A/N: It's been too long, I know, but I was feeling the Malfoy vibe recently. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Chapter 19: Of Affection

"So you let Mother strong-arm you into staying the entire week," Draco muttered as he surveyed the chess board in front of him.

His godfather grunted in response.

"How'd she manage that?"

Severus crossed his arms. "She mentioned her fear that you might lose your nerve. Since she and your father will be busy playing nice with your future in-laws, I'm here to make sure you don't pull a runner."

The boy narrowed his eyes at him. "You're full of shit."

"Am I?" he intoned without removing his eyes from the board.

Draco arched an eyebrow as he sent a knight crashing into his godfather's pawn. "Shall I expect you to sit outside my door all night? Or better yet, bunk in my room then, just in case I get the urge to slip out the window?"

"Don't be ridiculous," the man replied. "There are wards for such things."

"I think you're lying."

"About there being wards for such things?" Severus asked. "If you are unaware of them, I have great concerns for your NEWT scores."

His godson snorted and rolled his eyes. Before he could verbalize a reply, the door of the library opened just long enough to admit Adelana, who doubled over with her hand covering her mouth. Immediately, both wizards launched to their feet.

"Addie?" Draco called. "Are you alright?"

Straightening, the girl wiped her eyes and nodded. After taking in a deep breath and smoothing her hands over her green dress, she approached their table. "I just had to… Merlin, I couldn't keep from laughing any longer."

Snape tilted his head. "You're not ill?"

"Oh, no! Not at all." She flashed him a small smile. "I just couldn't hold it in any longer. The way Aunt Cissa keeps going on about how lovely their designs are!"

With a sigh, Draco sank back into his chair. "Is she being absolutely ridiculous?"

Addie leaned against his chair. "Not at first glance. However, if you happen to know what actually happened to their original designs, that's another matter."

Her fiancé smirked as he reclaimed his seat, and her cousin's eyes widened.

"She didn't?! When?"

"When she decided I needed to go to Paris for my new wardrobe, and since we were there anyway..."

Draco shook his head. "Gods above."

Grinning mischievously, Adelana leaned down, exposing a bit of cleavage which briefly drew Severus's gaze. "They were going to put us in yellow."

"Mum? In yellow?" The Malfoy heir chuckled loudly. "It would've been worth the stupid wedding just to have that memory to hold on to for the rest of my life."

"Until you made enough of an arse of yourself that she has you Obliviated," his godfather mumbled.

"You jest, Uncle Sev, but she wouldn't hesitate to do so."

"Oh, there you are, Adelana!" Narcissa called, entering the library. "Come, come. Gaspard needs to do your alterations now. Honestly, running about barefoot and half-dressed. You would think you were seven, not seventeen."

Addie flushed as she turned to face her aunt, and Severus noticed that the ribbons of her dress were untied, leaving the back gaping open. Quickly, he averted his eyes back to the chess board.

"Severus, glad you've arrived early," the Malfoy matriarch smiled, before turning her attention to her son. "Draco, where is your –"

"With the Greengrasses," he sighed, anticipating her question. "Off pontificating about something somewhere, I suspect."

"Draco," Narcissa warned, pulling on his ear. "Mind your manners, and show more respect to your father. This is all for you."

Nodding at his mother, the boy sighed and rubbed his face. "Lucky me."

Adelana offered her cousin a sympathetic smile before being ushered out of the room.

Though he tried to remain focused on his next move, Snape's eyes flicked several times to the hem of her skirt as it flounced against her calves. When the door clicked shut behind her, he immediately snapped his attention back to the board and ordered one of his pawns to step forward.

The blond wizard leaned forward to study the board and tilted his head in surprise. Rubbing his hands together in delight, he sent his bishop careening into his godfather's queen. "Check."

Snape's mouth popped open in surprise as he furiously scanned the arrangement of pieces. He muttered a curse word under his breath upon seeing that he was, indeed, in check.

Draco laughed loudly. "My gods, I ought to have Addie around more often. I might actually win a few matches against you if she's twirling about in her skirts."

"Shut up," he hissed before ordering his rook back to protect his king.

