𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧 - 𝑨 𝑺𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒖𝒔 𝑺𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

CHAPTER TWENTY - Flight

(RUSHED AND UNEDITED)
_______

"The letter I sent you.....do you remember what it said?"

Together we'll go somewhere to fly far.

"....Not really.....something about flying?"

"Exactly. That was an invitation sweetheart."

"To what?"

"Flying of course! You ever been on a broom?"

Mia replayed the conversation in her head. Frankly, she wasn't too thrilled with the idea of going broom flying with Marc. Her mood was rotten, and the only reason she agreed was to find a good reason to remove herself from the house, away from Rosaline, away from Severus.

She dissociated, her eyes boring into the wall, the towel in her hand gently wiping the porcelain plates dry, having just finished with making and feeding lunch.

Rosaline had gone off somewhere, the annoying chatter of her flirtatious voice no longer ringing throughout the house, grating on her ears.

She had the thought of staying back, sitting around to talk to Severus, somehow reconcile with him, just so she didn't have to work in such a saffocating atmosphere, seek some form of closure after sharing her feelings, just so she could start moving on, which was something she had so much trouble doing.

Yet she felt too proud to admit that she was growing deeper feelings.

She was returning to a rose bush that pricks constantly, watering the roots, leaning into inhale the scent, the affection growing in her heart despite having to always apply bandages.

Severus was her rose, and how unfortunate she felt it was.

He had just returned home from running some errands. He placed the bags of potion ingredients down at the tea table, lifting his gaze to see Mia walking out of the hall, adjusting her sleeves, while her coat hung over her forearm.

He cleared his throat, unbuttoning his own as he takes in the details of her clothing. "Going out?"

She looks up at him, pausing. Mia nodded, puffing her chest and standing straighter. "I am, yes."

"....To where?" He raised a brow.

"Not that it's any of your business, sir, but I'm going out on a....date....with Marcellus."

"Marcellus? That cheap, drug selling smoker?" He made a face.

"Oh for goodness sake!" Mia huffed at him. "He is no drug seller, he's a wandmaker!"

He released the buttons of his coat from his fingers, stepping closer to her with a frown forming across his brows. "Wandmaker my arse. The only wand he's preparing is the one he plans on shoving up your backside."

Her face reddened at his words, rendering her speechless for a moment before sputtering defenslessly.

"He has no such intentions. He's a gentleman whom you've never met by the way, so just shut up!"

"A gentleman, is he?" He suddenly reaches in, snatching her coat out of her grasp, making her flinch. "How delightful. Perhaps he'll be nominated for Wizard of the Year next. Truly, your judgment never ceases to amaze me, after all, your taste in men are immaculate."

His fists tightened at her sides, glancing down at the coat tightly held in hand, the leather creaking painfully within the confines of his fingers.

Mia takes a slow inhale to tame her anger, glaring at Severus before speaking calmly. "Where is all this distaste coming from anyway?" She took a step towards him. "Are you jealous, Severus?"