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.

Chapter notes: My goodness – has it really been THAT long since I updated this fic?! OK here we go!

Ah faithful readers! Well things get really HOT in this chapter as well… I had planned on that for much later but Snape and Pai had other ideas… so if that doesn’t tickle your fancy please roll on…

SALVATION

Chapter 005: Backlash

Pai sat at the small rickety table that functioned as her desk at home. But rather than concentrating on the proposal she wanted to finish for work, her mind was focused elsewhere. There was a tenseness in the air that quite unnerved her. Oh, there had been plenty of times when Te Whangarei was a hotbed of conflict – but this, this was different. Pai frowned as she stared vacantly out of the window in front of her.

‘Crikey, dick! You’ve got a puss that could sour milk! Come, on rattle your dags or we’re going to be late!’ came a voice over the loud crunching of footsteps.

‘Sasha you can just rack off if you’re going to be so mean,’ Pai said as she grinned at her best friend. ‘I swear you could wake the dead...’

‘Wot – and deprive you of my lusciousness?’ Sasha replied as she slammed open the screen door and literally fell into Pai’s living room on her high heels. ‘I make you look good, girl!’

‘Laboutins – very posh my lovely bugalugs,’ Pai smirked. ‘Not really practical what with all the walking we’ll be doing though…’

She and Sasha were going to the Eastland Agricultural and Pastoral Show. Every year the district hosted a 3 or 4 day event where farmers strutted their stuff and won prizes for things like best cow or largest tomato. The townies would show up mainly for the sideshows and amusement park. It was something that Pai actually always looked forward to – she loved the rollercoasters and dodgem cars.

‘No pain, no gain cuzzy – Mal loves the killer heels if you catch my drift?’ Sasha giggled.

‘Pfft; it’ll be pointless if you fall over and break your neck. Still, I’ll give him points for having good taste – sweet-as shoes Mama!’

‘Choice, eh? What more can a girl ask for?’ Sasha boomed as she spun around the room and then stopped abruptly. ‘Pai – please tell me you are not going out in that!’

Pai looked down at her frayed and tattered overalls that had definitely seen better days along with her old paint-stained timberland hiking boots.

‘It’s just the same old A & P Show and Fair – for god’s sakes the place’ll be rolling in long-in-the-tooth farmers and cow patties!’ she said defensively.

‘Ahem – your man is going isn’t he? Surely you don’t want him see you looking like something that’s crawled out of a sheep’s arse! Don’t you let your common sense go girl – you just know that that hori Kahutia is going to be turning a few tricks tonight!’

Pai looked at Sasha and then outside where others were already heading to the big show. It was more than a little true that the Agricultural & Pastoral shows were important to the social fabric of their respective districts. Eastland had one of the largest, owing a great deal to its fishing and crafts industries as well as traditional farming. People came from all over the North Island – sometimes a few hardy souls came up from down south. And there were always a certain type of woman who tricked herself out like she was going clubbing or headed for a dodgy modeling catwalk.

‘You don’t have it half-right there…’ she sighed exasperatedly. ‘…and he’s not my man. It’s nothing like that...’

There was a loud skeptical snort.

‘I know for a fact that a few of the girls have tried it on with him when he goes to town and he doesn’t give them the time of day. He comes out here to be with you and to drive you to work even if he’s totally fagged out. And it’s not like everyone doesn’t know that you two have been out in Wairoa and Waikaremoana… And you have done a bit even if it’s not full-on… He’s taking his time with you when he could be shagging his way across Eastland and back. He’s in love with you Pai make no mistake about it.’

‘It’s still early days, Sasha. He’s a man of the world and has experienced things I can’t even dream of. I’m not going to let myself get carried away… He’d be a great catch for anyone and there are girls that have a lot more going for them than I do. I’m nothing special…’

‘Early days after two months?! Pai – don’t ever sell yourself short, you hear me? You’ve got something that those frock tarts can’t buy or pretend to have. You have charisma, you have class and you’ve got more a brain than any of those horis can ever hope to have. That’s why they try to knock your confidence just like Koro. They’ve really done a job on you if you think so little of yourself….’

‘You sound like Michael – he said that I shouldn’t let them make me afraid to really live for myself…’

‘Sounds like a righteous bloke – he’s dead right.’

‘You don’t think I’m out of my depth?’

‘Look I’ve only met him in passing – but from what I hear he seems like a keeper. Mal’s met him and said that he’s alright once you get past that daggy front that isn’t fooling anyone with sense… Look; I know you. We’ve been friends for as long as I can remember. You’ve fallen for him and you want something long-term – don’t you? It’s fair dinkum to want something good, Pai. You deserve to have a man that’s really good to you. He seems to think a lot of you so give him a chance.’

