SNAPE'S SECRET
"I hate it already." Lylah stated as the castle came into view.
"Well, tough." Amy simply said. They had come by car, but were now walking towards the school, the bags floating behind them as they walked to the castle.
"I just don't understand why we had to come! Why couldn't't I stay?" Lylah sighed.
"We've been over this more then one time. Lylah it's about time you acknowledge all of this. You have to know who you are!" Amy told her.
"I know who I am and I embrace it. You can teach me, with books, I'm a quick learner, aren't I? I learned all those spells in no time. Ok, yeah, so there are a few I can do better... Now, let's go back." She said turning around.
"Oh, no missy." Amy said grabbing her by the arm. "I came this far, I'm going to the end of it." She said.
"Well, you don't seem pretty happy about it either." She stated.
Amy sighed. "Okay, cards on the table: Fifteen years ago I walked away from this place, with you in my arms. And left behind one of the, if not the, most important person to me." She said somewhat gloomily.
"You're talking about dad aren't you?" Lylah said in a serious tone.
"Yeah, I am." She sighed. "Here's where we met, where we felt in love and where we lived for some time." She said.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Lylah asked. "I had the right to know, hadn't I?" she said loudly. "And all those years I wondered where he was, what he did... I can't believe you didn't tell me!" she said rather angrily.
"I know it will sound selfish, but there was a reason why I didn't tell you Lylah! And I will be more then happy to tell you once we get inside." Amy said.
"So, he's in there?" she asked gesturing towards the castle.
Amy just nodded, watching her daughter, who was trying to avoid eye contact with Amy, but saw her answer.
"If that's what it takes for me to see my father then..." Lylah said and set off towards the castle. All the way to there, no word was spoken.
*******
They reached the marble doors, which opened magically, and entered the castle. The minute Lylah set her foot inside the castle, something came zooming through the air almost knocking her down.
"Peeves!" Amy called and the zooming thing froze immediately.
"Merry Christmas my lady!" the poltergeist greeted her. "To what do I owe the honor of your visit?" he asked making faces during all his little speech.
Amy giggled lightheaded. "I'm not visiting, I'm staying." She told him.
"Oh, goody!" he said clapping his hands. "I set up a welcome feast for you in two days! But you have to promise me you'll take me." He winked.
"Nice try, Peevsy." She giggled. "You know you're not suppose to attend the feast! But I'd like to ask you two things. One: where is the Headmaster?"
"He's in a meeting with the staff in the staff room, they just shooed me out!" he said bouncing off the walls.
"Well, thank you. Would you be kind enough to accompany Lylah to the Dungeons?" she asked.
"Anything for you milady." He said and gave her hand a kiss, more out of mockery then anything.
"And Peeves, be nice to her, I mean it." Amy said in a grave voice. Peeves nodded.
"Lylah, I'll go check on you later, okay?" Amy said smiling.
"Yeah, whatever." Lylah replied and started to follow Peeves. It wasn't an easy task because he kept passing through walls and she had to wait for him to come back so he could show her the way. After a little less then half an hour she finally reached her room. Throwing her stuff on the floor, and throwing herself on the bed, she felt asleep.
A couple of hours latter Lylah woke up. She couldn't believe how tired she felt. Even after sleeping she just felt like dropping her head back on the pillow and sleeping again. She didn't want to get up, she didn't want to do anything, she just wanted to lie there, probably forever. With a heavy sigh and all the muscles of her body protesting, she got up and, grabbing a book, went down to the common room. There she set on an easy chair to read. But before she could start reading, she saw two figures (that didn't seem to notice her) talking.
"I know what you are and I know why you made that choice Severus." Said the man who was standing up. He looked older then the other man and, although his voice sounded at the same time disappointed and understanding, he looked almost fatherly like.
"I wanted too much at too little time..." the man sitting down said. "How did you know?" he asked looking up at the first man.
"I added two and two..." he smiled friendly like.
"What now? You're gonna kill me? Or you're just going to hand me over to the ministry wrapped in a red bow?" Severus asked trying to be sarcastic.
The first man sighed heavily and set down besides Severus. "You want my help, I want yours. How about we make a deal?"
Severus eyed him suspiciously for a while. "What do you mean by that?" he finally asked.
"I know you didn't enter Voldemort's circle only to be a Death Eater, only to obtain power. But my point is: you're there. And I need someone trust worthy to pass me information." He said looking straight to Severus.
