*A/N: Hey everyone, I meant to get this up 4 days ago... oops. Ha, its up
now anyhow. Yea, more reviews! I figure it wouldn't hurt any to tell you
all that, yes, Harry is still at school. Though it is made a lot more
evident in a couple chapters. As well as Harry's paranoia will be dealt
with in a rather slow and annoyingly suspenseful way. I hope at least.
Sorry if the story isn't capitalization perfect, also! as well as the
italic attempts, even though they dont work I'll keep them because you will
still get the idea, erm yeah.*
6
But she couldn't sit there anymore. She was so afraid of what he might say.
That is that, Hermione couldn't stand to face up to the fact that for the first time she had told the secret she wasn't supposed to tell. She said it to Severus. The professor who hated her. At least she thought he hated her. She wasn't so sure anymore. She could see him still sitting on the rug. The plate of sandwiches left long forgotten. The whole room was lit by only the fire in the fireplace, the one under the cauldron, and those small candles floating above Severus's desk. She could see his face in the shadows, his brow creased. And she didn't know what to do. Ten seconds ago it was bliss of being truthful and honest. Now all she wanted to do was run, and fast.
IWhere are you going to run to Hermione?/I She accessed her current situation at hand. She could run up to Gryffindor tower, but that wouldn't help her get away from anyone. And she didn't know how to get to Moaning Myrtle 's from here. She was walking towards the door now.
iWhat I'm actually going to run away now?/i her own question was answered by her feet leading her out the door and breaking into a run as she turned right, up a staircase she had no idea where it went. Up... spiraling, faster her feet carrying her, her breathing strained by sheer height, and she was afraid of tripping over her own desperate attempt of escape.
Hermione found herself at the landing to the owlery. She ran to the window to take in a breath of cool clean air. It smelled new, because of the rain yesterday. Yesterday was a better day. Though the rain made it seem dreary, appearances were deceiving. Did Snape have a deceiving appearance? She shooed away the question, seeing him coming up at the stairs.
She had run so fast. iOh my god what did I do?/i was all that Severus could think as she bolted. Why had he come so close? He probably pressured her into saying it. And he had ran up after her. Damn it why had she chosen to run up to the owlery from the dungeons. Even his young body felt pained and impossibly heavy from the trip.
And there was Hermione. It was like right out of a freaking story he told himself. He was blinded by the light inside the tower, and her silhouette blocking the rays from one of the windows. She was sobbing. Or was that her panting from the run? God, she is looking now, say something Severus.
"Hermione," She looked away, god that's not good. He felt his own confidence take a diving plunge off the tower. "I was going to say," What was he going to say? "That I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to." What the hell? No, he didn't mean that. He had to tell someone. To get Potter. To make things fair. To be the responsible one who always thinks straight in a snap. Then why wasn't he thinking straight?
Did he really mean it? Hermione felt her chest lighten. It was almost freeing. He wasn't going to tell someone, and he why had just ran up a million stairs to tell her that? Aww it was so sweet.
"Just please don't jump Hermione" Severus called seriously across the tower's expanse. Oh, that's why he came. She felt emotional high fall a bit. Though mentally scolding for ever getting her hopes up, because she didn't need her hopes up, because why would she have her hopes up? Hermione was panicking herself. And she nodded.
"Don't tell them" Hermione said to him. And she walked over from the window to him. Severus could feel the lump in his throat rise as the distance decreased. At least she wasn't going to do anything rash.
"I suppose we should get back to work. You know unless if you give up." Severus added the last bit on in hopes of lightning things up a bit. He was rewarded with a playful smirk. They both knew that Hermione was never one to give up on an academic challenge.
"Hell no! I've gone this far, don't think your getting rid of me." And with that they started their trip down the spiraling stairs.
...
Severus glanced at her form leaning over the cauldron. Carefully measuring, stirring, perfecting the craft she knew was already good enough to pass as perfect. Could she have really been telling him the truth? Severus felt a knot grow in stomach as he considered the boy who lived really might have committed a murder. That his 2 (ex?)-best friends had watched and were now sworn to secrecy.
What would make Harry have done to make the sensible Hermione to not tell anyone? It must have been something horrible. Horribly horrible. He didn't want to think of it. But somewhere he felt his heart go out to the girl. Because he didn't even want to think about it. And it must have been at least that bad.
