Another Dark Star

Chapter 4



It was a smoky, dingy little pub, the name of which had worn off the sign years ago. She slipped in with a crowd of people, her travelling cloak covering her costume, her hood shading her face. She scanned the clientele from the shadows. Midden was nowhere to be seen.
She found Severus hidden in a corner, so well that if she hadn’t been looking for him, and a trained Auror, she would have missed him completely. She sat in the snug on the opposite side of the table to him.

“Any sign of him so far?” she asked.

“No, but I can see the door from here.” he replied.

“Thanks for offering to look out for me. Don’t get me wrong, I could have done it alone but I feel better knowing someone’s got my back.” She explained.

“It’s the least I could do for you.” he replied darkly.

“What do you mean?” she asked confused.

“Since our...disagreement that first day I have been thinking. You were right; you were going through a difficult time and I took advantage of that and your youth. I abused my position. I should have supported you as a teacher, not taken you as a lover.” he said, quietly admonishing himself.

“That wasn’t what I meant at all. I don’t regret what we had. I wanted to be with you and I wasn’t just some silly girl with a crush. I was just disappointed by your lack of trust in me. I wanted commitment, but I suppose you were right. I probably wasn’t ready for that back then.” She took his hand across the table but he snatched it back.

“Sorry.” she mumbled sadly.

“I didn’t do any of this to try and win you back.” he growled from beneath his hood.

“I know, I’m just saying I appreciate everything you ever did for me.” She said softly.

He looked at her then, searching her eyes with his own for the truth of her words. She made the mistake of meeting his gaze and was lost in the depths of those bottomless black pools for what felt like an eternity, before dropping her eyes, shielding her gaze with long dark lashes, blushing.

“It’s good to see I can still have that effect on you Miss Prewett,” he said in a soft low voice that sent shivers down her spine. She suddenly felt very warm as she remembered the nights she spent in his arms when he would whisper loving words in her ear seductively with that voice.

When she dared look at him again, she caught him smirking at her. She decided to play him at his own game. Slowly and firmly, she ran her booted foot up his leg, along the inside of his thigh and back again, licking her lips as she did so. She smirked back at him as she saw his eyes widen for a moment before he caught himself. She could almost hear his breath; she knew his pulse would be racing. He was finding it very hard to concentrate on keeping a straight face and his trousers were starting to get uncomfortably tight.

“Glad I can still have an effect on you too, Professor.” she shot back cheekily, leaning across the table and giving him an excellent view of her cleavage in the corset.

“Minx.” was all he had time to say, his voice beginning to husk, as the door opened again and Midden skulked in. He was a portly, balding man, short and ruddy faced.

They watched him in silence as he spoke at length with a man Sadira assumed was Angus. When he was on his own, she quickly stroked Severus’ hand and made her way to the bar next to him. When she got there she pushed her cloak back to reveal her costume.

“Hello lovely, what’s your name?” he leered at her.

“Nancy.” she replied.

“Buy you a drink?” he offered. She accepted, surreptitiously sniffing the drink for any trace of potion or poison before downing it in one. If she missed anything, at least there was a Potions Master nearby, she reassured herself.

He stared at her lecherously and engaged her in meaningless chit chat. The man was useless at chatting up girls. ‘But he thinks he’s with a hooker,’ she thought to herself. ‘No need for fancy patter’.

“Maybe you’d like to accompany me upstairs?” he suggested, alluding to the rooms upstairs that were available to clients and whores.

“Of course; standard rates apply.” she replied with a practiced air.

She looked over to where Severus was sat and caught his eye. She winked at him and followed the fat man upstairs. When Midden turned his back on her, she slipped Veritaserum into his drink and when it had taken effect she restrained him and bombarded him with questions. She discovered that although his business dealings were shady enough for the Ministry to charge him and he was sympathetic to the cause, he wasn’t actually guilty of Death Eater activity. Just to make sure, she grabbed his arm, no Dark Mark.
She altered his memory and left him unconscious and slipped down to the bar.

