Bound in Leather

well, at long last we find ourselves at the end of this lengthy, wild ride. its taken some time and effort, but we made it. kind of sad, isn't it? that this all over with. still, it was fun and it'll be here to be reread whenever you like. for the record this one last time, i don't claim to own anything here but the plot, Al and Aletha. anything else you recognize is from the brilliant mind of j.k. rowling and i'm merely borrowing from her amazing brilliance for my pitiful attempts at entertainment. i'm making no money from any of this, only the reviews i can garner from those of you willing to type out a few words of encouragement. please don't hurt me.

there is no smut in this chapter, but there is some humor. i hope you enjoy anyway.

as always, if you enjoy this, please let me know. reviews are always appreciated. and thank you so much for reading me and, hopefully, enjoying me. your continued patronage and support means so very much.

and now, the last chapter of Bound in Leather, for your reading enjoyment.

Chapter Thirty One: Back In The Saddle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Al watched as Severus stalked across the floor to the large armoire, his back rigid and straight. His face was set in those unforgiving lines she recalled from the concert. That was the day that had changed her life. Now, she was married to one of the sexiest bastards to have ever graced the cover of a rock magazine. She had a job that she actually enjoyed. Her life had changed so much for the better. It was almost amusing to watch him prepare for the day and she might have laughed if she hadn't been aware that he was as serious as he ever got and this would be one of the hardest days of his life.

The first day of school was always such a bitch.

'Calm down, honey,' she urged in a gentle tone. 'What are the little twits going to do? It isn't as if they are capable of much more than annoying you with their incompetence.'

Severus turned to scowl at her, his lips pursed in what she'd say was the eternal sucking lemons expression. She knew first hand that he was capable of softer, gentler looks. She rose from the chair and moved to where he stood, a piece of black material hanging limply from one hand. With a knowing smirk, she reached up and straightened the collar on his stern-looking, Victorian -styled jacket. The touch softened his face a moment or two before his battle look, earned after years teaching dunderheads, once more settled over his features. 'What do you know of the cretin's incompetence?' he queried in a low tone.

Al shivered inspite of herself, then began smoothing the buttons down over his chest. 'I've worked here for well over one term and I know just how miserable some of the first years can be. Not that many of the older students were much better. Poppy had more cases of pox curses last year than any previous. And most of those were in the fifth years. Personally, I think they were trying to get out of the O.W.L.s. Not that it did them any good. Dumbledore found a way for them to take the tests, pox and all.'

'He is a crafty old goat. Best you be careful of him. Merlin only knows what he has up his great, gaping sleeves,' Severus warned her. She grinned, then reached for the robes he held.

'I'll simply mess up his date book. He'll be so screwed, he won't know what hit him. I swear, I wonder what he did before he had a secretary,' she told him, shaking her head. She shook out the black robes in her hands, then held them up so that he could slide into them. He did so silently, wondering how he'd gotten so lucky. He'd thought surely Alasdair would see him as some kind of monster when she learned about his reputation as a teacher. She'd surprised him by telling him that she'd taken more than her fare share of House points and knew full and well that he'd been acting with just cause.

Severus chuckled and adjusted the robes so that they hung properly. A turn this way and that, followed by a few quick strides across the floor and back, assured him that they billowed with exactly the right amount of menace. 'It is going to be a bloody long day,' he sighed, glancing longingly to the bed. One thing he hadn't gotten over yet was the fact that he'd been able to spend as much time sleeping as he'd wanted when he'd been on the road. Now..... He was back on a set schedule and he had to admit to himself that it sucked dragon testicles to no end.

'You look every inch the snarky bastard, honey. You'll positively scare the shit out of them,' Al assured him, nodding in satisfaction as she moved back to study him from a distance.

'You are so very good for my ego, woman. You know this, do you not?' he replied, taking the few steps across the floor to drag her into his embrace. She went willingly, allowing him to plant a hard, deep kiss on her lips. She knew it for what it was, a promise of things to come. She was panting, her eyes glazed slightly, when he pulled away from her.

'Damn it, why do you have a class today? Can we skip breakfast?' she asked hopefully, her eyes resting on him with a heated look in them. Severus laughed and shook his head.

'I am so sorry to disappoint you, my wanton wife, but we must make an appearance at the table this morning,' he told her, a snarky kind of grin settling over his face. 'The Headmaster is going to make the announcement about the staff change this morning. It is something he normally does at the feast held the night before, but I convinced him to wait. I am anxious to see all of their faces when he announces the news.'

'You're looking forward to tormenting the hell out of them, aren't you?' she asked him, chuckling at the thought. The look in his eyes, something dark and almost feral, was the only answer she needed. She chuckled again, shaking her head. 'Well then, Professor Snape. You'd best be on your way. I'll be along shortly. I need to put on something more appropriate for school.'

