Chapter Forty- Four- Who Holds the Power? * This chapter contains adult material

Clara kept her eyes locked on Severus as she pointed the dagger directly at him. She of course wouldn't actually try anything, but she wanted him to get the point that she meant business. Judging by his widened eyes he got her message.

"Clara, put that away," he pleaded, his voice low and serious with a tremor that betrayed his nerves.

"I will when you start talking, Severus. The man you murdered months ago just greeted you like a long lost friend. I've been sold into slavery and I just broke up a potential bitch fight out in the hallway. I think I have been through enough."

"It's alright, Severus. She does indeed have the right to know. We should have told her in the beginning," said Albus, smiling down at his feisty young ward.

"Thank you, Albus," she said haughtily, slipping her dagger back down into her boot and holding her arms out for Severus to unlock her chains.

"Before we advance any further, might I suggest taking certain precautions," suggested Albus, giving a reassuring nod to Severus.

Sweeping his arms in an almost aggressive manor, Severus began placing spell after spell across the office. Windows were blacked out, portraits were covered, doors were bard and the floo was bricked up.

"Wow, that was a bit dramatic, wasn't it?" said Clara, doing her best to hide the smirk that was growing on her face.

"I'm afraid it is all necessary, my dear. You are being let in on a secret that no one else must now. But first, both of you please have a seat and tell me how we have all arrived at this point. I dare say there must be an interesting story," said Albus.

Clara spent the next few minutes recounting her events after being snatched away from the graveyard in the States and facing Voldemort at Malfoy Manor. Severus sat quietly watching her as she spoke, chiming in only when Dumbledore asked.

"The thing I don't understand is why I was brought there in the first place. Why did it all happen and why when I went to my father's grave?"

"I believe I can answer that one," Severus chimed. "Your father's headstone was transformed into a port key back before you were even brought to Hogwarts. It was the Dark Lord's hope that if he caught you that it would have given him some kind of hold over Albus. Your blood that was left on Lucius Malfoy's robe that night he tried to kidnap you at your uncle's coffee shop was used to cast a spell around your father's grave. That kept everyone else away from it but you."

"Well, that explains why it looked as if no one had touched it in years," sighed Clara, starting to put the puzzle pieces together.

"It had been so long ago that the plan had been put into place that I had completely forgotten about it. Besides, you were never supposed to be in Atlanta. If you had just stayed with the Weasley's like you were supposed to…"

"Well if YOU had just been honest with me in the first place I wouldn't had left. You still haven't explained to me while we are sitting around being all buddy buddy. Albus, did Severus really…murder you?"

"Yes," Severus murmured quietly. "Whatever you heard from the Potter boy is true."

"But there is more to the story, isn't there, Severus?" asked Clara patiently, shifting her eyes back and forward between Severus and Albus's smiling portrait.

"There is much more to the story, Clara. You see Severus was merely carrying out my orders. I fell on a bit of bad luck last summer," Albus explained, unconsciously flexing his now healed and perfectly painted hand. "My time here was limited and I needed someone trustworthy to carry out a few much needed plans once I was gone. It was imperative and still is that Severus remains firmly within the favor of the Dark Lord. Severus taking my life served two purposes. He saved me from a rather gruesome and painful death, as well as confirmed his position at the top of the ladder of the Death Eater's inner circle. So you see, dear, Severus was merely doing as instructed."

Clara set in silence for what felt like hours. Both men watched expectantly as Clara processed the information. Her face remained impassive and her gaze remained fixed on a solitary quill that had been left on top of the Headmaster's desk.

"So…let me get this straight. Both of you knew this was going to happen a YEAR ago and neither you ever thought to include me on this secret? No, of course not, so instead you waited until I was told that the man I am madly in love with has just MURDERED my adopted father and THEN I END UP GETTING KIDNAPPED, BRANDED AND SOLD INTO SLAVERY! Wonderful plan, fellows! "she yelled, jumping up from her seat and storming her way across the room.

