A/N: This is the 100th post. A huge thanks goes out to wolfinthestars for sticking it out, and sticking it back in, with me
Severus had his wand out, doing the exact opposite of the lumos charm, stalking the ground floor of Hogwarts while wrapping himself in an aura of darkness.
The past few weeks had been inanely fruitless; he was to ingratiate himself to his godson, who was convinced by his insane aunt that his Potions' Master was out to steal the boy's glory in murdering the only man that could save him from taking the Mark. Even after saving Draco from Potter's use of his Sectumsempra, how ever did that blasted Gryffindor boy learn that spell? the young Malfoy was adamant in his silence and knew enough Occlumency to fend off Severus from trying a surreptitious peek into the lad's mind. At least Severus was having his little dig at the Potter boy by making him serve detention by transcribing the stacks of detention forms for the Marauders.
Albus was out of the castle yet again, and Severus' shift wasn't to start just yet, but he wasn't patrolling just for the sake of patrolling. He was hoping to run into a specific Auror that would be ending her own shift. They hadn't been able to see much of each other since the New Year began, and Dumbledore had made certain that it would be difficult for them to see each other. Rationally, it made sense to avoid drama within the Order. However Severus felt like it was purposeful meddling on the old man's behalf to keep Tonks with Lupin and to prey upon his guilt over Lily's death to be a loyal Double Agent for the Order.
The Ground Floor was clear, as it always was. He knew that nobody could crack the external shields of the castle, considering Albus' enhanced protections were designed to reject everyone bearing a Dark Mark other than Severus. The same was done to repel werewolves, which was based off of Lupin's blood. Severus gritted his teeth at the thought of him. He had promised to behave himself around the guy for Nymphadora's sake, but loathed the fact that he was the other suitor pursuing the woman that wore his collar of consideration. Excluding the Ouroboros ring on his finger, he knew that nobody could tell that this was a man who had foolishly fallen in love.
Severus went out onto the grounds itself, and found himself trailing towards Hagrid's hut. Realizing how he might be threatening a conversation that would edge on the level of butchering the English language as much as the Demon Barber of Fleet Street did in London, he turned away and headed for the front gates.
He let his eyes wander towards the lake, remembering how on a night like this just months ago was when he saw the unmistakable shock of pink hair and the conversation that had changed his life, as well as his Patronus. From what he could barely tell from the light reflecting off of the lake, the mousy-brown hair was probably a student who just happened to be enjoying the spot that he had as a child.
"Severus. I see you're patrolling, a bit early for your shift." Albus' voice came from behind him, and Severus took the moment to close off his face and give the Headmaster the same neutral attitude that he gave The Dark Lord.
"Must you find fault with me even when I follow your dictates, Albus?" Snape replied, tired of the old man's 'requests'.
"Walk with me, boy." Albus stated, taking them back towards Hagrid's Hut and away from the lake. Was that Nymphadora over there after all? Why has she reverted to that pedestrian color?
"I may need to pull Harry out of one of his detentions with you in the immediate future, Severus." Albus said casually. Has the world gone mad? Let's all just give Potter leniency for the attempted murder of my godson, whom if he had died would have taken me down as well due to that damned Unbreakable Vow!
"What are you doing with Potter, all these evenings you are closeted together?" Snape asked abruptly. Severus was sure that whatever Albus' latest plan wasn't as insane as when he had to give the 'safe sex' lessons alongside Gilderoy Lockhart to the sixth and seventh year boys.
Dumbledore looked weary, as if the curse had climbed another decimeter towards his heart.
"Why? You aren't trying to give him more detentions, Severus? The boy will soon have spent more time in detention than out."
"He is his father over again…" Severus' rage hadn't died when James had; instead, the compounding of his part in having the man whom he owed his life to then be killed by his former Master had ripped a hole inside his heart. Being with Nymphadora had seemed to be a salve to him.
"In looks, perhaps, but his deepest nature is much more like his mother's. I spend time with Harry because I have things to discuss with him, information I must give him before it is too late." Severus hated hearing Albus wax poetically about his limited life ahead of him. It wasn't like the Headmaster's portrait wouldn't exist for all eternity, and surely would be his only decoration when he finally would be placed in Azkaban.
"Information," repeated Snape. "You trust him… you do not trust me."
"It is not a question of trust. I have, as we both know, limited time. It is essential that I give the boy enough information for him to do what he needs to do." Severus resisted the urge to roll his eyes, knowing the old man would be banking on Harry to listen to him speak of 'grown men and their duties'. For some reason he thought of Lewis Carroll's The Walrus and the Carpenter.
