Around the time of the end of the first lesson of the day, Bridget looked at the time. At first she did not comprehend exactly what she was seeing. The warm arms around her and the morning's activities fogged her mind. Then, slowly, a light started to shine on what it was she was forgetting, what she was missing. "Merlin!" She exclaimed about the same time Severus spoke, "So, will you bind yourself then?"
They looked at each other a moment. Bridget catching up on what he asked as Severus tried to figure out what had made her so excited suddenly. "Yes," she finally found her voice and kissed him. "Look at the time."
Severus frowned a second then did so, shocked to find he, of all people, had failed to make it to his first class. "I will start a fire so you can floo to your room to wash and dress." He got off the bed as she nodded, going over to the fireplace once he had retrieved his wand. Soon, she had flooed to her room.
They both washed and dressed in their respective rooms, Severus making his way to her door once he was finished. As Bridget came out her door and started to kiss him, she spotted her parents rushing down the hall toward them. Confused, slightly, by her attention suddenly not being on him, he followed her line of sight and tensed slightly.
"Mother, Dad . . . Whatever is wrong?" They both looked a bit disheveled, or as much as either of them ever did.
"We were worried over you." Her father eyed her, looking more upset than she had seen him in some time. Perhaps even more so than she could remember ever seeing him upset with her. "We go to check on you and you are gone. Poppy had no idea where you had gotten to or when. She had assumed one of us had escorted you to your room."
Bridget flushed slightly. "I . . ." She hesitated. Why, she did not know, but she was not certain she could tell her parents just what she had been doing, where, and with whom.
"Spit it out, Bridget. Why did you leave?" Minerva wore that pensive expression everyone was so familiar with.
Severus felt the need to intervene, to protect perhaps, as Bridget stepped closer to him. Bridget was use to the look in her mother's eyes, but to see it in her father's worried her. "She was safe, with me." He placed a hand to the small of her back.
"With you? Why?" Minerva asked. She could not believe her daughter sought the potions master out. After all, they had been at each other sense the start of term.
"I'm allowed to choose my own company." Bridget took up the defense of Severus. Albus was starting to get the picture of what was going on.
"She needed her cuts looked after, and she could not sleep." He absently ran his thumb back and forth on her back, mostly unaware he was doing so. Partly, it was out of agitation with her parents. The rest was to sooth her.
"Pomfrey could have seen to them! She's a qualified mediwitch, you aren't." Minerva, in her own way, was being protective of Bridget as well. Her maternal instinct kicking in.
"Then why didn't she," Snape snapped at her. The two professors glared at one another. They had never been overly fond of one another, though they respected one another greatly.
"What is important," Albus broke in to the small battle of wills and glares, "is that she is safe, my dear." He took Minerva's hand. He knew exactly what was going on now.
Minerva swept her glare over all of them before stopping on Albus. "She could have came to us." A small amount of hurt laced her voice. She was Bridget's mother. Bridget was suppose to be able to come to her with any and all things, not turn to a man she had been fighting with for months.
"And she chose me," Severus put in. In a way, it seemed as though he was salting an open wound, and knew just what he was doing. "She didn't want to wake you. She knew I would be awake." He eyed the two older professors with hard eyes, harder than Bridget recalled seeing him look upon them with before.
Minerva scoffed. "You two can't stand to be in the same room for five minutes!" She was having a hard time understanding what was going on. The two had bickered and fought constantly.
Bridget flushed slightly and looked away. Her father did not miss this. " I believe," he said, eyes twinkling again, "they can stand much more than that now." He smiled at Severus and Bridget. He had always assumed no one would claim his daughter's heart. She kept closed off too much, and was so much like her mother. He was happy for them.
"What are you talking about?" Minerva demanded. She knew she was missing out on something the rest of them knew. She disliked being left out normally; but, when it came to her daughter, she damn well wanted to know what was going on. And then she thought of something else that was upsetting her. "What about your classes?" She eyed Severus, it being most unlike him to neglect his teaching. "What about finding Remus?" Surely Bridget had not forgotten about him.
