Love is merely a madness {Vitae and Snape}

[Eirlys Vitae]

A raging fire at the stone fireplace, decorated with ancient runes, that night reflected her mood. Flames were reverberating in her blue eyes, which were set on a single object, but the mind of hers was obviously wandering somewhere outside of the room which now, during the great blast of emotion, to Medora seemed small, worthless, ill and at some point depressive. Fingers on both hands remained clenched tightly into fists,her whole tiny and slender frame was engaged into trembling, and a second later she got up to her feet, beginning to stroll around the cabinet hastily. Medora could already sense the taste of embarrassment she was willingly accepting just to keep up with her researches... Researches which could not be finished unless she had herself indulged and trusted by the staff of Hogwarts.

The Ministry of Magic was almost a place she lived at - who didn't know the charming Medora Burke from the department of Mysteries! Indeed, for the most it was a mystery why daughter of a shop keeper, instead of taking over his business, had chosen a life in the depths of the Ministry... Nearly from the day she's been accepted, Medora began working with an enthusiasm which could only be envied, and her co-workers were more than glad to receive a young energetic spirit at their facility... But suspicions about this woman's true intentions appeared after she's got carried away to the rate of her making researches and experiments through the nights for a week, or sometimes two! And now, at the age of thirty-three, having a good reputation and salary, Medora swapped her important work to the post of a nurse at Hogwarts.


The first morning at her new work was terrible - Medora overslept the breakfast, because of getting herself the finest of the looks got late to the hospital wing,was personally yelled at by McGonagall for her 'inappropriate appearance' (Medora snorted here, puling her short dress down a little.), and had to deal with imbeciles who had no ideas how to use their wands and now were suffering because of fast growing nose hair. Her mood didn't get any better afterwards too, as right after the lunch Medora was introduced to a big package of students who were vomiting worms due their 'friends' hexed their meals. The dinner, again, Medora had to skip, as she took a short nap on one of the beds at her working area, causing McGonagall only more rage as she walked into her sleeping. The last student disappeared only after the midnight, and now the new nurse could have taken a rest... With a book in her hand.

Silently locking the door after herself, Medora began her journey through the halls filled with the moonlight, shortcuts hidden by sleepy portraits that did not thank her for waking them up, through the castle which was already dreaming and expecting tomorrow to be a better day. Castle seemed to be alive, to be one big creature, with it's own secrets, feelings and sorrows. This castle was always intriguing Medora...Maybe because of all the magic kept here through the years? She couldn't tell...It was just an affection to her past school, nothing but love to the memories it gave her. Her steps echoed in empty halls, and her heels mercilessly hit the ground - only a few steps away from the library, when passing Flitwick's cabinet, Medora got on her toes to not be heard. And so she took the very last step, reaching her destination.

Library at the night time, Medora had to admit, looked even more stunning - like a labyrinth where Minotaur was awaiting for his prey, and excited she's began passing shelves filled with ancient wisdom. Soon she stopped at the near end of the restricted part, and took a book she's marked at the day time when grasping a small amount of free time - Medora's heartbeat increased as her fingers slid down the back of the book, and she slowly opened it, thirsty for the knowledge it was about to pour.

 

[AlphaWolfQuin]

The beginning of the school year was always the most hectic time of the year at Hogwarts and Severus tried his best to stay out of the way and this year was no different. The man sat in his office going through paperwork and setting up his lessons for the first week, McGonagall had told him to make his appearance at some point during the day so that they could discuss a few things but Severus of course didn't show causing the old witch to come find him. McGonagall had given him his job as Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher after his return to the school, she knew that he loved the position and after the hell he had been put through it was the least she could do for him. Severus brought one of his hands up to touch his neck and feel the scars from the snake bites that he had received from Nagini in the shrieking shack when Voldemort sent her after him. If it weren't for Hermione Granger's brilliance Severus knew he wouldn't be alive.

When the night finally came Severus got up and organized everything he had been working on then put it away, it was time to do his rounds and make sure there were no students out of bed. Part of him really enjoyed this part of the night especially when he caught students roaming around, the looks on their faces, the fear and utter terror in their eyes made him laugh to himself. Although things calmed a little bit after people found out that he had been protecting Harry Potter while lying to one of the most powerful dark wizards in the world, some of the students looked up to him for it and it made him just shake his head, he was never one to like attention and he had gotten a lot more of it lately then he wanted.

