Damsels and Demons

Lucienna is balls deep in biscuit dough early the next morning when an utterly ancient house elf pops out of thin air right next to her, sending her ten feet up with a shriek.

“Kreacher can cook that, Miss Queen,” he croaks, attempting to shoo her away from the flour-coated counter.

“Oh, that’s alright, Kreacher,” Lucienna replies after regaining herself. “But I could use your help. Can you scramble some eggs in a bowl for me? Enough for everyone, please.”

“Yes, Miss Queen,” Kreacher says with a bob of his wrinkly head, vigorously setting to work next to her.

Lucienna was surprised to see a house elf in the nearly decrepit house— especially one who looked to be older than the house itself.

“What is Miss Queen making?” Kreacher asks after finishing the eggs. His large eyes curiously peer over the counter as she shapes dollops of dough onto a baking sheet.

“Biscuits. Well, American biscuits. Have you tried them before?”

He shakes his head, large ears flopping wildly. “No, Miss Queen.”

“Well, make sure you get some when they’re ready. I think you’ll like them,” She replies warmly, smiling as his cheeks tinge red.

“Can you make some coffee, Kreacher?” She requests as she slides the sheet into the oven.

“And tea, Miss Queen?”

“Right, yes. Thanks.”

Lucienna jumps as she spots Severus leaning against the doorway after turning from the oven. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Miss Queen,” he greets with a dramatic bow, smirking.“What on earth are you wearing?” He then asks, eyes roaming over her oversized, faded black band tee and boxers. “The Sex Pistols were a bit before your time, no?”

“They’re Sirius’s,” She shrugs, wiping her hands on the dish towel slung over her shoulder.

He scowls.

“I needed pajamas,” she explains defensively. “And it’s too drafty in this house to sleep naked,” She adds with a grin, catching the pink slashes on his cheeks before whirling back to the stove. “Now sit. Everything should be ready soon.”

Remus and Sirius walk into the kitchen just as Lucienna is setting everything on the table. She makes a plate for Kreacher with an extra biscuit and hands it to him with a wink. He quickly scurries off with it with a shy bob of his head.

“Making ourselves right at home, aren’t we,” Sirius remarks, eyeing the messy counter behind her.

Lucienna flicks her wand behind her with a silent scourgify, instantly clearing the mess. “Mhm,” she replies absently, pouring a cup of coffee as she slinks into a nearby chair.

“You vanished my dish towel,” Sirius frowns.

“Cleaning spells aren’t my strong suit,” She replies flippantly, smiling as Severus chuckles. “Now are y’all gonna eat or not?”

“Is there a reason you’re still skulking about, Severus?” Sirius asks as everyone begins filling their plates.

“He’s not skulking, I invited him.” Lucienna replies sharply.

“Veeeery comfortable,” Sirius grumbles under his breath, promptly yelping at the sharp elbow Remus throws at him.

“So what are you up to today?” Lucienna asks Severus, ignoring Sirius’s continued grumbling.

“I have a long list of potions to brew for the infirmary before the new term begins.”

“Need any help?”

“No,” He replies quickly. “I do not think it is wise for you to leave this house at the moment.”

Lucienna bristles at that but Remus interjects before she can refute. “You could use your lab here.”

Severus blinks. “I don’t have the proper ingredients here.”

“The floo is open,” Sirius provides.

Lucienna raises a challenging brow to Severus. He glares at the couple before eyeing Lucienna. “Are you even any good at brewing?”

“I was the top of my class at Salem,” She responds indignantly.

“I can’t fathom what merits top marks in a country that barely knows how to use the metric system.”

Lucienna laughs, quickly joined by Remus and Sirius.

“Fine,” Severus scowls. “Meet me downstairs in an hour.”

“Perfect!”

***

Severus tries not to fidget with the ingredients he’s laid out on the table as he waits for Lucienna in the basement. This is not exactly ideal; occasional banter with the girl is one thing— spending an entire afternoon together is another. He can’t deny that he is curious about her brewing abilities, though part of him hopes that she isn’t as adept as she claims.

Then I can end this nightmare early, he thinks smugly.

Or I could take the time to teach her… his traitorous thoughts add.

Severus glances down at the plainly wrapped parcel near his hand. He taps it gently with his wand and a green silk ribbon ties itself neatly around it.

He drums a finger against the table impatiently. Why is he so anxious about spending time with the witch? He tolerates her company well enough, yes, but he has better things to do with his time than babysit a novice brewer— he gets plenty of that at Hogwarts.

He flicks his wand and vanishes the ribbon from the parcel.

