Book 7: Chapter 3

Love Enduring

"Did you do it?" Alethea asked again.

Severus dropped his head, long black hair falling over his face.

"I didn't believe it; I refused to listen to everyone when they were so quick to believe you could have killed Albus," Alethea said beginning to cry. "I couldn't understand why they were all so certain."

"I am sorry," Severus muttered so quietly he was barely audible. "I expected too much of you to have blind faith in me."

"I'D EXPECT IT!" Alethea shouted. "Of course I would trust you without question, but I just… I don't understand why. How could you do it?"

Severus eased himself into a lounge chair, he looked tired and worn.

"I do not know if I could explain," he said rubbing his eyes. "The most important thing I want you to understand is that I did not want to do it; my hands were tied."

"Then why did you have to do it?" Alethea shook her head, unable to comprehend what Severus was trying to tell her.

"Dumbledore asked me to."

Alethea snorted loudly.

"What do you mean he asked you? Albus wanted to die?"

Severus shook his head, tears filling his own eyes.

"I cannot go into it," he said sadly. "I just need you to believe that I had no choice and that I never wanted this to happen."

Alethea sighed and knelt down beside Severus' chair, resting her head on his knee.

"I do," she said.

Alethea wasn't sure if she spoke the words necessary of a loyal wife and lover or if she felt that way because she so desperately wanted to believe that he was good; that he wasn't the monster he had recently been painted as because she didn't believe it could be true.

Severus reached down to stroke her hair then took one of her hands in his. He stood and pulled her up, making her walk with him to the door.

"Come with me," he said.

Severus led her to the Headmaster's office, past the gargoyle and up the stone staircase. Just outside the door Alethea stopped.

"I can't," she said squeezing Severus' hand. "It's too soon."

"Too soon for what?"

"To move into Albus' chambers. Can't we just stay in the dungeons a little longer?"

Severus' lip curled in amusement.

"That is not why I have brought you here."

He pushed open the door and they stepped through into the large office. Severus led Alethea to his new desk and the portrait positioned behind it where an image of Dumbledore slept soundly, his head resting on his hand, half moon glasses slipping down his nose. Alethea clasped her hand over her mouth as Severus stepped closer to the portrait and spoke softly to it; Dumbledore's eyes slowly flickered opened. He looked from Severus to Alethea and his face softened.

"Oh my dear Alethea, you don't look well."

"That's all you have to say to me? You've got no idea what I've been through; I couldn't bear losing you Albus."

Dumbledore pursed his lips.

"Regrettable yes, but also unavoidable I'm afraid. Severus did something unselfish for me that proved to be most difficult and I thank him for it."

"Then you did want to die?"

Dumbledore shook his head.

"All Severus did was speed up the inevitable and save the soul of a young man in the process."

Alethea leaned back, resting her back against Severus' chest; he wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"I still don't understand," Alethea said.

"It matters not anymore," Dumbledore soothed. "What I do regret is how you have suffered because of this but we could not afford to let you know what was going on."

"Do you know what?" Alethea fumed. "That's not good enough, either of you. How long had this been planned?"

She looked from Dumbledore to Severus; neither of them were making eye contact with her.

"Alethea we need you to forget this and refocus your energies on Hogwarts," Severus said squeezing her tighter and kissing her on the head.

"He is right," Dumbledore added. "You have an important job to do keeping the school from Voldemort's clutches."

"So was it You-Know-Who that gave you the position as Headmaster?" Alethea asked pulling out of Severus' arms. "Has he penetrated the Ministry?"

"Not officially," Severus said. "But he has enough men there now to see that anything he wants done, is done."

"So what about these other teachers then?"

"Alectro Carrow and her brother Amycus, both Death Eaters and both highly dangerous."

From his place in the portrait, Dumbledore clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"It is for this very reason that we need all staff to remain on guard," he said. "We cannot let the likes of the Carrows have free reign in the school, it would be disastrous."

* * *

After Alethea had said a teary goodbye to Dumbledore, Severus led her back to their quarters in the dungeon. He sat her down on the lounge and went into the kitchen, returning with a bottle of Elf wine and two goblets. Severus filled the goblets and handed one to Alethea then sat on the floor beside her feet, his back resting on the lounge. Alethea leaned forward and ran her hands through Severus' hair; he moaned and took hold of her hand, pulling her down to him.

