Teach Me a Lesson
Miriam walked purposefully through the tapestry corridor and cast her eyes about the packed walls. She took a brief moment to appreciate the art as she made her way to Severus' private storeroom. This was definitely one of her favorite places at Hogwarts. There was so much texture and color to take in, she could spend hours here just looking.
Unfortunately, the Charms Mistress had too many things to do today for lengthy art appreciation. Between classes, she attempted to get a head start on tomorrow. Her next lesson plan covered the Fire-Freezing Charm, which worked beautifully in conjunction with the Fire Protection Potion. However, when she went to gather her potion ingredients, she realized her store of wartcap powder was empty. Fortunately, she knew where she could find some, and she also knew the password to get in.
When she arrived, Miriam spoke the password and Severus' wards let her pass. She shut the heavy wood door and her gaze drifted upwards past shelf after shelf after shelf of ingredients. The room was small and narrow, so using the vertical space was a must. Miriam closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled. A faint smile graced her face; the scent reminded her of Severus. His teaching robes and frock coat always took on the scent of whatever ingredients he worked with; at the end of the day, Miriam liked to try and guess his lessons while he held her in his arms.
Her eyes fell to the ladder in front of her, then to her robes and shoes, and back to the ladder once more. As she took in the height, she debated if it would be easier to slip off her shoes, or her robes for the climb. Miriam settled on removing her robes; she reasoned if Severus could climb the ladder in his boots, she could do it in heels. Besides, if she took off her robes, she wouldn't risk stepping on the hem. Miriam slipped the robes off her shoulders, folded them, and placed them on the bottom shelf by the door.
Miriam grasped the ladder and began to climb. The wooden rungs were worn smooth from decades of use and they felt soft under Miriam's hands. Her eyes flitted over the shelves filled with vials, boxes, and bottles. Mia wanted to take some extra time to poke around and read the labels to see if any other ingredients caught her fancy. She needed to be mindful, however; her next class was in an hour.
Miriam sighed as her thoughts wandered; every year the start of term was like this. Hectic, until the staff and students caught their rhythm, and Miriam wondered what Severus was doing just then. She missed the snarky wizard terribly, and she wished it was possible to take a time turner and go back to the start of their summer break. Every day, they woke up together, wiled the days away in each other's presence, and fell asleep wrapped around each other. Some people would balk at spending that much time together, but for them, it was perfect.
Now, they were back at Hogwarts. Severus was Head of Slytherin House, his place was in the dungeons. New and old students needed his mindful eyes; between that, his teaching duties, and Miriam's own teaching schedule, their days were packed. Out of an abundance of caution, they cut back on their evenings together as well; both acknowledged their luck no one found out about them last term, and neither wanted to tempt fate. Being unmarried and colleagues, it would be disastrous to their reputations if she was caught leaving his quarters early in the morning. That only left the weekends for now, and five days had passed since they were last intimate. Miriam would be lying if she said it was fine. The witch was sexually frustrated as all hell.
Meanwhile, Severus rounded a corner and strode down the tapestry corridor. His black robes billowed magnificently behind him. Normally, Severus would get some satisfaction from a good billow, but today he was in a mood. His first years would need some shaping up before Severus could even consider trusting them around an open flame, let alone with knives. Severus shook his head in disgust. Every year, the students came to him with less and less practical skills.
His thoughts then turned to Miriam, as they often did throughout the day. It was difficult to go from living together over break to suddenly not. He'd grown spoiled from having Miriam available twenty-four seven; Severus painfully realized he didn't like sleeping alone anymore. The times they found to be around each other were few and far between lately, and the sexual tension was heavy. He understood the need to not push their luck, but that left Severus alone for days with his randy thoughts until the weekend when they could lock themselves away in his rooms. Between those times, Severus grew grumpier as each day passed and his supply of deflating draught dwindled.
Severus' brooding kept him distracted until he reached his supply room. Absentmindedly, Severus reached for the door and froze. He heard a noise on the other side and his dark eyes narrowed as he leaned an ear against the worn wood. No one should be in his private storeroom. Unless… Severus' lips curled into a devious smile. Silently, he opened the door and shut it behind him.
Miriam was high on the ladder, her back to Severus. He grinned lasciviously as he watched her. She had on a dark teal-blue dress with a boat collar and little fluttery cap sleeves that left her thin arms bare. Severus' eyes traveled appreciatively down her back to the gathered waist, then to the flare of her dress as it flowed over her hips down to her calves. He frowned slightly at her strappy black heels as she balanced precariously on his ladder.
