Cissi shook her head “Lucius, of course not, you know he doesn’t care for socializing. Is something wrong Severus? Do you need me to get him for you?”

“Good heavens no” Severus gasped “Merlin’s beard woman, what are you thinking?” He immediately regretted his words as he watched Narcissa flinch as he raised his voice. Gently taking her hand in his Sev continued softly “Narcissa, you must promise me not to say a word to your husband about Catri. Please, I want your word, your oath.”

“Of course Severus, but why? What does Lucius have to do with this? Or her?” Cissi asked hesitantly, not sure that she really wanted to know.

Sev sighed “Narcissa, Lucius has wanted Catri dead since the moment he first met her. He tried at least twice when we were in school together.” He sighed deeply as he squeezed her hand, “I can not imagine my life without her Narcissa, you must never tell Lucius that you have seen her. Not here, most certainly not with me.”

Narcissi Malfoy stared at Severus, appalled at the thought that her husband would want to harm such a sweet woman. “He wants to kill her? But why? Severus, I don’t understand, certainly she’s no danger to him or anyone else.” Cissi looked past Severus to see Catri smiling and laughing with Krisandra and Al, “How could anyone want to harm her, look at her, she’s only just met them and you would think she’s known them her entire life.”

Severus turned to look at Catri and felt his heart skip a beat. She was laughing happily, a sweet-natured smile on her face as she spoke with Al and his sister. He watched as the flickering candle light caught the highlights of her hair as she turned to speak to Krisandra. Severus could hear her musical laughter floating above the murmur of the other patrons. “I am tired of being alone Narcissa” Sev whispered sadly “I want to have a family, I love her more than I could ever possibly explain.”

“You have my word Severus. I won’t say a word, I swear” Narcissa promised. Reaching up, she gently touched Severus’s face, causing him to startle and turn quickly to face her. “It is so nice to see you smile again Severus. I’ve missed your smile” . . .

Cash slowed down his pace when he heard the shuffling of feet several hallways over. “Sirius” Cash all but hissed as he recognized the scent of the wizard. Moving far too quick to be seen by the human eye, Cash made his way through the maze of passages just in time to block Sirius from entering one of the many hidden rooms contained within Hogwarts.

“Look who it is” Cash said flatly as he approached Sirius “You know, I was really hoping you would be part of the clan, I thought you were honorable. Guess I was wrong.” Cash remarked harshly as he stared coldly at Sirius. .

Severus smiled happily as Al walked away, the grove was beautiful and Catri seemed very impressed, and hopefully romantic as well. Sitting down next to her, Sev wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer to him, he practically melted when he saw her look up at him with her deep, green eyes and steal a kiss. “Miss MacLeod” he admonished her playfully “do you honestly think I am going to let you get away with that all night?” he paused as she blushed, then added “At least make it worth the effort my dear.” and proceeded to kiss her deeply as he embraced her. Pulling away after a minute or so, Sev nuzzled against her neck, sighing softly as he did so. He felt her hand massaging the back of his neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist, only to pull back quickly when he felt something bite him.

“Sev! What is it?” Catri questioned when she heard him gasp and pull away from her.

“Something bit me” Sev replied angrily as he helped Catri to her feet and away from whatever had bitten him. He quickly took out his wand and lit the tip as he searched the twilight for the offending creature. He heard Catri gasp and point to a dark shadow, approaching carefully, Sev pointed his wand into the darkness and spoke “continere” as a bubble-like sphere erupted from his wand and into the darkness, were shortly, a loud popping sound was heard. Sev narrowed his eyes as he spoke “accio” causing the bubble and the creature it had contained to come to him.

“Oh yuck” Catri said as she grimaced when the creature hovered into the light of Severus’s wand. “What is that thing, it looks like a cross between a bullfrog and a monkey, . . . A hairless monkey, with lots a wrinkles.”

“I have no idea” Sev responded “however I would say your description is entirely accurate. I will need to speak with Mr. Puck regarding his pest control.” Sev used his wand to maneuver the creature into an empty picnic basket, which he then hung from the tree. He looked at his bitten finger and grimaced disdainfully “I hope whatever it is, it is not poisonous.”

