"I haven't felt the way/I feel today/In so long its hard/For me to specify/I'm beginning to notice/How much this feels like/A waking limb/Pins and needles/Nice to know you/ Goodbye"
~~Incubus, Nice To Know You
She tilted her head to the side cockily, pouting her lips slightly as she took in her reflection. The hazel eyes in the mirror stared back into her real ones, the thrill of the challenge igniting the golden flames. She'd told Malfoy it would be easy. She'd bragged about it. She'd been sure she could win. Now, alone in her room with Basil, her insides had begun to protest, twisting frantically inside her skin.
Tonight was her night, she reminded herself. She had to prove herself now or never. Basil entwined himself around her legs, clawing frantically at the already ripped fishnets. She picked him up eagerly, and his regal face relaxed into an expression of boredom only a cat could muster.
"Stupid git," she mumbled, releasing him so she could pull on her boots. She spun around, her pleated skirt fanning around her. "How do I look Basil? If you were Snape, would you want me?" Her cat simply stretched out on her bed, a disinterested expression on his face. "Good enough," Corvina sighed, fishing a twenty pound note out of her purse and tucking it into the band of her skirt.
She left her dorms without checking her reflection again and made her way through the winding hallway toward the Slytherin common room. It wouldn't be hard to find Snape. This was his house and he was bound to be lurking somewhere nearby. Corvina prowled the common room for several minutes, trying to work up the nerve to go hunting for Snape. It was fortunate for her that he found her; she never would have gone to him if he hadn't.
There was no one else in the common room when he came in, just her. She was sitting alone in one of the armchairs in the corner, her face in shadow. He opened his mouth to scold her, to ask her why she wasn't in her dormitory at such a late hour. Before he could say a word, she caught him with her eyes, her hazel orbs burning into his own dark ones. He felt a tightness in his chest when their eyes met, and he snapped his mouth shut with a gasp. She stood up and made her way over to him, weaving between the chairs. Corvina was in her element now. She'd slipped into the old persona, the charming, reckless girl who always got what she wanted from whatever man she went after.
Snape's mouth was hanging open again as she approached, and she closed it gently with one finger. This seemed to bring him back to reality, and he opened his mouth suddenly, like an actor who had just remembered his lines.
"Professor, I know it's late, but I have something that I need to show you. Please could you come with me," Corvina interjected.
Her teacher nodded wordlessly, sweeping aside to allow her to pass through the damp wall that separated Slytherin House from the rest of the castle. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Snape's black robes swirling around him softly as he followed her wordlessly, running a hand unconsciously through his sleek dark locks, which curled attractively at the ends. Corvina shivered and resisted the temptation to mimic the path his hand had taken. Instead, she moved quickly down the passageway, occasionally glancing back to be sure that he was following her.
She allowed her mind to wander, laughing slightly as she wondered what the other girls were doing right at this moment. Whatever it was, she knew that her night was shaping up to be much better. She stole another look at him, noting to herself that he appeared disheveled. His dark robes were open, revealing the clothes beneath them. His turtleneck stretched appealingly across his muscular chest, and his pants clung tightly to every inch of his legs. Corvina ran her tongue across her lips unconsciously, nearly running headlong into a wall.
The pair of them emerged from the stairwell leading to the Slytherin Common Room and crossed the Great Hall, knowing they were easy targets. Corvina slid quietly along the wall, jumping from shadow to shadow like a ghost, while a phantom Snape followed behind. After several minutes, they had reached the spiraling downward stairs that led to Snape's dungeon classroom. Corvina descended quickly, her boots clunking unpleasantly on the steps. She waited at the bottom, staring up expectantly as Snape followed carefully. He slid into place beside her, and she stared up into his mahogany eyes.
If there was any moment that Corvina nearly forgot the bet, it was then. Her greatest desire was to simply rip his clothes from his body and fuck him right there on the dingy floor by the light of the mounted torches. But no. The bet. She had to do this right. She allowed her fingers to brush his hand, torturing him. His expression was pained, and she could tell that the tightness in his groin was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. She laughed mirthlessly, the old Corvina showing up again. She didn't like this new Corvina, the one who was falling slowly in love with the man standing next to her.
She moved quickly down the narrow corridor, past Snape's darkened classroom, through winding passages, until they reached a painting of the old headmaster's vampire kittens.