"Hmm, fire seed," Miriam mumbled, unaware that she had company. "Oh! Jobberknoll feathers!" Miriam exclaimed as she lifted a box from the shelf. "Who are you making truth serums for, Professor?" Miriam laughed to herself as she continued her search. "Mushrooms…nettle…porcupine quills…rose oil…star thistle…toe of frog…unicorn hair…valerian. Ah-hah!" Miriam exclaimed. "There you are!" Miriam reached for the wartcap powder, and in her haste, she accidentally knocked over a bottle of wormwood.
"Damnit!" Miriam hissed as she shot out a hand to grab it and the bottle slipped through her fingers. Miriam braced for the inevitable noise when it shattered against the stone floor, but the noise never came. Confused, Miriam looked down. Severus looked back at her, the bottle of wormwood in his outstretched hand. "Severus!" Miriam said brightly as she smiled. It was very good to see him, Miriam thought.
Miriam watched as Severus climbed up the ladder. It was a snug fit with such limited space, but Miriam gladly made room and hooked her right hand over a rung and turned sideways to where only her right foot held her weight. Her chest brushed against his, and Miriam began to feel the warmth of his body spread to hers.
Severus placed the bottle of wormwood back on the shelf and gazed down his nose at Miriam. "To what do I owe the pleasure of you visiting my storeroom and breaking my things?" Severus teased as he tucked a curl behind Miriam's ear. He idly took in her mass of curls piled and pinned atop her head as he waited.
"I'm out of wartcap powder," Miriam said. Severus raised an eyebrow at her answer. "Ice Potion…Fire Freezing Charm…silly wand waving and all that," Miriam added.
"Ah," Severus said. He gave the witch a lingering look. Finally, he reached to his left, grabbed the wartcap powder, and handed the green bottle to Miriam.
"Thank you," Miriam said sweetly as she accepted the ingredient. "And I wasn't trying to break your things, you know." She looked into Severus' serious face and smiled. She leaned in just a smidge and brushed a speck of lint off his robes. "Though I apologize for my clumsiness."
Severus looked at her, yet said nothing. For a moment Miriam hoped he might kiss her, but instead he began to climb down the ladder. Disappointed, Miriam watched his descent. "You'd best come down before you hurt yourself, witch." Miriam rolled her eyes at Severus' concern that he so lovingly wrapped in sarcasm. She began to carefully climb down the ladder as she argued with herself. It was better he didn't kiss her, Miriam reasoned; she didn't have the time right now for such things.
As soon as her feet touched the floor, she felt the buttons of Severus' frock coat press sharply against her back. His strong arms wrapped around her middle and he pulled her against him tightly. Severus' large nose traced the graceful curve of her neck and she sighed with pleasure. "Did you really think, after all this time, that I'd let you leave without touching you?" Severus whispered in her ear.
His hands began to move; long fingers teased her hips and slid across her belly slowly. As Miriam let go of the ladder, the bottle of wartcap slipped out of her hand and landed in the pile of Severus' discarded robes. She leaned against him and let her hands slide over his thighs.
Severus smirked at Miriam's actions. He knew she was just as frustrated as he was. Severus grabbed her hips and turned her to face him, trapping her between his body and the ladder as he did so. He leaned close as though to kiss her, but instead he looked down his nose at Miriam's flushed face. "Is something wrong?" Severus asked.
Miriam instinctually moved sensuously against Severus as his hands touched her everywhere except where she desperately needed it. They slid down her arms, past her hips, and back up again over her back to lightly caress her neck before starting again. Miriam growled softly in frustration; she wanted to jump the wizard long before he started teasing her, and now he was adding fuel to the fire. She swallowed hard and found her voice. "Severus, we can't do this now. I have class soon."
Severus frowned, but he didn't stop his roving hands. "We have time, surely."
Fighting with herself, Miriam inhaled sharply "I need to go," Miriam said again, though her voice wavered as Severus' hands slid slowly over the dip and flare of her hips.
"I don't think that's really what you need."
Miriam's eyes closed and her breath hitched as Severus brushed the underside of her breasts with his fingers. It was cruel of Severus to tease her like this-he knew how long it had been. Damnit, she was trying to be responsible and her body was fighting with her brain; he smelled so good and felt even better pressed against her. Her mind, though, was quick to remind her of everything she still needed to do. Then, she felt his large hands slide down her back and she ached for more. "Severus, stop teasing me!" Miriam snapped.
