Just a reminder (as if you would forget): All characters are property of
J.K.Rowlings, this writing is for my own enjoyment, and hopefully yours.
All chapter titles and quotes are taken from "Passionate Love Letters" by
Michelle Lovric
Relationships: Snape/OFC, Hermoine/Ron, Sirius/OFC
Chapter 3 Longing
"My longing for you is such that it presses on my breast like tears that cannot be wept."
Franz Kafka
After the Christmas holidays Hogwarts resumed with unceremonious routine. Except for the addition of three Elvish language courses to the Spring semester, which were soon filled with sixth and seventh years; Ginny Weasley and Hermione Grainger included. Not only was the topic, because of its rarity, a favorite, but also many students swore that Ms. Byrne was certainly the best teacher they had next to Professor Lupin. She made learning fun and easy, even to Neville, which was certainly a challenge. Because she had a close relationship to Harry, as his godfather's sister, the older girls especially felt they had found a confidant and mentor.
Hermione and Ginny sipped their hot coco merrily as 'Aunt Adhara', what Harry affectionately called her, reminisced about her brother's wild days at Hogwarts.
"In conclusion, Hermione," Adhara mused, "he was quite the charmer. No steady girlfriend at the time. But since he's found Kristen, I doubt he will be a bad influence on Ron. She's calmed him down I think."
"Gees! I certainly hope so!" It had taken Ron all fall semester to have the courage to ask her out and she certainly wasn't about to let any old 'lady's man' get between them now. Tilting her head, "I do wonder if he needs to bend Harry's ear. He doesn't even seem remotely interested in girls this year. It's quidditch this and quidditch that; he's worse than Sean Biggerstaff!"
"Well girls, I think Harry's still quite heart broken over Cho and their little love affair this past summer. Sports provide escape for men."
"Hmmm!" Hermione rolled her eyes with sisterly impatience. "If he doesn't start worrying more about his books and less about quidditch practice, he won't even be eligible to play; let alone win Gryffindor the School Cup."
"Whoever thought that quidditch practice would be Harry's Achilles heel!" Adhara laughed, she never would have pictured brainy Hermione concerned about quidditch outcomes either, but people were often more complex than they appeared.
"What about you Ginny? Do you have a boyfriend or does that brother of yours chase them all away?"
Ginny blushed scarlet as Hermione butted in, "Ms. Byrne, that is a sensitive subject."
"Hermione!" Ginny chided.
Adhara remained silent. She certainly had no desire to embarrass the girl.
"I am in fact seeing someone. But our relationship is new and," her eyes sent daggers flying at the other girl, "I do not wish to jeopardized it with gossip."
"Very well said." Adhara saluted the girl with her cup of cocoa.
"New, indeed!" Apparently Hermione wasn't ready to let it drop, "You've been sneaking out for the past three months to-" Suddenly clasping her hand to her mouth, she had temporarily forgotten that 'Aunt Adhara' was also their teacher.
"What you chose to do with your friend is your business, as well as how you chose to break house rules. But be careful sneaking around after dark, Ginny." Reflecting on her run in with Severus in her youth, and how it had awakened a dark curiosity, she laid a gentle hand on the girl's arm, "Young men are not always to be trusted. I would hate to see you caught in a difficult situation."
Ginny politely nodded, "Yes ma'am".
Adhara smiled to herself, knowing her words fell on deaf ears. A knock from Dumbledore on her room doors broke up their dessert. The Headmaster sent the girls packing off to the library and insisted that Ms. Byrne see Snape at once.
"We've put this off long enough. When your finished, send Severus up to my office for a full report."
"What if I'm not able to break the memory spell?" She replied.
His blue eyes twinkled like two stars, "You will, Adhara; you will." He smiled mysteriously and left.
***
It had been a fortnight since he had fallen asleep with her head on his lap, her black hair falling across his legs. He had sleep restfully the entire night in the chair, awaking at sunrise; the memory of her touch still hot on his thighs; the power of her words commanding him even in the waking dreams of dawn. 'Give yourself to me'. And he had done just that. He just didn't know how much he had until he awoke the next morning and she was gone. The room was bitter cold, and his chest ached with something he hadn't felt in very long time. Longing.
