The Blood Compact – Chapter 20 – The hideaway

Severus and Amelia had managed to get out of the Ministry through the grates. But instead of going back to the infamous toilet portals, he had focused on a dark dead end alley in London that he used sometimes as an Apparition point to get into the Muggle capital city. Dusk was there, casting its shadows over the city. They walked for a few minutes, time for them to get away from their last Apparition point. Severus noticed the dark and quiet entrance of a building. He dragged Amelia there by her hand and he Disapparated them both.

They landed in a forest. There again, same thing, they walked for a few minutes before Disapparating. This time, it was easier as the forest was devoid of any human presence at this time of the day. Amelia could not make heads or tails of her Master's behaviour but she guessed he must have had good reasons to act as such. Therefore, she did not complain. Most likely, he wanted to cover their tracks by throwing possible pursuers into confusion. Especially after their stint at the Ministry of Magic.

Officially, Amelia had become a fugitive witch. She did not dare imagine what would happen to her if she were caught. Maybe this time, Severus' position within the Death-Eaters would not be enough to protect her. Hence his precautions to hide their magical tracks.

They Apparated again, this time in the middle of a meadow. Severus dragged her towards a tract of forest that bordered the place. There again, he took her against him in a forceful embrace and Disapparated the both of them.

They Apparated once more, nearby a river. Amelia hoped it would be for the last time, she had begun to feel a bit nauseous. Severus must have felt she was not so steady as he took her between his arms firmly.

"How do you feel ?" he asked.

"My head's spinning, Master... but that's okay. I'll be fine." She wanted to show him she could be brave but she had to reckon that the series of Apparitions/Disapparitions at such a rapid pace may not be the only reasons for her feeling not so well. All the emotions of the afternoon, the pressure from Umbridge's interrogation, their incredible escape from the Dementors, from the Ministry premises, all this may have contributed to her present state of mind and condition.

Severus could see that. He still had her hand in his. He realized that he had not released her hand at all since their leaving the Ministry. "We're not very far from our destination. A few minutes' walk only. We won't need to Disapparate any more."

She nodded and let him lead her to a path that connected to a deserted country road. Now the sun had set and a few stars had begun to dot the sky. They walked hand in hand. From a distance, they looked like a couple.

"Are you cold ?" Severus asked softly.

"No, not really, Master. Walking will warm me up anyway."

He could not help thinking that she had behaved beautifully. Despite the pressure and the fear, she had managed to retain her self-control and had obeyed him without further ado. Somehow, he felt proud of her. He took her hand he was still holding and put it in his elbow crook. "You can lean on me, Amelia."

"Thank you, Master." She could feel he was a bit worried about her. "I can assure you I'm fine, Master. Just a bit dizzy but you know, I've always felt like this after a few rounds at the fun fair, even when I was a child."

"But you learned how to fly a broom in your Hogwarts days, didn't you ?"

"Yes, like any other student. But I must say that I didn't taste the thing much. I was pretty bad at it actually. I think I have vertigo or whatever. I don't feel comfortable with the void under me."

Severus smiled inwardly. He was a fair flyer in his own right, above all without a broom. The Dark Lord had taught him how to fly, this infamous flight accompanied by a black smoke trail, typical of Death-Eaters. But now would not be the moment to show her that. Despite her assertions, she looked shaken. No need to spook her more than she was already. Besides, it would not be very discreet, even in the dark.

They walked for a few minutes more, in complete yet serene silence. Their very first moment of quietness. Severus still had his wand in hand, just in case. But he doubted the Ministry had tracked them back up to here. He knew how to give them the slip – as well as to his fellow Death-Eaters. He was slippery, evading them like sand or water between fingers. Or like a snake – which was rather fitting for a Slytherin wizard like him. Evading everybody's perception. Well, almost everybody. He had let Dumbledore see through him.

