Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Lost and Found	By : TheLibrarian Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 3257 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all his friends (and enemies) are the brain-child of J.K.
Rowling. I�m just borrowing them. Exclusive ownership belongs to JKR, Arthur A.
Levine Books and Scholastic Inc. Jane Sinclair and all additional characters
belong to me. You belong to yourself.

A/N: Wow!
I never thought my story would last to, or even past, Chapter 13. Champagne
for all my faithful readers!

A little
warning, I�m going to take a little break to revise the grammar in several
chapters and to outline the rest of the story. No, I don�t have writer�s block �
I�ve just reached the end of my initial outline/draft. That is, I do have
the very last chapter already drafted, but not the remaining ones that�ll get
us there. I myself am curious to see how the story develops. So, please check
back often � I don�t expect to take longer than a week, 10 days max.

***

He deals the cards to find the answer

The sacred geometry of chance

The hidden law of a probable outcome

The numbers lead a dance

Shape Of My Heart, Sting

Chapter
Fourteen � Questions and Answers

Severus was
late for breakfast. Jane had already finished her toast and was lingering over
tea, when he finally showed up. Remus had just leaned over and whispered
something into her ear, when Severus strode into the Great Hall. The blood
rushed to her head, and a loud droning noise filled her ears. She didn�t hear
one word her friend said. All she could think of was Severus, and the many,
many things they had done last night. When Jane had left him this morning, he
had still been fast asleep, tangled in the bed sheets. She had stood by the bed
and watched him, this man she loved. In sleep, his face had lost much of its
harshness. He had looked younger, more vulnerable, and very, very dear. But
now, Jane reflected sadly, he wore his usual mask of indifference. She sighed.

He took his
regular seat and lounged back. His face was unreadable, revealing nothing of
the physical exertion and emotional rollercoaster he had experienced the night
before. Severus did not eat, merely played with crystal goblet in front of him,
while he thoughtfully watched Jane and Remus at the other end of the table.
Remus noticed his stare and prodded Jane, startling her out of her reverie.

�Hm?� She still wasn�t paying
attention.

�What�s
wrong with Severus?� Remus asked her curiously.

Jane took a
hasty sip of her tea. �What do you mean?� she mumbled into her tea cup.

�He isn�t
scowling or looking menacingly in any way.�

�I don�t
know.� Jane shrugged, not meeting his gaze.

�Somehow I
think you do.�

�Oh, well,�
she sighed. �I took your advice and talked to him.�

His eyebrows
shot up in disbelief. �You didn�t?!�

Jane nodded.
�I did.�

�Was that before
or after he dragged you all over Hogwarts?�

�Oh.� Jane
shrunk back even more. �You�ve heard.�

�The whole
school has been buzzing with the most outlandish rumors. You actually
disappointed many students by showing up this morning, alive and well.�

Jane allowed
herself a small smile. �I�m touched by their concern.�

Remus
chuckled. �So, what did you say to him?�

�Why?�

�Because he�s
looking at us, and he isn�t glowering.�

�Well,� Jane
hedged, �I simply set him straight.�

�What
gumption.�

�Well, I
just had enough, and� and I told him so.�

Remus
watched his friend, and the faint blush gracing her face told him that there
was much more to the story than she let on. He could guess what had happened,
but he wasn�t going to pressure her for details � yet. Jane was a grown woman
with a sensible head on her shoulders, but he didn�t want to see her get hurt.
He threw a speculative glance at Severus and stroked his chin. Yes, he would
keep an eye on Severus � at least, until he could be sure that he was treating
Jane right.

***

�You left
this morning, without waking me.�

Jane jumped,
startled by his sudden appearance. �Severus,� she exclaimed, �I wasn�t
expecting you.�

�I know,� he
drawled smoothly, stepping into her office and shutting the door behind him.

�What can I
do for you, Severus?� Jane asked him, disconcerted by the fiery glint in his
eyes.

