Theodore and Blaise were the only ones still sitting in the common room when she returned late that night. They were deep in conversation in two of the chairs before the fireplace when she approached and flopped onto the sofa.

"Ay, Pans, on patrol tonight?" Blaise looked over at her.

"Not exactly." She examined her fingernails.

Blaise raised his eyebrows but remained silent.

"So anyway, Blaise here was just saying how perfectly ridiculous this place has become." Theodore stretched his arms overhead.

She laughed. "I agree. There are hardly any of us left. We'd all be better off practically anywhere else but here. Not like we've learned anything of real value in weeks."

Theodore nodded. "At least out there, we could be doing something."

"Yeah sure, if you haven't been labeled as only good for popping out pureblood babies."

Blaise narrowed his eyes and stiffened. "You don't really believe that, do you?"

"No. I absolutely believe I have more to offer than that, but unfortunately, that is the role I've been assigned in all this." Her lips curled in disgust.

Theodore stood and sat beside her, draping an arm around her shoulders. "There there, Pansy. Don't be bitter."

She shoved him away. "Fuck off."

He laughed. "But seriously, what else would you do?"

She rolled her eyes. "I don't know. I've got good marks. At one time, I thought maybe I would be able to clerk for the legislators or interrogators or intern in the Department of Mysteries after graduation. I expected to have options at least."

Blaise nodded. "Yeah, at this rate we're all going to be drafted in some way into this all. Like it or not."

"Better than sitting around this place. Torturing underclassmen is not very satisfying. Rather be working with the Snatchers or something." Theodore sighed.

She looked from Theodore to Blaise. "We can all agree that this place is awful."

The wizards nodded.

She glanced at them both and then to the crackling fire in the fireplace. "Can you agree what to do about it, then?"

"What do you mean? Stir up trouble like Longbottom and his lot?" Blaise grinned.

She chewed her lower lip in thought and glanced at Theodore. "At least, he's doing something, even though he's stuck here like the rest of us."

Theodore huffed. "Yeah sure, but to what end? Would rather be doing nothing than pissing off Snape."

Pansy held back a grin at the mention of Snape.

Blaise nodded. "Definitely prefer keeping my head down to anything else.

Theodore moved closer again. "And what are you doing, Pansy? Been sneaking around after hours a lot lately. Is that why?"

She straightened her spine, jaw tightening, willing her cheeks not to flush as she suppressed the inappropriate images flashing to her mind. She was definitely doing something, but in typical Slytherin fashion, it was mostly protecting her own interests. "I don't need to answer that."

"Keep your secrets, Parkinson. I just hope whatever it is, you watch your back or you will be in for a lot worse than a cruciatus from the Carrows." Theodore laughed and Blaise rolled his eyes.

"I doubt it matters either way." Pansy shrugged. "We've all lost any say in the future at this point."

"Well that's bleak." Theodore stood. "Good luck with that."

She looked at her housemates. "We could at least stir up some trouble for our own amusement, don't you think?"

"How so?" Blaise leaned forward.

"Let's just not."

"Huh?" Blaise snorted.

"Yes, let's just not participate. Not like we are learning anything of real value anyway. Not like we would miss out on anything. We've lost Quidditch, clubs, study group, and Hogsmeade weekends are not worth anything."

"You enjoy crucio that much, Pansy?" Theodore drew back in mock shock. "Never pictured you the masochistic type. Sadistic maybe…"

"I don't, Pansy. Seems an awful lot like the shit Longbottom and his lot are up to."

She sighed. "No. We won't vandalize and antagonize. Just be completely passive. Don't do homework. Don't answer questions. Don't engage."

"I mean, I hardly do those things anyway." Theodore shrugged.

Pansy patted him on the shoulder. "Exactly. Let's all be like you."

He nodded. "I like it!"


Severus groaned as the passageway to the Headmaster's office opened to reveal the spiral staircase, footsteps echoing loudly into the room. He sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. Today of all days, he preferred to be alone.

"What is it?" He snapped as the occupants' shadows hit the threshold of his office.

