A/N: I'm very happy to finally be updating this story, I hope you all enjoy the new part. Not very important to the plot (if there is any) but very sweet ^_^

ENJOY!

Still at your side

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Chapter 8

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MM - POV

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It wasn't until late October that I would feel that burning pain on my skin. It had been three, four weeks maybe, and I hadn't been able to forget about that last call from the Dark Lord, neither had I grown used to that ink stain on my forearm. And, when that sudden pain stroke my left arm during my last class of the afternoon, I realized I never would.

I grimaced for a moment but kept my temper not to alarm the children and dismissed the class.

My first thought was going to Severus, but then I asked myself what good it would do. He would only tell me to attend the call and I'd have to leave him worried until I'd be back.

Maybe it was better to just go, do whatever I was told, come back and explain Severus later. Yes, that certainly sounded much more reasonable.

As I headed to the school gates, I realized I was just acting the way Severus did and I hated so much and I felt sorry for having cold him a liar. I suddenly understood that he'd been indeed protecting me, from myself, because if I had known where he was going all those nights I'd wondered about his whereabout, I would have worried much much more.

Once I'd crossed the school grounds, I disapparated and soon found myself in front of another fancier gates. This was the second time I was in front of the Malfoy's manor on my own and I thought I'd be less scared, but I wasn't.

I was about to go in, when a hand on my shoulder startled me.

SS - POV

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She turned her face suddenly, reaching for her wand, but she undid that movement after realizing it was my hand on her shoulder.

"Severus…" she said my name on a whisper almost unheard, a mixture of surprise and relief on her eyes.

I was both mad and proud to see her standing there.

I knew this was just too new for her to distinguish being summoned for a meeting from being summoned on her own, but I believed she would tell me before leaving the castle just as she did the last time… wasn't she the one who didn't want secrets between us? But I couldn't judge her for lying, could I? I had lied to her more times than she knew, and I couldn't stay mad to her after seeing her about to go into the Malfoy's Manor one her own, without any hesitance, thinking she was going to meet the Dark Lord on her own again. Merlin, was she a valiant woman! My woman!

"Severus, I…" she was looking for the right words, probably an apology, but I wouldn't let her feel sorry for doing nothing wrong.

"Shall we go in," I said, and I draw a smile on my lips to make her know everything was alright.

She said nothing, she just passed her arm around mine and we walked into the manor together.

MM - POV

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I felt foolish for not having thought of the possibility of being called for a meeting. I was glad Severus was with me as we were welcomed in by Pettigrew and his creepy smile, and I couldn't stop looking at him and how powerful and confident he looked.

We entered the sitting room and I never let go of Severus arm, I felt safe at his side as all those men and women stared at us - at me - and whispered and giggled all around.

"Severus Snape," a female voice suddenly said from behind and I felt myself pulled by Severus' movement to turn around, "if I ever thought I'd see you walking down the aisle..."

"Alecto," he greeted, "I hadn't seen you attend a meeting for a long time."

"Well," the woman said, her hand suddenly touching Severus' chest and sliding down as she continued, "I couldn't miss the opportunity to meet the lady who has the pleasure to share your bed."

SS - POV

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Alecto had always shown some kind of interest for me, well, she had shown it for most of the single men in the room, but I probably was one of the few who had rejected her intentions continuously.

I didn't looked at Minerva, but I did feel her fingers tightening around my arm to the point where her nails were about to trespass the fabric of my clothes. Was she jealous? The only thought of that possibility amused me enough to let Alecto's hand reach the belt of my trousers. Minerva was so infuriated that I could not only hear her deep breath, but also her teeth crinching. It was time to stop it or she would reach for her wand.

I grabbed Carrow's wrist, strongly but not roughly, and presented her to the-woman-who-shared-my-bed.

"This is Minerva McGonagall," I said, gently turning to her and leaving a kiss on Minerva's forehead, "my wife-to-be and mother of my son."

"Son?" Alecto didn't hide her surprise, "I didn't know you'd had a bastard."

