After Party

A Fond Farewell

Soundlessly, Natalie slipped out of bed heading straight for her bath. Clasping her robe around her shoulders, she settled on to the edge of the claw-footed tub, buried her face in her hands, and sobbed, silently wracking, her shoulders quaking. When she finally released all the pent up emotions, she stood to stare at her red-rimmed eyes in the mirror.

She heard her father’s voice soundly berating her as she stood, lost in her own remorse. “Enough of this stupidity, Natalie Marie. Pull yourself together and act like the Monterichelieu you are born to be.” She gripped the porcelain of the sink tightly. “Be the Urley your mother expects; who Naunt Mairead trained you to be.” She scolded herself in the mirror. She yanked a shapeless navy dress, short sleeved, scooped neck, and pulled it over her head before returning to the bedroom. Curling up on the chair, she tucked her knees under her chin, and gazed upon the sleeping form of Severus. Sighing, she smiled in gratitude for the few moments she had been given to share with the fascinatingly dark wizard.

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Meanwhile, across the ocean, In New Orleans, in a well-appointed office, amongst mahogany furniture and rich paneling, Maurice Monterichelieu perused a set of contracts while his eldest son reported back to him about the events surrounding Alexei’s wedding.

“Great Zeus naked on a pogo stick, Nicholas, you offered to what?”

Maurice Monterichelieu was usually quite a careful man, but his eldest son’s comment caused him to nearly staple his fingers together with a legal contract, his blood staining the pale blue heavy weight paper holding the stack of paper together.

“Well, I couldn’t get Dickson to apparate over, and, she wasn’t very outgoing.”

“You stay away from Dickson Dodds!” Maurice roared at Nicholas, his eyes glinting dangerously as he slammed the gleaming black stapler on his desk. “Their marriage must take place!”

“Calm down already, Dad. I know that.”

“Honestly, Nicholas, I really am starting to think your porch light is on, but nobody’s home.”

“Whatever, Dad.” Nicholas sniped, “Don’t think I haven’t seen the way you look at her when you think no one notices.” Nicholas abruptly exited his Dad’s office in quite a huff.

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Snape awakened slowly, stretching cat like under the soft sage green sheets. He rolled over, hands instinctively seeking Natalie’s warm body. When he didn’t find her, he rolled on to his back, flinging his arm over his eyes, showcasing the morbid mark on his forearm. Natalie watched his movements in silence, still intrigued by man and his mark. She slithered back into the bed next to him. His other arm encircled her waist, pulling her tight into his side.

“Did you sleep well?” She queried as she rested her hand on his stomach.

“Definitely.” He purred contentedly.

“Hungry?”

“Famished.”

He answered as he tossed her across his body to lay on her back and pounced on her, his lips murmuring softly against hers, his reliable morning erection pressing against the soft, worn cotton of her dress. Natalie gathered the cotton of her skirt in her fingers, pulling it high around her waist so that they lay skin to skin from the waist down. Snape groaned as he shifted his cock into her warm, wet, waiting folds. Fluidly, he slide inside her welcoming depths; the heat nearly unbearable. Natalie hooked her heels over his scarred back, demanding more motion, more contact, more physical connection. Snape willing obliged, raising himself up on his hands to allow him more freedom of movement. As their pace increased, Natalie chanted his name quite erotically, for him at least, as a soothing mantra for both their troubled souls.

As he slipped from inside her, spent, Severus settled on to his side, one long fingered hand playing idly with her stomach, head propped on his head, hair falling forward to curtain his face as he watched the satisfied witch slip off into well-deserved slumber. He brushed a damp lock of hair from her face, marveling at the tiny freckles sprinkled across her nose.

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“I have business to attend to later today.” Natalie called from the bath as Severus re-dressed.

“As do I.”

“Would you be free on Saturday?” Natalie poked her head around the door.

“I could be.”

“Quidditch and dinner?” She offered.

“Interesting.” He sniped. “Shall I meet you here?”

“Of course.”

The pair walked companionably to the front gate of the property. Natalie stood on tip toe to plant a friendly kiss on his thin cheek.

“Thank you, Severus Snape.”

“You’re welcome, Natalie Monterichelieu.”

“Until Saturday.”

“Noon?”

Natalie nodded as Severus slipped his hand from hers, stepped outside the Dupont Manor’s wards, and disapparated with a crack of thunder.

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“Headmaster, I assure you, even if I were able to stay on in Europe, I am not the appropriate candidate for your open position.” Natalie spoke softly, cradling a delicate porcelain teacup in her hands.

