Chapter Fourteen

More Apologies

In the next morning...

Snape woke up early. Too early. He'd slept terribly. He put on some comfortable clothes and walked out of his room. He found his mother on the stairs.

"Good morning, mom."

"Good morning, son."

He looked at the door of his mother's room.

"Florence is still asleep." Eileen said. "You can go in, just don't wake her up."

He nodded and went into the room.

Florence was lying on the bed, hugging a pillow, her beautiful long brown curls covering the pillow and even her face. He sat on the bed, near her, and took those hair strands off her face, caressing her skin.

Florence woke up, sitting up quickly when she saw him there.

" What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I just… I think I owe you an apology. " he said.

" For the hundredth time in the short time I've known you." she sighed. "There's nothing else to be said, Severus." tears gathered in her eyes. "I shouldn't forgive you anymore. I should just go live somewhere else; another country perhaps."

" Is it that bad to live here? I know our house is simple but…"

"Shut up!" Florence interrupted him angrily. "I love Eileen and I love being here! What I can't stand anymore is the possibility of you becoming a Death Eater." she paused looking into his eyes. "I think you've already made your choice, and I believe you chose the wrong path. I have no intention of living like you want to live. I want a family, Severus. I wish to rebuild what I no longer have. I want a simple, normal life. I want to live in Hogsmead, have lots of babies, marry the man I love… I want to study Potions somewhere; maybe teach at Hogwarts in the future, or open an apothecary shop in the village… I just want to be happy."

"I'll make you happy."

"How? When not a week goes by without me crying because of you. If we're a couple, Severus, we must make decisions together, thinking about what is the best for both of us. I can't live with the choices you've made."

Florence got up and went to the bathroom. She walked out five minutes later, dressed in comfortable clothes and bed-head hair fixed.

"Will you leave London?" he asked.

"No. I'll finish my studies in Hogwarts." she folded her pajamas and looked at him. "And I need a break."

"A break?" he asked, getting up from the bed.

"Yes. A break, so you can think about what matters most to you, us or them."

"Of course our relationship is more important." he exclaimed.

"So show me that! Stop hanging out with Travers, Avery and Nott! Stop answering the many letters the Blacks and the Malfoys send you!" he looked astonished that she knew about the letters. "I recognized the family crests. They teach Genealogy in Durmstrang."

"But I have to answer or…"

"No. You're not one of them; you don't have the Dark Mark yet. They won't come after you."

"I'll stop answering, then." Snape said, knowing that it wouldn't stop them from trying to find him, he already knew when he would receive the Dark Mark.

"Promise me." Florence said.

"I promise." he lied.

Florence threw her arms around his neck.

He hugged and kissed her, smelling her perfume, enjoying the soft touch of her hair on his hands and face. Soon he was going to lose her, and he knew it would be inevitable.

Christmas Eve

Florence and Snape were walking at the park in the nearby neighborhood.

"Severus! Look over there! Under our tree!" exclaimed Florence.

"But those are Lily and James! And they are..."

"Kissing!" she completed. "Let's go there!"

And they walked towards their friends.