Discovery

Disclaimer.

This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

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Morning silently tiptoed in, bringing slow awareness to the sleeping lovers. Jenny woke first, feeling herself cocooned in the warm arms of the man who had made love to her the night before. She smiled, remembering their discovery of each other. His tender caress and concern as he'd entered her. Jenny had been with only one other man since her husband had left, and self gratification was a poor substitute, in her opinion. She shifted gently, trying to move away to visit the bathroom, but Severus' arm pulled her closer to him.

"Severus, I've got to go," she hinted to the half-slumbering man.

"Mine," he mumbled, still in the realm between waking and sleeping.

"Yours with a wet mattress if you don't let go," she chirped, just before she jumped out of bed.

"Hmm? Jenny?" Severus looked at the alarm clock on the bedside table. It was nine o'clock. The door opened as Jenny returned to the bedroom. Severus looked at her nude body, revelling in her rounded curves.

"Come here, Jenny, it's still early," he told her, pulling back the covers on the bed.

Jenny crawled in beside him and wrapped her arms around him.

"Warm me up, Severus." She snuggled into his embrace, feeling the rasp of his chest hair on her cheek. Severus kissed the top of her head and pulled her closer.

"What are your plans today, Severus?" she asked.

"I think I told you I had an obligation," he replied, while he stroked her back.

"I remember," she responded. "What time are you expected?" she wondered.

Snape shrugged. "He usually calls around lunchtime."

"He just calls and you go?" she asked in surprise.

"Jenny, don't ask too many questions," he warned with a sigh.

"Okay, but what about now?" she asked as she kissed his chest and licked his male nipples. "I could make you breakfast?"

Severus moaned as Jenny teased him. "Jenny," he sighed and ran his fingers through her silky hair before pulling her face to his and kissing her. "Don't worry. I can enjoy whatever you have to offer. The menu is spectacular." His hands began to move, and Jenny was content to let them have their way. "You even taste good in the morning," he whispered. She began to giggle softly. "What's so funny?" he asked.

"Just thinking of how you made my ex a liar as well as a cheat," she told him. Seeing him frown, she leaned up and kissed his furrowed brow. "He told me he was bigger than average. You've proved that to be a fib and a half."

"How did you ever get together with a fool like that in the first place, Jenny? It seems out of character for the woman I've come to know." He pulled himself up and leaned against the wall. Jenny sat up and reached out to take his hand.

"I was young. We were just out of school. He was my first – there was only one other until you entered my life." She looked up at him and decided to tell the whole story. "I got pregnant the first time we did anything. It was stupid. We used a condom, but it must have broken."

"You didn't use the pill?" Severus asked, for he thought most of the girls he knew in their age group had used the pill as a rite of passage.

"I went to the same school you did 'cause my mum didn't like the sisters at the convent. I was raised a strict Catholic otherwise. So was he, so an abortion was out of the question. Our parents made us get married so the neighbours wouldn't talk." She shrugged. "I lost the baby at four and a half months." She shrugged once more. "We split before our seventh anniversary, when he found his blonde. Not that he hadn't had a piece on the side a few times before that," she added, bitterly. "The last bloke I ever had anything to do with turned out to be married, the berk."

"Why, Jenny? Why choose to be alone?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No one stuck around more than two dates. I wasn't... willing... to put out fast. I might have been lonely, but I was never desperate." She pulled his hand up and kissed his knuckles. "You stayed around long enough to get to know me." She rubbed her cheek against his knuckles.

Jenny looked down at his arm and saw an unusual tattoo. "I'll bet there's a story behind that."

Severus pulled his arm away and covered the tattoo with his right hand. "Youthful folly and stupid choices; a decision made, only to be almost immediately regretted."

Jenny wondered what could cause the look of bitterness and pain to cross his face. The more she got to know him, the bigger mystery he became. On a whim, she reached out and pulled his arm back. To his surprise, she bent and kissed the Dark Mark.

"Severus," she whispered, "if this is part of the person you are, I will accept it. I won't ask you why unless you want to tell me. You must have had your reasons at the time."

Pushing her back onto the pillows, Severus slipped his knee between her thighs and settled over her. "Sweet, gentle Jenny, how ever did I find such good fortune in my old haunts? Your pillock of an ex-husband doesn't know what he let go, much to my pleasure."

"Mmhh, no, my pleasure," she told him, pulling him into a kiss. "Make love to me Severus; you make me feel alive when you touch me that way. I want you again and again and..."

Severus chuckled. "And again, like this?"

Jenny gasped as she felt his hardness press into her again. "Oh yes, just like that," she breathed into his ear.

