Dark Love Re-aged

As they slowly made their way to the Astronomy Tower a few moments later, Aurora took fleeting glances towards Severus. He was extremely quiet and rather subdued while he walked beside her. He looked like he was going to a funeral. She wanted to say something to him, but she knew exactly how he'd react. After all, this was her Severus that she knew and loved.

When they reached the observatory, Aurora instantly walked towards the railing and glanced out onto Black Lake. The scenery truly was beautiful. The castle in fact hadn't changed that much over the years. She then felt Severus rather than saw him when he walked up beside her. She noticed out of the corner of her eye that he was also staring out at the lake.

"It's strange, isn't it? To realize that there's a part of your life that you don't know anything about?" she softly said. She knew Severus would be a bit more comfortable if she didn't look at him when speaking, so she made sure she didn't.

"Strange is not the word I would use in this case, Sinistra," he quietly replied.

"You know, it's all right if you don't want to do this. I'd understand."

"I followed you up here, didn't I?" he growled.

"Yes, but I'd understand if you didn't want to return to our life together." Aurora then sighed softly. "I mean, a part of me has always known that you loved her. It's not as if you never made your intentions clear before to me. It's always been her that you loved, not me." She then tried desperately to blink back the tears that formed in her dark eyes before speaking the words that would sting painfully in her chest. She knew that it'd hurt like hell for her, but she'd be willing to do that for him. "So if you want to stay true to her this time, I'd understand, Severus," she choked out softly.

Within mere milliseconds afterwards, he violently latched onto her upper arms and spun her towards him. She couldn't hold back her scream at his actions. However, it didn't go unnoticed to her that he did loosen his grip on her slightly. He still was hurting her, though. Her eyes had locked onto his, allowing her to see the fierce inferno raging in his obsidian eyes. His entire stance screamed his anger. She could see his clenched jaw, his flaring nostrils, and that intense glare that he only ever held for her.

"What? Suddenly, I'm not good enough for you, Sinistra?" he snarled.

"No," she cried. "No it's not that. It's just that I'd understand if you chose her this time."

"You'd understand?" he sneered. He then released her and whirled away from her before walking towards the other side of the observatory. "You'd understand if I chose Lily over you," he repeated mockingly. He then whirled around when he was far enough away from her. "Tell me, Sinistra. Do you always make a habit of sacrificing yourself for me?" he snarled. "Would you take my place so that Potter and his little band of idiots couldn't hex me?" She didn't respond. "Would you step in front of me to prevent my father from beating me?" Again, she didn't respond vocally, but the tears now flowed down her cheeks. "Tell me, Sinistra! Would you jump in front of me to take a Killing Curse meant for me? Would you do that?" he bellowed.

"YES!" she screamed just as loud as he had. "Yes, Circe, yes, I would, Severus," she cried, wrapping her arms around herself protectively. She could tell her response only angered him more.

"Why must every goddamn woman in my life feel the need to protect me?" he roared.

"Because we love you," she yelled back. "Dammit, Severus, don't you get that! We love you!"

"Then perhaps I'd be better off dead," he growled, glaring at her. "My mother tried to protect me from Tobias, and I had believed her to be dead because of it. Lily, oh, my lovely Lily, is now dead after trying for so long to protect me from myself. And what do you want? To add yet another to the list of women in my life I've killed because they loved me!" he bellowed.

"It's always been her that you loved, though. Dammit, Severus, I'm your second choice," she cried. "I know in your heart that you wished you ended up with her instead of me so I'm giving you the choice to choose her this time." She made sure to hold back her scream this time when he painfully latched onto her upper arms again. He shook her fiercely, which she was sure left deep fingerprint bruises where his fingers dug in.

"Obviously, since we have a daughter, I moved on with my life! She made her choice, Sinistra, and it wasn't me that she chose. I have NO claim to her anymore," he snarled, digging his fingers even more into her upper arms. He then yanked her closer to him. "And what makes you believe you were my second choice?" he sneered as he glared daggers. "Do you honestly take me to be like Potter or Black and create a list in my head rating the girls I'd want to be with?" He then shook her again violently so that her teeth nearly rattled together. "WELL, DO YOU?" he roared.

"No," she whimpered as the tears streaked her cheeks.

