CHAPTER FIFTY

Blissful Slumber

Severus turned over various schemes in his mind for the next several days. He was the most accomplished potions master in the wizarding world. He was a senior professor at the finest institution for magical education. He deceived and manipulated the most powerful dark wizard who had ever existed. Surely he could easily manipulate a free spirited witch who professed to love him into shagging him. Surely he could extract her from the arms of that shell of a man Ivan.

The following Friday he made his move, approaching her after lunch as they left the great hall together. "Professor Malfoy, I was wondering if you were free this evening?" His tone was very businesslike so as not to betray anything to possible eavesdroppers.

She turned to him and eyed him suspiciously. "Sure Sev, did you need help with your inventory again." She sounded quite tired.

"No, I thought we might have dinner, alone." He looked at her with no expression on his face as he drawled the final word of his invitation.

While still searching his eyes for a motive, she replied flatly. "Why?"

His face betrayed his disappointment at being confronted with her lack of trust. "Why not?" He motioned for her to follow him around the corner so they could converse in private. "Sasha, I feel terrible that I missed your birthday, I want to make it up to you."

"You don't have to make anything up to me Severus." She said dismissively. "Please don't feel obligated. It's fine really."

"No I want to. Please Sasha it's been so long since we talked. I miss you." He knew she would not be able to resist him if he played upon her sympathies.

His assessment was correct as her heart ached for him. "Of course. I miss you too." She sighed and smiled sadly at him. "You say. Name the time and place."

"Eight o'clock on top of the astronomy tower."

She stiffened remembering their last ill-fated trek to the astronomy tower. "Severus, I don't think this is a good idea. I just don't have the strength to go through all this again."

"I promise I'll be on my best behavior. Do not disappoint me." Sincereity was evident in his voice.

"Alright then." She said with some trepidation.

"Name your favorite dinner and desert and I'll make everything perfect for you."

"Severus really don't go to any trouble."

"It's no trouble." He was fidgeting and looking around to see if anyone was listening. This conversation was not supposed to take this long. He was trying very hard and didn't understand why she was so hesitant.

"Well, I like Greek food."

"Greek it is. And for desert? Chocolate cake?"

"Tiramisu."

"Tiramisu. Excellent. See you at eight."

Severus loaded his afternoon classes up with homework and cut them all short so he could make the necessary preparations for Sasha's belated birthday dinner. He pulled Dobby aside and instructed him to prepare the food and ordered Kreacher to prepare Tiramisu. Krecher was his usual obstinate self until Severus informed him that it was for Sasha's birthday. After that he was more than willing to assist. On his way out of the kitchen he snagged a bottle of red wine and went to his quarters to wrap her present. He put a lot of thought into her present and was excited about giving it to her. He was surprised at how good it was making him feel to do something nice for her. He was so accustomed to acting out of self-interest and when he was successful, he always felt pleased, but this was something far more gratifying.

At seven thirty he went to the astronomy tower to make preparations for dinner. With a flick of his wand he set up a table with two chairs, fine china, crystal and candles all around. The night air was a bit chilly and he cast a charm to warm the area where they would be dining. Kreacher and Dobby brought the food up and Severus ordered them around to complete the set up perfectly. Everything was set. Now all he had to do was wait.

Nerves were getting the better of him this evening as he felt butterflies in his stomach. He wasn't accustomed to making himself vulnerable as he had tonight. The effort he put into the evening was going to be very obvious. If she rejected him, he didn't know what he would do and was frustrated with himself for leaping into this without a back up plan. The moon was shining over the black late and he could hear some acoustic guitar music from Gryffindor tower. The scene was nearly perfect, but where could she be? He heard something behind him and quickly turned to see Sasha.

He didn't speak right away. She looked so beautiful he was stunned. Her hair was pulled back and put up to show off her lovely neck. She wore a white lace shirt with a high collar and extravagantly large cuffs peeking out of the sleeves of her blood red coat with a black velvet collar. The coat was slightly large for her and looked familiar but he didn't recall her wearing it before. She wore muggle jeans under her robes, which he found an amusing choice and high black boots.

