Mistress of Slytherin

Chapter Eight –






Okay y’all, just some fair warning.
This chapter gets a little intimate near the end, and just in case the chapter
title has you wondering, Jessica does not change into her reptilian form and
get it on with the big guy. He he. Anyway, enjoy.

 

Chapter Eight – The Basilisk

 

The moment Lucius Malfoy
left his private chambers, the livid Potions Master hastily picked the bottle
of brandy up by the neck and howled angrily as he threw it wrathfully into the
fireplace. As the glass shattered, the maple coloured liquid splashed across
the stone bricks and trickled down the walls.

Still
enveloped with rage, Snape took a running step towards the side table and
kicked it over, shattering the pair of snifters that fell to the floor. Snape
heaved angrily before releasing a long, fuming roar.

Knowing
that the problem wouldn’t solve itself if he continued to destroy everything in
his quarters, Snape collapsed back onto the couch and squeezed his
white-knuckled fingers in his hair. He pulled and he squeezed until his head
hurt all over. With his eyes shut tight, Snape tried hard to regain some
composure long enough to conjure a plan.

But
what could he do? What – could – he – do?

There was no easy way
out. There was never an easy way out. Snape’s entire life was constructed with
roads paved with frustrations and complications. The first thing he’d have to
do is alert the Headmaster. Dumbledore would have to know Jessica was in
danger.

In
danger of what, though? Snape asked himself. Getting
pregnant? Without the use of some very black magic, only the Potions Master
himself could make that happen – and he was expected to. So what would happen
if Voldemort returned to find out his daughter was still a virgin? That would
be it for Snape. He couldn’t just answer to the Dark Mark with some lame excuse
for not fulfilling his obligation.

I’m
sorry my Lord, but she just wasn’t ready yet. Snape shook
his head at the ridiculous thought that had crept into his mind. Nobody came to
the Dark Lord with excuses. It was suicide!

It
was useless trying to escape the inevitable. If someone managed to stop
Voldemort’s return Snape could easily postpone, but it was still inevitable.
Voldemort would return some day and he would expect to have another heir
sitting on the Slytherin throne.

Snape
shook his head again, realizing that there was nothing he could do. Us
Ss
Snape wanted to expose himself to the Death Eaters as a traitor, he had to do
exactly what was expected of him.

He
had to collect the Virgin’s Blood.

 

* * *

 

That night Jessica was sitting alone in Madam
Pomfrey’s office completing the day’s entry log. She leisurely dipped her quill
into the inkbottle and wrote the rest of Harry Potter’s report on the bottom of
the parchment.

Harry
was in the other room fast asleep. Jessica could hear the faint rumble of his
snoring and smiled to herself. The poor boy, she said to herself, he
needs all the rest he can get. And all because of Gilderoy Lockhart and his
stubborn pride.

Jessica
neatly stacked the report away in Madam Pomfrey’s desk and set the quill and
ink aside. She tried as best she could to push the chair out quietly as she
stood. Only making a whisper of a sound, Jessica pushed the chair back into the
desk and blew out each of the candles. She wrapped a black cloak around her shoulders
and tied it tight before reaching for the small candleholder on the corner of
the desk.

The
door to the office automatically locked itself as soon as Jessica slipped into
the infirmary. Harry was still asleep in his bed snoring softly. Regardless,
Jessica kissed the tips of her fingers and waved them at the young boy.

“Good
night, Harry,” she whispered before leaving the Hospital Wing.

The
corridors were unusually cold and dark. The candle in her hand did very little
to light her path, but she knew it very well. Hopefully Snape would be there in
her quarters waiting for her. Over dinner she had not mentioned her unpleasant
encounter with Lucius and very much wanted to warn Snape of his deviant
behaviour.

Jessica
was half way down the corridor when she heard it again.

“I
want to kill … I want to kill!”

Jessica
stopped just as suddenly as if she had run into an invisible wall. Her ears
perked up and listened carefully. This time the voice seemed to come from right
beside her. It was loud and sounding more murderous than it had the last time.

