Chapter 25

An hour later, Severus had the tips of his forefinger on his brow, massaging the area. Skyrah fidgeted, eyes fixed on Albus's black fingers.

"You should have told us before, Albus. I can only slow down the curse, but I cannot stop it… It is too late."

In his usual calm composure, Albus said, "I first called Poppy. She wasn't able to do anything. When I mentioned I'd get your help, she told me not to disturb you."

Severus and Skyrah lost the poor color from their already paled cheeks. Both felt guilty. Had nothing happened, Albus would have had a chance to survive. Instead, the baby was gone and the old man had his days counted because of that bloody ring. He had two years at most. The only good news was that Gaunt's Ring wasn't a horcrux anymore.

"It was a matter of life or death. You should not have listened to Poppy."

"You know her as well as I do, Severus. She doesn't joke around. If she said I was not to contact you, she must have had a sound reason. The question is whether you will fill me in the details of why she seems to know something I am not aware of."

Albus eyed Severus through his glasses, inciting him to confess. Severus didn't grant his wishes. He didn't want to be pitied, nor did he fancy to get questioned about the reason why they hadn't told him his wife was pregnant in the first place.

Tears gathered in her eyes, a detail that didn't escape Albus's notice.

"Skyrah," he started.

"You better leave my wife alone, Albus. She won't be telling you anything either," Severus hissed in a dangerously low voice, putting a shielding arm in front of her chest.

The truth was that she didn't want to tell Albus yet. However, if she had been feeling better, she would have snapped at Severus and told him that she could defend herself and that, husband or not, he didn't speak for her. The memories were so fresh on her mind though, that she kept quiet and focused on not shedding her tears instead.

Albus studied his spy. Severus had never addressed him in such a harsh manner. Under the layer of rage in his black eyes, Albus spotted bits of impotence and sorrow. His overprotective attitude towards Skyrah had surprised Albus as well. The gesture evidenced that they had grown closer. Albus had seen them kissing and hugging once, when he revealed that Severus was his spy to Skyrah. Severus had been slightly awkward by then. Now though, he was confident and seemed to have grown a soft spot for her. Could it be that the couple, married without a choice, actually developed deep feelings for each other? The fact that Severus had referred to the witch as his wife (and not by her name) with profound emotion seemed to prove that, indeed, sentiments were involved. Whatever had happened, it was bad enough for Poppy to intervene and for them to avoid telling him. Hence, Albus let it go for the time being.

"All right. I'll respect your privacy." He looked at Skyrah. "Do you wish to get sorted now? On rare occasions, there have been Professors who have been sorted along the first year students. It is your choice."

Relieved now that Albus had changed the subject, she said, "I think that if the students are anything like Harry, they will be shocked enough to find out there's another Professor Snape... I don't want to cause a bigger scene. I'd rather do it now."

"Very well, then."

He left, likely looking for the Sorting Hat. Skyrah was fretting. She had a presentiment of where she would end up in and she wasn't particularly keen on it. Severus raised his eyebrows, thinking she looked like a jittery first year waiting for Minerva to put the Sorting Hat on their heads. He took her clammy hand in his.

"Are you okay?"

"More or less. I'm nervous about the house I'll get into."

Thinking that bantering with her would ease her worry, he teased, "I have no idea why you are so jumpy. We all know you are the perfect definition of Hufflepuff."

"Don't insult Hufflepuffs!"

"I am not insulting them. It was supposed to be a joke. Why do you care, anyway? I never thought I would ever see your badger pride showing."

Skyrah stuck her tongue out at him, gaining low chuckles from him. Her hand was still sweaty. Severus sighed.

"Skyrah, it is just a house. You will do perfectly in any of them."

She hummed. "What house do you think I'll end up in?"

She was yearning to hear an answer which contradicted her suspicions. She needed that reassurance.

The truth was that there had been times Severus thought she was as brave as a Gryffindor. She had to be brave, to keep smiling even though her family was trapped. Other times, she was as open-minded, curious and logical as a Ravenclaw or as loyal and patient as a Hufflepuff. Yet, her willing to survive, her ability to adapt and her cunningness were outstanding. Before he could let his opinion known, Albus appeared holding the Sorting Hat. She took a big breath in hopes to calm down. Shortly after, the magical object was placed on her head.

"Mmmm… Skyrah Andraste Riddle, now Snape… It's not very usual to sort adults, but it is far more interesting. Let's see… You have the wits and the passion for learning of your mother. Always been a curious child, haven't you? A scholar who relied on logic… That sounds like Ravenclaw to me, but then again, in Slytherin you would shine…"

Skyrah held her breath.

