An Awkward First Time

An Awkward First Time

Severus entered the bedroom, opened the window as always and then cast a silencing spell towards the door and another charm onto his groin. Slipping under the pre-warmed bedcover, he felt her body-heat radiate through the shirt. She was there waiting... Severus relaxed a little at her soft touch and carefully stretched his legs. She had cold feet! Simple as the fact was, it felt endearing to realise! She was lying on her side, facing him but not looking up. A sixteen-year-old girl, innocent, inexperienced. He stared at the ceiling for a short while. Noticing how impolite this was, he propped himself up on his elbow and looked down at her face and shoulder.

Ginny didn't know where to look. Somewhere into the room would be what she wanted, but that was certainly rude. His face? Seeing his smirk at her hesitation? Under normal circumstances, she would have preferred to avert her gaze. This time, however, there wasn't anything to focus on. No black robes, no frock coat, nor his customary endless line of buttons. Staring at his bare chest and what came below didn't seem to be an option.

Hesitantly, she reached out an arm but not far enough to touch him. What would he expect; could she hold up to his standards? If she didn't, would he tell her, teach her? He had been so reluctant to speak about this...although he was ready to marry her. So far, almost all their contact had been her initiative, but from her brothers' talks, she had overheard that men didn't typically like bold women in their bed. Just as well, for how could she be bold if she did not know what to do?

Most likely, one starts with a kiss, Ginevra.

Dropping her suspended hand, she inched a bit closer, finally deciding to look somewhere at his face. Eyes, cheeks, mouth, hmm, it didn't look so bad, with full lips and...WOW!...he had shaved for the night! Her hand easily followed her eyes and confirmed the discovery. "Hmm, soft!"

Goodness, what had he gotten himself into? The girl was certainly straightforward. She appreciated his shaving! She was too close to keep his eyes in focus, but then with her hand on his skin he wasn't able to focus anyway! Her tender touch sent an unknown sensation through his body. "Ginevra, are you sure you want this? Tonight?"

Her hand withdrew, and she averted her gaze. "It might be my very last chance." She hesitantly formulated what sounded all too much like an old-fashioned request, but then she didn't actually know the man's expectations. "I would then not be entering our marriage innocently, is it that?"

"Salazar's beard, no!" he exclaimed in frustration over the misunderstanding and punched his fist into the pillow.

"Do you not like me enough? I'm just a girl, I know..." she broke off, her lower lip trembling.

"Ginevra, no. It is... I'm just... " Oh, she had a capacity of pressing the truth out of him! "...notusedtothismyself." So. He had said it and felt better for it as the tension in his chest loosened with his next breath.

"Oh," she uttered in a mix of surprise and, was it relief? Her hand came up to its previous position in mid-air, settling for the crook of his neck where it soon started caressing him in slow circles. She reached further to his back and pulled him slightly towards her. His eyes darted between her lips and her eyes, and slowly he lowered his lips onto hers.

Kissing was something that Ginny was confident she could do. After an initial shyness, she inhaled his scent and tasted his lips with her tongue. His broad shoulders, his lightly haired chest and arms made him far more male than her adolescent peers, which was enthralling yet frightening at the same time. She slid her lower arm under his armpit to his back and entangled her upper hand in his hair. She enjoyed having him so close, relished in the physical comfort.

Severus wasn't comfortable at all. This went too quickly, she was so bold in her actions, waking feelings and urges he had trouble reining in. He jerked away to gain his composure. He would feel better if he removed his too tight pants right now, but what would she think?

Breathe! In, out, think of nothing, not of her certainly.

She was now drawing flourishes on his upper arm, slowly proceeding to his shoulders and neck, tickling and arousing him. Ginevra, take a break! he wanted to cry, but didn't come further than her name.

It had the opposite effect. Encouraged, she cupped his chin with her hand, drawing him close yet again. With a groan, he tilted his head away from her lips, landing on her neck instead where he soon caused her to gasp. Her breath came heavier now, driving him into madness. Even under her shirt he saw her little breast heave in excitement, felt her hardened nipple on his bare chest.

He pushed away his underwear and proceeded to do the same to her. Touching the soft skin of her thighs drove him wild. Growing more urgent, he spread her legs with his and lay heavily on her. "Ginevra, open up," he pressed, and without further ado he was inside her. Her wincing drove him higher, and he held just a moment before he thrust deep and deeper and rapidly came to a relieving climax.

Swiftly, he withdrew and rolled to the side to catch his breath.

He lay there unmoving. She might have tentatively touched his arm, but he was still too taken with his own feelings to react. Falling into a light sleep, he barely noticed when she inched away from him.

:*:*:*:

Eventually, Severus started taking in external signals again. His bed was shaking slightly, regularly, and there were small noises from her. He tilted his head to watch her. Somewhere in the mess of pillow, shirt and hair she must be. He leaned over, stroking lightly over her head, and the noise became louder. Sobs? Was she crying? "Ginevra?"

