Disclaimer.
J.K Rowling went out one day so I took her characters out to play.
We ran around, they laughed with glee,
All this fun and she works for free!
To Sirius Black-Gr, Mark Darcy – thank you again for your reviews and seeing as you've been so nice I posted again quickly. To answer your question Sirius – I am a long way from being Phaelan. We have a sarcastic voice and a brazen attitude in common along with hating being talked down to. Other than that I was a geeky Scottish schoolgirl, member of the house of Stuart in my primary school then a nerdy Canadian High school student and finally a University of Toronto dropout. I only give thanks I began my elementary education in a system that worked by telling you – YOU WILL LEARN OR ELSE…DON'T ASK WHAT ELSE! Guess what…we learned.
The opening section mentions events from the night before – they were edited from the version posted to FFN.
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Phaelan felt her legs being moved and woke to a cold stroking sensation on her breasts. She reached out to touch the source only to have her wrist held.
"Don't touch yet, it hasn't done the healing."
She cracked her eyes and found Severus kneeling between her legs. He spread the thick paste on her other breast using short gentle strokes that were pleasant.
"What are you healing?" she asked, remembering the exquisite torture he had inflicted the night before.
He quirked one corner of his mouth "Among other things, the ice I conjured last night was colder that I had expected. You have some freeze burns here and …." He pointed at her crux. "This'll help with some bruising too."
Phaelan felt him adjust her legs over his knees before he spread the same paste over her nether regions, taking a moment to coat her inside as well as out. "How long do I leave it?" she asked.
"Half an hour should do. Keep your knee's bent and open, it needs air to work." He instructed, rising and moving away to the bathroom.
Phaelan lay back and thought about what had happened during his evening of sweet torment. He had been concerned about her feeling pain yet had inflicted it in controlled amounts himself, at times cruelly. His mental manipulation had been worse, yet in the end, he had wanted to give her pleasure.
Severus returned and sat on the bed beside her. He pulled her into a sitting position and stacked pillows for her to lean against. "It's starting to absorb nicely." He observed of the healing lotion he had applied. "Here, you might like this." He passed her a mug of steaming coffee.
Phaelan inhaled the aroma and sipped, "That's much better." She looked over at him as he took her ankle to inspect. He used his wand to heal a small abrasion she hadn't felt then repeated the action on the other ankle. "Well, are you going to tell me your motives behind last night or am I to assume you practice torture as a hobby." She asked quietly.
He set his wand on the side table and stretched out beside her. "You rather know me too well, madam. That's not to say I have not practised torture for my Dark Lord. I'm proficient in the subtle art of female persuasion."
Phaelan mulled over what he had said, "You were an interrogator?"
"I am an interrogator." He corrected. "For Him and Dumbledore, though the former had far more hand in my training. Dumbledore insisted on the healing afterwards."
Phaelan found she was not surprised at the revelation of Dumbledore needing someone to get information out of unwilling parties. Even less that he should take no hand in it. He had to appear squeaky clean after all.
Reaching over, Phaelan stroked her wizard's cheek with the back of her hand, "Why last night Severus?" she needed to know his reason.
He looked into her hazel eyes, so open, so trusting, "He Who Must Not Be Named knows about you and has demanded proof of our relationship. Short of putting you on display and raping you in public, I must provide a memory."
Phaelan was confused, "When did this happen?"
"Just after we moved the Grangers. I was called to a full meeting where we were counted. He knows exactly who is in hiding now and a search is on." He looked away. "Lucius had made mention of my toy to the others and they were anxious to share." He stood and walked over to get his robe. "I don't play and share my toys nicely you see."
"So, you'll share the memory…they'll see me and you…." She was repulsed at the idea.
He shook his head, "They'll see you and what I have done to you. I will modify the memory leaving in only the torture and pleading. They always enjoy the pleading." He spat.
Phaelan felt her stomach drop, "Severus, how can you? How can you share what we…."
Striding quickly to the bed, Severus took her face in his hands and kissed her, "I have no choice my love. It is either the memory or you in person. Make no mistake; if I didn't take you, someone else would at some point."
"You didn't tell me about the meeting." She whispered.
