A/N: First, let me say that I'm sorry that you waited so long for this update. Life got in the way of writing. I haven't given up or let this story die. I don't know when I'll have time to update again, as I'm starting student teaching on Monday. I'm so close to finishing school I'm ecstatic. Anyhoo… this chapter was originally longer, but I decided to break it down, because I was tired after a five hour marathon write. Before I started I had the first paragraph written. I hope you all enjoy, and I'll see you at the bottom.

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em. Steal 'em to have my way with 'em. Don't sue. Ain't got no money.

Chapter 11 – The First Time and It's Aftermath

Ginny awoke before the sun rose. She was thirsty, and she had to pee. She dressed quickly and made her way to the bathroom; the cold wooden floor protested her every movement and echoed in the silence. It was eerie – the Burrow hadn't been this silent since before her first year at Hogwarts, but it would be different once the thin rays of sunlight began to pierce the tightly drawn curtains. It always was.

Mum would wake first, from many years of habit, then Dad. He would stay in bed staring at the ceiling in contemplation. Next was either Ginny or Percy – early risers by nature – then Bill, Charlie, Fred and George, and finally Ron. The entire Burrow would thus crescendo to a riotous orchestra of crashes and bangs and voices.

But for now, it was silent. She sighed as she returned to her room. She lit a fire and began brewing. This was her new life. In the morning, she would brew, stocking up on the cocktail of potions she used to alleviate the symptoms of her addiction. She knew she wouldn't have time to brew once she returned to Hogwarts. In the afternoon she would go to the library (either Muggle or magical at the Ministry of Magic) and research. She focused on anatomy, herbology, and potions making. She wanted to determine the source of her symptoms and why it was requiring more and more Black Lotus to alleviate them; she wanted to find a cure.

So, she had notebooks full of notes, theories, and ideas, but there were missing pieces that she couldn't fill in. It was possible that Severus could, but he would be furious with her for two reasons: a) she still hadn't told him about taking Black Lotus in the first place, and b) she was under strict orders not to work during the holiday, for he thought she needed to relax.

Severus… he was what kept her going. She looked forward to their visits in the evening, and it was the promise of life with him after the war that kept her searching for a cure. She couldn't deny that something was different between them now. He didn't know about her addiction nor did he know about Voldemort's latest demand, but he seemed to sense their time together growing short. They often snuggled together by the fire, despite the presence of her entire family (and Harry and Hermione), and when they went for their walks together their kisses often led to more. Ginny was blushing just thinking about it.

Ginny, Severus thought to himself as he sighed aloud. She filled his every waking moment and starred in his dreams.

He spent his days doing the work asked of him by his masters – Dumbledore and Voldemort. His life was not his own, not until night fell, and he was released from his duties. It was then he fled to Ginny. He couldn't forget the look on Ron Weasley's face the first night he knocked on the door and asked to see Ginny.

But things were changing; he could sense it; he could feel it in his very bones. Ginny was hiding something – perhaps several somethings. No matter how much she claimed she rested, she seemed exhausted, and it felt as it she were wasting away in his arms, she had lost so much weight.

He grabbed his heavyweight cloak as he prepared himself to floo to the Weasley's. He would need it for their evening walk.

XXX
The night air was cold, but they couldn't feel it. Their cloaks were long ago abandoned in their need to get closer to one another. Severus' hands were traveling beneath Ginny's thin sweater, as she tugged impatiently on his shirt. They had long ago learned that Muggle clothes provided much easier access than wizard's robes.

Their breathing was ragged as they kissed. Their bodies were on fire. "Ginny," Severus was breathless. "Ginny… Ginny… Ginny." His tone of voice became a warning – one that was all too familiar. We are reaching the point of no return, it said.

She pulled away from him. "Let's go back to Hogwarts," she said suddenly.

"What? Are you sure?" he asked.

She nodded, "I don't what to die a virgin."

"What?"

"Nevermind," she whispered in his ear. He fumbled for his cloak and wand, wrapped his arm around Ginny and apparated to Hogsmeade.

"Now how are we to get in there?" she asked nodding to Hogwarts. "There's no way I can walk."

"The Three Broomsticks," he said softly.

"What?"

"Come on, woman, I know your brain hasn't stopped functioning. We can floo from the Three Broomsticks to my quarters." She followed wordlessly and in seconds they were in his chambers, their clothes in a trail from the fireplace to the bed.

Her hands were like ice on his chest, and his mouth was like fire on her neck. They were sitting on the bed, Ginny on his lap. Her back was arched, begging him for more as he kissed lower and lower.

Ginny gasped suddenly as the familiar aching cold filled her body. "Severus," she said softly. "Severus, I need a minute." She pulled away from him suddenly and his body protested her sudden absence. She grabbed her cloak after a few seconds of searching and fled to the bathroom.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Not now. Why now?" her hands were shaking as she clumsily fumbled for the vials containing Black Lotus and the life giving potions. They clanked against one another, and she dropped several corks. Taking a deep breath, she drank quickly, waiting for the potions to start working.

