The Artifact

Beta - The Goblet

Part - 4


Albus Dumbledore assured himself that he was not obsessed.

He had a valid reason to wish to know if Severus Snape was indeed, as he suspected, a virgin. It was not out of some crass prurient interest. Really, it was not!

Albus needed to know in order for him to decide how to proceed with his courtship.

If Severus was indeed, as odd as it sounded for a man nearing forty, a sexual innocent, then he would need to go slowly and carefully. And when he finally made love to him, he must be sure that his first experience was perfect.

If he were not a virgin, Dumbledore would still make the first time with him special. In fact, it opened up many possibilities that he would never dare suggest to someone sexually innocent. And he was very determined to be sure that they actually had a first time, and hopefully many more.

But there was something about losing one\'s virginity. If it was done wrong, it could ruin sex for the person in question for life. He certainly did not want that, in fact Dumbledore was rather hoping for the opposite effect. Even if Severus did end up not wanting a long term relationship with him, Albus wanted to at least be sure that he knew what it meant to be pleasured by someone who cared for him.

There were a number of spells that could determine whether or not someone was a virgin.

It was absolutely amazing how many ways people had come up with over the centuries to discern this particular condition. Unfortunately, as Dumbledore quickly discovered, they all tended to be somewhat intrusive: such as turning the person it was cast upon bright green if they were a virgin, and red if they weren\'t.

The last thing that Albus wanted to do was something that would be obvious to a passer by. Something that if accidentally seen by anyone else in the school, could easily make Severus an object of ridicule.

That clearly would not be the best way to win Severus\' heart.

And, as much as he wanted to seduce Severus and get his hands on that lovely body: that was not all he wanted. He really did care very deeply for the sexy Slytherin.

Albus had always had a soft spot for Severus. He had cared for him even when the pale sullen man had been a tiny pale sullen boy, though he certainly was not sexually attracted to him then!

Albus had felt so sorry for him. Everyone on staff had suspected some sort of abuse: physical, emotional, psychological. But no matter how many times those suspicions were reported the Ministry was loathed to remove a child from their parents without hard evidence. Unless the child was so badly injured that they were sent to St Mungo\'s, or a VERY reliable person actually witnessed extreme abuse, nothing would be done.

The boy did not know how to react to kindness. It was as if the entire concept of caring and love was foreign to him. He was suspicious of everything and everyone.

In the world of Severus Snape, the world of a child alternately abused and neglected by his father and mother, the only time anyone did anything for him was when they had an ulterior motive.

Perhaps if something had been done sooner...

Albus tried to recall just when his sympathy and somewhat paternal caring had begun to change. When his thoughts of Severus had begun to take on sexual overtones. Some time after he had returned from Voldemort. It had been building for some time, but had become undeniable one night when he had walked into Severus\' quarters the day before Harry Potter had come to Hogwarts. He had wanted to speak to Severus, to make sure that he was not too caught up in old grudges, old memories.

That night he had been surprised to find Severus passed out drunk. He had never seen the younger man drink, not even to take wine with his dinner. Yet there he was half-naked on the frayed old rug before the cold fireplace, two empty bottles of Fire Whiskey on the floor beside him. It was a wonder the boy was still breathing.

That night had been the first time Albus had seen Severus without his all-concealing robes. Robes which, the Headmaster became convinced, he must have worn them so that he would not have lovesick students chasing after him! He was beautiful.

Only the fact that Severus was passed out drunk caused Albus to leave his chambers after levitating him to the bed. He wanted to do so much more. But not like that. Not when the object of his awakening desire was unconscious.

Dumbledore found that over the intervening years his physical attraction and concern deepened. Just the sight of his Potion Master stalking into the Great Hall made the Headmaster\'s heart beat faster. Listening to the Slytherin\'s sensual voice sent a shiver of desire through his entire body.

And over those years Albus had completely convinced himself that Severus would never be interested in an old man like him. Now with the memory of those black eyes wide with desire, he realized that he had been wrong.

Albus Dumbledore also realized that it did not matter how or when he fell in love with Severus Snape. What mattered was that he was in love with him, and that now was the time to try and win him.

At one point he thought about simply speaking to him. Inviting Severus to his office to tell him exactly how attracted he was to the somewhat sardonic man and that he very much wanted a real long-term relationship with him.

The headmaster regretfully disregarded that thought in a heartbeat. Severus was a proud and stubborn man. He would not just fall into the Headmaster\'s arms, not without some gentle persuasion. Even if, as the old man suspected, Severus wanted to.

---
The next morning, Dumbledore was ready. Armed with a specially spelled handkerchief he strode down the dungeon corridor near the Potions classroom. When he caught sight of Severus storming through the halls with his robes flaring dramatically, and after he snapped out of his stupor (Gods he loved watching that!) Albus drew the cloth from his robes, using a levitation spell. Without touching it, he dropped it to the ground.

Severus stooped stiffly and picked it up. \"You dropped this?\" he stated placing it in his hand.

\"Why yes, I did,\" Albus smiled as he slipped the precious object back into the pocket of his robe quickly. \"Are you coming to lunch Severus?\"

\"No, Headmaster, I have some work to do,\" Severus replied with a nod, then stalked away before Albus could get out another word, let alone try and persuade him to eat.

Albus sighed. He supposed it was not surprising that Severus seemed to be avoiding him. But the boy skipped too many meals. He was thin enough already. He needed someone to care for him.

When Severus had disappeared into his office, the Headmaster took the cloth from his pocket. He had charmed it so that a virgin\'s touch would turn it gold; while turning blue if someone who had sexual experience touched it.

Albus Dumbledore smiled as he clutched the golden cloth in his hand...

Now he knew, and would be able to plan accordingly.

\"Prof\'ssor Dumbledore, Sir!\" Hagrid came charging down the hall. \"Pro\'ssor McGonagall says an owl just came from the Ministry. They be wantin\' you \'n me to go to London. Said it were official Ministry business. Don\'t know why they\'d be wantin\' me, do ya Headmaster?\" asked the half giant nervously.

tbc