Chapter 43

Severus stared at the mirror intently, watching the figure of Sarah rising and falling on top of him. He saw her back arch and her thick mane of nut-brown hair cascade down her back as she tossed her head in pleasure. He watched her grind down upon him, then pull herself up off his thick length and grind down again, her hands on his pale shoulders the whole time. He saw his own pale hands reflected back at him, stroking the smooth skin of her spine and grabbing first her hips and then her arse for leverage.

He allowed his eyes to close as he lost himself in the sensations, hearing Sarah’s little whimpers of pleasure in his ear. He moaned softly and then wrapped his arms around her, embracing her, as she rode him onwards to climax. Within minutes they had both reached their peak, Sarah pushing down on him as his hips thrust up, as he filled her tight space with wave after wave of his seed. White stars exploded behind his eyes as his growls intermingled with her urgent moans, and he held her ever closer as the intensity of their desire slowly ebbed away.

He nestled against her soft, heavy breasts, his breathing shallow, fronds of black hair sticking to his face. How had he almost let this wonderful woman slip away from him? He loved her, he needed her, and, he had come to realise, she soothed his soul. Each passing day with Sarah was like a balm to his anguish, after his long years of torment and guilt. Being with her was so natural, even though they had met and initially coupled in such bizarre and extraordinary circumstances. She was like a breath of fresh air, and she brought out the goodness in him. He hadn’t felt so free, so relieved of burden, for a very long time. He let himself be enveloped by her arms and sighed happily as she placed a kiss on his damp forehead.

***

Earlier that day, Sarah had crept into the woods at Spinner’s End to perform a ritual. She felt as though she had been neglecting her Wiccan roots, although she totally loved her newfound wizarding abilities. The image from her very first Divination lesson had haunted her but she needed to wait for the right time in order take action. And, at last, the time was here: Mabon, the Wiccan sabbat of the autumn equinox, with its association with protection, harmony and balance.

Sarah laid out her tools and altar as usual in the little clearing, hanging her flag in the same tree. The leaves were now turning a wonderful reddish-yellow-colour. All around her were the symbols of autumn, from the colours of the trees to the slanting golden sunlight of the evenings. On the altar she placed an apple and some grains to symbolise harvest. As the air held now held a freshness, she covered her body in a cloak of russet for the duration of the ritual.

Sarah wanted to heal Severus, both his heart and his mind, and she decided to use the element of fire to represent both. She built a little fire in the centre of the clearing, surrounded by stones. Once she had everything just so, she held her wizarding wand above her head and composed herself before drawing the circle. She wondered if her wizarding magic and would affect her ritual, as it did in the Great Rite.

Sarah stood in front of the fire, inhaling and exhaling deeply and slowly, in order to reach a meditative state. With eyes closed, she envisioned a pure white light surrounding her. Now she had entered her magical state, she ran her hands over and around the flames, again and again. She focused on the image of Severus, his pain, his anger, his guilt. Sarah felt the energy of the element flowing through her and the heat of the flames. She imagined the strength of their love, burning bright, scorching away the hurt and the pain. She saw in her mind’s eyes the healing fire flowing into his heart, cleansing and purging him. She visualised him letting go of the past and of the pure healing energy rushing through him. She continued to do this over and over until a feeling of peace came over her.

Sarah closed her eyes, inhaling and exhaling once more, swirling her wand into the shape of the sacred pentagram. She opened her eyes to see a golden vapour trail where she had drawn the star, gradually fading away like dust motes caught in the sunlight. Instinctively, she knew that her ritual had worked and that it was indeed touched with her wizarding magic.

Later, as she strolled back to her cottage, she reflected on how she would complete her ritual. She would make love to him, slowly and carefully. She would give each kiss and caress meaning. She would soothe his body as well as soothe his soul. She would convey the depth of her love with each display of desire. She would show him, Severus Snape, that he deserved every drop of love and adoration she could lavish on him. Smiling, she swung round the corner and made her way up the garden path.