Rickman-Forums.com

journalista · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 11:30 pm Post subject:

By the way, Meredith, have you done any more work on Winding Road? It was excellent and I'm hoping you're planning on writing more. I was really getting into it!
_________________
I want to swim in both directions at once. Desire success, court failure. ~ Alan Rickman

-->A.R.<--Fan · Diagnosed Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 184 Location: Indiana

Actually, I have. I don't think its as good as I intended it to be, but I have written a few more chapters I think. I'll post some for you.
_________________
"I'm a lot less serious than people think,
it's probably because the way my face is put together."--Alan Rickman
Thanks to Madame Torision for the avatar.

Eustacia · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 5:21 pm Post subject:

-->A.R.<--Fan · Diagnosed Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 184 Location: Indiana

Eustacia · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 11:22 am Post subject:

Chapter 6: Like your shoes, love your hair (edited version)

Again, thanks, hugs and kisses to my invaluable beta Semperaevitas (okay, okay, I'll limit myself to the thanks and send Alan over to your house for the hugs and kisses!)

The third cup of tea Harry served me finally did the trick. I stopped trembling, and I could actually form a thought that did not entail me throwing things at Severus' head. The downside of this was that my conscience was awakened. I felt guilty. I was still upset about the Unforgiveable Severus had cast on George, but I felt that I could have been more sensitive towards him. How would I feel if someone had shouted at me and told me that I was not real? What would I say if I realized that my whole life had been a lie however creative and entertaining it might be to someone else? I would fall apart.
"I messed up, didn't I?" I said wearily. I was hoping that Harry would contradict me but he was wise enough not to say anything. He simply shrugged.
"How about you, Harry? You don't seem so surprised to find that you are a fictional character,” I observed.
"Well, a girl half my age jumped me at the office Christmas party, I tried to buy a necklace and got a gift wrap from hell from a shop-assistant who looked like a cartoon character, our current Prime Minister is just a bit too young, too handsome, and too honest for a politician… let's say I had my suspicions," Harry admitted. "What vexes me is not so much that I am fictional, but that Rasputin is real…"
His remark was punctuated by loud snoring from the Russian who had fallen asleep in one of the armchairs. I smiled weakly.
Harry rose from the couch. "Talk to Severus, Stacy. You’ll feel better."
"But what am I supposed to tell him?"
"How about the truth?" Harry suggested. He took the empty teacup from my hand. "I'm going to take this one to the kitchen for you." His fingers brushed mine, and I found myself looking into his eyes.
I sighed. "Do you know what the problem with men is?"
He looked at me questioningly.
I gave him a warm smile. "All the good ones are taken."