"Fetish," she whispered silkily. The wall slid upward, taking the vampire kittens portrait with it. Corvina ducked under it before it had finished sliding, and Snape followed her apprehensively.
He watched the short, dark red and black strands of her hair shimmer in the fading torchlight as they continued on down a pitch black passage. He grabbed Corvina's shoulder to make sure he didn't lose her. He had no idea why he was following her, but he knew he wouldn't have been able to refuse her. It was then that the faint sounds of rock music drifted past his ears, and he spoke for the first time.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked, his sexy voice slightly raspy from disuse.
"You'll see." Corvina grinned into the darkness as Snape's grip tightened on her shoulder. Several minutes passed before Snape noticed a dim light emanating from around the corner. Corvina steered him toward it, and he gradually let go of her arm.
As they turned the corner, Snape's mouth fell open in awe. Strobe lights roamed the room ahead, tilting crazily at all angles. Hundreds of people were crammed into the cavern, which appeared to have been tinted purple through some type of magic. Sweaty teens were dancing as close as possible, laughing and spilling their drinks. Snape blinked as a fourth year girl used her glass to dribble alcohol on the cleavage her halter exposed, which the boy next to her promptly licked off. There appeared to be a makeshift stage at one end of the place, and the lead singer was jumping around sporadically, pulling dancers from the crowd up onto the stage. The music was dark and heavy, and Snape could feel the atmosphere closing in on him as the smell of sweat and incense wafted past his nostrils.
Corvina's cold fingers entwined themselves in his and she pulled him further into the room. It was then that he realized all the gyrating dancers were members of Slytherin house. Corvina pulled him to the bar on the side, pushing him down on a barstool and seating herself beside him.
"What is this place!?" Snape shouted over the noise from the overhead speakers. "It's where we Slytherins come to unwind. I had more difficulty than you can imagine convincing *them* to let me bring you down here." She gestured to the rest of the Slytherins, who all appeared to be having the time of their lives. More questions lingered on the tip of Snape's tongue, but they didn't seem important now. Corvina was looking at him again, and he'd started to perspire furiously.
The goth looking bartender shoved two drinks their way, and Corvina leaned over him to pull them closer to her. Snape groaned inwardly as he realized that he was staring at her cleavage. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the smooth creamy skin below her neckline, and he gave up trying. He grabbed the alcohol from Corvina roughly and drank it in one gulp, wiping his mouth roughly on his sleeve. Corvina's lips curved slowly into a grin as she raised her own goblet to them, the black liquid flowing freely into her mouth.
"Mmm, Black Lace," she murmured, positioning her mouth right next to his ear. "It's so smooth," she added, brushing her lips on the side of his face as she did.
"Let's dance," Snape barked. Corvina looked surprised, and he noticed that some of her cool composure had gone. She had lost control of the situation. He sneered victoriously.
Closing his hand around her wrist, he moved her to the dance floor. The song that had just come on was harder than the one before it, and Snape gave himself over to it. Corvina watched in awe as he shed his robes, dropping them casually to the floor and continuing to move. In the dim light, she could make out his lithe form, the lines of his body flowing smoothly to the music as she watched. He thrust his pelvis forward suggestively, and she didn't need him to pull her closer. She pulled his sweater over his head, dropping it carelessly behind him. She was disappointed to learn that he did have on a shirt under it, a flimsy black wifebeater. She felt his muscles beneath it and took a deep breath, closing her eyes. It wasn't long before they began to move together, the very act hindered only by their clothes. They moved this way for what seemed like hours, song after song pulsating inside their bodies.
Corvina ran her hands up and down his back roughly, twirling his black hair around her finger absently as he held her. She looked up into his eyes and saw the same hungry desire that was reflected in her own. Yes it was time to go now. She moved closer, brushing his lips with hers tantalizingly, the promise of more hanging between them. And he knew too. He followed her obediently, this time not asking where they were going. He knew. Corvina broke into a run, licking her lips in hungry anticipation as she went. She pulled a small key from the end of her necklace chain and jammed it into the lock on a door at the end of the room behind the stage.
It was going to happen NOW. The thought gave her a wild urge to giggle, but she retained her composure somehow. She snatched at Snape's clothes, pulling him in front of her. She slammed him against the door and moved in close to him, parting her lips slightly, teasing him with her tongue. He moved forward, panting, but she was too fast. She opened the door and he stumbled backward into the room. She slammed it behind her and flicked on the dim red bulb overhead.
