Chapter 8
Tears of Red
Severus had two minutes. Two! How would he hide her? She was sound asleep and she needed her rest.
He stepped into his bedroom to check on her. She hadn't moved an inch.
Her chest rose and fell as she breathed deeply, occasionally, the vein in her neck would stick out momentarily.
He decided to cast a Disillusionment charm on her and locked the door, before returning to the living room.
The blonde wizard was just stepping through the fireplace.
"What is so important that you had to come here?" Snape asked, clearly annoyed.
"Actually, speaking of that girl from earlier. The Dark Lord has found her. She was a friend of yours. Eliza, I think her name was. I remember she was a Deatheater around the time you became one. She disappeared after that, everyone in the wizarding world thought she was dead, then all of a sudden, she appears in Hogsmeade!" The blonde wizard spoke casually, brushing the dirt of his cloak.
"Why does this concern me?" He asked.
Lucius' eyes bulged and he gawked at the other man. "Are you kidding me right now? You were madly in love with the girl!"
Severus shook his head. "I have no idea what you are talking about, Lucius."
"Have you gone mad, Severus? You were devastated when news of her death went around, then it seemed you forgot about her." He still gawked at his fellow Deatheater. "Anyway, if you see her, hide her. The Dark Lord knows she's around and if he gets ahold of her, who knows what he'll do to her."
A strangled cry was heard coming from the locked room behind Severus.
Severus closed his eyes briefly and swore under his breath. Malfoy quirked an eyebrow.
Snape turned to the door and opened it to check on Eliza. He dropped the charm and saw her curled up on the floor, clutching her arm.
He approached her and brushed her hair away from her face. Tears streamed down her face, but there was something off about the way they glinted on her pale skin.
He lit the lamps and breathed in sharply.
Her tears were not tears. They were dark, crimson streams of blood coming from her eyes.
She looked up at him and pressed a hand to his, where it was still caressing her face. She drew her hand back and he noticed his hand had streaks of her blood.
She looked away as more blood started to stream from her nose and ears. It started to bubble and foam from her mouth, until it seemed it was coming from everywhere.
He was starting to panic. What was happening? How could he stop it?
Lucius stepped in behind him and his grey eyes widened, partly in disgust, shock and recognition.
Eliza started to choke. She rolled over and supported herself with her arms. She spit the blood from her mouth, in order to take small, shaky breaths.
Severus helped her to sit against the wall and tilted her face forwards.
He whispered the counter curse for sectum sempra, hoping it would make a difference.
"Vulnera Senectur." He muttered.
Slowly, the blood flow subsided and her airways were fully cleared.
"What happened?" Snape asked, worriedly.
She opened her mouth to speak, but looked up at Lucius, suddenly noticing his presence.
She backed up against the wall, in a futile attempt to get away.
"What is he doing here?" She spat, a little blood still coming from her mouth.
"He came to warn me." Severus said gently.
Eliza raised an eyebrow, and narrowed her eyes. "Malfoy? That seems too noble. What's in it for you?" She asked venomously.
The blonde wizard averted his gaze. He knew what she was capable of. "Nothing. Perhaps simply protecting an old friend is enough."
She laughed, coldly. "You were never my friend, Lucius Abraxas Malfoy. Cowards are no friends of mine."
"I could leave you to die at the hand of the Dark Lord." He said, examining the snake on his cane.
"My point exactly, you are a cowardly man. No, sorry, weasel." She said, her eyes glinting dangerously.
The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was getting tired of the foolish bickering. He just wanted Lucius to shut it and leave.
"You are even more beautiful than I remember." The Deatheater said quietly.
Where had that come from?
Suddenly, Severus felt an unpleasant feeling in the pit of his stomach. Jealousy. He didn't like the words coming from Malfoy's mouth at all.
Professor Barron wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "I should just obliviate you. Then, you can leave me be."
"Don't you dare." He hissed.
Severus smirked, despite himself. He was pleased that she hated the man as well.
"Well, I merely tried to warn you. I guess I should get going." The wizard said to the two, turning towards the living room.
"That's not the only reason you came." She said.
Lucius frowned. "Don't be ludicrous."