She shook her head to signify a negative result as she walked toward the table where Severus was sat, but she was impeded by a tall, heavy set wizard who had clearly had too much to drink.

“Come an’ have some fun with us darlin’.” he managed to slur at her. Severus was on his feet in a shot.

“The lady is with me.” he said levelly, but with an undertone that any sober man would have recognised as dangerous.

This man however reached out to grab Sadira’s arm but Severus stood between them, his wand pressing into the man’s throat.

“I said; she’s mine, now leave her alone.” he snarled, lip curled in a most unpleasant manner. The man seemed to finally realise who he was dealing with as his eyes showed recognition, followed by fear.

“Yes Sir! Sorry Miss.” he spluttered and backed away. Severus took her arm and led her outside the pub.


He Apparated them to a deserted street in Muggle London not far from where Sadira lived.

“Thanks for coming to the rescue there, my hero.” she chuckled, still holding onto him.

“We couldn’t have you attacking him; it would blow your cover.” He replied simply.

The heated emotions Midden had interrupted began to re-appear in them both as they looked at one another, arms still round each other in Apparition stance.

“So, I’m yours am I?” she asked teasingly, sliding her hand over his chest to his shoulder.

He lifted her face to look at him and once again she allowed herself to get lost in the dark depths of his eyes. She moved closer to him as he leaned down and pulled her to him, kissing her gently at first then overwhelming her with increasing passion. She ran her fingers through his hair; she had always loved his hair and didn’t care if it was sometimes a little oily. Her hands then stroked down his neck and shoulders, moaning softly as his kisses moved down her throat and across his collar bone.

“Wait!” she managed to gasp and he stopped, looking at her in confusion. “My place.” she said breathlessly and a smile crept across his face as they apparated to her flat.

“Gods, I’ve missed you,” she mumbled into his collar as they stumbled across her threshold.

No sooner had they entered her front door then they started again; showering each other with desperate kisses and caresses, fumbling with buttons and stays as clothes were discarded unceremoniously and with haste.

They barely managed to make it into the bedroom, tumbling onto the bed, rediscovering each other’s bodies with rough, desperate caresses. He kissed her breasts with such fervour, as though the taste of her was the only thing keeping him alive. She pushed him back, climbing onto his body and slowly lowering herself onto his length.

He gasped in shock and pleasure as he slid into her and she began to rock and grind on top of him. He reached out to stroke her breasts and down her stomach, sliding his hands around her hips to her arse, pulling her closer, deeper. She couldn’t last much longer and soon began to buck and scream, gasping for air as she collapsed onto him. He rolled her over and began to plunge deep into her once again, faster and harder until he released, calling her name into the crook of her neck, then kissing her deeply again.



When Severus awoke next day he found himself in a room that was familiar, yet not his own. He looked down to find a naked woman sprawled across him, her arm round his waist, head on his chest, legs entwined with his own.

“Sadira.” he whispered softly, smiling to himself as the memory of last night drifted into his conscious memory, then his heart sank.

‘What have I done?’ he thought to himself. He considered trying to extricate himself from her grip and leaving before she awoke but it was too late. Her eyes flickered open and she too experienced a moment of sleepy confusion before recognising her bedfellow.

“Good morning.” she said smiling, a genuine smile like he hadn’t seen in years. He couldn’t help but to smile back. She ran a hand lightly across his chest, making him shiver.

“I’ve missed you.” she whispered into his ear before kissing him gently. He pulled away guiltily.

“I shouldn’t be here.” he said, not meeting her eyes.

“Don’t you want this?” she asked, hurt.

“I didn’t say that. I said I shouldn’t be here.” he snapped. She bit her lip, and pulled his face to meet hers.

“Do you want to be with me?” she asked, looking into his eyes.

“Yes.” he sighed after a few moments.

“Then why the whole moral dilemma? We’re both adults who know what we’re doing. If you want a relationship with me, that’s all that matters.” She told him, leaning in for another kiss.

