A/N: Hello everyone! Hope everyone had a great weekend :) I'm finally back from my mini vacay, and as promised, here's the next chapter. Please forgive me if I am using the wrong terminology, and please correct me if I'm using the wrong warning. There is a little bit of dubcon in here during a dream sequence. As always, please skip over it if you're not comfortable with that. Hope you guys like it!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything Harry Potter in here. I'm just happily sitting in the sandbox and letting my imagination run wild!

Chapter 8: First Date

What should I wear? Auntie said to wear something nice. I pulled out my yellow Calvin Klein dress. It was a fairly simple dress, falling right above my knees. It had a gold zipper that went down to the middle of my chest, the neckline modest, but still making me look as feminine as I could be in a dress. I opted for my black wedges tonight, knowing that all my other shoes would dress down my outfit too much. My only tried-and-true hairstyle with this dress was loose curls, so I quickly curled my hair, giving it some style. Simple make up and a pearl bracelet completed my look. I looked at the clock; it was almost time to leave to meet him at the gates. I sprayed myself with my Vera Wang Princess perfume before grabbing my clutch and my cardigan and making my way out of the room.

The clicking coming from my heels echoed in the empty corridors. I was nervous, and I could feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I'm not sure why I'm so nervous though, we were just going out for dinner, as friends. I rounded the last corner and could see him standing by the large gates, hands in his pockets. He obviously left his robes, and it looked like he was something other than his signature coat and trousers.

He was in a simple button up and dress pants with black dress shoes. His shirt was a dark forest green, silver cufflinks by his wrist. The shirt and pants were much fitted, showing off a lean body that I rarely saw under all those usual layers of clothes. He definitely was not the bat of the dungeons tonight, as many students would call him.

"You look beautiful," he said, giving me a small smile.

"You don't look so bad yourself," I replied, blushing. "It's nice to see you in something other than teaching attire."

He shifted on his feet rather uncomfortably. "Minerva has requested that I wear this tonight, as we will be traveling to London for dinner." He held out a hand, and I rested mine in his.

"London?" I giggled. "My goodness, professor, if I didn't know any better, it would sound like we're going on a date."

He held onto my hand a little tighter before answering. "You would be correct, Mia. As I have said before I do have some interest in you, and I would like to see where our…friendship… takes us. As such, please call me Severus. Professor is all too formal for a night like this. Also, Minerva wouldn't let up unless an event such as this happened. She is very keen on making us an item, unfortunately," he explained, his eyes rolling so far back you would think he would have passed out. I laughed, thinking about my godmother playing matchmaker. It must make her feel young again.

The gates slowly opened, and he led me out, feeling the tingling sensation all over my body again. I could feel goosebumps forming on my skin. Once the gates closed, we looked at each other.

"When I walked through here, Professor Dumbledore told me that I would get used to that feeling," I said, hoping he would catch on to my question.

"Ah," he said, acknowledging that he knew what I was asking. "The school is protected with wards. Merlin forbid there is an attack on the school, but if there was, the wards would protect the property until we were able to ensure the students' safety and a defense plan against the attackers."

I shook at the thought. I can't imagine anyone trying to attack this school. The appearance alone made it look intimidating. Anyone that is willing to attack this school is a complete idiot. I looked down and realized that Severus was holding both of my hands now.

"There no need for those foolish thoughts in your head tonight. Shall we?" he asked, arching his eyebrow at me. I nodded, and he brought me into his embrace. He held me tight as I could feel my insides start to swirl.

In just one blink, we went from Hogwarts to London. Also, in one blink, I went from standing on two feet to dry heaving on all fours.

I could feel Severus holding my hair back as I continued to hurl nothing out of my throat. I must sound very attractive right now. A handkerchief appeared and I gladly took it, wiping my mouth.

"I apologize, Mia. Apparating can have ill effects if you are not used to the sensation," Severus said, concern laced through his deep tone. It took me a couple more heaves before I was able to come back to my senses.

He walked me over to a nearby bench and sat me down.

"That was a very – very – interesting experience," I breathed, resting my head onto his shoulder. "Please tell me it will get easier."

"I assure you, it does get easier." I closed my eyes, and I could feel his fingers run up and down my arm, which was very relaxing. "Are you still interested in dinner tonight?" Severus asked, looking at me. I nodded as we both got up and started walking. I'm not sure if I'm up for a whole meal anymore, though, so I suggested something small that we both could share. We ended up finding a small shop with desserts and pastries, and decided to share a slice of Dutch apple pie with a generous scoop of french vanilla ice cream on top. We were able to find a table just outside the door, and sat there to eat our delicious slice of pie.

