Tel\' Lindar (The Bard)

SSDD - it\'s mine AAALLLLL MINE!!!!!!! Every misspelled word and every stupid claim. If it\'s wrong - I did it!

Chapter 20

The Mystics Dream or Speak to me of love and roses and wolf howls.


***

The Voyeur did not have to open his eyes. He knew where he was. The heat, the feel of the sand around his bare feet, robes light, moving in the breeze.

The desert.

Again.

A clouded dream on an earthly night
Hangs upon the crescent moon
A voiceless song in an ageless light
Sings at the coming dawn

Again, the music, floating on the stifling heated air. His eyes slowly opened, looking and finding.

The Woman.

He strode off towards her, tired of the constant rifling of his mind, of his every thought turning to her, like waves in the desert, the dunes, turning to face the wind.

I think I would rather have the fist of the Big Elf in my face rather than this... this...

He was suddenly close enough to touch her.

And decided, no. Perhaps, this is preferable.

Birds in flight are calling there
Where the heart moves the stones
It\'s there that my heart is calling
All for the love of you

She stood with her back to him, swaying gently to the music, arms out, hands poetic. Her gown, her veils were diaphanous, transparent, and in the glow of the moon, he could see the length of her leg, the sweet curve of her buttocks, the soft indention of her waist.

Oh yes, most definitely preferable.

He stood behind, watching, allowing the sway of her body to communicate, to speak. She moved, turned. Her eyes were closed, her body surrendered to the eastern, erotic flow of the music. Graceful hands flowed around her body, above her head, almost hypnotic in flow.

As he watched, he realized, he knew this dance.

A painting hangs on an ivy wall
Nestled in the emerald moss
The eyes declare a truce of trust
And then it draws me far away

She turned her back to him, hips beckoning in that ageless, ancient way. Her movement spoke, communicated in a language older than any he knew. It was not a loud voice, nor a demand.

Ageless.

Timeless.

He stepped in behind her and the question crossed his mind... how many before me? How many have asked of this and have responded? He moved in, scant inches separating them and as her hand lifted to beckon the music, his hand lifted also, perfectly mirrored behind hers.

Where deep in the desert twilight
Sand melts in pools of the sky
When darkness lays her crimson cloak
Your lamps will call me home

For what seemed an eternity, they moved, moved as one, never touching, never facing each other. Her knee lifted, foot poised to step back, and he answered, moving with her, maintaining that small distance between. The breeze was slight and it wrapped her robes, his, around their bodies, hiding little. The call of the eastern instruments, the strum of the sitar, the throbbing of the dumbek, matched his heartbeat, his very breath.

And so it\'s there my homage\'s due
Clutched by the still of the night
And now I feel you move
Every breath is full

The heat of the night was becoming more and more oppressive and as she turned, moving within the large circle of his arms, slowly the veils that so poorly concealed her sweet curves came off, floating in a puddle at their feet. Without regard to her impending nudity, she continued; continued to undulate to the beat of the music, continue to sway, continued to...

Charm the Serpent.

He realized at the moment the last veil drifted to the sand why he recognized the dance, why he knew the dance. Her dance was age old, his part was the Seduction of the Charmer.

When she turned, oblivious to her nakedness, he allowed his fingertips to brush her cheek, graze her jaw line and for a scant second, she allowed the caress, before moving out of reach. Before he could inhale, she moved back inward, her touch brushing aside the loose shirt he wore.

On the dance went. She moved in, his fingertips touching, stroking the flesh of her neck, her shoulder, soft, soft, creamy skinmingming to his touch. Her hand slowly removed his clothing, until his shirt and trousers were lying in a pile in the sand, the dance continuing until both were naked, both were a hair\'s breath apart. The heat no longer came from the air, it emanated from her body, from his. As she moved close to him for the final time, her lips brushed the taunt skin of his chest, he put both arms around her, in her hair, at her hip and pulled her to him.

She raised her mouth to him... offering...

So it\'s there my homage\'s due

He lowered his, but did not meet her mouth. Rather, he allowed his breath to graze her cheek, her ear, before moving forward and hovering over her lips. When his lips finally touched hers, it was infinitely gentle.

Clutched by the still of the night

As her mouth opened to him, allowing his tongue free roam, he pulled her completely to him, allowing her to feel him, all of him, his need, his desire. Cupping the sweetness of her derriere, he lowered her to the pile of veils, clothes, their bodies sinking into the warm sand. He nudged her knees apart and settled between her legs, his lips never leaving her mouth.

Even the distance feels so near

Finally, after so long, he sank into her heat, her honey, feeling her surround him, engulf him. He caressed her thigh, coaxed a leg around his hip, as he delved deeper into her sweetness, bringing her to her peak ...

~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

Bronwyn awoke in a sweat, her orgasm overwhelming. She bit her tongue, squelching the Potions Master\'s name from escaping. As the final vibrations subsided, she grabbed her pillow and covering her face, screamed her frustrations into the down.

Not once did she see Amadeus sitting in the corner, eyes slitting and glowing.

And angry.

For another was still dreaming.

~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

All for the love of you.

The Voyeur continued on, slowly riding, until he was spent and completely done in with her.

He pulled her close, reveling in the feel of their bodies, wrapped, coiled within each other...

