XIII: And Now We're Even

Thanks to JKR for some wonderful characters. Thanks to Trickie Woo for beta reading. You really are my knight in shiny armour.

Chapter XIII: And Now We're Even

With a loud crack Dumbledore and Severus Apparated to the outskirts of a small Icelandic village.

Severus looked around, the landscape was fascinating: dark lava rock made up small hills that were covered with moss, and the dim light of the never-setting sun cast ghostly shadows over the hills. It wouldn't have been surprising if one of these strangely shaped rocks had suddenly come to life and turned into a dragon. Severus could sense the power the place held, the magic that hung in the air. It was an ancient kind of magic, long since forgotten by most, but still alive.

There was a woman approaching them from the village. Severus recognised her as Morgaine's grandmother. She embraced Dumbledore heartily and shook Severus' hand.

'Welcome to Iceland, both of you,' she said. 'You came just in time for dinner.'

Margaret led the way towards the village. While walking she explained to Severus what kind of place he had come to.

'You won't find many magical people here. Most of them are what you would call Muggles. They come here for spiritual guidance, to re-charge their batteries or to learn about herb lore. Some stay only for a couple of weeks, others for years.'

Severus was intrigued. 'If this is a place mainly for Muggles, Margaret, how come you are here?'

'Well, that I am witch is entirely my father's fault,' Margaret answered, winking in Dumbledore's direction. 'But I am, first, a priestess of the Old Faith. As was my mother, and her mother before her. Centuries ago, women like us were prosecuted as witches and burned on the stake. It was harder for us to hide than it was for your kind. That's why we came here, to a secluded place far away from the world you know.'

They had reached the centre of the village and entered a small white house. Margaret was just about to lead Severus to a chair at the already laid table when he heard a familiar voice. Morgaine had entered the room, carrying a big casserole.

'I hope you like fish, Professor.'

Severus was relieved to see her smiling at him. From the moment Dumbledore had come to pick him up at Spinner's End, he had been wondering if it was such a good idea to come and see her. What if she didn't want to see him? What if she found the whole experience utterly embarrassing? But his fears had been unjustified. He could tell by the look in Morgaine's eyes that she was actually glad to see him.

Dinner was delicious. Dumbledore gave his great-granddaughter an appreciative pat on the back, and Morgaine smiled. Severus wasn't surprised by her cooking skills. He was well aware of the fact that she knew her way around a cauldron. With a smile he accepted the cup of peppermint scented tea she offered him after dinner.

'It's time to think about your sleeping arrangements,' Margaret said. 'Albus will be staying in my guestroom. Morgaine, have you prepared appropriate quarters for Professor Snape?'

'Yes, Grandmother.' Morgaine inclined her head slightly, smiling.

'Tomorrow, you'll be relieved of you chores, my child. Show Professor Snape around,' Margaret continued. 'And now, be gone, you two! So we old people can go to bed.'

Morgaine kissed her grandmother and her great-grandfather goodnight and beckoned Severus to follow her. 'You'll be sleeping over there,' she said, pointing towards a little white house across the yard. 'Would you like to go for a walk before you turn in, Professor, to digest dinner?'

'Only if you stop calling me Professor,' Severus answered. 'If I am not mistaken, we are on a first name basis, Morgaine.'

It was still light enough for him to see her blush. Then she laughed. 'Well then, Severus,' she said, stressing his name exaggeratedly. 'Would you like to go for a midnight stroll with me?'

Severus nodded, of course he would.

The sun was still above the horizon, casting a soft light over the moss-covered hills. Severus had never experienced the midnight sun before, and it was fascinating. In the distance, he could hear the hissing of a geyser.

'Beautiful, isn't it?' Morgaine asked.

Severus just nodded. He wished he had the words to express just how beautiful he found the place, but since he didn't have any, he kept silent.

'Now, let me show you your quarters.'

She led him towards the small house she had shown him before. He stepped inside to find a bed covered with dark green linen sheets and a bookshelf filled with heavy leather-bound books. He also noticed a softly simmering cauldron on the table by the window. He eyed it curiously. It wasn't hard to identify the potion.

'Wolfsbane?'

'Yes. I hope you don't mind it standing here,' Morgaine replied. 'It's just about done and it should not be moved.'

'Who would be brewing Wolfsbane in a place like this?' Severus inquired.

'Why, me of course. This is my room.'

'Your room?' Severus raised an eyebrow in surprise.

'Yes. It's custom here to give your room to your guest. And I do hope you came to see me and not my grandmother.'

Severus felt himself blushing slightly. What was he supposed to say now?

Morgaine spared him the trouble. 'When you're up tomorrow morning, come down to my grandmother's house for breakfast.' Then she turned to leave. 'Goodnight, Prof... goodnight, Severus.'

She gave him a last smile, and then she left him in her room.

Severus looked around. So this was Morgaine's room. He should have noticed. If not the cauldron, the books should have given it away: Advanced Potion Making, Advanced Defence against the Dark Arts, Hogwarts – A History, The Power of the Light. He had given her most of these books.

And then there was the potion. He examined it closely. He was impressed. Wolfsbane wasn't an easy potion to brew, but Morgaine had done nicely, even if she hadn't succeeded. He smiled, suddenly feeling proud. He had taught her well.