"We lost track of time," Severus answered in what could be sheepish for him. He felt horrible, disappointed in himself, to have missed his first class of the day. What would the students think now? Then again, with a good glare and growl, he would make up for it.
"Your daughter . . . Our daughter, is now fully a woman," Albus smiled at Minerva, holding her hand a bit tighter. He knew what was about to happen. Minerva had always been the one any potential suitors feared first, perhaps not most, but first.
For a moment, Minerva resembled a fish out of water, which was most unlike her. Then, she clamped her mouth shut, glared at nothing a moment, then spoke. "What!" Or, rather, she nearly shrieked.
"Your daughter has agreed to bind herself to me," Severus informed them calmly, coolly. To him, it mattered not what they thought, though he wanted Albus' approval. The older man meant a lot to him, had been the only one to ever treat him like anyone else no matter how he, himself, acted.
Minerva blinked. "You!" That time, she did shriek as much as was possible for her. She was not taking this at all well. Her daughter with a Death Eater? Reformed or not, it was preposterous! She trusted Severus, respected him, but this was her baby.
"Yes, me." Severus looked back at the disheveled woman coolly. For Bridget, he would keep his tongue in line.
"That a problem?" Bridget, who had been unusually quiet, asked her mother in challenge. She wanted this and her mother was not going to stop her. She checked the time idly as well. The students would be in the halls soon.
Albus smiled brightly, the light dancing in his eyes, as he chuckled. "A better man I could not think of." With those words he passed on his approval and much more.
Minerva watched them a moment, noticing how close they stood, the way they touched without drawing attention. "We will see how this goes." She still could not see how so much time of arguing and fighting could be put aside so quickly, so easily. The two would have spats in the future, and she wondered if they would survive them together.
Severus raised a brow but said nothing more. Bridget frowned. "I have a class to get to. The students will be in the halls in a moment."
"As do I," Severus said before walking down the hall. Bridget walked away with him.
Albus thought it best to let this information sink in Minerva's head elsewhere. "Come now, dearest. We have things to discuss." He put the hand he held on his arm and led her toward her classroom. The students had been through enough chaos of missing teachers, and with Remus still missing, he felt things needed to go back as close to as they had been as they could.
Minerva looked up at Albus. "Are you sure this is best?" Her voice was closer to normal but the concern was in her eyes.
"He is a good man, and she seemed lighter of heart than she has in some time." He patted Minerva's hand.
Minerva nodded. For the time being, she would accept things as they happened. "Well, I have a class to get to as well," she said as they neared her classroom. She kissed his cheek lightly while they were the only ones in the hall. Albus returned the gesture before turning and making back to his office. He had to figure out how to get Remus back, safely and alive.
Bridget stopped with Severus outside her classroom. Her mind was not so much on them any longer but Remus. Severus seemed to read her mind as he said, "I'm going to see how your raven is doing. I believe she is the key."
She smiled at him. "You sure you can't read my mind?" She kissed his nose, as was becoming a habit for her to do. Students started to fill the halls.
"Perhaps I can," he answered cryptically. He then gave her a promising kiss. "I will see you at lunch. I will meet you in your office." He turned and, with billowing robes, strode off toward his dungeons.
Bridget watched him go, not catching that Harry and some Slytherins that were coming for her class had seen this display of affection. She turned to go inside, noticing them. "Well, inside, inside." She ushered them in, ignoring their gaping and scathing looks. "Mr. Potter," she said as she walked inside beside him, "I wish to see you after class."
Still reeling from the surprise of seeing Snape kiss her, he took a moment to get out a "Yes, ma'am." as he took his seat.
Bridget nodded and went to the front of the room. She waited for all of the students to arrive and settle in, getting blank parchment and quill to take notes and make grades. Once everyone was seated and ready, she spoke. "I believe your joint projects are due today, are they not?" She smiled at them, seeing and hearing several groans and a few frowns. "I think we'll start with Messrs. Potter and Malfoy."
