Tags: Acromantula, mentions of blood, death of a mythical creature, gore, angst, fluff, smut, bullying, broken bones, hippogriffs, unicorns, fluffy, centaurs, syringes, major character injury, near-death experience, age gap, teacher/18-year-old student relationship, unprotected sex, fingering, begging, forced reveal of feelings, forbidden forest, family drama, and I think that’s it.
A/N: I altered the timeline a little to make this flow better. I realize that Gilderoy lost his memory during the Chamber of Secrets era. I also realize that Severus didn’t take on the DADA teaching position until Harry’s 6th year. I just wanted to make that clear for everyone. :) Enjoy!
“Hmm…difficult, very difficult. Mmm yes, lots of ambition and very loyal too. A hint of creativity, but you seem to mask it well with your bravery…” As the sorting hat’s voice echoed throughout the Great Hall, your mind began to flood with the past week’s events.
It was the day after your eighteenth birthday when you discovered your Hogwarts letter. Your grandmother had been a great witch and even taught at Hogwarts after she finished her seventh year. From the moment you were born, she knew you were destined for good things. Your parents had forbidden her from using magic around you and even went so far as to hide your letter of acceptance on your eleventh birthday. It wasn’t until you were going through some of your childhood toys in the attic that you came across it.
The letter was stuck to the back of an old photo album, and the writing had nearly faded completely. You ran your fingers over the yellowing parchment, the tip of your index finger raising slightly as it slid over the sealing wax. You recognized the symbol immediately. Your grandmother had it all over her house, and you’d thought it to be your family’s crest. The wax gave way easily and you pulled the letter out as carefully as you could. Your heart began to race and your breath caught in your throat. The letter was for you! You had been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
You blinked and brought yourself back to reality, the hat seemed to be finishing up his assessment. “…better make it…Slytherin!” The table full of students to the far-right of the hall erupted in cheer as you walked towards them. You took your seat and after the rest of the first years were sorted into their houses, the Headmaster approached the podium. He raised his hands and without saying a word, the whole room went silent.
“Welcome! Welcome, everyone! It is my great pleasure to start off a new school year with a few minor changes. As many of you know, Gilderoy Lockhart is no longer capable of teaching. It seems a memory charm backfired and he’s lost all memory of who he is. Be that as it may, I am very pleased to announce that our own Severus Snape will be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.” Your eyes scanned the teachers at the head table and stopped when they landed on a man who looked slightly younger than the others. He stood and nodded ever so slightly before taking his seat again. Your gaze lingered on him as Professor Dumbledore continued on with his speech.
“Thus it’s only fitting that the one and only Professor Horace Slughorn takes Severus’ place as Potions teacher.” Another professor stood up from the table and smiled as a round of applause reverberated off the walls. “Now that we’ve determined who will be teaching what subject, I have an additional announcement to make. All students will refrain from entering the forbidden forest. Anyone who isn’t experienced enough to handle themselves will most certainly die a very horrible death. Now, without further interruption, let the feast begin!”
With a wave of his hand, the empty plates filled with a delicious looking meal. You ate quietly as the other Slytherins talked and carried on. Every so often, you turned to look at the mysterious man with the all-black attire. Mysterious didn’t even begin to describe him. Even though it wasn’t classified as magic, you had always found yourself skilled in reading people. He looked particularly confident, his shoulder-length black hair bouncing slightly as he talked among the other teachers. There was just something you couldn’t quite put your finger on. Was it pain? The very moment you thought the word to yourself, his eyes snapped up to yours. Horrified that you were caught staring, you quickly turned your attention to your plate. Had he read your mind?
Deciding not to dwell on it any longer, you continued eating your meal thinking about the new chapter in your life. Though you didn’t know much about Hogwarts and the world of magic, you did know that this house, in particular, had a bad reputation. Your grandmother was a Ravenclaw, and would sometimes divulge knowledge about the other houses. The one thing you remembered about Slytherin was that its founder believed only certain people should be allowed to attend this school and practice magic. Purebloods.
You were the farthest thing from being a pureblood. In fact, you were what other witches and wizards would call a Muggle. That was another thing you learned from your grandma. Muggle was a term used to describe someone who had non-magic blood, or the less liked derogatory name, mud-blood. The fork in your left hand scraped across your plate as you pushed your food around aimlessly. Why on Earth would the sorting hat put you in Slytherin?
Soon, dinner was over and the prefects led the students back to their respective common rooms. You followed the other female students to the girl’s dormitory and found your trunk and owl had already been brought in. Nova chirped and tilted her head when she saw you, and you couldn’t help but giggle. “Miss me already, sweetheart? Well, I missed you too.” The soft feathers on her head slid between your fingers while you talked to her. Even though she didn’t talk back, it was always nice to feel like someone was listening.
You settled on your bed and began drawing in your sketchpad as the other girls in your room talked among themselves. Their conversation hardly registered with you, your focus solely on the drawing of Nova you were currently working on. It wasn’t until one of the other girls tapped you on your shoulder that you noticed they were talking to you. “Hellooo? Were you even listening to us?” You set your sketch pad next to you on the bed and looked up at the three girls staring at you intently. “S-Sorry, I didn’t realize you were talking to me. I was um … I was focused on my drawing.”
The girl closest to you rolled her eyes and huffed impatiently. “I said, why aren’t you eleven like the other first years?” There it was, the question you knew would be asked eventually. You just didn’t think you’d have to answer it this soon. “My um… Well, I suppose it’s because my parents hid my acceptance letter from me.” The one with the blonde hair began to laugh. “Why that’s absurd. Why anyone would hide a Hogwarts letter from their child is beyond me. Unless… wait… are you not a pureblood?”
A sudden feeling of shame overtook you and your gaze wandered to your lap, a loose string on your blanket became instantly more interesting. “I-I… Well, no… I’ve got non-magic parents actually.” The third girl scoffed. “Daphne, can you believe they let scum like this into our house?” Blondie, who you presumed to be Daphne, snatched your sketchbook off the bed and tore it in two and laughed. “Serves her right. Mud-bloods don’t belong in Slytherin.” She drew her wand and pushed the tip into the skin of your throat making your whole body quake in fear. “Listen up you vile little wretch, you’d better not lose us any house points if you value your life at all. Understand?”
Tears pricked your eyes as you nodded quickly. “Y-Yes… Yes, I-I understand.” She removed her wand and the two other girls followed close behind as they left the room. Closing your eyes, you took a few deep breaths trying to slow the rapid beating of your heart. A few minutes later, you let out a shaky breath and began to clean up the remnants of your sketch pad. Luckily, this was a brand new one and Daphne hadn’t torn up anything too valuable.
Once you were finished, you slipped on your shoes and held out your arm to Nova. She chirped happily and sidestepped to your shoulder. Staying in your room anywhere near the other Slytherin girls was the last thing you wanted to do, so you decided to explore the castle grounds a little before bed. After all, it was only Friday night, and classes didn’t start for another two weeks.
The crisp fall air licked at your skin the moment you stepped out in the courtyard. It felt good to breathe the fresh air and you suspected that Nova felt the same. She immediately took flight and let out a happy screech. Part of you envied her. Being able to soar as high as the clouds away from all the negativity was something you could only dream of doing.
You wandered around the castle grounds until you spotted a hut nestled at the edge of a tree line. The stone exterior and the pointed roof reminded you of the fairy tales your parents used to read as bedtime stories when you were little. Light grey smoke billowed out of the chimney and you could faintly hear someone humming. Curiosity got the better of you, and you soon found yourself at the foot of the steps.
Before you could knock, the front door swung open and none other than Hagrid looked down at you. “Why ‘ello there, lass! Teh what do I owe yeh the pleasure?” You’d only known him for a few hours, but you could tell that Hagrid had a big heart and good intentions. “I just needed some fresh air that’s all. Things are… a bit much in my house.” Hagrid studied you as you spoke. It didn’t take a genius to know something was bothering you, and he saw right through the fake smile plastered on your face. “Why don’t yeh come in fer a spot of tea? I can tell something is troublin’ yeh.”
It became a sort of routine, the evenings you’d spend with the Hogwarts groundskeeper. After Hagrid had learned the way the other Slytherins were treating you, he’d made it clear that you could spend the night in his spare room any time you needed to. You insisted on paying him for his hospitality, but he always refused. All he had ever asked in return was help taking care of the mythical creatures. Most would probably view it as a chore, but you found it extremely therapeutic.
Friday evening before school started, you noticed Hagrid was missing from the teacher’s table. After dinner, you jogged along the path to his house and noticed the lights inside his hut were off. Hmm…that’s weird, you thought to yourself. Normally, he’d be making a pot of tea right about now. Tentatively, you walked up the steps and lightly knocked on his door. “Hagrid? Hey, are you home? It’s Y/N…” You tried the door, and it opened easily. “Hagrid? I’m coming in…” Fang peeked at you over his paw and yawned lazily. Other than the glow of the fire, nothing showed signs that he was home. As quietly as you could you walked to the back towards his bedroom. There, wrapped up in blankets and looking beyond miserable, was the half-giant himself.