He rubbed his thumb over her lips and kissed her again, "I don't tell you about every time I'm called. You don't share my bed every night, remember? That was your choice." He stroked her cheek and caught a tear as it fell. "Phaelan, I will do anything, everything to protect you. Please trust me. I need to do this to keep you from them." He rested his forehead on hers, willing her tears to end.
Phaelan sniffed and accepted a conjured handkerchief to wipe her eyes and nose. "Today they ask this of you, what will they demand tomorrow?"
Severus closed his eyes and gave her no answer for he had none. In truth he had asked the same question of himself and he found no solution.
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Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table, girls on one side, boys on the other. Ginny apparently wasn't affected by the Untouchable charm which earlier had prompted some lewd comments from Seamus about encouraging lesbian sex. He ceased after a volley of Bat Bogey hexes were thrown in his direction by both Ginny and Ron.
"What time is it mate?" Ron asked Harry. He was the picture of misery as he mashed his Roly Poly into a paste.
Harry looked at his watch, "Twenty minutes to one. Remember, don't look him straight in the eye but don't back off either."
"Yeah, yeah, I remember everything you told me. I've just never gone one on one with him." He finally pushed his dessert plate away. Feeling eyes on him, he looked up and saw Hermione looking at him. She smiled and his heart melted. "Walk down with me?" he asked quietly. She nodded.
They rose and left the Great Hall together and walked to the stairs leading down.
"Ron, I don't know what he's going to do or say but what ever it is…I love you and I will always want you to court me if you want to continue." She whispered before they descended.
Stuffing his hands in his pockets to keep them from reaching for Hermione, Ron sighed, "It's all a game to him; another way to annoy Gryffindor. He won't stop us Hermione, we'll find a way."
They turned and went down to the dungeons and Snape's office.
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Draco and his cohort that now included Pansy were in the Head Boys room. They were the group that would meet with Snape.
"You're sure about this? We can trust him not to get us AK'd at the end of your auntie's wand?" Crabbe asked.
Draco snorted at the imagery. If only they knew his auntie's predilection to amuse herself with little men, they might not be so blithe in bandying her name about. "He's my godfather. He took an oath to advise and protect me as a father. He's not sanguine about the current state of events that have affected the cause."
Goyle screwed up his face "He's what?"
Gritting his teeth, Malfoy turned on Goyle and yelled. "He's pissed about the way your father bollixed up his last assignment and had to do a runner among other things."
"Don't you talk about bollixing anything, Malfoy. My father didn't end up in Azkaban." He yelled back.
"Stop it! Stop it both of you!" Pansy cried. "We're not talking about our parents here. This is about us isn't it. About what we want or don't want. I think he's on our side. Who else have we got?" she shrugged and looked down.
"She's right; we've got no one else. Our parents have made their lives in their way. Now it's our turn. If Draco thinks Snape'll help us then that's good enough for me." Crabbe decided.
"All right, let's decide what we want to ask. Pansy take notes." Draco instructed.
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Ron knocked at Snape's door and waited. A brusque voice called out and Ron opened the door. With a brief look at Hermione, he entered terra incognito with nary a life line for support.
He swallowed the snitch in his throat and said, "You asked to see me Professor."
Severus continued to pretend to mark the paper in front of him, ignoring the red head in front of him for two minutes. Ron had arrived early and Snape wouldn't allow him to cut into his personal time. Ron had started to shuffle unsure about what he should do when a barked command made him jump.
"Sit." Snape ordered while summoning a chair which banged into Ron's legs from behind forcing him to follow the command. "So, you've had a fairly easy go of it since your courtship was formalized, Weasley. Through circumstances, both unavoidable and inconvenient, which have kept me absent or occupied for the first days of your….relationship," he announced as if it were something sour, "You've had open access to my ward. I find this unacceptable." He leaned back in his high back chair.
"Sir, "Ron began, "We, that is …Hermione and I have done nothing that would be considered wrong. We've both been busy with school and the order. We've barely had any time alone…"
"Exactly my meaning, Weasley. You have had time alone and that is not acceptable at this point in the courtship." He told him through narrowed eyes.
Ron looked at his professor aghast, "What do you mean at this point? I've known Hermione for seven years. I know her as well as I do my own sister, maybe better."
Snape leaned forward and rested his arms on his desk, "But she's not your sister, is she. Miss Granger is a somewhat attractive young woman whom you've known since you were a first year snot nose brat. The familiarity between you may let you believe certain liberties may be taken before it would be appropriate."