The two shared a scathing look. Harry spoke for them both. "Do we have to?" Truth was, neither he nor Malfoy had tried to approach the other to get together to work on the project.
She arched a delicate brow, looking so very much like her mother. "And why should you not?" She asked cliply, his question ludicrous.
"Because we haven't had a chance to complete it," Harry answered. He looked down slightly as her hard eyes seemed to look through him. He had never been good at lying to her mother either, though it was the truth. They had not completed it.
"You've had two months, Mr. Potter." Her voice was stern and disapproving, perhaps even disappointed. She could only imagine what Remus would say if he saw the boy behaving so. In ways, she was glad he was missing it. If only he had been under different reasons.
He shrugged. "Been busy." The look Hermione was giving him did not need seen. He could feel it. She was going to lay into him as soon as class was over.
Bridget's mouth tightened to a thin line. She motioned Harry and Draco up to her desk. Draco frowned but followed Harry to her desk silently. She eyed them both unhappily. "Well?" She demanded.
"Well what?" Harry asked. Behind him, Ron and Hermione were sharing looks trying to figure out where Harry's good sense had gone.
Bridget glared at him. He was acting as though he did not have to adhere to the rules others did, that he did not have to respect her. Remus would have been very upset and disappointed indeed. "Do not take a tone with me, young man," she told him as she eyed him. "I want an explanation."
"I don't like him," Harry answered simply. To him, that was answer enough. He really did not need this class. He has survived more dark magic than anyone in the room. Besides, Remus, when he was back (and he would be back, Harry was adamantly certain), would teach him all he needed to know.
"I told you that you would have to work around such things. All of your classmates have." She could see all the others had parchments ready to give their reports. "Neither of you are better than them."
"He's made no effort to come in contact with me," Draco informed her. His excuse was petty, but it was the best he had for the time being.
"And I assume you have tried with him?" She asked dryly. She highly doubted it. Draco glared in return, which was all the answer she needed.
"We don't like each other. It's plain and simple, and I can guarantee that if you continue to put us together both of us will fail." He was not being smart mouthed, just simply telling her the way it was.
"I already told you, you would never have the same partner twice. I will see both of you after class. We have much to discuss. Gentlemen." She motioned them back to their seats. "Now then," once they had seated, "as the rest of you are above petty differences to some degree, let us move on. Miss Parvati and Miss Bludstrode, if you would."
The presentations that followed were lacking for the most part, though Hermione and Blaise did a fairly good job on theirs. The need for a good grade overrode everything else. Eventually, the end of the class came and she stood and dismissed them. "You will receive new assignments and partners next week. I suggest you do better the next time around. You may go."
Everyone stood and left but Harry and Draco. They stayed seated as she waved her hand and the doors closed and locked. "So, you don't like each other?" She walked around her desk and leaned back against the front of it.
"Thought that was obvious," Harry retorted. He did not see the purpose of this. They were not going to do the project. The grade would be a failed one. The point was mute.
"Why not?" She crossed her arms and watched them. They had to come up with a real good excuse if they wanted out of the assignment. Both boys held a great potential and she was not about to let them throw such things away over something so juvenile as their dislike. She refrained from the reminder in her head that she had been behaving juvenile with Severus until recently.
"He's an arse." Harry pointed to Draco, glaring at the other boy. Draco had been a bane to him since he had chosen Ronald Weasley as his friend instead of Draco.
Draco's reply of, "He thinks he's better than everyone else." overlaid her curt, "Language, Mr. Potter." Draco, unlike Harry, just casually looked at Bridget as if the other boy was not glaring at him. As much as he did not want to work with Harry, he also needed to pass the class.
Bridget sighed. "Children," she muttered to herself. The boys did not hear her as they were at it again.