"And why may I not have the same information?"
"I prefer not to put all of my secrets in one basket, particularly not a basket that spends so much time dangling on the arm of Lord Voldemort." Severus was too affronted to notice the twinge of pain in his left arm.
"Which I do on your orders!"
"And you do it extremely well. Do not think that I underestimate the constant danger in which you place yourself, Severus. To give Voldemort what appears to be valuable information while withholding the essentials is a job I would entrust to nobody but you."
Severus looked at Albus, and realized that this was as close as he would ever come to admit that he did indeed orchestrate the separation of himself from Tonks in order to keep him sharp and to allow her to avoid heartache. Apparently, for 'the greater good', Severus would have to take the short end of the stick and thank the old man for his lonliness.
"Yet you confide much more in a boy who is incapable of Occlumency, whose magic is mediocre, and who has a direct connection into the Dark Lord's mind!" Severus railed against the absurdity of it all; even Granger would be a better confidant to relay information to Harry when the time is right. She would have the mental fortitude and scholastic drive in order to perform both Legilimency and Occlumency.
"Voldemort fears that connection," said Dumbledore. "Not so long ago he had one small taste of what truly sharing Harry's mind means to him. It was pain such as he has never experienced. He will not try to possess Harry again, I am sure of it. Not in that way."
"I don't understand." The Dark Lord was known to work like a wrecking ball through the minds of anyone whom he wished to rifle through.
"Lord Voldemort's soul, maimed as it is, cannot bear close contact with a soul like Harry's. Like a tongue on frozen steel, like flesh in flame…" Souls? And why is he going on like a muggle greeting card?
"Souls? We were talking of minds!"
"In the case of Harry and Lord Voldemort, to speak of one is to speak of the other."
Dumbledore glanced around to make sure that they were alone. They were close by the Forbidden Forest now, but Severus even didn't sense anyone nearby.
"After you have killed me, Severus…"
"You refuse to tell me everything, yet you expect that small service of me!" snarled Snape, knowing that by doing so, he would be giving up on Nymphadora. "You take a great deal for granted, Dumbledore! Perhaps I have changed my mind!" He clenched his right hand, the ring biting into his inner palm.
"You gave me your word, Severus. And while we are talking about services you owe me, I thought you agreed to keep a close eye on our young Slytherin friend?" Albus would happily mention Draco's attempts at assassination while pointedly ignoring the fact that Severus had come to love the Pink-haired auror.
Severus' jaw was clenched, and he had no intent on giving up on her. Yet he knew it was entirely futile, considering the Vow that he would have to honor.
"Come to my office tonight, Severus, at eleven, and you shall not complain that I have no confidence in you…"
Severus' patrols were, as always, trite and uneventful. Justin Finch-Fletchley caught snogging a Hufflepuff boy notwithstanding, Severus hadn't run across any surprises on the Hogwarts grounds.
Instead, his own surprise would be waiting in his personal quarters as a golden owl stood expectantly on his desk.
Severus,
As you know, Lucius and I are the primary financers of The Sacellum, and we have been known to attend their annual parties religiously. However since my dear Sir is still being detained in Azkaban, I am asking you to be my escort for the evening. Naturally, my niece may attend as well, seeing as she would be your preferred date. My owl has been directed to remain at your desk until I get an affirmative reply. –Narcissa
Severus hastily printed out an I shall be in attendance with you and sent the owl back, unsure as to how or when he would have the opportunity to ask if Nymphadora would like to go. Something told him that even under a heavy concealing disguise charm, she would feel awkward for being in a private dungeon around other couples.
The thought struck at him, wishing that they themselves could be considered a couple openly in the Wizarding community, even if only in the smaller Wizarding BDSM community.
Checking his pocketwatch, he sent for a house-elf to deliver him a plate of sandwiches for him to devour before trudging himself back to seeing the Headmaster.
They were back in Dumbledore's office, the windows dark, and Fawkes sat silent as Snape sat quite still, quietly fuming as Dumbledore walked around him, talking.
"Harry must not know, not until the last moment, not until it is necessary, otherwise how could he have the strength to do what must be done?" Why must this man keep up with the dramatics?
"But what must he do?" Severus had hoped that Albus would let something slip. Of course, he knew the old man was much shrewder than he would ever give him credit for. And that alone might be enough to keep The Dark Lord from knowing Albus' true plans. It had worked to keep him underestimating the Potter boy for years now.
