Holly
There was no need to use Lumos on such a bright night. Far above Holly, the sharp silhouette of Hogwarts stood out against the starry sky and below her feet was the Great Lake. Frozen, of course.
Holly was making her way across the ice crust with the idea of surprising the Potions Master, who hadn't been at mealtimes since they parted ways the previous evening. She was climbing the walls with impatience — he promised to talk to Dumbledore on her behalf and she was hellbent to find out if he had learned anything new.
Don't forget the birth control, she reminded herself, rolling her eyes a bit. Her belly twinged as images of their latest escapade flashed by.
She breathed the cold air deeply, feeling happier than she had been in a long time. Sure, part of it was her enjoying the physical challenge of hiking over ice after curfew and knowing that Umbridge went home for Christmas. But there was an undeniable lightness in her chest since she had given Severus her body. Apart from it being more fun than she'd ever had, Quidditch included, he had become something of an anchor. The world was ever-changing but he was constant. An ally that had always been there, hovering in the periphery. When they were together, nothing else mattered because they could generate their own all-consuming little universe. It was like seducing Severus Snape had become a hobby. Sex also meant Voldemort's plans could be ruined, and that was fantastic too.
The window and balcony came into view, and she imagined the look on Severus's face when he discovered her outside.
All this had been necessary though since Filch had blocked her way to the dungeon stairs by sweeping the top step extra slow. And with no chance to slip down unnoticed, she made the bold call to visit his cliffside window instead — by stealing over the lake on the perfectly clear moonlit Sunday evening.
Her wellingtons triggered small fissures in the ice and created echoes of crackling and popping sounds that ran off in various directions from her feet. It was unnerving at first, but the sheet of ice was thick and mostly covered in snow, which mostly created the illusion of walking on the snowy ground. The parts where she could see the icy, precarious glass walkway caused tingling in her palms.
The invisibility cloak was draped over her shoulders, but her face was unobscured. Along with her bag, two colourful boxes were squeezed beneath her arm, one Mint Chocolate Frogs and the other a special edition of Christmas themed Cauldron Cakes. These were provisions for if he permitted her to spend the night in his chambers. And if she got her way, possibly even the next night. But that was jumping the gun since there was the very real possibility of one of his moods turning her plans on its head.
To improve her chances, Holly was scrubbed squeaky clean, with her hair swept into a (deliberately) messy bun and eyelids painted into cat eyes with makeup she borrowed from Ginny. She wore a long red woollen skirt she'd bought in Hogsmeade on her last visit with a tight cream turtleneck under her thickest coat. All things considered, she felt very put together. In her mirror, the silhouette had looked elegantly modest and yet showed off her shape in a pleasing way.
She'd even tweezed her brows and shaved her legs — all in the dead of winter and for a man that she knew wouldn't care whether or not she kept her winter fur trimmed.
The 'treatments' were for more for herself because she had confidence when she felt beautiful. And when she was confident, Severus proved to be much more manageable. Holly smirked at the thought of teasing him as she neared his small balcony. He was reserved by nature, but she had learned that he could be drawn from his brooding through 'physicality' and so she planned on making it a point to touch him more often.
Holly quickly scraped some snow into a mega-snowball, which she promptly chucked at the tall yellow window behind a balcony just above the lake surface.
WHAM.
Silence.
I hope it's his window…
Bravely ignoring her doubts, Holly scrambled to make another snowball. But when she got to her feet, Professor Severus Snape stood by the window.
Seconds later, he appeared behind the stone balcony. His face was as expressionless as the masonwork of the balcony. His lips a thin, unreadable line.
He crossed his arms over his chest while studying her from afar, 'Us mortals use the stairs,' he drawled.
'Filch,' Holly let the snowball drop. 'And it was supposed to be a pleasant surprise,' she added under her breath and grabbed hold of the railings, pulling herself up to the balcony. The skirt and sweets made it harder than it needed to be and necessitated a few particularly unladylike moves to get to the top.
As Holly swung her legs over the balustrade, they stared at each other for a pregnant moment. The dark wizard's gaze was unwavering, but the severe black eyes were listless tonight. Dulled.
His black robes looked a bit rumpled and was missing his cravat. In the bright moonlight, his hooded eyes gave his face an almost skull-like look.
Hoping to break the ice, she asked jokingly, 'You promised to keep me for three days, remember?'
