Her hands were plunged deep into the soapy water, as she cleaned the lunch plates, thankful for the warmth that the water provided her. The whole house seemed cold as winter grew nearer. Kira shivered as goose bumps riddled her arms. Kira had made lunch for both her and Snape, but since there was no Wormtail, it was up to her to clean up. Of course she would have preferred a wand to help the chores along…
Sighing to herself, she glanced out of the kitchen window, noticing the sky was still its dull murky grey colour. Despite the weather, Kira felt unusually happy. Pursing her lips shut she gently hummed a familiar song to herself, letting her thoughts drift off. She wondered if busying herself with chores brought back some normality.
"Enjoying yourself?"
The voice startled her as the twisted her body to glance at Snape. He stood tall, eyes narrowed at her, questioning her mood. Her humming had stopped, but her mood did not dampen.
"Yes Master" she said, bowing her hear before turning back to the washing up.
Carefully she placed the plates on the draining board, and then she began searching for the kitchen cloth; her wet hands dripping soap spuds everywhere. Suddenly Snape was close behind her, the kitchen cloth hung from his finger as he held it out to her. Kira almost smiled at his gesture but only bowed her head and she dried her hands.
Kira now turned to look at Snape, but he seemed to be checking her handiwork with the dishes.
"Very well" he muttered, his eyes now meeting hers. "Come…Join me in the study"
Snape stood aside, his arm outstretched as he gestured for her to follow him. Obediently she followed him out the kitchen and into the study, where Kira noticed looked a little more untidy then usual. Book seemed to be perched on every available surface. Noticing Kiras questioning looks, Snape drew his wand from his robes and flicked it at the piles of books. Before her eyes they sorted themselves back into the shelves or neatly on top of desks.
Replacing his wand back, Snape led Kira over to the armchair where she sat down, not taking her eyes off him for a second. Snape did not sit in the armchair, but only leant against the desk, facing her.
Kira noticed hesitation, as he pondered on how he would approach the topic of the conversation.
"In two day we will be married" he waited, taking in Kiras expression before pressing on. "You must of wondered about the wedding and conceivable afterwards as well"
He waited for Kira to nod, allowing him to continue.
"The Dark Lord wants us to conceive a child. Raise it how we please though, obviously" he noticed Kira's flinch.
"Don't worry- We wont be conceiving immediately. However that does bring me onto the more…intimate topic. Of course you are aware on how a child is conceived..."
"Yes Master, I am fully aware" Kira quickly added, hoping he would spare her the details.
"Of course, the night of the wedding will be…a close encounter" a smile played on his lips while his eyes lingered over Kira.
"And for a few weeks I will ensure that you cannot conceive… A contraception charm will suffice"
She breathed a sigh of relief. Marriage is onthing-But a baby is something more…
"However we cannot delay The Dark Lord much longer- eventually we will conceive a child"
"Right, of course Master"
Crap
"Any other intimate encounters besides the times I have mentioned are down to you. I have no interest in forcing you, like other death – eaters would"
For that, he could see Kira was grateful. Kira knew that Snape, no matter about his allegiance with the dark lord, would do her no harm.
"About the child- we will go into more detail when that time comes."
"Ok" she merely nodded, a sickening feeling filling her stomach.
Snape nodded, moving himself away from the desk. He moved quickly around it, picking up black and red book that Kira had not noticed in the study before.
"There is one more thing" he opened the book, his eyes scanning the page. "Your vows"
Kira stood from the chair; her legs seemed to be shaking. Carefully she moved over to the desk to face him as he held out the book to her. Kira frowned, glancing down at the pages.
"I thought we were doing our own vows?" she looked quizzical as her eyes scanned the pages.
"We are. Traditional vows." He said bluntly.
"Master, may I ask…Whats the unbreakable vow?"
With that question, Snape raised his eyebrow while his eyes narrowed.
"I'm surprised you do not know. Cleary you were taught the wrong things when you were young" he sneered.
"An Unbreakable Vow is a magical incantation in which one wizard makes an oath to another. If the person who accepts the conditions of the Unbreakable Vow breaks them, they die. Instantly…" he gestured with his hand, his sleeve slightly rolled back.
Kira noticed the dark mark on his arm, a green black color. Snape caught her eye and quickly pulled the sleeve into place, covering the dark mark.
