The dark Potions Master stormed down the halls, the fact that frightened students were scattering in every direction normally helped lift his spirits, but they were especially grim right now. She can't leave, damn her. Stopping at her door he stood scowling, and yet couldn't bring himself to pound on it in fury as he wanted to. He paced back and forth several times, and finally unable to face her he left.

Severus sat in his office and considered what the old man had said. What if Taranis had been by his side while he was at school? They would have made a formidable team indeed, oh the pranks they could have played on Potter and Black would have been priceless. A grounding rock of patience like her would have surely prevented him from joining the Dark Lord, he smiled at the thought of her surrounded by three or four children, his children. 'My children?' He'd never before considered having any, but a woman like Professor Aislin decidedly stirred a paternal instinct in him.

Regrettably, he was but a boy then and too many things have come to pass, their very lives have chosen paths they cannot change. Damn it Dumbledore it's too late!

Yes, you foolish old man, it's too late.

Frustration was indeed settling in Taranis thought as she sat on the grassy spot in her room, playing her guitar. Her work with Snape was not going as well as she hoped, in fact they were at a standstill, but that was not as hard as being in the same room with the man day after day. Standing next to him, so close she could feel the heat from his body, smelling his masculine smell, and not being able to touch him was unbearable. Knowing the pleasure his hands and his body could give her and being denied it was taking its toll on her sanity. She felt herself moisten and throb at the thought of his hands on her breasts, his mouth, oh the pleasure that mouth could invoke.

Slowly she took her clothes off, turned down the lights and got into bed.

A little while later there was an incessant knocking at the door, unfortunately squeezing her eyes shut did not make it go away. Damn it all who is that! Donning her robe she went to the door to find Severus towering over her.

"What do you want Severus it's late?"

He stood looking at her flushed cheeks, "I felt a sudden need to check on you, are you all right?" he said pushing his way into the room.

She blushed, "I'm fine and you can go now."

He noticed her disheveled hair and her heavy breathing and scowled, "you don't look well, what were you doing?" She was hiding something, he thought at the guilty look on her face as she glanced at the bedroom.

"I, nothing so you can just go. Now." She said glancing at the bedroom door again.

A sudden thought hit him like a brick wall, does she have a man in there? Fury washed over him as he took in her flushed features and he stalked over to the door.

"No, no no! Severus don't! Stay out of there! Severus."

He forced his way into the room and stopped short, shock on his features as he eyed the bed. It was disheveled, but the device that lay on it was not what he suspected. He had heard of certain items used to pleasure a woman, but he was surprised to find one here, now.

"Are you happy now? I was masturbating ok, and I'm not very good at it so you'd better just go! Now. Wait, Severus, what are you doing?" Taranis backed out of her room as the man began to unbutton his shirt, "you keep that on Mr. Snape I mean it!" Unfortunately he continued to leer at her as he proceeded to discard his clothes.

She backed out into the living room, away from him, eyes wide as he began to undo his trousers. "I mean it stop right now or I'll scream!"

"Oh, I fully intend to have you screaming Taranis," he grinned lasciviously.

"Severus Snape," she began, "what's your middle name?"

"Smiles a lot."

She frowned, "Severus Snape you stop this right now!" Ye gods his naked body was gorgeous and her eyes found themselves unwilling to look away. She screeched as he grabbed for her and his hand caught her robe, ripping it off her body. "Ooh! Why you, I lied you know . . . I don't like you at all, no that's right . . . I never did, don't find you attractive at all so there! So you can just,"- she stopped as she tripped face first over one of her rugs.

He was on top of her before she even hit the ground, hands roaming over her body and she turned her head so he could capture her lips as he captured her wrists in his grip. He smiled at her groan as he thrust himself into her, burying himself to the hilt in her. Tightness wrapped around his member while thrust after thrust brought them to a frenzied rapture.

They lay still for several minutes before rising to dress.

"Well Severus," she smiled shyly, "thanks for so promptly alleviating my 'problem."

"Indeed," and with a slight bow, he was gone.

Things changed between them after that, settling back into a comfortable light-hearted routine. Taranis surmised it must be the sudden loss of the finality of their separation. It was as if an enormous weight was lifted off her shoulders, she sighed with release.

As they brewed their new concoction, she glanced at the man, regretting going to Dumbledore to inquire about a transfer. She thought of a life at Durmstrang without him and it was bleak. At least here the punishment was sublime, having him near was comforting in itself, and the possibility that they could occasionally have intimate interludes, was without a doubt an exciting thought. She longed to touch him right now, that was the hard part, wanting to feel his skin and drink him in with her eyes and not being able to. They could never openly have a relationship, she fought back a wave of self pity, never hold hands in public, never marry or have children. Taranis smiled bitterly at the last, she'd often thought of having his children, being a family, just another fantasy Taranis, give it up.

"Damn it Severus," she said pushing her hand through her hair, "this is not working!"

"What do you mean?"

"This potion! It' driving me crazy, I'm going to London to get another molecular biology book, I'll be back in a little bit," she said as she headed out the door.

