A Meeting With Miss Granger
She sat alone in the back of the tavern, covered in a thick hooded cloak, but I knew it was her. She always had that delicate frame, that air of aristocracy, and not once did she ever try to achieve such. I knew why she wanted to meet here, but I had hoped I was wrong.
When I approached the table, she took another sip of her drink, a gin and tonic, I knew. Her bare finger stood out like footsteps in the first winter's snow.
"Why aren't you wearing your ring?" I asked her tentatively. I was no fool. I knew the answer, but I had to ask her.
"Severus, please sit down," she told me, not quite meeting my eyes.
I took a seat across from her, even though my heart told me to walk away from this pain that was beginning to fester in my heart.
"This is too dangerous, Severus. We cannot do this. No one will approve of us," she said quietly.
I cleared my throat.
"Voldemort is dead. He was our biggest hurdle, and you did not turn away from me then. Would you deny me your love for your arrogant friends, Potter and Weasley?" I asked her, anger beginning to bubble.
"They are not the only concern, Severus. No one could ever understand what you and I have. I don't even understand it. You don't even love me, Severus. You just don't want to be alone for the rest of your life."
Her words stung me like nettles. I could not believe that in all our time together she thought I did not love her. On second thought, I suppose I could believe it. I tried to remember the last time I had told her I loved her. I could not.
"In four years I have not once betrayed you. I may not have been very verbal with my love, but I did not think you ever doubted it. Do you honestly believe I do not love you?" I asked her.
She did not answer me. I knew she would not. She knew I loved her.
"One kiss," I said, looking into her amber eyes earnestly.
"What?" she asked me, brow furrowed.
"One kiss to prove my love to you is all I am asking. If you can still make yourself walk away from me, then I'll not try to stop you. No one else matters to me but you, and I do not care if this makes sense to no one else."
I could see a fire alight behind her eyes as she considered me. A tear rolled down her cheek.
"One kiss," she repeated, as I enveloped her in my arms, covering her mouth with my own.
I felt the glow of magic surround us as I tasted her sweet lips.
I knew she could not walk away from me, but I did not know her desire to stay was so great it invoked the wizard's oath.
And stay she did.