"I'm not teasing you," Severus replied with mock innocence. "Not yet, anyway," the wizard mused as he brushed his fingertips over Miriam's cheek slowly. Severus felt Miriam trembling against him, and his eyes darkened with pleasure at her reaction to his touch. He tilted Miriam's head to the side with his thumb and kissed her neck softly.
"Severus!" Miriam gasped. Want coursed through her body, delighted to finally feel his lips on her skin. Her voice echoed off the glass bottles and vertical space above them. Severus' eyes widened, and suddenly he realized anyone walking by could hear them.
Miriam felt Severus pull away, and she grabbed at him. "No!" she cried out as he held her at arm's length. He finally kissed her, and now he was pulling away?
"Wait," Severus hissed as he stooped over and dug through his robes. He grabbed his wand and quickly cast a silencing charm and warded the door. He flung the slender piece of wood onto his crumpled robes and pushed Miriam back against the ladder.
Immediately, her hands were everywhere; the speed with which Miriam wrapped around him surprised Severus. Her arms snaked around his neck as she kissed him; slowly at first, but she quickly needed more. Insistent, her tongue slipped past his lips. To hell with her next class, Miriam thought.
Severus pulled away from her and tried to catch his breath. Her eyes were twin pools of desire as she stared at him. Before Miriam could latch onto him again, Severus grabbed the hem of her dress and pulled it over her head followed quickly by her bra. "Severus," Miriam breathed as she grabbed at his frock coat.
Severus tried to keep the space between them so he could undress. "Miriam, stop grabbing me! Let me—." Their hands tangled between them; aggravated, Severus slapped hers away.
Mia felt Severus' right-hand wrap around her throat and squeeze gently, his left coming to rest against the ladder by her head. Her grey eyes widened as she stared into his pale, irritated face. "Be a good girl for your Potion's Master; do as you're told," Severus commanded, his voice smooth as velvet. At his words, Miriam felt a jolt of pleasure shoot down her spine and pool between her thighs, and she moaned softly. Her hands wrapped around his waist as she pressed herself against him.
Severus arched an eyebrow as he stared hard at Miriam. This was quite an interesting turn of events, Severus thought. Those words were not planned, but after seeing Mia's response, the wizard decided to just go with it. Severus released her and slid his hand between Miriam's breasts as he took a small step back.
"Patience," Severus admonished her as he quickly unbuttoned his frock coat. His trousers were uncomfortably tight, and he needed to get out of his clothes, but Miriam's grabby hands slowed him down more than they helped. She looks ready to come undone, Severus thought as he watched her hungrily stare him down.
Miriam bit her lower lip between her teeth as she watched Severus shrug out of his coat. Though she did not touch him with her hands, Severus felt Miriam's foot slide slowly up his trouser leg. She hooked her ankle around the back of his calf. Severus hissed softly at the pain of her heel digging into his flesh and scowled; then he saw the smirk on Miriam's face.
Miriam gasped in surprise when Severus' hand wrapped around her throat once more. "You're testing my restraint," Severus said darkly, his breath hot against Mia's ear. "I suggest you start listening." He hesitated as he thought about his words earlier, and debated if he should add to the tension between them and say what he was thinking. Screw it, Severus thought. He brought his face to hers, their noses touching. "Otherwise, there will be…consequences."
Severus could feel Miriam's breasts press against him, and she looked at him, her eyes defiant. "You started this, but I plan on finishing it. I guess you'll just have to teach me a lesson, Professor," Miriam said quietly, her words laced with desire. Her small hands drifted towards his trouser buttons.
His black eyes narrowed at the challenge behind Miriam's words. Severus growled angrily, roughly grabbed Miriam's hands, and brought them to rest above her head. Using his left hand, he pinned her wrists against the ladder and began to untie his cravat with the other. He wound the material around the ladder rung and Miriam's wrists several times before securing his work with a knot. "Let's see you try to touch me now."
"You're not playing fair!" Miriam pulled at the silk that kept her bound to the ladder as Severus took a step back. Miriam had a very put-out expression on her face; Severus chuckled as he began to unbutton his shirt.
"Oh, we're past playing, witch," Severus said as he tossed his shirt on the floor. He studied Miriam intently. There was a look of disquietude about her as she struggled against Severus' knot. Still, she was beautiful, Severus thought as his eyes washed over her curves. She shifted her weight from one leg to the other and her hips moved deliciously, clad only in her lace knickers. "It's been entirely too long." He toed off his boots and started on his trouser buttons. "For both of us, it seems. I think you need a reminder of who you're dealing with."
