Disclaimer: See the many in the previous chapters. Nothing has changed since I wrote them.

AN: Thanks to my beta Midnight Lilly. Be on the look out for her story soon. She has let me have a sneek peek and it is awesome!

Chapter 20 My Body Needs Calamine Lotion

My body needs calamine lotion
My body's all red you can see.
The flowers I picked for my mommy,
turned out to be poison ivy!
Dont' touch, don't touch, don't touch the leaves of three, of three!
Don't touch, don't touch, don't touch the leaves of three!

(Sing to the tune of "My Bonnie lies over the ocean")

Camp Songs and Lyrics

Madame Pomfrey made Alexis take several different potions and waved her wand over the hives. Alexis sighed in relief as the itching and sneezing stopped.

"I can't believe you forgot you are allergic to shellfish. Now this is just a temporary antihistamine spell. You really need a good soak in concentrated essence of murtlap sap," Pomfrey gave Snape a considering look.

"Yes," Snape was still holding Alexis who was resting against his shoulder.

"Severus she really needs to sit in a tub for about an hour in order to get the full benefit of the essence."

"I will escort her to her rooms and prepare the bath for her," Snape assured the nurse but really planning on escorting her to his room and taking care of her there.

"Unless you are planning on staying with her that would not be a good idea."

"Why not?"

"I gave her an allergy potion," the nurse explained, "she is going to be very sleepy. She shouldn't be alone in a tub of water. There is a very real danger that she will fall asleep and drown."

"Then I won't leave her alone," Snape said carefully looking over Pomfrey's left shoulder.

"That would be for the best. And Severus," Madame Pomfrey paused until Snape finally met her eyes, "Alexis is a lovely girl and I am happy that she was smart enough to see what a good man you are."

Snape stared in disbelief at the woman he had known for years as she gave him a smile and held out the bottle containing the concentrated essence of murtlap sap.

Taking the bottle, Snape gave Pomfrey a nod and helped Alexis to her feet. Turning he led her back to the hospital hearth. Just before he threw in the Floo powder he turned back to Madame Pomfrey, "Thank you Poppy," throwing the powder into the fire, he and Alexis disappeared back to his quarters.

Alexis was yawning as Snape took her into the bath room. Waving a wand at the large tub water started gushing from the faucet. In a magically short time the tub was filled with warm water. Snape poured the whole bottle into the tub.

Turning back to Alexis he saw that she had fallen asleep on the edge of the tub leaning back against the wall. She was at very real risk for falling into the tub.

Not bothering to try to wake her, he unfastened her robe and then lifting her to her feet he took off her bra, panties and garter belt. He couldn't help but sigh: he was doing what he had hoped to do this evening, but not for the reasons he had so looked forward to.

Alexis roused slightly as he finished undressing her, "Severus?" she asked sleepily.

"You hadn't better be letting anyone else undress you," Snape teased.

"Only you," she said with a yawn.

"Good let's keep it that way."

"Does this mean you're my boyfriend?" Alexis teased back.

"Do you want me to be?" Snape questioned her as he helped her into the tub. Supporting her by holding her arms as she sank down into the water.

"Nope, not at all," Alexis replied with a smirk.

Snape's grip tightened unintentionally on her arms. When Alexis hissed at the pain, Snape loosened his grip and his face assumed an expressionless mask as he turned to leave the bathroom.

He was stopped by Alexis grabbing his hand, "Sev, I don't want you as a 'boyfriend'…a man friend definitely. A lover? Hell yes. And so much more."

Snape settled on the edge of the tub, "I believe I can agree to that."

"Good," Alexis looked very pleased with herself.

Snape let Alexis soak for two hours, he kept the water at a comfortable temperature and he had to wake her several times to keep her from slipping under the water. Finally he transfigured a washcloth into a floatation device and fitted it around her neck keeping her head out of the water.

When Snape lifted her out of the tub and wrapped her in a towel, most of the hives were gone. The few remaining were fading rapidly. The swelling was down and Alexis looked much improved.

Snape tenderly dried her off, put her in his pajama top and then tucked her into his bed. He had slept with this woman more than he had with any other person before, while at the same time not 'sleeping' with her.

Alexis snuggled close to Snape as he drifted to sleep with an unfamiliar feeling of contentment.

Years of discipline had Snape waking up at his usual time. However, waking up to a warm, sexy, woman was anything but usual for the dour potions master. He rubbed a hand up and down Alexis's back trying to wake her up.

She mumbled and burrowed deeper into his shoulder. Not giving up, he called her name. Alexis growled and rolled over burying her head under the covers.

