SALVATION

JK Rowling's characters and Wizarding Universe are all uniquely hers. Plot, new characters, new magical terms and abilities etc. are my intellectual property. If you want to borrow then please kindly ask.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE. If you are looking for strict Canon or even a slight deviation from Canon you won’t find it here.


Summary: The War is finally over and Snape finds that the world he knows has nothing to offer him. He finds himself drawn to a new world; one steeped in traditions of its own not known to the wizarding world. Will he take the risks needed for his own salvation?

Rated M for Sexual Situations, Language, Some Violence.

Author’s Notes: My inspiration comes from the novel and film WHALE RIDER.

Let me take this moment to say that I am not Maori, nor am I from New Zealand. I am a Nanticoke-Lenni Lenape Native American living in London (as some of you already know). The Maori have similar issues to us which is why Whale Rider really struck a chord when I first heard of it. But believe me when I say that my people still face a LOT of prejudice in their country. We still live under a peculiar brand of systematic apartheid in the 21st Century on the Rez. Far too many exist in third-world conditions. It’s a testament to how bad things are that I find success in Europe than I never could back home. To know more about the problems that indigenous cultures face globally – just google. For eye-watering specifics about Native Americans living in poverty read about the Pine Ridge Reservation particularly. For more about the racial, social, economic and political realities my people face, check out any of the Native American news services online and A.I,M. – American Indian Movement..

CHAPTER NOTES: Anyone who is familiar with the story of the film version of Whale Rider will definitely recognise elements of the back story to the problems Pai has with Koro. As Risi has pointed out – I think it lends itself tremendously to understanding how Snape and Pai ultimately connect given the situation with his own father, which will be equally torturous. However, I am making Koro infinitely nastier than he was in either the book or film. Please note that the original Whale Rider story is about an 11-12 year old girl, not a grown woman. I have done a great deal of research for this and have also been speaking with a few Moari contacts here in London and NZ.


SALVATION

Chapter 004: Whale Rider

Snape didn’t see Pai that night as he’d thought he would. He also didn’t see her for the next few days. No concrete news about her passed his way until he went into Gisborne to pick up a few things. He ran into Rawiri, or rather Rawiri ran into him in one of the local bookshops. Since Snape hadn’t seen her since that first night, he asked after her and how she had done with her presentations.

‘Pai’s in a bit of trouble with Koro at the moment… Well she’s always in trouble with him but this time… Mate I’m telling you it’s bad, really bad…I’ve never seen anything like it, not since Pai was born and my brother ran off.’

‘Trouble? How so?’ Snape asked evenly as the shocking comment about Pai’s father washed over him.

‘Um, look I don’t think this is really the best place to be talking about it… ’

‘I understand. I’m about to have some lunch if you would care to join me.’

In Snape’s estimation Pai’s uncle was a reasonable man. That fact that he wanted to talk to Snape, to make him understand… The former Potions Master wasn’t taking it lightly.

Rawiri followed Snape to the pay point at the front of the shop.

‘Art and design… right up Pai’s alley…’ he observed casually.

Snape didn’t reply as he settled with the clerk and walked out the shop. The two men walked in silence to a small café on a side street. It was bustling with business, but not so much that they couldn’t carry on a proper conversation.

‘Heya Sandra – got a booth today for the love of your life?’ Rawiri asked, turning on the charm.

‘Aww go on you,’ the waitress replied with a wink as she handed them two menus. ‘Be with you in two ticks, cheeky devil.’

Snape followed Pai’s uncle to a booth discreetly tucked at the back of the café. They could speak privately with no fear of being overheard. More importantly, no one would see them speaking together.

‘I’m listening,’ the former Potions Master said quietly.

Rawiri took a deep breath. This was going to be a difficult conversation to have. He’d wanted to talk to Stuart-Clark since it all kicked off, but didn’t feel right going to his house. He’d tried a couple of times and never made it further than walking by the man’s back gate.

‘Is this about what happened with myself and Pai the night I moved in?’

‘Yes – but it’s bigger than that really.’

‘So – what are they saying about us?’

Pai’s uncle closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

‘Supposedly Pai was seen… with you…’

‘Well of course she was; whoever that dunderhead was he had friends, although not particularly brave ones…’

‘No; you don’t understand. The story is that she was seen…you know…with you…’

The burly Maori turned beet red and Snape’s mouth fell open.

