Capricornus Ascendant – Part Two

oOoOoOo

Severus snapped out his wand, ready for attack.

Nagini instinctively drew hers out as well, her adrenaline coursing through her veins, numbing the pain in her hurt arm. She raised her other arm up higher, gripping her wand tightly, ready for the unexpected.

There was something about her decisive action, prepared to back him up instinctively, no questions asked, which spurred a burning excitement throughout Severus' body. I'll deal with these swine, and then, dear Nagini, we'll continue our endeavours...

His dark eyes glittering, he pressed his body close to hers and lifted one forefinger slowly and pressed it gently on her lips. "Shhh," he whispered, while flicking his wand, casting non-verbally Invisibility and Muffliato spells around them.

Severus and Nagini stood, meshed together, pressed against the cool stone walls, waiting as the noise neared. He noted her dilated pupils and flushed cheeks and how she couldn't hold his gaze, as if utterly embarrassed. Her eyes fluttered as his chin grazed against her soft cheeks, and his wisps of long, lank hair tickled her soft flesh.

Nagini shifted her weight and gasped softly as she felt his hardness now pressing against her lower abdomen. Immediately, Severus stepped an inch back, but their eyes met, and he whispered, "Yessss... That's what you do to me, Miss Malfoy."

The boisterous foursome interrupted their moment of revelation, as the distinct voices of each one of Severus' nemesis became distinct.

Snape froze. He was in a dilemma whether to instigate a surprise attack or let the unsuspecting four pass unprovoked. I could just wait here and let the bloody pillocks pass, and then continue with Miss Malfoy here... But the grating sound of Sirius Black's voice halted any further thoughts along this line, and Snape's black eyes glistened with malice at the approaching Gryffindors.

"Moony, you furry berk, what were you waiting for?" jibed Sirius as the cumbersome foursome jostled hurriedly down the castle's corridor. "I think I see your tail already."

Selene was shining bold and bright, drawing the Maurauders to harbour one of their own quickly to the Shrieking Shack; a race with time against her ill effects on Lupin as he leaned on James, who was laboriously half-supporting Remus. Sirius and Peter harboured around them, trying to make light of the situation whilst still nudging everyone along. But Remus had to stop, as if for breath, and leaned with one hand on the wall just a few feet past Nagini and Severus; he seemed unable to walk normally but rather like a sluggish drunk man. James retook and placed Remus' other arm around his shoulder again to urge him to continue on, but Lupin refused, stopped dead in his tracks.

"What is it, Remus?" asked James, growing truly anxious; the odd expression on Lupin's face instilled immediate concern for all. Is he going to transform right here? thought his mates unanimously, giving each other apprehensive glances.

Remus turned slowly, facing and staring at directly where Severus and Nagini stood, shielded behind the Invisibility Charm.

"Blimey, what is it, Moony? You're giving us the spooks," half-joked Sirius.

Remus sniffed deeply, and then he blinked, confused, staring at the seemingly blank stoned wall and alcove stairway before him. That's odd... thought Lupin as he took a few small steps closer to the hidden two.

Severus had clenched one of Nagini's arms so tightly she almost cried out, and he silently cursed, Damn Lupin's lycanthropic senses!

"Can't you smell it? Cinnamon, and..." Remus huffed. "Of course, you can't, but..." He raised his wand and, with a quick flick, commanded, "Revelio!"

In the seconds that followed, the blur of hexes ricocheting and overlapping each other ended with a whimpering, wandless Pettigrew thrown against and sagging down to the floor, cradling his right shoulder, as if it was snapped, and a disarmed Potter scrambling up between Lupin and Black as they faced Severus and Nagini. All came to a standstill, pausing for breath, but with wands raised for further attack.

The only sound in the air for several seconds was the huffs and pants of exertion as the Gryffindors eyed the odd couple, waiting to see who would make the next move.

"What have we here? Looks like Snivellus has a bird," taunted Black, biting his lower lip, trying to contain his excitement.

Remus suddenly blanched and appeared more visibly ill. "Later, Padfoot, let's leave them. We've got to be going," he urged, his thoughts racing to getting to the Shrieking Shack.

"And let this golden opportunity pass us by?" jeered Black. "We're not leaving until Snivellus has wet his pants in front of Miss Malfoy!"