"You wanted to see for yourself if the rumours were true. You wanted to see for yourself that I was alive." She said, guessing his thoughts and actions.
He looked at her, amazed at how she supposed correctly, accidentally making eye contact in the process.
His thoughts were filled of her choosing Severus over him when they were younger. When she had refused him, then disappeared shortly afterwards.
She shook her head. "Of course. You came for the prize. You can't have me. I'm unavailable to you. Always will be, always have been. You have a wife and child. You don't need me, except to show off. Begone, you miserable cockroach. You disgust me." Her tome was terrifying and oozed malice.
The blonde man shook his head, sighed and left. A few moments later, the Floo made the telltale sound of someone leaving and there was silence.
Severus transfigured a wet cloth and started to clean her face delicately.
She simply sat still and let him wipe the residual blood from her face.
His hands worked effectively, yet they were gentle and careful. She watched his face and he cleaned hers.
His dark eyes were full of concern and worry, his eyebrows were creased in the familiar manner they tended to always be in, his lips were set as he worked.
A stray strand of raven hair fell towards his face. The woman reached out slowly and tucked it behind his ear again.
He offered her a small smile of thanks and continued his work. "What happened?" He asked.
"Same thing as last time." She answered simply."Apparently, spells can be cast through the Mark. I didn't know that."
"Neither did I." He replied, his frown deepening.
"Severus?" She asked quietly.
He motioned for her to finish speaking.
"Why would Lucius come warn you? In your opinion, I mean." She asked.
"He owed me. Firstly, I'm the godfather of his brat and he insists I keep and eye on him. Secondly, well, there are many things I've done for the man." He spoke very quietly, his eyes never leaving what he was doing.
Severus pulled his hand away and suddenly Eliza felt cold. She still sat on the floor and he had remained crouched before her.
"All done." He said. She smiled in return.
He stood up and reached out a hand, to assist her. She took it gratefully and stood carefully. When she stood, she nearly lost her balance and Severus' arm was immediately around her waist.
"Thanks." She said, smiling awkwardly. "I'm a bit off-balance."
"Are you alright?" He inquired, eyes filling with concern once more.
"I assure you that I will be quite fine, Severus." The dark haired woman reassured.
Suddenly, without hesitation, Severus tightened his grip around her waist and pulled her tightly against him, holding her in a tight embrace against his chest.
She smiled to herself and leaned into his shoulder. He buried his face in her wild curls and inhaled the scent of her sandalwood shampoo and lavender perfume.
She looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you for everything." She whispered softly, her voice as light as a feather.
He looked into her bright, green eyes and suddenly he knew. This woman had melted his cool exterior. She had changed him. She shaped him into a man who could feel again.
He leaned down and placed his lips on her soft, pink ones.
Electric shocks coursed through their bodies and made them warm from the very tips of their fingers to the tips of their toes.
Eliza leaned into the kiss, deepening it. She moved her lips against his, enjoying the complete and utter bliss she felt.
Severus was surprised. He was so sure that she would have pushed him away. Maybe he had been wrong. Maybe someone in the universe did truly love him.
The feeling warmed his heart and he held her tighter against him. Her fingers tangled in his ebony hair, pulling him to her.
When they pulled away, both were breathless. Still wrapped in each other's embrace, but far enough to breathe.
Eliza leaned into Severus' shoulder again and bit her lip. "That was incredible." She stated.
He kissed the top of her head. "You're telling me." He joked.
They stayed in silence a moment longer. Until Severus decided to speak his mind.
"Eliza?" He asked carefully.
"Yes, Severus?" She responded curiously.
"I think you have done something no other human being has ever done before." He said quietly.
"Which is what?" She interrogated gently, with a smile.
"You made the stone man soft." He said.
She giggled and leaned in closer.
He bent his head and nuzzled into the curve where he neck met her shoulder. He placed a soft, warm kiss and felt her shiver. Satisfied with the result, he placed another and another, before creating a trail back to her lips.
She pecked him lightly and leaned into him again.
She rested there, in his tight embrace for a few minutes. She was so comfortable in his arms. Their bodies flushed against the other's.
Severus brushed her hair from her face, only to find she was fast asleep in his arms once again.
