To Have and to Hold

Chapter Fifteen

To Have and to Hold

Through a leaded window, Severus watched the full moon casting its silvery glow on the surface of the Black Lake, imagining the vista from Ravenclaw Tower would be stunning at sunrise.

Empowered by the knowledge that his magic would not let him down whilst he wore his Tiger's Eye ring, Severus now felt confident enough to Floo to Tess's quarters at Hogwarts, and at first he thought there had been a mistake. Her quarters were not as he'd expected. However, he'd quickly established that he was in the correct room when he found a photograph taken during the Order of Merlin ceremony in the summer, displayed on the writing desk next to the window.

Tess had failed to mention her relocation from the dungeons, leaving the space which Severus had previously occupied for a larger, more auspicious lodging which had once belonged to Professor Merrythought and latterly Professor Slughorn. Idly, he started to wonder what other things she'd failed to share.

From the amber glow of the Great Hall's windows, Severus ascertained that staff and pupils were nearing the end of their evening meal and would be retreating to their dormitories imminently. He had timed his first unannounced visit to coincide with Tess's downtime, hoping to catch her unawares and carry her forthwith to the bedchamber. Since his mood had improved considerably, he now waited patiently for her arrival, assured that his wizarding skills were intact.

Severus had started to use periods of inactivity to ponder the riddle of the Tiger's Eye ring, but since he'd arrived here early, he'd noticed a large stack of parchments awaiting marking, a half-written Potions exam, and an incomplete order form for Slug and Jigger's apothecary. The work laid out on Tess's desk caused him to reminisce over fifteen years of Potions master duties, and from the sinking ache in his chest, he realised he missed not the dunderheads, but those who possessed the predisposition for Potions and went on to great accomplishments.

When Severus had left Hogwarts at the age of eighteen, he'd hoped to become a wizard of high-standing and respected intellect, to create magic which changed the wizarding world, but within three years he'd been forced to return to teach at Hogwarts, fulfilling the bargain he'd made with Dumbledore to keep Lily safe.

His dream of fortune and glory had died a slow, painful death in the dungeon classrooms, and his only pleasure was seeing a handful of pupils making successes of their lives. The Potions master's simple ambition had been to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts: a post denied to him until the last moment. Then, during his final year as Headmaster at Hogwarts, he gained not acclimation but notoriety.

Now, his high prominence in wizarding society was the result of those selfsame years of service as a triple agent and for sacrificing his life for the 'greater good'. Severus remained uncomfortable with this accolade, wishing he'd received plaudits for magical discoveries instead. Perhaps all that would change.

The potion flagons in his pocket tinkled slightly as he retrieved them. Dragging a supper table to the side of an armchair, he displayed the small glass bottles on the polished teak surface, hoping this latest concoction would become as famous as Wolfsbane Potion.

Angling the armchair to provide views towards both the fireplace and the door, Severus settled down to wait for Tess's return.

Tess navigated the spiral stone staircase to her quarters whilst carrying three heavy Potions textbooks and a large pot of coffee, trying to avoid getting knocked by stampeding Ravenclaws. How the students had enough energy to run up the stairs at this time of night seemed incomprehensible, and as she struggled to cast Alohomora and other charms at her doorway, Tess hoped she could plough through her marking and retire early to bed.

Like birds from a dovecote, her thoughts of work took flight when Tess opened her door and caught sight of a dark-haired man sitting in her favourite chair, tapping his fingers on the armrest, fighting to suppress a smile. At the quirk of his lips, Tess felt a thrill of desire. She kicked the door backwards into its frame, hastily deposited her night's work on the floor and darted across the room.

Straddling him on the chair, she inhaled his familiar scent and tasted the warmth of his lips. At first the kiss was feverish, but as her body responded and her mind adjusted to his presence, their embrace relaxed into something more gentle and loving.

"I can't believe you're here," she mumbled, using her nose to nudge away his hair to nibble his earlobe. Tess felt his hot breath against her neck, and she shifted to loosen her formal teaching robes.

"Careful with the merchandise," Severus chided when her elbow almost toppled the supper table.

