Faerie Folly and Wizard Wands

Chapter Twenty-Two

She threw off his cloak, and began to pace the stones of the floor. The dark wizard stood in response, ignoring the fire he had been pecking at.

"Severus," she began again.

"Damn it, pixie, I detest those who can't spit it out."

His spiced words were enough to bring her back to a balanced state of mind. She felt a release after the cloak, saturated with his essence, had left her body and skin.

"I do not understand why you have shunned me since I healed you. Do you feel a debt entitles you to hatred? You carry too many burdens as it is, and you hinder yourself with this foolishness."

"Saquoya, I have nothing I need to say about this. I'm sorry I brought you here if you are determined to harp on me. It would've been better if-."

"No, I am talking now. You will listen!" She pointed to a large chair, and moved to shove him roughly into it. As he sprawled into it without much ado, she moved to stand before him, blocking a retreat, and let her fists clench at her sides.

"You will answer me."

"A-," he faltered, and then straightened, his black eyes shooting daggers. "If you must know, I do not like the prospect of any type of obligation. Dumbledore has done too much for me, and it is a blow to be then in debt to his daughter."

"But I hold no bond over you."

"You do," he muttered darkly. "You sense it yourself. Ever since you got into my blasted Pensieve, I cannot shake you from my being."

"I do not apologize for my curiosity, nor will I condone your foolishness of placing the runes for all to see."

"No one can get through them but myself. There are words," he spit and growled, making him much like an animal, once again reminding her slightly of Sirius. And she liked Sirius. It was not so crazy, then, that she had decided to favor Severus.

"But it is oak, of earth, and my body is of earth. It runs in my veins."

"You-," he began, then cut himself short viciously. "Move."

She could tell he chaffed under her power, and how she towered over him in this position, and her mind wandered for a sinful, lustful moment.

"No, my dear wizard."

Dear!

It was too late, and his head snapped up, a look of horror and repulsion apparent on his etched and pale face. Leaping from the chair, and moving briskly away from her, he said lowly,

"This was a miscalculation. You'll be returned to your quarters."

"I am then a piece of property to be shoved this way and that?"

"All women say that. And now it's your turn to play the pawn in the game of wizard's chess."

"I am not a pawn. This is my life! I was born for this."

Severus turned to sneer, but then paused to stare. She looked down, and realized she had risen a foot from the floor. Why did she get so passionate in front of him? Was it his character that pulled and strained at hers? She didn't take time to rationalize.

"You were born for what? This war? To save the world?" the bitterness soared on his voice.

"Yes. I was created for this year, and this battle. I am Saquoya! I am a creature of the earth, a being of power. I will save your world. I will save Harry Potter. I am not a pawn. I am all you have!"

"You're too proud and your pride gives away your fear."

His words were amazingly dismissive. In that instant, her feet touched the ground, and she shot him a look of poison.

"I have no time to be afraid."

"But you are afraid. And you are just a piece of this war. Here, take this Floo Powder, and return to your rooms. I will inform Dumbledore of the change in your place. We will keep watch tonight, and wake early to join our forces on the far moors," he spoke lowly, without looking at her. Taking a small black box from the mantle, he held it out to her.

She moved to the fireplace, the passion suddenly drained from her. How could she--love--this wizard? He gave her nothing. Yet...she must give him something. Something so simple it could not be ignored.

Before taking the Floo Powder, Saquoya turned to him, letting herself sense his body one more time. Unexpectedly snaking her arms around his neck, Severus had no time to react, and even less time to think before she did one of the things she swore she would not do.

Saquoya kissed the Potions Master, light, then hard--briefly, yet with fire. She had never kissed a man, and her powers seemed to leak from her touch; she felt it skip into his body.

He did not kiss back, and took her hands placidly from his body, avoiding her eyes, and dribbled some Floo Powder into her hands.

"You are simply a piece of the chess game, Saquoya Dumbledore," he stated again, his voice low and unreadable, though she sensed a slight shock radiating from him.

"Why thank you," she said, now disdainful of him and his reaction to her kiss. "You have not said so before." She threw the Floo Powder into the flames, then stepped into the green firelight. Severus stood before her, dark, gaunt, and dominating.

The instant before she whirled into her quarters, the dark wizard had continued.

"Perhaps you are the Queen."