X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X

"Aunt Cissa?" Adelana knocked gently on the door to the woman's private sitting room. "You sent for me?"

Narcissa looked up from her ornate writing desk and nodded. "I did, yes. Close the door, please, and come sit with me."

The young witch silently did as instructed, sitting primly on the chair beside her godmother.

"I have a few things to discuss with you before we go over the menus."

"The menus? I thought we agreed with Madam Greengrass on the wedding menu."

Narcissa glanced at her pointedly. "I wasn't referring to the wedding, Adelana. Did you, or did you not ask for my assistance in learning how to become Mistress of your estate?"

"Oh," she whispered sheepishly.

"Before we start with that, however," her aunt commented, turning in her seat to fully face the girl. "Your uncle and I feel that you ought to put yourself more forward with Severus. He will be your husband in eleven months' time; you cannot ignore him until then."

Addie frowned. "But I'm not ignoring him. I—"

Narcissa held up a hand to quiet her niece. "You and he have been living under the same roof for nearly three days. I can count the number of conversations you've had with him on one hand. Do you recall the deal I made with you?"

"That I can keep Rolfe here so long as I make an effort with Professor Snape," she mumbled.

"Severus," her godmother corrected. "Unless you are within the grounds of Hogwarts, he is not Professor Snape to you any longer. Clear?"

Closing her eyes, Adelana nodded.

"I understand it's difficult, darling, but it's for the best." The elegant witch inhaled deeply and affectionately touched the girl's face. "You are not familiar with Severus in the social sense, but I assure you, he has made unprecedented strides to be there for you. He is entirely out of his element, but is still attempting to meet all of the expectations associated with the role of your betrothed. You need to take more initiative, meet him halfway."

"I am trying to do that," Addie protested.

"In public, you have been," Narcissa admitted, "but amidst family, it is evident you are still uncomfortable with him."

"Wouldn't you be?" her niece asked. "If you were in my place, wouldn't you be uncomfortable?"

The woman leaned forward and took hold of the girl's hands. "Adelana, there are many things in my life that have discomfited me, but permitting others to see that would have only made things worse. You have to be brave, darling, and often times, in our position, the safest way to do that is through an air of blissful ignorance."

Addie wrinkled her nose in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I think you already understand what I'm saying." Her aunt gave a small smile and squeezed her hands. "I realize you have reservations about the match, but I promise you that Severus is the best-positioned to protect you. That being said, we are naturally more inclined to protect those for whom we hold affection and those who depend upon us. Severus is a man, and men need encouragement. They need to be wanted and want to be needed by their witch, or they'll look for it elsewhere. A bit of seduction would not go amiss."

Stiffening in her chair, the young witch blushed and dropped her gaze to their joined hands. "But he'll be my professor again in a few weeks, and will be until shortly before the wedding. I can't just… I can't…"

"Relax, sweetheart. By no means am I suggesting you take him to bed before you wed, or permit him any other liberties of that nature. Perhaps seduction was the wrong term to use. Exaggerating your interest in and comfort with him is perhaps a better way of explaining it. If you are uncomfortable around him, he will be uncomfortable around you."

"You want me to pretend to like him."

"I simply mean you ought to be showing him more attention, seeking him out, nurturing his affection for you. After all, we want him as devoted to you as possible by the time he takes you as his wife. Obligation is not enough; he has to have genuine feeling for you."

Adelana took in a deep breath. "I thought I wasn't supposed to expect that in my marriage. That it was just an arrangement."

Narcissa sighed and released her hands. "Under normal circumstances where the main purpose is to preserve the line or improve the family estate, likely not. You would have the entirety of your marriage to gradually learn to like, or perhaps even love, one another. These are not normal circumstances, however. Your father contracted you to Severus in order to keep you safe. I do not doubt that Severus will protect you regardless of whether or not he cares for you, but if you were to become the most important thing in his life, there is nothing he would not do to preserve your well-being. Do you understand?"

Though it unnerved her that her guardians were concerned to such an extent over her safety, Addie nodded. "I believe I understand, yes."

"Good. Now, I have another matter on which I need your opinion. Your father has requested to bring someone to the wedding."

