Chapter 17 - Much ado about Bronwyn or Ain't no Werewolf high enough
Thank you Mal for the Elvish swearing and thank you Dame for catching my Americanisms.
Additional disclaimer: It is widely and openly assumed that Tolkien wrote Shire weed to be a hallucinogenic and I have written it as such. I do NOT condone the use of illegal drugs of any kind.
Chapter 17
Much ado about Bronwyn or Ain't no Werewolf high enough
***
Your protection and your friendship
Were always desired,
And my heart's great love
Stories and songs
Old as the mountains
Strong and brave with age.
Na Laethe Bhi
Clannad
***
The sound of the rails was hypnotic and even Severus found himself lulled into a sense of non-awareness. He was overwhelmed by exhaustion and he found himself nodding off to sleep whilst trying to churn on his own thoughts.. Mentally slapping himself, he forced himself to sit up and take in the woman and wolf across from him.
She had done her damnedest to avoid him, to make sure they did not touch. The wider the distance between the two, the more relaxed she was. However, he knew she was fighting her attraction to him, for when he was close enough to touch her, her body tightened, her mind froze. It did not take much for it all to come flooding back; the kiss, her fantasy in the tub...
Ah. That fantasy. Had he not heard what fell from her lips, even feeling the turmoil in her head, he would not have believed.
Hal...
...vrussss...
If Severus had been one to cackle, he would have.
Slytherins do NOT cackle. Well, the older female Slytherins MIGHT. But the men? Never.
Instead, he gloated.
Neither one had slept well afterwards. Two more nights in that infernal house; Bronwyn in the larger bed and bedroom, tossing and turning, Severus in the child's room, waiting for the old crone to appear. The old witch did not show herself to him, but he could hear her; he could hear the creaking of her chair.
And twice, he had felt the whisper of a cool, gentle hand move the hair from his face.
Severus shook himself again, banishing lingering thoughts. He leaned over, resting his elbows on his knees and propped his chin on the back of his fingers.
What to do about Bronwyn?
She had avoided him like the Black Death, wavering, battling with her conscious. She had sat, sunken - eyed across from him at the table in the mornings, eating cereal with too much sugar. She had spoken as little as possible, monosyllables, would not; could not look him in the eye.
However, on a few occasions, when she was up to her eyeballs in computer paper, he had heard giggles and snorts. Sometimes, she had forgotten she was dodging him.
"HAH! I knew it!"
"You knew what?" Severus was sitting on the sofa, perusing items he had filched from the attic.
"According to this quiz, in a past life, you were a snooty amusement park character."
Severus laid down the ancient journal.
"I was a what?"
"A snooty amusement park character."
He stood up and quietly made his way behind her. Her beast lay beneath her feet, growling low. "I hear you, you cur. Be silent." He bent over her shoulder to look into the monitor. She immediately stiffened. On the screen was a virtual crystal ball. She had typed the words ‘Severus Snape' into the box provided and in large letters beneath was the line she was reading.
"Why are you being so mean to Amadeus?" Bronwyn muttered peevishly. "What has he done to you?"
Besides exist? Stays pinned to your side? Crawls in that warm, comfortable bed with his head on your rounded bum that I would die to lick and bite?
"I do not hate your mangy mutt. We are old friends." Snape retorted. He watched her type her own name into the box.
"Oh, for crying out-loud!" he snapped when the result popped up. "Now I know where Sybil gets her ridiculous seeings!" Bronwyn was giggling like a mad- woman.
Bronwyn Morgan. You were an Annoying Wizard in a past life.
Her head was down, legs bouncing.
He spun on his heel and returned to the living area and the old journal. "You cackle like a hen." Her snickerings worsened. "Are you not supposed to be researching family archives and trees? Stop wasting time." He sat back down on the sofa and reached for the journal.
Many minutes passed... perhaps an hour when yet again she burst out in laughter...
"Guess what?"
Severus rolled his eyes. This diary was exceedingly difficult to read; it was written by a young girl who wrote with a flourishing, swirling, curly que'd script, so very typical of the age; and the interruption was not welcome. "Now what?" he growled.
"Guess what your battle cry is?"
The ancient journal was gently placed on the sofa. "What?" It better be good...
" Lo! Who is that, skulking across the desert? It is Snape Baby..."
What?
"...hands clutching a jeweled meat hammer! He bellows mightily: "I'm going to redefine your concept of 'playing hardball with the big boys'!"
Severus' temples was pounding as if someone... namely Bronwyn... had taken that jeweled meat hammer to his own head.
