Shadow & Love

21* Hogwarts

Glaring morning lights shone through the large window front. The sun was shaped like a white fireball on the horizon. Sea gulls reflected in the calm bluish-silver sea and temperatures climbed each day to summery highs.

Leonor leaned against the stove with a mug of coffee, just wrapped in a short, thin nightgown, the long hair casually across her shoulder. She watched Severus getting wood from the pile behind the house and stacking it next to the fireplace before making a fire with some billets.

"Why do you do that? It's hot outside."

Severus looked at Leonor briefly with his mind obviously somewhere else and sat on a chair watching the flames getting bigger.

"I want to check if the cottage is connected to the Floo Network. I examined the fireplace in the bedroom yesterday when you walked with Eileen, but unsuccessful. There are certainly no spells locking the place away."

Leonor sneaked over settling in his lap. He felt the soft skin of her thighs against his bare legs, the feminine curves pressed through his t-shirt. Leonor wrapped her arms around his neck and beamed.

"Let's go to the beach together and have a picnic tonight. It's extraordinary good weather," coaxed Leonor.

"Only if you go swimming," said Severus with a boyish grin.

"It is the Irish Sea, Severus, the muggles use wetsuits."

"I'm not asking to swim for hours." Severus pressed a deep kiss to Leonor's lips, tasting the coffee and smelling her perfume, the seating position a temptation.

"I'm not as brave as you," she teased.

"Well, I get us fresh fish if you join me."

"Blackmail," scolded Leonor softly. "I think about it," she said and slipped from Severus touch, who moaned slightly.

He worked hard on hiding the constant arousal; when he was alone taking a swim, or a broom ride the calculating, occluded mind returned again, but coming back made the desire worse every new day. Severus thought amused that he needed to get a grip on himself soon. A moment later he walked to the storeroom and took a sachet with Floo Powder from a high shelf, returned and threw a bit to the fire saying clearly 'the apothecary in Hogsmeade'. Green flames erupted and whizzed for a moment and then became quiet again.

Severus concentrated and threw powder again, holding his head, arms and wand into the flames. His upper body vanished and returned with a triumphant look on the face. Then he brushed the ash from shirt and legs and looked for Leonor.

She just changed the bedsheets, with her back to him, still in the nightgown and Eileen enjoyed the space in the large double bed. He was good at sneaking on her from behind.

"You can travel by Floo," whispered Severus and Leonor startled slightly. He pressed her shoulders softly, raining light kisses down her neck.

She giggled, "It tickles."

He just continued and croaked after a while, "Does it?"

"Yes, you are distracting me."

"Well," replied Severus firmly, pulling the night gown from Leonor's shoulders, cupping her breasts from behind, caressing them with his thumbs. "Do you want me to stop?"

"Yes," stammered Leonor and leaned back wrapping herself closer to his touch, giving away the true feelings.

Severus just grinned and placed the silk cloth back into position.

"Your choice. I'll make a trip to Hogsmeade. I just disabled the safety spells in the sales room. Do you want me to bring something?" he said while dressing in the usual black robes.