“Oh, Hagrid… what’s the matter? You look like you feel awful.” He coughed and sneezed a few times before blowing his nose into a hankey. His skin was clammy, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in days. “I’m sick, lass. Yeh shouldn’t come near me if ye know what’s good fer ya.” Out of instinct you put the underside of your wrist against his forehead and grimaced. “Hagrid, you’re burning up! Come on! We have to get you to Madame Pomfrey.”
You helped him stand and carefully started to lead him towards the castle. It took nearly fifteen minutes, but finally, you were able to get him to the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey motioned to a bed and helped you lay him down. She insisted that she keep him overnight so she could monitor him, but Hagrid was having none of it. “No! Absolutely not! I can’t stay ‘ere overnight. Who’ll feed Fang an all me other beasts? Buckbeak ain’t the nicest Hippogriff when he’s missed a meal yeh know.”
Your hand came down to cover his as you looked him in the eyes. “Hagrid, please…stay here and let Madame Pomfrey take care of you. I’ll take care of feeding them tonight, okay? It’s not like I haven’t helped you make your rounds for the past week and a half.” The groundskeeper sighed with defeat and nodded. “Alright Y/N, I’ll stay an let yeh take care o’ my pets, but yeh have ta promise me you’ll be careful.”
You gave him a soft smile and stood to smooth out your robes. “Don’t worry, Hagrid. I’ll be quick and efficient just like you taught me. I even made myself a list so I remember which animal eats what as well as where they’re all located. I’ve got this!” Before he could change his mind, you hurried out of the room and back to his hut to grab what you needed. According to the list, you had five different species to feed tonight. The unicorns, Buckbeak the hippogriff, Fluffy the three-headed dog, the centaurs, and Aragog the acromantula.
None of these mythical beasts ever acted like they were harmful, but they weren’t to be taken lightly either. Not to mention you were with Hagrid every time you’d fed them before. After loading up the bags with their food, you made sure you had your wand before approaching the edge of the forest. It didn’t matter what time of day it was, the shadow from the trees always made the forest dark and a thin layer of mist lingered near the forest floor.
Fluffy was first on your list. His doghouse was about fifty feet within the forest. Brandishing your wand, you cast Lumos Maxima and took the trail to the west. A few minutes later, you could hear light snores echoing off the trees. Making sure you had the three slabs of meat at the ready, you whistled to get the giant beast’s attention.
"Fluffy! I got you some dinner!” The dog’s left head yawned enthusiastically and you couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, that’s enough sleeping. It’s time for some yummy meat!” The middle head began to growl and bare its teeth at you while the one on the right shook its head back and forth violently. “There we go, nice and easy…” You slowly got closer and gently set the slabs of meat within his reach before backing off.“
You stuck around long enough to make sure he saw the food and then walked north towards the part of the forest where unicorns made their homes. It surprised you to learn that they preferred witches over wizards. Hagrid had told you that they were very fast, so much so that they could outrun a werewolf.
Instead of trying to seek them out, he set up feed pails around their homes and filled them with food. As you were filling the pails, you saw a golden blur out of the corner of your eye. It startled you at first, but then you remembered Hagrid telling you that unicorn fouls were gold in color.
Staying completely still, you waited until it poked its head out from behind the tree. "Hi, sweetheart. You want some food?” At the mention of food, the foul whinnied and slowly approached your outstretched hand. It broke your heart that these beautiful creatures were nearly extinct. You gave light scratches to the tufts of fur behind its ears, the serene moment nearly making you forget where you were.
After hand-feeding the baby for a few minutes, you quickly filled the rest of the pails before heading towards the centaurs. Hagrid always made sure you remembered how proud the centaur breed was. They didn’t like to be classified as “beasts” along with thestrals, merfolk, or werewolves. They also ate both human and equine food.
It was a good thing you remembered to grab both types. You didn’t want to upset them at all, let alone do so without Hagrid around to protect you. As you approached their den, a familiar face came to greet you. “Good evening, Y/N.” Firenze stood tall as he looked down at you, his unwavering gaze making you a bit nervous. “H-Hey! Sorry, it took me a bit to get here. Hagrid isn’t feeling well, and I had to take him to the hospital wing."
The creature nodded and uncrossed his arms. "That’s quite alright. I see you brought my colony dinner.” You offered a smile and held out two big knapsacks of food. “I did! I wasn’t sure what you would prefer so I came bearing a variety of things…I-I hope that’s okay.” Firenze chuckled and placed one of his large hands on your shoulder. “That’s very kind of you, Y/N. Please give Hagrid my best. I do hope he recovers quickly.” With a nod and a wave, you watched him until he was out of sight.
Adjusting the bag on your shoulder, you turned east and walked in the direction of the area Buckbeak frequented. You’d come to love the Hippogriff ever since Hagrid introduced you to him. It only took you about five minutes to navigate the trail before you could hear the excited bleats coming from a group of trees. Making sure to stop the moment you crested the hill, you made eye contact with Buckbeak and bowed low. The Hippogriff turned and tilted its head momentarily and then bowed in return. You took the dead ferrets out of the bag and tossed them in the air for him to catch. When you ran out he nudged the side of your face and chirped happily. “Yes, I love you too, Beaky. You’re a good boy!” Kissing his beak sweetly, you bade him goodnight and walked south toward the heart of the forest. Time to feed the final species on your list. Aragog.
Even though they were capable of human speech, acromantulas were the one beast you had a fear of. As you approached Aragog’s lair, hundreds of tiny spiders crawled on the ground next to you. Taking a few deep breaths to compose yourself, you crept into the pitch-black den with your senses on high alert. At the heart of it sat the beast himself. “Who dares to come into my home?” With a shaky hand, you reached into your bag and quickly pulled out a dead fox as an offering.
“A-Aragog? It’s um…it’s Y/N, the one who has been coming with Hagrid to feed you. I have umm… I have some birds and foxes for you.” The large arachnid stalked closer to you, it’s eyes like black holes as it seemed to stare into your soul. “Yes… the young fleshy girl who claims to be a friend of Hagrid. Tell me, where is my keeper? What have you done to him?”
The hairs on the back of your neck stood on end and your fight or flight instincts began to kick in. “I-I-I didn’t do anything to him. He… he isn’t feeling well and I told him I’d come and bring you dinner…” You hadn’t realized you were backing up until your heel caught a crooked root poking through the ground. Pain shot through your ankle as you fell against the floor of the den. Aragog clicked his fangs together and you flinched as his voice boomed around you angrily. “I don’t believe you! I’ve known Hagrid for over fifty years, and not once has he gotten sick!”
As graceful as your sprained ankle would allow, you scrambled to your feet and dumped the dead birds and foxes on the ground in front of you. “H-Here’s your food… I… I’m just gonna go…” The venom from his fangs began to drip on the ground as he moved even closer to you. “Go? Oh, I don’t think so, friend of Hagrid. Those foxes and birds may sate my son’s and daughter’s hunger, but they won’t satisfy me.“
Ignoring the throb in your injured foot, you clambered out of the den as fast as you could. Branches swatted you in the face as you sprinted toward Hagrid’s hut. Aragog was hot on your heels as the castle grounds became more and more visible. Just a few more feet and you’d be safe.
A rotted tree trunk caught your eye, but it was too late for you to avoid it. You hit the ground with a sickening thud, your wrist that broke your fall was surely broken. Turning to face the fast approaching acromantula, you pleaded for him to stop. "Aragog, please! ….I…I didn’t do anything to Hagrid… please don’t hurt me!"
The giant spider loomed over you, it’s fangs clicking together violently. "Goodbye, friend of Hagrid…” You let out a blood-curdling scream as its pincers tore into your flesh, the moonlight fading away until you slipped into unconsciousness.
Nights were usually the time Severus took to think. It was his free time, save for the occasional disobedient student wandering the corridors. He’d just walked past the open courtyard when a small owl flew down to land on his shoulder. “Get off me you insolent bird!” It let out a screech and circled him before settling on his other arm.
“Merlin’s beard, what is it that you want?!” Just as he was about to send it away, he noticed a small charm bracelet attached to the owl’s left leg. Curious, he cast Lumos and read the inscription.
Name: Nova Jane
Property of: Y/F/N Y/L/N
“I see…you’re the property of the new Slytherin girl. Go on then! Go back to the dormitory.” Nova nipped at the buttons on his sleeve and screeched loudly. Just as Severus was about to scare it off, your scream echoed throughout the castle grounds.