�You left
this morning,� he repeated with deceptive calmness, �without waking me.�

�You were
fast asleep, Severus. I didn�t have the heart to wake you.�

�You left.�
He sounded hurt and accusatory, and she recalled her promise to him.

�Surely,
Severus,� Jane began to rationalize, �you didn�t think I�d left for good?�

He didn�t
answer, but his telltale flush betrayed him.

�You did,�
Jane exclaimed incredulously.

�Well, what
was I to think,� he snapped back. �I woke up and you were gone!�

�But I had
to change and get ready for classes, Severus.�

�You could
have left a note,� he mumbled sullenly.

�Severus,�
Jane sighed, �you must learn to trust me� at least, a little.�

�I�m trying,
Jane, but��

She smiled. �That�s
a start, Severus.�

He nodded
quietly, not meeting her eyes. His gaze fell on the papers on her desk. �What
are you working on?�

Jane looked
at the note she�d been composing. He moved to stand behind her chair, leaning
over her shoulder. She lifted her head and found herself staring at his throat.
His masculine scent mixed with some herbal essence filled her nostrils, clouding
her senses, and she longed to kiss the spot next to his Adam�s apple, just
above his prim collar. The images of last night assaulted her mind, and Jane
had to consciously stop herself from drooling. Severus noticed her response to
his presence and was oddly pleased with himself.

�So, what is
all this?� he asked her again.

�Well�� Jane
swallowed, quickly composing herself. �Yesterday evening, you said something
about Dumbledore having his own agenda, and it triggered something in my mind.
When I came to Hogwarts last autumn, McGonagall had hinted that Dumbledore
believed I was vital in the fight against Voldemort.
She gave me this stack of papers, his research, so I might find out what he
actually had in mind. I haven�t had a chance, yet, to study them more
thoroughly.� She handed him a piece of parchment. �I can�t make any sense of
what I�ve read so far, Severus, but one name keeps popping up. Sibyll Trelawney. Anyway, I was just writing
her a note.�

Severus
nodded. �I don�t know how much help that old bat will be. Even in her most
lucid moments, she�s pretty hazy.�

Jane looked
at him hopefully. �I don�t suppose you could use Legilimency
on her?�

�No.� His
mouth twisted in distaste. �Her mind is so muddled and vague� I would have to
fear for my sanity. Besides�� He shrugged. �It wouldn�t be exactly legal.�

She grinned.
�As if that would stop you��

He grimaced.
�I do have some integrity.�

�So, you will
come with me?�

�Of course.�

***

�Ah,� a hazy
voice greeted Jane, as she entered Trelawney�s tower room that evening.
�Professor Sinclair�� Trelawney�s eyes fell on a glowering Severus, who strode
in after Jane, and she visibly started. ��and, erm, Professor Snape?�

His presence
obviously disconcerted her. She began to fidget with one of the many strands of
beads wrapped around her neck. �Erm, won�t you two, erm� come in?�

Severus
looked about him with unconcealed horror, and Jane suppressed a giggle. The
saccharine feminine d�cor, with its frilly throws, lace doilies, flowery prints
and oriental seat cushions, was rather overwhelming.

�Courage,� she
whispered into his ear.

He rolled
his eyes with forced patience. �This better be worth it,� he ground out through
clenched teeth.

She pinched
his arm. �I�ll make it up to you.�

Severus
stared down at her, an eyebrow arched, interest sparking in his eyes. �Will
you, now?�

Jane smirked
suggestively. �You�ll just have to wait and see.�

She left him
with that and joined Professor Trelawney at a cluttered coffee table. Severus followed
her, scowling darkly when he realized that they would have to sit on the floor.
Wrapping his robes about him with an impatient jerk, he folded his legs under
him, and sank onto a garish cushion that looked like it came from a harem.

