You Raise Me Up

Sorry I've been so late with this chapter. I had a stomach virus, and everytime I tried to type, I felt I was going to ruin the keyboard with oh-so-nasty sickness. So here we go. This is a Bella/Snape chapter, and You'll discover the answer to her question. Sorry, though, no smut. I know, I wanted to, but this pair is very complicated. They won't just strip down and screw like bunnies in a cloak room...

Monica - Oh no, my dear! You've both flattered and offended me. You have flattered me in the fact that you have said my writing was errorless. Thank you.

You have offended me in the fact that you think I was bashing Americans. On the contrary. That was just a humorous insert of the 'sterotype' of American. I should know it well, seeing as I am one. That's right. I am American. From the good old Southern state of North Carolina. I apologize if I offended you. And you don't have to hate Bush to be a good American. I don't hate him...he's just done a few stupid things. I'll try to keep my sterotypes down low...but I must say that they are so much fun to use, sometimes, that it will be hard. I hope you keep reading!

Everyone else - thank you for your patience. I promise I would have updated sooner if not for my little virus.
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Bellatrix sat in her chair in the library, a book in her hands. Hermione had talked her into reading a Muggle book by the name of ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ She had quickly connected with the character of the Wicked Witch of the West, and found herself subconsciously pulling against the young dog-toting girl named Dorothy. She closed the book, using her finger as a bookmark, and looked across the library. Severus was reading a book on -duh- potions, and seemed very deep into the subject.

Bellatrix looked down at the sparkling ring on her left hand, a smile playing at the edges of her mouth. Severus had proposed to her, and she had said yes. She still couldn’t believe it herself. The sneaky little bat had waited until she was divorced from Rodolphus, and then had sprung the question on her at dinner. They had agreed to set the date for sometime after their ‘tests’ were over. Lucius had tried to advise them against it, in case something went wrong with either of them. But they had both decided that if one or the other didn’t make it through the tests, then they weren’t meant to be together. She glanced over at Severus again, to find him looking at her, a small smirk on his face.

“Stop smirking, you great git. I was only admiring the craftsmanship of such a great piece of jewelry.” She said, and opened her book again. She heard him chuckle.

“Of course, blaireau…” he said, and his eyes drifted back to his own work.

A small cold chill fell over Bellatrix, and she had the strange sensation of being watched. She looked over the edge of her book again, but found that Severus had gone back into deep concentration in his own book. She looked around, trying to make sure no one had snuck into the room to spy on them. She shrugged the feeling, and went back to her book. She gasped aloud as she felt a ghostly, freezing touch on the back of her neck. Snape looked over the edge of his book.

“What? Did the little girl jump off a cliff like you’d hoped?” he asked. But he saw the look of terror on her face, and his brows furrowed. “What is it?” he asked. She turned around, desperately looking for someone behind her.

“I felt something on the back of my neck…like someone touching me with a really cold hand….is Malfoy Manor haunted?” she asked.

“You’d have to ask Lucius. I’m sure there’s an errant Malfoy spirit running around somewhere, though.” He said, and looked back into his book.

She couldn’t shake the odd feeling, and eventually rose from her chair and decided it was time for bed. “I must be crazy…” she said softly, ignoring the ‘duh’ from across the room. She felt the baby wiggle in her stomach, and a smile graced her lips. “Well, at least you disagree…” she said, and patted her tummy comfortingly.

She drew a hot bath, fully intent on relaxing before she went to sleep. Once the steamy water was drawn, she stripped off her clothes and sank into the sudsy water. She released a long breath, completely relaxing as she sank chin-deep into the water. She opened one eye lazily when she heard the door open, and smirked when Severus entered, already naked.

“Couldn’t wait, huh?” she asked, spying his already prominent erection. He gave only a soft grunt as his reply, and stepped into the deep bath tub with her, dropping into the hot water. Once submerged in the sweet-smelling suds, he crossed the large bathtub to where she was lounging. He immediately pulled her close, pressing his lips to her smooth shoulder. She practically purred as he trailed kisses up her throat, and then across her jawline. The light pecks moved across her chin, and then up as he captured her lips in his own.

