Ok, folks, this chapter is why my stories are rated MATURE. I will put a line where the mature scene starts and ends, so you can skip over it if you feel the need to. I hope you'll enjoy the chapter either way.
~J.
Allyna slid from the bed and padded across the cold stone floor to kneel in front of Severus. She took his hands from his face and whispered his name. He looked at her, fear in his eyes. "What happened, Severus?"
He surprised them both when he pulled her up into his lap, holding her close to prove to himself that for now she was safe. "Draco sodding Malfoy sent Lucius a letter. Talking all about the duel with Miss Parkinson. Including the fact that you wandlessly threw up a shield that knocked back half the students and kept them from being hit by a slicing hex. Allyna, the Dark Lord, he's going to want you now. He likes to collect what is powerful, useful. In fact I just came from a meeting with him and Lucius. He wants to find a way to get you to meet with him, by fair means or foul."
"What do you mean?" Allyna asked, her fear like a fist of ice in her stomach.
"I mean he wants to see how powerful you are, whether you come willingly or not," Severus spat. He sighed and rested his head against Allyna's "I don't know how to get you out of this, Allyna. I've told Dumbledore, but there is little he can do for now. The Dark Lord will try to acquire you, most likely some time during the holiday break. I promise I will do what I can to keep you safe. But I cannot promise anything beyond that, do you understand? I will do what I have to to protect myself as well."
Allyna's head jerked back and she stared into Severus' eyes. "Do you think I would ask for anything else. I've told you before, Severus, but I will tell you again. The line of my people are healers, Dreamweavers, nurturers and most of all, protectors." She slid a hand along his cheek. "I would ask no less of you than to stay alive, however possible."
She laid her head on his shoulder and hummed softly to him, her fingers running through his hair until he eventually relaxed a little. "You go to your father's tomorrow, yes?"
She nodded. "Though he said he wants to introduce me to the families of some of the people he works with at the Ministry now." Allyna sighed, she was not looking forward to meetings with some of these people, they were the exact kind of people that Allyna despised: entitled, rude and arrogant.
Severus stood, leaving Allyna's arms.
"My job,' he paused as if to find the right words. "It isn't easy. And every moment I put lives in danger."
Severus unbuttoned his cuff and slid it back to reveal the undulating Dark mark. "If your life was put in danger because of this wretched blight—I could never forgive myself Allyna. Not ever."
Allyna, sitting back on her heels, briefly gazed at the Mark. What captivated her so was not the dark magic that afflicted his sculpted skin; but the piercing black eyes that held so much passion looking down on her from his full height.
Acting as if Snape's outstretched arm was there to aid her, Allyna gripped his forearm and stiffly rose to her feet. The potions and rest had helped, but the soreness was taking hold no longer in her muscles. Resting a hand between her breasts, she knew that it was the heart that had begun aching.
"Allyna." Severus eyes burned as she placed her slender fingers over his firm chest. "Please don't."
"I don't know what these dark times hold…" she began.
"I won't have any of these words from you. You are strong, and brave, and more cunning than I've seen from this House in decades." He stood away from Allyna's reaching hand. "The Dark Lord is persuasive, but there are ways to deceive even him."
Her eyes changed with sharp attention, "You have a plan, don't you?"
Severus raised his chin, making his nose more prominent. He looked every bit the Potions Master.
"You will not like it. But it may be the only way to protect you. And given your father's past endeavors (he sneered at the word), I will not enlist the help of that man."
"I'm listening. What do I need to do Severus?"
Hearing his name roll from her tongue as easily as if she breathed life into it; was beginning a deep warming effect somewhere below where Allyna's hand had been placed over his heart. His thoughts became hazy. Turning his eyes towards her standing frame, he'd forgotten the hour until he saw she was clothed in naught but her nightclothes. "My apologies. The hour is late. We shall continue in the morning."
To Allyna's astonishment, her Head of House strode towards the bedroom door tugging his sleeve back in place. As she turned the protest, to at least find out what his arrangements were… Suddenly, he turned around.
"I take breakfast in my study during Holiday. Meet me there in the morning." And then the door was closed and the wards back in place.
Stunned, feeling a bit bereft, Allyna folded her knee on the bed and lowered herself down—still staring dumbly at the door. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she shivered. It was cold. Mostly from the fire being only embers, but the knotted fist of dread that seemed to be hammering itself deeper into her gut.
-POP-
"Potion for the Miss." It was little Twinkle, the house elf.