"And with that I get my freedom." Severus asked more then stated.
"No, the freedom is just a consequence. You'll get a job here, as a teacher, we have an opening on Potions, and I'll also make sure she stays safe." The older man said.
"You can guarantee me she'll be safe?" Severus asked now looking more hopeful.
"I promise to do my best." The first man replied smiling.
"You really trust me that much, Dumbledore?" Snape asked.
"If *she* does, why shouldn't I?" he asked smiling friendly. The Severus got up and they both were going to leave. Lylah watched the whole scene and couldn't quite figure out what was happening. She stood up quickly and cried "Wait!" but a loud noise made she look away. On the floor laid her book. She looked back at the portrait hole, but there was no one else there.
"Where did they go?" she asked looking around. She walked out of the Common Room and faced the portrait.
"Where did those two men went?" she asked the portrait hoping it would know.
"Two men?" it asked. "No one left except you! And I can assure you that no one walked in here since you did earlier this afternoon." It added.
Lylah looked around confused as could be. She couldn't have seen something that wasn't really there, that wasn't happening? Who were those two? Lylah said the password and went in. She walked over where she was sitting before and picked up her book. Lylah looked around one more time hoping the men would be there and she could ask them questions, but they weren't. She looked back at the book and passed her hand on the golden letters projected out of the night blue back ground and read: Mythical Creatures and Ancient believes. That was her favorite book, her mom had given her the year she turned eleven and ever since she had read it every time she had a chance to. She remembered the Oracles from the Ancient times and wished one of those was there at the Common Room. At least it would be able to answer her question, even if in riddles. 'Yeah, like that would happen any time soon...' she thought to herself.
Lylah was always fascinated with this type of things: Mythical creatures, the unknown, magic... That's why, for her, it was no surprise when her mother confirmed that she was a witch. The only thing Lylah didn't think was that there were actual schools that taught magic. Lylah went up to her room, to put her book away, for what she could tell it was almost dinner time.
She went back to the Common Room, hoping her mother would be there, but she wasn't. It looked like Lylah would have to find the Great Hall herself. She sighed heavily before going out to the corridors to begin her quest.
Meanwhile Amy went to her room, to put away her things, she would speak with Dumbledore later. Every turn she made her heart would give a jolt in hope to bump into her husband. She longed to see him more then anything.
She stood facing the painting that was hung hiding the teacher's sleeping chambers. No sign of him, not one what so ever. She couldn't help frowning. She didn't know what to say when she saw him, but she didn't care. All that matters was that she was going to see him.
She spoke the password and entered. There were pictures of all the teachers that taught at Hogwarts ever since it was fund hung on the walls. She stopped on the seventh door on the right and pushed it open.
"OH! Sorry..." she exclaimed taking a step back. "I didn't meant to... I thought... I'm so, so sorry, I think I'm mistaken rooms." She said a little embarrassed.
"No harm was done." Said the little figure smiling. "You must be the new teacher am I right? Prof. Flitwick, nice to meet you." He said offering her his hand to shake.
"Yes." She said relieved. "I'm Prof. Amarantha but you can call me Amy." She said shaking his hand and offering him a friendly smile.
"Well, then Amy, Dumbledore is waiting you in his office. The password is Chewing Gum Rats!" he told her.
"Thank you!" she answered. "And it was nice meeting you." She said before setting off to Dumbledore's office.
*********
"That was not what we agreed!" Snape said enraged..
"You must understand, Severus, the situation has changed." Dumbledore answer calmly.
Snape's black eyes were fixed on the headmaster. How could he be so calm, sitting there so relaxed??! Didn't he realized what was happening?
"You said you would her safe and I would do everything I could to help." Snape said containing his anger. "I helped and am helping still. So how come -" Dumbledore raised his hand on the air in a very calm gesture and Snape stopped talking.
"I stand by my word. What you must understand Severus is that the situation is changed." Dumbledore stated calmly. Snape would have said something, but decided not to. "The place where they were, is no longer safe." Dumbledore sighed. "There was a very close call, a couple of days ago." He started. Snape's mouth widened half in horror and worry some half to say something, but Dumbledore beat him to it. "Luckily no one got hurt. Well, not physically anyway." The headmaster concluded.
"What do you mean 'not physically anyway.'?" Snape asked concerned.