Remus was in anguish. "I can't hold out much longer. I feel it..." His facial muscles clenched, straining against a hidden pain.

Severus snarled viciously, "You bloody pillocks, get the beast to the Shack..."

"Shut it!" roared Sirius, sending a Stinging hex at Severus who swatted it away like a fly.

A surge of pain sparked through Remus again, and his fingers trembled so that his wand fell from his hand.

James assessed the situation quicker than catching a Snitch and growled, "Padfoot, Moony needs us now! We'll deal with Snivellus later!" He grabbed Lupin around the waist to support him and growled at his Slytherin opponent, "Give me back my wand, Snape!"

"No. I don't think so, Potter." Severus sneered. "Maybe if you kneel down and," he leered mockingly, "kiss my toes."

"We'll leave the kneeling down and kissing your lower parts for the Malfoy slag there," flouted Sirius, giving Nagini a dirty look, but his derisive expression quickly turned to one of excruciating pain as Severus swiped his wand sharply across Black's body.

The air chilled several degrees as all watched Sirius collapse in slow motion and a stripe of blood seeped forth through his clothing.

All hell broke loose again with Potter grabbing Sirius' fallen wand, and Snape and him dueling like bats out of hell.

Remus had feigned collapsing only to make an animalistic, spastic lunge, tackling Nagini down to the floor; her scream rang out as her injured elbow popped again against the stone floor.

In the midst of the chaotic scene, a sudden bolt of light burst forth, stunning all of them in place as they heard clearly Professor McGonagall's fierce command, "Enough!" The Head of Gryffindor was quick to exclaim, "Remus, get off of Malfoy immediately!"

Lupin released and scrambled off her, only to press his back against the wall in strained tension; his hands starting to tremble again as McGonagall, accompanied by Professor Sprout, bustled over to the middle of the sprawled group to take stock of what damage was done to whom.

Potter and Snape had been hexing each other simultaneously when the impact of McGongall's spell, hitting and dispersing theirs, knocked them both backwards by the force. But whereas Severus had toppled back, his head hitting against stone, Potter remained unscathed and was able to quickly point out, "Sirius, Professor McGonagall! Snape's used Dark Magic on him; he's..."

"Mr Black seems perfectly fine," reported the quiet voice of Professor Sprout, who stood beside a dazed but fully conscious and sitting-up Sirius, who was anxiously feeling his chest and legs. All signs of a slashing curse had disappeared internally as well as externally.

"I...I don't understand. Snape slashed and cut Sirus up; we all saw it with our own eyes!" insisted Potter adamantly.

McGonagall gave a wary look at Snape and then Black. "Sirius, are you hurt?"

Perplexed, Sirius stood up shakily, touching over his chest again, trying to find a wound. "No... no..." He quietly muttered, "I'm fine... I don't understand."

Severus had crossed over to help Nagini stand up, giving Lupin a glowering glare. Then, the Slytherin sneered and commented, "Perhaps just a change of knickers is needed, Black? You seemed to have wet yourself." Indeed, there appeared to be a large wet spot spread across Sirius' crotch area.

Before either Professor could reprimand Severus, Pettigrew squeaked out, "Professor McGonagall, look it's Remus, he's..."

All turned to Lupin who was clutching the wall, as internal pains were causing him to spasm. "Good heavens!" Minerva whispered fiercely, "Pomona, go get Poppy! Tell her to meet me you-know-where." McGonagall gave Nagini a curious look, not wanting to disclose more than necessary in front of her. "James, Sirius, Peter, help me with Remus!"

Not waiting a moment more, James and Sirius scooped Remus under the shoulders, guiding him away as Pettigrew grabbed Lupin's wand and scurried after them.

McGonagall arched an eyebrow at Severus and proffered her hand out, saying, "Potter's wand, Mr Snape."

He frowned, but handed over his spoils 'won' from Potter, steadily looking Minerva in the eye.

The elder witch sighed wearily. "Oh, Severus, when will you boys ever learn...?"

Turning to follow where her Gryffindors had gone, Minerva only paused to inform, "Don't think this is over yet, Mr Snape and Miss Malfoy...and don't think there won't be detention for all of you! But first thing's first!" And with that, she hurried out of sight to run to the Shrieking Shack.