Tess then noticed the two potion flagons sitting side by side on the surface. Torn between curiosity and desire, she bit her lip. The sound of Severus's soft laughter made her smile. "You're such a tease," she whispered, kissing him once more.

When she stepped away, he watched her with an expression of amusement. "I do enjoy torturing Ravenclaws," he said, noticing her fidgeting hands. "Which question to ask first? What's in the bottles, or how did you enter Hogwarts without anyone knowing? Quite the dilemma."

"You forget the third option, Severus," she answered drily. "How to put those questions on hold until I've had you naked in my bed."

Tess felt a whirl of anticipation as Severus sprang from his chair, forcefully captured her lips, and pushed her up against the nearest stone pillar.

"Or the fourth option," he growled softly as he unbuttoned those parts of her robes which would allow him access, continuing, "Of being taken here and now."

She gasped as he lifted her onto the footstone of the pillar, grasped her legs until they were wrapped around his pelvis, and entered her in one swift thrust.

Their coupling was fast and explosive, satisfying a fantasy which Tess had been nurturing during lonesome nights in her cold bed, imagining the svelte silhouette of her lover moving through the shadows, rescuing her from the drudgery of duty, enticing her to submit to his every whim.

When her feet slid down to the ground, they kissed tenderly and held each other close. Severus's caress softened as he rubbed his thumb across her cheek.

"I've missed you," he murmured huskily.

Tess smiled at his declaration and leaned in for another kiss, knowing Severus was not often inclined to reveal his feelings. In the four months since he'd returned, Tess had learned to watch for signs of sentiment in his actions, rather than his words, understanding that verbal immediacy was rare, authentic, and to be savoured.

Eventually, Severus released Tess from the confines of the stone pillar, and they collapsed onto the settee by the fire. Tess Summoned the coffee pot and served two strong black coffees.

"I'm so glad you're here," she said as she stirred sugar into her cup, "but I think an explanation for your presence is long overdue." Tess smiled, settling on the sofa and draping her legs over his.

"The Ministry of Magic granted my second wish: a two-way Floo link from Lapwing Row to your Hogwarts quarters." Severus cast his gaze around the large, palatial room. "I was somewhat surprised when I arrived."

"Yes, it seems Minerva remembered my reluctant acceptance of your old dungeon quarters last year, and she took the liberty of allocating Horace's quarters to me when he retired. Now that I'm here, I quite like them, even if they're a little bit fancy for my taste."

"Slughorn always sought to ally himself with the elite echelons of the wizarding world; I believe he demanded these quarters when he returned as Potions master."

"This space does fit his personality and aspirations. Me, though, I just like the view." Tess smiled as she sipped her coffee.

"I thought as much."

"So you requested the Floo link because you missed me ," Tess said, pressing her toes into his thigh.

Severus began to look uncomfortable. "It was Albert's idea, actually."

"Ah," Tess replied, knowing she'd overstepped the boundary. "I'm glad the two of you are getting along. I thought you'd be good for each other."

Severus scrutinised her for a moment, and Tess grimaced slightly.

"You set the whole thing up, didn't you?"

Tess felt a fleeting stab of indignation. "I asked him to be friendly and talk to you, if that's what you mean."

"And invite himself round for tea and biscuits?"

"No," Tess said with amusement. "He's been around to the house? Wow. I never thought he'd get that far."

"Not the house, precisely. The outhouse."

"You've let him into your laboratory?"

"Yes."

Tess took a moment to process the revelation. "I'm speechless."

"Not as speechless as I was the first time he proposed it," Severus countered. "I didn't respond quickly enough, and by the time I'd found words, he'd let himself in through the garden gate."

Tess laughed. "He's a lovely man. I'm glad you've made a friend." She gave him a playful nudge with her heel.

Finishing his coffee, Severus hid his expression behind his curtains of hair. Tess knew not to press any further.

"So, what's in the bottles?" she asked instead.

"My ticket to fame and fortune."

"Really? You think you've cracked it this time?"

Severus shrugged. "There's a distinct possibility."

