True Happiness

Thanks to my three favorite Beta's.... JessicaDamien, Qureshisn, and of course, the lady that goes through and double checks any last minute changes that need to be made to make it readable... Notsosaintly.

You are all so great! Thanks for loving my story, even if everyone else doesn't!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Six

Remus was stunned. Not only was this stunning creature a sight like he had never seen before, she knew who he was. "I... uhm... Yes, I am Remus Lupin." Suddenly, he felt rather ridiculous. He was not by nature a shy person, but he felt completely inadequate at the moment.

Severus looked from Remus, to the new lady, to Hermione, and asked, "How many times have the two of you spoken of Lupin?" He worked to keep the jealousy out of his voice.

Dark Feather looked from Remus to the man addressing Hermione. A warm smile made her even more beautiful to Lupin. "You are Professor Snape, correct?"

Severus turned back towards her and nodded stiffly. There was, however, no smile on his face. He was still battling a bit of jealousy at the idea of Hermione having discussed another man with this new woman.

"Hermione has told me of all of you," she said gently, and he could feel his anger dissipate at her next words. "I have an interest in Lycanthropy. That is why Hermione told me so much of Remus Lupin."

Remus stood there for a moment staring at Dark Feather. He was speechless. Why would a woman such as she have any interest in Lycanthropy?

She smiled as the two of them continued to stare at each other. "My son has it." she supplied gently.

Remus face became passive, and he nodded curtly. "I understand. I am not certain that there is anything I can do." He gestured towards Severus. "It is he that brews the Wolfsbane potion. Perhaps he is the one that can aid you and your husband better than I?"

Shaking her head, Dark Feather moved closer to Remus, and explained. "My husband died over seven years ago." She sighed, "Actually it is not your aid I am looking for. Indeed," she added, "It is my wish to help you."

Severus exchanged looks with Hermione, who smiled before stepping closer to her friends to explain. "Remus, Dark Feather's son is eleven, and has no fear of the moon. He controls his changes. It holds no power over him anymore." At his astonished look, she added, "I've seen it."

Lupin turned to look questioningly at the woman before him. It seemed as if a waking dream had taken over his waking world. After a moment, he asked, "Is it a new potion?"

Dark Feather smiled, and shook her head. "No. It is a level of consciousness," she explained, "reached through meditation, and relaxation."

Severus moved to Hermione's side and took her hand. Looking to Dark Feather, he spoke to Lupin, "Perhaps you could show Miss... uhm... Feather around the grounds?"

Hermione looked around to see her horses were content to graze. Smiling up to Severus, she moved to kiss his cheek, sending a feeling of longing shooting through him. He too was interested in this form of meditation that Hermione's friend spoke of. But right now, he was more concerned with having Hermione in his arms. He wanted nothing more than to hold her close, and feel her bare skin against his.

Dark Feather smiled knowingly at Hermione before moving to stand closer to Remus. "Yes, please." she said softly. "I would like to become more familiar with the school my son will be attending."

Stunned, Lupin could only nod as he moved to walk her around the property. With a last smile to Hermione and Severus, she turned and followed him.

Looking at Severus, Hermione's eyes lit up. "It just occurred to me. Dark Feather could be a wonderful teacher of the Shaman's knowledge here. That is if you think Dumbledore would be interested?"

Severus shook his head, and his lips twitched as he gazed into her eyes. "You are just going to bring your newfound world with you, aren't you?" Although his voice held the usual dull, unimpressed quality, his eyes flashed with telling interest in the idea.

Hermione clicked her tongue at him before saying, "I think that to those who would be interested, it could be a very useful tool."

He nodded, but gripped her hand tighter as he started backing up, a dangerous look on his face. "We can discuss this further in the privacy of our chambers, don't you think?" His voice was low, and soft, and sent chills down her spine as she nodded in agreement.

Turning he led her back to his chambers where she forgot everything but his touches. Everything else in their world could wait. For now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remus led Dark Feather around the lake, then took her on a tour of the castle. She was amazed at the paintings that spoke. "That is amazing!" she said softly before adding, "But it gives credence to what my ancestors said about it capturing one's soul to let their image be put in photos."

He worked hard to concentrate on her words and not stare too much at her beauty. He found it quite difficult to not stare at her long ebony hair as it fell in soft waves down her back. She seemed not to notice as she took in every special thing about the castle.

"Little Arrow will be amazed at all of this," she said proudly when she turned to face him.

