A/N: What's JK's is hers, what's mine is mine

A/N: What's JK's is hers, what's mine is mine. Thanks so much for reviewing me! You like me, you like me, you really like me! J happy naked Pagan dance

Amanita: What will happen to Antonia will happen to her. She knows how things are, and, to her, it's all worth it. She finally got the love of her life. What more could she ask for? Oh, and the Severus Challenge is in the first chapter.

w&m law: She's a lush, but she's a cute lush, right?

Hermione: thanks so much for the consistent feedback.

Candace & Phyllia: thanks.

Lindsay Beth: I'm churning out as much as I can, without rushing it and turning it into a plothole landmine field.

Tempesta: I love you! Thanks for being my muse and beta reader.

Now, on to the story. J

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"Are you going to actually go to the Great Hall for luncheon, today?" Minerva asked, making a rare effort to be friendly to the Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor.

She smiled and shook her head as they walked down the halls to their classrooms. "Probably not. I think Severus arranged to have a lunch delivered to our room. We don't get to spend as much time together since the classes have started. We both have a free period before lunch, so we'll grade papers together."

Minerva shook her head. Antonia's delight at the prospect of an afternoon alone with Severus grading papers, of all things, was the type of delight that most would show at getting to go to St. Kitts for holiday. "As much as you and Severus look forward to your time alone, don't you think that you should make an effort to get to know the other professors on a more professional level? After all, I'm still learning to relate to you as a colleague, rather than as a student."

"We'll show up for dinner," she promised.

Minerva was skeptical, but nodded in acceptance. "I'll see you later," she parted, turning down a separate hall.

Antonia smiled her farewell and began her journey to her classroom.

Her classes passed by without event. She had no outstanding students, much to her dismay. She didn't expect to get any Aurors or Anti-Death Eaters out of those two classes, anyway. Of course, she didn't think any of them were talented enough to be Death Eaters, either, so she supposed that the world would be safe for a few more years. Of course, the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad would be kept busy for quite some time because of these kids…

Her free period didn't come soon enough. She'd just suffered through two class periods with Hufflepuff kids. They really weren't the brightest crayons in the box, but at least they were willing to work hard.

She was relieved when her free period came up. She was happy to run off to her room, even if it was for nothing more than to be alone with Severus.

She opened the door and found Severus pacing, looking as though he was searching for the right words. So deep in thought, he failed to notice when she walked in the room. "Severus?"

He jumped, clearly startled by his bride's appearance. "Antonia… I didn't hear you come in."

She flopped down on the bed. "That's obvious, darling. What's on your mind?"

He hesitated, and then sat down beside her in their bed. "I had something made for you since I didn't really have an engagement ring for you."

She smiled. "Really? Severus, that really wasn't necessary. I have you. That's all that I really wanted out of the deal."

He glared at her. "I know it wasn't necessary," he replied testily. "I wanted to do something nice for you, if that's okay."

She smiled. "As long as you know that I love you, and that love isn't contingent upon what you buy."

His gaze grew more loving. "Always. I just… I think you deserve this." He pulled a velvet box out of his robe and opened it.

A tiny band of platinum with a black onyx, smooth and flat in the ring with a small diamond in the middle winked up at her. "Severus, it's beautiful!" She tossed her arms around him and gave him a loving embrace.

"I love you, Antonia Snape." He kissed her, his lips brushing her forehead. "Antonia Snape. I never get tired of hearing that, you know."

She curled up against him, positively enamored with the feeling of his arms wrapped around her and holding her close.

"We still haven't put this ring on," he reminded her.

She took it out of the box and slipped it on. It fit her perfectly. "It's beautiful," she whispered, amazed to see the onyx of his eyes replicated in her ring.

"Not as beautiful as you."

She smiled. His constant references to her looks were not her favorite thing, but she was learning to get used to it.

"Are you looking forward to the afternoon classes, darling?"

She frowned. "I have fifth year Slytherins for my last class. For some reason, they were unable to behave themselves properly when I ran your double potions class with the Gryffindors."

"That's because the Gryffindors are horrible." That old sneer was back across his face. It nearly always appeared whenever a Gryffindor was mentioned.

"No, darling, it's because your children behaved like little monsters."

Severus stiffened with indignation. "Mine? They have never been anything but perfect during my classes," he protested.

"Could it be that you are allowing yourself to overlook their poor behavior, simply because you dislike Harry Potter and the other Gryffindors so much because of James?"

"I think not."

She sighed. "You're right. You don't think. At least, not where that little beast Draco is concerned. He was disgustingly arrogant and rude."

Snape shook his head. "In his case, the apple didn't fall far from the tree. He's just like his father." A look of loathing etched across his face. The thought of Lucius Malfoy left a bad taste in Severus's mouth.

"I caught him with a picture of me. He was trying to bewitch it to take its clothes off."

