Your thinking of the way you should have held my hand.

The wind whipped through Severus Snape's hair as he raced at breakneck speed towards Hogsmeade. He was thankful for the games he played as a youth, leading the Slytherin team as seeker to 3 house cups. His mind was a tumult of thoughts. "She has gone looking for a man." When Minerva had uttered that, well it was like someone had kicked him in the face. A swirl of feelings ripped through his body, fury, possessiveness, regret, the burning need to protect her, and a million more he couldn't even begin to put into words. He needed to get control of himself right now. He could not find her and get her safely back to the grounds if he couldn't even think straight.

He set his broom down in the center of Hogsmeade, muttered a shrinking spell, a slipped it absentmindedly into his pocket. "If I was going 'looking for a man', where would I go?" he asked himself, resisting the urge to grin at how absurd it sounded. Across the street, a door opened and loud music blasted through the quiet night air. A drunken wizard stumbled out of the Three Broomsticks and weaved his way down the street. Severus strode quickly across the street and entered the establishment. He dispensed of all formalities and went searching for Rosemerta.

Rosemerta visibly brightened as her eyes settled on the tall man before her. She tossed her black wavy hair over her shoulder and eased up to him. "Severus, haven't seen you in quite a while. What brings you out this late, Sweet?"

He took her by the hand, slipping several gold coins into her palm. "Hogwart's business Rose. May I have a word in private?" Rosmerta glanced at her palm, and then back to Severus. Cocking on eyebrow, she slipped the coins into her very ample cleavage and led the way to a small room in the back.

As soon as the door closed behind him, her arms shot around the back of his neck and she pressed her body seductively to his. "This is indeed a surprise Severus, it's been many years."

"Ah, well then Rose, hold on now," Severus carefully removed her arms and backed her up a step or two. "This really is business." He drew his wand from his sleeve and carefully warded the room. "Has Hermione Granger been in here tonight?"

"Oh, Ok." The barmaid pushed a very pouty lower lip out for a moment, then met his eyes and smiled warmly. "Yeah, she was in here. Sirius was right. She really has changed. I almost didn't recognize her. She was…"

Severus interrupted her, "Black was here?"

"Curious, I've never seen any emotion in those eyes, wonder what it would take to…" She quickly stopped that train of thought, after all he had made it clear he wasn't interested, and she wasn't one to beg. "He was in here a few nights ago, going on and on about Dumbledore throwing him out and how Hermione had come onto him, poor misunderstood creature that he is. I didn't believe him for a minute. Anyway, Hermione asked me to call a carriage to take her to the apparation zone. Mentioned something about going in to the west end to a club called she heard about, "Inferno." Said she needed to get out and have some fun for a change. If that idiot Black's been messing with her, it's no wonder. Her carriage came and she left."

"Thanks Rose, you don't know how much help you've been tonight." He held up a few more coins, "Keep this between you and me?? Oh and a few more if you'll send an owl to Dumbledore, tell him what you just told me, and that I've gone in to London." He slipped the coins into her hand and gave her a chaste kiss on her forehead.

"Sure thing, Sweet. Use the back door, you'll get out quicker. Hope you find her, she was always a good kid, that one."

"Oh and Severus?" she called, "Just curious, how many times did you have to hit him to break his nose?" Severus climbed on his broom, turned to her and shouted "Once," and sped off.

She waved as he flew out of sight. "Looks to me like Severus Snape has finally lost his heart." She sighed sadly, slipped the coins in her blouse, and called out the window for her owl.

Through the night sky, the dark man flew, racing toward the south, dark eyes searching for the landmarks he knew marked the end of the apparation wards. The night Lucius Malfoy was killed the town had been invaded by Deatheaters. Some of them wreaked havoc on the town and it's residents while Malfoy and a few others had descended on the castle in search of Severus. Since then, the residents of Hogsmeade had placed their own apparation wards on the town in an attempt to avoid a future attack. He hit the ground near a large oak, dropped his broom near the base of the tree, and with a "pop" was gone.

He reappeared in a side alley in muggle London. Glancing down, he realized what he wore. "This is NOT the way to blend in." Pulling his wand, he transfigured his frock coat into a simple, black, open necked shirt. A pass over his black cloak and he was wearing a long black duster. The black boots and trousers he already wore suited him and he kept them. A final charm pulled his long black hair into a pony tail at the back of his head. Walking out onto the street, he assessed himself in a shop window. "That'll do."

He spotted what the muggles called Cashpoint machine nearby. Realizing his lack of muggle funds, he cast a blocking spell on the camera he knew was in the little black window. Wishing he had another choice, but finding no other way, he flashed the wand toward the computer screen. Instantly a deluge of bills filled the slot at the bottom of the machine. Severus Snape pocketed the pounds and walked away quickly. Whispering "Finite Incantatum" when he was out of camera range.

He was familiar with this area of London. In his final years as a spy, the Deatheaters had taken great enjoyment in visiting the club scene. With all of the alcohol and drugs that were prevalent in the after-dark nightlife it was quite simple to 'pick up' a muggle girl and apparate her away, never to be seen or heard from again. Usually a night of torture and rape ensued at Malfoy Manor. Severus steeled himself against the visions, which began to swim before him. He had long since come to terms with the sins he committed in the past. He had done penance for those acts performed willingly as a young Deatheater with those acts performed as a spy.