"Liberties!" Ron spat, "What do you mean liberties? I'd never…I mean not unless Hermione…We're not ready.. Hermione's a..a…a…" he sputtered.
"Go on Weasley say it." Snape smirked at Ron's discomfort. "Can't, can you. But it is exciting is it not?" he walked around and sat on the edge of the desk. "Now, let us discuss my place in this courtship. Miss Granger is my ward and the oath taken requires her obedience to my will in all things, in lieu of her parents. Do you understand the control I command over her life? Remember, I said ALL things."
Ron looked at the Dark Wizard and frowned. Harry was right he was up to something. "What are you planning?" he spat finally.
Snape pursed his lips thoughtfully. Weasley was a strategist after all. He'd seen the opening move to test the opposition's weakness and was moving to counter. Standing, Snape walked behind Ron. "All in good time Weasley. We're here to talk about Hermione."
The use of her name was not lost on Ron. "You're her protector not her owner." Ron told him, worried about the direction the conversation was taking.
"I am whatever I say I am in this oath Weasley. I can send her away, I can pull her from school, I can chain her in my dungeons if I think she warrants it and there's nothing anyone can do." He bent over and in Ron's ear he breathed, "Do you understand?" He continued to walk around Ron's chair, "It's been a long time since I had the attention of a lovely virginal young woman. I'm sure I could keep her content in her studies without her ever needing to step foot in Hogwarts again and content in other ways as well."
Ron leapt out of his seat, "You perverted bastard. You want her for yourself." He advanced on the professor, "You touch her and I'll.." he never had the chance to finish before he found himself nose to nose with Snape who had grabbed Ron's collar.
"And you'll what boy." He threw Ron back into his chair. "Now sit there and shut up or you'll never touch your lady again." He turned and walked back to sit behind his desk.
"To disabuse you of the notion that I am remotely interested in your Miss Granger in that fashion, I should remind you a woman is a virgin only until her first time. After she is deflowered and her virgin's blood is collected for potions, I have no use for an inexperienced woman." He leaned back and waved his hand dismissively, "They take longer to train in the most simplest of methods of copulation than it takes to housebreak a crup."
Ron looked away in disgust which is what Snape had hoped for.
"What is it you want, Professor?" Ron asked between his clenched teeth.
"Very simple, Weasley. I want your oath that you will help Wizardingkind defeat and survive any onslaught of violence from He Who Must Not Be Named by what ever means I ask or by fulfilling any task I set that will assist in that endeavour." He watched the young mans face contort in confusion.
"What do you mean? I'm already committed to that cause." He responded.
"The means and tasks I will require will be quite separate and are tied to your Pureblood heritage. You do acknowledge the depth of your blood line?" he asked.
Ron frowned "Of course I do."
"Then I shall have your wand oath and you will be restored to your lady. If not," Snape stopped to smirk, "I have the name of a prioress at a cloistered Nunnery which I shall provide to Miss Granger." He waited.
Ron pulled his wand and made the oath, admitting defeat to the wiles of Severus Snape.
"We are finished for now Weasley; perhaps we should invite Miss Granger in to remove the worst of the charm." Snape stood and indicated the door. Ron made to leave only to be called back, "Just remember Weasley, any mention of our agreement beyond this room with anyone and all is null and void. No more Granger. Are we clear?"
Ron didn't turn back to look at the sneering face of Snape, "Crystal clear sir." He spat the last just before opening the door to admit Hermione who was leaning against the wall opposite the door. Hermione entered and Snape passed his wand over her.
"You are free of the Charm Miss Granger but be aware, I have means of tracking where you are and with whom. I shall trust in your good sense not to abuse my leniency lest I must needs remove it." He opened his door and gestured them out closing it after them again. He leaned on the door and sighed. The first part was in place.
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Phaelan had gone to the room of requirement to work out. Her mind was in turmoil after the revelations of the morning from Severus. She thought her days of being a sex object had passed but it appeared it was not to be. Phaelan knew her desires were considered extreme, even perverse by some but she had found someone who understood. At least she thought she had. Shaking her head, she returned to her workout. She had to think it through.