He glanced at her negligée, his gaze warming at the sight of the lace cups that caressed her breasts and the whisper of silk that clung to her curves like the touch of a lover. She was amazed at how quickly he could move from one kind of passion to another. 'Yes, you do. I will not have you parading about in front of those hormonally charged teen aged boys dressed as you are. I should hate to have to lose my position here just because I hexed the little twats for ogling your perfect breasts.'

'Talk like that will get you anything you want, mister,' she grinned at him, moving toward the armoire where her clothing had been stored only a few days ago. She still had her own rooms, as a means to present a certain image to the students. There was a corridor, a set of stairs, and a door that connected them to Severus' rooms, though, so that she could spend time with him in a discreet manner.

'I fully intend to collect, wife,' he replied, the heat of desire creeping into his voice. 'Tonight, after the evening meal. Be prepared,' he warned, then slipped out the door without a backward glance. Al smiled after him, lost in lascivious thoughts for a moment, before turning back to the task at hand.

~*~*~*~*~

The Great Hall was abuzz with chatter as Al made her way into it via the door behind the staff's table. A sort of quiet fell across the students a moment as they all watched her. In only a few moments, the chatter picked back up and any attention given her was just as quickly taken away. The table was lined with teachers, Dumbledore taking the center seat with Minerva on his right and Poppy on his left. There were two empty seats remaining. She knew one was for her and she moved over to it gracefully. The seat was next to Minerva and the Deputy Headmistress greeted her warmly as Al slipped into the chair. 'Good morning, Alasdair. We missed you at the evening meal last night,' she said politely. There was a thread of curiosity and mirth underneath the politeness and Al gave her a direct stare.

The knowing look that Minerva returned to her brought a flush of heat to her cheeks, the skin there suddenly stained pink with embarrassment. She turned her attention to reaching for the pitcher of pumpkin juice before her and pouring it into her goblet. She heard Minerva's faint chuckle and felt more heat pour into her cheeks.

A soft chiming brought her attention up to find that Dumbledore was standing while Minerva tapped her spoon against the side of her own goblet. With a gesture of his hands, the room fell silent. Al could feel the student's expectation hanging on the air as each set of eyes turned to look at the head table.

'Welcome, students. Welcome back to another year of Hogwarts for those of you returning. And welcome to those who are joining us for the first time. By now, you all have your schedules and, as soon as the bell rings, you will be dismissed to attend your first class. Before the start of term, I have a few announcements to make,' he told them with a half smile. Al saw the mischief twinkling in his eyes and knew that the time was at hand.

She glanced at the empty seat, which was located three down from her own, and knew that it was Severus'. A low murmur started up amongst a small group of students and rippled outward the same way the waves made by a stone tossed into water rolled back to the shore. Dumbledore held his hands up again and silence once more filled the hall. 'First, and this will come as no surprise to those of you who are back for another year, the Forbidden Forest is just that. Forbidden. Students are not allowed to enter the Forest without the express permission of a teacher. Nor will they go unaccompanied. Those who dare test this rule will serve detention with Mr. Filch. I believe he mentioned he'd devised new forms of detention over the summer. You have been warned.'

He gave the four tables before them a moment to digest this, allowing a small amount of chatter before going on. 'My final announcement is one that will be of great interest to you all. As you can see, one of our staff seats is empty. Neville Longbottom, who last year taught Potions, has decided to move on to other endeavors. You will have as your teacher this year one of the greatest Potions Masters to ever teach in a school.'

There was silence for a moment, then a burst of chatter filled the room as the students turned to one another and spoke. Dumbledore allowed it to go on for several long moments, then motioned them into silence so he could continue. 'We are very lucky to have with us a former pupil and a former professor,' he motioned to the door with one hand. Al turned to look, watching the handle turn. A low buzz of conversation was going again. It seemed an eternity before the door swung open and Severus stepped through.

'Please welcome back Professor Severus Snape.'

The buzz turned into loud cries and pained groans. Al glanced over and caught Severus smirking wickedly at the protests rising up from the tables before them. She couldn't help but share in some of that enthusiasm and ducked her head so she could grin herself. After allowing the students a bit of time to voice their displeasure with his announcement, Dumbledore once more called for silence. The room took a while to do so, finally giving in to a kind of begrudging silence that smacked of growing unhappiness.

'I know that Professor Snape can be a hard and exacting teacher, but he is the finest in his chosen field. All of you will benefit greatly from his experience,' Dumbledore informed them. The murmuring stopped for a moment or two, then started up again with a completely different feel to it. Al glanced at the students and noted that they were now viewing Severus with calculation. It made her wonder if they were speculating on or planning something. When she glanced over, she could see that the look on Severus's face was dark and foreboding.

She didn't think she wanted to be those students for anything in the world.

