The Fire Wand

The Fire Wand

Chapter 11; Accidental Deception.

'Nobody knows it,
you've got a secret smile...
and you use it only for me.
So save me, I'm waiting
I'm needing, hear me bleeding.
And soothe me, improve me,
I'm grieving, I'm barely believing.'
Semisonic - Secret Smile

Siana, over her cup of hot tea, decided it was fair to say that Severus and herself were now the very least, friends. It was a nice feeling, there had been no more than normal awkwardness between them that morning, and Siana had gotten the impression that he had finally lain down enough of his boundaries to let her see him. A little of him at any rate. Enough to like what I see. To not be as pigheaded as Dad. Maybe I'm just completely dazed because I can still smell him.

She smiled into her cup. No one would ever expect it. No one. Am I being stupid though? Am I? I've just lost my whole family, everyone who has ever cared for me is dead. Maybe, maybe it's just easier for me to cope...or maybe...I haven't really dealt with it yet.

'What other types of curses and hexes did your father pioneer?' Snape said as he emerged from the stairs, clean shaven, hair wet and lank around his head. His eyes glittered intensely and for a moment she couldn't look away. I want to kiss him again, I'd better not. What was the question? Oh. Crap question.

'Um. Well...you know about the Imperio potion, there's another, more long lasting. It's called the...'

'Insidious potion. Red in colour. I have some upstairs,' Snape said shortly and Siana's eyes widened.

'Hope you haven't been slipping me the Mickey,' she said and then smiled to ease whatever tension that statement could have caused. Snape just sat down beside her and looked at the plain, china teacup.

'That's an insidious liquid, by name by nature. I always knew he made it...it's not as highly fatal as the Imperio potion, but more...' Severus Snape searched for the word. 'It infiltrates the body, it lays the mental mind open to projective symbolism. A single hand movement can trigger a response in a subject.'

'Yeah. Like...Dad always used to do this...' She flicked her hand up and then sharply down to the right, she carefully didn't look at the gesture as she made it, she suspected that she might still be susceptible. 'When he wanted me to acquiesce to something.'

Snape immediately, to Siana's surprise made that gesture. She felt the terror shock into her and she had a split second to think, no please, no please don't let him do this. Please don't let the motion have control over me any-

And then she was floating, she had no idea of where she was or what she was doing...and as soon as the feeling had started, it stopped. She was sitting at the table, and Snape was looking at her - grim and angry.

'What did I do?' she whispered shakily. 'What did you do? What the hell did you think you were doing?! ' she then said, realising the gravity of what he had just done. She stood hurriedly, so quickly the teacup upturned and splashed over her upper arms. 'Artemis!' She cursed and rushed to the sink, the burning sensation already starting to lance up her arms.

Snape had bolted up the stairs. Siana had heard him go and chewed her lower lip between her teeth as she turned on the cold water and painfully held herself back from thrusting her burning arms beneath it. No. No don't do it, you'll scar. You'll scar. But oh Artemis the pain! She whimpered and then closed her eyes as an idea came to her mind.

She had transformed before she was even sure that was what she wanted to do.

As a protectus the pain was slightly less, animals felt pain in different way to humans. The pain was still there, but the immediacy of it lessened. Quickly she sat down and started cleaning herself. Her tongue against her burns were soothing and she sighed with relief.

'Will you change back!' said a looming tower moving into her vision and Siana for a moment considered staying in the form of protectus to spite him. However she did change back, out of anger, out of fear, out of a need to know that he wasn't going to hurt her. I just want to know that there's one person out there who won't take advantage of me right now. Dear god, it's probably not him.

Siana changed back and found her wrists being grasped firmly and a sponge smelling strongly of herbs being pressed onto her arms. She swallowed hard as the pain flared abruptly and then breathed easier as the pain started to die down, her arms felt cool even. However with the coolness of relief, came a return to the present, and Siana looked from Snape's hands, to his face and scowled.

'Get your damned hands off me!' she screeched and Snape winced and moved away, holding the cloth up.

'Let me explain.'

'Oh you'd damn well better,' she warned, resisting the urge to scratch her arms, which were now starting to itch.

Snape looked at her searchingly and then looked up at the ceiling.

'I wanted to check the potency of the potion within you. The Insidious potion is meant to wear off after a week, and it hasn't yet worn off on you. In fact it seems to be as strong as ever.'

'Yeah. Thanks for reminding me,' Siana snapped. 'What did you make me do?' she snarled and Snape shook his head.