"You did not call me Sna-"
"Damn straight and I did." Tapping on the keyboard. "Want to hear your real name? I can type in ol' Sev pretty easy! Sev, Sevvie-kins, Snapey..."
He was glaring.
Bronwyn's shoulder's slumped in defeat as she turned back to the computer. "Oh, alright. One real name, coming up, you boring git!"
Oh joy. Where was that Elf?Severus was prepared to offer him his throat, if the Elf would put him out of his misery.
"Prowling along the icy wasteland, brandishing a sharpened screwdriver, cometh Severus Snape! And he gives a vengeful bellow: "I'm seriously going to pulverize you so hard, it will be a new form of crime!!"
"Hmmm."
"Hmmm, what?"
"Hmmm, I wonder if I can cast an Unforgivable on myself?"
Bronwyn leaned backwards in the chair. "Are you okay?"
"I cannot sleep; either your damned old Elf or that ancient virago is after me," he muttered softly, beneath her hearing. "you are sitting in my head, when I would rather you were sitting on my face! I am horny as hell and you," his voice squeaked in falsetto, in imitation of Pansy Parkinson, " are not ready." His eyes narrowed, focusing on the beast. "And I despise your wolf!" He picked the journal back up and found his place. "He guards your pussy like a dog shields a bone, driving away one who would feast..."
"Severus? I hear you mumbling. Are you sure you are okay?"
"I am just fine!" he spat loudly between clenched teeth.
"Oh. Hey! Here's mine! Zang! Who is that, prowling over the steppes! It is The Mighty Bronwyn, hands clutching a vorpal blade! She howls ominously: "This one's for you, mom! I desecrate with God on my side!!"
Snape leaned over to make eye contact with the wolf. He stretched his neck and motioned for the animal to have his way with his throat.
Amadeus was not amused. In fact, he looked tempted.
***
Several times, he had made his way into the attic, reveling in the wealth of total bull shite people collect. Eventually, he came to the conclusion that he liked the musty, dark, hot room. Despite the difference in temperatures, it reminded him strangely of the dungeons. Close to the front, he found mementos, keepsakes of Bronwyn's younger life: picture albums of photos that did not move, school programs, recitals, instruments. Bronwyn herself had come to the foot of the steps, questioning his wanderings.
"It's just an attic, Severus. Junk and more junk. Are you that bored?"
"Yes, I am that bored." He went to the top of the stairs and glared down at her. "Does my pawing through your Nanna's dry-rotting unmentionables bother you?"
There was a sharp THWACK on the back of Severus' head in payment for his cheek. He did not move or say anything as he was intent on the woman below him, not to mention, he didn't want Bronwyn to know her ghosts were as personable as Peeves.
"No. Paw through them all you want. Not that it would matter." she quipped. "You'll do what you want anyway."
Snape turned and looked for the ghost that had smacked him. "Damned straight and I will." He rubbed the back of his head. "You may be fond of her as much as you please, but to me she is a bothersome female and a dunderhead."
As he made his way towards the back, things became more ancient, delicate. The dust was thick, layer upon layer. He found the trunk that he had been instructed to look for hidden by the wardrobe and under piles of old knick- knacks. For a moment, he felt great trepidation, but he quickly settled himself (There is NOT a dead body in here!) and clearing the top, cast an ‘Alohamora' on the lock.
After coughing and flapping away the dust, he realized he had opened a cornucopia of his own history.
***
Bow down to the one you serve
You're going to get
What you deserve
Head like a Hole
Nine inch Nails
***
So now, he sat across from the faintly nodding woman, Amadeus' head in her lap. At the end of the seat, a softly hooting owl watched the Potions Master. Bronwyn had christened the thing ‘Figwit'. Severus' eyes slid back to Bronwyn.
Again he asked himself the question. What to do about Bronwyn?
That she was beginning to move on with her life, he had no doubt. Despite the many times she strayed from her objective at the cottage, she had managed to compile stacks of information and leads on where her bow might have ended up. Despite her penchant for disorganization - a trait he abhorred - her notes were concise and to the point. It was obvious that they had much work ahead, following up on each lead.
She had also researched and printed information, worksheets, teacher's aids on the various wars and various historical events the Ministry was demanding she teach. He had been fascinated on what was ‘on the internet' for teachers. Aids, worksheets, information geared directly to the hormonally challenged brain of a teenager, simply criminal on the ease that she found things to aid the imbeciles. It was surprising that teachers ‘networked' in this way, sharing ideas. She admitted to him sheepishly, that on occasion, when her students - Elfling or Muggle - got out of hand, she did stoop to assigning a huge quantity of note taking and questions from the text book.
