Chapter 40

The Gift

After a pretty arduous day, Severus felt ready for a long relaxing rest in his favourite armchair and a good book to read. The class had been nothing short of a nightmare. Somebody had let off a screech bomb. Not only did it nearly deafen the potions master's ears but probably the who schools too.

Dumbledore moved with startling grace and agility for a man of his great age. "Severus!" He called out regretting that he had raised his voice. And felt the dull throb in his ear. "May I have a word with you privately?" He pressed his palm against his right auricle.

The potions master grimaced painfully. It felt as if somebody has ruptured his eardrums with a sharp pointy metallic instrument.. "What is it Headmaster?"

"The Ministry Of Magic has sentenced Lorsekruker. Can we go to your quarters. It is closer here to yours than mine."

"Very well." Silently the two men strode off towards the potions master's rooms.

"Please sit down," Severus offered.

"Thank you but I will not stay. I am due at a bowling convention in France in fifteen minutes."

Severus nodded.

"I have spoken to Minster Grot, who said that Lorsekruker will be punished severely. The Dementor's kiss."

"Good," muttered Severus coldly. "I don't want to talk about it any further." He turned to the young woman appearing beside him. A clutch of paper was shoved under her arm and she was still holding her quill in her hand.

"Hello love, I thought I heard voices in here. How are you Uncle Albus?"

"I'm fine my dear. How are you keeping? Are you recovered nicely?"

"Just about. That deathening noise took me by surprise though. I had a headache all morning."

"Indeed. It doesn't seem that anyone is immune. Did you ever catch the little rascal, Severus?"

"Yes," he said heartily. "The.. the person or rather persons involved have a weeks worth of detention. They are at my disposal." A cruel grin suddenly broke the normal sombre glare.

"Oh dear, oh dear," muttered the headmaster.

"I shan't enquire what you have planned for them to do. I hope it isn't to grotesque, Severus. I don't want another episode like we had with Miss Jelly."

"No."

"Good. As long as you don't get to carried away."

"Oh, and Headmaster, I cough Mr Jenkins and Miss Smith playing 'Donkey wrestling' in the halls again last evening, two hours after curfew."

"Tut, tut," muttered Dumbledore. "I shall have a private word with those two. First year students should have been asleep hours ago, not prancing around the halls." He shook his head.

"Although, I suppose I can understand the appeal. I myself-"

"Sir, this is a serious matter. If they continue with their ridiculas games their grades will suffer and so will Gryffindor."

"Dear oh dear. Minerva will be having serious words." He turned towards Taya. "Any ho, I'm off to a jolly good bowling convention by the way. The lovely Professor McGonagall is in charge if you need anything." Dumbledore smiled cheerily at her. "Oh, and I don't know if you just heard my dear, Lorsekruker punishment is the Dementor's kiss."

"That's fantastic," said Taya.

"Humf," replied Severus stalking off.

"He's happy really," she said. "He's still grieving that's all." Dumbledore nodded.

"I know dear. I see you are busy," he indicated.

"Students homework." She wiped her damp forehead with the back of her hand.

"When will this heat stop?" She asked randomly as if Dumbledore would know. Sometimes he gave the impression if he could answer her every question.

"A few weeks yet, or so I heard."

"Got to get through these tonight," she with a groan pulling the papers from out under her arm. "Working makes you hot, doing nothing makes you hot. Besides they'll be wanting them back in the morning."

"First class?"

"Yes. Never had time this morning. I'd rather be doing something else but..." she shrugged and Dumbledore smiled. A strange twinkle in his eyes caught her attention.

"Really, Headmaster, It was an innocent comment."

"Oh, indeed, my dear." He gazed at his watch. Taya squinted to see. It was the most strangest watch she had ever seen. It was gold and had twelve hands but no numbers, instead little planets were moving about the face. "I must go otherwise I'll be quite late." He produced a rather large iridescent ball from his pocket.

"It's a beauty isn't it?"

