A/N: Please note that this chapter contains another M scene… finally! LOL. It's pretty obvious where it starts, I think, if you want to skip it, and it (there are two actually) lasts through the end of the chapter. It begins, essentially, when they make it down to the dungeons. And thanks to MRSSPICY and all my reviewers!

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Quality Time

Dinah was relieved when the torches in the entrance hall once again became visible and the unnamed man bid them a quick farewell, sending them out into the cool, but infinitely more welcoming, night air. "That is a horrible place," she shuddered, turning her gaze up to her husband. "If you had… no," she shook her head and reached up to gently rest her fingers against his cheek. Her precious Severus. If he had ever had to endure Azkaban in addition to everything else he had suffered she just couldn't handle it. It was a miracle that he had managed to avoid this place, "Thank heavens you never had to be here."

His dark eyes softened as he placed a hand over hers, entwining their fingers together, and his other hand lifted to brush soft fingers against her face. He leaned in close, the greasy curtains of his hair falling forward and tickling her forehead as he captured her lips. It was so easy to just try to forget about that cold place and immerse herself in his warmth, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as his hands tangled in her hair and he used his kiss to thank her for her words. She knew him well enough that she could sense his feelings even if they were unspoken, the gratitude and love all wrapped up in his gesture.

When their lips parted she didn't want to let go and neither, it seemed, did he. So she kept her cheek pressed up against the shoulder of his bat-like robes, closed her eyes, and confessed some of her worries to him, "Severus, tell me the truth… like me, you've also thought… that even if we make it through whatever challenge this letter-writer is presenting, we still might suffer along the way. There might be pain."

Her husband sighed, his warm breath tickling her hair, "It is… possible. Depending upon what he tries to do."

"I know," she sighed, biting her lip, "We can take care of ourselves to a certain extent, but Maylene and Tommy… they're just babies, how can we protect them? Will they be all right, Severus? Will they?"

Severus drew back to meet her gaze, "There is no safer place for them than Hogwarts. We will not let them come to any harm. That is a promise we have made with our very lives."

"I know. You're right," she sighed, nodding but unable to get rid of all the worry. Maybe it was just part of being a mother.

"And… perhaps we can take care of this quickly and cleanly, if we find Andre Airaldi and he confesses to whatever his involvement might be. This still could be nothing more than a dramatic prank."

"I hope so," she agreed, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the parchment that Dolores Umbridge had written out for them, "My…" she murmured as she perused the list of protective enchantments used to hide the Airaldis from the outside world, "This is quite a list of spells."

"In order to protect them from the Dark Lord it was probably needed."

"Mm…" Dinah noticed that her husband had shifted back into using the term 'Dark Lord' since they had arrived in Azkaban. It wasn't really surprising. It still happened from time to time, though he could say Voldemort, and it did make sense given how long he had been immersed in the 'Dark Lord' terminology.

But there was no longer any Dark Lord. Or any Voldemort. There was only the spirit of the young Tom Riddle, her friend Tommy, finally at peace. She needed to remember that.

"You know… " she began as an idea started to form, "all these dementors guarding the place… It might be the perfect opportunity to let Mae practice her Patronus charm. We could take her and Andrew with us and maybe a little bit of time outside of Hogwarts would be good for their relationship, too."

Severus just stared at her as though she'd gone mad, "You are seriously suggesting that we take a girl who is incapable of producing a Patronus and stick her in front of twenty dementors?"

"We'd be there to produce our Patronuses in case anything went wrong," Dinah assured him, liking her idea more and more as it solidified in her mind, even though she had to admit her husband had a slight point. But her ideas were moving too fast for that, "It would be challenging, sure, but maybe it would impress upon her a little bit how crucial it is for her to be able to learn the charm. Nothing like facing down dementors to show you how much value the Patronus has in our world. It might be just the psychological shock that she needs, like exposure therapy. And besides, you said Andrew can at least produce a little bit of light."

"Strange as it is with you suggesting we scare the students into learning their abilities and me suggesting that it is too much, there are yet more points to be made against your ludicrous suggestion. Do you have any idea how much red tape would be involved in getting permission to take Hogwarts students – even seventh years -off school grounds on a non-Hogsmeade weekend to go on holiday with their professors? Even with the educational purpose in mind it will be nearly impossible!"

