Over the next week, Jordan and Severus more than made up for lost time, they were practically fucking all week long but Jordan had realized after some mount of time that if she rolled over to lay on her stomach that Severus was prone to having night terrors.
Most of the time all she had to do was reach over and place her hand on his chest to quiet him, but one night, the morning before the Governors were to arrive she couldn't seem to soothe him by her touch alone.
It was about 3:45 in the morning when Jordan awoke to him tossing and turning, screaming about not saving people. She placed her hand on his chest only for him to scream louder. In her shock, she tried to speak to him, only being drowned out by his voice.
She finally sat up on her knees and tried her best to cup his head between her hands. She caught him, but he still thrashed around in pain. She shook him repeating his name soothingly.
He suddenly opened his eyes and looked around the room as if he was surprised to see he was safe.
'Severus, it's ok. You're here with me, you're safe.' She said soothingly, rubbing his face.
He looked up at her and his face scrunched up, about to cry. 'I couldn't save them. I tried so hard, but I couldn't do anything.'
Her heart broke seeing him this way, and she pulled him up to her, cradling him in her arms. 'It's ok, Sev. It's over now. You did what you had to do. You had to keep up appearances. You're a Hero. I'm alive because of what you did, Sev.'
He looked up at her, heavily breathing and tears still rolling down his cheeks, 'You remind me so much of Lily: so kind, so innocent. You don't know what I had to do to those poor people. All because I was promised she'd be safe. But it was a lie. He came for her anyway. And I had to look into her eyes everyday that snarky little James Potter 2.0 walked into my classroom, seemingly unaware that I despised the mere look of him. He wasn't a bad kid. He was exceedingly dim witted, but he didn't deserve all that hate. He was a child, an innocent, and I treated him like the scum of the street. And it was all for nothing because he was to die anyway.'
'Sev, he was her son and he's the spitting image of his Father. You loved her more than anything; of course you had a grudge. As for his death, he wouldn't have walked into the forest like he did without your memories. You saved him Severus, and because of that, the whole Wizarding World was saved. Don't downplay your role just because it was ambiguous at times.'
He swallowed hard and looked up to her, searching her very being. 'I'm sorry, Jordan. I didn't mean to wake you-'
She stopped rubbing his chest and her eyes were aflame. 'Nonsense, Severus Snape. You are my partner. It's my job to hold you late at night and comfort you when you're upset.'
He sighed. 'You're right.'
She smiled down at him, 'Don't you ever forget it.'
His head shook a bit, seemingly trying to piece together why she loved him so much. 'Thank you, Jordan. I know you haven't said anything about them, but you've been comforting me all week. Believe it or not, I sleep better when you're in bed with me.'
She tufted. 'You could have had me fooled. And I didn't mention it because I thought it was normal. I find myself having to ask though. Is something wrong to make you have these night terrors, Severus? Like maybe you're remembering the-' Her eyes moved to his neck and back to his face. She'd been dying to ask about what happened that night and why he survived, but anytime she had the chance she couldn't seem to take it.
Severus saw her glance and lowered his head. 'I don't want to talk about that night, Jordan. But if must know, it's not that… I try not to think about that…'
Her hands came up to grasp his. 'But you've never even alluded to it, Severus. You know I'm understanding no matter what happened that I will understand. It's horrific having to just imagine…'
'Try living it. I assure you it was ten times worse than what you think it was.' He spat back making her lean back from him as she gripped his hands harder. He instantly knew he had startled her with his response. She was just trying to understand him. It wasn't like she was some nosey reporter like Rita Skeeter trying to get the real story. However, the events of the night he dodged death were back in the recesses on his mind and he wanted them to stay there. It was just too much to talk about at this point in time.
He leaned forward and pulled her into his chest, kissing the top of her head to comfort her. 'I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'm not upset with you. It's just… I haven't thought about it in so long for a reason.' He pulled her up at the shoulders and made firm eye contact. 'I will tell you one day, but until that day can you respect that it's too much for me to get into?'
