I have to say an amazing Thank You to my fantastic friend Corrie, who has been helping me with this chapter and the last chapter. Honestly, besides a few paragraphs and a bit of re-wording, this chapter is all her! Unfortunately, she doesn't have a FF.N account, so I can't send you to go read her stuff, but I hope you'll enjoy the chapter and know that I'll be passing reviews along to her because she loves reading them just as much as I do!

~J.

The next morning, Severus lay in bed, looking down at Allyna. Sometime during the night, she'd managed to push him onto his back and lay her upper body over his chest, her ear to his heart. He ran his fingers through the long length of her hair, wishing with all his heart that they could just lay there like this forever. No more war, no more fight, no more dealing with two masters who did not care for him other than how they could manipulate and use him. He growled in his chest at the thought of either of them using Allyna as they did him.

The arm he had around her waist tightened and he drew her closer as if to protect her from the world. He heard her sigh and her breathing changed to the pattern of wakefulness. He watched her mesmerizing eyes blink a few times before opening. Her golden orbs met his coal black ones and he watched as her lips curved into a smile. She reached up and ran the tips of her fingers over his cheek before leaning up and kissing him softly. "Good morning, Severus," she whispered.

He cupped her chin gently with his fingertips and kissed her back. "Good morning." He stood and walked over to gather their clothing from the night before. He wandlessly cast a "reparo" on her gown to repair the lost buttons before he tossed it to her. She shimmied into it before sitting up to put on her slippers. She blushed when he knelt beside the bed, taking each ankle gently and sliding her slippers onto her feet. He knelt there for a moment longer, and she reached out to run her fingers through his thick, dark hair. He moved to lean over her and kiss her again.

"As fond as I now am of that nightgown, I do believe it would be a good thing for you to call for Twinkle to take you back to your room to collect some proper attire for breakfast," he said, his fingers trailing along her eyebrows, the line of her nose and her soft cheeks, as if absorbing the texture of her skin and imprinting her face into his memory.

She frowned, but nodded. He smirked. "Trust me, I'd much rather have you all to myself sans clothing today, but there are things we must do to keep you safe, Allyna. That is of the utmost importance to me, do you understand?"

"I understand, Severus."

He gripped her arms and pulled her up, making her stumble into his arms with a squeal. He laughed, as she pummeled his chest with her little fists. "Beast!" she growled, before joining him in laughing and grinning up at him. He kissed her soundly before releasing her and shouting out "Twinkle!"

With a pop, Twinkle stood there, eyes wide. "Miss is still here?"

Allyna blushed and Severus cleared his throat. "Twinkle, will you please take Miss Wilson back to her room to change? And then have breakfast brought to my study?"

The little house elf gave a quick nod, and took Allyna's hand. They arrived quickly in Allyna's room, and Twinkle gave Allyna a strange look. "Miss is sure last night was Important?"

Allyna blushed but nodded furiously. "Beyond Important, Twinkle." The house elf nodded and popped out of existence, most likely to prepare breakfast for delivery in Severus' study.

Sighing, and feeling a little sore, Allyna hurried to her armoire and pulled out her clothes, deciding on a warm plum-colored sweater her father had sent when he'd learned of what had happened to her belongings in the Slytherin dorms. A pair of comfortable denim jeans, warm knee-high socks and her calf-height moccasins completed her outfit. She slid the charm Dumbledore had given her around her throat, then brushed out her hair, letting it fall down her back, swinging against her spine.

She opened her door, feeling the wards go down, then listening to them buzzing as she shut the door and they reactivated. She walked quietly through the hall to the doorway that housed Severus' private quarters. She knocked on the door and it was opened by a fully dressed, and well-rested looking Severus. She smiled at him and he motioned her inside. The second the door was closed, she wrapped her arms around him and felt him return the gesture.

"Come Allyna, breakfast awaits."

"I think I'd much rather have you," she said cheekily, making him chuckle.

She squeaked in surprise when his arms around her waist tightened and he lifted her over his shoulder, making her laugh. He put her down with a thump into her chair and she pretended to be glared daggers at him. Entirely ineffective, when she was still giggling. He poured her a mug of tea before gesturing to the platter in the middle of the table so that she could serve herself. He raised an eyebrow at her when she took his plate instead and began to fill it with his favorite foods.

"How did you know what I like?" he asked, surprised.

"I spend most of my mornings people-watching, Severus. Usually the "people" happens to be you," she said softly, blushing. He reached out and grasped her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing each fingertip gently. Allyna smiled softly and set the serving utensil down on the ceramic plate with barely a clatter. Heat began to curl inside her breakfast-hungry stomach. Perhaps it wasn't breakfast she was hungry for? She blushed.

Severus didn't miss the pinking of her alabaster cheeks. His eyes darkened and the mouth that was so used to sneering pulled itself to the side in the most attractive smirk. "I saw that." He purred. "It is most becoming on you, my dear."

Allyna dipped her head to one side and tossed a strand of hair behind her shoulder. Reddening all the more, but wearing it as a badge of pride instead of one that spoke of shyness. "You must be the most underestimated man to ever have lived Severus Snape." A flutter of thick eyelashes and her lips damp with tea, Allyna gifted him with a dulcet laugh.

