p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongThe next morning,/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI woke up in Severus's arms. I listened to his breathing. It was rhythmic. I heard the air whoosh in and out of his lungs. He took a deep breath in and his black eyes opened, staring down at me./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus quickly unwrapped his arms from around me. "It is already five. I shall be late."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHe sighed. "I will see you in class."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongThe Potions Master walked into the private bathroom and began showering. I got out of bed and went into the room. Severus was shocked to see me step inside the walk in shower./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Are you still ok?" /strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Cassandra, I have classes to teach. I have a house to run. I apologize but there will be plenty of time this evening." The dark haired man finished in the shower and turned the knobs./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHe stepped out first and held a hand out for me./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"The Halloween feast is tonight." I reminded him. "We can have our own party after it."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus drew in a deep breath and blew it from his lungs. "We shall see. I would like that very much, Cassandra."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHe watched me a moment and then walked out the bathroom to dress./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongThe potioneer slipped into his heavy black robes. He turned to me after I was in my uniform and sighed. "I would like you to know that no matter what happens today, I still feel the same about you."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Why would something happen?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus sighed again, deeper. "I must maintain my reputation as well."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongMy face fell. "So you have to be cruel to me?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHe took a deep breath. "I love you, Cassandra."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus gazed at me, then turned and waved his wand at the door to unlock it./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI saw the back of his long black robes as he hurried out into the corridor./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI woke up in Severus's arms. I listened to his breathing. It was rhythmic. I heard the air whoosh in and out of his lungs. He took a deep breath in and his black eyes opened, staring down at me./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus quickly unwrapped his arms from around me. "It is already five. I shall be late."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHe sighed. "I will see you in class."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongThe Potions Master walked into the private bathroom and began showering. I got out of bed and went into the room. Severus was shocked to see me step inside the walk in shower./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Are you still ok?" /strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Cassandra, I have classes to teach. I have a house to run. I apologize but there will be plenty of time this evening." The dark haired man finished in the shower and turned the knobs./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHe stepped out first and held a hand out for me./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"The Halloween feast is tonight." I reminded him. "We can have our own party after it."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus drew in a deep breath and blew it from his lungs. "We shall see. I would like that very much, Cassandra."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHe watched me a moment and then walked out the bathroom to dress./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongThe potioneer slipped into his heavy black robes. He turned to me after I was in my uniform and sighed. "I would like you to know that no matter what happens today, I still feel the same about you."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Why would something happen?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus sighed again, deeper. "I must maintain my reputation as well."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongMy face fell. "So you have to be cruel to me?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHe took a deep breath. "I love you, Cassandra."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus gazed at me, then turned and waved his wand at the door to unlock it./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI saw the back of his long black robes as he hurried out into the corridor./strong/span/p