“Take me to her! Now!” Nova took flight and soared in the direction of the Forbidden Forest. Severus ran as quickly as he could, his robes flowing behind him like a cape. His heart thundered against his chest as he broke through the treeline.
The moment he saw Hagrid’s acromantula towering over you, he drew his wand and aimed for its head. “AVADA KEDAVRA!” The spell sent Aragog catapulting backward, its body falling lifeless against the base of a large tree.
Seeing you lying there motionless made his blood run cold. “Oh, Merlin…no no no…” He sank down in the mud and put two fingers against your neck, a breath of relief falling from his lips when a faint pulse fluttered against them. His eyes scanned your body, worry prickling his skin at the number of deep cuts you had. He knew you wouldn’t survive if he didn’t act now.
With a shaky hand, he pointed his wand to the deep gash in your abdomen. “Vulnera sanentur…” A glow illuminated from it and within seconds it was as if the wound never existed. He did the same for the other large wounds as well as your wrist and ankle before lifting you into his arms. He may have stopped the bleeding, but you still had the acromantula’s venom flowing freely in your veins. He only had a few minutes to reverse the toxins.
Closing his eyes, he apparated to his sleeping chambers and gently laid you on his bed. Severus worked quickly to mix up the antivenom. Once it was mixed properly, he used a syringe to inject it into all of your main arteries.
It became a waiting game. You’d lost a lot of blood, nearly too much, and all Severus could do now was hope you’d wake up. He found himself pacing, checking your pulse every so often to make sure you were still breathing. Eventually, the adrenaline in his body wore off, and it made him realize how tired he was.
He shed his robe, toed his shoes off, and with a snap of his fingers, a fire began to crackle and pop in the fireplace. He sat and pondered to himself. What was he supposed to do with you? It wasn’t like he could take you to Madame Pomfrey now. Not after he’d healed you the best he could. Plus, he was sure the other Hogwarts staff would question him on why he took you back to his chambers. Honestly, he wasn’t even sure why he’d done it. He acted on pure instinct.
His gaze wandered over to where you were laying. Severus felt himself relax upon seeing your chest rise and fall. He’d done it. He’d saved you. His eyes began to get heavy as he listened to your soft breathing. Unable to stay awake any longer, he let sleep consume him.
The smell of tea filled your nostrils as you tried to recall where you were. Last night’s events flooded your mind and your eyes immediately snapped open.
Scanning the room, your brows furrowed in confusion. This wasn’t the hospital wing, and it definitely wasn’t Hagrid’s. You sat up, your back against the headboard, and scanned your exposed skin. Other than a few bruises, there wasn’t any sign of injury on you at all. Had it all been a dream?
The sound of the door opening brought you out of your thoughts. Your eyes widened at the sight of your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher carrying a teacup and saucer. “Oh, you’re up. Good.” He strode over and set the cup down on the nightstand next to you. “Drink this. It’ll help you feel better."
You blinked up at him, your eyes staring into his obsidian ones. Even though he wore a scowl ninety percent of the time, your professor wasn’t bad looking. In fact, you found him quite attractive. His form-fitting robes with all those buttons and his confidence drew you in almost immediately.
It was then that you remembered he’d spoken to you. Forcing your brain to form words, you stuttered out a response. "I…um…th-thank you, Professor…” His stone-faced expression didn’t waver as he sat down on the comforter next to you. “Why, Y/N? Why would you put yourself in danger like that?! You could have been killed! Merlin, if it wasn’t for your insolent bird, you would have been!"
You focused on your lap, your cheeks red with shame. "M'sorry… I was just t-trying to help Hagrid fe-” You slapped your hand over your mouth and internally cursed yourself. Hagrid made you promise not to tell anyone you were helping him, and here you’ve almost told none other than Professor Snape!
“Go on…” Shaking your head, you moved to get off the bed. “I… I can't… Thank you for saving me, Professor. I’ll just be going…” His firm hand came to rest on your thigh and with little force, he pushed you back down onto the bed. “Listen to me, Y/N. I’m your Head of House. Either you tell me what you were doing in that forest, or I’ll make you tell me.
The demand in his tone sent shivers down your spine. It really should be a sin to have a voice like his. "I-I…um…” Severus rolled his eyes and stood to walk across the room. He came back with a vial, a small amount of liquid in the bottom. “Know what this is?” You shook your head. “This is Veritaserum. Three drops of this, and it’ll make you spill your darkest…of secrets…"
You watched as he poured the small amount of liquid into a glass of butterbeer. "Drink…” Instead of obeying his orders you grabbed the teacup off the saucer and swallowed its contents. “Thank you, Professor, but I’m no longer thirsty and I don’t like butterbeer."
For the first time since you arrived at Hogwarts, his lips gave a hint of a smile. "It’s no matter. What do you suppose I did with the rest of the serum, hm?” All the color drained from your face, your mouth opening and closing like you were a fish out of water.
“The tea…” Your professor chuckled, “Yes, the tea. Now, tell me, what were you doing in the Forbidden Forest after curfew?” You couldn’t stop them. It was as if you were possessed. The words came flowing out of you on their own accord. “I was helping Hagrid feed his mythical creatures. He’s in the infirmary sick and I offered to do it so he didn’t have to."
Severus narrowed his eyes. "How long have you been doing this?” You swallowed thickly. “Since the first day of school. Some of the other Slytherin girls were bullying me so I went for a walk. It was then that I formally met Hagrid. He offered me his spare bedroom, and I’ve been sleeping there ever since…” He rose to his feet and began pacing again, his hands behind his back. “And he lets you stay…for free?”
“I can stay as long as I help him tend to the mythical creatures that live in the forest. He taught me everything he knows and I help him with feedings.” Severus stopped and turned to face you. “Did you ever think of coming to me for help with the bullying? I am the Head of Slytherin you know.”
Oh, how you wished you could hold back the words threatening to escape. No matter how hard you tried, it was no use. “I was too nervous to come to you, Professor.” He raised an eyebrow, his hands fidgeting out in front of him. He knew his presence intimidated most of the children attending Hogwarts, but he decided to use this to his advantage. “Obviously…And why, do you suppose, I make you so nervous, Y/N?”
“I suppose it’s because I’m in love with you.” Your response came out just above a whisper, but he still heard every word. Out of every scenario in his mind, Severus did not expect you, a young woman, to say that. For a rare moment in his life, he was rendered speechless. It took him a moment to collect himself, but once he did he noticed your face was buried in your hands. Merlin, help him, you were crying and it was all his fault.
He slowly moved to where you were laying and sat down so he was at your level. Without giving it any thought, he pulled you into his chest and began rubbing small circles on your back to soothe you. “Merlin, what was I thinking? I shouldn’t have forced the truth out of you like that. Please…forgive me.” You clutched at his robes and moved your tear-filled eyes to his. “I forgave you the moment it happened, Professor.” A few silent moments passed between the two of you and he continued to hold your gaze. Severus was the first to move. Ever so slowly, he leaned down to capture your lips.
His mouth melded with yours perfectly, and he didn’t stop until his lungs demanded it. Your eyes closed, your forehead coming to rest against his. “Professor I-” He silenced you with another chaste kiss. “Severus…Call me Severus, Y/N.”
“Please Severus…make love to me.” His resolve broke the moment the plea fell from your lips. Severus gently laid you back and gently rid you of your tattered robes. His calloused hands slid over your smooth skin making your breath hitch. He peppered kisses down into the crook of your neck, his path moving to the valley between your breasts. “S-Severus…please…need you…” He nipped playfully at your jaw and sat up slightly to take his shirt off. “Patience, Y/N… I’ll take care of you.”
Once he was bare before you he made his way between your legs. His touch was tentative, his fingertips brushing your folds gingerly. He circled your clit making you arch off the bed. “Oh, Merlin!… Fuck!” Severus chuckled and slid two of his fingers inside you curling them upwards. “Bloody hell, you’re soaked, Y/N…” He easily found the sensitive spot inside of you, the coil in your core winding tighter and tighter with each passing second. “Please! Oh…shit… Se-Severus! M’gonna cum… please… please make me cum!” His cock twitched at your words, precum leaking from the tip. “Let go, Y/N…cum for me…” With a cry of his name, you fell over the edge. Your chest heaved as you pulled him up for a heated kiss.
“Need you, Sev. Need you inside me. Please…” As carefully as he could, Severus lined himself up and pushed into you. “Merlin, you’re so tight!” His thrusts were steady and his kisses were fervent as he made love to you. “Oh, fuck! Sev! Oh, you’re so good… so good, baby…” Both of you wanted it to last, but it was clear you both needed the release more. “Y/N, I won’t last much longer like this… you feel amazing…so amazing.” You slid your fingers through his thick hair and pulled his mouth down to yours. “Cum with me, Severus…”
A moment later, both of you soared into bliss together. His lips rested against your own and his body shook as he spilled into you, your own walls clenching around his cock. Severus was spent as he settled behind you, his arm wrapped protectively around your waist. “Y/N, I need to know you’re okay with this…with us…” Threading your fingers with his, you planted a sweet kiss to the back of his hand. “Severus, our love may be forbidden, but I’d choose you no matter what it cost me. I’ll take you as you are. Your highs, your lows, all of it. I’ll love you until my last breath.”
