Ok, get this. JK Rowling GAVE the HP universe to ME!!! Would you believe? Now, I can finally get some money for all this hard work. Wonder if her neighborhood has any more castles up for sale? Have you ever thought of what their paper boy must go through? He has to have one HECK of an arm to make it up that driveway!
sigh>>>> I wish. Anywho, you know the drill.
Hers, not mine. She's rich and will always be. The jammy cow.
I am as poor as desert dirt and getting poorer all the time.
Only doing this for fun, not profit. *grinding teeth here*
And to each of you and the world: Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!
The journey through the snow shrouded Forbidden Forest was conducted in silence, Severus' faltering steps guided by the massive canines that walked to either side of the battered wizard. Olivia's face had tightened in pained horror, tears gathering in her eyes, at the sight of Severus' wounds, but he had gripped her hands tightly, snapping, "Shed no tears for me!"
Wordlessly nodding, Olivia had assisted Severus to his feet and then altering to her owl form had flown ahead of the trio to warn Madam Pomfery of their coming.
It wasn't until much later, when he lay upon him own bed, did he allow Olivia to bathe his chest with her scalding tears. Severus' wounds, along with the horrific death of Patience Doyle whelmed the witch to the core.
Though Olivia had sworn to never call upon her again, that night the name of Brigit careened about the tormented witch's chamber like a curse. She had left Severus to his sleep and staggering back to her own rooms, shut the heavy door with terrified dread.
"Lady! Brigit! I beg of you, let this end!" The tormented witch sobbed, collapasing to the floor. "Let it end now!"
A sigh, firm with purpose and ragged with resignation wafted through the chill air. "So be it."
**********************************************************************************************
According to Muggle papers, the Doyle family was the victim of a revenge seeking group of excaped convicts. The interior of the modest home was in shambles. The bodies of the Doyle's teenage sons had been found in their beds, their throats cut while they had slept. Patience's body had been dumped along a rural lane some miles from the home. The country was gripped with terror and repugnance by the brutality of the killings.
Of Inspector Reginald Doyle, there was no word, though the police were expecting the worse.
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Slender fingers, black with decay, drummed thoughtfully upon the arm
rest of the massive throne-like chair. "So, you believe you have
succeeded where my diviners and wizards have failed?" Voldemort inquired
politely, a thread of ice running its way through his carefully placed
words.
The kneeling figure before the throne did not look up but spoke brashly, with a confidence that concurrently galled and amused the dark lord . "My lord, I was raised as a Catholic. I am familiar with their legends and their rites."
"You will not share this information you have in your possession?" Voldemort whispered, his red eyes fixed upon the bowed head of the Muggle offical.
"Forgive me the desire to esteem myself in your eyes. I am a Muggle, therefore beneath your usual notice. I would not want to raise your hopes, simply to have them dashed by my failure." A bold hand reached out to tenderly stroke the leather of the wizard's booted foot. "I merely beg your permission to proceed. If I am successful, your pleasure will be my only reward."
Voldemort laughed aloud at the blatant lie. "And if you fail?"
The bowed figure in the expensive Muggle suit shuddered. "You are my lord, my master. I live...or die by your will alone."
Silence hung over the pair as the wizard seated on the throne glutted himself upon the fear and adoration rolling from the pitiful piece of Muggle trash kneeling before him.
"Please, master!" The man whispered urgently. "Let me prove to you that I am useful beyond the meger services provided by my office."
Voldemort pondered the Muggle's proposition. Clearly, being raised on the inane babblings of the church, gave the man an advantage. The bitch's attempts to hide within popish trappings might be turned against her if one of her own were set upon the trail. Meanwhile, Snape was still unraveling the mysteries of that twice damned book. The Potions Masters reports of his research had satisfied the demon lord's thirst for information.
The death of Sirius Black was just the right twist of lime that gave the libation extra spark.
"Very well." Voldemort advised slowly. "But should you spook the prey, cause her to bolt..." He left the sentence and the threat dangling over the Muggle's head.
"I understand, my lord. I thank you for this honor." Once more, the hand lightly carassed the boot tip.
"Begone!" The dark one barked, kicking out at the offending presence.
Without another word, the Muggle fled.
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The slamming of the heavy door was punctuated by an explosive crack! as the panel split down the center, the pale, inner wood exposed like an unbleeding wound.