It was dark outside now, but the waxing moon stood directly over the tree. Wait a moment, then it is around 11 p.m. Have I fallen asleep? Since when has she been sobbing? Why? "Ginevra, what is it?" He tentatively searched for her shoulder and turned her on her back into the ray of moonlight. Her eyes were puffy, her face wet with tears; this was not what he had expected. "Ginevra. What? Tell me, whatever it is..." She rolled away.

Frustrated, Severus rose to sit on the edge of the bed with his back to her. He set his elbows on his knees and held his face in his hands. Something was wrong...terribly wrong. "Ginevra, what have I done?"

Looking down in his lap he saw blood. Of course, her blood. How could he have ignored that! With an "I will be right back," he headed for the bathroom, snatching his boxers. After cleaning himself, he selected a gentle ointment for sore skin, wet-warm towels and also brought a glass of water back to her.

He wavered at the edge of the bed, offering the water first, "Ginevra?" When she didn't react, he tried again, "Please, let me ease your pain." Slowly he reached for her shoulder to get her attention, "I'll remove the cover now, and I need a bit of light." She didn't object. Kneeling beside her, he covered her generously with the towel and gently washed her blood away, not looking too closely at her.

Hesitantly, he kissed her forehead. "My apologies, I... I was not attentive." At least she nodded. "The ointment will further sooth your skin, if you will?" He offered her the tin, but she didn't take it, just stared at him expectantly.

Desperate now, he declared with force, "Ginevra, I am neither patient nor skilled at dealing with emotional matters. Tell me what you wish me to do."

What should she tell him? A part of her wanted him to snuggle close to her to make amends; the other wished him to leave her alone. She remained unresponsive.

Severus lay down next to her and covered them both against the night chill. When they were warmer, he once again suggested the ointment with a practical voice. "You should apply the ointment now because I know it will help. Whatever else there is, we can discuss. Now, tomorrow, or another time."

No reaction.

With a huff, he started applying the cream himself, under the cover to keep warm...and to keep his eyes off. This was a medical aid and nothing else. He started with her inner thighs that had been red and swollen from his unconcerned actions.

Soon she caught him with a warm kiss, breathing heavily. He stopped abruptly, withdrawing his hand, averting his eyes. "My apologies." This had all gone wrong!

Ginny collected all her courage. "Would... would you continue? Please?"

His breath hitched. Not wrong? She wanted his touch? Still wanted it after he had not paid attention to the foreplay, had not given any thought to her! "I skipped this?" Another kiss and a fearful nod.

He still wasn't sure what to do. The experiences he had, had tended fully to the client's, that is the male's, needs. What was it a woman would want? Too ashamed of himself to look at her, even in the near dark, he hid his face in her hair. He wanted to ask her, but no words passed his lips. He wormed his hand under hers so she could guide him.

:*:*:*:

When the crescent of the moon left the last twigs of the tree, Severus held a positively beaming Ginevra in his arms. He had roamed her body, stroked and teased her, growing bolder with her reaction until she had been rejoicing, whimpering under his touch. Severus had no words for what this felt like!

Loosely spooning, with his left arm on her belly, they relaxed. When her even breath showed that she was asleep, Severus still reconsidered those last few minutes. It had given him so much pleasure to please her as he could only dream about. He had not had any further release himself, had not felt the need. This was an unexpected concept, that he would enjoy the act of giving and in return getting... touches, strange sounds and a kiss. As a deep internal calm spread inside his body, he finally fell asleep.

:*:*:*:

Sometime in the small hours, Ginny awoke. Severus' breath came steadily from behind her. Outside, the sky had turned from black to a lighter grey, promising daylight, but no sunshine. This was nothing new these days. She moved gently to feel for her arms and legs, her joints and finally the part of her body that had changed last night, had been changed forever.

Her need for the loo jarred her into action. Very carefully, she withdrew herself, but the bed creaked when she stood.

When she regarded her image in the old, tarnished mirror, it looked as it always had. Yet, she felt so different that the glass should have cracked or got boils, should it not? Inspecting herself, she was impressed at what the ointment had achieved: she was not sore any more, not the least bit of swelling or irritated skin. She briefly considered last night, remembering that Charlie had botched it with his first girlfriend, too. It had not been the end of the world because the woman had understood.

To freshen up, she brushed her teeth and washed before she quietly made her way back, remembering that Severus had looked past her getting up, although she was sure he must have woken up.

He had turned. A streak of hair covered half of his face. Lifting the duvet as little as possible, Ginny crawled back into the warmth. "Sorry," she said. No answer. "Don't pretend you are sleeping," she tried again, but Severus lay still as a stone, or so he tried.