Amycus Carrow stepped through, dragging a reluctant Pansy Parkinson by the shoulder.

Severus's chest tightened as he resisted the urge to curl his lip at the male and growl, his stare resting on where the Dark Arts professor's fingers dug into Pansy's robes.

"Excuse the unannounced visit, Headmaster." Carrow bowed his head slightly, releasing the witch and shoving her forward. "But I continue to receive defiance from one."

Pansy locks eyes with him, said defiance with a hint of amusement dancing in her gaze, her chin stuck out and jaw tight. Every bit the Slytherin Queen she'd been labeled.

"She refuses to participate in class." Carrow stepped back.

Severus stood slowly and moved around the large desk to stand before her, crossing his arms over his chest as he rested his hips against the desktop. "Is this true, Ms Parkinson?" He raised a brow.

Her ever-enticing plump lips curved into a smirk, her eyes briefly glancing down at his hips and back to his face, no doubt the same improper thoughts crossing her mind as his own. "Yes."

"No threat of mine seems to convince her otherwise - detention, lines, an essay on the ancient Dark Arts."

"You forgot to mention your favorite method, Professor." She narrowed her eyes.

Severus glared at the Wizard before him as he forced away imaginings of Pansy writhing in convulsing pain on the stone floors of the dungeon classroom with memories of her writhing in pleasure on his gray linen sheets. "And what exactly is it she has been refusing to do?"

Carrow cleared his throat and glanced away.

"I refuse to cast Unforgivables on my fellow students, Sir." The muscles in her face visibly tensed.

He pushed away from the desk, stepping closer to look down his nose at her as her scent wafted over him. "And what is your reasoning?"

"That they are tools for the weak and should be a last resort, not a first." She sneered. "But if I must show my proficiency in them, I'd be happy to practice on someone a bit more deserving." She cast a sidelong glance at the space behind her where Carrow stood.

Severus stroked his chin. "An interesting idea, don't you think, Professor?"

Carrow's face tightened in apparent confusion or disbelief, probably both. "What do you mean?"

"Perhaps I should allow Ms Parkinson an opportunity to demonstrate her proficiency in the skills you demand of her, by allowing you to be her practice partner."

Carrow spat. "That's absurd. How would I be able to evaluate her if –"

"I could assume the role of evaluator if needed." Severus shrugged his shoulders.

Pansy's eyes brightened with amusement that she hid from the rest of her features as she turned to look between the two wizards.

"I fail to see how, I mean… why would…" Carrow stammered, his face reddening.

"Stop demanding students torture and control each other, Amycus. If you insist on teaching the Unforgivables, then you must find volunteer victims. And you must also teach them the techniques to resist. I will be monitoring you."

He returned his eyes to Pansy. "As for you, you will serve detention with Professor Slughorn tonight. I hear the lab is in need of some deep cleaning after the first years brewed herbicide potion…poorly. Should be a lovely way to spend your Friday evening."

"Of course, Headmaster." Pansy nodded, and bit her lip, her eyes begging him into her thoughts.

With a tilt of his head, he sampled what she offered. He huffed as he took in the image of her on her hands and knees on one of the potion lab workbenches, scrubbing away the filth, as her skirt rode up her thighs, hints of her green lacy knickers revealed with each movement, perfectly aligned at the level of his hips if her were to dare approach. His jaw tensed, and he cleared his throat as he tore himself away from the scene, sure he could predict what (or who) was to come. "You are dismissed, Ms Parkinson."

Her smile was deliciously wicked. "Thank you, Headmaster." She turned, shooting a venomous glance at Carrow before stepping back into the stairwell.

"Washing cauldrons, Severus? Really? That is your punishment for such insolence." Carrow hissed.

"Ms Parkinson needs practice on her domestic spells and despises such menial tasks." He shrugged. "But while we're on the topic of insolence, did I not order you to stop those lessons weeks ago?" He turned his disparaging gaze to the Dark Arts professor.

Carrow crossed his arms over his chest. "I took it as more of a suggestion."

