Chapter 14

The morning of the semi-final was bright and clear. As both teams assembled there was a mighty roar. Across the arena a golden dragon danced over the wands of the students from China, swooping across the crowd eliciting cries of delight from those assembled.

Persephone, having finished her pre-game pep talk took her seat in the teacher's box and waited for the game to begin. Despite everyone's high spirits and all the excitement she had a feeling of impending doom. Watching the game she unconsciously started to twist the notes in her hands, shredding the edges of the paper and scattering the bits over her lap.

"Don't be nervous dear," said Minerva beside her, seeing the bits of paper against her black coat. "Your team is going to do just fine."

"I'm glad you think so. Your opinion means a lot to me," said Persephone as she twisted her hands in her lap further.

"It isn't just the match that has you bothered, is it?" She looked at her, serious now.

"No, it isn't." She looked down as she brushed the evidence of her nerves off her lap. "I am ready to go home. Sunday can't come soon enough."

Minerva frowned, looked up and saw Snape's usual place empty and shook her head.

As play progressed Salem found themselves behind. Persephone knew the Chinese team would be difficult to beat and she hoped her team would remember their training, and remember to work as a team. Her worry soon changed to excitement as Salem pulled ahead. The crowd was on their feet to the very end, and as the snitch was caught there was a blast of red, white and blue fireworks from the Salem section.

…

"We're going to the final!" shrieked Hannah as she ran toward Persephone who wrapped the girl in a hug and spun her around.

"I knew you would, I just knew you would make it!" Persephone beamed at her team as the rest of the Salem students all cheered and waved flags around them.

Columbia was there, her cheeks flushed with pride. "Oh, goodness, this is spectacular! You have all done so well! I'm so proud of you all!!"

Earlier in the day Salem had made it to the final rounds of charms, history of magic and potions, and now the quiddich team was on their way to the finals too. Other teachers and Headmasters came and congratulated them, wishing them luck against the team from Ireland. Ireland had a winning record, but she really liked their chances and she said so when the team from Ireland came by to look over the competition.

As she was shaking hands and thanking the well wishers she saw Finn approaching. Smiling at him as he walked toward her she was surprised when found herself swept into the air, spun around and then pulled into a bear hug.

"You are brilliant," he said as she set her down.

"No, my team is brilliant," she said, laughing. "They have really learned to work together as a team, and I could not ask for a better group to coach."

Everyone clapped and cheered and hugs were exchanged all around. After the crowd began to thin they started back to the castle. Finn walked with her and was unusually quiet. Before they got to the door he stopped her, looking off into the distance.

"I can't believe you will be leaving soon," he said.

"I know. I feel as if we just arrived and now it's almost over." Thinking back over the last week and a half she could not believe so much had happened, and so much about herself had changed.

"And," he said not looking at her, "will you miss anything about this place when you are gone?"

Persephone paused, not wanting to lead him on in any way, and eventually said, "I will miss all the new friends I have made here." He did not look at her for a while but when he did he smiled at her, and she knew he understood and was not angry. Smiling back she said, "How about you and I go get some dinner?"

"I think that would be great," he said and took her arm to lead her inside.

…

After everyone was settled for the night Persephone was in her room getting ready for the next day. She had washed her face and had slipped into her pajamas, a black and green tank top that said, "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?" across the front and some black cotton pants with the Salem logo across the back.

Just as she began to turn down the covers there was a knock at her door. She froze, immediately afraid. Taking her wand she carefully cracked the door open and saw Snape on the other side.

Seeing him did little to ease her anxiety, but she did set her wand down. She opened the door a little further and said in a cool tone, "Good evening, Professor Snape. Is there something you needed?"

"I would like to talk with you. May I come in?" He looked almost … nervous?

"Alright." She was suddenly very conscious that she was wearing her pajamas, and that her pajamas were rather … revealing.

He looked around the room as she went to her closet for a robe. While she was slipping the robe over her arms she said, "What did you need to talk to me about?"

"It is about what we discussed yesterday." He said the last word with a fair amount of distaste.

"Oh," she managed to say, waiting to see what he felt was too important to wait until tomorrow

"You will be leaving soon, and … I didn't want to leave things that way." His eyes were unreadable and he was standing across the room from her.

"Well, Professor Snape, you don't need to worry. Once I am gone it really won't matter anymore, will it?" She was feeling particularly nasty and wanted very much to be far away from all of this.

When he did not respond she said, "Professor Snape, was there something else?"

Rather than answer he crossed the room and captured her face in his hands and joined his mouth to hers. Stunned, she could do nothing but accept as he kissed her. Awareness slammed into her and put her hands against his chest to push at him, but rather than push they curled into the fabric of his jacket. He broke the kiss and pulled her back but did not release her.

