Chapter 17

Severus stirred as morning light filtered through the bay windows that covered one part of Harry's suite. He scrunched up his eyes, for once not wanting the day to begin. Against his protest, his eyes slowly opened. For a moment, he lay still while staring at the still sleeping figure beside him. His gaze fell upon Harry's bare chest, and the sight made him pause. The light had been dim in the bath, and they had been preoccupied with other... stuff, but now that Severus really looked at it, he frowned. The jagged scar ran straight down Harry's abdomen.

His fingers twitched as he was tempted to trace it, but he stopped himself. Instead, he whispered, "What in Merlin's name happened to you..."

"Muggles," Harry answered, though his eyes were still closed. This made Severus stare for a moment.

"How long have you been awake?"

"Not long," Harry smirked as he cracked open his eyes. "I wanted to see what you would do if I just lay in front of you... naked..." He wagged his eyebrows suggestively, which earned him a smack on the arm.

Before Severus could vocally respond, the sound of running water echoed from the adjoining bathroom. Both men frowned. "Did you leave the taps on?" The Potion master asked.

Harry shook his head, "No," while he sat up straighter.

They heard water rippling, and then, without warning, Nimue stepped out of the bathroom, leaning in the doorway, observing both Severus and Harry while holding a cigarette. Her gown was dripping, and her hair shimmered with droplets. Severus was instantly on alert, and though he didn't have a wand, and highly suspected that Harry knew he didn't need a wand, he was ready to hex any threat. A spell was already forming when Harry's voice cut through.

"Severus, wait!" Harry yelled. "Don't hex her. She's... an ally. Of sorts."

Nimue smirked while still leaning casually against the doorframe. "I do love a dramatic entrance. Keeps everyone on their toes." She exhaled smoke in a perfect ring, watching Severus with amused eyes. "You're quick, though. I like that."

Severus stopped, but his eyes never left the unknown woman standing in the room.

"For your information, any body of water is my doorway. Your bath, your fountain, your lake. It's all mine. Besides, I came to deliver news."

Harry sighed, rubbing his temples. "Nimue... We talked about this. At least knock first. What if Severus and I were... You know, busy."

"I'm always up for a show," she winked, causing Severus to blush. "But I am here on legitimate business. Sirius Black is mine now. He is currently polishing my silverware shirtless. Considering how long I've been alive, I do have a considerable hoard of it. Quite a sight indeed."

Harry sat up straighter at Nimue's next remark. "You should also know, James and Dumbledore betrayed him. They offered him up without hesitation. Cold as stone. Especially Dumbledore. He didn't even blink," she said. "I thought you were joking when you predicted that. But damn. Even I wouldn't have offered my late sisters up like that, and I hated them."

Severus's eyes narrowed. "Of course. The Headmaster has always loved power more than people."

Nimue tilted her head, studying Severus with unusual interest. "You're... different. Men don't usually act this normal around me. Nymphs exude Charm magic naturally. Slughorn was a simpering fool. James and Sirius kept staring at me. But you," she gestured with her cigarette, "You're steady. Oh, I see... Same with Harry here. Which means..."

"Nimue," Harry warned.

"No, no, I actually am curious to what she was going to say," Severus cut in. "Also, you haven't properly introduced us."

"Very well," Harry groaned. "I was hoping you two would meet a few months later, but oh well. Severus, this is Nimue, better known as the Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legend. Nimue, this is Severus Snape. Potion master, all-around snarky bastard, and my current boyfriend."

"Boyfriend!" Nimue's eyes lit up. "Well, that explains a lot," she then extended a hand towards Severus, who shook it.

"Pleasure to meet you, Severus Snape. I am Nimue, a follower of Lady Sirona of the Healing Springs. Specifically, I am a water fae, you guys also call us nymphs, though I prefer Naiads. Nymph is such a broad classification, you know. Especially with the Nereids going extinct sometime in the 6th century."

"Uhm, okay?" For once, Severus was at a loss for words.

"Nimue, you are babbling!" Harry muttered.

"I can't help it! You never bring a boyfriend to show off!" She retorted. "Especially one that's so besotted!"

"I'm sorry, what?!" Severus now uttered.

"My charm magic doesn't affect you, so you are already falling for someone. Even if it's subconsciously," she explained. "Don't you learn about Nymph Alure in your fancy schools?"

"All we ever learned was that the Nymphs were an old magical race that had gone extinct," Severus said slowly. "There aren't really any records of them left."

"I guess it has been a few centuries," Nimue thought aloud before turning back to Severus. "I'm sure some of us are still around," she stated. "Titania is probably still roaming the world after that mess with Oberon. I told that girl that a wood nymph like her should not get involved with a fire nymph like him. Look what that did to her kingdom. It got so bad that even a human wrote a partially true story about them! Also, the Nephelai should still be around. Clouds still exist, right?"

"Nimue, I know you are excited, but there is something I need to confirm with you," Harry said slowly as he summoned two bathrobes. "How affected was James Potter?"

She stubbed out her cigarette. Severus raised a brow, a water nymph, smoking. "He showed signs. Not as much as Sirius, but enough. Which means he must care about someone to some degree. Who, I don't know. I just came to tell you that I gave them Merlin's staff. That Dumbledore fellow was so enamored with it that my charms did not affect him either."

"Well, Albus is gay," Severus stated.

"Wouldn't really matter. A nymph's charm magic causes the other person to see the one they desire the most, or features that are very attractive to them if they do not have a significant other yet. It's why many seafarers also called the Nereids Sirens."

"Well, I've delivered my report," Nimue stated as she turned back to the bathroom. "If you excuse me, I will have plenty of leering to do. Ta Ta!" she said before closing the door and departing.

Severus exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Should I be questioning how you met a nymph that appears in Arthurian legend?"

"Probably,"

"Will you tell me?"

"Over breakfast. I am starved."