Disclaimer: I own none of the characters.

--------------

Veritaserum

It was now or never, he kept telling himself. This was his only chance to figure everything out. He could have left it alone, but this was the only way to get an answer that would set him to peace... or at least he hoped.

He stopped and bent down to look the girl in her eyes. They were overflowing with the heartbreaking tears of the purest sorrow and confusion. Hopefully a confusion that would soon be sorted out. He would never admit it to himself, but he felt a tug at his heart, however cold it had now become.

She sat there, letting all of her emotions run down her cheeks, and off her chin onto the cold stone floor. She couldn't remember where she was or how she had gotten here, but she knew one thing; she was safe here. Between the throbbing (of her head or her heart, she wasn't sure), she thought she heard someone. A man; speaking to her. She tried to stop crying, to try and make out what he was saying, but nothing came to her.

He tried his hardest to speak as softly as he possibly could, but he knew that it was still colder that anything she could take right now. He sighed, and cupped her head in his hands. She shivered, as his hands were cold, and he could see the confusion set deep into her, that was slowly eating her away.

He held her against his body as gently as he could. He took the phial and held it to her lips. He hated sinking this low to get an answer, yet he felt that the faster it was over, the sooner they would be able to move on.

Yes... But move on to where? You know the rules, Severus. Nothing like that can happen here.

As the potion began to work, he saw her eyes widen, as she came realize what she had just drank... He wiped a tear from her cheek, and looked deep into her eyes as he spoke.

"Do you know where you are?"

"Yes.. Your dungeons. I'm sorry, I shouldn't even be here, I'll just go-"

"It's alright, it's alright, just stay here. I need to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"What's wrong?" As the words left his mouth, he wished he could take them back; but nothing could change that now.

"Well professor... I.. I think I..." Even with the veritaserum the words didn't come easily.

"I love you."

A/N: Merry Christmas!