We apparated to a massive old abandoned house out in the woods. Basically the middle of nowhere in Scotland. I wanted to take Severus to America, away from the war zone. But I knew we'd be at risk there too. So many people who wouldn't understand. Hogwarts was in shambles and the forbidden forest ravaged with enemies.
After the sensation of being sucked into a straw ended, Severus staggered out. I fell behind him. His robes glided like a cape following their wearer. He was breathing heavily to catch his breath. I got up off the grass and stood.
The Potions Master coughed, clearing his lungs. He turned slowly toward me in front of the rickety house, shooting me a glare. "Miss Champion, I believe you have some explaining to do."
"Let's go inside." I told him.
Severus sighed, keeping a close eye on me as we went up the stairs into the house.
Once we got inside, the living room was covered in dust as if the house had not been in use for several years. The furniture was all covered by white sheets. Cobwebs coated the walls and door frames.
Severus coughed deeply as he entered. "Do these detestable people know how to clean anything?" He waved his hand to clear some of the dust around his face and nose. I struck a match to light a brown candle I found nearby.
"It looks like nobody lives here." I suggested.
He shut the front door and frowned. "Now, what is this about loving me?"
"Sit down, sir. You need to rest."
Severus rolled his eyes. "Very well."
He took the white sheet off of the sofa. Severus coughed as more dust fell from the fabric as he moved it to the hardwood floor.
"Confounded." Black eyes scanned the red loveseat underneath.
He sighed. "Wonderful choice of color as well."
Severus plopped down on the couch and motioned for me. "Come here, Miss Champion."
I nervously strode over to sit on the far end of the sofa.
His eyes were fastened to me with each movement.
Severus took in a deep breath and sighed it loudly from his lungs. "Tell me, Miss Champion...why do you love me?"
"I don't know." I shrugged. "Maybe I fell for you when we started working together on potions more often."
"I suppose I shall allow your answer to suffice for now." Severus replied coolly. "We must move on in the morning."
"We're not going anywhere for a while, sir." I pointed out. "Not until you are well enough. I don't plan on ever going back to Hogwarts. Not until your name is cleared."
I heard Severus inhale sharply and sigh slowly from his lungs. "Miss Champion, do you believe me innocent?"
"Yes, of course."
I saw him smirk slightly in the soft orange glow of the candlelight. The smirk was replaced by a pensive look. His velvet voice broke the long silence. "Why?"
"I don't think you could do such horrible things. I think you're kind and caring. It's just nobody ever sees it."
Severus rose from the couch and walked slowly to the middle of the room in deep thought. He ultimately sighed. "But I have done horrible things, Miss Champion. You do not know me."
"I know you well enough." I protested. "I worked with you."
"Do you know what the punishment will be if they find me, Miss Champion?" Severus mused.
"No."
"The Dementor's Kiss." He said quietly.
"I won't let them, sir!" I screamed, shooting out of my seat on the couch. "You're a hero!"
Severus crossed the room quickly to me in a flurry of black, taking my hand in his. "Perhaps we should both get some much needed rest tonight, Miss Champion."
"Could you call me Arietta, sir? Miss Champion is a bit formal for the mess we're in." I inquired.
The dark Professor considered this for a few moments which seemed to stretch on forever.
Severus finally sighed, locking me in an intense gaze. "As you wish, Arietta."
"Can I call you Severus?"
Severus inhaled deeply, his eyes unmoved from mine. He then exhaled a sigh from his lungs. "Very well, but do not overuse it."
He looked around us to see a winding staircase that led to more rooms upstairs. "There may be separate bedrooms up there."
Severus blew the burning candle out and lit another to light our way up the darkened stairs.
The Potions Master led me up about two flights of creaking stairs. As we climbed the stairs, I gasped. There were spiders in the cobwebs of the doorframes on the top floor.
Severus cast a curse on the arachnids with his wand and they fell to the ground motionless.
He exhaled as we reached the top level. Opening the first door he saw, clumps of dust spilled down slowly to the floor.
Severus coughed loudly to clear the debris from his lungs. There was a large black bed and a bookcase with leather bound books. Of course, the entire room was coated in dust.
"I wonder why this room isn't covered like the living area." I said aloud.
He shook his head. "One thing is certain. This atrocity shall have to be immaculate before I stay another evening in it."
Severus sighed and we continued on to the next room. Dust mites hung overhead in the grand hallway along with the chandeliers.
"These people must have been rich." I suggested.
The next bedroom was slightly better but still somewhat sooty.
"They were terrible housekeepers for the amount of elegance they bestowed upon themselves." Severus said sarcastically.
A resplendent golden chandelier dangled from the ceiling of the magnificent room. A king-size blue bed sat in the center. There were large black drapes covering the outside window.
Light soot blanketed the drapes. Setting the candle down on a nearby table, Severus walked over the window and pulled the cord to open the thick wool drapes, which in turn left a small trail of soot as they parted.
Severus brought his fist to his lips and coughed, using his other hand to sway the dust away. I could see that he was beyond annoyed with the house.
He coughed deeply again to ensure the irritants were expelled from his lungs. The man in black cast a fiery glare in my direction. "How delightful. I have spent the last full hour or so breathing in filth."
"You could be dead. Would you rather be coughing or dead?" I remarked.
Severus inhaled deeply and sighed heavily from his lungs. "I suppose you are referring to your saving my life."
He sighed deeply again. "Arietta, I am very grateful for what you have done but..." A long pause with several beats. "I did not ask to be saved. I knew I could die at any moment. I knew the risks for the position I took as a double spy for the Order of the Phoenix." Severus shot me an intense stare. "Yes, I would prefer to be alive than not."
"You're very welcome." I nodded to him.
His eyes raked over me. "You are a very kind and courageous girl, Arietta. However, I am not the good man you believe me to be. Nearly my entire life was spent as a Death Eater."
"What are you saying?"
"Perhaps you should not be in love with someone like me." The Potions Master sighed. "If you truly are."
"I can't change my feelings now, Severus." I said defensively.
He looked at me with a sharp inhale into his lungs. Then Severus sighed quickly from his lungs. "I am not asking this of you, Arietta. Get some rest tonight. We shall talk about this further in the morning."
Severus coughed deeply into his fist. "I shall take the quarters next to yours. Should you need anything before dawn, come see me there."
"Severus, let me check the wound first."
Severus lit another candle from the already lit one and gave it to me. I checked his throat which was a little red but otherwise healed from the spells I performed earlier.
"Your throat is irritated. Maybe that's why you're coughing, besides the dust."
I placed the candle on a nightstand and got into my bed.
Severus exhaled deeply. "Thank you again, Arietta." He leaned over and gave me a soft kiss on the forehead. "Good evening." The dark Professor smirked at me before shutting the door behind him.
I closed my eyes and fell into a deep slumber.
Next door to me, Severus sighed and let sleep take him as well.
My dreams that night were overflowing with visions of a certain Potions Master shrouded in black splendor.