"Clara, try to see reason. We were merely…"

"No, Albus, I will not be told to do another damn thing! I have been bossed around enough in the past eighteen hours to last a lifetime. I know you feel like you did the right thing, but you both failed to remember one thing. I would have been loyal to you both no matter what. I would have taken this secret to my grave if needed. We could have come up with a plan together, but no, you had to once again play God with my life and now look where it got me," she continued, her face flushed with anger. In one shift yank she pulled her long hair up and off her back to expose her mark from the Dark Lord. "I would have done anything for you, Albus and, Severus, you lied to me. You told me that you trusted me. I would have followed you anywhere, you know that."

Severus instantly stood and made to rush towards her, but she held up her hand to stop him. "I…I just need some time. I'm sure you two have more secret schemes to conjure anyway." Before either of the Wizards could mutter a word, Clara ran into Severus' new chambers, slamming the door behind her.

She considered locking the door, but really what good would it do? That was the problem with having a Wizard for a boyfriend. "Damn Alohomora spell," Clara muttered under her breath as she made her way over to the lushly padded window seat. As soon as her body relaxed into it's cushiony warmth, the tears started falling. She wasn't exactly sure why she was crying. Was it out of anger, relief or just a feeling over being overwhelmed? She wasn't sure. All she knew was that she couldn't stop so she just let them come, unrelenting and unashamed. She had been right all along. There was more to the story and Severus had not betrayed Albus, but she couldn't stop the feeling that he had still betrayed her. She was not so naive as not understand his intentions. Her protection was always at the forefront of their conversation and she realized that he meant the best by leaving her out, but no matter how hard she tried to reason with herself, it still hurt.

Surprisingly a half hour passed before Severus' knock startled her thoughts. Pushing aside the thought of making him sleep at his desk all night, she relented and softly called for him to enter.

"Clara…I…I'm not sure what to say. I'm so sorry you had to go through all this, love. None of this was supposed to happen," he said softly all the while taking tentative steps towards her.

"Severus, what happened at Malfoy Manor was not your fault. You were brilliant to come up with a way to get us both out of there," she said quietly, giving her first hint of a smile.

"I felt my ring start to warm just seconds before you were brought into the door. I thought that it was just my imagination at first, but when I saw you, I nearly died. I can't handle losing you again. Please forgive me for not ignoring Albus' request and just telling you myself. I honestly thought I was doing the right thing."

Clara took Severus' hand and brushed the pad of her thumb over the large phoenix ring that now adorned Severus' long finger. "Albus, gave you his ring?" Severus nodded and in turn let his fingertips trace the outline of her serpent bracelet. "I thought you would have thrown this away by now?" he said with a sad little smile.

"Why would I do that? It's my favorite possession. A rather handsome and mysterious Dark Wizard gave it me. But…I think it might be broken. I didn't feel it warm all summer. Did you not…well… did I never cross your mind?" she asked nervously, lowering her gave to where his fingers were still stroking her wrist.

"Clara, the Dark Lord constantly invades my thoughts. If left up to my own devices I would never stop thinking about you. I had to shield my mind and bury all thoughts of you the moment I left Hogwarts. It was just too dangerous. But just because you were not up here," he said softly, pointing to his temple, "does not mean that you were not constantly here."

Very slowly he raised the hand he had been stroking up until her palm was firmly pressed against his chest. "Nobody can take that away from me. Not even the Dark Lord, no matter what he does." Before Clara could respond, Severus bent his head down and begun brushing feather like kisses along her jaw line and down her neck. Closing her eyes, she let her head fall gently back against the window behind her to allow him easier access. "I never thought I would be able to taste you again," he murmured against her skin, feasting on her neck like a starved man. "I'd forgotten how wonderful you taste. I want to make love to you for the rest of the day and well into the night."

Clara's sigh of contentment was momentarily disrupted when she realized that she had not bathed in nearly three days and the absence of a tooth brush and grime of being thrown around on the front lawn of the Malfoy Manor was really making her feel disgusting. "Ummm, Sev, do you think I could wash up first. I feel disgusting," she said, giving a sheepish grin.

With an impish smirk Severus scooped her up in his arms and began striding across the bedroom. "A bath first I think, then you are mine for the rest of the day."

