It. Is. Finally. Done.

I want to say thank you to all my faithful readers who held out so long without another update. But this chapter was terrible. At first I got stuck with a writer's block, then Savaric wasn't a nice boy and did what he wanted. When I got around to edit the chapter, it only halfway went where I wanted it to go. I finished writing it but I wasn't anywhere near happy with the result. Something was missing, and I had no clue what it was.

My dear beta JadeSullivan was very good with the chapter, and I have to thank her a lot. But although she did a lot to bring the chapter where I wanted it to be it still wasn't what I wanted it to be.

So I looked for another beta to help me out, and mudbloodproud did a fantastic job, too.

I was halfway on deciding to submit the chapter like it was, but in the last minute I changed my mind and asked GringottsVault711 to help me out. She agreed, and found what was missing. I edited several paragraphs, and here it now is: chapter ten. Enjoy!

– chapter ten –

… Sixteen

September 1st, 1868

The first thing I noticed when stepping through the barrier was that, as usual, the platform was packed with students and parents alike; however, I had the feeling that more people were present than ever before. Many of the families looked around curiously, and this behaviour showed me that those people weren't familiar with magic. Elle noticed it, too; my sister huffed and sneered, then turned around abruptly and stalked over to the first train wagon. Savaric briefly jerked his head after my sister, ordering me to follow her. With a silent sigh and one last look over the bustling crowd, I hastened to comply. Savaric followed closely behind.

Elle had found us a still-empty compartment near the train's front, and while Savaric stowed our trunks into the rackets above the seats, I made myself comfortable with an Arithmancy book in my lap.

My sister sat down opposite me and said, 'Don't get too cosy; we're supposed to meet the new Heads in the Prefect carriage in a few minutes.'

I nodded but opened the book nonetheless, thinking that a little light reading until the scheduled meeting time wouldn't harm anybody.

The cushion on which I sat dipped, and I noticed Savaric sitting next to me. He reached over and grabbed my book. 'Put that away, will you? Term hasn't even started yet, and you're already putting your nose into a book. It's still holidays, Isla.' He threw the thick, five hundred page volume onto the empty seat next to him, out of my reach. I spared myself the effort of responding because I knew it would be fruitless. Instead I chose to pout with my back leaned against the wooden panel of the wall and my arms crossed in front of my chest. I threw him an angry glare which he simply ignored. Savaric folded his hands behind his head and made himself comfortable, closing his eyes and stretching his legs until his feet vanished underneath the opposite seat.

'I wonder who the Heads will be?' my sister queried to interrupt the tense silence within our compartment.

'Simon Grey from Gryffindor and Rhiannon O'Learan from Ravenclaw,' Savaric answered automatically although Elle hadn't directly addressed the question to either of us. 'Personally I think that O'Learan is made for the job. Grey has no potential.' He opened his eyes and looked at my sister. 'You would have made an even better Head Girl than that half-blood though.'

Elle eyed him suspiciously and opened her mouth to say something in return, but just then the compartment door slid open. All of our heads turned towards the newcomers. I turned to look out of the window, however, when I noticed that it was only Atreus Searle entering, dorm comrade of Savaric.

'M'ladies Black,' Atreus greeted Elle and me with a mock little bow before nodding towards Savaric and sitting down opposite my betrothed, looking back and forth between Elle and me. 'How was your summer?'

'Mine was good, as usual,' Savaric replied bored. He had his eyes closed and didn't even look at Atreus when speaking to him, but a mysterious smile played around his lips; he was probably remembering the time he had spent with me.

I smiled, too, and exchanged a brief look with my sister who stood, excusing herself; she wanted to find her friends and sit with them. I watched her leave. My eyes stayed fixed on the compartment door even after she had been gone for several minutes. No one spoke for a long time, and the silence was becoming awkward. When I finally was able to detach my eyes from the door and turn my head towards Atreus, I saw that he was looking at me expectantly.

'It has been excellent; I have no reason to complain,' I said quietly returning his stare. 'And yours?'

