Notes: All characters are property of J.K.Rowlings, this writing is for my
own enjoyment, and hopefully yours. All Chapter titles and quotes are
taken from "Passionate Love Letters" by Michelle Lovric. Adhara Black Byne
is mine. ;)
Relationships: Snape/OFC, Ron/ Hermoine, Sirius/OFC
*Warning: This chapter contains sexual content between two consenting adults. If this bothers you, please don't read on.
Chapter 10: Poetic
"I told you truth when I said to me you turn'd Poetry to Prose, that is to reality." William Pitt
Later that night they argued slightly, but in the end, she let him go. To his disappointment, his meeting with Lucius had been brief and uninformative. Besides being invited to the next Death Eater's meeting and to Narcissa's birthday party next month, he learned nothing. Excusing himself politely, he mumbled curses all the way back through the floo network which only left his mouth full of soot.
He washed his face, and did a thorough tooth brushing before he returned to his office and the Wolfsbane potion he had started earlier. The aroma of this bubbling grayish liquid would make most people's stomachs turn, but to Severus the acrid smell of poisonous chemicals intoxicated his senses with dark delight. As good as Adhara had been for his soul, she had not stripped him of his enjoyment for creating dangerous potions. Dipping in a silver ladle, he skimmed a clear oily substance from the top of the thick brew, and deposited it in a glass jar. This was pure Aconitine; a substance that could inhibit respiration or in large amounts lead to heart failure. As much as he disliked Lupin, he wouldn't think about killing the bloody git. The man was pathetic enough without Snape putting him into cardiac arrest.
Laying down the ladle and picking up the jar, he studied the seemingly innocent liquid. "Mmmm… This might prove to be interesting later." He'd never really tested the poisonous nectar of the Wolfsbane herb, perhaps after dark he would take it to the garden and try it out on a few plants or spiders. A knock sounded at the door just as he was pouring the poison into a small vile. He quickly placed the vile in his robes, and then lifting his wand, commanded the door to open.
"Hello, Severus." There stood Remus Lupin in his shabby gray robes and worn suit. His hair was a little overgrown and he had longish sideburns which coupled with his pale silver eyes gave him a wolfish appearance.
"Professor Lupin, please come in and sit down." Gesturing to the chair beside his desk, he turned back to the potion and picked up a clean ladle.
He sat and with a tired voice answered, "Thank you so much for going to the trouble of making this. You know how terrible I am with potions."
Turning back to ladle the potion into a pewter goblet, Severus chided, "Will you please stop thanking me, Remus. I do this every month…Besides, you're forcing me to be gracious, and I'm not very good at it."
"Yes, right then." Remus fumbled with the hem of his robe as Severus, prepared the concoction.
"Your Wolfsbane. Drink it all."
Inhaling the noxious flumes, "Mmmm it smells so delicious," he said sarcastically taking the steaming cup into his hands. Knotting his brow, Lupin drank the potion down to the last drop. "Good God that's horrible!" He quickly wiped his mouth on his sleeve adding, "Must be right then."
Lupin placed the goblet on his desk, "Good night, Severus." He began to walk from the room when Severus decided to speak, fighting his initial instinct to let the poor man go in peace.
"You know, Lupin, I've never mentioned this before," he leaned against the desk studying the man's graying hair and tired face, "but I can give you something for the pain." He'd never really given any concern to the pain involved with lycanthropy, but Adhara had recently made him think about the physical suffering that occurred during his transformation; and the quirky human act of forgiveness. Perhaps this could be a step to his own forgiveness. Surely Remus wouldn't be too proud to take what he had to offer.
Remus's pale eyes flickered up at him as he defiantly answered, "No."
"I can assure you there would be no interference with effects of Wolfsbane and what I could give you for pain." Not wanting to sound too concerned he added, "And it might even keep you from looking so damn terrible afterward."
