Snape is mine only in my dreams...
"I'm sorry," the elder man said, poking his finger in his ear, "heh, heh, I could have sworn you said a few thousand years."
"The year is indeed two thousand and four," Severus replied, standing stiffly, fists against his sides. "Perhaps we should have this little reunion at a later time?"
"Don't get snippy with my grandfather Snape."
Maeve intervened before the bickering could begin, "darling, this is Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"It is an honor and a privilege to make your acquaintance sir," the dark man said as he inclined his head.
"Likewise, I'm sure. You're the one who managed to reanimate me then? That was no small feat, no indeed. My potion itself was incredibly complex, it took years to devise. A master of the craft you must be and I am greatly indebted to you."
"Your granddaughter and I worked as partners. I must admit that I have never known anyone other than myself, with a skill and knowledge so vast. It was in fact Taranis that solved the last piece of the puzzle, you should be proud of her, for a true Potions Master she is."
Taranis blushed, amazed that such praise could come from this man, especially now, it was a great compliment. Merlin's eyes showered her with pride. "Allow me to introduce the others sir, Remus Lupin, Sirus Black and Alistor Moody." She almost laughed as the men stepped forward awkwardly, her grampy trying not to look at Moody's 'mad' eye.
"I owe you all a great debt of gratitude, ah yes, it is good to be free."
"It's about time too," Maeve said grabbing his hand, "we are off to store the grail away in a safe place at Tir nan Og. I have already recovered the cauldron by the way so don't be worried that it's gone."
"What, how could you possibly get to that pot? It was stored and warded very carefully in my chambers?" Snape scowled at the woman.
"Dear me professor, have you not realized by now the great ancient powers the fey posses? Taranis was almost killed for the small share she'll come into one day. There's nothing you could have possibly done that could keep me out." Maeve and Merlin gave Taranis a hug and kiss on the cheek, "we may need a while to, ah, catch up my dear, so you might not see us for a bit. Don't worry though, we'll come around for a visit soon." With a flurry of light and sparks of electricity the two disappeared.
Taranis left with the four men and headed back to get Hagrid for the journey home.
Now that their work together had ended, Severus noted, life was back to the miserable lonely experience it had been until earlier this year. His mood had settled back to the usual dark snappish disposition the people around him had gotten so used to. The students who were already afraid of his wrath during class times, seemed especially on edge, as if sensing the spiraling descent of his constant anger.
Nights were spent laying sleepless in bed until he finally consumed a Sleeping Draught in frustration. One night he felt the coin Maeve had given him under his pillow and he pulled it out, studying the rune-covered piece for a long time before replacing it under his pillow, and sinking into a dreamless oblivion.
Taranis now felt her presence at the school was awkward, true she only had to see Severus at mealtimes, but just knowing he was in the building was unsettling. She'd gone out to Hogsmeade with the girls once, thinking to drink herself in forgetting the man, but only succeeded in getting a whopping hangover the next morning. Tossing and turning in bed that night, she finally slept fitfully and when she awakened headed out to face the day, her bleary eyes unaware of the glint of the silver coin that had fallen under her dresser.
At dinner that night Dumbledore stood and made his way to the front of the staff podium. "If I might have your attention please?" The students became silent as they listened intently to the man, "Professor's Aislin and Snape if you would be so kind as to step forward?" The two made only the slightest of eye contact as they moved to where the old man stood. "Professor Aislin, Professor Snape, for your outstanding achievements and expertise, The Ministry has asked me to award you with these," handing them each a scroll he continued, "you have each been honored with the Order of Merlin, first class I might add."
The roar of the students was deafening and Taranis felt shock wash over her body, never had she considered that she might receive such an honor. Ye gods, she looked up at Severus who merely glanced down at her, expressionless except for the raised eyebrows. She noticed he turned to the Slytherin table and treated them to a sneering grin, inclining his head slightly in recognition of their praise.
Thankful for the smiling faces of the children to warm her spirits, especially Harry, Ron and Hermione, who were especially exuberant, she sat back down. The other staff members came over to pat her on the back and offer congratulations.
Though surprised at the award, it was bittersweet. Without Severus, life didn't have much meaning to her, it was just there, to be taken one day at a time, and so she did, immersing herself in lessons and looking toward moving on in the summer.
Several weeks later she decided to brave a trip to the dungeon, intent on retrieving her book of poems, startled to see Lucious Malfoy blocking her path.
"Mr. Malfoy, what a surprise to find you, here?"
"Taranis," said the man, but something about the voice was not quite right, not the normal airy elegant drawl.
"Is there something you wanted governor?"
He walked up to her, his face covered with an arrogant sneer and something else, something malevolent, "I have missed you Taranis."
