I gazed at myself in the bathroom mirror, after wiping off more of the leftover bits of condensation that had built up after the long shower we'd taken together. It had made sense at first, especially after we'd both gotten a bit untidy after I gave him particularly messy blow job. In our logic, we could get clean together, scrub each other's backs and wash each other's hair, the latter being a luxury as only people with longer hair understood how to handle it when wet and not make it a completely tangled mess.

Severus's fine head of hair had felt like silk in my hands as I rubbed his soap through it, and the mere intimacy of the act was almost enough to bring me to my knees once again. When he rubbed his soapy hands through mine – utter perfect ecstasy.

But, hands began to travel – my hands to be exact – and soon enough he was hard again, and the slickness between my thighs had nothing to do with the steaming water around us.

He'd walked out into the bedroom, afterwards, telling me he had little need to "fuss in front of a mirror', smirking as I stuck my tongue out at him and took my few supplies out of my bag.

Getting dressed for a night out, as few as they were recently, had never been this much fun. Harry was so conservative, much more so lately than ever. If he had it his way I'd wear a turtleneck and floor length skirts wherever we went, if he couldn't talk me into just wearing my robes from St. Mungo's complete with my veil and wimple.

After fixing my makeup and drying my hair, I put the new dress on and secured the tie around my neck, finally able to examine myself with it on properly, as I had only briefly slipped it on and off in the shop just to make sure it fit.

The dress was absolutely something I would never have been able to get away with back home. Not in a million years. Not as Harry Potter's girlfriend and Arthur Weasley's daughter.

The fabric was sheer in this light, the material not as opaque as I'd thought it to be. I could almost discern the outline of my breasts and the areola of my nipples through it. A long slit rose up the front (how had I not noticed this in the shop?) clear to the top of my thigh, though with the looseness of the fabric, my legs peeked in and out of view. With my right hand adorned with my parent's garnet ring and my hair pulled into a loose twist so that all of my back was bare, I felt a little naked, though at the same time I felt beautiful.

Sexy.

Powerful.

I walked out of the bathroom, the click of my heeled sandals very pleasing to my ears. Severus was in the bedroom, waiting for me, just as he said he would be. He looked ever much the Wizard in his heavily starched frock coat and layered cravat, but for the first time I realized how formal he looked in the Muggle world, especially after spending more time in it than I ever had these past few days. Even with my formal dress robes, we looked like a matching pair – dark and dark, pale and pale.

Witch and Wizard.

He gasped, just loud enough for me to hear. I quickly shut the door behind me and let him inspect me at his will.

"You look divine," he noted, giving me one of his mysterious half smiles as he took my hand in his. He motioned for me to turn, and like a ballerina I spun on my toes, using his touch to keep me steady. "How far up does that slit go?" he asked, spreading the fabric wide.

I blushed when he flipped the fabric so high that he could see that I hadn't worn underwear of any kind. He inhaled deeply, as though he could smell my arousal. A tiny flush spread across his cheeks like wildfire. But his was not of mild embarrassment, like mine was. He was aroused, more than aroused if the rapidly swelling lump in front of his trousers was an indication.

I didn't even have the chance to look back up. Suddenly I was against the wall, my dress at my hips. His fingers were already inside me as his other hand fumbled with his buttons.

"My dress," I panted, squirmed on his hand, trying to make him thrust harder. "The wall … wrinkles … "

He withdrew his fingers and spun me around. Instinctively I put my hands up to the wall, bracing myself against it. In one smooth move my arse was bare, and Severus was behind me, opening my thighs.

Sliding inside me with one smooth motion that made every nerve in my body sing.

One hand went to my clit as the other held my hip, helping me meet him thrust for thrust. It was over so fast – too fast. His fingers tweaked me so hard that I came in violent shudders, just as he swelled within me, filling me with his heat.

"Scourgify," he panted, cleaning us of any residual evidence that could stain our clothes. I leaned back against him, letting his hands roam over my body as our breathing slowed.

"How do I … do I need to fix my hair … makeup?" I panted. I tried to look over his shoulder at the mirror behind him, but he blocked me from it.

"You look like I just gave you the best shag of your life," he said, leaning in still closer. "And I want everyone in that restaurant to know that you are –

-mine," she said, slapping his hand away from the mille-feuille in front of her.

