p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"Severus took a deep breath, pulling away from me. "This relationship is...a monumental step for me, Winter." He paused, looking at me in deep thought. "I am certain you would not mind if we take it slowly."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;""Of course not." I shook my head. "I just...I'm glad you're not ill anymore. You were sick for a long time, sir."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"He sighed loudly, eyes boring into me. "You may call me Severus and dispose of the formalities."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;""I really want this to work out but maybe you can tell me about your past when you're ready, Severus." I replied coolly. "We've just started to grow closer and I don't want to ruin our friendship by bringing it up."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"Severus heaved a deep sigh and breathed it from his lungs, turning toward the desk. "To be completely honest, Winter...Christmas at home as a child was a rather difficult time for me. My father was a Muggle, my mother a pure-blood witch, making me a half-blood. My father was an extremely abusive man. He hit us most of the time."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"I came up behind him to place my hands on his shoulder./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"Severus tensed at first, but sighed and continued. "The only place I felt at home was here, at Hogwarts. I made a few friends who were a bad influence, to say the least. I wish I could say otherwise..." A deep breath was taken in and Severus spoke again. "There was only one person I felt a true connection with, a girl in my first year."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;""What happened to her?" I asked softly./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"The room became dangerously silent./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;""Severus?"/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"He turned to me, a dark and bitter look in his eyes. "She died."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;""I'm sorry, I-"/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"Severus took a deep breath and sighed heavily. "You did not know. However, I told you. I did not have a wonderful childhood like most students have. I was a very lonely, guarded boy who kept mostly to himself. She was my best friend- my only friend until I..." He paused. "Until I even managed to ruin that as well."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"I closed in the gap that separated us and wrapped my arms around him. "I'm very sorry all of this happened to you. You did nothing wrong, Severus. You didn't deserve this."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"He sighed, giving me an agonizing look. "You do not know the full story, Winter. You do not know what I did and what I said. I...was in love with her."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;""Then tell me. I don't like to see you suffering or in pain. It was a long time ago. Please let it go. Let her go. I can give you the love you didn't receive." I said, fighting more tears that threatened to fall./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"Severus breathed a sigh to calm himself. "I called her a mudblood and she never forgave me for it."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;""Oh, Severus." I said in disbelief. "I can't take her place but I can still be here for you. I can still be your friend or more, if you'll let me in."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"He eyed me intensely, taking in a deep breath and sighing from his lungs. "I have let you in, Winter. I...still do not understand how this happened but...I need you. I need you like I need air. I cannot breathe without air and I cannot breathe without you. I fell in love with you, Winter."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"Severus claimed my lips in a fervent kiss. It was a long, steamy kiss which lasted a few minutes. I heard him gasp as we ripped apart for breath./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"A mixture of passion and lust were in his eyes. "You belong to me, Winter."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;""I know. Would you like to show me in your bedroom, Severus?" I asked flirtatiously, winking at him./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"The Potions Master watched me for a few moments then sighed dramatically. "I would like to very much, but there is much to do."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;""I thought you said you would spend Christmas with me." I said in a disappointed tone./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"He sighed again. "So I did. Very well, Winter. You may stay in my quarters tonight and receive another gift, if that is your wish."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"Severus took my hand and led me down the corridors until we reached a door. He whispered an unrecognizable word and the door flew open./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"Severus took a deep breath. "Make yourself at home. I shall return."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"The bedroom was large. There were numerous shelves of leather bound books of each and every size you could think of. Jars, vials and bottles, too. Although, I believe Severus kept most of his potions in the classroom and storeroom areas./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"I strode over to the bookshelves and picked out a book about Animaguses. I read some until a sharp cough interrupted my thoughts. "Winter."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"I looked up. The raven haired man stood in the doorway of the bathroom separating the bedroom from his private kitchen and dining area, wearing a black silk robe. I thought I would die from shock./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"Severus cleared his throat deeply. "I cannot lie..." He began slowly. "I do think we are moving a little fast. Nevertheless, I do want to make you happy, Winter."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"He approached me carefully, as a predator would their prey. Obsidian orbs raked over my form. With a deep sigh, the black haired man waved his wand and he was naked./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"I blinked once. Twice. Three times./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"Is that even a size? I thought to myself./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"Severus sighed impatiently. "Yes, I can assure you of that."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;""Did you just read my mind again?" I asked in surprise./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"He sighed loudly. "Yes, now let us please continue. It is your turn."/span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"Severus smirked. He waved his wand at me and my clothes did the same disappearing act as his own./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"For a long moment there was total silence./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;""Beautiful." Severus breathed, gazing at me./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"He smiled. "You. Over here. Now."/span/strong/p