There was a knock at the bathroom door. "Ginny, are you alright? We don't have to do this if you're not ready…"

"I'm ready," she called back in protest. Or I would be if I could stop shaking, she thought silently. Merlin, the withdrawals are getting worse and worse.

"Are you sure?" he asked quietly. Her voice belied her. She sounded as if she were in pain, immense and horrible pain. It took every ounce of control Severus had to prevent himself from barging in on her.

"Are you kidding me?" she asked throwing open the door. "I'm ready."

"Wait... we need to talk..." his protest was cut off as she took his mouth in a kiss. They were traveling to the bed, hands roaming, mouths exploring. Ginny's body was on fire. Their final bits of clothing seemed to disappear, melting with the heat.

Severus laid her on the bed, his mouth and tongue trailing down her body to between her legs. She gasped softly as Severus used his tongue and fingers to take her to a height of pleasure that she had never before experienced and bring her crashing back down again as she screamed his name in ecstasy. "Gods yes!" she gasped as her body ceased shaking.

Severus looked up from between her legs and grinned lecherously. "I'm glad you liked it," he said softly.

"How could I not?" she replied with a grin that was just as wide. Without responding, Severus slid up her body and kissed her passionately, the head of his member brushing lightly against her. She moaned softly at the taste of herself on his lips and the feel of him hovering just outside her. "Are you ready?" he asked breathily.

Meekly, she nodded, nervous and excited at the same time. "I'm sorry if it hurts," he apologized in advance. In one fell swoop Severus entered her, and she gasped aloud at the strange mixture of pleasure and pain that coursed through her body. She squirmed uncomfortable until she became used the feeling, and then Severus started to move.

"Oh… Sev…" she moaned eagerly, as she struggled to meet his thrusts.

Severus found himself much, much too eager. His heart was pounding, and a thin layer of sweat had begun to form on his body. He moaned deeply at the feel of her, so wet, and tight, and excited. It had been a very long time since he had been with a woman. "Gods, Ginny, you feel so good…" he moaned.

Ginny was close… so close she could taste it, as Severus seemed to be hitting all of the right spots. Words had long left her and she could only moan and gasp and writhe beneath him. Her breathing quickened as her cries of ecstasy crescendoed her second orgasm crashing over her like tidal waves pound into a beach. She clung to Severus as if he were a life preserver, her nails digging into his back.

Ginny's moans were like music to Severus' ears, and he couldn't help but be more and more excited. As he felt her climax, writhing and shaking underneath him, fingernails digging into the flesh of his back, he lost what vaulted control he had, his own orgasm exploded from him with a loud ecstatic cry. "GINNY YES!" he screamed, as he collapsed against her, their bodies sticky with light sheen of perspiration.

After several minutes of panting, and clinging to Ginny as if she were his only hope, he sat up to look at her. "That was amazing," he whispered. "You are amazing… I love you…"

"No, you are," she replied sleepily. "I love you, too…" she was much to exhausted to realize that they had just exchanged their first declarations of love.

He rolled off of her and pulled her to him closely. "Shhh… sleep… and don't argue with me, I'm still your professor."

"But you're also my lover, so I get privileges your other students do not," Ginny replied with a smile.

He feigned a grimace, but didn't argue. "Just go to sleep."

Ginny spent the night huddled in Severus' arms, and for the first time in ages slept without the aid of potions. She only awoke the next morning when she felt him shift beside her, and she opened her eyes to see him gazing at her lovingly. "Mornin'," she said sleepily.

"Morning, love," he replied softly, kissing her on the lips lightly.

"I was almost afraid that it was a dream."

"I can assure you that it was not, but even if it was, it was a most marvelous dream, wasn't it?"

Ginny nodded slowly and yawned softly. She needed her Black Lotus and Organ Re-Grow. "Be right back," she whispered, and she disappeared into the bathroom. Her cloak was still there, undisturbed, exactly where she left it. She reached into the inside pocket, triumphantly pulled out the final dose of her medications that she was carrying, and drank them. She brought the cloak out with her and tossed it onto a nearby by armchair, before crawling back into bed with Severus.

Severus sighed as she rejoined him. "Ginerva… can I ask you something without you getting angry?"

Ginny rolled over and looked at him her pale brown eyes locking with his onyx. "I can't promise that, but go ahead anyway."

"What is it you are hiding from me?" he asked sullenly.

Ginny looked away from him, before responding. "Nothing," she whispered.

Severus sighed deeply. "Don't lie to me, please. I'll use legilimency if I must," he sighed.

"It's just… Voldemort has ordered me to report to the manor the day after Christmas," she said revealing only part of what she was hiding.

"What? Why?" Severus snapped.