"Oh, you worry too much, I'm sure Minerva will be receptive," she smiled, waving him off, "And at seventeen they don't even need parental consent anymore. Besides, we've met Robert and Kyoko before and they just love us," she said, referring to Mae's parents.

"We have met them three times and they were friendly to us, that hardly constitutes 'loving'."

"Actually, I met Kyoko four times, you remember, when Lucy and I ran into her and Mae in the department store the first summer we were married? And the trip will be perfectly safe. Our snakes can handle twenty dementors easily. I'm sure it'll work out." After all, she had a way of getting people to agree to her demands, if her success at getting the Triwizard Tournament committee to use three dragons of the same species instead of three different species in her second year teaching was any indication. "Now, when do you think we should go? Next weekend?"

He was still raising his eyebrow at her, but gave a slight nod, "The sooner, the better. Of course, that means asking the Blacks to watch the children yet again."

"We'll make it up to them somehow, and ideally it will only be another day trip," she said, "But, you know, the coast of Pembrokeshire at this time of year might still…"

"Still?" he pressed.

Dinah beamed up at him, "be warm enough for ocean swimming!"

She had to suppress a giggle at the scowl that caused to form on his face, "You are not getting me into the freezing cold water again for your ridiculous whims!"

"Oh, fine, don't swim with me, spoilsport," she chuckled, "It's not a big deal. Mae and Andrew will want to swim with me in your place, I'm sure."

"I have told you that getting those students to come with us will be nearly impossible!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands into the air, "Honestly, Dinah, you are like a child sometimes. You wanted them to come just so you could have someone to go swimming with. This is a holiday to you, isn't it?"

"Oh, there's nothing wrong with killing two birds with one stone," she laughed, stepping forward to take his hand, "Would you relax? At least it's worth a try. They're our friends, Severus, even if they are a lot younger than we are, and this is their last year at Hogwarts. Why not try to do something fun?" It was cute how he got all frustrated like this. Almost as cute as when he went into sinister mode with Umbridge. Though that was more… tempting.

He scowled at her, but relented a bit, "Try it if you want to, I still highly doubt it will work. And if the dementor situation goes wrong then you are responsible for the consequences."

She shook her head, "Severus Snape, you know that I would never let any harm come to our friends. It'll be fine."

"If you insist," he smirked, shaking his head, "Now, have you any more brilliant plans or can we go home?"

"Don't whine at me," she teased, tracing his cheek with a finger, "You can be pretty childlike yourself sometimes, you know? There's nothing wrong with that. We were even kids together once."

His lips finally quirked into a little smile, "Yes. We were."

"And yes, let's go home," she agreed, turning back to look up at the huge, foreboding fortress behind them that was Azkaban, "I want to see our babies and the Blacks and surround ourselves once again with people who actually have names and people who aren't half-dead and, most importantly, people who aren't like that horrible woman," she sighed and leaned against his chest again, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Yes," he sighed, hugging her close, "Azkaban is not a pleasant place to visit and I hope we never have to do so again."

"Me too…"

All of a sudden, her husband's demeanor changed and she felt the warm rumbling of his light laughter coursing through her body. It felt good and she couldn't help but smile, leaning back to meet his gaze, "What?"

"You called her defective."

Dinah covered up a giggle, "I did, didn't I? Well, it seemed like the best choice of words."

"It was the perfect choice of words," he said, still laughing, "I couldn't have said it better myself."

She laughed, "I didn't think I'd ever have a nemesis worse than Filch, but I guess I've got one now. I won though, you know. Did you see the look on her face when I called her that?"

"Of course, which makes it only more amusing. And, of course, seeing your vindictive side is always a pleasure…" he purred, his turn to trace a teasing finger along her cheek.

Dinah felt her cheeks heat up and reached up to trace her fingers along the back of his hand, "Oh, stop flattering me…"

"Hm," he said with an amused smirk, "Shall we go home, fetch the children, put them to bed and then take full advantage of its reappearance today?"

"Mmmm," she moaned, closing her eyes and stepping a little closer to him, enjoying the sensations his words and his fingers brought to her body, "Yes, and also the reappearance of the sinister Severus Snape and his use of slow speech and tantalizingly-phrased threats…"

A pleased, suggestive smile spread across his face and he nodded, brushing his lips against hers as he pulled her into his arms. And on that note, they Apparated away from that horrible place and to their much-happier home.

Severus rapped on the door of the Blacks' rooms as they stood back in the warm, comfortable halls of Hogwarts. Dinah didn't think she could fully express how good it felt to be back, and so just waited to see her wonderful friends and children.