"You don't understand Severus," keeping his hand on the door to make sure it was shut, "I can't… don't take pain killers. I have before and…" He looked away searching for the right words.
Severus raised his hand, suddenly aware of the awkward situation he was putting Lupin in and added briskly, " You needn't explain. Goodnight then."
Remus turned the knob, and then looked back with a puzzled expression, "I appreciate you concern Severus, goodnight."
Well that was disastrous! Obviously Lupin had been addicted to some kind of sedative before and here he was offering him pain killers. "Bloody brilliant, Snape," Severus chided himself. Waiting five minutes, he rushed out of his rooms, and up to his lover who was awaiting his return in Gryffindor Tower.
***
In anther room of the tower, a different meeting was taking place. It had been nearly a month since Sirius had seen Kristen; held her firm, womanly body in his arms and worshiped her golden skin. Thirty one days since he had lost himself in the nirvana that was their love making. Her every touch was a healing nectar to his soul, and he delighted in gorging himself on her honey wine. Their first time together had been life saving, a truly humbling and healing event, but now their coupling took many forms. Tonight it began playful.
"Darling, there are worse things than traveling by floo powder." Nuzzling her ear, his breath hot and hungry.
"Name one mode of transportation that's worse!" She teased.
"Enchanted Honda?"
Rolling her large, brown eyes, "Please name something that isn't magically enchanted, Sirius. And no I still haven't forgiven you for wreaking my car."
"It was a mere dent, my love. And how was I to know that an enchanted Japanese car would only run on Sushi?"
"Oh, Sirius," Kristen dropped her head in her hands. "That was so embarrassing!"
"How did I ever get entangled with a witch who's so...so mundane!"
"What was that?!" Picking up her pillow and smiling, "Me, mundane?" She lunged towards him with fevered voracity, "If you want an arse beating, then you'll get an arse beating!"
With several thumps, she beat his butt with her feather pillow, while he struggled playfully to free himself.
"Stop you mundane wench! Mercy!" He cried, laughing hard all the while. Then turning over, he pulled her down on top of him with planned attack. She fought him momentarily, but his fingers were wound tightly around her wrists, "You silly American girl, struggle all you want, but I am yours." Then kissing each of her breasts beneath her t-shirt, "Totally and completely yours."
"Oh, Sirius! They've missed you as well!" She laughed full hearted with him, as he released her and they fell together into the bed.
"Hey, what's this?" He fingered the small hourglass around her neck.
Her brown eyes looked up at his with anticipation, "A time turner. Grandfather gave it to me."
"What? Dumbledore just gave you a time turner. I know that you weren't raised in the wizarding world, but they don't just hand these out, Kristen. The ministry keeps a very close eye on these little buggers." Sirius scolded.
"Stop lecturing me like I'm one of your students! And please get back to what you were doing before, Professor Black!" Nuzzling his cheek, she took the precious time piece from around her slender neck and let it fall to the floor along with her t-shirt.
After they had spent themselves for several hours, Kristen cuddled into the crook of his arm, and asked, "How are Remus and Adhara? You've barley mentioned them."
"They're fine," he answered with complacent tones.
"Sirius, you're not telling me everything?"
He was silent for a moment. "I'm just so damn happy, and they're happy for my happiness, but somehow it seems unfair. I'm the one with you, with all the happiness that love brings, and they're both…alone."
"But they're happy for you?"
"Yes, I said that."
"Have either one of them complained about being lonely?"
"Well," he thought for a moment, "No. Adhara, I think she's still hanging on to Matthew. And you know Remus, probably still pining away after Mara, but too damn proud to admit it."
Kristen propped herself up on one elbow, her short blond hair skimming his shoulder, "Did you know you're the sweetest man ever?" Kissing him tenderly, "You love them both, and so do I. And when they are ready they'll find love again, and we'll have to be happy for them."
Sirius pulled her head to his chest, "Yes I suppose we will."
