Evangeline awoke and rolled over to see Snape pulling clothes out of the wardrobe in preparation for the day. She lay there quietly just watching him dress, treasuring the moment; trying not to think about whether or not there'd be many more like it. As she lay there and gazed at her lover while he pulled his trousers over his long legs and methodically buttoned up his shirt, his nimble fingers moving smoothly from one button to the next in a practiced rhythm, she realized that there was a large part of her that would be perfectly content to spend the rest of her life simply watching every tantalizing move he made. Just being near him made her feel happy and safe and at peace with her world. Whatever would she do if she lost him? How could she survive if they put him in prison and held him away from her aching arms forever? She shook her head sharply to banish the sudden cold emptiness that stabbed through her soul. Refusing to let her mind dwell on such depressing thoughts, she sat up and spoke to him with a determined smile in her voice.
"Good morning, Professor Snape."
He paused in his dressing, turned to look at her, and cocked an eyebrow. "So formal today. I thought we'd progressed past that to a first name basis."
With a sly grin on her face, she slid out of bed and walked over to join him. "You had such a serious expression on your face. I tend to think of that look as your Professor Snape face."
He snorted shortly. "Yes, I suppose I do tend to have masks for all occasions. I need to get ready for a class so it seemed like the appropriate "face" to don. What are you planning to do today?"
"Well, I guess I'd better start brewing up some more cleaning and restoring potions if I have to start work on the castle paintings again. Albus told me I could use my old quarters to work in. So I guess I'll do it there. Since your classroom is certainly not available at the moment."
Snape nodded in agreement. "Yes, you'll need to prepare for that. Please, feel free to take what you need from my storeroom."
She smiled at him teasingly. "Why thank you, Professor Snape. I feel so much better having your permission. I wouldn't want to be accused of pilfering, after all."
Plastering a sneer onto his face, he grabbed her quickly, and pulled her roughly against him. "Don't push your luck, Miss Winthrop," he murmured silkily, "or I'll be forced to give you detention."
With glittering eyes, she smirked at him and ran a hand slowly up his chest. "That sounds like fun. Would I serve it here…in your bed?"
He leered down at her as he ran a possessive hand down her backside. "My, you are a forward child, aren't you?"
Grinning up at him saucily, she whispered, "Only with you, Professor. I assure you."
He snorted in amusement. Then he leaned down and kissed her thoroughly, released her abruptly, and resumed buttoning up his clothes. "If you hurry up and dress, we can go up to breakfast together."
Turning away from him reluctantly, she began pawing through the wardrobe. When that proved unfruitful, she turned to the drawers with a sigh. "I'm running out of things to wear."
Unhappily, she pulled out her old jeans and sole remaining t-shirt, which were beginning to look rather worn, and looked doubtfully at them. The state of her wardrobe was beginning to get embarrassing. The house elves looked better dressed.
He frowned over at her. "We'll have to do something about that. I'm not sure I want you leaving the castle alone though. Perhaps we can do it together this weekend."
The thought of going shopping with Severus had her fondly remembering the day they met. It seemed so long ago, and the problems they'd faced then seemed pale compared to what they faced now. Still there had never really been a time when something wasn't hanging over one or the other of them. They'd get through it now just like they did then.
Evangeline smiled wistfully at him. "You're going to take me shopping? That takes me back down memory lane. That first expedition together seems so long ago. We were different people then."
He shook his head. "No, we merely wore different masks with each other." He raised an eyebrow and smirked at her. "I promise not to act embarrassed, and stomp out of the shop if the proprietor refers to me as your boyfriend this time."
She laughed fondly at the memory. "Good. I'll hold you to that."
In short order they were both dressed, and they headed up to breakfast together. Both McGonagall and Lupin were at the head table when they got there. Lupin looked absolutely exhausted after his two days as a wolf.
Evangeline smiled sympathetically at him. "How are you feeling today, Remus?"
The weary wizard looked up and attempted a smile for her. This was a moment he hadn't been looking forward to. "I'm fine, Evangeline, just a little tired that's all." He took a deep breath and added, "I understand congratulations are in order for the two of you."
Evangeline turned, smiled at Severus, and squeezed his hand. Then she turned back to Lupin. "Yes, thank you. Who told you? I wanted to break the news myself."
"Sirius told me this morning."
She held her hand out to him. "See the beautiful ring, Severus gave me."
Reluctantly he took her hand and pretended to admire the diamond. "It's lovely, Evangeline. I hope the two of you will be very happy." As he glanced up at their tense faces, he realized sadly that they hoped so too, but they feared it wouldn't happen.
As breakfast came to a close, McGonagall came over and laid a hand on Evangeline's shoulder. "Evangeline, dear, are you busy this morning?"
Replacing her cup in her saucer, she turned and looked up at the older woman fondly. "Not especially, Minerva. Is there something you'd like me to do for you?"
McGonagall shook her head. "Not for me, with me. I've arranged for a very good and reputable clothier to meet us at the Three Broomsticks today. I think we need to do something about the shocking state of your wardrobe."
Evangeline was touched by her thoughtfulness. "That's very kind of you, Minerva, but Severus and I were going to go shopping this weekend."
McGonagall snorted. "And pray, what does Severus know about selecting women's clothes? Also, I think it would be safer if the two of you didn't go into Hogsmeade and make potential targets of yourselves." She shot a prim look at Snape. "Not to mention the fact that Severus is supposed to confine himself to the castle at the moment."
Snape aimed an annoyed scowl at McGonagall and growled, "So like a Gryffindor to assume this is any of your business. How is this any safer for Evangeline than going with me? She's still going into Hogsmeade, and I sincerely doubt that you can provide greater protection for her than I can."
Unruffled by Snape's black look, McGonagall nodded and stared coolly back over the top of her spectacles. "True, but I've arranged for Madame Ainsley to meet us in the room at the Three Broomsticks that we used to transport people to Gringotts from. We can reach it through the paintings and return again without ever setting foot outside. Evangeline will be perfectly safe, and this way you won't be breaking your promise to Albus. Something I would hope you'd be reluctant to do, Severus."
Snape's scowl deepened at this unpleasant reminder of his responsibility. "You're making this so complicated, Minerva. Why didn't you simply invite this woman to come up to the castle? Didn't the idea occur to you?" He sneered.
McGonagall crossed her arms and continued to give as good as she got in the annoyed expression category. "Of course it occurred to me, Severus. For some reason Madame Ainsley was reluctant to come up here. She didn't say why, and I didn't push her. This seemed like an acceptable compromise. Do you agree?"
Snape turned that over in his mind and nodded shortly, though his face retained its scowl. Reluctantly he turned to Evangeline and said, "As much as I loathe to admit it, Minerva is right. I did promise Albus that I would not leave the castle. So you should go with her this morning and enjoy yourself." He rose stiffly from the table and kissed Evangeline quickly on the cheek. "I must get to class. I'll see you, later." He nodded abruptly to the others and stalked out of the hall, black clouds still hovering over his expression.
Evangeline watched him go with a sad expression on her face. "Oh, Minerva, it's so unfair. He shouldn't be treated like this after what he just accomplished. He should be praised…not condemned."
McGonagall laid a comforting hand on Evangeline's shoulder and squeezed. "I know, Evangeline. We'll all do what we can to see that this works out all right."
Lupin nodded encouragingly as well. "Minerva's right. Severus has been in far worse situations than this. Things will work out all right. You'll see."
Evangeline wanted so much to believe them, but as she watched the stiff figure of her lover walk out the door, she suddenly felt overwhelmed by a strong sense of doubt.