"Hi," Lucy chirped, opening the door with Adara resting against her shoulder.

"Hi," Dinah felt a smile form at the sight of the little baby, and it only widened when they walked in and their little children ran up to greet them, shrieking 'Mummy! Daddy!'

Dinah caught Maylene and lifted the little girl up into her arms with a tight hug, while Severus greeted Tommy similarly. "Hi, baby. Did you have a good day?" she asked, feeling more comforted from her horrible trip with the little girl's small arms strangling her neck.

"Yes!" May gushed, "Owen and me made some things out of blocks with 'Tair and-"

Maylene kept talking, but Dinah lost track of what she was saying when Sirius entered the room holding Altair by the hand. She remembered the poor, lost individuals in the cells at Azkaban and the cold and filth and loneliness that permeated the place and nothing could comfort her anymore until she felt she had done even the smallest thing about it. "Maylene, get down for a second, okay?" she asked, gently lowering her daughter to the floor and rushing forward to wrap her arms around Sirius's shoulders. "I am… so… sorry," she murmured, afraid words could never be enough.

"Um, for what?" Sirius asked, using his free arm to hug her back.

"That you ever had to be there," she explained, "That horrible place… for so long. It's so wrong… those poor people. I can't even imagine, I really can't…" she found herself blinking back tears, but was able to successfully hold them in.

"It's okay," he murmured, "I'm long past that place and I've got no reason to be going back."

"Good," she nodded, drawing back to meet his gaze, "I just want you to know that I wish so much that it hadn't happened and that you have so many people who care about you and feel the same way. Sorry if it's a little sappy. I just really wanted you to know how sorry I am. It was really hard to see that place and think that you had to suffer there for so many years."

"Thanks," he said, looking over towards where Lucy was standing.

"Are you okay, Mummy?" Maylene asked, tugging on Dinah's robes, her little face worried as Tommy stood next to her. They didn't often see her in any kind of distress.

Dinah smiled and smoothed her hair, "I'm fine, sweetheart. Now both of you hug your Uncle Sirius and tell him thank you for all the fun you had today, okay?"

"Thank you, Uncle Sirius!" Maylene shrieked, as she and Tommy ran forward to wrap their arms around his legs.

"Was fun!" Tommy emphasized.

"You're welcome," he said, patting both the kids on the head, "and remember, don't say anything about those secret cookies."

"Oh, you liar!" Dinah teased Sirius, laughing as she moved back to stand next to her husband, "I told you that you could give them those cookies."

"Yes, unless he gave them more," Severus said with a raised eyebrow.

"You're one to talk, man who started the whole thing," Dinah teased him next causing a half smile to appear on his face.

"As far as I know he didn't," Lucy told her.

"Can Maylene and Tommy stay?" Owen asked, coming out of the bathroom, "We were having fun."

"Oh, I don't know, Owen," Dinah hesitated. The kids did sometimes have sleepovers but she didn't really want to put Lucy and Sirius out, especially as they needed them to take their children again next weekend, "Your Mummy and Papa are probably tired of having all of you and, Lucy, I'm afraid we have to go try to locate this family next weekend and would really appreciate it if you took the kids again… probably just for one day."

"As long as it's okay with the two of you we don't mind them staying. I know how it is trying to… get some alone time with kids constantly needing something from you. Not that I don't enjoy it but…" Lucy shrugged. "Next weekend shouldn't be a problem either. Even if we do decide to go to Hogsmeade House we can always take Maylene and Tommy with us. Unless you'd rather we stay at Hogwarts of course. I suppose it depends on the information you found…"

"That's what it will probably depend on," she agreed with a sigh, "Thanks, though. If you don't mind taking them then that's fine. May, Tommy, do you want to stay with Owen, Altair, and Adara tonight?"

"Yes!" was her chorus of replies.

She smiled at Lucy as Severus chuckled next to her, "Well, there you have it."

"I guess so. Oh, before you two scamper off I've got that book for you, Dinah." She waved her wand and Harry's latest book, about his seventh year, came floating out to Dinah.

"Oh!" Dinah exclaimed, taking it into her waiting hands with a little thrill of excitement, "Thanks, Lucy! I can't wait to get started on it!"

Severus, on the contrary, shot Lucy a challenging glare, "Why must you do this to me?"

"Well your wife asked for it for one thing…and besides I like messing with you."

