Another Dark Star

Chapter 57


The frost and snow thawed into spring and Sadie’s moods seemed to be improving. Ever since Christmas her mood swings had been unpredictable, and often violent, but she tried to hide it from the children and Severus. Now she was getting used to the way things were at the castle however, and having had more frequent visits from Draco and Ginny, she was beginning to feel more able to cope. She had pretty much avoided most of the staff, but she had made a point of bringing the family to dine at the staff table in the Great Hall for dinner, as a show of solidarity for Severus.

Snape himself was glad to see her sour moods melt with the last of the snow and was very grateful to his wife for being there for him while she could. He was increasingly becoming convinced that the final battle would be fought on Hogwarts soil, and he was determined that Sadie and the children would be evacuated as soon beforehand as possible. He knew he ought to send them away now, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so. Besides, his wife was a stubborn and wilful woman. He’d need a better reason for her to leave him than simply ‘it might not be safe’.


The day of their 2nd wedding anniversary was a cold but bright day, typical of early March in East Scotland. Severus was up before Sadira, as usual, and had gone down to breakfast without them. When she caught up with him, he greeted her with a brief kiss before Disapparating on some unknown task. He hadn’t even wished her a Happy Anniversary or even shown any inclination that he knew it was a special day. Still, he was very busy, and had only recently had to go to Gringotts on official business. Perhaps he had found another Horcrux, perhaps Harry had. She sighed; only her third year of marriage and she was feeling a little neglected. She felt guilty for thinking that way. There was a war on, and her husband a major player in it. He was making sacrifices for their future, for their children’s futures. But still, it was nice to feel like a woman once in a while; a special and sensual woman.

She decided to wrap the children up warmly and take them on a short trip around the grounds. She got a few odd looks for using a Muggle twin pram, but honestly; how else was she going to transport two under-five’s around a castle that big? At 3 months old, Isabella was happy to be sat up in her chair, and observe the landscape around her while Hadrian at 15 months was fighting to get out and explore. She pushed them through the Silent Courtyard, with its arches and fountain, down the rough path by the lake, Hadrian waving at the Giant Squid while Isabella laughed at him.

Sadira felt a twinge of regret when she spied Dumbledore’s tomb and decided not to walk that way, but turn around before she reached Hagrid’s house. She noted with surprise that Hagrid had been watching her take her stroll, and had noticed her hesitation to continue it and why. He had an odd look on his face which she couldn’t fathom, not having known Hagrid very well on a personal level. She herself pulled her Occlumency shields up to enable her to keep an imperturbably calm face. She continued walking the way she came, not staring back at Hagrid, but she noticed he couldn’t help but stare at them.

Sadie got back just after lunch, and noted that Severus still hadn’t returned. Minerva silently noted his absence, Sadie saw, but whether the older witch realised the significance of the day, Sadira had no clue. While not in classes, the students could scarcely be seen. They appeared to be hiding somewhere, and she had suspicions that Severus knew where. This meant that the library was pretty much abandoned. Sadira took the children there to waste the afternoon. She had once whiled away many happy hours there as a student; immersing herself in knowledge, and occasionally snogging with boys who thought the oddball bookworm must be so desperate for a boyfriend that she’s surely let them cop a feel.

Pince gave her a snide glare when she entered but said nothing. Sadie first took the children to the, thankfully unaltered, Muggle Studies section. She managed to find a few old copies of fairy tales; once used to compare a Muggle’s views on magic with the real Magical world. That would keep the children happy. There was only so many times you could read the tales of Beedle the Bard without it getting repetitive. Still, she loved that Severus had given the children his own copy, from when he was a boy; tatty binding, childish scrawl and all.

For herself she wanted something different to read, and also something useful. She left the buggy in plain sight at the entrance and stepped into the Restricted section. ‘Moste Deadlie Poysons and theire Antidotes’ was her selection, then to the regular Potions section for ‘Physiognomy of the Serpent’. Pince gave her a strange look for her strange contradiction of choices, but said nothing as the books were checked out.
Sadie and the children had a quiet dinner in their private quarters and then she bathed them and readied them for bed. After she put Isabella and Hadrian in the nursery however, Sadie noticed there was a large, flat box on her bed, with a note attached. That hadn’t been there before. She opened the note, intrigued.


“My dearest Sadira,
I apologise for making you believe I had forgotten the day upon which you made me the happiest man alive, but the deception was necessary for my plot. Enclosed within this box are the gifts you no doubt believed you would not be receiving. Every year I am ever more grateful to be blessed with you as my wife. As a token of that, I wish for you to wear your gifts, and only these, and meet me in the Prefect’s Bathroom. Winky has already been appraised of my plan, so fear not for the children.
With all the love that I possess,
Your Severus.”


Sadira was close to tears. That bastard! That cunning, conniving, deceitful, wonderful bastard! He’d had her fooled the whole day. And then to write such beautiful words. She didn’t know if she wanted to kiss him or kill him. She decided instead to open the box, the contents of which he had obviously been out buying today. Mission indeed! That’s what she got for assuming, she supposed. She opened the box carefully and inside, under the tissue paper, was a sea of dark blue fabric and a smaller box. She lifted out the fabric; shimmering midnight blue silk-satin, and held it up. It was a gorgeous, scandalously cut nightgown, with a guipure lace bodice. She smiled a little at the thought of her husband having to go into a shop to purchase such an item, but then he did wear his Wedding Ring, so the shop girls would surely have been kind to him.