"You are as cunning, shrewd and sharp as Tom Riddle… Your loyalty to your family is admirable… There's ambition running through your veins, an ambition to stop your father, an exceptional determination to prove yourself… Better be… SLYTHERIN!"

She looked like they had thrown a bucket of cold water at her. As soon as Albus retired the hat, she ran away without looking back. Severus and Albus stood in shock at her reaction.

Severus headed towards the dungeons, hoping to find his wife in their chambers. Along the way, he caught a glimpse of the last person he wanted to confront right then. He made as if he hadn't spotted her at all and accelerated his pace. His efforts were worthless. The pallid woman got in his way, piercing his soul with her black eyes.

She wore a sneer on her face which slowly softened as she greeted, "Severus."

"Not now, Irma."

The librarian took one step back, offended, but composed herself quickly enough.

"We are alone now, you don't have to pretend and call me Irma."

"Excuse me for not wanting to blow your cover, Irma," he replied, rolling his eyes.

"Stop it, Severus."

"No, you stop it. I have to go."

He walked past her, but Madam Pince grabbed his arm firmly.

"I just want to talk. You haven't written to me this summer, not once, not even to reply to my letter."

He had received it. It had been during the last week of singleness. He had been a nervous mess back then. The moment he saw the remittent, he paid it no attention. The truth was that he didn't even open it. He didn't need to get more stressed because of a stupid letter from this woman. He really didn't wish to talk to her back then and he wasn't looking forward to confronting her now.

"I've been busy."

"You cannot find a moment to answer to your mother? It's been months, Severus! We don't usually talk during school year, but at least I can see you. Any mother would care about her son… That's what I am doing. I want to know how you have been."

Severus scoffed, "Now you want to play mothers and sons?" Pushing her hand away briskly, he growled, "You're. Too. Late."

"Severus!" she begged. "Please! I am trying! You aren't giving me a chance!"

"Why should I?!" he shouted, eyes red, towering over her. "You let us live in hell! You let Tobias abuse us! You were a witch! You could have left him and taken me with you! I was just a child!"

"Sev, it wasn't that simple…"

"Don't you dare call me Sev!"

She let out an incredulous huff and tried to shoo the pain those words had caused her.

"Please, I don't want to argue. I just want to talk to you, to know how you've been doing," she tried in an unusual soft voice.

Severus looked coolly at the supplicant woman for a few moments. "I don't have time for this. I have to find somebody."

Before he could turn around a corner and disappear from her sight, the librarian yelped, "It's that woman, right? The one who was running. She's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, isn't she? You are going after her."

He stopped dead in his tracks and veered. He strode towards her like a bat that was about to catch its prey, his cloak wavering around, following his steps. They were so close that their hooked noses touched.

"What do you know about her?" he demanded in a dangerously low voice.

"Only rumors. I hope they aren't true though. What kind of son doesn't tell his mother that he's getting married?" she asked spitefully.

"What kind of mother lets her son rot in a broken home?" he shot back.

Both held their gazes, neither of them backing down.

"So it's true then… My son's got married. Were you planning on telling me? Were you planning on introducing your wife to me at all, my daughter-in-law?" Severus remained still. "I see… I guess I'll have to talk to her and let her know that, despite whatever it is you told her, you do have a family."

"I swear, Mother," he spat the word as if it burned in his tongue.

She cringed. She had presumed that the day her son called her Mother again, it would be the best of her life. Yet, it had somehow hurt her more than when he called her Irma. The agony was palpable on her face but Severus ignored it.

"You better reveal nothing to her. It's the least you could do. I helped you get out of Tobias's grasp, I helped you find a job and I got you a new identity, a new life… You owe me."

Eileen gulped and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the shadow of her son trailed away.

Severus thanked Merlin that his chambers were in the cold dungeons. The temperature helped him cool down after the talk with Eileen. He forgot about it the moment he spotted the black wavy hair he loved running his fingers through. He sighed in relief and approached the figure of his wife. She was sitting on the sofa of the living room, which was way more comfortable than the one they had back at Spinner's End. When she perceived his presence, she stood up, dried her tears and tried to smile at him. She didn't quite succeed.

"Are you all right?"

She shrugged. "I've been better."

"Why did you run away?"

She bit her bottom lip. "I'm a Slytherin."

His expression turned from preoccupation to offense in a friction of time.

"So you are sickened by my own house… Figures."