~ ~ ~

I was very glad that Severus had followed Dumbledore's invitation.

I knew that we, sooner or later, would have to talk about it, and this would best be done far away from Hogwarts, in a place where he was not my teacher and I was not his student.

~ ~ ~

When Severus awoke the next morning, he felt more rested than he had in years. For a fact, he couldn't recall the last time he had slept so soundly. He got up to dress and found that his robes had been replaced by a pair of black linen trousers and a black shirt. Without thinking about how the clothes had gotten there, he dressed and then went to get some breakfast.

He found Dumbledore, Margaret and Morgaine already sitting in the garden. They had courteously waited for him to join them for breakfast. Normally, Severus didn't like breakfast, but even he couldn't resist the freshly baked bread. And again, there was peppermint scented tea.

'Well, where are you youngsters off to today?' Dumbledore wondered over his second cup of tea.

'I was thinking about taking Severus up to the Well,' Morgaine replied.

Dumbledore chuckled. 'Ah, that is an excellent choice. But be warned, Severus, this is a place of Old Magic. You never know what can happen there.'

~ ~ ~

Severus followed Morgaine over the moss clad hills. He hadn't been hiking in years and actually experienced some difficulties keeping up with the girl. But every time she turned towards him to see if he was still behind her, she gave him one of her lovely smiles, and they were worth having a stitch.

By mid-afternoon, they had reached the Well, a tiny stream of water that sprang from the moss clad hills. Severus sensed at once that this was a place of powerful magic.

'It has been a place of rituals for hundreds of years,' Morgaine explained. 'It's a sacred place. Those who are schooled in Divination can see the future in the Well.'

Severus nodded. He didn't believe in the arts of Divination, but the magic of the place made his skin tingle. He couldn't help but wonder why Morgaine had brought him there.

They shared lunch on the hill, not far from the Well. Morgaine was telling him about the island and the Well, but Severus was only listening with one ear. He heard her voice, but didn't take in the words. He found that he couldn't take his eyes off her. He studied her face closely, her well-shaped eyebrows, her cheekbones, her sparkling blue eyes, her smiling lips.

'Why are you looking at me like that?' Morgaine suddenly asked.

Severus turned his head away from her. Maybe what he had to say would be easier if he weren't looking at her?

'Morgaine, what happened on the last day of school ... it was not appropriate. It should not have ... I should not have ...'

'Should not have what?'

'I should not have kissed you.' There, he had said it. Hesitantly, he turned to look at Morgaine again. The stern dark eyes met the sparkling blue ones. He heard her giggle.

'Did anything suggest to you that I didn't like it?' she inquired.

'That is not the point, Morgaine,' he replied in a serious tone. 'I am your teacher. You are my student. It was not appropriate.'

She laughed heartily. 'Well, right now it is summer, and that means that you're not my teacher, Severus.'

She leant in, and before he knew what was happening, he felt her lips on his.

It was over in a heart-beat. They broke apart and Morgaine looked straight into his eyes. 'And now we're even,' she said, grinning at him.

There were only inches separating them. The sweet and heavy scent of her hair filled Severus' nostrils, sandalwood and honey. He just had to touch her. He couldn't resist.

Carefully, his fingers brushed over Morgaine's cheek, her hair. She wasn't what people in general would call beautiful, but there was something about her that made it impossible for him to take his eyes off her. His fingers brushed over her neck, down her arm. And then, Severus suddenly didn't care about school etiquette and proper behaviour anymore. He pulled her into a tight embrace, and their lips met once more. She tasted so sweet.

He shifted his weight and pushed Morgaine down into the grass, his left arm around her waist, his right hand supporting her head. He could feel her warm hands on his back, and closed his eyes. The whole world around him seemed to have disappeared. Morgaine's lips tasted of honey, and they were warm and welcoming. And it was so wrong.

I should not be doing this. The thought rang clearly in his head. She is just a child. She is ten years younger than me. She is my student.

Abruptly, he let go of her and sat up, once more turning his face away from her. He had to be strong. He had to resist.

After a while, he felt Morgaine's hand on his shoulder. 'We should get back,' she said. 'We'll be late for dinner.'

She stood up and put her hand out towards him. Severus took it and let her pull him up. They came to stand close to each other, only inches apart. He felt her hand taking his, and silently they went down the hill.

~ ~ ~

It had been a wonderful day, Severus thought lying in bed later that night. He enjoyed spending time with Morgaine. She made him feel ... well, happy. And he sure hadn't felt happy for a long time.

When he closed his eyes, he could see her face. He had memorised it carefully today: her eyebrows, her cheekbones, her sparkling blue eyes, her lips. Her lips that had tasted of honey.

For a moment he felt slightly guilty. He had kissed a student, twice. He should have resisted the temptation. He should have been stronger. But then again, how could something that felt so right be wrong?

Don't apologise for love, Dumbledore had said.

Severus smiled. Love? Was he actually falling for the girl? Was he, Severus Snape, falling in love?

He pulled up the blanket and snuggled down. And he couldn't help but wish that Morgaine were lying there with him.