They left the small road to take a dirt track through a bit of forest. In the distance, they could hear an owl hooting. Amelia got closer to Severus. He felt her anxiety somehow but ignored it. She had nothing to fear when she was with him. "We'll arrive soon," were the only words he let out in a soothing tone to relieve her from her apprehensions.

She must have perceived it too. "I trust you, Master."

Severus had to reckon he liked these few words of hers. He said nothing. He just enjoyed her trust. There were not so many people who trusted or had trusted him. Dumbledore had been one and Merlin knew that the younger wizard had honoured that trust to the very end ! The Dark Lord was another one to trust him – well, all things being equal with him. Voldemort trusted no one, he was a lone player. But all in all, Severus could say that his Master trusted him, considering that all the tasks he had given him to do, had been carried out perfectly. He also had the trust of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy – which was something important and most of all, useful.

And now, he had Amelia's trust. There was no advantage to gain from that particular trust but the feeling was sweet in a sense, as she trusted him with a kind of innocence. Not innocence. She was not innocent. No, it was rather a kind of purity in her feeling. Sincerity. When she uttered these words, she was sincere. That was all that counted for Severus for the time being. All he needed to hear. The sound of her abandonment, her surrender, to him and his powerfulness.

They arrived in front of imposing iron-wrought gates. Severus swished his wand towards the gates that seemed to disintegrate in front of them to let them in. He dragged Amelia gently and they crossed the gates to enter a property. Amelia remembered the gates at Malfoy Manor and hoped this was not the home of another Death-Eater friend of her Master. She was anxious but refrained from asking him as he was now muttering complex incantations. The gates reappeared in a metallic sound. Amelia could not but feel impressed by the bit of magic displayed there.

Severus took her hand in his again and led her to a building she had not seen in the dusk. An imposing mansion, almost as big as Malfoy Manor, was standing there. Now, Amelia felt really impressed. What was that place ? She did not dare voice her question though. Her Master would surely explain to her later.

They walked along an alley invaded by weeds. Severus cast Lumos so that they could have a bit of light. As they went closer to the building, it appeared to Amelia that the place looked a bit shabby. An impression of neglect pervaded the place. Surely the mansion must have known better days. Well, the nightfall did not help either. However, Amelia thought that her present impression would be confirmed in broad daylight.

They arrived in front of a stairwell that most likely led to the entrance. Amelia had to admit she was amazed. Who could live there ? Whom did the house belong to ? She remained silent, aware her questions would get their answers in due time. Living with Severus Snape had taught her that.

The house seemed to be in the same proportions as the Ravenhearts'. She cringed at the thought of her former employers. They used to live in a similar place but they had been killed, their children separated and their home burnt down to the ground. Amelia had to make a real effort to chase these grim memories from her mind – fully aware though that this fateful night would never leave her. She hoped the Ravenheart kids were still alive and well treated by their new parents. She sighed discreetly.

Severus opened the main door with a complex spell. No doubt that he had put wards on this house, like he had on his Spinner's End home. That meant that somehow, he must have been connected to that house. Is he the owner ? Amelia was surprised. She had always believed him to be of rather humble extraction. Then, if he was the lord of the manor, why was he still living in Spinner's End ?

His mother was a witch, she remembered. Could it be possible that this mansion had belonged to his mother ? But then again, why would her mother have lived in a place like Spinner's End if she had possessed such a big house ? Amelia was cautious not to ask questions – she had noticed that family was not her Master's favourite conversation topic. He would talk when he was ready to do so.

Wand in one hand, his other hand still clutching Amelia's firmly, Severus entered the place with caution. He cast a spell silently and let out a sigh of relief when nothing happened. With another flick of his wand, he lit up the lights.

The light revealed a grand lobby, clad in a white marble that needed a thorough cleaning. An imposing staircase led to the upper floor. The furniture were covered with white sheets. Curtains were hanging on the walls over magical paintings, most likely to keep them shut. Amelia knew the practice. She had lived in such a house, at the Ravenhearts'. However, the whole place looked gloomy, to say the least. Most likely because it had not been inhabited for a long time.