Without another word, Albus took his seat and the platters on the table filled with breakfast foods of all kinds. The atmosphere of the room was subdued as everyone made themselves a breakfast plate. Al fell into conversation with Minerva, asking the older woman about her summer and answering all of Minerva's questions about her own summer holidays. A time or two, Al looked up to see some of the students eyeing Severus as if they were sure he'd explode and become something vile and messy. One glance from him generally quelled that.

'So tell me, Severus,' McGonagall said in a voice that was loud enough for those closest to the staff's table to hear it. He looked up at her, his face blank. Al caught his stare a moment, giving him an encouraging lift of her lips. A barely noticable shift of his head let her know he'd seen it,. She sat back in her chair so that the two of them could easily see one another.

'Yes, Minerva?' his voice was a low rumble that sent shivers down Al's spine. She was amazed that none of the other women he came into contact with didn't suffer the same feelings when he spoke. Maybe it was because she was just so hopelessly in love with him. Reaching out with one hand, Al picked up her goblet and brought it to her lips for a drink.

'When the bloody hell are you going to cut your hair?' the Transfigurations teacher demanded forcefully, her eyes flashing fire. Al nearly choked on her pumpkin juice. As it was, she had to set the goblet down and dab at the droplets of liquid that had been spattered onto her chest when she'd snorted her drink through her nose. 'I swear, you look just like one of those hooligans that hang out in Knockturn Alley. All dark and mysterious. Its an outrage.'

'That dark and mysterious look got me more women than I could have ever dreamed of, Minerva,' he told her in that same low tone. Al felt her face heat. 'Besides, Alasdair likes it, so it stays as it is.'

'I could cut it for you,' Minerva said brightly, her wand drawn and pointed at him.

'Then I would be forced to set Alasdair loose upon you,' he replied with a knowing look. 'And I doubt she would be very forgiving.'

Both sets of eyes turned to her, forcing Al to look up from her spotted gown. She gave them both a look that said she didn't like to be put into this position, then resumed her meal. She heard a chuckle from Minerva, while something that sounded more like a snort came from her other side. She glanced out of the corner of her eye to see that Severus was looking at his plate to hide the smirk on his lips. 'You are so in trouble now, mister,' she promised in a whisper, then went back to eating her meal in silence.

'Now, now, children. Let's all behave ourselves,' Albus interjected. Al thought she heard a hint of laughter in his voice, too. 'Classes will be starting in a few moments and we'll all need to be on our best behavior.'

Al couldn't help the giggle when Minerva gave the Headmaster a look that could have stopped a Mack truck dead in its tracks.

The rest of the meal was concluded in silence, only the occasional whisper or comment to be heard over the clanking of the sliverware against the gleaming plates and the clatter of glasses settling onto the table top. Finally, a bell sounded to announce that classes would be starting in a matter of moments. The students rose from their tables loudly as they scrambled to gather their things and hurry off to the first class of the day. Only when they were all gone did anyone at the staff's table stand.

Severus moved over to stand by Al. 'Do not let the old man work you to death today. I have plans for you this evening, after the last meal is completed. Be there or suffer my wrath.'

'Oh, promises,' she smirked, then watched him walk off. There was a spring in his step that she could see, despite the way his robes billowed out behind him as he walked. She waited until he was gone, then turned to find the Headmaster staring at her with an amused expression in his eyes. Without a word, he motioned her to follow and started off for his office. Al fell into step behind him her mind lost to thought as she made her way by memory.

It was as they were climbing the stairs that she noticed something was off. Dumbledore was ahead of her, humming to himself under his breath. Beyond that, she noticed some other sound that she couldn't quite place. It was a kind of creaking sound, not quite old bones as the joint moved but something similar. Glancing around, Al could see nothing that would make such a noise. It was puzzling, but she pushed the confusion aside as she tried to get her brain into gear for the coming day.

Five minutes later, she was once again looking for the source of the creaking sound. By this time, they were at the gargoyle guarding the stairs to the office. She must have had a very puzzled look on her face, because Dumbeldore's voice pulled her up short. 'Is there something wrong, Alasdair?' he asked her, his voice full of concern.

'Yes, I'm fine. I think I'm just hearing things,' she told him, stepping up onto the rotating stairs after him. They rode up to the offices in silence, Al pondering what could possibly be wrong with her. Maybe too much sex had scrambled her hearing. Severus had been particularly thorough in his shagging of her last night and it had taken every ounce of her will not to simply pass out on him as soon as he'd finished.

'What kinds of things are you hearing?' he questioned, then stepped off the stairs. The creaking began again. Al blinked, then looked at him.

'That sound!' she exclaimed. 'You're making it! What the hell is it?'

