Disclaimer: I still don't own anything...although I did adopt a muse from CreativeImagination (who writes, with the help of her muse Conner, wonderful Labyrinth fanfictions). You can thank my muse, Drew, for this new chapter.

AN: Thank you my three faithful reviewers.

AN2: For most of history, Anonymous was a woman." Virginia Woolf
I am also now set to receive unsigned reviews.

Chapter 31 I Need A Man

I don't care if you won't
Talk to me
You know I'm not that kind of girl.
And I don't care if you won't
Walk with me
It don't give me such a thrill.
And I don't care about the way you look
You should know I'm not impressed
'cause there's just one thing
That I'm looking for
And he don't wear a dress.

I need a man...
I need a man...

Baby baby baby
Don't you shave your legs
Don't you double comb your hair
Don't powder puff
Just leave it rough
I like your fingers bare.
When the night comes down
I can turn it round
I can take you anywhere.

Eurythmics "I Need A Man"

Alexis could not believe that it was Christmas Eve. The months of November and December had flown by. It had taken until now for Snape's hair to return to it's usual fine, lank, locks. Alexis sighed as she thought back to the bubble charm night.

Alexis and Snape had found Professor Flitwick in his office. At first he had looked at them as if they were crazy when they asked him to help them return Snape's hair to normal. When he realized that they were indeed serious about returning his hair to it's regular less than perfect state, he had tried various charms with no results.

Filius had Alexis describe exactly how she had performed the charm and then demonstrate without using her wand. Alexis had added certain embellishments to the normal bubble charm which had kept Snape from banishing them or popping them and she had also embellished them to smell like her perfume. She hadn't wanted anyone else to get credit for her actions. It seemed an unexpected side effect of all the embellishments was the cleaning, freshening and brightening. When the first shock was over, Alexis and Filius noticed that Snape's skin had a new healthier glow and that even his usual impeccable robes were looking fresher and crisper.

Filius had experimented on the robes and found that nothing he would do to them would cause them to lose their crisp, clean, just ironed look or smell. The charm had lasted four weeks. He was now trying to recreate the cleaning portion of Alexis's charm. He figured if he could get the same effect, he would market it and make his fortune.

Alexis and Snape had their first spat because of the cleaning charm. They had declared a draw in the battle. Alexis had allowed Snape to continue to find reasons not to assist with the dance classes and Snape had instructed his students to not deliberately disrupt the dance classes. It was to much to expect Slytherin students to actually cooperate willingly.

The spat had came about when Snape went to kiss Alexis goodnight that first evening after the bubble debacle. Snape and Alexis had stolen a moment in his rooms before she had to return to guarding Harry Potter. Snape had noticed Alexis acting nervous and jumpy but had attributed it to guilt about what she had done. He had also noticed that instead of cuddling next to him on the love seat that she had sat on a cushion on the floor with her back to him. When he had moved down on the floor beside her, she had moved up to sit on a chair.

The final straw came when she was getting ready to leave. Snape had walked her to his door and was leaning down to kiss her when she turned her head at the last minute and his kiss landed on her cheek.

Snape stared at Alexis in disbelief, she had never moved away from him before. Alexis was shifting from foot to foot and looking every where but at him.

Snape took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and turned her head to meet his eyes, "What is wrong with you tonight? You are as nervous as a kneazle in a room full of krups."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Alexis tried to bluff but her shifting eyes gave her away.

"You are a very poor liar. Why did you move away?" Snape was beginning to feel insecure. Was it possible that Alexis had changed her mind and no longer loved him?

"It is embarrassing and stupid and I'm not sure how to tell you," Alexis had turned red and was trying to twist her chin out of Snape's grip.

"If you wish to end our relationship all you have to do is say the words," Snape declared coldly.

Alexis jumped and immediately stopped fighting his hold on her face, "Severus Snape whatever gave you the idea that I wanted to end our relationship?"

"The fact that you can't seem to stand for me to be near you. The fact that you avoided my kiss. The fact that you have been jumpy and nervous all night. If you have found someone else I would appreciate the courtesy of you being honest with me," Snape had retreated behind his usual implacable facade. If Alexis hadn't been looking closely she would not have noticed the pulse frantically beating at his neck as he waited for her reply.

Alexis gave a big sigh, "There is no other man, woman, child, being, creature or individual I would rather be with than you. I love you to distraction. I never knew that I could love someone as much as I love you."

Snape had relaxed slightly at her words, "Than what is your problem?"

Alexis blushed and looked away as she finally muttered, "You don't look like you."

"What did you just say?"

"I said you don't look like you with that damn hair. It is like I am sitting with a stranger. When you leaned down to kiss me it was like some strange man was trying to make a move on me. Satisfied?" Alexis had crossed her arms in front on her chest and was staring over Snape's shoulder.