"If you only knew." Severus focused on his plate, moving it contents for a moment and then pushing it all together to the side. "We must speak of other matters now. I think we both know what sort of dangers you must face being away from Hogwarts at this time."

Allyna sipped her tea quietly, her face starch-white and blank.

"The Dark Lord is cunning and intelligent; constantly vigilant for his ends to take the upper hand once again. He is a patient man Allyna; but his patience wears thin with bloodlines that are so inbred you have deranged witches and wizards like Bellatrix LeStrange on the loose. But he also has much more sinister powers rallying behind him. Things that not even your precious books tell of."

His pause gave Allyna time to finish her small breakfast, and push it aside. Realizing that she would rather not have the house elves coming to clean Severus' study, she rose quietly and began clearing away the plates. Severus watched her carefully, his face sallow and firm, not giving any of his thoughts away.

"Please tell me, then, what have you thought of to keep me safe as well as not reveal who you truly are?" her back was turned as she laid the plates back on the serving trays. A plate of sweet breads caught her eye, and she brought it back to the table. "More tea?"

Allyna wordlessly filled the tea pot with steaming water and poured out two full cups for each other them.

He loved watching her be so at home within his space. He hated company, but this was something else. Her presence sweetened his spirits.

"You will not like the arrangements I have made. But you must trust me. Do you?"

"Trust you?" she asked, blowing on her tea.

He nodded.

"Implicitly." Without hesitation she said it.

Severus slid a non-descript potions bottle across the table. "Drink."

Allyna uncorked it, held it to her lips with slight pause, and downed its contents. She quickly recognized the bitter taste of a contraception potion. "I was expecting to brew my own, but I'm certain you keep a few vials of this lying around."

"Hardly. That will make certain that what happened last night may continue, without consequences—should you wish it." The last of the sentence was quieter than he began. Allyna could tell he did not regularly make a habit of enjoying such things.

"Thank you Severus. I would very much wish it." Her eyes sparkled.

All but Severus' eyes were unreadable. It was the onyx eyes that burned with such fire that told her he was incredibly pleased with her answer and her honesty. He said nothing, only passed her another parcel—a box this time. "Open it."

With delicate fingers Allyna unlatched the box and lifted the lid. There, pressed against soft green velvet was a coiled chain of goblin wrought silver. The largest emerald she had ever laid eyes on gleamed up from the folds, surrounded in the cold embrace of a silver serpent. She blinked in surprise and looked up at him.

"An heirloom from one of the original Founders—Salazar Slytherin. As I am head of Slytherin House, they are mine to do what I will. I see fit to give this to you for protection."

"But I have the one that Dumbledore gave to me. Isn't this—it this not too much Severus? I couldn't rightly take something so precious." Allyna's voice was breathy with surprise.

"The one that the Headmaster gave to you signals harm; merely alerts that the wearer is in some danger. This, however,' he gestured towards the emerald, 'protects against harm to the mind. Curses, hexes, potions, it matters not. Nothing that can be conjured against your mind can harm you Even the Imperious curse cannot ensnare your mind.. If you are wearing this jewel it will be a ward that cannot be penetrated."

"From my understanding, Salazar Slytherin would be in some wanting of a charm against such attacks. He wasn't the most popular old boy, was he?" Allyna smirked. She held the necklace into the morning light and watched the heated deep green fire shine back at her. A smile crossed her lips without thinking.

Severus was behind her in a moment, easing the spun silver over the glossy golden crown of her head and laid it behind her pale neck. He brushed a kiss at her nape and let her hair fall back in place. "Do not remove it."

Allyna nodded her consent. It would stay where he had placed it until he himself removed it.

-POP-

"Twinkle has come to fetch the Miss. Miss's father has had her trunks sent to the Great Hall for holiday."

"But—" Allyna stood tenderly. "But we need more time. Severus, we haven't talked about—"

"Yes, it seems your Holiday has come sooner than expected. Go Miss Wilson; I will send you your lessons by owl."

Twinkle reached for her hand without raising her eyes. "And Twinkle,"gruffed the Professor. "your task is to serve and protect Hogwarts. That includes its students as well little elf."

"As the Professor commands." Her small voice affirmed.

"Have a pleasant Holiday, Miss Wilson."

He was so formal. As straight and as pressed as his waistcoat and trousers. Allyna could read nothing of his expression.

"Pleasant Holidays, Professor."

And then she was gone.

The stone of his study drew around him as he turned to searched through the leaded glass windows for something, anything to occupy his thoughts. Severus swept the tray of discarded dishes to the floor in despair; sending the platters crashing across the unforgiving floor.

He knew what he must do to keep his Allyna safe. Yes, she was his. The Dark Lord had left him bereft once before and ripped his heart out with malignant promises. Not again. Not with Allyna Wilson. She was his to protect this time, and would not be used and lost and extinguished with nothing more than a blinding green light to mark the end of her existence.

As night came, he thought of her on the train. In the darkness, his mind worked over the plot he had devised. He stared into the blazing crystals of the fireplace, a glass of Ogden's finest in his hand and remembered every touch, every whisper, every sigh, every scent of his Allyna. And prayed to every god he could name that this time, the one he loved would outlive him, because he knew he could not bear to exist in a world without her.