Some Enchanted Evening

Zelda pulled a cigarette lighter from her pocket, and lit the candles on the table in her room. She decided to leave the curtains open for a while longer, so she could see the glowing twilight sky… and when stars appeared, they were by far brighter at Hogwarts than near any of the Muggle cities she had known. She took off her boots and put on her favorite old bunny-face slippers against the chill of the stone floor. Finally, she looked at the two books, and laying aside the Muggle Studies text, she pulled A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshott toward her.

The first chapter dealt with magic and it's place in ancient Egyptian society. Zelda had always been fascinated with Egypt, and had read quite a bit about what modern archaeologists had discovered there. According to this book, magic, religion and the mundane were all intertwined and accepted equally. Wizards had been respected and often wealthy, prominent members of Egyptian society. Zelda read seriously, marking pages that struck her as especially interesting. Soon, she was lost in ancient history.

A subtle tapping at her door made her jump, and she nervously called, "Who's there?"

There was no answer, but she realized the door was so thick and heavy that no one could hear a voice through it - unless it was a scream. She told herself Hogwarts was well protected, and that no one but Minerva knew that she was a Muggle… so she strode to the door and opened it slightly - staring into the darkened corridor.

"May I come in?" Severus Snape murmured silkily.

Zelda gasped and stared deeply into his black eyes. He opened his mind to her and she put her hand up to touch his cheek.

"Severus, oh Goddess…" she breathed, glancing both ways in the corridor as she pulled him into her room and closed the door behind them.

"Zelda, why in Merlin's name are you here?" he asked, pulling her into a fierce embrace and burying his face in her hair. Her arms went around his neck as he kissed her. He hardly dared to believe that she was here at Hogwarts, or even that she was real… and not a dream.

"I'll tell you, but are you all right, my boy?" Zelda asked worriedly. She pulled back and looked appraisingly at him. He was filthy, and looking both exhausted and gaunt, as though he had not eaten much of late. She unfastened his cloak, tossed it onto a chair, and pulled off his jacket. She ran her hands over him, her eyes glowing with joy.

Severus smiled slightly as he studied her. He saw a very pretty 'witch' in black silk robes standing before him… with bunny rabbit faces peeking out from under the hem of her robes. "You look outrageous," he said with an ironic smirk. "I am fine, Zelda. You need not fuss over me."

"Come with me," she said with a wicked smile. Giving him no chance to argue, she dragged him to the door… and after glancing at the empty corridor; she marched him hastily into the bathroom next door. Once inside, she began filling the ancient bath. Then, while the water was running, she turned and kissed him again.

"Am I that filthy?" he asked wryly, running his hands down her body before holding her tightly to his chest again. "Ah, I've missed you, my girl," he said, finding her lips with his own for another passionate kiss.

"Not at all," she replied breathlessly, "but since you're here, I thought you might scrub my back for me."

"My pleasure," Severus said, his gaze locked to hers as he began removing her clothes. His fingers trembled slightly as he worked… and when he finished, he ran his hands all over her - to assure himself once more that she was really with him.

"Now you," she said, efficiently stripping the filthy clothes from his body, rubbing against him as she did so, kissing his neck. She gazed up at him, and said, "I'll tell you everything, Sev. But… later, don't you think? You may get in first, but I'm rather sure there's room for two."

Severus climbed into the bath and sighed in pure delight, letting the magic of Zelda's love and fun wash over him with the warm water. It was marvelous to finally be clean again, and blissful to feel Zelda's hands efficiently removing every trace of the past miserable days. "I wondered at times if I had dreamed you," he told her seriously, "Even this… it feels like a dream."

"I know, I've felt the same, but I decided to act as though you're real and proceed accordingly," Zelda replied determinedly as she rinsed his hair. She leaned over to kiss him again, and he pulled her into his arms to return the favor.

The delightful sensation of Zelda's bare, soapy skin sliding over his own aroused Severus completely. He leaned back; pulling her astride and on top of him… chuckling sensuously as he anticipated her destination, as she gradually slid lower… kissing every part of him she could reach. Finally, they joined… and they took their time, savoring the ecstasy of their physical reunion. Afterward, he held her in his arms, still in the warm bath… reveling in this chance to tell her again that he loved her, and see the happiness in her blue eyes.

Best of all, after they dried each other off, was when Zelda asked - with an impish grin, "Time for bed?"

They gathered up their scattered belongings and, with a careful scan of the corridor, they slipped out of the bathroom. Back in her room, they were finally under the sheets, still able to see each other in flickering candlelight. They snuggled close, blissfully contented, knowing they had all night to be together.

"I meant to be furious with you," Severus said sternly, kissing her bare shoulder, "but fortunately for you I'm too happy to see you… Hogwarts is a very dangerous place for you, so why are you here?"

"Minerva asked me to come, Sev," she replied, nuzzling briefly at his neck, "Goddess, it's hard to focus when you're so close and wonderful, but I'll try. Harry told her that I taught him Legilimency, and she insisted on meeting me. She wondered if she should Obliviate me, but we talked… and Michael can do Occlumency too, Sev… he's probably going to be as good as you, with enough practice," she babbled. "Anyway, we talked… and she asked me to help her, and I said I would."

