Thanks to JK Rowling for the characters, Taranis is mine…no money trading hands here so enjoy.
Chapter 1 In the Beginning
Taranis Aislin got out of the taxi about a block from the Leaky Cauldron. Still seething after a grueling 10-hour plane ride from New York to London. Frustration set in as one thing or another delayed them from taking off for over an hour and then halfway through the flight some guy intent on flirting with her sat on her wand. That's what she got for wanting to have it close to her rather than in the overhead compartment. Her bags felt like they weighed a ton as she pushed the door open and entered the pub.
It was dark and slightly musty with about a dozen witches and wizards here and there, either in small groups at the tables or at the bar. Thank goodness that's over, she sighed with relief to be back in her own element. After taking a moment to stretch her weary arms, she pulled out a piece of parchment, studying it as she walked through the back door and up to a brick wall where she pulled out her wand and began to tap the stones. Nothing happened. "Hmm" she tried again and still nothing. The instructions her father had written say specifically what stones to tap, it must be this stupid wand, two three more times and nothing! No more, she thought with frustration, "God damn it you stupid piece of shit!" she muttered apparently not under her breath.
"It would probably help if you were to do it correctly." A deep voice washed over her shoulder.
Turning around she saw a fairly tall man, dressed all in black. His arms were crossed and an arrogant sneer plastered his face as he looked down on her. I'm not in the mood for this, she thought, "Well, it'd sure be nice if there was a gentleman around to help a lady in need." She paused and looked to his left and right and then back up at him, "Nope, none that I see."
He eyed her up and down quickly. "Perhaps if I saw a lady I would have helped her, but all I see," he glanced around mocking her, "is a cheap muggle whore."
Whore! Were the hell does this guy get off! Quirking and eyebrow and giving him a quick up and down she replied nastily, "just how does Dracula on such a bad hair day possibly think that he's a fashion expert?" His clothes actually did suit him, she thought. Packaged him quite nicely with rows of buttons and a black jacket and cape. A hint of white peeked out from under his collar that contrasted well with black hair almost to his shoulders...He had a mysterious and arrogant look about him that intrigued her, haughty she'd say.
"Certain simple things do not require much expertise," he drawled slowly.
She found his dark eyes mesmerizing, "well then I guess you'd be perfect for that job."
He raised his eyebrows and cocked his head to the side as he looked down his nose at her. "First I'm Dracula and now I'm Mr. Perfect, you flatter me."
"It sounds like you appreciate yourself enough, I'm sure my flattery would just be a waste of words."
"Ah yes words…perhaps if you had learned the proper English language you might understand them better?"
"Perhaps if you didn't have that awful British accent I would be able to understand them!" She declared sarcastically.
"Ah, that explains it then, if the little girl has problems understanding such things, then perhaps she should go back to school." He commented, with mock pity.
"Oh? You know what school is do you? I'm shocked! I would never have been able to tell that you've ever actually been to school." This was actually getting interesting, she was so stressed after the trip here, this was kind of fun having a nice sarcastic repartee.
"I, in fact, have enjoy school so much that I'm still going, and at least I can manage to open a door."
She tried not to grin at him. Who was this guy? What a haughty look she thought, what a better than thou attitude, "I'm sure I could too if some stupid muggle hadn't sat on my wand." She held up her wand, which was being held together by a piece of tape in the middle. "Still in school? Tsk Tsk, what's the matter haven't passed your OWLS yet?" Now she was grinning up at him. He really was an attractive guy. He needed some help with his stringy hair and some sun on that pale white complection, but overall he wasn't too bad. She thought he actually looked like he was trying not to smile back at her and wondered if he even knew how to smile.
"I assure you I am held in very high esteem for my work. Besides, how stupid could you be to put your wand where a muggle could sit on it?"
"Well, it's to bad your 'work' isn't with potions or maybe you could whip up something for your hair." Then she started to laugh, "but you're absolutely right about my wand. I've been kicking myself all day for being so stupid." Now he was grinning, though just slightly and it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thanks, I needed a good laugh after the torture of a muggle airplane ride." He grimaced. "Yeah I know. I'm Taranis Aislin by the way." She held out her hand.
"Severus Snape," he inclined his head briefly as he took her hand.
She was surprised at the jolt of electricity she felt at his touch. Did he feel it too? She reluctantly let go as a wave of pleasurable heat was washing over her body. She looked up and he was staring at her, mouth just slightly agape. "Perhaps Mr. Snape, you'll be willing give me a little help with that door?"