The waitress placed two glasses of water on the table.

‘You gents ready to order?’

Rawiri asked for his usual and Snape mumbled that would be fine for him as well though not having any idea what he was agreeing to lost in thought as he was. Sandra engaged Rawiri in a bit of banter and then finally left to tend to other customers and place their order with the cook.

‘They made it sound like she was just some little hori being used by you. Anyone with half a brain knows better. My niece isn’t like that. Never has been and never will be. She’s too much of a romantic, just like her old man. Koro’s all bent out of shape because she’s never taken to anyone like she seems to have taken to you. And not only did you take her home, you sat outside on the porch there and cooled your heels for bit like normal folks do…’

‘I see,’ Snape said.

‘Look Mr. Stuart-Clark…’

‘Michael… please… I can’t stand such servile formality.’

‘Michael… look; I know Pai, it’s been me that’s been responsible for her since she was born along with my Mum. Koro blames Pai for things she has no control over. She is who she is – and it’s not good enough for him. He thinks the worst no matter what she does and he’s always turning everything around on her. Me and Mum have tried, honestly we have, but there’s nothing we can do except just be there for her to help her pick up the pieces. It’s not easy being hated so much by someone you desperately want to love you, but that’s been Pai’s lot with him since the day she was born.’

‘I was aware that your father is a rather…difficult…man. I heard a bit about him the last time I was here as a traveler. I had assumed that such a man would also be a fair and just chieftan: Paikea has done nothing wrong and certainly nothing as shameful as he is being led to believe. I would not have believed that one who is supposed to be so spiritually gifted could be misled by petty jealousies.’

Snape told Rawiri what happened after he left that night. He didn’t leave out a detail, including how harsh he had been to Pai and how she’d taken off.

‘It wasn’t intentional. I’m just not used to… I am not accustomed to people taking a liking to me or being concerned about me. I’m going through…a sort of adjustment, you might say. That much “help” in one day was a bit much for me; or at least that is what I had convinced myself at the time.’

He continued with telling Pai’s uncle about how he’d gone after her, the confrontation with Jonny, their time at his house and afterwards when he drove her home.

‘Despite the theatrics, it sounds like you quite enjoyed Pai’s company,’ Rawiri said carefully just before Sandra brought their food. He flirted with the waitress for a minute or two and then sent her on her way with a promise to give her a bell if the next time Michelle wanted to force him to go to some poncey wine bar.

‘Would you really?’ Snape sputtered.

‘Of course not; it’s nothing more than a bit of joking around and Sandra and Michelle know that. You should see my ‘Chelle when young Fernando is in here serving… Can’t complain though – he makes her right randy!’

‘Is that a fact?’

Rawiri decided it was best not to get into too much with Sandra this time. Somehow he had the distinct idea that Stuart-Clark didn’t approve of flirting outside of the bounds of a committed relationship. It just struck him as odd, but to each his own.

‘If it makes you feel any better, Pai said the exact same thing as you. Like I said, I know my niece: she wants the kind of attention a lot of the guys she knows wouldn’t give her. She’s too good for them anyway no matter what Koro says. Best thing she could do for herself would be to move the hell out of here. That little tinny shack she’s living in, it’s not on. By rights she should been in that house, but Koro wouldn’t have it and he wouldn’t let anyone else help her either.’

‘House… my house?’

‘All that time you spent talking – I guess she didn’t tell you anything about the story of our family?’

‘No… not really.’

‘It begins with the story of the Whale Rider, our ancestor Paikea Te Rangi, He traveled from Hawaiki, the place of the Ancients, to the site of our village on the back of a whale after his canoe capsized. The mountain is his mountain. The island is his island. We, the Ngati Konohi, are his people. His traditions are our traditions. And Koro, my father, is the latest in a long line of first-born chiefs descended from him.

Pai’s father, my brother Witi, was the firstborn between us. As such he was expected to pick that mantle long before he was old enough to know what he wanted out of life for himself. Koro laid on the pressure day in and day out. He built that fancy house that you live in. My brother didn’t want that any more than he wanted to build that waka or fish. But Dad couldn’t even leave well enough alone with that. He hounded and hounded and hounded him about the Waka to commemorate Witi becoming Koro. Dad wanted him to undergo special instruction when Witi hadn’t even shown that he had the gift with the whales; to call them, communicate with them, to command their spirit on top of all the other things he was supposed to be a master of.