"Then why must you insist upon your asinine assumption that you're my second choice?" he growled. He then released a deep exhale before releasing his hold on her again. He angrily whirled around and stalked towards the other side before whirling back and returning. "Dammit, Sinistra!" he yelled. "Quit making a spectacle of yourself. You are fine."

"Yes, well, thank you for that wonderful sympathy, Severus," she snapped back. "I'll do just that so I'm not inconveniencing you. Circe forbid, anyone shows their emotions around you," she replied bitterly before angrily wiping the tears from her face. "There, are you happy now?"

"Oh, yes, Sinistra, I'm perfectly peachy now," he drawled sarcastically before throwing his hands up into the air, venting his frustration. Silence then settled amongst them for a few moments.

"You know," she quietly said, leaning against the railing. "The majority of students come up here to snog each other senseless. And here we are snapping at one another," she said before glancing at him. "Then again, since when have we ever been normal, though?"

"My mother had said that it was anger that led us into this mess in the first place."

"Yeah, I caught that." She then sighed. "Severus, I thought your mother was dead."

"As did I," he quietly replied, joining her again. "It seems that a lot of things change in the future." He then brushed back his shoulder-length black hair before sighing. He glanced towards her. "When I regained consciousness, I had thought it was January 9, 1976."

"Your sixteenth birthday," she responded quietly. He nodded slowly. "I thought that too."

"I was to take the Dark Mark this evening. Well, perhaps not this particular evening since it's been . . ." His voice trailed off before he whirled around and glanced out at the lake. "Unfortunately, I am rather certain that I did take the Mark that night."

"How do you know?"

"The girl," he whispered. "She pushed up my left sleeve as if she knew it'd be there."

"Do you think we'll remember any of this after we re-age?"

"Doubtful," he replied with another sigh. "But who knows?"

"Severus," she said very softly. She faintly smiled at him when he glanced towards her. "Before we re-age however that happens, could you perhaps indulge me for a few minutes?" His dark eyes narrowed on her. "Last year, well, you know what I mean," she said, shrugging. "What I'm trying to say is that I wanted to ask you to the dance. I just was too much of a coward to ask at the time."

"So you're asking me now?"

"I guess I am." She then played nervously with the hem of her robes. "I-I mean, you can always say no, but I . . ." She then glanced back up at him. "I always dreamt of dancing with you."

"I don't dance, Sinistra."

"You can't honestly believe that when we do get married that I'm going to let you slither away so we don't share the traditional bride and groom dance, can you?"

"I'm not," he started to say before wincing slightly and finishing saying, "very good."

"I'm not going to remember it, Severus. You said it yourself that it's doubtful either of us will remember. Plus, you asked me earlier if I'd take a Killing Curse meant for you, which I said I would. Severus, do you honestly think something like that will make me not love you?"

"We don't have any music," he responded quietly.

"If you want I can hum," she said with a soft smile.

"Dear Merlin, anything but that," he replied, smirking. He then inhaled deeply before holding a hand out to her. However, when she didn't immediately take his hand, he opened his mouth to speak.

"If we're going to do this, we're at least going to do this properly, Severus."

"I wonder if you'll always be so demanding," he said, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

In response, she rolled her eyes before drawing her long silver wand from her black robes. Tapping her shoulder once and reciting a soft Latin incantation, her robes quickly transformed into a short black ruffled dress with thin spaghetti straps that crisscrossed in back. The amulet that consisted of two snakes coiling around a glittering emerald hung loosely around her neck by a black leather cord.

"I take it my robes are not worthy of you, oh, great Lady Sinistra?" he drawled.

"I've always loved you in black, so I'll leave them for now." She quietly laughed when he scoffed. She then quietly stepped closer to him. In fact, she stepped so close that she could smell the cinnamon and various other herbs that she had always associated with him. When she felt him gently place his hands on the small of her back, she smiled and rested her head against his chest. She could hear his heart beating in perfect sync with her own, but then it might also have been her heart beating in sync with his. She then reached her left hand up to place it on his shoulder and rested her right hand against his back. She felt him tense slightly at her touch, but he relaxed not too long afterward.

