Marriage Law Madness

Severus flooed through the kitchen fireplace. “Honey, I’m home!” He wanted to give her some warning, knowing what he now did about her past. ‘Well, here goes nothing.’ He saw her sitting at the kitchen table, guiltily shoving something under the newspaper and picking up her cup of tea.

He sat down, poured himself a cup of tea and then casually reached under the newspaper, withdrawing his new issue of Ars Alchemica. He stared at it a second, then handed it back to her. “Here. Read it at your leisure. We can discuss the merits of the article later once I have a chance to read it, if you like. Incidentally, which article did you read first?”

She looked stunned. “Um, “An Explanation on the Fundamental Limits of Muggle Medicine As Opposed to Healing in the Treatment of Cancer” by the cancer specialist staff at St. Mungo’s. You mean you aren’t angry I read your journal?”

“Why would I get angry? I’m thrilled, actually. Not many people, even qualified masters, can grasp that journal’s articles. To have an equal to discuss things with is wonderful. It gets awfully lonely up there in that ivory tower, you know. I have something to discuss with you, actually. How quickly do you think you could be ready to take college exams in Magical Home Arts?”

“I could probably pass them now, given I have almost thirty years of experience, but with a week or two to study some charms I rarely have occasion to use, such as gourmet cooking and some of the more complicated enchanted baking, I think I could do quite well. Why?”

“Start studying. Albus is worried, as am I, about all the young witches and wizards who are going off into marriage with no clue how to run a house. And it isn’t as if diapering charms are in the standard curriculum. He’s asked me to allow you to take the exams and teach at Hogwarts three mornings a week. I told him if you agreed, you had my permission and support.”

“I dreamed of being a Hogwarts teacher since I was seven until I was betrothed to Arthur at sixteen. I gave it up the because I had no hope.” She spoke softly and regretfully.

“This will, of course, leave you two mornings to take classes yourself and leaves your afternoons free to apprentice in potions. Eckersley is still head of the potions division at Oxford, you won’t have any trouble getting in. Albus is owling him now.”

He had a second’s view of the complete shock and joy on her face before she Apparated across the table into his lap, knocking his teacup to the floor. She threw her arms around him and hugged him so tight he thought she’d break his ribs. Suddenly he realized his shoulder was wet. He gently lifted her head and looked at her. Tears were running down her face, but she had the biggest smile he had ever seen. “You want this then?” He questioned her.

She nodded eagerly, then surprised him by lifting her lips to his and kissing him thoroughly, looking at him for his reaction.

“I liked that. Do it again.” She complied, and suddenly they were both on the floor, having tipped the chair backwards onto the carpet. “If I didn’t have to deal with a detention tonight, I’d send us both to bed without supper and keep you there until morning. I have to learn how to please a woman, and you know practice makes perfect.”

She crawled off of him, helping him up and setting the chair upright. “What time is your detention?”

“Eight.”

“Good. It’s barely five; you’re home early. Give me a few minutes, then come to our room.” Molly brushed her lips against his and headed towards the bedroom. She took a quick bath and then changed into a new nightie she had gotten as a belated birthday present from her daughters-in-law, a green satin gown with a matching robe and slippers.

Taking her hair out of its bun, she brushed it until it gleamed, then completed her toilette and climbed into bed, where Severus was already reclining, wearing only a pair of green and silver striped boxers and a green robe with silver piping. “Last year’s Christmas gift from my Slytherins,” he said by way of explanation.

“Your Slytherins buy you underwear?”

“Parkinson and Bulstrode put them up to it, I think. They get all those witch’s lingerie catalogues with the scantily clad models. I swear they find the dumbest men they can to pose for those things. Built like Adonis, but only good for ogling the women on the other page.”

“Maybe when I lose some more weight I’ll have to look into some of those.” He cut her off, bringing his mouth down on hers, bringing his hands around to cup her bottom.

After the first initial burst of heat generated by the kiss, he took his time, exploring every inch of her thoroughly. She gasped in pleasure when he began to nibble at her breasts, kissing his way down her body. “This is new to me. Am I doing it right?” he asked her.

“I’ve done ‘it’ dozens of times and never felt like this, so you’re doing something right.” She had to struggle to talk, her breath was coming in pleasured pants. Their brains shut down as their bodies took over. They seemed to know by instinct how to please one another, gasping for breath as they settled into a haze of bliss. After several minutes of simply lying together, Severus checked his watch. “Another two hours. I really don’t know how I am going to handle tonight.”

