Of Death and Fire

negotiations


 
Author's notes: Delayed, I know. I hope it's worth the waiting. A smutty chapter with a bit of plot. Oral sex down the road, although nothing graphic. Once more, if it offends you, don't read it. Otherwise, enjoy and let me know what you think!
 
 
CHAPTER 28: Negotiations, arguments and detentions
 
Morgaine apparated at the edge of the Dark Forest. Tired, hungry and with sore muscles as a result from her encounter with Malfoy and his wand -both his 'wands', as she pointed to herself with a bitter smile-, she made her way to the school grounds. Passing by Hagrid's hut she greeted him with a faint smile, turning down his invitation for tea and cookies. She wasn't that hungry and she had her heart set on meeting Snape after her absence.
She found him standing outside the Hal Hall, engaged in a heated conversation with Marcus Flint, probably around the Quidditch team composition for the next season. His eyes lit up on seeing her, but he was quick to conceal it. He dismissed Flint with a wave of his hand and advanced at her.
"So, it seems that the Guild has a new master". His face was unreadable, but his interest was obvious in his voice.
"Correct. Argentum, as I had guessed", she replied, her voice formal, holding back the urge to kiss him right and there.
His eyes became darker all of the sudden.
"Any other news from London? Any other interesting encounters?" he hissed, while casually he removed a stray hair from her cloak. A blond hair. Malfoy's hair. He held it in front of her, and quickly threw it away with disgust. "Run across Malfoy perhaps?"
She found herself speechless.
"I thought I had made myself clear on this", he whispered in a venomous voice and turned away, heading for the dungeons. Morgaine stood frozen, thinking she hadn't had the chance to tell him she had managed to shake Lucius off her back. And now he certainly wasn't in the mood to pursue additional conversation around Malfoy. Feeling completely fatigued, she walked toward her own chambers to get some rest.
I'll explain tomorrow, she though, when he'll have calmed down a bit.
~*~
To her disappointment, he kept avoiding her all week. He had removed his chambers from the floo network and every time she walked by his office he was either engaged in a lesson or absent, with a note on the door stating he was in the Dark Forest gathering ingredients. She only saw him during meals, and even at those times he refused to acknowledge her presence.
Fed up by the silent treatment, she decided to pay him a visit during one of his classes. Late afternoon class, double potions with forth year Gryffindor/Slytherin. Perfect. He'd be cautious in the presence of Harry Potter and Malfoy Junior. Lacking a good excuse for turning up, she decided to attend with her feline form and sneak in his office for a confrontation after the class was over.
~*~
At the appointed time, she made her way outside his dungeon. She could hear silence from the classroom, apart from the screeching sound of writing on the blackboard. Focusing on the transfiguration, she changed to a silky black cat, entered the class and jumped on the bench next to Neville Longbottom. On the board she saw several potion ingredients listed, under the title "hex removing potio
"
"This is the basic recipe for Hex removing potions". Snape's deep voice filled the room. "A very useful mix, one I'm sure most of you will consume regularly in the future, judging by your inclination toward rule breaking and mischief". His dark eyes were fixed on Harry. "Additional ingredients can be added, depending on the targeted banishing". He paused, a vicious smile appearing on thrnerrners of his lips. "For instance, a very rare substance is added to create a counter-effect to a common goblin curse. Anyone here who wants to enlighten us?"
No one moved. Frantic glances flew around in the classroom, as no one could recall reading this detail in the textbooks. Snape gleamed on their agony, and decided to turn the knife even more.
"Don't bother recalling your textbooks' paragraphs. It is not listed in any of those. As a matter of fact", he said in a silky voice, "this is something professor Binns mentioned last week during his class on the fourteenth century goblin wars". He paused, delighted by the shocked look on the faces around him. As expected, everyone had been asleep during that lecture, as always. He walked among the silent students.
"So, who would enlighten us? Ms.Granger? No? Well, what a surprise". His grin grew more venomous. "Mr.Potter? Mr.Weasley? No one?" He crossed his arms on his chest, turning his attention to the other half of the classroom. "Mr.Malfoy? Anyone from Slytherin? No? What a pity", he said, but his voice revealed a wicked delight. He walked back up to his desk, and looked down at the pale faces.
"Ten points from both Gryffindor and Slytherin, for serious lack of attention", he announced. And then his voice turned even colder. "Maybe Professor Greenleef would like to enlighten us, since she decided to grace us with her feline presence". His gaze was fixed to the black cat sitting next to Neville. All faces turned with surprise to see Morgaine shifting back to her human form.
"Ms.Greenleef, please try to keep your distance from the cauldrons", he hissed at her. "Neville Longbottom is enough distraction on his own. I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't add to the disaster risk of this classroom".
Oh, Severus, sometimes you're such a bastard, Morgaine thought as she watched him walking close to her. She tried to keep a straight face, as he stood before her, locking his gaze on her own.