But Ron? That was why Ron was gone then. Ron couldn't have been able to deal with that kind of pressure from his family. The pressure of love. The love of people who thought he was the best guy ever and would unknowingly make him want to die because of what he had done. And he was a murderer. Hermione was a murderer. But more then both of them Harry Potter was a murderer. And he Severus Snape was now as good as a murderer because he promised not to tell.
What the hell was wrong with him?
But Hermione wasn't a murderer. She didn't mean to be. She just said something and Harry took it from there. Ron wasn't a murderer, he just found something, and Harry took it from there. But what was keeping him from being a murderer? He knew he could tell and not be afraid of Potter as Hermione and Wealey evidently were... But Hermione.
And it hit him. If he told Hermione would be killed. And as much as he would like to pretend that he liked the thought of her gone, it killed him. She was the brightest student in her class. She was friendly. She was not a murderer and if he told then he might as would be. It would be as good as saying Avada Kedavra, though it would be Potter doing the deed.
And as she continue stirring the potion the world came to a dead stop. Time ceased to exist because Severus Snape came to understand what it was like to be her. And he could forgive her. To say the truth that's probably part of the reason why our smart Hermione told him in the first place. If only she had had that much time to stop and think about it. But her reason was rather not as deep.
As she stood stirring the cauldron she keep the constant saying though her head. Like a prayer, a prayer that if answered would come true. Because as much as she did already tell Severus the story still had it's blank parts. And she sang the ever-present verse through her head...
Don't tell him anymore, or your dead.
...
"Severus?" Hermione said this to him as they sat around the sort of picnic Dumbledore sent up this time. She wanted to not have to talk herself. Then she couldn't say something dumb. Or possibly quite worse then dumb. Anyhow he was being friendly and she could use that to her advantage. Maybe he would not tell if she were friendly back. Or if all went well, extremely well, they could be friends. Friends?
Hermione wanted to scoff at the idea. But she also wanted to embrace it. Like he had embraced he early today. And the more she made her thoughts wander from what she actually said that morning, the more they landed exactly what was happening while she said them. And to admit she didn't like what had happened while which would only add to the list of growing lies she was telling herself. Let the list grow the, she thought.
"Yes?"Severus looked at Hermione. Oh, yeah... must say something now.
"Do you enjoy being a teacher?" Hermione asked he question to him. He looked to see the wonderment in her eyes. Yes well that was a good question. Considering he hates his students, it would be a question passed as to why the heck he did his job and not anything else. But teaching was totally different then the pricks he taught.
"I can't really say." He looked earnest saying it too. "I hate the kids who are stupid and dumb and can't figure anything out. It depresses me to see the people who are going to bring out world down." He evidently wasn't finished speaking but Hermione couldn't stop herself. She had to ask,
"Then why did you hate me?" She blushed as saying the words. It occurred to her only after saying it how incredible cocky it was. "I mean," She was now attempting to redeem herself, "not that I mean to sound like I'm the smartest person that walked the earth, and all, but..."
"Oh shut up Hermione. Your going to end up owning some damned university one day." Severus said it sharply to shut the girl up. Hermione looked about to collapse from bewilderment. What did he just say? It was only the best compliment she ever herd and it had come out of a rather cross looking Professor Severus Snape. He was pissed off and complemented her, it was rather hilarious if you would have asked Hermione. "And anyhow I didn't hate you, you were just a bore."
"A bore?!" She said incredulously. Severus was rather enjoying himself. The fact she was getting all worked up was rather sexy, no he meant to think funny, really. Ah don't ruin the fun, he told himself. And gathering by Hermione's gaping mouth and astonished eyes, it was rather great.
"Yeah, I mean how, many damn times can you do something perfectly? Thought you would have cracked eventually, but no. 'I'm Hermione and I'm perfect.'" Hermione could see he was for once openly laughing at her. And she couldn't believe it. He just called her perfect. Not to mention mocking her in a high pitched voice_ she didn't sound like that!
"I'm not perfect!" She practically shrieked. He grinned at this. Getting all riled up over a bunch of complements. If only she knew how perfect she really was. Severus momentarily thought that maybe a sweet kiss might close that mouth of hers, or maybe not. Ah, shut up your mind, he screamed mentally.