"It'll take you at least several hours to get there and back."

She flipped her hand, "I'll just Apparate into the middle of town then."

"You don't know your way around London and you do know you can't just Apparate anywhere, what if you Disapparate in front of a Muggle?"

"Olbiviate?" Severus crossed his arms and glowered at her, "Oh come on, I'm in a hurry. It'll be fine."

"Apparently as you have no knowledge of certain rules and regulations I have no choice but to escort you safely."

"Gee thanks for offering. I'm gonna go change, be right back." As Taranis walked out the door she thought to herself, "chapter four, 'How to make a man 'think' it was his idea'.

Changing quickly into jeans and a fitted sweater, she went back to the lab to find Snape ready to go. He wore a simple pair of black jeans, his usual crisp white shirt covered by a black leather vest. Very nice, she thought, she could see the outline of his muscular thighs through the jeans and smiled to herself.

A short while later they stepped out of the Leaky Cauldron and hailed a cab. Arriving at the university book store she paid the driver as Severus looked around the campus.

"Wow," Taranis said behind Severus and as he began to turn she stopped him with a hand on his shoulder, "Severus Snape, you have the most amazing butt I've ever seen."

Not at all unpleased with her appraisal of his derriere, yet startled as she made to grab it, he took hold of her hand before she could do so and pulled her into the store. He felt a very masculine sort of pride with her at his side. She was busy examining books, oblivious to the many appraising looks she was receiving from the men in the store, but 'he' was aware of the envious eyes moving onto him shortly after. He smiled with his eyes, who had ever thought that he, Severus Snape would be the envy of the entire male population. It was definitely something he could get used to.

Taranis made her purchases and stopped short when she saw Severus talking to a young woman. She was attractive if somewhat gothic, long black hair and clothes. A stabbing fear closed over her heart as she handed him a piece of paper, most likely with her phone number on it. They look striking together, she noted. We haven't made any commitments after all, it's not my place to interrupt, he's never even told me that he cares for me in 'that' way. It could just be a sex thing, albeit mutually enjoyable, lord knows she's thrown herself at him enough. Just because we're friends doesn't mean he's my territory to claim, but ye gods I want to go and snatch him away from that bitch. She's probably a slut anyway, have to make a trip to the free clinic after that! Yeah!

Snape stood speaking with some half- wit intent on flirting with him, he'd noticed Taranis watching and hoped that she would come and rescue him, and yet there she stood looking uncomfortable and wary. Did she really think he might want the attentions of this girl? Excusing himself politely he strode intently over to where Taranis stood with her purchases and she gratefully took the arm he offered, smiling up at him as he dropped the paper in the trash on the way out.

Back in the dungeon later Taranis poured over the books as Severus is poured them each a glass of wine. Taranis was so intent in her study didn't notice him stiffen beside her.

"Shit!" She said softly grabbing her arm, "I think something just bit me, damn it hurts." She began to rub her arm and as she did so looked over at the man beside her. His face had gone completely white and he was staring at her blankly, a moment later he grabbed her and began unbuttoning her blouse.

"Severus really, what has gotten into you, this is not the place,"- she started as he yanked the shirt down over her arm. There was a large fiery red area covering much of her lower arm.

"Have you ever had this happen before?" He asked intently as he brushed his fingers over the area.

"No, weird isn't it? Itches and burns at the same time." He looked up at her with sad resignation in his eyes, then furrowed his brows, "what? Spit it out ok?"

He stood and took his robes and frock coat off and began taking off his shirt. She wasn't sure what to think, but he wasn't acting like he wanted to do the hibidy dibidy. He took off his usual crisp white shirt and turned to show her his arm. Gasping at the sight of a red skull shaped mark on his arm she reached out to touch it, startled when he flinched away.

"What is that?" she inquired.

"That is a 'Dark Mark', something the Dark Lord used to mark his followers, it is 'activated' like this as a summons to his side. I have gotten used to ignoring the pain so not to interrupt my classes. What I don't understand is why your arm is red as well." Severus stared into her eyes which widened slightly as she put her hand to her lips. "Taranis, perhaps I was not imagining that I felt your, frustrations the other night after all. Perhaps . . . tell me do your parents ever . . . feel each other . . . sense things?"

"They do, but, well they're married, we're not . . . I mean we're close and all sure, but I never expected this." Severus stared at her in deep thought for several long moments, "I'm sorry Severus, I guess this is all my fault. I'll see if I can get a hold of mom, maybe she's got some suggestions," she said shrugging her shoulders.

He nodded gravely, "fine," he said as he grabbed his cloak, "I'm going out, hopefully I'll be back."

"Hold it right there! What do you mean by that, 'hopefully I'll be back."

"I mean that one of these days Taranis and it is only a matter of time I assure you, my day to die will come. 'He' does not completely trust me. I live or die on his whim."

"Severus," she spoke running over to him and throwing her arms around the man as he made for the exit. She cupped his face in her palm as she looked deeply into his eyes, "come to me when you return?"

With a crisp nod of his head he was gone.