Despite Jordan's natural bit of nosiness, she could see that he was being completely genuine with his words which made her sure of them. She nodded her head up ot him in reply. 'Yes. I think I can do that. Are you sure that nothing is bothering you to make you have these dreams?'
He looked down at her with a smile. She in fact was the reason he'd been having these dreams but not because she was doing anything wrong or bad, it was because he had plans for them, long-lasting ones. And at this point, he was a ball of worry that he wouldn't be able to protect her through it all. He didn't want her to be like the others he had failed to keep that promise to. In fact, he knew for certain that if anything happened to her, he'd surely die. But she couldn't know any of this. It would ruin his surprise. He hated to admit it but he had a knack for the dramatic and Minerva had already done so much for him in that respect to see it to fruition. She simply had to stay in the dark. 'I've had dreams like those for years, Jordan. But with you…' He took her hands and slowly intertwined his fingers in hers. 'I don't know. I just feel safe and like I have a purpose. You calm me like no one ever has before.'
She grinned up at him before she wrapped her arms around his neck and tackled him out onto the bed. 'I fucking love you, you fool.' She spat at his bemused face before she planted a full mouth kiss on his lips.
His hands came up to her head and pulled her into his embrace more before they pulled away and smiled at each other.
Rising up off the bed, much to her chagrin, he pulled her into him at her waist. 'I think I'm going to shower and have a walk around the grounds after breakfast, care to join me?'
She smirked, 'The shower, or the walk?'
'Both of course.' He said as an eyebrow rose.
She got out of bed and grabbed his hand as she led him to the shower and turned it on. She turned to him and tucked his hair behind his ear, admiring his face.
'What?' He asked as he pulled her into him.
'Why do you dwell on past experiences and mistakes when you could be showing everyone how much you've grown because of them?'
He took her words in, thinking them over for what seemed like ages. 'I don't know.'
She placed her hands about his neck. 'I know you find small triumphs in your intimidation of your students, but promise me you'll lift your mask every once in a while out of class. No one will think of you as weak, they'll think of you as human. You might even make it a little easier on yourself.'
He nodded his head in response. 'I will never stop giving them a hard time; it is my responsibility to push them. However, you may be on to something with that kindness business. As much as I hate to admit it, you could be right.'
She kissed his cheek, 'Humility looks good on you, Sev.'
He rolled his eyes, 'Good grief. Get in the shower.'
She opened the door and stepped in after him, immediately dropping to her knees.
He looked down, impressed at her willingness. She had yet to even allude to taking him in her mouth. 'Really?'
She took him in her hand and he instantly sprung to life. She smiled at her ability to excite him so quickly, and moved her eyes up to meet his, 'Wash my hair, Severus. I'll be a while.' With that, she took him into her mouth, swirling her tongue around his head.
He gripped her hair tightly, surprised at how warm her mouth was around his member. 'Take your time.'
He took the bright yellow shampoo bottle from the shelf and squeezed a good amount into his hand. He reached down to cleanse her long, auburn locks, and found it hard to concentrate on his job as she went to town on him. He went about it the best he could though.
She was now taking all of him into her and sucking heavily as she moved back up him. This earned her a complementary grunt and a tightening of her hair. She knew he was having trouble above her, but all it did was fuel her more. She knew what she did next would completely render him. She took him in fully and cupped his balls in her right hand. She felt them constrict a bit, but she went on. She heard both of his hands smack the shower walls as he tried to brace himself. She then went in for the kill: sucking back up his length she took a deep breath and plunged herself onto him, taking him down her throat, she constricted her esophagus and began to bob up and down as best she could, finding it a bit difficult to take all of him into her. Yet she was always one for a challenge and lord did she do it well.
He no longer went about washing the shampoo out of her hair because he could no longer think about anything else, but the fact that his member was completely embedded in her throat. He felt her start to move and he thrust up into her trying to go deeper. Then he felt her cup his balls again and he was done for. He gripped her shampoo-clad hair and pulled her into him.
