Notes/Disclaimers:

Everything not Allosia belongs to JKR.

Hermione may or may not have a crush on Snape, actually - I haven't decided what I am doing with that. Harry may just be trying to torture her for reasons as yet undisclosed. It's really a very random subplot not key to my overarching plan of evil.

And no, I am not trying to be a tease here, there's a very specific reason further down the plot line why this chapter goes the way it does.

This Chapter has been slightly changed since it's original upload last night - I had something bugging me about the dialogue in it I needed to fix.

Patience.

Heh.

Thanks to all.

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"Well, I'd certainly know less about it than you."

"Don't be petulant, Allosia."

"Can we try to remember we're not teenagers anymore? Please?"

He raised his eyebrows at her. "That would mean no more staying up all night."

"We could go to bed."

He opened his mouth to say something and then closed it.

"What?" she asked somewhat indignantly.

"It's not important. I'll find out in good time."

It was her turn to raise her eyebrows.

He smiled. "You like suspense." It wasn't just a statement, but an order.

She squinted at him.

"Want to stay the night?" he said, only slightly as a question.

She nodded sideways, indicating her agreement with the obvious.

"You understand that's on my terms?"

"As long as you don't make me sleep on the couch."

"I don't have a couch."

"So you see my point."

He gestured with the wine glass in his hand in a way that seemed to indicate both an acceptance of her point and a request for her to stand.

Allosia stood then, smoothing her robes and taking a deep breath reminiscent of the way she had prepared herself in front of his door earlier.

Snape allowed himself a brief smile at this, but set his mouth again quickly enough that she missed it. He didn't often have the pleasure of making someone nervous with something other than his menace or intellect.

He held his hand out to her and led her around the corners to his bed. Letting his hand slip from hers he sat down and settled back against the headboard. He patted the blankets next to him and gave her a bemused look. He hadn't expected her to become shy, or for that matter, paralyzed.

"Come here," he nearly whispered. It was kind and said through a smile.

Allosia climbed up on the bed and leaned back against the headboard, very clearly on the other side of the bed.

"Is this strange for you?" he asked.

"You. Bed. Odd," she said softly. "I - " she stopped herself and shook her head.

"We could go to the closet in my office, if that would be more familiar for you." He tried not to sound cruel.

"Yes, this is strange for me," she said turning to face him.

He took a sip of wine and set his glass down on the night table before scooting closer to her on the bed. He caressed the side of her face with his hand, and then kissed her hard. As she opened her lips to him, she felt the wine flood into her mouth. For a second, she was startled.



"Now you know," he said running his hand up and down her still robbed legs, "that this is only going so far tonight, right?"

"When did you become old-fashioned?"

"I haven't, but there are so many potentials here, I think we'd best make sure we can swim before we try to drown."

"Mmmmm," her noise of appreciation was as much for his phrasing as anything else.

"Good," he said, and muttered the words that darkened the room.