He is features were twisted with rage as the Potions Master put as much distance as possible between himself and the occupants of the chamber behind him. The knowledge that they had come, come here to Hogwarts, to rebuke him, tore at Snape as he stormed down the corridor, his guts burning in angry shame. Not even during his active Death Eater days had they bothered to show their faces. There had been no contact while he lay in that Muggle hospital, shot and from what he had gathered, very near death.
Yet now!
Now they were here! Sticking their cold noses into his life because he had dared to allow their name to become fodder for the tabloid press. A familiar pain clogged the wizard's throat and he fought against the embittered disappointment that their presence had constantly provided.
He paused to calm his breathing, slow the maddened pounding of his heart, and leaned heavily against the frigid stones lining the gloomy corridor. What had Albus been thinking to allow the pair of them entrance to the castle? Didn't the old fool realize that no good could come from their being here? But allow them he did.
Offered them tea!
Invited them stay for dinner!
All the while looking at Snape with those pleading blue eyes.
Damn it all! This was his home now! This castle, this school was Severus' home; the only place on the entire planet where he could enjoy some measure of peace. With a growl, he lurched away from the wall and continued down the carpeted hall with long, angry strides.
He made his way to Miss McGonagall's office. She had to be told of their presence. With their cold, impersonal voices, they had accepted Dumbledore's offer to stay the night and it would be a gross discourtesy on Snape's part to allow Olivia to come before them unprepared.
Lord, how he dreaded this night!
He rapped his knuckles sharply on her office door and at her muffled response, entered. Olivia looked up, the welcoming smile slipping from her lips as she took in the tightly drawn muscles of his face, the tension that radiated from every inch of his body.
"Severus, what's happened?" Olivia asked sharply coming around her desk to where he stood, his back pressed against the door, eyes closed. Her hand cupped his cheek, her thumb stroking along the rigid planes of his face while her other hand sought his clenched fist and brought it to her breast. "Love? What is it?" She inquired in soft concern.
His eyes snapped open at the endearing term and Olivia gasped upon seeing the bitter anger and pain whirling in the black depths. Before she could speak more, Severus cupped his free hand about the back of her head, pulling her mouth to his with crushing pressure. His lips attacked more than kissed, his tongue driving between her lips and past her teeth to pillage the warm, wet cavity of her mouth. Olivia felt his groan of desire as he tilted her head back, slanting his lips over hers with hot desperation. Suddenly, his hands were roaming over her body, hard and needy as he fought to bring her even closer within his embrace. Here was one who gave to him unconditionally. One who with held nothing. One who loved him.
Gasping, Olivia arched herself into Snape's chest as he left her mouth, sliding his tongue along her jaw to capture the shell of her ear in a painful nip. He rained kisses upon the offended flesh before biting his way down the curve of her throat, his hands now busy stroking and palming the sweet rise of her breasts.
"Severus? What has...?" she began.
"No!" He demanded harshly, bringing his eyes up to hers. They glittered hard and hot, black diamonds. Behind the crystallized gleam lurked a desire so basic, so bare in its intensity that Olivia was silenced. "No words. Not now." Snape whispered harshly before he claimed her mouth once more.
Powerless against his need, she surrendered to Severus' violent passion. His tongue swirled and bucked within her mouth, lashing about as he drank in the taste of her. Her scent filled his nostrils; the fruity tang of her shampoo, the warm smell of her skin combined with the rising aroma of her sex. He became lost in her. Olivia's panting cries drove him to abandon all aspects of decorum and with hard fingers, he snatched her simple sweater over her head and flung it to the floor. Wrapping his arms about her slim frame, he turned and pressed her roughly against the door.
Olivia dug her fingers into the heavy material of Severus' cloak and wrapped her legs about his lean waist. As he bit and kissed his way down her throat to suckle a breast through the thin cotton of her camisole, she toed the shoes from her feet and locked her ankles above Severus' tight buttocks. He moaned in appreciation and turned his attention to her other breast, his teeth grazing her taut nipple through the fabric before pulling the puckered flesh into his mouth. He broke away long enough to pull the skimpy, white garment from her before returning to his feast.
His mind was captured in the undertow of desire. He was being swept way, pulling Olivia down with him. After what he had experienced a moment ago Snape needed the feel of her tender flesh under his questing hands, needed her to be yielding and compliant, accepting and loving him without question. Keeping his mouth sealed around the hardened peak of her breast, he scraped his hands roughly along the bare, warm skin of her waist and hips until he cupped her tail. Olivia cried out hoarsely as he grabbed her, pulling at the cheeks, grinding his hardness against the weeping cleft between her legs. He slid his long, clever fingers along the outer lips of her vagina, growling in frustration when he encountered more cotton. Pulling his lips from her reddened nipple, Snape glared down at Olivia, her green eyes now foggy with desire. His fingers twisted in the slender strap at her hip and savagely ripped the panties from her body.
