CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Mystery Date

Severus couldn't move for a moment, horrified that he'd sent her the wrong letter. Now here he was seconds after realizing it and having to face her. Shit! Think Severus think! There had to be some way to fix this. She'd gotten that letter today while he slept and she made the decision to come immediately to see him.

Wait a minute, that's a good sign. Perhaps his hunch was right and she came to take him up on his coarse offer. If she was angry, she would have just dashed off a nasty letter back to him. But she didn't. She came to see him. Sneaking into the castle at midnight no less. Anxious perhaps? Yes this had possibilities.

She knocked a second time as he struggled to collect himself. "Just a minute." He called. He knew it wasn't right to press his advantage considering that he didn't feel the same way about her as she did about him, but hell, she was beautiful. Not many opportunities like this came along and so he decided to throw caution to the wind and do exactly what he told her he wanted to do. He swaggered confidently over to the door hoping that she did something really outrageous like wear a fur coat with nothing on underneath. Would she want to make conversation first or just go to it? Whatever she wanted, he didn't care. He was going to get laid. He smirked and then composed his face as he opened the door, prepared for a mind-blowing night of pleasure.

"Foul, fucking, greasy GIT!" Sirius Black pushed Severus back into the room knocking him a good six feet and into the writing desk.

"Black! How the hell did you get into the castle? What's the matter with you?"

Sirius entered the room slamming the door behind him with eyes blazing. "How DARE you send her a disgusting letter like that. Who the hell do you think you are addressing Sasha Malfoy in that manner? You aren't good enough to wipe her boots Snivellus!" Sirius ran at him fist drawn back and prepared to pummel his enemy but Severus was too fast. He jumped out of the way and Sirius fell into the desk sending quills, ink and parchment skidding across the floor.

"Reading other people's post. That's a new low even for you Black."

"I read all her communications lately. Between Lucius and Igor and now you it could be crawling with undesirables wanting something that's going to be detrimental to her and to our whole cause. But this, oh this takes the prize. Is this how you address all your women? Ha! No wonder you're always alone." Sirius had a head full of Azkaban crazy worked up as he shrieked in anger.

Severus snarled at him feeling an explosion building inside him. He fought hard not to obliterate a fellow order member.

"You killed Lily, just the same as if you fired the curse at her yourself! You took the mark with Regulus when you could have talked him out of it. Oh and he told me what you did you disgusting pervert. How you watched while Barty tired to rape her in the alley."

Severus drew breath at this; shocked that another person knew this. "That's not how it was!"

"Oh yes that's right. Take it all in. I know EVERYTHING you filthy piece of crap." Sirius circled him like a vicious dog would his prey. "Oh don't worry, I've never told her. It would kill her." His voice was softer now. "She loves you. I've never understood it myself but then again Sasha's nature always draws her to what's bad for her."

Severus started to panic. Black knew far too much about him and he was at a complete disadvantage. He could fight with this mongrel all night and not get anywhere so he tried to reason with him. "I would never address her in that manner."

"Never? But you did!"

"Yes, but I didn't mean to. It was an accident." He stammered

"An accident? Really? Tell me Snivillus, how do you 'accidentally' write a perverted letter to her, 'accidentally' put it in an envelope with her name on it and 'accidentally' attach it to an owl and send it off." He was on a roll waving his arms and ranting.

"There were two letters." He said breathing heavily. "I put the wrong one in the envelope. I just wanted to invite her to a quidditch match."

"Two letters, please! Do you expect me to believe that?"

Severus picked the letter off the floor and showed it to him, glaring as he did.

Sirius smirked, and then began to laugh. "You meant to send this?" Severus nodded and rolled his eyes. "And you sent her THAT instead?"

"Obviously." Severus just wanted this humiliation to end.

"Bahahahahaha! No way! What a fucking IDIOT you are!" Sirius fell onto the nearest chair holding his stomach and laughing. "Brilliant! Bloody Brilliant! This is just classic!" he said through evil laughter. "Oh I hope James is looking down on this one!" He laughed so hard he fell off the chair.

Severus was so worried about Sasha he couldn't even muster enough anger to go after Sirius. He let Sirius get the laughter out of his system while he walked over to the picture of he and Sasha. Her sweet expression looking back at him made him feel even worse. When the laughter died away he finally asked what he had to know. "Did she see the letter?" His voice cracked and he desperately hoped Black didn't hear it.

"No." came the flat response. "I kept it from her and wrote the answer to you."

Severus exhaled and his shoulders went limp, as he looked at the floor feeling ashamed of himself. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me. I could give a shit about protecting you." The venom in his voice was coming back. "You wouldn't have written it at all if you hadn't been thinking it. Didn't anyone ever tell you not to use your Johnson to do all your thinking for you? It will only get you into trouble."

