The Snake and the Eagle

Chapter 10 - Friends

The lack of a proper night's sleep showed clearly on the faces of our two friends. Alexandra easily hid the bags under her eyes with some extra make-up, but he obviously could not do the same. Like sleepiness was not enough, he had woken up with a terrible headache, which tortured him with piercing stitches. His Slytherin/Gryffindor double Potions was no help at all. He always had to be extremely vigilant to keep this particular troublesome group under control. He kept prowling through the fumes, making waspish remarks, as usual. He massaged his temples every now and then, but it was useless. What worried him the most, it was that he had to stop Malfoy after class with an excuse, to find out if there was something to worry about, behind the special request the boy had required from Miss Parkinson. He would probably need to use Legilimency, followed by a Memory Charm to cover the whole matter. Actually, he was not in the best conditions to cast any spell at all.

"Miss Granger, go to Madam Pomfrey and bring me a strong Healing Potion for headaches, please," he requested to the cleaver student, who had already successfully accomplished the task assigned. This way, she would not be able of helping her fellow Gryffindors. She went out of the class, looking at her teacher in astonishment.

"I should have gone deaf. I thought I heard him say please," she muttered to herself on her way to the hospital wing.

"It should be hurting him like mad, if he sent me out before class was over," she wisely concluded.

As soon as he took the potion, it began working its healing, and he immediately felt a new man. Double Potions was finally at the end, and it was time to make his move.

"Malfoy, could you stay after class. I need a word with you about your latest essay," he told to the blond boy, while students were gathering their books to leave the room.

"You two can wait for him in the Entrance Hall, it won't take us long," he said to Malfoy's sidekicks, Crabbe and Goyle, who were both so dull to not understand it was going to be a private conversation.

"What did you want to tell me, Sir?" Malfoy said, once his minions had closed the door behind them.

"I wanted to talk with you about the incident you put Miss Parkinson in, last night," he snarled going straight to the point. He did not need to play with words because, after the memory charm, the boy would remember nothing about it.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" said the boy, faking innocence.

"You perfectly know what I mean," Snape hissed icily, with rising fury in his cold eyes.

"I told you. I don't ..." Draco had not the time to finish his sentence, that Snape had his wand pointed at him.

"Legilimens!" Snape shouted.

The spell struck the boy, sending him to his knees on the cold floor of the Potions classroom. The Potion Master had easily access to the boy's mind, without meeting any resistance to his intrusion. He wandered about in the boy's past and recent memories. He also saw some boy-thoughts about many of the school girls. He was very surprised to see one of those thoughts concerning Hermione Granger too. He believed the boy hated her as much as she did, but maybe apparences deceive.

He finally found what he was looking for. He saw Draco lying on the carpet in front of his dormitory fireplace, having a nice little father and son chat. In the middle of the green flames stood, in fact, the hateful face of none but Lucius Malfoy himself.

"I have an important mission for you, my son," Lucius smirked.

"Yes, father?" the boy said excited.

"Our Lord longs taking control over Hogwarts. It's too much a precious opportunity for new recruitments to let it in Dumbledore's incompetent hands," Lucios snarled. At these words Snape's face twisted with disgust, as the memory of the night of his own recruitment came back to his mind.

"What can I do to help you?" Draco said, eager to exploit that good chance to prove his worth to his father.

"We need to shake a little that old fool of Dumbledore from his sense of almightiness over the school. Let's rise in him the suspect that the Death Eaters may have found a way to sneak in the school, with someone's help from within. Let's show him that our ideals are shared right under his nose," said Lucius with a malevolent glint in his icy grey eyes.

"Maybe we can use a writing on the wall and, a mudblood involved. The whole faculty nearly went nuts when the Chamber of Secrets was opened," Draco suggested.

"Why not? A warning! Let me see... Pureblood Rules! Yes, it's enough childish to look like the handiwork of a student. It will throw them into enough confusion to double the effects of the real Death Eaters' attack," said Lucius very satisfied with his son's cunning.

