JKR owns the HP universe, I own nothing. Thank you again to my lovely beta reader Ella for all of her hard work! Thank you to my readers. I appreciate your support! Remember this is AU and Dumbledore is alive ;o)
Chapter 11
Beth held Severus and placed gentle kisses on his temple. He seemed to relax under her ministrations.
She placed her small hand under his chin and tilted his face until their eyes met, "Now," she smiled playfully, "do you think you can warm our breakfast after all of the hard work I've put into it?" she asked.
He smiled as she continued to run her fingers through his hair; her nails were lightly raking his scalp. He enjoyed the intimate way she was wrapped around him. She was so sweet and lovely; he watched the way the light from the window played upon her charming face. Again, he was struck by the thought that she seemed so young. In truth, he had no idea how old she was. He blushed; well, surely she had finished some sort of graduate school if she was a teacher. Unless she was some sort of child genius.
With a flick of his wrist, he cast a warming charm on their plates. She slid off of his lap, and he quickly drew his hands around her and resituated her on his lap. "Not so fast," his deep, rumbling voice teased. He did not want to lose the feeling of her against him just yet. Her body was so soft, yielding, and the smell of her was intoxicating.
"Beth," he began tentatively. He had no idea how one asked a woman her age tactfully. He supposed there was no other way to put it, "how old are you?"
Beth giggled, "how old do you think I am?" She enjoyed the intense wave of discomfort that settled over him.
"Well, if I had to guess, I would say that you are at least Twenty-four," he looked at her curiously.
She threw her head back and laughed and kicked her legs with glee. "Really? Humph," she huffed as she decidedly slid off his lap and into her chair. Severus pierced her with his most laconic gaze.
"Weeell?" his eyebrow arched.
"You're way off," she threw him a mischievous smile.
He swallowed nervously. "Way off," sneering, he paused. "In what way?" His voice was dry and without humor.
Beth met his mirthless gaze and smiled, "Oh Severus, I'm Thirty-four! Can't a girl have some fun?"
"Thirty-four?" He breathed a sigh of relief. If she had been 24, he would have had issues tying such a young, beautiful girl to him. She was certainly mature enough, but he would have felt like a cad. As it was, she looked like she was not long out of the school room. What would people think, likely that he had her under the Imperius curse. Who would believe that such a beautiful woman would come to his bed willingly? He knew very well what he looked like, and he was more than aware of the common sentiment held by a good portion of the Wizarding world.
"Yes. I've always looked much younger than my actual age. Good genes and a baby face. Does it bother you that I'm practically an old maid?"
He laughed; it was like a deep, loud bark, "You are hardly an old maid." His eyes roamed over her face; she did have a sweet roundness that harkened to youth. She was so earthy in a way that most women lacked. The set of her large eyes and her sweet round cheeks were enticing. He had never been drawn to the young girls in his classes, but there was something entirely different about the youth and vitality she projected. If he didn't know better, he would think she could be part Veela. However, she lacked the sexual lure that practically dripped off those of Veela heritage. True, she was a beautiful woman, but her beauty was of a different, sweeter sort. She evoked a sense of longing and the promise of peace and fulfillment rather than a raw, needy lust.
"Would you feel differently if I were younger?" her eyes were full of concern.
"Yes, if we are being honest." His dark eyes met hers, "I do not think that I could let you go, but I would indeed feel terrible to ask you to give up your youth and spend it with such a dour old man."
It was her turn to laugh; "Severus, you are sweet, but age is just a number. Speaking of numbers, how old are you?"
Severus met her gaze. "Ancient," he remarked drolly. He was scared to ask her to guess. He knew that time and strain had weathered his face beyond his years, but he was curious. "It is your turn to guess" the corner of his mouth quirked.
"Forty-two" she said without hesitation.
"Well that was rather charitable of you," he smirked. "I'm Forty," he looked out of the window feeling a little awkward.
He felt her move closer, and her soft hand slid across his cheek. Severus, I would still feel the same for you if you were . . . Sixty. It makes no difference to me how old you are."