"What?" she gasped. Her father had scarcely managed to see her for more than a few meals since the Marriage Law had been announced, yet he had the time to find a companion for the wedding. To say it hurt was not an exaggeration, and the disappointment was clear on her face.

"You know I can hardly refuse his request," her godmother cautioned. "I can, however, banish him from the Head Table. He's your father, though, so I shall defer to you on that decision. If you'd prefer to have him beside you, we'll bear it."

Sitting forward in her chair, Addie cleared her throat. "Who is it he's bringing?"

Narcissa did not bother to hide her displeasure as she replied, "That Skeeter woman."

"What?!" Her niece scowled; the hurt turning to anger. "Why would he bring her?"

"You recall what I just told you about wizards and being wanted?"

Fisting her hands in her skirt, Adelana imagined having to sit through dinner while the Minister for Magic leered at her and Rita Skeeter fawned over them all. After a moment, she shook her head. "Move him."

A slow smile crept across Narcissa's face as she patted her niece's thigh. "It will be my pleasure."

X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X

"What? Here to check the wards, then?" Draco sneered upon opening his bedroom door.

His godfather raised an eyebrow. "You were noticeably quiet this evening. I had thought to check that you –"

"I'm fine," the blond interrupted. "Just tired."

"Well, then. I shall bid you goodnight." Severus slowly turned on his heel and began to step away.

"Wait!"

Suppressing a smirk, the man turned back to see his godson sheepishly holding open his door. "I suppose I ought to check your window at least."

Draco groaned in reply, shutting the door quietly and moving toward his bed. "I'm not going to run, you know."

"I never presumed you would."

The boy nodded as he sank onto his mattress. He watched his godfather take a seat in the window, and remained silent for several minutes. Eventually, Snape cleared his throat.

"Is there something you would like to discuss?"

"Not particularly," Draco grumbled. He fiddled with the belt of his silk night robe for a moment. "I just… I don't know if I can do this."

Severus crossed his arms. "And yet you were quick to instruct Miss Shepherd that she ought to grin and bear it."

"I know, I know! But that was before!"

"Before what?"

Draco breathed deeply and slid his fingers through his hair. "Before Father took me aside and told me that I have to make sure we produce an heir as quickly as possible."

Snape's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Pardon?"

"Yeah." The young man huffed and shook his head. "I'm supposed to put her up the duff with all haste."

"I thought the point of this exercise was to avoid mandated breeding."

Draco snorted at his godfather's comment. "Apparently only to avoid mandated breeding with lesser-borns. No offense."

Severus fixed him with a cold stare. "I am on your side, Draco, but it might encourage me to look on you with greater favor if you cease being an arrogant, immature twat. I may take the abuse from your father, but I do not have to continually accept it from you."

"Sorry," his godson replied, ducking his head sheepishly. He rubbed at his face in frustration before meeting the man's gaze again. "But that only supports my point! I'm not mature enough to be a father! I want to be one eventually, yes, but not right away. Fucking hell, Uncle Sev. Maybe I should run away."

"That will not assist you in avoiding that particular fate," the elder wizard replied. "If you run, you'll break your betrothal contract and wind up subject to the Ministry mandate. You'll wind up a father within a year, but to a halfblood instead. Lord knows what your father would do."

With a weary nod, Draco slid off the edge of the mattress and landed with a muffled thump on the floor.

Severus watched his godson sprawl out on the carpet as he had done many times over the past eighteen years. It seemed to be his current lot in life to deal with newly minted adults pouting on the floor like children. Then again, he had scarcely reacted to his forced marriage with maturity: physically assaulting Lucius, vandalizing Dumbledore's office, and then drinking himself into a stupor.

Exhaling loudly, he nudged his foot against the boy's leg. "Does your mother know?"

"No. Father demanded I not enlighten her, either. She's supposed to think it a happy accident brought about by the carelessness of newlyweds too distracted by each other to efficiently implement contraceptive measures…or something to that effect. It's all a bit muddled in my head now, but that was the gist of his lecture."

"Did he say why this has to be?"

Draco shook his head against the carpet. "Of course not. He just said it has to be, and so it will be. I'm not to question his edicts, just to follow them."