Professor
Trelawney watched him apprehensively, her myopic eyes wider than usual. �Well, erm�� she eventually addressed Jane, her voice quavering
slightly. �To what do I owe the�� She quickly glanced at Severus. �erm, pleasure?�

�Professor
Trelawney,� Jane began, �I don�t know where to start��

Trelawney
pointed a trembling finger into the air. Her other hand flew to her forehead in
an affected gesture. �No, don�t tell me,� she declared, closing her eyes. �I
can sense it� Yes, I can see it now� A June wedding!�

Jane gave a
shocked gasp and Severus scoffed disgustedly. Trelawney opened one eye and
peeked at them. �Erm,
that wasn�t what you wanted to hear?�

�No,�
Severus growled menacingly.

Trelawney�s
hand shot to her throat, fingering her pearls. �I, erm,
well, I thought� oh dear, oh dear��

�Professor
Trelawney,� Jane interjected, �we are here because we think you might be able
to help us with a rather baffling problem.�

�A problem?� Trelawney echoed vaguely.

�Yes.� Jane
nodded. �Before his death, Professor Dumbledore had been looking into ways to
defeat Voldemort��

�Do not say
his name, Professor!� Trelawney fanned her shocked face.

�Um, yes,�
Jane conceded. �Well, anyway, Dumbledore was convinced that I somehow played a
key role in this madness, and I�ve been studying the papers he left behind. He
has mentioned you several times, Professor Trelawney. That�s why we�re
here.�

The
Divination professor blinked a few times. �Oh dear, oh dear,� she said again.

�What do you
know, Sibyll?� Severus growled.

�Well,� she said,
�Albus may have been referring to a vision I had, erm��

�Yes?�
Severus kept staring at her until her nose twitched like a frightened rabbit�s.

�I� I think
I better show you.�

With a flick
of her wand, she cleared the table in front of her and summoned her crystal
ball.

�I don�t
have a Pensieve,� she apologized, �but this will do
the trick.�

Trelawney
scrunched up her face, thinking back, before she placed her wand against her
temple and extracted the relevant memory. She touched the wand to the crystal
ball, which began to fill with swirling silvery mist. Waving her hand over the
orb, she agitated the mist until images began to form in it.

�Look inside,�
she invited them.

Jane and
Severus leaned closer.

�So, Sibyll,� Dumbledore asked pleasantly between sips of tea,
�I trust you�ve recovered sufficiently over the summer to resume teaching?�

She
looked at him, her eyes narrowing briefly. �No one ever truly recovers from
such indignities as I was forced to suffer at the hands of that Umbridge woman,� she declared self-righteously.

Dumbledore
nodded indulgently, but didn�t comment.

�Will you
be able to teach?� he asked her again, once she calmed down.

�Of
course, Albus,� Sibyll
Trelawney announced. �Just try and stop me!�

Dumbledore
chuckled. �I wouldn�t dare, Sibyll.�

Suddenly,
a movement in the crystal ball on the table next to him caught his attention.
He leaned closer and peered into the swirling mist. It changed colors, shifted
shapes, until it finally revealed two figures. The mist dissolved slowly and
the images became clearer. A man appeared, bearing an uncanny resemblance to
Severus Snape. Dumbledore frowned, fearful of what would come next. To his
surprise, however, the other shape turned into a lovely young woman, who looked
vaguely familiar. He searched the recesses of his mind, hoping to recall her identity.
The woman turned her head, and her moss green eyes triggered his memory. He had
only ever met one person with such memorable eyes. Clara Fenton. In the crystal
ball, the two figures came together in a tender kiss.

�Sibyll,� Dumbledore exclaimed, �did you see that?�

He turned
to the woman seated across from him and started. Sibyll
Trelawney was convulsing violently in her chair. Her eyes had rolled in their
orbits and only the whites were visible. Her mouth hung open and she moaned
hoarsely.

�The
outcast will wear the hero�s laurels,� she announced in an unearthly voice. �Souls
that were lost will find each other and do great things together. The snake and
the raven��

She gave
another violent jerk and her eyes rolled back into their normal position. She
blinked furiously.