Their tongues battled for dominance for a few minutes, and her hands found their home on his strong shoulders, gripping on to him for support as their mouths fought. She finally gave in to him, and he growled happily as he pulled away. Both sets of eyes were a saturated, deep black from lust, and she could already feel her body reacting to his kisses. Warmth was spreading out through her body, and it had nothing to do with the temperature of the water.

“I’m never going to get clean, ruffian…” she purred.

“If you’ll wash my bottom I’ll thrash yours…” he replied, not missing a beat. He saw her dark eyes light up with unmistakable pleasure. He was disappointed, though, when she reached for the soap.

“I’m going to wash myself, moufette, and I suggest you do the same…” she said, and picked up her favorite bath sponge. She lathered the sponge thoroughly, and stood, spreading the rich lather over her body. Severus leaned back, enjoying the scene before him. She started at her shoulders, slowly and methodically cleaning downward. Down over her arms, stopping only momentarily just before her sponge moved over the Dark Mark. Severus saw an unreadable expression cross her face before she continued moving. She moved back up her arms, and down to her swollen breasts. She washed them gingerly, before moving down to her pregnant belly.

Once she reached the ballooning stomach, though, she couldn’t continue the ruse anymore. She dropped her arm by her side, and let tears fill her eyes. Severus was up in a moment. He wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her back down into the water, gently rinsing off where she had already washed. He kissed her forehead. He let her go, and stood tall, the water dripping down his body, and almost tauntingly off the tip of his still-hard member. He stepped from the bath, and retrieved two towels. He held out one for the depressed Bella, who stood awkwardly, and then stepped from the bath as well. She took the towel from him, and dried herself off thoroughly.

She then trudged back out to the bedroom. By the time Severus had dried himself, she was already in the bed, her covers up to her chin, and her wand resting on the nightstand.

He climbed into the bed on the other side, pleased to note that she was sleeping nude. He wrapped his arms around her, and placed feathery kisses on her cheek. But, to his dismay, she tilted her head away.

“I don’t think I can, moufette….” She said, her voice soft. Severus reached up and tucked a strand of her dark hair behind her ear.

“That’s the beauty of it, blaireau. You don’t have to.” He replied, and stroked her face.

“But you…you haven’t….” she said, feeling the tell-tale pressure of his cock against her hip. He laughed.

“I can take care of this myself. I have for years…” he said. But that only made a small scowl appear on her face.

“You deserve someone who is always willing to please you…” she said.

“No, no! That’s the beauty of consensual relationships. You have the option of saying no. I will never hold it against you. That would be extremely selfish and cruel of me…” he said.

“Rodolphus would…”

“I am not Rodolphus, you silly woman. I am Severus Snape. And you will soon be Bellatrix Snape.” He said, pressing his face into her hair. In doing so, he missed the tiny smile that played at her mouth.

“Will you do me one favor before you ‘take care of yourself?’” she asked, her hands coming up to rest on the arm that was gently draped around her.

“Anything, blaireau. I’d do anything for you.” He said, nuzzling the small area just behind her ear. She squirmed softly when he did, as it was a sensitive area for her.

“Will you hold me until I fall asleep?” she asked. He was almost taken aback. It was such a small, simple request. But coming from this particular witch, it meant quite a bit. She wasn’t, nor had she ever been, a touch-feely kind of person. She didn’t take idle touches lightly. And for her to ask him to hold her meant a lot to him.

He knew she was of the female variety, because he had had very enjoyable contact with her female parts. She was also a brilliant and fierce warrior, capable of kicking the ass of any man or woman that pissed her off. But tonight, she was a woman. Soft and needy, with a hint of emotion. She was also his fiancé, he thought with a smile.

“Of course.” He replied to her, and gently wrapped his arms around her. She snuggled into his embrace and closed her eyes. A few moments later, she opened one again, looking up at him. He was watching her, a look of contentment on his face. “Yes?” he asked, a smile forming.

“I love you.”
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This was a very complicated chapter to fool with. If gave us a look inside the more tender moments between Bella and Severus, but it left out the smut. It was a win-lose situation, but I enjoyed writing it.

Don't ignore that ghostly touch. It will be important.