He had taken great pains to help her clean up and ward the house, reducing everything to fit in his pockets, within overnight bags. By the time they had gone back to Diagon Alley to retrieve the purchases they left behind, his pockets were bulging. She had several bags from the robery that she refused to allow him to miniaturize and she had almost caused a scene when she asked him to please pick up her owl as she had business to discuss with the proprietor of the boutique.
The salesgirl who had waited on Bronwyn before immediately became ill and had to be sent home.
What to do about Bronwyn?
Bronwyn was settling in to this new life, finally. In recent weeks, his headaches did not rage as much. He didn't stop to consider that he now allowed her to minister to that need and that might actually ease the situation. All he cared was that the headaches that plagued him were not such a nuisance anymore.
What to do about Bronwyn?
She desired him. He knew it. It stroked his ego in a strange way, that this woman, who had been happily married to an Elf, beautiful creatures in their own strange way, desired a snarky, hooked nosed, anti-social... teacher.
He stroked his chin, taking in her full form.
Not beautiful, but something about her had endeared her to the Elf. Memories of her naked body ran rampant through his darker thoughts... hips that begged to be grabbed, squeezed, breasts... he could bury his nose in mounds of supple flesh...
Malfoy's voice echoed from within...
As a teen, Snape had been enamored of a seventh year Ravenclaw built similarly to Bronwyn. Lucius had caught him staring at her one to many times...
"Severus! Don't you know that more than a mouthful is too much? What are you going to do with the rest?"
Later, Severus discovered that Lucius himself had relieved her of her virginity. And bragged of enjoying the excess.
Lucius had not touched this one. If he could help it, Lucius would never touch this one.
What to do about Bronwyn?
She desired him. He desired her. So what was the problem?
Snape's eyes came to rest on the white beast with his head in her lap.
An evil glint lit in the jet recesses. Standing, he quietly whipped out his wand.
Amadeus lifted his head, teeth bared.
"Flos aetatis recessim."
Amadeus leapt from the seat, but by the time he reached the Potions Master, he was...
"Severus! What did you do to Amadeus?" Bronwyn was up and awake, pulling herself from the window. Her eyes were flashing. "What did you do? Shrink him?"
Amadeus was growling, trying to sharpen wolf cub teeth on his shoe. Snape grinned maliciously and bent over, picking the pup up by the scruff of the neck.
"Age regress. Ah. About six weeks, I would imagine." He turned the wolf cub to face him. "A good age for them." Amadeus snapped, attempting to bite, gnaw at the long fingers holding him and was visibly agitated by his inability to wound the Wizard.
"You son of a bitch! Change him back."
Snape raised a single eyebrow. "I believe we agreed to keep my mother out of your little snit fits." he said coldly.
Bronwyn drew herself up to full height - oh so not impressive- and tucked her fingertips into the crook of her elbow. Snape almost laughed at her audacity.
"Change him back this instant, you neithadol!"
"But I think he looks rather..." Snape peered closely at the twisting, snarling fur ball, "adorable this way."
"D?l-raeg na fast dugui!"
"That certainly is a mouth-full!" He grinned for a moment before Amadeus finally managed to sink sharp teeth into his thumb. "Why, you little mongrel!"
The little mongrel responded by peeing down Severus' arm.
Growling from all parties filling the car, Snape stormed from the compartment, carrying the cub at arm's distance and facing away, Bronwyn behind cursing in who knows what language. Luckily for all involved, they were the only ones on the train and Bronwyn's screeches intensified when Snape opened a bathroom door, shoved the snarling pup in and slammed the door shut. He whipped his wand out again, warded the door and proceeded to use a cleansing charm on himself.
Bronwyn began to curse in Japanese.
When he finished cleaning his arm and clothing, Snape zapped a sign on the door and grabbing Bronwyn by the arm, dragged her back towards the compartment. Amadeus' howls and yips could be heard through out the car. He shoved her in front of him, closing the door behind them.
Ah! Alone at last!
"Saura Valarauco!"
Snape steadily approached her, backing her into the large glass window. Her breath came in a heaves and he leisurely pressed her to the plate glass.
"You were saying?"
Bronwyn flattened both palms against his chest and pushed. "Tevinyel, alasila curuvar! Heca!"
Grinning at her paltry attempts, Severus leaned forward, bracing his hands on the glass aside her head. The scent of raspberries was over whelming and he found himself wanting to bury his nose in her hair, her neck. "Tell me more." he whispered, silkily. "It turns me on to hear you talk dirty."
Pressing palms turned into beating fists. "? miqu? haccanyar!"
Severus bent over, leaning into her ear. "This can go on for the rest of the trip, but I would rather talk to you in a language I understand."