“Let me see” Catri said softly as she took his hand in hers, after examining the wound she smiled and shook her head “It’s not deep enough to be dangerous, it’s a bite, not a puncture, and the skin around it looks fine.” she reassured him.

“Lovely, so it simply hurts is all” Sev dead panned.

“Poor baby” Catri cooed “let me help you” she said as she kissed his wounded finger, then his palm and his hand, all the while keeping her eyes fixed on his. She could feel his pulse quickening with every touch of her lips. Feeling mischievous, Catri began to gently nip at his skin, smiling as she felt him tremble at her attentions.

“Catri” Sev whispered as she sucked on the sensitive flesh of his wrist, “please, do not tempt me like this, not here.” she responded by biting gently as he sighed and shuddered. Sev felt his breathing become deep as he watched her, she had been antagonizing him all evening, how much did she honestly think he could take before he lost control of himself. “You little vixen” he said, half teasingly as he grabbed for her and smiled as she found herself trapped in his strong arms. “In the mood for something?” he asked as he pressed her against his desire.

“Just peckish” she replied, smiling widely at the expression on his face.

“Peckish? How terribly thoughtless of me.” Sev replied as he cradled her in his arms and leaned her onto the picnic cloth as he kissed her tenderly. Reaching blindly, Sev soon found a bowl of fruit that Al had left for them until their dinner arrived. Sev grabbed a strawberry and held it to Catri’s lips, he pushed her hand away as she reached for it. “Tut, tut, my dear. Now it is my turn to tease you.” he explained as he gently rubbed the strawberry over her lips. He couldn’t believe how forward she was allowing him to be with her, here they were in a romantic, secluded grove, she was laying on the thick grass with him on top of her, permitting him to taunt her mercilessly.

“Are you teasing me Sev?” Catri asked softly as she parted her lips and took a smile bite from the strawberry.

“No” he replied as he fed her the rest of the berry and kissed her neck seductively. “I mean every bit of it.” It had been then that he had felt the water, he had reached to find another berry only to feel a squish, looking over he quickly jumped to his feet, taking Catri with him. “Bloody hell” he shouted as he saw the rising water approaching them.

Esmeralda sat in the bushes laughing to herself, when she heard Snape yell. “That will teach them to treat me like trash” she said “I’ll destroy him just like I did Black, that bitch doesn’t deserve to be with decent people, and any one who is with her isn’t decent.” . . .

Severus wrapped his arms around Catri as they left the restaurant, relieved to finally have her to himself. The food had been wonderful, and he had greatly enjoyed their ‘picnic’ in the grove, despite all the strange mishaps that had plagued them all night. Severus felt badly for the Puck’s, they had gone out of their way to smooth things over. Catri had been very understanding and gracious about the flood and the haunted food, and even about that creature that had bitten him, but apparently the giant insects had simply been too much for her. Al seemed to take it personally and was almost despondent over the fact that Severus had decided not to propose to Catri as he had originally planned. Luckily Cori had stepped in and pulled Al away before he managed to blurt anything out in front of Catri.

“I apologize Catri, I have no idea what happened tonight” Severus sighed as he felt her head resting against his chest. “I wanted everything to go perfectly, I swear someone will pay for this. I know a curse when I see one.” he added angrily.

“Shhhh, Severus, let it be. I think I know who it was” Catri said softly as she nuzzled closer to him. “I’d recognize Esmeralda’s pathetic spells anywhere. I should write a letter to Cori and Al explaining everything to them, I don’t want them to think any of this was do to them. . . . I can’t believe she’s still causing so much trouble. Doesn’t she have children to take care of or something?”

Severus bent to kiss Catri’s head before responding “That creature? Thank the stars no. I shudder to think how her children would turn out.” Pulling out his wand, Severus quickly apparated them to his living room just as a light snowfall began.