~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

Severus slowly awoke, his breathing returning to normal.

He cursed the mess he had made in his sleep pants.


***

Days went by, slowly like water dripping through a clogged drain. Bronwyn avoided Severus, spoke to him only when she was forced to and either took her meals with Remus or in her rooms. Snape felt her simmer like an over- heated cauldron, too hot, ready to explode. How she maintained her temper with her students was beyond him.

At first, he enjoyed the respite, the break from her and her willfulness, her silly notions on how to deal with children. She was not in his classroom or lab, pestering him with endless questions, not using his tables for a desk. Her mutt was not chewing on chair legs or leaving white hairs everywhere, driving Bobbin insane trying to keep everything clean and out of hundreds of potions bottles and beakers.

However, by the end of the week, he realized he missed her, missed her inane chatter. The dreams were not helping a bit, dreams of her dancing, both of them nude, the feel of her body lingered on his consciousness well after he awoke. Part of him was infuriated by his own weakness, while another part of him wanted to go across the hall and shake some sense into her.

She needed his help; they both knew it. Why could she just not get over her little hissy fit and do what needed to be done? Ask his forgiveness and move on?

Women! Spiteful, unforgiving, illogical creatures. It would probably be best just to go to a paid companion one Saturday evening when he did not have duties and deal with his raging hard on.

But the more he thought about that, the less appeal it had. He finally came to the horrid conclusion that the only way to purge his system of that reckless creature across the hall was to bed her and bed her properly.

And he had a sneaky suspicion that once was not going to do it.

Not at all.

He sat at his desk, stacks of papers to grade already, the lingering smell of a melted cauldron in the air. No sooner than he had gotten rid of Neville Longbottom, an incompetent dunderhead, then another - one Gregory Pitchum - rced ced him.

It was a never - ending hell.

His thoughts wandered again.

Bronwyn. She baffled him, truly she did and he hated to admit it. One moment, she was a child, pouting and acting as if she were the only one right in the world; playing as if she were as young as the students she taught, finding humor and delight in the simplest of activities. In the blink of an eye, she could age decades, become a wise woman, and would lead, initiate, political discussions. She could be the protective, nurturing mother one minute and quickly move to a hardened, steel - spined,- dare he think it? - snarky professor in the blink of an eye. He had again hidden in the shadows of her Seventh Year class and had been appalled (which is the Slytherin definition of ‘amazed\'.) at the quiet, underhanded way she had taken control of the class. Goyle had again decided to take a potshot at her during class, effectively pushing the envelope. Not only had he spent the remainder of the class spitting into the empty wastebasket, (\"Is that the BEST you can do? I thought for sure you would at least have the bottom of this itty bitty can covered in Goyle-spittle!) making sure he was good and dehydrated by the time it was over, she also assigned him a ten foot paper on the disgusting properties of spit and the history of what spitting entailed in the Muggle World.

The boy had glared at her, as if to dare push her further. It hadn\'t lasted long.

\"Mr. Goyle, this paper IS your detention. If it is not turned when I have speci, an, and cohesively written, I will have no choice but to inform your Head of House that you did not complete the terms of your detention. I would hate for you to have to deal with him.\"

\"Just how am I supposed to find out this stuff?\" Goyle shot back. \"There isn\'t anything in library about this!\"

\"Oh, that\'s right.\" Bronwyn tapped her lip thoughtf. \. \"And you don\'t have access to computers. Pity.\" She continued to tap. \"Hmmm. Guess your only alternative is me.\"

\"What?\" Goyle turned red in the face. \"I have to spend time with you while you tell me what to write and then write what you tell me?\"

Bronwyn looked at the steaming child. \"I think that about sums it up. Allow me a few days to get some notes together. We will meet on Monday evening after dinner.\"

Severus was impressed. He wanted to ask her how she was going to handle that, but then he remembered they weren\'t speaking to each other.

And that wasn\'t the worst of it.

The worst was, everyone seemed to know they were on the outs. Minerva, Hooch and Sprout, glared at him; such an evil man, upsetting the poor innocent (cough, cough) Muggle Studies Professor. Remus and Hagrid snarled at him. Flitwick tsked and tsked.

Albus invited him to his office one evening after dinner.

\"Lemon drop?\"

Snape rolled his eyes and sat down, ignoring the proffered dish. \"Just say it and get it over with. I have papers to grade and potions to make.\"

Albus sat down across from the surly Wizard and took a deep breath. \"It has been observed that you and Professor Powell seem to have had a falling out. Perhaps if you told me your side of the story, I could see what I could to do aid in mending the fences.\"

Severus leaned back and steepled his fingers. \"Bronwyn had a temper tantrum and she will get over it soon enough.\"

Albus sucked on a lemon drop for a moment. \"And why did she have a temper tantrum?\"

This did not bode well.

\"Professor Powell and I have differing opinions on how to conduct a class.\"

\"So she said something to you about it?\"

\"Yes.\" Severus gritted between clenched teeth.

\"And you said something back in your usual, gentle way.\"

\"I spoke my mind.\"

Heavy sigh.

\"And you probably hurt her feelings.\"

To that, Severus would not answer.

