I refuse to spend my life regretting the things I failed to do. -Liv Ullman

Author's Note: Spoilers for HBP and DH.

Some minor additions have been made to the story yeah might want to re-read everything just in case.

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

If You Want Me To

Part 2

Audrey decided that it was about time she left, no more delaying the inevitable. Checking her ponytail and glasses one last time before turning to kneel beside her little brother.

She'd been anticipating this, her first Potions lesson with Severus Snape after her marriage petition. And now here it was already.

"Logan now if you need anything just tell me. That bracelet keeps me in contact with you at all times, so don't take it off." Logan nodded.

"Alright I won't, Audy." She smiled down at her little brother, and ruffled his hair. She grabbed her bag said goodbye and headed down to the dungeons, a twist of both excitement and dread in her stomach, for her class with Professor Snape.

She knocked on the door determinedly preparing for the challenge of convincing Severus that marrying her wasn't so bad a prospect. Of course how exactly did a seventeen year old witch convince her forty-one year old professor that marrying her was a good idea?

Especially when said student wasn't exactly sure it was either.... But no Severus was a good man, and a war hero to boot she had actually been surprised that no one else had petitioned him, sure he was bitchy and short tempered sometimes but he was also incredibly intelligent powerful wizard with a quick wit and a sharp tongue.

He'd earned his mastery in Potions at the age of twenty-three and unheard of accomplishment. But she'd also seen him kind and awkward and gentle. Of course it was only with his Slytherins and strangely Harry Potter. It had been Severus who carried him back to Hogwarts infirmary after Voldemort's death a look very close to paternal pride on the mans haggard face.

Audrey knew him capable of those softer gentler hidden emotions if he could only learn to trust her.....

"Enter!" Well he didn't sound and angrier that usual....

Cautiously, she opened the door and made her way more confidently than she felt to the front of the room. Setting her bag on the desk, she took out her books, taking the extra time to stack them neatly and turned to Severus.

He was studying her closely, as if he'd never seen her before, it wasn't sexual and the same time it was. Audrey felt her face flush. When he noticed she was watching him, his face went blank. His perpetual sneer was back on his face in an instant.

"Sit down Ms. Glenn." Severus gestured to the nearby chair.

"Audrey." She didn't sit down she was short enough and expecting a fight sitting down would only give him another advantage.

"What?" His scowl deepened as he used his height to loom over her, just like she knew was an unconscious and conscious intimidation tactic he often used with students and teachers alike.

"My name is Audrey, Severus, call me by my name." She looked up at him his posturing, not bothering her at all. His eyes narrowed slightly for a second.

"It is not appropriate for me to.... " She cut him off.

"We are getting married soon.... I think it's perfectly appropriate." She raised her eyebrows tilting her head slightly waiting from him to argue with her. The potions master sneered his tone became.... self-depreciating.

"I find the fact that you wish to marry me preposterous."

"Oh?" She smiled wanly, she allowed her eyes to travel up his body as she spoke, she couldn't tell much through all the layers but Severus was thin, a trim waist with long legs, and delicate tapered fingers. His skin was a pale split cream which only enhanced his dark, nearly black brown eyes and high aristocratic cheekbones.

His nose was prominent and aquiline not really fitting together with his otherwise handsome features and those thin but still oh so kissable lips only accentuated that, but over all, Severus did not deserve all the comments on his appearance.

Audrey thought him a very handsome and beautiful man, especially when he moved so graceful and dangerous, radiating power and experience that even some purebloods couldn't fake, but which came to him naturally.

"Is it so hard to believe, that I find you attractive," Surprise, then confusion crossed the Potion Masters face.

".....and think you are the best choice for protecting my family?" Was that a blush? but he'd turned away from her before she could truly tell.

"Yes, I've heard of your charge."

"He's my brother, and his name is Logan." She said firmly, then sighed dejectedly.

"We should at least try to get to know each before we get married." Severus pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked tired suddenly, when he met her eyes again.

"I never thought I'd have to marry one of my students." Audrey frowned up at the man.

"And I never thought I'd get to marry my potions professor...." She felt a smile tugging at her lips then, not in a million years did she expect her life to end up this way.

"But I'm not a child and I know what I'm doing."

"You have no idea what your getting yourself into." Severus voice had gone cold and hard, it made Audrey shiver that look in his eyes, haunted. She steeled herself, putting her hand down on his desk and leaning forward.

"I'm not ignorant Severus, there are things out there I wouldn't last three seconds against and I know it. But also, you can't fool me, I know the truth about you." She told him this quietly and he gave her a dubious, but also curious look.

"What precisely, is this truth you know about me?" He asked her, with arms crossed and head tilted slightly.

"That underneath it all, you really do want to be good." He went stock still for a long minute staring at her with a hooded gaze, then shook himself and shrugged.

"Perhaps, but wanting and being are two very different things, Audrey and you would be better off if you remembered that." She swallowed at that and nodded determinedly.

"I know."

Though they said nothing more to each other that night, besides the work she was to do, there seemed somewhat of an understanding between them after that.

Audrey felt they had a good start on their new relationship and she felt it meant that maybe, her marriage to Severus wouldn't be so bad, in the end.

----oo00oo----