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Snape looked over at the four nervous Slytherins sitting before him. They were, except for Draco, looking everywhere but at their head of house. Snape sighed his frustration and called for tea. As they busied themselves serving, stirring and choosing biscuits, Severus cast his opening line.
"What are you willing to sacrifice for the future of our world?"
They each paused. That wasn't quite what they expected to hear. "Sir?" Malfoy asked in confusion.
Severus leaned forward on his desk and looked at each of them in turn. "I'm asking what you are willing to give up in order to bring about peace to our world. It's not a difficult question just a very precarious answer to give as it may commit you to something you are not prepared to offer at this moment in your lives."
"Sir, we came because we don't want to become one of You Know Who's followers. I don't understand what you mean when you ask what I'm willing to give for peace." Goyle told him.
Snape fastened him with a trademark glare, "Goyle, look at what your father has lost because of a choice he made at your age. He heard the call of a charismatic wizard who stroked the ego's of the old Pureblood families without understanding who or what he was getting into." Snape turned and walked to the book case off to the side. "We all did." He continued more quietly before turning back to his students. "We were naïve, greedy fools. Had we done the slightest bit of research into He Who Rallied The Confunded Idiots we would had found that he was a half-blood pretender."
Crabbe and Goyle looked at each other. Draco had told them this but coming from Snape it had all the impact of a punch in the stomach.
"You mean, our parents are following a…a…." Crabbe stuttered.
"A half blooded orphan born in poverty and denied by his father, a Muggle." Finished Snape.
"But why sir? Why would they follow an outsider?" Pansy asked.
"He was intelligent, powerful and persuasive." Answered Snape, "Above all, he hated himself; Hated who and what he was. He was determined that all who were Muggle born or halfblooded would be removed from any status in his world. His plan was to take over and rule the pureblood elite while removing or subjugating any other witch or wizard. He wasn't fussy how he got the job done. Which brings us to today."
"But sir, we don't want mud….muggleborns or Halfbloods taking over our world either." Goyle told him, clearly confused about what Snape had said.
Snape returned to his seat, "I agree Goyle. In his quest for supremacy, You Know Who has killed many of our kind who opposes his ethos. We Purebloods can ill afford to drop our census further." Sitting back, he leaned his chin on his fist, "Beyond all other concerns, I for one do not choose to be led by a half breed mutant freak with delusions of grandeur."
Draco leaned forward, "What do you propose, uncle? Are there others who feel as you?""
Snape quirked his eyebrow, "You mean besides Dumbledore and his band of righteous disciples? Probably, but they are hardly likely to reveal themselves to me are they." He observed. "You four however have a unique opportunity. You hear things I don't, you have names. Feel them out."
"And then?" asked Draco.
"If you wish to actually fight against the Dark Lord, I can arrange for you to become part of the movement for the light without revealing yourselves until necessary." He told them. "You will of course receive instruction in our drills so that you will be able to fit in. Most of you participate in one already." He hinted.
It dawned on Draco, "The running. Professor McKenzie, she's part of this. Will she instruct us; a Muggle?" he spat the last.
"Don't underestimate Muggles Malfoy; they are dangerous in ways we as a race do not understand." Snape warned him in a dark voice.
"Who then?" asked Crabbe.
Snape stood and ignored the question, "Form your cohort. Be certain of their loyalty for they will be required to take an oath with consequences for treachery. We'll meet again before the holidays." He told them as a dismissal. "One last thing, we'll need somewhere to meet as a large group in the dungeons. Come up with some suggestions from your explorations."
When the Slytherins left, Snape closed and warded his door. Part two in place. He rubbed his forehead feeling a headache developing. One plus two equals three he thought, enjoying the logic of his strategy, and three was a magical number.
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"What did you talk about?" pressed Harry.
"Stuff, you know; guy stuff." Ron replied trying to avoid telling Harry the type of things he had spoken to Snape about.
"Guy stuff. Ron we had the talk about guy stuff every year with the Ministry Public health inspector; lot of good that was since he still thought condoms were made from sheep's intestines." Harry retorted.
"The magical ones are." Ron replied absently.
Harry grimaced, "Thanks for the warning, I didn't know." He scowled at Ron's closed face. "Come on, he didn't take the charm off through the goodness of his heart, he hasn't got one."
Ron stood suddenly, "Leave it Harry! This has to do with Hermione and Me and him. I don't want to talk about it because it's private."