Anyways, Witi ran off and got involved with this girl Layla from the South Island. Layla’s the reason why Pai is so bloody gorgeous let me tell you. She was a healer, that one and really gifted spiritually. She tried to mend the rift between Dad and Witi, but Dad wouldn’t cut her a break no matter what she did. Well, Layla fell pregnant and Witi and her got married. For a while it seemed like Koro might let up a bit, but all he cared about was the baby she was carrying. You’d never believe Witi or Layla had any say-so about their own child the way my father strutted around the place. You would have thought it was his child she was carrying and not my brother’s!’

Turns out she was expecting twins – one of those twins was Pai. Pai was the first one out, but she had a twin brother. Stillborn he was and he took Layla with him. Even at a time like that, Koro wouldn’t let up. The way he carried on, like it Pai’s fault that she lived and the little boy died. And all that of course he blamed on my brother. He and Witi had a knock-down fight and my brother named his daughter Paikea on the spot without batting an eyelash The tradition is that only boys get that name and even then only certain circumstances. Witi got his own back with Pai naming her like he did just to spite Dad. But Pai’s the one who’s paid the price ever since – and my father refuses to acknowledge her by her proper name; he was the one who shortened it or who betides anyone who calls her “Paikea” in front of him! But the naming; that was the last thing my brother did before he walked out the hospital. He left that day and we haven’t seen him since. Once in a while Mum hears from him. He’s actually over in your neck of the woods –a big-time artist making a fair bit of dosh too from what I understand. It’s been a few years since Pai’s seen him, but that’s where she gets it from – that creative talent she has.

All Pai’s ever known is how disappointed and unhappy Koro is that she lived and her brother died. That man has never shown her any love or caring or understanding. Not once! And he won’t let her take her right place as his heir. Pai has fought him on that since she was old enough to understand her place as the first born. Even if her brother had survived, it wouldn’t have been right to take him over her. But Koro would have. Even in the hospital he refused to pick her up. He still mourns for that little boy after all these years. The things he says to Pai and the way he talks about her to other people… it’s horrible. She tries so hard but it’s like climbing a hill wearing roller skates. He wouldn’t let her have her father’s house. Although she’s never asked for it, he should have. And he won’t let her have the waka. She could finish it because I taught her behind my father’s back. Koro refused to consider me as much as he’s refused her. But I don’t want to be Koro. I’m not the one with the gifts – Pai is. Me and Mum see it, we’ve always seen it! Everybody in the family except him!’

Snape leaned back in seat, his face unreadable. He simply nodded, and indicated with the slightest of gestures that Pai’s uncle should continue.

‘I’m sorry,’ Rawiri said. ‘I shouldn’t be hitting you with all this; but I just wanted you understand what she’s up against. People have a lot to resent her for with her flash job and the family she comes from as it is. And then you come along and the two of you hit it off first thing…’

‘I was wondering if anything had happened to her; but I didn’t think I would be particularly welcome if I went to see her. I thought there might be trouble.’

‘She doesn’t have a problem with you. She’s just a bit preoccupied with work. Things didn’t go right for her with two big pitches that she had, and it’s all Koro’s fault but he doesn’t care. He’d like nothing better than for her to loose her job just so that he could rub it in her face – and she’d never live it down with the rest of them…’

‘I saw her the day that she was due to present to a couple of potential major accounts. She was walking to the bus stop and crying… hysterically… Your father hates her – and that much…?’

‘Yes,’ Rawiri admitted, clearly ashamed. ‘It’s gone into overdrive now. Pai’s not completely isolated in our little community; but there’s nothing that me or my mum or Pai’s friends can do about what he’s putting her through… She is just as honest to her tikanga as he thinks he is to his – to her true understanding of our ways and beliefs. She is a hundred and fifty percent faithful to the teachings of our ancestors, but he doesn’t give a damn about that. It would take nothing short of a few major miracles to get him to change!’

Snape frowned and looked down his cold cheeseburger and chips.

