A/N: All right, who missed me? Apologies for it being so short. I've become sucked into another story that I'm working on that dragged me away from this one. I'm back, though. Enjoy some Sev/Aura cuteness in the only way they know how and have a wonderful day.

Promise

The next morning I wake up to a familiar clump of messy dark curls trying to suffocate me. I brush Aurora's hair back, spitting and sputtering as I do. I slowly feel her wake against me.

"Severus?"

"What?" I gruffly respond.

"Are you okay?"

"As well as a man being suffocated can be," I say dryly.

"There goes that thought," she mutters under her breath.

"What? Did you expect me to be grateful that your hair is trying to murder me? Forgive me for not being so then."

"No, you damn arse. I thought once you had sex, you'd be nicer."

"Sorry to disappoint," I state coldly. When I catch her smiling and feel her shrug against me, my eyes narrow on her.

"It's okay. Not the first time you disappointed me last night."

I clench my jaw, ready to hurl numerous insults at her, only to have every remark disappear at the feel of her lips against mine. The damn minx. Riling me up for her own damn amusement just to show off that she can play me like a damn fiddle. My mind feels the flicker of something I can't discern inside her, but I can only assume it is amusement.

"So sexy when you're upset," she purrs against me, her fingertips lightly brushing my skin.

"I hate you," I grumble.

"You deserved that."

I grunt, slowly rolling away from her to get up out of bed. "Shouldn't you be writing your dearest Weasley?" I hear her soft laugh and see her roll her eyes so I frown. My insults have lost their sting. Of course, she rarely, if ever, was bothered by my harsh words.

"You know, I'm not sure which Severus I like better now." She flashes a mock smile at me. "The jealous one or the ticked one." I throw a pillow at her, disappearing behind the washroom door. Minx!

~IP~

I stiffen when I suddenly feel arms wrap around me. My eyes dart around to find a reflection before I sigh, realizing that it can only be on person. Aurora. Of course. The woman's going to become a leech with me now.

"Do you mind?" I ask with a slight frown.

"No, please. By all means, Severus. I enjoy it when a man lathers me up."

I whirl around, glaring at her. "What?" I hiss back, feeling strangely territorial with her now. I catch her snort of amusement instantly, forcing me to come back to myself quickly.

"Circe, you do get jealous easily, don't you?"

I growl, turning away from her. I hate it when women play their stupid games with me. When I feel her feather light kisses against my back a moment later, however, my eyes instinctively close. I barely notice that I lean back against her, breathing in deeply and relishing in the feel.

"I'm sorry, Severus," she whispers against my shoulder blade, pressing another light kiss on my increasingly warm skin.

Not wanting her to stop her current actions ever, I grumble, "Don't do it again, Sinistra." I hear her responding soft laugh before she starts to trace circles gently on my chest. I shiver as a result. Merlin, what this woman is doing to me.

"You like that, don't you?"

"Of course not," I answer stubbornly. I nearly cry out when she unexpectedly stops. My pride keeps me from begging her to continue. For years, I've known that touch will be my downfall. And by Felix Felicis, I will not allow a woman like her to discover that I crave touch above all else. She'd be unstoppable then. I'd never be able to say no to her. I'd not have the willpower as horrendous as that is to admit in this moment.

"Well then," she starts before sighing, "I can see I'm not wanted. I'll just go then."

I grab her wrist, pulling her back before she can even open the curtain to leave. She tumbles back against my chest, allowing our bodies to meld together perfectly. My arm wraps around her, pinning her to my body. I cannot allow another beautiful woman to leave me. Not this time.

"I did not request that you leave, Sinistra."

"Well, you didn't exactly make me feel all warm and invited either, Severus."

"I apologize. Next time, I'll hand you an engraved invitation so that there's no mistake."

"See that you do."

I feel a tug at the corner of my lips as I slowly smile. I close my eyes again, relishing in the feel of her against me. I can feel her heart beating underneath my arm—steady but a bit fast, I note. But it's not fear she feels. There's uneasiness in her, as if she's like me—afraid of rejection.

"Sinistra—"

"Aurora," she corrects softly. "We've crossed that bridge where it's all right to call each other by our first names, Severus. We did have sex you know."

Merlin, grant me the patience with this woman. I glance up at the ceiling and sigh. "Aurora—"

"Thank you."

"Oh, will you shut it for a moment and let me finish, woman?" I growl, exhaling loudly.

"Yes, my dear Sevkins."

I release her instantly, clenching my jaw before whirling her around to face me. I'm greeted with that damn smile of hers. I only glare, however.

"No. You will refer to me by either my given name or Snape in private, or by my title in public. Is this understood? I will not be subjected to your idiotic pet names that you think are romantic and cute. They're not. They're stupid and idiotic and senseless. We are not fifth-years, Sinistra."

"Aurora."

"Sinistra," I growl, my glare deepening.

She shakes her head. "Aurora."

"Sin-i-stra," I hiss, lowering my voice.

"Au-ror-a."

"You are starting to make me regret our relationship."

"Only starting? Hmm. You're lasting longer than I thought you would." Her smile widens.

"I'm not laughing."

"No. You're not." She shrugs. "But a part of you is enjoying it immensely." Her eyes dart towards my slowly growing erection before she flashes that damn innocent smile of hers at me.

I glare at her. "I'm a man standing in front of an attractive woman who is naked. That is all."

"Really? Then why is it—?"

"Oh, dear Merlin, woman!" I throw my hands up into the air. "Are you going to frustrate the hell out of me for the rest of our lives?"

"Only if you promise to do the same," she quips, biting her lip with amusement in her eyes.

"I have a feeling I'm going to throw myself off the North Tower one day," I grumble.

"Oh, please. You'll just fly away before you hit the—"

My eyes narrow on her when she stops and stares at me with a look of confusion. I wait a moment for her to piece the memory together before watching her glance away.

"Are you all right?" I ask quietly, keeping my distance just in case she requires some space. I can only guess at this point what memory was invoked by that.

"Yeah. Fine," she replies shortly. Her arms quickly wrap around herself protectively.

"What did you remember?"

"Nothing. It's fine."

"Forgive me, but you don't like fine right now. Please. Talk to me."

"It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me, Aurora." I'm impressed how easily her name rolls off my tongue then. I didn't even have to think and force myself to say it. It just came out naturally. Perhaps I'm not as bad at this whole relationship thing as I believe myself to be. "Please."

"I saw your neck slashed open and you gasping for air, all right? You happy now?" she snaps, quickly trying to leave the shower again.

I gently pull her into my arms and hold her. "Never again will you feel that fear. Promise."