Chapter 14 – Love is a Dangerous Thing
Sirius ventured outside the next morning, wand at the ready, but he returned an hour later to say that the Ministry and Healers were there. Rhia joined him about ground at that time, and she helped heal people and take them to temporary medical centers, as St. Mungo's was still being reformed.
At the end of the day, both were exhausted and hesitant to leave, but one of Sirius's fellow Aurors convinced them to return home. Nevertheless, Rhia didn't feel safe to go to her home, and Sirius finally offered to go to her apartment with her. She refused, though sadly.
"I can handle being alone," she said. "You don't need to be so chivalrous. Thank you, though."
He laughed at this. "No. You're coming home with me. I insist."
Although she resisted, he finally was able to get her to join him. Soon they were at his apartment, sitting alone in the dark.
"Monica's probably wondering where I am," she said quietly. "Can I send her a letter?"
He nodded.
She scribbled a quick narration of her adventures and sent it off to her best friend with his owl. Then, Rhia returned to her seat beside Sirius.
She didn't know when she had started to think of him as 'Sirius' instead of just 'Black.' There had been no specific time in which the change had been made. The shift was nowhere near palpable. She couldn't register when. But he was Sirius now. He was a friend, even though it had never been declared outright. She trusted him. And she knew that he, above all, would protect her.
And yet she was hesitant to stay with him. She did not consider him more than a friend, but she knew he felt far more for her. She did not intend to lead him on, nor hurt his feelings in any way. She felt a certain bond between them now, and she didn't want to break it.
"I shouldn't be here," she said quietly.
"Why not?"
"Sirius, I—I shouldn't tease you."
"You're not teasing me. Tempting, but not teasing."
"But still! Even that is bad. I don't belong here."
"Maybe not now. But who knows what the future holds?"
"Don't talk like that," reprimanded Rhia.
"Why not?!" he exclaimed almost angrily. "I love you."
"What?" she snapped around to look at him. "What do you mean by that? How am I supposed to respond to something like that?"
"I don't know. I've never been in love before—though I have had several girls tell me they love me."
Rhia jumped to her feet. "I need to go home."
"Why? It's not like you'll get much sleep anyway."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You'll be thinking of me all night."
"That's that cocky bastard I remember." She took a deep breath and continued. "Listen, Sirius, I cherish your company. But I don't think I could ever reciprocate your feelings for me."
He nodded, a grim smile playing on him lips. "I understand. But that doesn't mean I'll stop trying." He stood up, gave her a long hug, and released her. "I suppose I must let you go for now, but I'm not saying goodbye. I intend to see you again."
She nodded sadly and Apparated to her apartment.
A moment later she stood in the silence and stillness of her dark apartment. Everything seemed sad and lonely there. She wanted to go back to Sirius, but she held her ground and set down her wand on the table, moving to sit on one of her chairs.
He was right, though. She was already thinking about him, and she probably would for the rest of the night.
She heaved a sigh, and leaned her head against the cool table top.
She missed him. She missed his arms around her. She missed his—
"Hello, Rhia," a voice said out of the darkness that was her connected living room.
Her head snapped up, and she glared into the darkness, immediately recognizing the voice. "Snape," she said, her voice cold.
"I've been waiting for you all day."
"You left me," she accused maliciously.
"I didn't know what was going to happen. I went back just after the attack, and you were nowhere in sight. I had only left you for fifteen minutes."
"Why should I believe you? You're one of them now. You've lied to me a hundred times before."
"I wouldn't purposefully put you in danger."
"Then, why did you send me that awful letter? You should have known that I would go searching for you."
"I wouldn't purposefully put you in danger," he repeated.
"Bollocks," she spat, standing up. "You don't give a damn about me."
"Yes, I do. Because of what I've done, I shouldn't be around you. That's why I sent you that letter."
"Then, what are you doing here now?"
"I have to be here."
"No, you don't."
"I do. I've been ordered here."
"By whom? To do what?"
"The Dark Lord. I'm sorry, Rhia, but you mean too much to me to continue living."
"You're going to kill me? Why?"
"To prove my loyalty."
Rhia smiled and gave off a short laugh.
"What are you doing?" he asked. A noise—the sound her sofa made when someone was standing—came from the inky blackness. She saw him walk toward her, coming into the dim light of the lamp over her sink. His wand was in his hand.
"You really do care," she concluded.
Snape stopped mere inches away from her and did not move. Finally, he succumbed to his desires and crushed his lips against hers. In a frenzy of lust and passion, he ravaged her soft lips. He was permitted for the moments of her surprise and awe, but was then spurred when she realized his actions.
At this, he took a step away and raised his wand. "I'm sorry," he murmured.