One corner of his mouth turned up. "If it isn't the birthday girl." He approached her slowly and tried unsuccessfully to read the look in her eyes. He took her hand and kissed it. "You look beautiful Sasha."

"Recognize the robes?" she sounded as nervous has he felt.

"Yes but I can't remember you wearing them before."

"They belonged to Sirius." She said grinning.

"Ahh yes. I think they look better on you." He laughed softly.

"What's so funny?"

"Not funny but curious. Most people want money or jewelry when their relatives pass. You tend to raid their closets."

"Yes I suppose I do. It makes me feel like they are still with me."

"When I die I shall will you my entire wardrobe." He said trying to be amusing.

"You're a bit conservative for my taste dahling, but I might like that green scarf back if you're no longer using it." She teased.

"I'd like to keep it for now. Let's sit down." Her remarks were off the cuff but it bothered him that she didn't like his robes. He knew he would obsess about it later but refocused on the seduction at hand.

"Wow Sev, you didn't have to do all this."

"I wanted to."

"I'm surprised you don't have Barry White playing in the background."

"Who is that?"

"No one." She laughed. "Some muggle."

"Sit down Sasha. Let's enjoy your birthday feast."

"Looks good. What have we here? Lamb?"

"Yes, Souvlaki. I hope you like it."

"It's my favorite." She sat down and put her napkin in her lap. He nodded his head for her to start so she took a bite and immediately recognized the dish.

"How is it?" He asked anxiously.

"Wonderful. Dobby made this didn't he?"

"How did you guess?"

"Because it's my favorite meal from childhood and he used to make it every year on my birthday. I haven't had this in at least 15 years. This is wonderful. Thank you Severus."

"In the interest of full disclosure, I should confess now that Krecher made the Tiramisu."

"Wonderful, then this will be the perfect birthday feast."

"Would you like some wine?"

"Perfect."

They conversed on safe subjects over the course of dinner and the conversation was lagging and uncomfortable. Neither one wanted to chance offending the other and having the evening end badly.

After dinner, Severus levitated the Tiramisu in front of Sasha with one sparkling candle on top.

She shook her finger at him. "No singing."

"Do you know me to frequently burst into song?" He said dryly.

"Ha! No Severus, I don't but it's part of your charm." She found him funny and he decided that the evening was successful thus far.

"Make a wish."

Sasha looked dreamily across the table at him. He looked exceedingly handsome with the breeze catching his hair slightly but something was different about him tonight. His countenance was kinder, like he was really making an effort to make her happy. More than anything, she wanted him to continue. She closed her eyes and blew gently over the flame until it extinguished. She opened her eyes again to see him looking intently at her. "What did you wish for Sasha?"

"I can't tell you or it won't come true. You could read my thoughts though."

That stung him a bit as he recalled his poor behavior of late. "I'm kicking the habit."

"Then I guess it will be my dirty little secret."

"A dirty secret?" He raised an eyebrow. "How intriguing."

"Well not really that dirty." This bizarre conversation was unnerving her. "So are you going to try some tiramisu since it is my birthday, was my birthday. I think you might like it. It's not terribly sweet. Remember what I told you about trying new things?"

"Alright." He did enjoy the desert. She was correct that it wasn't too sweet for him. Conversation began to lag again but he was prepared this time.

"Would you like to open your present?" His eyes were thoughtful.

"Sev, you didn't have to get me a present."

He gave a terse smile, which reminded Sasha that this not something that he normally did. This wasn't something he was comfortable with which made her appreciate his effort all the more. He was making an effort. Tonight wasn't like their one sided exchanges of the past. This was different. He slid a small box across the table to her; the wrapping was gold with a red ribbon. She accepted it with a smile and slowly opened the wrappings while stealing glances at him. When she opened the box she was surprised to see a beautiful silver bracelet with several charms.

"It's a charm bracelet." She knew this but found his need to explain it utterly endearing and let him go on. "You can add various charms any time you want. I've started it for you with a few; a broom since you love to fly, and play quidditch. Here is a lion for Gryffindor. And" he laughed nervously, "a serpent for Slytherin just to remind you of Regulus, Lucius and I. The last one is a Pegasus so you will remember the morning we flew together."