"It's better for her to tell you. After all, I only got half of the story."
"And when exactly are they arriving?" Snape asked a little too coolly.
"They should've arrived already." The headmaster said checking the clock. "Oh, and that reminds me: I told the elves to put her things on your sleeping chamber. I presume that would be the most reasonable thing to do since -" a soft knock on the door stopped him. "Enter." He simply said.
Snape turned around and looked at the door. Even if he wouldn't demonstrate it: his heart was going faster and there was only one person he wanted to see walking in that office.
"Excuse me, Dumbledore?" Amy asked pushing the door open. "Prof. Flitwick said you were..." her voice faded once she got sight of her husband standing there.
"Ah! Prof. Snape, come in!" Dumbledore said in a delighted voice. "Hum, I think we might have a little problem with the names..." he said thoughtfully as neither of the other two people moved. "So," he said standing up. "I think we can have our little chat during dinner can't we?" he said walking towards the door.
Amy heard only half of the words the headmaster had said. "uh... yeah." She said unsure for what she was saying 'yes' for. But it was good she did because it made her realize she was still standing in the door way.
"Wonderful!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "I'll leave you two kids to talk." He said as he exited the room, a few seconds after Amy entered the it and got out of the door way, and closed the door.
"Hi." She said in a low voice that sounded more like a loud whisper. It had been so long since she last saw him, since she last heard any news of him. She wanted to keep contact, but Dumbledore had said it was safer not to. Therefore she spent her days only wondering what he might be doing and raising the child he had only heard off.
Snape stood there examining his wife. She looked just the way she looked like the last time he saw her, as beautiful as always. Sure she looked a bit more mature, but say she looked older was to say more then he saw. "Dumbledore said you had an incident?" he asked finally. 'Is that the best you can come up with?' he mentally slapped himself but kept looking at her waiting for an answer, for a reaction what not.
Amy couldn't help feeling a little hurt. Fifteen years and the best he could come up with was 'Dumbledore said you had an incident.'? Although she was feeling hurt, she didn't let it show. "Lylah did." She answered simply.
"What happened?" he asked, this time his voice had a tone of concern in it.
"She... watched. Her boyfriend be murdered." Amy answered. She didn't wanted to tell him about Lylah almost being killed right after Greg was, but she knew she would have to eventually. Not at that time though.
"Is she alright? I mean... how is she?" he answered gladly that they engaged in a conversation. It was terrible what had happen to his daughter and he was concerned, yes, but he was also happy to have his wife back.
"She's holding up. Better then anyone would expect her to." She replied. "It's not easy to see someone being killed, specially someone you care about." She added and forced a smile. That was an awkward moment: she wanted to hold him, kiss him, beg him to never let her go again,a nd he wanted to do all those things but they both thought the other didn't want those things to happen.
"I'm glad." He said and paused nervously. Why was that so hard? Truth was, he was afraid that she had found someone else. Someone that loved her and could protect her better then he could. The thought of she loving another and he having to let her go was repulsive and yet was clearer by the second on his mind. "And how are you?" he asked finally.
"Me? I'm..." She begun. Amy wasn't expecting this question, although she really wanted him to ask it, she didn't think he would. She let out her breath and looked tenderly at him "I'm better." She said sweetly smiling.
Better. Was that good or was that bad? Was she better because she had come back and was with him again or was she better because she had found someone that could give her more then he could, a better version of him? There was only one way to find out. He moved closer to her until he was standing only inches from her and placed a gentle hand on her cheek. His heart beating faster and faster, he wasn't sure if he could stand being rejected, not now that he had her back again.
Every step he took towards her made her hope built up. It had been so long... She had never doubted his love for her, but what if things had changed? Deep in her heart she knew it was nonsense to think such things, but was it? When he touched her cheek Goosebumps shot through her body. Her eyes floated close, she smiled and tilted her head towards his hand.
He rubbed his thumb on her cheek for a second or two before leaning forward and kissing her.
She kissed him back. Something on the back of her mind was shouting 'It was about time!', but she completely ignored it. Actually she ignored everything else hat didn't involve her or Snape.
He pulled away from the kiss he was waiting to give her for fifteen years, just to pull her closer to him into a hug. Her hair so close to his nose he could smell her shampoo. "I missed you so much." He finally whispered in her ear.
"I missed you too!" she whispered in response holding him tightly.
