Hope you've enjoyed the chapters so far. I'm going to be introducing another character in this chapter (OC). Just a warning, this chapter involves sexual content.

"Students may bring if they desire, either an owl, a cat or a toad," McGonagall frowned at him. "You know you're not a student?"
"Teachers can have pets too," Severus replied, holding his 10 week old kitten.
It was September 1 and a sunny afternoon at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"How much did that attack addle your brain?" Minerva said, exasperated by Severus' recent behaviour.
"Anyway, I got him this summer," Severus ignored her.
"What have you called him?"
"Atticus," Severus replied.
"Atticus?" Sprout repeated. "How middle class are you?"
"It's a perfectly good name, I wanted a cat," Snape shrugged.
"Just be grateful he didn't get a girl and call it Lily," Slughorn commented.
"Or called Atticus Harry," Madam Pomfrey commented.
"Lots of men have pets," Severus rolled his eyes.
"Yes, like a big dog or something," Flitwick said drily. "Not a tiny kitten."
"Well you're a man and you'd look ridiculous with a big dog," Snape said snidely. "Anyway, when's the new witch arriving?"
"Rosie?" McGonagall asked. "She should be here any moment. And at the rate you're going, we'll book you in for the first appointment."
Rosie Robinson had been appointed over the summer for the school as a residential psychologist in order to help students deal with the trauma of the war. Snape, as usual, had been cynical about the appointment. He had also been less than happy about his appointment as Deputy Headmaster, preferring to return to his role as Head of Slytherin.
When Rosie did arrive, Severus was one of the last people to greet her. She was young, around mid 20s, with blond hair, bluish eyes and Severus noted almost immediately, extremely attractive. And an ex student.
When she reached him, he politely held his hand out.
"Do you remember Severus?" McGonagall asked, waving a hand at him.
"Yes," she said. "He used to terrify me." She half laughed.
"Yes, he probably will this year too," Minerva said under her breath.
"Oh, is this your cat?" she said reaching out to let Atticus sniff her hand. "What's he called?"
"Yeah, he's called Atticus."
Rosie looked a little taken aback. "That's different."
"Yes, I thought so," he nodded.
-

Severus was deliberately, and potentially noticeably, helping Rosie settle into her new role at Hogwarts. Not that he was making any particular effort but he was no longer spending breaks and lunches hauled up in his office, instead choosing to spend the time in the staff room talking to Rosie about various inane topics such as the weather and her views on the new ministry. Snape failed to hide his distaste at their lack of help with the castle. Minerva never failed to remind him that his comments upon their arrival at the school had been non too helpful.

Of course being in the staffroom was all well and good but he was becoming increasingly desperate to spend some time on his own with Rosie which he had thus far failed to achieve. He was certain anything that what he was feeling for her was on a purely physical level and he didn't have any emotional attachment. After all that belonged to Lily. He reasoned with himself frequently that it had been a while since the school had had a young, female member of staff and it was actually just lust that he was feeling.

He finally seized his opportunity to get her alone one Tuesday afternoon. Lessons were finished and they were in the staffroom. Rosie had casually announced that she needed to go into Hogsmeade to buy something.

"Can I come with you?" the words had left his mouth before he had really registered them.

"Yeah, sure," a slight blush crept into her cheeks.

He could feel most of the staffroom looking at him, but deciding he didn't care, followed her out.

"So where do you need to go?" he asked conversationally.

"Just a couple of shops get some stationery and what not. We could go for a coffee after if you like?"

"Yeah sounds nice," he tried to sound non committal.

"So," she started calmly. "How are you finding the new school year?"

"Weird," he told her truthfully. "Everyone has this perception of me that I'm some sort of hero, but I'm not. I'm just an ex Death Eater, that's all. Nothing exciting."

"Oh I think you're more than that. You're not what I was expecting though."

"Why, what were you expecting?"

"Dark, brooding and cynical."

"Oh I am," he replied. "Often all three. At the same time. But I suppose I'm trying to make the best of things at the moment."

"You seem very cheerful most of the time," she looked sideways at him.

"As I say, making the best of things," he shrugged.

She started to walk in the direction of the Forrest, rather than the school's main gates.

"Um, you know you're going the wrong way?" he asked uncertainly.

"I know," she replied.

He followed her down to the Forrest and they started to move between the trees. Eventually the reached a small clearing.

"I used to spend a lot of time here with a couple of friends at school," she told him.

"Okay," he replied, confused.

"So show me then?"

"Show you what?" he asked looking bewildered.

"Show us what the Dark Mark is like now. There's all these stories about Death Eaters' arms shrivelling up. Is it true?"

He wasn't sure if she was teasing him or not.

"It's not-" he began.

"Are you shy?" there was a twinkle in her eye now.

"No, more ashamed. But that's not the point."

"What's the point?" she asked him.

"I just think- why do you want to see it?" he asked.

"Well you've told me a lot about you the last couple of weeks. You've not mentioned anything about the Death Eaters."

"Because-"

"You're ashamed. Yes you've said. And you should be. But it's still interesting."