‘Thank you for telling me, Rawiri; I can appreciate that it wasn’t easy for you. I myself would never be so inclined to be candid.’

‘I did it for Pai’s sake really. She feels horrible about the shit-stirring going on and here you haven’t even been here two weeks yet. She just couldn’t find a way to approach you, like. Same with me. I walked by your gate once or twice.’

‘I suppose that I gave the impression that made it difficult for you to approach me. I am not the most social of people.’

‘No harm done. I appreciate you giving me the chance to explain things to you. Koro rules with an iron fist – everyone except Pai. He thinks she undermines his authority with some of the others. But Jonny and Kahutia and that lot…Paikea Te Rangi himself could come back and it wouldn’t make a bit of difference to them! They’ve made their own choices and don’t have anyone to blame but themselves for what their lives are like. Our Pai wants better than what they’re willing to settle for. It’s her right. She takes people as they are and some around here have been horrible to her because Koro. She could care less what they said about her, but she wouldn’t hear a bad word spoken against you. Please don’t judge her or hold what you might hear said against her, including anything that they say about her and you. She’s a righteous girl.’

Rawiri looked at his watch.

‘Listen – I need to get back. I’ve got this little mechanic business going on the side. Big Spender’ll be by for his wheels and I still need to see the carburetor... If this goes alright there’s more coming my way…’

‘Let me get this,’ said Snape as he pulled out his wallet.

‘Oh no – I can pay my own way thanks!’

‘No – I insist.’

Snape called Sandra over and handed her ten dollars.

‘You’re alright, just like Pai thought you were,’ said Rawiri as he extended his hand.

Snape shook it and then watched as Pai’s uncle walked away with the waitress and flirted a bit more before leaving. The former Potions Master waited ten minutes or so and then left.

It was still early afternoon and he had plenty of time on his hands.

xxxOOOxxx

Snape went home and had a long hot shower. He’d had a proper haircut in Gisborne, his first for quite a long time. His hair was the longest it had been since he was a teenager, but it looked healthy for a change with a bit of the product he let himself be talked into once he saw how presentable he looked with it. He dressed carefully in black trousers and a newly ironed crisp white shirt. It was too hot for a tie and jacket and besides which, that was too much of an adjustment for him.

He picked over his reflection in the hall mirror like vultures attacking a carcass.

‘You come along and the two of you hit it off first thing,’ Rawiri had said. ‘Despite the theatrics, it sounds like you quite enjoyed Pai’s company.’

‘Yes I did,’ Snape muttered to himself as he took one last painful look. ‘Yes I did indeed.’

The mirror – it was the first one he’d had around him since he was a child. He stared at his reflection and reminded himself that he was no longer the awkward nerdy teenager that everyone ignored except for the bullying Marauders from Gryffindor. He had been hounded and harassed even as an adult and completely disrespected. But he wasn’t in Britain anymore. No one knew him from Adam and he could be whatever he chose without the threat of his ‘reputation’ destroying any possibility of lasting happiness.

There was no reason why he shouldn’t attempt to seek out Paikea’s company.

xxxOOOxxx

He’d reviewed it in his mind over and over as he drove. But now that former Potions Master found himself in Wairoa he wasn’t quite sure what his modus operandi should be. There was no unearthly reason that he should have just happened to have driven down here, the scenic beauty of the place and its surrounding parklands of Waikaremoana (Urewera National Park) notwithstanding. However, Wairoa was another picturesque Eastland town and definitely a far more pleasant proposition than her current circumstances living in the ramshackle shed on her grandfather’s property. It was his assessment that Paikea could certainly do better for herself by relocating here. It was still the preserve of her people and as such was an option that perhaps she ought to consider.

‘The house she should have had which you occupy notwithstanding,’ the devil on his shoulder prodded him.

He stopped in at the Visitor’s Center and picked up some information about the area, including a local guide to services. Pai’s employer was listed, just as he’d expected. Like most places of its type off the beaten track, it was located centrally in town. A quick check of the map in the guide revealed that Evolution was only a short walk away.

xxxOOOxxx

‘Can I help you,’? Pai’s Receptionist asked him, sounding bored.

‘I am here to see Miss Ihimaera.’

‘Miss Ihimaera doesn’t have any appointments booked for today...?’