"I hate it already." Lylah stated as the castle came into view.
"Well, tough." Amy simply said. They had come by car, but were now walking towards the school, the bags floating behind them as they walked to the castle.
"I just don't understand why we had to come! Why couldn't't I stay?" Lylah sighed.
"We've been over this more then one time. Lylah it's about time you acknowledge all of this. You have to know who you are!" Amy told her.
"I know who I am and I embrace it. You can teach me, with books, I'm a quick learner, aren't I? I learned all those spells in no time. Ok, yeah, so there are a few I can do better... Now, let's go back." She said turning around.
"Oh, no missy." Amy said grabbing her by the arm. "I came this far, I'm going to the end of it." She said.
"Well, you don't seem pretty happy about it either." She stated.
Amy sighed. "Okay, cards on the table: Fifteen years ago I walked away from this place, with you in my arms. And left behind one of the, if not the, most important person to me." She said somewhat gloomily.
"You're talking about dad aren't you?" Lylah said in a serious tone.
"Yeah, I am." She sighed. "Here's where we met, where we felt in love and where we lived for some time." She said.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Lylah asked. "I had the right to know, hadn't I?" she said loudly. "And all those years I wondered where he was, what he did... I can't believe you didn't tell me!" she said rather angrily.
"I know it will sound selfish, but there was a reason why I didn't tell you Lylah! And I will be more then happy to tell you once we get inside." Amy said.
"So, he's in there?" she asked gesturing towards the castle.
Amy just nodded, watching her daughter, who was trying to avoid eye contact with Amy, but saw her answer.
"If that's what it takes for me to see my father then..." Lylah said and set off towards the castle. All the way to there, no word was spoken.
*******
They reached the marble doors, which opened magically, and entered the castle. The minute Lylah set her foot inside the castle, something came zooming through the air almost knocking her down.
"Peeves!" Amy called and the zooming thing froze immediately.
"Merry Christmas my lady!" the poltergeist greeted her. "To what do I owe the honor of your visit?" he asked making faces during all his little speech.
Amy giggled lightheaded. "I'm not visiting, I'm staying." She told him.
"Oh, goody!" he said clapping his hands. "I set up a welcome feast for you in two days! But you have to promise me you'll take me." He winked.
"Nice try, Peevsy." She giggled. "You know you're not suppose to attend the feast! But I'd like to ask you two things. One: where is the Headmaster?"
"He's in a meeting with the staff in the staff room, they just shooed me out!" he said bouncing off the walls.
"Well, thank you. Would you be kind enough to accompany Lylah to the Dungeons?" she asked.
"Anything for you milady." He said and gave her hand a kiss, more out of mockery then anything.
"And Peeves, be nice to her, I mean it." Amy said in a grave voice. Peeves nodded.
"Lylah, I'll go check on you later, okay?" Amy said smiling.
"Yeah, whatever." Lylah replied and started to follow Peeves. It wasn't an easy task because he kept passing through walls and she had to wait for him to come back so he could show her the way. After a little less then half an hour she finally reached her room. Throwing her stuff on the floor, and throwing herself on the bed, she felt asleep.
A couple of hours latter Lylah woke up. She couldn't believe how tired she felt. Even after sleeping she just felt like dropping her head back on the pillow and sleeping again. She didn't want to get up, she didn't want to do anything, she just wanted to lie there, probably forever. With a heavy sigh and all the muscles of her body protesting, she got up and, grabbing a book, went down to the common room. There she set on an easy chair to read. But before she could start reading, she saw two figures (that didn't seem to notice her) talking.
"I know what you are and I know why you made that choice Severus." Said the man who was standing up. He looked older then the other man and, although his voice sounded at the same time disappointed and understanding, he looked almost fatherly like.
"I wanted too much at too little time..." the man sitting down said. "How did you know?" he asked looking up at the first man.
"I added two and two..." he smiled friendly like.
"What now? You're gonna kill me? Or you're just going to hand me over to the ministry wrapped in a red bow?" Severus asked trying to be sarcastic.
The first man sighed heavily and set down besides Severus. "You want my help, I want yours. How about we make a deal?"
Severus eyed him suspiciously for a while. "What do you mean by that?" he finally asked.
"I know you didn't enter Voldemort's circle only to be a Death Eater, only to obtain power. But my point is: you're there. And I need someone trust worthy to pass me information." He said looking straight to Severus.