The fists stopped. Her hackles were up, as well as her guard. "Turn Amadeus back."
"He is fine where he is. I have put up a ‘Rabid dog' warning and warded the door. I will change him back upon our arrival at Hogsmeade."
Once I am far enough away to apparate!
"Why did you do this?" Fists relaxed and fingers tightened into his jacket.
"Because all of a sudden that beast will not let me near you for any reason. I wanted an... uninterrupted... conversation with you."
Bronwyn took a deep breath.
"Would you please back up." Her eyes were fixed on the buttons of his jacket. "I cannot breathe and... you are making me uncomfortable."
Ah, silly girl. I plan on making you more than uncomfortable,he chuckled inwardly. Leaving his hands where they were, he backed up slightly, giving her a few inches more of space.
"That's not enough room, Severus."
"It is all I plan on giving you. I have questions, Bronwyn. If you answer to my satisfaction, I'll back off further."
She looked up and sneered. "You have questions? We had this conversation the day I arrived!"
Long, elegant fingers lightly traced the air across her lips. " I have not asked these questions." Her hands remained tight on his jacket. "First. Who was the Elf with the look of that Elf you married and Rumil?"
"Orophin. Their younger brother."
Severus made a moue. "I have not met this brother?"
"His grief was so deep, we thought to send him back to Valinor. He insisted on staying, doing his job. I doubt he will stay much longer."
"And his... job?"
"He is the Elven adviser to Canada."
Snape processed the information. An ambassador of sorts.
"Tell me of the row of pills on the table."
Bronwyn pulled inward, he felt it. "Bronwyn, do not make me use Legilimancy. You will not like it. Besides," he leaned in again, "I would rather hear it in your words."
"Why are you so friggin interested in my life all of a sudden?"
Snape pressed intimately against her again. "Did I not tell you how much I enjoy you talking dirty?" He waited for a few seconds before pulling back slightly. "Tell me about the pills. Tell me how you were sent to this... Middle Earth."
Bronwyn took a deep breath. "I was married before I went to Middle Earth. I had a child..."
"Duncan."
"Yes, yes, Duncan!" she retorted testily.
"The same Duncan who is in Valinor that you cannot get to."
She inhaled sharply. "Yes and no. Duncan was ill. Very ill and he died when he was four."
"What a... tragedy for you and your husband." Somehow, she doubted his sincerity.
"My husband died before Duncan was born."
He leaned forward, whispering in her ear. "My apologies. Very sorrowful for you."
"He wrapped his car and his mistress around a tree! It was a blessing for me!" she countered hotly. "Why are you so interested in me all of a sudden?"
She was drawing in, drawing tighter and Severus quickly changed tactics. Pushing off the glass, he backed up and taking her by the hand, led her back to the long seat. Amadeus' wails had noticeably lessened and she relaxed a little at the space he allowed her. "I have a need to... understand..."
She snorted.
"You were saying?" Snape sat close, his arm stretched out behind her.
"Duncan was ill, very ill and died. I had nothing here, nothing that mattered to me." The words came out in a rush. "He was my life, my world and I wanted to join him, so I lined up the sleeping pills the doctor gave me. Was going to take one every five to ten minutes. It's just..."
"Yesssssss?" Bronwyn's eyes were closed and she could feel his lips on her ear. It caused goose bumps to rise on her arms.
"Every time I filled up my glass with water, it would be empty when it got to the table. Every time I tried to swallow without the water, I gagged." She turned her head away to look at the rushing landscape. Severus waited for her to regain her composure. "Just as I reached my lowest point, She came."
"She?"
"Tari, of the Valar. She told me she would take me to a better place." She grinned ruefully. "I got thrown into the Mines of Moria."
Severus leaned in, using the movement to scoot a little closer. "Would it not have been better to drop you in your intended's bed?"
"One would think so!" she snapped. "No, they dropped me in a dark, dank abandoned mine full of dead Dwarves and countless Orcs." The car dimmed and Snape heard catcalls, piggy sounds echoing. The stench of death and earth intermingled in the air. "In retrospect, I suppose they did me a favor."
Sounds of arrows zinging through the air...
"Really? In what way?" She was beginning to relax... just a little.
Sweet, blessed silence. When she finally answered, Severus had to lean over to hear her clearly.
"I discovered I wanted to live."
As the rails marked the yards, the miles, the minutes, the hours, Severus patiently questioned, peeling the layers she offered up in her exhaustion. Most of the information, he knew, had been shown by that blasted Elf and he paid scant attention. But what mattered most was as she unloaded, she relaxed and by the time Hogsmeade was visible around the curve of landscape, she was leaning completely against him, well within the cocoon of his arms.