"Sixty, That's preposterous. You cannot be serious. The very idea . . .," His head shook and his raven hair caressed his firm jaw. "I would never presume at sixty," dark brows knit and his forehead furrowed.
"Oh Severus, don't be silly. And you're not sixty, so you don't have to worry about fighting off the advances of a woman almost half your age," Beth giggled and began to eat her breakfast. "It's cold again; warm it please, " she commanded.
"Cheeky girl" he grumbled darkly and waved his wand.
After breakfast, Severus sat at the table slowly drinking a cup of coffee and watched as Beth moved about the kitchen in her short robe. He briefly considered using magic to clean up the mess, but he was enjoying the view. Every time she leaned forward to wipe off a countertop or put a dish away, his eyes devoured the site of her naked thighs. A few times he even spied her scantily clad, round bottom; It was positively breathtaking. He was going to be hard all day thinking about her with those curls falling haphazardly down around her face and her robe gaping open providing him with a peek of her thinly covered breasts.
"I thought we might visit Hogwarts today," he said huskily. He was poised with his thumb on the side of his chin watching the way her robe was slowly riding higher and higher as she bent to grab the cleanser from under the cabinet. She bent all the way over, and he could see … everything, her bottom, her . . . and even her breasts as they struggled to free themselves from the bit of silk that barely held them in place.
Beth looked between her legs at him, met his hooded eyes and she knew. Oh, she knew she had a captive audience. It was time for a little fun.
Severus shifted in his chair as she slowly stood up. Turning on the dishwasher, she dried her hands and began to untie her robe slowly. "Then, I had better go get ready," she purred. Her nails lightly raked across the white shirt that covered his chest as she walked by. She dropped the robe at the bedroom door. He stood quickly, turned to watch her and upset the chair. His hair furled around his face with the swift movement and lightly tickled his jaw.
Her hands reached down on either side of her and lifted the little nightie over her head; the bit of silk fluttered to the floor. He followed her into the bedroom; dark, fathomless eyes followed her intensely. Her bare back was tanned save for a small white line that was likely due to her swimsuit. As if mesmerized, his feet were planted, and his glittering eyes followed her progress. She placed her sensuous hands on her narrow waist and brought down her nimble thumb, hooking onto the thin strap that held her panties on her lush, round hips. Shimmying them down slowly, she bent her knees; and in a movement almost too quick for him to catch, she dropped them to the floor, picked them up with her toes, looked over her shoulder, and threw them at him. He blinked as they hit his thigh just to the left of his very hard member. Severus stood rooted to the spot while listening to her shower. "This gives new meaning to the phrase "a long, hard day,'" he snorted.
Severus left a brief note stating that he would return shortly and asking her to pack an overnight bag. He decided that they would stay in his chamber that evening. He was sure that she would take pleasure in exploring Hogwarts. It would be wonderful to take some time and allow her to enjoy her first visit. There was so much to see, and he knew that there would be several professors there, including one nosy headmaster, who would want to meet the woman who had captured his heart.
Severus changed quickly and grabbed a few vials to take over to Beth's house. The idea of bathing in floral scented soap did not appeal to him. His long strides could not carry him back to her soon enough. He nearly flew up her porch steps and anxiously threw open her front door.
Beth squeaked with surprise as Severus jerked open her front door just as she was about to grab the doorknob. "Oh, you startled me," her heart thrummed in her chest and her slim hand fluttered to her throat like a startled little bird.
He took her in; it had only been a few minutes. It had felt too long. His hands slid slowly around her shoulders and he pulled her to him slowly bending down to capture her lips in a sweet, searching kiss. Warm golden eyes smiled up at him. She was wearing green. His hungry eyes devoured her. The sleeveless dress she wore had a demure, square neckline. It was decorated with embroidered cut outs of leaves across the bust and waist, and lovely pleats nipped in her waist and flared out into a full skirt that fell just below her knees. She looked positively charming. He noticed that she even had a black cardigan draped over her arm and silver earrings in her ears – very Slytherin.