"Now what?" he whispered. "We still have no music." As if the castle had heard him, soft music slowly started to play from somewhere in the room. He scoffed yet again. "Bloody ghost," he said as he caught the Bloody Baron retreating down the staircase. He, however, sighed heavily before gracefully leading her as they swayed to the tranquil music. It was not long that he felt her completely relax in his arms with a content sigh. He swallowed back the lump that had formed in the back of his throat before bowing his head slightly to rest the side of his head against hers gently. It was so intoxicating to him to be so close to her as he was right then. He knew that whatever his mother had meant before that this was how they would re-age. He definitely felt something close to love for the witch in his arms. He could no longer deny that. Not knowing if it was just the atmosphere or if it was his adolescent hormones finally emerging, he bent his head further towards her and planted a gentle kiss to her cheek. Her head then came up, and she stared at him. "I—"

"Don't apologize, Severus," she said, smiling before gently touching the spot he kissed her.

"I believe that we are close to re-aging," he explained for the lack of having anything better to say to her. He then watched her softly laugh before dragging her teeth against her bottom lip. "What?" Quickly, he felt her try to stand on her tippy-toes, which made him laugh. She was just a few inches short of reaching him. He could see the frustration in her eyes as she realized this. He, however, drew in another calming breath before lowering his head. Their kiss was gentle and not at all what he expected it to be. Much to his surprising disappointment, she was the first to draw away.

"We didn't re-age."

"Yes, I-I had noticed that also," he said, staring down at her. Truthfully, he wasn't sure if he wanted to re-age anymore. He didn't want to let her go. Even though, he knew that he was going to be with her again soon anyway. Like this, he hadn't committed any of the terrible crimes he guessed that he had over his years as the Dark Lord's servant. For the most part, he felt rather innocent still. Granted, he had watched terrible things while training to become a Death Eater, but he couldn't help any of the Dark Lord's victims lest be killed himself.

"Perhaps we need to indulge ourselves further," she said questioningly.

"You-you're fifteen," he replied thickly. Was it getting hot up here or was that just him?

"I'm almost thirty-five, Severus. And it's not like we haven't done it before," she pointed out with that infuriating smirk of hers.

"As adults, not—not like this."

"I won't tell if you don't," she replied, smirking. She then drew fully back from him before glancing towards the black iron staircase near them. Drawing in a deep breath, she calmly whirled around from him and walked away, leaving him there to stare after her.

"Where are you going?" he demanded as he quickly followed after her.

"Well, I am the Astronomy Mistress, Severus," she said, grinning. "I'm sure even you remember the way to the office." She then quickly darted down the few steps to the level just below the observatory. She could hear him following after her, but she continued towards the polished oak door. As soon as she opened it, she turned around and flashed him a lopsided grin. "You're not scared. Are you, Severus?"

"Of you?" he replied with a raised eyebrow. "Ha, as if you could ever scare me, Sinistra," he drawled just as she attempted to shut the door. He quickly grabbed the edge of the door before opening it. The door quietly closed behind him. He allowed himself to glance around before shaking his head. It certainly wasn't the office he remembered during his Hogwarts years.

"Stalking me, are we?" she teased.

"You only wish I was stalking you," he replied, continuing their banter. "Then again, you were always a little funny in the head. Weren't you, Sinistra? Not quite Slytherin, but not quite Gryffindor either," he drawled. He nearly laughed when she pointed her finger at him.

"I'll have you know I come from a very long line of Slytherins, Mister."

"Oh, of course," he said, holding his hands up as he slowly closed the gap between them. "But then again, everyone knows that the Sorting Hat does not always sort families according to tradition. Perhaps it just felt pity on you."

He then smirked when he saw her rich chocolate eyes darken. Merlin, she was beautiful when she was angry. What was it that drew witches who were that beautiful when angered to him? He remembered thinking that same thing whenever he was with Lily. She was always gorgeous when she was glaring at him with those brilliant green eyes of hers. He never thought it possible but he was in love with two very different witches, but somehow he loved them equally.

Walking past her, he then slowly turned around when he was certain that he had put enough distance. Sometimes, he knew her better than he knew himself. He watched her eyes darken even more, if that was even possible, until she pushed him backwards. He didn't even hesitate for a moment as he fell back onto the couch. However, he did nearly laugh when her eyes widened in surprise.