"Anyhow you didn't even let me finish my speech on being a teacher before you exploded Ms Granger." Hermione could see the playful glint in his eye that made his harsh tone in talking to her a joke. And she was still under mental collapse. After all how many times did Severus Snape call someone perfect?
"Well by all means continue professor." Hermione said it as calmly as she could, playing along with his little game. She tried to give her best smirk. And Severus about died when he saw it, nothing can be quite as sexy as a smirk, at least in the mind of Severus Snape.
"I was going to say teaching is not all that horrible considering it is my own private anger management course."
"I bet." Hermione muttered just loud enough for him to hear. He shot a look of mock dismay. "Erm." She said louder this time. "Really?" Trying to sound innocent of thinking her professor was a bit of a basterd
"You wouldn't understand the fine art of teaching." Severus called over dismissively. Taking a bit of their dinner. Hermione raised her eyebrows at this.
"If I was perfect then I would surly understand the uever so/u fine art of teaching. But being that I'm evidently not it really doesn't bug me." Hermione said it in her 'I'm ever so hurt!' bad acting voice. She saw Severus's inquisitive look. Honestly, he's going to think she's a really bad actress now. Now why ever should she have to 'act' for Snape?
"You know it kills me to say positive things Hermione."
"I know." He let out a sigh seeing the way everything worked out. He didn't mean it to sound like he was going to die if he said something nice about teaching. He meant for it to sound as if he never ever said a really kind thing to or about another human being. He thought it kind of weird how naturally it came out about Hermione being perfect. But then again she did have a talent. And that cunning work ethic.
"I guess it's rather extraordinary." He said Hermione catching his serious tone. Time to calm down, she wouldn't want to seem like a hyperactive puppy in the middle of his 'confession'. Not that it was all that hard to settle down. She could hear the low baritone of his voice slowly forming the words that he probably had never said before. It was the rhythm that drew her down. And she would gladly stay down there as long as she could listen to him speak. How he enjoyed teaching... yes, he must have never said that before
"I guessed that I would never get used to teaching. The annoying kids make a lot of fuss about the smallest things. I thought it would drive me insane. When I signed up for the job I only did it because I needed to remain in contact with Dumbledore. "Hermione nodded knowingly. She knew about him being a spy and was impressed at how he had to give up whatever he had wanted to become one. What would he have became? Ack, too many questions. "But there is a line you cross when you just get used to it. You just realize that they are worrying about the small stuff. If I was going to give them a detention or something dumb. And you begin to see their small actions as though it's the larger picture. You think to yourself how far that kid is going to get in accomplishing his dream of being an aurorter. Or how she is going to be so much more then some boy's girlfriend." Hermione looked up to see Severus's eyebrows knit together.
"It kills me to see a perfectly smart student to go and wasn't away their life. And I guess that's why I'm so bitter with all you guys compared to the other teachers at this school. I want to know someone expects something of you. And that you can deal with it and become better because of it. I enjoy teaching when I know I did something, and I hate teaching when I see someone fail in their life, some girl become pregnant and have to barely scrap by because her ex-boyfriend is too self centered to have to deal with it. It's my job, and I try and tell myself I shouldn't worry, but I do." Severus saw Hermione bit her lip. She probably wasn't expecting that. He was expecting that either. Hell he never thought of it that way before. But it made so much sense now.
"Ron failed." Hermione felt the tears she had never cried trying to surface. "He could have gone so far. He was smart and didn't need as much of my help as he used. He was just so self obsessed in being worthy of his family's attention. He was to caught up to realize we loved him if he was Ron the quidurch champion, or whether he was Ron the kid who could just make you laugh when you were having a bad day. He didn't have to run away." Hermione fought the lump in her thought barley whispering the word of her old friend.
Severus softly took her hands, wanting to comfort the girl once again. He realized he was comforting her by just listening and understanding. He knew she had a soft spot for the Weasley's. In fact he had even grown rather accustomed to the filtering in of the Weasley kids through out the years. As much as he gave them grief he knew they were good people. And mostly not a pain in the ass, with the exception of Fred and George. Good parents they had.
"And Harry?" He whispered it wanting to know of the other failure she was emotionally bonded to.
"Harry can go to hell." She said it perfectly level, even daring to look up into Severus's eyes that were filled with a brand of shock. Quickly masked by a quick knowing nod.