He scrutinised me with a haughty demeanour which, outwardly, I took unperturbed, yet it made me go cold on the inside; his eyes held a peculiar gleam that I had never seen before; it was slightly unsettling. He leaned back and looked me up and down predatorily. Slowly, he answered, 'As relaxing as any other holiday.'

'I see…' I vaguely replied and made to look away, but I somehow felt it impossible to simply turn my head another direction. It was as if I had been petrified without knowing it; yet I still had control over my eyes. Taking a closer look at Atreus, I noticed his hand hidden in his pocket – where he probably had his wand stored.

But I wasn't the only one who noticed this.

Savaric growled audibly next to me and lunged into his own pocket. With a swift flick of his wand in my direction, my body relaxed again and I could finally look away from Atreus' eyes. Savaric, however, shot a non-verbal jinx in his roommate's direction. 'Stop looking at my girl or you'll wish you'd never been born,' he added, his voice low and threatening.

Savaric's words eased the coldness inside me, but the feeling was replaced by an irritated heat over the possessiveness in his tone; I didn't like it. Yes, I was his, and he had some control over me, but still…

My thoughts were interrupted when the train gave a violent jump that made the trunks rattle in the rackets. Slowly, it gathered speed until the houses began flying past the windows. I was staring in fascination at a house painted a shocking orange when I felt Savaric grab my hand. He pulled me up, and together we left the compartment.

Once in the corridor, Savaric gathered speed as well and quickly marched down the train's length. I stumbled after him, my hand still in his, and asked if he couldn't slow down, at least a little. He didn't seem to hear me. Or if he did, he simply ignored my request.

We arrived outside the Prefect Compartment a short while later, but before Savaric could open the door, I asked, 'What did Atreus want, looking at me like that? And why did he hex me?'

Savaric let go of the door's handle and turned around; he grabbed my shoulders, shaking me sternly. 'Stay away from Searle, do you understand?' Since his shaking was becoming more violent by the second, I could only try to nod.

After a while, my betrothed let go of me, but his eyes still held mine. I couldn't guess what was going on inside Savaric's head, but I could have sworn it was nothing good. He slowly opened his mouth, as if deciding whether or not to tell me whatever he wanted to say, but the words never came. Instead, a new voice spoke up:

'Excuse me. Do you intend to block the way any longer?'

I tore my eyes away from the familiar dark brown ones in front of me and turned around to see two Hufflepuffs. I vaguely recognised their faces; they were fifth years like Savaric and me, the Prefect Badge shining on their school robes indicating so.

'Sorry,' I said and stepped aside to let both pass.

The boy opened the compartment door and let the girl step inside; all the while he looked at me, his expression a mixture of curiosity and recognition. But he didn't say anything and hurried to follow his housemate; luckily so because in that moment Savaric stepped in his direction, probably to show that no one beside Savaric himself was allowed to look at me. The timed arrival of the Head Boy, however, ensured that nothing out of order happened, and we were ushered inside.

--

The meeting itself was rather short. We were introduced to each other and then got our patrolling plan and the first prefect meeting dates. When Savaric started discussing with the Heads that the meeting schedule didn't co-ordinate with his Quidditch training sessions, I used that opportunity to survey the assembly of other prefects.

The Hufflepuff boy from before had introduced himself as Ranulf Able; I remembered him being the boy who was Sorted before me. He was even taller than back in first year; his wavy brown hair had grown rather long and hung uncombed, but handsomely so, and his dark blue eyes were smiling. He looked like a good-natured youth that I could befriend easily, and the sight of him reminded me of another Hufflepuff with blue eyes and an outgoing character. For a short moment, I wondered what had become of him.

But right then Savaric had finished his discussion, and we went back to our compartment. The rest of the journey was spent in tense silence; Savaric and Atreus stared at each other the entire time, both constantly fingering their wands. I wished I could have stood and left, but one look into Savaric's dangerously tightened brown orbs told me to not move an inch. Sighing I admitted defeat and went back to my reading instead, blocking out everything around me.

