Let Me Hear You

[ Fire and Ice ]

I woke up several hours later, though I wasn't entirely sure what time it was. It took me a few moments to find my bearings, seeing as the last thing I saw before I fell asleep was Severus' chest. I felt the silky satin of my bedsheets and the plush pillow beneath my head. I expected Severus to be lying next to me, so I rolled over, only to be met with the freezing chill of empty satin sheets. Frowning, I sat up and scanned the room, hoping to see him sitting by the fire.

My room was completely empty, and I shivered. "Sev?" I called out, knowing he was likely in his quarters. I waited a few moments, and he didn't respond. "Severus?" I tried again. I heard a faint groan. "Darling, it is two in the morning." He mumbled, sending shivers down my spine. I haven't heard his morning voice before, and it made me blush and bite my lip. "Oh, sorry. I didn't think to check the time." I had an overwhelming urge to floo to him and feel his body heat again, but I don't know his password.

"Thank you for moving me to my bed, but why did you leave?" I flopped back down against my pillow, frowning slightly. "You know why, Hazel." He was short and curt, but I sensed he was as disappointed as I was. "But Albus is gone, and I didn't see McGonagall at dinner either. And Harry -" He cut me off mid-ramble. "I know. But there are still some boundaries we must respect." I huffed and rolled over onto my side, curling into a ball. I knew he was right, but that didn't make me any less annoyed. "Get some sleep, darling. I will see you for breakfast."

~

I barrelled into the Great Hall a little too eagerly for a Saturday morning, but after last night, I was all but crawling out of my skin to see Severus. A few heads turned my way at the sound of my feet clambering through the door, though Severus did not flinch. He knew I was coming; I bet he could feel my heart hammering in my chest as I sprinted up from the dungeons. "A little too enthusiastic for a Saturday morning, don't you think?" I saw a faint smirk tug at his lips. He sat in the same spot he did last night, and conveniently, my spot was still free, too. It appears everyone had kept their original spots, and I only hoped it would stay this way.

I was definitely enthusiastic this morning, and his quip only egged me on further. "Good morning, everyone. I really am quite hungry; I worked up quite an appetite last night." I smiled and plopped down next to Severus. "Morning, Hazel! What were you doing last night?" A second-year Gryffindor girl beamed from across the table. "Hi, Arabell. I cleaned my whole room, top to bottom. I was on my knees half the night!" I chuckled, and I heard Severus let out the faintest of snorts.

"Why didn't you use your wand?" Arabell asked. Even though I was a Slytherin, she was buzzing with excitement that the Head Girl was paying attention to her. "Sometimes I prefer to clean the old-fashioned way. Funnily enough, however, I was holding my wand in my mouth as I scrubbed the floor, and I slipped and choked on it!" Arabell and a few others who had been listening in burst out into laughter. "I bet your throat is sore today, Hazel." Flitwick chuckled. Severus wasn't laughing anymore; I heard a low groan.

"Yes, a bit. But I soothed it with some nice warm milk afterwards." I smirked as Severus shifted slightly next to me. "Stop it." I paid no mind to his plea. "Good morning, Professor. Can you please pass me a sausage?" I turned to face him, holding up my plate. I heard a few mental gasps from the students around me. It was an incredibly brave thing to attempt to ask anything of the infamous dungeon bat. "I believe you are quite capable of getting your own breakfast, Miss Goldstein." He sneered, not looking at me, and took a sip of his coffee. "What I wouldn't give to bend you over this table and spank you."

I stifled a moan and clenched my thighs. "Oh, Severus. Give the poor girl a sausage." Flitwick piped up; he had clearly seen my bold attempt too and thought he needed to help me. I had to choke back a laugh as he added fuel to my innuendo fire. Severus' eyes snapped to him from across the table and then briefly at me. "You're in trouble, darling." Instead of passing me a single sausage, he passed me the whole tray. "Seeing as you are sofamished, perhaps more than one sausage will do you some good." He let his eyes travel to my cheeks briefly, and I caught a fleeting smirk. My cheeks were clearly flushed.