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As the flash of heat dissipated from his body, Snape looked intently at the woman. She did not back down from him, no sign of intimidation in her eyes, of course she didn't know him either. She was extraordinarily beautiful he thought as he eyed a long leg. She was wearing tight black pants covered by black boots that came up to her thighs. A black jacket was strapped tight around a small waist with white tank top underneath. He thought her breasts a bit to large for her small frame and she had long strawberry blonde hair that hung in loose waves to the middle of her back. An impertinent little nose peeked out between high cheekbones, large blue eves and full lips. His mind wandered as he wondered how soft those lips would feel against his own.
"Mr. Snape? Do you think you could help me?" She repeated.
He drew his wand and tapped the bricks in order and they parted to reveal Diagon Alley. She groaned as she lifted her bags, one was very large and oddly shaped. He wondered what was in it.
"Would you be willing to show me where I could get my wand fixed?" She looked up at him with a hopeful glance.
He paused for a moment, soaking in the expressions her face betrayed. She didn't look at him with revulsion or distain at all. Although not overly familiar with the practice, he thought she might be flirting with him a bit. It was a pleasurable feeling and he thought that perhaps it couldn't hurt draw this experience out a while longer, "of course I will assist the lady in any way possible." Reaching over to take her bags he proceeded down the street. They received a few interested glances, no doubt wondering what such an attractive woman was going with him. He stopped in front of Olivander's and put the bags down as he opened the door for her, followed her inside and waited just inside the door. She walked intently to the counter where Mr. Olivander came out from between rows of shelves stacked high with small boxes, came to greet her.
"Well hello there. Good day to you Severus." He turned to her, "What can I do for you today? A nice new wand perhaps?" He was an older gentleman with unruly white hair who seemed cheerful but somewhat odd as he peered at her over the counter.
"Actually I was hoping you could fix this one," she said as she handed him her broken wand.
He took the wand and studied it for a moment as he peeled the tape off. "Hmmm."
"This goes inside," she said as she handed him a fine hair and tried to look nonchalant about it, glancing about the store.
He took the hair gently and examined it closely, his mouth opened slightly and he looked up at her, "In all my days in this profession my dear lady, I have never actually seen one of these. It's amazing I never thought-"
"Yes, yes I know," she cut him off quickly. She took a quick glance over her shoulder to see if Severus noticed. He seemed to be examining something in the window.
"Excuse me Miss, ah..."
"Aislin, Taranis Aislin."
"You are aware then-"
"Yes Mr. Olivander I know," she replied cutting him off again.
'This is very interesting' Snape thought as he tried to pretend like he was interested in the wands in the window. What kind of hair could possible be so interesting? Mr. Olivander had been around for a long time and if he had not seen such a thing it must be rare indeed?
"I got it from my grandmother, so can you fix it?" She said sounding a little impatient as she fidgeted with a wand on the counter.
"Of course, I'll have it ready for you first thing in the morning." At that he took the wand and disappeared into the back of the store.
She turned and walked over to Severus. As she looked up he once again felt himself beginning to warm. "Can I ask one more favor Severus?" He liked the sound of his name on her lips, soft and soothing. He glanced at the clock surprised at how late it was. "Of course."
"I need to find a room for tonight, is there somewhere you can suggest?"
He gathered her things and took her several blocks up the street and entered what appeared to be a tavern. It was darker than the Leaky Cauldron and there was a bar off to one side. Severus motioned to her a large old desk with a wizened old witch behind. She went up, spoke to the woman for a minute and came back with a room key. As she walked back over to him she started to get nervous again, good grief she thought, you'd think I've never been around a man before. He's dark and grumpy and I just met but Merlin's Beard for some unexplained reason she really wanted him. She could hardly think the closer she got. He furrowed his brows and motioned with the bags for her to go up the stairs. He followed down the candle lit hall. As she opened the door he stepped inside and set her things down beside the bed and a startling thought occurred to her. I may never see him again, I don't want him to go, I want him to touch me and kiss me and oh God why am I so nervous. She panicked as he made toward the door.
"Severus," She started as and he turned toward her. Her eyes were wide and expectant.
"Yes?" He said down to her softly.
"Um" she started, 'am I really going to do this? She looked into his eyes and flushed with embarrassment looked down. It was the first thing that popped into her head, perhaps not the best thing, but the only thing she could think of at the time, "do you really have to go? I mean you could stay… We could have dinner...and…um…you could stay here, with me." Oh that was great, she thought, what a fool, you really know how to seduce a man Tanis.
He looked down at her, as if shocked his eyed went wide, his mouth slightly open, then just as quickly he furrowed his brows and scowled, the dark look back on his face, "I'm afraid I have a previous engagement Miss Aislin, goodbye." And then he was gone.