Rated M

New Beginning: The Same Refrain

Chapter 13

Severus had to leave in the morning. He woke before the sun was fully up. He looked over at Hannah, naked under the blankets next to him. She was wearing his amulet around her neck and had promised she would use it if the need arose. He leaned over and kissed the back of her neck delighting to see her stretch and feel her push back into him with out opening her eyes. Hannah was the only one to stay in his bed all night, not dressing and leaving as soon as she was able, he did not want this time to end.

He lay behind her, pulling her back to his chest and lifting her top leg over his as he slipped into her from behind. She arched back and shuddered, groaning for him to continue. This time she came hard and quick, he felt and explosion of spasms as she shuddered in his arms and gasped his name. He caught her quickly and released into her as she was coming down. Staying inside her, he pulled her close and kissed her neck.

"I told you practice makes perfect," he said with a smirk. "Just don't go practicing while I am gone."

"Mmmm," she moaned pushing back to stay near him. "I think I like practicing."

"Hannah," he said rolling her over onto her back and looking into her face. "I mean it. If this is to continue, I don't want you with anyone else."

She opened her eyes and looked at him. Frowning and reaching to smooth his hair, and push stray stands back behind his ears.

"What about you?" she questioned sadly. "When you return to your Dark Lord what happens to you?"

"Hannah, don't do this," He turned away and slid out of out of bed. "I told you I can not talk of that."

"You don't have to Severus," she said getting up and reaching for her clothes. "I don't expect anything different this time."

He watched her as she turned her back on him and started to dress. He wanted to reach to her, and tell her she was wrong, that he would be faithful to her. He wanted to claim her and take her back to Hogwarts, and have her any time he wanted. He wanted her to be safe, and content with him. He kept his silence and dressed.

"I will come back when I can. Term starts tomorrow." He ran his hand though his hair. "The students come tonight for the sorting."

"Sorting?" She still did not look at him.

"Hannah, I will be back" He spoke to her back.

"You said you couldn't promise me anything," she said stiffly. "Don't say this if you don't mean it."

"Hannah." He pulled her around and forced her to face him. "I will try. I will not make a promise I cannot keep. I will be back when I can."

"I have to go Severus," she said. "I need to shower and change. I work the early shift again."

"I want to show you my world." Severus walked her to the door. "I will try to send you an owl before I come next time."

"Can I send an owl to you?" She looked up at him. "I can't even reach you. I don't know where you are."

"No Hannah, owls can be traced," he said frowning. "I can spell a non traceable, but you would not be able to do so."

She nodded and reached up to kiss him on the cheek, then glancing down the hall she hurried though the lobby hoping to get outside unnoticed.

She hurried to her room at the boarding house to ready for the day. She tried to believe what he had told her, but she could not. She had seen the look on his face when she had asked him if he planned on having only her, she knew better to think that he would. He would come and go as he pleased, and she would go with him each time. Hannah had long ago given up fairy tale dreams and happy ever after for a few stolen moments in a dingy hotel room, and if that is what she had to do to be with him, she knew she would and cursed herself for the knowledge.

Severus returned to Hogwarts to prepare for the evening and the rest of term. He knew many of the students would remember him. The Sixth and Seventh Years would have been here when he was a student. They would remember the taunting and ridicule he received; they would remember Lily, and her rejection of him.

He was standing in front of the mirror examining his reflection when the floo activated and Albus stepped out.

"Professor Snape, I see you are ready for the sorting," Albus said.

"Headmaster," Severus replied, turning to greet the Headmaster. "I still think this is a mistake."

"Mine or yours?" Albus asked looking at him sternly.

"My mistake for being here and yours for demanding it." Severus spat. "Don't worry old man. You have your Potions Master."

"I take it you spoke to your Muggle," Albus said.

"She has a name," Severus hissed at him.

"She has agreed to wear the amulet?" Albus ignored the barb.

"Yes," Severus said looking at him. "Who will respond to her?"

"You know you can not be her protector." Albus answered him sternly. "If you show up and Malfoy or one of his henchmen is there it would be unsafe for your cover."