Sasha walked into Pai’s bedroom with her friend trailing reluctantly in her wake.

‘You know, you still haven’t worn that mini-dress I gave you last Christmas… its perfect this time of year. You’ve got really great legs, girl. Show ‘em off!’

‘Are you mad? My arse’ll being hanging out…!’

‘…and you’ll be no different to me and 50 million other girls. Stop hiding your light under a bushel and wear it…’ Sasha said as she pulled said dress from Pai’s closet. ‘…and these gold sandals…’

Pai gave in and then started changing her clothes.

‘Sasha – have you noticed anything…unusual around here lately?’ she asked hesitantly.

‘You mean this dark cloud of a vibe that won’t die down?’

Pai nodded with a grave look in her eyes. ‘It’s like that weird stillness you read about before there’s an earthquake…. Something’s going to kick off for sure…’

Sasha opened her mouth as if to speak and then closed it again.

‘What?’ Pai asked, giving her a look.

Sasha opened her mouth again, and it was clear that she was weighing her words carefully.

‘Even though your Michael sounds like the dog’s bollocks… he…’

‘…crossed some lines defending me,’ Pai said hoarsely. ‘That’s what it is…’

‘Look – you know I can’t stand that shit-for-brains Jonny and his pikey mates and neither can most people around here. But what your man did… he’s an outsider Pai. He’s not one of us. He can be here today and gone tomorrow. He can afford to go wherever he wants and to do whatever he likes; but that doesn’t give him the right to just roll up here and do as he pleases even if we all know that on one level Jonny deserved a bloody good thumping. It just wasn’t your man’s place, Pai. Jonny’s lost heaps of mana because of him... You know the law...’

Pai sat at the small dressing table across from her bed brushing her hair and putting on some make-up looking forlorn. She couldn’t argue against that, really. What Sasha was saying was that Jonny had gotten his arse whupped and in public by a newcomer that had just been welcomed by their people and accepted into the settlement. He’d lost face, lost a great deal of honour because of Michael. And the fact that it hadn’t been addressed immediately meant that the marae of Te Whangarei would be shamed along with Jonny and his family. It was already the talk throughout the settlements of Eastland. It was a transgression of the worst kind in Maori culture.

That transgression warranted revenge.

Thought Pai had tried to push it to the back of her mind since that night; now there was no denying it.

Michael was going to have to answer for what he’d done and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

xxxOOOxxx

Pai had always attended the A & P show with Sasha and she wasn’t about to drop her friend just because the opportunity was there with Michael. Sasha had stuck by her through thick and thin and deserved better than that. Fortunately the man in question understood and respected Pai’s position. He had to attend to some business in Wairoa first and would meet them at the show. Still, given the implications of their talk back at hers, Pai thought the best thing to do was to let her friends off the hook.

“Guys look – I’ll understand if you don’t want to be seen with us…’ Pai said carefully as Sasha’s boyfriend Mal parked his car. He’d said there was no sense in everyone coming separately when they were all headed the same way. Mal had done very well for himself having attended the Whakarewarewa Institute of Arts and Crafts where he graduated with distinction and pursued his passion for Whakairo – Maori Carving. He was at the show more for work than pleasure; his crafts stall always did a brisk trade since he’d started exhibiting.

‘Friends don’t let friends down Pai,’ Mal said matter-of-factly. ‘Jonny can save face without too much of a ruckus; but if he gets out of hand I won’t be the only one he’ll have to deal with. We all need the money and exposure from this show and I’m not about to see all my hard work go down the drain because of that dumb-arse hoon! A good-old fashioned hand-to-hand challenge – doesn’t have to be more than that – and it doesn’t have to happen here. But if it does – at least that should be the end of it as far as everyone is concerned; just needs to be out of sight...’

‘It doesn’t but its been left so long that its not going to just be him… you know its not…’ Pai said defensively.

‘Jonny can’t fight for shit and everyone knows it. But it’s his right, eh?’

Pai said nothing as she got out of the car and began to walk to the fair on her own.

xxxOOOxxx

Pai couldn’t help but notice that the residents of Te Whangarei were giving her a wide berth.

‘So be it,’ she thought to herself.

Despite that, there were so many people it almost felt like the whole of Aotearoa was crammed into this one corner of the district. It would be a huge mistake to do anything here with so many people. Not only would it shut down the show, you could pretty much be guaranteed that next year there might not be any show. Jonny wouldn’t do himself any favours by kicking it off here.

Still, she just wanted for the whole thing with Michael to be over so everyone could get back to the normal mayhem that comprised everyday life around Koro.

Koro.

He wasn’t entirely innocent in all of this. Pai was sure of it as she stood in the far distance way from the entrance to the Amusement Park by a large boulder under a tree ignoring couples and groups of friends enjoying themselves.