In the infrared glow, Snape could make out a bed draped in black satin and candles resting on all available surfaces around the room. He was still staring at the bed when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Corvina, a manic glow lighting her eyes again. Without a word, she shoved him down onto the bed. He lay stunned for several seconds, too turned on to object. She was a student, after all. All thoughts of her age went out of his head when she reached down her shirt. She extracted what appeared to be one long, black ribbon, but upon closer inspection was actually 4 long black ribbons.
Before Snape could say a word, his left arm was bound to the bedpost, followed by his right. He pulled hard, but the ribbons seemed to be unbreakable. Corvina was fastening his legs to the bed now, not bothering to remove his pants. What was going on? If she tied his legs, how did she expect to take off…..
Snape's thoughts trailed off into nothing when she pulled out the knife. Gently, she ran the blade over his chest, grinning in a crazed sort of way. She grasped the handle tightly, assuring herself that she would make no mistake. She moved the blade toward his pants, and his eyes grew comically wide in disbelief. She clipped the waistband, just above the zipper, then stopped. After a moment of listening to his shallow breathing in the dark, she lowered the knife again, making a slit down past his groin and partway down his leg. Without another word, she set the knife on the floor and quick as a flash had ripped his pants wide open. He moaned and shut his eyes, not knowing what to think. It was a matter of seconds before his pants were nothing, simple scraps of material lying on the floor.
She had no trouble ripping the black undershirt without the knife, and it soon joined his pants beside the bed. He was beginning to feel very vulnerable, but it did nothing to quell the fire in his nether-regions. She moved back, sitting on the edge of the bed, watching him.
"Please," he begged in a whisper. "Don't do this to me. Don't leave me like this." She knew she had to do something soon.
Corvina was starting to sweat. Fanning herself, she pulled off her sweater, revealing her lacy black bra. Laughing cruelly, she ran her long nails over Snape's bare chest, making his entire body prickle with desire. She slid down his body slowly until her mouth was even with his penis. Grinning, she took it into her mouth. He closed his eyes and gasped again, not daring to believe that it was real. He could feel her tongue, warm and hot, and he squirmed, giving in to the delicious sensations she was sending through his body. Corvina knew he was almost at his peak, and she closed her eyes, using her past experiences to guide her.
It was only a few minutes before it was over, Snape breathing hard as his eyes rolled back into his head as Corvina rose to stand.
"More," he urged hoarsely. "Give me more."
Corvina turned away, trying to hide the flicker of indecision crossing her face. This wasn't the plan. She had to go now. She had to win. She looked back at him, the outline of his smooth form flickering in the light. Impulsively, she strode back to his side and their lips finally met in a hot, smoldering kiss. Snape parted her lips hungrily, exploring her mouth. She felt his desire washing over her, and she almost gave in. She almost laid down next to him and took the bindings off, allowing him to discover her body with his hands.
At the last possible second, her pride caught hold of her, and she straightened abruptly. She knelt down to retrieve her sweater, then stalked out of the room, slamming the door as she went. Snape stared after her, willing the door to open again. He knew she'd come back. She had to. She couldn't leave him like this. Corvina shoved her way through the crowd of moshing dancers, trying to wipe the salty rivers off her face. Once she returned to her dormitory, she'd unbind his hands magically, and he'd figure out a way to get himself back to his rooms without being seen by anyone in the castle. Surely he had his wand.
By the time she'd reached the Great Hall, she was sobbing. She sank slowly into a chair at what was usually the Hufflepuff table, covering her eyes with her hands. Why did she care? It was just the stupid bet. She could have had Snape if she'd wanted him, and that was the end of the story. But she couldn't do it. She really did care. In some warped, twisted way, it mattered that she had hurt him. Basil had found her. He leapt into her lap, mewling pathetically in an unmistakable attempt to cheer her up. She snatched the cat and hugged her to him, crying quietly into his soft fur.
She forgot all about releasing Snape from his bondage, and it was hours before she returned to the common room. When she finally did, she was so exhausted she barely dared to change into her pajamas for fear she would simply fall over in a deep sleep. These plans were put on hold when she noticed the dark stain on her pillow. She moved closer and realized that there was no stain. Catching her breath, she separated the four black ribbons from the pile.