Snape grunted in sympathy and then leaned forward. "You realize you won't be an effective parent if you insist on lounging about on the floor whenever things don't go your way."

The blond raised his head and arched an eyebrow. "Like I could even be an effective parent while under Father's constant supervision. He'll take charge of brat as though it's his own, and I'll just be the sperm donor silently looking on from the corner."

"You may have a point," his godfather admitted. "However, in the interest of displaying maturity…"

When he merely received a groan in response, Severus leaned back and cracked a wry smirk. "Do I need to deal with you in the usual fashion?"

"Ha! As if you could."

Accepting the challenge, the wizard casually stood and approached the immobile pureblood. With only a brief pause, he bent over, seized two handfuls of the boy's pajama robe, and hauled him upward. The action was hindered, however, by the length of boy's legs, resulting in an odd struggle between the two.

"Ohh… good gods!" Draco exclaimed in amusement, attempting to extricate himself. "You're going to strangle me!"

"That would relieve you of your present predicament, wouldn't it?" Snape commented as he dragged his godson's upper half onto the bed before releasing him.

With a bark of laughter, Draco hauled himself up the rest of the way. "Alright! Though I maintain you were not wholly successful in that endeavor, I cry uncle, Uncle Sev."

"I trust we won't have to do this again?"

The blond shook his head. "You won't tell Father about this?"

"Have I ever?"

Draco flashed him a grateful smile before straightening his collar. "Don't suppose I can come live with you, eh?"

"What, at one of the Prince properties? Which your father just deigned to give me? The wards of which I'm sure he's still keyed into? And which he will be paying to refurbish?" Snape scoffed. "Or were you referring to Spinner's End, where to use the toilet you'd have to walk your exalted arse out of doors?"

After a snort, the pureblood sighed deeply. "I keep forgetting he owns us both."

"To some extent, yes," Severus agreed. "Now, are you going to manage on your own for the rest of the night, or do I need to send an elf for some warm milk and read you a bedtime story?"

"Ha!" Draco folded his arms to his chest. "Mock my age all you want, Uncle, but I will forever be older than your wife."

Groaning, the elder wizard rolled his eyes and moved toward the door. "Good night, Draco."

"Good night," he replied. "Hey, Uncle Sev?"

"Yes?"

Draco climbed down from the bed. "Would you… you know… would you be willing to be his godfather?"

"Your child's godfather?" Snape clarified. "Is there not someone else you might prefer? Or someone perhaps Miss Greengrass might prefer? Her elder brother, for instance, is a respectable man and is set to marry a decent witch."

"That's all well and good, but you are the only one I trust," the young wizard explained. "You, at least, would stand up to Father if you thought it necessary, and you'll be married to Addie. She'd be a good mother, the way she dotes on that mangy mutt of hers. If something were to happen to Daphne and me, I'd want to know he'd be protected and cared for. Besides which, you've been my godfather for eighteen years, and look how well I've turned out."

The professor snorted loudly. "That is hardly a ringing endorsement. However, if you and your wife are in accord whenever the time may be… then, yes. I would accept the role."

A sincere smile broke out on the boy's face. "Thank you."

Severus nodded and reached for the door.

"Uncle Sev?"

He sighed and turned back once more. "Yes?"

Draco hesitantly approached him. "I just… wanted to thank you for being here. I realize you're mostly here to escort Addie, but… I just…"

Severus gave a surprised grunt as his godson suddenly hugged him. "Well, I wouldn't say mostly. I've been tidying up your messes and trying to keep you out of trouble for eighteen years; why would I stop now?"

After the young wizard laughed and returned to bed, Snape slipped back into the hallway to make his way back to his own room. He came to a sudden stop, however, upon finding the way blocked by the aforementioned wolfhound. Taking in a slow breath, he stealthily curled his fingers over his wand and raised his brow.

The beast merely stared at him for several seconds before turning its head to the door in front of which it stood. It let out a whine, lifted its sizeable paw against the closed door, and then looked back to him with another soft noise.

"I take it you want in to check on your mistress?" he asked.

