Many thanks to JKR for the characters and the setting. Forgive my long silence, and I'm grateful for all the interest and comments shown by the readers. More chapters coming soon.
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Silence wreathed the room, around and between them. So very tempting to just remain against the wall, Snape mused. To just stay right here and not leave... A light tap of his battered hand against the wall brought him home. Much to be done today, appearances to make. The world...
Hooch watched him, her face blank. She didn't move at all even when Snape moved to pick up her broom and offer it back. A question remained in her eyes.
"I don't know why you came down here..." he began. She offered no explanations. Snape sighed. This was so hard. Not as hard as it had been in the beginning, but he hadn't explained himself for so long.
"It is understandable that you should wish to not speak to me again," he said. At this, Hooch started a little, and something came back into her. She shook her head, and Snape drew in another breath. Though he could not name this odd apprehension, the care with which he chose his words.
"Tonight?"
"Where?"
The day blurred, class after class. Students rushing through the halls, the usual noise and commotion. Most of all he longed for quiet. the quiet might bring demons, but it was blessedly empty.
Snape watched Harry Potter with hooded eyes that afternoon. This was the boy he was supposed to protect. The boy on whose shoulders so much hope rested, the boy who lived. It if weren't for the strangeness of Potter's life, Snape might have despaired.
It was difficult to be his usual self on these days.
"Albus, why didn't you just use Obliviate oh her?"
"Severus," Dumbledore said reprovingly. "I am not about to do that to someone unless it is truly necessary."
Snape hissed under his breath as he paced Dumbledore's office. He was not looking forward to this evening. Reliving the death of Corinne for the Headmaster once was more than enough, and he didn't relish explaining it again to anyone. Much less to her.
"Why was she there so early in the morning?" Eyes twinkling, Dumbledore steepled his fingers and smiled. Snape rolled his eyes.
"Gods above it certainly wasn't for that."
"You never know."
"Albus, are you seriously thinking that Hana Hooch and I..." The consternation on Snape's face brought a chuckle from Dumbledore.
"No, no my friend," he smiled. "Your secret is safe with me." At that, Snape went almost a whiter shade of pale.
"Come now Severus, it's time to eat."
He ignored her at dinner, concentrated on the mushrooms and potatoes on his plate, the glint of the silverware above the china. Though a half dozen people sat between them, he could feel her presence, a sun behind his eyelids.
The others were excusing themselves, and there was not much time to put it off. Blinking, he wondered if he had actually eaten anything.
"I'll meet you on the tower." Her whisper startled him, and his fork dropped with a clatter lost in the the din of students heading to the House common rooms. From the corner of this eye, he detected the fine swish of her robes.
The sky smelled of ice, with wisps of cloud. Moonlight bathed the stones silver and bright. A pity this night would hear his confession once more.
"Perhaps you would like to tell me exactly why you chose to burst into my chamber this morning?" It pleased him to see her guilty start, as she turned around.
"Curiosity again, Severus. Though I don't expect you to accept that answer." Snape snorted indelicately. They stood far apart, as if the distance armored them. Hooch broke the long silence.
"Why did you do it?"
"Join the Death Eaters or betray them?"
"All of it."
"That is a very long story."
"I have time."