"That is between Harry and me. Now listen closely, Severus. There will come a time… after my death… do not argue, do not interrupt! There will come a time when Lord Voldemort will seem to fear for the life of his snake."
"For Nagini?" What did the serpent have to do with the war?
"Precisely. If there comes a time when Lord Voldemort stops sending that snake forth to do his bidding, but keeps it safe beside him under magical protection, then, I think, it will be safe to tell Harry."
"Tell him what?" Severus wondered if The Dark Lord's life essence was connected to the serpent since his appearance had been less human than reptilian lately.
Dumbledore took a deep breath and closed his eyes, and Severus realized that this would be something that Albus would never want to say out loud.
"Tell him that on the night Lord Voldemort tried to kill him, when Lily cast her own life between them as a shield, the Killing Curse rebounded upon Lord Voldemort, and a fragment of Voldemort's soul was blasted apart from the whole, and latched itself onto the only living soul left in that collapsed building. Part of Lord Voldemort lives inside Harry, and it is that which gives him the power of speech with snakes, and a connection with Lord Voldemort's mind that he has never understood. And while that fragment of soul, unmissed by Voldemort, remains attached to and protected by Harry, Lord Voldemort cannot die."
"So the boy… the boy must die?" Severus was surprised at how calm his voice was. Only until later would he realize that it was from utter shock.
"And Voldemort himself must do it, Severus. That is essential." Severus' mind went back to the prophecy. Neither can live while the other survives.
Another long silence. Then Snape said, "I thought… all those years… that we were protecting him for her. For Lily." It was why I humbled myself to being your stooge, old man! Because I loved her!
"We have protected him because it has been essential to teach him, to raise him, to let him try his strength," said Dumbledore, unwilling to open his eyes.
"Meanwhile, the connection between them grows ever stronger, a parasitic growth. Sometimes I have thought he suspects it himself. If I know him, he will have arranged matters so that when he does set out to meet his death, it will truly mean the end of Voldemort."
Dumbledore opened his eyes. Snape was horrified to see the fear and resignation in them.
"You have kept him alive so that he can die at the right moment?" Even for all of supposed bravery that Gryffindors have, who would willingly march out to their own death?
"Don't be shocked, Severus. How many men and women have you watched die?" His mind went to Catherine, and his hatred for the old man solidified and strengthened his resolve.
"Lately, only those whom I could not save," Severus snapped, standing to face the man he was to kill. "You have used me."
"Meaning?" How can you say that so flippantly?!
"I have spied for you and lied for you, put myself in mortal danger for you.
Everything was supposed to be to keep Lily Potter's son safe. Now you tell me you have been raising him like a pig for slaughter…" Severus was enraged, realizing that his reason for existing, his mission in life, was simply to help prepare yet another to be sacrificed in this bloody war.
"But this is touching, Severus," said Dumbledore in a voice that somehow carried compassion. "Have you grown to care for the boy, after all?"
"For him?" shouted Snape. "Expecto Patronum!"
From the tip of his wand burst his silvery-red dragon. It soared in the office, circling around Fawkes and flicking its tail lazily, and soared out of the window. Dumbledore's eyes looked sad and defeated, as Severus had forgotten that his Patronus had changed from the Doe form that had comforted him for the years after Lily's death.
"And that is exactly why I have taken the measures that I have, Severus. I don't know where your loyalty lies." Albus' eyes lowered to Severus' hand and to the ring that was on it.
"My loyalty is to the Light, balancing out all of the Darkness that I have done on the behalf of both The Dark Lord and you. I am an ally and not a pawn. And if I decide to love and pursue a relationship with a fellow half-blood Auror member of the Order, you will step aside and wish me well."
"You are playing a dangerous game, Severus! Pinning your future on a witch and hoping that the war will play out as others have planned? What makes you think either of you will survive this?"
"If this is your plotting on making me loathe you enough to kill you, you've truly outdone yourself. I'm not a foolish, suicidal man just because I owe a life debt that cannot ever be truly repaid. Mark my words, when this war is over, I shall make sure the world knows what kind of bastard you truly are."
"As long as The Dark Lord is defeated. You are dismissed."
Severus took in his reflection in the mirror, recalling the last time he gazed at himself so intently. He had bargained with his longevity in order to save Nymphadora, and now losing those two years had felt like it was done in vain.