"Oh and you'd know all about that wouldn't you Black? Well not everyone acts on their animal impulses like a dog, some people are more disciplined."

"Right, that letter shows discipline. Look Snivellus, I don't know what your game is but I am sick to death of cleaning up your messes with her. You need to make up your mind and quit jerking her around. "

"It has nothing to do with jerking her around Black. The Dark Lord has Lucius using her to get information on Karkaroff's whereabouts. He doesn't believe she doesn't know where he is. If I don't find a way to get in the middle of it, and the Dark Lord becomes impatient, there's no telling what he'll do. She was planning on meeting Lucius anyway. I thought if I could get them to come here, I could keep an eye on the situation. The other letter was just what I told you, an accident."

"Why bother with that? If it were me in danger you'd hang me out to dry."

"She's my best friend." He was recovering his mojo now and sounding more like his normal self.

Sirius was silent for a moment but then continued with his assault. "Best friends, well isn't that sweet. My best friend is dead because of you, Snivellus! Give me one good reason to allow your miserable carcass into my house again."

Severus suddenly felt a murderous rage burning within him. Who did this dingo think he was? "You can't keep us apart." He said slowly, icily.

Sirius swaggered to him until he was eyeball to eyeball with his nemesis. "How romantic. Shall we review what happened to the last woman you called your best friend?"

Severus gritted his teeth and gripped his wand. "Careful Black. Potter isn't here to back you up this time."

"Oh yes." He hissed practically spitting in Snape's face. "You saw to that didn't you?"

With a flick of his wand Severus landed a hex on Sirius that sent him flying across the room and knocked him backward over the chair he had been sitting in. Sirius jumped to his feet immediately and threw a jinx at Severus that he easily blocked. Sirius looked surprised and then threw two more at him grunting as he put everything he had into them. Severus again blocked them both with a lazy flick of his wand while looking slightly bored.

"Your thoughts betray you Sirius." He blocked another hex as he approached his adversary. "Expelliarmis." Sirius was disarmed and on the ground. Severus stuck his wand under his enemy's throat while meeting his defiant eyes. He felt nothing. Ice in the veins had always served him well. He contemplated use of the Sectumsepra curse. The only thing that stopped him was knowing how hurt Sasha would be if he harmed Sirius.

Severus put his wand down and took a few steps back. "Use your head Black. You might ban me from your house but you can't lock her away from me. She'll see me if she wants to and you'll have no idea where or when."

Sirius picked up his wand, eyes still blazing but then he tucked it into his pocket and sat down, looking thoughtfully at Snape.

"Fine. You have my permission." He finally said in a more friendly tone.

"I don't recall asking your permission."

"No, but you need it. I can be a big pain in your ass if I want to be." He paused for a moment, and then continued. "Listen to me. You mind your manners with her. Don't lead her on, don't manipulate her, and don't EVER write her a letter like that again."

"Do you think I would actually want to offend her?"

"That letter would do far more than offend her. I would wound her. She worships the ground you walk on and if she knew you thought of her as just a piece of ass it would break her heart."

"I don't think of her as a piece of ass, as you so eloquently put it."

"Then get it together Snivellus! She's been to hell and back over you and deserves better. If she's really your best friend then bloody well act like it. One day it might be too late." Sirius watched the fire. He had nothing left to say.

Severus' hangover was rearing its ugly head again and he needed a little hair of the dog. He poured a drink for himself but then offered it to Sirius who took it without expression. He poured another for himself but then the strong smell burned his nostrils. He watered it down by half. He sat down in the chair opposite Sirius and suddenly felt exhausted. They drank in silence for several minutes.

Sirius stood up abruptly and killed the rest of his drink. "Where's the other letter? I'll give it to her in the morning." Severus said nothing but pointed to the floor where it landed during the scuffle.

"Are you going to show her the other letter?" He finally asked weakly.

Sirius held it up and then tucked it into the breast pocket of his coat. "Insurance." He said giving his pocket a pat. "Don't fuck up again."

Sirius slept in late the next morning. When he awoke he felt alive again. He had spent so much time cooped up and not being able to do anything. It was not like him to be passive. It felt good to get out last night and be proactive about something. It also felt excellent to fight and argue with Snivellus. Stupid bastard! How could someone so anal-retentive make such a colossal mistake? He was lucky this time. Sirius read the dirty letter one more time. "Shag you till you can't walk." Indeed. Where the hell did he come up with that one? Actually that line might work in the right context. He made a mental note to try it out sometime. He tucked the letter into a box protected by a locking charm and then grabbed the correct letter to take downstairs to Sasha. He stopped at the door and read it before he left the room. Just to be sure he didn't make the same stupid mistake Snape did. He giggled on the way downstairs thinking of how frantic Snape must have been when he discovered the error. That bloke had no game whatsoever. He didn't need help with women. He needed hindrances. Perhaps if presented with enough of them he might trip and fall on one.