--

Over the next few months, things didn't improve; if possible, they got even more complicated.

The first thing I noticed was that Savaric had begun acting kind of stiffly around me and I couldn't put my finger on it; after all it could have been just a hallucination on my part. But his eyes held a gleam I couldn't interpret, and it was strangely familiar. Only I couldn't remember where I'd seen that expression before. He also tended to look me over more often, as if he was appraising me. I was perplexed.

Then there was Atreus. He had begun looking at me with lust and hunger that made me fear what he was thinking – and intending. Savaric was holding him under control so far, but I dearly hoped I would never meet him alone one of these days.

The boys in general seemed to be acting more strangely than usual. Of course, they were still civilised and courteous, but to me it seemed as if they were struggling with inner demons. More than often they threw us girls long, wanting gazes, and some of my own dorm mates blushed when on the other end of such a look. I asked Elle what this unusual behaviour meant; she laughed and made fun of me until I threatened to hex her into next week if I didn't get a clear answer. She and I then went into an empty classroom, and she explained that the boys were growing up and experiencing changes in hormones. Naturally, the boys were seeking out possible partners for mating. She even went so far as to describe the entire physical process between men and women.

I was kind of… intrigued, I had to admit. Her explanation cleared some things up about Savaric for me, and I began to understand why he was acting so strange lately. It also explained what had happened between us last summer, when he had been over at our house to give me my cat. I blushed furiously upon the memory alone of where this could have led and my cheeks grew very warm. Luckily Elle didn't notice. She kept on talking.

Still, the process she described sounded entirely disgusting, and I made myself a mental note to stay a virgin until I at least was married; after all, it was dishonourable not to. Yet according to Elle this process was natural, and I should get used to the idea of a man deflowering me.

But she then warned me to be careful about how I acted around the boys from now on. A good-looking girl like me would be an easy target for first experiments.

When we returned to our common room, I sighed and wrote myself a mental note to stay as far away from the boys as possible.

--

The coming months brought homework and other school-centred activities and those alone put off my thoughts about the boys, at least for a little while. I often had more important things to watch out for, like prefect duties. There was a regular meeting every two weeks, and every second meeting the Headmaster was present as well. I had to patrol corridors after curfew with either Savaric or another one of my fellow prefects.

But when Savaric and I were the only ones patrolling, we mostly used the time to hold hands. Sometimes he would draw me near to kiss me. I didn't mind, and returned his kisses – often with a passion that surprised me myself. I got all warm on the inside during these moments and some strange feeling would creep up, threatening to take over my free will. I found myself wanting to just lock myself up with Savaric in an empty room and completely offer myself up to him there and then. But my education and Elle's warning would come back to my mind, preventing this unladylike behaviour that would result in something I would deeply regret one day.

One Tuesday evening I had to patrol the Charms' corridor with Ranulf Able. We talked little, but when we did, we discussed the latest assignments in Charms, what the OWLs would be like and other school stuff. I remember that the Hufflepuff had been the only one of my patrol partners that hadn't shown signs of fear or discomfort when he was around me; everyone else was too strained to talk, so our duty was spent mostly in silence. If it was due to me being a Slytherin or something else, I didn't know. But Able explained it quite well:

'You mustn't misunderstand them. For them being a Slytherin means that you're obsessed with pure-blood mania and other extreme feelings like that. They are prejudiced. Slytherins and Gryffindors have been enemies since the namesakes fell out, and although the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs might not hold any grudge against the other Houses, they tend to stick to their own.'

'But you aren't biased,' I wondered, stating my observation as a fact.

'I try not to be.' He looked at me, a friendly smile on his face. 'And you seem to be a very decent girl… and Slytherin.'

I thanked him – a bit mockingly I admit – and we finished up our patrol tour for the evening.

--

Halloween came and went, and then Christmas approached in huge steps. The holidays at home were relatively quiet and packed with homework, and I missed having Sol around. Savaric had gone to visit Rome with his family so my cat had to stay behind at Hogwarts since I still was not allowed to bring it home with me.