"And with that I get my freedom." Severus asked more then stated.
"No, the freedom is just a consequence. You'll get a job here, as a teacher, we have an opening on Potions, and I'll also make sure she stays safe." The older man said.
"You can guarantee me she'll be safe?" Severus asked now looking more hopeful.
"I promise to do my best." The first man replied smiling.
"You really trust me that much, Dumbledore?" Snape asked.
"If *she* does, why shouldn't I?" he asked smiling friendly. The Severus got up and they both were going to leave. Lylah watched the whole scene and couldn't quite figure out what was happening. She stood up quickly and cried "Wait!" but a loud noise made she look away. On the floor laid her book. She looked back at the portrait hole, but there was no one else there.
"Where did they go?" she asked looking around. She walked out of the Common Room and faced the portrait.
"Where did those two men went?" she asked the portrait hoping it would know.
"Two men?" it asked. "No one left except you! And I can assure you that no one walked in here since you did earlier this afternoon." It added.
Lylah looked around confused as could be. She couldn't have seen something that wasn't really there, that wasn't happening? Who were those two? Lylah said the password and went in. She walked over where she was sitting before and picked up her book. Lylah looked around one more time hoping the men would be there and she could ask them questions, but they weren't. She looked back at the book and passed her hand on the golden letters projected out of the night blue back ground and read: Mythical Creatures and Ancient believes. That was her favorite book, her mom had given her the year she turned eleven and ever since she had read it every time she had a chance to. She remembered the Oracles from the Ancient times and wished one of those was there at the Common Room. At least it would be able to answer her question, even if in riddles. 'Yeah, like that would happen any time soon...' she thought to herself.
Lylah was always fascinated with this type of things: Mythical creatures, the unknown, magic... That's why, for her, it was no surprise when her mother confirmed that she was a witch. The only thing Lylah didn't think was that there were actual schools that taught magic. Lylah went up to her room, to put her book away, for what she could tell it was almost dinner time.
She went back to the Common Room, hoping her mother would be there, but she wasn't. It looked like Lylah would have to find the Great Hall herself. She sighed heavily before going out to the corridors to begin her quest.
Meanwhile Amy went to her room, to put away her things, she would speak with Dumbledore later. Every turn she made her heart would give a jolt in hope to bump into her husband. She longed to see him more then anything.
She stood facing the painting that was hung hiding the teacher's sleeping chambers. No sign of him, not one what so ever. She couldn't help frowning. She didn't know what to say when she saw him, but she didn't care. All that matters was that she was going to see him.
She spoke the password and entered. There were pictures of all the teachers that taught at Hogwarts ever since it was fund hung on the walls. She stopped on the seventh door on the right and pushed it open.
"OH! Sorry..." she exclaimed taking a step back. "I didn't meant to... I thought... I'm so, so sorry, I think I'm mistaken rooms." She said a little embarrassed.
"No harm was done." Said the little figure smiling. "You must be the new teacher am I right? Prof. Flitwick, nice to meet you." He said offering her his hand to shake.
"Yes." She said relieved. "I'm Prof. Amarantha but you can call me Amy." She said shaking his hand and offering him a friendly smile.
"Well, then Amy, Dumbledore is waiting you in his office. The password is Chewing Gum Rats!" he told her.
"Thank you!" she answered. "And it was nice meeting you." She said before setting off to Dumbledore's office.
*********
"That was not what we agreed!" Snape said enraged..
"You must understand, Severus, the situation has changed." Dumbledore answer calmly.
Snape's black eyes were fixed on the headmaster. How could he be so calm, sitting there so relaxed??! Didn't he realized what was happening?
"You said you would her safe and I would do everything I could to help." Snape said containing his anger. "I helped and am helping still. So how come -" Dumbledore raised his hand on the air in a very calm gesture and Snape stopped talking.
"I stand by my word. What you must understand Severus is that the situation is changed." Dumbledore stated calmly. Snape would have said something, but decided not to. "The place where they were, is no longer safe." Dumbledore sighed. "There was a very close call, a couple of days ago." He started. Snape's mouth widened half in horror and worry some half to say something, but Dumbledore beat him to it. "Luckily no one got hurt. Well, not physically anyway." The headmaster concluded.
"What do you mean 'not physically anyway.'?" Snape asked concerned.