"So, any input on the ingredient in question? Or have you been sleeping as well during your History lessons?" His voice was strict, but she knew he was enjoying every moment of it. And naturally, he was correct. Everyone slept during History classes. She started feelinga tea teenager again, but decided not to yield and be humiliated in front of a full classroom, including young Malfoy. She drew a quick breath, and did what she had always been good at. She made a wild guess.
"Blood?" she dared to ask, and marvelled as his expression turned quickly from surprise to admiration and then mischief.
"Right", she said. "And wrong", he added as he turned to face the classroom. "Blood, and more precisely Muggle blood has been used with the basic recipe to counter effect tfeebfeeblemind' goblin curse, during which the victim acts like the village idiot, much like several of my past and present students. But", he said, turning again to face Morgaine, "due to the increased public sensitivity toward Muggle rights it has been replaced with the more innocent and humble dandelion root. A substitution that has resulted to a decrease in its potency, unfortunately". He paused and studied Morgaine's face. "Well done, Professor. Although you only got half the answer". He turned his back at her and started walking toward his desk when her voice stopped him at his tracks.
"What, no points from Ravenclaw?" she teased him.
He turned around and faced her with a poisonous stare, aware of the muffled giggles around him.
"Don't tempt me", he hissed. And then turned his back once more and addressed the students.
"Now that you all know the recipe, I'll be expecting you to have the potion ready in half an hour. As always, after you've finished, label and place your brews on the test table. Sampling will follow and grades will be given depending the efficiency of each potion". He paused, his eyes travelling on the quick movements around him, as every studying couple gathered materials for the task. "Ms.Greenleaf, in my office, if you please", he said in a lower voice, as he walked towards the closed doors. Morgaine followed him without a word.
Closing the door behind him, he turned and faced her.
"You'd better have a good excuse for this intrusion", he spat.
"I have to talk to you. You have been ignoring me, so I decided to enter the lair of the beast". And now she was in, she was in loss of the right words.
"If this is about Malfoy, I think I was clear that I wanted no know nothing about it", he said icily.
"This one you'd want to know", she replied simply. "I will not see him again".
"How come? Has he dumped you for a younger play-toy?" he said, the venom reappearing in his voice.
"No", she replied, choosing to ignore the insult. "I've made it clear that I'll never yield to him or pledge my loyalty, although I'll join him when the Dark Lord rises".
"And exactly how was dear Lucius convinced of this?" his voice was still cold, but his interest was evident.
"After he used Cruciatus on me, with hardly the result he expected. He used it twice, in fact". This time it was her turn to rejoice by his expression. His face stayed calm, but she saw his lips ten jen just a bit and a vein appearing on his forehead, pulsating in a frantic gallop. He stood up, opened the office door and entered the classroom. Still seated, she could hear his hollering voice behind her.
"Potter and Weasley, ten points from Gryffindor each for exchanging insults with Malfoy instead of paying attention to your brews. Malfoy, ten points from Slytherin for the same reason. Granger, five points from Gryffindor for assisting Longbottom when you knew you were not supposed to". Silence fell over the classroom in fear of provoking him further. But he was hardly done. "Aftou'vou've finished your brews, you will write an essay of five thousand words discussing the Ethics of using Muggle Blood in Potions. On my desk, in no more than an hour". Ignoring the faint protests, he closed the door behind him and walked back towards Morgaine. He seemed to be somewhat calmer now, having taken some of his rage out on the fourth-years.
He leaned over her and touched her cheek. Responding to his move, she stood up and closed her arms around his waist.
"You should have told me", he whispered. "Are you OK now?" She nodded affirmatively. "Why did he do it, anyway?" His voice was kinder now, and he caressed her ear with his breath. He pulled her body closer, crushing her loins between his body and the hard surface of his desk.
"I kind of pissed him off. At least the first time", she replied, moving her hands on his buttocks and pulling him harder.
"And the second time?" he asked, feeling her erect nipples above the fabric of her dress.
"I dared him to do it", she said, reaching down to feel his crotch. "While he was inside me", she whispered, and received a moan of both anger and arousal in response. He pressed his mouth on hers, as he begun unbuckling his pants. Gently, she pushed him back.
"Severus, your students..."
"Don't worry, they'll be over their heads with their assignments for the next hour or so. Plenty of time", he added as he pushed her back against the desk. He had hardly finished his sentence, when they heard a loud noise from the classroom. Something had probably crashed or exploded; or both. Cursing loudly, Snape broke off the embrace, straightened his robes and threw the door open to face the disaster.
Neville Longbottom was standing in a green goo pile and watched in horror another cauldron melting down and a green gas evaporating from the remnants of his brew. Next to him stood a petrified Ron Weasley, with his hand trying to steady his own cauldron. From the looks of it, during some kind of foul play either Weasley or Potter had knocked down their brew, which in turn triggered a domino effect, resulting to the exploding outcome around poor Neville. Who, by now, was in tears due to a bad burn on his right forearm.