‘The name is Stuart-Clark.’

‘And the purpose of your visit is…?’

‘That is between myself and Miss Ihimaera,’ Snape replied coldly as he leaned over the desk and picked up the digital handset and held it out to the young man who was beginning to grate on his nerves.

‘Hmmmph!’

Despite his mounting disdain for the arsehole in front of him, the receptionist rang Pai’s extension.

‘Pikya – you have a visitor in Reception…!’ the Receptionist sneered.

Pai must have given him an ear-bashing, because after a moment of holding the phone away from his ear the young man replied ‘Oh, pardon me Piekeeaah…’

He hung up the phone without even announcing Snape properly. Before the former Potions Master could say another word, Pai was on the other side of the glass double doors that led to the main workspace of the company.

‘Hello Mr. Stuart-Clark,’ Pai said evenly as she extended a hand. ‘Please forgive me; I neglected to add your details to my appointment book. I’ll have to remember to have a word with the new receptionist starting next week. I’m sure she’ll be only too happy to assist me so that this doesn’t happen again.’

‘New Receptionist?’ the Receptionist spat.

‘Mr. Stuart-Clark – this way please,’ Pai said graciously.

Snape couldn’t resist a sneer as the reality that he’d just been fired sank in with dunderhead ignoring the ringing phone as always. He said nothing as he followed Pai through the doors and up a spiral staircase, ignoring the looks of the four people spread out offices on the lower level. She walked to a rear office that had fantastic views of the ocean.

‘To what do I owe this honour?’ Pai asked incredulously.

Snape said nothing at first as he simply looked at her. Pai’s hair was swept back into an elegant chignon and she was every inch the professional in a form fitting red dress and heels. He’d thought her reasonably attractive before, but she’d just shot up quite a bit in his estimation.

‘I was just passing through, on business…’ he grumbled.

‘Everything sorted then?’

‘As it so stands, no. I find that I am hungry. Famished, in fact. I thought that as I was here, perhaps you would care to join me.’

‘Mmm I haven’t lunch actually and it’s almost dinner time…’

‘Is this your office?’ Snape asked quietly as he walked over to one of the windows and looked out.

This certainly wasn’t a bad place to be nine to five.

‘Oh – yes; yes it is…’

Pai showed him around the expansive space. There was a large white-washed pine desk that had her wireless computer with two large flat screen monitors, a laptop, digital handset, Blackberry and other stationary items. There was a large bookcase with a number of tomes on marketing, design and media studies. Another held periodicals, and Snape noted that there was still plenty of space for more books. There weren’t any personal items like photos or mementos – something that struck him in a familiar way. His own office at Hogwarts had been bereft of anything other than that which he required for his work.

‘You’ve done very well for yourself indeed, Miss Ihimaera.’

‘Despite Koro…’

‘What?’

‘Nothing…’ Pai said dejectedly. ‘There aren’t loads of restaurants here, I’m afraid. But the ones that are, are really good.’

‘Are you able to get away now?’

‘Yes – I am as a matter of fact. It’ll be the first time I’ve left at a reasonable hour since that disaster last week.’

‘The presentations…’

‘Didn’t go well… far from it…’ Pai replied bitterly. ‘I’ve been working dog’s hours to try and win those accounts. Both prospects have agreed to see us again. Fortunately the competition isn’t up to scratch.’

‘Let’s talk about it over dinner.’

‘No need of me boring you to tears with it.’

‘You wouldn’t be,’ Snape said as he walked to her office door and held it open.

xxxOOOxxx

‘I hope you like Chinese,’ Pai said as they looked over their menus. ‘I can never have enough myself…’

The restaurant was one of her favourites in the whole of the district. Like most places in Waitroa, the views were nothing less than spectacular. They were on the second floor of the restaurant, a decidedly intimate space that fortunately could never be heaving with people.

‘As a matter of fact, I quite like it. I have to say I was rather surprised to find that a lot of the food in China itself was nothing like what we in the West are accustomed to.’

‘You’ve been to China?’

‘All over the world,’ Snape replied evenly.

‘I’ve never even left the North Island… Auckland is as exotic as it could get for me so far.’

The former Potions Master looked up at Pie and quirked an eyebrow.
‘You’ve never had any desire to explore – perhaps test the waters elsewhere?’