Severus licked his lips, groaning slightly as he watched Ginny take that first bite, breaking the crisp layers of pastry and scooping of the dense custard between. She closed her eyes and moaned as her mouth closed around the spoon, her tongue licking up the residual fine crumbs from her lower lip.

His fingers twitched with the need to touch her. As did his cock with the need to fuck her again, in his bed here in Paris. But they were Apparating to his flat as soon as they got back and changed -

"Do you want to try a little?" Her eyes were bright as Muggle pennies when she held the spoon out to him. There was the slightest bit of cream on her thumb, as though she'd intended to tempt him.

Grabbing her wrist, he brought the spoon to his mouth. For a moment he let himself get lost in the deliciousness of the pastry before returning his attentions back to her, and the thumb that waved slightly in his face. She had meant to do it – he could tell now by the sly smile and by the way her top teeth bit down on her lower lip. After he licked the spoon clean he kissed her hand, sliding his mouth and tongue along her knuckles until he reached her thumb, sucking it in his mouth.

"Kiss me," Ginny begged, scooting closer to him. He released her thumb with a soft pop and took her face in his hands, his breath catching when he saw the look of utter contentment in her face. The pulse in her throat leapt when he kissed her, and all breathing ceased as they caressed each other's skin.

"I wish my husband still kissed me like that." The voice filtered into his thoughts – high, nasal, and unmistakably American.

"I wish my husband still kissed me, period." A second voice, a companion to the American woman by the sound of it.

Severus tried to keep his focus on Ginny, even Occluding his thoughts a little to drown out the noise. But when a third voice spoke, he lost his concentration completely.

"Did you see the way they've been looking at each other? They must really be in –

-love to dance." Severus grimaced as they walked out to the dance floor.

"I think you protest a little too much, sir," I said, bumping his hip with mine as we slid past a few couples before finding a spot towards the center.

He frowned down at me, as magnificently disapproving as he had been when he was a professor and I was his student. It made me giggle – I couldn't help it. I hadn't seen his glower in years, and surprisingly it felt like seeing an old friend again. Back then a giggle in class would have earned me a detention. But now … his face softened a little and he relaxed marginally as we glided around the floor. I didn't know the music, but it was slow enough that I could easily follow his lead. Despite his complaints about my request to dance, he was a very good dancer – light on his feet for such a tall man.

The song changed after a time to something very slow. Taking a cue from the couples around us, I put my arms around his neck and rested my cheek against his chest, feeling his heart pound against it as his arms tightened around me. It felt so good, very much like being at –

I blinked and tried to clear my mind of any emotion like he'd been teaching me. But it was already too late. Severus sighed and rested his head against mine, his cheek cool against my forehead.

"I know," he whispered.

I merely nodded, not saying a word as we swayed together as one.

We circled the floor, dancing until the band stopped playing, and even then we danced in the silent room, not wanting to go –

-home?"

Ginny nodded and grabbed her bag, all of her new items shrunk and placed in there for the trip. Her hair was still gathered in the beautiful, messy twist that he couldn't seem to keep his hands out of, though instead of that amazing black dress she wore a simple jumper and skirt underneath her cloak.

"Maybe one last look around – no need in just having to come back later." She disappeared into the bedroom.

Severus looked around his flat too, placing Stasis charms where needed to keep the place from getting musty from disuse.

It was brighter than it had been. Thanks to her. He smiled vaguely as he placed a charm on the bouquet of hot house flowers she'd brought up from the street. Perhaps they would survive until they … until he returned.

"I think that's really it, Severus," she said, marching back into the room. She sighed as she looked about, muttering, "Back to London. Real life."

"Just for a few hours a day," he reminded her. He held out his hand, and she took it, squeezing tightly as he cast his wards, strengthening the ones already in place. "On the count of three, dear. One … two … three."

With a soft pop, they disappeared from sight.

A/N: Gods above I'm usually more on top of a story than this. I've had some massive redo's of some parts of the story which I hadn't anticipated, and all the second guessing and rewriting has gotten me a little blocked. I think I'm past it. With the holidays and RL coming up, I won't post as fanatical as I have done in the past, but it'll keep coming. Trust me, bear with me, follow it if you like what you see. :)