He sighed loudly and pulled up the sleeve to his robes. Shrivelled up was probably too strong. But the mangled mess of scar tissue with the Mark still burnt into it was hardly pretty to look at. He didn't even really know why he was showing her or why she was asking.

She gently touched his arm. He flinched.

"Does it hurt?" she asked.

"No."

"I've noticed a couple of people have tried to touch you the last couple of weeks. Just to hug you or pat you on the back. You don't like being touched do you?"

"I don't mind," he shrugged. "I'm just not used to it."

She reached out and gently stroked his right cheek. "Do you mind that?" she asked him.

"No," his throat was slightly constricted.

She gently placed her other hand on his left cheek and moved her face closer to his. Her lips met his. They felt soft and warm. Not really conscious of what he was doing he kissed her back.

"Was that okay?" she asked him carefully as she broke away.

"What? Oh yeah," he stumbled over his words.

"Have you kissed a girl before?" she asked, gazing into his eyes.

"Yes, obviously," he replied.

"Lily Potter?"

"Er no. Just girls," he shrugged.

"Can you remember their names?" she was teasing him again.

"Some of them."

She half laughed.

"Is that bad?" he asked nervously.

"Yes, but I suppose it makes you a typical man."

"Why, can you remember everyone you kissed?" he asked indignantly.

"Of course!"

"Oh well, I guess mine was more sleeping around."

She raised her eyebrows.

"Have you ever slept with one of your students?" she seemed to enjoy making him talk about things that made him squirm. She'd never done this in front of anyone else.

"Uh, no," he told her honestly.

"Have you ever kissed one?"

"Yes, but not intentionally. Very long time ago. I was a lot younger. I didn't do anything wrong. They came onto me, it's not... Weird."

"Well technically you should make it two now, seeing as I'm one of your students."

"Ex-student," he corrected her. "So this is okay."

"Oh are you enjoying this?"

"Why? Are you not?"

"Of course I am," she placed her lips over his again. She was kissing him a little deeper now, pushing her body against his, making him back up into a nearby tree. He kissed her back quite forcefully. She writhed her body against his.

He could feel his physical response starting to rise. He tried to angle his hips away from her, determined that she wouldn't feel it. It had been a long time since he had been in a situation like this and his body knew it. He was finding it difficult to keep his erection from touching her. What was his body thinking? That she was going to let him take her up against a tree right there?

He tried to focus on just kissing her and enjoying it. Ignoring what he was feeling. She had hold of his robes and was pulling him closer.

They eventually broke away.

"You're a good kisser," she told him quietly.

"You too," his face was flushed from their make out session and he felt slightly breathless.

"Come on," she said, rapidly changing the subject. "We should get to Hogsmeade or people will talk."

He was still feeling a little confused later that evening when he went up to McGonagall's office to discuss the start of term.

"Anyway, how was Hogsmeade?" she asked him when he's finished moaning about some of the students he had to teach.

"Yeah it was fine," he nodded.

"And?" Why did women keep talking to him in codes. What were they expecting out of him?

"And what?"

"And how was Rosie?"

"She was fine. Little odd. She kissed me."

"What?" Minerva looked generally surprised.

"I said it was a little odd."

"I thought she was maybe interested in the Death Eaters or something and that's why she kept asking me about you. I didn't think that."

"Yeah she did ask about that at first, but then. I don't know it just happened."

"Well, do you think you'll see her again?" she asked.

"I'll have to, we work in the same building."

"Well do you like her?"

"Only in so far as I want to fuck her."

"Severus, that's disgusting," she reprimanded him.

"Yeah I know. I'm just so desperate. I thought I'd grow out of it."

"Yes, well can't you masturbate or something?"

"I can but its not the same," it was strange, McGonagall was the only person he'd ever felt comfortable talking about things like this to. Even Dumbledore had made him feel awkward.

"Well, anyway, your urges aside. I think it would be nice for you to think about having a girlfriend. You've been a lot nicer lately. Maybe you should spend more time with her?"

"I don't want a girlfriend. I just want to sleep with someone," he shrugged.

"I think she's a nice girl. Don't throw her away by doing something stupid like that. You're 38, she's probably going to expect some element of seriousness from you. You're not 15 anymore. Although your recent behaviour..."

"Oh she won't want to go out with me," he told her seriously. "I mean she's miles above me. She could do a lot better than me."

"Maybe she's not just basing it on looks."

"Wouldn't matter what she's basing it on. However you look at it, she's better than me."

