You may already know Snape in Love by Rickfan.  May I point out three other great stories with completely different styles - Domina Rising by Arachne's Child, Redemption by Gwenn  and last but certainly not least, A Dark Herbal by The Stars Hold Nine Serpents. The angles on our friend Severus Snape are all excitingly different and the quality of writing superb. All have great OCs, which I understand is quite rare.

Not that I want you to rush off before you've finished mine of course!

Superwitch

London Bridge is falling down,

Falling down, falling down.

London Bridge is falling down,

My fair lady.

Iron bars will bend and break,

Bend and break, bend and break,

Iron bars will bend and break,

My fair lady

Chapter 26

They broke apart a little, breath shortened as a flood of emotion roared through both of them. He lifted his mouth up again to her as if pleading for nourishment and succour and his hands lifted to her waist, wanting to pull her down onto him, but stopped himself as they were in a public place. He couldn't be sure that someone would intrude on them in their secluded corner. The journey home wouldn't take long.

It took them a couple of seconds to realize that someone was screaming. Then there were shouts and the sound of shattered china coming from downstairs. Jerking away from their personal world, they saw alarmed guests make for the stairs. No one got very far however, as there were several Dementors in the doorway.

Iron bars will bend and break

Chapter 27

She felt the cold hit her like death itself, like plummeting into the earth riding a broomstick. From some distance she heard Severus hiss and snarl as she sank against the table, pulling against the tablecloth, hearing the crash of glass and cutlery around her. There were two realities intertwined, the restaurant with its' chaos and the monstrous life that seemed to swim within her – flashes of Voldemort licking his juddering lips in front of her, his reptilian breath covering her like white mist and Malfoy's mocking laugh in the background.

There was no hope left. There was no one to help her. All was lost. She had failed and she was going to die horribly, or worse still, live horribly.

Sinking into the freezing depths of her psyche, she heard a distant voice that she thought she knew, cry 'Expecto Patronus' and at the same time was aware that from out of a silvery mist that hovered in the air came the form of a panther that was deepest velvet black. Fascinated, she stared at it and the shimmering glow around it like a halo. It was beautiful and deadly. She caught a flash of red mouth and green eyes as it turned its powerful sinuous body towards the hooded shapes in the centre of the room. As it did so, she could not hold onto the image or the room itself and sunk back into the horror of her life as it crashed and burned, useless and worthless, pointless and endless. It felt as if she had drifted for aeons, floating in hopelessness and a grey world. There was only the deathly drone of her family and their lifeless friends, a circle of grey lives surrounding her, suffocating her, beating upon her. There was nothing. There was only existence, and hardly that. The next moment she felt cold air that seemed to stimulate rather than possess her. She felt something being forced into her mouth.

'Chew. Dammit, chew.'

She knew the voice; it tore through her like an ancient wound.

Where had she heard it before? What did it mean? She wasn't hungry. Where was her mother? Was it her father speaking to her?

She felt her head being held and a good familiar smell that engulfed her and then beyond it a sudden waft of garbage in the air.   

'Elrin!'

Elrin? Who would be calling her that? No one knew that name.

She felt fingers on her lips and she gradually moved her tongue and whatever was in her mouth tasted good.

Oh yes, chocolate. Gorgeous. Black melting chocolate. She must be at the seaside. Where are the seagulls? I can't hear them.

She was suddenly aware of lying in someone's arms in a cold sweat and she could see a roof above her, and a little window and then the night sky. Above them some stars through the clouds.

'Elrin!' shouted the voice, an angry edge to it. She would take no notice. It would pass away, like everything else.

Her arm fell down and her hand knocked against a cold damp surface and she jerked awake. Severus' dark face was above her, chocolate truffles in hand and he shifted her upright at once.

'Severus…' she began, holding her arm. 'I knocked my hand,' she whined up at him.

'Elrin, you must get up,' he commanded.

'More chocolate?'