'I said you would be tied to my bed for the duration of that time,' he said slowly, brows raising.
'That's okay too,' she said casually as she pushed away from the railing.
The corner of his lip curled and for a moment, and she feared he might send her away.
'Very well,' he said softly. The black eyes glinted as he stood aside, allowing her entry.
Holly pushed the sweets into his still-crossed arms as she passed through the glass door. She nodded at the boxes piled awkwardly in his hands, 'Thought you might be hungry.'
He seemed too tired for any more of their customary banter and busied himself with balancing the snacks on top of several hefty tomes strewn over the tiny desk by the window.
'Ye gods, it's cold in here,' she huffed as she shook off her bag and coat.
He said nothing but shut the door with an irritated twist of his wand. Soon after, his eyes trailed over her body and she looked away to hide her pleasure, scanning the chamber and wondering if he liked the new skirt.
He had been seated at the window, which was the least cosy corner of the room. Near the four-poster bed, a cauldron hung from a hook in the hearth, and a little heat emanated from a dying fire. She noticed a blackened anvil and hammer and tongs atop standing near the fireplace. A few beakers and a scale stood on a silver tray floating just above the rug. He'd obviously been quite busy.
Only when she turned back, did his eyes rise to meet hers.
He likes the outfit, she decided smugly.
'Your plan… to make the … thing to, uh, for my dreams?' Holly pointed at the makeshift smithy, ignoring his bad manners.
'Aye,' he said, taking a seat by the overburdened desk. He sighed, looking a thousand years old, 'here it is.'
From the pocket of his robe, he produced a small, golden ring with a red gem framed in the middle. His expression was unreadable as he held the tiny circlet out to her.
A ring?
'It is the smallest and most practical piece of jewelry,' he explained as if reading her mind.
'Thanks,' Holly said, keeping her face carefully guarded. Of course, this was an artifact and not in fact a ring was given to her with romantic intent.
Holly picked the ring from his pale fingers. It was still warm from his touch. She stuck her left ring finger through and held it to the light.
He was watching her closely.
It was a simple design, and although neatly crafted, clearly made by hand. The glittering gem was held by a twisted golden band that snaked around seamlessly.
'I love it,'
'It's more useful than it is good looking,' he bowed his head, seeming ill at ease with the gift. And the compliment more so.
'It's perfect,' she repeated her praise of it.
He peered at her through the curtains of his hair, perhaps gauging her seriousness.
She smiled and reached down to lay her hand on top of his in reassurance. He tensed at the contact but she swore she saw the skin around his eyes crease.
'I will show you how to use it,' he murmured, looking down at the ring on her finger.
'Have you slept at all, Severus?' She glanced at the neat bed.
He shrugged a little, 'I have not.'
'I don't want you to suffer because of me,' she pulled her hand away to get his attention.
The black eyes followed her retreat. He was still hiding behind the curtain of hair.
'I made my life what it is…' he said softly, eyes somber, 'and you are the only good part in it.' He paused for another moment, weighing his words, 'I will do whatever it takes,' his voice trailed off and the wizard averted his eyes.
To keep me alive? A thornbush that produces the occasional flower.
'I missed you,' Holly beamed down at the wizard seated before her.
A long moment passed.
'And I you,' Severus said, the sound rusty. He made a movement that seemed like he was going to touch her but thought better of it.
She inched closer, rolling the band on her finger. 'Did you make the gem with the blood you took?'
'Yes. I altered a focus stone with runes and bound it to you with your blood.'
'Was it hard? How does it work?' Holly studied the stone and noted a delicately carved rune on the red gem. 'And what's the rune mean?' she blurted, forgetting his peeve of being peppered with questions.
But he replied relatively patiently: 'It required a complex alchemical process… as I said, it is essentially an altered focus stone - which functions like a magical 'lens' for attention. If the Dark Lord cannot hold your focus, the visions and invasions of your mind cannot work and he will have less power over you. However,' He held up a long finger, 'you will have to learn to use the stone subconsciously — whilst asleep,' he shrugged, 'I think you will find it easy, given sufficient practice.'
'Use it? How?'
