XXXVII: Epilogue

Chapter XXXVII: Epilogue

'What are you giggling about? I'm telling you, there are people who find watching themselves while having sex a real turn-on.'

Charis stopped giggling and rolled her eyes.

'Must be really beautiful people,' she decided. 'I don't want to see my huge thighs! And don't get me started on my arse!'

'I happen to like your arse very much and enjoy seeing it,' Morgana stated. 'Hence, this discussion is over. The mirrors stay. And if you even think about taking them off the wall, I'll put a Sticking Charm on them.'

Ah! This was why the mirrors were activated even though the girls were decidedly in the same room. Snape had wondered about that for a moment. He'd seen Charis first and then caught sight of Morgana, who – very uncharacteristically – was sitting on a bedspread with kittens printed on it. It must be Charis' bed she was sitting on. And sure enough, Charis had sat down beside the red-haired Slytherin only moments later, leaving Snape pondering. But now he understood: the girls had hung the silver mirrors on the wall behind Charis' bed. But that would mean... Snape frowned and craned his neck to get a better look. Were those really moving boxes by the wall behind Morgana? Were his girls moving in together?

A loud crack made Snape jump up from his chair and grab his wand, but he relaxed immediately when he caught sight of Silvy, Morgana's house-elf, in the mirror.

'Silvy has now cleaned Miss Morgana's old room,' the elf announced happily. 'What would Miss Morgana like Silvy to do now?'

'I'd like you to have a cup of tea and relax,' Morgana proposed to which the elf vehemently shook her head.

'Silvy can unpack boxes,' she suggested instead.

'I can do that myself, Silvy. It won't take much time. I don't own that much.'

A smile tugging at his lips once more, Snape sat down in his chair again, his own silver mirror in his hand. His deduction had been correct. Morgana was indeed moving in with Charis.

Sipping at his tea, Snape took a closer look at his girls. Charis' hair was tousled, and she was still a bit bleary-eyed and wearing a bathrobe. She'd probably not been up for very long yet. Morgana, however, was dressed in a dark shirt and a long skirt, and her red hair was immaculately braided. She'd been up much longer, Snape concluded and wondered what she had been doing. She didn't seem like the type who'd put off packing until the last moment, and he couldn't imagine her taking a tear-filled goodbye from her landlady. Had she been brooding in her old room or yet again ventured into Knockturn Alley in the wee morning hours?

Snape shook his head at himself. It was time to stop worrying about his former student. Morgana had changed. The hard look in her eyes had all but vanished along with her demons, and she seemed to have found her peace at last. She had no reason anymore for dark thoughts and nightly walks down shady alleyways.

'Do you want me to help you unpack?' Chairs wondered.

Morgana shook her head.

'That's alright,' she said. 'I really don't own much. And I guess no matter what I say, a certain elf will start unpacking as soon as I turn my back on her.'

Silvy blushed, and Charis giggled.

'Well, in case you want to get started,' she said, 'I've cleaned out the left side of the wardrobe for you. Feel free to fill it. Same goes for the bookshelf in the sitting room and... Oh, just put your stuff wherever you like. I'm not that territorial. Now, if you excuse me, I really need to have a shower. I feel like I'm still half asleep.'

Morgana looked after Charis as the blonde witch made her way to the bathroom, and her blue eyes lingered on the door long after Charis had closed it behind her. Once Charis was ready, they'd go to the Ministry together, and Morgana would file her new address. It was standard procedure, and especially when it came to the Auror department, the Ministry was keen to know where their employees lived. Mad-Eye was probably the only Auror in history who'd ever gotten away with not disclosing his home address. But Morgana had neither Moody's skills nor connections, and she saw no way how she could keep her new living situation from the Ministry. Otherwise, however, she was planning to keep quiet about her relationship with Charis. Dangerous times were ahead, and should the Dark Lord increase his power, Muggle-borns as well as blood traitors were in terrible danger. It was wise to keep a low profile.

Morgana sighed. Sooner or later, she would have to talk to Charis about this. But not today. This was the first day of their new life. She didn't want to spoil it.

* * *

The sun was setting, casting the whole of London in red light. It had been a beautiful March day. Spring was most definitely in the air, and the city itself had seemed to be inhaling the sunlight. Now the curtains in Charis' bedroom were drawn back, and she herself sat on the bed, admiring Morgana's hair. She had undone her braid, and her red locks were now falling down over her shoulders, bathing in the afterglow of the sun.

'This was such a lovely day!' Charis sighed contently.