His footsteps echoed down the hallways of the school's and he could hear a few of the teachers in the staff lounge as he passed by. "Get to your dorm Ms.Avery, 10 points from Ravenclaw" ,he stated coldly as he passed a blonde second year who had a knack for being out of bed after hours. "If you're still here when I return you'll be serving detention with Filch" ,he continued as he got further away. As Severus made his way to the library he kept his eyes open for any other students that were out of bed, the man must've deducted fifty house points altogether. When he got to the library he opened the doors and walked in his wand pointed out with a light radiating off the tip of it. He could hear something in the restricted section and a smirk came across his face, if there was a student in there then that meant double problems for them, one punishment for being out of bed and another for being in the restricted session of the library.

Severus quieted his footsteps, "Nox" ,he whispered turning the light off that was at the tip of his wand. When he rounded the corner and seen the woman standing there he was curious, "Lumos" ,he stated quietly as he pointed his wand directly at the woman. The light from his wand was bright and probably annoyed the woman but Severus didn't care, "Ms.Burke, what brings you to the restricted section of the library at this hour of the night? You know people may get curious if they found out you've been snooping around in this particular section, may I ask what book you're reading?" ,Severus asked right before pointing his wand down at the book she had in her hands.

 

[Eirlys Vitae]

Medora's whole body nearly trembled at the pleasure receiving knowledge was giving her - she could even relate it to sexual excitement, since information which was dwelling in ancient books was always making her heart to skip a beat. Even her breathing became heavier as blue eyes scanned the pages that contained more than anyone could ever tell orally... Yes, this woman was mad at some point, especially when it came to the matter of books - being an advanced reader she was reading fast and saving up information, too, so a single book, usually medium thickness, was taking her merely 20 minutes. Yet, the wisdom Medora was sucking out of it remained in her well trained mind for a long time, giving an option of using this knowledge in practice some time later, and it was the main secret of her success. After finishing the book, Medora no longer felt the same passion to it, and simply dropped it on the floor, immediately grabbing a new one to savor.

She leaned back, pressing her body against the wall and then slowly sliding down to place herself into sitting position, as even her legs were shaking because of what feelings books were giving her. For a second Medora closed her eyes, attempting to control her breathing which was now getting out of control, giving a possibility for someone to catch her here - a perfect final of her day it would be! Getting a job, messing up, being caught and then losing a job! This scenario did not please her at all, and she understood well she had to be very careful with it, even if her body's reaction was natural. Medora's lips formed into sneer as she realized how it would sound for somebody who didn't see her - she could bet they would relate it to sounds of masturbation...Which, at some point, would be true...

Finally getting herself together, and calming nearly escaping her lips moans, Medora returned to what she came here for, though her heart remained beating as fast as it did before. Did she fear getting caught? Of course, not. She was a staff member now, and it was her personal business if she wanted to stay awake or not - however Medora didn't feel like answering any questions of others. She always hated questions as there were too many of them she had to answer and was thrilled to - while those simple ones, caused by personal curiosity, were driving her to near madness and were causing aggression. Also, in her opinion, to each question person had, he had to find an answer himself, be it about his own life or someone else's. If a human can raise a question, means he may answer it, too - this is what she always believed.

Even though after years at the department of Mystery, where the most dangerous secrets of magic laid and where she was always surrounded by darkness, all of Medora's senses had developed, reading was taking them away, and so she was ignoring everything what was going on around - this is why she didn't hear steps of Severus, which in any other situation would reach her ear immediately. Medora only reacted when the light pouring out of his wand blinded her - and she eventually jumped up on her feet. She narrowed eyes, as the light was hurting them, and blinked for a bit, trying to understand what's going on... But it didn't take long to get back to her senses. Medora's face soon shined with a smirk, and she dropped the book on the ground - just like always, she was not intending to answer any questions. Instead she took a step in, her arms suddenly appearing wrapped around his neck, as she stood on her toes and placed a quick kiss over his lips, then sliding down a bit and resting head on his shoulder.

"I was working all day long... I trust I deserve to have some time for myself... But since it's both of us here now, we can make it enjoyable for two as well, hmm?"

 

[AlphaWolfQuin]

The reaction Severus got from the woman was unexpected and he really didn't know what to think of it, should he give in?, should he report her to McGonagall?, or should he just forget it ever happened and walk away. After a few moments of thinking Severus grabbed the woman's hands and removed them from his body then took a few steps back so that they were no longer touching each other. "Ms.Burke, while I do understand the fact that you were working all day long I do not approve of this behavior you are displaying, yes you deserve some time by yourself but I think it would be wise if you took that time in your own quarters" ,Severus began giving her a very stern look. "Also you may want to consider playing a little harder to get, we don't need you acting like a harlot while you're in a teaching position here". With that Severus turned on his heels and walked off making his way out of the library.