***
Sweet desert rose
Each of her veils, a secret promise
This desert flower
No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this
Desert Rose
Sting
***
The staff was returning from various vacations and research trips and as this final week of summer break opened, Bronwyn found herself surrounded by more staff than she had met since that last day of school.
Much to her relief, she was not the only new teacher on staff. The new History of Magic professor, a young woman by the name of Constance Bellany, sat to next to Hagrid. The new Arithmancy Professor, Fracus Scrapton, immediately put Bronwyn off with his clammy hands and cold manner.
"He reminds me of Grima Wormtongue." she whispered to Remus during dinner.
"Who is Grima Wormtongue?"
"A nasty person!" She stabbed at her chicken. "I never met him."
"Then how, Professor, could he remind you of someone you have never had the pleasure of meeting?" Snape's acidity fairly oozed among the threesome.
Bronwyn's eyes never left her meal, so intent was she on shredding the meat. "I talked to enough people. He makes you on a broiling day over a cauldron look like GQ cover material!"
Remus choked on his green beans.
Severus' jaw ticked. "Thank you so kindly for the compliment." He lifted his fork. "I think." His fork stopped in front of his mouth as he looked down at Amadeus in his customary spot under Bronwyn's chair. "Do you think it is a compliment?" he sarcastically asked the wolf.
Amadeus' only response was to growl threateningly. Bronwyn reached down to scratch the beast behind the ear. "I don't think he has forgiven you for that nasty stunt you pulled on the train."
Indeed, Amadeus had not. Snape had carried all their belongings back to their rooms, enlarging the items after their arrival and then after taking in her woebegone look with the snarling cub in her arms, waited until he had exited her chambers, until the door was almost shut before uttering the counter charm. In truth, even Bronwyn behaved cooly towards the Potions Master in the aftermath of the incident upon their arrival and only this very morning had returned to her normal perch with him at his cauldrons.
"Pssst. Bronwyn." Russ Sprout leaned over her shoulder, Anne-Marie close behind. "Do you have plans this evening?" Russ looked covertly at Severus, who pretended not to notice.
"Nooo. Why?" Bronwyn whispered over her shoulder.
"I had a bit of your... Shire weed to... uhm... come of age." she continued to whisper. "Anne-Marie and I had hoped you might have some of that Elvish wine and would like to join us for... uhm..."
"Before the term - toke?" Bronwyn finished, grinning playfully.
Anne-Marie punched Russ in the arm. "She's all right."
Severus leaned over and took Bronwyn by the arm as she stood up. "Do not go far from the castle." She nodded and stood up. "And do not go near the Forbidden Forest."
"Okay."
"Stay with Russ and Anne-Marie. Do not wander off."
"Certainly."
"Do not over imbibe like you did that first night at your cottage."
Bronwyn was now standing up and she scowled down at the dark Wizard. "Anything else, Daddy dear?" she asked sweetly. "Perhaps, you would like to join us?"
"NO!"
"No!"
"Absolutely not!"
Both women and Severus exploded at the same time. Every Wizard and Witch turned to look at the foursome, causing Bronwyn to smile and wave sheepishly.
"It's a girl's only thing, Bronwyn." Russ whispered. "You were cooped up with... well, him..." she gestured good naturedly at Severus, "and we figured that the two of you would appreciate the break."
"Girl talk!"
"Oh yeah!" Anne-Marie brightened.
The three women began to wander from the table. Amadeus got up to follow, but then sat down, as if in confusion. He looked from Bronwyn to Remus, before chuffing dejectedly.
"Take pity on him?" Bronwyn asked the two witches.
Hooch and Sprout looked at each other before shrugging. "Sure." Sprout finally spoke up. "It's not like he can tattle on us."
***
You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait
You got to trust, give it time
No matter how long it takes
You can't hurry love
The Supremes
***
The sun had set and the moon was rising over the lake and the three women were relaxing on several blankets, looking at the reflection of the great white orb in the water. A sweet haze of smoke hung over them. There were three empty wine bottles and two empty baskets laying in front of them.
Amadeus lay next to Bronwyn, on his back, all four paws in the air, tongue lolling. Bronwyn was rubbing his belly, watching his leg twitch.
"Wants some more?" She asked slowly.
Amadeus' tongue lolled some more. Bronwyn took it as a ‘yes' and leisurely waved her hand to the pipe Russ held loosely in her hand. It took several waves before the Herbology Professor caught sight of her and passed it over.
Bronwyn took a deep drag, relighting the bowl and inhaled deeply.
"Damn!" Anne Marie was leaning slightly. "Girl has lungs!"