They had strolled up and down Diagon Alley for the better part of the afternoon, chatting, shopping and stopping at various cafés. And Charis had felt all day as if she were walking on fluffy pink clouds. Because she had known that she wouldn't have to say goodbye to Morgana in the evening. She'd come home with her, to their home. They'd sleep in the same bed, in each other's arms. And in the morning, Morgana would still be there.

She was unpacking her boxes now, carefully putting her clothes into the wardrobe. Everything was neatly folded, from socks to knickers to robes, and Charis couldn't help but smile. Morgana was such a perfectionist, even pedantic to some extent, so much unlike Charis who kept her socks and knickers higgledy-piggledy in one and the same drawer. And still she and the redhead got along so well and were so deeply in love.

Charis tilted her head. If somebody had told her a year ago that she'd be hooking up with a girl, she'd have thought they'd been Confunded. She had been so sure that she needed a man to be happy. A man who was strong and could protect her, hold her in his muscular arms and make sweet love to her. But now Charis understood that she didn't need any of this to be happy. For Morgana loved her and appreciated her in a way no man ever had. She treated her like a princess. And the way she made love to her...

Charis felt a shudder go down her spine at the mere memory of their sexual encounters. Morgana was the one in charge of their lovemaking, taking the lead and deciding on pace and position, but Charis never felt like she was being taken advantage of. On the contrary! Morgana always made sure that Charis received exactly what she was yearning for, and more than once, Morgana had taken her into her arms afterwards, caressing her softly and easing her down from her peak without demanding anything in return.

'You don't have to do anything for me, Star Sister,' she would whisper then. 'The glow on your cheeks and the smile on your lips are all I am craving.'

Those words meant the world to Charis, for she had far too often been used and then tossed aside. But every now and then, she felt a stab of guilt and the desire to prove her love for Morgana in a physical fashion. For Morgana was special, too, and deserved to be treated like a princess herself. And what night would be better to seduce her than the first night in her new home?

Charis slipped down from the bed and tiptoed towards the wardrobe where Morgana was still busy putting away her clothes. Charis didn't believe that she actually managed to sneak up on the Auror trainee, and thus she was surprised to hear Morgana give a little yelp as she slipped her right arm around her slim waist.

'No need to be jumpy, kitten,' Charis whispered. 'It's just me.'

She held Morgana tightly towards her as she brushed her hair to the side to gain access to her neck, and as she started to place tender kisses on the sensitive skin, she heard Morgana inhale deeply through her nose. And had Charis been able to see her face, she would have seen that Morgana's eyes had fluttered shut.

Pressing herself against her lover's backside and nibbling at her neck, Chris let her hands explore Morgana's body. Her left hand came to cup her breast, massaging it through the fabric of her shirt, and Morgana moaned softly, shifting her weight to grind her butt against Charis. She had not been prepared for Charis making a move, and already the first kiss on her neck had sent jolts of pleasure through her body. And now she was on fire, longing to be touched and hoping that Charis wouldn't cease her ministrations.

Yet Charis had no intention of stopping. She was now teasing Morgana's earlobe with her tongue, eliciting the sweetest of moans from her, and as she sneaked her hand under the waistband of Morgana's skirt and into her knickers, she found her hot and damp.

Morgana whimpered as Charis' fingers tickled her core, and she had to grab hold of a shelf for support. Her knees were growing soft, and her head seemed to be spinning. Yet she knew that Charis would not let her fall. Her lover was holding her tightly and keeping her safe. There was nothing to fear, nothing to dread. Enjoying herself did not mean giving up control. They were equals, Charis and her. Parts of a whole. Joined at last.

She peaked quietly and intensely, with a shudder going through her whole body and a low, guttural sound escaping her throat. And Charis held her close, caressing her soft curls and kissing her gently on the side of her neck.

'Welcome to your new home, sweetie,' she whispered as Morgana's breathing had slowed down and got onto her toes to kiss her lover on her flushed cheek. And as Morgana turned her head and caught Charis' lips in a fervent kiss, they both understood that there was a long and passion-filled night lying ahead of them.

* * *

Sunday morning was already dawning when Snape returned to Hogwarts. The Dark Lord had called for him past midnight and demanded his immediate appearance. What for, Snape still didn't know, not even after almost six hours. The Dark Lord had no new plans, and Snape had no new information, neither about Dumbledore nor the Order. But still Voldemort had insisted on having him around all night, harping on about things everyone already knew. The meeting had been utterly pointless but still exhausting, and when he descended to the dungeons, Snape was longing for some hours of deep, undisturbed sleep. But once he entered his quarters, he didn't direct his steps towards his bedchamber. Sleep would not come, he was certain of that. And if he – against all odds – managed to fall asleep after all, he very much doubted that he would feel rested when he awoke. Certainly, his dreams would be filled with horrors and darkness, and when he opened his eyes, he would feel as if a hoard of Hippogriffs had trampled all over him. No, it was better to stay awake, make it through the day and then retire early in the evening. Hopefully, he would be so exhausted by the end of the day that his system would shut down and not even his subconscious would have the energy to conjure nightmares.