'Will you calm down? I asked you to do nothing. I merely put you in the state, the blank look on your face told me clearly enough that it was as powerful as ever. And do you have any idea how disconcerting it is to find a giant fox in the place of you?'

'Do you have any idea, how fucking disconcerting it is to be hypnotised by a man I only kissed last night? Who threw me against a wall?' Siana spat acidly, moving away from him, she noticed the shocked expression on her face and felt an urge to continue.

'I'm going back and forth with you Severus. I'm going to tell you what I think, something I'm famous for, and you're going to listen...I like you, that's obvious enough...kind of...when I'm not throwing insults at you. And I know that you like me, I know it. Why else would a Snape be civil to a Basilica when he didn't have to be? We're both eternally suspicious, we both fall back on hostility when we're hurt or angry, and we both aren't completely hateful on the inside. We've both done things we're not proud of and I have the suspicion that we trust each other much more than we let on. Severus, I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it,' Siana added desperately.

'You talk too much,' Snape said curtly and Siana blushed, embarrassed. Now the unavoidable rejection.

'But you did warn me you'd be saying what you thought....evidently a lot goes on in your mind.' He took a deep breath. 'It pains me to say it, but after such a short time of knowing you, I also reciprocate this trust. You called off the Cruciatus curse without even considering letting it run its course, many would have...and...don't ever tell another student I said this. Ever. I apologise.' He took a second deep breath. 'Now let me have a look at your damned arms!' he shouted and Siana walked forward, fighting a smile.

How much did it just cost your character to say that Severus?

He pressed the sponge against the burns, apparently utterly absorbed in what he was doing. A few seconds passed as Siana thought about what has just been exchanged between them.

'So we get through this then,' Siana said finally, feeling a little stronger now, than she had in years. Snape did not look up.

'Don't tempt me,' he said then, very quietly. Siana's eyes narrowed in confusion.

'Pardon?'

'If I look up, I'm going to kiss you. In fact I daresay if I look up I'm going to physically place you on the table and introduce you to a world in which I doubt you've been initiated. In fact, the idea is so appealing, I think I still might.' His hands stilled on the cloth against her arms. Siana, speechless, saw that he was obviously fighting very hard.

Then he was moving away, gripping the damp sponge, a look of accusation on his face. 'You've charmed me,' he said shakily and Siana shrugged, confused...aroused.

'If you say so. I flunked charms though.'

'Then it's a potion.'

Siana laughed. 'You would know if it was one of my potions. Especially one of mine...you'd probably be bubbling on the floor.'

Snape grimaced, it was like so many of his others, and could be considered almost disapproving if not for the anxious cast she saw to it. She decided she would shut up for once, and let him talk his way through it. Seconds passed...and eventually he said;

'I have a steel control Siana, and it becomes a void control when in the company of you.'

'Ah, the dreaded frustration of needing a lay,' Siana said amused, unable to stop herself from saying something. Snape winced at her crude choice of words. Now I understand, you're just not used to being human.

'And suddenly, just like that, my desire to 'lay' you has disappeared,' he said in disgust and Siana chuckled. On the inside she was fiercely aching with both hunger and frustration, but she valiantly tried to ignore it.

'Severus your control is still steel.'

'My composure isn't.'

'You do the same to me...' she admitted simply, her ears burning. His eyes narrowed then, the sponge slipped a little out of his grip as he searched her face. Slowly he smiled, the wicked smile he had presented her with last night. Oh god, that's a good smile.

'Do I?' he said sultrily, a knowing gleam in his eyes. Siana swallowed. Now what have I started? 'So you mean...' he continued. 'all this time...we've been inanely talking.' He was stalking towards her, like a languid predator. 'And I could have had you on the table? That's a dangerous admission you just made.' His voice was dripping silk, but his gaze was granite. His smile held her paralysed, his words burnt like brands inside her. Siana exhaled shakily as he reached her, his hands curving possessively around her waist.

She found herself pinned to his tall, lithe, aroused body. As the sensations doubled, all thought deserted her. God, come back, don't let him win. Not yet. God that feels good. By Artemis is this good.

'Maybe I'll have you on the table,' she breathed as Severus bent his mouth to her ear, chuckling.

'The best kind of duel,' he murmured seductively and Siana shivered. His fingers caressed her gently, in stark contrast to the feel of his body.

'Um,' she squeaked. 'Maybe we uh, er, shouldn't do this now. Rationality remember?' Severus groaned in frustration. She was just considering pulling away when he bent down and kissed her. Persuasively.