"My name," he growled, "say it!" He pulled her back for another kiss, wrapping a possessive arm around her waist and moving his hand into her hair to hold her in place. She struggled against the voice in her head that said to stop him, that it would only lead to heartbreak. Soon, however, there was nothing but the kiss and she reveled in it. Again he pulled her back, this time only an inch from his lips and said again, "Say my name! Say it, damn you."

Her voice was breathy and shaking as she said, "Severus."

"Again," he said sharply.

"Severus," she said her voice stronger.

He turned and pressed her against the door. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with just as much passion as he, and as his hand slipped under her robe she groaned deeply in her throat. He skimmed his fingers over her stomach, over her ribs and settled them just under her breast.

He tugged her hair, breaking the kiss again. He looked into her eyes and said, "Tell me what you want," he said darkly, his eyes filled with passion. She whimpered, arching her back in offer, wanting him to touch her. His eyes filled with pleasure and his fingers brushed the bottom curve of her breast again. Her hips, of their own accord, began to move against him and she felt the evidence of his arousal. Moaning, she gripped his shoulders.

"Tell me what you want … tell me Persephone," his voice was ragged and he pulled her hair again.

"You …" she said in a husky voice.

"Say it again, Persephone." Again he skimmed his fingers over her skin making her shudder.

"Please, Severus, please…touch me." With a groan he lifted her face to his, kissing her with such passion her mind could hardly process every feeling and she felt herself reacting on instinct alone. His hand captured her breast and she responded by grinding her body against his. Not breaking the kiss he shifted his hold on her and pulled her toward the bed.

She moved her hands to the buttons of his coat, desperate to touch him, feel him. Fumbling slightly he pulled away from her and helped her remove his jacket and shirt. She let the robe fall to the floor and pulled off her tank. She noted with deep satisfaction that his fingers faltered on the last buttons of his shirt as his eyes roamed her body. She waited, letting him look his fill.

"So lovely," he said in a whisper as he reached for her, gently this time. Reaching to touch him he stopped her by taking her wrists in one of his hands and lifting them over her head against one of the bead posts.

Her breath caught as he took his time caressing her, teasing her. He dipped his head lower and kissed her throat, her chest, nipping her gently.

"Severus," she panted, not able to find any other words.

…

It was a mistake, he knew it was but he was beyond the point of caring. He had watched her over the past days and being so near to her was driving him slowly mad. Sitting in his room he found his mind coming back to her and their last conversation. She did not know him, yet she was willing to overlook the evidence of his past. That kind of acceptance was something he was not used to, and the desire it caused in him was too much to stand. Before he could talk himself out of it he went to her, and now he was in her room doing all the things he had dreamt of.

She was so beautiful and he felt totally unworthy of her. He tried to be gentle, but as she stood there, arms shackled by his, eyes half closed and panting his name he found the last of his good intentions crumble.

He gripped her body to his, feeling her skin against his and pulled her to the bed. He would regret this tomorrow, for tonight she was his.

…

Her skin damp with sweat, and she tried to catch her breath. No dream, no fantasy could rival what she just experienced with Severus, and if she lived a thousand years she would never feel this way about another man.

Despite it all she had fallen in love with him. She was in love with a man she hardly knew and who would never want her the way she found she wanted him.

She shifted next to him, trying to move away because the contact was too much, but he tightened his arms around her to hold her in place. She rested her chin on his chest so she could look at him. What she saw in his eyes startled her. Sadness.

She reached out and brushed the hair off his face. Leaning close she pressed her lips to his.

"I can't be what you need," he said softly. "I'm … complicated."

"This," she said, kissing his cheek gently, "right now is simple. It doesn't have to be any more complicated than this. I'm not asking for a lifetime. I will never ask you for more than you are willing to give."

"I don't want you to think … I'm not using you."

"Even if you were, I wanted you as much as you wanted me. I'm an adult and I decided to let you have me tonight. Let tomorrow bring what it may."

He kissed her tenderly. As they rolled together, loving one another with actions because they could not express it in words, she felt the finality of it, and as they rode the crest into the abyss together she hid the single tear rolling down her cheek.

…

She woke the next morning alone. Deep in her heart she knew he would not be there, but the disappointment still stung. His secrets were his to keep and she would not dig. Letting herself indulge in tears was not something she allowed, so rather than wallow in self-pity she got up and got dressed.

Today was a big day for Salem and rather than start the day on a low she tried to see the positives. She went down to the Slytherin common room and waited for her escort for the morning. After ten minutes she could not wait any longer and left alone. Before she went out to the game she had to run by the Salem team room and get some notes.

As she left Slytherin and made her way to the Salem team room she did not see the figure behind her. Reaching the Salem room she felt something behind her and drew her wand, but her vision began to dim. She felt a second of panic before the darkness claimed her.