Lupin blushed deeply when a knowing look spread across her face. He knew she had caught him staring at her beauty. She sighed and looked away. "Professor Lupin," she addressed him formally. "I am aware that men see me in a particular way. In fact, I am used to it." Her eyes met his, and there was an angry fire in their depths. "However, what I am offering you has nothing to do with my body, or anything else like that. If that is all you can concentrate on, then I suppose it is no good for me to offer you my tutoring to control your lycanthropy."

Abashed, Remus shook his head frantically. "I am sorry!" he said with a sense of urgency. "I do not mean to make you uncomfortable. I am quite ashamed of myself for not being able to not look at you that way."

He found himself staring again into her eyes. He had never felt this way towards any woman he had ever met before. She was quite stunning, and to look at her carried his breath away. "Forgive me," he said softly. He knew that it must be quite repulsive to have a werewolf stare at you in such away.

She stepped closer to him, putting a hand under his chin, forcing him to meet her eyes. "It is not your admiration that bothers me." she said in a strong voice. "It is my concern that you shall not be able to see past it long enough for my services of teaching you control, to help you."

She sighed, and turned away from him for a moment. "For almost two years, my son and I battled his malediction. We tried potions," she shrugged, "but they have some shortcomings. Then, about six months ago, I decided to try a different approach. So we began meditation."

Remus found himself truly interested in what she was telling him. He stepped closer and asked, "And? What did you find through that approach?"

She looked back to him and smiled a bright smile, before growing serious. Her voice was firm when she again spoke. "It takes a lot of work. You have to focus your energy. Have you ever let your inner child talk to you, Remus?"

Her use of his first name made heat flood through his nether regions. But he clamped it off, and pushed his base desires away to focus on what she was asking him. Not quite able to keep himself from it, he smirked. Inner child? Was she talking about the snot-faced kid he once was before he became what he was now? Merlin, what a crazy thought.

After a moment, he shook his head. "I don't think so. I didn't much like the child I was before Hogwarts."

She nodded, "Well, then that is where will start." She looked at him questioningly, "If you are interested, that is?"

He nodded. "Yes. I am interested, Miss ...? By the by, is Dark Feather really your name?"

She smiled, and shook her head. "It is an English translation of my name." She looked away from his intense gaze for a moment as she fought to quell her own attraction to this man she hardly knew. "In my language, my name is Kokalai. Or at least that is the shortened version of it,"

He tilted his head and smiled, "That is a beautiful name. Why do you let people call you an English version of it, when it is clearly so lovely in its own language?"

She smiled at that. "You would be surprised how many people cannot pronounce it in my language."

Remus was about to say more when the Headmaster came around the corner, "Ah, Lupin. I see Dark Feather has arrived." He turned to the woman when he reached them. "May I say, I am looking forward to seeing to which House your son will be sorted into.

Dark Feather smiled warmly at the elderly wizard. "Albus Dumbledore, I presume?" She extended her hand to him in greeting, and he took it, and kissed the back of her hand in greeting.

"It is very good to see you've arrived." he smiled warmly before looking to Lupin with an odd expression on his face. "Perhaps Remus can convince you to stay here as an instructor to students that are interested in learning what is entailed in being a Shaman."

Both Lupin and Dark Feather raised eyebrows in his direction. Lupin had been thinking that exact thing, but had not thought of voicing it. It was unsettling sometimes just how Dumbledore could do that.

He looked at both of them, a sly smile playing across his features. "I have had an interest in the Native American culture for some time now, and I was hoping that you could help us implement some of their practices into our system." He tilted his head, "If you wouldn't mind."

She shook her head, speechless. Although she would love the opportunity to stay closer to her son, she had responsibilities back home. Her horses and the council.

Almost as if she had spoken the thoughts, Albus said,"Of course, we would make room for the stallions you wanted to bring with you, and your classes would not take place during the times you had to attend your tribal council."

Pleased with the idea, Dark Feather nodded. "I will consider it, Albus. Thank you." He smiled at her promise to consider the offer.

"Very good, then." Turning, he moved back toward his offices. "I look forward to seeing you for dinner in the Great Hall."

Once he was gone, Remus smiled and shook his head. "The man is simply amazing. I have no idea how he already knows everything!" He turned back to her, "Since it is almost time for lunch, and Hermione and Severus seem to have disappeared, would you like to accompany me to Hogsmeade?"

Even as he asked, he prepared himself for her refusal. He knew that women did not readily choose his company.

Smiling, she nodded, astonishing him with her answer. "Actually, Remus Lupin I would love to go with you. If I am to live here, I should know all of this place." She shook her head, "And I can think of no one better to show me everything. I rather enjoy your company."