Albus stopped and stared at her, then gave a slow smile. 'Oh, that noise. I know exactly what that is. Come along, child, and I'll show you.' He turned and started for his office. The creaking began again in earnest and Al followed behind him. She wanted to find out exactly what was going on. For a moment, she'd really started to think that she was losing her mind. When they were in his office, the door closed behind him, he turned to her with his hand holding onto his robes. 'Not a word to anyone about this. Do you understand?'

'Yes, sir,' Al nodded, her voice breathless with some kind of emotion. She couldn't say it was actually anticipation, because she was really concerned about knowing what could make him creak like that. Sure, he was an old man, but he wasn't that old. Was he?

Albus leaned back against his desk and stared a moment, finally allowing a smirk to settle across his face. Then he slowly, oh so slowly, lifted the hem of his robes. Was he going to reveal some grotesque disfigurement that was slowly turning him into stone? Was he marked by the plague? Was it something hideous? Was it..... tanned cowhide? Al blinked as his lower legs were revealed. They were encased in soft and supple, if new, leather. That creaked when he walked. She lifted her gaze to his and merely stared for long moments.

'Why?' she finally managed to ask, her voice little more than a horrified whisper.

'They looked smashing on Severus and I just had to get myself a pair. I plan on wearing them for Minerva. They should drive the old bat wild,' he informed her with a knowing wink.

~*~*~*~*~

Students fled in terror as Severus made his way through the halls. He was headed for the dungeons and his first class of the day and the year. The first one he'd taught in several years, in fact. Some small part of him was concerned that he'd lost his edge. Another small part of him was secretly pleased to be back in the teaching robes again. He could admit to himself that he'd missed doing this. Even if it was only with a tiny part of his mind.

First years practically wet themselves when they saw him coming while the older students dove for the cover of the nearest statue, alcove or first year they could find. It would seem that his reputation as the snarkiest bastard to ever grace the halls of the school was still known by one and all. He rather suspected that friends and family who'd attended and studied under his tutelage had bandied about everything they knew about him. The thought made him smile. It was nice to know some things were never forgotten.

He'd thought, shifting from the public spotlight back to the privacy of a simple potions teacher, that he'd find himself full of hate and regret. Nothing was further from the truth. While he wasn't happy with ending up back at Hogwarts, teaching the ungrateful, snot nosed brats of the people who'd spit upon him his entire life, he could honestly say he didn't really miss life on the road. Moving from one town to the next, spending his nights in a cold bed with an even colder woman, was something he knew he wouldn't miss at all. He had everything he could ever want or need here.

He had Alasdair.

As long as he and Alasdair were together, he didn't need anything or anyone else. While it was true that he had quite the tidy sum of money left from his days in the band and didn't really need to work, he liked to keep himself busy. Teaching was the only thing he knew. Terrorizing the students was merely a perk of the job. And he did so love to terrorize the students.

The final bell rang, telling him that the little jackoffs were likely sitting in his class, waiting for the horror to begin. He stopped before the door to his classroom, taking a moment to straighten his robes. He smoothed his jacket down once more, then tugged his cuffs into place. Giving the room of children a moment to wait, to allow their anxiety to build, he stood there before the door and counted off the minutes.

Finally, after he deemed that enough time had passed, he twisted hte knob and shoved the door wide. It slammed into the wall, then shut behind him with a certain amount of force. He stalked to the front of the class, stopping before the black board for a moment before pivoting on his heel so that he now faced them.

'Oh shite!' a voice exclaimed from somewhere in the back of the room.

Severus allowed a nasty smile to curl his lips up.

end chapter thirty one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

end Bound In Leather.
----------------------------------

as always, a loud shout out goes to my main group of supporters. without them, i'd have thrown in the quill a long time ago. but they keep me going and i love them all dearly. big, smooshy hugs for each and every one of you. extra special smooshies for my kitty cat and onyx for always having the time to read and give me their opinions, even though i feel they are a touch prejudiced. much love to you guys.

many thanks to each and every one of you who has read this, even though its seemingly taken me forever to finish it. though i write for the enjoyment of it and because i love to write, i also write because you continue to enjoy it. while i love the reviews, they are secondary to the joy i get in entertaining people. much love to each and every one of you for remaining faithful.

and finally, a last round of thanks.

to Luinloriel: no it wasn't the last chapter, there was the wedding to do as well as one to close the story. i hope the ending is enjoyable. i just couldn't see ending it any other way.

to sheedy: yes, they got married. no, there will be nothing further to do with Lucius or Draco. i felt the two of them had served their purpose in regards to the story and anything else would be like rubbing salt in a wound. though i suppose it would have been really nice to see what Severus would have done to Lucius if he'd been set loose on the pompous git. i leave that to your imagination.

to Leentje: glad you enjoyed the last and i hope you enjoy this one as well.

brightest blessings,
ladydeathfaerie