Another Dark Star

Chapter 7


Sadira was sat in her flat, Nightshade purring in her lap, on a rainy September Sunday and was unusually happy. For this miserable looking day was the first opportunity Severus had to visit her and she was watching the clock, waiting for him to arrive. She had made a special effort with her appearance and hoped he hadn’t changed his mind. Bang on time he rapped on her front door, and when she opened the door he strode in looking very annoyed.

“Bad week?” She asked, following him into the living room.

“Whatever gave you that idea?” he replied sardonically.

“Tea? Or perhaps something stronger?” she offered.

“Tea, strong.” he replied, sitting in the high backed wing chair. Her furniture was quite mismatched, as most of it was picked up from antique shops and second hand markets. It had an eclectic feel to the place that suited her and was much more comfortable and presentable than the crap in Spinner’s End.

“You redecorated.” he noted.

“I got bored one weekend. Besides, the previous owner’s taste left much to be desired.” She remarked.

“Yes, much better. No floral, no pink!” he added, smirking as she gave him his tea.

“So, what’s so bad? They’ve only been back a week.” She asked him, perching on the arm of his chair and stroking his shoulders soothingly.

“Malfoy! The little snot is taking every opportunity to abuse his Prefect status. Normally it wouldn’t bother me but he isn’t even bothering to be subtle about it. If I ignore it, it’s liable to get dangerously out of hand, but if I punish him, he’ll complain to his father who may begin to question my loyalties.” He fumed.

“Draco always seemed like such a sweet boy,” she remarked with surprise.

“You knew him?” he asked with equal surprise.

“Yes, I sort of took him under my wing. I think he saw me as sort of a surrogate mum.” she remembered fondly.

“Ah yes, I forgot. Well, without you there clucking over him and keeping him out of mischief, that particular little chick has grown up into a spoiled and arrogant cock. He is almost as lazy as Potter, and yet I have to pretend he is my favourite student of all time in order to preserve my usefulness as a spy.” He remarked, annoyed.

“Who was your favourite student of all time?” she asked, changing the subject.

“You of course.” He replied honestly, surprising her.

“You always listened, you rarely talked back in class, and did everything I ever asked of you to the best of your ability.” He told her fondly.

“And you were always my favourite teacher. Even before our extra-curricular activities began I was always fond of you. Although, truth be told, the most enjoyable things you taught me weren’t learned in the classroom.” She teased, running a hand lightly down his chest.

“I seem to remember you weren’t completely uneducated in that area before we were involved.” He replied silkily, setting down his cup and pulling her into his lap, kissing her softly. She pulled away and shifted her weight, straddling him and pinning him to the chair.

“Want to help me with my homework then, Sir?” she purred seductively into his ear, giggling as he stood with her legs still wrapped round him and smirking strode into her bedroom, carrying her.



Dumbledore suspected something was up with his Potions Master next morning at breakfast. For a start, he was actually eating instead of picking at it irritably. Secondly he wasn’t glaring at random students, not even Harry, and was that a hint of a smile? While no-one else at Hogwarts would have noticed it, Dumbledore had known him for nearly 25 years, man and boy, and well enough to tell the difference.

“Sleep well Severus?” he asked innocently.

“Oh yes, very well thank you Headmaster.” He replied smirking.

Definitely something up, or was that up to something? Sirius had mentioned something about inappropriate behaviour with his daughter when she was a student. Was this something to do with this ridiculous feud of theirs? With no details or proof he had let the accusations slide.

He remembered the girl had been one of Snape’s favourite students and had been extremely ambitious. That was why he had trusted her enough to make her Head Girl. He knew her Slytherin pride would drive her to do the best possible job and she had kept Slytherin House very well policed, the best behaviour they had managed in recent years. This had gone on long enough. It was distracting their energies from the tasks at hand, albeit merely cleaning duties on Sirius’ part, and it was affecting morale within the Order.

Perhaps he should speak to Ms. Prewett-Black. After all, she seemed to be the only person who was on friendly terms with both of them. However this would require much thought and he had enough on to deal with as it was.

Severus stormed into Grimmauld Place, seething with fury and looking for Sadira. It was strange how in the short space of time in which they had been back together he had begun to seek her out to soothe, calm and comfort him. He hated how close to dependency it had become, and he was a proud and independent man but surely any man would see the pleasure in having a young pretty witch willing to smooth away the stresses.

He found her in her favourite haunt, the library which was mostly furnished thanks to Phineas Nigellus Black; the former Hogwarts Headmaster. Had he more time and fewer distractions he would have been very interested in it himself. It reminded him of the first time he had brought her back to his home. For a Slytherin she certainly had Ravenclaw tendencies. That in itself was a dangerous combination; sly, cunning and intelligent.