With
her heart pounding in her chest, Jessica slowly tiptoed down to the end of the
corridor. She walked alongside the wall and kept her eyes peeled. Although she
couldn’t sense anyone near her, Jessica was almost expecting someone to jump
from the shadows.

Around
the corner Jessica could hear a faint slither, like something was being dragged
across the stone floor. It was slow, rhythmic. Almost a soothing sound.

Slowly,
Jessica peeked around the corner and when her eyes met those of the largest
monster she had ever come across, her breath froze in her throat and the
candleholder clattered to the floor.

Jessica
was left in darkness except for the slivers of moonlight coming in from the
windows. Its glossy scales glittered in the light and Jessica came to realize
exactly how large this snake-like beast was. Although Jessica had always been
fond of snakes, this one made a particular exception.

The
monster’s eyes bore into hers and it slowly slithered towards her. She could have
sworn the monster had a malevolent, hungry smile plastered to its face.

“Get
away!” Jessica screamed as it continued to slither nearer.

As
the creature continued to move Jessica was able to make out a small figure on
the stairs behind it. It was clad in black and looked as if it had a Muggle
camera sitting atop of it.

“Mighty
Merlin,” Jessica gasped.

Next
moment, she realized it was a student. The small boy was unmoving and
completely undetectable when Jessica tried to use her senses to determine
whether or not he was still alive.

“What
have you done?” she asked the hissing creature. “Get away from me!”

Then,
to Jessica’s utter amazement, the creature replied.

“You
shall not fear me, child.” Its voice was coarse and echoed loudly down the
corridor. Surely its volume would alert someone. “For I am the one who
will protect you and has protected all of those who came before you.”

Still trembling with fear, Jessica carefully
stepped away only to see the slithering snake-like monster creeping closer
towards her. “I don’t know what you mean. Please, stay back! I’ll scream for
help!”

“Scream,
and those who come to me will falter before me. Death meets all of those whose
eyes catch sight of mine,” the snake bellowed.

Jessica
looked deep into the ruby eyes of the Basilisk and absentmindedly began walking
towards the creature instead of away. “Then why am I still alive?” she asked.

Its
mouth opened a gentle ways, displaying a mouthful of long, shards of poisonous
fangs. “I do not harm my master, or anyone whose veins preserve his blood. I
can smell it, Jessica. You are one of them.”

“One
of what?” she questioned. “How do you know my name?”

Curiosity
and a strange sense of longing had Jessica yearning to reach out and touch the
scaly skin of the Basilisk. Its eyes were rapidly moving back and forth, taking
in everything in sight.

“Salazar
Slytherin brought me to the castle to protect him and those like him. I have
been summoned to restore his dying wish, that his race remain pure, and
unblemished. I must stop those who are unworthy of learning magic, those like him.”
The Basilisk motioned its beady eyes towards the fallen body on the stairs.

“Who
has summoned you?” Jessica questioned. “Was it you who wrote that message about
me on the wall?” she asked, although she couldn’t quite fathom how a snake
could possibly write a message in blood on the wall, or what it had to do with
the Chamber of Secrets.

“I
have done nothing of the sort,” the Basilisk confessed. “I only do as I am
asked. I will not question my master, only obey him.”

“But
who?” Jessica asked again.

“Only
those who carry the Mark of a Slytherin may summon me,” it said. “And only
those may command me. Others only wish to destroy me.”

A
spark of pity ignited in the pit of Jessica’s stomach. She looked at the beast
and then cautiously reached a hand out to touch it. The Basilisk moved very
slowly as Jessica’s hand caressed the front of its face.

A
moment later she heard footsteps.

Somebody
was coming. The footsteps were coming from behind her. Jessica looked at the Basilisk
and stepped away from it. “You must go,” she told it. “Leave. Leave now!”

Almost
in the blink of an eye, the Basilisk moved along and disappeared around the
corner. Jessica could hear it slithering away and before the footsteps reached
her, the slither had faded away.