Snape threw the covers back letting the cold air hit her warm body. Alexis shot straight up in the bed with an angry yell, "What the hell?!"

"It is time to get up and get ready for breakfast and classes."

Alexis flopped back in the bed and closed her eyes, "Don't wanna."

Snape decided that he didn't have time for this. He picked the protesting woman up and headed for the shower.

"Déjà vu."

"What?"

"Didn't we just do this Saturday?"

"Almost," Snape replied as he set Alexis in the shower and said, "cold," in a loud voice.

Alexis shrieked as cold water showered down on her. Jumping out of the shower she stood shivering in the soaked pajama top and glared at the smirking wizard standing in front of her.

"Are you awake now?"

"I don't get mad. I get even," Alexis warned with another glare, "Warm."

With a careful hand she checked the shower water and finding it just right stripped off the soak top and flung it at Snape. Smiling happily at the wet thwack it made as it landing on his head she stepped back under the water.

Alexis felt hands applying shampoo to her hair. If it hadn't felt so good she would have protested after the cold water treatment. But she was never one to cut off her nose to spite her face.

When Snape finished washing Alexis's hair, she surprised him by wanting to return the favor. "I love your hair," Alexis told him. "It is so soft and silky. The color is amazing."

Snape just stared at Alexis.

"What?" she asked him.

"You are the only person who has ever said they liked my hair."

"It usually does look greasy," Alexis conceded. It isn't greasy though. It is just so fine that unless you wash it every day it will look greasy. I had a cousin with the same problem. She had to be careful what type of styling products she used or her hair would look dirty."

After they had cleaned up, they headed back into the bedroom. Alexis was wondering how she was going to get clean clothes. She noticed that on the neatly made bed, was a complete outfit for her: one that she regularly wore during the school week. Slinky had been his usual efficient self.

As they took their seats in the Great Hall for breakfast, Dumbledore approached Alexis.

"Alexis, when you are finished eating if I might have a moment of your time?"

"Yes headmaster," Alexis respectfully replied making as if to rise from her seat.

"No my dear, it can wait until you finish your breakfast. Must keep your strength up," With a last twinkling smile, Dumbledore headed out through the staff door.

Snape did not see Alexis again until after his last class. She had waited until the last student left and then approached him at his desk. Snape noticed that she looked unusually serious.

"Did you have your meeting with the Headmaster?" Snape asked, guessing that the look had something to do with her meeting.

"Actually I needed to talk to you about what Professor Dumbledore has requested from me. Let's go to your room."

Snape was beginning to become concerned. Could the Headmaster have forbidden their relationship? It would be highly hypocritical considering his long time affair with Professor McGonagall.

Alexis led Snape into his sitting room and headed over to where she knew he kept his liquor. She poured them both a stiff shot of Ogden's Old Fire Whiskey. Snape raised a brow at her drink selection.

Handing him the drink, Alexis placed the bottle on the end table, and sat on the love seat.

"Professor Dumbledore has asked that I move into Gryffindor Tower and keep a watch over Harry Potter."

Severus downed the shot of Fire Whiskey and held out his glass for a refill. Alexis poured him another drink.

"And what was your response to his request?" Snape inquired quietly.

Alexis knew him well enough to know that when he was his quietest he was also his angriest.

"I asked him why me and if there wasn't anyone else that perhaps would be better able to protect Harry? Considering my lack of magical knowledge I told him that I didn't think I would be the best choice to handle the assignment."

Snape started to relax, "You are coming along much more quickly than can be expected. However, you still have much to learn. Minerva would be the more appropriate choice."

"The Headmaster agreed with the first part, he told me that I had made great strides in my magical training, especially Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Snape's expression froze. He did not like the turn the conversation had taken.

"Albus feels that I would be well able to handle any emergency that might arise. Mainly he wants an adult present who will be cool headed enough to immediately call for assistance in case of an emergency. Someone who will be able to determine what an emergency is. Most importantly he believes that I will be able to prevent Harry from wondering about unescorted. I advised him that it would take a better witch than I am to keep Potter any where he does not want to be."

Snape snorted in agreement.

"He told me that he had every confidence in my abilities."

Snape knew the outcome of her meeting but he wanted to hear her say it, "So what was your final decision?"

"Sev, I argued with him for an hour trying to get him to see that someone else would be a better choice. He countered every argument I gave him. I don't see that I have any choice. The house elves are moving my things into Gryffindor tower."

"You couldn't just tell him you didn't want to do it?" Severus snapped.

"Severus I did tell him I wasn't comfortable doing it. You know how stubborn Albus can be. He wouldn't take no for an answer."