He swiftly thrust more at her.

'Steady,' she complained, mouth full. 'Mustn't be greedy.' He lifted her up onto her legs, but they didn't appear to work very well.

'Eat,' he ordered.

'Where are we?' she asked stupidly, gazing around, chocolate in hand. Dustbins were scattered around, their contents spewed out onto the cobbled yard. Then she realized they must be at the back of the kitchens of the restaurant, and she remembered, remembered the …..words failed her.

'They…' she began.

'It is imperative to get out of here. Now.'

'Okay.' She was beginning to feel the urgency in him and made an effort. He held her while she returned to herself.

'Let's go then,' she said, making a tentative step and managing it. Reality was beginning to shake her awake.

He could begin to see the glitter of consciousness in her eyes. 'Let me read you,' he said, tilting her face towards him. Looking into his eyes in the half-lit alleyway made her want to sink back down again. Reading her was not a good idea from her point of view.

'Accio Attorlathe!' he shouted and almost immediately, his black broomstick clattered out of the back door and into his hand. He placed it in front of them both and she got on with a great deal more confidence than some hours before. Waiting for him, adjusting her clothes, she waited in vain. He stood there in the dark, wand out, muttering.

'Elrin,' he said steadily, calmly as he finished, 'Go home.' She nearly fell off it.

'What?' she cried, aghast. 'Are you crazy?'

'Go home. Attorlathe is set to autopilot. It will take you safely home.'

'No way,' she said, beginning to get off. He grasped her arm.

'Do not make things difficult,' he growled as he closed in on her, looming over her. 'Take my cloak,' and he pushed it towards her. 'I couldn't find yours.' Despite herself, she fastened it.

He could not be serious.

'You're insane if you think I am going to travel on this alone.'

'It's the same balancing act as a bicycle. Grip on and just allow it to take you where it needs to go.'

'No.'

'Oh, for the love of the Patriarchium….' He snarled between gritted teeth, his voice low as he bent down towards her in anger. Opening her eyes wide, she was about to explode in fury, when he said,

'Elrin, this is serious. There are not just a few Dementors here. There is a take-over, a raid. I have to do something about as many people as possible. And to see if any of the students are out here. You realize the danger they will be in.'

'You said it was out of bounds to them.'

'When has that ever stopped anyone?'

'I'll come with you,' she decided, beginning to get off the broom.

'No you won't,' he snapped. 'You would be more of a hindrance.'

'Thanks.'

'You don't have immunity against their kind. Stop arguing and go.'

'I can do some damage,' she said proudly.

'Yes, and it would be indiscriminate. In order to damage the Dementors, your energy would damage everyone else too. Especially the students.'

Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see an approaching figure in a black cloak coming out of the dark. It strode towards them and she realized that he was wearing a mask. She stiffened. Severus followed her gaze.

'You have to obey me, my darling,' he whispered as he adjusted her cloak.

'Severus!' cried the figure, clapping him on the back. 'Come and join the fun.'

'Crabbe,' he replied snappily, 'I have work to do.'

'What could you be doing that's more important than this then?' he sneered, slapping his wand in his hand like a bludger.

'Think man, there are students I need to round up.'

'What for?'

Severus glared at the imbecility of the man. 'Dementors loose on students? It may not matter about the others, but there's the Malfoy boy, as well as yours and Goyle as well as others. Whose brilliant idea was this not to give me any warning? I could have kept them in.'

'Oh yea. Oh, they'll be alright,' said Crabbe, obviously dizzy with blood lust.

'They will when I manage to get to them and take them out of here. I'm just sending my wife off home.'

'Oh yeah. I want to see this,' he said happily, almost drooling with curiosity. He had obviously been told about the Patriarchium.

In desperation at going as well as leaving him, she clutched out at Severus' hand and he grasped it and leant in to enfold her and she held his body tight against hers, feeling the heat and the whole solidity of him. What preciousness lay in this body pressed to hers. She passed her essence to him and he passed his essence to her.