A
petrified gasp sounded from the staircase where the student’s body had been
discovered. Jessica skipped quietly over to the top of the stairs and felt
something squish under the toe of her shoe. When she looked down she saw that
she had stepped on a grape.

Professor
McGonagall was leaning over the body of the small boy. She was settling her
hands on his chest as if feeling for a heartbeat. When McGonagall looked up to
see Jessica she gasped again. “Jessica,” she said, sounding alarmed. “What has
happened?”

Jessica
remained silent as a second set of footsteps made way up along the staircase.
It was the Headmaster coming along. He was clad in a long, woolly dressing gown
and a nightcap. He looked first at Jessica and then down at Professor
McGonagall and the boy.

“Petrified,
Albus,” McGonagall said. “We must take him to Poppy immediately.”

The
look Jessica saw in her great uncle’s eyes seemed almost dangerous. She stared
back at him blankly, unsure if she should feel threatened by this intent look.
“Jessica my dear, what are you doing about the castle alone?” the Headmaster
questioned.

Not
looking like she was either surprised or sorry for what had happened, Jessica
wrapped her black cloak tight around her body and shook her head. “I was just
going to my quarters,” she insisted.

Dumbledore
did not look happy orvincvinced.

“I
didn’t do anything!” Jessica insisted harshly.

The
Headmaster calmly shook his head. “Jessica,” he began warningly. “I want you to
leave immediately. I will speak to you first thing in the morning.”

“I
said I didn’t do anything!” Jessica repeated.

McGonagall
looked back and forth between uncle and grandniece with concern written across
her face. Jessica’s cheeks were flushed and Dumbledore’s expression was very
solemn.

“No,
you didn’t,” Dumbledore finally agreed. “Now I want you to return to your
quarters, Jessica. Go now.”

 

* * *

 

Jessica
slammed the door to her quarters as soon as she was inside. Professor Snape was
sitting on the couch reading a book and jumped to his feet upon her entrance.
His brows bent in speculation and he tossed the book down onto the cushion.

“Is
something the matter?” he asked, although it appeared quite obvious that
something had vexed the young woman. Without even sparing him a simple glance,
Jessica stormed straight into the bathroom and left the door open just a tiny
sliver, which hardly seemed inviting.

Regardless
of how inviting it appeared, Snape strode over to the bathroom door and pushed
it open. He stepped inside and clicked the door shut behind him. Jessica was
standing at the basin in a crumpled form with her head buried in her hands.

Deciding
to ease his way into this discussionapenape cautiously approached Jessica and
settled his hands over her hips. He soothingly rubbed her up and down. He
massaged her for a long while before breaking the silence.

“Tell
me what’s wrong, Jessica,” he said softly.

At
first he had feared that Lucius Malfoy had gotten to her first, but as
impetuous as he was at times, the man was not a fool. Lucius knew he couldn’t
trust Jessica enough to con wha what Voldemort had in store for her. He had as
much to hide as Snape did.

Slowly
Jessica lifted her head enough to reveal red, swollen eyes and tear stricken
cheeks. “There’s been an attack,” she said and wiped her eyes. “A boy was
petrified like that cat, just outside of the Hospital Wing.”

Snape’s
arms wrapped all the way around her waist and he settled his chin over her
shoulder. “Did you see or hear it happen?” he asked.

Jessica
shook her head. “No,” she said rather hesitantly.

Snape
tossed her a rather curious glance. “And Poppy?”

“She’d
gone to her rooms not five minutes earlier.” Jessica closed her eyes and tilted
her head to lean against his.

“Well
did you call for help?” Snape asked rather anxiously.

“No.”
Jessica shook her head. “There wasn’t time. Once I realized what had happened,
I already heard Professor McGonagall coming along. Uncle Albus happened to be
right on her heels. And then he –”

Jessica
choked back a fresh dribble of tears as she envisioned the grave look on her
great uncle’s face. It was as if he blamed her for what had happened to Colin
Creevey.