"I asked you who." Severus glared at him.

"I have made two receptors." Albus explained. "Kingsley Shacklebolt will hold one and Alastor Moody the other."

"Both know who she is?" Severus asked searching Albus's face.

"That she is yours?" Albus smiled. "No, I did not share that with them. I did not want to compromise their loyalty."

Severus nodded to Albus, silently agreeing to his assessment of the situation.

"Now, I believe we have a sorting to attend." Albus stepped back into the floo. "The First Years are already in the boats and the carriages are arriving. I would suggest you finish primping and hurry."

Severus took one last look in the mirror to make sure he looked as much like the Professor he needed to be and left to take the long walk to the Great Hall.

He wore his hair lose for the occasion, wanting to hide his face and appear older. A high collar button up waistcoat obscured his white shirt, over which her wore richly cut robes of pure black and black satin trim at the cuffs and hem. His trousers were cut tight above the knees and the slightly loser to allow his boots to be worn underneath. His heels announced his arrival as surly as the extra cut of fabric allowed his robes to billow on his departure. He looked stern and foreboding. He had hoped for the look.

The Second through Seventh Years already sat in the Great Hall. Instead of entering from behind the staff table Severus decided to enter off the hallway and walk the long aisle up to the main table. He intended to make the statement that he belonged here. He opened the double doors taken aback by the sound of Lily's laugher, closing his eyes for just a moment he saw her on the inside of his lids. He fought to stay in the present and opened his eyes in relief that he was still where he remembered.

His step only faulted slightly as he regained his composure and walked firmly to the head table. The older students turned and watched, and then realizing whom it was became quiet and still. Their reaction filtered down to the younger students, who not knowing who this intimidating Professor was, watched him fearfully. Severus slowly made his way to his place, and with a flourish of his robes took his seat.

He sat stiffly and watched the sorting ceremony. He felt the eyes of the older students on him. He could hear whispers from the Slytherin table and knew they were pointing and laughing at him. In their eyes he was now the blood traitor, he was one of Dumbledore's men, he was that student that had hung upside down, and that Lily had rejected. He felt the back of his neck prickle as sweat ran down his spine.

He determined not to be that child that had sat in this hall only a few short years before. He slowly turned his head and sneered down the row of Slytherins. He quirked an eye, quickly finding the leader of the house by the way the rest of the table leaned into him, trying to catch his ear. The tall dark haired boy sat back smugly, arms crossed, staring at the Professor only four years his senior. Severus stared back, keeping his sneer in place until the other backed down, and looked away. He would not be intimidated.

After dinner, he hurried to his rooms not wanting Minerva to catch him in a conversation. He needed a drink. He looked at the glass of whiskey he had poured and tipped it to his lips. He began pacing, he need to move, to get out of these dungeons. He wanted to be with friends and feel accepted. He grabbed his cloak and headed out of the castle.

Severus arrived at the Malfoy Manor and hurried to the door all ready held open by Narcissa's elf. Tossing his cloak across its waiting arms, he strode into the sitting room.

Narcissa was sitting near the fireplace with a piece of needlework in her hands and a puzzled look on her face.

"Severus!" She looked up at him a laughed. "Help me out here would you?"

She held up tangled threads and cloth grinning at him.

"I thought I would try this, it looked so simple in the store," she said blushing. "Now I am afraid I have sewn myself to a pillow case."

Severus rolled his eyes as he pulled his wand and turned the whole mess to a pile of ash.

"Narcissa I would suggest that if you need pillow cases so badly, "he smirked at her, "dress the elves in towels instead."

"Sit, talk to me." She smiled at him. "I get lonely in this place all by myself."

"Where is Lucius?" He asked frowning.

"He is away on business," she said still smiling at him.

"Business?" Severus raised his eyebrow and smirked. "Since when does Lucius work?"

"Severus, please. He has been gone three days this time. I don't know what I do wrong."

"Where is he Narcissa?" Severus pushed.

"I don't know," she said coming to her feet and throwing her arms around his neck. "He is gone so much, I think he is with Bella."