"Next I hear of it, you will be on the receiving end of your own lessons." He leaned closer. "Am I clear?"

The Dark Arts professor grunted, nodded, and turned to leave without another word.
Severus returned to his desk, drumming his fingers on the top. Seeing those green lacy underthings later would be just the distraction he needed today.


"Didn't you like my little daydream, Headmaster?" Pansy whispered to the wizard standing over her as she entered his chambers late that evening after completing her detention.

"Whatever gave you that idea?" Severus closed the door and clicked the lock in place as he pinned her against it with his body in a way that was very reminiscent of the moment she'd won him over those many weeks ago. He had the same hunger in his eyes as one hand reached around her body to pull her closer and the other supported his weight against the door.

She stood up on her tiptoes, her lips just below his earlobe as her fingers worked the buttons of his frock coat. "You didn't join me in the potions lab for detention tonight. I'm sure you could have found some reason to excuse Professor Slughorn long enough to fulfill that little fantasy." She bit her lower lip.

"I much prefer you in my bed." He practically growled as he reached under her skirt to dig his fingers into her bum, and the scent of firewhiskey wafted over her.

She giggled as she pushed her hips against his. "Are you plastered, Severus?"

He stiffened and pulled away. "I most certainly am not." He hissed as he turned from her.

Something fell in her chest as she watched him walk away. Oh Hecate, she'd said the wrong thing. "It is Friday night. Who could blame you?" She purred, hoping to distract him from the sudden sour mood.

He huffed as he moved to the sitting room.

She hesitated briefly, watching his rigid movements, and then followed.

He sat in his chair, the half-full tumbler on the table beside him.

"Severus?" Pansy raised her brows.

He waved her over as he took a long drink of his whiskey.

As he set his glass down again, she straddled his hips in the chair, returning her efforts to his buttons as he tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling.

She leaned in to nibble along his jaw line and down his neck as she reached the final button and pulled his frock and undershirt open. As she slipped from his lap to kneel between his knees she looked up at him.

His eyes stared up into nothingness with a glaze of memory cast over them.

She paused. "What's wrong?"

Severus grunted.

"Would you rather I go?" She moved to stand with an intense urge to wrap her arms around the sullen man, to provide some sort of comfort.

Severus sighed as his eyes cleared. He reached for her chin and urged her to stand. "No. it is good you came tonight."

Pansy smiled and settled herself over his hips again. "No place I'd rather be, even if you are out of sorts." She draped her forearms over his shoulders and tilted her head. "Can I do anything to make it better?"

He met her eyes as he sipped from his glass, breathing out the scent of the spicy liquor.

Pansy wove her fingers into his hair at the nape of his neck. His lips would probably taste of the firewhiskey and other forbidden things, but his damn rules prevented her from finding out.

Severus hummed in appreciation as her fingers pushed deeper to massage his scalp. He wrapped his arms over her hips as he tilted his head back into her hands, eyes drifting close.

Pansy leaned closer to drag her teeth over his earlobe and down his jaw again, her fingers still working the tightness of his scalp. He was suffering, but why? "I can make you forget."

"Forget what?" Severus mumbled,

"How much you hate yourself."

"I do – "

"– Don't lie to me, Severus." She pulled away. "I don't know why you are despairing tonight, and I don't expect you to tell me, but we all hate what we've become."

He sighed. "Yes."

"Let me." She leaned into him. She touched his lips with her fingertips as she took his earlobe into her mouth and caressed it with her tongue. Her other hand twisted into his hair again.

He pulled her into him, his lips pressing against her fingers as he buried his nose against her neck and inhaled.

Taking her hand away from his lips, he pulled back, his dark eyes swirled with more emotion than she'd ever seen in them. He drew closer and caressed his lips to hers, parting them with his tongue, the spicy cinnamon invading her mouth.

She stiffened in his grasp, but as the man before her seemed to desperately seek something from her lips, she pressed back, opening to the needy strokes of his tongue over hers.

As she pushed back to breathe, she panted. "But..your..rule."

"It still stands." He pressed to her again, his lips firm and insistent.