"He… he says that it's time for me to take my true place as his queen… in his bed," Ginny replied reluctantly.

"WHAT?" Severus raged. "Bloody fucking hell! Didn't you think this would be good information to share with me before we made love?"

"I didn't think it would matter. Does it change anything between us?" Ginny asked, quite surprised at Severus' reaction.

"No… not us, but you and him. Does he think you are a virgin?" Severus demanded.

"I… I don't know. Why does it matter?" she asked.

Severus groaned. "Because he can tell if you aren't."

Ginny paled at the thought. Oh hell, why hadn't she realized that? "Oh bloody hell… I hadn't thought of that. What am I going to do? What are you going to do?"

"You… you are going to lie. You are going to tell him that you aren't a virgin, and that someone else is the one who took your virginity. I… I am going to hope to the Gods that he doesn't suspect me, because if he finds out… he'll kill me!"

Needless to say the realization of what could be coming put a damper on the mood of what had been a joyous couple. Severus and Ginny parted their ways, each resuming their own brand of work.

That night when Severus knocked on the Weasley's front door, Arthur answered. He smiled sheepishly at Severus, before stepping out of the door and closing it behind him.

"Erm… Severus… you kept Ginny out all night last night," he stated.

"I'm sorry about that, Arthur…" Severus began to reply, but Arthur held up a hand to stop him.

"It's okay. I understand. After all, you are both consenting adults. Molly and I have talked about it and we are of the mind that although we don't necessarily like the thought of you and our only daughter together, if you make her happy, we're okay with it," Arthur said.

Severus couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, Arthur. So, then… can I see her?"

"That's the thing… she's refusing to see you…"

Severus' mouth dropped. "What?" he asked unable to conceal his shock.

"Apparently, she's upset about something Lord Voldemort has made her do, but she won't tell us what…"

"I need to see her, Arthur. I think I may have been the one to upset her. You see… the Dark Lord has requested her presence after Christmas, and… and we're afraid that now our relationship could be exposed," Severus sighed.

"I'm sorry, Severus, but I'm not going to force her to see you," and with that Arthur turned and went back into the house, shutting the door behind him.

Indecisive, he stood staring at the door in shock. He knocked lightly. There were muffled sounds of arguing from behind the door ("Let me get it." "No me." "Shove it, I've got it.", and Ronald Weasley's face appeared in the barely cracked door.

"If I could just…"

"NO!" he shouted, and with a look of satisfaction he slammed the door in his ex-potion professor's face.

Severus sighed deeply, he was nothing if not persistent, though, and he knocked at the door a third time. He was rewarded with Ginny's face behind the door. "Severus… not today. Please," she said softly.

"When?"

"Tomorrow," and she leaned in to kiss his cheek softly.

Severus diligently returned the next day as was requested of him, and Ginny opened the door smiling brightly at him. "I'm sorry about yesterday, Sevvie, I just had to take some time to think," she said softly, embracing him in a hug. She had definitely spent her day and night thinking and working.

She had been so close to developing a cure to her addiction that she could taste it, and rather than leave her research in mid-stream, she decided to press on. For once, Severus could wait, for if she succeeded they would have all the time in the world. She had actually begun brewing possible antidotes, but every time she seemed to get close something went wrong, making her potion too volatile for consumption or just plain ineffective. Clearly, she was missing something, and clearly, the answer wasn't present in any of the texts she had come across thus far.

Once Ginny had run into her roadblock, she had become instantly depressed, and her mind began to focus on her imminent arrival at Riddle Manor. How would she cover for herself and Severus? What plausible story could she concoct and use to convince herself and Tom Riddle that her first glorious introduction to sex had not been with the love of her life, Severus Snape? And how could she possibly fake enjoying it with Tom, while images of Severus would be floating in her head?

With all of her inner turmoil, she couldn't face Severus that night no matter how much seeing him may have soothed her temporarily… and there was still the fact that she hadn't totally forgiven him for his outburst the morning after.

For his part, Severus was confused and hurt by the incident, and he wasn't quite willing to face the fact that he could be so easily shoved from her life. He sighed as he held the red-head beauty in his arms. "And so you couldn't see me? Why couldn't think while we were together? Do I inhibit your brain wave activity?" he asked snarkily.

"No, of course not, I just… I don't know Severus, don't ask me to explain. I needed alone time. Surely you, of all people understand that," she said softly.

Damn it, he couldn't argue with that. Part of Severus Snape would always enjoy his time alone… perhaps that's why they were meant for one another. They could spend time alone and not make the other angry. "Yes… but what did you need to think about?"

"What to tell Tom about… you know," she replied.

"Did you come up with something?" he wanted to know.

"Of course."

A/N: So, what did you think? As always read and review. Please?

Oh, and one other note before you go. I sat down and figured out that this epic will have between 15 and 17 chapters total, so we don't have that far to go. YAY!