Olivia attempted to speak at the rough treatment but he silenced her with his mouth as his fingers once more quested into the heat of her core. His knees trembled and a groan of lust rattled his frame as he found her dripping with wanting him. Wrapping one are firmly about her waist, Severus grappled with the fastenings of his trousers, his tongue still plundering her mouth without mercy. His erection sprang free, hot and seeping. Without pause, Severus guided himself to the beckoning fire between Olivia's legs and plunged inside.
Olivia reared back with the shock of his sudden penetration, breaking contact with his lips. Her head made loud contact with the door but she ignored the sharp sting in favor of attending to the wizard grinding away against her hips. Lacing her fingers behind his neck, Olivia stiffened her arms. Gaining some leverage, she strained against Severus' thrusting, meeting each of his upward strokes fiercely, clenching her inner muscles about him as he withdrew. He filled her completely, his girth stretching her inner walls with a sensation that bordered on pain.
Severus shifted his hands until they were both clamped firmly about Olivia thighs. Pressing her even harder against the creaking door, he hammered into her body with abandon, punctuating each surge with an animalistic grunting.
Oh the exquisite heat of her! The velvet tightness of her pussy snapped at his cock when he retreated, as if she were trying to gobble him whole. He could feel the juices from their combined heat sliding down his inner thighs and the pebbled tips of her breasts gouged into his chest as he struggled to remain upright! Her arms were about his shoulders, pulling him to her. His name fell from her lips in tattered gasps and whispers that kept time with his lunges.
He snaked a hand up Olivia's spine, burying his fingers into the short curls at the back of her head. She cried out softly, mewing like an injured kitten when he pulled her head back, forcing her to look into his face. "Look at me!" He panted. "Tell me the words!" Pressing his forehead hard against her own, Severus' eyes bored into her soul, burning, black, demanding. "Tell me the words!"
Fighting for air, Olivia tightened her hold on the Potions Masters heaving body. Her lips were dry with her panting, her mind dissolving into mist, but she knew what he needed to hear, what his starving heart craved. Her tongue darted out and she laved his face from chin to brow. "I love you, Severus!" She moaned, arching into him even more. "I love the way you feel...ah! Inside me! Yes! Deeper, love. Oh, yes! Harder, Severus. Make it feel good, baby! Oh gods, how I love you! I love you."
His assault increased as her words flowed over him. Snarling, his lips drawn back in a grimace, Snape pounded into her tender heat. Olivia felt tears rise in her eyes from the exquisite pain he inflicted and she bit her lips to hold back her cries. Their eyes were locked on each other as the first waves of impending release came over him. He felt the rising fire begin in his balls and flare up into his wildly pistoning hips. He tried mightily to keep his eyes open as the explosion took him but lost the fight. Violent spasms racked his frame as hot seed shot from his body into her welcoming passage. His thrusting became more erratic as he screamed, his black head tossed back, his entire body straining into Olivia.
She clung to him, kissing the sweat from his neck, murmuring words of love and pleasure. He grappled with his breathing, his laboring heart, riding the descending wave of his orgasm, shuddering with each contraction of Olivia's scalding sheath. Finally, his legs could support their combined weight no longer and he slowly melted to the floor. Olivia straddled his hips, her forearms wrapped about his damp head, his face buried within the curve of her neck.
They leaned into each other, savoring the lingering aura of their passion. Severus trailed slow kisses over her neck and shoulder as her fingers stroked through his hair. Soon the cool air of the chamber leeched through their cocoon of love and Olivia shivered. She pulled back slightly, running her hand along Severus' face, raising his eyes to hers. "Severus, love? What is it that brought you here this way? What has happened?" Concern furrowed her pale brow and she kissed his nose and lips, worry for him filling her completely.
Snape's body quaked as he released a shuddering breath. Leaning away from her, he rolled his eyes ceiling ward. "It is my...parents." He felt Olivia stiffen under his hands. "They are here."
Olivia's green eyes formed perfect Os of shock before she swallowed hard and inquired in a squeaky voice, "Your...parents?"
With a snort, Severus pushed her from his lap. Standing, he glared down at the tousled witch at his feet. "Yes, Olivia. My parents!" Bending, he grabbed her by the shoulders and heaved her to a standing position before continuing in his typical blistering tones. "Father. Mother. The usual ingredients for the creation of a child. Contrary to popular myth, I did not crawl out from under a rock." He brow gathered threateningly as Olivia laughed.