***
Finally the evening of the dance arrived. Adhara and Kristen had spent the day dress shopping in London after Adhara had reluctantly forced Kristen to travel by the dreaded floo powder. The school bells tolled eight o'clock and Sirius stood open mouthed watching his fiancé descend the stairs in a new, pale blue chiffon gown. Silver dew drops of enchanted shimmer dusted her arms, neck and cheek bones. Her hair was bound in a princess-like tiara drawing attention to her coffee-colored eyes. Upon seeing his reaction, Kristen knew she had made the right decision to travel earlier, even if she had insisted on holding Adhara's hand.
"My love, you look amazing," he kissed her hand and they walked arm and arm into the great hall. He never felt so proud.
From every direction upperclassmen and their dates dressed in velvet and silks flooded in beneath the great stone pillars and oscillating candlelight of the hall. Little, winged cherubs flitted across the starry ceiling shooting arrows that exploded into flares of magical hearts. Where the teacher table usually stood, there was a stage and the Weird Sisters were already swooning to their rhythmical and haunting music as they played away on enchanted fiddles, harps, bagpipes, flutes and bodhrans.
Sirius and Kristen took a seat with Professor McGonagall and the headmaster. As they were commenting upon the students who had already taken to the dance floor, Adhara and Remus entered.
"Remus, I didn't think you'd come!" Kristen stood and gave the tired looking professor a hug. Simultaneously noticing that he was wearing the new navy suit and robes that she and Adhara had picked up for him earlier at Diagon Alley.
"And what's this, new robes?" Sirius was experiencing his second shock for the evening.
Remus laughed, his pink lips turning up, "Yes, I think the girls were giving me a hint, but you really shouldn't have."
"Consider it your birthday present, if I remember correctly, it's only a few months away," Adhara smiled and stroked his arm.
"And look at you, Adhara! I don't think I've ever seen you wear red before; it's beautiful." Sirius stood and pulled out a chair for her. The tightly corseted gown accentuated her lily white curves, and thin graceful neck. Yards of red silk bustled behind her and Adhara wore the romantic gown as if she were born in a more noble era.
"That's scarlet, darling," Kristen corrected her mate, "and it's so your color! It makes your skin look like porcelain."
In a few minutes Ron and Hermoine stopped by to pay their respects. Then Harry and his date, Lavender Brown stopped by to say hi. As soon as Sirius could get Harry aside, he whispered in his ear, "Lavender Brown? I thought you were interested in Ginny Weasley!"
"I don't know. I really hadn't given it much thought until you mentioned it; you know quidditch and all. After I thought about it for awhile, I decided it was a good idea. Ginny's really seemed different lately, but when I asked her, she informed my she was dating Seamus Finnagan. Can you believe that, he knew my plan and got to it before me; in my own bloody house!"
"Harry," Sirius tisked, "you sound a little jealous."
He wrinkled his eyebrow, "It's just that Ron is bleeding up to his eyeballs in Hermoine, and I'm stuck listening to Lavender drone on and on about Madam Trelawny and the great powers of divination."
Sirius laughed and gave the boy a thump on the back, "Better luck next time old man."
Then turning back to the table he noticed everyone's eyes were on the dance floor, and there was a low mumbling of voices rolling across the hall.
Kristen's brown eyes turned up at him, "You know your sister and that Professor Snape make quite a match."
"What?!" His eyes fell on the striking couple, and he was dumbstruck! There was his sister in her silken, scarlet gown held tightly in the arms of Severus Snape. His black robes swirled around them as they waltzed to the modal strains of a flute and fiddle entwined in passionate duet.
"You know," Dumbledore began, "I don't think I've ever seen Severus at a Valentine's dance before."
"And isn't he such a graceful dancer," McGonagall said blushing.
"Bloody hell! Is this a joke?" Sirius stood up quickly, his chair nearly falling back as he pushed it aside.
Remus grabbed his arm, "Padfoot, it's just a dance."
