In Sickness and In Health
All these characters and their world belong to J.K.R.
Chapter IV
They descended into the dungeons aroused by a sensual heat fueled in part by earlier anger, forgiveness and hungry whisperings.
It was strange, when he walked with Emmaline, his pace slowed dramatically. He was no longer charging forward with a long stride to achieve point A to point B, but instead, he was enjoying the journey, as if he'd never before walked the halls of Hogwart's. In her presence, he felt content, almost peaceful with himself.
He opened the door to the dungeons as they exchanged knowing smiles. Oh, yes, they were both thinking about one thing, and it needn't be named…
That's when he saw it, the large black raven on his desk, letter in beak.
"Damn it!" He cursed. Now pulling Emmaline along with him, he strode towards the bird. "Get out of here Nero!" He waved an arm in the bird's direction and instantly, it took flight from the dungeon apartment.
Emmaline's stomach turned as she saw Severus break a black wax seal with a skull.
"Damn it!" Again, voice greatly annoyed, "I have to brew a Cremin Velius potion for Narcissa."
Emmaline raised her eyebrows, "Cremin Velius," she mused, "To hide guilt; I wonder what she's done?"
Magically burning the letter in his hand, "God only knows."
Vance leaned back against the desk, "Serving the Malfoy's. This is part of your other duties?"
His face blank, eyes unusually dark, Severus answered lowly, "Yes." His heart beating faster, "You know what I am? What I do?"
Placing a slender finger on his lips, "Don't confess anything to me. You do what you have to do. That's all I need to know." The truth was, she didn't want him to tell her anything that he'd later have to hide from his fellow deatheaters or from Voldemort, regardless of his Occumency skills.
He kissed her finger, thin lips breaking into a slight smile. "Thank you."
Emma nodded, "Would you like for me to act as your assistant? It's been a while, but- "
"Yes." He interrupted her. The brewing would go twice as fast. "Come let's begin. It should only take three hours with both of us working on two caldrons. You can begin by drowning and menacing the night worms."
"Alright," she took off her hat and secured the pins in her hair. "I'll need an apron and a large knife."
Severus apparated off his robe and rolled back his sleeves, "As the lady wishes."
Soon she was chopping, Severus was mixing; they were stirring, ladling and wafting. Despite their argument over the sleeping draft recipe the night previous, they actually rubbed along quite well in the potions lab. Severus, of course, took the dominate position, giving commands and suggestions. Perhaps, due to assisting her father for so many years, Emmaline easily fell into the roll of second fiddle, quickly answering her partner's requests.
Three hours later, sweat glistened on mutual brows as Snape ladled the final potion into a bottle and popped in a cork.
Emmaline's green eyes dazzled as she looked upon the iridescent purplish- blue potion and whispered, "Beautiful." Then looking sincerely upon Severus, "You are a true artist."
Humbly, he nodded, "Thank you, Emmaline," Then adding, slightly touched, "I found working with you very…satisfying."
She laughed, "Is that so difficult to say?"
"Yes," he answered frankly. "I've never had an assistant, even a top student that was so effortless to work with, so excellently skilled in their own right."
"Perhaps, because we both studied with the same master," Vance added.
Severus looked on her in a new light. He knew she was talented with potions, but today she'd also been his helpmate. He had never experienced this kind of generosity from a woman; never experienced this kind of female support.
He touched her face, "You're a remarkable woman, Emmaline."
Her tired face returned his loving gaze, and instead of making some trite comment like, 'Yes, I am', she replied simply, "Thank you, Severus."
There was a long moment of silence as they looked on each other with new eyes and respect. "Do you think we might figure out a way to wash up before dinner and bed?"
Severus released a low sigh, as the artist gave way to the man, "Explain to me how we go about it?" He replied lifting up their conjoined hands as if to remind her.
She ignored the gesture totally, "I was thinking about a long hot shower."
He lifted his eyebrows in slight shock, and then placing a solid hand on her shoulder, he looked her deeply in the eyes, "Together?"
She fumbled with the buttons on his coat, "Yes. We're both adults, why play by silly rules." Then looking up into his eyes, "I can trust you, can't I; not to get us stuck together?"
He hadn't forgotten Lupin's warning, lips twisted, "You are a cruel woman, Emmaline; but yes, you can trust me." Then tilting his head, "Perhaps a drink first?"
"Yes, I think. Maybe some of that fine scotch?"
He rubbed his chin, "Was it that apparent last night."
"Were you intoxicated?" She prodded, "I just remembered the smell hung heavy on you."
"No, I wasn't drunk," he said motioning her to the liquor cabinet, "But sometimes after my meeting with," he hesitated and lowered his voice, "you-know-who, it makes things easier."
Emmaline pressed her lips together with concern. He was tall, dark, mysterious and tortured, my god, what woman wouldn't want him! Rubbing his arm, voice sotto voce, "Does he…does he hurt you?"
He physically shook at her words, splashing a bit of the amber liquor from the decanter onto the floor, "Not often."
Not thinking on it until now, she asked, "Is he reason you were at Grimmald Place last night?"
"Yes, I had some business to take care of earlier in… well, I shouldn't say. But I had to meet with Arthur and Dumbledore and Grimmald Place, despite its residents, is very secure."