He expected... no, hoped... that he would have heard from her by now. Instead, Albus' maneuverings as well as his carefully selected words to her have doubtlessly kept her at a distance.
Nothing is gained by being morose, he thought to himself as he packed up his favorite implements and put them into his bag, shrinking the contents for him to wield in the palm of his hand.
None of this had come easily; Severus had asked for this evening off during a Staff Meeting only for Albus to openly speculate if he was being called away by Voldemort or by 'any other nefarious witches'. Even Auror MacKenzie, who had replaced Tonks' position as the Auror liaison for Hogwarts, looked stricken at the inference. Severus had met his eyes then and let Albus see that he was doing a favor on behalf of Narcissa Malfoy, but wouldn't admit to it out loud. I have not even been able to invite Nymphadora to this social event because of your meddling.
Albus' flippant 'I see no reason why you cannot have an evening off, Severus' spoke volumes if anyone else knew the history that Snape had with this employer. Gone were the days when Albus would attempt to give him a birthday celebration (in fact, Albus knew enough to now avoid Severus on January ninth) or even as much as a visit around Halloween. Beyond being forced to sit and partake of the Halloween feast, this was a day that Severus usually sat stoically and muddled through and hoped for little incident. He had taken to his own personal ritual of drinking himself unconscious so that he wouldn't think about his involvement in Lily's death.
Severus pulled himself out from his musings, wrapped his cloak around himself, and walked through the grounds of Hogwarts until he got to the outer gates and felt himself pausing. His paranoia had paid off many times before, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. Probably the old man making sure I'm not trying to run off with Nymphadora for the evening.
Once past the gates, he Apparated to the gates of Malfoy Manor, passing through the wrought-iron gates as if they were smoke. He was greeted by a house-elf at the door who seemed agitated more than usual.
"Pitty is very sorry, Master Snape! Lady Malfoy sent word by owl to meet her at your home this evening!" The elf's head was nearly twisting itself off as she looked around the Manor. "The Dark Lord has returned and his snake looks at me with knowing eyes... I's do not want to become a snack for it."
Perhaps Granger had a point with 'SPEW' after all.
"I received no such owl." He replied, knowing that she was still hiding something.
"Owls are slower than the events that occur here, Master Snape. Lady Malfoy is waiting at your home. Pitty took her there directly."
Nodding his thanks, Severus left the Manor's gates and apparated to Spinner's End. Severus wondered what had happened that necessitated the last-minute change, yet knew that he would hear about it from Narcissa. Upon entering his home, Narcissa was pouring both of them a measure of scotch.
"As much as I wish to thank you for serving me a drink, I would like to know why on Salazar's snake you've taken to drinking this?" Severus sipped his drink, knowing that Narcissa was one to preferred sweet, white wines.
"The Dark Lord had returned... with guests," she replied fearfully, gulping down a large portion as if she were lad doing shots, "and our Dungeon downstairs has been re-purposed to hold prisoners."
Severus understood what she meant by that. Malfoy Manor had a private dungeon that was the envy of most of England's BDSM community, but The Dark Lord wouldn't understand the nuance of consensual sadomasochism.
"He enlarged the cages, destroyed the stocks and the spanking benches since he decided that they were useless, and tore down the decor and lighting down there. He has only let the rack and the St. Andrew's cross remain for now. And I didn't get to the worst part yet. He's holding Ollivander as a prisoner down there. I saw his pleading eyes as I took him some food... Scrimgeour is probably going to cover it up as long as he can, but..." The look on Narcissa's face told how much she loathed that her home, her favorite place to play, had been corrupted.
"Narcissa, I need you to put down the drink. Come here." Severus extended his hand for hers, which she took gratefully and sat down on the leather sofa. Her eyes lingered on his hand for a moment. She seemed happy to have the distraction.
"An Ouroboros ring. Birthday present?" She asked, turning his hand over to inspect the quality. Severus shook his head.
"Belated Christmas gift from Nymphadora. I was surprised at first, but have grown quite fond of it." Narcissa seemed surprised at the name, and furrowed her brow at him.
"I completely forgot about her, where is she? How... are things going?" She asked out of kindness and concern, but didn't want to know too much. Severus decided to never tell her about their last copulation on this sofa.
"I haven't spoken to her since The New Year. There was an altercation between myself and her other beau, Lupin." Severus took another sip of his drink as he heard her mutter 'flea-ridden mongrel' under her breath.
"Indeed, Narcissa. The Headmaster has decided to take sides in this matter and do all that he can to separate us while reminding me that her patronus changed to resemble his wolf form."
