Disclaimer: I don't own no body…no body. I'm so sad and lonely, sad and lonely, because I don't own no body. (Just A Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody Lyrics by David Lee Roth misquoted for disclaimer purposes)

AN: Thank you Midnight Lilly for being my beta and for all your story ideas.

AN: To my new reviewer JennSmith, thank you for reviewing.

Chapter 18 You're The Top

Your words poetic
Are not pathetic
On the other hand, boy, you shine
And I can feel after every line
A thrill divine down my spine.

Ethel Merman "You're The Top"

Snape returned to his quarters and summoned Slinky, he had two hours to get everything ready for a romantic dinner.

He was greatly hindered by the fact that he had no prior experience with romantic dinners.

Hopefully Slinky would be able to figure something out.

Giving instructions to Slinky to prepare a romantic dinner for two, in front of the fireplace in his sitting room, Snape went to find Professor Sprout to see if he could talk her out of some flowers. Although Merlin only knows what type of flowers would come from her greenhouses.

Professor Sprout gave Snape a strange look when he asked about flowers.

He didn't think she believed his story of needing rose petals for a new potion he was working on.

She provided him with two dozen red roses and a large bouquet of mixed cut flowers. She had accidentally gotten a shipment of muggle roses, and had grown them to see if she could cross breed them with a draconos mimbaltonia .

The draconos mimbaltonia was very useful in curing dragon pox, but the scent of the flowers was a cross between pole cat stink and cooked cabbage.

She was hoping introducing the roses would change the scent for the better.

Snape called for Slinky and had him pick up the flowers and take them back to his rooms to arrange, not even for Alexis would he be seen carrying flowers through the castle.

Was there anything else he needed to do to make this a romantic dinner with flowers?

He had the flowers and Slinky was getting the dinner but what made it romantic?

Snape was running out of time and options.

Desperate times called for desperate measures, Snape began to hunt for Flitwick.

This was his idea, so he would just have to tell Snape how to achieve the romantic part of the evening.

Snape finished drying his hair and carefully daubed on a small amount of the cologne Flitwick had given him, with the assurance that it would drive his woman wild.

With a dubious expression he picked up the briefs that he had transfigured into silk boxers. He had drawn the line at including the red hearts and cupids Flitwick had suggested. Instead they were plain green silk boxers, slipping them on, he was pleasantly surprised at the sensuous feel of the silk. It had a highly arousing effect, he wondered if that was why Alexis always seemed to wear silk panties.

Snape finished dressing as he looked around the sitting room, mentally going down the list that Flitwick had given him, flowers check. He had to remember to take one long stem rose with him to Alexis's room.

Wine was chilling next to the table that Slinky had placed before the hearth, Slinky had outdone himself with the table. It had a snowy white damask cloth, there were two place settings of fine bone china, Waterford crystal goblets waited for the wine and two long taper candles were waiting to be lit.

At Flitwick's suggestion, Snape had placed candles all around the room.

When Slinky heard them enter he was to light them, serve dinner and leave.

Flitwick had loaned Snape his personal music box loaded with music that Flitwick had assured Snape would put any woman in the mood for romance.

The tag on the bottom of the box had caused Snape a moment's pause, the box was titled "Songs to Get Lucky By," he had to trust that old roué to know what he was doing.

He just hoped that the rumors about Flitwick, being a legendary ladies man had not been exaggerated or even fabricated.

With a glance at the time, Snape realized he would have to hurry if he was going to ambush Alexis before she left her room for the Great Hall.

He had to convince her to come to his rooms.

Mentally crossing his fingers he headed out.

Alexis had taken a long, hot bubble bath and a short nap.

She was feeling much better physically, but feeling guilty emotionally for the way she had treated Snape earlier. She would have to find him and apologize, he and Remus had only been trying to help after all.

