Dark Coil

Dark Coil

Chapter Five

Olivia entered the Great Hall and passed into the dining room in a state of alert calm. She had no real fear of encountering the vulgar wizard. That they would meet and he would eventually place her in his mind was inevitable. Her trepidation arose from not knowing what sort of reaction he would have to her presence here in the castle.

She and Minerva had discussed the matter while dressing for dinner. "Dearest, if you are willing to take the advice of age and experience, I would tell you to find a time to be alone with Professor Snape and just tell him the truth. I have always found truth to be a great shield against anger."

Olivia acknowledged the wisdom of her mother's words, but then her mind wandered back to the courtroom, remembering the desperation and anger Snape had shown as he was forcibly removed. She had no desire to witness another such display. And to be the solitary target for that anger, could she endure? Olivia knew that if it came to it, she must. She wanted her time at Hogwarts to be rich and rewarding. That vision could not become a reality with such a secret hanging on her heart. Olivia resolved that at the first convenient opportunity she would speak with the potions professor. No matter his response, her task would be fulfilled.

Her heart should have felt lighter now that a decision had been made, a course plotted, but Olivia was still uncomfortable. What would Professor Snape's reaction be when he realized he had not only verbally abused a future colleague, but the daughter of Deputy Head Mistress McGonagall as well? Minerva had always told her that first impressions were lasting ones. Well, Olivia reflected, if that was true then Snape would always be a bad tempered bastard and she a stumbling dolt. Embarrassed, Olivia had not revealed her tumble at the train station to Minerva. One stupid incident at a time, Olivia rationalized.

The two women entered the dining room arm in arm. Olivia struggled with the emerald robes stitched in shimmering black sequins and beads that Minerva had purchased "especially for you!"

"This thing weighs a ton," Olivia complained quietly.

"Yes, dear, but you are a vision," was her mother's stoic reply.

Minerva had clapped her hands joyfully when, a short time ago, Olivia had emerged from her rooms dragging the volumes of silk and crystal. "Mama, really! Who are we trying to impress? I never wear robes. I hate this, this, SWISHY thing they do! Good grief, I feel like I am being eaten alive by a Devils' Snare! I just know I am going to step on the thing and fall flat on my face."

"At least try to fall gracefully then, darling," had been Minerva's motherly advice.

Biting back a hasty retort, Olivia conceded that it was better to suffer for a few hours than argue with Minerva for the remainder of the term. She swallowed her discomfort, reminding herself that this little concession was worth months of criticism-free living. Pick your fights. So, Olivia had descended the front staircase dressed in the flowing emerald robes, her hair sleekly pulled into an artful chignon and held to the back of her head with a Sticking Charm, two of her favorite earrings dangling past her jaw.

The dining room had been decorated with hundreds of slender tapers floating in the air above the heads of the gathering professors, each flame flickering in a different hue. The shimmering colored lights reflected off countless crystals, diamonds, sequins, silks and satins, sending a rainbow of dancing lights high into the air. The ceiling of the hall mirrored the night sky, displaying millions of milky stars and a waning sliver moon. Olivia felt her mouth fall open as she gazed at the magical ceiling, and laughing in delight asked her mother, "You see this every night?"

"It really depends on the weather, Olivia. Tonight it seems that Albus has gone all out. The candles are a nice touch, don't you agree?"

Olivia allowed her eyes to travel over the witches and wizards who were assembling before her. It was obvious from some of their gestures that many had not seen each other since end of term and were engaged in swapping holiday stories. She spotted Albus Dumbledore speaking to a tiny witch dressed in a fabulous tie-dye robe and a towering hat of fruit and flowers. She left her mother's side and rushed across the hall to throw her self into the open arms of the man she loved more than any other. "Uncle Albus, thank you, thank you so much for bringing me here!"

Albus Dumbledore gazed lovingly in to Olivia's face and then kissed her soundly on the lips. "Nonsense! You belong here at Hogwarts, my dear. You will be able to find answers to questions and come up with new questions for answers!" The old man chuckled at his own wit. "Oh, what a year we will have, Olivia! It will be grand. Believe me, it will be grand!" He tapped his index finger against the tip of his nose and his blue eyes danced and teased her merrily. Olivia kissed his wrinkled cheek.

