The pain we go through for love.
Chapter One
She had witnessed, not for the first time, his cruel
treatment of a student which she could not condone.
Upon entering his classroom earlier, she had knocked on his
door, but Severus Snape had not heard her over his own shouting voice, she had
seen poor Neville Longbottom cowering before the very irate Potions Master.
Coughing loudly she caught Snape's attention. She calmly asked him to lower his
voice and explain himself, stressing that this was not the correct manner in
which to educate a student. Snape saw this as a personal attack on his teaching
ability and turned his anger towards her, sending a volley of insults her way.
The students gasped in shock and when the bell rang, Harry Potter, Hermione
Granger and Ron Weasley lingered in the doorway, concerned for their Astronomy
Professor's safety.
"It's ok. The three of you head on to your next lesson.
Don't worry yourselves with what just happened."
She ushered them out, Harry Potter mouthing the words, "Will
you be ok?" She nodded to him and closed the door with a soft click.
She turned to face Snape, trying to control her urge to take
out her wand and hex him.
"How dare you speak to me in front of a student like that
Severus! That is unacceptable behaviour," she fumed, her hands balled in to
tight fists, as she paced back and forth. She had felt angry at him many times
before, but never this bad. She actually felt the urge to throw a punch at him,
let alone send a hex his way.
"I care not for what that idiotic child thinks. I will also
not have you mother him in my classroom. If he cannot follow simple
instructions then he deserves to be treated like the imbecile he is!" Snape
spat, his own temper flaring.
"Some students need extra help Severus. Not everyone is as
naturally talented as you seem to think you are. Neville is here to learn, not
to be ridiculed. I also did not deserve to be ridiculed. I only came to pass on
a message from the headmaster, but I will not ignore bullying when I am witness
to it." She prodded her finger in to his chest. "I think I will be returning a
message to the headmaster myself."
"HE IS INCAPABLE OF LEARNING!" he yelled at her, which made
her jump back and put both hands to her ears. "You distinctly heard me tell
Longbottom to slice the Cinnaweed beans diagonally, not vertically!"
"There is no need to raise your voice! I'm standing three
feet away from you!" She rubbed her ears. She was starting to get a headache.
"Anyway, does it really make that much of a difference whichever way Cinnaweed
Beans are cut?"
His dark eyes bored into hers, and he snarled, "You really
have no idea how stupid you sound do you? For obviously reasons, your
incompetence with a cauldron, you were not appointed the position of Potions
Master."
"Severus," she warned as she glared back at him. "Do not
push me! I have tolerated your mood swings for several years, but there is only
so much one woman can endure."
"Aurora, cutting a Cinnaweed Bean the incorrectly could have
a dangerous result to the finished potion." He let out a cruel laugh. "Perhaps
I should have made Longbottom test his mixture in front of the other students."
"Humiliating a young child? What kind of man does that
Severus? I thought I was actually getting to know the real Severus Snape, but I
was wrong." She had given this man so many chances, and she thought she was
finally getting somewhere with him. She had become quite fond of him, so much
that she made up daft excuses to bump in to him, such as the nonexistent
message from the headmaster.
He didn't answer her straightaway, but instead walked over
to his desk, sat down in his chair and began opening drawers. His greasy black
hair trailed across his lesson plan whilst he searched.
"Do not think you can analyse me like those stars you peer
at through your telescope. I imagine you have spent too many nights gazing up
at the sky. You have become blinded by the moonlight, and you can't see that
those children take advantage of your kindness."
She frowned, her brow wrinkled but her temper was slowing
calming to a simmer. Was that an insult or a compliment?
"Perhaps I am a little too kind sometimes, and don't always
say what is on my mind-for good reason. I do not like to hurt other people's
feelings. I have accepted that you are who you are Severus Snape, and I know
now there is no changing that. Many times you have voiced your opinion of me,
even made comments about my skill at duelling, and I have simply smiled and
agreed that perhaps you were right. This time, however, you are wrong and I can
stand it no longer."
Snape had found what he was looking for and sat back in the
chair, giving her his full attention, clasping the item in his right hand. He swept his greasy hair from his face with
his left hand, his black eyes taking in her tired expression.
"When the time comes and you are face to face with a death
Eater, you will be thankful that I bothered to give you Duelling advice," he
pushed back the chair and stood up.
She looked up at his face then let her eyes fall to his
chest, waist, feet and then back up to his face. "Oh, I think I could handle a
Death Eater just fine without your advice. Thank you," she snorted a laugh, "and
on that note, I'm leaving."
"Wait!" he said, putting
his left hand on the desk. She turned
back to face him, a look of impatient on her face.
"Yes?" she said sounding bored.
"You asked me what kind of man acts the way I do, and the
answer is... the kind of man who is aware that pleasantries are wasted of many
undeserving recipients. You, however, are an exception and I admit that I take
some gratification from our conversations".
