A/N: as always, anything you recognize in this is NOT MINE. I borrowed a bit of dialogue from Book 6 in order to integrate my story into canon.
Also, hopefully I've sucessfully replaced all of the italics in this chapter. FFn is tossing my whole document into italics when I upload it. If anyone knows a way around this happening, I would love to know it!
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Katrina smiled as she woke up wrapped in her husband's arms. She could tell from his even breathing that he was still asleep. After they had sex two days ago, Sev had removed the second bed.
She studied his face as he slept. The harsh lines of her husband's face melted while he slept. He looked younger and less careworn. He was not handsome in a conventional manner, but she loved his appearance and always had. She had always found him compelling.
He stirred slightly and she took advantage of the opportunity to snuggle closer to him. His breathing changed and she knew he was awake when his hand began gently stroking her back.
She placed a kiss to his jaw, "Good morning, Sev."
He simply hummed, his breath stirring her hair. She knew her husband wasn't a morning person. In fact, he was damn near inarticulate before he'd had his morning caffeine. She smiled and quietly called out, "Dobby!"
The pop of a house-elf appearing didn't cover the groan of the man beside her as he sleepily pulled her closer.
"Dobby, can you bring us some breakfast and plenty of tea?"
Dobby nodded enthusiastically and disappeared. He reappeared again moments later with a large tray which he deposited on the room's only table. "Can Dobby get anything else?"
"No, Dobby, that's all thank you," she replied. Another pop and they were alone again. She tipped her head up and nibbled along Sev's jaw. "C'mon, Sev. Time to get up."
His hand on her back slipped lower and pulled her close, "Already up," he mumbled.
She chuckled as his morning erection pressed into her thigh. "So you are," she responded huskily. 'Breakfast can wait,' she thought, leaning up to kiss him…
An hour later, she finally coaxed him from bed. Thankfully, Dobby had placed a warming charm on breakfast. They ate, showered, and dressed before finally making their way downstairs.
Wormtail was already downstairs, moving noisily about the kitchen. So much for hoping he would be gone today.
Sev placed a hand on her arm and squeezed gently. She glanced at him and read the wordless apology in his eyes. She gave him a quick nod and a small smile before she wiped her face of all emotion. It would be another day playacting at being Severus' pet.
The past couple days hadn't been too terrible. Severus had decided to work on a couple potions in the basement. He had 'dragged' her down there with him and had banned Wormtail from disturbing him unless 'it was the end of the world'. Being down in the basement meant that she could simply sit on a chair and watch him as he worked.
She knew that he was running low on key ingredients, but he had mentioned yesterday that he was loath to leave Wormtail alone in his home. She wasn't surprised, therefore, when he led her into the living room. He transfigured a scrap of parchment into a large soft cushion for her to sit on at his feet.
He settled into his armchair with one of his potions journals while she settled herself at his feet. She prepared herself for a day of mind-numbing boredom.
More noises came from the kitchen, letting them know their unwelcome houseguest was still occupied. "You can read something, if you wish," Sev said quietly from above her.
She glanced up at him, "Do you have anything besides potion journals?"
He smirked at her, "Perhaps it would do you good to read some potion journals."
She grimaced. Obviously he must have remembered how spectacularly she had failed her first try at her Potions OWL. Her potion had exploded and covered the entire room (including the proctor and herself) in an inch of green slime. Thankfully, she had managed to smooth talk the proctor into giving her another chance by convincing him that the ingredients she'd been provided with weren't fresh enough to give her a proper opportunity to brew the potion correctly.
She remembered how proud Severus had been of her when she'd told him how cunning she had been. She remembered he was even prouder when she'd received an Exceptional.
He handed one of his journals to her. "Here, read this."
She took it and glanced at the cover. It was a recent Potions Today. 'Improvements in Wolfsbane,' read the feature article. Getting comfortable, she skimmed the other articles in the journal, finding nothing that grabbed her attention. Finally, she flipped to the featured article and blinked when she read the name of the author. She was going to say something to him about being published in this prestigious journal, but their houseguest had entered the room.
"Allowing your pet to read, Severus?" Wormtail asked.
"The last thing I need is a mindless pet," Severus replied smoothly. "After all, I already have you to fill that role."
Katrina kept her eyes down, pretending to ignore the argument around her.
"I am not your pet! The Dark Lord sent me here to assist you!"
"You can assist me by returning to your room and staying out of my sight," Severus responded. "You-"
He was cut off by the ringing of a bell. He slammed his journal down and stood, "Upstairs now, Wormtail. Someone has just tripped my wards and it would be unwise for you to be seen here."
