The Potion Master's Apprentice (A Severus Snape love story)

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

Severus woke with a start, sweat dripping from his brow as he tried to calm his heavy, erratic breathing. He rubbed his eyes and tried to wipe away some of the perspiration from his clammy face but only succeeded in smearing it.

Eventually his rapid heart beat began to calm and his chest rose and fell in a regular tempo. He wasn't really sure why he had woken but now the sun was streaming too brightly through the open curtains for him to fall back asleep. He remembered closing the curtains last night, so why were they suddenly open?

Then he remember exactly why he had closed the curtains, hastily at that. And glancing down to the stretch of bed beside him he expected to see Florence laying there but was surprised to see the bed perfectly made, no creases peppering the sleek, glossy covers.

He frowned, feeling incredibly angry. Had last night really happened? Or was it just a cruel figment of his imagination. Then, just as he was ready to break something in a violent rage, the smell of cooking wafted up his nostrils. Someone was in the kitchen.

Slipping silently out of the bed he didn't even bother picking up his wand that Florence had so kindly retrieved for him from the house of Black. Instead he crept quietly down the steps, fastening his trousers as he tried not to make the forlorn floorboards creak.

Suppressing a smirk, Severus pushed open the door to the sound of hissing fat spraying from the bacon frying in the pan and someone humming a sweet tune as she bustled around the kitchen. She was wearing checked pajama trousers; his, he noted, and a tight white vest beneath the black apron whilst she leant over the stove and examined the eggs cooking in the pan beside the bacon.

He stepped soundlessly over to where she was now prodding things with a fork and gently slipped his hands around her waist. She jumped slightly before realising who it was and leaning back into him as he rested his head on her shoulder.

"What're you doing?" He whispered, softly kissing her on the neck and causing her skin to erruptwith goosebumps.

"Cooking." She replied simply before humming another completely made up tune.

"Why didn't you wake me up? I would've helped you!" He purred and she laughed lightly, turning the bacon over in the pan before planting a tender kiss on his lips.

"I didn't want to disturb you." She grinned.

*~*~*~*

When they were both seated around the small dining table, Florence sitting nearest the kitchen whilst Severus sat opposite her, he decided to ask her a question. Swallowing a large mouthful of bacon and topping up his mug of coffee he didn't resume eye-contact with her when he spoke.

"When I go out this afternoon, is it all right for you to stay here?" Florence frowned before a broad grin cracked across her face and she took a sip of orange juice.

"You're not ashamed of me, are you?"

"No! It's just that... well, I mean, I don't know. I didn't think you wanted to be seen out with me and I mean-"

"Severus, why wouldn't I want to be seen out with you?" She probed gently, reaching for his hand across the table.

"I... I don't know." He replied sheepishly, grasping her hand as she took another swig of her drink.

"Well, where are you going?"

"Diagon Alley." He replied uninterestedly and she immediately lit up.

"Of course I want to come! I've been away for a whole term, I need supplies for when I come back to work." She stood up quickly and began piling the plates on top of each other and the dirty cutlery on top of that.