"Sounds like we both could use an evening out among our peers. I do wish Lucius were in attendance as well; The Sacellum was designed to be apolitical yet there have been rumors that we would be removed from the Board of Directors." Narcissa's appearance made more sense now. Her collar was charmed for all to see, and she had taken special care to make herself look as regal as the Malfoys had always been known for. Though she wouldn't be on Lucius' arm as before, she knew that the fate and the honor of the Malfoy name rested with her.
"I will happily be by your side tonight to make a good appearance. But my credibility, as well as your own, will be destroyed when Albus perishes."
"These are mad days and we must do all that we can in order to maintain our power and our positions among others. Lucius taught me that." Narcissa's resolve was admirable, and Severus offered a sobering draught before leading her outside and disapparating into the night.
The Sacellum had that feeling of blasphemed ground, like when muggle cemetaries fall to ruin and the gates seem to have been torn down from the inside. It was dark, creepy, yet held a romantic charm to it all. It was remniscent of the monasteries taken over by Henry VIII around 1540, and this particular monastery held a striking resemblance to the ruins known as the Glastonbury Abbey.
"Pollux Black had seen what King Henry was up to and had devised a way to scare the Catholic clergy out of their chapels and abbeys, seizing as many assets as possible and occasionally concealing a particular well-manicured monastery by making them Unplottable and Secret-Kept in case there was another muggle uprising." Narcissa smiled as she took in the sight of the aged yet mostly pristine monastery. "He purposefully infested the place with boggarts and watched as the Muggles kept coming back to their place of religious refuge."
"But King Henry III's Dissolution of the Monasteries was in the 16th century. The Statue of Secrecy wasn't formally adopted until near the end of the following century. Also, Pollux Black was born in 1912, I've seen that singed tapestry enough times to know that."
"This is a different Pollux Black, one who was from that time. Ancient ancestor of the former Headmaster Phineas Black." Narcissa waved dismissively. "Certain given names seem to get recycled more than others. It wasn't until Cyngus Black, my great-grandfather, not my father, turned this place into a secret 'muggle-hunting' club."
"So the Blacks indeed had a penchant for torturing muggles for fun."
"My family had various ways of making money in such ways that the Wizarding World was willing to turn a blind eye towards, for the right cut. It turned out to only be a decade-long trend, and it went largely ignored until Lucius stumbled across it when cataloguing Marius Black's possessions. Since there was no legitimate claim upon it, we seized it and turned it into what it is today."
"What a touching story, magnanimous robber barons subvert a house of worship into a human slaughterhouse, only to then make more money into BDSM version of the Hellfire Club." Severus replied dryly.
"Oh, don't be so melodramatic Severus. You and Lily were partly the reason we built this place, wizarding kind needed this place so they could play freely among others and not have to worry about hiding magic from the muggles who do the same."
As they entered the receiving chamber, they were stopped by a young wizard clad in leather who leered at both of them. A witch was sitting behind a table, shuffling paperwork as she recognized Narcissa.
"Lady Malfoy's paperwork is in order, but her suitor needs to refile." The woman simpered as she passed him a contract.
"You know quite well who I am, Alyson. And, as you are asking me to refile you should also note that I am Lady Malfoy's escort and not her suitor. She is happily collared to her husband and I will not stand for any such disparagement upon her character."
Alyson gave the Potions Master a cold glare. "Please inform that Master Malfoy will need to refile as well as soon as he is able to get out of Azkaban."
Narcissa smiled sweetly, and Severus knew enough to never be on the receiving end of such a smile. "The Board here is to remain apolitical, as was written in the Charter by my husband."
"The rules can be changed, once his vacancy is filled by a respected Dominant in the community." Alyson replied sweetly, telegraphing what was at stake tonight. Severus exchanged a quick glance with Narcissa, frowned slightly, and made a decision that he hoped he wouldn't come to regret. He remembered helping Lucius draw up the rules for this society, and knew how he could use them to his favor.
"According to the bylaws set for The Sacellum, I petition for Recognition and to fill the vacancy on the Board." Severus filled out the confidentiality paperwork and did the prerequisite wand-oath that he was not a part of any Magical or Muggle law enforcement, and that he would not divulge the Sacellum to those not a part of the community in any way, shape, or form.
"Professor Snape is a Dominant? Please, Narcissa, this is low, even for you." Alyson checked over the paperwork and filed it, jerking her head as if to say that he was allowed in.