“And
then he what?” Snape encouraged Jessica to continue.

She
walked out of his embrace and circled around behind him before sitting on the
edge of the porcelain bathtub. She thought about how relaxing it would be to
pour herself a hot bubble bath right now. It was her evening ritual to have a
soak in the tub before going to bed, but none of the events that had occurred
today were at all conventional. She needed something a lot more soothing than a
hot bath.

“Severus,”
Jessica began softly, “do you think something is happening to me?”

He
steadily leaned himself back against the basin and crossed his arms and his
ankles. After a slow, deep breath Snape answered her question.

“Nothing
is happening to you, Jessica,” he assured. “Although I recognize that look on
your face. You think this is all your fault.”

“Is
it?” she asked.

Snape
eased his head back and forth. “I very much doubt it.”

She
wrapped her hands around her arms as if trying to warm herself. With her body
rocking slowly back and forth, Jessica made a poignant face. “Uncle Albus
doesn’t seem too convinced. I wish you had seen the way he looked at me.”

“If
the Headmaster suspects you are responsible for anything, then it would be wise
to listen to his reasoning. In our world, people are capable of accomplishing
many things without even realizing what they are doing.”

“One
can hardly call this an accomplishment.” Jessica lifted a single finger to wipe
away her tears. She sniffed and tried hard not to free any more tears. “But
what if I am responsible, Severus? What if I am somehow making all of this
happen? Uncle Albus told me that the Chamber can only be opened by the heir of
Slytherin, and unless I’ve got some cousins running around the castle that I’m
unaware of, I’m the only suspected felon.”

“Nobody
suspects you of anything,” Snape told her.

“Severus,
too many people know who I am,” Jessica reminded. “It’s lucky that none
of the students know or they’d all go crazy.”

Snape
stepped up to the bathtub and knelt down in front of Jessica. He took her hand
in his and gently traced random patterns into her skin with his finger. “No one
is going to find out, Jessica. Those who know, know not to tell, and we each
know better than to suspect you have had anything to do with the attacks or the
message on the wall.”

Looking
exceptionally dubious, Jessica combed her slender fingers through her hair in a
frustrated manner and then collapsed into his open arms. Snape held on tight,
braving the agony of her long fingernails digging into his back. He wore only a
black, silk shirt and trousers. “Uncle Albus will no doubt contact the Ministry
of Magic tonight, and then he wants me to see him tomorrow morning.”

“Then
we will worry about this then,” Snape insisted. “So, until tomorrow morning…”
Snape untied Jessica’s black cloak and slowly let it fall to the floor, “… you
and I will do nothing…” he whispered an incantation to make the faucets on all
four walls of the bathtub spill hot, fragranced water into the large tub as he
unzipped the back of her nurse’s gown, “… but enjoy a pleasurable, hot bath…”
he nuzzled his mouth into the crook of her throat and coated her with kisses,
“… and a niin ein each other’s arms.”

Snape’s
fingers brought the zipper to the small of Jessica’s back and then reached up
to slowly bring her arms out of the sleeves. Jessica hesitated for a moment
before Snape was able to whisper his reassurance into her ear.

“I
think I can manage to take your mind off of all that has happened tonight,” he
told her. “If you’ll let me.”

Jessica
let the helpless look in her green eyes speak for her. She surrendered to his
touch and let him ease the gown over her hips and to the floor. The ivory linen
material fell to the floor and Snape backed away a couple of steps, smiling
cunningly as he admired the half naked witch in front of him.

A
moan grumbled low in his throat and Snape slowly began to work at the buttons
of his shirt. Jessica smiled bashfully and shielded her rosy cheeks with her
hands. Over the sound of the water spilling into the tub, Snape thought her
heard something that resembled a soft giggle.

He
put his wand down next to the edge of the tub and sniggered at Jessica before
peeling his shirt back, exposing his lean, bare chest. Jessica stepped out of
her shoes and stepped towards the edge of the tub. She sat along the porcelain
rim and waved her hand back and forth in the hot, bubbly water.

