The Potions Master and the Ravenclaw

"Am I Not Powerful?"

Author's note:

So sorry I was so slow to update. I've had a lot going on. Haha! This doesn't feel like my best work, so please accept my apologies. I may edit later. It's a bit disjointed and wonky, but there are some important moments, and it will get us to the next part which will be better for sure. :) Hope you enjoy. I always love to hear comments. Let me know what you think! We're getting toward the end (finally)!

Announcement coming soon about my next projects. Thank you all for reading this far!

...

"Come here, darling. Come and sit with me. I want to teach you something." Snape was sitting at the desk in his study at Spinner's End and he beckoned to his wife.

Madeline went to him and he pulled her onto his lap.  She put her arms around his neck and kissed him, and he smiled against her lips.

"Don't distract me, little girl," he teased. "This is important."

She laughed. "Alright, Professor. What do you want to teach me?"

He turned her body so that her back was to him and she was facing the desk. He wrapped one arm around her waist, holding her onto his lap, and with his free hand he opened a large, ornate, leather-bound book. "This is the ledger to our account at Gringotts. I'm going to show you how to reconcile our balance."

He tightened his hold on her, kissed her neck, and then explained the basic principles of bookkeeping.  She took to it quickly and he pulled out two other account ledgers- one for his personal account and the other for hers. When she had easily balanced them both without his help, he kissed her cheek and hugged her to him with both arms. He squeezed her gently and nuzzled her neck.

"That's my good girl. My clever little Ravenclaw. Now you'll know how to manage our accounts."

She smiled and leaned back into him, loving the feel of his strong chest against her back, but suddenly her smile faded and she climbed off his lap. Madeline turned to face him with tears in her eyes.

"Severus," she whispered.

"Madeline, don't. Please don't."

"You're teaching me to balance our accounts because you think you're going to die soon and you won't be here to do it yourself."

"Madeline..."

"Severus, no! I can't take this. I can't lose you. Please don't leave me!"

She broke, then, covering her mouth with her hand as a sob wracked her small frame. Snape pulled her back onto his lap and stroked her hair, murmuring softly to her, and kissing her tears.

"Severus, can't we run away? We could go anywhere! Italy or America or Greece. I don't care where. Please?" she begged.

"Shhh. Shhh. Hush now. You know we can't, darling," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. "If the Dark Lord didn't kill me, the unbreakable vow would. You don't really want to run away. And is that the kind of man you think I am? A man who hides from his obligations?" He spoke gently to her, taking her chin in his hand to bring her eyes to his.

She shook her head. "No. You're far too brave to run. I know that. I'm sorry. I just had a moment of weakness. It's not fair of me to do this to you. You have enough pressure without me making you feel worse. I promise not to do it anymore. I'll be strong.  I swear it."

"You aren't weak, my love. This is too much for anyone to bear, and I'm sorry for it.  I do want to prepare you so you can take care of yourself in case... Well, just in case. I'll give you other lessons like this, but you must know that I will fight with everything in me to stay with you always. Do understand?"