He turned you in his arms and cupped your cheek. “I never thought I’d ever love another. Not after Lily, but seeing you in the forest like that sparked something in me. Something I haven’t felt for nearly fourteen years. I’ll spend forever protecting and loving you.
As your eyes grew heavy, you felt a new sense of worth. Coming to Hogwarts was something you’d only dreamed of growing up. The moment you found your acceptance letter, you knew your life would change. You never thought you’d find someone to love here, but for once you were happy, and that’s all you’d ever wanted.
Seeing things through another’s eyes often gives us a new appreciation for the things we hold dear. Interacting with Cho and Dean give Harry and Ginny a new appreciation for their lives after the war and each other.
Happy birthday to my very first fandom friend! @thisismegz
Meg, I can’t believe it’s been been five years and I’m so happy that you reached out and shared your ideas with me. You’re one of my favorite people and I hope your birthday is full of all the best things! I hope this little story makes your birthday just a little more special! Love you, darling!
Nexus
Chapter 1
Cho took a seat at the table while Stephen went to the bar to get them drinks. She and Stephen had decided on an unconventional honeymoon - three months traveling across the world while Stephen worked. Stephen was an international business consultant and had mapped out his next three months so the two of them could see a large chunk of the world. He’d called it time for her to heal, and heal she had. Steven made her laugh, made her want to live, to smile, to look forward to the future. And sitting at the hotel bar in San Francisco, Cho was happy.
Which was good, because she’d just seen someone she thought the sight of might pull out every terrible and awful memory in her.
Harry Potter stood at the bar.
Thankfully the sight of him didn’t up-end her happiness, which was a relief. It was then she realized he was talking to a woman, a blonde woman.
Hadn’t Harry been with Ginny?
Cho watched as the blonde woman batted her eyes at Harry, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Harry could do better than a woman who was just attracted to his accent and the fact that he was from a different country. Then again, if he’d let Ginny get away maybe he didn’t deserve better.
“Here, love.” Stephen slid into his seat and set her drink down with a kiss on her cheek. Then he caught her eye. “Everything alright?”
“Yes, I just know him.” She gestured towards Harry.
“From where?” Stephen linked their hands.
“School.” Cho shrugged and let out a long breath. That word brought more pain than seeing Harry did.
Stephen shifted his chair to be able to wrap his arm around her shoulders. “Was the woman at your school too?”
Cho went to say no, but a bright streak of red caught her eye, a streak that threw her right back to Quidditch matches and trying to out maneuver one of the best Seekers she’d ever flown against.
“Yeah.” Cho smiled as Ginny slid into Harry’s arms and the blonde woman quickly retreated. Harry whispered something in Ginny’s ear and they both laughed. His lips brushed hers briefly as his arms kept her close.
“Do you want to say hello?” Stephen’s arms tightened against her, holding her up both literally and figuratively.
Cho watched as Ginny and Harry talked easily at the bar, and caught sight of the ring on Ginny’s hand as she linked her wrists behind Harry’s neck. They were happy, and if she knew anyone who deserved to be happy, it was Harry and Ginny.
“No, I don’t want to intrude.” Cho rested her head against Stephen’s shoulder. “Besides, it’s our honeymoon, and tomorrow you promised to take me to the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory.”
“Then you should finish your drink so we can head upstairs.” Stephen smirked at her as he picked up his glass. “Big day after all. We’ll need plenty of rest.”
Cho laughed and within a few minutes let Stephen lead her up to their room.
Harry watched them go and smiled.
“I’m glad Cho seems happy.” Ginny threaded her fingers with his.
“Me too, she deserves to be happy after the hell we all went through.” Harry leant against the bar and pulled Ginny flush against him.
“You do too, Harry.” Ginny kissed him lightly before pulling back.
Harry gave her arm a sharp tug to pull her back, shifting his hands to cradle her face and allow him to deepen the kiss.
“I’m happy with you.” He murmured before losing himself in her flowery intoxicating scent again.
“Maybe we should…” Ginny fisted his shirt in her hands and pulled him forward.
Harry smirked against her before pulling away to lead them up to their room, only running into the wall three times in the journey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 2
Dean took a deep breath as he looked at the door to the tent in front of him.
“It’ll be fun, mate.” Seamus put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
That was easy for him to say. He’s kept contact with everyone over the years, especially Harry and Ginny. Dean was honestly shocked to have received the invite at all, let alone a spot in the VIP section and boxed seats. Sure he’d been a part of Dumbledore’s Army, but after the battle he’d cut ties with everyone but Seamus. He hitched rides across the world and spent five years working through the trauma and chaos in his brain as he saw countries he’d only ever read about. The last two of those five years had been the ones that counted though.
Those two had included Valeria.
He’d met her in Mexico City and after six months of her showing him around her home country, she’d decided she was going to follow him to the next one, and the one after that. And then somewhere along the way, they were setting up homes in Mexico and England and Dean let his past go in order to embrace this amazing life that he’d created with Valeria.
But being here now, this was his past coming back, and Dean didn’t know if he was ready.
“Dean?” Valeria took his hand.
“Right, sorry.”
“Todo estará bien.” She squeezed his hand and he took strength in her words as he followed Seamus and his wife, Maeve, forward.
The Potter’s tent was enormous inside, obviously picked out specifically to be the place to host their old group. Dean felt the guilt hit fast as he saw faces he hadn’t seen in sixteen years.
And then he saw Ginny.
The guilt hit harder there. He wished he’d been better to her. They had been teenagers and he could look back and appreciate where they’d both made bad decisions, but he still felt guilty for how miserable they’d made each other.
“Dean! Seamus! Maeve!” Ginny ran over with a smile he couldn’t ever remember seeing on her face. “I’m so glad you made it.” She then pulled Maeve into a tight hug. “I’ve missed you! Why did you move all the way to Ireland?”
Maeve laughed. “Ireland pays their Quidditch coaches better. And we’re closer to family.”
Ginny gave a huff before turning back to Dean. “And who is this beautiful lady?”
“This is my wife, Valeria.” Dean kicked himself for being not only out of it, but rude also. “Valeria, this is Ginny Potter.”
Valeria shook Ginny’s hand. “It’s so nice of you to invite us. This has been a wonderful experience.”
Ginny went to answer when Harry stepped up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist. “We’re glad you could come. I’m Harry, Ginny’s husband. Mucho gusto de conocerle, Valeria.”
Ginny’s smile increased further and something Dean had never realized seemed to dawn on him in that moment. She hadn’t been happy with him because he wasn’t Harry. Just like he hadn’t been happy with her because she wasn’t Valeria. They hadn’t been right for each other, though at sixteen he couldn’t see that. But the realization pulled the drain on all the residual guilt he’d held, and for the first time since he had arrived in Argentina, Dean felt like he could breathe.
He also realized he’d completely missed what his wife and the Finnigan’s had been saying to the Potter’s.
“We’re glad we could come too.” Dean smiled as he shook Harry’s hand. “It’s been too long.”
Ginny nodded and gestured around the tent. “That’s why we decided to do this. We needed a good reason to bring us all back together.”
“Hannah and Neville have created some drinks for the occasion too,” Harry gestured to one side of the tent where Dean saw a small group of people he’d once felt as close to as his half-siblings. “Go say hi and grab something to drink and enjoy the afternoon. We’ll head over to the boxes about thirty minutes before the match starts.”
“Now we’re talking,” Seamus pulled their little group forward and Ginny laughed and waved them forward.
“I honestly didn’t think he’d come.” She leant back into Harry as she watched the gorgeous Valeria whisper to Dean as they walked away. He was smiling again, looking down at her like she was everything.
The way Ginny knew Harry looked at her.
“I told Seamus to work his magic, and it helped that Dean and Valeria were in Mexico already.” Harry kissed her temple and Ginny closed her eyes as she leant into it.
“Maybe we could take the kids to Mexico, ask Dean and Valeria for good places to visit.”
“I think they’d enjoy that. Why not invite Dean and Valeria and their kids along?”
“I don’t want to scare them away. This is the first contact they’ve had with anyone from school outside of Seamus and Maeve.” Ginny watched Dean slowly settle in. “I worry it’s me that’s kept him from the rest of his friends.”
Harry pulled her flush against him. “You know that isn’t true. Dean is too good for that. And so are you.” His lips touched her cheek and Ginny smiled.
