Snape whipped around as Taranis entered his office and fixed her with an insolent glare. "Professor Aislin."
"Since you look like you're ready to explode get on with it so we can get to work," she suggested, trying to stay calm under that furious glare he was giving her.
"What is the meaning of this?" he spewed holding up the book.
"Just some research I did a while back, since I wasn't privy to that other book of Merlin's, I'm not sure it'll do us any good, but there are some interesting theories I'd looked at," she tossed her bag in the sofa and made her way over to the table where he stood arms crossed over his chest.
"Why?" He demanded!
"Why what?"
"Don't think you can play games with me woman," he grabbed her arms forcing her to look at him, "I am the master of the game and I assure you if you wish to play, you will lose!"
She tried to back away but his grip held. She met his eyes defiantly and matched his look of fury with one of her own, "fuck you Snape!" as she was pulling back her foot to give him a swift kick, he spun her around and held her arms from behind. She could feel the heat of his body, pressed hard against her back, he smelled of a slightly spicy musk.
Leaning over his voice was soft and caressing, like a kiss on her cheek, "I believe I've already denied you 'that' pleasure Professor."
"From what I've heard I probably haven't missed much," she felt him tense for a moment before, letting go of one of her arms, he moved his own to wrap around her waist. He pressed his hand flat against her stomach and pulled her even closer to him. She could feel his manhood hard against her back as he grabbed her hair and pulled her head to the side. Her breathing quickened as she felt his lips lightly against her neck at first but turning hard and demanding. Taranis strained to turn her head up and captured his lips from the side, savoring his tongue for only a moment before it continued to the back of her neck. As his hand moved up to cup her breast she moaned and writhed her hips against his groin and was rewarded by the feel of his teeth on her shoulder. Suddenly he pushed her away and she turned slowly, still panting, to look at him.
"Just like a bitch in heat that doesn't stop you from wanting it does it," he grinned at her maliciously, and yet he was still surprised to feel the sting of her hand across his cheek. He grinned even wider, "like it rough do you. That is intriguing," Snape said turning back to his desk, "perhaps another time? Unfortunately 'we' have work to do."
"Do it yourself!" Taranis demanded as she rushed out the door.
The next few days found both the Gryffindor and Slytherin houses both conspicuously losing a lot of points from their house tallies. Taranis found herself sweeping through every group of unsuspecting Slytherins she saw, doling out punishments for the smallest offense. During class she was particularly ruthless, hearing Pansy Parkinson mention Snape as she walked by, "ten points from Slytherin 'Miss Parkinson', you will not mention that name in my presence again is that understood?!" She raged. Neither one of them spoke to the other staff members at meal times, sending the occasional insolent glare at the other.
Taranis was not surprised to find herself sitting in Dumbedore's office, and as he entered with Severus in tow she leapt to her feet, "I will not-" she began, cut off by the headmaster.
"Sit down," he commanded. It has come to my notice that there seems to be some problem between the two of you."
"He is an arrogant ass and I will not work with him!" She threatened.
"And she is a deceitful bitch and I would do better working alone!" barked the potions master.
Dumbledore thought for a moment, "I see. Well Severus as I'm afraid you can indeed be considered arrogant, but what's this about deceit?"
"Professor Aislin obviously has some motivations of her own for seeking the grail, there is an entire book full of her 'musings', perhaps the Dark Lord has been seeking help overseas? She is hiding something and I demand to know what! Why have you been seeking the chalice? What are you after?" he hissed as he stood pacing the room, glowering at her with loathing.
"I am not hiding anything, I don't even care about the stupid grail!"
"That is not entirely true Taranis my dear," the older man said as he held up his hands in a gesture for them to calm down. "Severus I can assure you that there is no connection to the Dark Lord and Professor Aislin, and while she may not have any intent to capture the grail, she does have her reasons for recovering Merlin."
"Why?" Snape asked as he continued to glower over her.
"None of your business!"
"I demand to know what you are after!"
"Severus while I can assure you she has no ill intent, I will not press her to explain her reasons." He raised his hand again to stop the other man from interrupting, "are you prepared to give Taranis all your stories and secrets Severus. Ah, no I did not think so, thus I don't think it reasonable to ask that she reveal hers to you. I will ask that you resume your research immediately."
"I do not wish to work with him Albus," she stood.
"He is your best hope at succeeding my dear," she opened her mouth to protest, "and he has the book." Dumbledore looked at them for a few moments, "besides, I wasn't really asking you know," he stated with a twinkle in his eye. The old man put his arm around her and gently prodded over to where Snape stood rigidly and put the other arm around the man in a friendly gesture. "You two both have your secrets and your pasts, but you are both good people on the inside. I believe that given time you will both come to see that in each other," at that he ushered them out the door.
