Chapter 29: (The next few chapters will be a series of one shots)

The Dark Mark

Steam rose from the hot bath and lavender colored bubbles covered Severus and Rose like a thick quilt. They were back at Hogwarts in Severus's rooms.

They both were serene, listening to the water gently splashing against the sides of the porcelain tub. Rose sat between Severus's legs, resting her back against his chest. Severus lightly stroked Rose's arm with two long fingers.

Rose smiled to herself and sighed, letting her head fall to the side. "That feels so nice," she said.

Severus pressed his lips against her exposed neck, carefully kissing and lightly biting her sensitive flesh. Rose's body tightened and she gripped Severus's knees for support. Severus traced her collarbone and then moved his hands down her wet body, leaving one hand to meticulously massage her breast. The other hand ventured lower.

Rose's body responded to his touch, her breathing became heavy and her core tightened as pressure built. In little time, she reached for the cool rim of the tub, her back arched against Severus's chest and she let out a moan of pleasure. Electrical currents moved through her body and skimmed the surface of the bath water.

Rose's body went from tight to weightlessly, following the gentle waves of the water. Severus held her tightly to him as if to keep her from floating away.

Feeling used up in the best possible way, Rose lazily looked back at Severus and grinned. "You look awfully pleased with yourself," she told him.

Severus smirked down at her. "How could I not be," he returned.

"Good thing we are in the dungeons," Rose remarked. "It's unlikely for anyone to hear us." Rose sent Severus a mischievous look. "Though if they did," she continues, "I'm sure they would only have flattering things to say about your abilities outside potion making, Professor Snape."

Severus raised his brows at her. "Well I'm glad you do no resent having our wedding night at my place of employment," he said.

Rose rolled her eyes. "Not when your place of employment is a castle." Rose faced forward again. She took up one of Severus's hands and briefly brought it to her lips. "I would have gladly had our wedding night anywhere," she played.

Severus shook his head, musing at the thought of 'anywhere.' He pressed his lips into her wet hair. "We can move into our house this week," he told her.

"But that doesn't mean we have to stop having sex at your place of employment," Rose teased.

Severus laughed lightly in her ear, a rare sound, a deep rumbling in his chest. Rose felt the vibrations against her spine. "I would hope not," Severus replied.

Rose smiled, deciding that Severus's laugh was her favorite sound in the world. "Are you happy?" Rose asked him.

Severus was very quiet for a moment. "I am," he said back in a low voice. Rose savored his words, leaning back into him. "Are you happy, Rose?" he asked her almost timidly.

"Unbelievably so," Rose replied.

Severus drank in a large gulp of the steaming, fragrant air. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist without much thought. The scaly skin where his dark mark had been, rubbed against the sensitive skin on Rose's abdomen. She unconsciously shifted slightly. Severus noticed and quickly pulled his left arm out of the water and rested it on the side of the tub.

Rose was suddenly horrified with herself. She knew that Severus was very careful not to touch her with the remains of his dark mark. Even though she had once tried to show him that it didn't bother her, she still caught Severus resting his left arm off to the side and when he held her close, he would let the flesh of his right arm rub up against her and the left would rest over his right.

"Severus," Rose began, afraid she had destroyed their moment. "I'm sorry. I'm just not used to the feel of it. That's all."

She twisted to look at him. Severus's face became dark and guarded. "No, I'm sorry," he said distantly.

The largeness of the bath allowed Rose to turn around, so that she was straddling Severus on her knees, her pale breast, exposed from the soapy water. "Severus, it doesn't bother me."

Severus looked deeply in her eyes, not lovingly, as if he was trying to examine her, gaging what she actually thought. "Well, it should bother you," he replied roughly.

"But it doesn't," Rose told him.

"You do not need to pity me," Severus told her sharply.

Rose reached out and touched his face, stroking his cheek gently. "I love you, Severus Snape," she assured him. "I love you for the light and the dark." He closed his eyes, wanting desperately to believe what she was telling him.

Rose then reached for Severus's left arm. Severus's eyes flung open and his body tensed.

Rose's eyes pierced into his, begging him to trust her.

She ran her finger over the scaly grayed skin, tracing the outline of the skull and snake. She felt a wisp of fear touch her heart as she thought about what the dark mark represented. She thought about seeing Tiberius's mark burn inky black. She thought about all the evil Severus must have seen and the traumatic memories that this scarred patch of skin brought to the surface. Rose would have given anything to have protected him from it.

Rose raised Severus's arm to her face and held it to her cheek, feeling the rough skin scratch against her soft flesh. Severus did not fight but was in shock as he watched her.

Then Rose turned her face slightly and pressed her lips against the remains of Severus's dark mark.

Rose released his arm and Severus quickly drew it away from her, felling a strange mixture of humiliation, horror, and warmth. "Rose," he began, "You don't have to-" he stopped midsentence, staring with wide eyes at his left forearm.

Rose followed his gaze with confusion and then gasped.

The place on Severus's dark mark where Rose's lips touched, the gray scaly skin began to soften and smooth, new skin could be seen in its place.

"Rose," Severus breathed, looking up at her and then back at his arm. "What did you just do?"

"Nothing," Rose said with amazement. "I just was thinking that I wished I could have protected you and," she caught Severus's gaze, "that I love you."

Rose reached for Severus's arm again. She closed her eyes, concentrating only on her love for Severus Snape. Without a plan, she lightly blew her warm breath on his dark mark.

She felt Severus's arm stiffen in her grasp. She opened her eyes.

Severus's dark mark was completely gone.

"It worked," Rose exclaimed in shock.

Severus could not speak. He just stared at his newly cleared left forearm. His expression was that of shock at his new-found freedom, but Severus also looked pained at the thought of how unhappy he had been for so long.

"Severus," Rose said hesitantly.

Severus's eyes immediately focused upon her. His face broke upon seeing the love in her eyes. With water flying, Severus pulled himself towards Rose and rested his head on her shoulder. He clung to her. His whole body shook with suppressed sobs.

Rose's eyes filled with tears as she held him. "I love you," she soothed. "It's going to be alright now."