Single Magical Male

The only thing that\'s mine ist yot you don\'t recognize. And any mistakes.

It was immediately apparent that there was no risk of Snape running out on his date this evening. In fact, Poppy and Pomona soon began to feel as though they were spying on the couple and decided to go back to the school. Albus, however, seemed quite content to watch his favourite Slytherin loosen up and enjoy an evening in the company of a beautiful woman. Minerva was so shocked to see her co-worker smile AND laugh – more than once – in public that she wouldn’t have left for all the chocolate in Honeydukes.

For his part, Severus couldn’t remember having had a better time. The entire evening was as different from its predecessor as a Veela was from a Gnome. The conversation didn’t exactly flow easily, but the awkward pauses were only that: awkward; not harrowing as they’d been the previous night.

She confessed that some friends had put her up to submitting her letter and laughed when Severus revealed that his story was much the same. When he asked why her friends would push her into something like this, she explained that she’d broken her engagement off several months ago and she hadn’t dated anyone since that time. He artfully deflected her questions about his friends’ ons ons by returning the conversation to her former fiancé. It wasn’t that Snape was particularly interested; it was simply the most expedient way to avoid talking about himself. Fortunately, she was happy to answer his questions without dwelling on sordid or maudlin details.

The second time she yawned, Severus suggested that they bring the evening to a close. For the first time since meeting Erin, he felt uncomfortable; he wasn’t sure how to proceed from this point on. Fortunately, Erin bought him a few moments’ respite by telling him that rather than risk going through an unfamiliar town late at night, she’d taken a room at in Hogsmeade. The few seconds of relief Snape felt were almost immediately replaced with a sense of panic. Would she expect him to go to her room? If so, would she expect him to stay? If he was to stay … no, he refused to even consider the tidal wave of worries that line of thinking led to. Facing Voldemort suddenly looked like a walk in the park compared to the previously unknown terror of this thing called dating.

At least he was certain of the proper thing to do next: he walked her to her door. As she turned to remove the wards, she paused and turned back to face him. The conversation that had flowed so easily throughout their dinner dried up like California raisins. Her back was against the door and they were silent for a few seconds until he started to tell her that he’d enjoyed their evening.

His lips were still moving through his thanks for her company when she suddenly covered them with her own. It was a sweet kiss, really; chaste and innocently intentioned. If he hadn’t been speaking, it probably never would have been anything more than that. As it was, however, she’d captured him in mid-word (“enjoyed”) and finding that his lips were not where she’d expected them, her mouth opened in surprise. The shock of the situation left them momentarily frozen, mouths open, and attached at the lips.

It was almost involuntary – almost – that his hands travelled up her arms, past her shoulders, finally coming to cradle the back of her head, while the tip of his tongue tentatively tickled her lips. She whimpered soft and low, and then let the velvet of her tongue caress his. His heart skipped a beat when he felt her gentle answering touch and he pulled her closer to him, deepening the kiss. She lifted her hands to his waist, slid them round to his back and then glided them smoothly up to his shoulders. She stepped in closer, moulding her body to his and sensually writhing against him as they lost themselves in their embrace.

He slowly moved the fingers of his right hand from her head to the back of her neck, then around her soft throat tracing the path of her jaw, finally cupping her silky cheek. He weaved the fingers of his other hand through her thick hair and broke their kiss long enough to nip the skin just at the base of her ear. The shiver and gasp she gave in response shot electricity through him, waking his dormant member and causing it to harden.

She pressed closer, pressing her hips into his growing arousal, forcing a moan from both of them. He could feel her full breasts against his chest and thought briefly about moving his hands to unbutton her blouse but chose instead to remain at least partially a gentleman, instead sliding his hand down to the small of her back, silently encouraging her to grind her hips even harder into himself. He broke away, breathing raggedly, and leaned his forehead against hers.

After a few long moments spent gaining control of his body’s passionate response, he gently kissed her forehead. He hugged her to him briefly and murmured into her hair, “Thank you for a truly memorable evening.” She laid her head in the crook of his neck and whispered, “It was my pleasure. Tonight was lovely.”

She seemed to want to say something more but was obviously wrestling with her thoughts. Finally, she looked at him and said, “I really didn’t think I was ready to start dating again, and I never expected to be attracted to the first man I did date. Tonight showed me that I was wrong on both counts. I – well, it’s just been a very long time since I’ve done this…” He chuckled in response as he said, “I doubt it’s been as long for you as it has for me.” She smiled and she whispered, “I’m not sure I’m ready to invite you in,” lowering her gaze and blushing as she confessed.