\"Albus, she has no right to tell me how to run my class. I have been teaching the subject for many years and...\"

Albus put up a hand to ward off the irritated Wizard across from him. \"No doubt she set you off, and no doubt, you wounded her. Regardless, I am... concerned... that due to the rift between the two of you, she is vulnerable. I am in frequent contact with Lord Celeborn and Gandalf and they would be most upset at the turn of events. The last thing I want is them here to interfere.\"

Snape bolted from his chair. \"If you are suggesting, I crawl to her, begging and pleading...\"

\"Oh no, my boy. I am not suggesting that at all. However,\" his eyes held a merry glint (always bad news for Severus!), \"perhaps, if you extended your hand first, brought a peace offering...\"

\"Albus! That is just as bad as crawling and begging forgiveness!\"

\"Severus, I know you care for her, I know youry ary about her. I also know she drives you insane with her inconsistency and her mood swings.\" He stood up slowly, taking off his glasses to wipe them in his robe. \"There is an old Muggle saying. \"One catches more flies with honey than with vinegar. She needs you, Severus. A little honey would go a long way with her. You may go.\" And with a wave of his hand, Severus was dismissed, like a naughty child. Before he realized it, Severus found himself standing at the foot of the stairs, the gargoyle had turned its back, and he felt like a fool.

That old man, telling him how to conduct his business. Bah!

Severus spent the next several days racking his brain. Jewelry was out of the question, too obvious and not him. Perhaps, a rare book she had not read. However, he had no idea what she had and had not read.

What would the silly wench truly appreciate?

It wasn\'t until Friday afternoon when he went to the Slytherin Common Room to make his rounds that the idea struck.

As he entered the room, the conversation among the students came to a complete halt. He inquired after each student, asking questions, chastising those that needed it, in particular, Goyle and Parkinson. He spied the three First Years in an alcove, heads together, books piled around them.

He seemingly floated into the alcove, startling them by his sudden presence. The twins moved closer together, protective of each other. He had read their incoming rec; th; they were never parted and were uncommonly close. The third was from a well-respected family, one that did not openly embrace politics.

\"Tell me. What are three First Years doing studying on a Friday?\"

The girl looked him straight in the eye. \"Boning up on Potions.\"

Right.

\"You realize if you need any help, need to... discuss... (gag) anything, I am available.\"

Ah, the caring Head of House, another part of his job he hated. Crying youngsters and broken hearts were never his forte. Thank Merlin, students usually went elsewhere for comfort.

\"Yes, sir.\"

Severus started to turn and leave, but something caught his eye. He came back and stood over them, moving their books around.

This table they stood around, was not a table.

Oh no.

Snape smiled, frightening his youngest charges.

Not a table at all.

This was something he could bribe the Muggles Studies Professor with.

***
Bronwyn had not come to dinner again.

The entire head table took great pains to ignore Severus, and that was fine with him. She was eating; he could tell she was eating; hadn\'t gotten that starved look.

She was moping. Not a pleasant thing sitting in his mind. Somehow, he had to get that... thing... out of the Slytherin Common room and into her clutches.

She would be pleased, grateful. She might even throw off her clothes and beg him to have his way with her.

Eh. Probably not, but it was a nice fantasy. Severus took a sip of tea whilst contemplating that wee bit of silliness. The entire hall breathed a sigh of relief, when he finally rose and left for the dungeons.

\"Mind you, Albus,\" Minerva whispered angrily, \"are you sure you spoke to him? Perhaps I should have a word with Bronwyn?\"

\"Leave it be for now, my love.\" Albus whispered back. \"They are young. Give them a chance to fix it themselves without any more interference from us.\"

***

Steam rose from the cauldrons as Severus put the finishing incantations over Remus\' potion. He heard a strange scratching at the door and as he looked around the potions, he saw the door open and Amadeus slide through.

Lovely. A visit from the Great White Beastie of Arda. No doubt his mistress was right behind him. Good. They could have a chat.

Several minutes went by as Severus stirred.

No Bronwyn.

And said beastie sat a few feet from him, glaring in that weird way of his.

Severus finished stirring and lay the ladle down.

\"Is she not coming?\"

Amadeus whined and yipped. It sounded as if he was irked.

\"Thank you for that informative narrative. Next time, shall I take notes?

That set the mongrel off.

What followed was a series of yips, howls, and growls that put the Potions Master\'s nerves on edge. He grabbed his wand. \"If I must be forced to listen to this tripe, I might as well be able to understand it!\" He pointed his wand at the grousing animal: \"Articulo!\"

\"Sincahonda tiucacar! NEITHADOL!...\"

\"IN ENGLISH!\"

\"WRONGHEAD! You are a flint-hearted, thick-headed ass-wipe...\" A confused look graced the animal\'s face as he sat down hard and began to lick around his muzzle. \"I did not say that.\" The words were t, fo, forced, rolling off a tongue not meant to speak man\'s language.

\"Yes, you did.\" Snape smiled sardonically and leaned against the table. \"What wretched language for such a noble beast.\" he crooned. \"One would think you have hung around the little cess-pool for longer than two years.\"

Amadeus glared, before grinning wolfishly. \"One does not stay married for thirty eight millennia without picking up some of one\'s habits, good and bad.\"

Snape barely schooled his features.