"All right," she huffed, "then don't speak," and slowly turned away, wondering... A tentative hand connected with her elbow, but when she moved, it slid off to hold her hip. It felt colder than her skin, although it had been she who had gone out. It was shaking, too, and when Ginny interlaced her fingers with Severus' to still his tremble, they got sweaty. She turned on her back but he had hardly moved. "Severus?"

Hearing his name sent a shiver through his body, she felt it clearly. Slowly he worked his jaws, gripping her hand tightly when he croaked, "Why are you coming back? I hurt you."

Rapidly she propped herself up and pulled his shoulder down to turn him towards her, although she didn't go so far to make eye contact. She whispered, "Have we not rectified it?"

"How can you say that?" he breathed.

"It's what I think we did."

"Don't be ridiculous." His croaking voice came louder and harder than he intended.

Ginny stiffened. "Ridiculous. I see." She opened her hand and withdrew from his grip, her first leg reaching for the floor.

"No!" Severus almost shouted into the quiet of the night as he rolled over. "Don't leave, Ginevra!" He tried to get a hold on her but she slipped away. His brains worked like mad, how to keep her here? "Ginevra, stay. Please?"

It must have been the right thing to say, for she stopped and looked into his eyes. They were as anxious as she had ever seen them. Slowly she returned, and when he took her into his arms, she settled back comfortably. His body-heat seeped into her, making her drowsy. A car drove by, breaking the utter silence.

Severus murmured, "I was convinced you were gone to return to your bed, or sofa."

"It would have been a bad start," she murmured. "Sleep, Severus."

:*:*:*:

Severus felt uneasy due to a stiff right arm. He tried to roll over, but was blocked. Ginevra! Last night! Him botching it! Then discovering her properly, without haste, only for her. She was still here, and so very close. After hugging her in gratitude, he removed his arm carefully and headed for the bathroom.

"Good morning, Severus," he was greeted on his return.

"Ginevra, good morning!" The cold in the room had him shivering, and he crawled back under the cover when she offered it. "How do you feel?"

"Wonderful."

He arched his eyebrow at the hearty comment. "Do not say so if it isn't true."

"I'm... really fine, Severus." She turned, and their eyes locked. "And you?"

He twirled a strand of hair from her temples with his forefinger and craned to kiss her chastely on her cheeks for lack of a verbal reply. To his surprise, she turned her head, caught his lips with her own and answered his kiss. Soon her hand was in the nape of his neck, effectively preventing him from drawing back. When they finally broke their kiss, Severus felt his cheeks flushing and found similar signs in her face.

It wasn't even eight o'clock, and Draco had been out till late. They had ample time. Severus decided he would show her just how well he felt this morning.

His hand revisited the places she had guided him to last night. Again, he felt an asymmetry, a feature he had not expected. His scientific mind could not let this pass without inspection, so he swiftly bent his knee and pulled the duvet down with his foot to expose their torsos. Her left breast looked juvenile as he knew from life experience or the covers of magazines for men. Her right side though... the nipple lay a little higher and escaped his finger, sulking, slipping away. That needed further examination, and he concentrated hard on what he saw and felt, oblivious to the frown on his face.

Ginny had feared this moment for years. When she had regarded herself in the mirror, the conversation between Bill and Charlie had repeatedly plagued her mind, and many times she had wondered just how a boyfriend of hers would react. When she was older, Molly Weasley had dispelled her anxiety with practical words. Despite the retracted nipple, her breast could be made functional for feeding a baby, which was its purpose. If a boy or man could not overlook an aesthetic point as this, he wasn't the right one anyway, and it was only good to realise it in time. Easy to say!

If Severus took offence, there wasn't anyone else to bail her out. Contrary to her assumption, he did more than a double check. Even in the dim light, she saw his brows furrow and Greyback's ugly grimace popped up in her mind, mocking her. She threw her head violently left and right to rid herself of the horrifying image.

He rapidly withdrew his hand, still in irritation over his discovery. "Did I hurt you?" he uttered as he stilled her head with his hand. Their eyes locked, and he saw a glimpse of Greyback before she rolled away from him. "What has the Werewolf got to do with this?" His question was void of all sarcasm, showing only his bewilderment.

"Ginevra, look at me," Severus demanded when she did not reply. "I told you I'm not good at guesswork in these matters. What is it?" His hand found her cheek again, and he spoke more tenderly, prompting her to explain herself.

"If you can't approve of... this... me..."

"Approve? You imagined I would withdraw my offer? On that? Look at me," he commanded, pointing on several scars crossing his chest. "I'm myself to blame for them...or for most. What right would I possibly have?"

"Some... some would. I had not expected you to, but... your brows..." Ginny pulled up both hands to cover her face.