Severus smiled warmly, held her close to him once more and said, “I’m not sure I’m ready to be invited in.” He lifted her chin until she was looking in his eyes and added, “I would like to see you again. May I owl you?” Her face lit up with a smile as she told him she’d like that very much. He softly kissed her lips and then pulled back, allowing her to slip into her room.

As her door closed, Severus turned and walked back to the bar. Feeling too excited (he refused to use the word \'giddy\', even if that was the feeling) to head straight home, he decided to have a nightcap. He sat at the bar and ordered a brandy; Rosmerta quirked an eyebrow at him and said, “Not too hard on the eyes, that one.” Snape allowed a rare smile to cross his face and said, “No, not at all.” “Surprised to see you back here” Her tone was disinterested but her intense gaze gave her away. Snape gave a wry smile and said, “You know I’m not that kind of girl, Rosemerta”. He downed the last swallow of his drink and threw a galleon on the bar, just as the door closed on the only other patron who’d been left in the bar.

The next morning, the Potions Master made a rare appearance at breakfast. As it was a Saturday, attendance was sparse with most students and faculty preferring to sleep in or, in some cases, sleep it off. He’d finished half his eggs and sausages when Albus came to the Head Table, twinkling like some demented Christmas tree. Just as the Headmaster was about to comment on the prior evening, the morning mail came winging in. Snape’s usual “Daily Prophet” was delivered, along with a small envelope, addressed in a delicate hand. His appetite suddenly gone, he pocketed the letter, nodded to Dumbledore and pushed himself away from the table. Dumbledore’s expression was thoughtful as he watched the younger man sweep out of the room.

Severus knew what the letter was before he rit. it. In fact, he nearly burned it without even opening it. His own morbid curiosity finally got the better of him, however, and he slit the envelope open, guessingh hih himself exactly why she was sending it. He knew she wouldn’t be honest; she was too kind to tell him he was too old, too snarky, or too ugly. His best guess was that she’d say something about “not being over” her broken engagement; that would be virtually unassailable as a defence but certainly ended any chance that he’d ask for another date.

“My Dearest Severus,” it started. He snorted derisively.

“I cannot even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed last night.” Well, that wavel vel – she at least wasn’t going to start with the bad news.

“You put my worst fears about re-entering the dating scene to rest – I never imagined that an attractive, intelligent, funny man such as yourself would accept a blind date.” He paused and re-read that line three times, just to make sure he hadn’t merely imagined it. After his final review, he was genuinely perplexed and even more curious than before he’d opened the letter.

“You’re not gay, are you?” He laughed out loud at this.

“No, I know that answer.” He blushed slightly, and then continued.

“I’m writing because something happened last night and I wanted to tell you about it myself.” ‘Here it comes,’ he thought.

“My ex-fiancé showed up shortly after you left. Needless to say, I was surprised and be be honest – a little frightened. We sat in the lounge for most of the night, talking over everything that had happened between us; the good and the bad. By the time this morning came, he convinced me to give our relationship another try.” At this point, Snape crumpled the letter and threw it on his desk. He didn’t need to read any more. She had surprised him, but only with a different excuse than any he’d been expecting.

He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his hands over his face. After a few moments, he opened his eyes…and looked at the crumpled paper. Sighing, he decided he might as well subject himself to the full misery of her letter. Rubbing the creases out of the parchment, he picked up where he left off: “…another try. Frankly, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Or at least, the timing of our date couldn’t have been worse. I truly enjoyed every moment last night and was giddy after you left (‘at least one of us was willing to use the word’ he grunted), so looking forward to seeing you a. .

If I were the one receiving this letter, I’d be convinced this was some pathetic excuse of a turn-down. I don’t know if you think the same way, but in the off-chance that you do, please let me assure you that nothing could be further from the truth. I was – am -- extremely attracted to you. I can’t imagine why any woman wouldn’t be attracted to you.” He snorted and said to the parchment, “You must not have a particularly active imagination, my dear.”

“Pleasegivegive this awkward turn of events. I’m sure that the barkeep would be happy to vouch for the fact that I did indeed have a rather emotional conversation with a man last night until just after 8 a.m. today. Actually, you can probably still see the broken vase I threw when he first told me that he wanted me back. In any event, I’m sure there are ns ons of women who’ll be thrilled to know I’ve removed myself from your circle of potential romantic attachments.

I wish you all the best and hope I haven’t been removed from your circle of potential friends. You have my address; I’d love to hear from you.

Yours,

Erin Adams-Grey”

He sighed. “‘Dozens of women’?” He muttered, “I’d be happy to meet just one.”