Looking over her wardrobe, she was glad she had gone on the back to school shopping trip with Minerva and Rolanda. They had really surprised Alexis by knowing the best places to buy sexy lingerie, she pulled out a matching garter belt, and stockings.

Looking at the miniscule scrap of lace that constituted the matching panties she debated going commando again. Yesterday it had made Snape very attentive, he also hadn't had the opportunity to appreciate her bare state.

But there was also the fact that you didn't want to overdo the no panties card, going bare had to be a rare occurrence. It wasn't naughty if you did it all the time, plus it was more fun if they knew about it right before a social obligation and thus couldn't really do anything about it. Prolonging the torture was part of the fun after all.

Deciding to save the no panties for another day, Alexis tossed the thong onto the bed with the rest of the matching set.

Reaching to the very back of her closet, Alexis pulled out a deceptively simple deep green dress.

The dress appeared to have long sleeves, but when the dress was on, the sleeves didn't actually start until the middle of the upper arm, leaving the shoulders, chest and back bare and making it very obvious that no bra was being worn.

The dress had a built in support charm.

It would provide the proper lift to give eye popping cleavage and would cling so that no embarrassing gapes would occur.

The dress fell to the ankles, and had a slit that would only appear when the wearer was moving. If she were to stand or sit still it would look as if there were no slit; however, when she walked or crossed her legs a slit would appear giving a tantalizing glimpse of leg.

Checking the time, Alexis realized that she still had about thirty minutes before she needed to leave to insure that she caught Snape before he left for dinner in the Great Hall.

Alexis did her hair and makeup with the charms that Rolanda had taught her.

Pulling on the panties then the garter belt, she slowly rolled up the stockings and attaching them to the garter belt with the silver hooks that were in the shape of tiny snakes.

Alexis slipped the dress on and felt the support charm grip her breasts, lifting them to fill the neckline of the dress. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she then beganlooking through the jewelry that her solicitor had delivered to her several weeks ago. Ah ha. She found the perfect necklace. It was a large emerald on a long white gold chain.

Clasping it around her neck the pendant rested right above the swell of her breasts. Perfect. Emerald ear studs completed the minimum amount of jewelry she had decided on.

Looking at the transfigured sneakers, Alexis quickly changed the color to exactly match her dress and added straps that would cross her ankles. Stepping into the comfortable heels, she wondered how she had ever worn them the muggle way.

With one last look in the mirror, she covered her outfit with a plain black robe fastened all the way to her chin and headed out the door.

Alexis stopped short. Leaning against the wall opposite her door and obviously waiting on her was Snape.

Giving him a tentative smile, Alexis stepped up in front of him, "Severus."

"Alexis, I owe you an apology," Snape said stiffly. Remembering the rose, he pulled it out from behind his back and offered it to Alexis with a slight bow.

Alexis stared at the rose, and then looked up at the tall wizard standing in front of her. Searching his eyes, she saw the wariness and uncertainty he was trying so hard to hide.

With a trembling smile, Alexis reached out for the rose, "Thank you, Sev…OUCH!"

"What?" Snape asked as Alexis pulled her hand back from the rose.

"Thorn," Alexis explained around the thumb she had stuck in her mouth trying to suck the pain away.

"Let me see," Snape held out his hand.

"It's really nothing," Alexis said anxious that this small mishap not spoil their reconciliation.

Snape continued to hold out his hand.

Reluctantly Alexis removed her thumb from her mouth and gave her hand to Snape. Pulling out his wand, Snape murmured a quick healing charm. Still holding her hand, Snape looked into her eyes and brought the now healed digit up to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on it. Taking her hand he placed it in the crook of his arm and urged Alexis toward the stairs.

"I was thinking, if you did not have any objections, that we could have dinner in my quarters."

"That sounds nice," Alexis smiled up at him. "May I have my rose now?"

Snape looked at the flower as if surprised he still had it, this time he carefully offered the rose and Alexis just as carefully took it, bringing it up to her nose, she gave an appreciative sniff of the sweet fragrance.