Just to make a point, he kissed the very place. Checking carefully that he would not hurt her, he repeated what he had done earlier. He paid attention to make her react equally on both sides, even if the right needed more caressing to cause it. Tears of relief rolled down her cheek, and for once, all was good.

As Severus paused to look at her, Ginevra's hand roamed his front and hesitantly inched downwards. Around his navel, she paused. "Severus, show me how?"

:*:*:*:

Hours later, Draco accompanied the two to the Dark Lord, who had gathered about half of the Inner Circle together for the decision on Ginny's future. She was led into a separate room, and Draco promised to stay close. He peeped into the main room. The Death Eaters were standing in a crescent around their master who resided in an upholstered wing chair on a pedestal.

A lengthy debate began, but Draco didn't hear the details. The fat supervisor of the Muggle hooligans, Fenrir Greyback, and lastly Severus would be asked to present their need for the captive. The first candidate made a few points but was not convincing.

Next, Greyback's rasping bark carried through the whole house as he argued for his case. His effort to prolong the wolfish state showed disgusting signs of success. With permanent patches of fur on his forehead and the backs of his hands, he looked more menacing than half a year ago on the Astronomy Tower. His longish snout sported pointed canine teeth. His gnarled claw-like fingers clenched and unclenched while Severus made his point. Draco preferred not to imagine how he looked under his too tight robe.

Severus might appear composed, but to the few who could read him a little, his anxiety was obvious. He was given more time, and their master continued questioning him. At least twice Draco saw clear signs of Legilimency. What pictures would Severus present? Arriving late last night, he had seen that the sofa wasn't even Transformed into the makeshift bed. They had been in very good mood indeed over their late breakfast.

The high-pitched voice turned to Draco. "Bring Weasley in!"

He removed the ward from the room and went in. "Come now," he ordered briskly but continued in a low, friendly voice, "Severus was questioned and submitted to Legilimency much longer than the others."

Draco led Ginny into the centre of the room. Severus had explained to her, that under these circumstances, the interrogated was supposed to answer loudly and clearly, for all to hear. She had come so far, she certainly could do that. She did her curtsies as she had been instructed and kept her eyes averted. "My Lord."

"Weasley. Stand and look at me." This sharp command had no resemblance to Tom Riddle's coaxing, for which she was immensely grateful.

He scanned her memory of the last week. She concentrated hard on her Occlumency as well as on not revealing this concentration. He checked through her interactions with Severus. Shopping and their discussion on the way home. The cooking sessions, evening talks. Of course, he looked for different scenes of physical interactions and found the events of last night. She didn't show him all her frustration, but let him believe it had been quite fine, even if not perfect.

Trying to catch her off guard, he repeatedly fished for memories of before her capture, but found nothing he hadn't known yet. Nor did he find anything about certain werewolves visiting them.

The Dark Lord very thoroughly examined the night-time attack with Dementors. From Ginny's understanding, he was most interested in her capability to cast a Patronus. Maybe she should not have had her wand? Quickly, she showed him the scene when she asked for the wand and then rendered her clothes water repellent.

Finally, he seemed satisfied. In a flourish of generosity, he addressed her, "Young lady, you have been presented with three options. Tell us what you have chosen."

She breathed, set up a dismayed face, if not for him then at least for the round. "With my Lord's permission, out of the three options you presented, I'd rather select the last one, marrying Severus Snape, be a devoted, faithful wife and found a family with him."

The Dark Lord nodded. "So it shall be. The nuptials will take place December twelfth. You will be informed about the details in due time." In a gracious wave, he ordered her to stand next to Severus, and she retreated slowly, walking backwards, always facing him.

The contact person for the Muggle street gang shrugged. There would be other victims. His boys were not choosy.

Greyback's face, however, had frozen at his master's gracious gesture. He rushed a few steps into the circle and addressed their master with just the slightest indication of a hasty bow. "My Lord, we have been waiting for a witch like her. We cannot take just any girl; they don't last. We need witches, pure-bloods if possible."

"Crucio!" The werewolf wriggled on the floor but no sound escaped. For what felt like an endless amount of time, the Dark Lord let him suffer, reinforcing the spell every so often. Severus shifted to Ginny's side so that the back of their hands could touch. At long last, Greyback screamed.

Releasing the curse, their master waited to be thanked. Then he stared at Greyback and intoned coldly, "Be glad I have punished you but lightly for the moment. I'm developing another nice curse to keep you all disciplined. As for your sexual desire, Fenrir, you'd better not wear your playmates out so quickly! Get out of my sight!"

This time Greyback bowed as deeply as his rangy, but wolfish, bones permitted, his body trembling in the effort of straightening up again. He left with a malevolent growl towards Severus and Ginny. Murmurs rose from the far side of the room while most of those closer to the door wiped their nose as he passed. Draco backed into Ginny's waiting room and didn't come out as long as the stench of sweat and dirt dwelt in the corridor.