When the dog gave a subdued wag of its tail and resumed staring at the door, Severus cautiously approached it. He turned the door knob, finding it unlocked, and slowly inched open the door. Impatient, the wolfhound used his large head to force it open farther, pulling the man forward, and then barreled past him into the room.

"Bloody…" His intended curse died away upon hearing the frantic whimpers emanating from the dark bedroom. Concerned, he watched the large hound hop up onto the bed and immediately set about calming down the squirming witch. When she snapped awake, he stepped back into the doorway, not wishing to frighten her further.

Holding his breath, the wizard listened as his young fiancée began telling her furry protector of her nightmare. She spoke too softly for him to hear every word, but he caught enough to surmise the content.

"It was so awful… wedding night… Snape… brutal… Snape… I belonged to him… claim his rights… Snape was going to kill… teach me to submit… I tried to fight… I begged him to stop…"

With a grimace, Severus silently slipped through the shadows to his own room. He doubted, though, that he would manage much sleep.

X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X

At the feeling of something cold and wet on her face, Adelana startled awake with a strangled cry. Realizing it was her pet attempting to comfort her, she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his fur. "Oh, Rolfe! It was so awful!

"I dreamt it was my wedding night, and I was waiting for Professor Snape. Then he was there, kissing me. It was fine, but then it became so… so brutal. I pushed him away, but it wasn't Snape anymore; it was Michael. Snape was still downstairs negotiating with Papa, and Michael started telling me how I belonged to him, that he was there to claim his rights. I told him Snape was going to kill him for touching me, but he just laughed and said Snape would thank him for taking the time to teach me to submit to him. He… he threw me down on the bed and then was on top of me. I tried to fight him off, but he was so much stronger. I begged him to stop, to let me go, but he wouldn't! I tried to scream, but no sound came out. No one came to help me, but then you were here, waking me up." Sniffling, she pulled back to look at the dog and gave him a tense smile. "You wouldn't let him hurt me, would you, boy?"

Addie wiped at the tears slipping out of her eyes and then began stroking the fur on Rolfe's face. "Why do I keep dreaming about him? It's not… he didn't actually manage to… I stopped him, Rolfe."

She swallowed back a sob and pushed up into a seated position. After a few minutes, she glanced about the room and blanched upon seeing that her door was ajar. The likelihood was slim, she realized, but had either of her godparents or her father happened to overhear her nightmare, they would have asked questions she did not want to answer.

Her stomach twisting, the witch struggled out from under her blankets and quickly padded over the door. She poked her head out in the hall to ensure no one was there and then promptly shut the door.

"I'm being ridiculous, aren't I?" Addie asked upon returning to the bed. With a heavy sigh, she tipped over onto the wolfhound. "I am. I know I am."

Rolfe panted loudly before dropping his chin on her hand.

"He won't hurt me again," Adelana stated confidently. "He can't. You won't let him. Professor Snape won't let him. Draco won't let him. I won't let him."

The hint of a smile was on her lips as she turned onto her side and snuggled more comfortably against the dog. "If Michael does try to come to my wedding, I might just let Uncle Lucius kill him after all. That's awful of me, I know… but you'd still love me, wouldn't you?"

His tail thumped heavily on the mattress.

"Thank you," she whispered, kissing his head. "And you're going to be nice to Professor Snape, yes? We need him to like you."

Rolfe thumped his tail one final time before closing his eyes and letting out a long puff of air.

Addie smiled as she closed her own eyes. "Good boy."

X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-X

"Adelana," her uncle warned as he appeared ahead of her in the hall, "not where we dine."

With a soft sigh, the girl turned and instead led Rolfe through the nearby sitting room, where she let him outside into the gardens. When she returned to the hallway, her godfather was waiting.

"If that mongrel goes after any of my birds, Adelana, you realize what will happen?"

Addie stiffened, glancing briefly toward the sitting room.

"Leave it alone, Lucius," a deep voice grumbled. "Your preposterously pampered pigeons will be fine."

"They're peacocks, Severus," Malfoy replied with a sigh. "And if one of them is slaughtered on the eve of Draco's wedding, Narcissa will be beside herself."

"Oh, I'm certain Narcissa would be the one bemoaning the dead pigeon," Snape sneered under his breath as the blond wizard disappeared into the breakfast room.