She thanked the house elf softly and tipped the vial quickly down her long throat. "Twinkle. Would you request a light sleeping draught from Professor Snape please?"
The little elf's eyes seemed to widen all the more with the tiniest gasp. "As Miss asks, Twinkle will obey."
The potion she had swallowed started to ease the residual pain from Pansy's attack. She slipped down her nightgown and pressed the tips of her fingers against the indentations. Faded, but tender. Madame Pomfery was an efficient woman with such a big heart. There would definitely be a gift under her tree from Allyna this year.
There was another –POP—and Twinkle was back in Allyna's quarters.
The elf didn't look up at the tall, blonde girl. Instead she squeaked and raised a piece of parchment out as high as her tiny limb would reach.
Allyna quirked an eyebrow and received the note and read his words:
'Miss Wilson,
Go. To. Bed.
No potion is necessary. Breakfast will be early.
-S.S.'
"Twinkle." She raised her voice at the tiny creature more than she has meant to. Twinkle shook terribly underneath her plain frock. "Wait there a moment. Then you will take me to Professor Snape's quarters."
The house elf's shaking abruptly stopped, and she looked up at the girl. "You want Twinkle to break Hogwarts rules?"
Allyna's determined expression softened as she bent down to look as eyelevel as possible with Twinkle. "No Twinkle, I am not wanting you to break any rules here at Hogwarts. I am simply asking you to pop me to where my Head of House is because it is very important."
The elf thought for a moment. "Miss is asking? Because it's important?"
"Yes Twinkle."
"Then Twinkle will. Because important is Important!" The elf looked just as pleased and determined as Allyna had moments before.
With a toss of her dark green nightgown, Allyna thought her long white gown would be better suited for the drafty dungeons. It had long sleeves that covered to the wrists, and lace that buttoned against the top of her throat. All her scars were covered. With a wave of her wand, slippers slid gently to cover her feet; and grabbing the piece of parchment in her wand hand Allyna grasped the other with Twinkle's.
"Alright Twinkle."
-SNAP- they were gone.
-POP- Allyna's slippered feet were back on solid stone. Twinkle shifted uneasily and she whispered, 'Call Twinkle's name if Miss needs her."
Allyna smiled and mouthed a thank you. And the little house elf was gone. Her eyes began easing around the room. It was quiet. The stones gave way to soft rugs thrown against them. Allyna liked the warm rugs. They were enchanted to give warmth when touched. Slippers were slid off and her toes skimmed against the surface. They felt Heavenly!
Her eyes were adjusting to the room. It seemed to yawn wider as she looked around. A hearth was burning adjacent to a silk covered bed. Crystals blazed where logs should have been. Allyna was enchanted to come closer to the flames and peer in to their warm, magical depths. The fire had an animation of its own. Writhing and burning with such loveliness, that is was difficult to pull her eyes away when footsteps behind her stopped short.
"Miss. Wilson." came the only words from the room's darkness.
Allyna didn't dare turn around. She couldn't face that voice. Not when the tone sounded so displeased.
"You shouldn't sign your parchments as if you were a boat in the British Navy, Professor."
-silence-
"S.S. is attributed to all steam power vessels."
-resounding silence-
"You are not a boat. Are you Severus?"
Allyna turned to find a robed Potions Master inches away from her. She could feel the heat from his freshly washed skin. And a drop of water splashed against her bare foot that had dripped form the end of his wet hair.
"What are you doing out of bed Miss Wilson?"
Now it was her turn to be silent. A large clock somewhere struck the hour. Three reverberations, and then silence.
Glancing over Severus' shoulder, Allyna pulled at the delicate lace of her nightgown. Small serpents had been etched with a fine hand at the wrist before tufts of spidersilk-lace dropped down a few inches. The same stitching applied to the collar and throat pieces. Her throat seemed to have collected heat and was now overly warm. She moved her bare feet from the warmth of the rugs and stood against cold stone.
"I couldn't sleep." She muttered, brushing away her long hair and pressing her shoulders firmly back.
Severus' eyes did not waver. They held hers in such a way that was painful for her to look into them.
"I highly doubt you came here to the dungeons to ask for a bedtime story or to discuss my choice in parchment signature. Just what do you think you are doing?"
"The sleeping draught."
"Unnecessary."
"Don't make me go back to my room?"
"Unavoidable."
"Will you stop this Severus Snape!" Allyna raised her voice and dropped her hands in fists at her side.