The outer world was forgotten as their reality became their entwined bodies and whispered endearments. There was no Dark Lord, no ex-husband. Nothing, but their reality together: perfectly, ecstatically and passionately together. It had all changed now. Everything had changed for them, but neither knew what consequences this would bring in the future.

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Severus drove Jenny to her boss's house where she'd been invited for a New Year's Day brunch. He returned home to his humble abode and changed into his Wizarding robes. It was just past noon, and he expected the call anytime. He'd just downed a Firewhiskey when his mark burned. It wasn't too painful today; Voldemort must be in a good mood. Casting a Disillusionment Charm, he made his way to the river bank and Apparated to the Dark Lord's lair. Several others, including Bella, had just arrived also.

"Severus, Happy New Year. I trust your holiday was pleasant?" she asked out of obligation.

"Tolerable," he replied. "Yours, at least what you remember of it?" he asked sarcastically.

"At least I didn't sit alone in a hovel," she retorted spitefully.

"Why ever would you think that I did?" he sneered and walked to the house.

The Faithful Brethren, as Voldemort had often addressed them, gathered in a once grand ballroom. The gilt decoration had faded and the air smelt of stale dissipation. A few sullen elves circulated the room, offering drinks and food.

Snape grabbed a goblet of wine off of a heavily laden tray carried by a burdened, bent elf. As he sipped, he looked around at those present. There were a few missing from the complement since the previous levee. He recalled when Narcissa had brought Draco for the first time. He'd held himself proudly, manifestly Malfoy, Snape remembered. Was it it really such a short time ago?

"Severus, welcome." Lucius limped up beside him. "We should find somewhere to talk. It's been a long time." He smiled and waited for Severus to take his cue.

"Indeed, old friend. Come, there's a divan in the alcove over there." Snape pointed and led the way.

As Lucius sat beside him, Snape quickly cast a Muffliato charm. "Well?" he asked.

"It's hidden in plain sight. I didn't find any discernable charms, even when I touched it with my finger," Lucius told him.

Snape snorted. "Arrogant bastard. Even when he knows people are looking for them, he leaves a Horcrux open to being filched."

"It could be a trick, Severus. He might have something else up his sleeve." Lucius looked around before bringing up the next subject. "I've had another revelation from our master. He called me yesterday and we saw in the New Year together. He's chosen a date – Beltane."

Severus pondered what had been revealed. There was to be an end after all, a confrontation and resolution, one way or the other. It was time to suggest an itinerary be drawn up, and time to move towards pulling everything together.

"Can you transfigure a replacement?" asked Snape.

"Yes, it should be easy enough. Do you think it will work?" Lucius had not recovered his arrogant confidence upon his release. He needed reassurance to go forward.

Snape worried slightly at his companion's hesitance. "Lucius, you are a powerful wizard. You can make a difference."

"I only want the pain to end." He looked up at Snape and gave him a slight smile, reminiscent of the Lucius of old. "If it means I must be sacrificed, so be it. Just let my son live on after me."

Severus nodded and lifted the charm. "How lucky for you, old friend, to be able to spend more time with our Lord," he said for the benefit of those who would hear.

Lucius gave a wide smile. "Indeed, have I not always held a special place in his court? I am privileged to be so welcomed back."

At the back of the room, a set of double doors were flung open by Pettigrew. "Our Lord is ready to receive you now." He bowed dramatically as the first Death Eaters began to file past.

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February, 1999

Severus was back in Jenny's living room, sitting at the computer once again. Their relationship had moved forward, as evidenced by his copy of the front door key and the second toothbrush hanging in the bathroom.

"Making any headway?" asked Jenny from the bedroom, where she was changing.

"I have the office e-mail address, but not their home e-mail." He sighed in frustration. There were so many ways to look for something.

"Is it important who you contact?" she asked. "Maybe send an e-mail with a phone number for them to call you. Your mobile is pretty hard to trace." She walked into the living room, pulling a jumper over her head.

Severus looked at her. "It's not in the regular phone book?"

She shook her head. "No, that's for land lines. You've been in contact with this dentist before, and you'd told them it was a referral from their daughter, right?" He nodded his agreement.

"Well then, send an e-mail to the office and ask if they would pass your mobile on to their daughter." She grabbed his arm suddenly. "You're not a paedophile are you?"

"Madam, desist in your prodding into my past. I'm a teacher – I loathe the little buggers. I'd sooner have had an affair with the school caretaker." He turned back to the computer. "And if you'd met him, you'd now be questioning my sanity."

"How much longer will you be?" she asked, checking the newspaper.

"What time does the picture start?" he asked. He wasn't enthusiastic about going, but she wanted him to accompany her.

