p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I used my hundredth tissue to wipe my tears away and cleared my throat./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""That's everything." I croaked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"His hand was on mine and I eyed his broken one. The bleeding had gotten a bit worse and I slowly stood up./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I'll call the nurse." I said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He said nothing./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I walked towards the door and he said my name. I turned, opening the door./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Has Sev written yet?" he asked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I shook my head. "Nothing yet."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He nodded. "Thank you...and I'm sorry."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I'm sorry too."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"With one final look at him, I headed out to find the nurse./p
hr style="margin: 5px 0px; border: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; background: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 100%, 100% 100%, from(#ffffff), color-stop(0.1, #cbcbcb), color-stop(0.9, #cbcbcb), to(#ffffff)) #cbcbcb;" noshade="noshade" size="1" /
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The nurse managed to heal Severus' hand in a heartbeat. He was released from the hospital and we returned home together. His hand was healed, but he would never be able to make a fist without a bit of discomfort. We entered the house and sat at the table./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"An owl flew into the house and dropped a letter onto my lap. I gasped with excitement./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""It's Sev! He wrote to us." I said, excitedly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Severus scooted his chair closer to me and we both read the letter together./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""He's already been sorted." I realized, scanning the letter./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Severus blinked. "Where?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I looked up with a smile. "Slytherin."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"We hugged and just stood there in silence. Then, he spoke up./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He held my hand and I just stared at him, curiously. We apparated and arrived at a cemetery. He walked ahead of me and stopped in front of one tombstone. The graveyard didn't have many, so he had no huge issues trying to find the one he desired to find./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I stood beside him and he held my hand. We were at his mother's grave. His sad eyes looked at me and back at the tombstone./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I should've done this years ago, but I just never...felt ready to do so."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He spoke softly, like he was afraid. I read Eileen's name several times in my head. Severus got to his knees all of a sudden and his breathing got heavier./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Mother. Dear mother. This is Arabella."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He turned and I got on my knees as well. I nodded to the tombstone with a small smile. "Ma'am."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""She's one of the most important women in my life. I met her when I taught as Hogwarts. She assisted me in so much more than just potion-making. With her by my side, she taught me to overcome all of my losses, especially Lily's. You remember me telling you of her. She was a bright light in my dark world, until she died. Her face remained in my dreams for years, and I spent those years living in bitter hatred and anger. Then, Arabella came and changed that for good. She taught me to see good in others. To be compassionate. I'm still working on it, but I think I've come pretty far. I would give anything to have you meet her just once. But, I suppose this will have to do. I love her. I love her, most dearly. And, I owe her my life. So, that is why I plan to spend the rest of it with her. Forever."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He looked at the tombstone as if Eileen herself was there. He hesitated a few times and blushed as he spoke, but he spoke with all his heart. When he finished, I swallowed and looked at the tombstone./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Ma'am...I hardly know what to say, but I just want to...thank you for giving me your son. He came from a world of anger and darkness, and it consumed him for so long. But, when I met him, I knew that he was much more. That he was a lost child, trapped in a dark room with no escape. Now, he's one of the greatest men I've ever known. I never thought I would love someone so dearly like I do him. I know you meant much to him, and I thank you for encouraging him to love magic, for if you had not, I wouldn't have him in my life. He is mine. I am his. He showed me that love can live on and never leave. I have nearly lost him many times, but we never abandoned one another. I know he would give anything to give me happiness. To see me smile. I'm forever grateful for you and your son."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I lowered my eyes and pressed my hand against the tombstone. Suddenly, a breeze flew against our faces and all was silent once more. I looked at Severus and he stood up, taking my hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""We should head home."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I nodded and stood up as well. We took one final look at the tombstone and apparated back home. Sev was still up in his room when we arrived, so all was well. I sat down at the table and Severus sat beside me. I scanned him thoroughly and side-smiled. He always wore black. He always wore his frock coat and had his long, dark hair. It wasn't always so greasy. His skin was pale and his fingers were thin and long./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I enjoyed holding them because I felt protected when I held them. His eyes were like dark tunnels. They seemed to take you into another world. Everything about him seemed dark, but I just loved it because he was dark. He had darkness in him. But, he was also more./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Our world saw him as a hero, but he was also struggling with his own demons. He got angry, impatient, rude, and harsh at times. He could be heroic, but he could also be dark. That's what made him feel so real. He never praised himself as a hero. I never praised him as a hero. I praised him because he was mine and I loved him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I loved emhim/em. I still love him. So dearly and tenderly, despite all the things that have gotten in our way, All the evil of a dark lord, an old friend, and even life itself couldn't keep us apart./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The dark lord haunted Severus, but we dealt with it together. Together./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"We both had our struggles, but that just brought us closer./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Now, we would teach that same lesson to our son. You can't go through struggles on your own. You need the help of other people around you. Friends, family, anyone. They're there for you, no matter what./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Forever and always./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"strongTHE END/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;" /p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;" /p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;" /p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""That's everything." I croaked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"His hand was on mine and I eyed his broken one. The bleeding had gotten a bit worse and I slowly stood up./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I'll call the nurse." I said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He said nothing./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I walked towards the door and he said my name. I turned, opening the door./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Has Sev written yet?" he asked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I shook my head. "Nothing yet."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He nodded. "Thank you...and I'm sorry."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I'm sorry too."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"With one final look at him, I headed out to find the nurse./p
