Two People of the Night

Revisiting the Past by Fauna

When I saw you on the streets, I knew immediately it was you.

Your unnatural crimson hair was straighter then it had been, your eyes dulled by the starless night. The way you stood there, not the quivering young girl I'd known a decade earlier, but a woman of the night... I felt ashamed of what you became. But more shame was directed at myself because... I wanted you.

I strode toward the magic shop, pretending not to notice you. You saw me coming and shifted your hips in the most alluring way; you knew your power and worked it well.

"Hello," you purred in a tone well rehearsed. Your make-up enhanced eyes batted coquettishly; you needed money.

Every part of my ethical person told me to get you some help, but every other wicked, deceitful, sexually-repressed thought commanded I take you as mine.

I knew the etticut reserved for such a meeting, as I was no stranger these encounters. I held my arm for you to take, which you eagerly did. As I walked with you on my arm, I pretended we were a couple, and not a man about to pay for his pleasure.

"How much?" I inquired, admiring your figure from the corner of my eye.

"Depends," you flirted, stroking my arm with a long, graceful finger.

We passed several inns and hotels, much to your dismay. You still hadn't recognized me, though I hadn't changed at all in ten years. Perhaps you thought I was going to do you harm, or thought I wanted more than what I could pay. I could feel your arm tremble.

"Where are you taking us?" you whispered, trying to show authority we both knew you didn't possess.

"My home," I answered, feeling your body tense. You were breaking a law of the street if you continued on with me. Never leave the comfort of your corner territory. Never, ever go to a private home.

"No," you began to whisper, pulling your arm from mine. I quickly tightened my grasp and half-dragged you with me. I wanted you; not to hurt you, just to have you.

"You're in no danger," I hissed, more sharply than I'd intended. You swung your heavily made up face to me, trying to decide whether to run.

I still don't know why you stayed with me.

You straightened your back and walked beside me as though it was your place. I felt giddy with anticipation, but I refused to show it; if I did, you'd know the true extent of the power of your feminine wiles.

Two more streets were passed in silence before we reached my home. I released you to unlock the door, praying you wouldn't run. A sigh of relief almost escaped when you walked through the door before me. Thank Merlin you were naive enough to trust me.

I closed the door noiselessly and set several locking charms on it. You stood against the wall seductively, one leg drawn up to heighten your allure. You were trying to figure out my style: was I kinky, traditional, sadomasochistic?

I dropped my heavy cloak to the floor without turning on the lights. I took my time in reaching you; your trepidation made your beauty raw. My palm went to either side of you, pinning you to the wall. My arm brushed against your breast, hidden beneath your dark robes of satin. It had been years since I'd taken a woman, and you were to be the victim of my repression.

My mouth went to your neck first, your pale ivory neck that begged to be kissed. I lavished it with attention, working my way to your delicate jaw line, up even further to whisper in your ear:

"Ten years, Ms. Weasley," I gasped in a voice filled with lust. "I had expected to find you employed as an Auror. This was far from what I could have imagined..."

Your hands were immediately at my chest, pushing me away with more strength than such a tiny person should have. You pulled a wand from your sleeve and commanded light.

Your dragonheart wand glowed like a star in the midnight dark of my foyer. I took it from you without malice and held it beside my face. Was I scaring you? You looked a fright.

"You finally notice," I said with the most restraint I could manage. It had to be a sin to want someone who seemed to be in a fit of terror.

"Professor Snape," you managed to gasp, backing toward the door.

I smiled as a response. I knew from my own mirrored reflection that my smile was intimidating. I still wanted to keep you with me, to do things with you, to you, that would make you scream in ecstacy. But in my blackened heart of hearts, I knew I couldn't keep you against your will. I've been evil, horrid and downright unpleasant, but rarely was I unfair.

I held your wand to you as I whispered the incantations to unlock your exit. With a hand that shook like leaves in the wind, you took it from me. "Take your leave, Ms. Weasley." I ordered, thrusting a bag of galleons into your unstable arms. "This life does not suit you."

I turned my back to you and took the stairs to my bedroom. Another night alone in my empty house was almost welcomed after seeing you again. Gods, one of my former students was a Hogsmeade whore. Gods... what I could have done with you...

I removed my clothes with the ease of routine and turned on a bedside lamp. Covering my body with a velvet bed robe, I laid above the covers to read.

Each page was a dyslexic jumble to my eyes. I couldn't concentrate on anything but you. I gave into my exhaustion and threw the book to a chair, waiting for the solace of sleep to take me.

After an eternity of silence, I cursed the night and sat up. Would there be no comfort in such a confusing evening?

Before I could leave my bed to find a sleeping potion, I heard your voice. Your tiny head peeped around the doorframe, wearily searching my face. "Professor?" you whispered as light as a feather.

You had no idea what danger you were putting yourself in. How long could I restrain my aching libido? "I told you to leave, Ms. Weasley," I hissed.

You took a moment to gather your courage and entered my room, going so far as to approach my bed. Your gall surprised and intrigued me; why wouldn't you leave?! You lowered your lovely posterior to my bed and held my gaze with your bedroom eyes. "You get what you pay for," you trembled, sealing our fate with a searing kiss.

That moment alone, when your lips touched mine, was the moment I was saved by Gods unknown. My hands managed to push you away (how? how?) with no small effort. You tried again to kiss me, but I wouldn't let you near. You were unrelenting in your quest.

Finally, you grasped my hands with bruising strength, your face aflame with anger. "I'll not be pitied!" you hissed through the few tears on your cheeks. Before I could react you were upon me, savagely trying to bring pleasure to my deprived body. I lay prone, hoping you would give up before I gave in.

Eventually, you did. You lay on my chest sobbing tears I understood too well, your petite frame racked with guilt and shame. You didn't want pity, but I couldn't help finding you pathetic. "You have to get something... you paid me..." you kept muttering into my mascara-stained robe.

I couldn't turn you away, so I did the closest thing I could think of: I rolled you off me and stood from the bed. Watching your dejected face, I removed your shoes and pulled your robes from your thin body, leaving you in a long ivory slip-dress. Lifting you in my arms, I pulled the covers back and tucked you in. I went to the other side of the bed and laid beside you under my down comforter.

"There," I sighed, rolling to face away from you. "I'm paying you to sleep with me."

I heard you begin to cry again and felt like a bastard for the millionth time in my life. I faced you and saw that you had turned away as well. I debated for a moment whether I was only endangering our situation, but I relented when I heard you try to muffle your sobs. I moved closer to you until my body cupped yours. I remember how you shivered when you felt my body against you. "You are safe, Virginia," I soothed, stroking your blood-red hair. "Sleep until the morning."

I closed my eyes and began to drift when you nuzzled closer to me. You held my hand on your stomach and sighed,

"Good night, Professor Snape..."