The Ten Year Hex [Severus Snape]

25

The Three Broomsticks was loud and busy when they arrived. There was only one table unoccupied and Jynx and Severus quickly took up residence. Madame Rosmerta came by quickly, greeting them with a large smile. Jynx could see the drop in her lips as she turned to Severus, but it only lasted a heartbeat before she corrected it.

The conversations around them filled the air as their Butterbeers were dropped on the table and Rosmerta moved by. She smiled warmly as she passed, moving to the next table of patrons. Some people had chosen to stand since all the tables were occupied, so a wall of bodies had closed in around them as they sat under the stairs and neither of them seemed to mind.

Severus placed his hand on hers, squeezing lightly, "Aren't some of these your students?" she asked, "Don't you think they'll ask questions about the strange woman you're with?"

He snorted, "They'll gossip no matter what," he said, "Perhaps this will dispel the rumor that I'm a bat."

"I've never dated a bat before," Jynx chuckled, "Perhaps the wings would be beneficial." A half smile crossed his lips but was quickly wiped away as his eyes raised above her head.

Jynx's body stiffened as Severus' hand left hers and disappeared inside his robes, "Don't," said a voice behind her and she felt the sharp point of a wand at the nape of her neck.

Her entire body prickled under the threat but she didn't move. She kept her eyes locked on Severus who did not remove his hand from his robes. His eyes stayed locked on whoever was behind her.

The conversations around them continued as if nothing was amiss until a scream rattled the air. A small moment of peace hovered, like time had been stopped. The entirety of the pub seemed to still, then just as quickly, chaos broke out.

The sound of chairs scraping the floor echoed and the sound of rumbling footsteps. Thick red flares flew, casting maroon shadows on the walls. Bodies thumped and fell like rocks as people tripped trying their best to escape whatever was happening. The end of the wand sunk deeper into her spine as Severus stood, his own wand drawn.

Jynx threw herself from her chair, rolling across the floor under a frenzy of feet. A black figure stood with its wand still aimed where she had been and a bright green flash erupted, the table across from it blew to pieces, causing more screams to rip the air.

A foot came down on her back and ankle, rolling her joint at an awful angle as a body fell on top of her. Another black figure joined the first, their hooded robes hiding the identities underneath. The first figure looked toward her, its wand once again finding her but Severus gave the figure no time, its body flew backward, hitting the wall with an audible crunch that Jynx heard over the chaos. It didn't move, it stayed crumpled on itself like a dropped bag of laundry.

The body that had fallen on her scrambled to move, pushing Jynx into the floor with all their weight. Long brown hair swirled in her vision as whoever it was finally pushed themselves up and mingled back into the panicked crowd. She felt for her wand while attempting to stand on the ankle that she was sure was swelling.

Hands gripped her shoulders, pulling her to her feet. Her ankle screamed when she placed her weight on it but there was no time to baby the injury, she turned to face whoever was behind her as Severus sent the other figure flying to meet the last.

Three more shadows moved between the frenzy of patrons, but the face that stared back at her was familiar. The woman grabbed her wrist and pulled as Severus moved to her back, sandwiching her between their bodies.

Another patron sent a shadow flying, it flew into one of the animal heads that adorned the wall above the fireplace. She couldn't be sure how many there were. It seemed that half the occupants had stayed to fight where the other half had fled.

A chill took residence against her as Severus separated from her, the woman kept pulling, never looking back, "Keep her safe," he said to her companion as he faced another shadow. She reached for him but he was gone in a sea of fear, washed away by panic.

Jynx pulled but the woman would not release her, she only tightened her bony fingers, "I can't run! I have to help!"

The woman threw open the door to the building and three other people exited with them. The glow from inside disappeared as the door slammed and night took over her vision.

Jynx wrenched her hand away, "What the fuck was that?" She pushed out in heavy breaths.

The woman gestured toward the row of trees just behind them and began to walk, Jynx let out an exasperated sigh and turned back toward the pub. The witch pulled on her shoulder, "He would never forgive me. Please come," she gestured again toward the trees.

They crossed the moonlit street, the cobbles making her ankle roll and dip. When they reached the thicket across from the pub and slid into the shadows Jynx sat and  went to work attempting to heal her ankle, "Hilda, what are you doing here? I haven't seen you in years."

Hilda lowered the hood that had hidden her face, much like the shadows wore but hers was a velvet green. Even in the dark Jynx could see the silver and white streaks that ran through her dark chocolate hair and swirled into the tight bun at the back of her head, "I have known you a long time child. Longer than you know."

Jynx felt her ankle snap and she bit her lip as the pain jolted up her leg, but it quickly quelled into a manageable throb, "Care to explain what that means?" She asked, resting her arm on her bent knee.

Hilda dropped to her knees across from Jynx, placing her hands in her lap, "Your mother-"

"Was an awful woman and I choose not to speak of her."

The door of The Three Broomsticks opened and several silhouettes filtered out into the street. There was still plenty of disarray inside from the sound that followed. Hilda ignored both interruptions, "Your mother was a dear friend. It was not by coincidence that I met you or Severus in London."

Jynx's eyes snapped to Hilda's, "What does Severus have to do with anything?"

"Everything," Hilda said in an ominous tone.

Light flooded into the street once more and people filed in a calm manner. The largest of the silhouettes darted directly toward them in a cloud of robes. Severus.

Jynx shot to her feet, any pain that remained was immediately forgotten. Hilda pulled her back into the shadows as they waited for him to approach.

As soon as he was near Jynx wrapped him in her arms and he did the same. She ran her fingers along his face and down his shoulders, looking for any sign of injury, "You're alright?"

He nodded, "I expect you are as well," he said, shooting a heated glare at Hilda. The witch seemed to shrink under his gaze.

"Do either of you care to explain what the hell just happened?"

Severus looked down his nose at her as his lips curled over his teeth, "Arvell."