Written for 15-minute-ficlets, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2003.

Title: Promise

Word to include: abomination

#~#~#

"No," she whispered, backing against the wall with delicious apprehension, mingled with lust, evident in her eyes. "No, no, no."

"Say it again," he commanded in a low tone, his breath catching the hair tucked behind her ear. "Tell me no, and look me in the eyes, and mean it, Miss Granger. I dare you."

She tried to look in his black eyes, but found herself unable to say no again. "It's an abomination," she said softly, as if to convince herself that long-held desires were not to be acted upon, even now. "What if the others find out? An abomination..."

"Oh, really?" he continued in a silky, undeniably sexy tone. Had she ever found him frightening? She certainly did now, if for different reasons. "What about this," he touched her lips casually but deftly with one long finger, "an abomination as well?" He smiled as he saw the shiver she was unable to control.

"This is...highly...improper, Professor Snape!" she cried, "just because I graduated today does not give you licence..."

"..to give you exactly what you've craved for two years, Miss Granger?" he smirked. "I have waited long enough for this...abomination...as you so delicately put it."
She sighed, knowing he had found the truth of the matter in her eyes, had indeed known it all along. There was no use denying it any longer, as she finally relented and melted into his waiting arms.

As their lips finally touched, releasing the pent-up heat of the years, an owl flitted through the open window and onto her shoulder. Startled, she pulled away and tore open the note. Her face fell as she read the contents. Before she could destroy the note, Snape grabbed it from her hands.

"So, Miss Granger. I see I have some...competition."

She looked away. The competition was much safer, of course, but when she closed her eyes she did not see a pair of green eyes behind glasses. She saw only the dark eyes and dour countenance of the man before her.

"You may walk away, Miss Granger," he said, knowing full well that she could not. For a change, he was truly sure of the woman before him.

"You bloody well know I won't," she whispered. "I believe it is time you took me to show me what you promised me two years ago when we started this journey at Sirius' wake. When you let me into your life, and we made that fateful promise together."

"Indeed," he smirked, as he led her through the door to his bedchamber.