As a child he had longed for his grandmother's visits, but they were too short. He had longed for true friendship, but his relationships were veneer. Yet, he had never longed for a woman, not even for Lily, with this excruciating need. Was this need for her merely lust? It had certainly been a long time since he had engaged intercourse. To him sex had been an act to meet a primal need; the merging of two bodies to reap momentary physical satisfaction. There was nothing more. At least he had never known anything more until Adhara had spoken the words 'making love'. Two words which sounded like a holy psalm upon an angel's lips. Making love was good, and pure; certainly not like the wanton, and ill-fated affairs he had experienced with women. Perhaps the words played upon him so powerfully, because they made him realize that no woman had ever loved him. Not even his maternal parent. The two women he had loved, though both very differently, his mother and Lily, had both left him unrequited.
"Professor Snape?" There was a soft rapping at his chamber door.
He tensed. They hadn't spoken since that night. Not even a hello. "Yes Ms. Byrne?" Adhara, the maiden star.
Hair the color of a moonless sky streamed around small shoulders. One black lock, one silver, framing her rosy face, "The headmaster said you were ready." She lingered in the doorway, tapping the frame beneath tense fingers.
"Yes. Please come in."
She sat again on the green sofa, and folded her hands in her lap, "You've been drinking." It was a statement made to the empty black label that sat on the chess table.
"One needs to drink before entering your presence." His tone more pungent than he meant for it to be.
"You're still upset with me." She was suppose to be the seer, but had he read her cruel thoughts that night? Hush, Adhara, you will help him where you intended to hurt him.
"No. I'm still upset at Sirius for trying to feed me to Remus, but I could never be mad at you. I was the one at fault there." His eyes were warmer that she remembered; a dark, gentle brown. "The drink is for courage." Deep laugher rung out for the second time, and Adhara enjoyed the tenor in his voice. "That is what my father used to say before he would approach my mother in argument. "
She joined in his rare laughter, "Please, come and sit beside me Severus."
The last time, she had knelt before him. Now they were sitting side by side, equals. For the first time he felt afraid. She had never shuttered from his touch, but he had no idea what was behind the black curtains of his memory. What if behind the spells he tortured someone or killed someone. It was his past, but would she flee from his touch? Possibly even run from the room. Gods! How could he ever have deluded himself into believing someone as good and as pure could ever want something as vile and desecrated as he? His heart caught in his throat as she reached for his hands.
"No! Wait!" He shouted, terror in his command.
"Don't be afraid," her voice soothed, hands frozen in mid air. I won't hurt you.
"I don't know what memories lay behind the spells, and I remember only a little of the atrocities that I have committed. But the little I do remember," his eyes hooded themselves from her, his thin lips barely moving, "it was awful."
Her hand touched his knee, her thumb making small, meditative circles, "Severus, I know you were a Death Eater. I know what Death Eaters do."
Shaking his head in frustration, "You don't know what I've done. What I am."
Then without speaking, she raised a hand to his face and sketched the out line of his jaw with her index finger. "What you were."
Her breast rising and falling with ragged breath, "I know Severus because I too was lost. And sometimes the darkness leads me still, even though I am sworn to the light." Bracing her back upright, she dropped her hand to rest on his forearm. "I have no 'dark mark' to prove my suffering, but every day when I look in the mirror, I see the silver reminder of my sins. When I finally left my hair-" tears welled in her eyes as her throat clinched with emotion.
"Shhhh," Severus eased as his long fingers swept up the silver lock of hair. When she had first confessed that she too had sins to bare, he had openly smirked at her in mocking congratulations. Now, he wanted nothing more to than to take up her cross, and bare her pain. Raising the silver plat of hair to his lips, he kissed it. His Black eyes beheld her fully, "You are beautiful."