That got Severus's attention. "He did what?"

"You heard what I said. He'd gotten one of the pictures of me out of the Hogwarts teachers directory, and was trying to bewitch her into taking her clothes off."

"He didn't succeed, did he?" Severus inquired, his voice a nasty whisper.

"No."

He relaxed. "Just youthful pranks. I'll explain to him that it is inappropriate to mentally undress my wife."

"If it had been a Gryffindor, you would have been down in Dumbledore's office, screaming for expulsion. I firmly believe that the little rat is perfectly aware of the inappropriate nature of his actions."

"Your point is?"

"Explain to Draco that I will not tolerate that sort of behavior. I simply came to you about the offending behavior because you are the head of his house. Not because you are my husband and I wanted you to fight my battles for me."

"He's not a bad child. He's just…"

"He's not really a child anymore. He's getting ready for his OWL's, this year. He's at the point when he should have a rough idea of what he wants to do with his life. Of course, knowing that little brat, he's going to follow in his daddy's footsteps, and become a loyal servant of the Dark Lord…" She took one look at her husband and stopped. "I'm sorry, darling…"

Severus looked at his wife, stunned. "And you aren't willing to do a thing to stop this from happening to him, either, are you. How can you teach a child to defend himself against the Dark Arts, if you can't even teach him how to avoid practicing them?"

"If the desire to become a Death Eater, just like Daddy, is already there, how am I to stop it?"

"Become his friend, rather than his rival. Do something to convince him that he would be accepted to fight against the Dark Lord. All that you are doing right now is convincing him that there is nothing more that he can do, aside from become one of the Dark Lord's servants. You're telling him that he has no chance, simply because his name is Malfoy. How is that any different than my treatment of Potter?"

He looked at her with disappointment, the fire still burning in his black eyes. It was a fire of conviction. "Why do you think so many of us Slytherins end up as practitioners of Dark Magic? It's because we are ambitious, and that is a good thing. But so few people are willing to give us any credit for that ambition because we are Slytherins! And that leaves us with Dark Magic as the only outlet for our goals. You can stop Malfoy from going down that path."

"It's different because Potter doesn't try to get my portrait to do strip teases! And don't you try to guilt trip me because the masses see the Slytherins for the reptilian monsters that they are," she hissed.

"But Potter has all ready managed to offend you, though, hasn't he? What did he say when he found out that you, the beauty, married a greasy, slimy Slytherin reptilian monster like me? It wasn't complimentary, was it?" His voice was deadly cold.

"At least he had the grace to look ashamed of what they were discussing!"

"And you haven't even given Draco that chance, yet! How the Hell is he supposed to make good for his offensive behavior if you don't even give him a chance?"

"What am I supposed to do? Give him a chance to corner me in the hall and grope me?"

"Antonia, you're being ridiculous. You are a fully trained witch. You were nearly an Auror. You aren't frightened of a student. If you are, then you have no business being in this castle in your present position."

She bristled. "I most certainly am not afraid of a child. I have used the Killing Curse before to protect myself from grown wizards. I will not allow a mere boy to intimidate me."

"Isn't that what you're doing?"

"No! I'm trying not to blow your fucking chances at winning the House Cup, this year!"

"How so?"

"Because if that little puke pulls the stunts and gives me the attitude that he's been giving me, I'm just as likely to take fifty points off as I am to look at him!"

"You aren't being fair," Severus accused. "You should see his father. It's not like Draco grew up with a loving mother like you. His mother is a cold, fake bitch whose entire life seems to revolve around being a trophy wife. Not like you."

"When is life fair? Is it fair when you leave me to go serve beside the Dark Lord? Is it fair when we find that a family has been slaughtered because they don't hate Muggles? You tell me, Severus. Where's the fairness?"

"There is none," he replied bitterly. "And there never has been. I just hate to see a boy punished by life because of who his father is. Lucius Malfoy is a cold bastard. And he'll give Draco over to the Master as soon as he gets a chance. The Master is already asking about him. And, while Draco may be the image of Lucius, Lucius holds no more regard for that boy than he would for a puppy."

Her thoughts went back to another time…

It was Paris. She was in a wizard bar, tossing back the bourbon shots. She was "celebrating" the one year anniversary of David's death at a bar in France, where she was visiting for a Ministry clinic.

There was a man across the bar. He was beautiful, in an icy cold kind of way. Pale silver hair the color of moonlight, worn back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck, and a beautifully formed body. And he was giving her the eye.

Antonia smiled and raised her glass up to the stranger in silent toast.

He came over to her and sat down in the next stool at the bar. "What are you drinking?" His voice was low and deep, like melted butter. It was the kind of voice that constantly evoked images of a sensual nature. It was also a voice that contained an air of disdain for all around him. As if everything in the area was beneath him.

She smiled in greeting at the handsome stranger. "Bourbon, straight up, no chaser."

