snarrymod (snarrymod) wrote in snarry_games, @ 2008-05-02 20:01:00 |
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Entry tags: | dracofiend, entry, team dragon |
TEAM DRAGON ENTRY: Dracofiend "Dalliance, a Convenience"
Title: Dalliance, a Convenience
Author: dracofiend
Team: Dragon
Genres: Angst, Romance
Prompt: Infidelity
Rating/Warnings/Kinks: R (see prompt)
Word Count: 5350
Summary: It's an ordinary convenience that Severus enjoys.
Author's Note: Thank you to my amazing team of Dragons--and of course, to my small pet. ♥
"I think that's everything," Harry said, closing the lid on the trunk. He snapped it locked and got to his feet, surveying the room around him. "Coat, boots, long underwear…" He stooped to pick up a black shoulder bag. "…camera, itinerary…"
Severus rose from where he'd been sitting on the bed to stand near Harry. "Are you sure?" he asked. "You haven't forgotten anything?"
Harry looked over. "Mm, I don't think so," he answered. "Got my keys, my wallet…" He patted at his robe pockets.
"Your portkey?"
"My—" Harry's hands froze inside his pockets. "Shit, I think left it at the office—it's going off in five minutes, I won't be able to get it—" He spun around toward the door, frantic. Severus let their bodies collide.
"Try to remember it next time, hm?" He held up the silver token, arching his brow.
Harry's eyes widened and he sagged against Severus, exhaling in relief.
"What would I do without you?" Harry mumbled into the black buttons. He clasped a hand to Severus' to take the portkey.
"Miss a number of appointments and get sacked, I imagine," Severus replied.
"Sounds about right," Harry agreed. He lifted his chin and kissed Severus' mouth. "Thanks for getting this—I guess my new wards didn't give you any problems?"
Severus' lips pursed in disdain. "Your wards couldn't keep out a five-year old. I fixed them for you."
"Aw, no, Sev—you know, it's horribly embarrassing when you can't get into your own bloody office—"
"You should get your things," Severus cut in smoothly, stepping back. "I'll see you in a week."
Harry sighed and waved his wand at his trunk, which floated toward him, handle-first. A faint chime rippled from his palm where he clutched the token—it was nearly time. He re-adjusted his rucksack and squared his shoulders at Severus.
"Put them back, okay? I don't need your superwards," Harry said, plainly attempting a stern sort of eye.
"Be careful," Severus answered.
Harry smiled. "I will be," he said as his features resolved into a sudden overreal sharpness. "I love you!" he called out—and then his outline and his luggage vanished into nothingness, leaving Severus standing alone in their vaguely rumpled bedroom. He crossed the carpeting to the dresser and shut the top drawer that Harry had left open, then went downstairs to work.
Had the day been clear, the sun would've been slanting orange across the high wooden tables, refracting warm colors through the scattered vials and bottles by the time Severus stopped to stretch his back. He realized he was hungry—and more importantly, that he'd just thrown the last of his belladonna into the middle cauldron, and the potion requiring the night's quarter moon called for it as well. Severus went to each of his cauldrons, leaning to inspect viscosity, aroma…yes, these would thicken nicely for the next hour, unattended. He cooled the flames beneath them and rinsed his hands beneath the faucet, drawing up a list in his mind of the various items to be purchased.
The town of Milford-on-the-Stratt wasn't deserted at early evening, but the witches and wizards Severus passed as he walked along the cobbled path were clearly hurrying home for dinner. Severus quickened his pace—the shopkeeper would be hurrying home soon himself, and the quarter-moon potion couldn't wait a single night.
The door jangled as Severus pushed it open; he stepped inside, looking immediately to the left, where the newest ingredients were always displayed. The shop was smaller than any apothecaries near Hogwarts—smaller but less cluttered, and, particularly during summer term, it carried an inventory that was infinitely more useful for Severus' purposes. It was, in all likelihood, Severus' favorite shop.
"Hello there, we're just about to close—" The voice from behind a spindly rack of dried agrimony stopped abruptly as the shopkeeper came into view.
"Oh, Professor," said the man. He was wearing dragonhide gloves, stained a dark purple. "Good evening."
Severus inclined his head. "I see you have a new shipment of delphin."
"Yes, sir," the shopkeeper nodded, carefully stripping the gloves from his hands, one finger at a time. "Just preparing the packets—would you care to see…?"
Severus was shaking his head, his eyes roving over the shelves of new arrivals once more. "I'm here for belladonna—and perhaps a jar of those newts' livers, as they look very fine."
"Of course." The shopkeeper ducked away and returned with a stepladder, gesturing Severus aside to position it properly before leaping up the rungs to the top shelf. "Will these do?" he asked, handing down a square jar. Severus took it and unscrewed the lid to examine the contents. He shook the jar, sniffed.
"Yes," he answered, twisting the lid back into place.
"Very good," the shopkeeper said from his perch atop the ladder. He climbed down lightly and folded the ladder up. "And you'll be wanting fresh belladonna? I've got some just trimmed." He led Severus around various shelves to the rear of the store; Severus stopped at the till while the shopkeeper disappeared through a doorway behind the counter. Moments later he re-emerged with a wide box of neat bundles.
"How much would you like?" he asked, resting the box on the countertop and sliding it nearer to Severus. "These are roughly twelve ounces a bunch."
Severus dipped a hand in and lifted out a few bunches. He separated the round berries from the leaves, rubbing them between his thumb and forefinger. The berries were a good size, firm; the leaves were sharp-edged and dark.
"High quality, as always," Severus said, plucking a round berry from its stem with a satisfactory snap. "Quite fresh."
"Thank you, Professor," the shopkeeper replied. "I do aim to please." He paused, and shifted behind the counter. "I do have more, sir, not yet cut and bundled…that is, if you'd prefer…"
Severus glanced up briefly, then gazed thoughtfully at the bunches in his hand, blooming, beautifully vibrant. He gave a nod and returned the belladonna to the box.
"Very well."
The shopkeeper promptly moved to raise the hinged portion of the counter, allowing Severus through. Severus followed him in to the lamplit store room. It was cramped, as usual, but tightly organized, with bold labels on every box that was squeezed between the walls. In one corner large potted delphins stood, some cuts already placed neatly inside their box. Near the entrance a narrow table was littered with belladonna leaves and berries. Some had rolled to the floor, beside a half-empty crate of potted belladonna plants.
Severus stooped to the crate of live belladonna and pulled forth a few leaves, breathing in the heady, nearly suffocating scent of vegetative matter condensing in the tiny room. The belladonna here was more brilliant than the boxed cuts Severus had seen; they were lush, their toxins vivid in the black-blue berries and the dark green striations streaking through each spiky leaf.
"These are remarkable," he murmured with his fingers around a berry, pressing until it could burst.
The shopkeeper knelt on the other side of the crate. "They are," he replied. Then he rocked forward on his knees, touching his mouth to Severus' acquiescent skin.