When everyone had settled again, Severus advanced just two steps towards the centre and faced the Dark Lord. He bowed obsequiously. "My Lord?" In contrast to Greyback, he stopped there and thus avoided the punishment.

"Severus?"

"I wish to thank you, my Lord, for this great gift with which you have presented me on this day. I will strive to prove myself worthy of it and of the great honour of remaining in your service."

"Severus, of all that I require from you now, my greatest command is this...that you shall sire many children, that the next generation of Death Eaters may be multiplied so that they, in their great number may subdue the Earth! Do not fail me, Severus!"

Severus bowed deeply. He didn't continue speaking out of turn but he didn't retreat either. Ginny saw his little finger roll minutely against the ring finger in nervousness. Their master's voice assumed a tone of annoyance as he asked, "Is there anything else, Severus?" Ginny's chest tightened. Did I just consider him our master? Mine as well?

"My Lord, may I enquire about the status of my fiancée. I understand that she needs to be restricted, but I have business to attend to. I will be more efficient about it, if I have got your edict against ill-wishers like the recent attackers."

"Indeed." The red eyes that never blinked turned from one Death Eater to the next as he continued, "The fiancée of a member of the Inner Circle is to be given our full respect. Everyone present here is to propagate this directive to his charges." He looked around sharply, and no one dared even a murmur. "Given her history you would not let her run loose. She is to be seen as under probation, very much like young Malfoy here. Can you pursue your duties with this arrangement?"

"I can, Master. Thank you for your generous support, my Lord." He advanced, bent and kissed the hem of their sovereign's robe.

They made their leave shortly after. Murmurs among the Death Eaters and glances towards the unlikely couple accompanied them to the Apparition point.

Inwardly, Ginny was beaming but didn't show any of it before they had entered their house at Spinner's End. There, however, she whirled around and hugged Severus strongly and laughed and cried at the same time, blatantly ignoring his startled look.

:*:*:*:

In the afternoon, Severus hesitantly handed Ginny a tall beaker full of cherry-red, fizzling potion. "A contraceptive, Ginevra."

Draco stiffened, and his face rapidly shifted from red to green.

Ginny nodded. One could get such a potion at the hospital wing. It was to be taken once a month, after the menstrual period had ended. "Are you going to admonish me, berate me... deliver all the warnings Madam Pomfrey provides with it?"

Amused, Severus replied. "I consider it not adequate in this case. As it appears, you know them anyway."

"We do share dormitories, bathrooms and a common room."

"And gossip."

"It is called girls' talk," she declared with force, then looked into the beaker. "All right then, this stuff tastes like a troll's fart, makes me want to puke for three minutes, and in half an hour I face the same again?"

"Basically, yes. It is still the best there is, Ginevra. In the heat of the moment, a spell can be forgotten or wrongly applied in as many variations as Professor Flitwick can list. Outside marriage, a girl...or woman...should never rely on the partner, anyway. Which does not..." he added forcefully towards the staircase, where Draco had just disappeared. "...free men from their responsibility." He steered her to the sofa.

Ginny sat down, held her nose and drank the stuff down in one. "Not as bad as they said," she judged.

"I took the liberty to make it more palatable than Hogwarts batches. As I said, you do not need the educational part." He smirked. Ginny's outrage at the idea that Severus and Madam Pomfrey had deliberately provided a foul-tasting variant was overpowered by the first bout of sickness. With a grunt she glided down, and Severus swung her feet up to suspend them over the armrest.

Ginny was glad to notice that he did not leave her until she stood up, and he stayed with her through the second beaker, too. Madam Pomfrey had regularly demanded a similar support from the boys in question, and equally regularly they had found most important business to attend to just during these 35 minutes a month, or the girls had refused to even deliver the request. This solidarity had to be one more difference between a teenager and a grown man.

:*:*:*:

Draco and Severus alternately received tasks for their master, and in the next two days, Ginny and Severus had little time to talk. To take her mind off things, she took up his advice and made herself familiar with his library. As she followed the first years of Oliver Twist, she was glad Severus had suggested a different book the other day.

On Sunday, they met again with the Dark Lord and a selection of Death Eaters for the last wedding preparations. The Dark Lord beckoned the couple into the middle of the circle where, once again, they curtseyed and bowed, respectively.

"We need to discuss ceremony and the contract details," the Dark Lord started. The cold, red eyes of his snakelike face moved from Ginny to Severus and back. "Topic number one, re-housing." His eyes locked with the bride's brownish-blue ones. Fully aware of the rite, Ginny was puzzled at this suggestion. Murmurs on the rows behind her confirmed her. "Severus, I'm afraid we cannot execute it right away, but you know that the contract can require it for a later date. After five years, or after the male heir is born, maybe?"