"I always figured you sprang fully formed from one of those jars in your lab, meself." She chided.
He made no answer as he righted his clothing. Olivia attempts to assist him as he tucked his now flaccid penis into his trousers were met with irritated slaps at her eager hands. Kissing the tips of her fingers, she brushed them across the reddened tip just before it disappeared behind Snape's robes. "I'll be seeing YOU later!" She smirked.
"Olivia, that is truly wicked."
"I know. But so was what we did here just now." Olivia brushed her skirt free of wrinkles and cast about for her camisole and sweater. "If your folks cause that type of reaction all the time, I say let's make them live here!"
"No!" Severus barked, then instantly regretted his outburst as Olivia backed away, chagrined.
With an exasperated sigh, the wizard raked a hand through his long hair. "Olivia," he began. "Theirs is not a visit of pleasure or reunion." He watched as she pulled her clothing over her head. "Have you never wondered why I do not bring up my family in conversation? Why they did not appear at my side in London? Have you never wondered why?" This last was bitten out sharply.
"Well," Olivia began, cautiously. "You never made mention of your parents. I just assumed they were deceased."
"It was I who was dead to them." Severus growled. "Until today."
Taking his hand, Olivia led the stone faced wizard to a near by chair, indicating that he sit. As Snape stared morosely into the low embers glowing in Olivia's hearth, she summoned a house elf, requesting tea for the both of them. Within moments, she had joined Snape by the fire.
"Severus, why are your parents here now?" Olivia asked, presenting her question along with a bracing cup of tea.
"It would seem that I have managed to bring the family name to an all time low." He replied without meeting her eyes. "I have rooted them from their bolt hole by being the third point in a tragic lover's triangle." His lip curling sardonically, Severus sipped from his cup.
"You're shitting me!" Olivia burst out, unthinkingly.
"I assure you, madam, I am not...shitting you." He replied with a faint smile, finally turning to take in her startled countanance.
Olivia pondered the new knowledge as she sipped her tea. Snape could visualize the cogs and gears in her clever mind whirling as she considered the situation. She startled him with her next words.
"How long has it been? Since you last saw them, I mean."
"Nearly twenty years." He replied flatly.
"Owls?"
"None."
"No contact what so ever?" Her voice was growing hard.
"None. Olivia, you must understand that mine was not the warmest of families. We did not...touch. Caresses were for weaklings. Words of tenderness and love were foreign to me when I came to Hogwarts. Needless to say, I lacked certain skills when it came to interpersonal relationships. You have seen evidence of that shortcoming with your own eyes."
Olivia's expression was full of tenderness as she reached out a hand and laid it over his own. Turning his hand palm up, Severus gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. "I have had moments when I regreted my...upbringing. Yet, it has served me well in many instances. I do not complain about my parents, per sea, just their damnable presence. If they want nothing to do with me, why come now, after all this time?" His free hand slashed out at the world in general. "Why choose such a lamentable excuse for stepping back into my life."
"Perhaps," Olivia was choosing her words carefully. "They simply wanted to see you and grabbed at any reason to come?" When Severus rolled his eyes, Olivia sighed and continued. "I don't know, Severus. I don't know these people. I do know they have hurt you terribly." Again the eyes rolled ceilingward. "Yes, they hurt you! Admit it! You came to me just now in such a state of pain, it hurt my eyes to look at you. They hurt you and you came to me for comfort." She stroked her thumb over the back of his hand. "I am so glad I was here for you, Severus. Thank you for trusting me with your heart."
His lids slid shut as he whispered, "I do trust you. You are one who will never leave me. I know that now."
He did not see her face twist in pain as anguish gripped her heart.
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Dinner that night was served in Headmaster's private dining room. Severus was frowning into his brandy when Olivia was admitted into the chamber by a smiling Albus Dumbledore, a cooly elegant Minerva McGonagall by his side, acting as his hostess for the evening.
"Ah, Olivia my dear. Come in and meet some old and dear friends." Albus stated, taking her hand and leading her to the imposing pair standing by the fire.
"Olivia McGonagall, may I introduce Septemus and Ephenia Snape?" The Headmaster graciously drew Olivia to the couple. Forcing an inviting smile to appear on her face, the witch inclined her head respectfully.