"I want a clean work, Draco. Which means: let someone else do it for you," he diabolicly sneered, "let me see ... We need someone unsuspectable, weak and easy to manipulate. A girl perhaps, that silly Weasley girl did a good job last time."

"Let's use Pansy!" Draco readily proposed, with a sadic expression on his face. " She has a crush for me, I'm sure she would do anything I ask her to. Moreover, she's a Slytherin and she'll keep her mouth shut."

"Enough!" roared Snape's angry voice. He was really revolted by the way Draco had played with the poor girl's feelings. But what else can one expect from a Malfoy? Like father like son! The minute the incantation was broken, the boy abruptely fell on the floor. He was about to ask his teacher what had he done to him, when readily Snape struck him with the Memory Charm.

"Obliviate!" Snape shouted, and the boy lay senseless on the cold stone floor.

The Potion Master raised the boy from the floor, and sat him in a chair, waiting for him to come back to his senses. When Draco woke up, he was very confused. He gave a look around the empty room, then looked at his teacher standing before him with his arms folded on his chest.

"Sorry, sir. What were you saying?" Draco said, completely unaware of their previous conversation.

"I was saying that your latest Potions essay was the best of your year. I appoint twenty points to Slytherin for your good work," Snape lied, and a triumphant smile flickered across his gaunt face.

His two spells had both worked outstandingly. Malfoy did not remember a single thing, and was now peacefully going to have dinner with a broad self-satisfied smile on his face, for the easily earned house points. Things stood exactly how Snape had thought. There was something hidden behind those bloody words on the wall, and that was right what he had most feared. A new Death Eaters' attack then, and what was worst, it was directed against a school full of helpless students. He was really surprised him that Lucius Malfoy had not informed him about this plan, as he did when the Chamber of Secrets was opened.

"Strange, very strange. Is him suspecting something? I'd better keep and eye on him," he muttered to himself. He had to tell it straight away to Dumbledore. They had to get ready to face the worst, and fight them back before they could go inside the castle. He also had to mentally prepare himself to be soon summoned by the Dark Lord, before this all happened. After dinner was over, Snape met with Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Moody in the Headmaster's office.

"I knew Malfoy was behind it!" Moody shouted as soon as Snape ended his report.

"I was sure that Miss Parkinson couldn't have done it on her own initiative," said Minerva through pursed lips.

"We need to reinforce Hogwarts defences, and get ready to face the enemy. I"ll send an owl to Professor Flitwick to see if they've achieved any useful result in their researches," said Albus.

"Do you think it's wise to use a school owl? It could be easily intercepted," said a worried Minerva.

"Let's use the falcon, then. It's safer," Snape suggested.

"You're both right, and I agree with you that using Alexandra's falcon will be less risky. I'll ask her to lend it to me tomorrow at breakfast," Albus concluded.

Things settled, Snape excused himself and left the meeting, because Parkinson was waiting for him in his office. She was going to spend that night's detention with him. At ten o'clock Pansy arrived to Snape's office to receive the orders for her punishment.

"You'll make an inventory of the school ingredients storage. Line the jars in alphabetic order. Come to me if you find one with a missing label, or you don't understand my handwriting," Snape said with his usual coldness.

The girl silently went to the storage door, still unable to look at him in the face. She felt really ashamed for the stupid thing she had done. In those days she began avoiding Malfoy, she decided she would never let him make a fool of herself again. Obviously, Draco could not care less to have lost one of his many admirers. Pansy had already completed the 'B' section, when she timidly appeared on the doorway of Snape's office.

"What's the matter, Miss Parkinson?" Snape asked raising his eyes from the book he was reading.

"Professor... I wanted to tell you I'm sorry. I did a very bad thing. I've been a fool to trust that shameless traitor. But what's worst, I have disappointed you," the girl whined with a tremblilng voice. Then she finally found the courage to look at him in the face. Her lower lip began to tremble and her eyes filled with tears.