\"Haldir?\" he choked on the word. It could not be.. There was no way possible... this beast could not be...

\"In the fur!\" The words came slowly, painfully.

Snape\'s gaze returned to his cauldrons. He steeled himself, set his jaw. \"You lie. You cannot be him. He is dead.\" He picked up his wand and muttered the incantation over the Skelo-grow potion. \"As far as I know, he was never a dog!\" He smirked at his own joke.

Amadeus snorted. \"Sleeping well these days, SnapeBaby?\" Severus\' wand hand stopped in mid-wave. \"Fancy a trip back to the Dead Marshes to watch yourself sink in the bog, yet again? Would you care to visit Dol Guldur and the spiders? Perhaps you would like to revisit Bronwyn\'s slaughter of the Uruk Hai?\" Snape backed away from the table, away from the talking beast, Amadeus malevolently circling him, herding him. \"I never showed you when she came to realize her power; three tied Uruk Hai, how for days, she worked, practiced, nearly deafening all of us as she learned to control her gift.\" He had Snape backed into a corner, where bottles of herbs and ingredients were stacked neatly on the shelves. Snape grabbed his wand and pointed it at the beast.

\"Oh, I am so frightened, Sssssseverus!\" Amadeus sat down and looked up mockingly. \"Tell me. Are you going to turn me into a cub again? Perhaps this time you will finally get up the courage to turn me into that white furry rug you want so desperately in front of your fireplace!\"

Snape clenched his wand and looked haughtily dows nos nose at thimalimal. \"You cannot possibly be he!\" He stepped around the beast and returned to his work table. \"I absolutely forbid it!\"

An odd, choking sound came from the wolf and Severus realized that he was laughing. \"You forbid it? That is ripe! You cannot handle one small woman, yet you think you can forbid me to be who I am!\"

\"You ... he is dead!\" Snape roared, slamming his wand down on the table. He turned back to the cauldrons. \"You cannot possibly be he!\"

Amadeus circled around behind the Potions Master and growled. \"I am dead and I am he. I have too much at stake to allow a snake like yourself to muck everything up!\"

Severus smiled mirthlessly, stirring the base of the Pepper Up potion. \"Thank you for the compliment.\" He suddenly realized the animal was not behind him.

Amadeus popped up in front, almost startling the Wizard, both paws resting on the table. \"Listen carefully. You have hurt her greatly.\"

The Potions Master let that statement sit a moment, while he stirred. \"It was not one of my better moments, I admit, however...\"

\"You? Have better moments? I have yet to see one.\" the wolf snorted. \"At the rate you are going, the only enjoyment you are going to experience is that which you create with your own hand!\" Black eyes got blacker as the indigo ones narrowed. \"What is the matter, Ssssnape? Jealous? Knowing I sleep in the bed with her when you cannot?\"

Disgust twisted the features of the Wizard, visions of the wolf and woman coiled together...

His wand went rolling, flung from the table by Amadeus, the sound of the wood rattling as it rolled across the stone floor. \"You foul bastard! You would stoop to think that! It is an abomination!\"

Unmasked fury raked the granite planes of Severus\' face. \"You my my mind?\" He put out his hand. \"Accio wand.\" The slender rod flew from the floor to his hand.

\"When your thoughts are directed at me? Yes.\" The wolf pushed off the table and lay down, head resting on his paws. \"I cannot hold my wife, comfort her when she cries, and she has shed many tears due to your insensitive, callous remarks!\" The voice of the Elf slowly became more recognizable and the thought that he told the truth both fascinated and terrified the Wizard. \"No amount of magic can hinder or stop me from sharing your thoughts when they concern me. Or Baraermin.\"

Severus came around the table, seeing the wolf lying so still. His head leaned to the side, eyes sorrowful. \"The Valar allowed me to assume this shape to aid her until her bow is found. Yet I cannot... I cannot...\" The animal\'s head came up and his eyes glinted. \"I hate you. If I could curse the seed of your father which took root in your mother\'s womb, I would.\" He lumbered up on all fours and proceeded to stalk the Wizard, backing him up again. \"If I could, I would tear out your throat, but she needs you. I cannot aid her completely. She needs you. You have ways and means of accessing places and information and you are powerful. A total Neithadol and a proud snake, but you are powerful.\" He turned and walked off a few feet. \"All that intelligence sitting in your brain and you have no idea what you hold in your hands.\" With his back to the Wizard, Amadeus put his nose to the air. \"You need to stir Remus\' potion. It is getting ready to stick to the bottom.\"

Snape flew he che cauldrons, grabbing the ladle. The wolf was right. He took a deep breath, processing the information, the knowledge of whom he was really dealing with.

Merlin! What would the wolf do to protect her ? What would he do to keep Snape from having his way with her? For some reason, the thought of losing her before he had her... what did she think of all this?

\"I suppose she knows who you really are?\" He was barely able to choke it out, the deep, rich baritone was raspy. He remembered the gentle touch, the deference, the love, she showed the animal.

\"N\'uma. She cannot know.\"

Hmmm. The beast WAS in a predicament then. He almost felt pity for the creature, except that it cleared the path for him. \"Lord Celeborn? Gandalf?\"

\"I do not know. They might.\"

He searched his thoughts...

