One Only Understands The Things That One Tames

~ Disclaimer: I own nothing but what springs from my imagination. Severus Snape, Hogwarts, and the rest of the Potterverse are the property and the children of JK Rowling. I have also used some of the words of Antoine de Sainte-Exupery in various places and in the title of this fiction ~

One Only Understands the Things That One Tames
Chapter 9

“Malfoy Manor?” asked Ariah, “Are you sure?”

“Yeah I’m sure. Big old place, looks like it’s taken a couple hits of magic. Loads of workmen running all over the place,” replied Poe.

“So Draco WAS lying,” Ariah stated, looking at Severus.

“It would appear so. Poe, in what capacity was Lucius living there?”

“He was kinda skulking around. Slipping in and out of what would seem to be hidden doorways,” replied Poe.

“Did he talk to anyone?”

“Not while I was there.”

“So perhaps Draco wasn’t lying. Maybe he doesn’t know that Lucius is there,” suggested Severus, “mind you, I do not trust anyone with the surname of Malfoy, but…”

Ariah swept a lock of black hair out of Severus’ face and let her fingers linger on his cheek.

“I know that you want to be wrong about not trusting Draco, Sev. I know you had hopes for his ability to break from the sins of his father. It’s part of what makes you a good man. But I think we have to go on the assumption that Draco is in league with Lucius, at least for now. It’s our safest bet.”

Severus closed his fingers over her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it softly.

“I know you’re right, Ariah, I just wish that you weren’t this time.”

“You guys ain’t gonna start kissing and shit, are you?” asked Poe.

“You might wish to avert your eyes for a moment,” said Severus, drawing Ariah close and placing a tender kiss on her lips.

“Oh for crying out loud.”

“We’re done, Poe, relax, it was a quick one,” said Ariah with a smile.

“So, you want me to hang around Malfoy Manor and keep an eye on the debonair psychopath?”

“If you wouldn’t mind,” nodded Severus.

“Hey, gives me something to do other than spy on you two…”

“Cretinous bird,” stated Severus.

“Cranky old git.”

Severus shot Poe a sly half smile, which shocked the bird enough to have him lose his footing on the window ledge. Poe righted himself and flew back up, landing again on the ledge.

“What was THAT? It looked vaguely like a smile,” stammered Poe.

“Vivid imagination you have,” replied Severus with a scowl, “off to the Manor with you, and be careful.”

“I will. And I know you smiled. I just wish I had proof,” shot back Poe as he bade goodbye to Ariah and circled once overhead before heading in the direction of Malfoy Manor.

Ariah smiled a vivid smile at Severus, “You really DO like him, don’t you?”

“No.”

“Come on…”

“No. He’s a right pain in my ass.”

“I knew it. You do like him.”

Severus glared at Ariah, “I’ll be back. I need to fill Albus in.”

“And escape from my being right.”

Severus whirled around and exited the room, his robes billowing around him dramatically. Ariah chuckled and straightened up her quarters while she awaited his return. She had plans for him that, if she had her way, would keep him incommunicado from the rest of the world for the evening.

* * * *

Severus returned to Ariah’s rooms in the North Tower. He gave the portrait the password and entered. Much to his surprise, the room was dark and there was no sign of Ariah. He took another step into the sitting rooms and the fire in the hearth flared up. Upon a second step, candles lit up around the room. Another step and he caught sight of Ariah, dressed in a shimmering green gown. Her black hair was loose and flowed over her shoulders; her eyes were shining in the candlelight. He gasped as he looked at her, his heart filling up with love for the woman in front of him.

“Ariah,” he whispered, “you are so beautiful.”

“Don’t get out much, huh?”

“No need to, with such perfection right here.”

Ariah approached Severus and slowly unbuttoned his robes, leaving him in his crisp white shirt and neatly pressed trousers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him into a passionate kiss. Music flared up in the background as Ariah pressed her body against his and deepened the kiss. Severus put his arms around her waist and pulled her even closer.

“I’ve always wanted to dance with you,” whispered Ariah.

“I’m not very good…”

“Somehow I doubt that,” she replied with a sensuous smile, “I wonder if I could entice you to dance at the Halloween Ball…”

“I highly doubt that even you could entice me into a public display of my ineptitude on the dance floor.”

“And yet you’re doing fine right here,” she said with a sly grin as Severus realized that they had actually been dancing during their conversation.