Tell Dumbledore.

Of course.

You will be fine.

All right. You go and do what you need to do.

I love you.

I love you.

'Get going then woman,' he snapped at her, brusquely waving his hand. 'We are wasting time.'

She struggled which was not a pretence, glared at him, then gave in.

'Yes, my lord,' she said faintly, breaking out in another sweat. She had to do it.

That was a good touch. He had told her about addressing the hierarchy in archaic terms. 

'Relax.'

'First solo?' asked Crabbe astounded.

'Yes.'

'Oh, wicked!' he looked delighted as if he might actually witness her falling off.

'Perge Attorlathe.'

Her sudden fear for Severus kept her less fearful for her position, and as the broomstick lifted smoothly, she balanced well, though her knuckles were white with gripping on so rigidly.

That is not bad. Defrost remember?

Mind Crabbe. He might have heard me arguing with you.

Don't worry about him. You just get home.

And she could see, as she got to tree top height, both of them hurrying away.

As she lifted up into the empty sky above everything, she shivered uncontrollably, and could see below her burning torches and people milling about, could hear shouts of anger and thrill and fear. Dementors and masked figures surged down the streets and she saw people clutch one another and witnessed them fall, or hide or try to escape. There were scattered groups and couples and individuals, some battling. Surges of power could be seen coming from wands and the returning fire. Some houses were burning lifting smoke into the evening darkness and the hot smell reached her. The whole dreadful landscape of terror lay before her as she swept away from it. Hogsmede, the ancient and most safe village in England was being pillaged and plundered. She wondered if she could see Severus below and wished she had not had to give in to him, but supposed he was right. He might have spent his time protecting her. There were others needing his help, and she could imagine him scowling and growling while he was putting his life in danger.

She found it difficult to remember, when she got home, what the journey had been like, she just recalled flashes of clouds and a hidden moon and an owl that passed too close to her. She remembered the chilling fear as she nearly became unbalanced. She also remembered a small visitor landing on her. About to brush it off in fear and loathing, she discovered that it was Sampeer.

'Hello sweetheart,' she had said, relieved. 'I nearly squashed you.' He quivered there, clinging onto the material of the cloak and she was never so glad to see someone.

'Come to see me home?' she had said, feeling faintly stupid at talking to the bat, who did not reply. Gently brushing his furry head with a soft finger while it opened his wings over her as if in protection, she felt that he understood somehow. It had made her feel so much better and the castle was soon in sight. She didn't retain the memory of how she got down. Only that she landed a little heavily on solid earth and grass, and rushed, wobbly legged, into the castle.

The school seemed to erupt into ordered chaos almost as soon as Albus had given the warning to Minerva. Their red alert system seemed to work well. Prefects and Staff tore round gathering up the students they could find except the ones that had slunk off to Hogsmede. Of course Harry and company were missing as well as a couple of Slytherins including Draco.  Minerva, her lips pursed and of ferocious countenance, was beside herself, her green robes billowed out behind her and her black hat bobbed up and down each and every corridor, hustling, bustling and shooing errant students. Tides of children carrying small suitcases came flowing out from everywhere.

Elrin was on her way to the dungeons when, accompanied by a deep roar which seemed to come from the deepest hell, the world seemed to shake like a dog with fleas. Falling on the flags of stone underneath her felt like embracing chilly tombstones but she held onto them with outstretched arms and scrabbling hands, head flat on the floor. The shuddering broke the stained glass windows out, scattering glass everywhere. Between the reverberations she shouted to a nearby group of first years to cover their heads. Pieces of ceiling began to shower down.

'Get under that doorway – now –' she yelled as soon as she could and they staggered to a heavy archway with a solid old oak door as another shiver shook the place. She grabbed the smallest and most terrified and scooped them round her.

What the hell?

