Ch. 9 Fireside

Severus Snape was sitting at his desk looking over the first assignment of his potion's class this year. Groans, hums, and haws, where escaping his mouth as he corrected each wrong answer on the page so forcibly that scratching sounds could be heard across the room. Tabatha who was huddling under a blanket on the old leather sofa looked up over her "Magical Drafts and Potions" text book.

"Not going well over there?" she questioned.

Severus brought his elbows to the desk and rested his head in his hands letting the long black hair fall over his face like a waterfall.

"You have absolutely no idea" Severus sighed "Every year I have class after class full of dunderheads, it's amazing that I'm not half in the bottle by now".

Tabatha shook her head and giggled a bit.

"They couldn't have possibly done that bad" She said with a smile and looking back down at her text book and started to read again.

Severus's face rose from his hands and he glared at Tabatha.

"Oh no? Severus rested his chin on his palms and held his face "What's in boil cure potion Tabatha?"

"Dried nettles, crushed snake fangs, stewed horned slugs, and porcupine quills" she replied without looking up.

"And please humor me by telling me what you never do?"

Still reading her text book she answered.

"Make sure the cauldron is off the fire before putting the quills in."

"And if you don't?" Severus's voice sung a bit.

"Then you produce green acid that will melt the cald….." Tabatha looked up slowly from her book, "No…. they didn't...?" She started laughing "did they?… who?"

Severus watched as she laughed, her head threw back a bit and her face lit up, she always looked good when she laughed and most of the time it was contagious even to him.

"Neville Longbottom" Severus gave a chuckle "The prat melted one of good cauldrons too!"

"Oh poor Neville" Tabatha tried to sound sympatric and hold back her laughter, but it wasn't working too well "was he hurt?"

Severus shook his head, "No, probably not enough anyway" Looking back down at his papers he shook his head again, "that boy is going to blow up the school one of these days."

"Oh give the kid a break Severus" Tabatha snickered "remember it's the meek that inherit the earth".

Starting to correct papers again Severus responded quickly.

"Well if that's the case let me know when they read the will can you, because I'm going to get off the planet before it looks like my cauldron."

"You are always a picture of sunshine" Tabatha returned looking at her text book. "Oh, I'm going to need a new book tomorrow, I'm on the last chapter".

Severus looked back up quickly "Already? You started that book last night and that book has over four hundred pages."

Tabatha's eyes were still gliding over the page in front of her as she responded. "Four hundred and thirty two pages actually."

Severus looked at her in amazement, in the month since she first arrived at Hogwarts's she read and average of four text books a week. At first Severus thought she had to be lying when he returned to her the first day of her studies to see the history book cast aside and instead in her hand was the "Standard book of spell volume one".

Severus remembered how he tried to be cheeky by asking her if the book he got for her wasn't up to par. He also remembered being floored when she looked up and told him how much she actually enjoyed the book, but after she was done with it she got bored so decided to read another. It had taken her almost a completing an entire oral exam on the content before he would allow himself to believe it.

Thinking back Severus could remember the conversation they had on the meaning of the houses. How when he asked what where the houses, she answered clearly and directly like the knowledge of the book had just been absorbed into her. Later that evening she surprised him even more when she approached him in the Potions office.

"Severus, I understand what the houses are, but I don't understand the need of them".

Severus remembered looking at her puzzled "Well then you're with people like yourself, people you can relate too."

She went on even more quizzically "So you mean, that a person is, brave, or smart, loyal, or cunning? That doesn't make sense to me"

Getting annoyed at what he perceived was a silly line of questioning he snapped back to her "How doesn't that make sense?"

"Well" she went on "I don't believe a person can be pigeon holed into one way of being, can't you be brave, and cunning, or loyal and smart, or any of the combination?"

Severus recalled how he looked at her in a bit of awe "So you think a Slytherin could have bravery and chivalry?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I" Tabatha asked perplexed.