"So, tell me, how did Severus Snape become one of Hogwarts most feared professors?" I prodded, jabbing my fork into the apple pie. His fork followed suit, also jabbing the pie, and popping it into his mouth before he answered.

"I was twenty one when I was appointed the position of Potions Master. I must admit I have always been rather – harsh, as the students put it – when it came to my class. Potions is a very specific art, and I don't have time for these students to dilly dally. Surely you must understand, coming from a similar background." I nodded. I knew how careful you had to be when you were dealing with certain elements or chemicals. One wrong move and you could blow up the whole city.

"There was one time I was working in the lab with one of the new assistants, fresh graduate, so he was a bit cocky." Benjamin was his name, and I hated him. He always tried to make it look like he was the better one, but it always backfired. "We were working on a special project for the government, and we were mixing two unstable chemicals. He poured the catalyst too fast and we were short 3 desks by the time the room was deemed safe to enter." I took a bite of pie again, mixing it with a little ice cream.

"That is precisely the reason why I conduct my classes the way that I do," he said, victoriously. "It might be beneficial for the students if you came for a guest lecture. May be it will finally sink into their little brains how important it is to not fool around." We laughed as we finished our slice, leaving the plate and our forks for the busser to take away. I left a small tip as we made to leave.

We walked around town, looking at the many shops that lined the street while exchanging our war stories of chemistry and potions. We somehow switched the topic from mindless students to our own childhood. We came upon a park, and decided to sit on a bench that overlooked a large lake. He grew up in a place called Cokeworth, and didn't really like his parents too much. He hated his father, but I could tell he still cared for his mother. She was the one to show him the wizarding world, and helped him discover his magic. Eileen was her name. His whole childhood was spent at Hogwarts, and that's all he cared to remember.

I told him that I grew up in a place called Beverly Hills. My parents owned a rather large plot of land. My parents were both well-known surgeons, and their clientele included some high profile people from around the world. They always pushed for me to do well in my academics, so that was all I ever knew. My mother was a strict enforcer of learning music, which was how I learned the piano. My love for the guitar came much later. I had friends, but they never stuck. School was just as normal for me as it was for any other kid, except for the fact that I went to some of the most prestigious institutions for my education.

"It seems our lives are more parallel than I thought," Severus said, amusingly. I laughed in agreement, leaning my head onto his shoulder. He brought his arm around so that it was now draped over my shoulders.

"I only had one friend, but just like you, it just didn't stick," he started. I looked up to see that face of hurt on him again. This must be what he was talking about that night we were in his room.

"I met her when I was very young. Her name was Lily. Her sister was calling her a freak when I met her. She called her a freak because she was showing her magic. I showed her what I could do, and from then on we were friends. We came to Hogwarts together, but we were sorted into different houses."

"What house did she belong to?" I asked, staring at the lake.

"Gryffindor," he said, almost forcefully. "She started befriending other Gryffindors, and we… grew apart." We were quiet for a few moments, listening to the wind gently flow by.

"Did you care about her? Surely you can work something out with her," I said, not exactly sure why I said it. I could tell in the tone of his voice that he really did care about Lily. If he cared for her so much, why doesn't he try and make amends with her? He's making an effort with me, he should make an effort on her.

"Yes I did come to care for Lily. She was the only friend I had. It's a bit more complicated than just talking out our differences." I could tell by his answer he didn't want to talk about her anymore, so I didn't push him. His hand wrapped around my shoulder as we sat in silence and looked at the lake.

Mia.

Oh no. Not now. What does he want now? I shot up from the bench and looked around frantically. Is he here at the park? Has he been watching us? The air seemed to have gotten colder as I looked around for him.

Oh, my dear Mia. Cheating on me, are we? Stubborn witch.

"Mia, are you alright?" Severus asked, standing behind me. I shook my head no.

Well, I can't say I approve of your little outing with your…friend. You both are lucky you are somewhere where I can't take care of business. We will have to find a place more suitable for me.

I looked back at Severus, my eyes so wide I could almost feel them wanting to pop out. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. The familiar black curtain started to come around me again, and I could feel myself slumping onto the ground.

"Mia, I am getting you out of here," Severus said, picking me up and walking me towards an area of the park full of trees. I was barely able to stay on my two feet, but I made it, leaning my back up against a tree trunk. Severus pulled me towards his chest, making sure my head rested on his shoulder and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Severus, he's in my head," I was able to say before trying to take a breath.

"I know. I need to get you back to the school so I can tend to you. Don't let go." I faintly heard a popping sound as I felt the sensation of apparating course through my body again.

When my feet touched firm ground, my legs turned into jello, and I could feel Severus swiftly pick me up and carried me past the tingling wards of the castle. I felt another sense of tingling shortly after, but figured it was just the wards that Severus was talking about earlier.