�Albus,� she asked shakily, �what happened?�

�You had
a vision Sibyll,� he told her gently.

�Really? I don�t
remember.�

�It was
strange,� Dumbledore mused. �While it was happening, an image formed in the
crystal ball. Sibyll, I was wondering� would you mind
reading the cards for me?�

Trelawney
was flattered. �Of course, Albus.�

She
summoned her cards and made an elaborate show of shuffling them. Dumbledore
began to impatiently rap his fingers until she finally laid out the first card.
It showed a man walking through the desert towards an oasis far off in the
distance. However, with each step he took, the oasis moved further against the
horizon. As the man approached, his face slowly took on the features of Severus
Snape.

�The
Hermit,� she said, and Dumbledore nodded.

Trelawney
laid out the second card. It depicted the entwined nude bodies of a man and a
woman making love. They resembled Severus and Clara. A raven flew over them and
a snake slithered across the bottom of the card.

�The
Lovers,� she said unnecessarily. She looked closer at the writhing
couple and blushed. �He, erm, will find salvation.�

Dumbledore
began to tap one long finger against his lips, deep in thought.

Trelawney
reluctantly pulled herself away from the lovers and placed the last card onto
the table and quickly withdrew her hand, as though she�d burnt herself.

�The Reaper,�
she hissed, looking at the dark hooded specter floating through the night
leaving mangled bodies in his wake. The hood fell to his shoulders, revealing a
grinning pale face with reptilian features and evil red eyes.

Dumbledore
started also and quickly turned the card over onto its face. �Voldemort,� he whispered darkly.

Sibyll met his gaze, her eyes wide with horror.
�I see death.�

***

Jane and
Severus sat silently across from each other in his sitting room. They hadn�t
spoken a word to each other since leaving the Divination teacher over an hour
ago.

�Oh, this is
ridiculous!� Jane finally broke the silence. �You are not going
to die!�

He looked at
her, expressionless.

�Really,
Severus,� she scolded him. �You can�t honestly believe that!�

He frowned.
�All the signs��

�No, Severus,�
Jane cut him off. �We decide our own destiny. By all rights, I
should be dead by now. I was thrust into the Muggle
world without a real clue of what to expect. What I was taught at Hogwarts was
antiquated information��

�That is not
the same,� he interrupted her.

�I had no
money, no talents, no work experience. I was helpless
and clueless. I slept on the streets and in condemned buildings for over a year!
I should not be alive. But I am the person you see before you today,
because I didn�t give up, Severus. I did not meekly give in to the destiny the Wizengamot had determined for me. All those signs�� She
waved her arms furiously through the air. �Those signs only tell you what will
happen, if you don�t do anything about it, if you simply give in. So, for the
last time, you are not going to die!�

�That is not
what I am afraid of,� he said quietly.

�What,
then?� Jane looked at him in confusion. Suddenly realization hit her. She
kneeled down beside him and placed her hand comfortingly on his arm. �You�re
worried about me, aren�t you?�

He nodded
curtly, unable to meet her gaze. Her fingers squeezed his arm. �Nothing is
going to happen to me, Severus,� she told him gently.

He grabbed
her by the shoulders. �How do you know, Jane? Huh? Tell me, how do you know?�

She cupped
his face between her hands. �Because I have you to
protect me.�

Severus
stared into her trusting eyes and a pang of guilt surged through him. If his dreams and Trelawney�s visions were any indication, he
wouldn�t survive the final battle. True, there was a small chance that Jane
could be harmed, but in his heart he knew differently. They had no future
together. There would be no happily ever after. And yet, it was
impossible for him to let her go, now that they had shared each other. There
was no turning back. All he could do was enjoy this wondrous gift he had been
given and, while it lasted, take as much joy and pleasure from it as he could.