"Are we to…unite with the vow?" Kira looked nervously at Snape who nodded slowly.
"Yes- So I wouldn't try and break it if I were you"
"No Master…Master when we are married, you mentioned only if I wanted to…well have intimatacy…its down to me. Surely as a man you crave certain feelings…lust?"
Snape thought to himself for a second, her question surprising her. He pondered on his answer before he spoke.
"I mean you no harm, nor do I wish to force myself on you. Especially if we have to bring a child into the matter. That being said, you're right, I am a man that craves it. But not a man who would take it from someone" Snape thought for a moment. That answer will suffice.
Kira was pleased with his answer. Her eyes now moved to the book I her hand. The vows looked simple, easy. Traditional. Something Kira would not object to. After reading the vows a few times, Kira returned to book to Snape who eyed her suspiciously.
"Any problems?" he said coolly.
"No master. They are lovely vows. I have no objections to them at all"
"I'm glad you like them" he spoke softly as he moved around the desk to stand beside her. With his free hand he gently moved her hair from her neck, brushing it behind her shoulder. Kira stood still, her face slowly turning to face his, as she felt his body coming closer.
Kira heard him sigh in her ear, the warmth tickling her neck. A small smile appeared on her lips as they looked at each other. Although his face showed little emotion, she watched as the corners of his mouth twitch. He raised his eyebrows in response to her smile, to which she only blushed and look down. She then felt his hand on the small of her back, moving it to her waist. For some reason she moved closer to him, turning so that they now faced each other completely. Kira felt the intoxicating rush as something stirred in the air between them. A couple of times, she glanced at his lips, a sudden rush of needing to feel them against hers.
"That night I would not have been able to protect you from the dark lord, if he so wished to kill you. But as my wife, as Lady Snape, I may just be able to protect you from physical harm" He spoke slowly, but compassion rose in his voice as he looked down at her, his black eyes locking with hers.
"I thank you for that, Master. It makes things easier actually, knowing that as the man I am marrying, you mean me no harm"
Snape did not respond, but only pulled Kira against him. Tilting his head to look at her face better in the light, he could not see any uncertainty in her expression. Her heart was thumping, as a shiver ran up her spine as he looked at her.
"Do you trust me?" he questioned.
Finally, she realised, there was a simple answer.
"Yes"
For the rest of the day, Kira seemed to relax in her bedroom as she wondered about the wedding. Bar the murderous death eaters, Bellatrix and the dark lord, it might just be bearable. Something annoyed Kira. It was Snape that seemed to make it bearable. She thought back to that intoxicating rush that she had felt that sudden urge to kiss him. Shaking her head she sat up, adjusting her pillows against the headboard before leaning back.
Before, given the choice, she would leave. Run away and escape the darkness that haunted the wizard world. But now, when she thought about it, Snape had shown her kindness in his own way. But her thoughts then moved to his loyalty for the dark lord. He was still a death eater and she knew she would have to remember that, in order for it to work.
Snape then entered the room, casting a glance at Kira before closing the bedroom door behind him, tapping his foot impatiently. Kira looked at the clock and realised it was late evening. At first nothing registered until she caught the look Snape now gave her.
"Oh Master! Crap I forgot to cook, Im sorry I will go make something now" Kira shook her head at herself while she rolled of the bed.
Quickly she threw on a jumper for warmth, turning to leave the bedroom. She halted in her tracks when she noticed Snape had said nothing, but only stared at her.
"Master? - is there something wrong?"
He ignored her question.
"Tonight, I have cooked dinner, purely for the fact you forgot" he paused. "Excuse the meal- I have not bothered to cook for a long time, purely down to you or Wormtail doing it for me"
"Oh- Well thanks, that was kind of you"
Snape stepped aside as Kira walked past him, down the stairs and into the kitchen were the usually table had been brought in. She was taken aback when she saw that black candles laid the table, as well black and red satin table dress.
She turned to look at Snape who ignored her questioning looks, and instead sat down at one end of the table. Kira followed suit, eyeing him nervously as he picked up wine bottle in the centre of the table.
"This is…lovely Master, but why all the effort?" she watched Snape take a sip of the wine that he had finished pouring.