However, it is nice that someone would want to brew with him. Severus’s cheeks warm as he thinks of the fact that she seems to enjoy his presence. That’s not exactly a common experience for him. It’s… nice.

He sighs and taps the parcel again, replacing the ribbon.

You’re getting soft, old man, a part of him admonishes. It’s not like she currently has an array of company to choose from.

He scoffs to himself, about vanish the ribbon for good when the basement door bursts open and the very object of his vexation comes waltzing in before him.

Blast!

“Sorry I’m late,” she says apologetically. “Kreacher caught me and demanded I write down the recipe for the biscuits I made this morning.”

“That’s quite alright,” he answers, quickly straightening. He eyes her apparel once again— definitely not tempted to linger on her quite thin t-shirt and exposed legs— down to her thick wool socks hugging her lower calves and scowls. “You’re still wearing that?” He asks bitingly.

“I literally have no other clothes!” She exclaims, throwing her hands up. “Do you happen to have another frock coat in my size, sir?”

He purses his lips, fighting a grin despite his annoyance. “I suppose it will do,” he acquiesces. He flicks his wand and an apron flies across the room, hitting Lucienna square in the face. “Put that on,” he orders.

Lucienna let’s out an indignant huff before looping the apron over her head and tying it tightly around her waist. “And where is your apron?”

“At the cleaners,” he quips. He then steps closer, eyes fixed on the parcel between them. “Before we begin, I…” He hesitates, finally picking it up and offering the parcel to her. “…have something for you.”

“Oh,” she remarks softly, her eyes wide as she takes it from his outstretched hand. “Thank you.”

“It’s not a gift.”

“Obviously not, it has a ribbon,” she retorts sarcastically, running her fingers gently over the silk.

“It’s simply an essential.”

Lucienna gives a playful roll of her eyes and peels away the paper. She opens the box within to reveal a small, silver flask just slightly larger than her hand. “It’s beautiful,” she says genuinely, tracing the delicately engraved vines and roses along its surface. She looks up at him with a smile before arching a brow. “How did you know I was a lush?”

Severus rolls his eyes. “Open it.”

A familiar metallic scent fills her nose as she unscrews the cap. Her eyes narrow in a curious expression and she tips the flask to her lips, sipping tentatively as her eyes slip closed. Severus stands transfixed by the sight of a rosy flush spreading across her skin as it did the first time he watched her drink. He wonders if her eyes might change when she drinks and if that is why she closes them. Or perhaps it’s considered an intimate act for vampires? A vision of what bliss might look like in those mossy eyes of hers floods his mind before he quickly banishes it. He feels a flush of his own creeping up his face and wills it to desist before her eyes open again.

“It is charmed to refill,” he explains, swallowing hard as she meets his gaze.

“How—?”

Severus reaches across the table and sets a large crystal goblet between them. He then drags a wooden chest out from under the table. Cool air swirls out as he opens it. He pauses momentarily before gingerly placing a plastic bag of crimson liquid on the table.

“Whaaaat…” Lucienna gasps at the white label on the bag of blood, the enlarged letters AB blazing up at her.

“I understand this may not be your ideal method of sustenance,” He hastily continues, closing the chest and stuffing it back under the table. “But observe,” he orders before snipping off a corner of the bag with a pair of scissors and pouring its content into the goblet.

Lucienna watches wide-eyed as the the glass smoothly empties as if it were a funnel. She looks back to the flask in her hand as understanding dawns.

“Oh, that’s brilliant!” She exclaims, grasping his arm as she bounces on her feet. “How did you do that? It’s an extension charm, right? But how did you charm the glass? How did you connect it with the flask?” She rambles excitedly.

Severus chuckles, relieved and thoroughly surprised by her excitement. “It’s actually something I developed years ago. The charms themselves are quite simple. However, I did have to alter their traditional applications slightly. Perhaps I can show you my notes sometime.”

“I’d love that,” she says, clutching the flask close to her chest. “This is… very considerate of you. I appreciate it.”

Severus averts his gaze, a hint of pink coloring his high cheekbones. “It’s nothing. As I said, it is simply a necessity.”

Lucienna grins. She looks back down at the flask and examines its intricate design when an obvious question strikes her. “How did you get the blood?”

Severus turns to discard the empty bag and moves the goblet to the empty table on the other side of the room. “A squib I know who works at a muggle blood bank.”

“Convenient,” she notes under her breath. “And more than a bit mysterious,” she adds more loudly, eyeing him with a sly grin tugging at her lips. “Do you often have need of a blood supplier?”