“You’re right. I just want us all to be happy. We deserve to be happy.”
“You deserve to be happy.” Harry slowly spun her around and kissed her. Ginny melted into his kiss and was just realizing that they should probably ease up when…
“Ew! Dad! Mom! Not again!” Ginny laughed as Harry pulled away.
“Jamie, do you want to meet Victor Krum?”
“Well, yes, but-”
“Then kindly stop shouting at your mother and me.”
Jamie grumbled but dutifully quieted, though their guests were already laughing at the display.
“We’ll pick that up later, yeah?” Harry spoke against the shell of her ear.
Ginny indulged herself and turned to kiss him further. Everyone was already laughing with them, and with all their old friends around them, Ginny couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate.
I updated this page again! Every story I’ve written is here in order of most recent to my very first in a nice little list if you follow the link below using the desktop version of Tumblr. <3
This is the end, friends. I hope you had fun this month! Blackinnon Fest is something I’ll be back for next year, and I’m sure there will be other stories before then. Have an amazing day!
Ruse
Chapter 4 - When You Know, You Know
Marlene waited with Sirius near the door. If there was something Sirius was good at, it was backing his prey into a corner. He’d even managed it with Riddle despite her usurping that plan from him.
But Sirius had managed to outdo himself this time. She’d seen more sides of him in the last week than she’d seen in the little more than a year they’d been together. And through a great deal of scheming, they were now standing in the British Embassy in America’s capital.
Eloping.
“Everything’s ready. We just need them to show.” Sirius wrapped his arm around her waist and leant down to kiss her neck. “You look beautiful.”
“A bride is meant to wear a dress, love. I decided I should play the part.” She smoothed her hands down the cream colored lace that covered the ivory satin underdress. Its capped sleeves and knee-length design made it easier for her to secure the various weapons she preferred to always have on her person.
“You’re the perfect bride.” Sirius kissed the shell of her ear and Marlene spun to bring their lips together, gripping the lapels of his suit jacket.
“You’re not so bad yourself.” She resisted the urge to move this snogging session to more than kissing.
“Marlene,” he rested his forehead against hers, his steel gray eyes holding hers with an earnestness that made her heart stutter. “Marlene, you are everything. You’ve been everything from the moment I met you. Marlene, marry me? Marry me for real?”
“Yes!” The word was meant to come out in a shout, but Marlene was shocked that her voice was nothing more than a whisper. “Yes!” She said it again, stronger this time, surer. “Yes!” Her third yes was cut off in his kiss as he pulled him against her. His hands gripped the back of her dress as his lips claimed her in that way that always made her knees go weak.
“I love you.” The feeling of his lips speaking against hers was so familiar, so right, and Marlene had a moment of knowing exactly what she wanted.
Then they heard a car pull through the gates.
“Show time.” Sirius pulled her close for one more kiss before taking her hand and moving to the door.
They greeted Fletcher, Piquery, and Shaw, acting under the names of Finnegan, Patterson, and Smith.
“Yay! You found it!” Marlene squealed and ran to take Shaw’s arm. “I’m so happy you’re here for this!”
“I couldn’t let you get married on your own! And especially not someplace as beautiful as here!”
“We can’t tell you what it means to have you all here.” Sirius gripped Fletcher’s shoulder.
“What are friends for?” Fletcher patted his chest. “Especially friends that are bringing the ring.”
“I’m so excited to see it!” Marlene bounced in her heels.
“Let’s not keep my gorgeous girl waiting then. It’s time to make her mine before she has the sense to run away.”
“Oh Al, baby, you’re never getting rid of me.” Marlene moved from Shaw’s side to Sirius’ and took his arm.
“Good, I’d be lost without you, Ella.” He kissed her noisily. “To the wedding!” He shouted as he pulled back.
Marlene let him lead their little group back and casually glanced around as the embassy security moved into position.
One of the rooms had been set up for the purpose, and Marlene smiled at how the staff had taken to their task. It was beautifully decorated with flowers and a small cake even sat on a table to one side.
The officiator, a member of security who was also certified to marry, smiled as they walked in. “Alphard, Cedrella, so good to see you. Shall we begin?”
“We’re ready when you are.” Sirius shook his hand.
And the plan moved to phase two. As the officiator went through a relatively standard marriage ceremony, the rest of security moved to block all exits, and six of them moved to stand outside the door to the room. Marlene was impressed that she heard nothing; either this security team was very skilled, or this room was soundproof.
“Do you, Alphard Coal, take Cedrella, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
Sirius looked deeply into her eyes, his smile playing softly on his lips. “I do.”
“Do you, Cedrella McLaughlin, take Alphard to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
Marlene felt her smile grow wider across her face as she made up her mind. “I do.”
“Do you have a ring?”
Sirius winked at her before turning to Fletcher. “You didn’t let me down, did you, Finnegan?”
“I’ve got you Coal.” Fletcher pulled the ring out of his coat. “Highest quality diamond I’ve seen in decades, I assure you.”
Sirius took the ring and held it up to the light as he pulled a jeweler’s loupe from his suit. He was quiet for several moments before giving Fletcher a charming grin. “It’s perfect.” Then he turned back to Marlene. “Just like you.” And he slid their evidence on her finger.
“By the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Sirius kissed her and allowed their guests to clap for a few moments before squeezing her waist.
Three.
Two.
One.
They spun, Marlene ducking behind the table that held the cake to fall down the trap door and be caught by a security member waiting to catch her.
“Well done, Miss McKinnon.” He set her down.
“Thank you,” she looked down at the ring. “I suppose it won’t bother anyone if I wear this until Agent Black is ready for it?”
He laughed. “You keep that safe, Miss. Agent Black is right to trust you. I’ve not known many citizens that can manage to do exactly what they’re told in situations like this.”
“Well, thank you.” She looked around the little office they were in and saw a marriage license on a desk. “Did the staff think we were really getting married?”
Her companion nodded. “We didn’t tell anyone this was a sting operation.”
Marlene picked up the license. It was still blank, waiting to be filled in. She smiled and picked up a pen.
“Playing a joke on Agent Black?”
“I like to keep him on his toes.” Marlene winked at him.
She’d just signed her name at the bottom when Sirius walked in. “Well done! They’re contained and ready for transport and Picquery has been handed off to the FBI.”
“I’ll leave you to it then, Agent Black.” The security member smirked and walked out the door.
“What’s that?” Sirius came to stand behind her chair.
“The marriage license the staff left out for us.”
Sirius was silent for several moments. “You filled in our real names.”
“Hmm.”
“And you signed it.”
She bit her lip.
“Are, are you absolutely certain, love?”
“I meant it when I said ‘I do,’ Sirius.”
Sirius took the pen from her hand and signed his name next to hers. “So did I.”
Sirius watched Fletcher on the other side of the bar and rolled his eyes. The man was disgusting, Sirius was pretty sure he could smell him from here, his hair was greased down and globs of hair product were evident even from this distance.
“I told you he was worse in person.” Marlene whispered next to him as they leant against the table in the bar they’d followed him to. “Andromeda had one of her American agents pull information for me and he’s currently trying to get into the diamond ring.”
Sirius looked back at Marlene. “If Andy has agents here, why did she send you?”
“Because she knew Minnie was sending you.” Marlene smirked. “She’s a romantic and you’re family, so she does these little things.”
“Remind me to thank her when we get home.” Sirius brought his lips to hers for a brief kiss.
“We’re working, love.” She smiled as he pulled back.
“That was part of our cover. Alphard Coal and Cedrella McLaughlin are madly in love after all. Meeting last year and bonding over their parents abandoning England for the fast pace of the States is the best thing that ever happened to them.”
She pulled him in for another kiss. “You know you’re ridiculous, right?”
“And you love it,” he nipped her lip before looking back at Fletcher. “Who is he with?”
“Johnathan Picquery, he and Patricia Shaw, the woman we saw on the security footage breaking into my room, are his two contacts into the diamond ring right now.”
“Did I mention Patricia is on our flag list for entrance into the UK for that smuggling ring as well?” Sirius grinned as his mind began formulating a plan. “Maybe we can get more than I planned on.”
“Two birds, one stone?”
“Potentially.” Sirius took her hand. “Let’s join the dance floor until a table closer to them opens up.”
She bit her lip as she looked up at him. “I think you just want an excuse to dance with me.”
“If the shoe fits, love.” Sirius pulled her close and kissed her. “Come on.”
He took his time moving them to where Fletcher and Picquery sat. Sirius was still feeling the adrenaline of the attempt on Marlene and that dart was the only reason he was actually considering bringing Patricia Shaw in as well.
He took it personally when someone went after his girlfriend.
As he shifted them closer to the tables an idea began forming in his mind.