~~Incubus, Nice To Know You
She tilted her head to the side cockily, pouting her lips slightly as she took in her reflection. The hazel eyes in the mirror stared back into her real ones, the thrill of the challenge igniting the golden flames. She'd told Malfoy it would be easy. She'd bragged about it. She'd been sure she could win. Now, alone in her room with Basil, her insides had begun to protest, twisting frantically inside her skin.
Tonight was her night, she reminded herself. She had to prove herself now or never. Basil entwined himself around her legs, clawing frantically at the already ripped fishnets. She picked him up eagerly, and his regal face relaxed into an expression of boredom only a cat could muster.
"Stupid git," she mumbled, releasing him so she could pull on her boots. She spun around, her pleated skirt fanning around her. "How do I look Basil? If you were Snape, would you want me?" Her cat simply stretched out on her bed, a disinterested expression on his face. "Good enough," Corvina sighed, fishing a twenty pound note out of her purse and tucking it into the band of her skirt.
She left her dorms without checking her reflection again and made her way through the winding hallway toward the Slytherin common room. It wouldn't be hard to find Snape. This was his house and he was bound to be lurking somewhere nearby. Corvina prowled the common room for several minutes, trying to work up the nerve to go hunting for Snape. It was fortunate for her that he found her; she never would have gone to him if he hadn't.
There was no one else in the common room when he came in, just her. She was sitting alone in one of the armchairs in the corner, her face in shadow. He opened his mouth to scold her, to ask her why she wasn't in her dormitory at such a late hour. Before he could say a word, she caught him with her eyes, her hazel orbs burning into his own dark ones. He felt a tightness in his chest when their eyes met, and he snapped his mouth shut with a gasp. She stood up and made her way over to him, weaving between the chairs. Corvina was in her element now. She'd slipped into the old persona, the charming, reckless girl who always got what she wanted from whatever man she went after.
Snape's mouth was hanging open again as she approached, and she closed it gently with one finger. This seemed to bring him back to reality, and he opened his mouth suddenly, like an actor who had just remembered his lines.
"Professor, I know it's late, but I have something that I need to show you. Please could you come with me," Corvina interjected.
Her teacher nodded wordlessly, sweeping aside to allow her to pass through the damp wall that separated Slytherin House from the rest of the castle. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Snape's black robes swirling around him softly as he followed her wordlessly, running a hand unconsciously through his sleek dark locks, which curled attractively at the ends. Corvina shivered and resisted the temptation to mimic the path his hand had taken. Instead, she moved quickly down the passageway, occasionally glancing back to be sure that he was following her.
She allowed her mind to wander, laughing slightly as she wondered what the other girls were doing right at this moment. Whatever it was, she knew that her night was shaping up to be much better. She stole another look at him, noting to herself that he appeared disheveled. His dark robes were open, revealing the clothes beneath them. His turtleneck stretched appealingly across his muscular chest, and his pants clung tightly to every inch of his legs. Corvina ran her tongue across her lips unconsciously, nearly running headlong into a wall.
The pair of them emerged from the stairwell leading to the Slytherin Common Room and crossed the Great Hall, knowing they were easy targets. Corvina slid quietly along the wall, jumping from shadow to shadow like a ghost, while a phantom Snape followed behind. After several minutes, they had reached the spiraling downward stairs that led to Snape's dungeon classroom. Corvina descended quickly, her boots clunking unpleasantly on the steps. She waited at the bottom, staring up expectantly as Snape followed carefully. He slid into place beside her, and she stared up into his mahogany eyes.
If there was any moment that Corvina nearly forgot the bet, it was then. Her greatest desire was to simply rip his clothes from his body and fuck him right there on the dingy floor by the light of the mounted torches. But no. The bet. She had to do this right. She allowed her fingers to brush his hand, torturing him. His expression was pained, and she could tell that the tightness in his groin was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. She laughed mirthlessly, the old Corvina showing up again. She didn't like this new Corvina, the one who was falling slowly in love with the man standing next to her.
She moved quickly down the narrow corridor, past Snape's darkened classroom, through winding passages, until they reached a painting of the old headmaster's vampire kittens.