Severus helped Catri remove her cloak, savoring the softness of her skin as his hands brushed against her neck. He felt an immediate flare of passion as he heard Catri sigh softly, he wanted to take her in his arms and into his bed. Knowing what a mistake it would be to try and rush her, Severus settled for stealing yet another kiss, delighting when she wrapped her arms around his neck and standing on the tips of her toes, deepened the kiss. “Please tell me this is not a result of the wine Catri.” Severus asked softly as he stoked her soft hair.

Cat smiled softly as she caressed his face “No Sev, its not the wine.” she assured him as she kissed him tenderly.

Sensing his chance, Severus gently took her in his arms and returned her kiss. Her kisses, at first very sweet, had quickly become quite passionate. Severus could feel his desire growing hard as he pressed her against his sex, smiling inwardly as he heard her gasp softly. Severus could feel his hands trembling as he ran them down Catri’s slender waist and over her round hips. It was Sev’s turn to sigh when he felt her hands caressing his chest, he gasped when he felt her gently rub his nipples through the material of his shirt. Severus allowed his lips to stray from hers as he made his way to her neck. He tenderly nibbled at her neck, slowly moving downward as he unbuttoned her blouse with his shaky hands. He paused when he heard Catri inhale sharply, but she made no move to stop him, in fact, she herself was now unbuttoning his shirt, letting her fingertips play with the fine, dark hair of his chest.

Severus could feel his knees go weak as Catri allowed him to gently nuzzle against the crest of her bosom, he relished the creamy softness of her skin as he timidly kissed his way along her cleavage. Pulling away from her in an attempt to control his overwhelming passion, Sev looked deeply into Catri’s eyes and realized she wanted this as much as he did. Sweeping her into his arms, Severus easily carried Catri up the stairs and to his bedroom, where he gently laid her on his bed. He whispered “incedinia” and hundreds of small candle-like flames appeared in the room as he joined Catri, kissing her tenderly on her lips.

Almost timidly, Severus moved his kisses downward as his hands caressed the curves of her body. Hearing her moan softly, he looked up at her to see her eyes half closed and her lips parted, as if waiting for his kiss. Feeling encouraged, Severus unbuttoned the rest of her blouse, revealing her silk and lace ensemble, he cupped her breasts in his hands and ran his thumbs over her nipples, delighting as Catri arched her back and gasped as he watched her nipples grow pert beneath the delicate fabric. His hands continued to roam over her body, eliciting responses everywhere he touched her, although he did feel the need to pull back as he reached her inner thighs, the last thing he wanted to do was rush through this, he had waited his whole life to make love to her, he intended to take his time and do it properly. He looked down at her with tears of happiness in his eyes, all these long and lonely years of waiting for someone he could honestly love, and finally, finally she was here. Sev closed his eyes to hold back his tears, only to gasp as he felt Catri’s hands rubbing over his chest, removing his shirt. . .

Catri smiled when she heard Sev gasp softly as she reached up and undid the few remaining buttons of his shirt. She opened her palm and rubbed it over his chest as she pushed the shirt over his strong arms and onto the bed. She had wondered how and when this would happen, but to be honest, she never expected it to feel so natural, as if this is as it was always meant to be. The tenderness and tears in his eyes only served to endear him even more, it was so obvious how much he loved her, how much he wanted her. Catri sighed deeply as his hands once more found her ample bosom and began teasing her nipples with his fingers, gently pinching and rolling them through her bra, as if he were too shy to remove the barrier and touch them directly. . .

“Cash?... What are you talking about? What have I done?” Sirius asked unsure of what had happened to cause Cash to be so angry with him.

“The name Esmeralda Filch mean anything to you? Angel saw her going to see you, congratulations, you broke her heart ... again.” Cash replied nastily, he paused out of surprise when he saw a look of utter hatred pass across Sirius’s face

“Don’t ever mention that ....... bit ..... person’s name in front of me again.” Sirius responded through clenched teeth. “If I had known what she did to Cat , I would have left Lily kill her then and there.” Sirius snarled as the anger flashed in his eyes.

That had certainly gotten Cash’s attention, narrowing his eyes, Cash stared deeply into the wizard’s eyes and asked “So she’s not you wife then?”