"I believe you, Uncle." She whispered.

"Now," said Dumbledore, taking her by the arm, "you must meet everyone. I would be honored to introduce you."

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Professor Snape clung to the edge of the crowd. He had arrived early, hoping to make eye contact with Headmaster Dumbledore and snatch a treat for Cat before slipping back to the dungeons and the peace offered therein. But he had run into the headmaster shortly after his arrival and had been instructed to remain. "We have much to go over tonight, Severus," Dumbledore had said. Seeing professors' frown, he chuckled, "Be happy, my good man! An entire year lies before us!"

An entire year attempting to stuff information into unappreciative skulls, the Potions Master thought bitterly. He plucked a glass of chilled wine from a hovering tray and surveyed the gathering. Snape noticed professor Flitwick standing on tiptoe to view some photos being displayed by Professor Trelawney, the Divination instructor. Professor Sprout was weaving among the crowd towards the headmaster in a blinding riot of color, her towering hat a nightmare concoction of fruit and flowers. Snape half-dreamed of the tropical display tumbling to floor before stifling the thought. She was a sweet little lady in her own way. Besides, she supplied Snape with a large portion of the plants and fungi needed in potions brewing.

Over the murmuring drone of the crowd, Snape's ears captured a magical, bell-like peal of laughter, fresh and unassuming, happy. His black eyes moved over the assembly, searching for the source and came to rest on a vision of green and black satin. A young woman was standing with the usually dour Minerva McGonagall. Professor Snape noted the light brown hair swept back in a becoming style that accentuated the slender column of her neck. Stray tendrils of hair had escaped their confinement and lay enticingly along a cheek of cream and rose. In profile, the lines of her face were clean and regular. A smooth brow blending into a high cheek now flushed with warmth and excitement, the nose straight and narrow ended above a mouth too wide to be considered truly beautiful.

But it was the jaw line and the chin that told the story, both strongly molded, stubborn even. Something about that chin struck him as familiar. He could see it in his mind's eye: thrust forward defiantly, the jaw clenched in anger as she attempted to imprison angry words behind those full pink lips. And there had been sunglasses…?

His stomach muscles convulsed as the two images clicked into place, like tumblers in a lock. The bumbling chit from Hogsmeade! What was she doing here? She had said she was no student, but was here for…

Damn, what was it she had been saying as he whirled from her? Something about visiting her…mother. Snape's eyes flicked to Minerva and he could plainly read the loving admiration on her face as she watched the younger woman dash across the room into Headmaster Dumbledore's arms.

Snatches of past conversations came back to him now, bits and pieces of overheard gossip.

Something about a new instructor.

McGonagall's daughter.

Barrister.

America.

Snape groaned lowly as he raised his wineglass, turning his back to the room in the same motion. He stifled a second groan as his eyes fell upon Maxwell Dillard standing near enough to touch. The new Dark Arts teacher had made no secret of his attraction for Snape, and even now made a slight moue with his lips before his blue eyes slid away from Snape's face, peering over the Potion Master's broad shoulders.

"My feelings exactly, Severus," Maxwell drawled. "Never mind my situation, I am new here, but you, my dear fellow..." His voice dropped and lingered. "You have served at Hogwarts for years. You would think the headmaster would have more respect."

Snape offered no response. He had no idea what Dillard was talking about, but he kept his features neutral.

"She is a total bitch, you know." Dillard's lip curled and he took a long sip of his wine. "Badgered Daddy into pleading guilty and then petitioned the court for the stiffest sentence possible. Just to satisfy Muggles, of all things!" Maxwell returned a warm blue gaze to Snape's indifferent face. "How you can stand being in the same castle with her is beyond me."