\"Lupin knows, does he not?\"

Amadeus... Haldir... looked at him disdainfully over his shoulder. \"Aye. He knows.\" He cut Severus off. \"For quite some time.\" He stood up and padded back to the opposite side of the table. Paws popped back up on the table. \"I severely dislike aiding you in this, but you must go to her and apologize...\"

Snape continued stirring, methodically, deliberately, working hard to stay in control and remain calm. \"Listen here, you mangy beast, I do not have time to tiptoe around your wife and make her want to do what she needs to do or fill her head with...\"

\"You do not get it, do you?\" Amadeus... Haldir tipped his head to the side and looked rather put out. \"It is not about you. It is not about her. Iluvatar\'s Ball\'s, it is not even about me.\" The wolf pushed off the table, sitting down, where Severus could not see him. \"It is about pure evil with the knowledge of the world within its grasp. It is up to you and Baraermin to stop it.\" Severus leaned over the table, watching the wolf as the animal stared over towards the shelves. \"She knows where the last Balrog hides. She knows how to create an Orc, an Uruk Hai. She knows battle plans and the thinking of ancient madmen. All that is within the grasp of one of yours.\" Great indigo eyes looked up, pleading. \"She needs you. I can do just so much. If I knew who held it, I would tell you; tell her. I would do anything to ensure her life.\" The wolf rose on hind legs and propped his paws up on the tableShe She will meet you half way. But you will have to make the first step.\"

Severus resheathed his wand and picked up the ladles he had been using to stir the potions. \"So I extend the hand of aid. What is in it for me?\" He turned to the sink, missing the look of fury on the wolf\'s face.

Cauldrons went flying as the wolf nosed all but one to the floor, liquid splashing, and metal bouncing on the stone floor. Severus lunged backwards, barely jumping out of the way of spillliquliquid, his hand reaching for his wand.

Amadeus came around the table, eyes glaring as he headed towards the door. \"What is in it for you? Besides my wife?\" he snarled. \"You get to live a longer life!\" Severus watched him nose the door open and slide out.

He looked at the floor of the classroom.

Hours worth of work destroyed.

As he cleaned the mess, fuming, he noticed that the one potion not destroyed...

... belonged to Remus.

***

I\'ve walked the straight and narrow and I\'ve worn a rebel\'s brand
Sometimes I\'ve had to go without for bein\' my own man
I\'ve rallied to the cause when I knew the cause was right
I\'ve cut against the grain, but I\'ve kept my peace of mind
And I wouldn\'t have it any other way


I Wouldn\'t Have It Any Other Way
(Aaron Tippin/Butch Curry)

*** SnapSnape stood at her doorway, delving in.

She was pissed.

Lovely. What else was new?

He paced outside her door. He did not want to believe the animal. It was inconceivable that the... Whomever or whatever power that be, had actually placed the spirit of her dead husband into the four legged mongrel. Bloody great! Now he would be pestering him in his waking AND sleeping hours. There was truly no rest for the weary and Severus most definitely wearied of this game It It also added further complications to his own goal... to get the curvaceous Bronwyn under him a time or two. (Or three or four) Purge her from his system or use her physically in order to coerce her into complying with whatever he desired her to comply with.

The thought that he actually wanted her to desire him as much as he desired her... well, he wouldn\'t entertain that thought. The last thing he wanted to consider was her comparing him with the Elf.

He was not stupid. He looked in the mirror often enough to recognize the visual truth. He knew the validity of what was said about him, what was thought about him. What would she see in him? The... Valar... certainly had a wretched sense of humor shoving her into his lap after so many years with one of the most beautiful and loving creatures ever created. It was ludicrous to think she might care for him, the infamous ugly, nasty old bat of Hogwarts. He certainly did not want her pity!

That wolf could NOT be Haldir.

He knocked. No answer.

He knocked a little louder.

Still no answer.

Annoyed, he started to turn away - after all, he did not have time for this, but the Elf\'s... blast it to hell... The Wolf\'s... words came back.

‘She needs you.\'

Well, the Order had needed him too. Harry Potter had needed him, Dumbledore had needed him. Hell, Voldemort, in his sick way, needed him. Everyone needed him and all he wanted was to be left alone.

Try as he might, he could not turn away.

Hell! He had needs too!

\"Clara Weber Schumann.\"

The door swung ope
S
Severus stepped into the cozy hallway. Above, he could hear the shower running.

He imagined warm water, suds from foamy soap, coursing down the curve of her...

Growling.

Why was there growling in his fantasy?

He looked at the \"u\" landing on the stairs. Amadeus... Haldir...

\"What the hell am I supposed to call you now?\"

\"Amadeus!\" The wolf came down the stairs, snarling. \"She cannot know who I am.\"

Severus looked up the stairs, hand on the bannister. \"I have yet to decide if I believe you or not.\"

Amadeus passed him up and went to the couch, climbing up. \"I really do not give a warg\'s ass if you believe the truth or not. All I care is that she get her bow back.\" He put his head down, glaring balefully at the Potions Master. \"I would request that any... courting... you attempt, not be done in my presence.\"

Severus matched the wolf, glare for glare.

If the beast was who he said he was, it was a reasonable request...