“It’s
just right,” she told him as he was unfastening his pants.

When
he just about had them off, Jessica swiftly scooped up her hand and splashed
him with water and bubbles.

“Hey!”
Snape exclaimed as his trousers dropped to his ankles. He stomped out of the
black garment and hastily wiped his skin dry. “I suppose you think you are
going to get away with that, young lady.”

Amidst
her giggling, Snape cautiously approached Jessica wearing nothing but his black
knickers and suddenly grabbed her around the ankles before tipping her
backwards into the tub. She had almost managed to scream before plummeting
under the surface of thick, foamy bubbles.

Jessica
came up spitting water in every direction and wiping the bubbles from her face.
She shook her head and took a deep breath before catching sight of the Potions
Master laughing at her. Jessica growled in anger and splashed him again.

He
merely blocked his face with his arm and kept on chuckling. “Since I plan on
getting in there with you anyway, it seems insensible trying to soak me now.”

With
a pile of soapsuds atop her head, Snape thought Jessica looked rather amusing
as she glared angrily at him. She sat on the far side of the bathtub and
brought her arms out and leaned them along the brim, waiting patiently for him
to join her.

“That
wasn’t funny,” Jessica declared.

As
badly as she wanted to stay angry with him, Jessica found her eyes wandering;
perusing the pale flesh she had seen so little of. Even travelling together
over the summer, Jessica had never seen the Potions Master fully undressed
before. She waited eagerly, feeling her body temperature skyrocket as he
reached to strip himself of his last piece of clothing.

Her
heart was racing inside her chest, threatening to burst right through. Jessica
anxiously rubbed her neck and shoulders where her pulse beat wildly. She almost
wanted to look away, feeling so overwhelmed and apprehensive with this grand
breakthrough.

Instead,
Jessica looked up into his eyes and watched the deep, dark pools as the Potions
Master stripped himself naked. He dropped the knickers aside and slowly stepped
over the edge of the bathtub one leg at a time. The tub was deep and with the
bubbles, he was covered from the naval down. He smoothed his way across the tub
and sat down beside Jessica.

With
her eyes still locked to his, Jessica opened her hands to him and swallowed
hard. Snape could easily make out the apprehension in her eyes and eased his
way into a gentle kiss. He let his lips graze softly across hers and then
lifted his hands from the water to caress her face.

As
he kissed her, Jessica touched her hands to his chest and began massaging
tenderly. He had a fine dusting of chest hair and Jessica liked to pull
delicately on the soft wisps.

Snape
hummed softly before pulling out of their kiss. He smoothed Jessica’s wet hair
away from her neck and looked at the straps of her bra peeking out of the
bubbles. “Why are you still wearing that?” he teased.

Her
brows rose shrewdly. “I presume it’s because you hadn’t quite finished
undressing me before helping me in.”

“Ah
yes, I seem to remember now,” he said. Snape reached around to her back and
found the clasp holding her bra in place. “Well, I suppose I should start where
I had left off.”

When
he finished, Snape pulled the straps down her arms and then lifted the heavy,
purple silk material from the water and threw it over the edge of the giant
tub. It made a splat as it hit the porcelain floor and then slid along
until it came to the basin.

“Now,
that isn’t all, is it?” Snape asked and peered down as if he could see through
the bubbles straight down to Jessica’s nether regions.

Playing
innocent, Jessica serenely shook her head. Even as she did so, Snape could see
her hoisting her hips up towards him, wanting to get rid of the last piece of
material left between them. Snape wasted no time and put his hands right to her
hips, eager to strip them down her legs beneath the water’s surface.

Along
with a splash, Snape pitched the silk underwear over the edge of the tub right
from under the water. He then settled his hands back atop Jessica’s hips and
pulled her near, ready to recommence their kiss.

Jessica’s
body flamed with desire as her bare flesh rubbed most agreeably against his for
the first time. She could feel his rigid yearning already and knew that if she
played the right cards, he would be incapable of holding out on her any longer.