Severus scanned the place with his penetrating dark gaze. There had been nothing changed since the last time he had come here.

"Amelia, listen to me carefully." He seemed ill-at-ease, almost reluctant to explain. "You shall not go upstairs. Under no circumstances. The rooms and corridors there are cursed. The only place safe here is the ground floor."

"Cursed ?" Amelia chanced to ask.

"You must have guessed that this house is a magical home. Pretty much like the one where you used to live before being captured. Some owners curse rooms and corridors to deter magical thieves that may have managed to disable the wards. So, for your own protection, don't go upstairs. That's all I'm asking of you."

She nodded. "I understand, Master. I won't." Who could curse their own house, honestly ? So it meant that this house was not his property then. "Master, may I ask... where are we ? Whose house it is ?"

"The Princes." In front of her obvious puzzled look, he went on. "My mother's family. Prince was her maiden name. You remember she was a witch. You have her garments on your back."

"Yes, I do, Master." So this was it. His maternal grandparents. The Princes were a pure-blood family. She decided to let the matter to rest, as he was obviously in no mood to reply to her questions. She still had many questions but there would be time to get answers later.

"I brought you here because the house is not only heavily warded but also unplottable. You're safe here."

"Do you imply that I'm no longer safe in Spinner's End, Master ?"

Severus watched her carefully. She thought fast. "Indeed. You're not. You noticed you have left the Committee in a rather hastily manner. The Ministry people, Umbridge first, consider you now as a fugitive. You have to go into hiding. Nobody knows I own this house. Nobody knows I'm related to the Prince family either, that in fact, I'm their sole heir. So this is the perfect hideaway for you for the time being. Now come with me." His tone was briskly, showing her now was not the time to ask any further questions. Amelia recognized this tone and she gave in. She knew him well now...

So he's the rightful owner of that place. Then she remembered the small message on the book he had offered her, about births and pregnancies. It had been signed 'The Half-Blood Prince'. Now she understood better. It had been a pun on his blood status and his mother's maiden name. He was indeed half a Prince, born to a Muggle and a pure-blood witch – a half-blood. It made sense.

He took her hand in his and led her to a room on their left. A big dining room, with a huge table that could seat at least twenty people, as per Amelia's estimation. Here again, the furniture were covered with white sheets. Cobwebs garnered the ceiling, a sure sign that nobody was living there on a permanent basis. The grate was cold, no ashes there either. Portraits were covered with sheets.

They crossed the dining-room to enter another room. The kitchen. A table in the middle, with cupboards around, a large cooker, another big grate, still cold. No portraits, only shelves in the spaces not occupied by furniture. Amelia noticed that the windows were smaller and still very dirty. Cobwebs everywhere. An impression of neglect filled the whole place.

"Here is the kitchen. I show you the other rooms you may access." He opened a cupboard, then a drawer inside and got out a wood stick, which he gave to Amelia. "Take it."

Amelia had a puzzled look for him. A wand ? "Master..."

"Take it. It's a wand. I'm sure you know how to use a wand," he said with a sarcastic tone.

The young witch held out her hand in an unsure gesture. Why ? Why was he giving her a wand ? And whose wand was it ? "Master... are you sure... I can't..."

Severus felt her reluctance. He took her hand in his and gently, he put the wand in her palm before closing her fingers on it. "This wand... you may use it safely. It used to belong to my mother. Dragon heartstring and willow. Springy yet enjoyable to use, as per Mr Ollivander. Very good for charms and Transfiguration. Try it." In front of Amelia's hesitations, he added : "You wear her clothes, you use her recipe books and kitchen implements, you may get her wand, don't you think ?"

He was right. Well, you even named your daughter after his own mother. You may have her wand.

Her first wand since... since she had been captured. She could see again the moment when You-Know-Who had snapped her wand in two. She took the wand into her hand, weighing it, testing the feel it could give her. Not bad. Even... enjoyable, indeed.