She remembered then, he wanted her to wear just this tonight. Not bloody likely was she walking through the freezing castle in just this, where students might see her. But she did want to please him. Maybe wear a robe over the top till she got to the Prefect’s Bath. And slippers. Her curiosity then drew her to open the smaller box. Jewellery; her husband’s favourite gift for her. This time it was a classic Cameo; Ivory with a background of black, on a black Spanish lace choker. Very classy, and typically Severus. The bust depicted upon it was Circe; famous for her skill with Potions and Transfiguration. Another very Snape touch.

She fastened the choker about her throat and changed into the sinfully decadent nightgown and stood before the mirror. She ran her fingers through her hair and twirled a few strands around a finger, trying to get it to settle into structured curls instead of frizz. When she was satisfied, she put a touch of mascara on, and slipped into ballet slippers and wrapped her old black satin-and-lace dressing gown around her to cover up her undress.

She needn’t have been so paranoid. She encountered no-one on her travels. She whispered the password and slipped into the Prefect’s Bathroom silently, pressing the door shut softly behind her. The room was pretty much as it had been when she was Head Girl. Same huge bath, same toilet stalls in the corner; just slightly more lavish than the general use ones. Same vain Mermaid portrait on the wall, flicking her tail and acting self-important.

Severus was nowhere to be seen as yet, so she took off her robe and slippers and laid them on the floor, by a pile of towels. The towels in here were thick, warm and fluffy, and so white it hurt your eyes to look at them. She lifted one to her face, to inhale the aroma of Lavender they were infused with and buried her fingers in the deep pile. It reminded her of being 18 and free; the world such a simple place. She put the towel near the side of the pool-sized tub and turned on the rose scented tap.

“I specifically instructed you to wear your gifts, and nothing else.” A soft,
dangerously silky voice spoke into her ear when she stood. Her heart beat faster and her stomach twisted as she recognised that voice.

“But Severus, Love, it was cold in the corridors.” She defended.

“Then I shall have to warm you up, my Dear.” He replied, turning her in his arms. He was dressed in a simple dark blue bathrobe, nothing more.

His eyes glittered with mischief, something she had missed. Those beautiful dark eyes, full of fun and love, and her heart ached with happiness. She placed her hands on his shoulders, partly to steady herself and partly to connect with him.

“Severus.” She whispered, but in that one word she said so much.

He smiled, a genuine smile, and dipped his head to hers. She had seen the longing in his features as his gaze had drifted over her in that gown, so was surprised at how gentle was his kiss. He brushed his lips with hers so gently, holding her firmly but not too tight; as though she were a bird which had to be held carefully to prevent either escape or injury. She gasped, parting her lips in invitation and he kissed her deeper, tasting her, still gentle, still cautious. His hands rested on her hips, enjoying the soft fabric and softer flesh beneath his fingers.

Sadira wound her arms about his neck like pale serpents, pulling him closer to her. He pressed her body closer in return and she could feel his warm chest against hers. She was becoming so hot so quickly. How had he always managed to do this to her? While her tongue teased his, tempting him into a more passionate embrace, her hips moved almost of their own accord to grind against him, pleading for him to touch her flesh with his own.
He broke the kiss, panting with lust clearly painted on his features. He took in the sight of her in his gifts.

“Truly you are a witch worthy of Circe herself, for you have bewitched me.” He gasped.

She smiled and placed a hand on his heart for a moment, feeling that blessed organ beating beneath her fingertips, before sliding her hand further under his robe to his hip, pulling it further apart to his navel. She leaned closer to him once more and kissed his collarbone and chest, wrapping her arms firmly around his waist.

“You were very cruel today Severus; making me think you had forgotten.” She chided teasingly, pouting prettily and drawing circles on his skin with her fingertips. His eyes shut for a moment, inhaling her scent and just revelling in her closeness.

“I have always tried never to be cruel to you my love, but the ruse was necessary.” He defended. “Allow me to make it up to you.” He purred.

He began lifting her nightgown and she lifted her arms, arching her back and presenting her breasts to him enticingly as the article was removed. He dropped the nightgown carefully to the side and followed her arms down from her wrists to her shoulders, then over to cup her breasts lightly, caressing them gently. Sadie pushed his robe off his shoulders, to reveal that he was completely naked beneath. He lifted his hands from her long enough to drop the towelling garment to the floor, then swept her up into his arms, kissing her once more with more passion than before. His lips parted in a wicked grin as he stepped toward the edge of the pool-sized bath and dropped her in.

He barely had time to enjoy the look of complete shock on her face before she completely submerged. She resurfaced for a moment, in which he fully expected her to fume and rant at him, but instead she looked terrified; choking and spluttering and flailing uselessly as she submerged a second time. Severus began to worry. Now he came to think of it, he had never actually seen his wife swim. He jumped in quickly and grabbed her, holding her above water while she coughed up water.