*

I found Severus on the porch, sitting on the steps, brooding. A glorious sun was just beginning to rise above the horizon. I had been up all night and could hardly keep my eyes open, but I could not afford to delay the conversation until after I’d had some sleep. Severus ignored my presence.
"Hey," I said softly.
"Go away," he snapped.
This was going to be more difficult than I had imagined. Carefully choosing my words, I said: "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have thrown the fact that you're not real into your face." Prudently, I sat down next to him. The steps were cold and still wet from the rain. I shivered but remained where I was. His gaze was fixated on the garden; he would not face me.
"It's freezing," I commented. "Aren't you cold?"
He did not look at me but answered in an irritated tone, "Which part of 'go away' didn't you understand?"
For a moment I did not reply. When Severus still refused to look at me, I spoke again. "I really want to talk about this," I said.
"I don't," he said curtly.
I sighed. Why on earth did he have to be so damn stubborn? Just like me? "Okay, so you're just going to listen. That's fine with me." I did not know where to start. "You know, I wasn't lying when I told you that you were a fictional character. But some of the other things I said… I said them because I was angry, and because I was scared." It it took a lot of strength to admit it but I added, "In fact, I still am. It may have escaped your notice, but…well, I like to be in control of my life."
"Really," Severus retorted with barely concealed sarcasm.
"This situation," I continued, "is totally out of control and it's extremely difficult for me to retain my sanity. At the moment, I have a responsibility for everyone's well-being while they're guests in my house, and I couldn't have done it without you. You patched up Marie's wound, you prevented a duel in my living-room, and you tried to help me out of a potentially dangerous situation."
"Ah, you mean the one you were in control of," Severus added dryly.
"Well, you have to concede that you did overreact. You used your powers to hurt someone I'm responsible for," I said, "And that's why I lost my temper, because… I rely on you. I trust you."
Severus arched an eyebrow at me. "You trust a fictional character?"
"I trust Severus Snape." I put a hand on his arm to reinforce the fact. I could tell that his first impulse was to pull away but he didn't. I looked into his eyes. I wanted him to see that I was being sincere. "The problem is, you've always been very real to me. You're trying to atone for your sins of the past. The only reason you torment your students is because you know they have to learn in order to survive. You're loyal, you're brave, and you don't expect applause for it. You're my favourite character, really."
He snorted. "My Teacher-of-the-Year award must have been lost in the owl post."
"Granted, you're not exactly popular at Hogwarts," I admitted. "But you kept me reading."
He was quiet for a long moment. He seemed worried, anxious.
"Hogwarts," he said slowly. "I should be there now."
There was nothing I could say in reply. He was right. He ought to be there now, but… a thought entered my mind. When exactly?
"What is the last thing you remember?" I asked slowly, cautiously. I wanted to avoid saying something that would ruin the tenuous conversation we had started. "I mean, when exactly were you drawn into this world?"
Severus thought about it for a moment. "I was waiting for Potter to return from the trip to the forest with Dolores Umbridge… Umbridge, she is the…"
I nodded knowingly. "I know who Umbridge is – toad-like grin, fashion catastrophe, self-proclaimed Great Inquisitor, I remember all of it. Order of the Phoenix. The fifth novel in a series of…" I broke off and bit my lip. Why couldn't I learn to keep my big mouth shut? Telling people about the future was dangerous! And this Severus Snape was not entirely up to date.
"Seven, I presume," Severus said.
"What makes you think there are seven?" I inquired cautiously.
"Isn't it obvious?" he said impatiently. He sounded annoyed, as if I had insulted his intelligence. "Seven years of schooling at Hogwarts, Harry's coming of age, seven is the most magical of all numbers… it has to be seven."
"Yes, seven," I admitted reluctantly. For the first time since I had joined him on the porch, I had his undivided attention, although he tried to appear disinterested.
"Have you read them all?" he inquired.
I chuckled. "Devoured them all more like. Yes."
When he raised his eyes to look at me, his face appeared more pale and haggard than usual and his voice sounded very unlike him, shaky and vulnerable. "Tell me… did we win?"
I was about to say that I couldn't tell him when the memory of the last book in the series swept over me. I had only seen it in my mind but to me it was as real as anything that had happened in my own life. Severus lying in a pool of his own blood, his life draining out of him. I felt as if a cold hand had seized my heart and squeezed it relentlessly. Sadness, despair, emptiness, pain. Why did it have to hurt so much? I couldn't bring myself to say anything. I could hardly breathe. Up to that point I had been thinking I was over it. It was just a book, after all. I had read the death scene and lived with it and yet, on my porch, at that particular moment, my heart was breaking all over again and all the sorrow and grief were back. My grip on Severus' arm tightened. I realized suddenly what I was doing and let go of him quickly. I looked away with tears in my eyes. "Yes, you won," I whispered.
"But…?" he asked calmly.
I blinked away my tears quickly, fighting to keep my composure. "No buts. You won, and all was well," I said.
His brow furrowed and his eyes appeared a few shades darker, as if a shadow had fallen over his soul. "If all was so well then why are you crying just thinking about it?"
I have no idea what would have happened if I had been forced to answer his questions. I might have broken into hysterical sobs, I might have run from him as fast as my legs could carry me. However, at just that moment we heard a screeching of brakes followed by the sound of crunching metal. A car door swung open and a woman's voice yelled "Are you out of your mind?!"