Amelia was very moved. "Why ? Master ?"

"I'll need your help here, and your help will be even more efficient with a wand. Besides, I want you to be able to defend yourself in case I'm not here."

"I can't defend myself ! I'm... so ignorant in these matters. The magic you did at the Ministry earlier today... I don't even know how to do that... conjuring a Patronus Charm."

"I shall teach you then." He sighed. "You proved me that you would not turn against me. You won't because I'm the only one to guarantee your protection. Remember, you're a fugitive and even with a wand, you wouldn't last long between Death-Eaters and Snatchers roaming throughout the country."

He was right. She nodded. "Yes, Master. That's true."

"Good. Now try it. You may do magic here. Remember, the place is unplottable."

More confidently, Amelia directed the wand towards the grate. "Incendio !" A fire started there, with a lot of smoke. "Not a good idea for the time being, I guess," she said apologetically. She cancelled the spell and with another spell, she opened a window to evacuate the smoke, still with an elegant move of the wand. "I suppose the chimney needs a bit of sweeping inside."

"That won't be a problem for you. You know the spells, Amelia, to keep a house in good order."

She smiled at him shyly. "Have you brought me here, Master, so that I could clean your house ?"

Severus perceived the humour in her question. "Let's say that you won't be left without any occupation if I have to leave the place. How does it feel in your hand ?"

"Quite good actually. But I thought that witches and wizards were buried with their wands." The second she had finished her sentence, Amelia sensed she had spoken too much. "I'm sorry, Master. Please discard my silly question." She lowered her head in front of him, in a submissive stance that she knew would defuse the tension and his possible wrath.

"That was not a silly question, Amelia." He took her chin between his fingers to raise her face to him. "I found her wand in the attic in our Spinner's End home, a few days after she had died. She was already buried. I took the wand to Ollivander that confirmed to me it used to belong to my mother. I kept it with me when I was in Hogwarts. When I left the school to become the Dark Lord's Potions Master last year, I took it with me. But the Dark Lord sent Wormtail to live with me – and spy on me. I couldn't leave a wand there, lest Wormtail may find and take it. So I brought it here, where I hid it. You know everything."

Amelia was touched not only by his honest answer but also by the fact he was opening up to her – a bit. Despite all his life being a bundle of lies, caught as he was between his apparent loyalty to the Dark Lord, and his true nature made of decency and nobility, he could be honest at times, and with her. She even had the feeling she was the only person he was really honest with. She was well aware he could open up a little with her for the very reason he had stated earlier : he was the only person on earth to be able to ensure her protection.

Severus took her free hand and led her outside the kitchen, then the dining-room. They crossed the lobby again to enter another room, a drawing-room, by the look of it. A big grate, furniture still covered by white sheets, cobwebs everywhere. A cabinet began to move, as if something was trapped inside and wanted to get out at any cost.

Severus sighed. "A boggart. I forgot to get rid of it last time I came here."

Amelia put a gentle hand on his arm. "I will do so, Master. I know the spell for this one."

He looked at her and nodded. It would be interesting to see what her boggart may look like. "As you wish. This is the drawing-room. Note that no grate here is connected to the Floo network. I found some Floo powder nearby this one, so I assume it must have been connected in the past. But rest assured, that's no longer the case. As now grates are monitored, I won't have it connected at all either." A pause. "As you can see, it's as dusty here as in the other rooms. You may come here though, it's safe." He led her to the next room, opening the door with a flick of his wand.

It was a small study, with a desk covered with sheets like in the other rooms. Yet, there was something cosy there, probably due to the smaller proportions of the room. A small grate, cold and dirty, must have provided a warm touch to the place.

"I think this room would make a comfortable bedroom," Severus suggested. "As it's smaller, it should be warmed up quickly. I strongly advise you to sleep here."

