1 Something's Different About Him

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for Patricia Quirrell (Eston), who is not me, but believe me, if I could be her, I would. I own no Severus, I own no Quirrell (I made up his first name though), I own no Dumbledore, McGonagall, talking mirror, Potter, Weasley, or Granger. Hogwarts is not mine; Hagrid is not mine. I think that's about it, but if I'm missing anything, let me know.

AN: I have completely screwed things up in the first book . well, not completely. Not as completely as when I first wrote this. I've added a character, which I know is cliché, but I couldn't not! This story was too good to pass up! Read and enjoy! *walks away trying to find a copy of Dogma* Oh, and I can't make it go italicy, so the words inside astriks (*blah*) are italics.



2 The Return

"Well Pat," he breathed into her ear. "I guess this is our last night."

"Yes," she sighed. "It is." She rolled over and looked into his endless black eyes. She reached up and tucked a strand of sweaty black hair behind his ear.

"You do know that he knows about you, right Severus?" she asked.

"I think you mentioned it a few times," he replied, kissing her hand without breaking their gaze.

"Well if this is our last night, then we'd better make use of it," she whispered. He turned her onto her back and began the enjoyable business of making her ready for him once again .

* * *

*Thank goodness that today there are no meetings* Patricia Quirrell thought as she ran up to her own rooms from the rooms of Severus Snape. *I have to do so much in so little time! Plan lessons, have a swim . meet Jason . * Her heart skipped a beat as she thought about her husband, Jason Quirrell, who would be returning from . well, wherever he had been last. He had left Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry a year ago last July to get some "field experience" as Reubeus Hagrid put it. He was returning to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts this year. Pat had been in constant contact with him, but a daily owl just wasn't the same as having a living, breathing human being to share her bed with. *Enter Severus* she thought wryly. Through a paperwork mix-up, Patricia had been the Co-Head of Slytherin House the last year. Everything was hopefully back to the way it should be this year, but the ten months of shared responsibilities had forced Patricia and Severus Snape to become close friends. Too close, in fact, for their relationship to remain platonic. It had been an extreme shock when Patricia had realized that she loved both Jason Quirrell *and* Severus Snape. She had told Jason, of course, and had been very surprised when she had gotten his owl the next day with a confession that he had 'screwed up' as well. He told her that as long as she didn't leave him, she could continue to 'see' Severus.

That first night they made love to each other had been incredible for both of them; they had both had a very stressful day, mostly because the Weasley twins had been in an . interesting mood. Severus had invited her to his rooms for a cup of brandy before bed, and she had accepted. They had sat and talked for a good two hours, Patricia finally learning about the man behind the sarcastic, cold, bitter mask he presented to the world. Learning about him and falling in love with him. She realized he felt the same way when he put his half empty glass of brandy down on the table and looked into her eyes. She realized he knew she loved him when he pulled her to him and caught her mouth in a loving, passionate kiss. The rest of the night went on from there.

It had been Patricia who had decided that the night before Jason returned would be the last night Severus would have her. Severus had argued, of course. He said Jason had given his permission, so why end such a good arrangement? Patricia had been firm though. She loved Severus, but Jason was her husband; the man she had given up her freedom for. She wasn't going to sleep in the arms of another man while Jason was with her. *Even if those arms are incredibly strong and- Stop it!*

Patricia decided against planning her lessons - she could do it tomorrow. When she returned to her rooms from her swim in the lake, she pulled on the deep purple robes that Jason had always said looked best on her, and sat down in front of the mirror.

"He's back today, isn't he dearie?" the mirror asked.

"Yes," Patricia replied shyly. She began to brush her hair, and as she did, her eyes fell on the clock beside her bed. She saw that she had either stayed in Severus' bed longer than usual, or had swam longer than she usually did. She had only half an hour before Jason arrived, and knowing him, he'd be three-quarters of an hour early. Just to piss her off.

"Do I look all right?" She asked the mirror. It wasn't the mirror who replied though.

"You look just fine, dear. He's going to fall in love with you all over again."

"Thank you Minerva," she said to the Transfiguration teacher. "For everything."

"Not a problem. Now, go on, or he'll have to wait." Minerva McGonagall smiled tolerantly as she watched the young Ancient Runes teacher grin like an eighteen year old and run down the corridor towards the front doors to meet Jason at the edge of Hogwarts grounds.