InsaneJournal

Women took entirely too long in the shower.

Contrary to popular Hogwarts myth, the Greasy Bat of the Dungeons made regular use of the bath in his private quarters. Even with long hair, though, Severus got shampooed and washed in less than five minutes. Why women--at least every woman he'd ever known intimately, which, admittedly, wasn't a great many--had to linger till the river ran dry would surely remain an eternal mystery. He'd yet to hear a logical explanation of it.

And how did you spend your summer holiday?

Waiting for Charity to get out of the shower.


* * *


He remembered Charity's arrival at Hogwarts three summers ago.

"Our newest addition," Dumbledore had declaimed to the staff, "is well qualified, indeed, to bridge the worlds of Muggles and Wizards. She studied magic with a private tutor while living among Muggles and attending Muggle schools and university. Please join me in welcoming Professor Charity Burbage to our staff."

What Dumbledore had neglected to mention in his cheerful introduction was that one year of Professor Burbage's education had taken place at Hogwarts. Not that Severus had remembered her at the time; he'd been in fifth year when she'd been in first.


* * *


He hadn't remembered her, but she had remembered him.

A mousy little first-year Hufflepuff, watching from the periphery, her mouth agape: Severus, hanging, dropped, taunted, humiliated, screaming. Lily, offended, stalking away. Potter, enraged, flinging Severus back into the air. And Charity, as Potter made ready to make his humiliation complete, averting her eyes, her gaze following the retreating figure of Lily Evans...

Charity meeting her parents at King's Cross: I'm not going back. Ever.

And yet, eventually, she had gone back: to teach. And she hadn't taken long to recognize him as the boy who'd been the sport of Gryffindor.


* * *


I still don't understand what interested you in me, he'd said as they were lying together in bed that first night.

You came back to Hogwarts, she'd murmured into her half of the pillow. I wanted to know why.

His breath, as he'd sighed, had stirred the curls on the nape of her neck. I had no choice.

Yes. I know that. Now.

So why are you back at Hogwarts?

To make a difference.

Hm. Good luck.

She'd snapped around, twisting the sheets, her eyes fixed on his with an intensity that nearly unnerved him.

I will make a difference.


* * *


He heard the bathroom door open. He continued to wait, knowing that it would take as long for Charity to dress as to shower. Six weeks, they had, all to themselves, and half of it would be taken by Charity showering and dressing.

"I don't want to ever go back."

He knew he'd spoken aloud, because a few seconds later he was staring at Charity's feet. They showed no sign of going anywhere. He looked up.

I know, was what he saw in her eyes.

"Breakfast," is what she said.

He smiled and let her lead him back to today.