Dinah grinned, but Severus was just not happy right now, "That is not even the point!" he snarled, "Every single time Dinah reads one of those books something dramatic happens!"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Dinah decided to play the innocent, not meeting her husband's gaze. But there was probably no point in pretending he wasn't right, and she expected he would go off on a rant about it now.

She was not disappointed. "Is that so?" he smirked, "The first book you screamed at every time one of the Golden Trio or their little friends claimed that I was the one responsible for the problems at the school and not Quirrell, the second book you squealed every time I came into the room and demanded that I re-enact the duel scene with Lockheart, the third book you ranted for a week about the words the Marauder's map used against me and why they were wrong and then gushed on and on about how I protected the students from the werewolf, the fourth book you yelled at me for insulting the Granger girl even though I thought we had worked that issue out during our second year of marriage, the fifth book you scolded me mercilessly for purposely ruining Potter's Potions assignment as revenge for his looking in the pensieve, and the sixth one you took a page out of this one's book," he made a dramatic gesture at Lucy, "and cried for an hour about what I had to do to the headmaster."

"Well, it was a horrible thing to have to do," Dinah defended, feeling a little sad just thinking about it.

"Yes," he murmured, gently cupping her cheek, "But that, like Sirius's Azkaban situation, is now past."

She couldn't help but smile, reaching up to touch his hand, "I know. I promise I'll try not to be dramatic this time, okay?"

"I don't know that I believe you," he smirked, "But I suppose I can't stop you from reading it."

"That's true," she agreed with a smile, then turned to Lucy, "It seems the family in concern is hiding out in an old castle on the coast of Pembrokeshire, so that's where we'll be going. And the season's just right for ocean swimming so Mae and Andrew are coming with us."

Severus sighed and corrected, "She thinks they're coming with us. Dinah, do you think it might be prudent to avoid making blanket statements until you've actually gotten permission to take them along? And the season is not 'just right' for swimming, it is barely right for swimming at the end of September, even in Wales. Anyone in their right mind wouldn't do it, even those who actually enjoy the ridiculous act."

"Did you hear him just call me crazy?" Dinah teased, looking at Lucy and pointing her thumb at Severus, "He's been whining at me all day."

"Mm, I did," Lucy nodded, a teasing glint in her eye, "Next thing you know there'll be an inquiry by the Board of Governors."

"Likely not," Sirius said, "Unless Dinah has some sort of long lost father that's going to start throwing around accusatory statements too," he said, referring to Lucy's estranged father who had upset the entire British wizarding community for a time some years back by claiming his daughter was mad and unfit to teach at Hogwarts, due to the extreme depression she had experienced after Sirius's death and before his revival.

"Ah… no," Dinah said, feeling her face turn a little red as she hung her head. She didn't want to admit it, but she still so often felt bad that she had grown up in a normal family, contrary to all three of the other adults in the room. It wasn't her fault, but… "I don't think I have such a thing."

"So how is the former Hogwarts High Inquisitor?" Sirius asked as the four oldest children ran off to play and Adara fell asleep against Lucy's shoulder.

"Oh!" Dinah felt her fury return as soon as her mind settled again on the sadistic bitch from Azkaban, "She is horrible!" she snarled, causing Lucy and Sirius to look a bit surprised at her hostility, "A horrible woman!"

"Dinah has a new nemesis," Severus explained with a smirk.

"Uh oh," Lucy grinned, "I'd like to think of Umbridge as one person I could happily watch get kissed."

Dinah shook her head, "No. I understand what you're saying, but no. I don't think anyone deserves that that has a soul in the first place, but I'm starting to think that Umbridge doesn't. She's like a defective, sadistic robot. I don't think the dementors would even want her."

"Yeah, the woman can't possibly have a soul with the things she's done and she thinks she's in the right for having done."

"Exactly!" Dinah was glad Lucy understood her frustrations about that particular bit of it, the things Umbridge did that she thought were in the right, "That woman makes me sick! She's a sadistic, narcissistic, psychopath slash sociopath! Every single evil, nasty psychological affliction, she's got it." Dinah snorted, "I'm surprised she's not a serial killer."

"You really do watch too many Muggle crime shows," Severus muttered, reaching out to grasp her arm.

"I do not!" she protested, whirling on him, not in the mood to have her statements condescended to at the moment.

"Here," Lucy said, "Hold a sleeping baby. You can't argue if you're holding a sleeping baby."