"I do not, you twit," Harry snapped at Draco. If any one thought they were better than everyone, it was Draco Malfoy.
"And I'm not an arse," Draco replied. Again, it was Harry that as glaring and being clip. Draco just looked ahead, at Bridget. His eyes shadowed slightly as he held his temper and his tongue to a degree.
"Enough! I don't want you to get started." She glared more at Harry than Draco. The dark haired boy causing more of the trouble than Draco, and taking a much larger attitude.
"I don't think I'm better than everyone else," Harry clarified. A bit of hurt laced his words. He could not help but think, if he felt that way, he would not have the friends he did. They would not be good enough for him.
"No, but you certainly like to be rude speaking out of turn." Bridget admonished. "I want to see you after classes, both of you. You have detention."
Harry shoved his things into his bag roughly. "This is all your stupid fault," he told Draco angrily. He did not care he sounded like a petulant child who did not get his way.
"I didn't do anything!" More to Bridget than to Harry. He could not believe how Potter, who he had little to do with except when he was bad mouthing him, always wound up getting him in trouble.
"I told you at the beginning of term that failure to do your assignments would result in detentions and lose of points. For now, I'll leave it at detention." She explained to Draco then looked to Harry who was about to stomp from the room. "Harry, about Remus . . ."
"Yes?" He looked up, his demeanor changed. His eyes were anxious, hopeful and a bit scared. Any anger he felt washed from him in an instant. Detention, Draco, failed grades, none of it meant anything in the face of Remus' absence.
"We will find him. Professor Snape, myself, and the Headmaster will prevail." She gave the boy a reassuring smile, watching as he nodded silently and rushed from the room. She could tell he did not wish to show just how much he was upset. Her eyes traveled to Draco, who stood and left mutely, but . . . something was hidden in his eyes. The boy was hiding something. She decided not to worry about it as her next class filed in. The second years needed her attention, and she could think on it later.
After the second year class, she made her way to her office to await Severus. Snape entered without knocking, carrying a plate of food for each of them. She wondered why he had not just had the house elves send it, but figured it best to just let him do as he wished. Besides, her mind was distracted, as was apparent by the quill she tapped on her desk absently.
"Bridget, are you alright?" He asked as he set the food down, watching her in concern.
"Yeah, just had a problem in one of my classes." She tossed the quill down before looking up at him and smiling. She had yet to figure out what it was that was going on with Malfoy, and . . . Another thing was on her mind as well. Someone they would have to get in contact with if they did not find Remus soon.
"Maybe I can help you forget." He bent down and kissed at her neck, laving the spot with his tongue gently.
"Maybe," she agreed as she tilted her head to the side, but it was not working. Her mind still raced of other things. "I need to talk to you about something," she told him as he kissed lower on her neck. "Remus mentioned once that you hate Sirius Black."
Severus stopped dead and moved away from her. If anything could kill the mood, that name was the best at it. "Yes?" His voice had a slight growl to it. Of all the times to bring up the mutt . . .
Bridget could tell he really did hate Sirius. "He . . . I dated him once . . . He cheated on me and it ended badly. Just letting you know that I don't care much for him either." She smiled at the glint that put in Snape's eyes. "Just so if he ever shows up and I curse him, you'll know why."
Severus actually chuckled. "I knew there was a reason I liked you." He smirked at her. The image of them both cursing Sirius Black was stuck in his head. He was getting back into the mood quickly.
She chuckled and smirked as well. "Think you were doing something pleasurable," she reminded him.
"I was until you mentioned something." He put extra emphasis on thing, as that was what Black was to him. He did not know if he could ever see him as anything but. Black had never treated him better than dirt, and he never had known why. He found that almost as upsetting as the way he was treated. The other had no reason to do so other than he just hated Severus as well. Hate begat hate.
"Sorry." She gave him a small, apologetic smile, running a hand over his arm. She had not meant to upset him, but she wanted him to know.
