AN: Hello, readers. I hope you enjoy…I have a feeling you will;)


Nearly three days more passed by with this pattern. Holly would wake with jolting panic and fight restlessly with sleep, silently conveying that she did not want Severus to leave her side. Nervous and observant green glances let him know that she was worried he would leave her alone. The mere thought of why she was scared to be alone was enough to make his hands shake with repressed rage. Albus had finally insisted on Holly being brought to the Hospital Wing, so by day five Severus had little choice in the matter.

He contemplated arguing with the old man, but decided Holly's friends, and likely the entire school, were anxious and too curious about Holly's sudden disappearances from social activities. Severus was not surprised when he found numerous curious expressions and whispering centered around his own five day disappearances. Now, he was regretting not resurfacing from his chambers and eating an evening meal in the Great Hall once or twice. He should have taught a few of his classes in between checking on Holly's condition instead of letting Dumbledore take his place. Even dunderhead students would notice the monstrous Potions Master missing class for numerous periods.

Severus let out a quiet sigh while walking toward the Hospital Wing. It was well past students' curfew, but he could see Flitwick patrolling just down the next corridor. He skirted by silently and without detection. The doors to the Wing were wide open now and he could just see the flickering light of orange flames. When he entered the room his footfalls became softer and softer. He stuck to the shadows slinking along the wall and watched.

The Hospital Wing was extremely long and fairly wide with fifteen beds lining each side, both left and right. Holly had been hidden behind a portable set of curtains during the daylight hours, which was a measure that Severus found ridiculous. Students had made a point to track up and down this particular corridor in hopes of glimpsing the famous Girl Who Lived. Poppy thought hiding Holly was a preferable idea, but Severus knew better.

Holly didn't want to be hidden. He could tell by the sorrow in her eyes every evening that he came to her bedside to inspect her healing rate. He wasn't completely certain, but he thought she wished to be back in Gryffindor Common Room with her friends. Weasley and Granger. He had a brief moment of admiration for the both of them. They had stood brave and true in the face of catastrophe. In exasperation, he realized Holly's best friends were just as foolish as she was.

And he respected them both even if they didn't know it. Nonetheless, Ronald Weasley was still one of the biggest dunderheads he had ever known.

He heard a yelp of pain and jolted into action. He was halfway across the room before his mind realized he had even moved. His voice was as cold as ice as he said, "I can handle her examination from here, Poppy."

The older woman's hands froze. She turned and eyed Severus for a long moment before slowly handing him a thick pile of gauze. Without a word, she crossed the Wing and closed herself inside her office.

Severus took his time before meeting those emerald eyes. He gestured with his hand while never breaking eye contact. He felt a stirring deep inside himself, one that he was not at all comfortable with, when he realized his stare always seemed to put Holly into a chaotic daze. It took an extended moment before she slowly held out her hand. Severus pressed his lips into a thin line while wrapping up her swollen fingers.

He spoke evenly despite his anger. "What has happened to your fingers?"

Her voice was slow and raspy as she said, "I was practicing with my wand today."

When his stare turned hard, Holly bit her bottom lip and mumbled, "I have to or I will fail my Charms exam at the end of the year."

He quietly said, "You will not have to worry about your exams if you end up with only one arm."

She swallowed and winced before whispering, "I have missed a week of school. I'm behind in everything and my marks are dropping fast."

He set her bandaged hand on the edge of the bed before meeting her eyes once again. She was biting fitfully at her bottom lip and he had a fleeting moment of lust, in which he saw a lightning flash of their one and only kiss, before he stood up and paced the length of her bed.

He asked, "Which classes are causing the most difficulty?"
"Mostly Transfigurations and Charms, but I'm going to fail your class without a doubt."

His head turned sharply and he demanded, "What makes you say that?"

Holly shrugged her shoulders, winced heavily and mumbled too lowly for him to hear. He snapped, "Speak up."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he sighed and abruptly sat in the chair by her bedside. He said, "Do not speak if your throat is causing abundant pain."

She shook her head and he was very nearly mesmerized by the movement. He forced his eyes away from her slender neck and silky hair. He focused on her jeweled eyes while she whispered, "The Potions are too advanced for me. Hermione has spent hours tutoring me after each class."

Severus said, "I will offer further tutoring for you. During the summer, if you wish, and perhaps on weekend afternoons during term."

Holly blinked repeatedly before slowly nodding her acceptance. They silently stared at one another and he could feel the pressure building in his chest. As time stretched on, neither looked away. The silence was deafening as if screaming at him to open his mouth and simply speak to her. He had weighed options carefully and endlessly for the past week. Hell, for the past fortnight. Possibly even the past year. He did not know what was right, but he did know what felt right.

"Holly…" His voice was deep and quiet, "I need you to realize how badly…"

He took a deep breath, refusing to release his gaze from hers. He said, "I was far more worried than I ever thought I could have been when Miss Granger came running into my office."

The words fell from his lips quietly and they sounded like a desperate confession to Holly's awestruck ears. "I have lied to you. I have watched you grow and I disliked you for reasons I would be ashamed to admit. I did not expect for my dislike to grow into feelings such as the ones I harbor now. There is a plethora of things I have done for the greater good of this world, but I refuse to take the higher road this time."

There was a single pause as Holly maneuvered slightly and stretched out her hand slowly. Inch by inch, she reached for his hand. He did not move when she intertwined their fingers together. He saw her wince at the pain in her swollen digits, but still maintained a light hold. He said, "I am a selfish man. I am not an easy man or an annoyingly happy one. You must know this."

"I don't care." Her voice was croaky and her tone was defiant.

He felt his lips twitch and his heart pound as he stated, "I am a Slytherin. I fight underhanded to get what I please. I am mean and cruel when needed. You hate this about me."

She shook her head before squeezing his hand. He watched sweat bead on her forehead from the pain of such an action. She whispered, "You are brave. You do what you have to. The cruelty is…just an act of unhappiness."

His throat felt dry as his mind echoed one word. Brave, brave, brave. He said, "This will not change. I am old and set into my ways. I am an ill-tempered man."

He could feel the tremble in her swollen fingers as she looked at him and asked, "Are you telling me this because you're going to…leave me?"

He felt as if he couldn't breathe as he abruptly said, "No. I will not leave you."

He watched as her expression melted into one of determination before she slowly asked, "What if I told you I wanted you still…?"

Severus took a shallow breath, never breaking his gaze from hers. "Then, you could have me."

The slow pumping of Holly's heart allowed warmth to flood through her entire body. She had to suck in a deep breath through her mouth and let it out slowly. There was an extended moment where she was so dizzy that the room spun in blurs of color. She heard a deep whisper of her name and felt heat strike through her body. His voice brought clarity.

She blinked and the room came back into focus. She stared at his ebony eyes before a soft smile spread across her face. She felt the tears come as unstoppable as a hurricane. They were few, but they were strong and raw. She felt him move and then felt his thumb wiping gently across her cheeks.

Her eyes were closed now and she savored the touch of his skin to her own. She felt her head touch the softness of the pillows. He whispered, "I will be back at dinner time tomorrow. Do not worry; I am here."

She drifted into sleep like an innocent child would in the arms of its mother.


AN: A one word review of your reaction would be wonderful…:)