Easter came, and with it my sixteenth birthday neared. Usually turning sixteen was no big event to fuss over, but it apparently was for Savaric. His behaviour had changed – again. One moment he was utterly sweet, and the next he hurriedly excused himself and ran for it. I had no idea what got into him in these moments. Even when I thought about it more closely, I got no explainable results.

On the morning of my birthday Savaric and I were appointed to go to breakfast together. He had invited me to a private one in the kitchens. I waited for several minutes, but he never came. It was Atreus who then told me Savaric was already in the Great Hall, having decided to go alone rather than with me.

I couldn't believe it. After he had invited me he left without me? I felt anger and disappointment surge through me, and without another word I left the common room. Atreus, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, smiled maliciously, but I didn't think about it. I was too fixed on the mixed feelings that ran through my veins. I was in a bad mood.

Atreus followed me.

'You know, it isn't very gentlemanlike of him to invite and then drop you.'

I kept on going, not saying anything in return.

'I wouldn't have let you down. Orwell is known for dropping girls as he pleases.'

I stopped and turned to face Atreus. He was halfway hidden in the shadows of the dungeon hallway in which we stood, and he looked a bit creepy. Shaking my head to get rid of the thoughts, I said, 'What are you talking about, Searle?' Savaric isn't seeing anyone except me. We're betrothed.'

Another malicious smile crept onto his face. 'That's what you might think, Isla –'

'Black for you, if you please,' I interrupted him. 'And why should he lie to me?'

The look he shot me let me get icy on the inside. 'You haven't bedded him yet, have you? No, you haven't. Otherwise you'd know what I mean.'

'W-wh-what?' I asked in disbelief. 'What is this of your business?' I felt my cheeks burn with heat, but it did nothing to melt the cold knot that still resided in my stomach.

He lifted his hands and showed me the palms in an offer for peace. 'I'm sorry if I stepped over your privacy line, M'lady. But I felt it was my duty to show you that Orwell isn't the nice prince he acts. He's possessive, but he wants not only you. You haven't offered yourself to him, and so he looks for girls that are more than willing to take your place next to him.'

I remained silent and stared at him, trying to figure out what he was talking about – or why he really was telling me this.

'You should think about yourself first, Isla. That is your prior duty to yourself.'

His words reminded me of mother's letter: You are at first you. I closed my eyes to regain control again, to get my thoughts back to normalcy. But at this moment I felt Atreus take my hand. He kissed its back, but when I tried to tear my hand out of his, he held tightly to it and with his second hand circled my waist, drawing me closer to him. Before I could stop him, he kissed me fully on the mouth.

I felt petrified and didn't fight against his invading tongue. Only when his salty taste registered in my brain did I bite down, thus ending the kiss. He didn't let go of me, though, and attempted to claim my mouth again.

This was when Savaric stepped in. He grabbed Atreus' shoulder and yanked him away from me. The sudden lurch made me stumble until I weakly sank against the wall, sliding down the cold stone until I came to sit on the floor. Shaking, I released the wallowed up tears and cried.

In the meantime, the two boys had engaged in a full-blown battle. Both had their wands out and were shooting spells and curses at each other, duelling to the fiercest. Every so often, a jinx would hit its aim and the person would stagger, but most of the curses either flew past or were redirected with Shield Charms; they then hit the walls instead.

Soft hands on my shoulders helped me up and out of harm's way. I didn't notice that it was Professor Myth until we arrived in her office. She calmly soothed me with reassuring words and placed me on a comfortable sofa. A cup of tea was pressed into my hand, and my Head of House told me that Professor Clayfield was currently taking control of the duel in the dungeon hallway.

--

Both boys had lost Slytherin a hundred points each and received two weeks' worth of detention. Atreus had been sent to the Hospital Wing due to serious injuries, and Savaric had a deep gash on his left cheek. He looked like a dangerous pirate, except that the hat and sailor's clothes were missing.