‘It just never occurred to me that I should,’ Pai said quietly. ‘Everything I know, everything I am…is here.’

‘Even with the difficulties you’ve had?’

The young woman smiled faintly.

‘Either you’ve heard the gossip or my uncle has been sorting you out…’

‘The saintly denizens of Te Whangarei have given me a wide berth. The same cannot be said of your uncle,’ said Snape.

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly and Pai supposed that it was Michael’s version of a smile. She blushed in spite of herself and felt stupid.

‘You must think I’m really sad,’ she murmured just as a waiter appeared to take their order.

‘What do you recommend,’ Snape asked Pai.

‘General Tsao’s Chicken, Spicy King Prawns, Prawn Egg Foo Young with Gravy as main courses. The House Special Fried Rice and Vegetable Lo Mein for sides and to start the Duck Pancakes and Sesame Prawn Toast. Oh – and the green tea is great to help it all settle.’

‘Good – that’s what we’ll have,’ Snape told the waiter.

Pai smiled. Michael clearly loved his food. He had the physique of a man who was probably quite skinny until middle age. He was broad, but looked to be rock solid. For the briefest of moments she found herself wondering what he looked like without those clothes…

‘I don’t think anything of the sort about you,’ the Potions Master said.

‘You haven’t been here that long and…’

‘I told you: gossip doesn’t worry me. If it did I wouldn’t be here.’

‘Still…’

Snape reached over and gently placed an index finger over her lips. He thought fleetingly how soft they were.

‘I have enjoyed your company despite any appearance to the contrary.’

‘So you do have taste,’ Pai smiled.

‘Cheeky madame!’

Their waiter and two assistants came with their food. All the plates and bowls were placed on table warmers dead centre between them. The tea and cold glasses of still water followed. There was one last check that their customers were fine with their order and the wait staff disappeared.

‘What about you Michael?’

‘What about me?’

‘You’ve got my life story – what about yours?’

Snape started dishing out the food, starting with Pai.

‘We have a lot in common, actually.’

‘We do?’

‘Yes. My father can give Koro a run for his money on the basis of what I have heard and been told by your uncle directly. My father is not a kind man, particularly to his only child. I had a remarkably unpleasant childhood.’

‘Oh… I’m sorry to hear that Michael. I really am… But thank you for being able to tell me.’

‘I’ve never told that to another living soul. We will leave that unpleasantness where it is for now. At any rate, I used to teach back home – in Scotland. Secondary education through college age. Chemistry mainly.’

‘You struck me as very intelligent. I never had the head for things like that.’

‘Clearly you have other talents which have served you well. I never used to care about such things as a rule. Life did not offer time or space for extra-curricular interests.’

‘Somehow I can’t imagine you being too keen to teach though…’

‘An astute observation and a correct one.’

‘So why did you do something you didn’t want to do? You were entitled to your own life…?’

Snape fell silent. There was no easy way to answer that, even under false pretenses.

‘Nevermind,’ Pai said gently. ‘I already have the answer to my own thorny question…’

‘Yes, I rather suppose you do.’

Snape and Pai tucked into their meal in earnest. Their conversation ebbed and flowed as each sought to not push the other beyond comfortable boundaries. There was talk of Gisborne and Wairoa and the former Potions Master commented that he found the town where Pai worked a far pleasanter proposition that he could have imagined.

‘It’s really great here. The last bastion of humanity before you go into Waikaremoana. A lot of houses here are nestled right on the edge of it. Not a bad back yard if you can manage it. I actually prefer it to Gisborne in may ways. Probably why I don’t kill myself to get out of here at a reasonable hour…’

‘Have you thought of relocating here? I should imagine your salary could cover the expense…’


It was Pai’s turn to fall silent. Moving to Wairoa would be the easiest thing she could do for herself, but she’d never been one to take the easy way out. She was determined to take her rightful place as her grandfather’s successor and it would be much harder if she wasn’t in Te Whangarei.

‘You don’t really spend much time in the village, do you…’ Snape said evenly.

‘No actually… not since I’ve been working…’

‘Sometimes the route to what we want isn’t as we think.’

‘You have this uncanny knack for almost reading my mind.’

‘As you do mine, Miss Paikea.’