Suddenly, her hands were upon his chest pushing him back into the sofa. Her lips upon his, kissing him with passionate urgency. His lips returning her lasciviousness, until he could bare his question no longer. With one muscular stroke, he pushed her off his chest, encircling her delicate wrists with his fingers. He had meant to shake her, to yell his question at her, but instead it came out as pathetically dull, "Why Adhara? Why me? I am not worthy of you."
"Why?" Her voice mocked his own. She hadn't expected this, and she wasn't sure she knew the answer.
"Is this some 'technique' to coerce me into showing you my secrets?"
A blush rose from her thin neck, filling her cheeks with scarlet embarrassment. Now was not to tell him about how she had planned to use him for her own empowerment. She was sure if he knew, he'd reject her immediately and she needed him desperately. So she confessed what she could of the truth, "When we spent the first evening talking, I realized how much alike we are. Trouble pasts, bitter disappointments…" Then, meeting his eyes straight on, "But also," her voice a breathy staccato, "I liked touching you, Severus."
Her words ignited him. His mouth so close to hers, she could feel the heat of his breath, voice as smooth as black velvet, "Do you do this to all your victims? Seduce them? Make them your lover?"
Her eyes closed, and she could feel the tender skin of his lips on hers as she tried to say 'I never have', but it was too late. They were caught up in a rapturous embrace again; ignorant to the world outside of them, lost in a continuum of time known only to lovers. Lips and tongues searching, hands discovering untouched curves until a too familiar voice, broke their trance.
"Severus Snape!" A voice boomed from the hallway, "Open this door right now!"
Adhara moved back, swollen lips, parting, "Sirius!" Her hand catching her mouth, eyes shown with unabashed fear. She had forgotten that Sirius would be back this week, and apparently he had arrived sooner than later.
Snape's voice low, his lips playing with the corners of his mouth, "Well well, I see your brother has come to rescue you."
Her eyes flashed, "He can't know about this."
Snape nodded in agreement, though he would love to see the look on Sirius face, but he knew she was right. Anyway, it had been a long day and he wasn't in the mood for dueling, "Sit in the chair by the fire, now!"
"Open up Severus, I know your in there!" More pounding.
Snape buttoned his collar, where only moments ago her tiny white fingers had undone it in order to place hot kisses upon his neck. Taking a second to cool himself down, he picked up his wand and pointed it, "Arccadio!"
The door banged open revealing a handsome man, mid thirties, dark hair and clean shaven and another man, with light brown hair behind him.
"Sirius, to what do I owe this….honor?" His voice was dark and rasping.
"The headmaster told me…," eyeing his sister.
"Brother! You're back!" Adhara jumped from the chair and flung her arms around her sibling. She thought if she could hold him close for a moment, he might think the blush in her cheek was from seeing him.
"Adhara! Oh I missed you." He held her by the arms and sighed deeply, "This is the last time the headmaster sends me on an errand over the Christmas holidays!"
"Agreed! We've spent too many Christmas's apart already."
"I knew you'd be arriving over the break, but why are you down here in this vile place? Did he force you to come down here? " Snarling in Severus's direction.
"Always protecting your little sister." Her voice became very animated and then she kissed Sirius full on the lips and smiled mischievously, "Always keeping me away from the boys."
She winked at Severus and she could swear that he blushed. "Actually, Professor Snape has been kind enough to offer me tea this evening. We were getting to know one another a bit since we will be working together."
"Gods! I knew it was bad when Dumbledore told me about breaking the spells with a seer! I just can't believe he would get my little sister involved with something so dangerous." Sirius was now pacing the floor with obvious anger.
"Oh please Sirius, like you haven't been chasing around every hell beast and Death Eater within a hundred miles since you were reinstated as an auror last year."
His sapphire eyes flashing, "That's different. I am have an obligation to-"
"Sirius, be quiet," Adhara scolded with a sister's insistence, "and introduce me to your friend." Her brow tightened as she looked at the thin man with startling pale blue eyes, "I would swear, if not for the gray in your brown hair, you were Remus Lupin?"
"The last time I saw you Ms. Byrne, I was indeed less gray and far more naive." Lupin said with a somber tone.