"Hm." Snape gave a non-committal arch of one brow and turned to regard Professor McGonagall's daughter with a renewed interest. It was clear that Dillard expected him to know the young woman from somewhere, but at this moment he could not place her fresh face anywhere but under his before the station in Hogsmeade. He felt Dillard lay a pallid hand upon his forearm and resisted the urge to recoil. The drawling wizard would have his uses in the future, thought Snape, just not the ones Dillard had in mind.

"Really, after that case of yours she and the others mucked up, a person would expect her to leave the field. I wonder if she even knows you are here?" Dillard was now stroking the velvet on Snape's arm. He leaned closer to the silent man. "Won't she be surprised to see you after all these years?" Maxwell purred.

Not nearly as surprised as I am, Snape thought. He turned his piercing black eyes on the pale man beside him. Severus looked pointedly at the hand laying upon his robe sleeve and then into Max's icy blue eyes, his meaning clear.

Maxwell smiled innocently. "Oops! Forgot for a second about how touchy you are about being touched." He chuckled at his stupid joke, but stopped when he saw that Snape did not join in. "Really, now, Severus! You can be such a wet blanket. I do wish you would be nicer to me." He looked up at Professor Snape through thick black lashes, his smile winsome. Snape felt his stomach roll.

"I need more wine," he announced abruptly, and stalked away.

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The elderly headmaster touched his wand to his throat, murmured "Sonorus," and immediately, his voice filled the room.

"Greetings, one and all! Another year is about to commence at Hogwarts!" There was scattered applause to this announcement. "Mingle, my friends," boomed the enchanted voice. "Soon we feast!"

Tapping his wand to his throat, Dumbledore whispered, "Quietus."

There was a polite cheer and applause to Dumbledore's statement and then the glittering assembly returned to their conversations. Minerva joined Olivia and Dumbledore and the old couple steered Olivia from one group to the next introducing her. Olivia's past occupation served her well in this setting of many names and faces. Being able to keep track of hundreds of people, remembering their individual quirks, had saved her skin on any number of occasions and this was just another political get together after all. She would need help as she began her new career, lots of it. It would not be in her best interest to alienate anyone in this room by forgetting a name or a face. As they worked their way around the hall, Olivia realized she was actually enjoying herself! The witches and wizards she had met so far seemed genuinely pleased to meet her and help in any way possible. Each one had greeted her warmly and several congratulated Minerva on her daughter's beauty and poise. This first part made Olivia hide a smile behind her hand. She would have never considered herself a beauty. While she didn't scare small children and dogs, she was not one that men flocked to when she entered a room. Her features were clean, but unremarkable. Her face was oval with a straight jaw line that ended in a chin that, Olivia had decided, was much too stubborn. Sable brows arched above eyes of deep, sparkling green. She had whisked a bit of Muggle mascara over her lashes and the black enhanced the emerald orbs. A bit of Muggle lipstick had completed her toilet. The tone, a shimmering sunset hue that gave just a hint of color to her mouth. It was a generous mouth, given much to smiling and revealing even, white teeth. When the lips were at rest and relaxed, still they managed to tip up slightly at the corners, giving Olivia's face a forever-hopeful look. This annoyed Olivia because some people refused to talk you seriously when you grinned like a simpleton all the time.

The three worked their way around the room, meeting and greeting each member of the Hogwarts faculty. The reunion with Maxwell was cool. The two younger people nodding politely before Olivia and her escort moved on. Her mind was on the towering mass of Professor Sprout's hat when Minerva's voice cut into her thoughts.

"Ah, Severus. You must come and meet my daughter. Olivia, may I introduce you to our Potions Master, Severus Snape."

Olivia's gut turned to ice at the sound of his name. It had come. Now was the time. If he accused her before this crowd, what would she do, how would she respond? She didn't have long to ponder the questions as she glimpsed a shadowy form stop before her. Olivia released a pent up breath and raised her eyes.