"Yes, you hurry on to your own Houses! I must get Poppy," instructed Pomona, shooing them away, and headed off to the Hospital Ward. They heard the bustling Hufflepuff Head called back, "Don't dally about; get along now!"

Nagini's eyes followed Professor Sprout, not knowing whether to press on to the Hospital Ward or not.

As if reading her thoughts, Severus caustically commented, "You might have to wait a while for Madam Pomfrey to be available. She'll be busy with furry problems..."

Nagini gave Severus a perplexed look. Furry problems? What is he talking about? "Where does Pomfrey have to go?" she asked, unconsciously cradling her arm again.

"Nowhere of real importance, just assisting in a hopeless case, in vain." His fiercely glittering eyes turned their attention to Nagini. "Are you all right? Did that beast...did Lupin harm you further? Your arm?"

"I'm fine," she lied, delicately lowering her left arm, trying to ignore the twinging smarts pulsing through it. "I...I just want to go back to Ravenclaw."

Severus raised an eyebrow, going neutral, studying her for a second or two, and then commented, "Very well." He became taciturn and motioned that they proceed onwards, and once again they began to stroll as before...before they were interrupted by the Marauders.

Nagini didn't know which question to ask first. So much had happened, and her head was in a whirlwind of thoughts about why those four Gryffindors and Severus were at each other's throats, Severus' slashing curse which disappeared after minutes of being used, and what kind of detention would they receive? Durmstrang's punishments had been mostly corporeal in nature, and Nagini flinched at the reminder of them.

Moreover, she felt overwhelmed, remembering Severus and hers' first kiss...it was lingering in the forefront of her consciousness more profoundly than the incident with the four berks that they had just had to deal with. Kissing him had opened a part of herself she'd never allowed. Her world had changed; she felt different. Nagini gave a fleeting glance up towards Severus, hoping to see any ardent signs on his impressive disposition, but the tall dark Slytherin seemed to have already forgotten, already returned to his usual reserved self. Nagini sighed, embarrassed at her whimsical notions, and went back to pondering Severus' Dark Arts skills, the Marauders, and worrying about detention.

And so, they walked silently, both deep in thoughts. Arriving at the base of the Ravenclaw house stairway, they stood and looked at each other. Severus' onyx orbs glittered keenly as he secretly enjoyed the mercurial witch's hair producing vibrant burgundy streaks. Because of me! She fancies me! He relished her uncontrollable Metamorphmagus' response to him, silently.

Before Severus knew it, he felt the brush of her lips on his cheek and heard Nagini whisper softly, "Thank you... Thank you for everything..." She had held onto him, balancing herself on her toes to whisper in his ears, and in the seconds it took to register her words and touch, he instinctively responded to the intimate moment and asked again, "Your arm?"

"It's...It's fine... I...I just need to rest it." The tall dark wizard's thin lips quirked in amusement, and Nagini felt her cheeks flush. He knows I'm lying!

"Do you trust me?" he asked unexpectedly, instead of calling her on her little white lie.

"Trust you?"

He gently took her injured arm in one hand, and just as gently, Severus guided her into the alcove underneath the Ravenclaw stairway, the perfect nook for some privacy, half-hidden and sunken in. Sitting her down on a carved-out ledge in the stone, he sat beside her and raised his wand, slowly chanting soft Healing spells; his baritone voice murmured them like lullabies over her delicate limb.

Nagini gasped as she felt spurts of burning, followed by dull tingling, sporadically here and there, and then nothing. The pain had ceased and she looked up at him, beaming, and asked, "You're a Healer?"

"No." There was sadness in his eyes which quickly changed to neutral as he added, "Just know a few spells well."

"Well, I'm also not one either, but you hit your head pretty hard, let me..." She impulsively stood up, placing one knee on the ledge to balance and lean forward.

Severus felt soft fingers gently touching the back of his head through his sleek, oily hair.

"There's a little bump. Does it hurt much?"

