Disclaimer in 1st chapter
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Standing outside my cottage, that had been rundown when I had left, and was now positively falling apart, I felt safe and home again. Something slightly warm started to bubble in my stomach. I couldn't remember why I had left, all those events a year ago had faded from my memory as if whisked away. A thick layer of grime lay over the whole house, and the vines had almost consumed my armchair in the garden. Dropping my bags on the front steps, I ran over to my chair, curled up in the itchy leaves, and closed my eyes. I let the sunlight play over my face, warming my skin, and I finally felt better.
After a long time, I stood up, stretched and brushed the dirt off myself, and brought my bags inside. Suddenly exhausted, I dropped into my bed and went to sleep.
I awoke late the next morning, to the brilliant summer sun shining in my window. I didn't bother getting dressed, just hoped that there was still drinkable tea left in the kitchen. As I walked through the dining room turned laboratory, I saw a cauldron bubbling. Suddenly apprehensive, and regretting not looking around the house before I fell asleep, I walked very quietly to the doorway to the kitchen. A tall, dark-haired man stood at the old-fashioned stove, cracking an egg into a pot of water.
"Severus?" I said, confused.
He spun around like lightning, knocking the carton of eggs off the counter in the process.
"Fuck!" he exclaimed, looking at me, then down at the eggs. "You scared the shit out of me."
I smiled uncomfortably. "Sorry…"
We eyed each other cautiously for a few minutes, neither of us saying anything. Finally, we both tried to speak at once.
"So-"
"You're-"
We both stopped.
"Go ahead." he said carefully.
"So… You've been staying here?" I asked.
"Yes… I stayed at Spinner's End for a few nights, but when I came back to… to see if you would have me live here again, you had vanished. I thought it wouldn't do any harm if I stayed. I am sorry." he replied, ending it with a rude tone in his voice.
"No, that's fine." I said, not quite politely. He turned, and leaving the eggs on the floor and the pot on the stove, slammed the door to his room.
I sighed and began to clean up the mess he had made. Then I ate the egg and toast he had made for himself.