"He started it," Dinah grumbled, but felt herself smile as she took the little Adara into her arms. Sleeping babies certainly were irresistible.

"Is that so?" Severus questioned, still holding onto her arm as she frowned up at him to show him her lingering disapproval. However, instead of looking annoyed an odd little smirk tugged at his lips, "Though the baby seems to be helping, I was going to suggest we take advantage of this fire of yours and head back home for the night…"

It was amazing, Dinah thought, how one little phrase from him had her mood switching from frustration to lust.

"And here I was hoping you'd stay to dinner," Lucy said, "but I completely understand."

"Ah… yeah…" Dinah said, turning an apologetic glance to her friend, afraid her face was flushed, "Some other time, I'm sure. Here…" she offered Adara back.

"Yes, please give us the baby back before you do any ravishing of each other in front of my child," Sirius said, taking Adara.

"You're one to talk," Severus smirked at him, his finger's tightening around Dinah's. Merlin, just touching him was lighting a fire within her right now. His fingers were so warm… strong… masculine… and he was right, she had so much fire and energy left in her that she had built up with Umbridge and it just needed some kind of outlet.

"The first two were asleep when this one was…brought into being," Sirius retorted.

Severus didn't respond, just pulled Dinah back against his dark robes and said near her ear, "We need to go."

"Mmm," she let him pull her towards the door and flashed a sheepish grin at Lucy, "Uh, see you around… say good-night to the children for us, they seem to be wrapped up in their play…"

"No problem," Lucy grinned, waving them out, "See you tomorrow."

And with that, Severus had whisked them out the door and into the hall.

"Merlin, Severus…" Dinah's body decided to start acting all on its own and she had her husband pinned against the wall while she tried to rub herself up against him, moving her leg to attempt to wrap it around his torso.

His eyebrows shot up and he forced her leg back to the floor, pulling her tight into him, but unfortunately so tight that she couldn't do much more than squirm, "My, aren't we impatient. Might I remind you that this is the school hallway and students are passing by? Try to…" he lowered his lips to her ear and said slowly, "contain yourself until we're back home."

"Then take me there, now," she growled into his ear, nuzzling her face into the hair that she loved so much, "Don't make me wait. I don't think I can."

"Merlin…" it was his turn to mutter, "Dare I suggest taking you to visit Umbridge more often?"

"Shut up," she hissed, nipping at his ear.

"It is moments like these," he groaned, "that I wish Apparition was permitted here in Hogwarts." He drew back with the utmost reluctance and began dragging her through the halls towards their dungeon home. Dinah had no trouble keeping up with him; in fact she was ahead of him by the time they made it there. They had both ignored the few students watching them as they passed, probably wondering what had their two professors in such a rush, and were finally safe in the confines of their dungeon home.

They weren't even in the main living area yet, but still in Severus's office, when all Dinah's pent-up energy threatened to consume her and she grabbed the collar of his robes, pulling his lips down to her and driving her tongue into his mouth as her back slammed against one of the closed potions cupboards. She heard some rattling inside, but ignored it; too distracting was the taste of her husband's kiss.

Even more surprising, Severus also ignored the rattling as his hands wandered down to part her robes and slide along her hips, his touch only fanning the flames that already burned inside of her. A breathless moan escaped her lips as he reached into her knickers to stroke her. She let her own hands wander to the swollen front of his trousers where he was hard with desire, and fumble with the zipper to release him so he could enter her. It did not take them long to dispense with their lower undergarments and he lifted her hips to drive in, the noises behind them returning as he thrust. Hopefully whatever was rattling would not break and explode on them, but even if it did Dinah suspected they would not notice.

It was rough and rushed on both their parts, but it felt so good and Dinah felt the tension of the day release itself at the same time that Severus released himself inside of her and her body screamed out its own release. It was convenient that for the past three years they did not have to think about things like protection spells and could just throw themselves at each other with abandon when the whim struck, due to Severus having volunteered to go to St. Mungo's and eliminate the potential pregnancy problem on his end. Really, she was lucky to have such an accommodating, non-squeamish husband.

They fell against each other, sweating and out of breath. "Are you…" Severus heaved, lifting his head to smirk at her, "satisfied now?"

"That, my darling Severus Snape," she panted, reaching up to whisper in his ear, "is a stupid question."

