Disclaimers: See chapters 1 and 2 for all disclaimers

Thank you!

Angoliel… Thanks. I like the soft touches, too. There's something about the character of Severus Snape that makes me think that he is has a sensitive side that he hides beneath his crusty, moody, sarcastic shell. I wanted to show the "hidden side" in my story.

Mercury Gray… They have plenty of catching up to do. Read on and see what else is in store…

Mark Darcy… I think I have all of your reviews. I thought Mina deserved a little romance, too. And watching out for Draco… he's a Malfoy so I think that's a wise idea.

Evenstar Elanor… Lucius and Narcissa aren't totally set yet, but they're on their way. They were too good together to break up entirely. Read on to find out more…

Chapter 32: The Scent of Cinnamon

"I think we're alone now," said Serena. She took one last swallow of tea and savored the fruity traces of her favorite raspberry blend. She put the cup down and shifted on the bed. While she was drinking it, Severus had draped himself on the covers with a sigh and a small smile. He ran his hands over the smooth cotton sheets, savoring the feel. Then he felt the edge of a different cloth, linen. From under Serena's pillow he pulled one of his shirts.

"What's this?"

"It smelled like you," she said. "I didn't want to sleep by myself; that was as close as I could get to you."

"Do you want it for tonight?"

"No," she laughed. "I like the real thing much better. Much, much better." She slid over the sheets and leaned down. They shared a brief, soft kiss that quickly turned into something more until Serena pulled away. She looked down at Severus. He was so thin; she couldn't believe how much weight he had lost in Azkaban, and the dark circles under his eyes made his skin look twice as pale as it usually was.

He sat up but before he could say anything, Serena said, "You look so tired and I'm behaving like a schoolgirl…"

"I am tired," he admitted, "but not that tired. I've been dreaming about you for weeks, about holding you, kissing you…" He ran his hand from Serena's waist, up over the curve of her breast and was rewarded with a surprised gasp. Then she laughed.

"Well, get ready for bed," she said. "I'll be right back." Once Serena disappeared into the bathroom, Severus stripped off his shirt and trousers and pulled on a pair of flannel sleep pants. The team logo for the North Exeter Nationals Quidditch team dotted the pants. Severus did a double-take when he looked in the mirror… the pants fit him just perfectly to make the North Exeter logo – under these particular circumstances – to stick out quite prominently.

"I look ridiculous," he muttered.

"I think you look quite charming," said Serena as she came back in. She had on a small tank top and matching pants which were dotted will red, pink, and white hearts. All in all, rather girlish for her, but they had been an impulse purchase. They crawled into bed and lay in the dark for a moment, both still a little stunned that the whole trial was over. Serena started to giggle.

"What?"

"Why did we bother to put pajamas on?"

Darkness hid the smile that curled Severus' lips. "I don't know. We're not going to leave them on, are we?"

She reached over and tugged at the tie of his waist band. "No, no, I don't think so."

A few minutes later, after all traces of flannel had been ejected from the bed, Severus held Serena close against him. He had always felt cold in Azkaban, except for when the panther was there, and Serena felt so warm next to him. Her skin almost felt hot to the touch. He ran his hands over Serena's arms and then rose up on his elbow to kiss her. He kissed her lips, her cheeks, her throat, and heard a soft, throaty moan escape her lips.

Serena ran her hands through her hair as Severus began to trail kisses down the length of her body, tantalizing the skin wherever he touched, until finally he reached some of her most sensitive parts. When he did, Serena crushed the sheets in her fists and shouted his name breathlessly.

A few dizzying minutes later, Severus shifted and Serena kissed him with a satisfied sigh. "I love you," she whispered. "More than anything else."

"I love you, too, Serena. When we go on our honeymoon, I promise you we're going to spend every single night like this."

She smiled. "We'll be more exhausted than we are now." Serena shifted her body a little, creating more of a cradle for Severus, and he felt his body tighten. He had hoped to take his time, make the reunion with Serena last, but he couldn't wait any more. He moved forward and groaned as he felt his wife's warm and inviting embrace. She gripped his arms, and raised her head up a little so she could whisper in his ear.

As he moved, she told him how much she loved him, how much she wanted him, and Severus knew it was true. For once, the nagging feeling of inadequacy didn't invade his thoughts. She never stopped telling him, her words coming as fast as his tempo until they both reached the highest moment, and collapsed, laughing and panting into each others' arms.

Mina found them the next afternoon, still fast asleep. She made a special batch of hot oatmeal with brown sugar and a touch of cinnamon, and they both woke up to the delicious smell as it wafted in to the bedroom.

EPILOGUE

Two days after the end of the trial, Serena and Severus left the Hogwart's school grounds for a private cottage on the Blue Coast of Portugal. The cottage was on a hill overlooking a private beach and a cove. Rocks that extended into the water kept the surf at bay and the clear water was warm and quiet, and the there were several small grottoes for even more solitude. And Severus made good on his promise of how they would spend their evenings.

Once they returned, classes were back in session. Dumbledore had filled-in as Potions Professor while Tonks and Lupin had started the Defense Against Dark Arts classes. There was no word on where Voldemort had hidden himself, but there were rumors that not everything had gone quite as the Death Eaters planned. The Order of the Phoenix tried to find more information, but it was hard to come by, so everyone just remained alert for anything out of the ordinary. The next few months passed in a quiet serenity that both Severus and Serena welcomed and treasured.

As spring approached, Serena set to scrubbing and cleaning the cottage as if she were possessed. She worked tirelessly, doing many of the tasks by hand and picking a tremendously loud fight with Severus over whether or not she should use magic to do it or whether the cleaning was best done by hand. The cleaning frenzy set Mina in a tizzy as well, and the House Elf was convinced for days that Serena didn't think she did a good enough job.

A few days after the cleaning binge ended, and Serena finally made Mina understand that she was a wonderful housekeeper, Severus watched his wife pick at her dinner listlessly.

"Are you still feeling unwell?" he asked wondering if she was still in a snappish mood.

"A little," answered Serena, "but I might be under the weather for a while, we'll have to wait and see."

Severus frowned. "This isn't something Madam Pomfrey can take care of? I can make you a tea or a potion that will have you feeling fine in short order. You haven't had any of your tea yet…"

"I can't drink that kind of tea right now."

"Poppycock," Severus muttered. "It is one of your favorites."

"But it isn't good for the baby."

"So long as you steep the leaves for at least an hour, you…" The cup of tea was poised nearly at Severus lips as his voice faded into silence. He peered over the rim of the cup at his wife. Serena sat and waited.

"The… The…?"

"The baby."

The cup of tea dropped out of Severus' hand and shattered on the floor.

FINI!

(… at least for now…!)

Well, that's the end of Silver Panther. I really hope you've all enjoyed it. As you can all see from the end, I still have some ideas for Serena and Severus… but I need to take a break from them at least for a little while. I have a few notes for a next story, but nothing that is really sparking any fire, yet.  Please let me know what you thought of the story!