Serena stirred slightly in her sleep and her eyes flickered open when she felt someone else beside her and as all the memories of the night flew back to her she realised that he wasn't just beside her- he was kissing her.

"Sev-" she began but he hushed her and went back to kissing her neck, her breasts, her stomach.

Serena couldn't hold back any longer and a whimper of pleasure escaped her lips as she entwined her fingers in the locks of Severus' hair that were trailing over her navel.

He chuckled a deep rumble and moved up her body to gaze into her eyes. He breathed in deeply and his eyes darkened with passion as he smelt himself on her. The way that he could mark her to be completely and only his drove him wild and his mouth found hers roughly in the darkness as her thighs spread and lifted to cradle his body between them.

"Shh" he hushed sitting up in the darkness. Serena lay still, listening intently, but all she could hear was their laboured breathing and all she could feel was his erection pressing into her stomach.

Her fingers trailed down his arm languidly and smiled at his silhouette above her; he was back in alert mode- his senses perceiving any threat or abnormality around them.

They waited still for a few more seconds and then Serena heard a distant knocking sound. "fuck" muttered Severus under his breath. "I have to get it."

He climbed up from the bed and pulled on some dark trousers, and then a shirt, buttoning it up as he scrambled for his wand. He turned towards the door but small hands quickly found his face in the darkness. Serena stood on tip toes and kissed him passionately, making sure he thought of nothing but her. It definitely worked and Severus had to apply occlumency to clear his mind.

"stay in here" he murmured to her, before hurrying into the classroom and opening the office door.

Albus was waiting patiently outside.

"I'm sorry Albus, I was just mixing a potion" he said, and truthfully it was not all a lie.

"Ah, Severus, I am glad you are here. I need you to make a replenishing potion for me, as soon as possible, could I collect it tomorrow?"

"of course" Severus said as normally as he could, but Albus noticed his awkward stance, his hastily buttoned t shirt and the happy glint in his eyes.

"Severus" he said, a sharper tone to his voice. "I thought I asked you not to bring women back to the castle?"

"Albus!" he cried, shocked by his words. "I have not! And I do not!" he prayed with all his heart Serena had not heard it.

"I should hope not. But listen, my boy…" Albus patted his shoulder in a fatherly gesture but Severus couldn't stop thinking about Serena lying in the other room, waiting for him… "my boy you have to leave the past in the past… I know that you have some delusion about not being able to be happy or being ashamed of the things you have done but… Severus you only treated those women badly because you had to-"

"Albus! Please!" he growled angrily. He walked toward the door and held it open in a hostile manner, slamming it behind him.

Albus left with confusion in his mind but he had made it twenty three steps before the pieces in his mind clicked. "ah Albus" he said chuckling to himself. "your reactions are slowing, old man."

Severus stood still, staring at the door where Albus had just left. It was as though his intrusion had brought Severus back to reality- crashing down to earth in the most destructive manner possible, because how could it have lasted- this unimaginable happiness he had felt.

He heard movement behind him but he could not bring himself to look at her- it was over, it had to be over, she had to get out now before it was too late. It had been the best few hours of his life- but it could not last- good things never did. He knew she needed answers- she must be so horrified at what Albus had said- the other women he'd had, the way he had treated them…

"I- I don't bring anyone back here" he said in a gruff voice.

Silence. Serena did not know what to say- it was clear Severus thought Albus' words would bother her- but they did not. She loved him unconditionally- and of course he'd had a past! But that was not important anymore- only the future was, and the love she had found in him was all she could think of.

"You should leave," he continued, still talking to the door.

"I don't want to leave" came back her frightened reply. Was he saying it had been a mistake? He didn't love her-

Serena's reply had made Severus turn around and his mouth dropped open when he saw her. She was standing in the doorframe wearing his white shirt, rolled up at the sleeves, just covering the tops of her thighs and open at the neck.

"you heard what he said?" he said, clearing his throat and mind.

She nodded, unsure of what he was getting at.

"I… I did not treat women how I should have."

"okay."

"why aren't you angry? Why aren't you raging at me- why aren't you-"

"why would I be angry? What right do I have?" She took a few steps closer to him, trying to understand his sudden aggression and anger. "So you've treated women badly- but… I hope you wish you hadn't- and… if- if you ever have a different woman in the future, I hope you treat her with respect-"

"what's that supposed to mean?" he interrupted.

"well judging by your tone and sudden change of attitude I'm… I'm guessing you have regrets about me, and so-"

"I do not" he said sharply.

"well then why-"

"it can not last!" he cried, "how can it- reality must return!"

"this is reality" she said firmly. "right here and now- you and me, standing here. This is reality."

"I'm not a nice man," he said almost threateningly.

"I know" she replied calmly from across the room.

"no you don't!" he cried exasperated. "I have killed people! Cold blood- complete murder! I have tortured people for answers! I have raped women! The blood that runs through my veins is as dark as the mark that I bear-"

"and what of your heart?" she said softly. "that's not dark, I'm as sure of that as I am sure of my own heart Severus. You've insisted the light be turned off for these past few hours without giving me a reason why- yes of course I've noticed" she muttered as he looked sharply at her. "Do you think that if I saw your dark mark it would change my feelings towards you? I've seen it before Severus, I know what it symbolises and why you have it and it only makes my love for you stronger…"

"Then you're an idiot!" he cried. "I am arrogant, and dangerous and jealous and possessive and everything I touch turns to death-"

"Severus" she interrupted calmly. "whose shirt am I wearing?"

The answer was obvious but Serena waited patiently for an answer, not taking her eyes of him.

"mine" he said finally.

"then who do I belong to?"

Severus looked up at her, wondering if he had heard correctly. He had not expected that- a complete acceptance and understanding of his possessive streak- no one understood it- no one accepted it- no one dealt with it… But here she was surrendering herself to him.

"you shouldn't say that" he said quietly. "you shouldn't be wearing that."

"then take it off me" she said, her eyes twinkling.

Severus sighed and made to turn away from her but she walked over quickly and made him look into he warm brown eyes, conveying only love for him.

"I need it" she said quietly. "I need you to protect me, to own me, I have to belong to you- else where do I belong? I love you Severus Snape, I love you more than I can comprehend and I definitely didn't turn to death when you touched me an hour ago… quite the opposite" she blushed. "Don't torture yourself when there is no point. I love you. Don't leave me."

There was a split second of silence where her words sunk in and he gazed into her face, overcome by the emotion she showed for him.

"marry me" he said suddenly, unable to contain his love and feelings. It was almost an order.

A smile broke out over her face at his words; they were so unexpected she almost laughed. "do you mean that?" she said her eyes gleaming with passion.

"marry me" he repeated in a slightly softer voice, "make an honest man of me Serena."

"yes" she said laughing, "yes, yes, yes."

Severus scooped her up in his arms and marched back towards the bedroom, "you're mine now" he growled before he captured her lips and they fell backwards onto the great bed.


A/N: *shamelessly begs for reviews xxx