The potter world is Rowling's, only Faydra is my own.

Just Kiss and Make Up

Severus was more then glad to leave the hovel that was once his home on Spinners End. Bellatrix and Narcissa had not been a surprise that he had truly appreciated. Though their visit had also not been a complete surprise either. Ever since Draco had been given his mission Snape had been waiting for Narcissa to arrive, or for at least a message from Lucious requesting assistance. Even in Azkaban Lucious would have his resources. At least some of them.

The Unbreakable Vow could cause him problems, but it had been his intent to assist Draco anyway. He couldn't leave the boy to fail and subsequently die so easily. The boy didn't know so much. It wasn't his schooling, he was rather well prepared for the future there. It was his family life that he truly knew so little about.

Apparating near Hogwarts, he slowly headed inside. The moon was high and nearly full, and the evening held a bit of crispness in it that it normally reserved for autumn and spring. It was gorgeous outside and he, always having been a night person, reveled in it. The stars were so easily seen it was stunning and Severus stood there for a long while just looking up and up at the infinity that surrounded him. It didn't matter what happened down here, those stars would continue to shine far longer then his life would.

Even he had to wonder why even his happy thoughts ended in the morose. Vaguely grumpy, though not much more then usual, he trudged his way through the damp grass to the main gates. He stumbled on a stray stone in the path and took a distinct pleasure in causing it to explode with a wave of his wand. It was a pathetic way to release stress and yet it helped a bit. At least it put a slightly more marked smirk on his face.

A few days later these same gates that he now walked right through would be guarded by aurors on a very strict schedule. Though many were quite good at their jobs each one would likely be more annoying then the last. He just didn't like the complications that they were bound to bring. As if he didn't have enough with all that was going on. Between the Order and the Dark Lord he was dancing a fine enough line that anything else thrown in good overbalance him.

It was late enough that all but the ghosts had settled down to sleep. Even the ghosts seemed to be napping and he made it down to the dungeons unmolested for a change. He breathed deep of the dankness that he found so comforting for some reason. It was such a different smell from what is home had once been. No dust or dryness, no endless cheap candles trying to make the place seem more homey.

He couldn't wait to crash into his bed and pass out for most of the next day. The heels of his shoes clacking on the stones echoed back in a rhythmic staccato. It was one of those odd little things that he enjoyed and could never hear when the students were back in the castle. That many people just made too much noise for something like shoe echo's.

Severus turned the last corner that took him to his suite of rooms, and stopped.

That just couldn't be Professors Tines laying in a heap at the foot of his door. What in the name of Merlin was that little chit doing here. Hadn't he been trying to keep complications out of his life? And hadn't she very recently accused him of trying to blackmail her? That there was more complication then he preferred too have.

She must have felt his eyes on her, because her eyes fluttered open and landed on him. Their eyes met and she suddenly seemed much happier to see him then anyone else he had ever known had. She pulled herself to her feet in a not so graceful way that told tales of how stiff she was and stood there staring eagerly at him. Severus took a cautious step back half afraid that she would jump him.

"Professor Tines." He said guardedly. "Is there something you wanted?" Damn but she looked familiar.

The chit curtseyed. She actually curtseyed before she spoke. That was very old school etiquette.

"Severus I need your help." She kept her eyes on the ground when she said this.

He had never seen her look so meek and demure. Something was up. He stood there just staring at her, waiting for her to either tell him what she wanted or to go away. Either would work just fine for him. Severus was curious, but he was also tired. It was tough to maintain interest in someone who had recently insulted him so much.

"I never said thank you for the flowers, they were beautiful. My favorite actually." Faydra bit her lip while trying to figure out how to say what she had come to say. She finally glanced up at Severus. "Could we go inside?" She fought to hold eye contact as she felt the blush creep not to slowly up her face.

"You want to go inside my rooms?" It was ludicrous. The girl was going from one extreme to another. What in the world was wrong with her? And hadn't he known that the flowers would be her favorite?

She ran her hand through her hair, pulling a few more strands free. Severus watched infatuated as the strands fell past her waist. Gods what he would give to see it all down. How long was it anyway?

"Severus I need to talk to you. In private. These walls have ears."

Well that was more often true then not. With a sigh he walked up next to her and opened his door. With a gesture he directed her into his rooms. He couldn't remember the last time a woman had been down here. Oh wait, none had been. He thought bitterly. No wait, Minerva had come down looking for him once when he hadn't made a teachers meeting.

Faydra stepped in and the door shut behind her with a thud. Almost immediately the lock slid into place. The lump in her throat seemed to expand the longer she stood there. It was best if she just did what she had come to do. Get it over with and try to get him to help her.

"So what is it that you wanted then?" Severus asked in a voice so flat and devoid of emotion that she actually turned to see if he was still really there. He brushed by her and went to the large stone fireplace that was in his sitting room. Faydra didn't speak as he got the fire lit. It burned the chill out of the air for a long while before either of them spoke.

He stood and turned to find her gripping her very wrinkled robes with fist so tightly clenched that her knuckles were white. Her emerald eyes were showing much too much white for someone just asking for help with something. And as he watched a tear trickled down her cheek apparently unnoticed by her.

Severus stepped toward her. "Fade its going to be ok." He actually found himself brushing the tear off of her face. She had the softest skin and he embarrassingly found himself focusing on her quivering lips. He wasn't even sure how it had ended up that he had an arm around her and she had an arm around him and a hand on his chest. He blinked into those bright green eyes and felt the pull of recognition.

"You remember me?" She breathed against his lips hopefully. She felt so cold inside. Either from the hours on the dungeon's stone floor or from the lonely years behind her. Or both and so much more combined. It felt so good to be near Severus. It wasn't just because he could remember her. That was part of it, but there was just something more too.

"Its strange. I remember some, but not all. I knew the flowers would be your favorite, but I don't know who you are."

"And you called me Fade." She pointed out. "You haven't done that since I was a kid."

He laughed. "I've known you that long?" She just nodded and snuggled a little closer.

"No one remembers me except for you." She mumbled from under his chin. "Not even Dumbledore. "

Severus thought about that one. "I had noticed something like that the first day you were here. But why are you here now? If you needed my help then, why did you run scared?" It felt so odd to have this woman suddenly clinging to him. Ok not clinging, but obviously using him as a heat source. And since there was a fire a few steps a way and he was 'Snivelus' it just didn't make much sense.

Her head popped up to give the most chaste of pecks to his suddenly numb lips and then she stepped away. He was already having trouble blinking when her robes hit the floor and she suddenly stood there in a long black skirt and that black leather corset that she seemed to love. He was pleased to see that there were no sleeves under her robes and her long pale arms were left blessedly bare. Even with the corset on she was pleasantly slender, but not the starved look that had come into vogue a decade ago. He wished that he had been able to see what that thing did to the front of her. Yes he was a letch at heart. But after all his time alone, what man wouldn't be?

She turned to present him with her back. "Help me unlace this." Her voice was tentative and soft when she said this. Severus stopped breathing and he was forced to consciously close his mouth before he could consciously do much else. Once his mouth closed he could feel his brain kick sluggishly back into flight.

"Wh-what?"

She pulled the stray strands of her hair away from the ties that were knotted at the base of her neck. "What I need to show you is on my back. This thing has to come off for me to show you."

Severus stepped forward. This was business after all and he would accord himself properly. His spidery fingers were swift at unknotting the laces. And as he pulled the laces out of grommet after grommet he was rewarded with a broader view of soft pale skin. First a shoulder that was easily defined under her flesh, and then… then he noticed the markings.

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