"And if I have a serious thing with Ginny? You won't stick your nose in?" Harry challenged his friend.
Ron just glanced at his friend, "If you want a serious thing with Ginny, I'll be the last person you need to worry about. I've got a father and four older brothers; remember? Come on I'm starving I hardly ate any lunch."
Harry dropped the subject but had a feeling that Ron's meeting today would rear its ugly head at sometime in the future.
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Winter steadfastly shrouded Hogwarts with overcast skies, dreary rain and sleet driven by winds that made it feel like shards of glass when it hit bare skin. Classes continued as did the Quidditch matches but there was an ever present sense of foreboding that had not been there at the opening of the year.
Remus and Phaelan were watching the DA practise self defence with the Aurors and other members of the Order. The Room of requirement had begun to grow larger these past weeks for some reason. It had expanded to almost twice its original size as a gymnasium. Phaelan never ceased to wonder at how the castle adapted to the needs of its occupants.
As she walked down the length of the room, Phaelan noticed the changes the training had wrought in the young people and wondered if they were as noticeable to the other teachers. Besides the workout which had toned their bodies, they carried themselves differently. They presented an air of self confidence that came with the comfort of knowing they could look after themselves and others. Three months had made a huge difference in the lives of these students. It would likely continue to be a huge influence for the rest of their lives…however long or short, she thought sadly.
Professor McGonagall had entered and was standing with Remus. She had a letter in her hand. When Phaelan approached, Minerva held the letter out.
"From Madam Malkin, we have a meeting set for before the holidays." The older teacher told her with a school girl's excitement.
"Great, when?" Phaelan asked without any great enthusiasm.
Minerva frowned, "I thought we could get the senior girls together next Sunday." She reached out and took Phaelan's hand to pull her to the side. "What's wrong lass? Both you and Severus look as though you've been sucking lemons all week. Lovers quarrel?"
Phaelan smiled sadly, "I wish it were that simple, Minerva."
"Right, come along wi' me." She ordered dragging the young woman behind her.
"Minerva, I've got things to do." Phaelan insisted.
"Och lass, they've got Mistletoe and eggnog on their brains. Let them bide a wee while we have a woman to woman talk." She told the young teacher still dragging her along.
"But…"
"Wheesht lass. Ye need tae get this settled." Minerva opened the door to her chambers and ushered Phaelan in. She shooed Phaelan into an arm chair before the fire and poured two glasses of sherry.
Sitting facing Phaelan, she passed the glass and asked, "What happened? Did the wee lad hurt you?"
Phaelan had to quietly laugh at Minerva's description of Severus as a wee lad. "There is nothing wee about Severus, Minerva. He..." she sighed, "He didn't do anything to hurt me intentionally. It's just our whole relationship is eclipsed by his activities with Voldemort."
Minerva winced at her use of the name. "I know of the deception that you and he must carry out Phaelan. I find it distasteful to say the least."
"Minerva, you really don't understand our relationship at all." Phaelan told the older woman, annoyed that their convoluted courtship should be so simplified.
"Nay lass, you're wrong. Keeping two faces open to the world is how Albus and I lived for four years. I loved him from the time I was sixteen and, though it might sound conceited, he had an eye for me but we couldna act on our feelings. There was after all an eighty year difference." She revealed.
"What?" asked Phaelan aghast.
Minerva chuckled, "Phaelan, wizards can live upwards of a hundred and fifty years. He was just gone eighty odd."
"Wow." Phaelan conceded. "So, when did you… you know?"
"After I finished my apprenticeship. It had to remain a secret until I was free of the contract but, we were lovers since I left school." She looked over to Phaelan who was staring into the fire.
"I do love him Minerva but he is so complicated and he has so many secrets." She confided.
"Aye, that he does but he's changed since you have been with him Phaelan. His looks, his manners. Och, he's still a taciturn bastard with nary a decent word for a student outside of his house but he's no longer viciously taunting the other students and that alone has made a difference."
"What do I do Minerva?"
"Love him Phaelan, just love him and let him love you back."
Phaelan sipped the sherry as she thought about Minerva's words. "I'll be in my favourite tower later. I'd best go now." Phaelan rose to leave hoping her hint had been caught.