He rumbled with laughter for a moment, his hands still sliding along her hips, as they adjusted themselves back into more upright standing positions and a few more rattling noises made it to their ears.

Dinah frowned a little and looked back at the cupboard, "Did we break anything?"

"Doubtful," he said, reaching past her to open up the cupboard and set upright some of the vials and jars that had tipped over and were rolling around on their sides, "The glass is shatterproof now that we have the children, as you know."

"Ah, yes," she teased him, "You continue to add safety measures, but only after you've had a close call. I'll never get you to think these things through ahead of time."

"Silence, you minx," he snarled back, his dark eyes glinting with mischief as he closed the cupboard and nuzzled his long nose against her ear. Merlin, that nose. She just loved his nose. And his hair, and… somehow, she had a feeling she wasn't quite done for the night but she would probably need a few more minutes to be fully ready again.

"I suppose we should leave your office and get back inside now," she purred, sliding her hands around his waist and down his bum.

"Indeed. Shall we dress ourselves first?" he asked, nodding at their undergarments and other random pieces of clothing from their lowered bodies that littered the floor. Dinah felt like she was still wearing one sock, though, but she didn't check to confirm it, she was too busy staring at her husband's body.

Dinah grinned, reaching up to finger the shiny black buttons of his frock coat, "Why bother? I would much rather finish undressing ourselves as we are clearly alone for the evening and it is quite warm in our cozy dungeons."

He raised an eyebrow at her, but did not argue as she unbuttoned him, and in fact moved to remove her robes as well. She took a break from her own task to close her eyes and indulge a bit the feel of his hands on her shoulders and breasts, before needing to touch him too and finishing her job, running her hands across his chest. "See?" she offered, "Isn't this much better?"

"I somehow sense that you are not as satisfied as you claim."

"Oh, I'm very satisfied, I just want more where that came from," she murmured, pressing a kiss to his collarbone, "But all in good time. Let's go have a seat on our favorite green sofa, shall we?"

"I also sense that this is going to be a very pleasant evening," he added, his gaze intensifying as they made their way to the sofa and settled down, Dinah turning towards him and twining her legs around his, resting her head against his bare shoulder and nuzzling in. He was right. This was going to be a very pleasant evening.

"I'll talk to Minerva about Mae and Andrew first thing Monday morning," she told him, rubbing her foot against his.

Severus sighed, his right hand wandering up and down her leg, "Perhaps it would be prudent to first talk to the students themselves?"

"Ah, that's true," she chuckled to herself, her eyes fluttering shut a little in the sensuousness of it all, "I forgot about that."

He heaved another sigh, "What would you do without me?"

"I'd be utterly lost, of course, just as you would be without me," she smiled, moving to first kiss and then rest her forehead against his shoulder, "I love you."

His lips moved to her hair and she felt his smile, then saw it when he tilted her chin up to face him, his thumb stroking along the side of her cheek with a gentle touch, "You are perfect. Even if you are childish sometimes."

Dinah closed her eyes and laughed, "Thank you for putting up with me, then."

"Mm," Severus murmured agreement, his voice like silk and his lips even softer as they captured hers. She let her fingers tangle in his hair and just enjoyed their tongues playing together for a while before her semi-dormant hormones woke up again, and she let her fingers slide down his chest to his stomach and then further down to stroke along his length. Her touch elicited a groan from him and it did not take long for him to become hard once more. He shifted so he was leaning over her and she leaned back, their legs unwinding but only for a moment as they pulled them up onto the couch. His lips trailed along her neck and continued on that path as she wrapped her legs around his again.

Dinah moaned and arched her back when his kisses reached her breasts, his tongue teasing on and around her nipples and his fingers sliding between her legs. Words could not even begin to describe how talented he was at pleasing her, which was fine because she generally could not speak when he was doing this to her anyway. It was that good.

This time was not as rough as the last, but it was still quite intense as he entered her and she rocked against his thrusts, groaning with pleasure until her hunger for him was satiated with another gasp of release. He followed seconds after and his hard, masculine body collapsed against her, his sweaty hair tickling her face and his breathing quick and even in her ear. She felt her own hands go limp with exhaustion and a satisfied smile spread across her face. Twice in one night was more tiring now that they were in their forties, but it was well worth it, she thought as she lifted her hands to wrap around him, murmuring, "Thank you again…"

He chuckled, lifting his head to smile at her, the curtains of his hair effectively blocking them off from the world, "It is I who should be thanking you," he admitted, wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to her neck as they adjusted themselves more comfortably on the sofa, their heads on the pillow and her back against his chest.