Severus scowled and became aware of his feet, stepping on her toes.

“Stop thinking about it. It’s like sex, the less you think about it and the more you just go with the flow, the better it is. And you are AMAZING when it comes to sex, my dear,” commented Ariah, pulling him in for another kiss, “I swear on my family, I could kiss you all night.”

“Just kiss?”

“Well…” she said with a grin, “among other things. I was right, it does feel wonderful to dance with you.”

Severus once again became aware of his feet and tried his hardest not to step on her toes, failing miserably. Ariah smiled, the smile breaking into melodic peals of laughter.

“It’s not funny,” he protested, “I believe I have the ability to seriously injure you if we were to keep dancing.”

“You know, you’re a good dancer when you’re not thinking about it,” said Ariah, running her fingers through his silky hair and kissing him again, “stop thinking and analyzing everything and just let it go. Oh, forget it,” she smiled, “hungry, my love?”

“Actually, yes, I am.”

Ariah led him to the table for a quiet dinner. As Severus poured the wine, Ariah found herself staring at him. While she had heard others describe him as ugly, she couldn’t see it. Sure, the components of his face were by no means perfect, but the sum of the parts was nothing to scoff at. And capping it all off were his amazing eyes. His dark eyes had the ability to terrify or melt a person, depending upon his mood. Currently, she saw the smoldering fires of desire in his eyes as he caught her looking at him.

“Ariah?” he asked tentatively.

“Yes?”

“Do you suppose you’ll one day regret it?”

“Regret what?”

“What you gave up.”

Ariah challenged him with her gaze, “Never. I will NEVER regret becoming mortal for you. Do you suppose you’ll regret that I did it?”

“Never,” he said emphatically, “of course, we have to get past this situation with Malfoy…”

“I know,” she looked down at her dinner for a moment, “what did Albus say about what Poe told us?”

“He didn’t seem surprised. But he’s still not sure how much Draco is involved.”

“I personally think he’s up to his ass in it, but that’s my anti Malfoy bias speaking.”

“I just don’t want to believe it, I suppose.”

“I can see that. He was your student and in your house. Speaking of which, shouldn’t you check on them before we get too…um...busy to care?”

“You’re right. I’ll be back in a few moments.”

“And I’ll be waiting…in the bedroom.”

“In which case, I will speed through my rounds.”

Ariah grinned as he swept out the door, no robes to billow around him. She wondered what the students would think of their dreaded potions professor in normal clothing. Knowing him, he’ll probably conjure up some robes halfway to the dungeons, she thought.

Severus was halfway to the main floor when he realized he wasn’t wearing his robes. He contemplated conjuring up some, but then changed his mind. He wasn’t dressed inappropriately and it was Saturday night, on a Hogsmeade weekend. The students would just have to deal with the sight of Severus Snape in regular clothing. He swept past some Hufflepuff females near the Great Hall, who gaped at him.

“Close your mouths, you look like pufferfish, “ he growled, “and shouldn’t you be in your common room? Go. Before I stop being a nice man and take points.”

The Hufflepuffs scampered, one of them looking back at the cleaned up and almost dashingly handsome potions professor. The sight of Professor Snape looking human and NOT taking house points away would stay with them for the rest of their lives. He continued his rounds, taking a few points off two Ravenclaws who were trying to locate a private corner. They too stared after Severus as he headed for the dungeons to complete his rounds. Slytherin House was quiet, so he headed back up to Ariah’s quarters, taking the moving steps two at a time and deftly leaping over a shifting landing. He entered Ariah’s rooms and headed for the bedroom.

“That was quick,” smiled Ariah, lying on the bed with a satin sheet pulled over her.

“I rushed and hardly took off any points.”

“You’re horribly overdressed,” she said, shifting her body under the sheet enough so he could see that she was wasn’t wearing anything.

He quickly undressed, Ariah watching him carefully. For once, he wasn’t careful with his clothing, dropping it on the floor and joining Ariah on the bed. She ran her finger down his chest and pushed him down.

“Tonight, you’re mine,” she said with a grin.

“I’m always yours,” he replied, a serious look on his face.

Ariah climbed on top of Severus and leaned down to kiss him, her breasts brushing his chest. She probed his lips with her tongue until he allowed her entrance. She ran her hands through his hair as she nibbled on his lower lip, his hands moving over her bare back. Ariah sighed with pleasure and spoke some soft words, putting out the candles as she slipped into his deep embrace.