"Apparently you didn't know many things of my husband-to-be, Miss.-?" Minerva replied quite sharply.

"Miss. Carrow, my dear," I said, "she and her brother are very appreciated by Our Lord."

"He must have his good reasons, I'm sure," Minerva spoke not taking her eyes off the Death Eater, "sadly I don't."

"Well, Severus," Carrow said, staring at Minerva, "I see now why you might find this pretty thing amusing," she raised her hand to Minerva's face, cupping her chin with her stubby fingers, "you must certainly have a good time teaching her some discipline," she grinned at me and left.

"What was that about?" Minerva asked, carefully watching Alecto walking away.

"Nothing, she's just jealous, I guess," I said.

"I don't like her," she very honestly confessed.

"You don't have to, my dear," I assured her, "but you should watch your mouth around this people."

"I'll try my best," she replied, and I couldn't say if she was serious or being sarcastic.

MM - POV

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When we were back from the meeting I was exhausted. Not physically but having to listen to those men and women brag about the families they'd killed, the houses they'd destroyed, the people they'd captured and tortured… it was too much for me.

"Do you want to check on Ross?" Severus' voice reminded me that I wasn't alone.

"You do it," I said, very tired, "if you don't mind."

"Of course not," he kissed my cheek before walking to our little baby's room and I walked to the sofa, took off my shoes and sat on the pillows. Then I buried my head between my knees and allowed myself to cry.

"Here, my love," I raised my head, tears running down my cheeks, and saw Severus standing next to me, offering me a glass of firewhiskey, "it will lower the pain," he said, seeing my hesitance, and I finally gave in and took the glass with both my hands.

He sat in front of me, also taking his shoes off, and I drank a long sip before talking.

"It was horrible," I said, "hearing all those names, listening to what they'd done to that people… I kept wondering if the next name they'd say would be someone I knew… I…" I didn't want to break down but, I was really tired, "I don't think I can go through it again, Severus."

"It's alright," he took my glass and left it on the tea table with his, "you made a great impression on everyone," he held my hands, "so when the next meeting comes, I want you to stay here with Ross, alright?"

"No, Severus, I…" I tried to reply, but he silenced me putting a finger on my lips.

"You'll do as I told," he said, and I put his hand away.

"I am not your wife yet," I said, quietly bothered by his tone, "so don't be bossing me around."

Suddenly he knelt on the pillows and he bended over me, one arm at each side of my shoulders. I was trapped under his body.

"Maybe Alecto was right and I ought to teach you some discipline," he quoted his Death Eater friend before drawing a necklace of kisses around my neck.

"You should know by now that I'm unbreakable," I responded, trying to keep my temper but betrayed by a moan of pleasure that left my lips as soon as he ripped my blouse off and I felt his hands on my breasts.

"That's not true, my dear," he whispered on my ear, "you did surrender to me at some point," and he grinned. That was it.

With a strength I didn't know I had, I rolled over the sofa making him fall on his back to the floor, and me landing on top of him. He grimaced of pain for a moment and I smiled. I grabbed his wrists and held his arms at each side of his body while sitting astride on his stomach.

"Who is surrendered now?" I asked, and I bended over to kiss his lips before he could reply. I used a wandless spell to undo his shirt, so I wouldn't have to release his hands, and I began to caress, lick and kiss every inch of his muscled chest, feeling his erection going harder under his trousers as I got wet.

He struggled to get free of my hands and at some point, I lowered my hold and I felt his fingers around my wrists. As I kept my job on his skin, he took my hands to his mouth and kissed them, then he pulled me up so we would be face to face. He released my hands and I cupped his face as we kissed.

"I am not an animal to tame," I said.

"I know," he replied.

"and I don't like being told what to do," I added.

"I know," he insisted.

"Good," I concluded.

"But you won't be coming to the next meeting," he finished, and I didn't reply, maybe I was too exhausted to argue, or maybe I just surrendered to him, to his voice, to the touch of hands as he loved to me.

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TO BE CONTINUED...