“There are several potions that require non-magical human blood,” he replies dismissively, crossing his arms over his chest in an austere stance as he returns to stand before her.

“None that can be found in a textbook, Professor.” She replies pointedly, tilting her head as her eyes narrow.

Severus drags a hand down his mouth to stifle a smile before responding to her. “And what would you know of such potions?” He challenges with an attempted severe expression.

“Me?” Lucienna replies, raising her brows and placing a hand on her chest in feigned innocence. “Why, nothing at all, of course.”

“Hm,” Severus hums skeptically, his interest undoubtedly piqued by what knowledge the girl might have in… unconventional potion-making. But perhaps that is a topic best left alone— for now. Rather than question her further, he turns to face the table and begins placing various ingredients near a cutting board before him. “Come now, I haven’t got all day. Do you know how to make Pepper-Up?”

“Of course,” Lucienna responds, taking his cue and stepping up to the workstation he’s clearly prepared for her next to his own. She ties her hair back with the ribbon from her not-gift and gets to work.

Severus and Lucienna work peacefully together as the afternoon passes. He is pleasantly surprised by how efficiently the young witch works and wonders how well she would fare with more difficult potions. Lucienna questions him here and there when she notices his deviations from the typical recipes and commits his every explanation to memory. Potions has always been her favorite subject and she feels a thrill of excitement at the opportunity to learn so closely from someone who is clearly exceptionally skilled in the craft.

They had made significant headway on the list of potions for the infirmary when Severus finally calls the session to an end and they make quick work of cleaning up. 

Severus sets a jar on the table near Lucienna as she removes her apron. “For your scars,” he says. “Though I doubt they will fade entirely.”

“Thank you,” she replies, gathering the jar and her new flask. “If you ever want help again, my schedule is pretty open.”

“Your brewing wasn’t terrible,” he admits, smirking as Lucienna rolls her eyes. “I do appreciate your help.” He adds genuinely.

“I’m glad.” She replies, smiling brightly up at him.

Severus clears his throat and gives a stiff nod in dismissal. But instead of turning to leave, she begins fidgeting with the items in her hands, her recent smile now gone. Severus is perplexed by the sudden trepidation in her gaze.“Is there something else?” He asks.

Lucienna drops her eyes and glances down to her hands. Severus’s eyes flit down to her bottom lip now captured between her teeth. Without thinking, he steps closer and raises her chin to meet her troubled gaze, his thumb pulling gently at her chin for her to release her lip.

“Miss Fayne,” He implores softly.

“I— I hate to ask any more of you,” she finally begins, her heart drumming wildly at his unexpected touch. She stands stock-still as she looks up into his dark eyes, fighting the strong temptation to lean into him. “But I really need to get my things from my old dorm at Salem. Soon.” She draws a sharp breath to steel herself but his scent fills her nose, doing nothing for her nerves other than thoroughly shredding them. “And— well, would you come with me?”

Severus didn’t know what he was expecting, but it wasn’t this. He wonders briefly at her anxiety— Was she simply this nervous to ask him for help or is she fearful of returning to her old school? Another question of how exactly they came to be standing so closely stabs his thoughts and he quickly drops his hand, eyes flitting briefly to her mouth and then back to her eyes before taking a decisive step back.

“I’ll make the proper arrangements,” he answers stiffly.

Lucienna blinks rapidly as if coming out of a deep fog, slightly reeling at his sudden change in demeanor. “Right. Thank you,” She finally nods. “Well, I’ll see you later then,” She adds with an awkward wave of her hand and promptly scurries out of the basement.

Lucienna swiftly makes her way to her room upstairs, very much needing a few moments alone before dinner. Was it just her imagination or had there been a moment with Severus just then? And when he gently touched her face, was that glint of… something in his eye— she dares not call it desire— simply a trick of the light? For a brief moment, he seemed just as shocked by his actions as she had, jerking away from her as if she had burned him. But his reaction is possibly more perplexing than his sudden intimacy— if there’s one thing she has observed about Severus, it is that he is a staunchly intentional and disciplined man.

Lucienna shakes her head. Perhaps he was simply responding to her distress.

Yes, that’s it, She tells herself, somewhat crestfallen by the thought.

She had been nervous to ask him for his assistance, but was more concerned about what she might run into when she revisits her old dorm— or rather, who. She wonders if she ought to mention something to Severus before their trip, or attempt to explain the rather curious artifact she is most desperate to retrieve that he is sure to take notice of. However, the mere thought of doing so fills her with a heavy dread.

Lucienna dives into her bed headfirst with a loud sigh.

That problem can wait a day… or maybe two.