Amelia nodded. She would take care of the room first thing in the morning. She would not sleep in a place that needed so much cleaning – well, she could do so for a night but not for a long duration. She did not know how much time she would spend in this house but she guessed it would not be short.

Severus led her to a door at the back of the study. They entered a room that Amelia loved at once.

Most of the walls were covered by shelves filled with books. She could not refrain an exclamation of delightful surprise. Severus watched her, secretly amused by her reaction. Ravenclaws, always having or wanting a book for anything. He remembered what he had told her when she had expressed the need to have a recipe book for cooking. But he had to admit he liked it, that she enjoyed reading as much as he did.

Like for the other rooms, the furniture were protected by white sheets, cobwebs hanged from the ceiling, the windows were surely dirty, as they were hidden behind curtains.

"The library is safe too. However, you may find some pests hidden behind books. If you know how to get rid of them, be my guest."

"Oh, yes, I know how to do that. Mrs Ravenheart had shown me. Besides, the only useful book Gilderoy Lockhart had ever written was his work about home pests and how to get rid of them." Her tone was full of ironical wit – which Severus enjoyed. She was so true about her statement about the former DADA teacher, and notorious fraud.

"Indeed. But I doubt you'll find it here. The Prince family did not go for this kind of reading."

"Never mind, Master. I know the spells too." She glanced around. "I think I'll start tomorrow, in broad daylight."

"You'll do that. So these are the only rooms you are allowed to enter. I managed to break all the curses set up on this floor but I still need to do so for the rest of the house, basement, upper floor and attic included. As it takes some time to do so, I do it little by little. As you're aware, I'm very busy with the Dark Lord's orders."

"I understand, Master. I'll do my best to help you here with the rest of the pests, if that may help you." She realized suddenly she would spend a lot of time here on her own. She hesitated before asking him her next question. "Master... will you... stay here... with me ?" Her voice betrayed her anxiety.

Severus perceived it, of course. "I will. I cannot promise every night but, tonight, yes, I'll stay here. Let's go back to the kitchen. I have some food stored there and I'm hungry."

She grinned at him shyly, relieved by his words. She realized that dinner time was approaching. The house was impressive, and the notion she would have to spend the night there all alone, in an unknown and partly cursed house, was not something she looked forward to. She preferred Spinner's End. But she was left no choice. Not now she was a fugitive. Had the Prince family been into Dark magic ? Like some Death-Eater families ? "Sure thing, Master. I'm going to cook."

Severus nodded. "We'll spend the night in the study. That's the least uncomfortable room available and the one to be warmed up the quickest. The bedrooms upstairs are still cursed. Let me arrange something and I'll join you in the kitchen in a few minutes. Give me your cloak."

Amelia gave him her cloak before going out. She was at the library door when she heard her Master calling her. "Amelia !"

"Yes, Master ?"

"You're the lady of the manor here... now."

She nodded and left the room, his last words echoing in her mind. She felt strange. Severus watched her leave the library, many thoughts in his mind all of a sudden. He had no idea why he had uttered this last sentence. He had not wanted these words to get out of his mouth that way. Or rather, yes, he meant them. He knew she would do justice to the place – like she had done justice to his mother's garments.

He checked the place again. Except the thick, plush rug nearby the grate, there was nothing that could serve as a bed for the night. The furniture may still be full of pests – that was not a risk he was much keen on taking. He conjured up two cushions. He removed his own cloak, spread Amelia's on the rug, where they would sleep. His own cloak was big enough to cover them both, and thick enough to keep them warm. The arrangement would be enough for the night. He would go to Spinner's End tomorrow to bring back more stuff.

The place was cold too, it had not been heated in a long time. Severus started a fire in the grate but like in the kitchen, the chimney must have been full of soot. He stopped the fire after few seconds. They would have to sleep without heating. Wonderful. February was still chilly and the house was cold. It meant they would have to sleep together, in each other's arms to keep warm. He remembered when she had slept in his kitchen at Spinner's End. She had deserted his bed then, way too much afraid of him and his reactions as a man. He had understood why, later, when he had taught her Occlumency. He just hoped she would not make a fuss tonight.