Entering Snape's chambers, Alexis was touched by the obvious efforts he had gone to for her. Candles were burning along the fireplace mantle, on the book shelves, and end tables, casting a warm glow and creating an air of intimacy.

The candles were very pretty; however, they didn't cast much light. Snape led Alexis toward the table set up by the hearth and straight into a low table that had been placed to serve dinner. Alexis looked up at Snape and saw that he was beginning to become frustrated. First the thorn and now the table, she smiled at him encouragingly.

"Severus it looks lovely, thank you for going to all this trouble."

Alexis saw Snape begin to relax slightly, moving carefully around the serving table, Alexis tried to look around the transformed room, it really was very dim.

Turning back to Snape, Alexis asked, "It is warm so close to the fire, do you mind if I take off my robe?"

"Please make yourself comfortable, let me pour you a glass of wine," Snape was trying on the new role of gracious host. He found with Alexis it wasn't as onerous a role as he had feared.

Turning to hand Alexis her drink, he dropped the glass at the sight of her in the green dress, it looked as if one good sneeze would have her falling out of it.

"Severus, is something wrong?" Alexis was smugly pleased with the impact of the dress.

"Here's your drink," Severus held out his empty hand to Alexis.

"Severus, you dropped the glass."

"It is a very nice white wine," Snape was still staring at Alexis's gown.

He was wondering where Slinky had put the pepper.

Put enough pepper on her dinner and maybe Alexis would sneeze.

Alexis smiled and waved her wand at the broken glass on the floor, "Reparo," slipping her wand back up her sleeve, she took Snape's still extended and still empty hand.

At the touch of her fingers, Snape started and looked down at the now repaired glass still lying on the floor.

Alexis bent down to retrieve the glass, and in the process distracting Snape all over again. As she stood back up with the glass in her hand, Snape's gaze never left her chest.

Tugging his hand, Alexis led him to the table, Snape managed to help her into her chair before moving around to his own chair. They both jumped as a loud pop announced that dinner had been delivered.

The low table was now within easy reach of Snape and contained several silver domed serving plates. Snape lifted the first dome, and stared at oysters on the half shell. From the amount of oysters prepared, Slinky wanted to make sure Snape was ready and able for a long, interesting night.

With a nervous glance at Alexis, wondering what she was going to think about the reputed aphrodisiac, he lifted the tray and offered the oysters to Alexis.

"Severus, how did you know? I love oysters, In fact I love most seafood," Alexis helped herself to a generous portion of the oysters.

Snape relaxed slightly at the pleased expression on Alexis's face and served himself.

They talked and laughed their way through the appetizer, when they had finished the dirty plates disappeared with another pop and were replaced with clean plates.

Snape lifted the larger silver dome to uncover, artichokes, asparagus, and surprisingly a large plate of spaghetti and meatballs.

Snape looked at the food in disbelief, what had Slinky been thinking?

Alexis looked at the main course puzzled, she recognized that artichokes and asparagus were also considered aphrodisiacs but what the heck was the plate of spaghetti?

Suddenly it hit her, Alexis stifled a giggle and asked, "Is Slinky a Lady and the Tramp fan?"

"What?" Snape was still looking at the strange dinner.

Touching his hand and drawing his eyes back to her, Alexis nodded at the spaghetti, "I assume Slinky chose the menu tonight?" Snape nodded. "There is a scene in a muggle movie called Lady and the Tramp where the two main characters share a plate of spaghetti. It is considered a very romantic scene," Alexis didn't have the heart to tell Snape that the two main characters were a pair of dogs.

Snape looked relieved that Alexis at least understood what Slinky had been trying to achieve with the strange food selection.

"Now," handing Snape her plate, "a little asparagus and spaghetti with lots of meatballs please, no artichokes, I don't really care for them. Plus it is the man who is supposed to eat them."

Snape prepared her plate and handed it back to her, "What do you mean the man is supposed to eat the artichokes?"