hr style="margin: 5px 0px; border: 0px; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; background: -webkit-gradient(linear, 0% 100%, 100% 100%, from(#ffffff), color-stop(0.1, #cbcbcb), color-stop(0.9, #cbcbcb), to(#ffffff)) #cbcbcb;" noshade="noshade" size="1" /
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The nurse managed to heal Severus' hand in a heartbeat. He was released from the hospital and we returned home together. His hand was healed, but he would never be able to make a fist without a bit of discomfort. We entered the house and sat at the table./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"An owl flew into the house and dropped a letter onto my lap. I gasped with excitement./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""It's Sev! He wrote to us." I said, excitedly./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Severus scooted his chair closer to me and we both read the letter together./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""He's already been sorted." I realized, scanning the letter./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Severus blinked. "Where?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I looked up with a smile. "Slytherin."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"We hugged and just stood there in silence. Then, he spoke up./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He held my hand and I just stared at him, curiously. We apparated and arrived at a cemetery. He walked ahead of me and stopped in front of one tombstone. The graveyard didn't have many, so he had no huge issues trying to find the one he desired to find./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I stood beside him and he held my hand. We were at his mother's grave. His sad eyes looked at me and back at the tombstone./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I should've done this years ago, but I just never...felt ready to do so."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He spoke softly, like he was afraid. I read Eileen's name several times in my head. Severus got to his knees all of a sudden and his breathing got heavier./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Mother. Dear mother. This is Arabella."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He turned and I got on my knees as well. I nodded to the tombstone with a small smile. "Ma'am."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""She's one of the most important women in my life. I met her when I taught as Hogwarts. She assisted me in so much more than just potion-making. With her by my side, she taught me to overcome all of my losses, especially Lily's. You remember me telling you of her. She was a bright light in my dark world, until she died. Her face remained in my dreams for years, and I spent those years living in bitter hatred and anger. Then, Arabella came and changed that for good. She taught me to see good in others. To be compassionate. I'm still working on it, but I think I've come pretty far. I would give anything to have you meet her just once. But, I suppose this will have to do. I love her. I love her, most dearly. And, I owe her my life. So, that is why I plan to spend the rest of it with her. Forever."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He looked at the tombstone as if Eileen herself was there. He hesitated a few times and blushed as he spoke, but he spoke with all his heart. When he finished, I swallowed and looked at the tombstone./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Ma'am...I hardly know what to say, but I just want to...thank you for giving me your son. He came from a world of anger and darkness, and it consumed him for so long. But, when I met him, I knew that he was much more. That he was a lost child, trapped in a dark room with no escape. Now, he's one of the greatest men I've ever known. I never thought I would love someone so dearly like I do him. I know you meant much to him, and I thank you for encouraging him to love magic, for if you had not, I wouldn't have him in my life. He is mine. I am his. He showed me that love can live on and never leave. I have nearly lost him many times, but we never abandoned one another. I know he would give anything to give me happiness. To see me smile. I'm forever grateful for you and your son."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I lowered my eyes and pressed my hand against the tombstone. Suddenly, a breeze flew against our faces and all was silent once more. I looked at Severus and he stood up, taking my hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""We should head home."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I nodded and stood up as well. We took one final look at the tombstone and apparated back home. Sev was still up in his room when we arrived, so all was well. I sat down at the table and Severus sat beside me. I scanned him thoroughly and side-smiled. He always wore black. He always wore his frock coat and had his long, dark hair. It wasn't always so greasy. His skin was pale and his fingers were thin and long./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I enjoyed holding them because I felt protected when I held them. His eyes were like dark tunnels. They seemed to take you into another world. Everything about him seemed dark, but I just loved it because he was dark. He had darkness in him. But, he was also more./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Our world saw him as a hero, but he was also struggling with his own demons. He got angry, impatient, rude, and harsh at times. He could be heroic, but he could also be dark. That's what made him feel so real. He never praised himself as a hero. I never praised him as a hero. I praised him because he was mine and I loved him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I loved emhim/em. I still love him. So dearly and tenderly, despite all the things that have gotten in our way, All the evil of a dark lord, an old friend, and even life itself couldn't keep us apart./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The dark lord haunted Severus, but we dealt with it together. Together./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"We both had our struggles, but that just brought us closer./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Now, we would teach that same lesson to our son. You can't go through struggles on your own. You need the help of other people around you. Friends, family, anyone. They're there for you, no matter what./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Forever and always./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"strongTHE END/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;" /p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;" /p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;" /p