Nodding, he offered her his arm. "Come then, we will walk to the edge of the forbidden forest then apparate to Hogsmeade. Then I will give you a tour of Diagon Alley." As they made their way from the castle, he silently thanked the heavens for this apparent angel that had come into his life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Severus led Hermione back into his chambers, he turned, closing his door and warding it. Before she could speak, he backed her against the wall and captured her mouth with his own. His arms came around her, holding her tightly to him. Feeling his desire, she returned his kisses with wild abandon.

Her hands played with his thick mane of hair. She moaned when his lips left hers, only to travel down her neck in soft kisses to the opening of her shirt. Reaching up impatiently, he ripped the shirt open and laid his lips to her breast. His hand then found the latch to her bra and freed her breasts from it. She gasped as the cool air of the dungeon hit her skin.

"My desire for you frightens me at times," he said softly against her skin. Reaching down, he lifted her into his arms, and moved to the sofa that sat before the fire. "I am terrified of having to exist without you, if you were ever to leave me."

His hands stilled, and he pulled back to meet her eyes. "I don't want to go back to being the lonely, greasy git that the children have come to know me as." Rare emotion glistened in his eyes as he spoke softly to her.

"Severus, I..." she started, only to have him place a silencing finger to her lips.

"Hermione, I need to finish what I am about to say, before I lose my determination." At the tone of his words, she nodded, a worried look on her features.

"I have lived for a very long time, alone. Without companionship, and happily so," he said softly as he moved to sit beside her, and his fingers played absently at a lock of hair that had fallen against his cheek.

"I never thought that anyone could make me feel worthy of love." He shook his head. "In fact, I never felt a need of it. It was something I viewed as a weakness for a very long time. To love someone enough that you needed to have them close to you. That you needed to be a part of their life.

"I am not a good, decent, sweet man. I am nothing like Harry or Ron were." His eyes searched hers. "If you enter into a relationship with me, I could never lose you." His voice broke on the last part. "I have become a co-dependant idiot that can no longer see an existence without you."

Hermione smiled and started to speak, but he again shook his head. "I want more than just having you as a lover." He smiled as his hand cupped her cheek. "Uhm," be brave, you git! Just ask her! Taking a deep breath, "Hermione, I want you to have my name. I want you to bear my children. I want to wake up beside you every morning. I want to go to sleep with you in my arms each night. I want ..."

Raising her hand she placed her fingers against his lips to stop his words. "Yes, Severus," she said in a whisper.

For a moment, Severus could do nothing but stare at her. Tears were escaping down her cheeks as she smiled up at him. Leaning down, his lips claimed hers in a gentle kiss that stole her breath. It was born of a tenderness that Hermione had never thought possible from Severus Snape.

Giving herself up to his kiss, she deepened it, running her tongue across his bottom lip before pushing it deeper to meet his own questing tongue. Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled him down to lay on top of her.

Her hands tugged at his outer robes, pulling them from his body. Her hands met with flesh, and she moaned at the feel of his skin against hers.

"I love you, Severus," she smiled.

He pulled away from her gently. "I love you, too." he whispered softly. "You are the light that chased away all of the darkness that lay in my heart."

Moving to sit so that she was straddling his hips, she kissed him deeply. Leaning away from him, she pulled her wand out and murmured a quick spell. Suddenly, they were both completely naked. She smiled at him mischievously. "I know you hate silly wand waving, but I'm impatient to feel you."

His smile joined hers as he raised his hips enough to touch his already swollen manhood against her. She moaned at the contact and slid closer. Running her hand down between them, she took hold of him and guided him inside of her.

Leaning his head down, he captured a nipple with his teeth, and sucked it gently. He flicked his tongue over it and was rewarded when she gasped. Thrusting his hips forward, he filled her with his hardness.

She rode him, moving her hips to meet his thrusts. Her moans grew deeper as she felt the orgasm beginning to rock her to the core.

Suddenly, Severus flipped her over where she was beneath him. Still buried within her, he began to move faster and felt her losing control beneath him. He held onto his own reserve until he felt her reach the top of her climax. Then he released himself and let his own climax come, filling her with his seed.

Later, as they lie together before the fire wrapped in each others arms, she questioned him. "Did you really mean it?'

Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead. He then leaned back, and asked, "Did I mean what?"

She smiled, suddenly shy. "Do you really want to marry me?"

He nodded his head, and pulled her closer. "I have never meant anything as much as I meant that." He stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "I will have no other for my wife."

She moved to close the distance between them, a smile spreading across her features, "And I would take no other for my husband."

As they kissed, they both thanked the Fates for giving them each other. It was Fate that had driven her to run away from the wizarding world. Fate that had made him go to get her. And Fate that the two of them had found love. And Fate would keep them together ... Forever....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~