"I'm certain I can get back in the mood." He kissed her. He felt her return the kiss just before her stomach started to growl. "We are not going to do this are we?" He sounded a little put out. He did not do well with interruptions.
She gave him a chaste kiss. "I want to." Again her stomach demanded food, loudly. "My stomach does not. I haven't eaten since the evening meal before Remus and I . . ."
"Eat." He cut her off. She needed sustenance. "I might have a meal myself when you are done." And, he did not mean food. She smiled at him and quickly ate her food, not only was she really hungry but she wanted to get to other things. "That was fast," he commented as he ate slowly, mostly just to torture her.
"What can I say?" She took his fork and began to feed him. "I have a more important appetite." She had never wanted a man before like she wanted Severus. Her body seemed possessed by her need for him.
He smirked and stopped her feeding him, kissing her. They had not gotten far into the kiss when a knock sounded on the door. She growled and put her forehead to his. "Guess I'll never get you pregnant," Severus commented wryly.
She blushed. "Never thought about that." She could already be pregnant. The thought did quite the opposite she thought it would. She found that it seemed to warm her.
"I know. Neither had I." He gave her a chaste kiss. "Go answer your door." Though, he did not seem happy about moving to let her up.
Instead of moving, she just looked to said door. "What?" She yelled shortly.
"It's Filch, ma'am. Have you seen Mrs. Norris. I can't find her and Peeves said something about her being here." He called through the door. He not often listened to Peeves, but on occasion he found it best to do so.
She sighed. "Come in." Why would his damn cat be in her office? If Peeves had done something to her and put her there, she would have a very curt word with the poltergeist. She did not have time for his pranks when she had a man to let ravish her.
"The door is locked," he informed her with a slightly exasperated tone. Why would she not know her own door was locked?
Bridget looked at Severus curiously. "We haven't seen her. Now be on your way," he ground out as he started unbuttoning Bridget's shirt. No more was heard from the door, Filch having gotten the picture clearly. Bridget chuckled, sitting back to let him divest her of her shirt. "Before I forget again," Severus spoke, "I brought a potion if you want to use it."
She watched him as he got her shirt open and caressed the skin of her stomach. "Do you want children?" He hummed as he leaned in and kissed at her naval. His hands going to her slacks. "Forget the potion." If they were going to bond and both wanted children, there was no point in the potion.
Severus nodded and moved lower still before stopping and pulling all of her clothes off. She watched with a raised brow. "What about you?" She fingered the sleeve of his shirt, his robes already off.
"That, my dear, is up to you. I am doing my job." He began to lick and nip at her nipples.
She smirked and looked at her rather long finger nails, resembling her raven talons in ways. "Could take quick care of it." She flexed her fingers.
"I need to be able to wear them out of here, dearest." He moved his attention to her other breast.
She growled. "I can't get to the buttons." Her growl was laced with a whine.
"That really is too bad." He worked his way over her stomach again then lower.
She bucked up toward his mouth. "Cocky bastard."
He stopped and regarded her a minute, ignoring the glare she was giving him for stopping. "Well, I am hard, but I do not think that's what you meant." He smirked at her before going back to his treat.
She again bucked up toward his mouth. "If you don't take me right now . . ." She cut off with a hiss as he increased his pleasant torture. Her body slid toward him and the floor. His eyes met hers, a smirk dancing in them. "Severus," she begged, "I need you inside, make me whole."
Whether it was her pleas, the tone of her voice, or his own need for her; he quickly stripped and claimed her, kissing her as he did. Her body rocked against his as soon as he took her. He tried to hold her still. "If you don't stop, we are going to have a repeat of the first time." Reluctantly, she settled, letting him set the pace.
Afterwards, as they were both coming down from euphoria, her ears picked up the sounds of the students in the halls, having finished their meal and making for their next class. She blushed very deeply for some reason. "That is a very pleasant shade on you," he commented, stroking the hair from her face. She only got a darker red, embarrassed at being embarrassed. All of this only made him want her again, hardening inside of her.