"Have you tested it yet?" Tess's feet dropped to the floor as she leaned towards the supper table and collected the two bottles of potion in her hand.

"Of course not," Severus answered, bemused.

"Oh, it's just you sounded confident. I thought maybe... you'd tried it out on Albert."

"Our... relationship... has not yet developed to that level of intimacy," Severus said wryly.

Tess laughed. "So you've brought the potion tonight for a trial?" She threw him a smile, "And there was I, thinking you were here because..."

"There are several reasons why I'm here. The potion is incidental."

"Glad to hear it," Tess said, pulling out the stopper from the bottle. "Shall I?"

Severus withdrew his wand, but then studied its polished veneer and seemed to falter. "Actually, I'd prefer if you cast the Imperius Curse upon me."

"Oh, goodie," Tess said, laughing. "Let's see how resistant you are to certain... persuasions."

"Try to keep it clean. We don't need any bias in this trial."

Tess wrinkled her nose. "Spoil sport."

Severus kept the bottle of antidote close by, and then swallowed a mouthful of the curse-breaker potion in one gulp, wincing slightly at the taste. "Gritty, like soil," he explained.

"Nice. How do you feel?"

"Fine. Calm." He hunched his shoulders. "Slightly cool."

"Ok, then." Tess prepared herself, lifting her wand. "Imperio!"

The curse hit Severus full in the face, but his expression remained unchanged. "Send the command, Tess," he prompted.

Tess frowned. "I sent it non-verbally, Severus. I told you to sing."

Severus scoffed. "I don't sing, not for anyone."

"Pity, I always wondered how your singing voice might sound."

"You don't want to know."

Tess paused. "Maybe I should try again."

Severus nodded, and when the second curse struck, his reaction remained absent.

"Nothing," he clarified, looking at the bottle in his hand. "Nothing at all."

"Could that mean...?" Tess's voice drifted away as she searched his features for a sign.

"It looks promising," Severus agreed. He picked up his wand contemplatively. "I think we should try again, but from a different angle."

"OK. What do you have in mind?"

Tess, however, had no time to prepare.

"Imperio!"

A flash of light shot from Severus's wand, and she immediately felt fuzzily warm and slightly drunk. Inspired, Tess began singing, "Believe... that magic works... don't be afraid... of being hurt..."*

Severus snorted in amusement.

"... Don't let this magic die... the answer's there... oh, just look in her eyes..."*

A bottle of curse-breaking potion was thrust into her hand, and she obediently swigged its contents. Cool clarity pervaded her senses, and she stopped singing. The spell had been broken.

She smiled, slightly bemused, and remarked upon the song's title, "Magic Works ?"

"The song must've been your choice." Severus tapped his wand in his palm, ruminating. "I'm glad you didn't fight the curse."

They looked at each other for a long moment, neither daring to make the pronouncement. Eventually, Tess's composure broke into a grin.

"Severus, I do believe you've invented the world's first Imperius Curse-Breaker. Congratulations!"

"Finally," he replied. Severus replaced the cork in the bottle's neck and positioned the potion next to its unopened antidote on the table, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

"Great discoveries often take a great deal of time," Tess affirmed. "You know yourself how the slightest alteration to a potion can have the profoundest effect."

Severus absorbed her words slowly, twiddling the anti-Horcrux ring on his little finger. He'd considered many possible explanations for his magic being bound to the ring: they could have missed something crucial in their preparations and part of his soul might have been left behind in the anti-Horcrux. His mind drifted to the Revivification Potion which had brought him back to life. St Mungo's had brewed the life-giving liquid, following the strict instructions which Tess and the Unspeakable had devised, with Severus's consent.

But what if someone had tinkered with the potion? What if there had been a deliberate alteration to the formulae by someone who wished him harm?

Severus didn't know who might harbour such an intention, nor was he ready to confess his magical deficiency to Tess. If possible, he resolved to shield Tess from the knowledge of his affliction and solve the mysterious malady without her help.

Author's Note:

Where I have quoted song lyrics from the Harry Potter film, I have marked them with an asterisk