Well, many things had happened between them since then. Things that had made her understand she could trust him, events that had proved her he would not harm her, on the contrary.

Severus went to the kitchen. The young witch had found food in the cupboards, which she had put on the table. He had brought food over time in case he would need to stay here longer. She was busy preparing dinner. At the same time, she enjoyed using her new wand. There was a frenzy of magic going on in the kitchen. Pans and plates and glasses were washing themselves over the sink, thanks to magic. The cooker was alive with clean pans where some food was sizzling, on their own. Amelia was sitting at the table, busy working on the food. She had taken two chairs from the dining-room, which she had brought back to the kitchen.

She raised her eyes towards him when he entered and welcomed him with a smile. That sight moved him somehow. She was the only woman – except Lily – to greet him with a smile. But Lily was dead. While Amelia was alive. A woman of blood and flesh, like he was. And she was his.

"Please, Master, have a seat. It's going to be ready in a few minutes."

"What do we have for dinner ?"

"I found some bacon and a few potatoes. Hope you'll like them."

"Everything you cook is good, Amelia. You never disappointed me in this regard." Suddenly, Severus felt something strange. He watched her, he wanted her as his dinner. Why was he feeling like this ? Wasn't he supposed to feel something only for Lily ?

After all these years ? There would always be some place in his heart for Lily. But he was discovering that there was enough room for Amelia too. The young witch was now busy at the cooker, her back on him. He watched her again, eyeing her up actually. Her hourglass shape, her agile body, her long curly hair. He remembered the first night she had spent at Spinner's End, when he had been given her by the Dark Lord. Her half-nudity. Her plump breasts. She had been pregnant, her waist had been a bit distended by then. Now, he noticed that she had retrieved a thinner waist.

Severus turned his head before she could notice him ogling at her. He even felt he was blushing, like a schoolboy. Really. Now he wanted to touch her. All these months she had slept in his bed, beside him ! He had never felt anything for her. And now, he craved for her touch.

Amelia dried the glasses, the plates and the cutlery with her wand, obviously happy to do all this so easily with magic, after having spent so much time deprived of its use. She seemed to enjoy herself immensely. She put everything on the table, along with a jug of water. She served Severus first, as she did usually, and filled his glass with water. Then she filled her own plate, before sitting down. She let him start first before attacking her food. She was hungry too.

They both ate in silence, yet with gusto. They were hungry indeed, especially after the events of the day at the Ministry. Amelia had made a nice meal with little food. Once again, she had proven to be resourceful.

When they were over with the meal, Amelia sent everything to the sink and spelled the dishes to clean on their own with magic. That was fun. Severus had left the kitchen, telling her he would go out in order to check on the house protective wards.

Amelia felt an incredible feeling of freedom. She looked at the wand Severus had given her. His mother's wand. Eileen Prince Snape's wand. It felt good in her hand. Reliable and yes, enjoyable. True she wore her clothes, she cooked with her book, she had even given her name to her little girl. Eileen... The young woman could not help thinking about her little daughter, now safe with good people.

That led her to think about the late afternoon's events at the Ministry of Magic. She thought about that middle-aged, red-haired wizard that had talked to her Master as if he had known him for a long time. Amelia had noticed they were on first name basis. Except his Death-Eater friends, she knew nobody that could address him as such. It meant that both men must have known each other quite well in the past.

And what about that story about the doe Patronus ? From the two men's conversation, it was pretty obvious that the Potions Master was not supposed to be able to cast such a spell. Amelia wondered why a Death-Eater would not be able to do so – after all it was a defensive spell aimed against Dementors. Death-Eaters were like any other wizards – they may need to defend themselves in front of those foul creatures. What was so particular to the spell that they should not be able to cast it ?