With a naughty grin, Alexis explained, "If a man eats artichokes for a week, and doesn't eat red meat, it is supposed to make him taste sweeter."

Snape looked at the artichokes with a considering expression.

"Slinky must not have known about having to eat them for a week," Alexis was swirling her spaghetti expertly around her fork.

"Just how do you know this?" Snape quirked an eyebrow.

"I am just a font of useless information, comes from a misspent youth," Alexis grinned.

At Snape's considering look, Alexis explained further, "I read it in a book once, I don't know from personal experience and I'm not even sure how true it is," Giving Snape a considering look of her own, "Although if you are willing perhaps we can arrange an experiment? Strictly to expand our knowledge of course."

Snape looked at Alexis, considering all the ramifications of the proposed experiment.

"Of course that means that I would have to taste a sample, before you eat the artichokes and then after you have eaten them for a week taste another sample. In order to provide complete results, I probably should also taste a sample every night during the experiment," Alexis was studiously not looking at Snape as made this proposal.

Looking up at Snape, she noticed that he had returned the artichokes to the serving dish. At Alexis's puzzled look, "I cannot partake of the artichokes until tomorrow night if you are going to taste a before sample,"

Alexis gave Snape a look full of promise, it made his already uncomfortable pants even tighter.

After they had finished the spaghetti and asparagus, not as disgusting a combination as it sounded, Snape motioned at the final silver dome.

Alexis was sure that it would reveal strawberries and whipped cream, "I am stuffed, perhaps later?"

Snape readily acquiesced, rising he assisted Alexis from her chair, soon as they moved away from the table it and the chairs disappeared with a pop, Snape noticed the music box.

"Would you like to listen to some music?"

At Alexis's smile and nod Snape waved his wand at the box to activate it.

A blast of music pounded out of the tiny box:

"cold cooling at a ball
looking for some action
but like Mick Jagger said
I can't get no satisfaction
the girls are all around
but none of them wanna get with me
my threads are fresh and I'm looking def
yo wassup with the l o c
the girls are all jocking
at the other end of the bar
having drinks with some no name chump
when they know that I'm the star
so I got up and strolled over
to the other side of the cantina
I asked the guy, "why you so fly?"
he said "funky cold medina"

this brother told me a secret
on how to get more chicks
put a little medina in your glass
and the girls'll come real quick
it's better than any alcohol
or aphrodisiac" (Tone Loc "Funky Cold Medina" )

Snape stared at the box in horrified fascination, "Next song."

Another blast of music:

"Oooh, baby, baby
Baby, baby
Oooh, baby, baby
Baby, baby

Get up on this!

Ow! Baby!

Salt and Pepa's here!

Now wait a minute, y'all
This dance ain't for everybody
Only the sexy people
So all you fly mothers, get on out there and dance
Dance, I said!

Salt and Pepa's here, and we're in effect
Want you to push it, babe
Coolin' by day then at night working up a sweat
C'mon girls, let's go show the guys that we know
How to become number one in a hot party show

Now push it
Ah, push it - push it good
Ah, push it - push it real good
Ah, push it - push it good
Ah, push it - p-push it real good" (Salt N Peppa "Push It"

"Next Song," Snape yelled.

This time the song that came out wasn't as loud or as pounding. Finally, Snape thought.

"I love myself
I want you to love me
When I'm feelin' down
I want you above me
I search myself
I want you to find me
I forget myself
I want you to remind me "

Snape started to relax as the chorus started in, he noticed that Alexis didn't seem to be enjoying the music, instead she was intently watching him.

"I don't want anybody else
When I think about you
I touch myself
I don't want anybody else
Oh no, oh no, oh no

You're the one who makes me happy honey
You're the sun who makes me shine
When you're around I'm always laughing
I want to make you mine

I close my eyes
And see you before me
Think I would die
If you were to ignore me
A fool could see
Just how much I adore you
I get down on my knees
I'd do anything for you"

Snape couldn't figure out why Alexis was just staring at him, unless she was trying to let him know that the lyrics were how she felt about him. The chorus started again and Snape listened closely to the lyrics.