"Good for you Hermione." He whispered giving a small smiletowards her, and then getting to pile the dinner things up for the house elves to take away. Hermione felt glad despite herself. She felt glad for confessing to Severus. It got so much off her chest. And as she got up and moved towards the cauldron, which only needed the finishing touches till complete, she wondered if she should tell him the whole truth. He should know.
6
But she couldn't sit there anymore. She was so afraid of what he might say.
That is that, Hermione couldn't stand to face up to the fact that for the first time she had told the secret she wasn't supposed to tell. She said it to Severus. The professor who hated her. At least she thought he hated her. She wasn't so sure anymore. She could see him still sitting on the rug. The plate of sandwiches left long forgotten. The whole room was lit by only the fire in the fireplace, the one under the cauldron, and those small candles floating above Severus's desk. She could see his face in the shadows, his brow creased. And she didn't know what to do. Ten seconds ago it was bliss of being truthful and honest. Now all she wanted to do was run, and fast.
IWhere are you going to run to Hermione?/I She accessed her current situation at hand. She could run up to Gryffindor tower, but that wouldn't help her get away from anyone. And she didn't know how to get to Moaning Myrtle 's from here. She was walking towards the door now.
iWhat I'm actually going to run away now?/i her own question was answered by her feet leading her out the door and breaking into a run as she turned right, up a staircase she had no idea where it went. Up... spiraling, faster her feet carrying her, her breathing strained by sheer height, and she was afraid of tripping over her own desperate attempt of escape.
Hermione found herself at the landing to the owlery. She ran to the window to take in a breath of cool clean air. It smelled new, because of the rain yesterday. Yesterday was a better day. Though the rain made it seem dreary, appearances were deceiving. Did Snape have a deceiving appearance? She shooed away the question, seeing him coming up at the stairs.
She had run so fast. iOh my god what did I do?/i was all that Severus could think as she bolted. Why had he come so close? He probably pressured her into saying it. And he had ran up after her. Damn it why had she chosen to run up to the owlery from the dungeons. Even his young body felt pained and impossibly heavy from the trip.
And there was Hermione. It was like right out of a freaking story he told himself. He was blinded by the light inside the tower, and her silhouette blocking the rays from one of the windows. She was sobbing. Or was that her panting from the run? God, she is looking now, say something Severus.
"Hermione," She looked away, god that's not good. He felt his own confidence take a diving plunge off the tower. "I was going to say," What was he going to say? "That I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to." What the hell? No, he didn't mean that. He had to tell someone. To get Potter. To make things fair. To be the responsible one who always thinks straight in a snap. Then why wasn't he thinking straight?
Did he really mean it? Hermione felt her chest lighten. It was almost freeing. He wasn't going to tell someone, and he why had just ran up a million stairs to tell her that? Aww it was so sweet.
"Just please don't jump Hermione" Severus called seriously across the tower's expanse. Oh, that's why he came. She felt emotional high fall a bit. Though mentally scolding for ever getting her hopes up, because she didn't need her hopes up, because why would she have her hopes up? Hermione was panicking herself. And she nodded.
"Don't tell them" Hermione said to him. And she walked over from the window to him. Severus could feel the lump in his throat rise as the distance decreased. At least she wasn't going to do anything rash.
"I suppose we should get back to work. You know unless if you give up." Severus added the last bit on in hopes of lightning things up a bit. He was rewarded with a playful smirk. They both knew that Hermione was never one to give up on an academic challenge.
"Hell no! I've gone this far, don't think your getting rid of me." And with that they started their trip down the spiraling stairs.
...
Severus glanced at her form leaning over the cauldron. Carefully measuring, stirring, perfecting the craft she knew was already good enough to pass as perfect. Could she have really been telling him the truth? Severus felt a knot grow in stomach as he considered the boy who lived really might have committed a murder. That his 2 (ex?)-best friends had watched and were now sworn to secrecy.
What would make Harry have done to make the sensible Hermione to not tell anyone? It must have been something horrible. Horribly horrible. He didn't want to think of it. But somewhere he felt his heart go out to the girl. Because he didn't even want to think about it. And it must have been at least that bad.
But Ron? That was why Ron was gone then. Ron couldn't have been able to deal with that kind of pressure from his family. The pressure of love. The love of people who thought he was the best guy ever and would unknowingly make him want to die because of what he had done. And he was a murderer. Hermione was a murderer. But more then both of them Harry Potter was a murderer. And he Severus Snape was now as good as a murderer because he promised not to tell.