"Mmm, yes… I understand." She mumbled between kisses. Tonight only. He would take what he needed, and she would never speak of it again. But Gods, she would think of it often.

His eyes drifted closed as he pawed at her curves like a wanton teenager before releasing the buttons of her button down with a wordless spell and pulling it from her body.

Pansy giggled as she returned the favor, pushing his coat and shirt off his body and running her fingers over his chest, shoulders, and down his back. She loved the high she got from the softening of the tension in the muscles beneath her fingers as she appreciated each soft ridge she exposed.

He snaked a hand between their hips and beneath her pleated skirt, finding her knickers and dragging his thumb up and down along the lacy fabric, coating it with her dampness.

"Gods, Severus…" she murmured against his lips.

"Always so ready." His voice reverberated straight to her core.

"For you yes," she purred as she ground against his fingers, craving more.

Severus chuckled as he slipped a finger beneath the lace to run up and down her slit.

Her hips bucked involuntarily, and as she pulled back, he dipped the finger into her depths as his other hand pressed along the small of her back to restrain her. She squirmed in his grasp as their tongues continued to tangle, the taste of the whiskey still sharp.

As his thumb flicked over her clit and his fingers sunk to their base, Pansy pulled her mouth from his to cry out. "Fu-uck!"

"Such a foul mouth," he sneered and chuckled as he pulled his hand free from beneath her knickers and unbuttoned his trousers.

She gasped for breath as her fingers dug into the arms of the chair. "No other… word is …quite appropriate."

He released his strained flesh and rubbed his cockhead over her knickers.

She circled her hips and reached her hand between their bodies to pull the fabric barrier aside.

Severus glanced around the room and raised a hand as a potion vial floated in from the bedroom. "Do not be too hasty." He handed her the vial.

Pansy pouted. "Don't you trust my condom charm?" She tipped back the sickeningly sweet liquid clearly created by a man assuming he knew a woman's preference. She set the vial next to his tumbler of Firewhiskey. It should taste like that, spicy, hot and intense, just like sex. Perhaps she'd mention that to Severus another time. He certainly could improve upon it.

His fingers gripped her waist and guided her down onto his rigid flesh. "I believe your wand is out of reach."

The breath caught in her lungs as the fullness of him overtook her senses. "Mmmm, yes." She no longer remembered what she'd been saying as she ungulated over his lap, her arms draped over his shoulders as she watched his eyes slowly shutter and his jaw muscles loosen.

With a devious smile that she doubted he would see, she arched her back and reached beneath her bum to run her fingers along the flesh of his scrotum. His eyes flashed wide and she bit back a laugh as he half groaned half moaned. She repeated the gesture. Whatever had depressed him earlier, seemed to have been forgotten, just as she promised.

His hand took her by the nape and pulled her back to him, smashing his face to hers again, his tongue lacing with hers as he rut against her. Spicy, hot, intense, like the whiskey on his lips. As though he'd let go of all restraint, he crashed into her again and again, her body bouncing as he struggled to keep the pace as her pleasure started to unravel in the most exhilarating way.

She dragged his lower lip between her teeth as she pulled away to cry out, "Severus!"

His arms snaked around her form to pull her tight to his chest as he spilled into her with a primal gutteral utterance of her name.

She ran her fingers through his hair as she fought for her breath, and his hand slid from her nape down her body to rest on her thigh. His other hand reached for the tumbler and brought it to his lips.

He drained the glass and placed it back on the table, his eyes half closed again.

She touched her lips gently to his, taking one last taste of him. "That was incredible. Thank you." She pulled herself free from his lap and reached for her clothes.

He grunted as he buttoned up his trousers. "I will see you tomorrow night." He grabbed his glass and disappeared into the bedroom.

Pansy shook her head as she found her wand and cleansed herself. She licked her lips. Who knew he could kiss as incredibly as he could fuck? This would certainly be a Halloween to remember.


A/N: Mmm, I really liked writing this section. Would love to know your thoughts. Where do you think these two are going? How is the spice? Please share!