Minerva watched Phaelan leave and then pulled her robes about her. Grabbing floo powder she threw it on the flames and called, "Snape's Chambers."
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Phaelan had wrapped herself in her winter weight windbreaker and heavy cloak before making her way to the tower she considered her and Severus'. She sat on the parapet looking up at the clear dark sky. There was no cloud cover tonight and as beautiful as the starry canopy looked, it was freezing cold under the cloudless heavens. There was no moon to blur the constellations and two shooting stars had entertained her. She was thinking to give up and return to her chambers when a dark figure occluded the stars as it swooped toward the tower stopping before her.
"My lady, you are most resolute if you are still about on such a frigid night." His voice caressed the air.
Phaelan looked at her courtier astride his broom, hood pulled up against the cold and leather gauntlets protecting his talented hands. She smiled at his use of the formal regency period phrasing that had become their language of love.
"My lord, I seek an answer to a question that prohibits my restful slumber these past nights. I once thought I knew the answer but I find I must look for reassurance."
"Your doubt is painful for me to endure. Is it the source of your reticence to approach me these recent days my lady?"
"That and a sudden reservation about my place and position in your circle my lord." She replied cautiously prodding a delicate subject.
"How now fair lady, have I offered thee competition?" he asked worriedly.
"No my lord, not as such as a new companion, but rather an old faithfulness superseding our acquaintance." She admitted.
Severus understood now why she had distanced herself, "Sweet Phaelan, there is nought that might overtake my affections for you. My most grievous error is in not making you understand the needs of our mission." He floated closer to her, "I have not swayed from my attachment nor changed my oath to thee beloved. I grieve knowing you are hurt by my actions."
Phaelan looked up into his dark eyes open with expectation. "My love has not wavered my lord. I had thought perhaps my affections were misplaced but now I see that I have misread you. You do wish my attentions as I wish yours. I ask for nought for reparation but a night of tender love."
"Would my lady fly with me to our secret place of rendezvous?" he asked hopefully.
"My heart soars in expectation." She smiled at him and mounted his broom before him.
They soared over the glass surfaced loch with the silence wrought of winter hibernation surrounding them. They touched down on the familiar outcropping which had suddenly sprouted a cabana.
"Severus?" she wondered.
"It's too cold to stand around outside and a warming charm works better within a structure." He told her. The entered and removed their outer cloaks.
"Phaelan," Severus began, "I didn't realize how you were hurt that night. I endeavoured to pleasure you. I thought I had succeeded."
"Oh Severus, how can I explain." She said as she walked away from his warmth. "For the better part of my life before my mother died, I was used to fulfil another's need. Don't get me wrong, I had some fun and I earned experience beyond my years but…It was never for me. Do you understand? I was an object to be manipulated. This…This what ever you want to call it smacks of the same thing."
Severus walked over and pulled her back against him, "I do understand Phaelan. I have been a puppet for one side or the other for as long. What can I do to convince you of my love, Phaelan?" he turned her in his arms, "What gift can I give you? Speak it and it is yours."
Feeling his arms around her, Phaelan turned and melted against him. She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest. "Severus, I love you. I love you to the extent that when I'm not with you I feel there is a part of me missing. Just being with you is enough." She pulled back to look into his eyes, "I love you so much that if you wished it I would present myself to the Dark Lord."
"Never!" he exclaimed. "I will never take you to him. You are mine for as long as you will allow it, as I am yours. I will die before you will be given to him."
They stood silently together for a long time, content and serene in the other's presence.
"Make love to me Severus." She pulled back and looked into his face. "Make love to me, not wild hot exciting sex. Touch me as you did that night in the shower when we went to the lab. Let me touch you and taste you as I haven't yet had the chance." She reached up to stroke his face and pull him into a deep probing kiss. "Take me home Severus, take me to your bed and I'll stay there every night for as long as I live in your world."
Severus felt the air in his lungs leave and could scarcely inhale again. "You will share my bed every night?" he asked in wonder.
"For as long as you want me, my love." She replied and found herself pulled into a deeper more sensuous embrace.
"Let's go home, our bed awaits." He scooped her into his arms as he Accio'd his broom. They flew directly to the school and entered through the hidden entrance Severus used. As they entered his chambers, they each realized they had begun a new relationship. Severus lifted her into his arms and carried her across the threshold of his bedroom.