Snape took the first step towards the stairs.

\"What are you doing, Wizard?\"

Severus stepped back and gazed at the wolf on the couch. \"She and I need to talk. You suggested I put my hand out first...\"

\"She is in the shower, you neithadol!\" If an animal could sneer, that one just had. \"Take it from someone who knows; she could be there a while! You might as well have a seat.\"

Hmm. Bronwyn in the shower... sitting in her living area and chatting with her supposed dead husband... Bronwyn in the shower... was it really a choice? Snape grinned evilly and headed again for the stairs.

The wolf followed him to the stairs. \"What are you thinking of doing?\" His look and tone were suspicious.

\"I am going to have a chat with your mistress. Extend the olive branch, so to speak.\" Severus turned to head up the stairs. Amadeus raced ahead of him, blocking his path on the partial landing.

\"She is in the shower, you neithadol!\"

\"Ah! Perfect!\" Severs slid his wand from its casing. \"A captive audience!\" He pointed his wand at the animal. \"Immobulus!\" He stepped around the frozen beast. \"I agree to your terms. I shall neither court, nor seduce the feisty Bronwyn in your presence.\" He reached the top of the stairs. \"I doubt anything will happen this evening, however, I do expect this to be a bit noisy.\" He stepped through the open glass doors and entered the bedroom.

***

Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
I\'m exposed
And it\'s no big surprise
Don\'t you think I know
Exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me
To hold your hand
\'Cause I\'m just a girl, little ol\' me

Artist: No Doubt
Album: Tragic Kingdom
Title: Just A Girl

***

Severus looked closely at the room; not the bed - he would have a chance to check it out at a later date. His main concern was the back half of the room. The harpsichord was there, her tools were out, and the parts she had ordered had obviously come in and were scattered about. She was installing new and repaired jacks. He walked around the area, making sure there was room for the object. Satisfied, he turned at the sound of the shower being turned off.

\"Crap! Amadeus! I forgot my towel and robe! Could you bring them to me?\"

Severus saw the items on the bed. Picking them up, he strode into the bathroom. The scent of mulberries wafted with the steam and he could see the outline of her form behind the thin shower curtain. Her fingers grabbed the edge of the curtain, pulling it back.

Severus took in her nude form, an appreciative smirk on his face. Water dripped from her curves, her hair. Large breasts jutted proudly, water droplets beaded on the nipples. Merlin, how he had to force himself to not drop the robe, the desire to suck every drop of water from her body was over- whelming. She was wiping her face with one hand and reaching with the other.

\"Amadeus! Towel! Saes?\"

Severus handed her the towel, taking great pains to not touch her, keep the thing at a level she expected.

\"Thank you.\" She grabbed the towel, wiping her face and then bent over, wrapping her hair. Severus gazed at the silvery-grey marks on her soft, rounded stomach and hips; child-bearing marks. Rather than being repulsed by what many would consider a disfigurement, he was fascinated, drawn to . He. He was over-whelmed by the urge to lick, kiss them.

\"Honestly, Amadeus, I don\'t know what I would do without...\" Bronwyn\'s voice trailed off as she stood back up and opened her eyes.

Brandy brown flames locked with glittering ebony orbs.

As if in slow motion, he watched her chest rise and her diaphragm fill, expand as she inhaled.

The scream was deafening.

She jerked the shower curtain closed. \"Get out!\"

\"We need to talk.\"

Her head peeked out around the shower curtain. \"I said get out! We have nothing to discuss!\"

\"We have plenty to discuss.\" He gave her a rather quirky, Snapey smile and held her robe out. \"Peace offering, Bronwyn. I give you your robe and we talk.\"

\"And if I don\'t agree?\"

Eyebrows shot up and he shrugged nonchalantly. \"I stand here until you do agree. Or you drip dry.\"

\"Damn you! And you are that stubborn, aren\'t you? Fine! Hand it here!\" She snatched it from him, almost falling out of the tub. \"Thank you for my robe. Start talking! Where is Amadeus?\" The shower curtain jerked back to a close and he could hear her pulling on the sleeves of the fluffy robe.

\"Amadeus is feeling a bit stiff right now, so I left him downstairs.\"

The shower curtain jerked back open. There she stood in her bathrobe and turbaned glory, glaring daggers at him. She stepped - rather ungracefully, he noticed - over the tub and tried to go around him. \"If you have harmed him or done anything to him...\"

\"Your mutt is fine!\" Severus stepped in front of her so she could not go around. She tried to cut around him again. For several minutes, they danced back and forth - she trying to duck around him and he staying in her way.

Snape grew tired of it first.

\"Stop this infernal childish game and listen to what I have to say!\"

\"I am not speaking to you!\" She tucked her hands into the crook of her elbows.

\"Are you quite certain of that?\" Snape purred. He too, coiled in, fingers flicking on his upper arms. Damn it all! He had to make this at least... Sound convincing... \"Bronwyn, I... I...\"

\"What?\"

Deep breath. That always sounds deliberate and commanding!

\"I realize what I said the other night was insensitive and cruel. I should not have said it and it was not my intent to hurt your feelings.\"

There. He hoped that sounded contrite enough. Gah. This pretending to apologize was almost as agonizing as a Cruciatus curse.