Severus looked away for a moment and then looked back at her

"Slytherins do not seem to have the best reputation" he said flatly "Their called evil"

"Well don't believe that. I believe they can be brave, intelligent and loyal too." Tabatha looked at Severus deeply "I mean aren't you a Slytherin? You have their colors and you quilt has the crest."

Severus shook his head yes his mouth drying and pulse quickening

"I thought so, and I think you have all those qualities and more" Tabatha smiled at him. "I would never think your evil"

Severus remembered looking at her and thinking how little she knew of him, when a voice called him from his memory.

"SEVERUS!" Tabatha spoke loudly making him jump.

"What? Ummm Y..yess.. Sorry I was thinking about this…this…paper". He fibbed and looked down riffled papers back and forth on his desk.

Tabatha laughed again "I guess so, you were so engrossed in your thoughts you didn't hear anything I said"

Severus looked up sheepishly "No your right I didn't, what were you saying?"

Tabatha sat up a bit on the sofa and patted the seat next to her.

"Why don't we both take a break, I think we both need one."

Severus eyed across the room, the screen did look very cozy, and the fireplace was a glow basking the sofa in light that made leather look warm and inviting. Speaking of inviting Severus also noticed the glow of the fire made Tabatha look even more inviting and pleasant then normally. The soft light made her brown hair shimmer with her golden highlights and her eyes sparkled with flicks of gold as well. Severus thought how interesting it was that he never noticed how gold played such a part of Tabatha, recalling how her body glowed when her magic was first reveled to them. Severus then realized how badly he did want to sit next to her, but he was still apprehensive.

"Um.." he licked his drying lips "why what did you have in mind?" The words came out with a hint of suggestion and as soon as they left his lips he felt like a total git, and if he could have retrieved them he would plucked them out of the air before they even entered Tabatha' ears. Severus looked down waiting for the chastising he might receive for his accidental transgression.

But Tabatha again amazed him when she laughed "oh I don't know Albanian pig farming?"

Severus looked up bewildered "what?"

"No? She questioned comically "well how about you just read to me then, I saw a book on the shelf about Magical folk lore and it looks very interesting."

Severus, thankful that she did not make a big deal out of what he just said, complied and walked over to the book shelf. Pulling out the book and turning towards the sofa he swallowed a bit then walked over and sat down next to her. As soon as Severus sat though, Tabatha scooted herself almost against him and bringing her legs up on the sofa leaned on to him a bit covering herself with his quilt.

His mind was racing, though they did practically live together, for the most part actual physical contact was at a minimal, and from this close Severus could smell the scent of vanilla and roses rising off her, strengthened by the heat of the fire. Severus closed his eyes for a moment and allowed his senses to take it in, then opening his eyes he opened the book and looked over to her.

"Merlin, she was very pretty" he thought as his palms started to sweat. "Not only is she very pretty but she has no problem being close to you". Severus felt a flutter in stomach again but pushed it down with all his might

"Um… ok.. What story would you like to hear?" his dark eyes grew softer

Tabatha looked over his arm at the book, and pointed to a title.

"The tale of three brother's looks interesting" she whispered as she pulled her arm back under the quilt and Severus was almost sure he felt her snuggling in against his side. Clearing his throat Severus began, his voice steady and calm.

"There were once three brothers who were traveling along a lonely, winding road at twilight…."

When Severus Snape wasn't being cold his voice was like velvet to Tabatha's ears, and she believed she could listen to its soft dark tone for hours on end. It was like chocolate, addictive, and soothing, something that could be savored if allowed. She smiled to herself and inhaled the scent of musk, leather, and herbs she had gotten so use to and enjoyed, she closed her eyes and let her body enjoy being close to him.

Severus had been reading for quite a while when he first noticed her moving against him. At first he thought she was just uncomfortable but then it slowly came to dawn on him that she was lightly snuggling more and more into him. Severus could feel her soft body pressing against his side and his eyes closed slightly as he tried to compose himself. However, all that effort came to a halt when he felt something soft and moist against his neck. Severus heart started to pound, his mouth was a desert and his stomach flipped.