“Severus, what part of it are you worried about? Maybe talking through it will help.”

“How much do you know about my childhood?” he queried.

“Just what little you told me on our wedding night.”

“Do you remember what I said after I spanked you? About my father?”

“Yes, you said he stopped play-spanking you after a certain event, but you didn’t say what it was.”

“My mother died when I was six, leaving him with me and my sister to raise. He started to drink, but he married right away so we had someone to take care of us. Unfortunately, she was the worst possible person and makes Lucius Malfoy look tame. She beat me for small infractions, withheld food, locked me in the attic for hours at a time with no food or water…and my father was too drunk to notice. Plus,he was a mean drunk. So he started in on my stepmother. Going to Hogwarts was just as bad, with Potter and Black taking over the job of keeping me miserable, friendless and frequently humiliated.”

She got up and came around the bed. “Oh, Severus.” Her voice was thick with emotion.
The look in his eyes was haunted, giving Molly a rare look at the insecure little boy she had always suspected lurked under his rough exterior, never let out, but always ruthlessly supressed.

He held her to him, holding her as if he would die if he let go. “Except for that single, playful time with you, I have never spanked anyone. I’ve been able to give them all to Filch or McGonagall this year. I am, frankly, terrified that I will hurt them more than I mean to or that my anger will get the better of me. I’ve tried very hard to keep the parts of me that are like my father at bay. When it boiled over, it came out in meanness and nasty comments to my students. It isn’t as bad now that I’m not living two lives and don’t have to pretend to love the Death Eater’s brats, but I still fear it.”

She turned her head to face him. “Fearing it is good. You know its there, and you work to control it. There is nothing to worry about. Honest.” She chewed her lip for a moment, unsure of how much to tell him. “I actually find a spanking a great stress reliever. Arthur never figured it out. When I would get to the end of my rope, I would either do something I knew he strongly disapproved of or goad him into it. Even after twenty-five years, he never grasped the fact that had learned to like it. Plus, after Ginny was born, they were the only times he ever touched me.” The words came out in a flood. “I would get so lonely, Severus. But there was no one I could confide in who wouldn’t snitch on me to Arthur, except for my godfather. But that’s not exactly the type of thing I’d confide in him about, obviously.”

“Molly, even in my former, nasty self, I would have listened. And lent you my Ars Alchemica transfigured to look like a book of cleaning spells. One of the things I regret the most is knowing all the people I could have helped who were too scared to ask me.”

Molly got up and went to her dresser, taking the hairbrush from the top. Handing it to her husband, she said, “Like you said, practice makes perfect. I’ll help you if you need it. Use your hand first. When I start wriggling too much, a threat of the brush is usually enough to make me stop. I’ll let you know when to use the brush, though.” She draped herself over his knees, positioning herself perfectly for him.

He sat staring at her naked form for a moment, then tentatively brought his hand down. Once, twice… he found a rhythm that seemed to work, turning her backside a soft pink. She wriggled beneath him, and he picked up the brush and administered a single, warning swat before resuming swats with his palm.

“Now, Severus, please.” She gasped in need, and he picked up the brush again, teasing her by rubbing the soft bristled side against her pinkened flesh. Then he quickly flipped it over, leaving deep cherry pink ovals in an even pattern. The dam of her emotions broke, and deep, choking sobs wracked her. He stopped, unsure.

“Don’t stop. Harder, please. I need this, need to make myself let go.” He nodded, rubbing her bottom for a few seconds before quickening the pace and intensity until her sobs became uncontrollable. She didn’t seem to notice when he stopped, until he started massaging the soreness from her. He gently helped her up, holding her and just letting her cry. Then he led her into the bathroom. Running a few inches of cool water into the bath with a little Eucalyptus oil, he climbed in and reached out for her. She lay down in the water, her head resting on his knee. Taking the silver hand shower from its holder, he turned the dial to the softest setting, sending a soft jet of cool water towards the reddest spots. He almost swore he saw steam when the cool water hit some of them.

He looked down at her, and realized she was fast asleep, a look of perfect peace and contentment on her face. Checking the time, he woke her enough to get out of the tub. A single spell dried the parts of her hair that had gotten wet, and he toweled her off and helped her into a nightgown. Summoning a quill and parchment, he left her a note telling her he would be back after his detention and would bring them something from the kitchens for supper. Stepping through the Floo to Hogwarts, he looked back at Molly nested asleep in the bed. ‘Dear Merlin, I think I’m in love.’