"What? No! It's not that! I grew up with tales of Hogwarts! I learnt to respect and value the four Houses."

"Then what is it?"

Her legs were fidgeting the same way they had done since they discovered that Albus would die.

"I don't want to be like Father," she whispered in a slightly quaking voice.

The lines of his face softened. "Skyrah..."

"You don't get it! I am cunning, I am able to manipulate situations, I'm loyal to my family, I am resourceful when I want to be… I managed to hide from my own father that I didn't believe in his nonsense when I was a mere child, for Merlin's sake! I… I have all the Slytherin traits and it is not a bad thing… I survived because I am like this. But I… I hate it that the bloody hat compared me to both my father and my mother. I could have been in Ravenclaw, like her, and yet it screamed Slytherin. It frightens me that I am so much like him."

"You may have your father's qualities, but don't you ever say you are like him. You are not. You both use your Slytherin traits for different reasons. You strive to help your family, whereas the Dark Lord has never done anything to help anyone besides himself."

She averted his gaze, still unsure. Severus wasn't about to let her believe that she was like Voldemort. He cupped her chin until she could do nothing but stare back at his deep eyes.

"Do you love me?"

A frown etched on her brow. "What does this have to do with-"

"Do you love me?"

For a few moments, Severus thought that she wouldn't answer him. He started to feel his heart breaking. Fear and doubts filled his veins. That little voice in his head was resurfacing again, reminding him that she would never be his.

"I thought you didn't have to ask. I thought you knew that I do love you, Severus."

With a relieved heart, he continued, "Do you love your mother and sister?"

"Yes."

"Does your father love anybody?"

She was beginning to see where this was leading. She grinned ruefully at the realization that he was doing all this to comfort her. She decided to play along and let him finish.

"No."

"You once told me that monsters cannot love. You love, Skyrah. You aren't like him," he said, caressing her cheek.

She smiled at him, this time without a trace of sadness. Then she leaned in to his chest, urging him to enfold her safely. They stayed for a few minutes in their favorite place: each other's arms.

"May I now celebrate that my wife is a proud snake?"

Playfully, she wondered, "What exactly did my snarky Potions Master have in mind?"

"Making love."

One month ago he would have never acted or spoken so confidently about sex, but now it felt like the most natural thing in the world. Lately, his attitude regarding physical touch had changed. Instead of letting her initiate the contact all the time, he had been more up-front and began some cuddling and snogging sessions. Sex was an entirely different topic though. Skyrah always took the first step. Thus, when he suggested it and showed her that he desired her so openly, she was instantly turned on.

"Straight to the point, aren't we?" she husked, looking up at him.

He smirked. "I do not particularly fancy wasting time."

His eyes were pure lust and she felt the sudden urge to feel his skin against hers.

She matched his smirk as she tiptoed and whispered, "Then go straight to the point and make me scream your name."

The feeling of her hot breath against his ear and her sultry tone sent shivers down his spine and made the hair from his nape bristle. Skyrah's eyes had turned a darker shade of brown, making them look nearly as black as his own. They were fixed on his lips and Severus found himself directing his gaze to her mouth as well, only to see she was biting her bottom lip in anticipation. She could merely take a short inhale of breath before he pressed his mouth firmly against hers, sucking her bottom lip before his tongue teased and explored her hot mouth. On instinct, he pushed her until her back hit the nearest wall. She groaned, of pleasure or of pain, he couldn't tell.

"Was I too brutish?" he asked, breaking the kiss.

"I like you brutish," she moaned, kissing his jaw.

He felt hot. "I thought... I thought you liked it slow and gentle."

"Both versions are equally appealing," she said with an impish grin.

Skyrah began to undress hastily, not waiting for him to slowly undress her and kiss every spot of her skin. He stood, paralyzed.

"You... You'd tell me if I hurt you, wouldn't you?"

"Yes," she said, unclasping her bra. He wasn't looking at her breasts but at the floor. "Oh, Gods, Severus! Do you think I'd be so eager to make love if I hadn't enjoyed it? Your brutishness was sexy." She kissed his flushed cheeks. "I liked it, and I want you to touch me."

She took his hands and put them on her breasts. Both moaned. He kept playing with them while she unfastened his buttons in record time. The last pieces of clothes, included the underwear, were tossed onto the floor. She cast a spell to avoid pregnancy and threw her wand away carelessly. Severus crushed their lips together harshly. Her hands roamed along his torso. His hands were busy caressing her as well, starting with her collar and going down the valley between her breasts, her waist and thigh, until he reached her curls down there. She broke the intense kiss then, and nibbled his ear, while his fingers found her core. Shit, thought Severus, feeling himself harden, How can she be soaking wet already?