Savaric was angry. He cornered me after Herbology in the pumpkin patch of Professor Birch and ordered me to tell him why I hadn't fought back. When I told him I had been surprised by Atreus' actions and had been shocked for a moment, he lifted his hand as if to slap me, but he caught himself before his hand met my cheek. I had nonetheless closed my eyes in dreaded anticipation, yet when nothing happened I opened them again and met Savaric's searching gaze. I gulped, grabbed my bag more tightly and made a run for it. He didn't follow me, but I had a feeling that he wouldn't let the matter rest this easily.

My suspicion proved true, and the same evening he asked for a private word. I was sitting in front of the Slytherin common room fire with Sol comfortably curled up in my lap, but I consented to his request the moment I looked into his dark eyes. Lifting my cat and holding it to my chest, I followed Savaric into his dorm. It was empty, and he asked me to sit down.

For the next ten minutes Savaric ranted about my weak defence against Atreus' kissing attack, but he didn't lash out. He simply paced up and down next to his bed on which I sat; I held Sol tightly against me, and the cat licked my cheek and softly purred into my ear as if it was trying to soothe me while I was asking Savaric why he had cancelled our private breakfast.

Savaric stopped rather abruptly with his ranting and pacing. 'I didn't cancel it. I was held up, and when I entered the common room, Pearce said he'd seen you leaving. I wondered why you should have cancelled our breakfast since it's your birthday, so I followed and saw you both together.'

'Atreus said you've dropped me like you do with other girls.'

He looked at me with an unreadable expression. 'I've never been with anyone else.'

'That's what I told him, but he said you're lying to me in this regard.'

Savaric grabbed a chair and positioned it opposite of me. His shoulders sagged tiredly, and he rubbed his face with his hands, sighing, 'God, I hate Searle…'

Not knowing what else to say, I mumbled, 'I'm sorry.' I didn't dare meet his eyes.

'It's not your fault, Isla,' he replied, surprising me so much that I looked up. 'It was him who lied to both of us this morning to lure you away.' He smiled sadly. 'You know, I understand why he did what he did.'

Confused I furrowed my brow and asked, 'What do you mean?'

He looked me up and down again, his eyebrows raised speculatively; he seemed to want me to understand what he meant before he had to explain it. But since I didn't, he began slowly, 'Remember when we talked about your beauty at your cousin's wedding?' I nodded and he continued, 'You really are a beauty, Isla. The most beautiful witch I've ever seen.' I blushed upon his compliment and felt elated, but I sobered up a bit when he added, 'And that's why Searle acted as he did.'

'You mean he's… attracted to me?'

'Yes, but he only wants you in a physical way. I know for certain that he doesn't feel a thing for you. And since he knows that he'll never get you, he acted on pure lust rather than being a gentleman about it.'

The memory of the morning's events replayed itself in my mind, and suddenly I understood Atreus' hunger when he kissed me. It had been similar to the kind of hunger I always felt whenever I kissed Savaric. And speaking of which…

'I need to tell you something,' I began quietly and hugged Sol closer to me while I told him about all the feelings I had bottled up inside me for quite some time now.

When I had finished my confessions, Savaric remained silent for several long moments and looked at me in a strange, unreadable way. But then he told me something, too – the second reason he had come over the previous summer...

--

July 21st, 1868

Breathing deep once more the youth stepped forward, quickly knocking against the library's door. When he got a positive response, he opened the door and entered into the room that was filled with several isles of shelves, every one of them lined with hundreds of books. Most of the volumes were well-used, their covers worn by the many hands that had held them over the years. The few that had not yet been read stood out; their covers were bright colourful stains in the otherwise dusty shelves.

'Savaric, how nice of you to visit. Come in, please.'

Upon hearing the older man speak, the youth turned his attention away from the bookshelves and pivoted slightly to his left. There, in a burgundy-coloured armchair, sat his future father-in-law, relaxed against the soft cushion of the furniture with his legs crossed, and in his lap a thin book lay open. The man looked up curiously and caught Savaric's dark brown eyes with his own stormy grey ones.