"It's better for her to tell you. After all, I only got half of the story."
"And when exactly are they arriving?" Snape asked a little too coolly.
"They should've arrived already." The headmaster said checking the clock. "Oh, and that reminds me: I told the elves to put her things on your sleeping chamber. I presume that would be the most reasonable thing to do since -" a soft knock on the door stopped him. "Enter." He simply said.
Snape turned around and looked at the door. Even if he wouldn't demonstrate it: his heart was going faster and there was only one person he wanted to see walking in that office.
"Excuse me, Dumbledore?" Amy asked pushing the door open. "Prof. Flitwick said you were..." her voice faded once she got sight of her husband standing there.
"Ah! Prof. Snape, come in!" Dumbledore said in a delighted voice. "Hum, I think we might have a little problem with the names..." he said thoughtfully as neither of the other two people moved. "So," he said standing up. "I think we can have our little chat during dinner can't we?" he said walking towards the door.
Amy heard only half of the words the headmaster had said. "uh... yeah." She said unsure for what she was saying 'yes' for. But it was good she did because it made her realize she was still standing in the door way.
"Wonderful!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "I'll leave you two kids to talk." He said as he exited the room, a few seconds after Amy entered the it and got out of the door way, and closed the door.
"Hi." She said in a low voice that sounded more like a loud whisper. It had been so long since she last saw him, since she last heard any news of him. She wanted to keep contact, but Dumbledore had said it was safer not to. Therefore she spent her days only wondering what he might be doing and raising the child he had only heard off.
Snape stood there examining his wife. She looked just the way she looked like the last time he saw her, as beautiful as always. Sure she looked a bit more mature, but say she looked older was to say more then he saw. "Dumbledore said you had an incident?" he asked finally. 'Is that the best you can come up with?' he mentally slapped himself but kept looking at her waiting for an answer, for a reaction what not.
Amy couldn't help feeling a little hurt. Fifteen years and the best he could come up with was 'Dumbledore said you had an incident.'? Although she was feeling hurt, she didn't let it show. "Lylah did." She answered simply.
"What happened?" he asked, this time his voice had a tone of concern in it.
"She... watched. Her boyfriend be murdered." Amy answered. She didn't wanted to tell him about Lylah almost being killed right after Greg was, but she knew she would have to eventually. Not at that time though.
"Is she alright? I mean... how is she?" he answered gladly that they engaged in a conversation. It was terrible what had happen to his daughter and he was concerned, yes, but he was also happy to have his wife back.
"She's holding up. Better then anyone would expect her to." She replied. "It's not easy to see someone being killed, specially someone you care about." She added and forced a smile. That was an awkward moment: she wanted to hold him, kiss him, beg him to never let her go again,a nd he wanted to do all those things but they both thought the other didn't want those things to happen.
"I'm glad." He said and paused nervously. Why was that so hard? Truth was, he was afraid that she had found someone else. Someone that loved her and could protect her better then he could. The thought of she loving another and he having to let her go was repulsive and yet was clearer by the second on his mind. "And how are you?" he asked finally.
"Me? I'm..." She begun. Amy wasn't expecting this question, although she really wanted him to ask it, she didn't think he would. She let out her breath and looked tenderly at him "I'm better." She said sweetly smiling.
Better. Was that good or was that bad? Was she better because she had come back and was with him again or was she better because she had found someone that could give her more then he could, a better version of him? There was only one way to find out. He moved closer to her until he was standing only inches from her and placed a gentle hand on her cheek. His heart beating faster and faster, he wasn't sure if he could stand being rejected, not now that he had her back again.
Every step he took towards her made her hope built up. It had been so long... She had never doubted his love for her, but what if things had changed? Deep in her heart she knew it was nonsense to think such things, but was it? When he touched her cheek Goosebumps shot through her body. Her eyes floated close, she smiled and tilted her head towards his hand.
He rubbed his thumb on her cheek for a second or two before leaning forward and kissing her.
She kissed him back. Something on the back of her mind was shouting 'It was about time!', but she completely ignored it. Actually she ignored everything else hat didn't involve her or Snape.
He pulled away from the kiss he was waiting to give her for fifteen years, just to pull her closer to him into a hug. Her hair so close to his nose he could smell her shampoo. "I missed you so much." He finally whispered in her ear.
"I missed you too!" she whispered in response holding him tightly.