Loved By You. (A Severus Snape Love Story)

Chapter Seven: Hogsmeade

September 1st 1995
I woke up the next morning feeling groggy and unclean. At first I couldn't  remember why I hadn't gotten washed and changed but then I did and the pain of it all washed over me once more.
I found my way out of bed and through to the bathroom. I went in a shower to clear my head and freshen myself up but it took me a while to actually move instead of just standing letting the water fall over me.
When I emerged I felt considerably better but there was still the doubt at the back of my mind that I couldn't shake.
I was slower that I usually was getting ready and when I had dried my hair and put on my underwear I almost seemed to stop completely.
I had sat there for about 10 minutes almost naked when I heard the knock at my door.
I wasn't thinking when I called, "Come in."
I was so used to only being in the house with my mum that it wasn't my first instinct to think about who it would be before I called.
It hadn't really hit me that I was once again in nothing but my bra and pants and answering the door. It certainly didn't help when Severus Snape walked through the door either.
He stopped in his tracks when he reached the end 0f the hall.
"Oh um..." He stuttered. "I can come back if..." He looked me up and down but at the same time he was trying not to look.
"It's not the first time this has happened is it?, just come in I'll get changed." I grunted standing up.
"Well em... You left this last night." He said putting the small green bottle on my dresser.
Just as I started to get dressed I realised I had been stupid to revert to the snivelling heap I was before I came here. I was standing in my own private quarters in my underwear with the man I wanted to seduce, how could this be better?
"I wanted to apologise for last night." I said, approaching him slowly. "I shouldn't have shouted at you, you just wanted to help."
"You had every right." He said, shifting uncomfortably. "I shouldn't have forced you to talk."
"Oh but you should have." I lied, leaning in close to him and holding onto his shoulder. He tried to move away but I had to strong a hold on him.
"Miss Dumbledore..." He trailed off as his eyes met mine, it was still apparent he was feeling extremely uncomfortable.
"Shhh." I hushed, placing a finger on his lips.
I moved so I was standing face to face with him, but my body was still pressed up against his and I held onto both his shoulders, giving them a light rub and massage. He looked at my quizzically.
"I don't think..." He began again but I cut him off by standing on my tip-toes and whispering in his ear.
"Don't say anything." I demanded, wrapping my arms around his neck, and trailing my lips around his ear, nibbling the lobe and along jawline.
"You don't have to argue, we both want this just let it happen." I whispered, pulling his body onto mine. My leg danced around his for a bit before I pulled it up to his waist and pushed him against the wall.
I straightened out the collar of his robe and went to remove it when Snape's cold hands grabbed my wrists.
"Stop." He pushed me off of him. "Stop!" He shouted again, as I banged into the wall and he turned away from me.
I stood and stated at him, my face blank.
"What's this all about? I thought we've been through this? I thought this was over? It was all a lie wasn't it?, everything you told me, you made it up so I would fell sorry for you. Well I'm not having it! You have to understand this is wrong and you cannot force me to sleep with you, I will not do it! And if this continues I'll have to inform your grandfather." He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
There was an awkward moment of silence where we swapped a few uncomfortable looks before Snape stormed from the room, slamming the door behind him.
I let out a loud exasperated breath I didn't know I was holding when he left.
A small smirk appeared across my face but I was actually quite disappointed that my plan hadn't worked. Today was the last day I would have been able to openly seduce him like this but now that the other students were arriving I would have to be a lot more careful and too be completely honest I doubt it would be worth the effort after recent events. Snape was a lot more reluctant that I had expected him to be and now I had to think of some new methods.
*
Later that day after I had met up with my grandfather for a bit and he had checked up on my hand he informed me that the students would be arriving around 7:00 that evening, it had only just turned 12:00 and the train would just be on it's way.
Having done most things there was to do around the grounds of the school I decided to venture a little further than I usually would.
I took a walk past the lake and around the edge of the forbidden forest and decided it wasn't far enough so I kept going. Not long after I ended up in what I assumed to be the small village of Hogsmeade.
I had collected a few spare coins from my room before leaving and decided to take a wonder around the shops.
I was bored at first to to find the same old stuff until I came across a small almost abandoned book shop on the corner at the end of one of the streets.
After peeking slightly warily through the clouded windows, I opened the creaking wooden door.
The chime of a neglected bell rang as it closed shut. I looked around only to find the shop empty, I continued to browse around the shop nevertheless.
After only a few seconds of browsing a small frail old man with white wisps of hair and big oversized spectacles came rushing into the room. He was panting from the small spurt of exercise but he had a large toothy smile across his face and his wide curious eyes were magnified through the glasses.
He dusted off his crinkling hands on his old brown corduroy trousers and navy sweater vest then he enthusiastically thrusted out his hand.
"Oh My!" He exclaimed. "Isn't this a surprise, what a delight." He smiled.
"Sorry dear, if you thought no one was home. I'm Wilfred, Wilfred Clarke, owner of this humble little shop, how can I help you?" He asked, finally letting go of his weak grip with both his hands to the one of my own.
"I'm Aria." I returned his smile kindly, reverting back to my old self as I refused to be mean to this little old man. "It's my first time here, I'm new to Hogwarts, I'm sorry if I'm intruding."
"No not at all, dearie, feel free to browse, it's just good to have company again." He grinned.
I smiled and nodded, going back to a dusty shelf of books.
The old man nodded too and hobbled back behind the counter, watching me sweetly, his back crouched over while he sat.
"Nowadays I only ever see the same few people; the old drunks and the bartender at the Three Broomsticks and I get a customer coming in every few weeks, but it's nice to see a fresh face."
"I'm glad I've made you happy." I laughed a little, taking out a book and dusting it off before reading the blurb. I took out a few more and compared them while Wilfred watched.
"I'll take this one, if you please." I smiled handing him the leather bound novel. It felt only right to buy something after he had been so kind to me.
"Lovely, thank you, dearie." He took the book and then my money, throwing it in his seemingly empty till. "Would you like a cup of tea before you go." He called almost desperately as I headed for the door. "I actually have somewhere to be but I'd love to maybe take up that offer at some other point, I'm sure I'll see you again. I'll be back I promise you." I smiled, opening the door and as it chimed he gave a small smile and wave as he walked back through the door in the corner.

