Severus and the Frozen North

Tucked Away Together

April 2002

"Quarter the newt tail" he suggested as Kora leaned over the slimy hind end of the red newt

"I usually halve it, why a quarter?" she asked curiously, knife poised

"I've found the potency to double if the pieces are smaller. The boiling doesn't take as many nutrients out of the pieces if they're tiny" he explained, mincing sage leaves

She nodded with a semi impressed shrug, eyebrow and nose wrinkled as she tended to do when considering new information, quartering the tails

They had been together for a month now, barricaded in a small cottage outside of London. Reworking every potion in the book.
Diligently working through each new trial. Painstaking amount of details, notebook upon notebook filled with scrawl and scratch, continuously making their way out to the backyard, scouring rows and rows of herbs and plants. Whatever they couldn't grow was flown in by owl as needed. Or their many trips down to the local apothecary.

Surprisingly, they hadn't fought. He was certain that someone impeding on his space would irritate him but Kora didn't interfere. They worked around each other just as they did in the tower, with respectful distance and subconsciously in step foot work.

The framework for their nightly routine became sufficiently laid: prepare dinner together, read, recap the day, or play music. Go to sleep in separate rooms.

"Would you like to go with me down to the apothecary?" he asked a few minutes later as they bottled the brew before testing it

"Oh, you're inviting me?" she snarked, rolling her eyes

"Yes. Because you brew potions as well. That's why we're here. We need ingredients" he answered sarcastically

"Are you sure you don't want to see Yvette? I'm sure she misses you" she needled him, a sharp undertone to her teasing

Yvette was the green witch at the apothecary who had taken a liking to him. And, he supposed, he liked her too. That he found himself attracted to her. Truffle brown eyes, cocoa powder hair, and a tall lanky frame. They spent time chatting about literature and herbs; she special ordered golden dragon claw powder for him because she remembered he mentioned it once.

"Why do you say that?" he questioned acerbically, throwing on his cloak

"Oh please. You think you're so elusive. She likes you. And you think she's pretty with her long legs and perfect hair" Kora elongated her words with happy hand movements and shoulder shrugs

"Be careful or you might sound a little jealous" he warned ominously

"Hardly" she rolled her eyes, walking to the bookshelf

"You...don't mind?" he asked cautiously

They were colleagues, roommates, and friends. But there was an undercurrent. Always shifting the boundaries of their relationship, toeing that line. Some days playing jump rope with it. Casual and not so casual touches. Charged words. Covert glances. He shuffled nervously as he awaited her answer

"For god sake Severus, I don't care what you do. We're not dating. As long as you're not having sex on the couch do whatever you want"
she flopped down into the suede armchair and held a book up over her face, effectively ending their conversation.

Creaking the door open, he walked out into the wet air of the late afternoon alone.

The bell jingled cheerily as he walked into the apothecary, and Yvette popped up from behind the counter, thousand watt smile beaming at him