“Darling,” he leant closer to whisper against her ear. “I think I have a plan.”
“Do tell,” her lips rubbed against his cheek and he nearly forgot the plan altogether.
“What are your thoughts on posing as an outrageously rich engaged couple in need of a suitable ring?”
“My word Alphard, are you proposing to me in this place?” She gave a theatrical gasp.
“Cedrella, we’re terribly drunk,” he placed a sloppy kiss on her neck. “For all we know I’ve proposed on the subway.”
He felt Marlene chuckled against him. “Are you certain, Sirius?”
“In the words of Minnie herself, ‘Stop playing games you know you can win and start taking chances.’ It’s a risk, but I’m good at taking risks. After all, a risk got me you.”
“Minnie said that?”
“When I told her I wasn’t interested in joining her team.”
Marlene held on to him a little tighter. “Alright. Just remember if we get caught, you’re deaf and I don’t speak English.”
Sirius chuckled at her joke, “Relax, sweetheart,” he shifted into his American accent. “This one’s in the bag.”
I’ll post again tomorrow and then the last chapter goes up on Friday! Enjoy, my friends!
Ruse
Chapter 2 - Actions, Then Words
Marlene was fuming.
The only thing that was keeping her from coming completely unhinged was Sirius going through her room as she tried to be meticulous in making sure all of her effects were back in her bags.
“I’m going to make them pay.” She gritted her teeth, trying to let some of the anger seep out with the declaration.
“I’m going to kill them once they tell me why they were in your room.” Sirius’ answer was quiet but sharp. “Do you have everything?”
“Yes.” She slung her purse over her shoulder and picked up her suitcase.
“Then let’s get out of here.” He pulled on the suitcase.
“I’ve got it,” she huffed and pulled back.
“Marlene, I love you, but right now you need to shut up and take my hand. Someone just tried to either drug or kill you, and I take personal offense to both options. So let me hold the damned suitcase so I can also hold your hand and reassure my brain that you’re fine.”
Marlene let go of the suitcase. When he said it like that, what else was she supposed to do?
He took her hand in a death grip. “Thank you. Let’s go.”
Marlene looked at the hole where the dart had been as they moved to a side door. That hole was meant to be in her and it made her blood boil.
“How’s your American accent?” Sirius asked as he pulled them down a side street.
“It’s awesome, Alphard,” she shifted into her American accent. “Though I don’t believe that I’ve ever met an American with the name Alphard.”
“Alphard has English parents. He’s an American because he grew up here, but he was born in London and moved here when he was five.” Sirius answered in his American accent. “And speaking of who we are, we’re going to set you up with a completely new identity, not one of the ones you’ve used before.”
“Sirius-”
“Humor me, Marlene.” He turned again and then headed for a back door to a tall building. “Someone has figured out who you are, and they aren’t happy about what you’re here for. If everything goes wrong I want to give you the best chance to get out of here and get home.”
“We’re not here for someone on Riddle’s level.” Marlene followed him through the door and realized they were in his hotel. “Mundungus Fletcher is a petty thief that I’m here to scare away from the big guns.”
“Minnie wants me to bring him back for his involvement in a smuggling ring, but we’ll plan that out later. The big guns obviously don’t like that you’re working on this.” Sirius took her up the stairs. “Until we know who they are, I want them to think you’ve left. I’m going to make sure everything on the digital side looks like their dart failed and then Catherine McClane high tailed it home to England.”
Marlene hated it when he had good points. “I’m not a coward, Sirius.”
He stopped them at the top of one of the flights of stairs and dropped both her suitcase and her hand to take her face in his hands. “You absolutely are not a coward, Marls. You are the bravest person I know. I didn’t say you were running, your alias is. We’re going to create you a new alias and then we’re going to battle with whoever thought they could attack you.” Then he crashed his lips into hers.
Marlene threw herself into the kiss. This she knew how to handle, his lips on hers, his hands caressing her skin, her fingers gripping his shirt, pulling him closer. This she could do better than the feelings she felt after that dart came flying at them and Sirius shifted to his I can’t lose you mode. Those feelings were confusing, they twisted in her chest, but having Sirius’ lips pressed against her unwound all those feelings. She pulled back just enough to murmur against him.
“Men go into battle, love. Women wage war.“
He smirked against her lips, “Then I await the orders of my commanding officer.”
Espionage allows for all sorts of opportunities, and Sirius and Marlene are about to get the opportunity of a lifetime.
Welcome to the sequel to Reconnaissance, which takes place right before the Epilogue! This is my last story for Blackinnonfest! Enjoy my friends!
Ruse
Chapter 1 - We Meet Again
Sirius was sure he was being followed as he walked down the street his hotel was on. Which normally would be concerning, especially in a country not his own, but given that he knew who was following him, he turned to face her.
“Fancy meeting you here, Ms. McClane.”
“Mr. Coal,” Marlene smiled at him. “What brings you here?”
“I heard there was a beautiful woman here.” Sirius stepped closer to her, wrapping his hand around her waist.
“Sirius,” she whispered, even as she stepped against him. “We have rules.”
“Rule books are meant for kindling.” He brought his lips to hers in a soft kiss. “And I missed you.”
“I missed you too.” She snaked her arms around his neck and pulled their bodies flush against each other. “I’m so glad Minnie didn’t switch you with Vance. I would have been very put out.”
“Manipulating the boss, it’s a questionable line of work, but I’m good at it.” Sirius pulled her against him and kissed her deeply. “Let’s go.”
“Where are you staying?”
“The Ritz, babe,” he shifted to an American accent - though it was far more neutral than that of the people passing them - and indulged in the way Marlene laughed and leant into him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
“We should get my things and I’ll check out of my hotel. If your boss is paying for the best, I don’t see why Andromeda should keep paying for the quaint little hotel I’m in.”
“Spoken like a woman out to experience the finest.”
“I mean, I am dating you.” She smirked up at him as she bit her lip and Sirius didn’t resist the urge to kiss her.
“Smartest move we ever made.” He murmured when he pulled back. “Come on, let’s take the rest of the day to just enjoy ourselves.”
“Sound’s perfect.” Marlene pulled him down the next turn.
“Do you have any leads?”
“Does a zebra have stripes?”
Sirius laughed. “Good, I always appreciate someone else doing the work.”
“Don’t worry,” Marlene pulled her room key from her pant pocket. “I left plenty for you to do. Mainly the computer work.”
“No bomb making this time?” He whispered against her ear as she led him into a hotel.
“I hope not. It’s a lot harder to slide things like that here in the States.”
“That’s what makes it fun, love.” He kissed up the shell of her ear and pulled her back against him.
She pushed off of him but wrapped her hand around his. “This bed isn’t that comfortable and I’d much rather have you ravish me in your hotel room than here.”
“Then pick up the pace, Marls,” Sirius pulled her back into him. “I’ve been without you for nearly three weeks, I’m keen to have you back.”
“Look at the wait as a foreplay.” She kissed him deeply before pulling away and opening her room door.
Sirius went to follow her but immediately pulled her back when he heard a distinctive twang, throwing them both to the floor just before a dart flew over their heads and lodged into the wall.
Marlene swore as Sirius stood and pulled his .45 from beneath his suit coat.
“Let’s get your things, and then we need to get to my room.” Sirius carefully cleared her room. “We’re going to get Catherine McClane back to London and we’re making you a new identity.”
Marlene’s face was furious but she quickly started throwing all of her things into her suitcase and purse.
This is the end of Vignette. I’ll be back on Monday with the sequel to Reconnaissance!
Vignette
Chapter 4 - The Magic of Place
He was excited, but Sirius was also shocked at the nerves he felt. He’d never had nerves about hanging out with Marlene when they’d been teens, but now, well, now Sirius was looking at things differently.
Marlene and Sirius had spent their friendship navigating several near misses. They nearly crossed the line into something more than friends more times than Sirius could count. He told himself it was for the best, especially when she was going to uni in Ireland and him in Germany, but now Sirius was done pretending. They were in the same country, city even, and he wasn’t going to lie and say that he was happy being just friends. He was going to show her she was still an amazing photographer, of that he was sure, and then he was going to kiss her and see what happened.
If it blew up in his face, well, he always wanted to go see Sweden.
He parked his bike in front of her flat building and smiled when he saw her walking towards him, her old camera rucksack over her shoulder.
“I like the new seat.” She climbed on behind him.
“You mean you didn’t love sitting on vinyl held together with tape?”
“It had its charms,” She slid her arms around his waist and Sirius felt his heart beat a little harder.
“Sure it did,” Sirius laughed, “Like the tape residue sticking to your jeans for the rest of the day.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything, but yeah.” Marlene laughed with him. “So where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” Sirius winked at her and then revved the engine and moved them back on the road.
He moved slowly through the streets of London until they were finally out of the city and heading the hour or so southwest.