"Forgive me Professor, please!" she said clutching her hands to her robes. There was no doubt she had learnt her lesson. Snape's heart gave him a pang at the sight of the girl in tears. Her words clearly showed how much she cared for his esteem. He put down his book and stood up, he crossed the room till he stopped right in front of her.

"Come here!" he said opening his arms with a fatherly warm smile on his thin lips. The girl threw herself at him, nestling her face on his wide chest, crying profusely.

"Never more!" repeated the girl over and over, while he held her with one arm and caressed her head with his hand.

"I know it, my girl. Come on, now. Stop crying! Let's finish this work together. I don't think you need any more detentions. I suggest you to use your next Hogsmeade week-end to find a new kitten for that Hufflepuff girl. It will help to restore a balance between the houses."

Pansy nodded and they went back into the storage together.

***

Dumbledore's message safely reached Professor Flitwick, and the falcon was soon back. Albus gathered the Faculty in the Staff Room to inform them about the news. He had already told them the secret hidden behind the writing on the wall, keeping Malfoy's name out of the matter. Suspicions, however, ran to Slytherin House, as it was no secret that many of them were closely involved with the Death Eaters.

"Professor Flitwick informed me his team of researchers has found some interesting solutions that could be fit for our situation. However, they still couldn't find anything useful to contrast the Unforgivables," he informed the teachers, "but I have two good news as well. First, they have created a new arithmantic incantation, which generates a ward much stronger than the one actually in use. Secondly, they invented a system of warning able to detect a Death Eater's presence in a wide rage around the castle grounds. They'll send one of their experts this week-end to help us installing the new devices," Dumbledore explained.

"Alexandra, you'll be pleased to know, that the wizard they're sending is an old acquaintance of yours," Albus told her with a merry twinkle in his blue eyes.

"Who?" she wondered excited.

"Your friend Dominique Kalkulos, and he's bringing his wife Sabrina with him." Alexandra was out of her skin with joy.

"Oh, but that's wonderful! I haven't been seeing them for a long time," she said with a broad smile on her lips. Mrs Sabrina Kalkulos was, in fact, none but Alexandra's best friend. They had met at Hogwarts, fellow Ravenclaws, and they'd never parted until Sabrina met her husband Dominique and they lately left the country, because he had been appointed lecturer in a foreign wizarding University, and she had found a job as ordinary Transfiguration teacher there too.

Alexandra and Sabrina loved each other like sisters, and that great chance to meet her again was for Alexandra like Christmas had come twice that year. Obviously they already knew she was teaching there, she had wrote it down in one of her long letters.

"A whole weekend together!"Alexandra thought and she could not wait they were there. She perfectly knew they were probably on their way towards Britain, but it seemed to her like eternity. The only person who was not pleased by their visit was Severus. He was certain their coming would focus her whole attention on them, surely leaving him aside. He knew it was unfair, but he could not help being jealous of her friends. Now that he had found someone who really cared for him, he seemed to easily fall into a desertion syndrom, like a puppy left on its own. He now found her enthusiasm almost irritating, because it had nothing to do with him.

It was a beautiful sunny morning when the guests arrived to the castle. The sunlight could hardly match the beaming smile on Alexandra's face. They were to arrive after breakfast and a welcoming commitee of the faculty and some curious student was waiting for them on the entrance staircase. As soon as their carriage appeared at the grounds' gate, Alexandra's heart began to palpitate. When its passengers came out, she lose control over her enthusiasm. She run towards the couple holding her skirt in her hands to avoid stumbling, all seriousness thrown to the wind.