"Fetish," she whispered silkily. The wall slid upward, taking the vampire kittens portrait with it. Corvina ducked under it before it had finished sliding, and Snape followed her apprehensively.
He watched the short, dark red and black strands of her hair shimmer in the fading torchlight as they continued on down a pitch black passage. He grabbed Corvina's shoulder to make sure he didn't lose her. He had no idea why he was following her, but he knew he wouldn't have been able to refuse her. It was then that the faint sounds of rock music drifted past his ears, and he spoke for the first time.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked, his sexy voice slightly raspy from disuse.
"You'll see." Corvina grinned into the darkness as Snape's grip tightened on her shoulder. Several minutes passed before Snape noticed a dim light emanating from around the corner. Corvina steered him toward it, and he gradually let go of her arm.
As they turned the corner, Snape's mouth fell open in awe. Strobe lights roamed the room ahead, tilting crazily at all angles. Hundreds of people were crammed into the cavern, which appeared to have been tinted purple through some type of magic. Sweaty teens were dancing as close as possible, laughing and spilling their drinks. Snape blinked as a fourth year girl used her glass to dribble alcohol on the cleavage her halter exposed, which the boy next to her promptly licked off. There appeared to be a makeshift stage at one end of the place, and the lead singer was jumping around sporadically, pulling dancers from the crowd up onto the stage. The music was dark and heavy, and Snape could feel the atmosphere closing in on him as the smell of sweat and incense wafted past his nostrils.
Corvina's cold fingers entwined themselves in his and she pulled him further into the room. It was then that he realized all the gyrating dancers were members of Slytherin house. Corvina pulled him to the bar on the side, pushing him down on a barstool and seating herself beside him.
"What is this place!?" Snape shouted over the noise from the overhead speakers. "It's where we Slytherins come to unwind. I had more difficulty than you can imagine convincing *them* to let me bring you down here." She gestured to the rest of the Slytherins, who all appeared to be having the time of their lives. More questions lingered on the tip of Snape's tongue, but they didn't seem important now. Corvina was looking at him again, and he'd started to perspire furiously.
The goth looking bartender shoved two drinks their way, and Corvina leaned over him to pull them closer to her. Snape groaned inwardly as he realized that he was staring at her cleavage. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the smooth creamy skin below her neckline, and he gave up trying. He grabbed the alcohol from Corvina roughly and drank it in one gulp, wiping his mouth roughly on his sleeve. Corvina's lips curved slowly into a grin as she raised her own goblet to them, the black liquid flowing freely into her mouth.
"Mmm, Black Lace," she murmured, positioning her mouth right next to his ear. "It's so smooth," she added, brushing her lips on the side of his face as she did.
"Let's dance," Snape barked. Corvina looked surprised, and he noticed that some of her cool composure had gone. She had lost control of the situation. He sneered victoriously.
Closing his hand around her wrist, he moved her to the dance floor. The song that had just come on was harder than the one before it, and Snape gave himself over to it. Corvina watched in awe as he shed his robes, dropping them casually to the floor and continuing to move. In the dim light, she could make out his lithe form, the lines of his body flowing smoothly to the music as she watched. He thrust his pelvis forward suggestively, and she didn't need him to pull her closer. She pulled his sweater over his head, dropping it carelessly behind him. She was disappointed to learn that he did have on a shirt under it, a flimsy black wifebeater. She felt his muscles beneath it and took a deep breath, closing her eyes. It wasn't long before they began to move together, the very act hindered only by their clothes. They moved this way for what seemed like hours, song after song pulsating inside their bodies.
Corvina ran her hands up and down his back roughly, twirling his black hair around her finger absently as he held her. She looked up into his eyes and saw the same hungry desire that was reflected in her own. Yes it was time to go now. She moved closer, brushing his lips with hers tantalizingly, the promise of more hanging between them. And he knew too. He followed her obediently, this time not asking where they were going. He knew. Corvina broke into a run, licking her lips in hungry anticipation as she went. She pulled a small key from the end of her necklace chain and jammed it into the lock on a door at the end of the room behind the stage.
It was going to happen NOW. The thought gave her a wild urge to giggle, but she retained her composure somehow. She snatched at Snape's clothes, pulling him in front of her. She slammed him against the door and moved in close to him, parting her lips slightly, teasing him with her tongue. He moved forward, panting, but she was too fast. She opened the door and he stumbled backward into the room. She slammed it behind her and flicked on the dim red bulb overhead.