The unexpected contact on her part, her touch, their close proximity, utterly distracted him. Her breasts were at his eye-level and his nostrils flared as her scents fragranced forth. That damn, dangerous cinnamon fragrance she wears... blended with, he inhaled slowly, her... He had a mad impulse to bury his head in her breasts or pull her down to straddle him so he could taste her lips once again; he inhaled sharply, aware that his hard-on had reared up as well and become painfully acute.

Suddenly, Nagini felt Severus' hands gently touch her waist; instinctively, her focus went from the bump on his head to gazing into his fathomless black eyes.

Severus held her gaze and something unspoken was communicated. Ever so slowly, he pressed his head between her breasts, spreading her globes of flesh through the cloth as he nuzzled in. Tilting his head back to check her response, he was pleased that her mouth had opened to a lovely surprised 'O' and that her gentle golden-honey eyes were invitingly curious. Slowly, he placed kisses across one breast until he reached her nipple, and once there he increased his suction pressure, eliciting a soft gasp, which encouraged him to continue. Giving attention to her other breast, he lingered longer on that nipple while tugging and raising her blouse up and out of her skirt. His fingertips felt the silky softness of her flesh underneath, and he hesitated for only a second before he began to peel her blouse upwards, curling the cloth back until he reached her undergarment. Nagini stood as if Petrified with only her shallow breathing and her fingers clenching his shoulders in and out to let Severus know that she wasn't.

Severus swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing, and hoarsely whispered, "I want to kiss you, taste you all over, Nagini."

He twirled his tongue on one, now fully exposed, nipple. Hearing her moan, his hands firmly felt up the curve of her back to her shoulder blades and then slowly stroked down her center to firmly hold her on her hips. "Straddle me," he whispered. She wasn't a Bellatrix, but he yearned to feel her weight on him and wanted to see her every expression as he explored her body.

She lowered herself to sit, opened-legged, on his lap, her skirt hoisted up by the action to just below her knickers, unsure of what the next moments would bring.

Severus whipped his wand out, casting another Cloaking Charm and Invisibility spell around them and their secret little nook. Placing his wand down, he firmly pressed against Nagini's bottom to nudge her forward until his erection was felt underneath her. Severus ran his hands up her back keeping eye contact with her all the time, but then he let one hand explore her lush mane and pull her down to meet his lips.

Once met, he knew she was as desirous for him as he her, and Severus lunged to taste and explore her deeply.

Nagini moaned as Severus slipped his sharp tongue between her lips and enveloped her tighter in his embrace. She pressed her body into his, allowing him to explore her warm, soft curvatures. He groaned as she, unwittingly or not, arched her pelvis against him, meeting his rhythmic slow thrusts. As they undulated lazily together, his hands instinctively went down and under her skirt, touching the contours of her spread thighs and roundness of her arse.

He kissed her in demanding circular movements, and Nagini felt him lift and shift both of their body angles enough so she was able to lean forward on him more. Severus broke away from her lips to nip and kiss her neck; he felt her shivers and trembling, and it roused a feral heat inside him as he placed his fingers on her Venus mound, savouring her heat and wetness. Ever so slowly, he slid one finger and then another under her thin knickers to gently probe her folds. Nagini froze again, but in an intense sensation as she felt his fingers explore her. Severus sucked her bottom lip while he inserted the first and then the second finger inside her heat. As she groaned, he captured her mouth again making his tongue repeat what his fingers were doing to her other orifice. He had to hold her tight around the waist, clasped in one spot as she had begun to writhe and rock so, and as his thumb was strategically placed and pressed on her swollen nub, he relished her moaning out his name as she clenched her eyes tight and her frame shook in orgasm.

As she came, Severus knew the imprint of her exquisite expression would be forever burned inside his memory; he slowly gathered her in his arms so that she lay her head on his shoulder. Nagini was breathing hard, still trembling. He knew not how long they stayed that way and savoured having a lapful of witch in his arms. But when he felt Nagini's finger strum over his waist to his painful erection, he couldn't help hiss, inhaling sharply.

She didn't raise her head but kept her attention on the crotch of his pants; she twisted around a bit, half sitting by his side, allowing her access to slowly stroke the outline of his now tented erection. Neither spoke as she slowly unbuttoned his trousers. But as she found and released his cock from his underpants, she slowly began stroking his staff up and down and asked in a quiet voice, "How does that feel?"