"I understood perhaps one word in ten, darling girl." Severus said with a smile, too distracted to care as he ran his hands down her body. His mouth found her breasts, and he was soon lost again in the joys of loving her, and feeling her love returned to him with every kiss and touch of her hands. He found himself kneeling above her, gazing down into her dancing eyes as she reached for him. She was so beautiful…

They came together again, and he felt again the completeness of their union… and let the knowledge seep into every fiber of his being…

Severus awoke in a room still lit by one candle. He was disoriented for a moment, until he remembered. He was with Zelda somehow, and at Hogwarts. The Dark Lord, the lurking, the cold and dirt and loneliness were irrelevant now, as he kissed his sweet lover's hair and held her. Loving her was so new, and so shocking in the context of his whole life. He feared no longer that she would cease to love him, but instead that something would prevent them from being together.

"Would you like to know why I'm here?" Zelda said sleepily, smiling at him in the faint light. She cuddled close to him, kissed his chest, and continued, "If you use Legilimency, maybe you'll learn the essentials before I need to kiss you again - and one thing leads to another."

"You do make it almost impossible for me to keep my mind on business, sweetheart," he smirked, feeling loved and shockingly content. "We'll discuss business in one moment, after you say you'll marry me."

"I hope you haven't changed your mind, have you?" she asked with a shy smile. "Of course I'll marry you, darling Sev. I want to be with you as long as I live. That's why I'm here."

"Will you explain?" he asked warily. They made eye contact and she opened her mind willingly to him, showing him every memory since he had left her at her house. He saw her teach Michael about Occlumency, and marveled at the man's strength of mind. Then he saw Ron Weasley ask her to meet Professor McGonagall, and the long conversation. Then Zelda promised to assist Minerva. He was worried about her, but moved by the love that made her want to help them.

She saw his thought, and looked into his eyes. "I couldn't stay at home, not if I can help you," she said, kissing him softly. "I think I can make it better, and if I can, I'll do it."

"Zelda…" he began, but she kissed him and offered him more of her memory. He saw her meet Minerva and Molly Weasley, her delight in the shopping trip to Diagon Alley, and her awe at her first glimpse of Hogwarts. "I wish you had come here with me," he said morosely, wanting to share this place he loved so deeply with her.

"I know," she said, and her expression was filled with regret. "The hardest thing for me was trying not to think of you all the time I've been here. But there's more. Let's finish, so you know everything."

Severus kissed her, smiling at her wish to share everything with him. Her trust and love delighted him. He looked again, and she showed him her conversation with Molly and Minerva. As they discussed the Order members, his lip curled in disgust when he saw that it was as bad as he had feared. No one was doing anything, he realized, despising the pathetic idiots. He had drifted from Zelda's memory though… and as he focused again, he discovered that the Order of the Phoenix was under new management, and he was torn between horror and deep pride.

"Zelda… you?" he hissed in horror, "Do you know how dangerous it is? If the Dark Lord finds out… darling girl, please go home," he said, his heart pounding. "It is too risky…" Severus held her tightly against him, wondering if it was too late to undo this mad plan.

"Now let me explain," Zelda said, kissing his furrowed brow, "Okay?"

He nodded irritably, aware that she was managing him, but smirked guiltily inside when he realized that he loved it.

"First," Zelda said, "No one person in the Order can replace Dumbledore, right?"

"Right," he replied slowly, seeing where she was heading.

"Second," she continued, "How many wizards, besides you, of course, and Harry, have done a damned thing lately."

"I see, darling girl, but why you?" he asked unhappily.

She beamed at him, and said, "That's the beauty of it! Minerva and Molly are doing it… it's not really me. Minerva has the presence and the sacred title, and Molly knows everyone, but they all despise her for being a stay-at-home mother. She's very clever, you know."

He gave his low laugh, imagining the way the Order of the Phoenix would be kicked into action. "Why do they need you then?" he asked sardonically.

"Minerva said I have a fresh perspective. She doesn't have enough time, since she's running Hogwarts too. But if any stupid wizards give Molly guff, she'll say it's really Minerva's orders. I'm here to give them confidence and listen, mostly," Zelda said with a cynical smirk.

He sighed… there was logic to it, and he could not prevent it. "It seems that you outrank me now, pet," he snickered, tickling her in a very intimate place.

Zelda giggled and said, "If that were true… I'd order you to do that again." She pinched him, also in an intimate place, and snapped, "Enough talk from you, you're here for a different reason. Let's see your best effort, young man. Now!"

"Yes, Ma'am," Severus managed to say, straight-faced, before scooping her into his arms. "You do realize that no one speaks to Professor Severus Snape that way, don't you?" he asked, trying - and failing - to glare coldly at her.

She looked at him appraisingly and said, "I suppose they don't." She kissed his prominent nose and brushed her lips briefly over his, saying gently, "Sometimes we talk too much." Her eyes were shining as she said coaxingly, "About that best effort, dear boy? I don't want to waste a second."

In contrast to a moment earlier, she twined her arms around his neck and pressed adoringly against him. She slid one leg over his hip, inviting what she knew would come next.

Severus knew women were different… and at times, her rapid changes of mood made him feel almost dizzy… but in a good way, he reflected hazily, squeezing those lush breasts. He had never felt so loved as now, with this Muggle woman who not only loved him - but was risking her life to help him. He hastily resolved to try to protect Zelda somehow, before making love to her again.