A Gift

Still unbetaed... Was gonna do something about that, then my son broke his collarbone...Life sucks some days...
Anyway, still don\'t own anything! Just having a bit of fun here! Sorry it\'s so short! More to come soon!


Sunlight touches her face, the light finally causing her to stir in her sleep. She groans, her body protesting to the movement of stiff muscles. Her eyes open just a slit, turning her head to look at the clock. \"Shit!\" She yells her eyes widening as she tosses the blankets off her and onto the floor. \"Godess! I\'m late! He\'s gonna be pissed!\" she jumps out of bed, ignoring the screaming of her sore muscles as she hurries to dress. Throwing open her bedroom door, she doesn\'t notice the little house elf standing nearby holding a cup of juice for her. Instead she races down the stairs, through the house, and out into the cool morning air.
\"Damnit!\" She growls to herself, feeling her arms goosepimple from the cold air as she strides over to the barn. She steps inside, trying to be very quiet and hope he\'s not too angry with her. As she reaches the stall, she notices right away that something is wrong. Dameon is missing. She bites her lip, going through the stall to the outside paddock. She nearly stops breathing in shock at the sight that greets her.
Having sen pictures of men in breeches before, she decides that one Severus Snape aka the greasy git is the finest looking specimen of maleness she had ever seen. Her eyes become glued to the sight of the breeches clinging to his frim buttocks as he rides Dameon bareback over a set of jumps. Only when he turns towards her does she notice the tight black shirt showing his muscled chest or the way his hair is tied back away from his face in a neat little black knot.
\"Is there something wrong, Miss Granger?\" He growls, suddenly very nervous of the way she is staring at him.
She blinks, her face turning slightly red. \"No, sir. I was just studying the way you ride.\" She tries to quickly think of a good reason to look away. \"I think I understand now what you are asking of me now that I have seen your instructions put into practice.\" She sees the saddle nearby. \"Will we be riding today? I know that I am late..\" Her blush returns.
He trots over to her, enjoying her discomfort. He knows that she is only telling part of the truth by the way she blushes everytime she looks at him. \"Yes, Miss Granger, you will be riding today.\" He slides from the stallion\'s back, handing her the reins. \"But first you will show me how well you paid attention and saddle him.\"
\"Yes, sir.\" She meekly whispers, leading Dameon over to where the saddle is sitting on the rail. She drops the reins over the rail, sure the horse has been trained to stay and picks up the saddle. She frowns at it for a few moments, her mind going over each part of it as she remembers it. On the second attempt, she gets the saddle on correctly and the girth most of the way tightened.
Enjoying her struggle, he decides to see if he can throw her off more. He steps up behind her, grasping her hands lightly. \"You must tighten it more of the saddle will move when he lets out his breath.\"
The feel of his body brushing up against hrs as he helps her tighten the saddle nearly causes her to faint in shock. She decides right then and there that breeches leave nothing if anything to the imagination. Only when he steps away does she realize her breathing had quickened. She looks away, controling her suddenly rampant hormones. \"Thank you, Sir.\"
\"There is a mounting block on the far side. Use it to mount up and your lessons will begin.\" He waits til she has move off towards the mounting block before chuckling softly in amusement at her reactions. \"Paybacks, My Dear. Paybacks.\" He whispers softly. He hides his amusement behind his usual sneer as she mounts up and stares back at him in anticipation. \"We\'ll start with a walk.\" He points her to the railing.

By the end of an hour, she feels her body begin to ache even more. Muscles she never thought she had protest and her stomach starts to grumble from her lack of breakfast. She slides down to the ground, her knees buckling from her weight. She feels a strong around around her waist, pulling her to her feet.
\"I suggest you go in and have another hot bath. Your body is not used to such exercise.\" He holds her close til she stops swaying. \"And I suggest next time, if you do not wish to be worked as hard, you appear early than today. I told you to be here at 7:30am and I expect you to be more prompt in the future. I may not wait around for you to appear next time.\"
\"Yes, sir.\" She replies wearily.
\"Go.\" He takes Dameon\'s reins from her hand. \"Take your bath. I will take care of Dameon.\"
She nods, her eyes suddenly feeling very heavy and her body nearly dragging behind her as she walks back to the cottage. She does not remember how she got there but the heat from the water wakes her up enogh for her to not sleep in the tub again. after 30 min of soaking, she trudges her way into her room and collapses on the bed. Her eyes close before her head hits the pillow. Weariness finally taking over.