Clara laughed heartily for the first time in weeks as he whisked her into the large, opulent master bathroom. It was double the size of her old one and was tastefully decorated in polished gold and creamy white. Setting her down gently, Severus impatiently began undoing the laces of her confining corset. "I rather like you dressing like this, although it is going to teach me a lesson on patience. But it is quite like unwrapping a present." Spinning her around so her back was now facing him, he slowed his pace and almost reverently pulled the dress down to the ground so she could step out of it. Holding her firmly so she could not step away, he lifted her hair to expose her serpent marking. Slowly and gently he began tracing his lips down it's length, leaving no surface of the tattoo unkissed. "Still so beautiful," he whispered, running his hands down her thighs until he could grab a hold of her to lift her into the tub.

The water was deep already. Clara had been so distracted by Severus' gentle ministrations that she hadn't even noticed the magical tub filling it's self with what smelled like rose scented water. Letting out a groan of pleasure, she let herself sink all the way under until her entire body, including her long waves of hair were completely saturated. When she finally surfaced she was rewarded by the sight of Severus, kneeling in a very uncharacteristic manor next to the tub with what looked like a large bottle of some type of soap in one hand and a sponge in the other.

"You are staying out there?" she asked, chuckling to herself to see a grown man shuffle about the tub on his knees.

"I'm washing your hair. Now hush so you don't get shampoo in your mouth," he said with a small twist of his lip showing a rare bit of playfulness.

Leaning back, Clara let him wash her hair, nearly purring as his fingers worked their magic through her thick locks. She enjoyed the feeling of being pampered and felt herself relax into the feeling of being under his protection and control, but that was when a new, almost sick feeling began forming in the pit of her belly.

Severus must have noticed her change in mood because as soon as he finished rinsing the last of the suds from her hair, he moved to the side of the tub and tilted her chin up to look in his eyes. "Clara, what's wrong?"

Shifting uncomfortably, Clara did her best to brush off his question. "Please don't lie to me. You wear your emotions in your eyes, sweetheart. Something is bothering you. Are you still upset with me?"

"No…no it's not that. It's just…well it's silly really. I just feel…helpless. I have never really minded being the only Muggle at Hogwarts. If anything I was always proud of who I was and where I came from, but now, for the first time I actually wish I was a Witch."

"Why do you wish that? You don't need to be a Witch. You are perfect just the way you are," said Severus as he fetched her a large, fluffy towel.

"If I was a Witch then I wouldn't have to feel so…powerless. Right now I have no control and no power. I just have to constantly rely on someone else to save me. I hate feeling like this."

"Oh, Clara. That is where you are so wrong. You have so much power that you don't even see," Severus said softly as he helped her step out of the tub. Doing his best to keep his lust in check as he wrapped her in the large towel, he led her back into the bedroom so she could dry by the fire.

"Really? And what power is that? I could wave a hundred wands and absolutely nothing would happen. A first year Hufflepuff could take me down within minutes," she said, giving him a skeptical look.

"Well, maybe a Slytherin, definitely not a Hufflepuff," Severus said with a snort. "I think you are misjudging what power looks like. You have your own type of magic that is uniquely yours." Pulling her flush against his body, he slowly began brushing his lips over hers. "You are able to cast a spell on me that one else could ever achieve."

"You are just saying that to be nice," said Clara as she returned his chaste kisses.

"Have you forgotten that I'm not a nice person? I'm only being truthful. All it takes is one look from you and I become completely bewitched. One touch and I am at your mercy. One kiss and you have me begging for more."

That all too familiar heat began rising up in Clara's belly as Severus' sensuous touch began to light a fire inside her. She wanted nothing more than to posses the power to vanish every ounce of clothing on his body. It had been too long since she was able to feast her eyes on every delicious inch of his long frame. "Do you not believe me, love? Can you not feel the evidence of your power?""

Of course she felt it. The evidence of his arousal was unmistakable and had been growing harder and thicker against her stomach. The almost electric, or in this case, magical tension between them seemed to hum in the air, making it nearly impossible to breath. Feeling bolder she raised up on her tiptoes so she could deepen their kiss. A deep groan emanated from Severus as she slipped her fingers into his hair, pulling every so slightly. "Tell me what to do, Clara. I'm at your mercy."

Clara gasped at the sincerity of his words. Severus had always been a man in control of their lovemaking and now he was basically handing her the reigns. For a moment or two she couldn't figure out what to do. "Talk to me, sweetheart. Whatever you command…I will obey," he whispered, sending a delightful tingle down her spin.