I exchanged a quick glance with Severus. We both jumped up and hurried out to the driveway. I was hoping the invisible barriers that kept us on the premises extended to the driveway and garage as well. Thankfully, they did and there we witnessed a bizarre scene.
A silver jeep had slammed into an older model, red Toyota Corolla. While the jeep had hardly a scratch on it, the Toyota looked less than its best. In front of the Toyota there was a man lying on the ground. His face was hidden in the shadows but we could see that he was dressed all in black and, strangely enough, was not wearing any shoes in spite of the cold.
The driver of the Toyota, a pretty thirty-something woman with long, dark brown, curly hair, wearing fashionable glasses was shouting at the man on the ground furiously. "Don't you look before you cross the street?!"
"You dun't understand," the man said with a Yorkshire lilt, "This is an emergency! I 'ave to go and do some cutting!"
While I was still wondering where I had heard that accent before, the driver of the jeep jumped from the car and rushed forward. "Is everyone alright?" he asked in a worried tone. "I'm very sorry; you stopped the car so abruptly that I didn't have a chance to… I hope no one got hurt!"
The woman waved dismissively. "No, I'm alright, but that jerk walked onto that road out of nowhere! My poor car! I doubt if…" She turned around and gasped. "Thinking about it, I might need some oxygen, after all…" Her eyes widened incredulously as she studied the other driver's concerned face. The curve of his mouth, those eyes, the hair tousled by the wind… she had studied his face for her drawings so often that she would have recognized him anywhere, but she still could not really believe it was him. "ALAN?" she asked in surprise.
The man on the ground got up. "That be me," he corrected, "Allen. Phil Allen."
"Phil ALLEN?" she gasped.
"I'm Alex Hughes," the jeep's driver said.
"All right," the woman said taking a deep breath. "Where's the camera?"
"There are some cameras at the championships," Phil said. "It's a big event."
"Football?" Alex asked curiously.
"British hairdressing championships," Phil replied in an annoyed tone, "Dun't you read the papers?"
The woman shook her head as if she was expecting the men to disappear but they did not. "Where are those cameras?" she murmured. "And where did they get such great lookalikes?"
I tried not to sneak up on her – I didn't want to startle her but she still jumped when I addressed her.
"No cameras," I said calmly. "You're not on TV, you're not dead, you're not dreaming. But where are my manners? Good morning, Jackie."
While I was trying to explain to Jackie what had been going on in my house during the night, Severus pointed his wand at Jackie's car and murmured "Reparo!". The twisted metal of the Toyota's crumpled rear end, returned to its former state. The hole in the bumper disappeared, the broken rear lights fixed themselves, the car even looked cleaner.
"You have to show me how to do that one of these days," Jackie said, deeply impressed.
"I have taken the liberty of changing your shock absorbers as well," Severus informed her.
Fortunately, Phil was too busy staring at Jackie's hair (probably creating all kinds of fancy hairstyles for her in his mind) to notice, but Severus' actions had not remained unobserved.
"How did he do that?" Alex asked suspiciously.
I shrugged. "He's a wizard."
"Very funny," Alex huffed.
Jackie lowered her voice to a conspiratory whisper. "Hey, do you reckon you could turn my car into a vibrant green metallic BMW?"
I looked around nervously. The sun would soon be up completely, so Transfiguring cars under the prying eyes of my nosy neighbours probably was not a very good idea. "Maybe later," I said emphatically. "Let's go inside, we have a lot to talk about. I'm sure everyone could use a cup of coffee."
Alex shrugged. "Coffee sounds good. I have been driving all night and, to be honest, I think I have lost my way. I must be more tired than I thought."
"But the competition…" Phil began to protest. He was about to turn and walk away. Of course I couldn't let him. I gazed at Severus in alarm.
"A moment please, Mr Allen." Severus locked gazes with Phil then said in a calm tone, "The competition has been postponed until tomorrow. Sandra called and asked me to tell you."
I was impressed with Severus' skill at Legilimency and a bit alarmed too. How long would I be able to keep him from learning what had happened to him in the seventh installment of his series?
"Tomorrow?" Phil asked puzzled. "But why?"
"Rats," Severus replied matter-of-factly.
Phil balled his hands into fists. "Rats? I bet that Ray Robertson had a hand in it!"
"Of course he did," Severus confirmed. "But we have a plan how to defeat him. Do you want to hear it?"
"Yes!" Phil said enthusiastically.
"Good. Come inside." Severus directed Phil and Alex towards the house nodding at me briefly.
We followed them at a short distance.
I needed to talk to Jackie alone. I didn't know how Phil and Alex were going to react when they realized they were trapped. I had a feeling I didn't want to get on Phil's bad side and Alex had just been released from prison, hadn't he?
Jackie, however, seemed to find the whole situation quite amusing.
"I just wanted to check how you were, maybe have coffee before I went to work. You sounded depressed on the phone yesterday," she explained. "But as I can see…" I couldn't believe my eyes - was she actually checking out Severus' rear?! "You're anything but lonely."
"Yeah, right," I said sourly "I'm one lucky woman."
"Are you and Sev…?" Jackie asked.
"Gods, no." I hissed, hoping he had not heard my friend's remark. "He's just…. here," I said helplessly. "And reasonably sane compared to the others."
Jackie stared at me. "The OTHERS? You don't mean Phil and Alex, do you?"
I sighed. "No. I mean the Sheriff, Tybalt, Rasputin…"
Jackie patted my arm with little compassion. "Trust me. You are one lucky woman."

