I don't own Harry Potter. This is the last chapter of As the Fire Burns, look for the next installment of this series in As the Earth Moves (Part 4 of 6). Enjoy!

Airiala walked quietly down the busy hallway, ignoring students rushing about to class.

Pyro had returned, fully clothed, and Airiala had left him to talk to Raina alone. Airiala walked to the Astronomy Tower to think. It would be quiet there during the day giving her the peace she needed to think.

She looked out across the lake and grounds of Hogwarts. The lake had frozen back over as if last night had never occurred.

Airiala could feel it in the air as the breeze washed over her. She had changed. The wind elemental was not incapable of love, but it was believed that it was impossible for the wind elemental to remain in love for very long. Love binded you to another and wind needed to be free.

When had she falling in love with Snape?

If she wanted to be honest with herself, Airiala would have to admit that she found Snape interesting from the moment that he stormed into Dumbledore's office in August, but was it possible that she had fallen in love with him then or did it happen over time?

Airiala sighed. This was a mystery to herself, but to solve it she would have to examine these feelings closer and she wasn't sure that she could do that without falling in even deeper than she already was.

What was it about Snape that drew her to him? He was rude, arrogant, and had several qualities in himself that Airiala hated in any individual, but he was also honest and intelligent. She could listen to him talk for hours and when he cared about something you knew it. He was genuine about how he felt when he tried to protect something he cared deeply for.

His voice was the first impression she ever had of him, sitting in Dumbledore's office. Before she had seen his face, his voice had reached her and wrapped around her like silk. He wasn't handsome, but he was unique.

Pretty boys like Pyro were a dime a dozen, but Snape's features were so intriguing and different. Thin lips that usually pulled themselves into a sneer, a long pale face framed by flat greasy-looking hair, a nose that appears to have been broken and bigger than most, and eyes as dark as sin that with a single glace could cause fear to coarse though your veins. He wasn't a pretty boy by any stretch of the imagination, but he had his own unique look that Airiala couldn't help but be attracted to.

Airiala had met a few wizards in her lifetime that hid imperfections using charms and potions, but Snape didn't. He seemed comfortable in his own skin to be who he really was, he didn't hide what he really looks like or who he really is.

When had it happened? When had interesting turn into love?

"Airiala?"

She turned her head and found the current object of her thoughts standing there. "Hello," she said with a small smile. She had to keep up appearances so she would have time to figure all this out. "What brings you here?"

"I could ask you the same," he said moving to stand next to her. Airiala felt a blush start to form, but luckily her cheeks were already pink from the cold.

"I just wanted a quiet place to think," she said. "A lot has changed since Pyro and Raina arrived and I was just thinking what else we'd go through once Orlando gets here?"

"Indeed," Snape said.

A comfortable silence came between then as they stood, each with their own thoughts.

"You never told me why you came up here?" Airiala said after a few moments.

Snape turned to look at her and Airiala's heart began to pound faster as those dark eyes connected with her own. The wind blew around them gently, but Airiala couldn't tell if she had done it or if it was just the wind being natural.

"One of my students blew up his potion," Snape said. "I'm waiting for him to finish cleaning his mess before I can continue classes."

Airiala smiled, "Longbottom?"

The look in Snape's eyes was all the answer she needed and she laughed.

Her laugh was light and airy. He had enjoyed hearing it since had first heard it months ago. He was drawn to her eyes when she laughed, they lite up so brightly he was sure that they would blind him but he couldn't look away.

She was beautiful, he could never deny that, but something else about her made him feel alive, wanted and needed. She was intelligent, powerful, confident, and free-spirited.

Snape was no fool, he knew he was falling in love with her, but he also knew they wouldn't ever be together. Elementals belonged with other elementals. When the Earth elemental arrived she wouldn't waste time in the dungeons on useless potions with him. He knew this, but couldn't stop himself from falling.

Airiala's laughter died down but her smile remained. "Poor Neville," she said. "Can't brew a potion to save his life. Good think he's got talent in Herbology."

Snape cracked a small smile, which did not go unnoticed by Airiala. She smiled wider as she said, "Unbelievable! Severus Snape can smile!"

Snape turned away from her, the smile gone, but she grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"It's good to see you smile," she said. "It's one of those small reminders that you're human, and it makes you look handsome."

"Doubtful," Snape said, "but I appreciate the compliment."

He turned and started back down to the dungeons, his heart racing a mile a minute as the memory of her hand on his arm remained. The last thing he heard was Airiala's laughter and her sweet voice calling to him.

"Who are you and what have you do with the real Snape?"