"Remus! It is you! Dear friend, how have you been these years? Sirius told me you were working together again, and I have been so worried about you." She immediately crossed the dark room and, grasped his hands tightly in earnest friendship. "How is your…illness?" concern ready in her face.
"It is not cured, but I am coping. Professor Snape's willingness to brew the wolfsbane potion has been very helpful." His thin lips spread into a pleasant smile, etched by lines of fatigue and age.
"I'm upset with you Remus, I meant to send you a howler." They all laughed. "Why didn't you stay the summer with Sirius, Harry and I after the meeting at your house? You could have meet Kristen. I'm sure Sirius has told you about her?" She looked at Sirius, and he merely rolled his eyes in admonishment. "We had such a wonderful time…We all missed you."
"Oh yes, I've meet Ms. Alexander… But Adhara," her name a sigh on his lips. "The last time we met up in London, we argued terribly." His voice falling to a low hush, "I know that I failed you when you needed me most. I wasn't sure if you were able to forgive such a horrible misgiving of judgment."
"Oh Remus," her arms encircling him tighter, "Always the martyr. Of course I have forgiven you. If I'd met myself then, I'm sure I wouldn't have believed me, but that is the past. Make it up to me by staying with us over the Easter holidays?"
His pale eyes sparkled, "Done."
"Okay you two, break it up." Sirius was pushing apart their embrace. "Well Severus, as you can see, we have a lot of catching up to do. People with friends do that sort of thing. Mr. Moony, Ms. Byrne, shall we?" They walked through the door, when Adhara turned back.
"I will meet you at the steps, I …" she hesitated, "I have some unfinished business."
She turned back into the room to see Severus sitting by the fire unflinching. His black eyes shot up at her, "Ms. Byrne?"
"Meet me in my rooms at midnight," she mouthed from the doorway. A look of shadowy surprise crossed his stern face. With one bewitching wink, she turned on her heel, and left.
***
That's chapter 3! What do you think? Please, please review- be truthful, be tender… Thanks Tessa and Marvoless for your reviews and encouragement! Smiles- Kat aka Lyra
Relationships: Snape/OFC, Hermoine/Ron, Sirius/OFC
Chapter 3 Longing
"My longing for you is such that it presses on my breast like tears that cannot be wept."
Franz Kafka
After the Christmas holidays Hogwarts resumed with unceremonious routine. Except for the addition of three Elvish language courses to the Spring semester, which were soon filled with sixth and seventh years; Ginny Weasley and Hermione Grainger included. Not only was the topic, because of its rarity, a favorite, but also many students swore that Ms. Byrne was certainly the best teacher they had next to Professor Lupin. She made learning fun and easy, even to Neville, which was certainly a challenge. Because she had a close relationship to Harry, as his godfather's sister, the older girls especially felt they had found a confidant and mentor.
Hermione and Ginny sipped their hot coco merrily as 'Aunt Adhara', what Harry affectionately called her, reminisced about her brother's wild days at Hogwarts.
"In conclusion, Hermione," Adhara mused, "he was quite the charmer. No steady girlfriend at the time. But since he's found Kristen, I doubt he will be a bad influence on Ron. She's calmed him down I think."
"Gees! I certainly hope so!" It had taken Ron all fall semester to have the courage to ask her out and she certainly wasn't about to let any old 'lady's man' get between them now. Tilting her head, "I do wonder if he needs to bend Harry's ear. He doesn't even seem remotely interested in girls this year. It's quidditch this and quidditch that; he's worse than Sean Biggerstaff!"
"Well girls, I think Harry's still quite heart broken over Cho and their little love affair this past summer. Sports provide escape for men."
"Hmmm!" Hermione rolled her eyes with sisterly impatience. "If he doesn't start worrying more about his books and less about quidditch practice, he won't even be eligible to play; let alone win Gryffindor the School Cup."
"Whoever thought that quidditch practice would be Harry's Achilles heel!" Adhara laughed, she never would have pictured brainy Hermione concerned about quidditch outcomes either, but people were often more complex than they appeared.