"That is not what I asked? Why didn't you tell him you did not want to be Precious Potters baby sitter?" Snape spit out.

"Because I feel a certain obligation to Albus for all that he has done for me. This seems like a small thing to ask in return."

"I see. And what about an obligation to me? Or do I not even come into consideration in this decision?"

"Severus I do feel an obligation to you. That is why I am discussing this with you here and now. Do you really think I would rather spend my time with a bunch of hormonal teens than with you?"

"What would you do if I told you I forbid you to take this 'assignment'?" Snape asked keeping all emotions from his face and voice.

"I would get extremely angry that you would think that you could forbid me from doing something. I am an adult and I make my own decisions. However, if you were to ask me not to take this assignment I would go to Albus's office and tell him I changed my mind and I am not going to do it."

Snape looked at her, "Would you not take this assignment?"

Alexis gave him a sad look and putting her untouched glass of whiskey on the table, got to her feet.

"Where are you going?"

"To tell Albus I changed my mind."

"Sit down."

"Severus, make up your mind." Alexis was starting to get aggravated.

Snape grabbed her hand and pulled her into his lap. He buried his face in her hair and didn't say anything for a long time. Alexis just put her head on his shoulder and waited.

"I don't like giving you up so soon after finding you."

"I know. What I really wanted to tell Dumbledore was that I couldn't take this assignment because I had plans for every night this week."

"What plans?" Snape pulled back to look at her.

"To shag you until neither of us can move."

Snape smirked, "Every night this week? You have that much confidence in me?"

"I figured you could whip up a strengthening potion if you needed it."

"Why can't Lupin do this? He and Potter get along very well," Snape snarked.

"You know why Remus cannot take on this assignment. The full moon is this week."

"Blasted useless wolf."

Alexis cuddled closer enjoying sitting on Snape's lap. She was holding his hand and admiring his long fingers, caressing each finger and then drawing circles on the back of his hand. Who would have thought that the nastiest professor at Hogwarts would be such a good cuddler?

"Is that all you and the Headmaster talked about?" Snape asked idly.

Alexis stilled, "No, we discussed other things."

Snape was curious, "What other things?"

"Oh nothing much, just things. How I was doing with my studies and am I happy here: those sorts of things. Of course I told him how happy I am here."

Snape could tell Alexis was keeping something from him. She wasn't lying but she wasn't telling him the whole truth either.

"Nothing else?" making an educated guess, "You didn't discuss me did you?"

"Maybe," Alexis tried to hedge.

"What exactly might you have talked about in regards to me?"

Alexis was getting flustered, "Albus got all paternal on me," she began.

Snape interrupted, "He didn't try to dissuade you from forming a relationship with me?"

"What?! No!" Alexis started laughing, "It was almost the exact opposite."

"I don't understand," Snape was sitting stiffly in the chair.

"If you want to know the truth, Albus asked me what my intentions are," Alexis blushed red.

"He wanted to know what?"

Alexis's face was so red, Snape was surprised that her shirt hadn't caught fire from the reflected heat. "He wanted to know if my intentions were honorable. He wanted to make sure that I wasn't just using you. He cares about you a great deal and considers you a son."

Snape wasn't comfortable with that turn in the conversation. "What did you tell him?"

Alexis thought back to her response to Professor Dumbledore: I love the exasperating, aggravating man and I plan on loving him every way known to man and woman. Who knows we may just invent a few new ways. I want Severus to realize that he does have worth as a human being. I also plan on eventually marrying him and having as many children as is physically possible. If I have to, I'll get advice from Molly Weasley on how to do it. Dumbledore had started choking on a lemon drop and Alexis had to pound him on the back to shake it loose.

Alexis realized that Snape was still waiting on an answer, but she didn't think he was ready to hear what she had actually told Dumbledore. "I told him that I have strong feelings for you and that I believe you have feelings for me. Together we will explore these feelings and see where they lead."

"That is exactly what you told Dumbledore?" Snape wasn't completely satisfied with that explanation.

"Maybe not those exact words but that was the general message," Alexis stated with finality. Changing the subject, "I need to run an errand before dinner. Shall I meet you back here in say an hour and we can go to dinner together?"

Snape was disappointed that Alexis wouldn't be staying here with him until dinner. There were many interesting things they could have done in an hour. But he also had work to do of his own. He was in a delicate stage of an experimental potion and it would need his attention shortly.

Alexis gave Snape a kiss that almost had the both of them running late: Alexis for her meeting with Snuffles and Snape to tend to his potion.