Sinistra just stared, unblinking, at him. Her hand moved up
to her cheek as if she'd been slapped hard.
"I have something for you", Snape said, "it's not to my
taste, but I've been meaning to give it to you for a while. I think you will
like it." He opened his right hand to reveal a small blue velvet box. He pushed
it a little too hastily across the desk, and it toppled over the edge and fell
to the floor.
Sinistra looked down at the object as it hit the floor and
she caught a glimpse of shiny metal. Her mouth dropped open in horror. No...
Surely not, she thought. What was going through the man's mind?
Severus had virtually dived over the desk, knocking
parchment askew and an ink pot over-which stained the wood a dark shade of
purple, to catch the little velvet box as it bounced a second time and
discarded its contents across the hard tiles. On his hands and knees he reached
out and caught it, before it almost slid under a dusty bookcase. He looked
dishevelled and out of breath, but there was flash of triumph across his face
for a very short moment.
He swivelled round, still on his knees, to face her holding
out the glinting metal to her. "Is it to your taste?" he asked, still panting
from the ordeal. His dark eyes searching her face for her answer.
"Severus. What do you mean by this?" There was a tremble to
her voice. She put her right hand to her chest feeling the rapid beat of her
heart behind her left breast. None of this made any sense. Was she dreaming?
Had they not been arguing moments before?
The ring was still pinched between his finger and thumb, on
his right hand. "Isn't it obvious? Surely you are aware that I have... certain
feelings-"
"No," she cut him off. She started backing away towards the
door. "Is this your idea of romance Severus? You tell me you have feelings for
me after you insult me! I am tired of your constant mood swings; you are
wearing me out and... I must go. I was wrong to seek you out this afternoon".
He rose to his feet, brushing dust from his robes, with a
scowl on his face. He glared at her, obviously offended at her refusal of his
offer. "And these are your final words?" he said through gritted teeth.
"Yes. I was foolish to think this could ever work. Mother
was right; I should have given Ronan's offer more consideration." Her eyes
began to well up with tears. "Perhaps there is still time. He hasn't yet left
for Bulgaria."
Red eyed she hurried of out of his dungeon, slamming the
door shut behind her. "What an Insufferable man!" She heard a loud smash as
several jars of preserved animals fell from their shelves. She felt a moment of
guilt, but shrugged it off. They could be replaced.
She moved quickly through the dimly lit hall and ran down
the large staircase. She reached the large entrance doorway. With a wave of her
wand the locking mechanism creaked and clunked and the bolts retreated in to
the stone walls. She leaned her weight on the heavy doors until the gap was big
enough for her to squeeze through. She heard Snape calling her name, just as
she slipped out in to the night. He was going to alert the entire castle, and
her business was something she did not want whispered about the school.
She wished she owned an Invisibility cloak so she could
hide, just for a while so she could get her head straight. What an awful
afternoon and now evening this was turning out to be.
"Leave me alone Severus. I will Hex you!" She didn't slow
down as she crossed the school grounds. The grass was wet and muddy in places,
and her shoes were already soaked through. She pulled her robes around her for
warmth, wishing she was in her quarters near the fireplace.
Hearing his quick squelchy footsteps, she glanced behind
her. She took her wand from her pocket and fired a Hex that just missed him;
the red sparks lit up his face and made him look quite menancing.
"I'm w-warning you Severus! The next one won't miss," she
stuttered. But instead of firing another Hex at him, she changed direction and
headed towards the Forbidden Forest. She could hide in the thick foliage, or
behind a tree.
"Don't be foolish Aurora. There are unthinkable dangers in
the forest, despicable creatures you could not even imagine."
She ignored his warning and ran straight in to the forest,
and didn't stop until he grabbed her wrist and jerked her back towards him. She
bumped into his chest and he held her tight.
"You have acted so foolishly," he panted. It seemed he was
the less fitter of the two. He looked down his overly large nose at her."You
could have been seriously injured, or worse!"
"Let me go Severus!" she said sounding exhausted. She gazed
at his strong hand still holding onto her arm. "You are hurting me."
"I will not! Not until you see sense!" he demanded, not releasing
his hold on her, looking for any sign of forgiveness in her face. He was
panting heavily. "Stop this insanity. Ronan Kraktov is not worthy of your
attention. He is nothing but an imbecile with muscles!" He grabbed both of her
wrists this time and pulled her towards his body.
"Severus, get away from me!" She struggled free of his hold
and raised her wand. She shot another Hex at him, this time intending to stun
him.
He was quicker and disarmed her by shouting, "Expelliarmus!"
Her wand flew out of her hand and in to his empty left hand. He pocketed it
with a sly grin on his face. She gasped in shock, and took a few paces back.
Snape opened his
mouth to speak but before he had time to form the words a sound of galloping
hooves distracted him. Bushes shook from the thudding vibration. The beast leapt
from the darkness, raised itself up on its hind legs and pounded its front
hooves in to Snape's chest, knocking him to the ground. Aurora stood shocked,
hands raised to her mouth, unable to move.