"I did not put him up to this. But Severus Snape is indeed a Dominant; I have met and been put into situations with his own submissive before." Narcissa replied coldly, taking off her cloak and handing it to the leather-clad wizard. Severus did the same, glad that he was at least wearing his nice teaching robes.
His eyes drifted to Narcissa, who was elegant in her ivory overbust corset and matching stockings and garters. His mind told him not to look as his peripheral vision told him that her cunt was bare to the room. She had to portray a confident and able submissive, and that was what she was going to do. She handed her wand over to Severus, who quickly took it and stowed it in his arm bracer next to his own wand.
"My submissive lost to Narcissa in a challenge, which included a twenty Galleon wager to Lucius." Severus replied dryly, handing his own cloak to the leather-clad wizard. "Try not to get it wrinkled, either."
"Her name?" Alyson asked, her face conveying that she didn't believe him at all.
"She is deceased now. The current submissive I have under consideration cannot attend as she is in law enforcement and cannot agree to the terms of confidentiality here."
"Convenient, Professor. How will you demonstrate yourself for Recognition, then?" Alyson sneered, and Severus remembered the adage from his school days: 'Hufflepuffs are either daft and easygoing or calculating and as single-minded as a badger. Do not cross them.'
"He has me." Narcissa replied, her eyes narrowed in conviction. Severus stilled, understanding the implications that they were now in. He would have to balance his actions to be suitably appropriate to prove himself while working with his best friend's wife and collared submissive. Lucius won't be entirely happy about this, but he would have to understand the rationale for preserving his position, not to mention that he had worked with Narcissa before.
As they entered the next room, Severus was taken aback by the design. It still held its catholic feel while it was unapologetically perverted into a dungeon. The front altar area had been turned into a rack, with a St. Andrew's cross on either side. The communion rail had been left up, but the kneeling bench was replaced with something that had a more sinister feel. Doesn't hurt that there were obvious tie points on the various pieces of equipment. Severus mused as his eyes traced the relief statues of the Stations of the Cross, each looking to have been designed to emphasize the gruesome barbarity that man commits upon his fellow man.
The suggestive violence was almost pornographic, and the stained glass depicted Merlin standing powerfully over Morgana, shackled and overwhelmed in desire. The sun in the background was a triskelion, and it made wonder if it was a recent addition to the dungeon.
The torch lights that were ensconced on the walls were lit, giving the room an overall medieval feeling. The pews were of a solid wood, a dark mahogany that seemed to serve as storage benches for various people to claim. Narcissa naturally went to the front row and directed Severus to lay out his equipment.
"If you require changing your clothes, there are either the confessional booths in the back or the office just beyond the sanctuary." Narcissa stated plainly.
Severus looked over the rows of pews, fascinated by the Domme who had her legs splayed openly as her submissive's head was dutifully bowed, reverently lapping at the proffered vagina. He recognized her twinkling eyes as Penelope Clearwater, and realized how small the Wizarding BDSM Community is and how recognizable he would be after this. Wasn't she with that Weasley Prefect? Severus decided to not try and confirm his suspicions.
"I am fine as I am now. Now, pray tell, what will we be doing that will prove my salt while not undermining your understanding with Lucius?"
"I was thinking what we did in 1980 just after I had Draco." She smiled, tilting her head to gesture towards the altar.
"Ah, the Autumnal Equinox. I don't have candles, however."
"I own this place, Severus. Now what does a former house of learning and worship have?" Her smirk made him smile in response, glad to see this side of her once again. He summoned the candles and inspected them, glad to realize that the beeswax candles would burn at a very low temperature. He magically changed their colors, plotting out how he would work out the entire scene.
"Cissy, upon the rack." Severus ordered, and she climbed up onto the table, splaying her arms above her head. Tapping the rack with his wand, ropes shot out and tied her arms and her heels down to either end. Narcissa's eyes widened at the sharpness of it, and her breath hitched slightly.
Severus leaned over her and let his eyes travel over the length of the body, making a show as he magically undid her corset and slid it out from under her. Narcissa's cheeks flushed as she realized she was only clad in her collar and heels, and her eyes locked onto her husband's friend as her obvious nakedness spiked her anticipation.
His eyes locked onto hers as his face stayed stoic and unreadable. He had his own stirrings at the sight of her, restrained and helpless. He summoned a candelabra and placed the now-colored candles in them, lighting them with his wand.