Miriam swallowed hard as Severus straightened and stood before her in his briefs. "What are you going to do to me?" she asked softly as she remembered his anger while he tied her hands.
Severus' harsh features softened as he stepped in front of Miriam. Some of his earlier fire dampened when he looked at Miriam's apprehensive face. "You know I would never hurt you," Severus said gently as he plucked a pin from Miriam's hair and unceremoniously tossed it to the floor. He continued removing pins until Miriam's curls fell around her shoulders. He smiled warmly at his finished work, then gazed into Miriam's grey eyes. "Though you should know better than to deny me access to you. It would be mutually beneficial to…indulge…ourselves." Miriam's eyes drifted closed at his choice of words. He lifted her chin so she was once again looking at him. "Which, we'd be doing right now if you hadn't repeatedly distracted me. Sexually frustrated or not, I'm afraid I must teach you a lesson about your cheek, little witch," Severus finished.
"Fuck," Miriam groaned loudly as Severus latched onto her neck. Their full body contact intensified the ache that filled her belly. She was so turned on. His body pressed against hers as he kissed from one ear, across her throat, to the other. Severus bit her, hard, then soothed the pain with his soft tongue.
Severus chuckled darkly at Miriam's choice of words. "Exactly," Severus breathed into her ear. He knelt in front of her and began to slide her knickers down her legs. "Now you're getting with the program," Severus teased as he looked up at Miriam.
Miriam noticed a change come over Severus as they stared at each other. A box abruptly flew off a high shelf and Severus caught it easily in his hands. He placed the box on the floor behind her. Miriam could no longer see the box, but she heard Severus open it. "Severus, what are you doing?" Miriam asked nervously.
"Are you ready for your lesson?"
Miriam's eyes widened as Severus stared at her through his curtain of black hair. Her lips moved, but Mia couldn't form any words to answer him.
"You have things to answer for," Severus said simply, ignoring how he left Miriam speechless. He tilted his head slightly as he appraised her. "Though, it's been a while since I've made a truth potion… No matter," Severus said quickly. "I have other methods to loosen your tongue."
Suddenly, Severus grabbed her right ankle; Miriam squeaked in surprise. Her entire body tensed, then Miriam felt Severus slowly drag something down her thigh. A soft, tingling sensation spread across her skin; Miriam tried to move away, but Severus' grip on her ankle tightened. A small laugh slipped past her lips as the odd feeling continued.
Severus released her ankle. Relieved, Mirriam took a deep breath and looked down where Severus still knelt in front of her. He lifted a pale hand; between his long fingers was a blue speckled jobberknoll feather.
Miriam's eyes widened. "Oh, no," Miriam whispered; Severus knew how ticklish she was.
"Consequences, witch," Severus said lightly. So began the slow torture of one Miriam Magowan by one longsuffering Severus Snape. There wasn't a centimeter of skin he didn't touch, and he mentally took note of any new ticklish spots he discovered as she gasped and laughed. Miriam looked beautiful as she writhed and twisted under Severus' hands.
Though Severus enjoyed teasing Miriam this way, he was mindful not to waste too much of their time; Severus had other things he wanted to do. After several minutes, Severus tossed the feather aside and gently ran his hands over Miriam's long legs. He heard her sigh with pleasure and widen her stance as he caressed her. He gently picked up her left foot and tenderly kissed the soft skin behind her knee.
"Ohh," Miriam breathed, and her head fell back against the ladder as Severus leisurely kissed his way up her body. He moved his mouth over her thighs, and hip bones; he lingered over her belly before kissing his way between her breasts. Severus removed his briefs, leaned in to her and kissed her gently, his lips pulling softly at hers. She felt his large hands caress her thigh tenderly before he hooked her leg over his arm, opening herself to him. "Yes," Miriam moaned as Severus sheathed himself inside her. Finally, he was going to take this frustration from her. He slipped his arm under her other leg and pinned Miriam between him and the ladder, his movements slow and deliberate as they gazed at each other.
"I needed this, witch." Severus placed a lingering kiss on her lips.
"Yes," Miriam breathed and closed her eyes as Severus gently made love to her. He felt amazing. "Severus, please untie me. I want to touch you," Miriam sighed as Severus tenderly lavished her neck with kisses.
"Wrap around me," Severus told Mia as he lifted her slightly. Once her legs were around his waist, he reached a hand up and untied his cravat from Miriam's wrists. The first place her hands went were in his hair, and she brought her lips to his, this kiss more urgent than their last.