*

"Just so I get this right… We cannot leave this house unless you find true love?" Jackie summed up my dilemma as we left the kitchen and went back to the living room to join the others.
I nodded miserably. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this mess."
Jackie sat down on my sofa between Phil and Alex and waved dismissively. "Could be worse. There's many to choose from."
I looked around. Both Phil and Alex were stealing gazes at Jackie when they thought she was distracted, Rasputin was still snoring in his armchair, Tybalt had been overwhelmed by exhaustion in his corner, head against the wall. Harry was sitting in another armchair trying to text his wife to tell her that he had been detained at the office, and Severus was standing at the threshold watching us with a stoic expression. How was I supposed to find my true love among that lot? I buried my head in my hands. "Great. This is just great." I sighed deeply. I was feeling despair slowly getting the better of me when Jackie seized my hand.
"Hey. Don't worry. It's okay, you don't have to make a decision at this moment." She studied my face with a critical expression. "You look tired, Stacy. Maybe you should go to bed. The world will look a whole lot better when you've had a few hours of sleep." When I gazed at her doubtfully she winked. "I'll watch them for you," she added in a whisper.
"Are you sure?" I asked but I knew that my friend was right. I was positively exhausted.
Jackie nodded.
"Thanks." I smiled at her gratefully. "Whatever you do – don't let them leave the house. You must prevent them from running around in my garden and hitting those barriers. I don't want them to panic. Keep them inside at all costs, will you?"
"Don't worry. I'll keep them busy."
I was relieved to finally give up some control to my friend. "I'll be upstairs in my bedroom if you need me."
"Okay. Lock the door," Jackie advised me. "Just to be on the safe side."
I doubted that would do any good as most of my guests had enough criminal energy to pick a lock but I promised I would.
Jackie studied Severus' expression for a moment. "You look as if you could use some sleep too, Professor Snape."
I smiled. Professor Snape? Who are you and what have you done to Jackie?
Strangely enough, the formal address seemed to please Severus. "I will make a bed for myself in the basement," he said.
"Why?" Jackie asked a bit puzzled. "Stacy, don't you have a guest bedroom?"
As if on cue I heard steps on the staircase and Marie appeared.
Her cheeks were flushed, her clothes a bit askew as if she had dressed in a hurry, and I noticed that there were no buttons on her blouse.
"Hi there," Marie said to no one in particular. She looked more than just a bit embarrassed but she took the time to nod at the new guests. "Hi, Jackie. Er…" Reluctantly, she turned towards the grumpy wizard. "Severus, do you have a minute? We have a bit of a problem upstairs."
Jackie tilted her head. "We? "
Everyone was staring at Marie now. Severus looked at her like a strict teacher who had just caught a student wandering through the corridors at night.
Marie cleared her voice. "The Colonel would like you to cast an Alohomora spell!"
"So that's what happened to the spare bedroom," Jackie said with a big grin. "'The Colonel' must be Mr Christopher Brandon then! Hey, Marie, the lock in question does not happen to be attached to a pair of handcuffs does it?"
Marie blushed profusely.
Severus' indignation showed in his face. Wordlessly, he drew his wand and followed Marie in order to release the Colonel from his unfortunate position.
My head was spinning. I needed a break.