-
He was sat in the Three Broomsticks with Slughorn, sipping a butterbeer.
"So, do you like her?" Slughorn asked.
"I don't know who you're talking about," Snape replied. This might me a conversation he'd have freely with Minerva, but honestly, he didn't know Slughorn all that well.
"O-Ho I think you do. I mean Rosie," Slughorn looked at him pointedly.
"She's very nice, I get on with her well," he shrugged.
"Well she certainly seems to like you," Slughorn commented. "And a muggle born witch."
"Is that a problem?" Snape replied snippily.
"Of course not, I'm not prejudiced at all," Slughorn replied. "Are you sure you're not?"
"I'm not prejudiced," Snape said quickly. "I've learnt a lot about, you know, that."
"Good, you could maybe help us Slytherins get more of a positive reputation," Slughorn said seriously.
"Rosie's a Gryffindor," Snape told him. "Don't know if I'd like that."
"Lovely Lily was a Gryffindor too," Slughorn replied.
"Yes, so?" Severus replied.
"Well do you think anything is going to happen? Just between you and me?" Slughorn asked.
"You're going to have to buy me a lot more drinks before anything happens between me and you," Snape commented idly.

"Does Rosie like your sense of humour?" Slughorn asked ignoring Severus' comment.

"Everyone likes my sense of humour," Severus replied, dodging a personal question again.

"You're very different now," Slughorn commented. "It's nice to see you out of yourself. You've always been very withdrawn."

"I'm not really like this," Snape shrugged. "Just trying to be more likeable."

"Why now though suddenly?" Slughorn asked curiously.

"Well, seeing as I lost all my friends last year I want to make a better impression this," Severus said. "It's horrible, walking into a room and everyone stops talking and you know they were talking about you."

"Well you have to understand-" Slughorn began.

"I'm not blaming anyone," Snape said seriously. "I'm just saying, I don't want that anymore."

While he'd continued to speak to Rosie in the staff room with everyone around, he'd not yet had another opportunity to get her alone. That opportunity finally presented itself late Monday night.

He was marking another set of papers and near everyone had gone to bed. Rosie was left, reading a book.

"So, did you not enjoy our jaunt to the forest?" she asked him, moments after Flitwick had left the room.

"Of course I did," he said quickly. "Why?"

"You've not made much of an effort since."

"I'm sorry," he said immediately. "I just, I don't know, I feel like you're too good for me." He told the piece of parchment in front of him.

"Too good for you to what?" she asked him.

"I don't know, ask on a date or something?" he replied, twirling the quill between his fingers.

"I'd like to go on a date with you," she said quietly.

"Okay," he said. "Well I could take you to somewhere in Hogsmeade. Go for dinner in the Three Broomsticks or something?"

"That would be lovely. I have to go to bed," she stood up. "You should too."

She came by him as she left and gently pecked him on the lips.

He sat for a while after she left touching his mouth. Maybe Minerva was right. Maybe he should try dating her? If it went well she might sleep with him anyway. No. Said a small voice in his head. It's wrong. You're broken and damaged. You've done horrible things. You've killed someone. She's too good. Too innocent. She doesn't deserve to have your mess in her life.

Regardless of how he felt, he had agreed to take her out and he wasn't going to stand her up. He took her to the Three Broomsticks as promised and they finally got more time to talk.

"So how did you qualify as a psychologist?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"I went to a muggle university when I finished at Hogwarts. My parents always wanted me to go to university."

He nodded. "And you worked as a muggle psychiatrist?"

She nodded. "Until last year of course, when I was on the run."

"I didn't think of that," he said quietly.

"So what about you?" she asked.

"Nothing exciting. Death Eater for about two years then I've taught ever since."

"I suppose the last few years have been hard for you too?"

"The hardest thing was being a killer. That destroyed me. I mean I've never been much but that was just, painful. Then I had no one last year. Everyone thought I one of them at school. I heard them talk about me. And I don't think what any of them said was untrue. I'm not a good person," he muttered.

"You're really selling yourself," she said, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah sorry," he said quickly. "Tell me something else about you. That's probably less depressing." They both laughed a little.

Rosie did tell him a lot about her. He told her some select highlights. He spoke about his spell inventions, carefully glossing over Sectumsempra. He told her about Hogwarts when he'd been at school. Eventually, he walked her back to the castle. They stopped in the grounds, found a nice secluded spot, and sat on the bank.

She kissed him again. He was running his hands through her hair this time, more involved than he had been last time. He felt awful but he was secretly hoping to sleep with her that night. Then he imagined McGonagall's response and rapidly thought of something else.

Only she was touching him. Running her hands down his chest. He knew he should stop her. It was wrong. Except he couldn't bring himself to. Her hand was moving down lower. She eventually had it over his flies. She was cupping him gently through his trousers and his cock was getting hard. He mumbled something about stopping but she didn't seem to be listening. She was starting to grip and squeeze his erection and he was unconsciously moving in her grasp.

He didn't really know if she wanted him to touch her or not. So he tried to keep his hands to himself. He was finding it hard though to control anything and he was slowly going to pieces as she continued her ministrations. He didn't know how long she massaged and rubbed his erection for bug he eventually felt himself lose control and cum inside his boxers. The hot liquid was soaking through his pants to his trousers.

"You're all damp," she commented.

"That's normal," he replied. Shit, he wasn't going to try and take her virginity was he? Now that was too wrong for even him to contend.

He didn't know how long he lay next to her in his sticky pants but he enjoyed watching the stars with her.