Severus stood waiting for Katrina outside one morning, over the last few weeks, they had spent each night together. He had even traveled to her cottage hidden deep in the dark forest. They spoke openly, candidly to each other, both comfortable that they would not be judged for their sins. One evening the vampire inquired after having him accompany her into Diagon Alley early the next morning.
"Out in the sun? Is that safe?"
"A benefit of age. I must seek sleep when the sun is full in the sky but the morning and eve light will not harm me."
And so he stood and waited. From the road to Hogsmeade he saw a figure in white approach. The woman was stunning, he noticed as she drew closer. Her long, wavy pale blond hair complimented a porcelain and roses complection. Dressed all in white and covered with a hooded velvet cloak, trimmed in ermine she strode up to him and upon closer inspection, he realized it was Katrina, though not as he knew her, he gaped.
"There are many that would recognize me now, so I thought a change of appearance in order. I do have control over my cell structure my beautiful one. You have seen me dissipate and reform, this is just a slightly different form. There have been many nights I have run with the wolves."
"I'm the beautiful one now, and not the little one?"
"I have always found you beautiful Severus."
"I am amazed that you could think such a thing after my past, but . . ."
"My past is darker than your own is it not? Do you not find beautify in me then?"
To the contrary, he was amazed at the loveliness of her, "my lady, there is none that I could ever compare," he said with a slight bow.
They apparated into a Knockturn Alley where she had wanted to visit a 'unique' book store. Severus excused himself for a few minutes as he went to the apothecary. As she was searching for the material she had wanted, a voice spoke from behind, "hello, do I know you?" Turning she saw a man, tall and pale with long white blond hair, while attractive, she could feel the evil seeping from his pores.
"No," was the simple reply.
"Lucius Malfoy," he said kissing her hand lightly.
"You may call me Kat."
She stood still as he stepped forward and softly touched her hair, "such beauty, so fragile, you should not be here alone, it is a dangerous place." The man looked down on her as he spoke, his voice soft, authoritative and sensual.
"Ah, yes, I am week as you are strong, I assure you Mr. Malfoy, I will not break."
"Lucius please," the man crooned showing his arrogance, "call me by my given name. You must be new in town? I'm quite positive I would recall seeing a woman such as yourself."
"I have lived here for some time now, solitude and seclusion are often preferable to socialization."
"I would agree, sometimes seclusion has great rewards," the man said as his hand stroked her face, his thumb gently caressing her lip, "I would be honored if you would allow me to accompany you today, one never knows what unseemly creatures might be lurking nearby."
"My escort will return shortly Mr. Malfoy. Your concern for my well being is duly noted." As Lucius' hand was beginning to tighten on her arm, Katrina saw Severus enter the store, "speaking of the devil. Severus," she said as she moved to take his arm, "do you know Mr. Malfoy?"
"Lucius and I are, old friends," the dark man drawled slowly, placing his hand over hers as he regarded the other man with disdain.
"Snape? Well I must say this is a surprise to find you escorting such a tantalizing little morsel? Madam, you must have been in solitude a very long time after all."
"Not so long that I cannot discern the qualities I seek in a companion. I assure you Mr. Malfoy, the pleasure I find in the Professor's company is more than satisfactory."
"Indeed? That is extraordinary. Perhaps the two of you would be willing to come out of your mutual seclusion long enough to join Narcissa and I at the opera next weekend?"
The Potions Master took in her slight nod of agreement and he accepted the offer before steering her out of the store.
"Mr. Malfoy was just offering to protect me Severus, as I am a delicate little flower."
Snape watched the corner of her lips draw up into the slightest of smiles, this was the first glimmer of emotion he'd seen from her. Compassion, humor in her eyes, shook him, pleased him, "withering away from neglect no doubt. I will make a note to be more attentive in the future," he said as they strolled arm in arm.
"Lest Lucius try to pluck one of my petals?"
It was Snape's turn to suppress a grin, "it would be interesting to see him try."
They Apparated to the edge of the forest and Snape pulled her inside where it was more secluded. "Will you change back for me? As lovely as you are I wish to have the other Katrina back." He watched as her hair darkened, shortened, her innocent white clothes changing into the black breeches and blouse he was more accustomed to before he pulled her into his arms for a deep kiss.
Over the next week they came together each night, either in his lair or hers, basking in the glory of embrace. His sexual appetites were amazing, just as voracious as hers, just as dark and demanding. Yet the night after their excursion to London when Snape had come to her there had been something different. Katrina had relived that night over and over in her mind.