*

While I had to coax every detail out of Marie at one of our girls' nights weeks after our big adventure, Jackie was more than ready to fill in the blanks about what had happened while I fell into a deep sleep.
As the living room was occupied by some of my guests, Jackie, Phil and Alex had withdrawn to the kitchen for an early breakfast.
While having some cereal, Jackie was working on her reputation for being the queen of small talk. "So… you're taking part in that competition with your wife?" she asked with an innocent smile.
"Ex-wife," Phil corrected her. "We're divorced."
"Oh, really," Jackie feigned surprise. "That's too bad." She took another spoonful of cereal and looked anything but compassionate.
"You live around 'ere?" Phil asked casually.
Jackie nodded.
He leaned in close to her. "With your 'usband?"
She gave him a smoldering look. "No husband."
"Ah," Phil replied. He turned his attention back to his breakfast barely suppressing a satisfied little smile. "Sorry, lass." He did not sound very convincing.
Alex rose from his chair and carried his cup and plate to the sink dropping them more loudly and violently than necessary. Why was he even wasting his time with those people? He would no longer listen to that country-bumpkin's insufferable flirting tactics. Unfortunately, that simpleton's efforts appeared to make an impression on the gorgeous young woman. But what was he thinking? She wasn't that gorgeous, was she, he tried to convince himself? Pretty at the most. He took his jacket from the chair and began to look for his car keys.
Jackie looked up in surprise. "Is everything alright Alex?" she asked.
"Thank you, yes," he replied levelly.
"But you're staying with us for a while aren't you?" Jackie insisted alarmed by the keys in his hand.
"I don't want to impose on your friend's hospitality for too long," Alex said evasively. "I have to get back on the road. Maybe you could tell me how to get to Winnipeg from here?"
Phil almost choked on his cereal. " Winnipeg, as in Canada?!"
Jackie shrugged helplessly. "I have a feeling that could be a long ride."
"Never mind, I'll find out soon enough," Alex replied. "It was a pleasure, Jackie."
Phil grinned triumphantly and waved a hand at Alex. "So long, mate!"
"Wait," Jackie said without thinking, determined to keep her promise to detain the two men inside. Think, Jackie, think! He wants to leave! "Can't you stay until Tuesday and do the garbage?" she finally burst out.
Alex blinked in confusion. "Excuse me?"
Well, it was worth a try. "Er… you can't leave yet," Jackie said with determination.
"Why?" Alex asked.
"Yeah, why?" Phil chimed in.
"Snow storm," she said quickly, "It's all over the news. A blizzard is coming. It's already reached Winnipeg, and it will be here soon." She nodded her head in emphasis.
Alex took a look out of the window and admired the beautiful sunrise. "Really? It doesn't look like a blizzard. I don't even think it's going to be cold enough to snow. Are you sure?"
"Quite sure." She reached for his hand and gently took the keys from him. "You really shouldn't be driving in that weather."
The touch of her fingers on his caught Alex by surprise. He studied her expression for a long moment. "I suppose I shouldn't," he said slowly. "If there really is going to be a blizzard…"
Jackie batted her eyelashes at him. "Would I lie to you?"
The tension between Jackie and Alex was not lost on Phil. He hadn't expected Jackie to go for the tight-lipped bloke with a goldfish's sense of direction but he wouldn't give up that easily.
"If there's a snowstorm coming," he said provokingly, "I'd better go. Anyone 'appen to know where I left my shoes?"
Jackie whirled around and stared at him. "What?" she gasped. Maybe she had been a bit rash in promising to babysit the guests.
"I'm a bit worried about the competition," Phil admitted. "I know it's been cancelled for today but I should be home practicing. I haven't participated in a contest for years so my scissors may be a bit rusty."
"You don't have to go home," Jackie said immediately. Phil, although he rejoiced in her panic, kept a straight face. "I could be your model," she offered. "You could practice on my hair."
Alex rolled his eyes.
There is one thing you have to know about my friend Jackie. No, I don't mean that she's brilliant, or that she makes you laugh, although that's true. Jackie has obsessions. And Phil was about to be confronted with one of them.
"Do you think you can style my hair to make my nose look shorter?" she asked hopefully.
"Huh?" Phil asked a little puzzled.
"My long, pointed nose," Jackie said.
"I dun't think your nose is long, luv" Phil commented.
"You have only seen me from a certain angle," Jackie insisted.
"Let's see…," Phil began to walk around Jackie in a circle, his whole attention focused on her hair.
"Worth a shot," he finally said softly. "May I…?" He reached into her hair running his fingertips along a strand of her dark curls. "Like silk," he murmured. "Bloody amazing."
Jackie felt an electric current run through her body but she remained completely still until he had finished his assessment of her hair.
"You know, I might have an idea or two," he said thoughtfully. He gave Alex a triumphant look. "I could do something for you too, mate – goin' grey, are we?"
Alex frowned. "Sideburns from the 1970s, silver scissors and golden glitter on your shirt, a golden necklace and bracelet, no shoes – yes, you definitely are the fashion expert around here. I can hardly wait to see how you are going to ruin this poor woman's hairdo."
Jackie looked from Phil to Alex and from Alex back to Phil with growing unease. It was high time the two of them started to get along with each other. Who knew how much time they were going to have to spend together? However, the looks exchanged between the two men were looks of suspicion and jealousy, so she decided to separate them for the moment. Phil was a heartthrob and she couldn't wait to feel him run his skilled hands through her hair but underneath his cool and slightly disdainful demeanor, Alex had an attractive fragility about him that she couldn't possibly ignore. Alex, Phil, Alex, Phil, Alex…? Get a grip on yourself!
Phil seemed to think that Alex's sneering remark had caused Jackie's discomfort so he gave her a reassuring smile. "Dun't worry love," Phil said. "Wait until I'm done with you."
The silky tone of his voice and his charismatic smile had her completely mesmerized. "Wait for me in Stacy's bathroom please," Jackie told Phil. "We can start with a blow dry."
To her relief, Phil left the kitchen without another comment.
Alex, however, did have a comment. "That's it, I'm out of here."
Jackie took off her glasses and gently massaged her temples. This was so much more stressful than she had ever imagined in her dreams. She did not have time to relax however. Time to concentrate on door number two.
Jackie looked at Alex with her intelligent , sparkling green eyes. "Alex, I need a favour," She said. "Could you please get a pair of shoes from your car for Phil? It's cold and I don't want him to become ill."
Alex did not look pleased, however, he was reluctant to deny Jackie a favour given that he had hit her car. "They probably won't fit," he objected.
"They will," Jackie said reassuringly. "Alex please. It would really be a help."
Alex hesitated for a moment and opened his mouth to say something but thought the better of it and nodded. "If that is your wish." He opened the door and stepped out.
The sun was hidden behind a cloud and it had begun to snow softly. The snowflakes melted instantly on Alex's glasses leaving small drops of water. Tiny ice crystals formed in his hair. That was when Jackie stopped thinking. She reached for his hand and held him back. When he looked at her questioningly, she stood on tiptoe and cupped his cheek with her hand. She carefully removed his glasses and began to run her fingers through his hair. Then, very slowly, she pulled his face down to hers and planted a gentle kiss on his lips. She took a shy step back to see his reaction. Alex Hughes had not kissed a woman in a long time but he knew better than to let that moment pass. He pulled Jackie into a tight embrace for another, deeper kiss. The snowflakes melted on their faces, the cold February wind swept over them, and yet neither of them would have moved had their lives depended on it.
It was Alex who finally broke the kiss.
"Don't let the man with the dreadful accent touch anything but your hair," he said, only half-joking. "I won't be long."