He picked up her glass and sniffed the whisky. He winced and put it back down. "How much have you had to drink?"

"Five shots, I guess. I refuse to count."

He gave her a look that could only be described as raw lust. "Bartender," he began. "Can you bring the lady over a bottle of your finest chardonnay?"

The bartender nodded in ascent and disappeared behind the corner.

"What was that for?"

"Because. If I'm going to shag a beautiful drunken blond, I'd rather it be a beautiful drunken blond on a champagne drunk, rather than a bourbon drunk."

"What makes you so certain that you can have me?" she replied, irritated by his smug tone.

"The fact that you're still here talking to me, and you haven't slapped me or tossed your drink in my face," he replied blandly.

She reached up to slap him, just itching to wipe that arrogant smirk off of his face. He caught her hand in mid-air. "Darling, you lose points if you attempt to strike me only after I put the idea in your head."

"You're an ass," she replied.

He smiled with his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. No, they maintained that same cold look that they had when he was watching her from across the room. "But you have some appreciation for that, don't you?"

She gave him a crooked smile. "You'd certainly like to take me out of here and get me somewhere more comfortable, wouldn't you?"

He nodded. "Are you game?"

She looked the stranger over. What the Hell? I'm in another country. What are the odds of me ever seeing this guy again? she thought. "Why not? Let's go." As he slipped her cloak on her shoulders, she glanced at the stranger. "What's your name, anyway?"

"Lucius…"

She felt sick. Her one night stand was the father of one of her students? And a colleague of her husband's? This couldn't be happening. But how many cold, blond British wizards could be named Lucius?

"Antonia? Are you okay?"

She smiled weakly at her husband. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just remembering things…"

He looked at her quizzically.

"You're right… I should try to be more understanding of Draco. If I had a father like that…"

He drew her close and kissed her. "I'm glad you see it my way."

She smiled shakily. "Sometimes, different events coming to light can change one's views."

"Thank you."

She sprawled out in the bed and smiled seductively. "Here we are, in this great big, comfortable bed. Why are we talking?" she purred.

He slid a hand up her thigh and moved over her. "Good question…"

* * *

"I promised Minerva that we would show up for dinner in the Great Hall tonight," Antonia said as she slipped her clothes back on.

"Damn. Why did you have to go and do that?"

"Because she guilt tripped me. I'd be much happier to come back to our room and make love until sunrise, but that will have to wait until after dinner."

He smiled. "I love you, you know."

She leaned over and kissed him, a quick little peck on his hooked nose. "Love you, too."

The newlyweds rushed out of their bedchamber and off to their respective classes.

Slytherins actually listened with rapt attention throughout her lesson. Draco Malfoy refrained from making any rude comments, although he did stare at her backside every chance he got. She would have sworn at one point, he was trying to look down her robe when she was bent over helping Crabbe with a wand movement.

"Mr. Malfoy, I'd like a word with you after class," she whispered as she paused by his desk. She did not want to make an already unpleasant situation more so by calling attention to him.

He grinned and nodded.

At the end of class, Antonia sat down on one of the desktops and simply looked at Draco. "Is there something that you would like to say to me?" she asked.

He shrugged.

"I'm not impressed with the behavior that you've displayed. Your attitude has been abominable."

He glared at her. "I've been pretty damned nice to you, lady."

"Excuse me? I will not be spoken to in such a manner by a student. You may address me as Professor Snape. Not lady, and you will keep the profanity out of your language when you speak to me."

"Whatever."

She resisted the urge to shake him. "You know, I am trying to give you a break. I know that you tried to bewitch a photo of me to take my clothing off. You will never get to see a glimpse of me in less than proper attire, do you understand me? Such behavior is entirely inappropriate, and will not be tolerated."

"What are you going to do?"
"Detention, points off your house, push for expulsion? How far I go is actually up to you, Mr. Malfoy. It all depends on to what lengths you're willing to go to anger me." Her voice was icy. She really didn't like this insolent little worm that sat before her.

"Try it. I dare you," he hissed. "I don't think you want to mess with my father…"

She felt a quiver of fear, but quashed it. What were the odds that Lucius would remember the drunken blond he took back to his hotel room in Paris over ten years ago? Hell, she barely remembered… assuming that it was the same guy, anyway.

"I don't think you want to mess with me, Mr. Malfoy. Let me remind you that you need my class to go on to your fifth year, and a good portion of what I teach is on the OWL's. Now get out of my sight."

Draco Malfoy skulked out of her classroom. She slammed the door with a swish of her wand and started cursing a streak of words that would have made the British Royal Navy blush with shame.

"Of course, Severus. I listen to you, and the little bastard still threatens to sic his father on me. And now everything could get fucked up. Damn it." She said all of this as she paced in front of her desk.