In the infrared glow, Snape could make out a bed draped in black satin and candles resting on all available surfaces around the room. He was still staring at the bed when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Corvina, a manic glow lighting her eyes again. Without a word, she shoved him down onto the bed. He lay stunned for several seconds, too turned on to object. She was a student, after all. All thoughts of her age went out of his head when she reached down her shirt. She extracted what appeared to be one long, black ribbon, but upon closer inspection was actually 4 long black ribbons.
Before Snape could say a word, his left arm was bound to the bedpost, followed by his right. He pulled hard, but the ribbons seemed to be unbreakable. Corvina was fastening his legs to the bed now, not bothering to remove his pants. What was going on? If she tied his legs, how did she expect to take off…..
Snape's thoughts trailed off into nothing when she pulled out the knife. Gently, she ran the blade over his chest, grinning in a crazed sort of way. She grasped the handle tightly, assuring herself that she would make no mistake. She moved the blade toward his pants, and his eyes grew comically wide in disbelief. She clipped the waistband, just above the zipper, then stopped. After a moment of listening to his shallow breathing in the dark, she lowered the knife again, making a slit down past his groin and partway down his leg. Without another word, she set the knife on the floor and quick as a flash had ripped his pants wide open. He moaned and shut his eyes, not knowing what to think. It was a matter of seconds before his pants were nothing, simple scraps of material lying on the floor.
She had no trouble ripping the black undershirt without the knife, and it soon joined his pants beside the bed. He was beginning to feel very vulnerable, but it did nothing to quell the fire in his nether-regions. She moved back, sitting on the edge of the bed, watching him.
"Please," he begged in a whisper. "Don't do this to me. Don't leave me like this." She knew she had to do something soon.
Corvina was starting to sweat. Fanning herself, she pulled off her sweater, revealing her lacy black bra. Laughing cruelly, she ran her long nails over Snape's bare chest, making his entire body prickle with desire. She slid down his body slowly until her mouth was even with his penis. Grinning, she took it into her mouth. He closed his eyes and gasped again, not daring to believe that it was real. He could feel her tongue, warm and hot, and he squirmed, giving in to the delicious sensations she was sending through his body. Corvina knew he was almost at his peak, and she closed her eyes, using her past experiences to guide her.
It was only a few minutes before it was over, Snape breathing hard as his eyes rolled back into his head as Corvina rose to stand.
"More," he urged hoarsely. "Give me more."
Corvina turned away, trying to hide the flicker of indecision crossing her face. This wasn't the plan. She had to go now. She had to win. She looked back at him, the outline of his smooth form flickering in the light. Impulsively, she strode back to his side and their lips finally met in a hot, smoldering kiss. Snape parted her lips hungrily, exploring her mouth. She felt his desire washing over her, and she almost gave in. She almost laid down next to him and took the bindings off, allowing him to discover her body with his hands.
At the last possible second, her pride caught hold of her, and she straightened abruptly. She knelt down to retrieve her sweater, then stalked out of the room, slamming the door as she went. Snape stared after her, willing the door to open again. He knew she'd come back. She had to. She couldn't leave him like this. Corvina shoved her way through the crowd of moshing dancers, trying to wipe the salty rivers off her face. Once she returned to her dormitory, she'd unbind his hands magically, and he'd figure out a way to get himself back to his rooms without being seen by anyone in the castle. Surely he had his wand.
By the time she'd reached the Great Hall, she was sobbing. She sank slowly into a chair at what was usually the Hufflepuff table, covering her eyes with her hands. Why did she care? It was just the stupid bet. She could have had Snape if she'd wanted him, and that was the end of the story. But she couldn't do it. She really did care. In some warped, twisted way, it mattered that she had hurt him. Basil had found her. He leapt into her lap, mewling pathetically in an unmistakable attempt to cheer her up. She snatched the cat and hugged her to him, crying quietly into his soft fur.
She forgot all about releasing Snape from his bondage, and it was hours before she returned to the common room. When she finally did, she was so exhausted she barely dared to change into her pajamas for fear she would simply fall over in a deep sleep. These plans were put on hold when she noticed the dark stain on her pillow. She moved closer and realized that there was no stain. Catching her breath, she separated the four black ribbons from the pile.