"How I longed for your touch," he said kissing her hand.

Alethea put down her wine and snuggled hard against his chest.

"It's been agony without you," she said into his robes. "And trying to mourn Albus while everyone was telling me you were the one that killed him was unbearable; they even thought I was involved."

"I am sorry for what you had to endure," Severus said stroking her hair. "But Alethea, the way you have continued to stand by me, it overwhelms me somewhat."

"What do you mean? There's no question about where my loyalties are."

"No one has ever shown such faith in me before, such loyalty. It is something I truly do not deserve."

Alethea reached up and cupped his cheek, noting with sadness the tears in his eyes.

"My love, I'll always be there for you," she said sitting up on her knees and kissing him tenderly. "But don't you ever leave me like that again."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

He leant in to kiss her again but Alethea drew her head back.

"Will you tell me what happened with Albus that night?" she asked.

Severus ran his fingers through his hair.

"It is not important; I do not wish to upset you any further."

"You'll upset me further if you don't tell me," Alethea said grabbing hold of the front of his robes. "We're supposed to be in this together remember, no matter what."

Severus sighed and pulled her to his chest.

"Very well then. Dumbledore had been involved in something, the reason why he was absent from school so often."

"What was it?"

"He still refuses to tell me any details but it has to do with Potter and finding a way to bring down the Dark Lord. Do you remember that night Dumbledore called me to his office urgently, the night he injured his hand?"

Alethea nodded.

"The old fool had been out on his adventures and came across a ring; he put it on…"

"Which was when he got cursed," Alethea finished. "But you said it was minor, that he was going to be alright."

He continued stroking her hair tenderly.

"I was not truthful with you, I am sorry. If I had not contained the curse as I did Dumbledore would have died that very night."

Alethea looked up at him in horror as Severus nodded.

"It was all I could do to keep the curse in his hand for the time being," he continued. "However the curse was created by Dark Magic and would not be contained long; Dumbledore believed it would have claimed his life within a year."

"He was going to die anyway? So what, he asked you then and there to finish him off?"

"Not at that stage, only later when it became apparent Draco Malfoy was determined to succeed in doing it himself."

"The Unbreakable Vow!" Alethea gasped.

"Indeed. But that was not what was going through my mind that night; it was for Dumbledore alone that I did it, not Narcissa Malfoy or her blasted vow. I would have gladly died myself before killing him. He had asked me to help him knowing his death would be imminent and painful, potentially undignified. We also knew Malfoy was getting bolder in his attempts to kill Dumbledore himself."

"So the curse on Katie and Ron's poisoning?"

"Both meant for Dumbledore presumably."

Alethea stood up and walked around the room.

"My head is spinning," she said. "So what happened that night after you left your office? After you stunned Filius."

Severus pursed his lips.

"Regrettable and something he will not be forgiving me for in a hurry," he mused. "But in light of the evening's events at least he was safe."

Alethea knelt back in front of him and took hold of Severus' hands. He pulled free of her and stood up, tugging at the ends of his long hair, trying to smooth them down.

"I really do not wish to go into it any further," he said harsher than he had meant to.

Alethea looked up at him from her position on the floor. She felt his pain and it broke her heart.

"Please Sev, I think it would help to talk about it."

He sighed and let his shoulders slump in a sign of defeat and turned his back to her.

"Upon the tower I walked in on Malfoy with his wand drawn on Dumbledore. I do not know if the boy would have done it, if he could have, but Dumbledore already looked half finished. He was collapsed against the wall, he looked dreadful."

Severus turned back to face Alethea, tears falling freely down his face.

"He pleaded with me to do it and I hated him for it, I hated myself for agreeing to do it in the first place. I hit him with the killing curse."

Alethea leapt up and held him tightly, pulling him close to her as if she feared he would melt away. She looked deep into his eyes, red from his tears; the light that usually sparkled within the darkness of his eyes whenever he looked at her was missing.

"It's been a tough few months," she said hopefully. "You need some rest for now and then we can begin to put this all behind us."