"I don't want anybody else
When I think about you
I touch myself
I don't want anybody else
Oh no, oh no, oh no

I love myself
I want you to love me
When I'm feelin' down
I want you above me
I search myself
I want you to find me
I forget myself
I want you to remind me"

He could really get to like this song, maybe they could make it their song.

And the chorus started for the third time, Snape looked over at Alexis and smiled.

Alexis smiled back and started dancing and singing the lyrics with the music box, moving closer to Snape.

"I don't want anybody else
When I think about you
I touch myself
I don't want anybody else
Oh no, oh no, oh no"

Snape stared at Alexis as it hit him what the song was referring to.

"I want you
I don't want anybody else
And when I think about you
I touch myself
Ooh, oooh, oooooh, aaaaaah "

Alexis was running her hands down her breasts and staring into Snapes eyes.

Snape swallowed hard as she continued to sing and dance for him.

"I don't want anybody else
When I think about you
I touch myself
I don't want anybody else
Oh no, oh no, oh no" (Divinyls "I Touch Myself")

The song ended and Alexis was standing directly in front of Snape, running her hands up his chest she hooked them around his neck.

The next song started and Alexis started swaying to the music, "Dance with me," she invited.

"If I said you had a beautiful body
Would you hold it against me
If I swore you were an angel,
Would you treat me like the devil tonight
If I were dying of thirst
Would your flowing love come quench me
If I said you had a beautiful body
Would you hold it against me

Now we can talk all night about the weather
Tell you 'bout my friends out on the coast
I could ask a lot of crazy questions
Or I could ask what I really want to know

Now rain can fall so soft against the window
The sun can shine so bright up in the sky
But daddy always told me,
"don't make small talk"
He said, "come on out
And say what's on your mind" (Bellamy Brothers "If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body")

Snape was swaying to the music holding Alexis close, and wondering what new disaster was going to come out of the box next. He was going to kill that little Charms Professor

He was relieved that Alexis seemed to be taking it all in good spirits.

The next song started to play.

"I really do appreciate the fact you're sittin' here
Your voice sounds so wonderful
But yer face don't look too clear
Bar maid bring a pitcher, another round o' brew
Why don't we get drunk and screw

Why don't we get drunk and screw
I just bought a water bed, it's filled up for me and you
They say you are a snuff queen
Honey I don't think that's true
So, why don't we get drunk and screw." (Jimmy Buffett "Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw)

"Enough" Snape roared. The music stopped abruptly leaving a sudden silence.

"That is an interesting selection of music," Alexis commented, "where did you get the music box?"

"I borrowed it," Snape sniped.

"Let me guess? From Professor Flitwick?"

"How did you know?"

"Filius and I had a long conversation one day, he was impressed with my knowledge of Muggle love songs. He admitted that he had an extensive collection and offered to let me borrow them any time I wanted," Alexis still had her arms around Snape's neck. using her leverage to urge his head down. "I had no idea his collection was this extensive."

Alexis closed the distance between their lips and gave him a soft kiss, "Thank you for going to all this trouble to set up such a wonderful evening," She gave him another kiss.

"Humph, I'm glad you think it was a wonderful evening," Snape clearly felt that the evening had not been as romantic as one would have wished.

"Hmmm, any time spent with you is wonderful," Alexis told him caressing the back of his neck.

As Alexis took a step back, Snape made a sound of protest, Alexis smiled and took his hand and headed towards the bedroom.

"I think we have some unfinished business," Alexis grabbed the last silver serving dish as they passed the table. "For later."

AN: Next chapter: Will they or won't they? The reviewers decide. Review and let me know if it is frustration or consummation of the relationship. I have the next chapter written except for the ending.