"At least the chit is presentable enough!" Septemus Snape huffed, his black eyes, so much like his son's, rudely ticking over her body as if he were awarding her points for having the correct number of breasts. His robes of deep purple velvet covered wide shoulders, tapering down to a waist just starting to thicken with age.
"And I have learned to sign my name in real writing." Olivia responed with an icy grin.
Ephenia Snape's mouth formed an circle of shocked dismay as she shot a glance towards her husband. Mr. Snape lowered greying brows, scowling first at his wife and then to the younger witch. "Impertantant as well, I see." He cast a shrewd eye to where his son stood brooding by the fire. "You will suit one another admirably, as that one there was always too quick with his damn tongue."
"Mmm." Olivia replied, noncommittedly before turning her attention to Ephenia. The older woman was of medium height, but her demenor made her appear smaller, almost frail. "Mrs. Snape, did you have a pleasent trip?"
"It was tolerable." Boomed her husband.
"And how is Northumberland this time of year?" Olivia inquired of Mrs. Snape, pointedly ignoring the tall, stone faced wizard by her side. "I must admit to never having visited that region."
Severus' mother looked to her towering husband, and receiving his permitting nod, turned to Olivia. "It is tolerable." Her voice was low and subdued and Olivia felt pity rising in her chest, for Ephenia Snape was obviously cowed by her mate.
As Olivia made to speak once more, a tiny bell began to ring and Dumbledore touched her lightly on the arm. "I see the house elves are ready for us. It would be most rude to not give our attention to their efforts." he chuckled.
~~*~~
Dinner was strained, to put it mildly. The conversation, or monologue, depending upon your defination, was initiated, steered and dominated by Septemus Snape.
He derided the Ministry, certain they were all on the take.
The growing wizard economy was heading for a fatal downturn, of this Septemus was positive.
Decent house elves were being corrupted by a new equality law up for vote and were thus forgetting their station.
The new fangled wizarding television would be the ruinination of future generations of wizards and should be banned forthwith.
The wizard had an opinion on every issue.
"Ephenia, avoid the sprouts. They will give you gas."
"I should think you could afford better silver than this, Albus. Circe knows I spent a fortune on this place."
"American witches? Trollops everyone!"
"We will spend the holidays in our manor in Wales. It is quiet there this time of year and Severus here has always enjoyed Wales in the winter." Septemus declared in response to Albus' inquiry of their Christmas plans.
"I have never enjoyed Wales. Period." Severus growled into his goblet.
Olivia gnawed her tongue and trembled with the effort of holding herself in. As much as she desired to put the pompus, autocratic wizard in his place, she realized that it would be fruitless to get into a pissing contest. She contented herself by stroking her toe up the slim, hard length of Snape's calf and prayed this evening, or at least the world, would end soon.
Severus was not in much better shape. He had not touched his food and sat in stony silence, glaring at his father over the rim of his wine glass.
"Severus, that is your third glass this evening. I hope you haven't taken after your cousin Elbie and become a drunk. Damned sloppy of you, boy!"
Olivia watched in tense dread as Severus graced his father with a smile guaranteed to shatter stone and raised his glass slightly in a mocking toast.
Septemus Snape threw his napkin down on his plate, his face purpling. "Damn it all, Severus! Do not take that attitude with me! Remember just who you are dealing with, boy!" To his right, Ephenia flinched, twisting her fingers into the grey silk of her robes.
"It has been quite some time since I have had the pleasure." Severus drawled. "You and mother have the uncanny knack of turning up when I am experiencing blessed forgetfullness." The black eyes that had looked at Olivia earlier with such passion and tenderness were now flat and lackluster as stone. "Do refresh my memory."
Albus rose to his feet, his hand extended to Minerva, who gratefully accepted it. "My, but the hour grows late!" He beamed at the frozen couples remaining at table. "Minerva and I are simply fashed, so we will bid you all a good night."
Olivia made to rise and join them in their hasty retreat but, to her dismay, Albus stopped her with another twinkling smile. "Now Olivia, I know you will make the Snapes feel quite at home. I leave them in your capable hands. Good night all!" Thus speaking, he and Minerva made their escape.
Olivia sank weakly back into her chair, a sickly smile on her face.
With a voice forced high by the stress, she quipped, "Coffee, anyone?"
Thanks to Zee who beta-ed this and then sent her notes in a format that I could not open. If there are any glaring mistakes, blame it on Zeedrippyvessel@aol.com
Oh, and she just LOVES receiving those SPAM emails about sexual enhancers and money making schemes from guys in Nigeria.
Skip off to eat turkey and pumpkin pie.