She felt his balls constrict and felt him pull her into him. She forced her head back just as he came, as to taste as much of him as she could. He tasted salty, but not too overwhelming, She rather liked this new taste, and she felt a pang of pride knowing she had no clue what she had just done to get this release from him. It was a few seconds before his hot bursts of release stopped. She then took him out of her mouth and lifted herself to look at him dead in the eye, her mouth full of his come.
He glanced back at her studying her every move. She then swallowed and a smile of pride and admiration spread across his face. He pulled her into him and wrapped his arms around her. 'Are you sure you've never done that before?'
She grinned. 'Positive, I couldn't even tell you what I did.'
An eyebrow rose and he planted a kiss on her mouth, thoroughly tasting himself on her. 'Outstanding work, Ms. Brooks. I dare say I'll ask you to repeat it often.'
'It would be my pleasure, Professor.'
He then let her go and turned her around to wash the shampoo out of her hair methodically. 'You have such beautiful hair. It's so long and the red tent really pops when you're wearing green.'
She sighed and leaned back against his hands, which were massaging her scalp. 'You'll have to thank my Mum. I got it from her.'
He turned her around, 'Perhaps I will one day.' He then took his own shampoo from the shelf and handed it to her, 'My turn.'
He then turned around and dropped to his knees to make it easier for her to reach him. She chuckled and washed his hair, putting as much care into his, as he put into hers.
When she was done, he pulled the faucet down and retrieved two towels with non-verbal magic. He slung his over his shoulder and began to dry her, rustling her hair as he got to her head. Then he wrapped her in the towel and turned her toward the bedroom, slapping her rear in retreat.
She glanced at him as she left the room and gleamed in the love she had for him. She opened the drawers to the dresser and noticed that all of her belongings were placed in them. Yet, some things weren't hers; she looked up to him as he walked into the room, a towel around his waist.
'Did you move you your things in here?' She asked him inquiringly.
He moved past her to pull open a drawer that housed several pairs of silk boxers-all different shades of black, silver, and green. 'I did. It seemed easier than having to run back and forth from room to room. I hope you don't mind.'
She stared at him admiringly, flattered that he never wanted to be away from her for even a few minutes. 'No, not at all. It does seem to make sense that way.' She opened drawers, looking for her knickers and bras with her mouth twisted.
He rolled his eyes and pulled the top drawer to the left open, revealing all of her under garments neatly laid out, including a few pairs she didn't recognize. She picked the sky blue pair up and admired them. They were adorned with a soft, white lace and pink stitching. She could see him smile at her in her peripheral vision. She lowered them and smiled. 'When did you have the time to get these?'
He straightened, pulling his boxers up, and sighed, 'They were meant to be an 'I'm sorry' gift for me acting like a complete prick last week, but a bit has happened since then.'
'You're telling me. Was that really last week? It seems like it was months ago.'
He laughed. 'I know.' He looked down at her wrists and drew them up to ponder over them. 'They're healing quite nicely.' He then placed a kiss on both wrists and took her knickers and bra from her, 'Turn around.'
'Sev, I can dress myself.' She giggled with a grin.
He opened his mouth and gave her an annoyed look, 'I know you can, but I want to dress you this morning. Now, turn around.'
She rolled her eyes and did as she was told. He bent down and picked up each foot, placing it in it's destined hole and pulled her knickers up to her waist, admiring the way they looked next to her pale skin. 'Perfect fit.' He mused as he slapped her right buttock, 'Damn, I'm good.'
She gaped at him. 'Still humble I see.'
Turning her around to him, he placed both of her arms in their respective straps and pulled them up her arms. She reached up to maneuver her breasts in their cups as he clasped the garment at the back. He suddenly was back in front of her batting her hand away. 'My job.' He said, winking at her.
He pushed her breasts up into the cups and stood back admiring his work. 'Stunning. What shame we have to cover them up. However, I can't have Draco drooling over you all day. So, covered they'll have to be.'