‘Even when you are sad, you are very beautiful Paikea,’ Snape said softly as he appeared at her side.

‘What? Oh…’

Pai blushed. It was the first time he’d ever paid her a compliment like that. She had supposed he must have thought she was reasonably attractive; but it was very nice to hear it just the same. He didn’t strike her as the type of man who gave compliments easily when he was inclined.

‘Was it not you who said that tonight was a time of merriment and fun?’ Snape asked, facing her.

‘Yes…’

‘Then might I have a smile please?’

‘You don’t like smiling…’

‘My lack of predisposition to baring my teeth pleasantly does not mean that I am so hopeless when it comes to you…’

‘Are you on crack??’

Snape began to chuckle.

‘It does not sit well with me to see you so miserable Paikea.’

‘I’m sorry.’ Pai mumbled as he put his arms around her and held her close.

Snape sat down on the boulder and spread his legs ever so slightly. Pai understood that she was meant to straddle him, and so she did. Things were really speeding up between them now. She should be savouring this moment and instead all she could do was worry.

‘We will be alright,’ Snape murmured as he began to stroke away the tears that began to fall.

‘But Michael…’

Pai was cut off by a kiss. Snape began to kiss her hungrily and she could feel his thickening arousal between her legs. She moaned softly as he began to kiss her neck and undo the buttons of her dress. His large hands were warm and he reached inside with one and began to stroke a breast before taking its engorged nipple into his mouth. This was the farthest they had ever gone, and any reservations Pai had about him really wanting her were gone.

‘Do you like that?’ Snape whispered he looked up at her.

Pai couldn’t find the voice to answer him and instead nodded before completely letting go and kissing him. Snape eased down onto his back on the grass so that Pai was on top. She began to move back and forth over his hardness and cried out, the longing in her voice making him want her even more.

With a couple of minutes both were naked and Pai lay underneath him with Snape grinding his thickness against her.

‘I’m sorry my love – I never meant it to be like this,’ he said stopping.

‘Don’t you want to…?’

‘Of course I do… I just wanted our first time together to be special, that’s all…’

‘This isn’t exactly how I imagined it would happen…’ Pai said truthfully.

‘You just looked so…’

Snape looked down at her and smoothed her hair back. There wasn’t a woman in the world more beautiful to him. It wasn’t just about Pai’s physical attractiveness; it was her essence, her spirit. There was something magical about her for him; it was as though she was placed here just for him and he for her. He’d only ever come close to this once. He’d waited so long; he had wanted this for so long…

‘I love you Paikea,’ he said, his black eyes boring into hers as he entered her and began to thrust. ‘O God help me, I love you so much!’

Pai moaned as she stretched to accommodate him. They found their rhythm and were lost to the distant sounds of the show and amusement park.

‘Don’t leave me Michael,’ she blurted out suddenly, her eyes filling with tears.

‘Do you love me, Pai? Do you love me as I love you?’

‘Yes…’

‘Has anyone else ever made you feel like this?’

‘No! Never!’

Pai sniffed softly and Snape rolled them onto their sides so he could hold her.

‘What’s wrong my love?’

‘Nothing…’

Snape didn’t reply as he held onto his girlfriend.

Girlfriend…

Paikea was more than that to him – much, much more than that he thought to himself as she reached out for him and kissed him while pulling him back on top of her. He entered her once more and began to thrust hard and deep as they found their rhythm once more. He felt her tighten up around him as she neared her first orgasm with him. He kept on thrusting as wave after wave washed of pleasure coursed through her. After a time be began to kiss her slowly, savouring the taste of her as he moved south. Pai was lost as Snape began to make love to her with his mouth… She’d never known that making love could be so good… and enjoyable…

Snape kissed his way back up and then it was Pai who was on top of him, taking control. Every impulse that she’d been holding back was set loose. The former Potions Master thought he’d died and gone to heaven as she pleasured him orally.

‘Gods – not in your mouth my love,’ he groaned stopped and rolled her over.

He thrust hard, fast until he exploded deep inside her. Too late he realised that he should be calming down. Muggles were nothing like wizard and witches. He had a lot to explain to Paikea – but this was not the time nor place for it, least of all for this. He was still rock hard and throbbing.

Pai looked up at him with a wordless acceptance that left Snape unnerved to say the least.

‘Do you want to stop?’ she finally whispered as a hand trailed down his sweaty back and then reached around his front.

It was obvious that he didn’t want to stop anymore than she did. The young woman raised her hips and began guiding him back inside her causing the former Potions Master smiled in spite of himself. He could always say that he’d taken something – though he knew Paikea would greet the news with a great deal of skepticism.

‘You’re very handsome when you smile…’ Pai commented through a delicious smile of her own.

‘Paikea…’ Snape began only to be silenced by a hungry kiss.