'You will practice recalling the stone whenever you are dreaming, perhaps visualising it on your hand. This can be achieved by making checking the stone habitual,' he lifted his hand as if studying an invisible ring. 'As for the rune, when focusing on the ring in this manner, it will summon me,' he seemed somewhat uncomfortable. 'At least, my astral form will be able to access your current vision, where I will then attempt to repel the Dark Lord with a spell I created to work specifically against His angle of influence.'
'You made me a spell?'
'I made a spell to expel the Dark Lord from your mind,'
'Can't I learn this spell?'
The corners of his mouth turned down, 'I do not think it wise. It is complicated dark magic. There is no reason to further corrupt you, even if you could eventually manage to cast it.'
She ignored his take on her innocence.
'But won't he recognise you?'
'I will take the form of my Patronus,'
A thestral called from the forest, and Holly glanced at the window.
'Hasn't he seen your Patronus?'
'Death Eaters have no Patroni,' his voice had dropped to a whisper.
'So… Can I stop taking Dreamless Sleep now?'
'We can make the dosage weaker until you can manage the summoning,'
'Holiday's still for two weeks,' she grinned, indicating that they'd have ample time to practice.
But Severus slowly looked down, seemingly bereft. 'Indeed.'
'What's wrong?'
After a long pause, he told her what had transpired in Dumbledore's office. When he was finished, she was pacing the room, mind reeling. Severus's face was grim, jaw set.
'So if I find these things… and destroy them… he dies too?'
A muscle bounced in his temple, 'Theoretically.'
'And there are six more of these — Horcruxes? Without the diary I destroyed and the ring Dumbledore found?'
'According to the Headmaster,'
She was flabbergasted at Dumbledore's sudden openness. 'And he just told you all of this?'
'Not … exactly,' the groove between his brows deepened.
The Veritaserum!
'YOU DIDN'T!' she crowed.
Severus let slip a small smile at her unbridled delight, 'I did,'
She burst out laughing and threw her arms around him, and, pushing the Horcruxes from her mind for the moment, slid onto his lap.
'Holly,' he chided seriously, 'this is no laughing matter. Dumbledore was weak… if anything, it's shameful—'
She straddled his hips and snuggled into his warmth. The faint smell of bourbon was mixed with his usual aura of parchment and ink.
'He expects us to blindly follow his lead when there is information I— we— need,' she was out of breath, 'and thanks to you, I know what to do now!' Holly exclaimed, gripping his upper arms.
Severus blinked at her, clearly deeply conflicted.
Holly softened her hold on him and brought her forehead to rest against his.
'Thank you,' she planted a quick kiss on his lips, willing him to forget about the Veritaserum. When he made no move to reject her, she slid her fingers along his jaw and chin, drawing the curves of his lips with her nails. She ducked closer and gently probed his lips apart with her tongue.
To her delight, he started to respond after a few moments of her teasing. His brooding soon seemed to thaw and he caught up to her movements. Holly slipped her fingers into his hair and he pulled her closer by her waist. His other hand travelled over the soft material of her skirt and sweater. As the kiss deepened, their breathing became ragged and it wasn't long before Holly was fighting to keep up with his increasingly demanding pace. Eventually, she settled for sucking on his tongue whenever it flicked into her mouth. She gasped when he pulled her hair loose and wrapped the curls around a fist.
Properly dazed, she pulled away to breathe and to right her glasses. But he had his own agenda and tugged her head backward to run his teeth over the strip of her neck above her sweater. She giggled at his tickling sensation and tried to lean back into his body. But he held her hair too tightly as he explored her neck.
When he finally let go, his expression held only hunger and no trace of sadness. His lips were parted slightly, and his black eyes seemed to burn through her. Knowing that he was stealing into her thoughts, she zoomed in to boldly steal another kiss. Her fingers danced over his abdomen and the bulge in his trousers. He closed his eyes at her lewd gesture and growled into her mouth.
She unclasped his belt and wrapped a fist over his half-hard cock.
'Fuck Holly,' he cursed hoarsely.
She tugged at him with a firm, but respectful grip.
'You did miss me,' she whispered, running a thumb over his tip. He only grunted in reply, eyes screwed shut and fingers hard on her hips.
When she was satisfied with his hardness, and his face had turned twice as pale as usual, she bundled up her wide skirt above her knees. Greedy hands traveled up her thighs. Holly smiled brightly at him, knowing he would very soon discover her lack of underwear.
'You wicked witch,' he murmured when his hands found her bare bottom.
