A/N: SPOV
A/N #2: I was asked (when we first started the role-play on another site) about the morality behind the supposed cheating. If you can't tell by this story line, Severus doesn't have the same clear-cut, white-hat-hero morality as Harry Potter has. This isn't some spaghetti western, and this is the first warning that this story will be going into the morally grey area. That all being said, Nymphadora is not in a relationship with Remus at this time, and it's not her fault that they aren't. He keeps pushing her away, so she's taking him at his word. -DaniSnape
He felt slightly relieved that she knew about Lily after all. Taking a cleansing breath, he was relaxing with his proximity to Nymphadora. This was something that he hadn't felt in a long while.
"Bloody hell…I'm sorry, Severus, I shouldn't have asked. I saw the contract…and I just wondered…I was just hoping….I had no right. You don't have to worry about Remus. Right now he wants nothing to do with me and I wouldn't mind cursing him to Hades and back."
She was just hoping... what? He wondered as he looked at her, but she waved him to hold off as she pressed on.
"Should that change, I…we…" She locked her eyes onto him. "will deal with it then. That is, if the offer is still open and you will still have me."
He let himself smile once again. "Silly witch. I'd have never confided all that to you if I didn't want to... have you. One question, Nymphadora," he placed his left hand at the base of her neck, clenching his grip just enough to see her eyes flare to life, "what were you 'just hoping' for..."
He gently drew her down towards him, his obsidian eyes piercing hers. In that moment, he knew that she was his.
As he closed the distance between them, his pulse raced. And his fireplace roared to life.
Severus released her as he quickly composed himself to a state of boredom and annoyance. Albus' head was poking through, and his eyes rested on Severus after flicking towards Tonks.
"Good evening, Tonks. I wasn't expecting... well, thank you for looking after him. Poppy told me that you were back, but I had expected you to be... resting." Albus said through the flames.
"I'm overwrought with joy over your concern, Albus." Severus' sarcasm was impugning the Headmaster's good will.
"I'm glad that you will recover, of course. I would like for you to come report to me what had happened." The look on his face made it evident that it was not a polite request.
"Of course, Headmaster. May I expect a modicum of privacy in the future concerning visiting my personal quarters?" Severus' bitter attitude wasn't his false persona; he was truly vexed with the old man.
"I suppose I can trust you to not have another ferret incident." Albus replied, the aloof fascade slipping ever so slightly.
"I was informed that Draco had been punished with transfiguration by Mad-Eye. I was not told that it was immediately reversed. He's my godson." Severus snapped back. It was always like this between them; he knew how to smile and hit every button that the turncoat Death Eater had.
Albus looked again at the pair, smiling gently. "Make sure you both get some rest." As he pulled out of the fireplace, the flames died down to glowing embers.
Severus looked back at Nymphadora.
"What were you just hoping between myself and Lily?"