Swallowing thickly, Clara slid her hands down his scalp until they rested lightly on his shoulders. With a devilish twinkle in her eye she finally spoke. "Lay down," she commanded, her voice husky with need. Severus immediately complied, never breaking eye contact with her along the way. Clara watched in amazement as Severus lowered himself down, until his back was flat against the plush carpet. "And now?" he asked, doing his best to keep his facial expressions even.

Beginning to feel a little brave, Clara slowly knelt beside him and placed a single finger to his lips. "Shhh, no more talking unless I say so." Still keeping the towel firmly wrapped around herself, Clara began slowly undoing each stubborn button of his frockcoat before moving on to his crisply pressed white button up. "You and all your buttons. We are really going to have to think of a way to get you undressed quicker," she said playful as she began kissing the newly exposed skin of his neck.

Without saying a word, Severus pulled his wand out of his pocket obviously offering to do the deed for her. "Oh no you don't. No magic…I'm in control this time, mister." Before Severus could fathom her intentions she yanked the wand out of his clutches. Twirling the long stick into her wet hair, she managed to create a messy knot on the back of her head to keep her hair out of her face.

Severus opened his mouth to protest but Clara quickly silenced him with another demanding kiss. "No talking, Severus. Besides, you wont be needing that wand for what we are about to do. Now…what to do about these buttons?" After removing his black, silk cravat, she gripped both sides of his collar and gave the shirt a hardy tug sending a shower of tiny, ivory buttons all over the rug. With a triumphant smile, Clara languidly took in the sight of his now exposed chest. His breathing was spiked, making his body rise up and down, which only seemed to accent the fine muscles over his splendid chest.

Starting to feel more impatient Clara pulled his now ruined shirt off his body, leaving him bare from the waste up. Keeping her eyes locked with his she slowly slid her body over his until she was intimately straddling his waist. While running her hands over the lean muscles of his chest, Clara gave a little wiggle bringing a delicious friction straight to her core. Severus let out his first moan of the evening and let his head drop back as her bottom continued to rub against his now painfully hard cock.

Beginning to rethink his choice of giving up control, Severus began tugging on Clara's tightly wrapped towel in order to expose her tantalizing breasts. It had been so long since he had tasted them and he wanted nothing more than to suckle them until she begged him to stop. With a surprising smack to his hand Clara blocked his assault and pushed both his arms above his head. "So impatient, Headmaster. Are we forgetting who is in charge? I think we will just have to remedy this lack of impulse control you seem to posses."

Sitting up just long enough to grab Severus' discarded cravat; Clara twisted it tightly until she could use it to bind his hands together. Sitting back until her bottom was once again rubbing against his bulging trousers, she admired her handy work. Severus eyes were large and glittered darkly as he gazed up at his captor. This only seemed to spur Clara on further.

Shimmying her way further down his body, until she had both her legs on either side of his knees, she grinned naughtily back up at him. With painstaking ease she slowly undid the straining zipper and pulled down his trousers until they sat low on his hips. "Shall I remove these?" she said sultry and low, running her hands over the thin cotton fabric of his boxers.

Gritting his teeth to bite back a hiss, Severus bucked his hips up in order to add some much needed pressure from her exploring hand. "Oh, I don't know if you are ready. I suppose I could just do this." She slow slid two fingers into the gaping fly of his boxers and lightly caressed them up and down his stealth length.

"Clara…" he growled, his voice sounding raspy with need.

"Is that not good enough? Are you wanting more?"

Severus responded with another buck of his hips just as she removed her fingers and began tugging his boxers down. His sizable erection sprang free making Clara lick her lips in anticipation for what she had planned next. Pushing herself up higher onto her knees, she slowly as if almost performing a little strip tease began undoing her towel. She let the plush, white fabric slide down her body until she was completely bare before him. Severus immediately made to sit up and once again pulled at his bindings, obviously desperate to touch her. "Lay back, Severus. Let me take care of you." Severus let out another low groan as he relaxed back onto the carpet, never letting his eyes leave her beautifully exposed body.

Gathering his throbbing cock into her hands, she began lightly rubbing up and down. She let a smile spread across her face when she saw Severus' head tilt and eyes roll back to show his contentment. While he was momentarily distracted she slowly lowered herself down and brushed her tongue across the moist tip of his erection.