"Bloody Hell," she grumbled aloud. She realized that there was no way that she could get herself out of this one. She would just, quite simply, have to wait and see what happened.

And one thing that Antonia hated was waiting; especially if she was waiting at the mercy of someone else.

She managed to shake off her apprehension by the time she made it to their bedchamber. Severus was already there.

"How did it go with Draco?" Severus inquired.

She looked at her watch and smiled. "You know, we have a couple of hours before dinner…"

He chuckled. "And what, exactly, does Mrs. Snape have in mind?"

Antonia wrapped her arms around her husband and purred seductively, "Maybe we should just see what comes up…"

"You're absolutely terrible, you know," his voice rumbled as he scooped her up in his arms.

"That's not what you said last night…"

The only sounds that could be heard from the Snapes' room for the next hour and forty-five minutes was gasps, cries of pleasure, and an occasional creak of the mattress. It turns out that they had both forgotten to put on a silencing charm.

Down in the Great Hall, the students were spilling in and filling the tables for their dinner. The professors were all at their table, with the exception of Severus and Antonia.

"Should have known that they'd skip this one, too," Minerva grumbled.

"Minerva, they are newlyweds," Dumbledore reminded.

"They are also teachers," she shot back.

"Well, you no longer need to upset yourself over the absence of Professors Snape," Dumbledore said mildly.

Severus and Antonia quickly slipped into their seats. Her hair was slightly mussed and a rosy glow not normally present lit up her face. Severus looked like he was ready to collapse from exhaustion.

"Did you two have a nice afternoon?" Hagrid asked.

Antonia looked at her husband with a Mona Lisa smile on her face. "Oh, yes… It was absolutely delightful."

Severus reddened slightly. "Hagrid, would you please refrain from asking my wife those kinds of open-ended questions?"

The other teachers sniggered slightly.

"But, Severus, you're the only professor here with a, uh, life, now that Antonia's here," Professor Vector joked.

"Aleister, you really mustn't tease Severus so," Antonia defended lightly, putting an affectionate hand on her husband's arm.

"Try some of the lamb," Severus encouraged, dishing up a spoonful of the tender meat and popping it in Antonia's mouth before she could further orchestrate his embarrassment.

"Children, please," Minerva mock-scolded, amusement etched into her face.

Antonia took pity on her husband as she chewed and swallowed the excessively large piece of meat. However, it was such a large piece of meat that she was chewing for five minutes before she could speak…

Which gave the other professors another five minutes to chew on her husband.

The Gryffindor table noticed the merriment at the professors' table.

"Look at that," Ron pointed out.

"Whoa… Look at Snape. He looks almost… happy," Hermione commented, astonishment plainly in her voice.

"I still don't understand what Professor Snape the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher sees in Professor Snape the slimy git," Harry remarked.

"Who cares? She's pretty cool, at least," Ron replied, shoveling up some of the lamb.

Hermione glared at Ron. "Has it occurred to you that there might be more to the new Professor Snape than we think? Suppose she's really a spy for You-Know-Who, and that's why she's with Snape?"

"Suppose you're paranoid? Look at her. That's real," Ron responded.

"This blond witch just suddenly marries Snape, and we're not supposed to think anything of it?"

"She's for real, Hermione. She used to work for the Ministry. My dad knows her. She was on the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad. Dad likes her," Ron insisted.

"There's something that isn't right about her." Hermione was being stubborn about this one, and she wouldn't be satisfied until she figured out what.

"We'll see you guys in the morning," Antonia said to the other professors as they all began to leave the Great Hall.

Sprout pretended to look shocked. "You mean you're actually going to show up for breakfast?"

Antonia smiled impishly at the herbology professor. "Well… we'll show up. But we'll probably be late. Maybe we should go upstairs and consult Professor Trelawney?"

Minerva choked on the last of her drink at that comment. "Antonia, would you please not say things like that when I'm drinking?"

She giggled. "Sorry…" The Defense instructor turned her gaze back to her husband. "Are you ready to go to bed? I'm really quite exhausted…"

They continued walking out of the Great Hall together. "I have to go to my office and check on a few things, first. I'll meet you in our bedchamber?" Snape suggested.

She nodded. "I'll be waiting…"

He smiled as he watched his wife depart. He could stand back and watch her shapely hips swaying as she walked for hours. He forced his eyes to shift their attention elsewhere and he headed in the opposite direction.

He noticed Draco heading out to the owlery, but thought nothing of it.

Severus finally made it back down to their room twenty minutes later.

"What took you so long?" she asked. She was stretched out before the fireplace on a soft tapestry rug.

He noticed that she was wearing the ring that he had given her that afternoon… and nothing else. "I got caught by Peeves on the way back." Severus sat down on the floor beside his wife and ran his hand up and down the bare skin of her back. She sighed contentedly and closed her eyes.

He just couldn't get enough of touching her. And he was certain that he never would.