Snape was beginning to get aggravated. "No I am not 'satisfied'," Snape roared, "because of a charm that you performed, you are now treating me like a stranger with a contagious disease. This has perhaps been one of the most irritating days of my life. I finally get to spend some time alone with you and you don't want to have anything to do with me and it's all YOUR fault."

Alexis hadn't had the best day either, she was normally even tempered: but, add guilt to frustration to aggravation and a volatile mix was just waiting for match to set it off. Snape had just lit that match, "You had an irritating day? This is MY fault? Who started this whole mess by sending a bunch of HIS students to disrupt My class? Who refused to negotiate? Who pulled me into a classroom, snogged me silly and then stole my panties? Do you know how uncomfortable it is to be that aroused and then find out you don't have any panties on? Do you? At the most inopportune time it would hit me that my lover had stolen my panties and I would get all hot and bothered again. Then you sent me that picture, which by the way, we need to discuss the fact that you lied to me about there not being any film in the camera. Minerva was on the point of sending me to Poppy thinking I had come down with some illness and was running a fever because my face kept getting red and I kept breaking out in a sweat. Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is?" Alexis had started emphasizing her words by jabbing Snape in the chest with a very sharp, pointed finger.

Snape reached down and grabbed the offending finger, "Do you realize how embarrassing it is to not be able to stand up in front of your class because you have had a reaction to a bit of silver and lace? Do you have any idea of the aggravation of seeing lacy lingerie appear and disappear all over your classroom? Do you know how frustrating it is to be surrounded by a room full of dancing bubbles and not be able to do anything with them and to know that in exactly two minutes you are going to be faced with a room full of teenagers who would enjoy nothing more than to see you embarrassed and stumped? Do you know how trying it is to walk down a hallway and be compared to Gilderoy Lockhart? And not even know why you are being compared to him? Thanks to you I now have perfect hair? I will have to be doubly strict in order to maintain any sense of order in my classes. Do you have any idea how maddening that is?" Snape had now backed Alexis against the door to his quarters and was leaning over her in a most frightening manner.

Alexis's breath was coming in short pants, her eyes were dilated and she looked on the verge of slapping him.

As she had from the beginning of their relationship, she once again surprised the Potions master. Instead of slapping him, Alexis jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist, twined her arms around his neck and brought his mouth down to hers in a wildly passionate kiss. When she broke the kiss, "Now you look like my Severus. All dark, dangerous and intimidating. I want you right now right here," Alexis began kissing him again.

Snape was stunned and then immediately aroused. He managed to push Alexis's robes up around her waist and discovered that she had never replaced her panties. With her firmly pressed against the door, he was able to unfasten his trousers. Alexis shifted and used her legs to push his pants and silk boxers down to his knees. When his erection was finally freed from it's constraints he plunged fully into Alexis's wet, waiting body. Alexis let out a low moan of excitement and clenched around him as wave after wave of pleasure went through her.

Snape began thrusting into her. It wasn't but a moment before she reached her first orgasm and cried out his name. He shifted for a better angle and kept up the hard, rhythmic strokes as Alexis obtained her second climax. He was about to reach his own release and slowed down to a hard grinding motion. He would push into her fully and then grind his pelvis against her in a slow, hard circling motion before withdrawing almost completely and then repeating the motion. As he felt her begin her third orgasm he lost all control and just began pounding away until with one final hard drive he pinned her to the wall and exploded inside of her.

Snape felt Alexis's legs release his hips and slide down to the floor. He didn't think either of them would have still been standing if it weren't for the fact that they were leaning on the door. Alexis's head was rolled back on the door and her eyes were closed, "Wow, I always heard makeup sex was the best sex. I guess they were right."

"If that was makeup sex, then we will have to fight more often," Snape smirked.

"Are we all better now?" Alexis asked as she rubbed the muscles in his neck while carefully not raising her gaze above his eyebrows.

"If by all better you mean I accept the fact that you can no longer stand the sight of me?"

"That's not it at all," Alexis assured Snape, "its just that you look so totally different with perfect hair. I have never been attracted to the type of man that looks like he spends more time on his appearance than I spend on mine. I prefer men, not pretty boys. If you get stuck with this hair, I'll get used to it, in time, eventually. And I do understand that you are not spending extra time on your coiffure, you just look like you are. Be patient with me. Growl at me and scowl at me every once in awhile. Sneer and smirk at me in that sexy Slytherin way you have and I won't even be able to notice your perfect hair."

By the time Alexis had finished her speech, Snape was giving her one of the Slytherin smirks she loved so much, "When you phrase it that way what possible argument can I proffer?"

Alexis hoped that she could phrase what she was planning on for tomorrow in such a manner that Snape wouldn't be able to argue with her. Christmas was the season for miracles after all.

Alexis entered Snape's quarters where she had been staying ever since the holidays started. Dumbledore had given her a reprieve from guarding Harry. Once the term started again, she would have to go back on duty so they were making the most of their time together. The first five days of the break they hadn't left his bedroom.

