Chapter 7

The furniture in Snape's lounge had been pushed back to create a large, open space on the floor. The threadbare rug had been removed and candles were burning around the edge of a chalk-marked circle. The coffee table was used as an impromptu altar, the flag with the five-pointed star draped across it and her tools spread on top as usual. The "Book Of Shadows" was propped open on a bookstand just in front of the altar. Severus had read and re-read the rite over and over whilst Sarah prepared the room.

Looks like I'll be the one doing all the talking in this, he thought to himself. Do it by the book, keep her happy and I'm sure my pleasure will return to me threefold, he smirked.

As she'd been lighting the candles and setting up the altar, she had started to fear that something may go wrong. What if I cannot arouse him? What if he finds me unattractive? Nagging self-doubt had crept in, and she had to shoo those thoughts away with the plain fact that he'd agreed to go through the ceremony with her in the first place. Surely he wouldn't have agreed if he couldn't, ah, rise to the occasion, she thought to herself with a small smile.

He padded back into the lounge again, now in bare feet, his naked body covered in what looked to be a black satin smoking jacket. He felt like a flasher. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked again, trying to look casual, like he entertained Muggle-witches all the time for bouts of spontaneous ritualistic sex.

She simply smiled and in response slipped her dress over her head and threw it at once onto the sofa. His eyes flicked down to her naked body briefly, then up to her face. Taking a deep breath, he opened his robe and threw it on top of her dress on the sofa and walked slowly towards her into the circle. She noticed with pleasure his broad shoulders, the rangy athleticism of his body, the dark smattering of hair that led from his naval to his pubis and the black skull tattoo on his left forearm.

"Nice tattoo. Into Death Metal, are you?" she asked jovially. Severus raised an eyebrow.

"Something like that."

They were about a foot apart now, and they gazed into each other's eyes for a moment. She could feel the heat coming from him. She had worried it would feel awkward or strange, but as soon as he stepped into the circle she felt as if this was totally right.

"Are you ready?" she asked him softly. He nodded at her, never taking his eyes off hers. She paused for a moment before turning to the altar, taking her wand and casting the circle. She chanted the words of the opening rite, and then laid her wand back onto the altar, before turning and stepping towards Severus.

Severus knelt before her, in preparation for the Five-Fold Kiss. He spoke in his deep, drawling voice, accentuating every syllable:

"Blessed be thy feet, that hast brought thee to me."

He then kissed her feet, slowly; right foot, then left foot. Sarah felt the heat of his lips on the tops of her feet and held her breath. He continued:

"Blessed be thy knees, that kneel at the sacred altar."

He then kissed her knees, again right then left.

"Blessed be thy womb, without which we would not be."

He kissed her tenderly, just above her pubis, and it felt like fire in her belly. She let out a little breath as he slowly stood, making his way upwards.

"Blessed be thy breasts, formed in beauty."

He paused, admiring her breasts. She could almost feel the heat of his gaze as he placed his hands on them, before dipping his head and taking the right nipple in his mouth, swirling it with his tongue, softly sucking and landing a gentle kiss on the awakened nub, before doing exactly the same to the left. She closed her eyes now and could not suppress a moan. Just as she had succumbed to the sensations, he lifted his head. She found his glittering, obsidian eyes as he murmured the next line:

"Blessed be thy lips, that shalt utter the sacred names."

The world stopped turning for a second as his lips reached for hers. Slowly, so slowly their mouths met. She was not surprised by the instant arousal it stirred in her, the jets of pure desire shooting down her spine as he wrapped an arm around her. She placed her hands on his chest, and he pulled her ever closer, their kiss growing deeper, tongues fluttering over each others lips. Now his hands raked over her hips and she slid her hands through his dark, oily hair and he pushed himself against her. Sarah could feel the magic radiating off him and longed to be closer, much closer to this mysterious man. His hands were all over her, her breasts, her arse, and tangling in her thick, brown hair.