Suppressing a giggle, Adelana turned to look at her intended. She noticed he looked almost as tired as she felt. Despite her assurances to herself regarding Michael, restful sleep had escaped her the rest of the night. It appeared, though, that she was not the only one to suffer that particular affliction. "Good morning, sir."

Severus shifted his eyes to her and dipped his head. "Good morning, Miss Shepherd."

"Erm, thank you for…" She gestured toward the sitting room.

"It was no matter," he replied. "I presume the beast won't prove me a liar by eating Lucius's prized hen?"

A faint blush graced her cheeks as she shook her head. "I shouldn't think so."

"Good."

The odd silence that settled over the two of them was eventually disrupted by the arrival of Gaspard Baptiste.

"Oh! Bonjour!"

Adelana attempted not to laugh at the unintelligible grumblings that escaped her fiancé as the boisterous Frenchman hurried down the hall.

"Ohhh," Gaspard panted upon reaching the pair. He greeted the young witch with a kiss to each cheek, but thought better of doing the same with Snape upon catching sight of his formidable expression. Instead, he settled for a brief grasp of the arm and pat on the shoulder.

"Bonjour, Monsieur Baptiste," Addie said with a smile. "I trust you slept well?"

"Oui." He nodded emphatically. "Of course. Merci! And ze two of you look well together, if I may say. I look forward to your own joyous occasion! But for ze moment… le petit déjeuner!"

Severus sighed in irritation after the man scurried into the breakfast room.

Pressing her lips into a thin line, Adelana cautiously slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, which was crossed against his chest. She then offered him a nervous smile. "He's a very nice man."

Her intended merely grunted in response, but finally led her into the room where the Malfoys and Greengrasses were already gathered. They claimed the only remaining pair of seats near the center of the long table and quietly set into their breakfast, allowing Lucius and Narcissa to guide conversation on either end of the table.

Eventually, Adelana noticed her godmother was eyeing her in censure. Feeling self-conscious, she slowly chewed the last bite of her piece of toast and then pushed her plate forward to indicate to the elves that she was finished eating. When the action did not completely mollify her aunt's disapproving stare, the girl realized the woman was also upset by the lack of interaction betwixt her and her fiancé.

Recalling the promise she had made the day prior, the young witch took in a deep breath and angled her body closer to the man sitting beside her. She paused upon noticing that his attention was focused on Draco, who was half-heartedly picking at his breakfast while attending to conversation with his father and Mr. Greengrass.

Uncertain as to what she might discuss with Snape while in mixed company, Addie decided to ignore her aunt for the moment. Instead, she sipped her tea and waited until it was apparent that he was finished with his own meal. She then leaned toward him, prompting him to glance at her.

"Would you care to take a turn about the gardens?"

The wizard gave a stiff nod and stood from the table.

"Rehearsal after lunch!" Narcissa called after them with a grin.

Once they were out of earshot, Severus muttered, "I don't fully understand what you and I need to rehearse. I am confident in our ability to walk from Point A to B and then sit in a chair for half hour."

Addie laughed in surprise as she stepped out into the sunshine. "Emotional support, perhaps?"

"Spread the torture around equally, I see." He crossed his arms behind his back and glanced about the well-manicured lawn as they began to walk. "Are you hoping I will dispose of any punctured pigeons before their pompous protector has a chance to discover them?"

She flashed an amused smile but shook her head. "No. I merely thought it might be pleasant to have a moment away from the…"

"From the forced smiles and false pleasantries?" the wizard offered when she appeared to flounder for a description.

Adelana's grin faltered as she looked away from him. "I suppose that's what I mean, yes."

When her happy countenance returned a moment later, however, Severus gently grabbed her arm to pull her to a stop. "Miss Shepherd."

"Yes?"

"There is no one you need convince at present. I am fully aware that our engagement is not one you entered willingly." He shook his head and began to move again. "There is no need to pretend otherwise with me, madam."

Her stomach lurched and face fell at the pronouncement. She recalled all too vividly how poorly she reacted when they had first been in private, and was worried she had already sabotaged the foundation for affection. Panicked, she snatched at his arm. "I'm sorry! Please, forgive me… S-Sev-erus."