"Don't look at me like that."
The fire glowed around the edges of Snape's figure—a gash of impenetrable shadow. But she knew the set of his mouth and the long nose punctuating the half-lidded dark eyes. He was sneering at her.
"I don't know why I'm here." came her small, dulcet voice. "I just…I'm leaving tomorrow, and…" With shoulders slumped forward, Allyna looked miserable.
Severus saw the days, the weeks of being at Hogwarts written on her exhausted face. Rejected by her own housemates, she carried a lonely heart beneath that lovely silk gown. What a charming, innocent girl. She had protected others, healed hurts, and smiled every day. But the set of her shoulders showed just how tired and lonely she was. His heart squeezed. The Dark Lord would surely want to acquire her. Such a precious little thing with power beyond measure. She didn't even know the power she wielded over himself.
Without realizing it, Severus found himself before her with his hand outstretched. She didn't grasp it.
Instead, a glossy wet tear marked his palm.
Allyna was crying.
He'd seen students cry before. In fact, he took great glee in making students sob. But these tears, so quiet—so gentle. He could not find any joy in them.
Sliding his long, deft fingers from her wrists up her trembling arms, and following her lines up around her neck and reaching into her hair—Severus Snape, Potions Master, pulled Allyna in as she shed tears against the exposed skin of his neck. "You really shouldn't be here, Allyna."
Arms worked their way around his waist and gripped tight. Her tears continued silently.
Had he ever been hugged? Had he ever been cried on? Had he ever not cared this much about either? His arms lengthened around her, tousling into her hair and holding her closer. He wanted to be bathed in all the tears she had. He wanted to feel her body shake with joy against him instead of sorrow. That this flaxen hair would spread out across his bed and his body—
His mouth was wet, and warm, and delicious—tasting like crisp apples and wine. Intoxicating.
Who had begun the kiss? Who's hands were gripping hair and skin and making sweet caresses? Where was the bed?
"Allyna, Merlin—we can't—"
"Shut. Up." Her cold fingers pressed against the sides of his face as she drew him in for a silencing kiss.
Her back found the rugs. Warm against hard stone floor; hard and steady.
Allyna was pulling the buttons to her gown away from her throat as quickly as her hands would let her.
They seemed to have mind of their own; wanting to touch every exposed surface of Severus' milk-pale skin.
A dizzy humming blazed over her. Severus felt it too. He could barely think, let alone distinguish what was happening. He felt the intensity of her emotions. She couldn't seem to control the intensity of her energy.
"Severus. Please—," came her soft voice beneath him, and her hands firmly pulled his body closer to hers. She rocked shaking hips up against his abdomen, exhaling the sweetest sound he had ever heard. It seemed a shame to ruin such a lovely night gown that she wore—but the buttons were far too complicated. He would mend it in the morning.
Severus' robe was disheveled and slung off one shoulder, exposing the contorted marks. But when a man and a woman meet with such passion, all things are beautiful. He yanked Allyna up from the floor and pulled her to straddle him across his lean thighs. Allyna's trembling fingers softly stroked each scar across his back, easing down the rest of his dark robe. Feeling her adoration was healing, it was almost worth every ounce of agony he had endured to receive them.
"Allyna." his voice pained to stay steady.
With glassy eyes and kiss-bruised lips, Allyna looked into Severus' face.
"I will not do this unless you ask me to. I must hear you ask." It seemed a little late for permission, but he would not have her regret anything that happened while with him. She must remain safe.
She blinked, wondering at how he could ever have thought that she didn't want to have him touch her like this.
"You must ask me." against his will, Severus' voice shook.
"I'm asking you Severus Snape. Please? Let me take you into me?"
How could she know what to say to make the dam break? Perhaps it was her sweet tone, her pleading eyes, or her parting lips that made all of the Potion Master's decorum and self-discipline fall by the wayside.
Taking a firm grip on the nape of her neck, Snape brought Allyna's mouth to his once more. And very carefully, he reached his hand beneath her and through her legs. A cry escaped her mouth and into his as they both realized how wanting she was. Slick across his fingers, and swollen. He had to remember to breathe, he couldn't hurt her. He wouldn't.
"Allyna, you may feel some discomfort. But I am here. I will help you. You must listen to me."
Mouth open, and shaky breath that kissed his face; she nodded.
Gently, Severus rubbed the tender skin. It was sensitive, and it made her shake more. Keeping his fingers soft, he touched her opening. Her muscles clenched around his finger, pulling hard.