'Please, take a seat,' Mr Black offered, indicating the armchair opposite the one he occupied. Savaric politely thanked him and sat down as the older man asked, 'To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?'

'Sir,' Savaric began, making himself comfortable, 'I do not want to be disrespectful, but there's something I need to ask of you.' He got to the point immediately because he knew that Mr Black hated people that beat around the bush.

'Of me?' Mr Black asked surprised. 'What could I give that your parents can't?'

'Permission in matters concerning your daughter, sir.'

His opposite raised an eyebrow questioningly but nodded for Savaric to continue.

'Sir, there are actually two things I need your permission for.'

Mr Black shut the book and stood. Dropping the book on the little table next to his armchair, he went over to a cupboard and opened it; behind the opaque door was a decanter filled with dark red wine. The man took two glasses and filled them, then offered one to Savaric. 'What would those 'things' be?' Mr Black asked as he sat back down.

Savaric smelled the bouquet and only nipped at the expensive wine. Holding the glass into the sunlight streaming into the library's windows he elaborated, 'The first is a gift I intend to present Isla with.'

'Savaric, you are always allowed to give her whatever you please.'

'Thank you, sir.' The youth put the glass back down, holding it over his lap while he made eye contact with the older man. 'But I thought in this case I should get your permission first. Allow me?' When Mr Black waved one hand in consent, Savaric put the glass onto the little table and called, 'Heela!'

With a loud pop, a female house-elf appeared at the left side of the Savaric's armchair, holding a beige carton in her hands. Carefully the elf sat the carton onto the dark blue carpet and then bowed deeply. She disappeared with another noisy pop.

'I want to present her with a pet,' Savaric said and plunged his hand into the carton, taking out a baby kitten, which mewed fearfully and shook with violent tremors.

Mr Black's expression was unreadable. For several moments the silence in the library was as dense as the thickest morning mist of London's streets. When the older man finally spoke, his voice was firm. 'You do know that I do not think much of a cat as a pet for my youngest.' It wasn't a question but a statement, and Savaric knew it.

Carefully he placed the little tabby back into its carton and responded, 'I could keep the cat with me during holidays. It will never set a single paw into your house after today.'

Eyeing the beige carton with his cool, tightened orbs, the older man remained silent for longer than before. His forehead became slightly wrinkled as he thought. 'Let me think about it,' he finally said, dismissing the topic for the time being. He suddenly stood and went to refill his glass; Savaric turned down the offer for another.

'Is there a reason for you would like to get Isla a pet?' Mr Black asked after a silent moment.

'Yes, sir, there is. I know for certain that Isla has been made Prefect.'

'Has she?' The tone of the older man's words implied that he had had no doubt that his youngest child would follow in the footsteps of her older siblings.

'She should have received her owl by now.'

'I see…' Mr Black walked over to the window and looked out, taking small sips of his wine now and then. 'And you do not know, by chance, who the second Slytherin Prefect would be?'

'As a matter of fact, I do, sir.' When the older man didn't say anything, Savaric continued, 'That would be me, sir.'

Slowly Mr Black turned around and looked at Savaric over the rim of his glass. His eyes held a calculating but content gleam in them, and Savaric felt secure to continue with his approach.

'Sir, if you remember, there were two things I need your permission for.'

'You said so at the beginning,' Isla's father acknowledged the youth. 'What is the second reason for your visit?'

'Since Isla's twelfth birthday we've been engaged with each other. I plan on celebrating the marriage on my birthday, my nineteenth birthday to be exact.'

Taking a quick, mental count, Mr Black nodded and said, 'That would be around four months after you both graduate Hogwarts.'

'Correct, sir. I already have her hand by your word…' He needn't continue because the older man knew perfectly well that whenever Savaric wanted to undergo the marriage ceremony, he, as the father, had no right to contradict. His daughter was officially Savaric's possession.