Finally, they stopped kissing, and they gazed into each other's eyes once more, each a little short of breath and full of desire. She smiled at him, and he offered a smile in return as he helped her to lie down in the centre of the circle. He covered her with a thin, silver square of material, and kneeled between her feet, her legs slightly apart. His voice continued, in the same baritone drawl as before:

"All once worshipped the ancient altar;

The great altar of all things.

For woman was the altar,

And the sacred place inside the circle was her.

She is the origin of all things, and so we adore her.

O circle of stars, O infinite space,

Let it ever be thus.

For the point of life, without which we would not be;

For the power and glory of all men."

Carefully, Severus removed the veil from Sarah's body, and he admired her form once more. His fingers began to trace lightly up her legs, grazing her calf, her thigh, taking his time to swirl circles across her belly and abdomen, making her shudder with delight. He then continued the spell, planting row after row of kisses slowly and carefully up her legs as he began to creep up her body:

"Altar of mysteries manifold,

The Circle's secret point;

Thus do I sign of old,

With kisses of my lips anoint."

He stopped just by her pubis, and Sarah was trembling as his mouth hovered just inches away. He could smell her arousal and feel her warmth, and those signals, linked to his animal brain, made his cock swell impatiently. He swooped down, kissing and lapping at her sensitive ridges; her hips bucked in response as she groaned delicately. Then he moved up her body once more, the snake of his tongue tasting his way up her belly and breasts as the spell continued:

"Open for me the secret way,

Beyond the gates of night and day.

Here where lance and grail unite,

This sacred and most powerful night.

From the Goddess cup I long to sip,

Now joined at feet, and knees, and breast, and hip."

On the last line, Severus entered Sarah with a gasp, and her moan of appreciation only served to flood his senses with even more pleasure as their eyes locked and he slid deep inside her to the hilt. He was surrounded by her wet heat, and he filled her so completely, hand in glove. Her whole body felt like it was singing, each nerve end making her a pure receptacle for gratification as she grabbed onto his shoulders and they began to rock together.

As their passion increased, the candles around the circle grew brighter, the flames getting higher and higher, echoing their desire as he slammed into her faster, harder. It was as if a ball of pure white light was filling each of their hearts with joy and love. The closer to climax they got, the more the energy of pure rapture swept over them.

She was clinging to him now as if she were drowning, and still their eyes locked as he thrust into her, urging her on. Her moans were unbridled. Yes, yes, by the Goddess, you're the one! was the last thought she had before she was overtaken by the intense waves of her orgasm, crying out his name whilst her spasms brought forth his torrent of pleasure as he spilled his seed inside her with feral groans of his own. The light grew brighter still from the candles, and panting, still inside her, they looked up to see each of the flames had risen up in a swift arc, meeting each other at the apex above them, forming a cage of pure fire.

Suddenly, the cage exploded silently with a bright white flash and they were left in each other's arms with only the altar candle burning for light, still breathing heavily. Severus looked deeply into her green, searching eyes and recognised a swell of love within him, a love which was now being reflected in her gaze. What madness is this? he thought with mounting panic, and after a moment withdrew quickly, standing up and walking towards the door.

"No! Stop! You can't leave the circle, the ritual isn't over!" Sarah cried urgently.

Severus stood just on the threshold of stepping over the chalk-drawn circle. He stopped, turned back and helped her to her feet. "I must finish the rite," she said, running a hand down his face, and involuntarily he found himself kissing her fingers.

Steadying herself, she picked up her wand, banished the watch towers and closed the circle. When she was done, she spun around and flung herself into his arms. He could feel she was shaking, and he closed his arms around her, a strange distant look in his eyes.

"Well, that's never happened before," she quipped, gazing up at him. He didn't smile and wouldn't meet her eyes, so she ran her hands across his shoulders and down his arms, not wanting to break contact with the man she just had the best sex of her life with. As she stroked his arm, she noticed with surprise that his tattoo had vanished.

"Severus, your arm –"

His eyes flicked down automatically to his left arm, and they widened to see that the Dark Mark had indeed disappeared, leaving just smooth pale skin to mirror his other forearm.

Oh, Merlin.