About thirty minutes in he felt her grip tightening around his waist and she pulled herself closer to him, pressing her body to his back. She knew where they were going.
Surrey Hills had been the location of most of their near misses. There was something magical about this place, something that made you feel like you had stepped out of the real world and none of the rules applied anymore. And if there was a place that could get Marlene taking pictures again, Sirius put his money on here.
He pulled off at one of her favorite spots and killed the engine. “Alright Marls, I think it’s high time you reminded those cameras and lenses that you’re still around.”
“Can’t we just enjoy being back here?”
“You haven’t been back since your mum got sick.” He didn’t ask, it was written all over her face.
“It was our spot.” She shrugged, and Sirius couldn’t help but agree; if he hadn’t run into her, he never would have wanted to come back here either.
He stepped off his bike and pulled her off with him. “Come on, get that camera out.” He pulled on the straps of her rucksack.
“Would you believe me if I said I just want to hike around with you and call it done?” She bit her lip, her signature blood red color freshly applied today. It drove him mad.
“Not for one second.” Sirius stepped closer, tucking one of her loose curls behind her ear. “It’s just you and me, like old times. Get the camera out Marls, for nostalgia if nothing else.”
She stared up at him with her ice blue eyes and Sirius nearly leant in and kissed her right then. But she seemed to take his comment to heart and began sliding the pack off her back and retrieving her camera. He smiled at the stack of lenses, and pulled the pack to him.
“Which lens do you want?”
“Just the standard right now.”
Sirius handed the case to her and then started loosening the rucksack straps. “I’m still not letting you carry this.” He took the case back as she attached the lens.
“I can carry my equipment.” Her answer was automatic, just like it had been when they’d been teens, an answer that was more for the script of the interaction than any real meaning behind the words.
“And I won’t let you.” He swung the pack over his back, finishing the script.
“I don’t even know what I’ll take a picture of.” She shook her head as they walked, but Sirius didn’t miss the way her hands held her camera, rubbing her fingers over the metal, fiddling with the shutter button, almost like she was itching for more than simply holding the camera.
“Take a picture of anything.”
“What if it isn’t good?”
“You used to say that before too, and they always turned out gallery worthy.”
“Sirius,” she laughed, “that is not true.”
“Sure it is,” He winked at her. “I wager that you’re so skilled at this you can’t even try to make me look bad.”
She smirked. “Is that a challenge?”
“If it gets you taking pictures then sure,” he shrugged. “But don’t be surprised when every one of those pictures makes you weak in the knees.”
He’d been expecting it. Marlene brought the camera up and took a messy candid of him. She looked down at the screen and groaned though. “How did you manage to look good in that?” She turned the screen around to show him smirking.
“It’s a gift, love,” he tapped her nose, “But whatever possessed you to do that should possess you more often.”
“To do what?” She frowned.
“Take pictures.” He turned her to the view of rolling hills and trees with leaves beginning to change color. “Show me what you see.”
Her movements were slow but he stood behind her, his hands still on her shoulder, his head ducked so his lips were behind her ear. She hesitated a moment when the viewfinder was nearly to her eye.
“You’ve got this, Marls.”
She let out a slow breath and he heard the click of the shutter button.
“Can I see?” He smiled against the shell of her ear.
Marlene was quiet for several moments as she let her lanyard take the weight of her camera. “Yeah, but it’s going to cost you.”
Sirius stepped closer to her, bringing his chest against her back, laying his cards further on the table. “That seems fair, name your price, Marls.”
She was quiet for several moments, but he felt her breathing grow shallow as he moved his hands to trace her shoulders and arms. Slowly, she leant back against him, relaxing her body into his and Sirius felt his thoughts rapidly slipping.
She let out the same slow breath she had before she’d taken the picture. “It’ll cost you a kiss.”
Sirius felt his chest explode at her words. He nuzzled behind her ear as he spoke. “The problem is, If I kissed you, I don’t think I’d be able to stop.”
He felt her breath catch in her chest and she slowly turned around to look at him.
“Then I guess I’d have to never stop showing you the pictures I take.”
Sirius didn’t hesitate, he was ready to get on to kissing Marlene full time, they’d wasted enough time already.
The last chapter will go up tomorrow and then I’ll start the last story of Blackinnon Fest on Monday! Remember that next week’s story is a sequel to Reconnaissance (you won’t need to read it to understand the story, but it’s such a fun story and I think you’ll like this story better if you’ve read the first story). See you tomorrow!
Vignette
Chapter 3 - Picture It
Marlene was almost scared to look up. The seconds that Sirius had been silent were dragging though and she couldn’t stand it.
She looked up to find Sirius gripping the table with white knuckles. “Are you alright?”
“Are you?” His face was sharp with anger but his voice was concerned, boarding on panicked.
His concern nearly brought her to tears again. “I’m alright. I ended up telling him off, in front of the entire party. So definitely not going to be modeling now.”
“Why modeling?” Sirius’ knuckles were still white and Marlene resisted the urge to intertwine her fingers with his and pry his hands from the table. “I always thought you lived for taking the photograph, not being in it.”
She wrapped her arms around herself. “I stopped taking pictures when Mum got sick. I haven’t taken any since. I was at a coffee shop and an agent started talking to me and gave me her card and an invite. I didn’t think I had anything to lose showing up.”
“Marls,” his hands loosened their grip a fraction. “Why did you stop? I thought photography was your everything.”
“I don’t know.” And she didn’t know. At first she thought it was because her time had been completely devoted to helping her mum. But even since her mum had been fine, Marlene had yet to pick up her cameras. “And it’s been years now, I’ve probably lost the skills I had.”
Sirius scoffed, “Impossible.”
She couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. Sirius had always been her biggest supporter among her friends. Marlene realized how much she’d missed it.
“What are you smiling about?” He knocked her hand with his knuckle.
“You.” She looked back at him. “I forgot how you always thought I was some sort of photographer genius.”
“You are,” he shrugged, but she didn’t miss the smirk playing on his lips. “Honestly, Marls, you have a gift, don’t throw it away because life tossed a wrench in your plans.”
“Sirius-”
“Give me your number.” He interrupted her. “Where are you living?”
“What?” She blinked.
“I’m going to get you an Uber home and then I’m picking you up tomorrow morning and we’re getting you and your camera on the road like we used to do.”
“Like, on your bike?” Marlene would be lying if she didn’t admit to the spark of excitement that lit in her chest.
“I said just like old times, Marls. Now,” he slid his phone across the table, “I need your number and your address.”
Sirius sat across from Marlene McKinnon in a dingy café that was still open at this late hour.
She was a sight to be sure, her golden curls soaking wet and plastered to her head, her dress was probably a deep blue when dry but currently it looked as though it’d been drug through a lake and the color was nearly black. Her makeup must have been waterproof though because her ice blue eyes still popped with the golden shimmer surrounding them and her lips still pulled him in with their blood red color.
Then she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and Sirius’ brain jumped back to memories from so long ago he’d nearly forgotten them.
“So, how was uni in Germany?”
“Alright, I managed to do well enough.” Sirius toyed with his mug. “How was uni in Ireland?”
Marlene stiffened and looked away.
“Not good?”
She didn’t answer and Sirius hated how he couldn’t read her as easily as he had before they both left the country.
“Marls, I have no clue what’s bothering you, so can you at least give me a hint?”
Marlene blinked, and the rigidness in her posture melted for a moment. Sirius capitalized on that moment of softness.
“Come on, Marls, it’s me.”
Her eyes returned to his and he was shocked at the pain he saw there. “I never went.”
“What?” That didn’t make sense. They’d both been wanting to get out of dreary old England and both came from families that had the funds to get them out, granted his family would have preferred him dead but they weren’t the family that paid for him to go to school, Uncle Alphard had seen to that.
“I never went.”
“But, James never said anything-”
“I threatened him not to.” Marlene sighed and looked down at her mug. “No one but James and Lily knew.”
Sirius couldn’t help staring. His mind had gone blank. “Why?”
“Mum got sick,” she shrugged. “I couldn’t leave Dad and Catherine to look after her on their own.”
“Is she alright?” Sirius felt his blood run cold.
“Yeah, the cancer is in remission, has been for two years, and the doctors think she’ll be fine.”
Sirius let out a long, shaky breath. “I’m really, really glad to hear that.”
Finally she smiled at him. “I’m really, really glad to be able to say that.”
He chuckled and resisted the urge to reach out and take her hand. “So what had you in the streets of London without an umbrella this evening?”
Her face fell.
Sirius briefly wondered if it was a date gone wrong. The thought soured his stomach.
“You might call it a business opportunity gone wrong.” Her shoulders slumped and she stared back down at her drink.
Sirius tried to stamp down his relief at it not being a date. “What kind of business?"
