XIV.
As the weeks passed and Christmas break drew nearer, Avery and Syrulia's relationship seemed back to normal. Well, as normal as it had been the past year. Avery still became easily angered, and Syrulia put up with it as usual. She was slowly breaking out of the self-loathing trance that she had been in, and was beginning to warm back up and smile more again. Although they hadn't spoken since the incidence in the stairwell, Severus was happy that Syrulia seemed to be feeling better.
The week before holiday they all sat studying in the common room. Avery announced that he would be returning home for the break and Mulciber said that he too would be returning home. "I guess that leaves you to look after my Syrulia," Avery said, addressing Severus. "I will do my best," Severus said in his dry tone. Syrulia felt her heart rise into her throat again, thinking about being alone with Severus. Avery and Mulciber only laughed, thinking Severus' response quite the joke.
Holiday came quicker than Syrulia had anticipated, and she was soon saying goodbye to Avery. "Be a good girl," he whispered to her as she hugged him tightly. They kissed one last time, before Avery and Mulciber made their way down the steps, joining the group heading towards the train station. Syrulia pulled her scarf up closer to her face against the cold winter air, and turned to go back inside.
Just inside the door she found Severus waiting for her. "Care to join me for dinner," he asked her. She nodded, giving him a small smile. They entered the Great Hall finding only one long table set up for dinner. Syrulia and Severus were two of five Slytherin students staying behind for the holiday, and were among only 50 students to stay behind. This made things much more intimate, as the teachers joined students at the table for the meal.
After a hearty dinner and conversation with Professor Slughorn, Syrulia and Severus escaped an invitation to stay and play games, and headed for the quiet of the Slytherin common room. Once inside they were completely alone. "It is eerily quiet in here," Syrulia commented. "It's nice," Severus said coolly. "Of course you would think so," she giggled, smiling largely at him.
They sat in front of the fireplace just staring into the blazing fire. Severus noticed that Syrulia was shivering slightly and pulled out his wand, transfiguring a blanket out of a newspaper that had been lying on the table. He pulled it over the top of her, and she quickly snuggled up under it. "Thank you," she said sleepily. Syrulia felt so tired, she wasn't sure if it was the coldness of the room, the winter storm brewing outside, or the comfort of the blanket, but she really felt as though she could fall asleep.
Before he knew what was happening, Severus found Syrulia snuggling close against him. He tensed up, but soon realized she was asleep. He melted into her, pulling the blanket over him as well. He breathed in the scent of her, herbs, spices, and the slightest hint of rose. It was comforting, and yet he felt his heart racing. He thought about her, and then about how Avery wouldn't like this, and finally he thought about Lily. 'How can I betray you so,' he thought. Finally with her face in his mind he too drifted off to sleep.