“I’m so sorry Love, are you alright?” he asked fearfully, holding her to him.

“What? How could you just...?” she gasped, desperately drawing breath.

“I didn’t know you can’t swim.” He defended, moving them to a shallower end and setting her down.

He held her face in his hands, kissing her head, cheeks and lips gently in relief that she was ok. She rested her head on his chest, nuzzling against him and clinging to him.

“Just don’t scare me like that again.” she pleaded. He looked in her eyes, stroking her hair and her shoulders soothingly.

“I was just as frightened as you, I assure you.” He said softly.

He held her close for a moment, beginning to appreciate her soft skin against his, made slick by the water. Her hair fell in bedraggled wet curls, and his was slicked back now it was wet too. He watched as a single drop of water rolled down her nose in an oddly fascinating way. He could stare at her all day, for eternity he felt. Always the same Sadie, yet always something different to discover. Like the little freckle on her cheekbone just below her right eye. She was always beautiful to him. And her eyes met his with a look of wonder and love, as though she could not believe that this man before her were hers. That look, that sentiment which she held for him elevated her above any other woman on earth. She loved him. She wanted him. And he was hers.

He dipped his head to hers again, kissing her softly and his arms slid easily around her waist. She had finally begun to lose some of the weight she had gained, he could tell by just feeling, but it mattered not to him either way. Her hands slid eagerly over his body, caressing each part of him and arching against him as their kissing became more heated. He slipped one hand over her bum to her thigh, lifting her up and pressing her against the cold tiled side of the tub.

She gasped in shock at the coldness against her back, but it soon became a moan as he plundered her open mouth in a searing kiss once more, pressing his hardness against her entrance.

“Please.” She panted, wrapping one arm around his neck and the other round his waist, while he braced himself against the side of the bath; her legs wrapped firmly around him.

He pressed into her hot centre achingly slowly, loving her slowly, tenderly. He wanted her to know how he appreciated her, longed for her, worshipped her. She adored the feeling of her husband, her lover, inside her, holding her, kissing and caressing her. How could she possibly have felt neglected before? He clearly adored her. With slow, controlled strokes and masterful knowledge of her body, he drew her pleasure from her with excruciating precision and soon she was shaking and shuddering in bliss while he held her tightly, wrapping his body protectively round her tiny form as he filled her to the hilt in his final thrusts of completion.

He held her as the water around them, once pleasantly warm now felt cold to them. Severus carried Sadie out of the bath, carefully on the steps, and wrapped her tenderly in a large towel before wrapping himself in his bathrobe and roughly rubbing at his hair with a small towel. Sadira pulled her wand out of the pocket of her robe and dried her hair quickly, patting down her body enough to slip her nightgown back on. He seemed disappointed when she pulled the dressing gown back on over the top and stepped into her shoes.

“Thank you Love, for the presents and for being such a wonderful husband.” Sadira said, kissing him softly in her post-coital ecstasy. He responded warmly, still dazed also after their blissful lovemaking.

“No, thank you Sadira. Other women would have run a mile when they found out what I had done, what their life was to entail. But not you. You have stood by me through some of the hardest times of my life and I am eternally grateful.” He replied, kissing her fondly, briefly, before Apparating them directly to their bedroom.

“What the..?” she said, dazed.

“I am Headmaster.” He replied with a smirk.

“You’re just full of surprises today, aren’t you?” Sadie remarked wryly.

“And not quite done yet, dear.” He whispered, leading her to the nursery where Hadrian and Isabella were sleeping under Winky’s watchful eye.
He stood behind her, his arms around her shoulders and his head by her ear.

“I meant what I said Love, you have brought me so much happiness; something I believed I had given up all claim to when I made a foolish mistake at seventeen. I still remember how happy you made me two years ago today when you bound your soul to mine forever. I remember how wonderful it felt seven years ago when you first showed me that I could still love and be loved. And I remember how desperately unhappy I was when I thought you had left my life completely. You have brought me two beautiful children; and for the three of you, I dare to dream that there could be more to life after the war.

I still love you as much as, if not more than, the day we were wed. I want to grow old with you, see our children grow up, maybe even have more. I wonder how they will grow, if they will have children of their own and what the world will be like for us once the blight of terror has been eradicated from this land. But most of all, I am just grateful that our hearts and souls were bound together for eternity, and that I will always have you by my side.” He said softly, shakily.

In private, with just his wife, he had become comfortable enough to tell her how he felt on occasion. Such occasions were few and far between, but it was a mark of how much he had changed that he could even do that. He reached into the pocket of the bathrobe he still stood in, and removed a tiny velvet box.

“This is a token of the promises I have made to you, and a reminder in the future of my undying devotion to you and our family.” He told his silently weeping wife who, with a tearful smile, opened the box to reveal a white gold full eternity ring with alternating diamonds and emeralds.

“Oh Sev, it’s beautiful, I hope I’m worthy of the promises you made, but by gods I love you with everything I have.” She said, now fully sniffling.

She slipped on the ring and turned in his arms, kissing him slowly, tenderly, deeply; expressing her longing that the whole world consisted of only them.