"Do not flinch, else the design will not come out as planned." He had a silver candle hovering over her threateningly, and smiled slightly as she nodded her consent for the waxing.
"Yes, Sir," she replied, her eyes looking up to the ceiling and sliding herself into a different kind of awareness. Severus remembered her ability to automatically shift herself into a near-subspace, the very reason why she was able to defeat Lily all those years ago.
"Oh…" someone had said, a bit too loudly, from behind them. "Lady Malfoy is being waxed by… Professor Snape?" Severus' lips pursed momentarily, realizing that Percy Weasley was in attendance after all. He knew that he had to do this without any mistakes, as well as be entertaining enough to attract attention without showboating. He shoved all thoughts of the crowd out of his mind, focusing on the proper distance the wax would have to fall without burning her.
"I shall begin," he stated, watching the quicksilver-like wax hit her sternum and create the perfect corona affect for the first drip. Taking a steeling breath, he continued the drips in an artful chevron pattern until he put the candle away and reached for a gold one.
He would have preferred to do this to her back, but he understood the nature of this scene and needed to maximize the appeal for the second half of this demonstration. The gold wax fell in place as one would expect from the practiced hand of a potions' master, and before long Severus had created a design that could have been confused for a type of waist-cincher.
Severus looked back up at Narcissa's face, and admired how she had seemed to vacate herself yet was smiling faintly at the sensation of liquid fire cooling upon her body. She had wrapped herself entirely into the moment, savoring every sensation while blocking out the dozen-plus gazes upon her.
Severus replaced the golden candle, taking a near-lilac candle that matched her eyes, and continued upon his design. He had designed this to look elegantly gauche, as if something that the Lady Malfoy would wear herself.
"We're almost done with this phase, Cissy." Severus said kindly, returning to the silver candle. She faintly nodded her reply.
A new drip hit in an entirely blank area of skin, splashing perfectly on her hipbone. He continued carefully across her pelvis, creating the appearance of crotchless panties in silver and white. Narcissa had flinched ever so slightly, and Severus realized that her quim had been clenching for this last piece.
Severus' nostrils flared, his only indication that he knew she had become aroused by this session. "We are done with the waxing. Remain still as the wax fully dries and hardens before we move on to the second half."
Severus stepped away from her, motioning that others may approach and inspect his waxing. He wished he could excuse himself and adjust the uncomfortable, growing erection within his trousers.
Penelope Clearwater smiled appreciatively, nodding her approval to her former professor. Percy's eyes glanced only slightly, embarrassed to see the exposed quim of the Malfoy Matriarch. Alyson, however, frowned slightly. She didn't want to convey any sense of approval, though the leather-clad wizard by her side was impressed by the entire scene.
Severus extinguished the candles and removed his belt, transfiguring it into a singletail whip with a bright red popper. Pulling on the whip to gauge its flexibility and weight, he returned to Narcissa and the crowd backed away as they murmured in confusion.
"What's he doing?" he heard behind him, quickly followed by a sharp 'shh'.
Severus lifted the rack with a simple levitation, and had it standing as if a type of St. Andrew's Cross. He added footrest for her feet, ensuring that her weight was distributed evenly.
Closing the distance between them, Severus whispered in her ear. "Trust me?" His voice purred, and Narcissa's head cocked backwards as she gulped.
"Yes, Sir." Severus conjured a blindfold around her eyes, and paced his distance from her. He looked around and noticed that all play had ceased in the monastery; everyone had come to see them. The leather-clad Wizard realized what was about to happen and made a distance barrier, urging the members to be outside of the whips' range.
Severus nodded his thanks, popping his whip to warm his arm up and to gauge the exact distance that he would need. Once he felt confident, he took a swing and had it land expertly at the top point of the wax piece, cracking it and having it fall away.
His resolve hardened after the first hit, and he continued as piece after piece fell away. It was almost mechanical and formulaic; once he got his precision, accuracy was easy enough to get by modifying his stance rather than his swing.
Before long, Narcissa had been shed of the wax over her torso and only had the faux crotchless panties to be removed by the whip. Severus paused, feeling the nervous energy mingling with his adrenaline rush from the scene.
He took a few calming breaths, harmonizing his energy so that he could finish the scene flawlessly. Snapping the whip twice more, he prepared as his final blows stripped Narcissa of the last pieces of wax from her body.
As Narcissa stood there, blindfolded and free of wax, Severus put down his whip, removed her restraints, and vanished the blindfold. Lady Malfoy collapsed into his arms, shaking slightly and thanking him.