Severus' mind was racing. Why had he not expected this? Certainly, he was not willing to break the young girl's spirit, but how to formulate it convincingly? Could he even let it appear as an asset?

"My Lord," he began, "I realise that my bride shows the distinct qualities of her house. A ridiculous sense of absolute justice, but especially an unbroken courage, as you will have noticed. She does have quite a temper as well." He paused for a long breath. "I have come to enjoy this. I relish in the opportunity to challenge her, conquer her temper. I truly cherish her pride that I expect her to teach our children as well."

He turned to his bride who was facing him now with an unreadable expression. "Coercing her, provoking her, ensnaring her and seeing how she melts is enthralling! What a loss it would be to subdue her with a couple of potions and spells and find her always ready to my bidding. Never to experience this excitement again." He gently tipped her chin up with his index finger causing their eyes to lock.

Merlin, these dark, fierce eyes of his! They looked at her with an incredible tenderness, showed an affection she wouldn't have known he could possess. His mouth came closer still. "I would much rather grow with the challenge she presents." And he kissed her, chastely, softly, lovingly. Could this all be a farce, a well staged act, only for the Dark Lord?

She relished in the sweet moment, but internally her Gryffindor pride was already protesting. The Dark Lord observed her closely. Her temper was going to show, she could hardly avoid it. She turned away from Severus and to their master, who appeared to enjoy himself. Shortly their eyes locked, and she saw... oh, yes!

"Miss Weasley, you are about to burst," the Dark Lord chuckled, although one should call it cackle. "Do enlighten us with your opinion, will you?"

And so she burst: "How so very egocentric of you, my groom. You seem to forget that I am the pure-blood of us. My family shows quite a steady line of Gryffindors, with a few members of other houses. Of all three other houses, mind you."

Severus felt cold sweat run down his neck and back. He feared for the worst. If she enraged the Dark Lord now, all could be lost. "My Lord, you see, her temper," he threw in and squeezed her hand in a desperate hope for her to stop.

But Ginny was not to be stopped here. "My temper? You should be glad that I'm not insisting on pushing my temper alone on our children. You ought to be aware that I have all rights to request your re-housing. I would not be the first pure-blood bride to do so when marrying a half-blood." She had spoken herself into a fighting mood by now and had retreated three steps from him. Her cheeks and neck crimson, her eyes looked at him with fury. Her arms trembled, her hands shook. To Severus she was more beautiful, more entrancing than ever, but he would not dare mention this now...if ever. This was a marriage of predicaments!

He could only hope the Dark Lord would be forgiving today and let her live.

With two deep collecting breaths, she approached him. Her body under full control again, she tenderly lifted her right hand to his chin and purred, "But I don't. Re-housing is neither in my family tradition...oh yes, my wizard family has a set of traditions...nor is it in my personal list of values." She locked her eyes with his again and continued in another purr, "I rather love to flirt with you, to seduce you." Here she stroked along his cheekbone, and he had trouble to keep his eyes open.

She turned and proclaimed with steady voice, "No, My Lord, I would not exchange this man with the empty shell that would remain if we re-housed such a complex, multi-layered personality as his."

It was Severus' turn to fume in fury. He barely kept his emotions in check.

For some of the assembled Death Eaters, it was the first time to see their master laugh. Even with his disgustingly shrill, nasal voice, it was clear how much he had enjoyed himself. Feet shuffled on the floor at this unexpected behaviour. "My loyal servants, my dear Severus, honourable Gryffindor Ginevra..." he bowed slightly towards her, "...I believe we can expect some entertainment and a set of very capable children from you. I would not endanger that prospect with a re-housing clause."

Severus exhaled a breath he had not known he was holding. Several Death Eaters braved into joining the Dark Lord's laughter.

The Dark Lord turned to a group of younger women. "There are more things to discuss. Serena, Barbara, Ariana, you still have your wedding dresses and accessories, don't you? You will help out this young bride in need." He looked over their heads. "Narcissa, you invite the young ladies tomorrow morning and see that the young bride is well equipped." It wasn't a question.

Paul Nott and three tall bridegrooms from the last group weddings were ordered to assist Severus in a similar manner.

:*:*:*:

Their master gathered a certain, male-dominated group, and the meeting turned to business. An elf served refreshments.

The younger women had either never been active or were now exempted from active service, waiting for pregnancy that was so hard to achieve these days. Ginny idly talked to them for a while, but removed herself soon. She looked around, and her eyes fell on the Notts. She noted that the woman was easily in her own mother's age. A no-nonsense woman, from the look of it, who kept herself aloof from the other women and certainly from the likes of Narcissa Malfoy.

Fathers of Ginny's peers tended to be much younger, or rather: they had so few children that none was coming as late as she had, she corrected herself. The Notts must have had Theo well past the usual time to found a family.