Bits of stonework continued to fall and crumble off the walls. Peeves shot past them, and much to her surprise, he did not look particularly happy. She would have thought he would be delighted. Instead he looked grim. Steadily, steadily the tremors passed. Slowly, they rose from their place and she told them to get to the main entrance, and wait until someone in authority gave them the all clear to go outside – away from the castle but to stay in the grounds. She couldn't believe she was saying it. With white faces they obeyed. Roaming around, she found stray students, one grappling with their pet rat and another who had lost her suitcase and sent them packing. House elves were on the move too. Flying down some stairs was Dobby who was the only house-elf carrying a suitcase, and as he tripped, a case full of yellow socks flew open, spilling onto the floor. There was no way that she would ask why he wanted a case full of them, but silently helped him thrust them all back in as he muttered to himself.

'Madam Snape,' he squeaked, 'must leave.'

 As she sent him off, agreeing with him, Albus appeared.

'Elrin, you must depart from the building now,' he said calmly as he approached in his customary stately way. Judging by his demeanour, there may not have been an emergency.

'What's happened? It feels like – an earthquake, but that's not possible is it?'

 'No, it is not a natural occurrence. Someone has been tampering with the earth. They have found a loophole in the laws…'

No prizes were for guessing whom he was talking about.

'You must go,' he said, sweeping away from her, gathering yet another stray student.

'I will Albus, but I need to get to Severus' study. There are – things - that need to be rescued. If he lost them…'

'Of course, but be quick, you must be quick. There is little time,' as he disappeared down a corridor.

Picking up her robes she ran full tilt down to the dungeons to his office to find Xiomara bending over his desk. Panting to a halt, she stood transfixed, confused. Xiomara stood up, papers in hand. There was silence as they stared at one another and the Quidditch teacher's face was not a pleasant one. The castle walls had shaken, and now it was the turn of her mind's walls to shake and shiver.

'What are you doing?' she asked stupidly.

'What does it look like? Sneered Xiomara, searching hurriedly through yet more papers on Severus' desk, as if Elrin were not there, or did not count.

The one female friend that she had made here. The jokes, the laughter, the shared secrets.

'Oh don't look so pathetic.'

'You took it didn't you?' snapped Elrin, her face red with anger. She did not say what had been taken, just in case she was wrong. Xiomara moved towards the window.

'The Potion? Of course, you silly girl,' she drawled as she walked slowly to and fro, eyeing Elrin up and down cynically. 'Draco found out and told Lucius. Lucius, naturally told me.'

'You and Lucius?'

'Yes,' she said smirking, pleased with herself. 'Lucius and me, mmm. Exceptional in bed, let me tell you.' Elrin thought of him and shuddered. Almost in response to her memories, the ground shook a little and the jars on the shelves rattled furiously, but nothing more happened. Both of them clung to something while it eased. Some dust flew down from the ceiling. Elrin's eyes could not help but flick to where the parchments were hidden underneath the essays.

'Oh yes, ' Xiomara purred, flashing her eyes, 'We have them too,' and smiled a cold smile.

What?

 She froze at the mere idea of it; she would give nothing away. It couldn't possibly mean what it appeared to mean. Xiomara sneered at her attempts at concealment, smug in her cunning superiority.

'The parchments, stupid, the parchments. We have them – all. From under the potion essays. A pretty good place to conceal them. It took me ages to find them.  Lucius is very generous with his rewards,' and she giggled girlishly. Elrin's head was spinning.

Not possible. The bitch…

Elrin made a move towards her in fury but Xiomara put her hand up nonchalantly. 'They're not here. They've gone already. Gone to Lucius.'

'They're no use to you or anyone.'

'Oh, but we don't know that do we?'

'But you are – on the same side….'

'Are we? Are we really?' she said contemptuously. 'My lord will be very happy with me. Why has Severus been so tight with his knowledge eh?'

'This is crazy. Parchments, notes…none of these…if you have the potion… then why bother with the notes? – they are indecipherable….' Realizing that the witch had her wand aimed at her, she went cold but angry.