"What about you Ginny? Do you have a boyfriend or does that brother of yours chase them all away?"
Ginny blushed scarlet as Hermione butted in, "Ms. Byrne, that is a sensitive subject."
"Hermione!" Ginny chided.
Adhara remained silent. She certainly had no desire to embarrass the girl.
"I am in fact seeing someone. But our relationship is new and," her eyes sent daggers flying at the other girl, "I do not wish to jeopardized it with gossip."
"Very well said." Adhara saluted the girl with her cup of cocoa.
"New, indeed!" Apparently Hermione wasn't ready to let it drop, "You've been sneaking out for the past three months to-" Suddenly clasping her hand to her mouth, she had temporarily forgotten that 'Aunt Adhara' was also their teacher.
"What you chose to do with your friend is your business, as well as how you chose to break house rules. But be careful sneaking around after dark, Ginny." Reflecting on her run in with Severus in her youth, and how it had awakened a dark curiosity, she laid a gentle hand on the girl's arm, "Young men are not always to be trusted. I would hate to see you caught in a difficult situation."
Ginny politely nodded, "Yes ma'am".
Adhara smiled to herself, knowing her words fell on deaf ears. A knock from Dumbledore on her room doors broke up their dessert. The Headmaster sent the girls packing off to the library and insisted that Ms. Byrne see Snape at once.
"We've put this off long enough. When your finished, send Severus up to my office for a full report."
"What if I'm not able to break the memory spell?" She replied.
His blue eyes twinkled like two stars, "You will, Adhara; you will." He smiled mysteriously and left.
***
It had been a fortnight since he had fallen asleep with her head on his lap, her black hair falling across his legs. He had sleep restfully the entire night in the chair, awaking at sunrise; the memory of her touch still hot on his thighs; the power of her words commanding him even in the waking dreams of dawn. 'Give yourself to me'. And he had done just that. He just didn't know how much he had until he awoke the next morning and she was gone. The room was bitter cold, and his chest ached with something he hadn't felt in very long time. Longing.
As a child he had longed for his grandmother's visits, but they were too short. He had longed for true friendship, but his relationships were veneer. Yet, he had never longed for a woman, not even for Lily, with this excruciating need. Was this need for her merely lust? It had certainly been a long time since he had engaged intercourse. To him sex had been an act to meet a primal need; the merging of two bodies to reap momentary physical satisfaction. There was nothing more. At least he had never known anything more until Adhara had spoken the words 'making love'. Two words which sounded like a holy psalm upon an angel's lips. Making love was good, and pure; certainly not like the wanton, and ill-fated affairs he had experienced with women. Perhaps the words played upon him so powerfully, because they made him realize that no woman had ever loved him. Not even his maternal parent. The two women he had loved, though both very differently, his mother and Lily, had both left him unrequited.
"Professor Snape?" There was a soft rapping at his chamber door.
He tensed. They hadn't spoken since that night. Not even a hello. "Yes Ms. Byrne?" Adhara, the maiden star.
Hair the color of a moonless sky streamed around small shoulders. One black lock, one silver, framing her rosy face, "The headmaster said you were ready." She lingered in the doorway, tapping the frame beneath tense fingers.
"Yes. Please come in."
She sat again on the green sofa, and folded her hands in her lap, "You've been drinking." It was a statement made to the empty black label that sat on the chess table.
"One needs to drink before entering your presence." His tone more pungent than he meant for it to be.
"You're still upset with me." She was suppose to be the seer, but had he read her cruel thoughts that night? Hush, Adhara, you will help him where you intended to hurt him.
"No. I'm still upset at Sirius for trying to feed me to Remus, but I could never be mad at you. I was the one at fault there." His eyes were warmer that she remembered; a dark, gentle brown. "The drink is for courage." Deep laugher rung out for the second time, and Adhara enjoyed the tenor in his voice. "That is what my father used to say before he would approach my mother in argument. "
She joined in his rare laughter, "Please, come and sit beside me Severus."