He was excited and animated as he explained the meaning of each charm. He thought she would love it but when he looked up she was crying. He had blown it. "Oh, I guess it's not as lavish as the bracelet Ivan gave you."

"No," she said through tears. "No Severus it's perfect." She choked. "It's the most perfect present I've ever received. Thank you so much."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "I knew you would love it."

"You're so thoughtful." She was still sobbing.

"Sasha. I didn't want to make you cry."

She couldn't speak. Quickly she stood up and walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Here was the most beautiful flash of brilliance that completely overwhelmed her. She held him tightly and sincerely for some time before she remembered herself and pulled away. "I'm sorry Severus. I should go."

"No don't. Don't leave yet."

"This was wonderful but really I have quidditch tomorrow early."

"It's not even ten o'clock yet. We have half a bottle of wine and a sky full off stars." He focused on the intonation of his voice and predictably she responded to him.

"Well, when you say it like that."

He smiled and held out his hand, which she took while meeting his beautiful eyes. He walked her over to the place where they sat this time last year. He silently vowed that tonight would be different. They leaned back against the skylight and observed the stars.

"Severus?"

"Yes?"

"What is your favorite constellation?"

"I've never considered it." He said looking at the stars while wondering if she was remembering Igor. "I suppose yours is Orion."

"No, Leo, with Regulus as the brightest star."

"I should have known that."

"Do you have a favorite?

"I always liked the legend of Cassiopeia. As a boy I used to think it was funny that she was upside down."

"Really?" She sat up and looked at him.

"Why so surprised? Oh right, I'd forgotten that was Karkaroff's pet name for you."

"It's my real name. Well, it was anyway."

Severus was pleased that he'd accidentally uncovered the one thing that bothered him the most. "Tell me the story." He refilled her glass as she looked like she needed it.

"Well Lucius was four years old when I was born and he had this terrible speech problem. Cassiopeia is quite a mouthful and he had difficulty pronouncing it, so they changed it to something easier. He even got to pick it." She looked at her glass and swirled the red wine around. It was embarrassing to share this story with him and have him know how her parents always favored her brother.

"I think Lucius did you a favor. Cassiopeia doesn't suit you. You're not vain or manipulative. Sasha is a beautiful name for a beautiful witch." He raised his glass to toast her.

"You know Severus, you're really sweet. I'm just the only one who knows it"

He rolled his eyes. "So why did your parents name you Severus?"

"Severus was after a roman emperor and also my grandfather on my mother's side."

"Are you like him?

"Mother used to say so. Being disowned I didn't know him so it really means nothing to me." He was uncomfortable with the subject. "So should I start calling you Cassiopeia?"

"Ugh, no. You know Igor called me that when we were alone because he was smug about being one of the few who knew it. I let him just to be nice but it bugged me."

"I'll have to think up my own pet name for you."

"Ewe, Careful, I could make up something embarrassing for you too, like Sevy-poo."

He raised an eyebrow and stared at her icily. "Have you been spending time with 'won-won's girlfriend?"

She couldn't help but laugh. "Ha! Good one! No I don't believe you look like a Sevy-poo. Relax, I'm only teasing you." He watched her body movements as she laughed and the breeze caught the tendrils of loose hair around her cheeks. He felt a desperate longing to be close to her again. He cast a non-verbal spell to allow the temperature to drop a bit. "Brr," she shivered. "It's getting colder. We should go in."

Gently he spoke to her, afraid of scaring her. "Just a little longer Sasha." With his right arm he opened his cloak and took her left hand pulling her close to him and wrapping the cloak around them again. She rested her head on his shoulder and he was in heaven.

He watched her graceful hand as she admired the bracelet. "This is my most perfect birthday Severus. Thank you."

Sasha listened to his heartbeat and relished the moment of lying there in his strong arms under the starlight. She put an arm across his chest and snuggled closer to him while sighing in contentment. He stroked her hair and kept her close but neither spoke a word. Eventually they drifted into a blissful sleep.

AN: Sigh…hmmm…night night.