What the hell was wrong with him?
But Hermione wasn't a murderer. She didn't mean to be. She just said something and Harry took it from there. Ron wasn't a murderer, he just found something, and Harry took it from there. But what was keeping him from being a murderer? He knew he could tell and not be afraid of Potter as Hermione and Wealey evidently were... But Hermione.
And it hit him. If he told Hermione would be killed. And as much as he would like to pretend that he liked the thought of her gone, it killed him. She was the brightest student in her class. She was friendly. She was not a murderer and if he told then he might as would be. It would be as good as saying Avada Kedavra, though it would be Potter doing the deed.
And as she continue stirring the potion the world came to a dead stop. Time ceased to exist because Severus Snape came to understand what it was like to be her. And he could forgive her. To say the truth that's probably part of the reason why our smart Hermione told him in the first place. If only she had had that much time to stop and think about it. But her reason was rather not as deep.
As she stood stirring the cauldron she keep the constant saying though her head. Like a prayer, a prayer that if answered would come true. Because as much as she did already tell Severus the story still had it's blank parts. And she sang the ever-present verse through her head...
Don't tell him anymore, or your dead.
...
"Severus?" Hermione said this to him as they sat around the sort of picnic Dumbledore sent up this time. She wanted to not have to talk herself. Then she couldn't say something dumb. Or possibly quite worse then dumb. Anyhow he was being friendly and she could use that to her advantage. Maybe he would not tell if she were friendly back. Or if all went well, extremely well, they could be friends. Friends?
Hermione wanted to scoff at the idea. But she also wanted to embrace it. Like he had embraced he early today. And the more she made her thoughts wander from what she actually said that morning, the more they landed exactly what was happening while she said them. And to admit she didn't like what had happened while which would only add to the list of growing lies she was telling herself. Let the list grow the, she thought.
"Yes?"Severus looked at Hermione. Oh, yeah... must say something now.
"Do you enjoy being a teacher?" Hermione asked he question to him. He looked to see the wonderment in her eyes. Yes well that was a good question. Considering he hates his students, it would be a question passed as to why the heck he did his job and not anything else. But teaching was totally different then the pricks he taught.
"I can't really say." He looked earnest saying it too. "I hate the kids who are stupid and dumb and can't figure anything out. It depresses me to see the people who are going to bring out world down." He evidently wasn't finished speaking but Hermione couldn't stop herself. She had to ask,
"Then why did you hate me?" She blushed as saying the words. It occurred to her only after saying it how incredible cocky it was. "I mean," She was now attempting to redeem herself, "not that I mean to sound like I'm the smartest person that walked the earth, and all, but..."
"Oh shut up Hermione. Your going to end up owning some damned university one day." Severus said it sharply to shut the girl up. Hermione looked about to collapse from bewilderment. What did he just say? It was only the best compliment she ever herd and it had come out of a rather cross looking Professor Severus Snape. He was pissed off and complemented her, it was rather hilarious if you would have asked Hermione. "And anyhow I didn't hate you, you were just a bore."
"A bore?!" She said incredulously. Severus was rather enjoying himself. The fact she was getting all worked up was rather sexy, no he meant to think funny, really. Ah don't ruin the fun, he told himself. And gathering by Hermione's gaping mouth and astonished eyes, it was rather great.
"Yeah, I mean how, many damn times can you do something perfectly? Thought you would have cracked eventually, but no. 'I'm Hermione and I'm perfect.'" Hermione could see he was for once openly laughing at her. And she couldn't believe it. He just called her perfect. Not to mention mocking her in a high pitched voice_ she didn't sound like that!
"I'm not perfect!" She practically shrieked. He grinned at this. Getting all riled up over a bunch of complements. If only she knew how perfect she really was. Severus momentarily thought that maybe a sweet kiss might close that mouth of hers, or maybe not. Ah, shut up your mind, he screamed mentally.
"Anyhow you didn't even let me finish my speech on being a teacher before you exploded Ms Granger." Hermione could see the playful glint in his eye that made his harsh tone in talking to her a joke. And she was still under mental collapse. After all how many times did Severus Snape call someone perfect?