He strolled over to the bureau and opened the doors, looking over the clothes inside. He pulled out a black dress with a sweetheart neckline. 'This will do nicely. The Board of Governors are coming today. You'll need to look your best. Plus, Lucius is the Co-Chairman of the board along with Pius, and I simply must show you off.'
She took the dress and slipped it over her head. She looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like a dime-piece yet she felt a pang of worry plague her.
He stepped into the mirror behind her, with his trousers and white button-up already on. He was fastening his buttons when he noticed her demeanor. 'Is something the matter?'
She shrugged, 'I haven't seen Pius since my Father was arrested.'
He turned her to him and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. 'I'm sure he'll remember you as the bubbly little Slytherin you were prior to that ordeal. He no doubt has heard our happy news by now. Lucius likes to run his mouth when it comes to my relationships and he hasn't had any material for quite some time. He probably told him as if he didn't know.'
Jordan chuckled at the notion knowing very well that Pius was the reason for their relationship surviving the war in the first place. 'I must admit I'm slightly nervous about Lucius. My Father always spoke about him and the things he got into, but I've never met him.'
Severus rubbed her shoulder lovingly. He and the rest of the board will love you just as much as everyone else in this bloody castle does by the end of the night. No doubt about it. Now, let me see that beautiful little smile.'
She couldn't help but grin up at him. He was so good at giving pep talks. He never failed to cheer her up. She reached up and buttoned his coat up the rest of the way, running her hand through his hair before she kissed him on the nose.
She walked over to the jewelry box on the nightstand. Pulling a pair of black pearl earrings and a matching necklace from the box, she put them on. She then pulled her hair black into its usual style and slipped on a pair of black flats. He was at the door, holding her teaching robes out to her. 'You look incredible in black. I can only imagine what they'll call us.'
'What they'll call us? I think I'm more worried about what the kids with think than what our peers will. Are you ready?'
He nodded his head, 'I am.' He put his hands on her shoulders, 'Keep in mind that the way I act outside of our rooms has nothing to do with you. You know how annoyed I get with people.'
'Yes, but we're working on our patience, correct?' She asked raising her eyebrows.
He inhaled, 'Yes. Feel free to slap me if you need to.'
'Oh, don't worry I will.' She said with a sardonic smile.
Opening the door, he took her hand and they strolled through the dungeons peacefully. As they reached the main corridor, he turned to her, 'Speaking of the little miscreants, are you nervous about their arrival on Friday?'
She sighed, 'Not really, in fact, I'm kind of excited. I've missed Hogwarts so much; it's kind of like a dream come true to be back. I'm sure I won't feel that way after the first week, but that's what I have you for.'
He squeezed her hand in response. 'They're going to love you and your class. You've always had a way of transfixing people.'
'Why do you say that?'
'I remember your oral presentations in Potions were quite good, despite your loathing of the subject. -Yes, I know you hate Potions.- I do recall a presentation you made on Sense and Sensibility, I think it was. You compared Marianne Dashwood to that of a squirrel, flitting from lover to lover.'
'I did, I absolutely despised her character. Colonel Brandon deserved better, but apparently, Ms. Austen did not think so.'
'I would have to disagree with you. Who else was she to marry? That cheating scum John Willoughby?'
'Well no, but she refused him before. He should not have come back for her when he did.'
'That is what is known as Romance, my sweet. Sense and Sensibility is what is known as a Romance novel. Why I should say, they didn't teach you anything at University, you should get a refund.'
She hit him in the chest playfully. 'Severus Snape, why must you be such an arse?'
He took her hands and moved them around him, 'What can I say? It just comes to me.'
He kissed her forehead, bringing her into him, when they both heard the sound of footsteps behind them. They parted to see a beaming Draco, walking down the corridor with Hermione and Neville in his wake.
'Well, well, looks like the honeymooners stopped long enough to come to a meal? Nice to see she stuck around for more play after last week, Sev.'
Severus looked stern. 'You know you don't call me that here.'
Draco shot his hands up in surrender. 'My apologies, Professor. I'm just happy to see you both can stand is all.'