"I believe, Cissy, that we both enjoyed this." Severus' voice was strained, and he smelled the obvious state of her own arousal as his own erection pressed traitorously against his best friend's wife.
"Almost enjoyed it too much, I dare say." Narcissa's voice quivered with need. "I require…" she gulped again, "to take care of myself before any aftercare."
Severus handed her back her wand and nodded, understanding her completely. "We shall reconvene in the front pew." Severus cleaned and reset the rack into its original setting, sent Narcissa off to the ladies' dressing room, and stalked off the confessional in the back.
Once he found himself alone in the dark room, he freed his cock tugged it mercilessly, imagining Nymphadora naked and bound beneath him as he shuddered and whispered her name into the darkness. It was quick and simply for relief, but was still satisfying as he imagined himself ejaculating over the pink-haired Auror.
After he was sated, he pulled out his wand and cleaned himself and the room up. He felt a bit guilty for having to do this, but it was better than him parading around with an obvious puckering in his pants.
Back at the front pew, Severus had an emerald-green blanket and a tray of biscuits and tea ready for Narcissa. He wondered if he would ever get a chance to bring Nymphadora here, and then remembered that she might find it odd to play in an area where her own aunt was baring her naked cunt for all to see.
How will I ever explain to her this in the first place? he wondered idly. Nevermind the fact that I haven't been able to see or speak to her in a few weeks.
He was pulled from his thoughts when Narcissa sat next to him, wrapping the blanket around herself and smiled at the tea and biscuits. "You remembered" she said sweetly. Severus nodded stiffly.
Narcissa took a sip of the tea, taking in the looks that the others were giving them. "I think it's safe to say that you are indeed a shoo-in." She took another glance at him. "What's on your mind, Sev?"
He turned his head towards hers, apologetically. "Nymphadora. I would love to bring her here, but there would be a long discussion that includes details that I would rather leave out." He thought back to when they first met by the lake, and her hair was horribly boring shade of brown. He thought of how he first helped her, seeing her smile at him, when he kissed her…
"Which details? About my husband and I, or Lily?" Severus frowned at that.
"She knows of Lily. I could have sworn that her hair would have turned back to that dreadful brown when she found the contract I had with her all those years ago." But it hadn't. Severus realized that Nymphadora's emotional welfare depended more on Remus' well-being than anything.
He thought back to when he went to patrol early and ran into Albus. Closing his eyes, he summoned the memory and looked back towards the lake. His heart fell as he realized that it was indeed Tonks, and Dumbledore had been keeping them apart from each other.
"I can understand you reticence, Severus. As much as I am happy for you two, I do not believe I wish to actually see her rigged up and in a scene with you." She looked back towards him and realized he was deep in thought again. "Are you even listening to me?"
"Her hair color reflects her attitude. Has there been any news concerning the werewolves?" Severus asked, thinking that it is weeks away from a full moon.
"Someone was killed by Fenrir, to the point where they cannot determine even the gender. It was near the New Moon, and the Ministry worked hard to cover it up. You worried it might be her Lupin?"
It could be Remus. Even for a Marauder, nobody deserves to die at the hands of Fenrir that way. Severus regained his composure, albeit stiffly.
"May I escort you home, Lady Malfoy? I have other matters to attend to." She nodded, gathering their things. As they left and took their cloaks, Narcissa left her vote of confidence for Severus to join the Board, and smiled at seeing that she was not the only one.
After dropping Narcissa at her Manor, the weight of reality began to sink in. The Dark Lord is keeping prisoners such as Ollivander, Remus may be dead, and Nymphadora is in need of friendly counsel. Lucius' imprisonment seemed like such a distant problem to him, though it was central to Narcissa. As well as her son's mission to assassinate Albus.
There's too much going on all at once, he thought as he apparated to Hogsmeade, and I just want to be selfish and take Nymphadora away from all of this.
What would he say to her if she were here? 'Sorry to hear Lupin might be dead, I just had a blast whipping your Aunt after dripping hot wax all over her naked flesh?' They had been apart for so long, and it wasn't his fault.
Why hadn't she come to him? He knew that it wasn't all her fault either, but they shouldn't have allowed themselves to become so distant just because Albus engineered it to be this way.
As he entered the Hog's Head, he sat by the bar and ordered himself a scotch and planned on exactly what he could say to her after all this time. And how to properly approach the subject about Lupin.
What he didn't see, however, was Auror MacKenzie sitting three seats away.