Snape stared at her, confused by the desperation laced in her tone and features. Taking hold of her forearms, he steered her toward a nearby bench.

"I never meant to offend you," she continued rambling. "Please."

"Miss Shepherd, I haven't the faintest clue why you're apologizing," he murmured, taking a seat beside her. "I have not been offended by anything you have done."

"But I… I behaved like a spoiled child after finding out about our engagement," the girl stammered. "I was rude to you, and thought awful things. I know Draco told you."

His face bore an uncomfortable expression. "Miss Shepherd –"

"Oh, but I don't think them any longer!" she blurted with wide-eyes, fearful that he might think she did.

Severus took in a deep breath and folded his arms to his chest. "Miss Shepherd, you are an attractive, impeccably-pedigreed, seventeen year old heiress of an incredible fortune. In addition to being nearly forty years old, I am the antithesis of everything you are, and have taught you since you were eleven. Had you not questioned my intentions or been disturbed by the sudden revelation, I would have been more surprised. Frankly, I would have questioned your intelligence."

"You aren't angry with me?" Addie whispered, looking up from her hands.

"Of course not," he replied, shaking his head. "Merlin, I'm disgusted with myself that I even agreed to the scheme."

Her hand gripped his elbow, prompting him to sigh.

"Do not fret, Miss Shepherd. I am not going to abandon you, and no… you do not need to make any more ridiculous promises to ensure my cooperation."

The witch did relax her rigid posture, but did not remove her hand from his arm. After a moment, she gently cleared her throat. "You can call me Adelana, if you'd prefer. I wouldn't mind."

Snape raised an eyebrow as he took in her honest gaze. "Which would you prefer?"

Addie withdrew her hand and straightened in her seat as she considered the question. On one hand, it seemed awkward to have Professor Snape call her by her given name. On the other hand, however, it might assist her in seeing him as something other than Professor Snape if he stopped calling her Miss Shepherd. With that in mind, she gave him a shy smile. "I think I'd prefer Adelana."

"Very well," he said with a nod. "I will endeavor to remember that… Adelana."

A strange feeling fluttered in her stomach. It was not the first time he had spoken her name, as he had used it while escorting her at the Prophet soiree, but this was different. This seemed far more personal, more intimate.

Uncertain of how to feel or what to say, Addie was undeniably grateful that Rolfe chose that particular moment to bound up to them with a happy bark. "Hello, sweet boy!"

"I hope you kept control of yourself," Severus sneered when the dog turned its head to stare at him. "Lucius is meticulous about those birds. If one doesn't show up for roll call…"

Adelana giggled and wrapped her arms about Rolfe's neck after seeing his affronted look. "He's teasing, boy. I assured him you were a good puppy after he defended you to Uncle Lucius."

The wizard snorted at the prospect of an animal that size being considered a puppy by anyone other than Rubeus Hagrid. "Honestly, I am surprised that Lucius would allow him in the house."

With a grimace, the girl slowed her petting of the dog's head. "He wasn't thrilled by the prospect, no. Aunt Cissa convinced him, though."

"In exchange for what?"

Addie slowly moved her eyes to his. "What?"

"Narcissa no more wants an animal running loose in her home than Lucius does. Ergo, she must have offered it only in exchange for something from you."

After a moment's pause, she returned her eyes to Rolfe. "She asked that I make more of an effort to get to know you."

"I see," Snape drawled, leaning back against the bench.

"That's not why I… well, not entirely why," Addie stammered. "I do want to know you better, and I would have spoken to you on my own. I… I want to know the man I am to marry."

The wizard eyed her face for a long moment before letting out a loud breath. "What would you like to know?"

"I…" Flustered by the question, she struggled to find something to say that would not sound offensive or embarrass herself. Eventually, she settled on a topic she hoped would not upset him. "Well, it seems you know my family better than I do. Is there any family of yours I should expect to meet?"

Without betraying any emotion, Severus shook his head. "I am the last of my mother's line, and though I'm sure there are some still living, I've not seen any of my father's relatives in thirty years at least."