They stood just outside the door for a few minutes, considering all that was said, Taranis was the first to speak, "please try and trust me Severus," she said quietly. Looking up at his face, he didn't seem mad anymore, but it was hard to tell. "I would have explained had you given me the chance." Several more moments passed in silence. Taranis felt tired suddenly, sad, such anger took a lot of energy and now she found herself saddened, "I would be willing to admit that it's possible you may have more knowledge than I with potions, although as I am a potions instructor myself, you should accept that I have at least a modicum of skill and give me the chance to prove it." Starting to feel choked up, she looked down, no, she thought, now is not the time to cry, not in front of him. "I will ask one thing of you, please," she sobbed unable to meet his eyes, "do not touch me again." Unable to stop the tears Taranis stepped forward to try and hide them when his hand grabbed her arm and pulled him around to meet his gaze.
Snape looked at the moistness on her cheeks, tears and pain pooling up in her eyes. He had listened to what the Headmaster had said, and much as he wanted to believe otherwise, the man knew best. It had been easy to treat her badly when he believed that she was conspiring against them, but now, he thought with a pang of regret, it will not be easy to make amends. He recalled how she had responded to his touch, how she had moaned and leaned into him, wanting more. Reaching up with his thumb he wiped a tear from her eye, nodded in response to her request and released her. "I am free to begin now if that is acceptable?"
She nodded and wiped her eyes and they started off toward the dungeons.
In Snape's office they took both books and spread them over the desk. "Where would you suggest we begin?" he asked.
Taranis stood and thought for a minute before she responded, "with the truth," she turned to face Severus. "Merlin," she paused, "is my grandfather."
"What?"
"I believe I spoke quite clearly."
"Good lord Taranis, you don't have to make up a story for my benefit," he was astonished that she would say such a thing. Merlin's granddaughter indeed!
She was abashed, "I am not making it up," Taranis declared.
"Be serious, it's a physical impossibility Taranis, that man lived thousands of years ago. How do you expect me to believe such an outlandish thing." Severus leaned on the table and looked at her in wonder. What do you say to such a thing?
"Fine!" she declared and she pointed to the door, "go ask Dumbledore. I'll wait here."
Ye gods is the woman crazy? "Fine," he said as he left.
Ten minutes later the Potions Master returned, and with a dazed look of shock on his face, she smirked. Taranis stood up a little straighter and squared her shoulders. "So, that's that." Severus looked over at her, his mouth slightly agape. "I assume I have no need to explain the consequences should this information get out. My life would be ," she shivered at the thought, "a circus, and I would be the local freak."
"Yes," was all he could say.
She briefed him on her notes for several minutes, reviewing the various obstacles she'd ran into. "What do you think about the mercury? Severus?"
"I'm sorry, what did you ask?"
Well good grief, who would have thought Snape would be at a loss for words. This was no use, "do you have any wine?" He pointed to a cabinet and she poured a glass, handing it to him, "that's it then, we're done for the night. Sit down and drink your wine Severus I'm going to bed, we'll talk tomorrow."
Severus was stunned, he had gone to Dumbledore's office to humor her, he had been unaccustomed at the regret he'd felt at the sight of her tears. The old man looked up when he entered, "back so soon Severus? It may take some time but I'm sure you two will get along, just give it a chance. I'm sure you'll find that one has a great mind, passed her NEWT in potions her first year you know?"
"What? That's not allowed," Snape cocked his head and thought for a moment, "her first year?"
The old man chuckled, "occasionally special circumstances do arise and exceptions are made, and yes, eleven years old Severus."
"Interesting," he tapped his lips with a finger, considering, before he realized that was not what he'd come up her for. "Actually I came for another reason, ridiculous actually, but perhaps you can clear it up?" Albus raised his eyebrows waiting for him to continue, "I'm quite sure Merlin is not her grandfather correct?"
"Did 'she' tell you that?" he looked surprised.
"Shocking I know, but yes. I apologize, I knew this would be a waste of your time," as he rose to leave.
"Yes, Severus he is."
"What, Dumbledore have you finally lost your mind? I's not possible, I can't believe I'm hearing this," he leaned forward onto the desk to look the headmaster in the eye, perhaps this was a joke at his expense.
"We live in a world of magic Severus, I trust you are aware that nothing is an impossibility."
"How can this be true?"
"The answers to that lie with Taranis, and in time perhaps she will share them with you Severus, it's not my story to tell."
The Potions Master's mind reeling with explanations and shock, headed back to the dungeon. He had heard her speak to him, but now the words she said and as he sat down with the wine she'd given him, he was glad to be alone to his musings. While he was not easily surprised, there were few things that could have shocked him more than this. Merlin, what if they brought him back? As one of the most powerful wizards ever, if not the most powerful the world had aver seen he certainly wouldn't want to be on the man's bad side. What would Voldemort do with the man in his midst, he wondered, most likely the man would die, quickly if he was lucky. And Taranis is his granddaughter, a slight grin formed on the dark face, 'he' had kissed Merlin's granddaughter. . .