I thought about stopping in to the pub named 'The Three Broomsticks' for a drink but I was wary as to the characters I would meet there after Wilfred's comment of the old drunks but I assumed that wouldn't be all I would come across and chose to take my chances anyway.
When I entered just as he had predicted the pub was eerily quiet with only half a dozen old drunks sitting by the bar and barely twice that scattered around the room. The people who chose to sat on the outskirts of the room were a lot creepier and scary looking that the simple old men at the bar. Gingerly I walked across the room, the rusty door creaking shut behind me, and approached the bar.
Who I came across there surprised me, what with the state of the customers being what they were I had almost fully expected the barman to be the same. But on the contrary he was a young, mid 20's, fairly attractive looking man.
He smiled as I took a seat in from of him, he stopped and put away the glass he was cleaning and served me instantly.
"What can I get you, love?" He asked, resting his elbows on the tabletop. "Something strong?" He suggested in a thick Irish accent.
I thought about it for a moment.
"No thanks, it's just a bit early for me." I smiled sweetly. "I'll have a Butterbeer."
"Butterbeer it is then." He grinned and whipped out a bottle of the closet yellow liquid from below the counter.
"Thank you."
"No problem. So I haven't seen you around her before, believe me I would have remembered, are you new?"
"Yeah just moved a few weeks ago, this is my first time in the village right enough."
"Ah it's a quaint place, you'll get to know it easy but if you ever need a tour guide I'll be glad to show you about." He winked while simultaneously clicking his tongue against his teeth.
An elderly man raised his hand, a well known gesture for demanding another beer without actually bothering to open you mouth. I laughed a little as the man walked off to pour him his pint.
I barely had a chance to take a sip of my own drink before he had slide back into my view.
"So planning on telling me your name, darling?" His tone of a mix of slang and polite jumbled in my brain and he suddenly came across rather charming.
"Aria." I said laconically, smiling.
"How about a last name?, incase I need to look you up." He joked.
I barely had to think about it, I knew instantly I couldn't tell him who I really was so I winged it.
"Don't have one."
"What do you mean you don't have a last name, everyone has a last name."
"Not me."
"Suit yourself." He laughed. "Anyway, I'm Tom, Tom Higgins."
"Nice to meet you, Tom." I winked, taking another swig of Butterbeer.
We chatted for a while until I had nearly polished off my second Butterbeer and I thought it best to start heading back to Hogwarts. It was a lonely walk back but I realised this would probably the last bit of peace I would have as the school would be over-run with kids from now on until Christmas.
Time was getting on when I entered the castle and soon the students would be arriving. Since I had came to the school I had gotten used to my private quarters and all my previously packed clothes were scatter around the room and all my other luggage was spread out between the rooms and dispersed over the whole suit.
I sighed thinking how I knew I would have to spend my night packing and re-organising all my stuff.
Immediately I set to it; everything in my wardrobe was packed and folded, my dirty clothes had been washed, dried and nearly folded by the house elves - they also went in the trunk, my school books and equipment were set gently on top, and all my bits and bobs were flung into a separate bag, and just like that the room was practically bare.
I sighed and threw myself down on the bed. All that remained was one pare of shoes, my uniform and robes and a few pieces of jewellery and make-up for the sorting tonight.
Nox was still floating about confused about the sudden pack up, he pounced up on the bed, rubbing his jet black head along my pale bare arms. I giggled a little as the tiny hairs of his coat soothed and tickled the cuts on my arms.
I looked to the corner of the room, Nox's bed and food tray sat alone and out of place.
Involuntarily I drifted off into a day-dream and began to read my book.