*

When Phil began his work Jackie was determined to heed Alex's warning. She still felt the taste of his kisses and the snow flakes melting on her skin, the unspoken promise of more than kisses, and she had no intention of throwing herself at Phil at the first opportunity. However, that was before he washed her hair, gave her a relaxing massage, and began to apply makeup to her face, his long fingers barely ghosting over her skin. She could not see what he was doing with her hair because he had covered the mirror in the bathroom with a beach towel and had removed her glasses, but feeling his hands in her hair while he was working made her question her judgment. She tried to think of Phil as just another hair stylist but the occasional break in which he would turn her chair around, look at her with that professional, assessing glance, only to linger at her eyes for a moment too long, took her breath away. The scents of spring flowers and strawberries around her did not help. Alex, Phil, Alex, Phil, Alex, Phil…?
It seemed like it was going to last for ever. Jackie could hardly believe it when Phil finally removed the towel and gently put her glasses back on.
"There you are," he said, sounding satisfied.
She could hardly believe that the image in the mirror really was her. Her hair was done in sexy, loose curls and had a "just off the beach" look about it. The side sections of hair had been swept up and loosely pinned into a cascade of soft loops that trickled seductively from the top of the crown down to the nape of her neck. Her makeup was elegant, but not exaggerated, an understatement that brought out her eyes. Green glass diamonds and silver ribbons sparkling in her hair rounded out the picture.
"Phil, that's brilliant," she whispered in admiration. "How did you…?"
"It's a secret," Phil said teasingly.
"And I thought Severus was the only wizard in the house… Thank you," she replied hugging him tightly. "Thank you so much!"
"If this was the Total Look," Phil said quietly, "I would call it 'The Serpent'."
"I like that," Jackie replied.
His hands trailed down her sides slowly.
"Temptation can be dangerous, Phil," she warned him.
"What's your temptation, love?"
"I can't be tempted," Jackie said boldly.
"Why?" he asked, his voice husky.
"Because I am the Serpent, remember?"