He made his way several blocks up to an old Warehouse. The tall building had been remodeled and now bore a garish neon light that flashed "Inferno" in bright red letters. Outside, there was a line of people, which traveled around the corner of the building. Every time a group of people left, the doorman would let the same amount of people enter. Severus did not have the time to wait in line. He cast an invisibility charm and slipped through the door the next time it opened. Inside, it was so dim and crowded that no one noticed the tall, dark man who appeared out of nowhere.

And all the times you'd say you didn't understand

Severus Snape viewed the scene before him with a disdainful sneer. The driving beat of a muggle song called "Battleflag" pounded through the air. He made his way to one of the many bars and ordered a drink. Leaving a few bills on the counter, he moved off into the room. You could feel the lust in the room. He was not oblivious to the long looks that he was getting from many of the women, and a few of the men. He just wasn't remotely interested. He wound his way through the crowd, his height a definite advantage to his search.

He found his way to an upper level of the club, where he could survey the whole dance floor at once. Scantily clad women gyrated on the floor, drooling men vying for their attention. "They may be muggles, but women such as these were not without powers. More than one king had been brought to his knees by a beautiful woman." If Hermione Granger wanted an education in seduction and power, this was the place to obtain it.

His eyes scanned the crown, passing over woman after woman, searching only for honey brown curls and cinnamon eyes. His breath caught in his throat as he found her in the crowd. Grasping the railing to keep from collapsing, he took in the sight of her. Eyes closed, she danced in the throng of people, oblivious to the wolves who were stalking her. Her wild hair was piled on top of her head. Here and there curly tendrils brushed her bare shoulders. She had transfigured her clothing into an extremely short, black vinyl halter dress. He marveled at how she was able to dance with such wild abandon and not spill out over the top of it.

He continued taking in the sight of her, his dilated pupils moving down her body. A small waist widened into delectable hips, which ground and gyrated in beat to the music. Thigh high vinyl boots, laced up the side, encased legs that seemed to go on for an eternity. He closed his eyes briefly, imagining the feel of black vinyl wrapping itself around his bare back, hands full of curling hair, cinnamon eyes looking deeply into his soul…

Severus Snape jerked himself back to reality.

You never had our love written in your plans

He made his way downstairs and to the dance floor. At some point the music had changed into another driving beat, the singer begging someone to 'pour some sugar on me.' He located Hermione. A strange man made his way behind her and pressed his body against hers. She didn't even open her eyes, just continued on and ground herself against him.

Suddenly she felt him. Through the hundreds of people that surrounded her, she felt him. Her eyes snapped open and locked with his. He continued moving through the crowd, his eyes never leaving hers. As he approached her, the music changed yet again, the beat slowing down. The crowd thinned out. The man behind her made to turn her around, but when he noticed imposing dark figure that was approaching, he thought better of it and disappeared into the crowd.

He neared her, so close he could feel the heat coming off of her and see the trickle of moisture that was trickling from her collarbone and traveling down between her…

But now I'm in demand

Her arms came around his neck. Without even realizing he had pulled her close to him, pressing her body to his and moving slowly in time to the music. Her fingers twirled through his hair, pulling it free to fall around and frame his face. His hands roamed over her bare back, pulling her closer, pressing her intimately against him.

His eyes never left hers. Realization crossed her face as she felt the evidence of the power she had over him, then excitement, then …fear.

She pulled back quickly. He released her body and led her by the hand like a child, across the floor, out of club, and into the alley. She didn't say a word, just followed behind him, not sure what to do. He turned her to him and looked down at her confused face. He removed the charms from his clothing and wrapped his cloak around her. Gathering her closely in his arms, they disappeared with a familiar "pop" only to reappear beneath a large oak tree.

They spoke not a word. He retrieved his broom from the base of the tree, mounted it and pulled her sideways into his lap, still wrapped in his cloak.

He took to the sky and began a slow trip back to the castle. He held her closely to him, but was careful to keep himself in check. He had seen the fear in her eyes, but did not take it personally. Anger surged through his veins as he recalled again who had put the fear there. "If he appeared before me now, not even a full body bind would save him."

She relaxed and settled against him. He tightened his arms around her waist, one hand coming up to absently stroke the hair that was blowing in the wind.

He noticed when she began to shake and realized she was crying. The tears that she had denied herself for weeks poured out. She grasped the front of his frock coat and rested her cheek against his chest. She made not a sound. He uttered not one word. Just continued to hold her to him, stroking her hair, winding his way slowly under the stars. Just when the tears stopped, he didn't know, he just knew that they had. As the castle came into view in the distance, he allowed himself the luxury of resting his cheek against her hair, breathing in the scent of her. He felt her smile into his chest, and snuggle in closer. Her arms came up and around his neck.

He touched down softly. Leaving the broom on the lawn, he swept her up in his arms and approached the front of the castle. Before he could utter a spell, the front door opened and Albus asked softly, "Is she alright?"

Severus nodded slightly and moved quickly down the steps to the dungeon. He strode through the potions classroom, his office, and into his private quarters. A whispered word and the door was shut and sealed, insuring their privacy. He carefully set her down on the sofa, keeping the cloak tucked tightly around her. He quickly moved to the fireplace and lit a fire. In a flash, he was back before her, kneeling on the floor, looking deeply into her eyes.

"I believe we have some talking to do."