Now I know what you guys are thinking "Isn't this supposed to be a funny story? Whats with all the mellow dramatic nonsense!?" And you're right it is, and shall resume post this chapter. Which is a short one I'm afraid. But it has Severus goodness in it so I think you'll forgive me. Anyhoo have a good weekend everyone!

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Severus

That was…nice. Pleasant. Enjoyable. Satisfying. Satiating. That was… long overdue. That was, necessary. Gods, it's a wonder I forgot what it felt like. To be with someone, that close, that…warmth. Of course unlike before my mind has been free of serving the dark lord. Which led me back to the bitterness of knowing that while lovely as this encounter was it is not meant to last long. Not that I would be able to explain, not completely anyway.

The strength of the wine proved to us that my floor along with a fleece throw was a much better alternative than climbing upstairs to my bedroom. I winced at the sunlight spearing its way into the sitting room. Eva was still asleep. Her head halfway under my collar bone where she had only just left several dark marks of her own.

"Ignitus." I mumbled and the fire awoke with a crack that stirred my guest. She groaned at the sight of the blazing light and buried herself into my chest pulling the fleece over her head.

"Too early."

"Sorry." Instantly she appeared from under the blanket with a wry smile.

"No problem. Had to happen." She sat up taking the better part of the blanket to wrap her still naked body. "Goodness."

"What?"

"It's Christmas morning. I'd forgotten." I snorted, the only acknowledgement the damned holiday ever got from me was (aside from the vacation) a very brief card to the headmaster and Minerva. Which had only been done after many years of badgering from the blasted Gryffindor about how I was too cynical for my age. Eva looked over her shoulder at me, a smile and then she laid down again.

"So what do we do with ourselves?" She cooed.

"I haven't got any presents for you."

"Oh don't you?" That voice, the same as last night's only sober now. Her tone sleek and full of lust. She twisted around positioning herself over me with the blanket drawn over to hide us. "I'm sure you can be imaginative."

I tilted my neck to the side and allowed her to retrace the path she had gone the night before. This time she was more conscious of her biting which was now nothing more than a quick graze of her teeth followed by a kiss to soothe it. This went on down to my collar bone where she came to the base of my throat. "Well…" she said in between her kissing and biting.

"Well?" I replied not really interested in her answer but rather what she could do with her descending mouth.

"I have a surprise for you."

"I'm rather not fond of surprises. In fact I'm enjoying the not so surprising morning we're having." She started laughing and sat up, her bare chest, more impressive now that I could properly see it. She drew her hair up in a tie and pulled on my white undershirt that when she stood up barely covered the rest of her nudeness. While she stepped out of the room I dressed myself as much as I could. The house hadn't warmed up all the way so my pants was the best I could do.

She had gone into the bathroom under the stairs. Curious as I was, I remained patient and made my way into the kitchen calling out to her.

"Tea?"

"Yes please!" I put myself to work. Magic had a way of blessing away the minor inconveniences of muggle life. The water boiled within seconds and all I had left was to filter the tea leaves. I reached for the lemon tea but stopped myself. That damned smug look on her face when she noticed I always took lemon tea. Instead I pushed it aside and took out cinnamon. "That smells heavenly" she came in and snatched one of the mugs trailing off into the sitting room.

"You're welcome." I snorted with an edge of sarcasm. I followed to find her huddled on one corner of the couch and the fleece wrapped around her bottom half. She smiled and with her arm gestured me to join her in the arm chair across from her. After a few sips I placed my tea on the table between us.

"So" I said through her slurping. "Whats this surprise?" Instantly a grin spread over her face. It held arrogance and a dreadful excitement that made me shift in my seat.

"Well, first off it is no coincidence that I came to replace Filius for an extended time."

"Of course it isn't. Dumbledore asked you to."

"Yes but there was a reason I was chosen. I was placed there specifically" Something in her smile turned sinister. "I'm a spy." My brow wrinkled. "Like you." She stood up and kneeled down beside me.

"A spy?" She nodded eagerly.

"Yes. I was sent here to help you. To guide you back to us, if necessary." Her hands came up on my thighs. Caressing me in a tight grip sliding up and inside. I captured her wrists.

"Eva, what are you talking about?" I tilted her chin to meet my gaze. She rocked back on her heels and bore her left arm, resting it in my lap. "Eva, no…" She rolled up the sleeve, her forearm still clean. I breathed easy until her right palm pressed hard into her arm. She winced as the flesh on her left arm burned and withered around the all too familiar black mark revealed itself.

"You see the depths of my loyalty Severus? I became a death eater. For you, for us."

"Us?" was all I could say.

"Yes." She kissed the top of my hand. "I wanted to help you, protect you from the dark lord but more importantly from yourself."

"How…?"

"Some of the others were afraid your virtuous nature was all too genuine. That you truly sided with the order instead of your brothers and sisters. I had been a waiting initiate for months. I took the mark so I could prove myself to them. More importantly to show them that you were still true to lord Voldemort." The both of us grit our teeth as the mark burned at his name. "Sorry, sometimes I forget the power of his name."

I let go of her wrists and jammed my fingers into my eyes. Trying my hardest to rub away the dismay. She laid her head down and stayed quiet for a moment. I couldn't tell her the foolishness of what she had done. That she truly did not understand what it meant to be a death eater. He would ask too much of her. She may have been the kind who didn't like muggle born but it wasn't just about barring them from schools and other institutions. The dark lord intended to eradicate them from existence.

Genocide.

She would have to put many of the students she'd come to know and care for to the death. Their intentions had been glorified to her, perhaps to convince her this was the right path. As it is, its too late now. She took the mark, under false pretenses or not it didn't matter. Her decision was stupid but I still felt a weight of responsibility. Not just for her false idea of love, but because I too was like her when the world showed me nothing but contempt darkness.

When I was a boy I couldn't get one girl to like me. Now I have a girl and a woman pledging themselves to me. If I'd ask her, Miss Ryen would probably join the death eaters too.

"Severus…you're so quiet." Which broke me from my thoughts on how to respond. She was so proud of her new status. The revelation that this had all been for me. And us apparently. I wasn't aware there was an us, until now. Now there was. Now I was involved. She lifted her head and went back to her knees. I had no choice. I had to find a way to convince her this wasn't about discrimination against muggles. The dark lord will destroy anything and anyone who doesn't suit his needs. Pure, and half bloods included. His prejudice was a cover to get the other more powerful wizard families behind his cause. Once his vision was realized it was unclear what he would do. Whom would be considered worthy to live in his new demented world.

"I'm sorry." I finally said. "it's a lot to take in."

"I know." She swooned. "But you're not alone anymore." She pressed her lips to mine, draping her arms around my neck pulling me closer, back onto the floor. My mind tugged at more pressing matters, Dumbledore had to know. He may be able to help her see, then perhaps she could become a true spy. Though, in the morning light this beautiful woman laying under me begging me to ravage her as we did the night before, I found myself needing to oblige.

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Here we are then loves hope you enjoyed it. Cheerio then!