Dinah took a deep breath and let it out slowly, the smile refusing to leave her lips as she let her body relax. It hit her again, as it often did, how lucky she was to have this man as her husband, to feel this kind of contentment. He had given her the perfect life, a home, acceptance in the Wizarding world, and two beautiful children. And his love, the most precious gift of all.

"It's still so early," she yawned, stroking her fingers along the back of his hand, her arms wrapped over his across her stomach, "And we haven't eaten yet."

"Mm. I confess that my body does not want to move so if my snidget would like to eat that is her responsibility," he muttered.

Dinah had to laugh, tightening her arms around his as a feeling of warmth swam through her. She had quite an appetite, but her metabolism was, apparently, fast enough to keep her at a slender weight, and so Sev liked to compare her to the rare hummingbird-like golden snidget, which the golden snitch in Quidditch was based off of. "Quidditch is going to be odd this year, isn't it?" she asked, her mind shifting subjects accordingly.

"I assume the age ratio will shift," he agreed, "Which may or may not lead to us having to watch games filled with incompetence." With many fifth, sixth, and seventh year students traveling to Durmstrang for the Triwizard Tournament this year, it was likely there would need to be tryouts to fill the team slots that would open up, and just as likely that most of those slots would be filled by the younger students who were available. Five years ago, when the Tournament was held at Hogwarts, Quidditch was cancelled to make way for the Tournament tasks, but Minerva did not want to do that this time, since the tasks would not be held at Hogwarts. Plus, the headmistress was quite a Quidditch fan, having been a player herself in her Hogwarts days, and quite amusingly still Gryffindor-biased even though she was supposed to be impartial now that she was heading up the school. Consequently, she and Severus were still quite at odds when the games came up.

"Ever my lover of children," Dinah teased him, smiling, "And what, pray tell, are you going to do when May and Tommy reach that 'age of incompetence'?"

"I'd rather not think about it at the moment," he grumbled, and she laughed again, turning around to kiss him.

"Don't worry, they might not even try out for Quidditch," she assured.

Severus smirked, "We shall see. I will be proud of them one way or the other, but only them and none of their incompetent peers."

"Oh, Sev… not even Owen, Altair, or Adara?" she asked of Lucy and Sirius's children, smiling.

He sighed, a smile of his own tugging at his lips, "What have you done to me, Dinah? There are now so many children that I am forced to like."

"I never forced you to like anybody, you did that on your own," she told him, rubbing her nose against his and making him blush. Her stomach rumbled a little and she sighed, "I am quite hungry now. Maybe a little bit of dinner… can you move yet?"

"No," he grumbled, now just being stubborn.

"Is that so?" she teased, adjusting her position a little to try and get up, when an idea occurred to her, "Oh! I should read a chapter in Harry's book!" she exclaimed, scrambling up from the couch.

Severus let out an agitated groan behind her, "Can't it wait?" he bit out, slamming his head into the pillow in frustration.

"Oh," she bit her lip, embarrassed that her thoughts had gotten ahead of her again, "Our romantic evening. Sorry. I think it would have hit me eventually, I just had this sudden whim…"

"I have told you what I think of your 'whims'," he snarled, sitting up to glare at her.

But Dinah felt another smile form as she looked down at him, "I take after Gellert with whims a little, I guess, though thankfully not too much," she leaned over to press a kiss to his forehead, and then knelt to be level with his gaze, "I'm sorry. I'm not going to read the book."

"Is that so?" he was still glaring.

"Mm," his glares could not get her down, and she was going to make him smile, she thought as she climbed up to sit next to him on the couch, facing him and looking up into his eyes, "You know what? I may act childish sometimes, but I never could have found that part of myself… the part I was afraid to show in our world for so many years and even when I started teaching… I never would have found it again if it wasn't for you," she said, resting her hand in the middle of his chest.

The smile she had hoped for took shape on his face and he leaned down to kiss her lips, this time with a gentle caress, laying his hand over hers and moving it so she could wrap her arms around his waist as he pulled her into a tight embrace. "There are no words," he murmured into her hair after a few silent moments.

Dinah felt herself melt into a puddle of goo in his arms, as she knew just what he meant by that. That there were no words to describe how much he loved her. "I know," she whispered, closing her eyes and cuddling in closer, "Me too."