Severus held Narcissa as she cried softly into his shoulder. When her sobs slowed, he pulled back a little to look into her face.

"Well, well." Lucius's smooth voice came from the doorway. "I see my dear wife has found her own diversion."

Narcissa jumped back from Severus as if scalded. She turned to Lucius turning red and started to walk towards him. She froze as his wand came up from the folds of his robes and pointed at her.

"Lucius!" Severus glowered. "I suggest you lower that wand."

"She is my wife," Lucius spat. "Is this how you thank an old friend Severus?"

"Lucius, you are drunk." Severus stated the obvious as he slowly walked forward, pulling Narcissa behind himself.

"Oh my, this is touching." Lucius sneered. "Protecting my wife with you body."

"Lucius." Severus held his wand loosely in his hand his face a cold mask. "I have waited too long for this. Give me a reason and I will do this."

"You would not dare. That is the difference between the two of us. You need a reason." Lucius sneered throwing his long silver hair back over his shoulder with a toss of this head. "Why don't you just take her? I have all the trim I need."

"Cissy," Severus called her by her pet name. "Go you your room. I need to talk to your husband."

She quickly ran to the door and shot at look at Lucius as she hurried away.

"Now, put your wand away Lucius," Severus took a chance and lowered his. "She is not here to impress any longer."

Lucius threw his head back and laughed lowering his wand and placing it in his pocket.

"How did you know I was bluffing?" Lucius asked with a grin.

"You smell of Bella," Severus sneered at him. "She knows you go to her sister."

"Good, maybe she will stop with her insistent questions." Lucius sat down heavily in one of the chairs he stretched out his long legs and crossed them at the ankles. "Why are you here old friend?"

"I needed to get out from under the old man's stare," Severus said honestly. "I am going crazy living in that place."

"Yes, I imagine you are looking for some excitement," Lucius said smiling calmly. "I may be able to find some, how would I term this, some work for you?"

Severus leaned forward in his chair, his back growing cold and his ears hearing the familiar rush of blood. He knew then what Lucius was up to, why he was seeing Bella and it was not for sex.

"What would that be Lucius? You know I am rather busy as of late, however I may have some free time."

"You will have to prove yourself Severus," Lucius raised his eyebrow. "There are many that find your youth a determent."

"Determent?" Severus laughed coldly. "It was not a determent that they saw before."

"That is true, but times are different. We no longer need to get close to the Potters."

Severus stood and walked over to the liquor cabinet to hide his face in case he was unable to hide his emotions.

"Who are you after this time Lucius?" Severus sneered. "Since the Dark Lord is no longer here to offer up his strategies I would assume that the ranks are now free to settle all the old scores."

"Yes," Lucius smiled. "I think we have many to settle. However, first we need to gain some friends in high places."

"The Ministry Lucius?" Severus swirled his glass around looking at the amber liquid.

"Yes, we have the money to buy a few favours."

"Favours?" Severus turned to look down on Lucius. "I was not aware that our Lord accepted favours without full commitments."

"Ah, you see my friend." Lucius crossed his arms behind his head. "If we obtain enough favours Bagnold will be in to deep she will not be able to deny us anything."

"I do not think Millicent Bagnold would be enough to swing the entire Ministry our way." Severus said thoughtfully.

"There are others, other entire families that I have been watching." Lucius narrowed his eyes. "Some of the names can be found in your classes."

"I imagine you are talking of the Umbridge's and the Sorenson's," Severus said levelly. He gave names already identified by Albus as supporters.

"Amongst others yes." Lucius smiled. "So, may I count on you to re-assimilate?"

"I was not aware I had left." Severus raised his glass and drained it. "I will need new robes. Mine have met with an unfortunate accident."

"I will send you a set as soon as I can have them charmed properly," Lucius said as he stood, seeing Severus walking toward the door.

"I will send more calming potion for Narcissa," Severus looked at Lucius. "She is not well. She has a haunted look and obviously is not eating."

"I know," Lucius ran his hand though his hair in an uncharacteristic show of frustration. "I do love her you know."

Severus looked at him, and turned walking through the entry hall and back to the apparation point.