It was two weeks afterwards when Severus called Serena to his office.

He had to be careful- he did not want to give her false hope. He talked casually with her yet despite her occlumency being improved greatly he could still tell there was something on her mind.

"what's wrong?" he said, frowning as he mixed the potion he had been working on for weeks.

"nothing's wrong" she said, trying to smile at him from the other side of the room. She put the book she had been reading back on the shelf and strolled over to him. "okay, something's wrong…"

"obviously."

Serena smiled slightly at his sarcasm. "it's just… I'm fighting an inward battle about wanting to know stuff and knowing it's none of my business. But I figured I may as well ask, and you can either tell me to go to hell or just tell me the answer. I… I was talking to Albus last week and, we were talking about stuff and… I got the impression that there was someone… on his mind, if you understand me… has he lost someone? Has he ever been married or been… in love?"

Severus stirred his potion slowly as he pondered her wonderings- it had turned the golden caramel colour as he had hoped. He poured some of it into a glass vile, corked it and put it into his pocket.

"Albus… would prefer it to be kept private."

Serena nodded understandingly.

"however… I am sure he would not mind you asking him… would you like a drink?" he added.

"er, yeah sure" she said slightly bewildered by his sudden manners and subject change.

He went into the kitchen and made her a cup of milky tea- adding the potion he had made and stirring it in, making sure she could not see. He went back into the classroom and handed it to her.

He cleared up his cauldron, watching from the corner of his eye as she drank it slowly.

He was still not sure how to test it had worked. He could either risk exposing himself and kiss her or cause her pain. He couldn't risk it, he couldn't… she would understand.

"You know you just said it would be better if Albus told me himself?" she said, watching him.

"yes."

"well… he mentioned something about… you…"

Severus remained silent- he had to use her words as a way to get angry at her.

"I… I'm sorry that she died…"

"I don't want your pity! And neither does she!" he said sharply, spinning around to face her. "dammit I've had enough of you- trying to understand everyone!"

"you know everything about my life!" she said, bewildered by his reaction.

"and I wish I didn't! You think you'll be happy- going back to Kingsley? You're wrong- he'll use you, dammit how much is he paying you?"

"shut the fuck up" she said quietly, narrowing her eyes.

"let's be honest Serena it's pretty likely he's not paying you much- judging by those photos you give it away."

"shut the fuck up Severus" she said advancing towards him. "don't you talk about me like-"

"like what? Like a cheap little whore? That's what you are though isn't it-"

"fuck you!" she shouted at him, livid.

"I've seen it in your head! How many men did you sleep with to try and get over him!"

"don't you dare!" she screamed.

"how many!" he shouted, "and how many more did Kingsley sleep with to try and get the filthy taste of you out of his mouth-"

That was it- those words did it- Serena punched him in the right eye, her fist hit him hard and he staggered back slightly, feeling the rocket of pain.

He cursed under his breath, pressing a hand to his eye. "god dammit I didn't realise it'd get to that" he muttered, wincing as he tried to open his eye.

Serena was staring at him looking so angry and confused. "calm down" he said, trying to open his eye. "and look around you- nothing is on fire, ice cold, broken or moved- you controlled your subconscious without even realising it."

"what?" she said distracted, looking around. Severus was right. "but… I was so angry, usually-"

"I know you were angry, I felt it" Severus winced. "I've been working on a potion for the past fortnight- I put it in your tea."

"so that's why it tasted like crap. But… does that mean… does this mean that..?" there was hope in her voice- he could hear it building as though she was just daring to believe his words were true.

"yes" he said, his hand over his now black eye. "it means the potion will keep your emotions at bay in your subconscious. You will no longer have this problem- you are… safe."

"you've- I'm- but- you're saying I'm… normal? I'm-"

Severus nodded and she screamed in happiness, running to him and flinging her arms around his neck. He held her to him, a little overwhelmed but happy to be part of her passion and joy- and to be the cause of it.

"Oh Severus, fuck I love you! You saved me- you've done all this for me and… oh thank you, thank you so much." She hugged him tightly, grinning foolishly. "this means I won't hurt anyone?"

"you blasted hurt me" he muttered.

She drew back immediately, "oh shit I'm so sorry. Here-" She took out her wand to heal him but he shook his head, turning his face away.

"I'll do it-"

"don't you trust me?" she pouted through her smile.

He sighed, "fine."

She cast a spell on his eye and the pain and swelling left. "you'll need some cream to get rid of the bruise, I'm sorry…"

He nodded, "I have some. Quite a punch" he smiled.

She beamed at him. "but all that you said just now…"

He shook his head, "I just needed to raise your emotional levels, I figured you would rather me make you angry than… well…" he cleared his throat and she laughed.

"I'm not so sure" she winked. "oh but Severus I shall be forever in your debt, I- dammit I'm so lucky I know you." She squeezed his hand, her happiness was so strong she failed to feel the regret from Severus- the regret that now she was fine she would go back to Kingsley, and inevitably…

"I… I have some things to attend to, just for now, but I can come back in the morning, I promise you."

Severus nodded curtly, knowing exactly what her things were.

She hugged him again and kissed him on the lips.

It was a friendly kiss but Severus imagined it was not.

"I…" Serena trailed off, unable to put her happiness and gratefulness into words. "Severus" she said smiling before turning and running to the door.

He heard her run up the steps and he couldn't help it- he grabbed his invisibility cloak and followed her. He hurried up the steps after her, silencing his footsteps. She went exactly where he had predicted- Kingsley's room.

She banged on the door heavily, hopping from one foot to the other with excitement. Severus waited further up the empty corridor, dreading what happened next. The door opened and Serena jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs tightly around his waist. Severus saw Kingsley's arms around her waist, holding her to him tightly.

"Kingsley's I'm cured" she gasped, breathless. "Severus cured me, oh fuck…I'm free!"

Kingsley kissed her firmly on the lips and Severus scowled under the cloak, but he did not look away. Her eyes were closed, her hands knotted tightly around his neck, determined not to let him go.

"babey I love you" Kingsley murmured. "and I want you so much."

"right now?" she pouted in a seductive tone that Severus had never heard her use before. He shivered slightly as a jolt of pleasure shot through his body.

"right now."

"can't think of anything better to do" Serena said, shrugging nonchalantly, a delighted look on her face.

She giggled as Kingsley span her around and kicked the door behind them, pressing their lips together.

Severus leant against the wall, his eyes shut. He couldn't get her voice out of his head, it was almost impossible for someone to make him feel this way, so… aroused and alive… and yet it was hopeless. She was in another room, with another man. She didn't want Severus; she didn't even look at him…

R&R !