Dominique was a tall slim man, with a pair of round glasses which gave him a wise look. He wore a blue robe with a matching low hat, one like the ones Dumbledore used to wears on great occasions. Sabrina was three years older than Alexandra, nearly as tall as she was. She had shoulder length black hair, brown eyes and a cute little mole on her chin, which gave her face a pretty childish expression. She liked to wear dresses made with oriental fabrics. That morning, she wore a beautiful golden indian sari-like dress with a black pointed hat. Severus snorted and rolled his eyes at the sight of the two young women embracing each other, giggling like two small children going to the fairground.

That was only the beginning of that wonderful week-end together. Dominique was busy all day explaining to Dumbledore the details of their new defensive plan, while the Headmaster showed him the castle and the grounds from top to bottom. Therefore, Alexandra and Sabrina had a whole day for themselves. They had lots of strolls in the grounds, and to Hogsmeade and back, talked about thousands of things which happened in their lives since they parted. Sabrina told her that her mother still lived in a nice cottage not far from Alexandra's grandparents. She was something like a Mrs Weasley without red hair, and with only one child. Alexandra told her about her experience among the Aurors, her life as a Charm teacher at Hogwarts, and her friendship with Severus.

"Is he that tall man in black I've seen standing next to Dumbledore?" Sabrina asked curiously, "He looks a bit ... cold. And it seemed to me, that he was watching us in a way not really ... friendly," Sabrina commented a little perplexed.

"Oh, never mind him. I think he's a little jealous of the time I'm spending with you. You know, apart from the patrolling, we're used to spend our free time together. He doesn't have many friends, so I guess he's just feeling a little lonely," Alexandra explained with an amused smile.

"I can assure you that his coldness is mostly a mask he wears in public. He's very kind with me and I know he cares for the students, and his Slytherins respect him," Alexandra said feeling obliged to contradict appearences. It looked like she was trying to justify the fact she cared so much for such a gloomy man.

"By the way, he's a brilliant wizard and a wonderful potions maker. He's an interesting talker and has a ready mind. But most of all, I feel really at ease with him. He gives me a great sense of protection," she said, blushing a little for her passionate defence of her friend.

"Are you sure you're not falling in love with him?" Sabrina asked her, a question which had crossed Alexandra's mind many times too.

"What? No, I told you! We're just good friends. What gives you such a weird idea?" Alexandra tried desperately to divert her friend's suspicions.

"Oh, nothing ... I was just wondering ..." Sabrina vaguely said, "I know you've always had a weak spot for these gothic, gloomy kind of men. The evil guy charm, you know," she alluded, looking maliciously at her friend, who was now looking around the room to avoid her friend's inquisitory gaze. "Believe me! I've seen the way he looks at you, and I wouldn't call it so friendly," she said avoiding useless puns.

"You must be mistaken," Alexandra shortly said.

"Maybe... but maybe not," Sabrina muttered prophetically, giving an end to their embarassing conversation.

Dinner time came like a blessing for Alexandra, as it would have kept her friend's attention focused on something else. She knew well Sabrina was not the nosy kind, and her questions came out from her affection for her. She had always considered her like a wise elder sister, and she had to admit that her hints were not so absurd after all. The problem was that she had never deeply analized the nature of her feelings for Severus, and she was not able to say if she considered him only a friend or something more. She only knew how good it felt to be with him, and how much she missed him when they were apart. He had never showed her his feelings, for what she could remember. Not that it was easy for Severus Snape to openly show any intimate emotion at all!

When she finally went to bed that night, she found it a little difficult to fall asleep as Sabrina's words kept echoing in her ears. Somebody once said: The distance between love and friendship is a kiss. She was sure they had not crossed that limit yet, and wondered if hugs counted too. Maybe she should pay more attention to his behaviour with her, above all when they were alone. But it was easier to say than to do it, when two were so close friends, misunderstandings were a common risk. She really did not want to hear again a man tell her 'I love you like a sister', it was so frustrating. To say the truth, she enjoyed his company so much that being friends was just enough for her.