My sweet Mia, I told you, I always get what I want. And what I want is you.

"Get out of my head!" I yelled, clinging onto Severus for dear life. I heard a door swing open and noticed that we had made it back to his room. He laid me on the couch and I instantly curled into the fetal position, trying to shield myself from his voice.

"Get out get out get out!" I screamed, my heart racing faster and my breathing becoming much quicker. I felt arms pull me up into a sitting position, and a vial was perched on my lips.

"Drink," Severus said, and I opened my mouth as he emptied the contents for me to drink. The familiar taste of berries was a welcoming sense, and I could feel his hands bring me back to lay me down. My breathing was starting to even out as I focused on the gentle hum of his voice. My body felt light again, every muscle finally beginning to relax.

"Thank you," I whispered, hoping he could hear me. I felt him stand up from the couch and sit back down on the floor in front of me. I opened my eyes to look at him. "Thank you," I said again.

"How often do you hear him?" he asked.

"Twice, so far. The first time was when I was in the hospital wing. I can't even tell when it happens. All of a sudden I just hear his voice and then I go into a panic mode." I could feel my tears freely falling, and I wiped them away. If there's anything I don't want to live with, it would be his voice being stuck in my head.

"I'm just so tired. Tired of it all." I somehow erupted into a full blown meltdown. I covered my face, not wanting him to see. He moved to sit on the couch again, and pulled me on his lap. I admit, I was surprised he did it, but I was so distracted by this whole situation that it didn't fully register to me. He held me as I cried into the crook of his neck. I finally came to, and wiped the tears off of my face.

"I should probably get back to my room. Despite the way it ended, I really liked going out with you tonight," I said, giving Severus a small smile.

He shook his head. "I enjoyed tonight as well, but I must insist that you stay here with me tonight. I want to ensure you are safe and back to normal before I see you walk out of my quarters."

Before I could even retaliate, a shirt and a pair of cotton pajama pants appeared in front of me.

"You can change in the bathroom, right there, and you will sleep in my bed tonight. I'll make due out here," he said, picking me up out of his lap.

"Severus, I'll be fine," I said, hoping he will just let me go. He shook his head again.

"I must insist. I need to make sure you're okay." He waved me towards the bathroom before I could speak another word.

I looked at myself in the mirror as I closed the door to change. I was definitely pale, my eyes swollen from the crying. Why was he doing all this for me? What makes me so special? I can understand him helping me with the magic and all, but he didn't need to do the extra "hearts and flowers" stuff. There is definitely something between us, I know that for sure. May be I'm just overthinking everything; I tend to do that a lot. I changed into the shirt and pajama pants and walked out to find Severus setting down two cups of coffee.

"Have you done your Christmas shopping?" he asked, breaking the silence between us. I nodded, making a mental note to wrap the gifts when I get back to my room.

"I did, actually, that day I ran into Lucas," I said, shuddering at the thought of him. He always knows how to ruin a good moment. "Or, really, when he ran into me. Have you?"

He shrugged. "I don't really buy presents, but the staff likes to get each other gifts, so I'm obliged to get something for them in return." I laughed, just picturing him trying to figure out what to get, and settling on giving everyone the same exact gift. His eyebrow raised at my response. "Dare I ask what you find so hilarious?"

"There are some things better left unsaid," I said, eyeing him as I drank the last of my coffee. "Do you mind if I take a book? It'll help me fall asleep." He nodded as I got up and walked over to his large bookshelf. I ran my fingers over the bindings of some of the books, trying to figure out which one was calling out to me to read tonight. My eyes fell on a book that I haven't heard about since my high school days.

"I never would have thought you were into Sherlock Holmes," I said over my shoulder, eyeing The Hound of the Baskervilles. I pulled it from the shelf, deciding on the detective to be my bed time story. I opened the book and realized Severus came to stand next to me.

"I may be a Potions Master, but I do like to do some recreational reading to save me from having a headache from grading those awful essays," he said, staring at the stack of said essays that were on the table. I laughed, waving the book in his face.

"Well, if you're going to do grading tonight, you can blame your headache on me. I'm taking this book tonight." I smiled at him before I started making my way towards his bedroom. I stopped just past the couch, and turned back around and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He looked at me with wide eyes.

"Thank you, again, for everything tonight. Don't stay up too late." I turned again and started heading for his room, not stopping this time. I'm not sure why I did that, but I felt like it needed to be done.

"Sleep well, Mia," he said as I walked through the door.

"Lucas, please," I pleaded, praying for the pain to stop.

I needed to get out of here. I don't deserve this. I don't deserve this. Or…may be I did.