Severus Snape had dressed in his best robes in honor of the occasion, and Dumbledore's curtly worded request. The collar of his black velvet robe rose high about his neck where he had artfully tied a cravat of startling whiteness. The sweeping robes were pleated in a hundred tiny gathers across the front and trimmed in piping of blood red satin. A clasp of beaten sliver resembling a coiled serpent with eyes of inlaid rubies was fastened at his throat. Olivia fixed her gaze on black eyes that flashed like banked coals, forcing a smile in welcome and extending her hand. She was surprised when the thin lips smiled briefly in return and the fingers that raised her hand to those lips were warm and firm. Her breath caught in her chest as Severus Snape pressed his lips to her fingers, his eyes never leaving her own. The contact lasted a bit longer than was custom, but neither Olivia nor Snape seemed in a hurry to break it off. He continued to hold her fingers as well as her eyes.

"It is my pleasure to finally learn your name, Miss McGonagall. You know of course," this he addressed to Dumbledore and Minerva in a voice of oiled silk, "that the young lady and I have been acquainted ere this meeting." His eyes cut back to Olivia, as if daring her to deny him.

"Really?" asked Minerva, puzzled. "Olivia, what is this? I was not aware that you and Severus…"

"No, Mama, " Olivia cut in quickly. "It is no big deal really." She cut her eyes back to the dark wizard and a imp of mischief hurled itself forward. "I ran into Professor Snape in Hogsmeade. Literally. He simply mistook me for a student and ripped me to shreds with his tongue. Is that not correct, sir?" Olivia arched a sable brow at the professor and was surprised to see the corner of his mouth quirk up in a small smile.

"It would seem your daughter was so excited to arrive at Hogsmeade, she attempted to fly from the station to our very door. However, I was in her path and we took a tumble." Snape's interest was raised at the alarmed look that flashed across Professor McGonagall's face at the mention of flying, but it was quickly gone. "In our struggle to pull our selves apart, we neglected introductions. A sad situation, gladly set aright." Snape glanced briefly at Dumbledore, whose blue eyes were dancing merrily as he took in the pair standing before him. He had the look of a man who was witnessing the reality of a dream.

"I admit that my words today were harsh. I hope there is no lasting damage." Snape arched an inquiring brow to Olivia.

"None whatsoever," Olivia replied, smiling, as Snape allowed her fingers to slip from his grasp.

Severus was greatly intrigued by the woman before him. Granted, she was no beauty, but her face and form were arresting. He recalled the firmness of her body as he had held her outside the train station. Now that he could put a true color to her eyes he was pleased to find them a deep shining green.

His stomach turned over. A memory flashed in his mind. Those eyes that had challenged him just now, then smiled at him all in a moment, he remembered a time when they had cried. Maxwell Dillard's words squirmed through his mind, and suddenly the wizard understood.

Snape knew her now.

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The headmaster rubbed his hands together briskly, a smile of boundless joy filling his face. He called loudly to those standing near him, "Friends, friends! The evening flies before us. Let us eat and enjoy each other's company. We still have business to conduct tonight, but first…We feast!"

The old wizard turned to Olivia and, snatching up her hand, placed it firmly in that of Professor Snape. "Severus, my lad, I am going to presume on our long friendship and ask that you take charge of Olivia this evening. Minerva and I will be much too busy to see to her needs. I hope you don't mind. There's a good man." He clapped Snape on the shoulder and moved briskly into the milling crowd dragging a confused and complaining Minerva behind him.

Olivia stood amazed. Was Uncle Albus mad? He had dashed off as if his beard were on fire leaving her in the hands of…

Her face burned hotly. "Professor Snape, I am so sorry. I don't know what Uncle Albus was thinking when he saddled you with me. Look, I will understand completely if you want to go and join your friends. Don't feel like you have to hang around with me just because…"

Retaining her hand, he folded it through the crook of his arm. The Potions Master leaned down and breathed in her ear, "My dear Miss McGonagall, I can think of no one with whom I would rather spend my time."

Olivia was unsure which was the softer, the black velvet beneath her fingertips or the black velvet floating from his lips. Hot breath slid over her skin, causing her to shiver slightly with its passing. What the man lacked in physical beauty, he certainly made up for in technique. She raised her eyes to his. Cool black pools regarded Olivia as she pondered her response.

"I believe we can change some first impressions tonight, given the chance," she told the man before her.

Turning, Professor Snape escorted Olivia to their table.