*

I was dreaming.
I was at Spinner's End, like a spectator, like someone who had fallen through a Pensieve. Broken streetlamps, patches of light, then impenetrable darkness.
"Let's go, Bella!" snarled Narcissa and she drew a wand from beneath her cloak, holding it threateningly in the other's face.
Bella merely laughed. "Cissy, your own sister? You wouldn't-"
"There is nothing I wouldn't do any more!"
I knew the two figures in front of me. I was in the Harry Potter novel I had so sensitively presented to Severus that night. So my guilty conscience was still trying to cope with what a bitch I could be. It was just as well.
I followed the two figures like a ghost. Their footsteps echoed on the cobbles, mine, however, didn't. It had to be because this was a dream. I wasn't really there.
We had reached the very last house where a dim light glimmered through the curtains in a downstairs room.
Narcissa knocked on the door.
"Damn it, Cissy, I told you, you could have spared yourself the trouble of coming here!" Bellatrix cursed under her breath.
Narcissa ignored her sister.
After a few seconds, they heard movement behind the door and it opened a crack. A man could be seen looking out at them.
Narcissa threw back her hood. She looked unreal and fragile like a white fairy. I knew that scene by heart, so often had I read it. I braced myself, expecting to see Severus looking out at us any moment.
"Narcissa!" said the man, opening the door a little wider, so that the light fell upon her and her sister, too. "What a pleasant surprise!"
I stood and stared ---- at Peter Pettigrew's rat-like face.
"This is not a social call, Wormtail," Bellatrix snapped.
"I need to speak to Severus," Narcissa said in a strained whisper. "It's urgent."
Wormtail hung his head. "He's not here."
"See? Told you so!" Bellatrix said triumphantly.
Narcissa looked desperate. "Wormtail, you were supposed to become his assistant. You have to know where he is. If so, please tell me!"
"If Wormtail were able to keep Snape's current location from the Dark Lord he would have to be a master of Occlumency," Bellatrix said condescendingly, "Which I highly doubt. Let's go, Cissy. Even if Snape was still alive, and even if you found him – he is the last person you should turn to for help."
"But I trust him," Narcissa protested and looked at Peter pleadingly. "Please… Peter… if you have any means to contact Severus…"
"I don't know where he is," Wormtail said. "I'm very sorry Narcissa. Severus Snape disappeared on the night of the incident in the Department of Mysteries. I don't know any more than you do. I would tell you if I knew. Honestly."
My blood ran cold. This was not the way I remembered it. Something was seriously wrong here.
Bellatrix looked into Wormtail's eyes and nodded. "He's telling the truth, as I expected. He's too daft for Occlumency anyway."
Narcissa's beautiful blue eyes were swimming with tears. "But he was my last hope…"
"As I said," Bellatrix intoned, "It's all a giant waste of time. Come on Cissy, let's go home."
Narcissa shook off her sister's arm and was about to give a sharp reply, when suddenly an angry voice rang in our ears. It seemed like a distant echo, coming from nowhere and everywhere at once:
"Newsflash, Professor. I can't fall in love with you – you're not REAL! You're a character in a BLOODY BOOK! A woman called Joanne K. Rowling invented you and my magic made you come to life! MY magic, yes, exactly! Quidditch, Muggles, Hogwarts, Voldemort - how else do you explain that I know everything about you and the wizarding world?"
My stomach churned and my whole world was spinning. It was my own voice.
Everyone jumped and Wormtail seized his wand, his eyes darting about nervously.
"What was that?" he gasped.
Narcissa looked as if she would faint any minute now.
"Did you hear that?!" Bellatrix whispered. "Someone profaned the Dark Lord's name!"
"I hear it but I do not understand," Narcissa said helplessly.
"Listen, she may speak again!" Bellatrix said.
And then, much closer than the first time, a male voice sounded over the scene, thundering from the clouds:
"What kind of trick is this?"
"That was Severus' voice," Narcissa noticed, her eyes alive with wild hope.
"It can't be, he's not here!" Bellatrix protested.
"Ssssh!" Narcissa silenced her.
And then, to my horror, I heard my own voice once again, loud and clear:
"I told you, it's a book. Fiction. Invention."
"What?!" Bellatrix seized her wand now too, taking a step back so she could see her surroundings better but there was no one to point it at.
Narcissa stood and listened, rapt in thought.
"Your birthday is January 9th, you were in love with Lily Evans, you are a double agent, but your true loyalties lie with Albus Dumbledore!"
"I KNEW IT! But whose voice…?" Bellatrix exclaimed but a dark look from her sister silenced her.
I tried to move, to intervene, but I was doomed to witness the three of them listen to my ravings that seemed to resound from the sky.
"I know everything about you, Severus Snape, because I have read it all. You are fictitious, and the only life you have is the one I gave to you!"
My voice faded.
They stood in silence for a long moment too scared to move or speak a word.
"So he lives," Narcissa said happily. "There's hope yet!"
"Fool!" Bellatrix snarled. "Those voices… Haven't you wondered where they come from?!"
Narcissa shrugged. "I don't care, while he lives I can find him and ask him to protect…"
"You don't need protection and certainly not from him!" Bellatrix said sharply. "But haven't you listened? The voice said that Severus was fictitious… that he didn't have a real life… and the voice knew all about him, even his true loyalties which we could only suspect." Bellatrix's eyes were that of an obsessed madwoman. "I need to find out more about that."
"But how?" Narcissa asked in confusion. "Where do you start?"
"We have a name," Bellatrix said triumphantly. "Joanne K. Rowling."
Wormtail looked positively frightened.
Narcissa shook her head in dismay. "I hate it when you chase after phantoms Bella. It's our family that is at stake. Lucius' success has made Draco mad with ambition, he thinks he can take on Albus Dumbledore, and the Dark Lord was cruel enough to charge him with that assignment!" She was on the verge of crying again. "Oh, I would Lucius had failed that night in the Department of Mysteries and gone to Azkaban!"
Bellatrix glared at her sister furiously. Without warning, she slapped her in the face. "Don't you ever speak to me like that again! While you were sitting safe at home, it was Lucius and me who took down Harry Potter, and you'd do well to remember that!"