‘Exactly why he lov...liked her.’ He corrected himself, not willing to admit to that particular sentiment even to himself yet. This had ended badly once before and he was not about to let this, admittedly attractive, wench have an opportunity to hurt him again. She looked up from her book and smiled at him stood in the doorway.

“Hello Love, what brings you here?”

“You.” he replied, sitting on the antique loveseat beside her.

“Another bad day? I can hex Draco for you if you like, no-one would ever trace it to you.” she joked, sitting in the corner of the sofa behind him; wrapping her legs and arms around his waist as he stretched his long legs out over the rest of the seat.

“No, not Malfoy. That blasted Umbridge woman. She’s driving us all insane with her demands and ‘hem-hemming’ and infernal pinkness!” he fumed. “You know she’s investigating all the teachers; reviewing our methods and questioning our suitability to teach.” He finished.

“That’s ridiculous. While I never had a class with Hagrid, and we all know Trelawney’s completely useless, everyone else is more than capable as I remember. You have nothing to worry about, your class is always the best behaved and you always get excellent exam results.” She reassured him while unbuttoning his coat from behind.

“That’s not the point. She’s trying to further discredit Dumbledore by casting aspersions on his staffing choices. She may drag up my history.” He said.

“You remember yourself that there are too many people in the Ministry who don’t believe I renounced the Dark Lord of my own will before he fell. And now I must return to his side, all it would take is one slip up by anyone...” he continued but was pleasantly interrupted by her running her fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp then his neck and shoulders. ‘Merlin, he’d missed her massages.’

“Relax. The old busybody has nothing on you. If she did, you’d know about it. She isn’t subtle from what I’ve heard and she wouldn’t miss an opportunity to gloat.” Sadira soothed.

He slid his frock coat off and allowed her to unbutton his shirt a little to properly work on the tension in his back. He was feeling much better, even a little sleepy. That was close to a miracle for the insomniac Snape.

“If only I could have you do this every evening, my jobs might not seem so bad.” He muttered languidly, settling his head comfortably between her breasts as she moved her hands to his forehead and temples smoothing away the frown lines and banishing the beginnings of a headache.

Sadira was enjoying herself almost as much as Severus was. She hadn’t been comfortably close like this with him, with no expectations of sex, for a long time. Three years in fact. She missed this side of their relationship, something she had only been able to experience in the summer holidays curling up with him, curiously enough also in a library of sorts in Spinners End or in her little flat, like any normal couple.

“I still love you.” she whispered into his ear, unsure whether he heard her. Either way he didn’t answer. She didn’t mind though. She always knew he had issues when it came to expressing emotions and had learnt to accept him as he was. Still she wished she could see him more often.

As it happened, he had heard her, and her blithe confession filled the heart people didn’t think he had with a strange and giddy feeling. ‘She loves me. Correction, she still loves me. That means she never stopped, despite the abysmal way I treated her.’ He thought to himself as he explored his own feelings but his ponderings were brought to an abrupt end by an unwelcome addition to the room.

“WHAT THE HELL?” shouted Sirius from the doorway. Both the interrupted lovers sat bolt upright at the disturbance.

“Hello Dad, looking for a book?” said Sadira cheekily.

“I certainly wasn’t looking for this,” He objected, gesturing to the scene he had interrupted. “What the hell is going on?”

“I knew your powers of deduction were lacking Black but surely even you can comprehend the evidence of your own eyes.” Said Severus snidely, thoroughly irked that his pleasant evening had taken a sour turn.

“Severus stop it!” Sadira chided.

“Well Dad; you know our history, or at least some of it. I’m sure you have realised this means that Severus and I are back together. I’m well aware that you two can’t stand each other so I don’t expect you to like it. I’m going to say this only once; my love life is no-one’s concern but my own. I expect you to leave me to make my own choices without argument. I had this talk with Molly years ago, now I’m telling you.” She told him sternly, extracting her legs from around Snape’s torso.

“Fine, have the greasy old bat, just after I hex his balls off for touching my daughter” Sirius snarled, advancing on Snape brandishing his wand.

Snape jumped into defensive stance, wand also ready. However, with his hair tousled and in just his trousers and shirt, slightly opened, he didn’t look quite as menacing as he did when buttoned tightly into his black wool armour, robes billowing.
Sadira huffed at the over-dramatic scene and stepped between them.

“Enough! Gods, you’re like a pair of children, and I am sick of playing Mummy. Severus, do you still know the wards to my flat after all this time?” she asked. He nodded his affirmation.

“Then wait for me there. I want a word with my dear Daddy, but I want to see you before you go back to Hogwarts.” She told him.

He buttoned his coat back up, glared at Sirius one last time and stormed past him out the door and down the stairs. Sadira gently closed the door and faced her father, forcing herself to remain calm.