Severus could only nod and answer with a guttural, "Brilliant..."

She smiled and continued to explore stroking him, luxuriating in his length and texture. After several seconds, Severus raised an eyebrow and huskily suggested, "You can, um, squeeze it a bit harder or add more pressure... It won't break."

Nagini gave him an incredulous look and then shyly smiled; Severus found the moment irresistible and swooped forward kissing her deeply again as he placed one hand over hers, gripping his cock, and guided her on how to stroke him harder, tighter. Together they stroked, pumping him in a growing frenzy until he came, his seed jutting out from their joint efforts. Breathing heavily, Nagini leaned back on his chest again still stroking his sticky member, outlining its curious form. Severus luxuriated in the feel of her touching him and the incongruous situation. If Lucius only knew...

He smirked and felt afire, burning to have Nagini, but 'properly', in a bed where he could take his time and teach her slowly how to enjoy everything his pubescent heart and mind could think of...

Severus swallowed hard and kissed her forehead gently, his black eyes glittering as he proposed, "There's a place in Hogsmeade, the Hog's Head Inn... It's quite seedy-looking on one hand, but..." He swallowed again but was determined to get to the point. "It has rooms... rooms with beds... for rent. I...you...would you come with me there?"

Nagini's eyes were wide with elation, and her heart felt as if it would burst...for now, only Severus existed. "Yes..."

Exalted, Severus gave a triumphant smile and set about leaving a trail of passion marks on her neck and breasts so that she would remember him until they touched again.

oOoOoOo

A while later, having been thoroughly snogged and marked with lovebites by Severus Snape, Nagini returned to her dormitory room half-dazed and was met by her worried roommates as they exclaimed,"Nagini! What happened...we were just about to go..."

"I'm fine," she quickly explained, beelining to her bed and playing down any sense of just having had the most incredible experience of her life. "I fell from the library ladder...but I'm all right. Just got delayed going to the Hospital Ward, and then Madam Pomfrey wasn't available, some furry problem," her roommates listened agog while she babbled on, "but that was after, no, before...oh, it doesn't matter...these berks, four Gryffindors, came and then, Professor McGonagall...well, everything's all right, really!"

She bustled about, preparing things for bed, and turned away from them, carefully changing clothing.

Getting back into bed, Mildred Bagnold yawned and sleepily commented over to Charity, "I told you she was fine; she's a Malfoy."

Burbage nodded, pulling her covers over her, and replied, "Yup, they always land on their feet."

And with that, the girls were soon back to sleep. Only Trelawney and Hope slowly sauntered over to Nagini's side of the room and waited as the mercurial witch finished her toiletries.

Hibiscus leaned against the curved wall and dreamily gazed upward at the Ravenclaw ceiling of changing constellations. "Horologium has crossed paths with Capricornus," said the dreamy-eyed blonde witch.

Nagini followed her gaze and smiled. Horologium shone above, taking centre as Capricornus moved to the side, twinkling above her. Feeling titillated, full of life and passion, she remembered Severus' hot mouth all over her and glibly observed, "I guess time has caught up with the old sea-goat!"

"A Capricorn," came the solemn voice of Trelawney. "A Capricorn has entered your life, changing all that shall follow."

Nagini smiled and thought fondly, I wonder when Severus was born?

"Who do you know born under the sky of Capricornus?" enquired Sybill, peering curiously at her.

"No one that I know of," replied Nagini, not really caring. She shrugged. "I...I don't know off hand; it's not really something I ask people."

"Your world will be changed," warned the frizzy-haired witch, worried.

Nagini huffed slightly on the verge of laughing, craving only to be under her covers and recount every kiss and touch of Severus'. "I'll ask around," she offered, getting under her blankets and hoping that that comment would satisfy her roommates.

Hope and Trelawney slowly sauntered back to their own beds.

"Her world already has changed, Sybill," commented Hibiscus with her all-seeing, all-knowing eyes, smiling serenely into the constellations once again. "Nagini's universe has already been changed."

And with that, the room became quiet and dark, each young witch lost in her own dreams or thoughts.

And so it was that none saw, again, Ophiucus, the serpent holder, force his way between Horologium and Capricornus, holding center stage in the constellated heavens.

oOoOoOo