***

On Sunday morning, Dumbledore and Mr Kalkulos finished their careful examination of the defensive plan in each detail, and they were now ready to get to work. The new incantation was an easy task, since Dumbledore or Mr Kalkulos himself were able to perform it. The second part of the plan was the hardest. They had to use of a special device which apparently looked like a common weatherowl, but it had nothing to do with winds. In fact, it was able to reveal the presence of a Death Eater within the range of many miles. They were going to be installed on the many towers and spires all over the castle roofs. The only problem was that they first needed to be exposed to a Death Eater, to be calibrated to the dark magic emanating from their mark.

"I have the solution to our problem, but I should ask you to swear you're going to keep the secret," Albus told Dominique very seriously.

"You have my word!" the younger wizard earnestly said. He was an honest and loyal man, so there was no doubt he was going to keep his word.

"It is very important that no one else knows how we'll put the weatherowls in direct contact with one of those we call our enemies. I must ask you to keep the secret with your wife too. You'll understand my reasons later," Albus said and Dominique nodded his agreement. Dumbledore approached the fireplace in his study and threw a handful of floo-powder in the flames.

"Severus, I need you in my office," he said to the flames. Seconds later the tall figure of a man, fully dressed in black, stepped out of the flames.

"This is Professor Severus Snape, our Potion Master," Albus introduced him to his guest. The two men shortly shook hands. Dominique was clueless, what use was a Potion Master for their project?

"Professor Snape here was a Death Eater, but he now works for our cause as a double agent. I think there's no need to tell you that I deeply trust him," Albus said to clear off the expression of allarm on the younger wizard's face.

"He will kindly show you his Dark Mark, so that you can do the proper incantation on the devices. It would be wiser to enable the weatherowls to recognize Professor Snape's magical aura, or they'll keep indicating his presence here at Hogwarts."

Professor Snape unwillingly unbottoned the cuff of his left sleeve, showing to Mr Kalkulos the faded lines of the mark on his forearm. The image of the skull with the serpent protruding from its mouth was hardly visible in normal conditions, it would turn black only when Voldemort called him. To calibrate the weatherowls they needed to lay the point of each arrow right on the Dark Mark itself, an operation that took quite long. That was a thing that Snape did not enjoyed at all, but he well knew it was really necessary.

Dominique still could not understand why he should not tell his dear wife anything about Snape. He had never hidden anything from her before, and they blindly trusted each other. But as soon as she told him about Alexandra's friendship with Snape, he suddenly realized why Dumbledore insisted so much on secrecy. Alexandra probably did not know anything about it, and it was not up to him to tell her. Dumbledore summoned the faculty in the staff room to inform them the new devices had been set to work, then they all moved to the Great Hall to have dinner, and later they said good-bye to their leaving guests. Alexandra was very sad they had to go away so soon, but she was grateful for that unexpected chance to see them again.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do ... and keep me informed," Sabrina winked to her friend.

"Stop it!" Alexandra said blushing, guessing what her friend was alluding to or rather whom. They hugged and tears flowed between good-byes and I-will-miss-yous.

"Take care of yourself," Dominique told her, brotherly embracing her. Then the carriage left and Alexandra stood there, at the bottom of the entrance staircase, staring at it, till it became a small point at the horizon to disappeare in the night mist. Everybody was back in the castle, only Professor McGonagall stayed behind, waiting for the younger witch. Minerva came closer to her and put an hand on her shoulder.

"Come in, my dear. It's getting cold here outside," she gently whispered. Alexandra whipped her tears in her handkerchief, and they finally went in together, then headed to the long staircases leading to their lodgings.

***

Alexandra was in her room. It was still early and she was not sleepy, though a little tired. She moved to the window and saw everything very still outside. She then looked down towards the Slytherin wing. There was still light shining in Severus's rooms.

