p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongI sat down in a chair across from his desk./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus looked stressed. "Why did you not just tell me the truth then?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"I didn't know how you would accept it. You were always civil to me but I've heard stories of how other students are treated by you." I said calmly./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. "I am not angry, Winter. You should have told 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"I couldn't." I looked at him helplessly. "If you knew-"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"This is why you saved my life?" Severus demanded. "I cannot say I was not suspicious. This procedure...you described that the Muggles use, CPR...it involves kissing the victim?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"I told you. I give chest compressions to restart your heart." I replied./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"No..." The Professor sighed, much like when he was frustrated at students who irritated him. "Obviously you know what I speak of, Winter. You wish to hide the truth further from 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"Ok, I'll explain it again. I placed my mouth to yours and gave two quick breaths. It depends on the person. It took two times for you. I alternated between working to get your heart beating again and your lungs breathing."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus rose, circling the desk. "You know how this is to end, Winter."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Yes, Severus?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHe gave me a pained look, sighing heavily. "There can be no relationship between us except that of a professor and his student."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"We could keep it a secret. I can't change my feelings and if you have any, neither can 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"I have told you before how grateful I am." Severus countered. "However, involving yourself with me is..." I saw a look in his eyes that I had not seen before. Severus took a deep breath and sighed it slowly from his lungs. "...willfully requesting heartache. I am only telling you this for you own good, Winter."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"As a friend, sir?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Perferrably not." He stated firmly./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"But you said we could." I reminded him./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Miss Jones, it would be best if you left." Severus snapped, sitting back at the desk./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"It's too late. I know that's not the real you. I've seen him." I glared back at the dark Professor./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus took a deep breath and sighed it quickly from his lungs. He looked at me with a mixture of sadness and sympathy. "Miss Jones...Winter, is it truly imperative to you that we maintain a friendship? I warned you against it already."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Yes, it's really important to me, sir."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHis eyes bored into me as he put his quill back into the ink. Severus heaved a loud sigh. "Very well, but nothing more. Now please, leave me be. You have taken most of my evening."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Thank you, Severus." I said in a hushed whisper./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"You are very welcome, Winter. Ask before you use my first name, please." Severus replied, giving me the ghost of a smile./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 leave the room and returned to marking parchment, his eyes following me yet again as I walked through the door./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus inhaled sharply and sighed dramatically, black eyes still on the oak door./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"If only I can keep it just a friendship with Winter Jones./span/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus looked stressed. "Why did you not just tell me the truth then?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"I didn't know how you would accept it. You were always civil to me but I've heard stories of how other students are treated by you." I said calmly./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. "I am not angry, Winter. You should have told 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"I couldn't." I looked at him helplessly. "If you knew-"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"This is why you saved my life?" Severus demanded. "I cannot say I was not suspicious. This procedure...you described that the Muggles use, CPR...it involves kissing the victim?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"I told you. I give chest compressions to restart your heart." I replied./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"No..." The Professor sighed, much like when he was frustrated at students who irritated him. "Obviously you know what I speak of, Winter. You wish to hide the truth further from 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"Ok, I'll explain it again. I placed my mouth to yours and gave two quick breaths. It depends on the person. It took two times for you. I alternated between working to get your heart beating again and your lungs breathing."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus rose, circling the desk. "You know how this is to end, Winter."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Yes, Severus?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHe gave me a pained look, sighing heavily. "There can be no relationship between us except that of a professor and his student."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"We could keep it a secret. I can't change my feelings and if you have any, neither can 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"I have told you before how grateful I am." Severus countered. "However, involving yourself with me is..." I saw a look in his eyes that I had not seen before. Severus took a deep breath and sighed it slowly from his lungs. "...willfully requesting heartache. I am only telling you this for you own good, Winter."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"As a friend, sir?"/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Perferrably not." He stated firmly./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"But you said we could." I reminded him./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Miss Jones, it would be best if you left." Severus snapped, sitting back at the desk./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"It's too late. I know that's not the real you. I've seen him." I glared back at the dark Professor./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus took a deep breath and sighed it quickly from his lungs. He looked at me with a mixture of sadness and sympathy. "Miss Jones...Winter, is it truly imperative to you that we maintain a friendship? I warned you against it already."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Yes, it's really important to me, sir."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongHis eyes bored into me as he put his quill back into the ink. Severus heaved a loud sigh. "Very well, but nothing more. Now please, leave me be. You have taken most of my evening."/strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"Thank you, Severus." I said in a hushed whisper./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strong"You are very welcome, Winter. Ask before you use my first name, please." Severus replied, giving me the ghost of a smile./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 leave the room and returned to marking parchment, his eyes following me yet again as I walked through the door./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"span style="font-style: italic;"strongSeverus inhaled sharply and sighed dramatically, black eyes still on the oak door./strong/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.079999923706055px;"strongspan style="font-style: italic;"If only I can keep it just a friendship with Winter Jones./span/strong/p