Alexis had planned a special Christmas present for Slinky for the wonderful care he had given them during that week. Food just appeared and dirty dishes disappeared. They would return from playing in the bath to find clean sheets on the bed. Alexis had discovered later that Slinky had blocked the fireplace so they would not be interrupted by floo and had warded the doors so that no one could come within fifty feet of them. The only time Alexis had seen Slinky during those five days had been when she had requested a basket for Snuffles. Slinky had popped in and assured her that, "Slinky was happy to feel Mistress Alexis Draluck's pet dog for her. She was to enjoy her time with Master Severus Snape and not to worry about anything."

Alexis had followed Slinky's advice to the fullest extent possible. She was so glad her lover was a Potions master. He had a potion for almost any circumstance. Her favorite was when they had combined a flexibility potion with the Viagerus potion. After that they had to use a muscle repair potion because even with the flexibility potion they had pulled and strained a few muscles: but, it had been more than worth it.

Snape was sitting in front of the fire reading a book and sipping a glass of whiskey. Without looking up he said, "Did you finish your errands?"

Alexis placed her packages on the love seat and walked over to Snape. She moved his book and snuggled into his lap, "Yes, I have completed my errands and I am ready for Christmas. But there is something I have to discuss with you."

Snape wrapped his arms around the woman who had come to mean so much to him and wondered what hair brained scheme she had gotten herself into and was going to try to drag him into, "Am I going to need a refill before I hear this?"

Alexis winced and said, "Might not be a bad idea," as she summoned the whiskey bottle and poured him a double.

Snape raised his brow at the amount of alcohol she had served him, "This must be a doozy if I am going to need this much liquor to get through it."

Alexis looked into Snape's eyes took a deep breath and blurted out, "I am going to eat Christmas dinner with Remus tomorrow."

Snape took a large gulp of his drink before asking, "Why?"

"Because there are things that are going to happen tomorrow at dinner in the Great Hall that my presence may change. To be on the safe side, I should not attend. Since I will not be attending the Christmas feast I thought I would keep Remus company. If I don't he will be alone on Christmas," Alexis was playing with the buttons on Snape's shirt while she explained her reasons.

"We could have a quiet dinner in our rooms," Snape offered.

Alexis smiled at his use of our and reluctantly told him, "I would love to do that, but you need to be at dinner tomorrow."

"Is there no other way?"

"None that I can think of."

"And you feel you must visit with Lupin while I am suffering through tomorrow's foolishness?"

"I would like to eat with Remus. However if you have any objections to such an innocent request and you don't trust me than I will just eat a lonely dinner here. All by myself. Alone. No one to talk to."

Snape smirked, "Good, I will have Slinky prepare a special plate of bread and water for you."

Alexis reared back to look at him.

Snape gave her a look as if to say what did you expect?

"Go eat with that mangy wolf tomorrow."

"You're a good man Charlie Brown," Alexis grinned at the bewildered Potions master, "its a Muggle thing."

It was Snape's turn to not look at Alexis, "By the way, there was something I wanted to talk to you about as well."

Alexis had started nibbling on Snape's earlobe. From her vantage point on his lap she could feel his immediate reaction. She paused just long enough to say, "Yes?" before returning to playing with his ear.

"I wanted to discuss our plans for New Years Eve with you." Snape shifted in the chair.

"Do we have plans?" Alexis had moved from his ear to the side of his neck.

"We have received an invitation to a party," Snape was now running his free had up under Alexis's jumper.

"From whom?" Alexis was unbuttoning Snape's shirt and pressing kisses on the skin she was exposing.

Snape had undone the clasp on Alexis's bra and was caressing her breasts, "The Malfoys."

Alexis stopped what she was doing and asked, "Please tell me that there are other Malfoys besides Lucius and Narcissa."

Snape's caresses had gone from arousing to soothing, "There are other Malfoys, but the invitation did come from Lucius and Narcissa."

"I suppose that it would be insultingly rude to send our regrets?" Alexis asked without much hope.

"Yes."

"I also suppose that you must maintain cordial relations with him because of his positions both overt and covert?"

"Yes," Snape responded again as he continued to try a sooth the suddenly tense woman in his arms.

"Will there be dancing?"

"It will be more of a New Year's Eve Ball than a party."

"Can I look unbelievably sexy, wealthy and at the same time totally unobtainable because I belong to you?"

Snape let out a big sigh as if making a large concession, "If you feel you must."

"Will you act irrationally possessive and not allow me to dance with anyone over the age of fourteen or under the age of ninety?"

"I believe that can be arranged," Snape smirked.

Alexis started giggling.

"What?" Snape questioned.

Alexis snorted as she said, "I am such a cliche."

"Whatever are you talking about?"

"I have to go shopping...I don't have a thing to wear."