'Notes, I want the notes, now Elrin,' she said, legs apart, in battle mode, her raptors eyes sharp, all pretence of civilized veneer gone from her. If she hadn't been worried about bringing the place down, Elrin would have used her vibration on her. But a rocking judder shook them all and it seemed that it was falling already. A loud crack and suddenly the ceiling was coming down and in the split second of her diving under the desk, she saw her former friend succumb under the huge block of masonry without even a sound from her. Some of it was coming down fast, crashing glass and dust everywhere.

When she was able to, Elrin climbed out coughing from beneath the desk, which she saw had taken the weight of an enormous lump of carved stone, Severus came through the open door and rushed to her. Dragging her out into the clear corridor, he manifested a glass of water from his rooms, and the moment she recovered, encompassed her with his arms, holding her tight and pushed his face into her dusty hair but she felt limp. Feeling his body against hers made her want to succumb, enjoy, treasure, lose herself in him but she could not while she had bad news to tell him. He knew there was something wrong immediately and held her so that he could scan her.

'Where does it hurt?' he demanded, ashamed that he hadn't asked before.

'I'm not hurt. But you will be.'

'What do you mean?' he automatically stiffened.

'She – '

'She?'

'Xiomara – was the one who took the Potion for Lucius. Draco found out about it originally, he told his father, who very naturally told Xiomara.'

'Xiomara?' he looked astounded. 'With Lucius?'

'Yes. She's also taken…' she found it difficult to get the words out. He stared at her frowning. It seemed like the difference between one era and another. She didn't know how he could take it. She stopped to cough and it was her body's excuse not to say the words. It didn't take him many seconds to work it out himself.

'She has taken the – parchments hasn't she?' he said, no emotion in his voice. That there was none was worse than if he had raged. She couldn't imagine how he would feel, but a sharp memory came to her of his hands, softly stroking the manuscript in his hands before a winter fire.

'Yes,' she whispered, as if it were her fault. 'She said they already had them. She wanted the notes.'

'She hasn't got the notes?' he said; hope returning, his head jerking towards her.

'No. She was threatening me to show her when the ceiling came down.'

'Good,' and he kissed her on the forehead before moving back towards his office.

'You can't go in there,' she cried, mortified. It's totally unstable.

'I'm going to get the rest of the potions and my notes. You go outside.'

'I want to help you.'

'No, leave,' he commanded 'Now!'

'Don't you order me about,' she cried, stung. It would take more time arguing, so he yielded against his better judgement.

'Darling – alright, quickly, we'll get them.'

They dashed through the rubble, through the lethal sharpness of smashed jars and around slimy contents and managed to get all the items. It did not take long and she did not look towards where Xiomara had fallen. There was no way that she could have survived that on top of her. She did not want to see an exposed arm or leg or anything crushed. There was no sign of any movement of the structure of the room, although dust and small pieces were still raining down. There was dust everywhere. They rummaged about until they had what he wanted.

'Did you get the students out of Hogsmede?' she asked as they rushed through their task.

'Yes, the idiots,' he snarled. 'Damned Potter and his crew and Draco of course with a crony.' 

Surveying his wrecked office, he shook his head disgustedly at it all. 'You know the great hall has been split wide open. The whole building is in danger.'

'What?! The great hall?' she gasped. 'The whole building?'

'Yes, The Dark Lord has found a new way to destroy us,' he muttered, staring at his workplace and his home in this state. He inhaled and snapped, making for the door, 'Right, I've got everything I need so we must get out now. Go!'

'What's this?' she said, stooping in order to pick up a glittering ball on the floor. Xiomara must have…' and she felt a nasty tug at her stomach and a swirling energy pulled her away as the world disappeared and the last thing she heard was Severus shouting her name….

A little reviewing perhaps? Just a few words if you are stuck?

Truffles mentioned here courtesy of Gwenn.

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