�Yes,� he promised her, leaning his forehead against hers,
�I�ll protect you.�

***

�Severus?�

�What?�

They were
lying in his bed, reveling in the afterglow of their lovemaking.

Jane propped
herself on an elbow. �When I came to you on Christmas Eve, you already knew
you�d be going to Azkaban. Last night you said everything had been arranged��

Severus
flopped onto his back and tucked his hands under his head. He stared at the
ceiling as he searched for the right words.

�I was
summoned to the Dark Lord in early December. He knew that Dumbledore had been
looking for you, and he� well, he wanted me to deliver you to him.� He
swallowed convulsively. �I couldn�t let that happen.�

Jane reached
across his chest and snuggled against him, resting her head on his shoulder. �So
you sacrificed yourself.�

�Not
really.�

She raised
her head and looked at him, her eyes brilliant with love and adoration. �You
went to Azkaban, so you couldn�t fulfill the Dark Lord�s orders and I would be
safe. You are a gentleman.�

Severus
scoffed. �Hardly.�

�You are,�
she insisted, tightening her arms around him. �You did something noble. You
can�t deny it. You�re my knight in shining armor�� Jane smiled mischievously.
�Well, my knight in austere black robes, in any case.�

Severus
chuckled, and the low rumble in his chest was music to her ears. �I don�t think
I�ve ever heard you laugh,� she told him.

He looked at
her meaningfully. �I�ve never really had any reason to laugh, Jane. I�ve never
truly been happy� Until now.�

�I�m glad,
Severus.� Jane kissed his chest just over his heart. �I�m glad I could bring
you some happiness.�

He brought
his arms around her, drawing her close. �You�ve made me very happy.�

She
continued to place butterfly kisses across his chest. Severus groaned when her
lips brushed over one of his nipples. He could feel her smile against his skin,
before her tongue flicked over his nipple again, teasing it. Jane licked and
nipped until Severus was ready to come off the bed. She planted a trail of
kisses to his other nipple and gave it her full attention.

�Jane,�
Severus groaned hoarsely. �You better be ready to finish what you start.�

She looked
up, and, grinning naughtily, climbed on top of him. Leaning forward, she kissed him passionately,
lazily tracing his lips with her tongue. Another growl rumbled in his throat.
Jane wriggled her bottom against his growing erection, and his hips thrust
against her. She grinned again and sat back. A disappointed expression crossed
his face.

�Jane?�

With her
index finger, she traced lazy circles on his chest. �You haven�t told me, yet,
how you got out of Azkaban.�

Severus
stared at her incredulously. �You�re not serious,� he barked impatiently. �You
want to know that now?!� Again, he bucked beneath her.

�I need to
know, Severus. Are we in danger?�

He sighed. �Probably.� His hands snuck to her hips and tried to
reposition her.

�Did Voldemort arrange for your release?�

�Probably,�
he said again, shifting slightly. �I wouldn�t put it past him.�

�How did he
do it? Did he put an Imperius Curse on Rathbone, making him confess, so you could go free?�

�Well��
Severus thought for a moment. �Knowing Rathbone, he
didn�t volunteer. But my guess is as good as yours. Now�� He shifted again,
rubbing his erection against her buttocks. �Can we get back to more pleasant
things?�

Jane
frowned. �So, he�s still after me? After us?�

�Probably. But don�t worry�� Quick as lightning, Severus
flipped her onto her back and hovered over her. �I won�t let anything happen to
you.�

Jane looked
up into his dear face, creased with worry for her, and she caressed his cheek.
�And I won�t let anything happen to you,� she promised him.

�Good,� he
said gruffly, �now that that�s settled, let�s get back to the business
at hand.�

She slid her
hand along his side, over his abdomen, and to the straining arousal between his
legs. She wrapped her fingers around his warm length and squeezed gently.

�That�s right,� he groaned and bent down to kiss her.

===

Lost and
Found � 2005 by MMHG

===
- 13
- 14
- 15
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Lost and Found