Russ was leaning, trying to see. "No shite. Bronwyn! Leave some for us!"
Bronwyn was leaning over, blowing a thin stream of smoke into the face of the white beast. Amadeus was inhaling... and inhaling... and inhaling...
"Russ!" Anne Marie attempted to poke the portly witch. "I don't believe it. She got that poor wolf stoned." There was no response from Russ. She turned to see her laying flat on her back, with an empty wine bottle balanced on her stomach.
"Think I can flip it?"
"No."
Sprout tried anyway. It rolled off the blanket and over the embankment.
"Well, damn!" Sprout turned to Bronwyn who had now finished blowing smoke at the wolf. "Bronwyn, can we sing the Walrus song again?"
Bronwyn scrambled to her feet, pulling at her jeans. She had pulled off her shoes quite some time back and her toes curled in the cool grass. She took a deep breath.
"I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together
See how they run like pigs from a gun see how they fly
I'm crying."
"Oh, that's so sad." Hooch whispered to Sprout. "It made her cry."
"Shh!" Russ whispered back. "Our part is coming up." Both witches attempted to refocus on the singing woman in front of them.
"Sitting on a cornflake waiting for the van to come
Corporation teeshirt, stupid bloody Tuesday
Man you been a naughty boy
You let your face grow long
I am the eggman,"
"Whoo!" The two witches chimed in.
"They are the eggmen."
"Whooo!" Amadeus joined them.
"I am the walrus, koo koo key choo..."
"Coo cookey chew..."
"Cookie?" Sprout brightened up. "I could use a cookie!"
Bronwyn stopped in mid verse. "Cookie? Are there anymore cookies?"
Song forgotten, the threesome began digging through the empty baskets, looking for any food.
They were out of luck. Sitting dejectedly, Bronwyn came to rest and slowly the three lay down and contemplated the stars.
"Bronwyn?" Russ's voice was pensive.
"Yessssss?"
"How is Sev'russ in bed?"
"Yeah!" Hooch flipped over on her stomach, eyes bright in the moonlight. "Tell us! I bet he's amazing!"
Bronwyn looked horrified. "I don't know how he is..."
Sprout had trouble rolling over. "Do not tell us you had that sexy thing in buttons all to yourself for four days and three nights and you didn't once get him naked and just screw the living daylights out of him!"
"Nooo..."
"Damn you woman!" Hooch spat. "We said don't tell us that!"
"You mean," Sprout added, "nothing happened? Not even a kiss?"
"Well, we did kiss..."
"Yesss?" in duet.
"Well, we got into an argument."
"Oh, tell me more!" Sprout gleefully clapped her hands.
"Shut up, Russ!" Anne Marie smacked at her friend and rolled over. "Tell us about the argument!"
"Well, we got into..."
"Yes, yes, yes! What else?"
Bronwyn's voice dropped conspiratorially. "I had gotten drunk the night before and he claimed he had kissed me, but I passed out."
"You passed out on that mouth? Were you drunk?" Sprout was incredulous.
"Yes, I believe so. He said it was nasty!"
"You passing out was nasty?"
"No! The kiss was nasty!"
"Oooooh." again in duet. Sprout looked at Hooch. "I should have to hurt him if he said my kisses were nasty."
"Dream on, Sprout!" Both witches looked at Bronwyn. "So," Hooch continued, "the two of you didn't... you know... do it?"
"Goodness, no!" Bronwyn had reached over and was scratching a mellow Amadeus into oblivion. "We did not ‘do it.' We were... working." Despite her languid mind set, dulled by the hallucinogenic, she stopped herself in time. No one but themselves, and probably Albus, knew their true reason for going to her secluded cottage.
"Aren't you interested?" Sprout giggled lightly.
"Well.. I..."
"I think he's hot!" Hooch mused. "All those buttons. Those hands..."
"That voice!" Sprout chimed in.
Yes, Bronwyn thought to herself, in agreement. That voice. She felt herself punched in the arm.
"Don't you think he is sexy? Aren't you even interested?"
"Anne Marie!" Sprout punched HER in the arm. "Bronwyn was married to one of the sexiest Elves for thousands of years! I Imagine we all pale in comparison."
"I'm very interested."
"True. Mind you, I only saw pictures of Haldir after he was killed, but he was gorgeous!" Sprout sighed.
"I'm partial to Rumil, but Haldir was very nice..." Hooch exhaled.
"I'm interested."
"Rumil is nice, but... Bronwyn? What did you say?"
Both witches flipped to look at the woman still lying on her back. Bronwyn's countenance was sober, reflective. Amadeus had turned and now had his massive head resting on her stomach, whining gently as Bronwyn stroked the noble head.