Snape's face twisted with the pain, but fury showed in his
eyes. Still holding his wand he flicked a Hex at the magical creature, green
spiralled bolts of lightning shot out but went wide in to the forest. The
centaur, half man half horse, raised its front legs again.
"A creature so pure of heart must be shown kindness," it
said in a polite voice. "I cannot allow you to harm her; you must learn the
consequences of such hostility." With lightning speed the centaur raised his
bow, pulled the bowstring taut and then released two projectiles. There was a
whooshing sound and then a very loud crack.
Then the Centaur nodded towards Aurora and galloped off in
to the night. Aurora was shocked. It all happened so fast... the incident in
the classroom, the arguing, the blue velvet box, leaving the castle and now...
Saliva sprayed from Severus' lips as he hissed in agony. His
leg burned like someone had poured molten lava over it. Every attempt at
freeing himself caused the broken bones to crunch and grind against each other.
Just below his right knee, two wooden arrows protruded out
of his flesh. He was pinned to the ground. Blood oozed out of the wounds,
saturating his trouser leg and pooling on the hard cold floor around him.
"Oh Merlin! Oh Merlin!" she muttered as she
instinctively put her hand to his leg to apply pressure to the wound. That's
what they always did in Muggle movies, she thought; apply pressure to stop the
bleeding.
"Ssssssssss!" he hissed through clenched teeth,
sounding very much like a snake. Her touch had intensified the pain. "What are
you doing? Remove your hand!"
She couldn't bear to see him in so much pain, it was a side
to him she hadn't seen before, so weak and so human. Somehow Snape was
controlling his urge to scream, and she knew if the roles were reversed Snape
would have had to use a silencing charm on her
She put her other hand to his face, cupping his cheek.
"It's going to be ok." She pressed her lips gently to his, her face wet
with tears. This seemed to calm him and his heavy panting slowed. "I need to
stop the bleeding. I know it hurts, and I'm sorry."
This was all her fault. If she hadn't stormed off into the
Forbidden Forest over a silly tiff... Severus wouldn't have followed her...
She wasn't totally to blame. Severus was... Severus was...
he was bleeding to death! She had to stop thinking about who was to blame for
yet another ridiculous spat between the pair of them. She had to get him back
to the castle, to the hospital wing where Madam Pomfrey would heal him.
There was only one thing for it...the arrows would have to
come out. Severus, who was looking extremely pale, tried to speak but couldn't
form the words. Using her fingers she brushed his long dark hair, damp with
sweat, out of his face.
"Shush," she said. "Don't speak, you need your energy, and
you need to keep still too. No! Don't go to sleep, stay awake for me."
She had to do it now. "I'm sorry Severus!" Then, there was a
loud snap and then another and an even louder scream that came deep from within
Severus' lungs. A whooshing, fluttering sound filled the air and a hundred or
so small airborne creatures fled the forest in fright. She had broken the arrow
shafts, so although parts of the arrows were still sticking out of his leg, he
was no longer bolted to the floor.
Severus reached for a strand of her hair and managed a,
"Thank you," before passing out from exhaustion.
She took out her wand and sent up a flare, a bright red
firework that crackled above the treetops, to alert the castle of their
whereabouts.
She didn't have to wait long for help to arrive. Within
minutes she heard heavy footfalls, that shook the ground beneath her, which
could only belong to-
"Rubeus!" she yelled, "we're over here!"
The huge man, Rubeus Hagrid, the school Grounds Man bound over
to her. If she hadn't know what a kind hearted, if a little daft, man he was
then she would have been terrified at the sheer size of him. He loomed over
her, and his hands were the size of dishes.
"Hello Aurora. Nice night for a stroll in the forest!" he
said glancing around, "you've gotta be careful in 'ere. You don' know what
might be lurking roun' the next tree."
"It wasn't really a stroll-"
"It were Fang my Boarhoun', the great ruddy coward, who
alerted me that somethin' was wrong. He was whimperin' at the window, an'
that's when I noticed the sky was lit up red."
Aurora noticed that the blood around the broken arrow shafts
in Severus' leg was starting to hiss and bubble. The arrows must have been
laced with a poison or maybe they carried an awful curse. They needed to get
Severus to a Medi-Wizard quickly, but Hagrid had made no move to help.
"He needs help Hagrid, please," Aurora asked. Her hand
resting on Severus' torso, feeling the slow rise and fall of his chest as his
condition worsened.
"Oh, right... I almost forgot about him. Stand back!" Aurora
stepped back as Hargrid stooped down and lifted the injured man, who let out a
groan but remained unconscious. "Let's get him to the castle. Madam Pomfrey
will sort him out, an' he'll be right as rain by the mornin'."
Severus' head repeatedly bobbed against Hagrid's large
shoulder as the latter man carried him up to the castle.
A headache would be the least of his troubles in the
morning.