Looking into his vulnerable eyes, Beth smiled. This man was such a wonderful mystery. Never had she met a man who emanated such power and yet such vulnerability. Severus took her bag from her hand and walked her back into the living room.
"Aren't we going to Hogwarts?" she asked.
"Yes, but we are going to apparate," after the hell that he had endured in her car, he was secretly looking forward to her reaction to apparition.
"Apparate, how does that work?"
"You must hold on to me tightly. The sensation is altogether unpleasant initially, but once you have done it several times it becomes more tolerable. Are you ready?" he was not unmoved by the wide eyed look of terror in her eyes. "You are perfectly safe Love," callused fingers stroked her jaw as he placed a chaste kiss on her upturned lips.
"I trust you," she murmured as she buried her face into his chest, inhaled his arousing sent and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.
He could feel the nervous energy coming off of her in waves. Struck by her vulnerability, he slid his arm around her trembling shoulder and held her to him tightly.
An unnatural tugging sensation seemed to pull at her naval, and she felt as if she was being pulled through a vacuum and squeezed out the other end. The experience left her shaken and nauseous. Severus caught her against him, dropping her bag on the path that led to Hogwarts. "Are you alright?"
"I'll be ok." Her face was pale and she covered her mouth with her small hand. Eyes closed, she breathed in deeply inhaling a loamy freshness quite different from the fragrant, dry air of her home. Looking up at Severus, she noticed that they were surrounded by trees, and in front of them stood a tall iron gate. She could feel her skin tingling. "Is that it," she said with disappointment. The gate looked rusted and dilapidated. There seemed to be some sort of ruin, perhaps an old castle, behind the gate. Everything seemed to shimmer; it was as if there was something just out of her reach. She walked forward and touched the air. It was the same sort of tingling she had felt while holding Severus' wand. She reached her hand forward to feel the shimmering air, and a bolt of energy rocketed through her overwhelming her senses.
Severus had never seen a Muggle react to the wards that had been placed over Hogwarts. He had expected her to experience some reluctance to enter the grounds. What he did not anticipate was her current reaction. Curiously, she wove her hands into the magic barrier that enveloped the grounds. These wards had been in place for hundreds of years. Something about her reaction seemed unusual. When suddenly she was enveloped by a blinding shock of magical energy, Severus started. He leaped forward to catch her as she feinted.
Severus quickly maneuvered the wards, opened the gate, and carried Beth up to the castle. He was met on the steps by Dumbledore.
Eyes twinkling merrily, the old wizard laughed. "My, my Severus, what have you got there?"
"Albus, I've no time for any foolishness. This is Beth, and I am not quite sure what just occurred. I trust you received my message via floo? I am sorry that I did not give you more notice, but we decided to make a trip this very morning. What I did not anticipate was her reaction to the wards. She is a Muggle, but for some reason she seemed to see the magic used to construct the extensive wards that protect the castle from prying Muggle eyes."
"Come, come," Albus gestured with his thin weathered hands. His long silver beard fluttered in the morning breeze. He peered over the rim of his glasses once more to the pretty girl that Severus held in his arms. His lips curled in a smile, "come, my boy, let's bring your lovely guest to my office. It is much closer than the infirmary. We should run some diagnostic tests. I'm sure it's nothing serious," the old wizard hurried down the stone corridors, periwinkle robes fluttering, while the figures in the animated portraits nosily tried to catch a glimpse of the unconscious form held by the notoriously gruff potions master.
Once in Albus' brightly lit office, Severus gently placed Beth on a plush burgundy sofa. Fawkes cooed and flew over to rest on the arm of the sofa. He leaned down his gorgeously plumed head to get a closer look at Beth. He nuzzled her cheek softly with his beak and began to sing. It was euphoric. Severus and Albus watched as Beth's eyes fluttered. Smiling as if in a daze, Beth's eyes opened and searched nervously until she spotted the dark clad frame of her lover.
As the last strains of Fawkes' song settled over them, she asked "Severus, where are we?"
