Zelda - Chapter 10

Disclaimers: See chapter 1

Severus stormed into his chambers and plopped down into his chair. He lit a fire with his wand and rubbed his eyes. They day had been exhausting. And Zelda. And Zelda. He knew there was something terribly wrong. She was not the same person she was eight years ago, of course. But this was not the issue. She seemed to be hiding something. Even from herself. But Severus had already decided that he was not going to go to her. Not after this morning.

A soft knock on the door. Severus knew who it was before she opened the door. She always had knocked that way. Hesitantly. As if she thought she was doing something wrong. Maybe they were wrong to become friends. Maybe that's why it was so bad.

He thought about getting up, but thought again, and didn't. Instead, he just said, come in Zelda.

She slowly entered the room, looking side to side, as if something might attack her. Something might,' Severus thought to himself as he watched her approach.

She didn't sit. She didn't get comfortable. Severus knew she was here to say something and then leave.

said Zelda. I am so sorry about this morning.

Severus said nothing.

I can try to place the blame on my current physical state. Or on everything that I've been thinking about lately. But the truth is, I was acting like a child. And it was unacceptable. I--

Apology accepted, Severus muttered softly. What? Severus's heart managed to forgive Zelda before his brain could consider it.

Zelda stood still. Severus laughed to himself. Zelda Fenley at a loss for words? Severus decided he should help her out.

Too much has happened to me, to both of us, over the years since we have talked to pretend that our relationship could be the same. But I've not cared to find another to replace you. I don't think it would be possible. Severus was only realizing the truth in his words as they emerged from his mouth. But, they were the truth. And as he sat their looking at Zelda, he knew that they never should have gone that long without seeing each other. He got up and walked over to where she was standing. Close-up, he could see that her cheeks were wet with her tears. Her green eyes glistened with them. And Severus couldn't take it any longer. He reached his arms around her carefully, so as not to irritate her injuries. And he hugged her. He hugged her. They stood there, that way for what seemed like hours. But it was actually only minutes. Then Severus broke the embrace long enough to say two simple sentences.

I've missed you Zelda. More than you can possibly know.

It was Zelda that re-initiated the hug. And they continued standing there in the desperate attempt to make up for the past eight years.

NOT THE END, I ASSURE YOU!