"I said," her words were measured, carefully plotted, "that I am very interested. Severus is very sexy and I won't deny that. I just..."
Hooch and Sprout leaned forward, eager...
"I feel guilty. I love my husband. I miss him greatly and I have to wonder if my attraction to Severus is a result of my loneliness." Bronwyn's gaze returned to the sky, the numerous stars now out. Her hand never stopped its trek through the wolf's fur. "Severus deserves someone who will be able to give themselves whole-heartedly, without strings. I'm not sure I am capable of that."
It was very quiet for a few minutes while the two witches processed what Bronwyn had said through a ShireWeed haze.
"No relationship is string free, Bronwyn."
Bronwyn thought of her husband, the places they had been, the adventures they had had. "True." She smiled ruefully. "Besides, I don't think Severus is interested in me. I tax him greatly!"
Russ and Anne Marie looked at each other and grinned knowingly. They almost missed seeing Bronwyn jump up and stretch.
"This rots! I'm coming down and I don't want to! Russ! Is there any more of the Shire Weed?" She motioned towards the pipe and the bag that the Herbology Professor had put the dried leaf in. "Load it up and light that bad boy!" She settled her hands on her hips. "I'm in the mood to teach you two about the Supremes!"
***
Severus was going over his stores, taking note of what needed to be replenished and what needed to be brewed. Poppy had finally given him a list of medicines she required to have prepared and this last week was going to be busy. Bronwyn was on the other side of the lake, bouncing about, but staying in a small, general vicinity. He could feel the mellowness coursing through her veins and while on one hand he was glad she was not in his hair, he hoped deep inside the desire to escape from her pain through the use of chemicals was not going to become addictive. Up until their sojourn at her cottage, she had not been one to drink excessively, nor had she shown any penchant for using any other drug. Severus had experimented freely with questionable drugs in his teen years and had gladly walked away from them when he fled to Dumbledore in misery.
He started two cauldrons, one for Pepper up Potion, the other to brew a base for no less than five potions.
Bronwyn was truly mellow. In fact, she was...
Snape scowled. If Hooch and Sprout were as limp as Bronwyn, neither of them were in any shape to bring her back. In fact...
He stormed to his fireplace and threw in a pinch of floo powder.
"Lupin!"
A few seconds later, the DADA professor peered into Snape's private chambers. "Severus. Is something wrong?"
"I need your assistance." Severus snapped tersely. "Come to my chambers immediately."
Severus went back to his cauldrons, making sure they were both at a safe point in order to be left alone for some time. An explosion was heard in his chambers and Remus stepped through the doors, dusting off his coat.
"Severus, I..."
"Bronwyn, Hooch, and Sprout are outside the protective grounds of Hogwarts. They have over imbibed and I doubt their ability to return Bronwyn or her mutt to me... to the school grounds safely." Remus watched as Severus threw on his coat and began the process of buttoning up. "In the last few minutes, I have had a sense of unrest I do not like. I have no problems in retrieving Bronwyn or the hound, but I cannot deal with three woman and the beast." Severus' wand slid into its casing up his sleeve. "Are you ready?"
Remus' eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "You are asking my aid?"
Severus was already to the doorway. "Did I not make myself clear? Do I need to re-explain?" He stopped for a moment before going through the door, leaving the werewolf in the steamy room. "I do not have time to waste! Either come on or stay. I suppose I could make two or three trips."
Remus smiled gleefully. "He's asked for my help. I could blackmail him for ages!" Quickly, so as not to raise the further ire of the Potions Master, he followed Snape from the castle to the edge of the grounds, where they could apparate.
***
They were greeted by a sight Remus would never forget for the rest of his long life.
They followed the sound of singing to the top of the hill, where in the moonlight, three very stoned women were standing in a line, dancing in sync to music echoing from the grounds.
"What the hell?" Snape stopped dead in his tracks.
Remus was hard pressed not to laugh outloud.
"Stop! In the naaaaaame of love
Before you break my heart..."
"Think it over, baby..."Sprout was singing the descant.
Remus lost it. He hit the ground, howling; his hands holding his stomach.
"Really, Lupin." Snape growled, looking down at the rolling wizard. "I do not see what is so funny."
Remus regained his feet and his composure - barely. "Check out Russ Sprout's rear end when she... that.. Oh! That!" He pointed and started laughing again.
Severus rolled his eyes and approached the singing trio. He reached out and tapped Bronwyn on the shoulder.
"Stop! In the... name...Severus!" Bronwyn grinned broadly, too jovially. "Come on!" She reached out to touch him. "Join us!"