"Oh merlin that's her mouth" he thought feverishly as his eyes half closed and threatened to roll back.

Severus wanted to say something but his whole body was betraying him; Tabatha's lips were softly kissing up and down the side of his neck, from his ear to his collar bone. With each kiss her tongue lightly sweeping over his hot skin and her soft lips was soothing the ache left behind from it.

Severus groaned again, and he turned his head towards Tabatha, he wanted so badly to kiss her. Tabatha though had other plans in mind it seemed. As Severus turned his face towards her Tabatha shifted up and lifting her left leg brought it around Severus waist pressing her self against him. Her mouth went back to his neck.

Severus blood was boiling hot, "T..tab.." before he could finish Tabatha looked up and brought her finger to his lips.

"Shhhh" was all she replied, as she sat up a bit and slowly unbuttoned his black over coat, sliding her hands across his chest as she manipulated the buttons. Once done she pushed the black material open and caressed him over the white shirt he wore underneath, Severus could hardly move. Suddenly Severus felt her weight shift, and watched in awe as she slid her body down his chest ending up kneeling before him.

"Ohhh…" a soft groan left his lips as he watched her slowly and carefully undo his belt and heard the purr of a downward zipper.

In a matter of moments Severus felt pleasure like he never had before. Her mouth was hot and wet and he was being driven to ecstasy. His arms spread out and gripped the back of the sofa his head flung back completely and his eyes rolled back and then closed. He felt his hips roll a bit as his fingers gripped into the leather.

"Oh Sweet Merlin" his lip trembled he felt a wave of bliss start to surge in the deepest part of his body.

"Severus?" The sound of Tabatha's voice caused his eyes to flash open.

It only took him a moment to realize what just happened and he pushed Tabatha off his shoulder, jumped up and walked over to the mantle facing the fire. His breath was raging

Groggily she peered after him, rubbing her sleep filled eyes "Sev, are ok you? Where you having a nightmare?"

Severus brought his fist to his mouth lightly bit down, "Oh thank Merlin she didn't notice anything" he thought.

"No Tabatha I'm fine….." he let his mind race to find something logical "I think that a piece an ember from the fire just hit my arm"

He waited a moment to insure that his whole body was back to its prober state when he turned around and looked at her, her face was still caught in innocence of sleep and she looked lovely. Severus mind went black as he stared at her.

"Sev… your acting odd, are you sure you're ok?" She started to sit up

Severus licked his lips and shook his head. "No I'm fine; I just need some rest." With that he started to coldly walk towards his bedroom door.

"Goodnight Severus" Tabatha called out him confused, "sleep well".

Severus paused. No this was wrong; it wasn't fair of him to take this out on her. She didn't do anything to him but be nice and kind, and if his own twisted mind made more of it than that, it was his own fault. Long ago he pushed the only other person who was kind to him out of his life and he knew how that ended up, if he did that again then he was just plain stupid. Just then a feeling came over him that he had not felt in years, and turned around. Bring his hand up to the back of his neck and rubbing a bit he looked to the floor and then back at Tabatha, and returning his gaze down he said in a soft voice.

"Halloween is a few days, and we always have a feast for the students, and I know you'd be going anyway, but I wondered if we could go…" Severus was stumbling heavily over his words "well I wondered if we could together, I mean, I know you're going anyway, but maybe we can go together, as friends not just as teacher and student?"

Tabatha watched as the cool and confident potion master because a fifteen year old boy in front of her, and she smiled softly.

"Severus of course I would, but…you know you're already my friend, don't you?"

Severus smiled and on one of the rare occasions in his later life it was a true smile.

"I do now" and with that he turned around and headed into his room.

A/N:

I want to thank everyone that has left me comments, your all so very nice :D

Oh and after reading this chapter I want you all to know yes I'm very aware of how horrible I am, haha :P But I hoped you enjoyed the bit of steam!