Chapter 12: The Forbidden Forest
With that he was gone once again like a retreating figment of their imaginations. Ivy turned to Osanna as they emerged onto the outside grounds.
"Looking forward to detention are you?" Ivy smirked.
Osanna flushed and attempted to downplay it. "No, why would I look forward to it...I mean..."
She glanced at Ivy, who was still smirking, not buying a word of it. Osanna sighed and threw up her hands.
"Fine, FINE in a way I guess I am...speaking of which, errrm, can I borrow your purple and black corset? The velvet one, and the fingerless, elbow length black vinyl gloves?"
"Wanting to look special are we? Of course..." Ivy said, however the jealousy that tinged her words was unmistakable..."I'll fix you up before you go...."
Osanna grinned; with Ivy's help she would look perfect, even if nothing happened she would catch his eye! "Don�t worry, I'll fix you up to"
Ivy began laughing insanely as she opened their door. "For WHOM? I have no one to impress but you dear!"
Back in the house they found it impossible to go back to sleep. Instead they used the time to plan the day�s activities, as it was Saturday there would be no lessons. However their plans for a nice walk to gather potion ingredients were destroyed by a thunderstorm that rolled in over the lake. They ran back to the house and steamed themselves in front of the warm fire in the kitchen. George came scattering in from outside and shook himself all over the women. Ivy threw a licorice wand over the other side of the room and he ran off to eat it.
�So,� Ivy settled down further into her armchair, �So far so good, we have a place to start on Dumbledore; some nice stuff to help us get rid of Narcissa; Percy Weasley out of the way and now you have a shot at Snape�
�And you with Draco hmmmm nice Ivy, I wonder what Lucius would have to say about that?� Osanna raised her eyebrows and shot her a playful look. Ivy threw a book at her.
A knock came at the door �Urhhh� Osanna so did not want to get up, she waved her wand towards the door, �Alohamora�. The door swung open to reveal a very wet Draco.
�Come over by the fire and get dry� Ivy fussed. He walked over and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. Ivy had been wearing a tight glittery white shirt when caught in the rain and it was completely see through. �What can we do for you?� Osanna handed him a hot cup of Blackberry Tea to ward off the cold.
�I heard about Percy Weasley and I�.� He faltered and Ivy jumped in. �I don�t think you have to worry about ANY of the Weasleys again�. Draco�s face lit up with understanding. After finishing his Tea he was ushered out by Osanna so she could get ready for tonight. As he was leaving he turned and asked �Miss Cariad, may I come over later to discuss a few problems I�m having? Only it�s to do with family and, well, I trust you�
�Of course you can Draco�
Later that evening, Osanna was dressed with a mix of their combined wardrobes. With her own black silk skirt, Ivy�s corset and gloves, her necklace of rubies and a pair of �Don�t Fuck With Me!� shoes. She shut the door behind her and George with a snort at Ivy�s �Make sure you have fun� parting comment.
Ivy glared at herself in the mirror; Osanna had turned her into some femme fatale. She narrowed her eyes at her own reflection, she most certainly was not used to looking like this. Her hair, now with emerald green streaks instead of pink was bound up in a complicated bun with small curls that fell on her cheeks. Her lips were unpainted in place of the harsh nearly black lipstick she always wore. Her eyelids were shimmering emerald green to match her streaks, and the rest of her face pallid porcelain as always. She wore a black and green velvet strapless corset, a black velvet skirt with a trail of lace that drug along behind her, and a pair of black vinyl boots. She thought she looked ridiculous. She frowned at her expression and rolled her eyes. Leave it to Osanna. What in the hell was she dressed up for anyway? She hadn�t anyone to impress...and THIS, well this was hardly impressive.
She stomped into the kitchen as loudly as possible, the boots making a loud noise, each step proclaiming her annoyance and distaste. She made herself a butterbeer, topping it off with whipped cream and butterscotch syrup. Perhaps it would prevent her from thinking too much, that was the last thing she needed right now.
Osanna made her way towards the school grounds; she was completely absorbed in her own thoughts when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She barely stopped herself from screaming as she turned on one booted heel. She found herself staring into Snape's eyes, her breath caught and she felt her heart flutter. She lost all train of thought for a moment, she wanted to speak, but the words hung heavy between her lips like lead.
"Errm, evening Severus!"
He smirked deliciously and nodded, his fingers still squeezing her shoulder. She froze, like a beautiful, fragile deer in headlights. She never seemed so frail and vulnerable around anyone else, even Ivy had only seen her like this precious few times, somehow Severus always managed to bring out this side of her. She was not entirely sure if she loved it or hated it.
He finally released her. "Good evening Osanna! Weasley should be along shortly, he knows better than to arrive late I believe!"
Osanna chuckled nervously and nodded. "One would think so, though I wouldn�t put it past him!"
Snape was about to respond, when Weasley came running up towards them, panting heavily. He shot Osanna a terribly nasty look, which she ignored; Snape caught it however and narrowed his eyes. "Desist with the glares Weasley or you'll be here for the next two weeks."
Weasley indeed stopped, he took the basket Snape handed him and the three set off into the forest.
"So Professor, what am I gathering?"
Snape smirked. "Screeching Spineflower." He tossed Weasley a pair of leather gloves. "Mind the spines on the stem, and wear these earmuffs so you aren�t deafened."
Weasley gulped and took the earmuffs, placing them around his neck.
"And I need Shimmering Starflowers." Osanna said to Ron.
Weasley only nodded. "We meet back here in a few hours then, right at the entrance, Weasley, you have any problems, send up red sparks and we will find you."
Ronald sighed and patted his earmuffs firmly onto his head and set off, Snape steered Osanna in the other direction. "So" Osanna said cheerfully, "Shall we do some gathering as well?"
Snape shook his head and straightened his robe. "I believe Weasley will do more than enough for both of us, I thought instead we could merely have a walk around the forest, there are after all many interesting things to be seen here."
Osanna's heart leapt into her throat and she managed to nod. "I suppose your right, let's do that." The prospect of being alone with Severus made her hands start trembling again and she hid them behind her back hoping he had not noticed, she felt like a schoolgirl all over again.