Disclaimer: Same as usual.

A/N: Okay, I haven't been for a while, but I am now. Enjoy!





Latisha sat watching the Gryffindor Quidditch team wind up their evening practice. She had half a mind to go get her broom and fly for a while, but it was in Severus; room, so she abandoned that idea. She didn't feel like putting up with the advances of either of the men. She needed desperately to think, and could find no place that would calm her mind. Getting up, she walked towards the school, wabing at the Gryffindors who smiled or nodded at her.

"Why don't you go have tea with Minerva, dear?" Hana Hooch said, walking over to Latisha. "I think it would do you good." Hana touched Latisha's elbow in farewell and returned to what she had been doing.

*I must reallyu be depressed - looking if Hana, of all people, notices I'm not myself* she thought. She blinked when she saw Fawkes hovering above her, trilling anxiously.

"Alright, Albus! I'll go see her!" Latisha hollered at the open window above her head. She didn't hear his laughter over the noise she made by slamming the door after her entry.

********

"I just don't get it, Minerva," Latisha said quietly, looking at her tea. "Jason's always telling me how much he loves me; I can't see it though. Although Severus hasn't told me since Jason's return, I can see it every time he looks at me. If he loves me so much, why won't he say it?" Latisha wondered if she was seeing the Grim in her tea leaves. She would prefer that to anything stupid like a rabbit.

"If you can see it in his eyes, then why does it matter so much to hear him say it?" Minerva asked gently.

"I want him to admit it. I want him to love me enough to be able to tell me. He told me before, why not now?" came the almost inaudible reply.

"Latisha, give him time. He'll say it again. I'm sure that Jason's return, and everything that the three of you have gone through has thrown him for a bit. We both know that Severus Snape does not like to be thrown," Minerva said with a grin.

Latisha looked up at Minerva, and the older witch was able to see the pain and longing in her eyes.

"Go to him, child. Don't be afraid to go to him for comfort as well as more personal things."

With a sigh, Latisha stood and smiled at Minerva.

"Thank you. I'd go mad without you, you know." She pulled her robes around her, and headed down to Severus' room. She reached his door and paused, resting her head against the cool stone of the doorway. She raised her hand to knock, and the door flew open; she found herself staring into the worried black eyes of Severus Snape.

"Latisha, are you okay?" he asked in a voice that only she could identify as frantic.

"Yes... Why?" she asked, taken aback by his tone.

"Malfoy said he saw you leaving the medical wing and then go down to the Quidditch pitch. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she replied.

"But-" he began.

"Severus, I'm fine. I just haven't been feeling well lately. Poppy ran some tests, and she's going to let me know tomorrow."

"Are you pregnant?" he asked suddenly.

"Of course not," she replied quickly. "Just not feeling well." She saw the worry begin to fade from his eyes.

"You're sure?"

Latisha put her arms around him and laid her head on his chest.

"As far as I know, I'm sure." She felt him relax and put his arms around her. He kissed the top of her head before resting his chin where he had kissed her. They stood there for some time, Latisha drawing strength from Severus, and Severus wondering what was on his lovers' mind. He heard footsteps down the corridor, and reached out with his leg and kicked the door shut. Latisha stirred and moved to stand in front of the blazing fire. She stood there, warming herself, and her posture gave away her Malfoy parentage. Severus wondered why he'd never seen it before now. It was so obvious; the set of the shoulders, the way she held her head...

"Why do you teach?" he asked surprising himself.

"Why not?" she replied in typical Eston fashion. She turned to face him with a grin playing at the corners of her mouth. "Why teach when I could be locked away in the Eston or Quirrell estate? Why teach when I could be pampered to my heart's content? Severus, if I didn't teach, I'd be locked away, guarded, and forced to act like a proper Lady. Sooner or later someone would notice the Malfoy in me. Some one would notice the Dryad. I'd be under lock and key the rest of my life. I make some stupid decisions sometimes, but I'd rather mess up than be locked up. Besides, if I didn't teach, I'd never have the opportunity to torment you."

Latisha lapsed into silence again, turning back to the fire. Severus quietly stepped up behind her and put his arms around her waist. He kissed her cheek and whispered the words she had longed for the past month.

"I love you"

Then he was gone into his office, before she could react. She sank into his chair and arranged herself so she was sitting sideways in it. With the fire in front of her, and the remains of his scent on the chair, it wasn't long before she fell asleep.

Severus came back into the room and smiled when he saw her sleeping. He spread a light blanket over her and kissed her forehead, smoothing back a few strands of her hair that had fallen over her face.

Gods he loved her.