\"And?\"

Severus scowled. She was tough! He schooled his features.

\"I wanted your opinion on something. If you would get dressed, so I could show you...\"

\"Show me what?\" Bronwyn tilted her head, so that she was looking at him from the side of her eyes. She was not very trusting at all!

\"It is a surprise. I might be... wrong.\" He tried to look contrite. \"I would like your opinion, as I believe this is your area of specialty.\"

GAG! He wasn\'t wrong, he knew he wasn\'t wrong, but if she thought he might be wrong and wanted her opinion, it just might hurry along her getting over her snit fit and he could go about the business of seducing her!

Bronwyn took in his penitent, slightly guilty look.

She was NOT buying it.

\"Listen, you!\" She shoved a finger in his face. \"I am going to change clothes. You are going to go downstairs and reverse whatever it is you did to Amadeus!\" Severus opened his mouth, but she cut him off. \"Do not deny it! I know you did something or you wouldn\'t be in here! And when we are done, IF I am in a good mood, I will allow you to apparate me to The Three Broomsticks for some cheesecake and wine!\" She placed both hands on her hips. \"Well? What are you waiting for? That is unless you are scheduled to do rounds tonight?\" She tapped her foot.

Severus turned and walked out of the room. Ah, yes. This was going to be perfect!

***

Ah. Into the nest of vipers.

Literally.

Bronwyn felt the temperature go down when Severus led her into the Slytherin Common Room. There was no fire, nothing to warm the place up. She took in the silent students, the ancient furniture. The place looked like the set from a B Grade Gothic horror movie.

A lame chorus of ‘Professor Snape.\' went up. They ignored her. Severus strode into the small alcove where the three First Years were still huddling over their books. They turned in shock when instructed to stand immediately. Relieved smiles went up on the three faces when they saw the Muggles Studies Professor. She smiled back.

\"Folks. It\'s Friday. Why are you pouring over the books?\"

Nellyth\'s eyes darted back and forth between the two Professors. \"We have potions homework.\" She looked Severus straight in the eye. \"An eight foot essay on stones found in animal stomachs. Due Monday.\"

Bronwyn scowled up at the Wizard. If he thought this discussion was over, he had another think coming!

\"Would you three step away from your table?\" Snape asked in his silkiest tone.

The three students stepped back as both adults stepped in for a closer look.

\"Well? Is it what I think it is?\"

Bronwyn looked closely at the table.

Wait. It was not a table.

The shape was...

I am not going to get excited. No. No siree Bob! I am not... not until I check out the cover...

Bronwyn went around to the left side and pulled back the dust cover, anticipating what she would find. What she found was not what she expected.

It was better.

\"I need Bobbin to get something for me.\" Bronwyn\'s fingers lovingly dusted over the ebony and ivory keys. She peered at the peeling gold letters on the dust cover.

BRO D AN BR TH RS

\"Professor Powell?\"

\"It\'s a treasure.\" she whispered. \"You have a treasure in this dank place.\" If she knew every Slytherin in the house had crowded around the doorway, she did not let on. She moved back around and addressed the First Years. \"Clear it. Now!\"

The three children immediately set to removing their books, the candelabra, the knick knacks, and the junk. As soon as the last item was removed, she lifted the lid. She hissed at the dust.

\"I expected more damage...\" Bronwyn felt a tugging at her pants.

\"Professor Powell is needing Bobbin?\"

For the first time ever, Bronwyn did not look at the house elf as she spoke to him. \"In my room, there is a tool bag, under the harpsichord.\" Now, she looked at him. \"You have been helping me repair the harpsichord. You know what tool bag I speak of?\"

\"Yes, Bobbin knows. Bobbin likes to help Professor Powell with instruments. Bobbin will get tools.\" With a snap of his fingers, he disappeared.

Bronwyn\'s head never came out from under the lid. \"I need someone to write this down. I don\'t care who, as long as they do it right.\" Severus was shocked at her matter of fact tone with the students. Her hands ran up and down the guts, the wires, of the hammers. \"The hammers need to be refelted. In fact, it needs... one, two, four... nine new hammers. One of the C prime wires needs replaced as well as one G prime, and...\" she was now plucking on the wires... \" an A triple prime. The low F... A flat sub prime, both wires...\" For several minutes, she rattled off note names and wire sizes. She lowered the lid, looking closely at the aging woodwork. \"The entire lid needs to be refinished... stripped down to the wood and refinished. Glass rings,\" she glared at Severus. \"This piano forte has been used as everything but what it was intended for, for years. Sacrilege!\" The last word was hissed. \"I am surprised it isn\'t in worse shape!\" There was a pop and Bobbin ran to her, holding out what looked like an electrician\'s tool bag. She rifled through the pouch, digging out the screwdriver. Quickly, she reached under and unscrewed the keyboard mechanism, handing it back to the house elf. She went back he fhe front and slowly slid the entire keyboard from the frame. With no patience in dem demeanor, she glared at Severus. \"Are you going to hold this or what, so I can finish this?\"

With a wave of his wand, Severus levitated the keyboard, inwardly laughing at her sudden snarky attitude. By Circe! He was rubbing off on her! Moving around the keyboard, Bronwyn peered in and sighed lovingly. Slowly, carefully, she replaced the keyboard and began to screw it back into place.