Severus slipped his tongue into Miriam's mouth, and he sped up slightly. He was delighted when Mia matched his intensity as she kissed him back, not passive at all in the exchange. She lovingly touched his face. "I've missed you," Miriam sighed. "I can't bear the thought of another night without you."
"Neither can I. We'll sort this out—I'll put in an unregistered floo connection if I have to. I can't sleep without you in my arms," Severus admitted. "Come to my rooms after dinner."
"Mmm, I'd like that." Miriam squeezed Severus' hips with her legs and grinned wickedly at him. "Take me harder, Severus."
Severus twisted his hips and began to thrust harder. Miriam's mouth dropped open and she shrieked his name before she slapped her hand over her mouth.
He pulled her hand away and ran his fingers through Mia's curls, slipping his hand between her head and the ladder. "You can be as loud as you want. No one can hear us, I assure you," Severus groaned in pleasure as he gave Miriam what she asked for. His focus was solely on the witch in his arms. Her cries of pleasure filled his ears and he relished the feel of her body as it yielded to him.
Severus vaguely became aware of the sound of tinkling glass as their movements caused the ladder to rattle his shelves. He knew Miriam was close, but he couldn't risk showering them with random ingredients and broken glass. Suddenly, her body stiffened and Severus clutched her to him. "Stay with me," Severus said as he stepped back. Miriam clung to him as her orgasm webbed away, her head buried against his shoulder.
Miriam kissed Severus on his collarbone as he went to his knees and laid her down on their discarded bits of clothes. She ran her hands over his chest and looked up at Severus questioningly.
Severus settled over her, joining their bodies again as he did so. "We were shaking the shelves," Severus told Mia as he brushed her hair back and kissed her lightly on the forehead.
"Oh, Miriam breathed in understanding.
"Shall we continue?" Severus purred. Miriam just smiled and pulled him in for a kiss. Severus thrust into her hungrily, matching the rhythm of Miriam's insistent kisses. His hands caressed every bit of her he could touch, Severus' dark eyes locked on her face. Time became irrelevant as they pleasured each other.
Eventually, Miriam demanded more; Severus wrapped her in his arms and went to his knees. Miriam straddled his lean hips and settled fully into his lap, taking him as deep as she could. Severus swept her curls back and fisted a handful of her hair, tugging gently. His other hand slid slowly over her ass. "Take what you need," Severus breathed as he kissed her, his free hand encouraging her to move.
Miriam began to ride Severus, marveling at how he filled her, slaking her need with every stroke. Miriam let her hands hang at her sides as Severus splayed his hands across her back, pulling her close. Her eyes closed as she felt Severus' mouth on her breasts and a moan slipped past her lips.
Severus began to thrust his hips, taking her deeper on every downstroke. Miriam cried out and grabbed his shoulders. Severus felt her nails dig painfully into his skin, but he didn't care. This was what she asked for, after all.
"Gods don't you dare stop," Miriam hissed as she arched her body to meet his thrusts, her body on the edge. "Severus!" Miriam cried out; she felt Severus' hot mouth taste her as it moved across her throat. His arms tightened around her and he bit her neck. Severus groaned loudly as they finished together.
Severus stayed wrapped around Miriam until he could breathe again. "You still have time to get to class," he cheekily reminded Miriam.
Miriam started to laugh and she felt Severus smile against her neck before he tiredly kissed her shoulder. "That's good," Miriam said as she glanced around them at their clothes scattered across the floor. "It's going to take a minute to sort this mess."
Severus felt Miriam's fingers brush against his cheek. He lifted his head and smirked at the satisfaction he saw in her grey eyes. "All I want to do is stay here in your arms, but I've got to get going, and you need to sort that floo connection," Miriam told him.
"Alright," Severus agreed. Miriam smiled at Severus and allowed him to help her stand. Together, they sorted their clothes and dressed quickly. Severus then helped Miriam pin her hair back up and he gave her a quick kiss before checking the hallway. It was empty, so he ushered her through the door and watched her practically jog down the corridor to make up some time.
With a shake of his head, Severus shut the door to collect the ingredients he originally came for. As Severus turned around, he felt his boot kick something; Severus heard the rapid clinking of glass over stone followed by a thunk. Severus knelt down and felt around under the bottom shelf with his large hand until his fingers brushed against smooth glass. He grabbed the mystery object and held it up to the light; amused, Severus laughed. It was the bottle of wartcap powder.
/-/-/-
A/N: This entire story centered around the idea of Severus telling Miriam to be a good girl, lol.