The last time, she had knelt before him. Now they were sitting side by side, equals. For the first time he felt afraid. She had never shuttered from his touch, but he had no idea what was behind the black curtains of his memory. What if behind the spells he tortured someone or killed someone. It was his past, but would she flee from his touch? Possibly even run from the room. Gods! How could he ever have deluded himself into believing someone as good and as pure could ever want something as vile and desecrated as he? His heart caught in his throat as she reached for his hands.
"No! Wait!" He shouted, terror in his command.
"Don't be afraid," her voice soothed, hands frozen in mid air. I won't hurt you.
"I don't know what memories lay behind the spells, and I remember only a little of the atrocities that I have committed. But the little I do remember," his eyes hooded themselves from her, his thin lips barely moving, "it was awful."
Her hand touched his knee, her thumb making small, meditative circles, "Severus, I know you were a Death Eater. I know what Death Eaters do."
Shaking his head in frustration, "You don't know what I've done. What I am."
Then without speaking, she raised a hand to his face and sketched the out line of his jaw with her index finger. "What you were."
Her breast rising and falling with ragged breath, "I know Severus because I too was lost. And sometimes the darkness leads me still, even though I am sworn to the light." Bracing her back upright, she dropped her hand to rest on his forearm. "I have no 'dark mark' to prove my suffering, but every day when I look in the mirror, I see the silver reminder of my sins. When I finally left my hair-" tears welled in her eyes as her throat clinched with emotion.
"Shhhh," Severus eased as his long fingers swept up the silver lock of hair. When she had first confessed that she too had sins to bare, he had openly smirked at her in mocking congratulations. Now, he wanted nothing more to than to take up her cross, and bare her pain. Raising the silver plat of hair to his lips, he kissed it. His Black eyes beheld her fully, "You are beautiful."
Suddenly, her hands were upon his chest pushing him back into the sofa. Her lips upon his, kissing him with passionate urgency. His lips returning her lasciviousness, until he could bare his question no longer. With one muscular stroke, he pushed her off his chest, encircling her delicate wrists with his fingers. He had meant to shake her, to yell his question at her, but instead it came out as pathetically dull, "Why Adhara? Why me? I am not worthy of you."
"Why?" Her voice mocked his own. She hadn't expected this, and she wasn't sure she knew the answer.
"Is this some 'technique' to coerce me into showing you my secrets?"
A blush rose from her thin neck, filling her cheeks with scarlet embarrassment. Now was not to tell him about how she had planned to use him for her own empowerment. She was sure if he knew, he'd reject her immediately and she needed him desperately. So she confessed what she could of the truth, "When we spent the first evening talking, I realized how much alike we are. Trouble pasts, bitter disappointments…" Then, meeting his eyes straight on, "But also," her voice a breathy staccato, "I liked touching you, Severus."
Her words ignited him. His mouth so close to hers, she could feel the heat of his breath, voice as smooth as black velvet, "Do you do this to all your victims? Seduce them? Make them your lover?"
Her eyes closed, and she could feel the tender skin of his lips on hers as she tried to say 'I never have', but it was too late. They were caught up in a rapturous embrace again; ignorant to the world outside of them, lost in a continuum of time known only to lovers. Lips and tongues searching, hands discovering untouched curves until a too familiar voice, broke their trance.
"Severus Snape!" A voice boomed from the hallway, "Open this door right now!"
Adhara moved back, swollen lips, parting, "Sirius!" Her hand catching her mouth, eyes shown with unabashed fear. She had forgotten that Sirius would be back this week, and apparently he had arrived sooner than later.
Snape's voice low, his lips playing with the corners of his mouth, "Well well, I see your brother has come to rescue you."
Her eyes flashed, "He can't know about this."
Snape nodded in agreement, though he would love to see the look on Sirius face, but he knew she was right. Anyway, it had been a long day and he wasn't in the mood for dueling, "Sit in the chair by the fire, now!"
"Open up Severus, I know your in there!" More pounding.