Now, Paul Nott was to arrange the outfit for Severus. When he turned towards her and their eyes locked, she noticed she must have been staring at him and quickly averted her eyes.

:*:*:*:

Back home, before Ginny could even open her mouth, Severus let out his anger. "What were you thinking? You endangered the whole project. He... he could have you killed any time for this impertinence."

"No, Severus, I was absolutely sure he would not."

He barely acknowledged that, clenched his fists and continued. "How dare you humiliate me in front of people I demand to respect me, to fear me? Within minutes I lost all the honour I've built up in years!"

Quietly and without being stung by his harsh words or his menacing voice, Ginny waited. Since her groom was hardly a person of a thousand words, his tirade ended soon enough. Softly, she said, "Severus, trust me." She took his hand into hers, and he didn't withdraw it. "You perfectly impersonated the groom in love, which was expected, wasn't it?" Her voice slightly rising, she ended her talk. "And it was you who started this baiting."

He collected himself a bit. "Probably it was. I provoked you. However, Ginevra, you are still a prisoner depending on his mercy. You insulted a member of the Inner Circle, a Slytherin, a hero in their eyes. Do you even imagine how dangerous this was?"

"I saw into his mind," Ginny quipped.

Severus Snape in a loss of words, mouth agape...it was a sight Ginny would not forget. "Merlin, don't tell anyone. He would kill you in an instant! What did you see?"

She had his full attention now. "It happened twice. The first time was when he started the discussion on re-housing. Remember, he looked at me all the time, although he talked to you. I had my mind Occluded firmly, showing him only random pictures of Bill's wedding. Suddenly I saw something else. A man... Goyle senior, younger than today, maybe twenty-five. A dominant woman in a wedding dress and a formidable, elderly man, undoubtedly her father. He spat at the groom, who sported a shawl in Hufflepuff colours. Then I remembered what Fred and George told me: Goyle's mother is an only child, and the heir. She was to wed a Slytherin, but fell so terribly for Goyle, that finally her father accepted him...with immediate re-housing. It has addled his brains, as you well know."

"So all the time while I was... err... teasing you... you knew what the Dark Lord wanted?"

She nodded. "You did not realise that he never indicated who would be Re-housed. Egocentric bat of the dungeon that you are. This is a pure-blood rite, Severus. Noble families in the Dark Lord's lair would have been outraged!"

She added extra-nicely, "But you didn't mock me, I hope?"

Severus preferred not to answer. "What was the second occasion?"

"After that wonderful kiss you gave me." Her pause didn't help her read his face. "The Dark Lord provoked me, remember? When he all but invited me to explode, his mind was on that banquet, on the occasion when that imbecile, Avery, clapped my arse, and how I almost smacked him. The Dark Lord waited for me to set you right, he wanted to see the Gryffindor courage and temper. After your... detailed elaboration, it wasn't too difficult to obey him."

When Severus didn't answer, Ginny went to the kitchen and returned shortly with tea and chocolate biscuits. Jerking her chin towards the sofa she offered, "Can we call it a draw? We don't have time for this now."

He nodded. "But Ginevra, be extremely careful with this Legilimency." He cupped her chin and forced her attention to him. "He must.not.suspect. Do not try it on your own initiative." The couple went over and sat down. It had been a long evening, and they enjoyed the first cup of tea in a comfortable silence.

Hesitantly, Severus asked, "Ginevra, you spoke of some traditions your family holds. Are they linked to marriage? Something we should discuss?"

Ginny stiffened. Here they were, now she would have to face it. "Yes, one is. However, depending on the circumstances, I would possibly break this tradition. I'm sure my parents would understand, although..."

There was nothing for it. With trembling voice, gripping his hand tightly with suddenly shaky, sweaty hands, she began. "Severus, for this I need to know how you... how you feel about the whole arrangement. What you said back there, in the circle..." She didn't know how to continue. "How you looked at me... how we... how we kissed." Merlin, this was hard.

She had his full attention now and quickly finished. "Was it what you really feel?"

Her whole demeanour showed anxiety, her chest moved with each breath. She really wanted to know? It didn't seem like she would pity him for his... what? His feelings for her? He suddenly found it hard to breathe, hard to swallow, hard to look into her pleading eyes. "I told you and I showed you how I feel, Ginevra."

She almost collapsed on the table, pulling his hand towards her. "Then I want to ask you about the form of the marriage."

To get it over with, she related in quick words. "My family normally goes for the pure-blood fidelity fast binding. Soul binding and all. There are certain charms invoked, such as the presence of the partner's ring fortifying any protective shield charm one partner casts over both. The other can attack more freely."

She looked up at him, and her speech slowed down. "The rings furthermore protect against sexual assault. But... this comes with a spell for lifelong fidelity, Severus."