\"Professor Powell, I realize it is not a Steinway, however...\"

\"Oh, no!\" She shook her head. She peered under the instrument and found the bench, pushed up against the wall. \"It is not a Steinway.\" She pulled it out and placed it in front of the keys. \"It is better.\"

Better than a Steinway? What could possibly...

The sound that arose from the piano was slightly tinny, yet lush, rich. Bronwyn started with chromatic rifts, falling into scales and arpeggios. After a moment...

A rolling accompaniment, painstakingly placed. When the melody finally began, it arose in glory, soaring above their heads, lingering on the stones.

\"It\'s sad!\" Pansy whispered loudly. \"Why is she playing something sad?\"

\"It\'s not sad!\" Oliver spat back. \"It\'s... it\'s...\" he looked up to Snape; he couldn\'t find the word.

\"It is longing.\" Snape hissed over his shoulder. \" Silence.\"

As the music finally spun itself out, through its complicated turns and twists, building and receding, Bronwyn realized she had more than an audience of one. Nellyth was standing at her elbow, eyes wide in wonderment.

\"What was that? The name of that?\"

Bronwyn smiled at the entranced child. \"Nocturne. Nocturne in e minor. Opus Postumus. Nocturne means night music. Opus postumus means it was published after the composer\'s death.\"

\"The weirdo!\" Draco whispered to his friends. \"She teaches even when she isn\'t teaching!\" He caught Professor Snape looking at him as if he were some kind of rodent to be exterminated.

\"Ah, Muggle or Wizard?\" Nellyth asked.

\"Chopin was a Muggle.\"

\"How long? How long would it take to learn this the Muggle way?\"

Bronwyn\'s fingers continued to stroke, dust the keyboard. \"One does not start off learning to play Chopin.\" She smiled gently. \"Years. Years of work and sweat and practice.\"

\"Why would anyone want to spend years learning to do that, when you could charm the thing to play it with a swish of your wand?\"

Bronwyn looked at Draco. \"Why would anyone spend hours on a broomstick, in snow or rain, trying to chase a little gold ball with wings?\"

Snape eyed her appreciatively. Touche, Bronwyn. Touche. She was up and standing next to him. She licked her lips nervously.

\"We need to talk. Now. Privately.\"

With one look, the students left the alcove and Severus warded it, making sure no word escaped.

\"Yes?\"

\"What do you want for it?\" My, our girl was to the point.

\"Bronwyn, I have no idea what you are talking about...\"

\"Don\'t play coy with me, Severus!\" He immediately sensed the steel replacing her backbone. \"I\'ll be up front and honest. That is a Broadman piano. It was one of the first of its kind. They preceded the Steinway. That one is over 125 years old. Its condition is remarkable but it needs work and tender loving care. I can\'t imagine how it has managed to not rot in this dungeon. I want it. What do you want me to do to get it?\"

There it is.

She saw the smile; that evil twisted grin.

Snarky git!

Severus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. \"I do not know, Bronwyn. That piano has been here since before I was a student...\"

\"Severus, please. I know you did this for a reason. You do nothing without reason. What do you want?\"

He had her. He had her right where he wanted her. He knew it. She knew it. He could end it right there. Make his demand. Have a wonderful night, right where he wanted.

But that would be fleeting. Too short.

Deep inside, Severus Snape wanted more than fleeting or short.

He didn\'t want services for payment. He wanted...

Body. Soul. Compliant. Needy.

Desire.

\"My price? What will I take for this piano? ‘Tis simple, Bronwyn.\"

Bronwyn stiffened herself, waiting for the blow, waiting for the sexual demand. Would he ask it? Would she... except it?

\"I want to be...friends again. I want you to... forgive me for the insult you perceived. I want you to share some of your meals with me again, your company.\"

*I want to make that wolf of yours jealous as hell!*

\"You want my company? That\'s all? Be friends? Eat with you?\"

Hand over heart. Gad Severus, my boy, lay it on so thick... \"I swear, Bronwyn. I simply desire to put the past behind us.\"

She scowled. \"I don\'t buy that for a second. You have something up your sleeve, but for right now, I\'ll take it. How fast can you move it to my rooms?\"

Outside, Severus appeared to be thinking.

Inside, he was gloating.


***
tbc
***
The Mystic\'s Dream
Words and music by Loreena McKennitt
From the recording \"The Mask And Mirror\"

dumbek - an ancient drum, origins unknown. Mostly associated with Middle Eastern music, although it is also suspected to have Eastern European origins. Comes in varying sizes from the small lap held version to a large one standing approximately 3 to 4 feet high. The body of the drum is indented, so it can be held between the knees. It is played with the hands, not mallets or sticks.

Sitar - an Indian stringed instrument. Similar to the lute.

Broadman and Sons - okay folks, I\'m going on old memory here as my notes are packed away in a storage unit somewhere. Broadman and Sons predated Steinway and built early pianos around the time of Beethoven - the 1830\'s on. If I recall, they were the first to manufacture them with steel frames. They built specifically for Beethoven in his later years, as he had a bad habit of breaking his piano-forte\'s by shoving the hammers through the strings.