I woke up screaming.
What a horrible nightmare.
It took several minutes until I was able to leave my bed, stumble to the bathroom and splash some water into my face. I was glad this wasn't real. My conscience really had found the perfect scenario to scare me. Despite my nightmare, I felt wide awake now ready to face the day. I decided to surprise my guests with a sumptuous breakfast. I wondered what Severus would have. Probably a cup of black coffee to go with his robes, I thought, giggling.
"Has to be in the books somewhere," I murmured. Of course most breakfast scenes were set at the Gryffindor table but there might be one brief comment about the staff table.
I decided to check just in case.
I sneaked down to the living room to check my bookshelf running my index finger along the spines of my books.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone… Chamber of Secrets… Prisoner of Azkaban… Goblet of Fire… Order of the Phoenix…
I rubbed my eyes. Where was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince? I couldn't find it. Maybe the Colonel had taken it upstairs to read to Marie? Or… I shivered at the thought. Maybe Severus had taken it to learn what I was hiding from him?
I checked my bookshelf again. There was a big gap next to Order of the Phoenix as if two fairly thick books were missing. And I couldn't find Deathly Hallows either.
"Are you looking for something?" George asked, waving two books.
I heaved a sigh of relief. "George. How are you?"
"As if you're interested," George spat. He tossed the two missing books on the table. "You can have them back, I'm through with them."
"You've read them all?" I asked incredulously. "Seven books? In one night?"
"I skipped the bits about those annoying children," George explained.
"Why did you read them at all?" I wondered.
"Know your enemy," the Sheriff said darkly and I knew he meant Severus.
"Just out of curiosity, how did you like them?" I asked.
George grinned. "That Frenchman, Vol de Mort, brilliant. Evil genius. A role-model. When I get home I'm going to ask Morgianna to recruit Death Eaters for me too."
I smiled. "Thought so." I picked up the books from the table without looking at them.
"But that woman, Bellatrix… she could still teach Morgianna some tricks," George said enthusiastically. "And she is so desirable… I need to read the next book now."
I giggled. "There's no next book," I told him. "They lost the war. It's over."
George looked puzzled. "That is not true. Look it up." He pointed at a long row of books following the gap, all of them with J.K. Rowling's name on their spines and the familiar layout. There were at least twenty more novels.
I was about to examine my bookshelf closer when my gaze fell upon one of the books I was holding.
"What the…" I froze in the movement. If I had expected to read the familiar title, I was disappointed. The cover of what I thought was the sixth installment in the Harry Potter series read in golden letters:
Bellatrix Lestrange, the Pure-Blood Princess.

TBC…

Author's notes:
The direct quotes (in italics) are from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by Joanne K. Rowling. I used the wikipedia entries http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_dialect_and_accent and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_colloquialisms for Phil's accent. I tried to verify the elements I used by comparing the wikipedia info to my Blow Dry DVD, hope the result is satisfactory for you. If you speak Yorkshire dialect and have any suggestions or comments, PM me, your advice is greatly appreciated.

_________________

Avatar thanks to mushroomking1967 from glitter-graphics.com

-->A.R.<--Fan · Diagnosed Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 184 Location: Indiana

Thnk you for posting the edited version, Eustacia. It was very interesting and I can't wait to read the next chapter!

-Meredith
_________________
"I'm a lot less serious than people think,
it's probably because the way my face is put together."--Alan Rickman
Thanks to Madame Torision for the avatar.

Eustacia · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 5:10 pm Post subject:

Thanks for reading, Meredith! I live for feedback!
There wasn't much to edit actually, I only left out one short scene this time, and that one I wasn't even sure about.
Glad you liked the chapter.
_________________

Avatar thanks to mushroomking1967 from glitter-graphics.com