There was more than that. The red-haired wizard had mentioned a doe Patronus cast early January. Some strong gut feeling screamed at Amelia that it was in relationship with her daughter. Would it be possible that this wizard may know where my daughter is ? Maybe she was wrong, maybe it had nothing to do with her daughter at all. But she could not help thinking this was in relation with her little Eileen.

But is she still mine ? Amelia felt her elation gone suddenly. She knew she could not keep the baby with her. The little girl would have been in danger. Besides, would she have been able to take care of her, if the girl grew up to look like her father – the man that had raped her ?

No. I don't know but... Amelia was sure of one thing : she loathed Wormtail with all her guts. She was glad that the Dark Lord had called him back to him and gotten Severus and herself rid of the rat man's presence. In this regard, she was grateful to Lord Voldemort for probably the only sensible decision of his life (in her opinion).

She reasoned herself, thinking that she had taken the right decision, to give up the little girl she had given birth to the previous month, and have it raised by people that would take care of her in a proper way.

Yet, Amelia thought that if the red-haired wizard they had met earlier this afternoon was indeed the man that was now raising her girl, well, it would not be bad. He seemed to be protective and dependable an individual. Exactly what a child needed.

She wanted to make sure. She would ask her Master. She felt he was in a suitable mood for questioning. She may try – and back off if he turned nasty. She had learned to know him, she would recognize the first signs of anger from him – and would step back then in a very submissive fashion, as usual. Her submissiveness was the only way to defuse any tension arising between them two.

Once she was done with the washing-up, drying up the dishes and putting them back into place inside the cupboards, Amelia decided she would take a bit of time to check what would have to be done in there first. She was planning the work to be carried out when she felt a pain in her chest. A pain she knew well. She needed to express her milk. Usually, this task was performed by Severus, in his lab, where he had all his utensils to store the milk. He was also the one with the wand.

But now, she had a wand. She knew the spell too – she had heard it several times and saw him how to use it, enough to memorize how to cast it. She would just need some recipient to store the milk. She searched inside the cupboards and found a large jug. She Scourgified and dried it with a spell, to make sure it would be clean to contain the precious substance.

Amelia glanced at the door. She was alone in the kitchen. No idea where her Master was. Surely outside. She made up her mind and began to unbutton her shirt. She removed it, as well as her bra. She was now half-naked. The air was chilly but she tried not to think about it. She cast a warming charm around her, which raised the temperature in the kitchen a few degrees more. Then, like she had seen Severus doing so before so many times, she put Eileen Snape's wand tip on her collarbone and made its tip go down her breast while casting the spell aloud. "Galacteos Exprimeo."

The magic operated. The milk flowed from her breast into the jug. She had no idea if Severus would use it but at least it would be available if he needed it. She was about to renew the spell on her other breast when she heard some noise behind her. She turned her head towards the entrance.

Severus was there. Standing at the threshold. Impressive in his stance. His intense dark gaze on her. Might was pervading from his whole person. Amelia remembered the few words engraved on the monument at the Ministry of Magic. Magic is might. If one wizard could adequately fit the bill, it would be Severus Snape, in her opinion. Her lips trembled. She felt so weak, so vulnerable, in front of him. Yet, she knew intuitively he would not harm her. They were still looking at each other, with intensity, as if linked by some invisible bond.

He had guessed what she was doing. "Have you sterilized the recipient first ?" he asked in a detached tone, while coming closer to her, breaking the charm that had been going on between them. Amelia cast down her eyes.

"I Scourgified it, Master."

"That's not enough." He realized that every time they had done this, they had done it in his lab, and he had been ready then. The witch could not know the procedure. "You have to sterilize the recipient first," he said softly once beside her. "There's a spell to that effect."

He was close to her now. Amelia did not feel embarrassed, he had already seen her half-naked like that before. Three or four times a day since the birth of her daughter one month ago. The intensity of his gaze on her had something even... warm. She glanced up at him every now and then. She did not want him to read in her eyes she felt troubled. Enjoyably troubled.

