As promised, here is today's update! I warn you, by the end of this chapter it gets a bit steamy. It's not much by other people's standards, but for me it's very much on the "rated M" side because I don't go into much detail on such things normally. It was just begging to be done though, so I had to! Hope you like it.

Over the next few days Sasha and Severus spent nearly every free moment they had together. Unfortunately, because they were both completely unsure of what to do with each other, much of that time was spent in shy silence.

Sitting in Ancient Runes, waiting for class to start, Adrianne was teasing her friend relentlessly. "I can't believe that now you've finally got him you talk to him less than you did before! It's quite pathetic really."

Sasha glared at her and sighed. "Yes, well… that's just temporary I imagine. We've just got to get used to the idea. He did kiss me goodnight last night. That was nice."

Adri bounced a wadded up ball of paper off of Sasha's head. "You didn't tell me that! It explains why you fell into bed with that ridiculous look on your face though. Is he good at it, snogging?"

She could tell by Sasha's goofy grin that the answer was yes. "Sure. I'm not talking about that though, it's none of your business."

Adrianne snorted. "In other words you'll tell me later tonight when there's nobody else around to hear. Any mention of Evans, or do you think he's over it now?"

Sasha bit her lip and her happy look faded. "He hasn't mentioned her, no. I don't think he's over it though. He still looks a bit sad most of the time. Not sure what to do about that."

"I'll tell you what to do… get him someplace romantic and make him forget she exists!"

"Adri! Don't' you think that's taking things a bit fast? Bloody hell. We've got to get used to talking again before we start in with that sort of thing. Honestly, I think we're doing all right, considering. If you think about it, just a few months ago I'd never even spoken to him and now… well, he does spend more time with me than anyone else."

"Yes, but time-wise…"

Sasha shook her head. "No, enough of that. Things are going well and he'll have his apparition license soon. There's no reason why we can't still see each other after he graduates. It's bound to be easier then anyway. At least he won't have to see Evans and Potter every day anymore."

Their professor cleared her throat to get everyone's attention and the girls had to cut their conversation short. Sasha tried to focus on what the professor was saying but her mind kept wandering back to what Adri had suggested. Although she had dismissed the idea, it did have its appeal. The idea of going someplace private and romantic with the boy of her dreams was certainly tempting. They hadn't ever had the chance to have an actual date… and maybe that would help break the ice a bit. At the very least, it was a good opportunity to snog him some more.

After class Sasha grabbed the back of Adri's robes on their way out the room. "I've been thinking about what you said, and I've changed my mind. I'm going to ask him to meet me tonight after curfew. Where do think we should go?"

Adri giggled. "I dunno. Why don't you ask him where he wants to go? Wizards like to feel like they're in charge. My mum says if you let them believe that they are its much easier to keep running things yourself. I guess gran used to tell her that behind every successful wizard is a witch who knows how to keep a secret."

At lunch Sasha flirtatiously slipped her hand under Sev's robes and into his trouser pocket. He gave her a surprised look until he felt that she had something in her hand.

"Just a note" she said quietly. "You can read it later."

As soon as he was away from her he yanked the folded up piece of parchment out of his pocket. His curiosity was eating at him.

Meet me in the common room at midnight and think of somewhere nice we can go to be alone.

He stared at the paper for a while, his heart pounding. He knew exactly where he wanted to take her.

It seemed to take years for the time to arrive. Sasha had been pacing the floor next to her bed ever since she'd come back from dinner. Adrianne finally announced "Well, it's nearly midnight. Are you ready?"

"What happens at midnight?" asked their roommate Clara. "And what's got you so tightly wound Sash? You look like you could fly through the ceiling at any minute."

"Our Sasha has a date" Adri laughed.

"Not with Snape?" Clara asked, looking shocked. "Out of all the boys in our house you pick that one… I think you've gone round the bend."

Sasha glared at her. "Well, I don't recall asking your opinion, so you can keep it to yourself."

"Oh don't be like that. If it's him you want then, well, have at it. He is of age, which is convenient I suppose. Not a lot of girls in our year have got boyfriends who are seventeen. That's something you can be proud of. Where are you going?"

Adri laughed again. "She doesn't know yet. I told her to let him pick."

Clara nodded. "That's smart. It lets them think they're in charge."

"Yeah that's what I said…"

Sasha flopped down on her bed in frustration. "Oh would you two come off it already? I'm standing here so nervous I could sick up my supper and you're talking about clever ways to manipulate men! I really like him you know. Adri you know this. It was one thing when I was just watching him and daydreaming…"

At this Clara gave Adrianne a shocked look. She had never realized.

"But after the summer I've really got to know him. He's even better than I thought before. He's so clever and I could really see myself having a future with somebody like him. This is important and I can't stop thinking that I'm going to muck it up somehow."

"Or Evans is going to turn up and muck it up for you" Adri mumbled. "Look, you're going to be late if you don't go now. There's no sense worrying anymore because it will either work out or it won't, and nobody can accuse you of not trying. Come here and let us have a look at you."

Sasha stood in front of her friends and spun in a circle.

Clara nodded approvingly but suggested "Not bad. Undo a couple more buttons on your blouse though. Did you pick out some fancy knickers? I mean you never know…"

Adrianne burst out laughing and Sasha did too, in spite of the fact that she was blushing.

"Of course I did" she giggled, which made her friends laugh harder. "No reason though…"

When she entered the common room it was dark except for the little bit of moonlight that shone down through the lake to give the windows their eerie glow. Sasha was shocked. For once she was the one on time and he was late. After a few minutes of waiting in silence she started to worry that he wasn't going to show up.