I'm drugged. There's no cure for this, I'm drugged on him. Bastard. Oh god, breathe, no don't breathe, you're smelling him! Not again! She was just considering throwing him onto the floor (damn the table) when he pulled away - showing a good deal of self restraint - breathing hard. Siana swayed for a moment, then licked her lips.

'So much for steel control,' he said, his voice deeper than usual, hoarse, rough with want. Siana smiled.

'So much for composure.'

'And rationality.'

'And dignity,' she added with a flush, realising that her robe had somehow managed to bare quite a bit of skin. Well fancy that.

Severus Snape did something then that he rarely did. He laughed out loud, a short, sharp burst of emotion she had never before heard pass his lips. She doubted many others had too. He was smiling at her, slowing shaking his head back and forth as he reached out with one tapered hand and shifted her rob slightly so that the offending skin was covered.

Siana had completely forgotten her robe and looked at him in wonder, it was like seeing him for the first time...his smile seemed to make his face clean again, unburdened by years of horror, both given and received. This is hope, after everything that's happened. Right here, right now...His smile faded a little and he smoothed her hair.

'Now what are you thinking?'

'You have a...' Siana choked off. 'At risk of sounding sentimental...a really special smile. Not say, perfect like an unnamed five time winner of the Witch Weekly award...because yours is crooked and, well, it's really, I feel privileged,' she said finally. By Artemis, could I sound any more stupid? Don't answer that!!

Snape nodded slowly, very slowly now. 'Few see it.'

'I'm lucky then. Now come and have some breakfast or tea with me. There's no much but...what is it?' For Severus' eyes had suddenly widened with some sort of realisation. A quickly thoughtful expression raced across his face.

Breakfast...of course. Wait here Siana, I've just had a thought, and if it's like any of my thoughts, it's probably sheer brilliance.' He said half to himself and moved rapidly away, not quite running, not quite walking. Siana watched him go and then shrugged to herself.

She drifted over to the sink, a slow smile playing on her face as she tipped out the rest of her tea and rinsed the cup. I'm meant to be feeling awful, and it's not so bad. Maybe I can get through this. Just maybe, you never know. At least I'm not cooped up in a dungeon...who knew that Snape was this good at protecting things? I just thought he was good with brews, and my arms, they feel great, they look great. They only look a little red now, not burnt at all.

'Siana!' Snape called as he came down the steps. 'Do we have any salt? Only I...'

Only Siana wasn't hearing the rest of what he was saying. A switch had been pulled and some small, inaudible click went off inside her head. Such a strong click, that she suddenly forgot where she was. Her hand strayed helplessly down into her pocket, reached for the wand which never had been there in the past, that was there now. Do we have any salt? I'll give you salt. I'll give you salt.

Her brain, manic, went into overdrive, her hands became warm, her hairs stood up on end in fear, and in something else. She would have changed into a protectus had she remembered how, but sometimes things were too primitive to be understood.

Then she was staring at Uncle Frederick again, holding the bottle of Insidious potion, a disgusting grin on his face, a cheerful expression in his eye.

Ah but I have my wand now don't I? Don't I? You try it now! You just fucking try it! TRY IT!

'STUPEFY!' she roared, funnelling all the warmth from her hands and feet into the wand that was now in front of her, irresistible and full of power.

Before there had been a boom, an explosion, all the other times she had used her new wand. Now, something more frightful emerged.

Instead of the appropriate jet of paralysing light, a huge ribbon of shining violet streaked out of the wand tip. Siana had to shield her eyes, and she dropped her wand as she did so, an action which would normally cancel a spell. Only this spell, would not cancel.

The great ribbon was turning into a great snake, violet and black in colour. It's eyes were blank, it's expression coiled into a rictus of violent anger. It coiled briefly in mid air, crackling and hissing violently, streaks of light flying from the fangs bared, like venom. The light it emitted cast everything into sharp relief, turning morning into the blackest of nights. The snake's hissing increased in volume, louder and louder, it tensed readying itself to spring, and then with a gigantic rush of wind it flew forward, penetrating the intended victim through the chest.

Then with a curl of smoke, the snake disappeared.

Siana stood, dazed. The switch that had clicked in her mind, had clicked back. I'm at...where? Oh Sibilant Stow, what just happ-

'Oh God no. No. No. NO. NO,' she said, her hand flying over her mouth, chills shooting through her body, nausea rising in waves from her stomach.

Severus Snape lay on the ground, clearly unconscious, barely breathing, a small trickle of blood escaping his mouth like a secret.