“Right, what is your problem with me pursuing a romantic relationship with Severus Snape?” she asked him.

“Romantic? Snape?” he said in disbelief.

“Fine, a sexual relationship is that better?” she amended nastily.

“No it bloody well is not!” he snapped back.

“For your information he does actually have his romantic moments once in a while, but back to the point. I am a full grown, single independent woman, both in the financial and emotional sense of the term. I am not unintelligent, as I have proved, nor am I prone to bouts of ill sense or bad judgement. What therefore is so wrong in having a fulfilling relationship with a similarly intelligent and independent single man of my own choosing?” she countered.

“It’s Snape, that’s what’s wrong with it,” he snapped.

“He’s too old for you. He’s a sneaky, foul tempered, greasy, untrustworthy ugly bastard. And he’s a Death Eater.” He complained, counting off the reasons on his fingertips.

“He’s not that old, he’s only as sneaky as I am, he’s not always bad tempered and trust me I could give him a run for his money on that charge. He is not greasy, well not always and that isn’t his fault. I trust him implicitly and I do not give my trust easily. Believe it or not I don’t think he’s ugly either. I suppose I have strange taste in men but I find him very attractive. As for being a Death Eater; if it weren’t for Dumbledore asking him to, he wouldn’t have anything to do with them. As it is he’s risking his life to give us valuable information on the enemy.” She countered. Sirius was taken aback by her honest defence of the man he hated.

“You really fancy him? Even that big nose and slimy hair of his?” he asked. She laughed.

“After everything I’ve just told you, that’s the bit you don’t believe?” she laughed.

“Yes I fancy him, have done for years in fact. I always had a thing for tall men with dark hair and a dark sense of humour. Especially long, straight black hair. Also he has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen, and as for his nose, I think it looks noble.” she said almost dreamily.

“Actually, I have a very good reason for loving that nose but I really don’t think you want to hear it.” She added with a grin.

“No indeed,” agreed Sirius, repulsed. “You’re crazy for liking him, but at least you know why you do so we can cross out the possibility of a love potion.” He joked, trying to remain on his daughter’s good side.

“It’s a bit beyond like I think Dad. I’ve been in love with him for a very long time. I never really stopped, even though I tried to have other relationships.” She confessed.

“I suppose I should just be glad you’re still speaking to me?” he asked and was relieved when she smiled back at him.

“Just promise me you won’t hex his nether regions next time you see him. I’ve grown rather fond of that part.” She told him with a grin, patting him on the shoulder as she left to meet Snape.



When she got to her flat, Severus was back in a foul mood.

“I suppose the mangy mongrel ordered his precious princess to have nothing more to do with me.” He spat as she joined him in the living room.

“No he did not. Besides I thought I was your precious princess.” she joked, winking at him. “A Pureblood Princess for the Half-Blood Prince?”

“Not funny Prewett. What did he say then?”

“Firstly, you need to get used to the fact that my name is Prewett-Black now. You don’t have to like it but it’s true. As for my Dad, he didn’t say much apart from listing a few of your flaws and bad points. After living with you for nearly a year I think I’m better qualified than him to do that so it didn’t bother me.” He shot her a look that hovered between angry and hurt.

“After which I ranted at him, defending you on every charge and slight before informing him that I love you very much and he can stick his nose out of my love life if he expects me to speak to him again.” Snape managed a smile though he was still annoyed. He was touched that she had defended him so vehemently against her father.

“I just bet you told him, my fiery little wench.” he said with a smirk. He put his arm around her, leaned into her ear and whispered, “So, you love me very much do you?” while looking very smug. She rolled her eyes at him but decided to indulge him on his ego trip.

“Yes, I love you very much Severus, always have, always will.” She whispered back. He cupped her face in his hand, drinking in the look of pure love and lust she was giving him. ‘Screw self- preservation, she deserves this much at least.’ he thought.

“I love you too, Sadira. I haven’t felt this way about anyone.” He admitted and was overwhelmed by the joy he saw glimmer in her eyes.

He stroked her lips with his thumb before leaning down and brushing them with his in a soft gentle kiss, before claiming her mouth with more force, causing her to catch her breath. It took her a moment to regain enough sense to put her arms around his waist, clinging to him fiercely and kissing him back with equal force as though her life depended on it. When they broke for air she looked at him, head cocked like a curious cat.

“Does this mean I’m your girlfriend again now?” she asked innocently. He laughed deeply.

“I’d say so, yes.” he sighed.

“I don’t suppose that Umbridge cow would notice if you spent a night away from the castle?” she asked hopefully.

“She probably would, but it would be worth it.” He replied with a glint in his eye as they moved to the bedroom.