“I think you would be splendid in the Defense against the Dark Arts position, Miss Monterichelieu.”

“Truly Headmaster, I teach straight Defense. I have no qualms about using any tool in my arsenal to defend myself, the Dark Arts included.”

“Of course you would. I also believe you would be quite capable of … adjusting to our curriculum.” Dumbledore’s blue eyes crinkled and twinkled merrily over his glasses at the somber witch sitting across from him.

“Well, sir, it is a moot point. My family demands I return home to honor my marriage contract.”

“I understand these things as well.”

“Thank you for the honor of considering me.” Natalie offered her hand, having stowed the tea cup, and now rose to leave.

“Thank you for the honor of due consideration.” Dumbledore shook her hand enthusiastically, then guided her to the door. Just before they reached the portal, he stopped, adding quite mysteriously, “Odd little accident in the potions stores in the dungeons yesterday. I believe Professor Snape is there attempting to straighten out the damage.”

“Really?” Natalie commented, cocking her head curiously at the Headmaster. “Perhaps I shall stop and say hello.”

“I believe he would welcome the interruption.” Dumbledore concluded, holding the door in a very courtly manner for his guest.

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Natalie slithered into the potions store in her animagus form, beady eyes watching the agitated Professor, his white shirt sleeves rolled up, collar opened, scrubbing away at a fine layer of gunk that had spread over the entire contents of his stores.

“Delicious.” She hissed in parcel.

Snape whirled about to face the sound, wand in hand, eyes widening at the sight of the black snake rising as if to strike. Slowly Natalie regained her human form, sliding across the floor, pushing Snape’s wand aside, grinning at his stunned appearance just before pressing close to his damp body, running her hands up his sides, tilting her head up hopefully for his lips.

“Am I to believe I am delicious to you?”

“Most definitely.” Natalie murmured before licking the salty side of his neck, pausing over his pulsing carotid artery, rising up on tip toe to nibble his ear.

Snape trembled slightly under her touch. She stepped back, eying him predatorily. With heated eyes, swollen lips, and shallow breaths, she grabbed him by his silver snake belt buckle and pulled him out of the grimy storeroom, backing towards his classroom door.

She pushed the door open, still tugging him with her. Abruptly, she threw him around to back him against a student’s desk, fingers flying to undo his for once few remaining buttons. She pushed the no longer stiff white cotton shirt off his wiry shoulders, running her fingers down his arms before pulling his hands out of the sleeves. She dispatched his belt buckle with surprising agility, then his slacks. He bowed his head to watch her work, his heavy hair sticking to his face in long unkempt strands.

“Deliciously unkempt, unguarded, and now undressed.” Natalie cooed in obvious delight. “Any school girl fantasies I should volunteer to act out?” She peered up at him playfully under his curtain of hair, her fingers lightly stroking both sides of his turgid shaft.

“Most definitely not.” Snape growled, reversing their positions neatly, picking up the smaller witch bodily and setting her on the desk. Natalie cupped his face in her hands, leaning forward to meet his lips with hers, now tingling with the desire for full contact.

“I did not realize until just now at what a convenient height these desks are set.” Snape commented most dryly just before reaching under Natalie’s prim and proper skirt and ripping her panties off of her body. She squirmed in absolute anticipation. Lifting her heels to the hard surface of the desk, she leaned back on to her elbows as once more Snape found his home inside her waiting womb.

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The couple walked together across the now moon lit grounds of Hogwarts. High in a tower, unseen by the two, a set of twinkling blue eyes watched their stroll.

“I must return home sooner than expected, Severus.” Natalie sighed sadly.

“I understand.” He answered calmly, squeezing her hand ever so slightly to reinforce his words.

“I’m quite grateful for whatever oddity occurred in your stores for you to be here on the grounds.”

“As am I.”

They stopped near the apparition point. Natalie took both of his hands into hers, quite gently running her thumbs over his worn knuckles.

“I thank you, Severus Snape. I can now go to face my taskmaster having known true passion.”

“We both face taskmasters, Natalie. I’m afraid I will not be able to keep in contact with you.”

“I understand. Your Lord will keep you occupied as will mine.” She raised his hands to her lips, kissing each softly.

“I thank you, Natalie Monterichelieu.” Severus leaned down to kiss her cheek gently, gratefully, sadly.

“Do try to stay safe?” She asked solemnly.

“You as well,” he added.

Natalie nodded, dropping his hands, now her turn to disappear in a crack of thunder.