He did not even light a fire in the grate. He wouldn't get warm anyway, and the cup of tea in his hands was merely an object he could hold onto. He wouldn't drink the tea; Snape had known this already when he had brewed it. A glass of Ogden's, that would be something he might be able to drink down, but Firewhisky in the early hours of morning after a night with no sleep was not to be recommended. And so Snape sat in front of the empty grate for a while, travelling cloak still on and clasping the tea cup in his hands, desperate for something to ease his mind. But the darkness of the dungeons didn't lend him any peace, and Snape was starting to consider that glass of Ogden's once more. A whole bottle, preferably. That would certainly put him to sleep. How he would feel when he woke up again was a different matter altogether and not one he had any desire to consider. But before he managed to get up from the chair, his attention was caught by the rustling of fabrics, the sound of kisses and a whispered voice.

'It's still early, kitten. Go back to sleep.'

Snape narrowed his eyes. The image in the little silver mirror on the mantelpiece was about as dark as his own surroundings, but the first rays of the morning sun were creeping through the gap in the curtains in Charis' bedroom, illuminating it just enough for him to make out the two forms that lay tightly entwined under the blanket. He could also see the clothes that lay discarded on the bed and the floor and the girls' dishevelled hair.

'Go back to sleep, kitten,' Charis repeated. 'You don't need to get up. There's nothing out there that needs your attention.'

Snape cocked an eyebrow in surprise. Of course, he had expected his girls to sleep in the same bed now they had moved in together, and he had also expected them to sleep in each other's arms. After all, Charis was of the cuddling kind and Morgana only too keen to please her. He had witnessed that at the Three Broomsticks. But there it had been Morgana who had wrapped her arms around Charis and held her safe. That it was now Morgana, who was being held, surprised Snape. He had not imagined that she would allow anyone, not even Charis, to hold her in such a fashion. Morgana was so strong-willed, so stubborn and so keen on showing the world her strength and independence. And there she was now, curled up like a kitten in Charis' protecting arms.

A smile lit up Snape's tired face. He didn't know about Charis' brave move the previous evening, of course, nor did he know that Morgana had allowed herself to be seduced and be driven over the edge. And neither did he know about the girls' lovemaking that night, how it had been on equal terms, a mutual giving and taking without guilt or fears. But he didn't need to know about any of it. He could see a shift of power between his girls, and even through the mirror, he could see that their love had deepened.

Leaning back in his chair, Snape watched them silently, observing kisses and tender caresses and eventually seeing them fall asleep again. Morgana had turned around in Charis' arms, and they were now lying face to face with their arms around each other. They were safe and warm, and for some moments, Snape considered turning the mirror around and breaking the connection. The girls didn't need him to look out for them anymore. They didn't need him to heal their emotional scars. They had each other now, and that was all they needed. Eventually, they would probably forget all about him, and that would be just as well, Snape thought. He had once tried to drive in a wedge between them, and he still regretted this bitterly. Thus, he had no right to be part of their happiness now. He should just leave them alone and disappear in the darkness.

But Snape never broke the connection that morning. He watched his girls sleep, listening to their slow and regular breathing and wishing them all the happiness in the world. It didn't matter if they forgot about him. He would never be able to give them the love they deserved anyway. For his heart was crippled, and he had forgotten how to love. But he still knew how to care, and for Charis and Morgana, he cared deeply. He would always watch them, through the looking glass or by any other means that presented themselves. He would look out for them and protect them if need be and never ask for anything in return.

The minutes went by and turned into hours. The sun rose over the horizon and promised yet another glorious day. And by the time Charis and Morgana awoke in each other's arms, their former Potions master had fallen fast asleep.

A/N:

We would like to thank you, dear reader, for your patience and faithfulness. Your support has meant the world to us and given us the energy to go on writing. We are leaving you, Charis, Morgana and Snape for the time being, but we are hoping to return eventually when real life has calmed down and we can devote ourselves entirely to the story once more. For we are not entirely done with our characters yet, and we're aware there may be some questions yet unanswered. For now, however, we will let them sleep in peace.