Snape summoned their waiter and paid for dinner despite Pai’s protests. She’d never gone out with a bloke and not paid at least half the bill; she often found herself having to pay for all it recently. The former Potions Master ignored the money she tried to press on him and stood. He extended a hand and helped her up.

‘You have amazing manners…’

‘Finally, someone who can give me some credit for having some redeeming quality,’ Snape smirked.

xxxOOOxxx

As they were right on the doorstep of some of the best beach in Eastland, Pai and Snape took a leisurely after-dinner walk, taking in the ambiance as the sun moved lower on the horizon. They found a secluded spot and sat down.

‘What an amazing place to have grown up in…’ he said thoughtfully as he watched Pai take down her long hair and shake it loose.

‘Not a bad place to be even as a grown-up,’ Pai replied as she moved closer to him. ‘Thank you for dinner…and everything else…’

‘My pleasure,’ Snape murmured as his arm went around her back as a sort of prop.

‘You know they’ll go out of their way to make life hard for you here…’

‘I can take care of myself Paikea…and you.’

There was unmistakable something as they sat together looking into each others’ eyes. Snape thought Pai had the most beautiful brown eyes he’d ever seen on a woman. Her skin was smooth and free of blemishes. The only artifice now was a bit of dark blue eyeliner and shadows in varying shades of berry and brown. He reached out impulsive and cupped one side of her face, stroking a delicate patch of skin with his thumb.

Pai closed her eyes and Snape cupped her face in the other hand. He leaned down and kissed her gently. Her lips parted in response and Snape engaged her tongue in a slow dance that took their breath away.

Suddenly Pai backed away.

‘I’m not some hori! I’m not like Kahutia!’

‘I know you aren’t. If that’s what I was after I wouldn’t get so involved!’

Pai blinked and then looked down.

‘I’m just tired of being used!’

She looked up at Snape again and he could see tears welling up.

‘Pai,’ he murmured as he took her into his arms. ‘I know what that feels like. I’m not interested in anyone here but you – and not for some cheap fling.’

‘I’m certainly not cheap – you threw out a fair bit of dosh on dinner…not to mention the petrol it took to get out here to see me…’

Snape chuckled.

‘You are simply priceless…’

The young woman slowly put her arms around him and let him hold her. Pai stroked the soft down on one of his forearms and then tilted her head up. Snape leaned down again and they began to kiss. Pai moaned softly as he caressed her inner thigh. She reached up and unbuttoned a few more buttons on his shirt, wanting to touch the black down on his chest. It was Snape’s turn to moan as her fingers grazed his nipples. Their kissing became more passionate and only for the briefest of moments did they separate.

Snape looked into her eyes and each had flashes, unflinchingly painful flashes of some of the cruelty and hurt the other had survived. And they were both aware of what was happening. There was no need for explanations, not now. They would have to wait.

Snape lay down in the sand and pulled Pai down next to him. They lay there silently in each other’s arms, watching as the sun began to set.

‘Are you sure you want to…’ she asked suddenly, propping herself up on one arm as darkness began to settle around them.

Snape pulled her down again silence her.

The only answers he could give her right now were in his kisses.

xxxOOOxxx

‘What time should I pick you up in the morning?’ Snape asked as they sat on Pai’s verandah several days later.

They’d been together every night since their time together in Wairoa and had nothing more than kiss. But tonight was the first time that they were together in Te Whangarei. They were being watched, they had no doubt of it. Pai had said he should go when he stopped by, and he’d refused. Then she suggested that they go inside and again he’d refused.

‘I can take the bus, same as always…’

‘There is no reason for you to carry on like that when I have transport. I imagine I should be here at seven. We can stop along the way and have breakfast.’

‘Michael, please…’

‘Don’t let them make you afraid to really live for yourself, Pai.’

Snape moved closer and put his arms around her as he took in the views. The settlement had the appearance of being warm and inviting, nestled as it was amongst the sprawling hills of the coastline. It was only a five-minute walk to the beach below. Te Whangarei was like anywhere else, one never really knew what lay beneath until one lived there. He knew about Pai’s enemies, but for the first time he began to wonder about those she counted as friends.

They certainly seemed to be absent supporters in her daily life and the cruelty she endured at the hands of her grandfather.