"I think not. Come." He grasped her by the arm. "It is close to midnight and I believe you have tied one on again."
"But I'm fine. I'm having a good time." She smiled cajolingly. "Come on! There is still some Shire Weed left."
"There is?" Remus came crashing into the clearing. "Can I have some?"
Snape closed his eyes in disgust. Leave it to Remus to become an old reprobate. Some children never grow up. But Remus and the other two were not his responsibility. He turned back to the woman in front of him.
"They are in no condition to return you to the castle or your quarters. I am giving you no choice in the matter. Come nicely or I shall levitate you and your pet and haul you back to Hogwarts."
Bronwyn's eyes narrowed...
...The hill melted away as Severus realized he was now standing outside a large city built in the trees. Bronwyn was being forcibly carried through the city gates, over the shoulder of the Big Elf. She was screaming and her heels were kicking in the air...
"Thank you for the visual." Severus hissed. "I am quite capable of doing the same thing. Would you like to test me?"
Bronwyn's shoulders slumped in defeat. "I am tired." she finally admitted. She walked over to the two witches who were now passing the pipe and light between themselves and Remus. "Thank you for inviting me to this before term toke party. Perhaps next time we all have a free weekend or evening, you will come to my chambers and you will allow me to reciprocate."
"How can she use such big words?" Hooch whispered to Remus.
"Because that's what she does!" Sprout's stage whisper was too loud.
Snape's hackles were rising. He took in the landscape and took Bronwyn in hand. Motioning to Amadeus, who looked to be in as bad a shape as Bronwyn, he spoke to Remus. "There are unfriendly eyes, Lupin. Do not linger long." With the flurry of his wand, Snape, Bronwyn and Amadeus quickly disappeared.
Remus shrugged and returned his attention to the two witches next to him.
"Those two just need to get on with it, y'know, Remus?" Hooch took a long drag on the pipe before passing it to Sprout.
The hair on Remus' neck began to bristle and he sat up a little straighter. They weren't in danger, but he realized Severus was right. They were being watched. They quickly finished the pipe and began to put things together to make their way back to Hogwarts.
Deep in the woods, yellow eyes narrowed. She was not alone; she was rarely alone. If the Shield wasn't there watching over her, the werewolf or the Guardian was. The eyes narrowed. Small matter. Someday, the Bard would be caught unaware and then she would give up her secrets.
***
"Franz Schubert."
Bronwyn's door opened and the Wizard, Woman and wolf made their way into her private chambers. Without thinking, Severus led her up the winding stair to her bed chamber. "Get something to sleep in and go to bed, Bronwyn." He watched her open a drawer and pull out a sleep shirt. While she was in the bathroom changing, he pulled down the bedclothes in the too large bed and lit a few lamps. When he turned around, he saw Bronwyn standing behind him, eyes heavy. Without a word, she crawled into the bed and pulled the covers up. Amadeus jumped beside her and burrowed into her back. Severus turned to leave.
"Severus."
He stopped. "Yes, Bronwyn."
She sat up, her eyes glowing in the lamp light. "What happened between you and Remus?"
"Bronwyn, it is ancient history."
"I have unloaded my life to you. I've been an open book to any question you have asked."
True. Severus turned and made his way back to her bed.
"What happened between you and Remus?"
Snape settled down next to her and took a deep breath. "In short, many years ago, one of Remus' dear friends locked me in a passageway with Remus as he was changing. This was before the potion he takes now and if it had not been for another friend of Remus', Remus would have killed me." Severus' fingers rubbed together in the only nervous gesture she had ever seen him do. "Five minutes, Bronwyn. Five minutes later, I would have been killed."
"Surely, the friend was punished when Albus found out."
"No. Nothing was done to him." Snape started to stand up. He was shocked by the hand on his elbow.
"I'm sorry, Severus. Children are cruel, sometimes." She laid down and burrowed into the covers.
Severus lowered the lights and left her chambers, warding the fireplace and doors. He checked on his cauldrons and added ingredients, stirring thoughtfully. When that was done, he went back to his chambers, where an aging, dusty trunk sat in the middle of the floor.
As he slowly lifted the lid, he made a mental note that in recent weeks, Bronwyn had become very sensitive to his hidden feelings.
***
tbc
***
D?l-raeg na fast dugui - greasy haired wrong head.
Saura Valarauco! - Stinking Balrog!
Heca! - Be gone!
Tevinyel! - I hate you
Alasaila curuvar! - Witless Wizard
? miqu? haccanyar! - Kiss my ass!
I am the Walrus
Lennon/McCartney
Stop in the name of love
The Supremes.
Websites:
Past life
What is your Battle Cry?