Severus went to smack him up the side of his head, but he noticed Draco looked rather scared and knew Jordan was giving him a look.
He smirked, 'I would hate to have to send for Mr. Potter, Draco. I'm sure he would love the DADA post, if you were unable to see to your duties.'
Draco went to retort back to Severus when Jordan spoke. 'Draco, let's not repeat the drinking incident of '91 if we could please.'
He gulped and nodded his head. 'That was not my fault. If Potter hadn't been so-'
'Not your fault? Who was the game centered around, it wasn't Potter, I can tell you that.' Severus retorted.
Hermione turned her head toward them and walked over, 'Talking about Harry are you?'
'Yes. Jordan brought up the drinking incident from first year.' Draco said looking rather smug.
Hermione rolled her eyes, 'Well, in Gryffindor, we were never permitted to drink on school grounds, with the exception of the Yule Ball.'
'Could've had me fooled considering all the stupid things you went around doing.' Severus spat right before there was a sharp shooting pain in his ribs.
Jordan was glaring up at him. Glancing over to Hermione she said, 'Sorry, Hermione, we're working on controlling our snarky comments, aren't we, Severus?' She raised an eyebrow at him.
He exhaled forcefully and gave Hermione a sardonic smile. 'My apologies, Mrs. Weasley. Now, if you would excuse me, I need to speak with the Headmistress before our guests arrive.'
He kissed her forehead and billowed behind her toward Minerva. She smiled at Draco and stared at the ground, blushing.
Hermione looked from Severus to Jordan and tried to complement her superior. 'He seems to be quite taken with you. I'm sure it seems rather odd to be with an older man.'
Jordan shot daggers at her, 'You would know, wouldn't you?'
Hermione felt completely embarrassed and looked at the ground. Jordan seemed unphased. 'Neville, come eat with me, I want to catch up.'
Neville looked rather uncomfortable but followed anyway, asking Jordan about her past week.
'I wont divulge to many details, but he's completely different than you'd expect.'
Neville sighed, 'That's a relief. I'm not going to lie; I spent a considerable amount of time in the infirmary because of the way we found you two. I still can't get the sounds of you…'
'Neville, you don't have to share, I know how you feel. It must have been extremely unnerving finding the one man you hate most, ravaging your new friend like that.'
He turned to her with a surprised look. 'I don't hate Professor Snape. He scares the shit out of me, but not because he was cruel to me during my school years. He's just so intimidating.'
Jordan looked over at Severus and sighed, 'I know. Isn't it hot?'
'Yes. Extremely. That's the problem.'
She swiveled her head back to meet Neville's nervous gaze. 'Excuse me?'
He exhaled. 'I'm gay, Jordan.'
'Oh, Neville does Severus-'
'God, no. I don't really care for him now but in my third year… I got quite a rouse from him berating me in class. He was my boggart because I was attracted to him and I was scared of what everyone would say, mostly my Gran. We're a Pureblood family, and she's rather traditional. When everyone saw that he was my boggart, they just assumed it was because he humiliated me and almost killed Trevor in class. I just let them think that because it was easier than telling them the truth.'
Jordan processed what he said, 'Then why did you tell me, Neville?'
'Because you're obviously attracted to him as well. If anyone understood, it would be you.'
She put her hand on his. 'You can trust me, Neville. I wont tell a soul.'
About that time Severus came over and sat beside her, grabbing a plate and piling eggs, bacon, and toast onto it. He looked at the empty place setting in front of her. 'Aren't you going to eat, Dear?'
'Yes, I was just chatting with Neville while I waited for you.' She said as she leaned forward to make her own plate.
Severus glanced over at Neville who looked as if he would melt into a puddle. 'Mr. Longbottom.'
He stood rather suddenly, 'Professor Snape,' and walked swiftly out of the Great Hall.
Severus watched him leave with a confused look. 'Did I do something rude?'
She looked over at him and sighed. 'No, Dear. Neville just has some things he needs to work through.'
'Apparently so.' He mumbled as they both dug into their breakfast.