing to do with Dementors.

'There is a spare toothbrush in the bottom cupboard,' she called and then settled on the bed, stretching and yawning, completely oblivious to the fact that Snape sat watching her, unable to look away.

He was as good as mesmerised by her curves that were showing so clearly through the thin nightie. The last time he'd observed his girls, he had watched Morgana undress and been quite fascinated what he'd seen: the flat tummy, the firm butt, the perky breasts... But Charis, she was quite another sight: curvy, voluptuous, feminine. And Snape felt his body respond to what he saw and felt himself be absorbed in the memories of their previous encounters. She'd been hot and wanting, willing and so eager to do his biddings. He was quite sure that he could have her again if he wanted to. But he also knew that he must keep his distance. He had hurt her enough already.

'Warm enough?' Charis asked as the door opened and Morgana re-emerged from the bathroom. She had to be, as she was not only wearing the pyjamas but also the horrid sweater. She looked quite pitiful.

'You'll regret your offer to let me bunk with you,' Morgana pointed out. 'My feet are like ice blocks.'

'Aw, come here then, little icicle.' Charis opened her arms wide. 'I'll warm you up. Body heat is the best, you know.'

Snape watched as the two girls slipped under the cover, Charis shuffling around, trying to get comfortable, and Morgana lying quite still at the edge of the bed. She didn't seem entirely at ease.

Eventually, the lights turned themselves off, and Snape was just about to retire himself when he realised that Charis' room hadn't gone completely dark. There still was a stub of a candle burning in the window, throwing a little light on the scene, and he decided to linger for a little while longer, watching his girls.

'Are those your teeth chattering?' Charis suddenly asked and moved closer to her friend. 'Bloody hell, you are freezing!'

Instinctively, she threw an arm over Morgana and pulled her closer, and to everyone's surprise, the Slytherin did not resist. She tensed up a little at first, but she needed the warmth and wrapped her arm around Charis waist in turn, burying her face at her friend's neck.

'Roses,' she mumbled. 'You always smell of roses.'

Snape watched intently. When Charis had moved closer, he had fully expected Morgana to refuse the offered embrace and was now quite glad that he had been mistaken. Morgana needed her friend tonight, he was most certain of that. And he was endlessly relieved that she wasn't pushing Charis away.

Charis gingerly patted Morgana's hair. She could not for the life of her understand why her friend insisted on wearing it short. If she had red hair, Charis thought, she'd wear it long and charm it to fall in curls. That was how she had always imagined the beautiful and mighty sorceresses in the fairy tales her mother had used to read to her as a child. But that had been long before Charis had known that she herself was a witch.

'Are you getting any warmer?' she whispered softly, careful to keep her voice down in case Morgana had fallen asleep. 'I can fetch another blanket if you like.'

'No, it's okay,' Morgana lied. She was still freezing but suppressing her shudders. She didn't want Charis to get up to fetch a blanket. It felt far too good holding her in her arms. Gingerly, she nestled closer, nudging the side of Charis' neck with the tip of her nose.

Charis gave a little, sleepy sigh, and Morgana let her hand run down her friend's back, feeling the heat of Charis' body against her palm and imagining it filling her own body. She needed this now. She needed to feel the warmth of another human body against hers, to feel another one's heart beat against her own chest.

Charis arched her back like a cat being stroked as Morgana continued touching her, and as Morgana placed a first tender kiss on the side of her neck, Charis moaned softly.

And Snape sat rigid on the edge of his chair, barely daring to breathe lest he disturb the scene that was unfolding. His girls were embracing each other tightly now; hands were wandering and lips caressing soft skin; Charis was uttering small noises of delight, and Morgana's breathing was getting heavier as she intensified her ministrations and Charis started caressing her through her many layers of clothing. Both girls seemed to move deliberately, as if they knew exactly what the other one liked and needed, and Snape's eyes widened as he was hit by the thought of his girls having been lovers before. Had he not seen signs for that already when he had observed them through the mirror the first time? He shifted on his chair, suddenly acutely aware of his growing erection and the fact that he was intruding on something very private. But he was unable to avert his eyes.

In the bed, Morgana tried hard to relax. Lying in Charis' arms felt good, and she felt herself getting a tiny bit warmer with every touch, almost as if Charis were able to melt away all the ice that seemed to have wrapped itself around her. But she couldn't unwind. She was still freezing cold, and her hands weren't shaking due to nervousness but to cold and fear. Would it always be this way now? Would she never again be able to feel? Would she never again be able to receive love but only to give?

Once more, she buried her face at Charis' neck, breathing deeply as to keep herself from bursting into tears, and pulled her friend into an even tighter embrace.

Meanwhile, Charis grew bolder. She'd slid down the thick sweater and pyjamas top from Morgana's shoulder and was covering it with kisses, hoping to warm the cold skin. She felt her friend shudder slightly as she sneaked her hand under her heavy nightwear and hesitated for a moment, but as she felt Morgana relax, Charis dared moving her hand over the smooth skin of Morgana's back. But when she lightly dragged her nails down Morgana's back, the Slytherin inhaled sharply.

'Sorry,' Morgana brought forth, her voice quite hoarse. 'But I'm so cold this actually hurts.'

Charis stopped her ministrations and instead rested her hand flat against Morgana's back, feeling how her friend slowly but surely relaxed again.

'Maybe you should take a hot bath?' she suggested after a while.

Morgana lay quite still. She didn't want to leave Charis, didn't want to break off their embrace. But she was once more shivering and knew that Charis' touch wouldn't warm her, no matter how much she wished for it.

'Will you wait for me?' she whispered fearfully. It was a stupid question to ask, she knew that. This was Charis' home, and she wasn't going anywhere. But still...

Charis nodded and placed yet another tender kiss on her friend's shoulder. 'Take your time, sweetie,' she said. 'I'm not going anywhere.'

Reluctantly, Morgana slipped from Charis' arms and her bed, already missing the soft covers and warm embrace. But she knew it was for the better.

She didn't stay away long, having opted for a hot shower instead for a bath, but when Morgana returned to the bedroom, she found Charis rolled up like a kitten under the blanket. The little Ravenclaw was fast asleep.

Gingerly as not to wake her friend, Morgana sat down on the edge of the bed. 'I don't know what I'd do without you, Star Sister,' she whispered, just loud enough for Snape to hear. 'I don't think I would have made it through the night without you.'

'Stay, for goodness' sake, girl! Stay!' Snape yelled at the mirror, well aware that Morgana would not hear him. Thus were the enchantments he had put on the mirrors. He'd always be able to see and hear his girls whenever both their mirrors were activated, but whether they'd see or hear him, that was his to decide.

But Morgana did not stay, and Snape hadn't expected her to either. Instead, she pulled out her wand, producing a long silvery thread that curled into letters that on the ceiling above Charis' bed.

Didn't want to wake you, kitten. I'll get in touch tomorrow.

Love, Morgana

Then she left the room, and as Snape heard the characteristic swooshing noise of someone using the Floo, all he could do was hope that Morgana would be going straight home.