"Oh," she mumbled, somewhat disheartened to find that her aunt's supposition about his family was correct. "Close friends, then?"

"You are already familiar with those I am closest to: the Malfoys and some of the Hogwarts staff," he replied, though he thought briefly of Hestia. However, he realized it was unwise to discuss the Order member he had occasionally shagged with his fiancée.

Adelana found herself shifting slightly toward him until Rolfe shoved his large head under her elbow. Stifling a laugh, she resumed petting the dog. "I don't have many close friends, either."

Severus said nothing, but cocked his head to indicate he was listening.

"Besides Draco, there's really only a few people in Ravenclaw that I considered friends. But even then… I don't think we'll stay friends."

"You seem to be close to Miss Randle."

"I suppose so," she acknowledged. "She's not happy with me, presently."

"Because of our engagement?"

Addie shrugged. "Not exactly. I was supposed to go to Terry's birthday party, but Papa moved the Prophet's summer soiree to that day without telling me ahead of time. She's more upset with me than Terry is, for some reason. Probably because I've never said I could attend any of her parties. She sent me a letter earlier this week to inform me of what an awful friend I was for choosing… sorry. You don't want to hear all of this, I'm sure."

"For choosing to be photographed in public with me, you mean," Snape surmised.

His fiancée grimaced. "She doesn't understand. I don't have the same ability to choose as she does. Regardless of whether we were engaged, I would have been required to be at my father's party. Papa's never allowed me to attend events on my own, so when he said I could go… I was excited. I should have realized I wouldn't be able to this time either."

"I am sorry you were not able to attend," he murmured.

"Thank you. However, Aunt Cissa has since informed me that I would not have been able to go on my own anyway without attracting massive scandal. Somehow I don't envision you would have been too enthusiastic about escorting me to a party full of your students."

Severus winced at the thought. "I doubt that would have made you any more popular."

"Likely not, no," Addie laughed. "If it relieves you, I don't think you'll have to worry about future invites. And Uncle Lucius has suggested I reconsider my friendship with Latisha."

"Why might he do that?"

The witch sighed and rubbed her face. "He's been reading my post while I've been here. He was not thrilled by her attitude toward me."

Snape leaned forward and frowned, realizing that he was the one who had set Lucius on the scent of her post.

"I don't know what he expects me to do about the fact I still have to share a room with her for another year. I hardly think he'd prefer I align myself with Luna Lovegood."

The Slytherin Head smirked briefly at the prospect of Lucius Malfoy having to host the odd Lovegood girl at a dinner party, but then sobered. "You haven't received any more troubling letters, have you?"

Adelana shook her head as she focused intently on Rolfe's head. "I do not believe so, but I don't actually know that Uncle Lucius has given me everything I was to receive."

Hearing the dog's quiet whine, Severus took note of the girl's tight expression. "Miss…Adelana."

Her eyes flicked to him.

"You have done more than enough to protect that worm. If he is too stupid to recognize the consequences of continuing to harass you, the ignoramus deserves what he gets. It is not your fault what happens to him."

"But if he writes again and Uncle Lucius sees it…"

"If he does, it won't be your fault," Severus repeated. "I doubt it has occurred, however. Lucius would have questioned me on the subject if he had read anything referencing it, and he hasn't. Besides which, I believe the little piss-ant has more pressing matters to attend to presently than to further torment you."

The witch narrowed her eyes and leaned over the wolfhound to whisper, "What did you do?"

He donned an innocent expression and shrugged. "I don't know what you imply, Madam. I have done nothing to the repulsive Mr. Corner."

Addie scrutinized his face for several seconds before relaxing against the bench again. "Right. I forget Slytherins are always guiltless in the schemes they concoct."

Severus glanced at her with a sly grin. "Only those worth their salt are."

"I see why they chose you to be their leader," she teased before blushing at her own daring. She then cleared her throat to ask, "Nothing life-threatening?"

"To his social life, yes, but not to the rest of him."

Biting her lip, Adelana considered the admission. After a moment, she slid one hand from the dog and let it rest upon the man's arm. When he looked to her in question, she smiled. "So, which of the staff are you friends with, then?"