The Stars on the Staircase

Hallows Even-ing

Marking tests outside on an unseasonably warm Halloween afternoon, I am trying to get a tiny scrap of sun on my skin before the winter rolls in. I've got my outer robe shrugged off, sleeves rolled up, and I am pulling scrolls out of my enchanted extendable bag and marking them over my knee one by one. This sunshine is likely going to be my only treat today as all celebrations are currently off limits here. Sure there will be a feast tonight, but nothing more. The students will take candy from the tables and go safely back to their common rooms.

I almost jump out of my skin because I hadn't heard anyone approach when someone strokes my sun soaked hair from behind me. "Do you require an office? It is in my ability to assign you one." Severus asks, his fingers passing over the strands turned hot from the direct sunshine. He walks around in front of my bench, he always gets a smug little look on his face when he successfully startles me.

I offer a stare of annoyance at his sneaking. "Just needed some fresh air and it's such a nice sunny day." I look around, putting the students' test and my quill down for a moment.

"Beautiful."

"It is." I agree, taking a deep breath of the air.

"I meant you, in the sunshine. But the day is pleasant as well."

"Are you flirting with me, Headmaster? I'm not sure it's entirely appropriate." I tease.

"We never have been appropriate, it's a little late to start now."

"Do you need me?" I asked.

"Desperately as always, but no, I was just taking a walk to clear my head. I didn't realise how much I had missed seeing your hair in the sun." He sighed. "I would love to go lay out on a blanket with you today in my garden, but I'm sure going there would bring me nothing but discomfort at seeing how badly I've neglected it." He thinks out loud and paces the courtyard. "Plus the guilt of enjoying myself when I know I will be forcing all the students back to their houses with no Halloween dance or celebration..."

"You have been otherwise occupied. There is no reason to add that garden to the list of things to berate yourself over. In addition, you are sending the students to bed with no party to keep them away from the Carrows. They are better off in their houses. I arranged the baskets of candy to appear in each house after dinner like you said. Everyone will have fun and they will be safe in their dormitories."

"What would I do without you? There are no classroom windows that face this direction. I am very tempted to kiss you." He makes no move to do so, though. Our obligations swirl around in the breeze.

"Would it perhaps be better to choose a time this evening when I might come upstairs?" I ask, favouring well behaved secrecy rather than spontaneous kissing in the open.

"I know that is what we ought to do, but I have grown weary of sneaking. I just want a kiss. I don't want to make an appointment for it." He grumbles.

"Perhaps there should be a standing hour everyday where I assist you? I could take some things off your plate, and maybe you could occasionally give me a little kiss when you feel it necessary."

"I would want to squander that hour every single day. I would scoop you up and take you to my bed and have a nap. I would close my eyes and bury my face in you. I would squeeze you until you turn into a diamond. I want you to lay on top of me and have the weight of you push my worries away for a few blissful moments."

"You say all these things like it would be a bad thing. I'm not so sure it would be a bad use of my time or yours. I would be happy to help you relax for an hour a day. Be it with naps or neck massages or help with paperwork or whatever you need. Look at you, you need some time to relax."