Morgan is mine the rest belong to JK...

My god she's beautiful, Snape thought as he watched his wife. The gown was new and it clung to her like a second skin. Her small firm breasts were not well hid beneath the silk. Legs firm and lean taunted him as the warmth of her body rested against his side. Guilt brought his mind back to the day several weeks ago when he'd entered her room.

He'd been thinking about her Pensieve for months now and finally unable to bear the curiosity he stood in front of her bedroom door. He'd passed by the door to get to his own room yet this was the first time he'd stopped. A large medallion Sphinx lay on it's side, as his hand approached the door knob it came to life. The creature turned to the front and roared at him, "do you dare attempt to gain access to my mistress's quarters?"

Snape stared thoughtfully bef ore responding, "I do."

"Then traveler I will pose you a riddle. If you answer correctly the door will open. Should you choose not to answer you may turn back, but if your answer is incorrect? Your life will be forfeit." The Sphinx paused as if giving time for the man to leave before continuing.

"What animal goes on four feet in the morning,

Two at noon,

And three in the evening?"

Snape stood with his hands behind his back, dark eyes gleaming. Would this thing really have the ability to kill him if his answer wasn't right? That is one question I do not have the desire to answer at the moment. I have heard this before, he mused. It's on the tip of my tongue... "Man creeps on hands and knees in childhood...walks upright in adulthood...and in old age uses a cane."

The creature roared at Severus and for a moment he thought that surely he was wrong. "You have answered exceptionally well. You may pass this and all future times you so choose."

The door opened and Snape hurried over to the Pensieve. He'd wasted valuable time and there was no telling when his wife would return. If she caught him here? He did not wish to find out what the consequences would be. Carefully removing the bowl from it's shelf he lowered it to the table and peered inside...when he came out he understood. He'd hated Potter and Black for what they'd done to him that fateful day. What he'd done to Morgan was perhaps just as bad. He was awed that she cared for him, desired him even in his youth. Severus was thankful indeed that his wife had an ability to forgive that far surpassed his own. He was ashamed for his actions, regretted causing her pain. No wonder she despised him. No wonder that she hid this. Perhaps it was best left unseen and unsaid after all.

For the weeks after that he'd contemplated how to bring up his past actions or wether to bring them to light at all. For one not very good at apologies, Severus realized he had to do something. He wanted to do everything he could to make amends, to get closer to his wife. I want her to be my wife in all ways and yet I don't want to push her from me. How do I say it? How, he wondered. How can I show her I want more than friendship. She is mine and I will have her, he determined.

That night his soft wife aroused him so excruciatingly. Her warm body nestled against his lovingly and he could stand no more. "Morgan, we need to talk."

Morgan stiffened at that. It didn't sound good, 'we need to talk.' That didn't sound anything like 'I need to make you mine,' or 'you are so beautiful Morgan, let me love you.' No it sounded more like, 'get off my leg you sleazy wench.' "Ok," she stammered.

Snape took her hand as he spoke softly, "I want to explain something to you Morgan. I could tell you, but I do not always put things to word as well as I would like. I think you would best understand if you could see it for yourself. This is not something that I do lightly. Aside from Albus and unfortunately Potter, no one has ever been allowed to see what my thoughts hold." He paused for a deep breath as he looked into her eyes, "there are many things in my mind that you would not wish to see. I trust you will go where I take you and not go wondering."

It was a statement not a question but Morgan felt the need to respond to her husband's heartfelt plea. "I won't break your trust. I promise."

Severus suppressed a flinch at her words. No, of course she would not break his trust. Not as he had broken hers by prying into her Pensieve. "Come," he whispered, preparing himself for her entry into his mind.

Morgan watched as he showed her his past. A young boy tormented by a drunken and abusive father. The violence, the abuse inflicted on he and his mother. His father overcame his weakness with the help and love of his wife and misery turned to happiness. His family had become a happy and loving one, much like her relationship with her own father.

She saw him in school, greasy hair and dirty robes. He didn't care what others thought of him, not at first anyway. From the start he and Potter had hexed each other at every opportunity. As they got older though, the teasing became more earnest, turning more to dislike. The jests evolved to mean natured pranks and hurled insults. She could feel his hatred and humiliation. The boys he'd befriended were a nasty bunch. She recognized them, all had later become Death Eaters. Most were dead or in Azkaban now.

His last year at Hogwarts. Morgan listened as Dumbledore told him of his parents tragic death. Severus Snape had cried, held onto the Headmaster while misery flowed through him. His bitter despair turned to self pity, then to rage at the world. Fury, anger and frustration were taken out on those around him. Potter, and Black faced him down many a time that last year and Severus usually came out poorly against the two. He hated and resented life itself and seemed to have an immense desire to cause pain in others as if to compensate for his own.

Morgan saw some of the cruel jokes he and his so called friends played on others. She saw the time he spent on the terrace alone. The night he sat there with a bottle of poison grasp in his fist, thankfully unable to complete the task.

His friends and a group of Slytherin girls were teasing him about the upcoming dance. The one where the girls were to ask the boys. The pretty, popular girls were taunting him, 'do you want to go to the dance with me Snivellus? Yeah, well to bad you greasy git.' 'No, he wants to go with me don't you Snape,' another said, 'too bad I'd never be seen with you.' The group was laughing loudly at him. 'He'd be lucky if even the ugliest girl in the school asks him.'

Finally Snape became fed up and walked away scowling and clenching his fists. He rounded the corner to come face to face with a young Morgan.