"Just a dance," he mocked, blue eyes flashing with anger, "this is a message, and you know it. I don't know what he's done to her this time, but I swear to the gods I will kill him!"
***
"I think we've been noticed."
"Is that because everyone else has stopped dancing or because the entire hall is whispering vehemently about us," Severus smirked, enjoying the attention.
"Actually, I was talking about my brother, here he comes."
Gripping her hand tighter in his long slender fingers. "Keep dancing," he commanded and she nodded in response.
From the corner of her eye she saw Remus jerk Sirius back as soon as he reached the dance floor. They were arguing and then with a malicious stare on his face, Sirius crossed his arms and waited. Whatever Lupin had said, it must have deterred him from storming across the floor and embarrassing them all in front of the entire school. When the final chord was played, Adhara deeply curtsied and Severus bowed, kissing her hand and then lead her from the floor. Students and faculty alike were still watching them, but now a few couples were returning to the floor.
Her hand trembled upon his arm and he stroked her fingers with protective reassurance. "Perhaps this isn't the best time to ask, but when I speak to Sirius what should I say?"
Her blue sapphire eyes looked upon him questioning.
"Should I say, Adhara, that we are lovers or that we are friends." He paused, and his black eyes studied her with precise detail, his smooth voice beginning to shake, "Should I tell him that I'm in love with you or should I just ask his permission to hand fast with you instead."
A tear dropped from beneath her thick lashes and rolled across her blushing cheek, "But Severus, you haven't asked me yet."
Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a silver ring imbedded with a blue star sapphire, framed by tiny diamonds. "A star, for my star, Adhara." He said gently placing the ring on her trembling finger, "Will you…marry me?"
Adhara lifted her ringed hand to her face, as she began to cry.
Sirius gave up his petrified stance and began stalking hurriedly across the dance floor, Remus upon his robe tails. His voice seething, "Damn it, Remus, she's crying! I should have taken care of that bloody git before now."
When he was only five feet away he heard the soft words falling from her lips. Poetry in motion for Severus; shrapnel shredding the heart for Sirius, "Yes, Severus, I will marry you."
Relationships: Snape/OFC, Ron/ Hermoine, Sirius/OFC
*Warning: This chapter contains sexual content between two consenting adults. If this bothers you, please don't read on.
Chapter 10: Poetic
"I told you truth when I said to me you turn'd Poetry to Prose, that is to reality." William Pitt
Later that night they argued slightly, but in the end, she let him go. To his disappointment, his meeting with Lucius had been brief and uninformative. Besides being invited to the next Death Eater's meeting and to Narcissa's birthday party next month, he learned nothing. Excusing himself politely, he mumbled curses all the way back through the floo network which only left his mouth full of soot.
He washed his face, and did a thorough tooth brushing before he returned to his office and the Wolfsbane potion he had started earlier. The aroma of this bubbling grayish liquid would make most people's stomachs turn, but to Severus the acrid smell of poisonous chemicals intoxicated his senses with dark delight. As good as Adhara had been for his soul, she had not stripped him of his enjoyment for creating dangerous potions. Dipping in a silver ladle, he skimmed a clear oily substance from the top of the thick brew, and deposited it in a glass jar. This was pure Aconitine; a substance that could inhibit respiration or in large amounts lead to heart failure. As much as he disliked Lupin, he wouldn't think about killing the bloody git. The man was pathetic enough without Snape putting him into cardiac arrest.
Laying down the ladle and picking up the jar, he studied the seemingly innocent liquid. "Mmmm… This might prove to be interesting later." He'd never really tested the poisonous nectar of the Wolfsbane herb, perhaps after dark he would take it to the garden and try it out on a few plants or spiders. A knock sounded at the door just as he was pouring the poison into a small vile. He quickly placed the vile in his robes, and then lifting his wand, commanded the door to open.
