A Gift

Just a quick note to anyone thinking that Snape is way out of character for this. One of the first rules around horses is to never react violently around them. They have a fight or flight reaction and usually someone ends up very hurt when they frighten. Growing up around them I can tell you that stallions usually fight first and ask questions later. That\'s why you\'ll find that most of the most famous horses rode by emperor\'s and warroirs are stallions. They are great in a battle. You\'ll see why later too.
Now on with the story.....

She watches closely as he places a blanket on Dameon\'s back. \"I\'ve read quite a bit about riding. It does not seem all that hard to learn.\"
He narrows his eyes at her, tossing the saddle onto the stallion\'s back. \"Miss Granger, not all things can be learned from a book. You would do well to remember that.\"
She bites her lips, suddenly realizing how fine a line she is walking with him. \"Oh.\" Her eyes follow him as he cinches the girth and checks the saddle.
He deftly slides the bridle on and gathers the reins in his hand. \"Follow me.\" He walks out of the stall and into the small paddock. He stops and watches her as she follows hesitantly behind them. \"Come along. I will not wait all day.\"
She jogs the short distance between them, fear starting to edge its way into her mind. \"What must I do?\"
He reaches out and grasps her wrists, leading them to the front of the saddle. \"Grab here.\" She twines her fingers into Dameon\'s mane with one hand and grasps the saddle with the other. \"Now I will hold your leg and give you a boost. You must pull yourself up with your arms.\"
She tries as he grasps her ankle and instead, nearly falls to the side. \"I can\'t.\" She growls out.
He stares down at her in irritation. \"You can and will but I do not have time to argue with you today.\" He grasps her by her waist and easily lifts her. She squeezes in shock as he settles her onto the saddle and quickly jumps up behind her. \"Settle down and relax your legs or this will end up in a ride you will not forget.\" He growls in her ear.
She slowly settle her legs around the leaping horn and leans back against his chest. \"What now?\"
\"Listen and watch my hands.\" He gathers the reins in his hands, gently nudging the stallion into a walk. \"Hands are for steering and stopping. Legs are for speed control. More leg pressure will mean more speed to him. Hence, relaxing your legs will tell him you wish him to go calmly and smoothly.\"
She relaxes even more, the sound of his voice soothing her. I see.\"
He frowns for a moment, unsure if she is listening to him correctly. \"Your hands tell him the direction you wish to go and how sharply to turn. More pressure to one side means a sharper turn.\" He pulls the left rein and they turn to the left. \"Equal pressure backwards with no leg pressure tells him to stop or slow down depending on the amount of pressure used. Pressure applied even after he has stopped asks him to back.\" He stops and slowly backs, giving her the feel of each transition.
She laughs softly. \"This is fun.\"
His lips twitch up for a moment. \"Then let us take a short jaunt and see how you like it.\" He turns Dameon towards the open gate and tsks, asking for a trot.
She gasps and leans more into him, causing him to laugh softly in her ear. Realizing his game, she relaxes again, moving with the feel of the horse. They follow a short trail along the fence line, her eyes wide with wonder and excitement. She feels him tighten his arms around her and then him shift behind her. Suddenly the stallion lunges forward, racing full out along the pasture. She squeals in shock, her legs clamping the leaping horn for security. She narrows her eyes at the feel of him moving behind her. She can feel his body shaking in surpressed laughter and knows then that he did this to frighten her. She forces herself to relax against him, taking in the sight of the pasture speeding past them. Suddenly she feels giddy and starts to laugh, loving the feel of freedom riding is givng her.
Nearing the woods, he slows Dameon down and turns him back towards the cottage. \"Take the reins, Miss Granger.\"
She hesitantly reaches out, covering his hands with hers. He slides his hands back til she gets a firm grip on the reins. \"Like this?\" She nervously whispers.
\"Correct.\" His hands settle around her waist, still holding her steady. \"Now take us back. Slowly.\"
She barely pushes her left leg into the stallion, feeling him start to move off at the slightest touch. She doesn\'t realize she\'s grinning like a fool til they are back at the paddock and he takes his ahnds off of her waist to slide down. She bites her lip, meeting his eyes as he looks up at her. \"Did I do ok?\"
\"Acceptable for a first time.\" He reaches out and grasps her hips, helping to lower her from the saddle. \"But I would not go off riding on your own as of yet.\"
Her legs buckle as soon as he lets go of her, causing her to stumble against him. \"Bloody hell!\" She gasps, her legs feeling like jelly under her weight.
\"Language, Miss Granger.\" He scowls down at her, helping her to stand. \"You will find that a Lady does not curse as you have just done.\"
She takes a few steps away, feeling her legs finally start to work again. \"Did I ever say I was a lady?\"
\"No, you did not.\" His lips twitch for a moment. \"And unless you plan on standing as if you have had your legs pulled apart, I suggest you head to the cottage and take a hot bath.\"
Her face reddens. \"Yes, Professor.\" She quickly turns, shakily making her way through the barn.

He waits, unsaddling Dameon and brushing him down again before finally going back to the cottage. His thoughts are a mass of uncertainties as he again goes over the past few weeks events. Trudging up to the front door, he stops long enough to look up towards her window. Why am I allowing that little chit to invade my privacy? He shakes his head and steps into the livingroom, tossing a pair of gloves onto a nearby table.
\"Did you enjoy your ride?\" Sarah looks up from the paiting she is contemplating.
\"You know very well it was not the quiet ride I usually take.\" He narrows his eyes at her. \"You sent her out there, didn\'t you?\"
She blinks at him in surprise. \"I sent her nowhere. I only suggested she walk the grounds and get out a bit.\"
\"You knew I would not yell at her for coming into the stable.\" He eases into a chair, sighing softly.
She lifts a brow, her lips twitching slightly in amusement. \"I\'m glad a few of my lessons have stuck.\"
He reaches up, rubbing the bridge of his nose. \"I have trained him as you have taught me to from the day he was born. You know very well I would never raise my voice around him.\"
\"Now if you could only employ that in other aspects of your life...\" She winks and glides off towards the kitchen.
He groans, unerstanding her point. \"You are lucky I do not have you exercised from this place!\" He growls back in irritation.