This is part 2 of The Second Love of Severus Snape. I'm going to admit that that story blew. Hard. I'm going to try to make up for it now by writing the ending… reading the first part is important, though, so please tolerate it if you want to understand this one. Picks up barely a month after part 1 ended, rather, "Beginning of book 7." Spoilers, of course!
Wikeni sat on the couch in Spinner's End, sighing deeply. It was early dawn, no later than 6 a.m., but she found she could not sleep anymore. She was still fighting with Severus over something she could hardly even remember anyway. They had barely said two words to each other over the last month, and it tore her apart to lie next to him at night, seething. So this is what she was giving up her freedom for? An angry, embittered man who had actually killed somebody? She got up and walked to the kitchen, reaching for the kettle to boil water for tea. She turned the faucet on, but it sputtered and brown water leaked out into the sink. She slammed the water off and huffed back onto the couch, placing her head in her hands and rubbing her temples deeply.
I need to apologize. I don't even care if I'm right or wrong anymore… I just need to end this.
Suddenly, she heard the door creak lightly and soft footsteps fall upon the old wooden floor. She turned around and saw Severus, bags under his eyes, close the door behind him. She smiled halfheartedly and he turned around, startled to find her awake. But the surprise on his face melted away into impatience once more and he walked over to the kitchen. She heard him reach for the faucet, but it sputtered with him, as well. He grunted angrily and tried to walk back through the living room, but Wikeni barred his path. He scowled and tried to push her aside, but she threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Severus' body seemed to relax instantly.
"You don't have to…" he started in a rare moment of sympathy.
"NO!" she shouted, bringing her head up. "I was wrong. We both fought, but I started it. I don't care if you made the Unbreakable Vow, I really don't, all I care about is keeping you safe."
Severus was startled again.
"Keeping me safe?"
"Yes! I – I don't want to lose you."
Severus made a tsk noise.
"Well, I'm not sure if this will make it more or less difficult, but, ah…" He hesitated.
"What?" she asked, staring at him suspiciously.
"I am to be Headmaster of Hogwarts."
"What?"
"Have you got wax in your ears?"
"No, I just… but you… You killed Dumbledore, surely they…?"
"They know, believe me. But… special arrangements have been made." He looked suddenly angry and unfocused.
"What kind of special arrangements?"
"Either way, things are going to get much more difficult for you from here on, do you understand this?"
She looked scared, but she was serious when she vowed for better or for worse.
Wikeni nodded.
"I cannot hide you, you know. The Dark Lord is to be welcome in my house, and he will sense your presence here. You are not able to do any sort of magic…"
"Thanks."
"…So you will not be able to resist his." He looked her in the eyes. "I can only stall as much as possible. For now, he is using the Malfoys' home for… business… however, he does this only to strike fear in their hearts. Eventually, he will tire of it, and seek room here. I cannot protect you from him, and if he finds I have lied, all of our plans… 16 years… will have been for nothing."
"…Our plans?" Wikeni frowned a little. Severus realized his mistake and quickly recovered.
"It is not your concern. All you have to worry about is finding another home. I can't keep you here any longer."
"Where would I go?" she whined. "My family will wonder if I go back without you, and there is no place I can live anywhere around here where someone from the Order will not recognize me!"
"The Order is nearly finished," he said, and Wikeni thought she heard a touch of remorse in his voice. She looked into his eyes, but his expression was tense and businesslike again. She placed her hands on her hips.
"There's no way he won't come here?"
Severus frowned, shaking his head.
"I am not willing to take that chance."
Wikeni stared at him for a minute.
"Severus."
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you something?"
He hesitated.
"What?"
"Why'd you do it?"
He frowned, turning his back to go upstairs, and Wikeni was left to sit back down on the couch and figure out where she was going to go.