"Hello, Severus." There stood Remus Lupin in his shabby gray robes and worn suit. His hair was a little overgrown and he had longish sideburns which coupled with his pale silver eyes gave him a wolfish appearance.
"Professor Lupin, please come in and sit down." Gesturing to the chair beside his desk, he turned back to the potion and picked up a clean ladle.
He sat and with a tired voice answered, "Thank you so much for going to the trouble of making this. You know how terrible I am with potions."
Turning back to ladle the potion into a pewter goblet, Severus chided, "Will you please stop thanking me, Remus. I do this every month…Besides, you're forcing me to be gracious, and I'm not very good at it."
"Yes, right then." Remus fumbled with the hem of his robe as Severus, prepared the concoction.
"Your Wolfsbane. Drink it all."
Inhaling the noxious flumes, "Mmmm it smells so delicious," he said sarcastically taking the steaming cup into his hands. Knotting his brow, Lupin drank the potion down to the last drop. "Good God that's horrible!" He quickly wiped his mouth on his sleeve adding, "Must be right then."
Lupin placed the goblet on his desk, "Good night, Severus." He began to walk from the room when Severus decided to speak, fighting his initial instinct to let the poor man go in peace.
"You know, Lupin, I've never mentioned this before," he leaned against the desk studying the man's graying hair and tired face, "but I can give you something for the pain." He'd never really given any concern to the pain involved with lycanthropy, but Adhara had recently made him think about the physical suffering that occurred during his transformation; and the quirky human act of forgiveness. Perhaps this could be a step to his own forgiveness. Surely Remus wouldn't be too proud to take what he had to offer.
Remus's pale eyes flickered up at him as he defiantly answered, "No."
"I can assure you there would be no interference with effects of Wolfsbane and what I could give you for pain." Not wanting to sound too concerned he added, "And it might even keep you from looking so damn terrible afterward."
"You don't understand Severus," keeping his hand on the door to make sure it was shut, "I can't… don't take pain killers. I have before and…" He looked away searching for the right words.
Severus raised his hand, suddenly aware of the awkward situation he was putting Lupin in and added briskly, " You needn't explain. Goodnight then."
Remus turned the knob, and then looked back with a puzzled expression, "I appreciate you concern Severus, goodnight."
Well that was disastrous! Obviously Lupin had been addicted to some kind of sedative before and here he was offering him pain killers. "Bloody brilliant, Snape," Severus chided himself. Waiting five minutes, he rushed out of his rooms, and up to his lover who was awaiting his return in Gryffindor Tower.
***
In anther room of the tower, a different meeting was taking place. It had been nearly a month since Sirius had seen Kristen; held her firm, womanly body in his arms and worshiped her golden skin. Thirty one days since he had lost himself in the nirvana that was their love making. Her every touch was a healing nectar to his soul, and he delighted in gorging himself on her honey wine. Their first time together had been life saving, a truly humbling and healing event, but now their coupling took many forms. Tonight it began playful.
"Darling, there are worse things than traveling by floo powder." Nuzzling her ear, his breath hot and hungry.
"Name one mode of transportation that's worse!" She teased.
"Enchanted Honda?"
Rolling her large, brown eyes, "Please name something that isn't magically enchanted, Sirius. And no I still haven't forgiven you for wreaking my car."
"It was a mere dent, my love. And how was I to know that an enchanted Japanese car would only run on Sushi?"
"Oh, Sirius," Kristen dropped her head in her hands. "That was so embarrassing!"
"How did I ever get entangled with a witch who's so...so mundane!"
"What was that?!" Picking up her pillow and smiling, "Me, mundane?" She lunged towards him with fevered voracity, "If you want an arse beating, then you'll get an arse beating!"
With several thumps, she beat his butt with her feather pillow, while he struggled playfully to free himself.
"Stop you mundane wench! Mercy!" He cried, laughing hard all the while. Then turning over, he pulled her down on top of him with planned attack. She fought him momentarily, but his fingers were wound tightly around her wrists, "You silly American girl, struggle all you want, but I am yours." Then kissing each of her breasts beneath her t-shirt, "Totally and completely yours."