To say that he wasn't attracted to the woman would be a lie, she was a very beautiful woman but he would not stand for the behavior she had just displayed and even though it had been years he still had feelings for Lily Evans and he still couldn't bring himself to even try to be with another woman even if it was just a quick one time thing. As Severus walked he again kept his eyes opened for any students wandering the halls, he did one last check of everything then made his way back to his quarters. When he got into his quarters he disrobed then climbed into his bed and closed his eyes to drift off to sleep.

The next morning came rather quickly and Severus knew it was because he had stayed up too late monitoring the halls, he climbed out of bed and walked over to his cupboard and grabbed a potion that would keep him awake and prevent drowsiness. He drank it then made his way into the bathroom to take a shower, when he was finished he got dressed and made his way to the Great Hall for breakfast. When he got there he took his seat next to McGonagall and began to make his plate, his eyes scanning the room to make sure no students were screwing around he was also looking to see if Ms.Burke would show up this time or if she was still sleeping like she had been the day before.

 

[Eirlys Vitae]

Medora listened to his lecture with her teeth sank into her bottom lip, but the look in her eyes was telling it wasn't as much as for expressing guilt as it was for holding back a wild smirk. Department of Mystery had a fine folder of files concerning this man, and so Medora knew a way how to get rid of him... Considering that his undying feelings for Lily Evans were widely described at the Daily Prophet. She wasn't as loose as wanted him to see her, actually she was one of those women who required people to do miracles if they were intending to get into her knickers, but as long as it served as a weapon, Medora was eager to rely on the image of what people call 'sluts'. She didn't answer him anything, as just like him she wasn't a big talker unless environment required her to be - she was rather eager to watch and listen, analyze people, spotting out their weaknesses and then manipulating their minds. Medora was twisted and sly, always getting what she wanted even by using the most desperate of methods... But on her way to her goal not even death was final, and she never avoided things making others scream in fright.

As he left, she returned back to reading, with a victorious smile now - at some point it was his defeat, and it was Severus who was forced to leave, not her. But quickly those thoughts were gone as Medora dived into the world of knowledge again, forgetting the one she resided in. She couldn't tell how much time passed before she took her pocket-watch out and saw it was four AM already - a heavy sigh escaped her lips as she placed all the books to where they belonged, and departed back to her chamber to receive those fair three hours of sleep she required to avoid the dark circles under her eyes. Medora never denied herself being attractive, but even she followed some rules to keep her beauty as clearly understood it not going to last forever.

Just like always her sleep was restless - nightmares about the past were haunting her, and all the broken promises were reminded - and then she was burning alive for being a witch, her nails were being pulled out, or she was drowned in a sack with a cat which was tearing her body apart... Then the episode changed to Procrustean bed where she laid, feeling how her muscles teared, and a bucket with a trapped rat appeared over her stomach - soon the heated metal began burning her skin, and the rat began digging it's way out through her stomach. Just like every morning Medora woke up with a brief scream, wet with cold sweat, and no longer caring about the time nearly crawled to the shower in order to refresh her thoughts - Medora was a pureblood, but she was sure even other heirs of clean families did not posses that curse - the most terrifying memories of her ancestors were alive in her, endlessly remind of a mission she had...But Medora still didn't know what kind of a mission it was - those nightmares where what led her to department of Mysteries, and the same nightmares caused her stay at Hogwarts.

Even if she had time, after shower Medora decided not to attend breakfast. She did not feel like facing anyone, not now. Mornings were definitely the worst time of a day to approach her, and she didn't want to say or do something she might regret later - and so her breakfast was a cup of black tea and a plate of chocolate. Tying hair into tight bun, Medora immersed a piece of chocolate into nearly boiling water, allowing it to melt before putting it into her mouth - that was a foolish habit she had left from a childhood tea-parties with her long dead grandmother. Happily to her, multi-tasking could be Medora's second name, as if she did every of her beauty procedures separately, she'd be done by evening - now, however, it took about twenty minutes, and soon, just in time, she stood next to the entrance to hospital, unlocking the door.

 

[AlphaWolfQuin]

It was as he expected Ms.Burke didn't show up to breakfast, he knew it was because she had been up nearly all night in the library and he suspected that's what she had been doing the night before causing her to miss breakfast on the first day as well. Severus shook his head and made a mental note to take another trip to the library while doing his rounds during the night. He didn't know why he cared that she stayed up and missed breakfast, maybe it was because McGonagall made him attend and if he had to then Ms.Burke, a new teacher, certainly should have too. Severus made himself a plate of eggs, toast, and ham then poured himself a glass of orange juice and began to eat. The elves in the school certainly knew how to cook everything just right and Severus rather enjoyed meals at Hogwarts. After he finished his plate he stood and took his leave.

