Severus and the Thunderbird

Vows and Venom

The year passed on, slow and excruciating. He sank deeper into solitude. The need to protect far above anything else. The Order was back together, and he was the most detested member. They needed his information, but they hated him. They didn't bother to mask it. And he couldn't say that he was fond of spending time with Sirius either. He seemed to view Harry as a replacement for his best friend, ignoring all advice from the others to treat him as a child. Foolish.

Never mind that he was keeping his students safe from Umbridge who was using their ambition to make them appear to be the worst calibre of people in the world. He had to protect his house from her deliberate attempts to sabotage them. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle falling easily into her power play. He had to protect them from the vitriol of the rest of the school.

Never mind that he had to keep Potter from being infiltrated by the dark lord, and he was failing miserably. His arrogance and naivety would be the death of him; the Dark lord knew of this connection. He was already implanting memories. Harry's pride and need to be a savior may seem admirable but a little bit of self preservation would go a long way. Not that he would ever take his advice.

Also never mind that the evil little toad of a woman was now the acting headmistress. He lived by integrity and she had none, stooping to truth serum because she couldn't get answers any other way. He had to find a way to stall her tactics. He hated that she believed some students were better than others purely because of their status. What must she really think of him? She just used him for his potions mastery, just like everyone else.

He made his way down to Hogsmeade in the brisk spring air. The pocket watch lay heavy in his cloak.

He sat at a small table, where Rosmerta sent over a fire whiskey on the rocks. He downed it easily and the glass refilled. Looking up to his left, he noticed Minerva sitting with a witch in a royal plum purple cloak and raven black curls. He knew those knee high boots, that cloak, the wild curls that had no order.

It was just sex now.

When she returned from her summer trip after the Tournament disaster, she was different. Fully occluded, still brazen and warm, but her lines were clearly drawn. It was as if she lived behind walls of glass and he couldn't get through. Now he understood what it must be like for anyone to interact with him. What it must have been like for her to be with him. Present but not connected.

It was for the best.

Minerva noticed him staring, waving at him with a smile. He nodded back, and she continued to wave him over. Taking a deep breath, he knew he couldn't put it off for long. Sauntering over, he sat down beside Minerva and opposite his once friend and lover.

Her face registered nothing as he sat down. He took note of an old book between them.

"Severus, this is Ms. Murphy. She has found a book for me that my family has thought lost for some time. A genealogy of McGonagall. It is rather impressive!" Minerva gushed, all smiles as Seren ducked her head in acknowledgment of the compliment

"Ms. Murphy, this is Severus Snape, my colleague and Potions Master"

Seren held out her hand expectantly and lied as if they hadn't made love in every room of her home, devouring each other's bodies. Angry, rough sex with no intimacy. Frustration that they couldn't be honest. Fury at all the lies. Discontent at never hearing the full truth. But not willing to give each other up.

"Nice to meet you sir"

He held onto her hand, warm and soft. His stomach muscles clenched as he immediately dropped her hand.

"I must be going Minerva. I'm glad to hear about your book. Ms. Murphy, have a good night" he told the two of them, self control in complete lockdown.