'It'd just waste time,' she said, batting her lashes while still playing softly with him.
'Indeed,' he purred appreciatively.
Holly squealed when he traced a finger through her slit.
'Always so wet for me,' his voice was low and soft. Eyes half-closed.
Holly moaned and bucked into his palm.
'Are you not sore from yesterday?' he asked half-heartedly as he pinched her clit between two fingers.
'I-I don't care,' she rubbed his cock against her thighs.
Severus rose, hoisting her onto the tiny, overrun desk by her hips.
Her legs automatically curled around his body, holding him flush to her.
'What a sight you are,' he paused at her opening, fingertips flitting over her stomach. His right hand was shaking again. Holly writhed restlessly against him.
'Patience,' he scolded, hovering above her and still holding back. He caught a nipple through her sweater and twisted it, watching her face as she whimpered.
'Take it off,' Holly panted.
He helped her out of the sweater while she kicked off her boots. The cold air assaulted her skin and goosebumps broke out over her skin but Severus stepped in quickly to fill the empty space between her legs. He groaned as he sheathed himself back inside her.
Holly hugged him closer by his waist and cried out at the almost unbearable sensation.
Severus pried her arms away and pushed her back onto the pile of books, hooking her legs above his shoulders. He squeezed her breasts tenderly after she obeyed. Her skirt was bunched around her waist, but most of the material hung over the table, softening the sharp edges of the books.
The new angle allowed him to push even deeper into her. They both gasped at the sensation. When he was as deep as she allowed, he hugged her legs to his torso and started fucking her slowly. Holly held on to the edges of the table, loudly voicing her enjoyment at every thrust.
'I will never get used to this,' he murmured into her calf, kissing the soft flesh.
She clutched to the table, contracting her walls around him. It made him swear like a sailor and adjust his grip on her legs. Holly half-laughed, half-choked at his reaction.
He thrust back inside and drew a high-pitched cry from her and made her breasts bounce.
'Do that again, I like it,' she whined, trying to pry his robes open.
'Lusty witch,' his usually serious visage broke into a smug smirk.
He pushed her knees to her chest to find an angle at which he could go oblige her better.
Ever task-driven.
Holly was pulled out of her fluffy thoughts by a series of powerful strokes that made her knees turn to jelly. She submitted to his hands, moaning as he picked her up by the hips and fucked her in the air while she supported herself with hands on the desk.
She slipped on a roll of parchment and fell back hard on one elbow. Severus immediately stopped to break her fall.
'Why can't we ever fuck in a bed?' he growled, hands now supporting her back.
'Your knees hurting?' she asked, too sweetly.
He made a face, pulling her back up. 'You are right, I'm too old for this shit.'
'Last one to the bed is a rotten egg' Holly giggled, tightening her walls around him again. He groaned and pinned her back to the tiny writing desk, kissing her neck before pulling out.
Holly stumbled past him and slipped out of her skirt before jumping on his bed.
'I want to see you naked,' she said as he came closer.
He cocked a brow at her but started undressing. The moon shone through the tall amber window and the hundreds of amber discs illuminated his angular features.
When he was done, Holly moved closer and grasped him by the cock, guiding him onto his back. His face contorted when she clambered on top and slid him back inside. Holly held onto the headboard and started building a steady pace, when she looked down, he was gazing up at her with a strange expression.
'What?' she demanded, slowing down.
'You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,' he said, reaching up to cup her cheek.
Holly laughed and he took the opportunity to thrust up into her. She splayed her fingers over his chest and rolled her hips in a circle.
'Touch me,' she demanded, surprised when he promptly obeyed, both his pale hands finding their way to their joining before stroking her most sensitive nub, mound, and thighs.
Holly threw her head back and rode him selfishly, crying out as the world stopped and she came hard around him.
Her body became slack and she crumpled into his chest. They laid together as her contractions subsided and after a second, Severus rolled her onto her back between the pillows and brought his lips to her ear, 'now I can do what I want with you'.
AN: LADIES, thank you for all your messages, reviews, kudos, follows, fav etc. You are the absolute best! I know there are many mistakes and clumpy sentences in this fic - but I'll go in after I've written it all and fix it up. I wish I could be paid to write thirsty-ass pieces like this all day. Let me know what you think and I'll make time to conjure the next chapter :)