'Severus, hi. Er, can I ask you something?'

'What,' he snapped.

Morgan stood there shyly, gathering her courage, 'will you go to the dance with me? That is if you don't have a date of course, which you probably do...'

Just then his friends came around the corner, laughing at them. Snape turned on them with a look of pure hatred.

He spun back to Morgan with a dark glare, 'and why would I want to go to the dance with you? There is no doubt that you are indeed the ugliest girl in the school is there? I assure you there is not enough gold in the whole of Gringotts that could convince me to accompany you to the dance. In fact, how dare you even approach me with such a request.'

As she listened to his words Morgan realized he thought they'd set this up. He'd thought this was a joke on him!

The other students laughed even harder at his words and the look of utter terror on her face. 'Oh come on Snape. Sounds like she wants you pretty bad. Maybe you'll get lucky. She looks like she'd spread em for ya.'

Snape raged at the group, 'as if I would ever touch such a repulsive creature as that!'

'Come on, give her a little snog,' the boys pushed Severus into her. Morgan cringed as she saw the look of terror and humiliation on her young face. 'Give the little straw head a kiss Snivellus.'

The young Morgan pushed the boy away and ran as the tears began to fall. Snape cursed the group of tormentors and stormed out in the other direction.

Morgan drew out of Snape's mind slowly. She sat quietly, letting all these events sink in. Her heart gave a little lurch. After all these years to find out why he said those horrid things to her. Suddenly it all seemed so silly and she was glad she'd let it lie. She felt so much better, relieved. The one thing that weighed her heart against the man had been removed. Why then was she suddenly suspicious. Why did he decide to show her this now of all times, right in the middle of her attempted seduction? She needed to know. "I understand your need to show this to me, but why now. Why so suddenly?"

Guilt over came him. Honesty and confession were the only answers, "I delved into your Pensieve."

Morgan's jaw dropped at that. He's gone into my room without my consent and tapped into the most humiliating moment of my life! And what do I think about that? A range of emotions washed over her. She was mad that he'd invaded her privacy, yet she was sad, irritated, unbelieving, curious and ashamed of herself all at the same time. She sat quietly with her hands clasp in her lap for a long time.

"Please say something," Snape finally injected.

"It hurts that you could do such a thing." But he did tell you about it, she chided herself. Her eyes turned to his. Sincere regret loomed in those dark lobes, "I would have shown you if you'd asked."

Morgan heaved a heavy sigh. "It's ok, at least it's out in the open now. I'm not really upset that you saw what happened. It was as much a part of your past as it was mine, albeit a bit more memorable for me," she said with a sad smile.

"It was not one of my proudest moments I assure you," the Potions Master drawled.

"I know you Snape. Nothing you do is done rashly. You can't tell me you didn't think long and hard before you went in there. So why?"

Now the sad smile was on his face while he thought of his response. "I have no excuse. I did it out of bitter curiosity. The thought that you were keeping something from me has been driving me to distraction since the night I lay you in bed." He took a deep breath and continued, "that was also the night I used Legilimency on you without your consent."

"Oh dear gods Snape!" she snapped. "Did you have a nice look around while you were there? Get your jollies off on death and destruction? Or was it my crappy life you just had to get your hands on eh?"

"I do not need to see any more death and destruction madam. If you recall I have seen enough of my own to last many lifetimes."

"So what the hell were you looking for?" she asked incredulously.

"Secrets! I want to know what you have been hiding from me! You poked your finger at me many times for my past actions. How can I defend myself if I don't know what, I, did!" he spoke slowly enunciating each word. His wife looked shocked and taken aback at his venting. "Minerva hated you when you first came to the school and here it is almost a year later and you have yet to tell me what happened between you. I am your husband. We, are a team. Why haven't you told me this?" he asked, changing the tables on his wife.

Morgan scowled at her husband. Hands clenched at her sides as anger radiated from her eyes. Son of a bitch! He wants to know all of my dirty little secrets? Fine! "Ok professor. You want to know why my dear Aunt Minerva was so mad at me? Fine, I'll tell you. I killed my parents. I killed her sister and then I killed my father. Happy now?"

Snape felt the blood drain from his face. He'd been so consumed with finding out what she was keeping from him. As a Death eater he'd seen wizards forced to do horrible things to prove their allegiance. It never occurred to him to consider his wife's feelings at all. From his past he knew that the death of one's parents was an event of tragic despair. He'd never even considered for a moment that what he'd find was something he didn't really want to know...

(((((

No sex...sorry...hope no one is frustrated...

NativeMoon, thanks again for all your support. If I didn't write this chapter months ago it'd be crap...

Latin, gimme my boy back. Gotta talk before they do it...long courtship and all...

LM, did Elvis talk? All I ever noticed were his lips and his hips. Lucky chapter thirteen. Sex will be in chapter...well I can't tell you that.

Cookie, didn't you get enough sex in the Dark Room? Good grief you are so needy...lol.

JayOrin, always have something up my sleeve, like a Chocolate Frog.

Playingmyselfmyself, even if I tried I couldn't write without the comedy. I'm just so sarcastic it has to come out.

SnapeLady, sorry no self gratification soon. It's been hard to hold of on the smut, but it has to wait until the right time. A real novel...what a novel idea.

Jim, glad you like the story. The Faerie Tale one is done and Death of a Soul was a short. The Vampire fic is kind of stalled for now. I have another story at AFF going on as well as well as this and that and life...