Severus pressed his lips together tightly and attempted a smile.

"Can we stop talking about this now? All this openness and honesty is not healthy for me."

Alethea tried to give him a soft jab in the ribs but he caught her fist and raised it to his lips, kissing her knuckles. Alethea stepped into him and reached up for a kiss; Severus pressed his lips against hers softly and she melted into him. They continued kissing as Severus slowly ran his hands down to her waist. Alethea felt for the buttons on his frock coat and began undoing them slowly. Severus watched as she finished with his buttons and ran her hands over his smooth chest. She leaned in and kissed a line down from his chest to the soft black hairs on his abdomen before she stood up again and found his mouth once more, biting on his bottom lip as she pushed his layers of clothing off over his shoulders.

Severus helped her pull his arms free then bent down on one knee and took hold of her ankles. He slowly eased his hands up over her calves to the backs of her knees; shudders of overwhelming anticipation shot through Alethea's body and she felt her legs lose all feeling. She stumbled backwards and took hold of the mantle over the fireplace for support. He stood up, smirking with amusement at the look of unrestrained desire on her face. He picked up the hem of her robes and in one smooth motion, pulled them off over her head. Severus stepped back to admire her but was knocked back several steps by Alethea as she threw herself into him and draped her arms around his neck. They pressed their mouths together firmly and Alethea felt her lips parted slowly by Severus' tongue and moaned into his mouth. Alethea hooked her fingers through his hair as Severus ran his own fingers down her shoulders, pulling her bra straps down as he did. He worked his way to her back and unclasped her bra, freeing her of it and letting it fall to the floor.

Severus touched his finger tips to Alethea's lips and she kissed them; he slid his fingers down her chin and neck which caused Alethea to throw her head back. He continued to travel down her chest where he traced lazy circles around each of her nipples.

"Yes, yes," Alethea said and gripped hard onto Severus' shoulders.

He leaned in and sucked gently on each rosy bud as Alethea hooked her fingers into his trousers and pulled Severus in as close as she could, feeling his hardness against her only excited her more. Severus swept her off the ground and cradled her in his arms, kissing her again as he carried her into the bedroom. He laid her gently onto the bed and kissed her again, her neck, her chest, her stomach, all the way down to the soft hair beneath her underwear as he pulled them off. Severus leaned back over her, running a finger tantalisingly up the inside of her thigh and letting it disappear into the wetness between her legs. Alethea inhaled with ragged breaths as Severus began to rub against her slowly, tenderly as he kissed her breasts then her lips. He led her to the brink of bliss then withdrew his finger before she could find release. Alethea, panting heavily, reached out desperate to bring him closer. He got off the bed and finished undressing, returning to take a position over her on all fours. He lowered his head slowly to kiss her and nipped playfully at her neck.

"I need you inside me," Alethea whispered into his ears.

Severus complied, lowering himself and sliding easily into her depths as if they had always been the only two parts of the same machine. Alethea gripped his back tightly and raised her knees to trap him within her. Severus took his time, gently and smoothly working his way deeper and deeper into her. Alethea looked into his eyes and again noted the absence of light as he stared off into the distance.

"Where are you?" she asked touching the palm of her hand to his cheek.

He shook himself back and blinked hard, smiling down at her.

"I am right here."

Alethea stroked his face as Severus leaned up higher on his arms to continue sliding into her. He was in no hurry, simply relishing in the feeling of being reunited with his wife. He let his mind wander off again until Alethea's composed calls of rapture brought him back to her. He continued pumping his hips into her gently, his face nestled against her neck as Alethea drew her fingers up and down his back. When he was finally spent, Severus collapsed against Alethea, breathless and soaked in sweat. She kissed the top of his head and hugged him tightly, feeling his heartbeat against her chest grow steadily slower.

Alethea felt her emotions over the past few months suddenly overwhelm her and she sobbed quietly as Severus began to snore softly. As amazing as it felt to be back with him again, Alethea was already concerned that all of Severus had not returned to Hogwarts that night. He had just given his all to her and yet it still felt as if there was something missing. Alethea decided her uneasiness and the overexcitement of the night had gotten away from her. She wrapped her arms tightly around the man she loved and resolved to never let anything come between them again.