Katrina glanced up now and watched Wormtail hurry from the room and up the stairs. She looked up at Severus and saw that he looked slightly worried. She quickly placed the journal in her hands on top of his and adopted a submissive posture.
A knock sounded on the door and he moved to open it. Katrina's eyes were on the floor so she couldn't see who was there.
"Narcissa, what a pleasant surprise," Severus said, revealing the identity of their visitor. Katrina assumed the woman said something, for Severus said, "But of course."
Footsteps sounded and Katrina assumed the woman had entered the house. Another pair of footsteps followed the first and she realized they had another visitor whose identity was revealed when she spoke.
"Snape." Katrina knew that voice and her husband's response confirmed it.
"Bellatrix."
The two women moved to the couch and Katrina could now see the bottom of their robes. Severus moved to retake his seat and spoke again, "So, what can I do for you?"
"We… we are alone, aren't we?" Narcissa asked.
"Yes, of course. Well, besides my pet." His hand dropped to Katrina's head and slowly stroked her hair. "And Wormtail is here, but we're not counting vermin are we?
"Wormtail! We have visitors," Severus called.
The door concealing the staircase moved and Wormtail stepped out. "Narcissa! And Bellatrix! How charming-"
"Wormtail will get us drinks if you'd like them, and then he will return to his bedroom."
"I am not your servant," Wormtail snapped.
"Really, I was under the impression that the Dark Lord placed you here to assist me."
"To assist, yes, but not to make you drinks!"
"I had no idea, Wormtail, that you were craving more dangerous assignments. This can be easily arranged: I shall speak to the Dark Lord-"
"I can speak to him myself if I want to!"
"Of course you can. But in the meantime, bring us drinks. Some of the elf-made wine will do."
Katrina could hear Wormtail grumbling as he did as Severus ordered. She could see his feet as he moved to hand a glass to Severus and the two sisters. The sound of the bookcase door opening and closing indicated that Wormtail had left the room.
"The Dark Lord," Severus said, the woman repeating him in what Katrina assumed was a toast. Her husband's tone sent a shiver down her back, but she remained unmoved.
"Severus," Narcissa began, "I'm sorry to come here like this, but I had to see you. I think you are the only one who can help me-"
She stopped speaking suddenly and the hand on Katrina's head retreated.
"One moment, Narcissa," Severus said smoothly. "Get up, pet," he said, his voice turning sharp.
Katrina hurried to obey him, knowing that any wrong move on her part could blow her husband's act. She stood where she had knelt moments before, her head lowered and her eyes on the floor.
"Go upstairs and wait for me in my room," he instructed her. "I will be up shortly."
"Yes Master," she muttered submissively, making her way to the bookcase door and opening it. Wormtail was revealed to be standing just beyond it and she carefully slipped past him and up the stairs.
"Wormtail, I believe I said you should go to your room!" Severus snapped from below.
Katrina hurried a bit as she heard Wormtail's steps on the stairs behind her. She quickly slipped into the room she shared with Severus and shut the door. There was no physical lock on the door and she had no wand yet, so she could only hope that Wormtail remained in his own room.
Moving to the bed, she sat on the edge, straining her hearing for any noises, but the room was silent. She could have been alone in the house for all she could hear. She wondered what was going on downstairs and she resolved to ask Severus when their visitors were gone.
She wasn't in the bedroom very long before the door opened and Severus entered. The tired, beaten look in his eyes scared her and she immediately suppressed the questions she'd intended to ask him. Instead, she rose and drew him close. Pulling him to the bed, they both curled up together atop the covers.
Gently maneuvering his head under her chin, she stroked his hair, silently giving him the comfort he seemed to desperately need. As strong as Severus was, she knew he'd had very little compassion shown him throughout his life. He had also lacked positive physical contact for most of his life – which was something she realized very early in their relationship together.
She had quickly learned that every physical escalation in their relationship had to be done slowly and cautiously. But once that step had been taken, he had absorbed it like a sponge. After their first kiss, for example, he had taken every opportunity to shower her in kisses. Every time they met privately, they would greet and part with kisses.
Returning her thoughts to the present, she placed a kiss on the crown of his head. If he hadn't spoken yet about what had happened downstairs, she knew he couldn't or wouldn't and she wouldn't bother asking him.
He shifted slightly, his head moving so his eyes met hers. He gave her one of his small smiles before closing his eyes. His breathing evened out and she simply held him as he dozed, wishing for a speedy end to Voldemort so they could live their lives in peace.