"The bowling ball?" She made a face. "As bowling balls go I suppose." Dumbledore chuckled.

"It's a new one. Took eight weeks for it to arrive. He gave it a quick polishing with his handkerchief and tucked it away inside his robes again. From first appearances no one would have guessed he had a large heavy bowling ball tucked away in his pocket. "Quite an effective size and weight too. Shrinks as soon as you put it away." Taya shook her head. Men and their sports. She was so lucky Severus Snape wasn't interested in them.

She was mystified by Muggle men and how they obsessed over football. Such a boring sport. At least Quidditch was exciting. Flying sports were far more favourable in the wizarding world than on the ground. Flying bowls mystified her though. It was kind of funny seeing someone fling a bowling ball through the air.

"Have a nice time then."

"Thank you."

As Taya watched him go Severus slowly emerged from his bedroom pale and shaky.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes," he smiled slightly. "I'm relieved." She walked up to him and brushed his cheek with the feather. He rubbed his face.

"Ticklish," she said.

"Don't get started on that one Taya. I am warning you." She grinned devilishly. "Don't you have students home work to finish?"

"Yea, you're right." Her face dropped and she sighed. They kissed quickly and she went back into his private office.

Sundays were always boring. That realisation had come to Taya years ago while still a child. She scraped her hair off her head and fastened it into a loose knot at the back of her neck.

God, it's so hot, she thought. Will it never end? She gazed back down at the pile of sheets in front of her then dipped her pen into the ink.

She was sitting at Severus Snape's desk in his personal rooms. This particular room was now equipped with an invisible fan. It had been conjured up three weeks ago, but unfortunately gave little respite from the heavy atmosphere.

September the eighth, and it's still bloody too hot. She shuffled a bit through the papers and finally finished her grading. The first years were doing well. Home work had been simple, read the document on page 342 in 'Mystical Creatures And Their Living counterparts' about Irish pixies and write up your own explanation on their origins and behaviour. So far all assessments were very good.

She smiled down at the pages before her then placed them into the file ready to be taken back up to her classroom tomorrow.

"Taya," called a familiar voice coming from the direction behind her. She looked up at the man clad in black robes as he approached her, hands in pockets. "I have something for you."

She smiled in delight at the prospect of him giving her a present.

"What is it?" She almost jumped with excitement. He had never before bought her anything.

"Close your eyes and sit still." She felt something cold dangle against her throat and the sensation of his warm fingers lightly rub against the back of her neck. "Okay you can open them now."

Taya looked down and saw the silver and green pendant pressed against her chest. It was small, delicately crafted and glistened. She smiled and gasped.

Taking the rose in between her fingers the silver effigy of a snake slide around the flower then solidified. The petals changed colour to a soft almost indiscernible pink blush.

"This...this is beautiful!" She exclaimed. It must have cost you a fortune, she thought. The rare stone Moixite was clasped inside a delicately sculpted solid silver serpent. Rare indeed and quite valuable. She dare not question him.

"Like it?" He said smiling slightly.

"It's gorgeous. I love it."

"Here, let me show you." He took the pendant from her fingers and caressed the snake which wriggled and slithered behind the rose. The delicate flower opened. In the centre was a silver motif. 'For thy cherished love, Severus' was engraved over it's surface. She kissed him.

When she broke away and opened her eyes she was met with another surprise. He was smiling.

"I love you," he whispered and lifted her into his arms. "You have done enough work for today. You must be tired."

"I'm not tired," she said eagerly. "And I've finished reading the kid's homework."

He carried her into his bedroom and gently laid her down on the bed then resumed the kiss that they had broken off before. After a long tender embrace he pulled away.

"And now my dear..." She took his hand dragging it down her bodice pausing at her belly. "How is our tummy today?" He whispered smiling.

"It's better. How is our libido?"

He swallowed. "Delightfully puissant." His hand travelled of it's own accord lower.

"Too many clothes," she muttered drunkenly and plucked his hand off her skirt.

"Will you allow me?" He said in a some what gentlemanly fashion indicating that he wished remove her clothing.