"Let's see, here it is: six o'clock and a quarter to eight. Do you want to eat before or after?" she asked.

"Are we eating in or doing a carry out?" he asked.

"We could do a carry out after the early picture and come back here. Indian, Chinese or the chippie?" she asked.

Severus signed off from his e-mail. He'd improved his technique on the keyboard, using a teaching disk, to type with his forefingers and thumb on each hand.

"I'm a traditional man, but I'll forgo the vindaloo and have a carry out from the chippie. I prefer Haddock." He smirked at her frown.

"That's traditional, Indian?" she asked.

"That's all that was open after a long night's pub crawl when I indulged. What picture are we going to see anyway?" He pulled on his coat and helped her on with hers.

"Dogma, my favourite actors are in it." She opened the door and stepped out.

"And who might they be?" he asked, clueless to the current breed of movie stars around.

"Ben Affleck and Alan Rickman," she replied.

When the picture let out, Jenny and Severus boarded the bus, returning back to their neighbourhood. The local fish shop was busy, which meant the food would be hot and fresh, well worth waiting in line for.

"I'm starving," said Jenny. "I don't really like popcorn."

Severus was biting into a fragment of fish he'd torn from the filet in the packet. "I don't either. Do you have any more malt vinegar?"

They made their way to the play park and found a bench under a light. It was uncommonly mild for the end of February, and even more unusual, it was dry.

Jenny loved watching the usually fastidious man eat with his fingers. He obviously relished the common food and licked his fingers after every bite. It made him look younger somehow.

"I had fun tonight, Severus," she told him.

"Before, during or after drooling at your cinema idols?" he asked, teasing her at her reactions to the appearance of her favourites.

"I never drooled," she spat in mock annoyance.

"Then why, when that character... meta-something... spoke, did you moan?" he asked, only half serious.

"Cause he reminded me of you, you daft man." She ruffled his hair.

"You like my voice?" he asked innocently, sounding like a callow youth.

Jenny laughed. "Are you kidding? You taught upper sixth, and no girl ever had a crush on you?"

Severus only half heard her. He put his hand over her mouth to silence her chatter as he peered into the trees beyond.

"Did you hear that?" he whispered.

"That crack? Probably a stray cat chasing something," she whispered back, concerned at his tone.

Severus grabbed the food wrapping from her and pulled her up. "Come on, hurry." He tossed the papers into the bin as he passed.

They jogged away from where the sound had come and hid in a copse of trees on the opposite side of the park. Severus allowed his wand to drop into his palm.

"What is it Severus?" Jenny asked in a whisper, suddenly frightened at his predatory look.

He turned to her and held his finger to his lips, begging her silence. She watched as four figures walked into the park they'd just left. They were dressed in strange clothes and appeared out of their element. Jenny looked at Severus, hoping for an explanation. He was focussed on the others.

"Are you sure, Mad-eye?" asked one of the men.

"I know the bastard came from around here," snarled Moody. "He's removed his records from the Ministry and the school. Check for Magical Signatures."

Jenny watched as the group broke up and began walking around. They appeared to be waving their arms around, but then she noticed they were holding sticks in their hands that looked as if they were leaving a trail of tiny sparks behind. They looked almost like the sparklers from Guy Fawkes Night.

Severus grabbed her around the waist and pulled her further into the cover of trees. It was then she noticed he had one of the sticks as well. They continued on until they'd reached the end of the park and were on the footpath again.

Severus looked around and saw a bus stop. Looking down the road, he saw the double-decker approaching and broke into a trot, pulling Jenny behind him. They reached the stop at the same time the bus did. Severus bundled her on and jumped up behind. The bus started up and passed the park as they took their seat. Severus watched the Aurors, led by Moody, continue their surveillance. His decree of no magic had proved its worth at least in this one instance.

Severus paid their fares and turned back to her. Jenny was trembling, her mind a whirling tumble of thoughts.

"Jenny... Jenny, look at me." He waited until she turned to face him. "There are things in this world that you do not know about, that millions of people don't know about." He spoke softly, that no one else might hear.

"What kind of things, Severus? Who... what were they?" she asked. "What were they using?"

Severus licked his lips, "Jenny, I told you once that there was a power struggle happening. These are some of the people involved."

"Are they the ones trying to take over?" she asked in the same hushed tones.

"No. In the terms of your Hollywood heroes, they were the good guys," he replied.

"If you want them to win, why are they after you? Why are you running from them?" she asked, her heart beating hard with anxiety.

Severus looked out of the window to see what was around. "Let's get off at the next stop and go to a pub. Give me a chance to explain, and I'll take you home in a taxi."