"Oh, Circe, are you all right?" she asked, rushing towards him. "I didn't—" However, he gently yanked her down onto the couch with him, effectively cutting her off. "Severus?" she asked clearly puzzled by his behavior as she came to rest on top of him.

"You didn't honestly think you're stronger than me. Did you, Sinistra?" he replied with a smirk.

"I thought I was too young for you," she retorted.

"For that yes, for this no," he responded, encircling his arms around her waist gently. "You don't have any objections. Do you?"

"Hell no," she exclaimed, grinning before resting her head back on his chest. "I am kind of tired now that you mention it," she said, yawning. She then glanced up and noticed him doing the same, which made her laugh softly. "I feel safe in your arms, Severus," she said, nestling herself into him.

"That much is apparent," he drawled, glancing down at her. "Now, hush, before I have to cast a sleeping charm on you." He extended his hand and summoned wordlessly a blanket from the end of the couch to drape over them. It didn't take too long for them to fall asleep in one another's arms.

~Family~

Neither of the sleeping occupants heard the door creak open. Nor did they hear the footsteps heading towards them. However, they both heard the loud gasp followed by yelling, which startled them both awake instantly.

"Aurora Sinistra!" a loud female voice screamed.

Aurora's eyes flew open to dark orbs staring at her, clearly amused and upset at the same time. She knew that it wasn't Severus who had screamed so she slowly glanced to her left. However, two things hit her before she met the glaring deep blue eyes. One, she was in her office for some strange reason with Severus on her couch in his arms with no idea how they got there since the last thing she remembered they were arguing in their rooms. And, two, she wasn't wearing any clothes. Luckily, there was a blanket draped around them.

"Mum," Aurora said with a slight quiver in her voice. This wasn't the way she pictured her Christmas morning or even how she envisioned her mother meeting Severus. She then noticed the other occupants in the room that were trying their very best to blend in with the decor. She grimaced before glancing back at Severus. She allowed her head to hit back onto his chest. "Save me," she whispered.

"I doubt it'd help at this point," he replied quietly.

"Perhaps it'd be best if we allowed them a few minutes alone," a familiar voice spoke up.

"Oh, I'll give them more than that, Albus. Not a word, Orin," Aurora's mother growled before briskly walking out of her daughter's office.

"Well, if you'll excuse me," Aurora's father said quietly, clearing his throat. "Happy you're back, Aura, and, um, never mind." His footsteps receding then echoed throughout the room.

"I shall ask the house elves to bring you both up some clothing to change into at once. However, before I leave, I'd like to inform you both that the lack of dress you are in is not due to an impropriety on your parts. There was a slight accident in your labs this morning, which deaged you both. It appears that the re-aging part, well, I am sure you both can figure it out for yourselves. Might I be the first to say 'Happy Christmas? Well, I shall see myself out." The door quietly closed behind Albus.

"Oh," Aurora groaned, burying her face into Severus's chest even more. She could feel her cheeks burning from the embarrassment. She couldn't understand how Severus could be so calm.

"Perhaps we should do as Albus suggested, Aurora?"

"I'd rather die," she mumbled against his chest.

"It's not as bad as it could have been," he responded, lightly rubbing her back. "It could have been my mother who found us like this." When he heard her groan even louder, he brushed back her long curly hair lovingly. "Aurora, avoiding your problems will not solve anything."

"So you told me this morning in our quarters," she mumbled back. "And now look where we are, Severus. I'm lying on top of you covered only by a blanket, and both of my parents just saw us."

"While I would not normally admit this, all in all this has been a fairly good Christmas so far. That is if you don't take into consideration about your parents finding us to be in our current state." He then sighed. "However, there are always worse places to wake up." When she lifted her head up and gazed into his eyes, he smirked softly. "Perhaps I'm just in the festive mood this morning or afternoon or whatever time it is. Though, I doubt your mother will be if we keep her waiting any longer."

"Fine," Aurora grumbled before rolling off him and stepping onto the cold floor with the blanket firmly held against her. She walked to the neatly folded clothes atop of her desk, only to shriek when a black shirt and trousers suddenly flew at her.

"You have the blanket, Aurora. And we both know it is dangerous for us to be in this state," his voice floated towards her. "Certain things might happen." She shivered as she thought of these 'things'.