"Oh Severus, don't tease me. It hurts. Is it supposed to hurt?"
He held her closer, draping her upper body against him. "You must relax. Pleasure happens like this. Let it roll over you as an ocean. If you fight against it, it will fight against you too."
She drew a quivering lung full of air. With the exhale, she uncoiled her abdomen; allowing his finger to move deeper, feeling the suppleness inside.
Allyna didn't know that it could feel this delicious. The sounds she heard from deep within his chest as he opened new desires within her, made her eyes lull back and her mouth want to cover his again and again.
All too soon she heard his voice say that she was ready, and he reclined her back down on the soft comfort of the heated rugs. Wide, strong hands followed her contours over her collarbones, down each breast, grooved against her ribcage, and gripped either side of her hips. Her eyes followed his hands, loving the view of his enjoyment of her. She felt bare and every part of herself visible to his approving eyes. Severus Snape adored what he saw. Every line, every freckle, every curve. He caught her eyes staring down at the part of himself that ached for her. The part of himself that he kept the tightest rein over at every moment. There were no reins now. And he saw how she liked it. It's organic curve, wanting her. To pleasure her and take away sorrows. She saw how it parted the dark, glossy hair at its base, and came stretching out towards her.
"What do I do?" she asked.
Laying over her and lengthening across her beautiful form, Severus replied, "Let your body do as it wishes. I will be here to protect you."
Allyna bit her bottom lip and raised her hips closer, shaking with excitement and just a hint of nerves.
Severus lifted her thigh to open her wider. Slowly, slowly, he must stay in control of himself. Her eyes did not leave his. Even as he held himself and dipped slowly into her sweetness to cover the tip. She was so warm. He groaned and slid into her wetness.
"Open to me. I will keep you safe. That's it, slow your breathing."
She smiled up at him. It was getting harder and harder to control himself. "You have not been touched like this before?" he asked, unmoving, thighs poised and taught.
Allyna shook her head, no.
"This part will give you some discomfort, so listen to me." He whispered into her ear. Severus leaned down on his elbows and held himself above her. He stroked her cheek and pressed his lips against hers; pushing deeper against the barrier between them. Distracting her with his kiss, he released and pressed several times, until he felt it start to give way. With a deep press of his hips, he buried himself between Allyna's legs and her back arched violently. "Severus!" she gasped.
"Stay still. Stay still, my love. Let the pain pass. After this, you may move and not be hindered."
With several breaths coming softer than the last, Allyna ventured to raise and lower her hips against Severus.
Reaching forward, she pressed Severus into a sitting position. Warmth ran down from her, and even though her eyes held tears, she caressed him with such love. "Hold me." And his arms wrapped around her as her body gripped him within. He was strong and thick and let her become accustomed to the feelings she was experiencing. A guiding hand would keep her balanced or touch her, bringing a new intensity. Words were unnecessary, because everything they had to say they touched instead with their souls.
Allyna's cries had suddenly changed, and they came quicker than before. Realizing that she cried for something that she had no idea how to achieve, gave Severus the moment he had been waiting for. Easily changing rhythms, he guided her hands around his neck and shoulders.
"Hold tight. I want to bring you as close as I can, Allyna."
"Mmmmmm hmm. Sever—Ah!" was all she could manage.
Instead of continuing with her favored up and down rhythm, Severus tilted ever so slightly. He pushed into her at an angle, listening to the slick, wet sounds of her enjoyment. He couldn't hold on, not with her calling in harsh whispers each syllable of his name.
"Allyna—I'm going to—come with me—" He cried out hoarsely.
Allyna shook apart in his arms as she cried out and lights burst behind her eyes.
Time seemed to still as they laid together on the magic-warmed rug. Severus' face was buried in the junction between her shoulder and neck, breathing in the scent of her hair as he came back to earth. Allyna still trembled with aftershocks, her fingers buried into the dark strands of Severus' hair. She smiled when she felt him press soft kisses along her throat. She felt almost bereft when he slid out of her and sat up, her body cooling quickly in the cold dungeon air. She gasped when he stood and picked her up from the floor, carrying her to the bed and placing her gently on it.
She watched with heavy-lidded eyes as he crossed to the other side of the bed and slid under the blankets, then wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to his naked body. She sighed and pushed back against his warmth. Completely exhausted, and definitely no longer needing a sleeping potion, she whispered his name as she fell into a deep sleep.