He usually had no rush and kissed every single part of her before touching where she most longed for, but there was a sudden wildness and irrational numbness in him he just couldn't control, much less when she was so responsive and called his brutishness sexy. His fingers slid in and out of her while his thumb rubbed her clit in small circles, making her squirm beneath him. She kissed him passionately while he kept fingering her, her hips moving to match his rhythm. Her hands found his black hair. She tugged at it the moment he curled his fingers in a come hither motion. She broke the kiss and didn't suppress any whimper as she kept clawing his back.

"Severus…"

He suppressed a low groan when he heard her whispering his name with such an urgent need. Knowing he was making her feel good made him feel good. His mouth found her neck and kept licking and biting her there while his hand continued pleasuring her. Their bodies were so close that he could feel her erect nipples against his own chest while his evident erection grazed her belly. Her knees trembled.

"I'm going to... Oh, Severus! Yes! Yes!"

He didn't stop fingering her throughout her orgasm, watching her ecstasy. She smiled at him when she came down from the ride and put a hand on his cheek, bringing his face down to her, lips crushing together in a languid kiss. He needed more. He bucked his hips against hers, looking for friction.

Taking the hint, she purred between irregular gasps of air, "My turn."

She grabbed him roughly by the shoulders and turned them around, swapping positions. Now Severus's back pressed against the wall. He let out a gasp at her force, understanding what she had meant when she said his brutishness had been sexy. Her lips were on his. Her fingers were curled in his black hair. His hands were grabbing her butt, sometimes pinching it and getting a gagged moan in response. Her mouth left his lips, reaching a spot under his chin, sucking and licking the skin there.

She chafed his side and thigh, snaking her hand around the zone without actually touching him where he wanted until he begged her not to tease him. She complied and grabbed his length in her hand, moving up and down, gradually increasing the pace. The pleasure extended from there to every cell of his body. Severus still found it hard to believe that something as simple as touch could feel so good. He had not indulged much in self-pleasure, but the few times he had given in, his own hand had never felt so good. She stalled. He groaned in frustration. His nuisance didn't last long. Skyrah grinned slyly at him and kneeled.

"What are you... Oh!"

He was in her mouth. They had never done something like this before. Severus closed his eyes and let out a low groan at the new sensation, as his head was thrown backwards. Her hands caressed his balls as she kept using her tongue on him, sometimes stopping to kiss his shaft or the tip. His hips moved involuntarily into her. He was about to come undone. Skyrah had other plans though. She stood up, leaving him panting.

He almost let out a swearword. He had been so close. Skyrah smirked at him evilly and kissed him roughly once again, not caring about his obvious frustration. He pressed her tight against his erection, needing to feel her skin.

"I want to do this on your lab table…"

His cheeks turned scarlet. He pushed her away to watch her face - also flushed - and raised an eyebrow in question.

"What? I happen to have some sexual fantasies."

He needn't be told twice. She jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist, snogging him almost violently. He managed to get to the lab of his chambers with his wife in his arms, thanking Merlin that the course had yet to begin, since during the school year, the table was filled with cauldrons, flasks and ingredients. It was empty now though, and he placed Skyrah on it. She let her back lie on the cold table while she raised her legs and positioned them over his shoulders.

"I want it fast and rough. Don't hold back."

His body acted of its own accord. He entered her with a powerful shove. Both whimpered in pleasure at their carnal union. His hands were clutching her hips strongly, while her fingers grabbed the edge of the table. Only one look from her ravenous eyes was enough to go into action and thrust into her rough and fast, as she requested. Their moans were more frequent and loud as the time went by, neither restraining the thrill they were feeling. It seemed to be the perfect angle for Skyrah, who felt the tension building inside her quickly as he kept hitting her G spot repeatedly. She arched her back and shut her eyes, ready to reach paradise.

"Keep your eyes on mine," he said, voice hoarse.

She made an effort to do as told and came hard, screaming his name. That was it for Severus. Her flushed, slightly sweating face, her untamed hair, her intense gaze and her inner walls clenching around him got Severus crying out his wife's name as he found his own release.