Sasha sat at the breakfast table sipping coffee and picking at her food while Molly and Tonks chatted away.

"Post for you Sash." He said casually while throwing the letter in front of her. She stared at it for a moment and then looked up at him. He poured himself a cup of tea and leaned against the counter while watching her reaction. He was half smiling as he watched her mind work. He knew she would be thrilled to hear from that git.

She sighed heavily and looked back at the letter. "From Hogwarts and on Slytherin stationary too. My, my Padfoot you have certainly outdone yourself this time." She picked up the letter and threw it at him.

"What? This is no joke, that came for you just this morning." He felt sad when he realized she had no confidence that Severus would be writing to her. She wasn't always this way. Years of rejection by that twit had done this to her. He handed the letter back to her. "Go on. Read it."

She rolled her eyes and opened it. She inhaled sharply when she saw the handwriting was that of Severus. She looked joyful for the first time in weeks as she read it. She covered her mouth to disguise her reaction but he could see the exuberance in her eyes as they met his again. "It's from Severus. He's asked me to join him to watch quidditch this Saturday."

"What? Let me see that." Molly snatched the letter out of her hands as Sasha continued to beam at Sirius.

Seeing her reaction made him glad that he had intercepted the other letter. She deserved a little joy in her life, even if it was due to that greasy git. It was her life.

"My goodness. I never thought I'd see the day." Said Molly as she read the letter.

"No way!" Tonks snatched the letter back from Molly. Sirius watched Sasha giggle with her girlfriends like she was back in the Gryffindor dorms. "I can't believe it. Severus Snape actually asked you out." Tonks leaned back in her chair and cackled.

"What's so funny about that?" Sasha sounded more than a little insulted as she grabbed the letter back and reread it again.

"I don't know. I just, well, has he ever had a girlfriend?" Tonks tried and failed to cover for herself.

"He's choosy!" Sasha snapped at her and took her breakfast dish to the sink.

"Oh Sasha I think it's wonderful!" Molly chimed in sounding very motherly.

Tonks sat up and spoke in a conspiratorial tone. "So is it true what they say about him?"

"Oh Tonks, really!" Molly cut her off.

"What do 'they' say about him?" Sasha mocked.

Tonks giggled while Molly glared at her. "That he's, you know, gifted?" she said raising her eyebrows.

"OH DEAR MERLIN! That's my cue to leave." Sirius threw up his hands and left the kitchen but quietly hid outside the door to hear their conversation.

Sasha smiled sweetly. "He is gifted."

"I KNEW it!" Molly slapped her hand on the table so loudly Sasha jumped.

Tonks squealed with delight. "Tell us everything!"

"Well you should both know it. Molly you were in school with us and Tonk's you had him at Hogwarts."

"I did NOT!" Tonks denied it like it was something shameful.

"What are you talking about? He was the only Potions Master there when you were in school. He was far more talented with potions than Slughorn ever dreamed of being." Sasha sounded confused.

"Ugh! Noooo, I mean his other, attributes." Tonks shrugged and waited for an answer. Sasha merely shrugged back at her. "You know you're really thick."

"Oh leave her alone Tonks, she's obviously clueless." Molly laughed and cleared the table.

"Will someone please enlighten me?" Sasha leaned back in her chair. She hated being in the dark.

Outside the kitchen Remus walked downstairs and approached Sirius who put a finger up to his lips. Remus leaned in and they were now both eavesdropping.

Tonks tried to stifle a laugh. "Well, when I was in school, the rumor was that he was, packing some heat." Sasha narrowed her eyes. "Downstairs." Tonks dragged the word out waiting for Sasha to catch up.

"Oh honestly Tonks! You're disgusting." Sasha busied herself wiping the counter and fuming.

"Well?" Tonks couldn't let it go.

Sirius was outside the door silently shaking with laughter. Remus had come in a little late. "Who are they talking about?" he whispered. "Snape" Sirius mouthed to him. Remus wrinkled his nose in disgust and then put his ear back to the door.

"Well what? I don't know!" Sasha was getting angry. She was also wondering how anyone would even know details about him that she didn't especially that one. Had there been someone else besides Lily?

"Oh come on. I saw the way he looked at you when you fed him your birthday cake."

"Piss off." Sasha marched over to the door and pushed it hard. Sirius and Remus feel to the floor laughing. "I'm so glad you find everything so amusing." She stepped over Remus and kicked Sirius in the butt as she left the room. It only made him laugh harder.

"Wait up Sash! We have to pick out what you're going to wear!" Tonks jumped over the wizards on the floor and bounded up the stairs after her.

AN: Not sure what you will think of this one. I just couldn't serve her up on a silver platter after his nasty letter.