They'd slowly approached each other, tentatively, as if in a silent trance his eyes drank her in. His fingers caressed her forehead, soft on her cheek, like delicate whispers over the outline of her ear and down to her chin. Those wonderful long fingers traced her lips, parting them to run over her teeth, her sharp incisors, before both hands cupped her face. His brows slightly furrowed as he stared intently at her and Katrina thought that look new to his countenance. Compassion, she realized as soft lips met with hers.
"Oh my little one," she said with a sigh.
"You are mine Katrina," she barely heard the soft susurration of his voice in her ear as his lips trailed kisses over her neck.
Those words coming from this man, were like fire in veins that had been cold for thousands of years, his claiming her as his own and the astounding volumes those few words spoke. Severus did not claim her with dominance, no his methods were much more effective. Was it jealousy perhaps that had prompted them? The fear of another man's desires? A concerto of passion overcame her as their lips met and she drank deeply from them.
Slowly, too slowly, masterful fingers unbuttoned her blouse and she was almost surprised his lips didn't leave a trail of steam as they followed his hands. Katrina looked down at his dark countenance as he slipped the material over her shoulders, stopping half way Severus pulled forward, trapping her arms as his tongue lapped at her nipple. Too quickly he stopped and removed the shirt before removing her shoes and unbuttoning her pants. He stood and looked her in the eye, smiling ever so slightly at her desire as his hands eased inside her pants to cup her buttocks. Snape pulled her to him tightly, his hardness rubbing against her as he slid to the floor pulling her pants down as he went.
Katrina was aching with desire as Severus removed the last of her clothing. When she moved toward him he halted her with an out turned palm, "be still," he whispered.
Starting at the top of her head, Severus touched her, ran his hands through her hair, pulling it back from her ears and kissed them gently. Katrina felt his fingertips on her sensitive neck, tracing the muscles before running his tongue over the same path. Palms cupped her face as an intent stare took in every feature. Long fingers trailed over her forehead and eyebrows, under her eyes to her cheekbones and the hollow beneath. One long finger ran over her nose and down to her lips, outlining them before moving on to her jaw line and over her chin. Severus pulled her head forward and kissed her forehead, training kisses along the same path, his moist tongue gently parted her lips as he tasted her tongue and the roof of her mouth. Soft fire covered her jaw and neck before he moved to her back. Katrina felt the bones and the sinew of her shoulders and back being traced before his lips again followed.
As the gentle touch covered her Katrina recalled one day when she had crouched in a tree and watched a spider spin it's web gossamer thread by gossamer thread. This was how Severus claimed her, weaving her into his snare with delicate threads. The vampire considered the ease of which those fine threads could be broken to free herself. She perused her reasons, motives and obligations and while perhaps not the wisest choice, she made the only one possible. As she succumbed to his body Katrina gave credence to his claims.
Severus cupped her buttocks while his tongue ran over her lower back, then gently his teeth nipped at her cheeks one at a time. Down firm legs those fingers trailed, those lips covered her flesh as Katrina stood still, heat and passion growing to encompass her. She felt the moistness between her legs as her womanhood throbbed for release. The dark man's fingers roamed over her ankles, feet and toes as he bowed deeply in front of her. Tongue and teeth followed up her legs to her belly with agonizing slowness before he cupped her breasts, before he savored each erect nipple in his glorious mouth.
Lifting her leg, Severus draped it over his shoulder while his fingers parted her folds, probing and exploring, teasing. Katrina's breath quickened as he leaned forward pressing into her, his tongue making her cry out with pleasure. Too soon he pulled back and stood, gazing intently at her face, taking in her emotions, her pleasure.
Quickly discarding his clothes, Snape's hands took hers and she was pulled to a chair where Severus sat and pulled her onto his lap. She stood in silent agony while her entrance was teased by his member before being pulled down and impaled. Firm hands grasp her waist, Severus watched her face intently as their bodies melded together. Several times he stopped moving, forcing her to delay her climax, forcing her to slow down before he continued, until together their bodies cried out to each other in unison.
They sat still joined for a long while, Katrina nestled against his firm chest. Severus spoke no sweet words, that was not in the nature of the man, but his body and his actions spoke them none the less. His lovemaking was simple but very effectual and for tonight, she was a woman, not a beast.