It had been a whole new experience for them both. They had always taken their time to make love, being delicate with the other person. This time, it had been frantic, fierce, and they both loved it. A satisfied smile settled on Skyrah's face. Severus couldn't reprimand one of his own. She grabbed his hand, which was still clasping her waist and gave it a squeeze. Her chest was moving up and down irregularly and Severus's heart was beating way too fast. He was still buried inside her when he made her sit up and kissed her slowly and gently, no tongues involved, in contrast to their love-making. His long fingers were caressing her cheeks as Skyrah stroked his neck sweetly.

"I love your ideas of celebration, Severus," she teased, still struggling to steady her breathing.

Severus smirked. "I love your sexual fantasies, Skyrah."

She gave a chortle and kissed his mouth again, breaking the kiss with a soft, "I love you so much."

He smiled crookedly against her lips and whispered, "I may do more than only tolerate you."

"Oh, I noticed, believe me!" she said, giggling. She pecked his cheek and got off the table. "This was perfect, although now we both need a shower. I'll go first."

She had just stepped into the bathtub when she heard footsteps. A lean shadow was seen through the curtain. Two seconds later, a very naked, very aroused Severus stood in front of her.

"I see you want to join me," she teased, licking her lips.

"You aren't the only one who has sexual fantasies."

She grinned naughtily. She had wondered what shower sex felt like, too. She was about to find out.

Students would be arriving soon. The Snapes were about to enter the Great Hall when Argus Filch and Mrs. Norris stopped them in the corridor. Argus wanted to talk to Severus about a little problem regarding their patrolling schedules. After a proper introduction, Severus excused his wife so that they could solve the little misunderstanding, giving Skyrah the chance to go to the Great Hall already. The squib wasn't known for his pleasant company and Severus didn't want his wife to feel uncomfortable. She spotted Minerva and Poppy chatting in a corner. She was about to join them when a sullen woman with a long hooked nose and ebony hair got in her way.

"Hello! You are the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, right? Skyrah Snape, I presume…"

Skyrah gave her a swift nod and a kind smile despite her irritation. She had been looking forward to talking with Minerva again. Plus, she felt she needed to thank the medi-witch for everything she had done for them.

"Nice to meet you. I am Madam Pince, the librarian. You may call me Irma," she introduced herself, extending her hand.

Skyrah shook it the instant she heard the word 'librarian'.

She forgot about Minerva and Poppy and babbled animatedly, "I wanted to meet you! My husband showed me Hogwarts and I absolutely adored the library. It's incredible, much bigger than Ilvermorny's. It must be amazing to work surrounded by books."

With a sneer on her face, she scoffed, "Working with books is fine… Working with teenagers that do not respect books is a different matter."

Her sneer was familiar to Skyrah, even though she couldn't quite place it. She got the impression that the woman was quite cutting, and Skyrah didn't really know how to answer to her. Skyrah liked teaching, she liked teenagers. They were complicated, but who wasn't? Thankfully, Irma was talking again.

"So you love books, too? Figures. Severus would never marry anyone who didn't value books as much as he did."

By the way she talked, Skyrah felt like the librarian knew Severus rather well even though she was aware that her husband was quite secretive and that the people who knew him better at Hogwarts were Albus, Minerva and Poppy. So why would Irma speak like this? Had Severus forgotten about her? Somehow, she doubted it.

"You know my husband quite well then..."

Skyrah felt that her words had caught Irma off guard and she really didn't comprehend why.

Clearing her throat, Irma said in a raw voice, "He visits the library quite often."

Skyrah cracked a grin. "I bet. We have a big library at home, too. We enjoy reading and do so frequently."

What Skyrah relished the most was listening to his silky voice reading to her while she laid her head on his lap and he played with her hair; but she wasn't about to reveal that piece of information to this stranger.

Irma froze. They broke eye contact as Irma's gaze was fixed on something or somebody from behind Skyrah. Frowning, she turned her head to see at what or whom Irma was staring. To her delight, it was Severus. The corners of her mouth curled into a soft grin, but Severus wasn't looking at her. No. He was piercing Irma with his eyes. In fact, Skyrah was sure that if looks could kill, Albus would already be looking for a new librarian to hire.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Professor Snape," Irma mumbled with an unsteady voice, not really looking her in the eye. "I hope you have a good year. I must get going now."

Before she could say goodbye, Albus came in and announced that the staff should be sitting down. Students were about to arrive.

...

A/N: Hey! First of all, thanks for reading this chapter! I hope you liked it :) I know that Madam Pince and Eileen Prince are two different people in canon. However, there is a theory which states that, in fact, they are the same person, that is, Irma Pince is actually Eileen Prince in disguise. I like the idea a lot, so I used it. I hope it wasn't very disconcerting ;)