The last time a man had looked at her that way... It had been Terence. Strangely enough, thinking about her former fiancé did not cause her the usual pang of grief. On the contrary, it was as if from somewhere, Terence was watching her. As if there was room enough in her heart to harbour feelings for another man.

The question was, could that other man be Severus Snape ?

The Potions Master took the jug and poured its content into the sink. Amelia let out an exclamation of surprise. "As much as I hate wasting," he went on, "we cannot use the milk that had been stored in an unsterilized recipient. I'm sorry, Amelia."

"I understand, Master. I... I should have waited for you to come back before starting all this."

"Don't worry. Now you know." His tone was surprisingly soft, almost a caress. "The spell is a variant of Incendio, so you have to be very careful when casting it. You just need to whisper it. Like this." Severus got closer to her. She could feel his breath on her ear, sweet like a breeze. He pointed his wand towards the empty jug. "Incendio," he said very sweetly.

The jug was surrounded by a flame that blackened it for a few seconds, before it regained its usual appearance. "Now it is sterilized. But wait a few minutes before using it. It's still hot, you may burn yourself and the heat may alter the milk. Wait till it's cold before using it."

Amelia nodded. "Yes, Master."

"We need to find another recipient to store the milk. We'll use the jug to collect it. But have it sterilized before each and every use." Severus opened various cupboards before finding a suitable container. "This should do it." He showed her what must have been a bottle of wine. "Clean it thoroughly and then you'll sterilize it with the spell I've just showed you."

Amelia obeyed. Still half-naked, she took the bottle from his hands and went to the sink to clean the bottle, filling it with water then Scourgifying it. She put the bottle on the draining board, beside the sink. Then she aimed at it with Eileen's wand, a determined look on her face.

"Remember... you have to say it softly." He had come closer to her, his voice ever deep and gentle. Sensual, to the point that she refrained from thrilling with... with what ? With some sort of delight.

She remained focused. "Incendio," she whispered. The spell hit the bottle that was engulfed in some sort of flame before becoming red, then black in a matter of seconds.

"Good," Severus told her. "You got it now."

She turned towards him and smiled at him, completely forgetting she was half-naked. Her smile and her full breasts moved Severus beyond what he would have imagined. He felt the rush of desire pulsing in his veins, spurring his back. He did not move yet his dark eyes shone forth with the white gleam of lust.

"I'll let you proceed. You don't need me any more." Severus went out of the kitchen. He was fleeing.

Amelia wanted to tell him that she needed him. But she could not tell him like that. She would not even have been able to express it as such. "Master !"

Severus froze on the threshold before turning his head slowly towards her. "Yes, Amelia ?"

Her lips trembled. She had her breasts offered to his sight. Severus could not prevent his eyes from watching her whole person. Greedily. She was gorgeous and desire spurred his back even more.

"Thank you, Master. For everything you do for me." Emotion was obvious on her face, in her eyes. She did not even try to conceal it, like she did not try to hide her nudity. She exposed them both in a show of trust that Severus perceived perfectly well. They remained looking at each other as such, for long seconds.

Severus nodded. Without a word, he left the kitchen, blood throbbing in his body like never before. As if he had been overwhelmed by a sudden rush of life, like he had never felt before, not even for Lily. He needed to find some release to it. He fled outside in the garden, away from her. Despite himself.

To compensate with my posting a bit late last Tuesday's, here you are now, I post earlier today, as I don't work (bank holiday here in France).

Hope you'll like it ! Please leave reviews to give your appreciation, your advice and opinion, etc.

As for those of you who can draw or make photomanips or any other form of fanart, please feel free to do so ! I can't draw for the life of me, but I'd be very happy to see your works inspired by this story. Please let me know in your PMs or reviews, with the context around your work/fanart, and I shall post the link in the next chapter author's notes.