Snape again ignored her, taking his wand and tapping the bottle. The bottle moved over to Kira's glass and poured until it almost reached the brim. Forgetting his ignorance, Kira looked at the bottle. It wasn't labelled, causing Kira to become nervous about what it was he wanted her to drink. It smelled and looked familiar...
"Superior Red- Lucius gave me a bottle for helping his son. Along with a few other things of course"
"Oh right" Kira stared at the drink again, wrinkling her nose. "Sorry Master, but I don't drink"
"You will tonight" Kira watched as he took another sip, then replacing the glass back on the table.
Noticing her lack of movement, Snape lent across and picked up her glass. He raised it towards her, raising his eyebrow.
"Drink" he said.
Obeying his command, Kira took a sip of the drink, tasting the sourness, and then the sweetness as the magic to the wine kicked in. Surprisingly she liked it, taking another sip and then another.
They began eating, Kira taking in more wine then food. Snape watched her as she refilled her glass.
Feeling slightly tipsy, Kira swayed in her chair a little, when Snape began clearing the plates away with his wand, casting charms as the sink filled itself with water and began to wash every item of dirty cutlery.
Kira hiccupped, smiling at her light headedness. Snape now stood beside her, holding out his hand as she struggled to her feet.
"Thank you" she slurred, leaning against him.
"Kira, when I said drink I did not mean the wholebottle. Nor did I want you to drink it so fast" he said, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Kira sighed loudly, shaking her head.
"I never know what you want me to do" she muttered.
It was Snapes turn to sigh, as he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her towards the stairs.
"I will remind Narcissa to hide away any Superior Red she has lurking about. The Dark Lord will not take kindly to you in such a situation"
"I'm not drunk" she protested loudly, gripping onto the banister as they climbed the stairs.
"Don't lie to me"
She let out an annoyed huff, as her head began to spin, her grip becoming tighter in the banister. "I wouldn't"
"I have Veritaserum downstairs. If I ever thought you were lying, a few drops might accidently land into your pumpkin juice"
"I'm not lying" she protested again, trying to control her head from spinning.
"I noticed- but be assured if I ever thought you were lying…"
They reached the bedroom, where Snape let go of Kira to let her undress. Kira sat on the end of the bed as she removed her shoes and then her jeans. Kira has always been ready for bed before Snape had even thought about retiring to the bedroom. Snape watched her for a few moments, noticing her complete lack of attention, to noticing she was undressing in front of her master. Kira in only her bra and under ware now, having removed her top. She then slipped on her nightgown, then after a short time fiddling about; she managed to remove her bra.
She glanced at Snape, realising her mistake.
"Sorry Master" but he only continued to stare, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Don't be- your complete lack of attention is almost…amusing?"
She gave him a short glare, while he undressed, her eyes wandering over him the whole time. Sighing she tore her eyes away before rolling over onto her side, facing away from Snape. She was so tired; she did not notice that Snape had placed himself in bed beside her.
They laid in silence for a few short moments when Kira spoke. "Master, why did you kiss me?"
Instead of answering her, he only moved his hand and placed it gently on her shoulder. Kira shivered at his touch and with that motion under his hand, Snape wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him.
His lips came to her ears, his breath warm and gentle. "Are we not to be husband and wife?"
"Yes but- you have no feelings for me Master. You did not want to marry me, as I did not want to marry you" she turned to face him, forgetting the boundaries and turning to her instinct; questioning.
Snape looked at her for a short second, before roughly cupping her face and forcing her to make direct eye contact. Snape wondered as he looked into her complete emerald eyes, if she felt the same thing. No matter how hard he tried, when they were in close contact, he felt like a magnet; drawn to her. Ever since she had arrived, those feelings grew but he ignored them. The true reason for kissing her was that he could not help it. That answer would show weakness, but at the same time it also showed truth.
"I did not want to marry you. I do now, however believe things have changed"
With that, he leant down, his dark hair creating a curtain around them, as his lips touched her cheek softly. He muttered something in her ear, something Kira couldn't make out, before pulling away. While she looked at him, her heart attempting an escape through her chest, she felt the urge to lock their lips. That aching feeling in her chest, the suffocating feeling when their close, was driving her insane.
Snape only looked at her before, shutting his eyes, leaving Kira to turn back to her side; still laying in the tight grip of Severus Snape.