Snape
gathered her close, rubbing his hands into her back and along her sides as he
kissed her intimately. Jessica soon found her way into his lap and straddled
him, leaving his solid erection rubbing dangerously close to her core.

As
Snape tried to keep himself away from that particular aperture his need and
desire worked hard against him. His hips were thrusting against her, wanting to
feel her around him. The motion of his tongue between her lips and in her mouth
became bleak and uneven as he tried to control himself.

“Jessica,”
he sounded desperately. “Stop.”

She
had been wiggling, teasing his shaft with her inviting pose. “I’m sorry,” she
whispered into his mouth between kisses. Jessica settled herself down, lowering
her body down into his lap and leaving his throbbing erection pressed between
their tummies.

As
he settled back into another passionate kiss with tongues duelling and lips
stroking affectionately, Snape brought his hands down to Jessica’s hips and
massaged his hands into her backside. He began to stretch his left arm around
her tiny body while letting the other slither between the front of her legs
until he could feel her tender flesh at his fingertips.

Jessica
began to gasp vigorously as his nimble fingers replaced the stimulating
sensations his gender had created. He massaged her carefully; evoking some of
the most erotic sounds he had ever heard a woman make before finally pressing
into her.

Even
as he thrust into Jessica, Snape bucked his hips against her while using his
left arm to squeeze her to him. She screamed wildly as he pleasured her and
moved with him to increase the intense sensations.

Jessica
held on tight to the edge of the tub with one hand and snaked the other down
along his stomach and into his thatch of black curls before coming to the base
of his manhood. Although this was the first time she had ever touched a man so
intimately, Jessica boldly wrapped her hand tight around his shaft and began to
pump in rhythm to his thrusts.

Soon
he joined in the symphony of erotic pleasure and moaned his approval aloud.
Snape closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. He thrust
blindly into Jessica and marvelled in the sensations she was producing.

Jessica
knew she was moments away from peaking. Her entire body was beginning to tingle
and tremble with sheer pleasure. Her gasps became quick and shrill and before
the Potions Master could reach his own, Jessica announced her climax with a
spellbinding moan and her entire body melted into his.

She
released him, unable to think of or feel anything but the orgasm he had just
brought her. Jessica’s eyes fell shut and her head dropped to his shoulder.
Snape brought both of his hands up to her head and massaged his fingers into
her hair as she recovered from the exhilaration.

Jessica
breathed a heavy sigh and then pressed a kiss into his neck.

“I’m
sorry,” she whispered to him. “I wanted to bring you with me.”

Snape
hushed into her ear. “It’s all right,” he told her. “You’ll get your turn.”

Jessica
lay quietly with her eyes closed for a couple of minutes. She let her fingers
dance in the curls of hair dotting his chest while indulging in the sensation
of Snape’s warm hands softly caressing her naked flesh.

“Severus,”
she whispered after the long moment of silence, “are you familiar with the
concept of synchronized swimming?”

Jessica
could almost feel the muscles in his face twitch as he mustered a foul
expression. “No,” he answered.

“It’s
a Muggle sport where people perform dance-like movements together in the
water,” she explained. “I did this for a couple of years when I was living in
London.”

“I
see. And this is relevant to what?” Snape asked rather insolently.

“Well,
there is a lot of skill involved,” Jessica continued. It’s a lot of hard work.
Synchronized swimming is very physically demanding.” She could see by the look
on his face that Snape wasn’t at all interested in the concept. Jessica
playfully rolled her eyes at him and then leaned over to whisper into his ear.
“The point is… I can hold my breath for nearly three minutes.”

 

 

***

He he he. Y’all know what she’s
thinking of, eh? Although I’ve never given it a try before, I think it would be
quite interesting. Anybody have any experience with that little underwater
activity? Perhaps you can help me illustrate how Jessica is actually going to
get it done. J

 

Love you all and thanks for the
reviews!!!

 

~ Lara