Turning her eyes upon him with admiration and bewilderment, "You do so much for the Order. I have often wondered how you could have been one of them."
He raised his own glass to his lips, taking a large sip of the single malt. "Every one has their demons, Emmaline," he replied as he refilled his tumbler.
"Let us not think on those things tonight," she said holding out her glass for a refill as well.
He raised a single dark eyebrow, "Are you trying to keep up with me?" He asked, referring to the bottle.
"Darling," she flashed a saucy smile, "I am sure that it is you who is keeping up with me. However, I think we should both keep it to two, that is, if we want to remember what we're about to do and I, for one, certainly want to remember every detail of this evening because I thoroughly expect to enjoy it."
"My, my Ms. Vance, you certainly have high expectations," his tenor was low and seductive.
She drank her whisky in one shot, "Yes, but I'm certain you will meet them."
He laughed, it was dry and crackled, for he rarely ever laughed, but this woman made him feel more jovial than he had ever felt in his entire life. Finishing his drink, they proceeded to the bathroom.
Leaving their shoes outside the door, they proceeded into a large, white and black tile room with green walls and ceiling. There was an old fashioned, porcelain claw foot tub, a sink with a shaving cup and razor, the door which Emma presumed lead to the w.c. and a glass door that lead to a shower that with double water heads which appeared to be made for two. Severus lit the candles and performed a warming spell.
Emmaline began taking the pins out of her hair. "Have you ever done this before?"
"Which part," he replied unbuttoning his frock coat.
"Showered with a woman," she replied frankly, as if it was completely normal.
"No."
"Bathed?"
"No."
"Skinny dipped?"
"Emmaline, habits of cleanliness are unusually something I engage in in private."
Vance was now unbuttoning her corseted jacket, "Severus, it shall be nice to be clean, yet, I hope that we can share more than rituals of hygiene." She apparated off her top, and stood before him in a bulging black lace corset, a tiny gold locket baring the initial E around her long, thin neck.
"So do I," he paused and placed his hand around her delicate neck, moving it against her bosom.
Her chest heaved at his touch and he inclined his head to kiss her neck. With ease, she wrapped her arms around him, apparating off his coat and shirt in the process. "I want to feel you against me," she murmured.
"Oh god," he sighed as she ran her hands through the silky hairs of his chest. Then reaching for the hooks of her undergarment, eyes briefly darting up to meet hers, "Can I?"
"Yes," her voice was heady.
Magically, her corset fell to the ground and Severus, with natural inclination began to worship her breasts with his lips.
The scent of her womanly body, transformed his mind and he was feverish with want. Finally, she cried out, "Severus," pushing him away.
He looked confused.
"Turn on the water," she commanded.
He did so, and she let her skirts fall to the floor.
Dear gods, he thought, she wearing garters! Suddenly, desire flamed into need.
She smiled, "Are you just going to stare, or are you going to join me?"
"Madam, you are truly Venus in her glory," he spoke softly. "Here, let me help you."
Unfastening the ribbons on her thighs, the black hosiery fell to the floor, unhooking the satin garters, they did the same until she was only wearing her lacy knickers.
Laughing, "This hardly seems fair." Then reaching for his waist band, she jerked him forwards with a biting kiss to his throat. "Let's take these off."
His heavy wool trousers fell to the ground with the rest of his clothing, revealing a pair of grey cotton boxers. Biting at his chest again, her hand surpassed the waistband of his shorts, and stroked the head of his erection.
He released a staggered sigh. "Oh gods, Emma," he cried against her hair.
She pulled back quickly, knowing her supremacy over this powerful man, "Well, you can't shower in those," she replied, removing her black lacy garment and revealing her full beauty.
He couldn't believe he was doing this, but there was candlelight and whisky and he was giving in completely to her seduction. Removing his shorts, they stepped into the steaming waters.
Wet and warm, they moved against one another, kissing and touching in all ways that wouldn't result in permanent attachment. His long, deft fingers moving against her in circular strokes then penetrating deep within her womanhood as she clawed against his back with pain and pleasure as he took her with his hands. In turn, she stroked him eagerly until he tightly grasped her hips, spilling his seed against her stomach with a deep, agonizing cry. Then the two lovers, held each other, basking in shared, breathless satisfaction.
"Let me wash you," she finally said to Severus, picking a cloth and adding soap, she began to move it slowly all around his body, even over the dark mark.
Leaning against the shower wall, hot streams running over both their naked bodies, he asked, "Does it bother you, the mark?"
She stopped, cloth on his chest, "I don't know. I think it's the not understanding it that bothers me more than the tattoo."
His black lashes dripped with water, almost resembling tears, "I'm sorry, Emma. I don't think I'll ever be able to explain why I did it, only to seek forgiveness for the time that I was...lost."
She closed her eyes, and kissed his chest above his heart, "Then I must find a way to forgive you."
They held each other a long time, Severus praying silently that the waters would wash away his sins, hoping fervently that this woman would be his salvation.
Thank you to Chelles, Kali, Peetje, ThouandI and everyone else for the reviews. (Sorry about the typos! Editing is not my forte. ) This isn't the end, but we're close. Hey, even Severus Snape deserves a little love!
Lyra