Snape buttoned his collar, where only moments ago her tiny white fingers had undone it in order to place hot kisses upon his neck. Taking a second to cool himself down, he picked up his wand and pointed it, "Arccadio!"
The door banged open revealing a handsome man, mid thirties, dark hair and clean shaven and another man, with light brown hair behind him.
"Sirius, to what do I owe this….honor?" His voice was dark and rasping.
"The headmaster told me…," eyeing his sister.
"Brother! You're back!" Adhara jumped from the chair and flung her arms around her sibling. She thought if she could hold him close for a moment, he might think the blush in her cheek was from seeing him.
"Adhara! Oh I missed you." He held her by the arms and sighed deeply, "This is the last time the headmaster sends me on an errand over the Christmas holidays!"
"Agreed! We've spent too many Christmas's apart already."
"I knew you'd be arriving over the break, but why are you down here in this vile place? Did he force you to come down here? " Snarling in Severus's direction.
"Always protecting your little sister." Her voice became very animated and then she kissed Sirius full on the lips and smiled mischievously, "Always keeping me away from the boys."
She winked at Severus and she could swear that he blushed. "Actually, Professor Snape has been kind enough to offer me tea this evening. We were getting to know one another a bit since we will be working together."
"Gods! I knew it was bad when Dumbledore told me about breaking the spells with a seer! I just can't believe he would get my little sister involved with something so dangerous." Sirius was now pacing the floor with obvious anger.
"Oh please Sirius, like you haven't been chasing around every hell beast and Death Eater within a hundred miles since you were reinstated as an auror last year."
His sapphire eyes flashing, "That's different. I am have an obligation to-"
"Sirius, be quiet," Adhara scolded with a sister's insistence, "and introduce me to your friend." Her brow tightened as she looked at the thin man with startling pale blue eyes, "I would swear, if not for the gray in your brown hair, you were Remus Lupin?"
"The last time I saw you Ms. Byrne, I was indeed less gray and far more naive." Lupin said with a somber tone.
"Remus! It is you! Dear friend, how have you been these years? Sirius told me you were working together again, and I have been so worried about you." She immediately crossed the dark room and, grasped his hands tightly in earnest friendship. "How is your…illness?" concern ready in her face.
"It is not cured, but I am coping. Professor Snape's willingness to brew the wolfsbane potion has been very helpful." His thin lips spread into a pleasant smile, etched by lines of fatigue and age.
"I'm upset with you Remus, I meant to send you a howler." They all laughed. "Why didn't you stay the summer with Sirius, Harry and I after the meeting at your house? You could have meet Kristen. I'm sure Sirius has told you about her?" She looked at Sirius, and he merely rolled his eyes in admonishment. "We had such a wonderful time…We all missed you."
"Oh yes, I've meet Ms. Alexander… But Adhara," her name a sigh on his lips. "The last time we met up in London, we argued terribly." His voice falling to a low hush, "I know that I failed you when you needed me most. I wasn't sure if you were able to forgive such a horrible misgiving of judgment."
"Oh Remus," her arms encircling him tighter, "Always the martyr. Of course I have forgiven you. If I'd met myself then, I'm sure I wouldn't have believed me, but that is the past. Make it up to me by staying with us over the Easter holidays?"
His pale eyes sparkled, "Done."
"Okay you two, break it up." Sirius was pushing apart their embrace. "Well Severus, as you can see, we have a lot of catching up to do. People with friends do that sort of thing. Mr. Moony, Ms. Byrne, shall we?" They walked through the door, when Adhara turned back.
"I will meet you at the steps, I …" she hesitated, "I have some unfinished business."
She turned back into the room to see Severus sitting by the fire unflinching. His black eyes shot up at her, "Ms. Byrne?"
"Meet me in my rooms at midnight," she mouthed from the doorway. A look of shadowy surprise crossed his stern face. With one bewitching wink, she turned on her heel, and left.
***
That's chapter 3! What do you think? Please, please review- be truthful, be tender… Thanks Tessa and Marvoless for your reviews and encouragement! Smiles- Kat aka Lyra