It took him less than ten seconds to strip her naked then he kissed her again. Starting with her lips then slowly, enticingly deliciously he licked her all the way down.

"Severus I want to see all of you." He nooded and undressed. Just as he was about to pull her into his arms again Taya pressed him back.

"What is it?"

"Put on your cloak." He looked at her slightly alarmed, but complied.

Noticing her obvious aproval he lifted her and wrapped the black silky fabric around them both. Coiling her legs around his waist she clung on feeling the heat dissipate off his skin.

Severus sat down with Taya still latched firmly onto him. She fastened her legs behind, content to sit and lean faward, sliding her hands under the black cloak and run them down his back.

He moved his hands easing them up to her breasts to caress and squeeze until she literally convulsed in the ecstasy. And she gazed into his eyes. Seeking a deeper intimacy, a contact deeper than the rapture itself. She fell, plummeting inside, falling and falling until she penetrated his soul, bringing him inside her as he pulled her into him.

"Severus..." she gasped as the thrill of his physical love, entombed her in it's powerful embrace.

"Kiss me," he whispered inside. She complied. Her lips hovering over his for a second. The minute they touched he felt shots of pleasurable energy shoot down his spine. He gasped into her mouth as he felt her fingers stroke his back.

Taya pushed him onto his back.

"Close your eyes," she whispered as she took an unused fresh feather quill off the bedside cabinet. Severus cried out in abandonment, such a subtle sensation that was obviously further arousing his tenderised flesh.

She slithered over his his body, squirming slightly, feeling her centre heat up,

"It's my turn, close your eyes," he said.

Taya did as he asked and shuddered exquisitely as the feather, the one she used on him slid down the centre her back, caressing her to the deepest levels.

He looked down when her hands fell between them.

No, he said inside her mind. She gazed at him, looking at him from the outside as well as from within. I want to do this for you. His lips formed the words, but he spoke the sound internally.

He moved and eased her onto the flat of her back before slowly moving her legs apart.

"I desire you," he said in a ragged heaving breath. She felt him slide down. The only indication of what he was about to do was the trickle of long hair as it brushed against her inner thigh.

He soothed her for a long moment and listened to her moans, savouring her cries as she gyred further out of control.

Abruptly Taya pulled away. "Wait," she exclaimed, her fingers still grasping the dark strands of silken hair. "I need...need you..." Before she could finish the sentence she had already pushed him down and pressed him into her.

"No, not like this," he gasped as a wave of dizzing warmth glided through his lower body.

Still linked together they rolled over until he was on top, but on his knees, he clasped her legs to prevent her from slipping free then rocked his hips in time with her pelvis, relishing the contraction of muscles that clasped around his member.

Taya watched him move, his body soaked from sweat, hair plastered against his scalp. He was glistening in the paling moon light.

He finally started to withdraw, but she stopped him. "No. I want you to stay inside me." He carefully pushed back in and flopped down beside her, moving her slightly onto her side too.

Severus turned his head noticing that his cloak was shredded beyond repair. She had torn it to pieces in the throws of her lusts. What was left was saturated with the musky scent of sex and moisture.

"Oh. Blast!" He muttered, "What have you done to my cloak?" But she was fast asleep. He gazed at the clock and bolted upright, nearly disconnecting the intimate link between them. It was half past seven in the morning.

They had made love all night.

Damn, he thought. He had a class at nine o'clock. That left him little under half an hour to sleep. That is if he could be bothered to actually turn up to his lesson in the first place. No doubt the class that morning wouldn't mind if their stubborn, cruel potion master didn't turn up.

He sunk down against Taya's soft body, her legs entwined around him preventing him from accidentally slipping out and he listened to her heartbeat. She moved slightly, her arms were reaching up above her head exposing the smooth hollows of her armpits. "Mmm," she moaned in her sleep. He reached his lips towards the right one and lightly kissed the soft skin then he slumped completely down against her, using the soft swell of her bare breasts as a pillow.