𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧 - 𝑨 𝑺𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒖𝒔 𝑺𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

CHAPTER TEN - Picnic

UNEIDITED
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Severus woke up with a pounding headache. He sat up in his bed, covered in cold sweat, letting out a groan in pain. It felt as if his brain was beating inside his skull. He gripped his sheets tightly, his other hand hurrying to unbutton the coat he had failed to remove last night.

Once he had torn it off his burning torso, he tossed it aside and continued to rest on his mattress, the muscles of his back easing up on him. He was about to call out for Mia to bring him a potion to help with his ache when he recalls the events of the night prior.

He stares at the ceiling for a couple of seconds.

"....Fuck." He cursed under his breath harshly, a wave of guilt washing over the otherwise uncaring professor. He sits up again, leaving the comfort of his sheets when he notices a vial of Sublevare sitting on his side desk along with a glass of water.

She already had painkillers ready for him. He almost wished Mia wasn't this sweet and good to him all the time. Sure, this was her job but most of the time, the things she does for him feels more personal, something a regular maid wouldn't think to do.

The dinner she makes feels like home. The drinks she conjure somehow taste different from any other he had. It didn't feel like she was his worker when she could sit on the carpet of his office with her legs crossed, dusting and organizing the bottom shelf books that were long forgotten. To him, it felt like she belonged here, not as a maid.

Severus shook his head, realizing his thoughts were drifting. He quickly consumed the potion and washed down the bitter taste with water. Once he felt the ache start to fade he got up to take a long, cold shower.

Once Severus was cleaned and buttoned up tightly, he stepped out to find his maid sitting at the table picking at her fried egg in a bored manner, her chin resting in her palm. His plate sat across from hers, the food now cold as he had woken up later than usual.

Severus slowly approaches her, robes and all. He keeps a bit of distance between them before he clears his throat. "...Mia."

Her fork stops, the tips slowly sinking into the yolk, popping it as she tilts her head up to look at him. Her cheeks flushed as usual, but she quickly hid it and stood up, nodding. "Your breakfast is ready.....well it's cold now. I could heat it up."

The words he wanted to say were stuck on the tip of his tongue, and he finds himself simply staring at her, his usual expression making it seem as if he was glaring at her.

Mia sighed, feeling uneasy under his smoldering gaze but she wasn't backing down. "If you expect me to express remorse for my behavior last night, then forget it! I won't." She huffed, looking away from him.

His brows knitted and he shook his head, not moving from his position.

"No. I came to apologize." His expression softened, eyes showing the slightest bit of emotion which caught her interest. "I am sorry Mia, for my behavior last night. I have no right to hold you back from going out with......anyone. It's none of my concern even. I was intoxicated and my judgment was clouded....it was inappropriate regardless."

She side glances him, pretending as if she was simply considering his words, when in reality she had already accepted his apology. In fact, she couldn't help but feel happy hearing his words.

"Forgive me, Mia." Severus spoke softly, his languid voice reverberating through the room as he takes a step towards her, not touching her.

"....I will, only on one condition." She smiles, fully turning her body towards him. The sudden change in her demeanor surprised the potions master. He raised his brows, nodding slowly.
"I would like you to go on a picnic with me this weekend. I know a lovely place."