"Well by all means continue professor." Hermione said it as calmly as she could, playing along with his little game. She tried to give her best smirk. And Severus about died when he saw it, nothing can be quite as sexy as a smirk, at least in the mind of Severus Snape.
"I was going to say teaching is not all that horrible considering it is my own private anger management course."
"I bet." Hermione muttered just loud enough for him to hear. He shot a look of mock dismay. "Erm." She said louder this time. "Really?" Trying to sound innocent of thinking her professor was a bit of a basterd
"You wouldn't understand the fine art of teaching." Severus called over dismissively. Taking a bit of their dinner. Hermione raised her eyebrows at this.
"If I was perfect then I would surly understand the uever so/u fine art of teaching. But being that I'm evidently not it really doesn't bug me." Hermione said it in her 'I'm ever so hurt!' bad acting voice. She saw Severus's inquisitive look. Honestly, he's going to think she's a really bad actress now. Now why ever should she have to 'act' for Snape?
"You know it kills me to say positive things Hermione."
"I know." He let out a sigh seeing the way everything worked out. He didn't mean it to sound like he was going to die if he said something nice about teaching. He meant for it to sound as if he never ever said a really kind thing to or about another human being. He thought it kind of weird how naturally it came out about Hermione being perfect. But then again she did have a talent. And that cunning work ethic.
"I guess it's rather extraordinary." He said Hermione catching his serious tone. Time to calm down, she wouldn't want to seem like a hyperactive puppy in the middle of his 'confession'. Not that it was all that hard to settle down. She could hear the low baritone of his voice slowly forming the words that he probably had never said before. It was the rhythm that drew her down. And she would gladly stay down there as long as she could listen to him speak. How he enjoyed teaching... yes, he must have never said that before
"I guessed that I would never get used to teaching. The annoying kids make a lot of fuss about the smallest things. I thought it would drive me insane. When I signed up for the job I only did it because I needed to remain in contact with Dumbledore. "Hermione nodded knowingly. She knew about him being a spy and was impressed at how he had to give up whatever he had wanted to become one. What would he have became? Ack, too many questions. "But there is a line you cross when you just get used to it. You just realize that they are worrying about the small stuff. If I was going to give them a detention or something dumb. And you begin to see their small actions as though it's the larger picture. You think to yourself how far that kid is going to get in accomplishing his dream of being an aurorter. Or how she is going to be so much more then some boy's girlfriend." Hermione looked up to see Severus's eyebrows knit together.
"It kills me to see a perfectly smart student to go and wasn't away their life. And I guess that's why I'm so bitter with all you guys compared to the other teachers at this school. I want to know someone expects something of you. And that you can deal with it and become better because of it. I enjoy teaching when I know I did something, and I hate teaching when I see someone fail in their life, some girl become pregnant and have to barely scrap by because her ex-boyfriend is too self centered to have to deal with it. It's my job, and I try and tell myself I shouldn't worry, but I do." Severus saw Hermione bit her lip. She probably wasn't expecting that. He was expecting that either. Hell he never thought of it that way before. But it made so much sense now.
"Ron failed." Hermione felt the tears she had never cried trying to surface. "He could have gone so far. He was smart and didn't need as much of my help as he used. He was just so self obsessed in being worthy of his family's attention. He was to caught up to realize we loved him if he was Ron the quidurch champion, or whether he was Ron the kid who could just make you laugh when you were having a bad day. He didn't have to run away." Hermione fought the lump in her thought barley whispering the word of her old friend.
Severus softly took her hands, wanting to comfort the girl once again. He realized he was comforting her by just listening and understanding. He knew she had a soft spot for the Weasley's. In fact he had even grown rather accustomed to the filtering in of the Weasley kids through out the years. As much as he gave them grief he knew they were good people. And mostly not a pain in the ass, with the exception of Fred and George. Good parents they had.
"And Harry?" He whispered it wanting to know of the other failure she was emotionally bonded to.
"Harry can go to hell." She said it perfectly level, even daring to look up into Severus's eyes that were filled with a brand of shock. Quickly masked by a quick knowing nod.
"Good for you Hermione." He whispered giving a small smiletowards her, and then getting to pile the dinner things up for the house elves to take away. Hermione felt glad despite herself. She felt glad for confessing to Severus. It got so much off her chest. And as she got up and moved towards the cauldron, which only needed the finishing touches till complete, she wondered if she should tell him the whole truth. He should know.