When Severus got to his classroom he made sure everything was all set for his first class of the day then stood in front of his desk, arms crossed, stern look on his face as he waited for the class of first years to come piling into the classroom. Soon enough Severus heard the all to familiar sound of rushing footsteps followed by the sound of the classroom doors opening and a bunch of students talking. As soon as all the students took their seats Severus gazed over the class, "Silence" ,he stated in a stern but low tone. Immediately the students closed their mouths and looked up towards the professor. Severus then called out each students name to make sure they were all there before handing out the day's assignment.

By the time his first class was finished Severus had a migraine, the group of first years he had ended up doing terribly, a few ended up needing medical attention simply due to stupidity and fooling around while he was trying to teach them all the proper way to disarm a foe. Some of them thought it would be funny to use hexes on each other, ones none of them knew the affects of, they had only read about. Oh the day started off just fantastic for Severus, he would probably be asked a bunch of questions later on and he really wasn't in the mood for it at all.

When the time for lunch came Severus made his way to the Great Hall, he could smell the delicious food the closer he got and it made his stomach growl with anticipation. He had definitely become hungry since breakfast and couldn't wait to sit down and have a nice, hot, filling meal and be able to relax a bit before his more advanced classes. Severus sat down at the staff table as soon as he got to the great hall and immediately made his plate and began to eat while still keeping an eye on all of the students in the great hall.

 

[Eirlys Vitae]

Nearly second after unlocking the door students began rushing in - some were complaining about aching stomachs because of them eating something their organism doesn't tolerate, others, apparently came to Hogwarts already sick with small deals such as sore throat or stuffed nose, sometimes painful cough. The third category of students rushing to the hospital wing were really alike Medora, and were all pleased out - this group contained slackers who attempted to fake sickness in order to skip some class, but even if amount of those was fairly big, it didn't cause young nurse to separate real cases from pretenders. It wasn't yet a season for the fourth case, as it was only a second day, but many 5th and 7th graders paid Medora a visit (she made a mental note - all of them were female) to get something against nerves, as they had panic attacks based of upcoming exams occurring. It was ridiculous for someone to care this much... But Medora already sincerely hoped to be done at Hogwarts before the actual pre-exam weeks took a place.

As if her day wasn't fun enough, she had a little music - her own stomach seemed to play marches, though unlike her patients it was caused by hunger, not products consumed due foolishness and ignorance. Medora only thanked all the magic forces for hospital being one noisy place, so her stomach rumbles weren't heard, and if they were it wasn't easy to tell who's organism is rioting. That day she again regretted being so persistent about her researches she took a desperate step such as this - probably teaching would have been a better solution... If the only vacant positions weren't for teachers of muggle studies (Medora could never fall so low she'd study life of those brainless simpletons) and arithmancy. Both subjects were making her wrinkle nose in disgust due their studying spheres, topic and uselessness - people like Medora were only eager to take from life what could bring them use and success later.

The lunch time was coming closer, but the amount of students in hospital wing didn't seem to decrease fast - for one leaving there were three new coming, and Medora was getting fairly stressed she is destined to starve herself to death here. At the ministry it was normal during her work hours as she didn't require eating nor any other biological processes since her whole entity was concentrated on the work that did intrigue and interest her....While now it was an unpleasant activity she had to go through to gain herself an access to continue what she's started the department of Mysteries. Even if the hospital wing was making her sick at the very second day of her newly started career of a nurse.

Luckily, the room had emptied a few minutes before the lunch, what gave Medora a chance to fill her stomach with something more than tea and chocolate. It was quite ironic that the health specialist of Hogwarts led such an unhealthy lifestyle - skipping meals, lacking sleep, reading in the darkness... She attended meal at Hogwarts only once as a teacher, and, of course, didn't memorize the place where she sat - but as she came in there was only one seat left, which caused Medora to sneer slightly, remembering last night's encounter. The empty chair, of course, stood by Severus' side, and she was going to take an advantage on that... So subtly no one but him would know it, and Medora doubted he'd bring it up in front of everyone... But this was a perfect way to disarm him from further involvement into her researches, as nurse's senses were telling her it wasn't the first time he'd check out if she remained reading. Smirking she sat down, suddenly forgetting about all the hunger as her plan was no the main thing to bother about, and slid hand under table, landing it over his knee.