They were past the point of no return now. He would have to find the words to start explaining who and what he was – but not now. For the moment, there was only he and Paikea and the bliss of having finally made a commitment to each other.

xxxOOOxxx

‘Pai!’ Crikey girl where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you!’ Sasha trilled as she eyeballed her best friend and the man who had turned her life upside down.

They had just stepped off the Thrilla Mania rollercoaster and looked very much together.

‘Like hell you have; you and Mal have already been having it off in the Love Shack – amongst other places!’ Pai snorted.

‘I hate it when you do that…’ Sasha sulked.

‘You don’t have to be spiritually gifted to know that – you’ve only gone and done it for the last 3 years!’

‘Would you ladies care for a cold drink?’ Snape asked wryly. He knew all too well that each was dying for a chat with the other.

‘Fizzy drink for her and a lemonade for me please…’ Pai said softly as she turned a faint shade of red.

Snape had been barely out of earshot before Sasha pounced.

‘Sooooooooooooo what have you two been doing hmmm??’

Pai went beet red and was grateful that they were bathed in the multi-coloured glowing lights of the rides and displays.

‘Just walking around and going on the rides….’

‘The hell you have! You are positively glowing, Pai! And he looks… happy. I mean he looks so much different to his usual…’

Pai took a deep breath and smiled.

‘Oh Sasha – I’m so happy! I really am! He’s the best thing that’s every happened to me…’

‘Even though you still don’t really know that much about him?’ Sasha ventured cautiously.

‘Yes… we all have to take risks sometimes, right?’

‘You more than anyone, I’d say.’

‘I just know with all my heart that this is right.’

‘Then that’s all that matters,’ Sasha smiled. ‘So come on – you’ve only just been on the one ride haven’t you?’

‘Well some would say my second ride of the evening…’

‘Christ almighty – he really must be good for you have a crack like that!’

‘Stop it Sasha. Michael is very private – he doesn’t like to be talked about…’

‘Somehow I don’t think he will ever begrudge you for letting the world know just how happy he makes you.’

Pai smiled and then looked around.

‘My God did he walk across the fairground or something? He should have been back by now…’

‘Pai – stay put!’ Sasha yelled.

But it was too late.

Pai had taken off like a bat out of hell before the final word had even left her mouth.

xxxOOOxxx

Of all places for it to have happened, it happened at their spot. That wonderful space under the trees where she and Michael had made love and committed themselves to each other.

Pai saw them – and she saw that Jonny hung back while his mates worked Snape over. Snape was like a hellcat as he struggled against the men that were holding him. He’d been hit over the head and blood was pouring down his face

‘Get off him you motherfucking hoons!’ she screamed.

‘Well, well, well … lookey what we have here!’ Jonny snarled as Pai was grabbed from behind.

He stood defiantly in front of her.

‘You got a big mouth you hori bitch!’ he spat ‘I think its time to get some of what this Paheka got…’ Jonny continued as he yanked Pai’s head up and punched her in the face before ripping her dress, exposing her breasts to his gang.

‘You get your filthy hands off her!” Snape roared. “You will pay for this! I swear by all that is sacred and holy in your traditions that you ALL will pay for what you have done to her!”

‘Are you fucking crazy Jon?’ someone commented. ‘Koro is going to have your ass in a hot minute!’

‘You think he gives a shit about her? The way he talks about her and to her? Wouldn’t be surprised if he came after some himself!’

‘No way man, I don’t want any part of that… The Paheka is right – you know how much trouble there’ll be when this gets out! What needed to be done is done… leave her alone…!’ a youth shouted. He didn’t look to be older than 16 at best.

They were all arguing now. Some wanted to do her and some didn’t; but their conflict was no consolation to the stranger in their midst. Snape had been prepared to take the beating he knew was due him. He’d squared up to Koro and made a deal. It was more for Pai’s sake than anything – he loved her that much.

But there was no way in hell that he was going to let anyone hurt her anymore. He finally comprehended just how evil, evil could be even in a place of beauty like this.

Without hesitation he aimed a well-executed and deadly wordless curse at Jonny. The rabid younger man grabbed his head and began to scream as blood poured out of his ears and eyes. Another of the gang dropped to the ground as he grabbed his chest and then collapsed in a heap. The men holding Pai threw her down hard, causing her to hit her head on the boulder and knocking her out cold as they tried to get away from whatever was happening to them. One by one, they were being taken out.

There were voices in the distance; a small crowd was coming towards them.

‘Over there! That’s them!’ came a familiar voice.

Rawiri – Pai’s uncle.

Snape threw himself down on the ground next to Pai and let himself go unconscious as his body shielded hers. No one could accuse him of doing anything given the obvious beating he’d taken.

His work was done.