"I was at a party where agencies look for potential new models.”
Sirius opened his mouth but no sound came out. What happened in the six years he’d been gone? The Marlene he thought he’d sent to Ireland would have never pursued modeling. She wanted to be behind the camera, finding the perfect lighting, making him pull over on the side of the road because she had to get the perfect shot, obsessed with this lense and that film type. She was never interested in being the subject of a photograph.
“Yeah,” she shook her head. “I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. I was wrong.”
Sirius’ brain finally started turning gears again. “Wait, how did that lead to you on the pavement in the pouring rain?”
“I made a scene and ran.”
“Why did you make a scene?”
“Because one of the agents decided he didn’t need to keep his hands to himself.”
Marlene had said it so easily, almost flippantly, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Being caught in the rain is bad enough, but a friend from the past might be the means to the fresh start Marlene is hoping for.
I hope you all had a wonderful week last week! We’re back with Blackinnon Fest and this little Muggle AU! This story will post all this week, and then next week there will be one more story to wrap up the month! Next week’s story is a short sequel to my Blackinnon Spies story, Reconnaissance. If you haven’t read it jump over and read that in between these chapter updates!
Vignette
Chapter 1 - Expect the Unexpected
Her dress was sticking to her skin and not in a good way.
Marlene wiped her hair from her face and cursed. It wasn’t enough that she was running from a party that had the potential to make a new career, a new start. It wasn’t enough that she’d caused a scene, screeching at the cretin who thought he could touch whoever he wanted. It wasn’t enough that she’d probably just ruined any chance she had at breaking into the London modeling scene. No, none of that was enough. There needed to be one more thing to make her night miserable, and the fates decided it had to be rain. And not some light drizzle, oh no, it had to be pouring, a torrential flooding of cats and dogs, the kind of rain that cascaded from the heavens like an angry waterfall out for revenge.
Her phone buzzed in her clutch tucked under her arm and in her attempt to retrieve it she lost her balance in her sky high heels and crashed down on the pavement. Marlene swore as she rubbed at the pain in her hip and wrist.
“Marlene?”
She tried to pretend she hadn’t heard that voice. She tried to convince her brain that she was hallucinating under the stress. She told herself that the rain was so loud she was hearing things that weren’t there, couldn’t be there.
And she would have succeeded if a strong hand hadn’t wrapped around her shoulder and an umbrella came to cover her.
“Marlene, it’s me.”
“Do I want to know how long you’ve been standing there?” She didn’t look up at him, focusing instead on the umbrella in his hand.
It felt so good not to have the rain pelting her face.
“Longer than you’d like.” His voice was warm and so familiar that if she were any other woman she would have cried. “Your fall was graceful if that’s any consolation.”
“Of course it was.” Marlene grimaced against the pain as she moved to stand. He immediately pushed his hand under her arm, helping to lift her from the pavement. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but how did you get here? You were in Germany.”
“I moved back to London a few weeks ago.” He pulled her a step closer. “And don’t take this the wrong way, but are you actually going to look at me or is my umbrella the only thing you’re tolerating my presence for.”
Marlene closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she looked up at him, his black hair slightly damp as it hung around his ears and neck, his gray eyes danced with mischief like they always had so many years ago, and his lips quirked up to the left with the same smirk that had ensnared her when she’d first seen him.
She couldn’t stop the smile that pulled on her lips. “Hello Sirius.”
We’ve come to the end of this story, my friends. I’ll be off next week but I’ve got two more stories that will go up starting April 18th. Have a blessed Holy Week!
Heist
Chapter 4 - The Important Things
“Sirius, what in Merlin’s name?”
No answer.
She huffed and held out her wand. “Accio jacket.”
Nothing.
She looked around for Sirius but he stayed hidden under the cloak. Marlene was about to curse him when she heard a quiet bark. Were the Slytherins keeping dogs? Then something pulled on her pant leg.
A black dog stuck out from James’ cloak.
She gasped. “Where did you learn how to do that?”
The dog, apparently Sirius, barked again and pulled her over to a trunk. He sat next to it and nuzzled the lock with his nose.
“You’ve got so much explaining to do.” Marlene pulled her wand. “Alohomora.” The trunk clicked open and there lay her jacket. She gasped and pulled it to her chest before quickly slipping it on.
“I’ll explain later.” Sirius stood next to her now. “Tweedle Dumb is on her way.” He wrapped the cloak around them and levitated them back above the floor.
Marlene hissed and hugged his waist again. She hated the feeling of someone making her float above the ground, but while with anyone else she would have insisted they set her down, with Sirius she felt the instinctive desire to cling to him.
His arm wrapped around her waist pulling her closer, and Marlene resisted the sudden urge to bury her head in his neck. She’d already fabricated an excuse once on this crazy rescue mission, and that was quite enough.
Enough to fuel her dreams for weeks, months, years more likely.
“Grab the door.” Sirius moved them to the door and Marlene waved her wand for them to slip out and then quickly closed it in time for Tweedle Dumb to turn the corridor.
Marlene gripped her wand, trying to decide what curse she wanted to use as revenge.
Then Alecto fell straight back against the floor.
“Didn’t want her to get away.” Sirius whispered next to her ear.
“I was trying to think of what to use.” Marlene frowned.
“And I’ve bought you time.” Sirius’ hand rubbed against her back. “See no reason not to trust me.”
His hand on her back had Marlene struggling to think of anything other than how close they were, let alone what she’d like to do to Tweedle Dumb. “In my defense, I’ve learned my lesson.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment then.”
Sirius’ lips brushed her ear again and Marlene leant closer, relishing the contact. “Maybe we just leave her, and find someplace to celebrate?”
“Done.”
Sirius moved them, careful to avoid Tweedle Dumb so she wouldn’t see them floating in the air. He maneuvered them at breakneck speed back to the Slytherin’s common room and didn’t wait for someone to let them out. He waved the door open and closed behind them before pulling them behind a tapestry and then through a secret passage.
And finally, finally, he threw the cloak off of them, pressed her against the wall behind her, and brought his lips to hers.
Marlene thought maybe she’d died.
Her brain stopped and she was consumed by the feeling of her hands in Sirius’ hair, his lips on her neck, their bodies pressed so closely against each other she wasn’t certain where one of them stopped and the other began.
“Merlin, I’ve wanted to do this for ages.” He kissed up her neck.
“What stopped you?” She used her hold on his hair to pull him back to her lips, kissing him till he pulled back just far enough to answer.
“You’re you, McKinnon. I’m not screwing you around.”
Marlene smirked. “Am I the one to finally conquer the great Sirius Black?”
Sirius bit her lip and she melted into him. “Depends on if I’m the one to conquer the great Marlene McKinnon?”
“I mean, you did get me back my jacket before Tweedle Dumb shredded it.”
He hummed against her lips as she ran her black fingernails along his scalp. “See, I come with all sorts of benefits.”
“Do those benefits improve from here?”
“If you’re mine, those benefits never stop improving.” Sirius slipped his hand up from her waist.
She pressed up on her toes and pulled herself closer to speak against his ear. “Then I want a preview of what I have to look forward to.”
My Rabastan/Hermione story is officially live as part of the Twice Your Age Plus Seven Age Gap fest. It’s probably not what you’d expect to read from me. It’s a little bit (a lot) fluffier than anything I’ve ever written.
***
For years Rabastan and Hermione have exchanged letters not fully knowing the identity of the other. When a controversial and hated program allows for a prisoner with a life sentence to be paroled under the strict supervision of an approved spouse, a hasty proposal is made. They have thirty days to decide if they want to annul the marriage or make the bond more permanent.
Chapter Three of You Can’t Make Me Love You is live!
She didn’t have time for love. He never wanted to fall in love again. An inappropriate, yet intriguing proposal leads to more than either one of them bargained for. Can casual ever really remain so?
My angsty, not fluffy Fremione story Heart’s Blood is now fully edited and posted on AO3.
Fair warning - LOTS of people stopped reading this story because they hated how much it focused on Fred and not them both. Sigh. Yes, it is MOSTLY a Fred story, but it IS Fremione.
No one understood everything about dementors. Not even close. An ambitious Ministry program to rid the world of the creatures leads to unintended consequences. For Hermione it’s just one more complication in a life that doesn’t need another one, but for Barty, it’s a chance to start over.
As he watched the green light coming straight for him, Gibbon knew he was going to die. At the last second Hermione pulled him out of the way. Despite being on different sides, he’ll spend the rest of the war and beyond trying to pay her back for the life debt.
Chapter Seven of Journey of A Thousand Miles is now live!
Curiosity would be her downfall. An intriguing ring hidden in a dark, dusty basement called out to Hermione and she couldn’t ignore it. How was she to know it was the key to bringing a very irritated Russian wizard back from the dead?