"He's awake, maybe I should pay him a visit. He'll be infuriated with me for leaving him alone the whole week-end. I must go to apologize, or else he's able to sulk for days," she said to herself, feeling a little guilty. She stepped into the fireplace, threw a handful of floo-powder and shouted "Severus's rooms", a blaze of green flames surrounded her body and she was gone. There he was, sat in his armchair, legs crossed, reading a huge tome on potions. He noticed her arrival and raised his eyes from his book.

"Well, well, well. What a nice surprise! Have you finally remembered of your poor gloomy friend Severus?" he hissed with bitter irony.

"Oh, Severus. Please, don't be so upset. I'm really sorry for having left you alone," she said, a little hurt by his hostility.

"You could keep ignoring me, I was getting used to be alone again," he bitterly stressed on the last word.

"Don't you think you're overreacting? I told you I'm sorry. I'm here to apologize not to be accused of abandonment," she protested, a bit irritated by his childish behaviour. It had been only two days after all, not a month! She would have liked to make him join them, but he was absolutely not a sociable man. She perfectly knew an iron fist was useless when he decided to be so stubborn. Better trying with the good ways, instead. She then moved behind his armchair and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Come on, Severus! You know I haven't been seeing them for years. I've spent more time with you here at Hogwarts than with them in ages," she sweetly whispered to smooth his temper.

"Don't tell me you're jealous!" she teased him.

"Definitely not! It's more that ... I missed you," he finally admitted.

"You, silly boy!" she giggled amused, and pecked him on the cheek. That man was developping an allarming fondness for her, if he could not spend two days on his own without missing her.

"What are you reading?" she inquired looking curiously at the open page before him.

"Ancient Potions of the Celtic Druids of Ireland," he said in such a casual voice, that one could think he was just reading the Daily Prophet.

"Oh, yes. The book Minerva gave you for Christmas," she shouted, recognizing its cover.

"Do you only read potions books?" she wondered.

"No, have a look at my bookshelf if you like," he muttered before going back to his reading. She stepped to the long bookshelf running along the wall. There were hundreds of books, all lined in perfect order. She was a little shocked when she realized that they were divided into sections according to their subject, and in alphabetic order. That man was a true maniac of order! There were many scientific texts about Potions, Herbology, Chemistry and also Pharmacology. The majority of them probably belonged to the years of his Mastership. The smaller section was dedicated to literature, both wizarding and Muggle.

"I see you have books of Muggle science too," she observed a little surprised.

"I personally think wizards should have a thorough understanding of the non-magical scientific community, without being so blind to refuse Muggle theories without even taking them into consideration. I believe it's important to always see both sides of things," he commented in a toneless voice. She was pleased to found out they shared the same liking in Muggle literature. He had books of many of her favourite writers such as William Shakespeare, Robert Burns, William Wordsworth, Oscar Wilde and E.A. Poe.

"Would you please read me something?" she asked him.

"What? Why don't you do it yourself?" he said surprised by her weird request.

"I have always loved listening to people reading, and you happen to have a perfect voice for that," she hopefully praised him.

"All right, then. What would you like me to read?" he said putting aside his book.

"Let's see ... Poe's Tales of Terror. Let's begin with The Black Cat, I adore it," she said going to take seat on the sofa. He followed her, opened the book and cleared his throat, while she wrapped her arms around his left one like a small child preparing to listen to her favourite fairy tale. He began reading in his best smooth, velvety, warm voice while she left herself lead away by the stream of words. She found his voice was very sensual. He had just finished the first story and was about to begin the next one, when she began to give signs of uneasiness.

"What's the matter with you? Are you sleepy? We can continue another day if you want?" he kindly proposed.

"My back is aching. I have been so busy today that I haven't had a moment to take some rest. But I'm not sleepy, please go on reading," she unconvincingly exorted him.

"Maybe we could move to my bedroom. You can lie on my bed while I continue reading sat in the nearby armchair," he suggested. He knew too well what it meant to have an aching back.

"Good idea, let's go," she agreed, and they moved into the next room.