"CLARA!"

Before he could cry anything else, she began take his sizable length deeper into her mouth turning his words of surprise into incoherent moans of ecstasy. He felt soft and hard all at the same time, like carved stone encased in silken wrap. "Merlin," he groaned, as his eyes fluttered closed.

Moving further down, Clara pushed him further into her mouth. He moaned again and she couldn't help but giggle a little bit to see such a powerful man begin to come so unglued. Not wanting to bring him to his release too quickly, Clara pulled back and began to twirl her tongue around the tip once again. When she finally took a moment to look up to gage his reactions, she was surprised to see that his eyes were once again open, now blistering with heat and need. Encouraged by look, she pushed him deeper into her mouth, doing her best to take in as much as possible. His legs began to tense and his breathing accelerated.

"Oh…Clara…that feels so good," he murmured, once again trying to pull his arms from his bindings.

Clara continued to suck harder and harder, pushing him closer and closer to the edge. Watching him writhe and moan was such a turn-on and she knew she could not wait much longer. Just as she felt him about to give up all control and finally reach his climax she abruptly pulled up, leaving him bereft and wanting. She grinned wickedly down at his flushed face as if to remind him once more that she was indeed still in control.

"What…why did you…Clara…"

Not wasting any time, she seductively shimmied her way up his body, running her tongue along his the tense muscles of his abdomen and chest until reach his lips. Planting a deep kiss to once again distract him, she finally let her own need-filled core caress the top of his cock. "Is this what you want, Severus?" she said, her typically low, gravely voice sounding even huskier than usual.

"Please…please," he growled, trying to buck his hips in order to join them himself.

"Tell me exactly what you want and I'll give it to you," she commanded, giving him a playful nip to his bottom lip.

"You…I want you…"

"Where do you want to be, Severus?" she continued, rubbing herself more vigorously around his shaft, letting him feel just how wet and aroused she was.

"I want…I want to be inside you. Please…"

In one swift motion she sheathed herself snuggly onto his pulsing cock. Throwing her head back, she let a throaty moan escape her own lips which matched Severus' own deep growl. Almost two months of not experiencing each other in this fashion had left both of them nearly mad. Already feeling close to her own release, Clara started moving vigorously, raising her body up until she was nearly releasing him and then plunging brutally back down again. Again and again she bounced and rocked, drawing closer to her own climax.

Severus had obviously had enough. The desire and need to touch her was just too great. Clara let out a gasp of surprise as Severus magically vanished his bindings and firmly wrapped his long fingers around her waist. Completely throwing out the rule for him not to touch, she instead relished in the feel of his hands on bare skin as he guided her hips to match the rhythm of his thrusting. Clara could once again feel Severus' muscle begin to tense as heat began to build up low in her belly. While her eyes were closed in blissful concentration, Severus snaked his hand to where their bodies were joined and began stroking lightly against the sensitive nub between her legs. This was all it took to push her over the edge. A primal scream sounded in Clara's throat. Every bone in her body almost snapped into tiny pieces as her mind fractured. A trembling deep and dark built within her as the full body climax exploded deep inside. The world went black for a split second. She vaguely recalled Severus giving one final push before spilling his seed deep within her. His own cry of completion seemed to happen miles away as she fought to come back to her senses. His arms gently cradled her and lowered her to the rug belong. The next thing she knew she was laying curled up in Severus arms while his lips kissed lazily up and down her shoulder.

"I think I like being in control," she said softly with a little laugh.

"Feel free to do it anytime you want, Clara. I think you have quite a knack for it. Now sleep, you've had quite a day and I haven't had my fill of you yet. You're going to need your strength."

She knew that they had many things to discuss. They were going to have to make her slavery look believable for both of their safety, but for now all they needed was this moment and each other.


A/N: Hello everyone! Thank you so much for adding this story to your favorites and alerts. I'm sorry it took so long to update but real life keeps getting in the way. I would love to hear from you. Leave a little review or send me a PM and I promise I will chat back. I hope you enjoyed! I am beyond excited to be in year 7 now. I think it will be fun to explore the "Headmaster" side of Severus since we didn't get to see a lot of what happened at Hogwarts that year. Stick with me and I promise you will not be disappointed!