"Oh, Sirius! They've missed you as well!" She laughed full hearted with him, as he released her and they fell together into the bed.
"Hey, what's this?" He fingered the small hourglass around her neck.
Her brown eyes looked up at his with anticipation, "A time turner. Grandfather gave it to me."
"What? Dumbledore just gave you a time turner. I know that you weren't raised in the wizarding world, but they don't just hand these out, Kristen. The ministry keeps a very close eye on these little buggers." Sirius scolded.
"Stop lecturing me like I'm one of your students! And please get back to what you were doing before, Professor Black!" Nuzzling his cheek, she took the precious time piece from around her slender neck and let it fall to the floor along with her t-shirt.
After they had spent themselves for several hours, Kristen cuddled into the crook of his arm, and asked, "How are Remus and Adhara? You've barley mentioned them."
"They're fine," he answered with complacent tones.
"Sirius, you're not telling me everything?"
He was silent for a moment. "I'm just so damn happy, and they're happy for my happiness, but somehow it seems unfair. I'm the one with you, with all the happiness that love brings, and they're both…alone."
"But they're happy for you?"
"Yes, I said that."
"Have either one of them complained about being lonely?"
"Well," he thought for a moment, "No. Adhara, I think she's still hanging on to Matthew. And you know Remus, probably still pining away after Mara, but too damn proud to admit it."
Kristen propped herself up on one elbow, her short blond hair skimming his shoulder, "Did you know you're the sweetest man ever?" Kissing him tenderly, "You love them both, and so do I. And when they are ready they'll find love again, and we'll have to be happy for them."
Sirius pulled her head to his chest, "Yes I suppose we will."
***
Finally the evening of the dance arrived. Adhara and Kristen had spent the day dress shopping in London after Adhara had reluctantly forced Kristen to travel by the dreaded floo powder. The school bells tolled eight o'clock and Sirius stood open mouthed watching his fiancé descend the stairs in a new, pale blue chiffon gown. Silver dew drops of enchanted shimmer dusted her arms, neck and cheek bones. Her hair was bound in a princess-like tiara drawing attention to her coffee-colored eyes. Upon seeing his reaction, Kristen knew she had made the right decision to travel earlier, even if she had insisted on holding Adhara's hand.
"My love, you look amazing," he kissed her hand and they walked arm and arm into the great hall. He never felt so proud.
From every direction upperclassmen and their dates dressed in velvet and silks flooded in beneath the great stone pillars and oscillating candlelight of the hall. Little, winged cherubs flitted across the starry ceiling shooting arrows that exploded into flares of magical hearts. Where the teacher table usually stood, there was a stage and the Weird Sisters were already swooning to their rhythmical and haunting music as they played away on enchanted fiddles, harps, bagpipes, flutes and bodhrans.
Sirius and Kristen took a seat with Professor McGonagall and the headmaster. As they were commenting upon the students who had already taken to the dance floor, Adhara and Remus entered.
"Remus, I didn't think you'd come!" Kristen stood and gave the tired looking professor a hug. Simultaneously noticing that he was wearing the new navy suit and robes that she and Adhara had picked up for him earlier at Diagon Alley.
"And what's this, new robes?" Sirius was experiencing his second shock for the evening.
Remus laughed, his pink lips turning up, "Yes, I think the girls were giving me a hint, but you really shouldn't have."
"Consider it your birthday present, if I remember correctly, it's only a few months away," Adhara smiled and stroked his arm.
"And look at you, Adhara! I don't think I've ever seen you wear red before; it's beautiful." Sirius stood and pulled out a chair for her. The tightly corseted gown accentuated her lily white curves, and thin graceful neck. Yards of red silk bustled behind her and Adhara wore the romantic gown as if she were born in a more noble era.