Shock ranged through her body, awash with recognition, as the man slammed his fist into her face she heard a sudden crack before blissfully losing consciousness.
Down in the dungeon, Severus' body was suddenly racked with pain, though not intense, it did surprise him. Taranis? Surely not? The coin is still under my pillow, yet the feeling continued to nag at him. Storming to his office he rummaged through the drawers until, finding what he wanted, pulled out the Marauders Map. What is she doing in the Shrieking Shack? His body shook with fear as he examined the map closer, there were several other people in the room with her, Death Eaters he noted grimly. One name, however, squeezed his heart with terror, Barl McKlinty, the bastard who had tortured her and left her for dead. The man who had raped her and took her innocense, his fists clenched in rage. She is mine! I will kill him! Dear gods, the only thing that man wanted, was her death.
Slamming through the doors in Dumbledore's office, the old man looked up startled at his abrupt entrance. "Taranis has been kidnaped, in the Shrieking Shack, Death Eaters, and 'that man' is with her, ye gods Albus he's going to kill her. Get help now," he snarled as he turned, heading back to the door.
"Severus wait, you can't go alone," pleaded the man.
"Then I would suggest you send to the order now!"
Running down the front steps and across the lawn, the Potions Master Apparated to the shack as soon as he hit the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
Quickly surveiling the room he saw the three Death Eaters standing to one side of Lucious Malfoy, "Lucious," Snape said eying the man, shocked that it was he, who held a bruised and bloodied Taranis by the arm. He began to wonder where Barl was, "just what are you doing? May I remind you that is a Hogwarts professor. I can't believe the Dark Lord would approve of her being stolen right out of the school."
"You said the Dark Lord wasn't going to find out about this," hissed one of the other men.
"He won't if we kill this one too," Lucious said, in a voice that didn't belong to Malfoy, he motioned for one of the men, who grabbed the wand out of Severus' hand.
As the man's face began to shake and reform, the Polyjuice potion wearing off. Snape found out where Barl was. The man began to raise his wand and halted, shocked by the force of Taranis' knee slamming into his groin. As the man gasp in pain she scrambled over to Snape, falling at his feet. Dumbledore, he thought, get that bloody help here now. He heard Taranis sucking in deep breaths of air from where she sat, holding onto his leg for support.
"What are you laughing at?" Barl growled, halting the snickering of the other men. "Well, well, what have we here? Is this your new lover woman? Bet he's not as good as I was?"
Keep your mouth shut please, Severus thought, we can bluff our way until the others arrive, but it was to no avail, "fuck off you bloody one-eyed son of a bitch!"
"We'll see who you like to have fucking you off you whore," Barl yelled raising his wand. Severus instantly moved to protect Taranis as the curse started to fall from the man's lips, but before he could do so she rose to hear feet, thrusting her wand to his chest as the full force of the 'Avada Kedavra' hit her square in the back. Her beautiful eyes locked onto his in silent shock before she fell at his feet.
Endless days later Severus sat beside her bed in the infirmary, holding her hand. Amazed that she had survived the curse at all, it was doubtful that she would awaken. Dumbledore had said that something in her faerie blood had lessened the effects of the curse, but still he felt little hope.
Pain fused through him each time he remembered how he had pushed her away, how he'd hurt her. Longing for the days of easy friendship and the too few nights of pleasure they had shared, regret that he had not shown her just how cherished she was. Once again Dumbledore was right, Severus Snape was a fool to waste the chance I had to share love with her, even if it was only for a few months. If Taranis was willing to take the risk knowing that I might die at any time, why couldn't I do the same for my frail little creature. Ah, what I would give for a few months worth of blissful memories, a few months worth of love for an unlovable man? That would be a priceless gift indeed, one he'd let slip though his fingers. No, he thought bitterly, one I threw back in her face.
Refusing to leave her side these past days, Snape had eaten and slept in the bed next to hers. He stroked her face gently, snapping to attention when her eyes fluttered open.
"Taranis," he whispered, leaning forward, unable to believe his eyes.
"Severus," she smiled weakly as she gasp for a breath, "I missed you," his eyes gentle and compassionate as they washed over her. "I love you Severus."
He reached to stroke her face, "as much as I have tried to persuade myself otherwise, I love you as well."
A faint smile graced the pale cheeks, "Oh, Severus, you have become so chivalrous now? How touching that you lie to make a dying woman happy."
"You are going to live," he whispered.
A harsh cough brought a drop of blood to her lips, and her eyes shining with love reflected in his, "and why, would I want to do that?" Came her soft voice, as she closed her eyes and went to her final rest.
The dark man, the man whom no one thought possessed a heart, lay his head gently on his love's soft chest, and wept for his soul as well as hers.