"Typical", hissed Snape. "Longbottom, Weasley, Potter, you will all serve detention in addition of twenty points taken from each. The rest of the class dismissed. I will expect the essays to be turned in first thing tomorrow morning". He turned to Morgaine. "If you please, assist Mr.Longbottom to the infirmary, while I'll try to find Filch and clear the classroom. And", he added grinning nastily, "after the mess is dealt with, I'll write a letter to Longbottom's grandmother explaining the latest disaster he has caused".
With an angry stare he turned around and entered his office, banging the door behind him.
~*~
On the way to the hospital wing, Neville was miserable. He kept saying it wasn't this fault this time. He didn't mind detention as much, but the prospect of Snape's letter to his grandmother filled him with terror. Morgaine felt upset about the poor boy. She had always liked him, especially since she owed to his parents much. His father had been the Auror who had found her mother after the attack and if he hadn't been quick to notify Dumbledore and Whitebone she would have died in the womb.
As he sat on the hospital bed, letting Madame Pomfrey treat his burn, he turned to Morgaine with tearful eyes.
"Please, Professor Greenleaf, can you try and talk him out of this? I'd rather serve detention every night of the week than having my grandmother know of this! Heaven knows what he might write to her!"
She gently stroke his hair, under Pomfrey's inquisitive stare.
"Ok, Neville, I'll give it a try. But knowing Professor Snape, I can't promise anything", she added, but a plan was forming already in her head.
~*~
After dinner, she entered his dungeon finding him occupied, as always, in paperwork. She closed the door behind her and smiled as sweet as possible. He raised his eyes from the scroll before him and sat back, a of of some kind of plan in her head.
"Let me guess", he started in a velvet voice. "You have come to plea on behalf of Longbottom". Her smile grew wider and sweeter, but he was unmoved. "And exactly how are going to present your case?" he teased her.
Moving slowly toward the desk, she kept her eyes on his face.
"Madame Pomfrey suggested I should appeal to your kindness", she purred.
He stayed silent for a moment, as if considering the prospect. Then he shook his head.
"Nope. It won't do".
"As I had expected", she replied, still smiling like an angel. She leaned over him, putting her hand on each side of his armchair. "Then I considered another approach; the old way of 'sucking-up to the teacher'". And her eyes were filled with lustful promises.
He studied her face for a moment.
"This could do the trick", he replied, unbuckling his pants. He closed his eyes as she knelt before him and worked her way on his swollen crotch. He held back a moan as she released his erection from its restrains and felt the warmth of her mouth surrounding him. For a while the room was silent, save for his heavy breathing and occasional directions from his part.
"Yes... That's better... Just the tip, now... good. Move your hands downwards...there. Just one finger now, slowly..." Morgaine followed his lead and he was soon very close to his climax. But moments before, he gently pushed her head up to face him.
"Just use your hands for a moment, and look at me", he whispered, short of breath. She looked up quizzically.
"Tell me, why did you dared Malfoy to use 'Cruciatus' the second time?"
"To show him that I don't find pain as disturbing as others do", she said smiling. "Sometimes, I find pain arousing". She kept her fingers stroking his organ, while he was badly trying to keep his face straight.
"Do you need pain to climax?" he whispered.
"Not with you", she said, delighted by his pleased expression. "With you", she purred, "the sound of your voice is enough to get me wet". This time, a sigh left his lips.
"Are you wet now?" he asked, grasping the arms of his chair, trying to delay his orgasm.
"Yes", she whispered, and lowered her head again, feeling the tremor of pleasure travel down his throbbing organ. In a couple of seconds, he arched his back, thrusting his cock deeper in her throat, and released a string of pearly white semen in her mouth with a cry. Breathless, he fell back in the chair, and moved his hands inside her hair, caressing her head. A few moments later, she climbed up on his lap, resting her head on his shoulder, as he closed an arm around her.
As his breath was slowing down, she looked up and kissed his cheek.
"So, have I presented my case well, Professor Snape?" she whispered in his ear.
For the first time in a week, he smiled and opened his eyes.
"Ok, Morgaine, what do you want for this sorry excuse of a student? I won't write to his grandmother, if this will make you happy", he said, massaging the back of her neck. "But he will still do detention", he added firmly.
"Can he serve his detention with me? Along with Weasley and Potter?"
"Why on earth would you want to do that?" he exclaimed, sounding sincerely surprised. "OK, you can have the all three adolescent disasters. If they come in close contact with a ghoul or a nasty poltergeist, all the better".
"And the points from Gryffindor?" she dared to ask.
"Oh, no", he chuckled. "You are not that good. No one is that good". He gently pushed her on her feet. "Move along now, and get your pretty ass to bed. I need to finish up here and I'll join you shortly", he said, turning his attention to the scrolls on his desk. As she walked to the door of his chamber, she heard his voice behind her.
"And I'll be expecting to learn more on your 'sucking up the teacher' theory. We still have to discuss Flint's detention, if memory serves well".
Morgaine closed the door behind her, hoping he wouldn't hear her giggling. At last, for once, everything had turned out well.
If only it would last...