"My dear, if you would have just listened! That's your problem! You never – ever – listen!" he yelled, almost spitting in my face. I was on the ground, curled into the fetal position. My head was pounding from when I fell to the floor, and I felt a searing pain on my back, and I had no idea where it came from.

I could hear his footsteps as he walked around me. He stopped, and the searing pain on my back started again. He picked me up from the ground, and sat me on the bed.

"Promise me," he said through gritted teeth. "Promise me you will not disobey me again."

All I did was change a few equations on the formulas we were working on for his company. He got so angry because I seemed to find a better way, and not him. I thought I was helping.

I painfully wasn't.

Tears flowed as I nodded. "I promise. I won't disobey you again," I said, barely able to hear my own voice.

He sighed as he gently kissed my lips. Gingerly, he laid me down on the bed, pulling my shirt off of me and running his hands all over me. He moved to take off my pants and underwear, and his, then pushed himself inside of me, filling me the way that he did. I didn't dare to question his sudden mood to make love to me. I just took it, knowing this is what he would have wanted.

We were both on the verge on climax, moaning out each other's names. He kissed me one more time before releasing himself inside of me, my own trailing right after. When our breathing had calmed down and our hearts stopped racing, he looked straight into my eyes.

"Obliviate."

I woke up to a tear stained pillow. I must have been crying in my sleep. I wiped my eyes as I sat up, trying to make sense of the nightmare I just had to endure. It felt odd, not just because I dreamt about that, but I don't remember that ever happening. May be it was just my mind running wild because of what happened last night. I flopped back down onto the bed, and my hand hit something hard.

"Ow…" That hit the wrong bone! Now I could feel the pain through my whole arm. It's almost as bad as hitting your funny bone. I looked over and saw the culprit was none other than Sherlock Holmes. Such a shame, I only made it to page fifty two before I passed out. I finally mustered up the energy to get out of bed and head to the bathroom to relieve myself. I walked out of the bedroom and over to the couch to check on Severus. He was using one of the couch pillows and used his teaching robes as a blanket. I shook my head and walked back into his bedroom to take the blanket from his bed and drape it over him before going to the bathroom.

Since I wasn't exactly prepared to spend the night here, all I was able to do was run some water over my face, and try to make myself look presentable for the walk back to my room. I took both my index fingers and ran them under my eyes, trying to wipe away the eyeliner that smudged in my sleep. It'll have to do for now, until I can get back and use my make-up remover. I folded my clothes from last night and started making my way out and back to my room.

"Leaving so soon?" Severus said, startling me. I thought he was sleeping! Sneaky bastard. I turned and walked back to him.

"I told you I would stay until I proved to you I was fine, and I am perfectly fine and well rested now," I said, pretty confidently. "The only thing I'm not is showered and fed. I'll see you in the Great Hall for breakfast?"

He sighed as he got up from his place on the couch. With a flick of his hand the blanket I had draped over him started to float its way back to the bedroom. He stopped when he came in front of me, and looked me over.

"So, am I free to go?" I asked. He took my hand and kissed the back of it. His lips felt soft on my skin. It's too early for this.

"I see you are back to normal. I enjoyed last night, Mia. I'll see you at breakfast." He waved his hand again and the door opened. I couldn't really think of anything to say, so I just smiled and made my way out.

Despite the downfalls, I would say this was a successful first date. I have to remember to thank Auntie Minnie when I see her. We're supposed to have another magic session today. I turned a corner and ran into one of the professors.

"I'm so sorry!" I said, holding my hand out to help him up. He seemed taken aback by me, but took my hand anyways.

"N-no need M-Ms. T-t-Taylor," he said, a bit nervously. I remembered him from Halloween. I don't speak to him much, but I'll see him during meals.

"Professor Quirrel, am I correct? Sorry I haven't had a chance to get to know you since I've been here." The professor shook his head, not offended that I wasn't able to get to know him.

"It's quite alr-right. It must be a b-bit o-overwhelming coming t-t-to a new p-p-place." I nodded. I wonder where he got his stuttering from. I had a few friends in school that had speech impediments, but they went to speech therapy.

"I think I've settled in okay now, though. Will you be at breakfast today? May be we can talk more then."

Mia.

That was definitely not Lucas. This was a different voice. It was almost a whisper.

Mia Taylor.

I looked at Professor Quirrel, who just stared straight ahead. He almost looked hypnotized, like he wasn't himself at the moment.

"Professor?" He didn't move. He wasn't even breathing.

Yes, Mia. You will do.

I ran as fast as I could. I looked back, and the professor was still standing there. It didn't matter now, I just kept running. I stopped when I finally slammed the door to my room. My heart was racing a million miles a minute, and I was sweating profusely. Am I going crazy? I have to be going crazy. I bolted straight for the shower, wanting to forget what just happened.