"Severus," she wanted him again as well, "do we have the time?"
"My afternoon is free, as I believe yours is." He began sucking at her neck. He knew her schedule inside and out, having made a point of knowing when was more appropriate to watch out for her and anything she could be up to.
She thought a moment then nodded. Thursdays were her one day to have the afternoon to herself. "Forgot." She pulled his mouth to hers, kissing him hotly. She began to kiss at his neck. "How was my raven?"
He pulled from her long enough to place his robes on the floor and pull her down on top of him, ignoring her whimper and pout as he did so. "She's getting better. One more day." She nodded, looking down at him, brushing the hair from his eyes. He smirked at her. "You better have your way with me before I change my mind and take you from behind."
She gave him her own smirk, climbing off his chest before turning and getting on all fours, wiggling her ass at him. He moaned, quickly getting to his knees and entering her with one quick, full thrust. She slammed back into him. "Merlin, Severus . . ." Her voice was soft, full of yearning. "Take me, make me yours." He thrust into her hard and fast, kissing at her neck and squeezing her breasts. She met him thrust for thrust. "Harder, faster."
He slammed in and out of her so hard he feared hurting her, but she continued to encourage him with small grunts. "Bridget, I can't last much longer." Taking her in such an animalistic way was driving him so close to completion.
"Neither can I," she forced out as she stilled her body and bent her head to the floor. His thrusts began to rub her sweet spot. A moment later, she came, hard. He was right behind her.
"Damn . . ." She panted out.
"What?" He was not breathing any better.
"That was . . . Wow . . ." She could think of nothing else to say.
"Yes, you made that quite clear as you were screaming out harder and faster." He smirked at her, pulling from her. She fell to the floor with a small grunt, body spent. "Now there is a picture. I think I may be ready again," he joked.
One of her eyes snapped open before she turned over. "Afraid I would have to lay down on the job." She smiled at him.
"Oh, I don't know." He leaned over her. "You look sexy when being laid on the job." He smiled as she started laughing. She looked so happy and content, her eyes bright and full of life. He laid beside her, pulling her into his arms and holding her close, a light in his own eyes.
"When do you want to do the binding?" She asked once she had calmed down, kissing him. "Not that I'm not already bound to you in a way."
"Tonight would work for me." The sooner the better as far as he was concerned. He placed a gentle hand on her abdomen. "I wonder if we created anything."
"You never know." She put her hand over his. "We can hope."
"We will keep trying until we are certain we have." He kissed her brow. "When do you wish to do the binding? Will you take my name?" He was a bit apprehensive about her answer to that. He was a Snape, and the name was not that great of one to have even if it was prestigious.
"Tonight," she agreed.
"And my name?" He asked again anxiously before she had a true chance to answer.
"Bridget Snape?" She mulled it over then smirked. "I like it."
"I love it." He kissed her, hand caressing her stomach before sliding lower yet again.
"I love you," she told him truthfully, looking deep in his eyes. "I think I have for two months and not known it."
"I think I felt the same the first time you glared at me." As much as he wanted to say 'I love you', he found the words hard to get out. They were so very foreign to him. He had never used them before, not even with family. Nor had he ever heard them, especially spoken so true.
She moaned at his touch, starting to lose track of the conversation. "That's why we have not got along until now, sexual tension."
"I don't think that is a problem any longer." His fingers moved in and out as his thumb rubbed at her. He bent down and took a nipple into his mouth. He worked her over until she was ready to climax then stopped to let her cool down. Over and over he did this to her, smirking as she glared at him. "I don't want you to come just yet. I won't get you pregnant with my fingers."
Her glare softened at that. "No, you won't."
He continued in this fashion for some time before giving her what she really wanted, what he really wanted. They then spent the rest of the afternoon talking and cuddling, if one could actually use Severus Snape and cuddle in the same sentence. In this time, she had completely forgotten about Draco and Harry and detention.