What Sasha didn't know was that Severus had in fact shown up, and he was presently watching her from across the room under a disillusionment charm. Like her, his stomach was churning with nervousness and he was desperately trying to work up the courage to let her know he was there.

She nearly screamed when she felt an arm slip around her waist from behind.

"Hush, it's just me!" he hissed. "If we get caught out of bed we won't be going anywhere."

She sighed, relieved, and turned around to face him. "When did you come in?"

He shrugged. "Never mind that. Are you ready to go?"

Smiling shyly she nodded. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise. Come on."

Sasha followed him up the stairs out of the dungeons. They quietly made their way out of the castle over by the greenhouses.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked again.

He smirked and tugged her hand. "You'll see."

When they reached the edge of the forest Sasha stopped walking. Severus turned to give her a questioning look.

"What is it?" he asked, amused.

"We're going in there? Are you mad? We can't go in there. There's all sorts of awful things in there."

His laugh was devious, and, she thought to herself, very sexy. "Don't you trust me?"

Oh dear she thought, staring at him longingly. On second thought it seems I would follow you anywhere…

"Sure I do" she said quietly.

He stepped closer to her and leaned down so that their faces were inches apart. "Good. I'll protect you, don't worry." Feeling emboldened by the breathless look on her face he brushed his lips lightly against hers before turning back towards the forest. He held his hand out to her and she took it.

As it turned out they really didn't go very far in. Severus was confident in his abilities but not stupid. It was one thing not to care about danger when he was exploring by himself, but another story entirely when he had someone else along to keep safe. He led her to a small clearing that was covered completely in soft dark green moss. There were a few flowers, and it was actually quite pretty.

"Well?" he asked. "Is this all right?"

She looked around and grinned. "Yes, it's brilliant. When did you find this place?"

He shrugged. "A few years ago. I always tried to talk Lily into coming out to see it but she wouldn't…" he stopped, realizing that he probably shouldn't have said that.

Sasha knew he'd seen her cringe when he mentioned Evans and she could tell he felt sorry.

"Well, her loss" she mumbled wrapping her arms around him. "Thanks for bringing me here."

Relieved that she hadn't stormed off, he set his hands on her hips and leaned down to kiss her. He still couldn't quite get used to the fact that there was a girl, a pretty girl no less, who actually allowed him to kiss her. She even seemed to enjoy it because she always kissed back. She smelled good and she was so warm. Suddenly he felt his trousers getting a bit snugger in the front and figured he'd better take a break before he embarrassed himself. He broke the kiss and smirked at the dazed look on her face. Her cheeks were flushed and he thought she'd never looked so nice before.

Once she'd recovered enough to have a coherent thought, Sasha lowered herself to the ground and laid back in the soft moss. "You can see the stars through the trees" she commented. "It's pretty."

Taking her cue, he laid down next to her. "Never noticed that before" he said.

They lay there in silence for a few minutes. Sasha couldn't stop thinking about kissing him and how it made her feel. She desperately wanted to reach over and touch him but she just didn't have the nerve.

All right Sash… He brought you out here and he kissed you, and now he's lying right next to you. If you really want him you'd better pluck up and go for it because this is the best chance you've had yet and you never know if you'll get another on like this…

Steeling herself for potential humiliation, Sasha turned to him and started to stroke the back of his hand with her fingers. He smiled, so she moved her hand to his chest. He closed his eyes.

You'd better not be picturing Evans…she thought to herself. "Severus?"

"Hmm?"

"What are you thinking?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Just that this is really nice. I'm not used to things like this."

She grinned. "Neither am I, but I could definitely get used to it."

He chuckled. "Me too."

Sasha reached under his sweater and tugged his white dress shirt out of the waistband of his trousers so she could slide her hand against the skin of his belly. He was so thin! Even more so than she had realized before.

He drew in a ragged breath and let out a little whimper when she touched him.

Sasha was smiling so hard she thought her face might crack. This was fabulous. "Does that feel good?" she asked.

Smirking, he nodded.

Sasha ran her fingernails over his stomach and up and down his sides. His breathing grew harsher by the minute and she could see the effect she was having by looking at the fly of his khakis. Feeling brave, she climbed on top of him so she could kiss his lips.

Severus' mind was swimming. He felt like a living, breathing, completely incoherent ball of lust. It took every ounce of his willpower not to grab her tear her clothes off, but he thought that would be terribly ungentlemanly. When she slipped her tongue between his lips he moaned and his hands flew to her backside. He slid them down her bare thighs and then back up under her skirt.

Lace knickers? If this keeps up maybe I'll get into them… He was a bit ashamed of having such a thought about a girl who was two years his junior, but he couldn't help it.

As they kissed and touched each other his mind drifted farther and farther out of usefulness. He wasn't sure exactly when she had unzipped his trousers and put her hand down them but he did remember the moment that she'd wrapped her hand around him and started to stroke. It felt like fireworks were exploding all over his body.

Feeling like he should be returning the favor, Severus slipped his hand into her lacey knickers and did what Lucius's dirty books had described. It wasn't long before they were both panting and shaking with pleasure.

Afterwards Severus put her panties back in place and with no small amount of embarrassment re-fastened his trousers. Sasha was laying in the moss with her eyes shut, sprawled out as if she were unconscious.

"Are you all right?" he whispered.

She grinned and nodded. "Bloody brilliant" she announced.