He snapped his fingers, and the candles and lanterns in the room lit up. He also used an Incendio Spell on the fireplace to warm up the usually chilling room. Approaching his bed, her attention was caught by the picture of a woman standing on his bedside-cabinet. When she had come there on Christmas day, she probably had been too much excited to notice that elegant frame. A misterious woman in Severus life? She really could not refrain her curiousity before that.

"Who is she?" she asked, taking the frame in her hand to have a better look. It was a beautiful young woman, with long black raven hair and languid black eyes, richly dressed, with a sweet smile but a shade of melancholy in her eyes as well.

"It was my mother. She died when I was eleven, shortly after I began Hogwarts," he sadly whispered.

"She was beautiful. Now I see where your charm comes from! What was her name?" she inquired.

"Elizabeth. She was so tender ... she loved music and fine arts. She tought me to dance and play the piano," he said taking the picture from her hands.

"Oh, you can play?" she exclaimed amazed.

"Yes, but I gave up playing after her death," he curtly said putting it back in its place.

Severus then paused a few seconds staring at it. He had never noticed before, but Alexandra somehow reminded him of his mother. The same sweetness, the same grace, the same love for dancing. Maybe that was the reason why they became friends so easily. She took off her shoes and climbed on his huge comfortable bed, on which there was room enough for two people. He took out his wand to moved an armchair closer to the bed, but she interrupted him.

"Severus, there's no need to move it. There's room enough for two here. You can lie down by my side," she said not wanting to disturb him any farter. He went to the other side of the bed, took off his shoes and cloak and streatched himself next to her. At his big surprise and equal pleasure, she grabbed his arm and passed it around her back and snuggled closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"This way you'll keep me warm while you read. Do you mind?" she innocently asked to her confused friend, who slowly shook his head.

He enjoyed very much that second reading. He was sure there could not be anything more pleasant on earth than lie down close to her. After a while that he was reading, his attention was averted from the book by the sound of her deep breath. She had fallen asleep without realizing it. He decided it was useless to go on reading, and thought well to follow her example. He put the book away trying to move the less he could. He was afraid of waking her up because, then, she would probably have gone away to spend the rest of the night in her own bed. With a swish of his wand he pulled a cover over both of them, gave a last look at her and closed his eyes, falling asleep at once.

She was the first to wake, it was sunrise and a feeble ray of light came in from the window, illuminating only a small portion of the room but not the bed. She had a look at the man peacefully sleeping by her side. He had been careful to let her sleep all night through without waking her up. She was fascinated by his pale face. It looked even paler in the dim light of the new born sun. She followed every line of his long face with her eyes. He was so handsome in his sleep. A pair of nasty thoughts also crossed her mind when her gaze came to rest on the many bottons of the collar of his shirt and jacket. She was greatly tempted to unbotton them, and explore with her fingers that new land of flesh he kept so well hidden from view.

She resisted hard to the temptation, blaming herself for allowing such embarassing thoughts to come in her mind. Certainly, the manly scent of white musk and sandal wood spreading from his warm body was no help. It was better for her to leave the room at once, before she could do something she would regret later. She slowly shifted out from under the cover and out of bed, but he did not wake up. She took her shoes in her hands and was about to leave the room, when she suddenly went back to the bed. There was one thing she had forgotten to do that she would have dearly regretted. She bent over the sleeping man's face and softly kissed him on the lips. It was a kiss as light as the wings of a butterfly, enough to feel the warmth and taste of his thin lips, but not as much to wake him up. Then she left.

When he woke up later in the morning, he put a hand on the spot where she was supposed to be. He was very disappointed to find it empty, all was left of her was the warmth of her body and her delicate perfume on his pillow. She was gone and it was useless to look for her around the empty room. He then thoughtlessly brought his fingers to his lips, feeling the light sensation of a previous pressure on them, something like a kiss. He paused, then energically shook off that weird idea. "No, I must have been dreaming!" he said to himself and got out of bed.