The Infatuations And Disenchantments of Loving A Snake (Severus Snape)

22 | Over and Over Again

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A/N: this is the longest chapter I have written in a while. I wanted to make up for the recent shorter chapters. But be warned, this chapter has smut throughout it. If you don't like it, don't read it.

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"Hagrid!" Anastasia exclaimed as she gave the half giant a tight hug. The man thought the hug was so tight because she missed him, but little did he know she was trying to gain strength through it. "Professor Tate, it's good to see you!" He said warmly hugging the woman back. "I heard you're the new care of magical creatures teacher. I am so happy for you!" She gushed as she took the empty seat next to him. Afraid to look around the table and catch the eyes of her former lover.

Throughout dinner Anastasia made polite conversation with the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, getting to know him. Little did she know, Snape was sitting just within earshot of them and was getting more and more annoyed.

It wasn't that he wanted her and he was jealous, it was that he didn't want anyone else to have her. And by the sounds of it, Lupin could have her if he wanted. Why wouldn't he? She was young and beautiful and there. Who else was as desirable as Anastasia Tate within fifty miles of Hogwarts? No one in Severus' opinion. That still did not mean he wanted her though which is what he kept reminding himself.

Over the next few weeks Anastasia had become closer with Remus Lupin and Severus kept his distance from them both. Only ever speaking to Lupin when he brought the man the wolfsbane potion once a month. Otherwise he would make himself scarce and like the previous term, avoid being in the same place at the same time as Anastasia.

She might not show it, but Professor Tate was still clinging to the hope that one day Severus and herself might try again. But she knew that wasn't likely, so she unintentionally would flirt with Remus Lupin as if that might fill the void. But it never seemed to work. Yes he was a good, kind and sweet man but he was not Severus. Why would I want Remus, when a man like Severus exists she often told herself, yet she knew this kind of thinking was unhealthy and would ultimately leave her old and lonely in the long run. So she would push that thought out of her mind and scold herself for thinking like that.

She was never the kind of woman to act like this before. Never had feelings for a man this intensely and it scared her. He was the first man she had truly loved and she worried she would never stop.

•••

A shrill scream reverberated off the walls of the castle as Anastasia was headed to her class room on the changing staircases. She immediately went into protective mode and started running back up the stairs towards where all the commotion was going on. A large group of students were rushing past her and some knocking into her as they raced to see what was going on. "Calm down!" She shouted but her voice was drowned out by the frantic chatter and gossip around her.

"Don't push!" She shouted as a rather round boy named Gregory Goyle pushed passed her forcefully and almost sent her over the side of the staircase. Her breath caught in her throat, but just before she went over two hands pulled her back. "Careful, Tate" a familiar voice shouted so she could hear over the students. "Yeah Bill wouldn't let us hear the end of it if we let his best friend fall to her untimely death" Anastasia looked up to find Fred and George Weasley holding her steady. "Mum would probably throw us over after you if she found out we let you fall."

Anastasia smiled gratefully at the two. She always admired how their brains worked in perfect unison as they always finished each other's sentences and seemed to know exactly what the other was thinking. "Thanks" she said breathlessly and the three carefully made their way up to the entrance of Gryffindor tower. "It's the fat lady" quipped George as they hurried up another flight of stairs. "Yeah it seems her portrait was ruined and she's missing" Fred finished as they finally pushed their way to the entrance.