"That's scarlet, darling," Kristen corrected her mate, "and it's so your color! It makes your skin look like porcelain."
In a few minutes Ron and Hermoine stopped by to pay their respects. Then Harry and his date, Lavender Brown stopped by to say hi. As soon as Sirius could get Harry aside, he whispered in his ear, "Lavender Brown? I thought you were interested in Ginny Weasley!"
"I don't know. I really hadn't given it much thought until you mentioned it; you know quidditch and all. After I thought about it for awhile, I decided it was a good idea. Ginny's really seemed different lately, but when I asked her, she informed my she was dating Seamus Finnagan. Can you believe that, he knew my plan and got to it before me; in my own bloody house!"
"Harry," Sirius tisked, "you sound a little jealous."
He wrinkled his eyebrow, "It's just that Ron is bleeding up to his eyeballs in Hermoine, and I'm stuck listening to Lavender drone on and on about Madam Trelawny and the great powers of divination."
Sirius laughed and gave the boy a thump on the back, "Better luck next time old man."
Then turning back to the table he noticed everyone's eyes were on the dance floor, and there was a low mumbling of voices rolling across the hall.
Kristen's brown eyes turned up at him, "You know your sister and that Professor Snape make quite a match."
"What?!" His eyes fell on the striking couple, and he was dumbstruck! There was his sister in her silken, scarlet gown held tightly in the arms of Severus Snape. His black robes swirled around them as they waltzed to the modal strains of a flute and fiddle entwined in passionate duet.
"You know," Dumbledore began, "I don't think I've ever seen Severus at a Valentine's dance before."
"And isn't he such a graceful dancer," McGonagall said blushing.
"Bloody hell! Is this a joke?" Sirius stood up quickly, his chair nearly falling back as he pushed it aside.
Remus grabbed his arm, "Padfoot, it's just a dance."
"Just a dance," he mocked, blue eyes flashing with anger, "this is a message, and you know it. I don't know what he's done to her this time, but I swear to the gods I will kill him!"
***
"I think we've been noticed."
"Is that because everyone else has stopped dancing or because the entire hall is whispering vehemently about us," Severus smirked, enjoying the attention.
"Actually, I was talking about my brother, here he comes."
Gripping her hand tighter in his long slender fingers. "Keep dancing," he commanded and she nodded in response.
From the corner of her eye she saw Remus jerk Sirius back as soon as he reached the dance floor. They were arguing and then with a malicious stare on his face, Sirius crossed his arms and waited. Whatever Lupin had said, it must have deterred him from storming across the floor and embarrassing them all in front of the entire school. When the final chord was played, Adhara deeply curtsied and Severus bowed, kissing her hand and then lead her from the floor. Students and faculty alike were still watching them, but now a few couples were returning to the floor.
Her hand trembled upon his arm and he stroked her fingers with protective reassurance. "Perhaps this isn't the best time to ask, but when I speak to Sirius what should I say?"
Her blue sapphire eyes looked upon him questioning.
"Should I say, Adhara, that we are lovers or that we are friends." He paused, and his black eyes studied her with precise detail, his smooth voice beginning to shake, "Should I tell him that I'm in love with you or should I just ask his permission to hand fast with you instead."
A tear dropped from beneath her thick lashes and rolled across her blushing cheek, "But Severus, you haven't asked me yet."
Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a silver ring imbedded with a blue star sapphire, framed by tiny diamonds. "A star, for my star, Adhara." He said gently placing the ring on her trembling finger, "Will you…marry me?"
Adhara lifted her ringed hand to her face, as she began to cry.
Sirius gave up his petrified stance and began stalking hurriedly across the dance floor, Remus upon his robe tails. His voice seething, "Damn it, Remus, she's crying! I should have taken care of that bloody git before now."
When he was only five feet away he heard the soft words falling from her lips. Poetry in motion for Severus; shrapnel shredding the heart for Sirius, "Yes, Severus, I will marry you."