However, the youth was still not finished with expressing his requests. 'But I didn't come here to discuss the ceremony's date. I want to request your permission for something else.'

The smile on Savaric's lips was tiny and mysterious… but very calculating and it sent a strange shiver down the older man's back, something he had never experienced before. Sitting back down into the armchair to hide his momentary uncertainty, the older man asked, 'What do you have in mind?'

Savaric leaned back against his own armchair and folded his hands comfortably in his lap. He let several seconds pass before slowly elaborating into the anticipating silence, 'I want to have her as soon as she turns sixteen.'

Savaric could see Mr Black repeating his words silently. Have her. 'Why would you want do to something like that?' his future father-in-law asked curiously; his voice wavered so slightly that an unpractised ear wouldn't have heard the shakiness.

But the youth never missed such fine distinctions. A wicked smile crept into his face.

'Don't we all have needs?'

--

'I can't believe you asked father that!' I exclaimed in an incredulous whisper, holding onto my cat as if my life depended on it. Maybe it did, maybe it didn't – but Sol's life definitely depended on me to stop squishing him so hard. But at that moment I didn't care what happened to my cat; I was too surprised by my betrothed's words. Two surprises within a single day – it was more than I could handle. 'What… what did he say?' I asked; my voice quavered slightly and tingling warmth swept through my body.

Savaric seemed to play with the idea of not telling me – I could read it in his eyes – but something must have urged him to answer my question because he said, 'He gave me permission for everything I requested. I gave you Sol, and he gave me the permission to have you.'

Sitting on the edge of Savaric's bed, my eyes slowly widening, I could only stare at him. My mind was racing, trying to find a reason that Savaric would lie to me. But then again, why would he lie? I was already his future wife, so why shouldn't he have the right to have me when he wanted to, except maybe that it would cross my promise to myself of remaining a virgin?

'I –'

His expression became sad and he looked away. 'Just as I expected…' he mumbled. 'But don't worry. If you don't want to…' His voice was hesitant, as if he didn't want to wait any longer. 'I can wait.' His words were honourable, but I felt that he only said it to not force me.

'Savaric, it's just –'

He held up a hand, still not looking at me. 'There's no need to explain, Isla.' He sighed heavily and I could clearly see his disappointment. He continued in an even sadder tone, 'I get it, and I'll respect your wish –'

Standing abruptly, thus dislodging Sol who hissed angrily, I said, 'Just let me finish my sentence, will you?' With an uneasy expression Savaric finally looked up at me again and nodded slowly. 'All I wanted to say is that I'd like to… do it.' The last I merely whispered and blushed; I had to look away.

'What about your wish to stay untouched?'

I sank back onto his bed before meeting his eyes once more. 'We're engaged, Savaric. If it happens tonight or in two and a half years – I don't see the difference.'

A smile crept onto his face and I shyly smiled back at him. He slowly got up and would have come over to me, but a furious mew from the door diverted Savaric's steps into that direction first. With a relieved purr, the feline slipped out the door, and Savaric locked it. He then came back, stashing his wand on the night table next to his bed. He immediately leaned in and kissed me, forcing my mouth open with his lips and tongue. I replied to his order eagerly, but when his hands started to roam up my sides, I tensed; nonetheless a moan escaped my lips. 'Relax, I'll show you.' His touch was suddenly gone, and Savaric leaned in closer. He urged me to lie back onto his mattress, and I complied. He started unbuttoning my blouse, and I closed my eyes, anticipating the feel of skin against skin and in the same time fearing what would be happening. When he murmured into my ear to relax and trust him, I shut out all thoughts and was willing to just let it happen.

And it was an experience worth remembering.

And now – after the long battle with Savaric and Atreus – I need to hear your thoughts. Desperately. Please, dear faithful readers, tell me if you liked it or not. Otherwise I will never improve.

And this is the place where I once more want to my wonderfully brilliant betas for chapter ten: JadeSullivan, mudbloodproud and GringottsVault711. Thank you!