Any resolve that remained within him disappeared as she ran her soft hands along his body and he reached out for her, determined for a replay of last night’s activities.

Much later they finally made it into the kitchen for breakfast.

“I don’t know about you, but after that I’m starving,” she joked, opening the fridge and beginning to prepare the food. She cooked in almost complete silence before serving up scrambled eggs on toast with a pot of tea.

“Thank you; you always were a good cook.” he said nostalgically.

“Wow, high praise indeed!” she replied, eyebrows raised teasingly.

They ate in a slightly tense silence. When they finished, she banished the things to the sink and set the cleaning charm to work on them before reaching up to one of the top cupboards. She pulled a small vial of puce liquid from the back, shaking it before downing the contents with a shudder.

“Disgusting!” she complained, washing the taste away with the last of the tea.

“What was that?” Severus asked, curious.

“Morning-after Potion. Thank Merlin I still had some” she chuckled.

“Ah.” he replied, shifting uncomfortably. He mentally cursed himself for being so distracted as to not even consider contraception last night.

“What’s the matter, Severus?” she asked, perching on the table beside his chair. He looked at her pensively before replying.

“Where exactly does this situation leave us now?” he asked her.

“What do you mean?” she asked, almost grinning when she remembered how much he hated people answering with a question.

“Last night, this morning. What do you expect to come of this?” he clarified.

“Well I’d like to see you again if that’s what you mean. I don’t expect things to go back to how we used to be but I’d like to try again anew.” She replied, stroking his jaw.

“And what of the risks? You’re an Auror; I’m a Death Eater spy. If the Dark Lord were to learn of this, or of my true alliance, he would kill both of us. And the Ministry would ruin you if they knew where I go when I am called.” He voiced at last his true reason for concern.

“In these difficult times, anyone’s relationships are fraught with danger. I’m willing to take the risk if you are.” she replied sagely.

“What about your father?” he asked with a sneer.

“It’s none of his business who I choose for a partner.” she replied.

“Look, I wish I didn’t have to go right now but I’m due in at the office soon and if I’m late it’ll look suspicious. Damn it, I’d best send Dad an owl too or he’ll think I’ve been murdered.” She joked.

“You know I must return to Hogwarts tonight.” he said, wrapping his arms around her.

“I know,” she said dejectedly. “When will I get to see you again?”

“As soon as I can manage it. I’ll owl you and arrange everything when I know, but it may not be till I next visit Grimmauld Place at the full moon.” he said softly, lifting her face for a long final kiss before leaving.



“Where did you get to last night? I expected you to come back to Headquarters.” Asked Tonks, when her friend and partner turned into the office.

“I went back to mine. It was closest and I was shattered.” She said simply.

“I hope Snape looked after you,” she said, savagely attacking the post on her desk, with Sadira’s sword letter opener.

“Of course he did. I was in very safe hands.” Sadira replied with a slight grin at her pun.

“I take it by the look on your face you weren’t alone last night?” asked Tonks curiously.

“Now that would be telling.” she replied evasively.

“Urgh! You did, you slept with Snape again didn’t you?” cried Tonks across the office.

“Ssh!” admonished Sadira, “Tell the world why don’t you?”

“So are you two back together now or what?” Tonks asked, breaking open the emergency packet of chocolate biscuits the girls kept hidden in the bottom drawer of their filing cabinet.

“I don’t know. I think so. At least I hope so,” Sadira answered, munching a chocolate digestive as she pondered her predicament.

“Well good luck I suppose. You’re going to need it! I don’t see what you see in Snape but I don’t disagree with the whole ‘older man’ thing.” Tonks assured her.

“I know, don’t think I haven’t noticed you pining over a certain guy you think might be an ‘animal’ in bed. Owww.” She howled with a grin, making Tonks blush beet red and choke on her biscuit.

“By the way, Midden is as bent as they come but no Death Eater.” She finished, making a start on the parchment mountain that pretended to be an ‘IN’ tray, and preparing her written report.