By the four founders, how can she consider this? A wave of warmth passed through him. She had true feelings for him. Or she believed she had, which was already more than he could have hoped for. Yet, he could not force this on her, even if today she believed she wanted it! How to refuse the idea without refusing her? "I see the advantages, certainly in your protection.

"But you are only sixteen, Ginevra. This... this is not the right thing to do, not with the predicament you are in. I could not face your family...if ever it comes to that. You will soon feel that you've missed something in life. Face it; you have already missed too much in your youth. You want to see something, want to meet the world," he swallowed, "other men."

"Severus, we are supposed to have a child. Now. They take years to grow up."

"Even if we assume the unlikely, that is, I survive the war, even escape Azkaban, what will be in fifteen or twenty years? You could be free then, under forty years old, about as old as I am now."

Her fingers loosened. When she answered her voice was hollow and hoarse, her look empty. "You want to be free after the war. I understand."

Severus flinched. "No, not that! I chose the worst comparison to say this. I, for myself, have had enough loneliness in my life. I am not craving for more. Whatever freedom I might want would not be freedom from you. Freedom from the circumstances, the war. Freedom from the constant demands of my father, Abraxas Malfoy, the Dark Lord, Dumbledore and now the Dark Lord again. Do you understand?"

The name of Draco's grandfather registered in Ginny's mind, but she did not probe. "Yes. I miss such freedom myself. It was nice to travel to Egypt. Today, even the most boring visits to my aunts and uncles would be welcome."

He huffed. This was barely the freedom he meant. Her idea showed again how little she knew. Still, the statement sobered him. "I will not be able to afford travelling. Never Egypt, Ginevra. I cannot even provide you with a decent house. You will eventually want to escape a place like this one." His arm showed around the crammed, ugly sitting room.

"I do not have a job either," he added.

"It isn't... so different from The Burrow." That was an understatement, but she didn't care. "I'm not spoiled. You can always work as a potions developer. Remember, there are so many dunderheads in need of ready-made potions. You can sell Wolfsbane commercially. I'm sure we will come up with something profitable enough."

Ginny regarded the sitting room with a critical eye now. "When tiny little hands start to decorate them with lime marmalade, the books tend to move to other places. Instead, there will be toys, socks, boots and pets to trip over. Racket all day long, plus most nights. This is what you have to consider, Severus, not if you can afford a journey around the world. Oh, and there will be visits to grandparents and six uncles, don't forget those." She hesitated. "Severus, are you ready to accept that?"

He considered this at length, his face showing no emotions whatsoever. Ginny smiled at him.

After more silent contemplation he said, "But Ginevra, we are talking about it as if there is a choice. We are getting married, and as the war stands we will have a child. If I can wrangle it, there will be only one before you finish your education. By that time, the war will be over, one way or another. What we should discuss are the options thereafter, the binding we submit ourselves to. I do not know these spells he uses; I cannot say if they could be broken."

"If you want to be free after the war..."

"All the freedom I crave for would be a mental freedom. I should think that I can enjoy that with a family, with a child or more. And with the woman I... the woman I..." He continued in barely a whisper, "respect."

Ginny's heart rejoiced. He would, of course, not use the word love, not yet, not now.

More firmly he said, "The question is, do they want me, will they let me?"

"Why would they not?"

"Can you know this today? With what you propose, you would be tied to me in forty years or even in sixty."

"A demand for a regular consummation of the marriage is not included. That is the Dark Lord's surplus, and he has oh-so-generously limited that to three children. We could separate, also for a month, let's say for research, or for study. If... if you want to."

"We should discuss about what you might want to. What are the alternatives to the fidelity fast binding, do you know?"

"Of course! There is the Muggle-like marriage, allowing divorce any time. A pair of rings mainly for their beauty and to no real advantage. They bless the rings the same way, but it isn't more than a farce. Trelawney could do that," she related with little enthusiasm. "The consummation and obligation to have children are add-ons, as before."

"This form legitimises the children in equal ways, doesn't it?"

"Yes. The public has no inkling as to the form of the wedding anyway. I've always pitied people taking half the step. If you know it's right, why not go for all of it. Look at my parents. They would go mad without each other."

"The Malfoys..."

"...took half the step. Draco told me so. It is common with families demanding re-housing. Most end up taking a lover."

"Lucius is in Azkaban, and if the Order wins, he has hardly a chance to get out. Ginevra, if I do not die, I will most likely end up there just like him."

"Don't you dare die out there!"

She could not know how this outburst hit him emotionally. His world was being turned upside down. Until recently, dying immediately after his master had fallen under the hand of Harry Potter had been his dearest wish. In the past few days, his wishes started to rearrange themselves along the lines she needed or wanted. Nothing was as it used to be.

:*:*:*:

:*:*:*:

My undying respect and warmest thanks go to my betas, Jingjinchiquita and Hollimel99 for their support. They helped me tremendously in making this story consistent as well as readable.