Chapter 22- I'd Rather Be In Love

I cannot help it

I couldn't stop it if I tried

The same old heartbeat fills the emptiness I have inside

And I've heard that you can't fight love, so I won't complain

'Cause why would I stop the fire that keeps me going on?

'Cause when there's you, I feel whole

And there's no better feeling in the world

But without you I'm alone

And I'd rather be in love with you

Turn out the lights now

To see is to believe

I just want you near me

I just want you here with me

And I'd give up everything only for you

It's the least that I could do

'Cause when there's you, I feel whole

And there's no better feeling in the world

But without you I'm alone

And I'd rather be in love with you

And I feel you holding me

Why are we afraid to be in love?

To be loved

I can't explain it

I know it's tough to be loved

And I feel you holding me

Oh, oh

And when there's you, I feel whole

And there's no better feeling in the world

But without you I'm alone

And I'd rather be in love

Yes, I'd rather be in love

Oh I'd rather be in love with you

And I feel you holding me, oh.

Lightening flashed through the massive windows of the Great Hall and emblazed the bodies of two professors. Thunder boomed vociferously, causing objects upon the tables to rattle. All tables, except the solitary table in the middle of the hall, were aligned among the walls and off the beaten track. Students began to file in, despite their alarm of the ominous storm that roared outside the castle walls.

"Sirius, are you sure we should do this tonight?" one of the professors asked, as she paced back and forth upon the centered table. "I mean, did the headmaster even tell you that it was okay for us to start it now?"

Black tousled hair was flipped back and the professor was met with a dashing, white-toothed smile. "Of course, Maya! I wouldn't do something without permission, as you learned on the night we met."

Maya Claire rolled her eyes at him before she acknowledged the students that were now gathered around the table, "We should get started."

Sirius Black whipped his wand out of his robe pocket and smiled. "I already have, my dear."

Maya snorted and took out her own wand as Sirius began a welcoming speech to the assemblage of children. "Welcome students, to your first meeting at the Dueling Club. Since your beloved Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and your . . . not-so-loved Potions Master are not able to be here, Professor Claire and I will be teaching it instead."

There were a few grunts of approval and some encouraging yells when he made the announcement. Since the meeting had started, the demeanor of the students had brightened up slightly.

"As you can presumably tell," Maya started, "the headmaster has agreed to reopen the Dueling Club so you may protect and guard yourselves from the evils of the wizarding world."

"Some of you might be saying," Sirius added, "that the need for guarding yourselves against evil will not be very important in your lives now, considering the downfall of Voldemort," some shuddered at the name, but Sirius ignored them, "Though it may become useful when you need to teach someone a lesson. Another person, perhaps, who had called you a prick the day before."

The students laughed along with Sirius, and Maya said his name threateningly, though she could not suppress her smirk.

"Anyway, let us begin," Sirius said joyfully with a wave of his hands.

The students gathered more closely around the table, all of their inspecting eyes on the two, skilled professors. Maya walked up to Sirius with her wand as he approached her.

"Now Professor Claire and I will perform a small demonstration," Sirius informed as he now stood in front of Maya.

The two professors bowed and Sirius said quietly so that only she could hear, "I will be gentle, Maya."

Maya rolled her eyes again and said, "And I you, Sirius."

They took their paces from one another and Sirius said loudly, "Wands at the ready," Maya swung her wand over her head and so did Sirius. "One. . . . Two. . . . Three!"

"Locomotor mortis!" Sirius yelled as he struck his wand out.

Maya ducked before the sparks hit her and she yelled, "Expelliarmus!"

Sirius allowed it to disarm him and Maya glared at him.

"I could have, by all means, beaten young, Professor Claire with ease," Sirius said to the students jokingly as Maya smirked at his ego. "Though it would have taken up our time since Professor Claire would have put up a superior fight."

Maya smiled and bowed her head at him in agreement as the students chuckled.

"Now," Sirius began after he gave Maya a dashing smile, "Professor Claire and I will start to assemble you into pairs of two," he winked at Harry Potter, "when we have finished, you will stand with your partner a good five feet from another pair of partners."

Maya smiled at Sirius as he nodded at her to begin putting together pairs. She turned to the other side of the table and walked over to a blonde, pointy nosed boy surrounded by two of his thick cronies.

"Crabbe, you will be with Goyle," she said to the two heavy boys who smiled and walked away. "Malfoy, you will be paired up with . . .," she glanced around in his area and saw a pretty, emerald eyed blonde, "Trinity."

The girl's head swerved to Maya and acknowledged her call. "Trinity, you and Malfoy will do."

Raine Trinity rolled her eyes and didn't even attempt to stop her sigh of annoyance. "Can't I pair up with Cho?"

Maya smiled and said, "No, I think Professor Black has already paired her up with Potter."

Raine huffed again and walked over to Draco Malfoy, who was smirking with pride. "This will be no contest."

Raine glared at his smug face and said, "I know."

Draco squinted his eyes and sneered at her before he walked away to Crabbe and Goyle. Raine assumed that she was supposed to follow, but waited until he was a good five feet away to proceed. When they were together about five feet from Crabbe and Goyle, and Harry and Cho, they stood facing each other with looks of utmost loathing.

"Should I take it easy on you, Trinity?" Malfoy jeered as he eyed her carefully with his cool, sheen eyes. "Or do you want me to perform on you the best I can?"

Raine realized the insinuation and smirked at him, "Your best, Malfoy, would be taking it easy on me anyway."

Malfoy gave her a jeering smile and said, "We'll see about that, Raine."

She was taken aback by his use of her first name, but couldn't help the shiver in her body from when it danced off of his soft lips. Raine gasped silently when she saw him quickly move his arm, but realized he was only pulling up his sleeves. The sight she saw amazed her. Bruises and bashes marked his arms perceptibly, and she let out an audible gasp. Draco's silver eyes jumped up to look at her, irritation in their depths along with, what seemed to be, grief. But it was soon enclosed by his rage.

"What?" he asked dangerously as he studied her bright green, depths of despair.

Raine tried not to look down at his arms but found that she couldn't keep her eyes off of them. She brought her pale hand to his bruised, right arm and rubbed it soothingly.

"What happened to you?" she breathed, and he wrenched his arm from her touch.

"Ever heard of Quidditch?" he asked sarcastically.

Raine gave him a sad smile and said, "I play Quidditch, Malfoy, and I know that this is not from it."

"Just forget it, okay?" he said fiercely as he yanked his sleeves down. "Apparently I can't keep these up or else you'll get all peculiar on me."

"I'm not being peculiar," she said hotly. "I just wanted to know how you got those marks."

"And what I have to say to that is it's none of your damn business!" he sneered.

Raine didn't bother him any further, but knew that now he said that, it wasn't from Quidditch. She couldn't help but be extremely concerned for him.

Sirius walked back up onto the table and had everyone's attention once again, though Raine's mind was still on Draco's arms.

"Now that everyone is all set, what I want you to do is bow to one another," Sirius said and all of the students bowed. "Now take ten paces back," everyone did so. "Wands at the ready," the students were set. "Now remember that we don't want any injuries, therefore this is to disarm only. Ready . . . set. . . go!"

Yells of the disarming spell reverberated around the hall. All of the groups had a winner, except for Raine and Draco. Both of their wands and flown together in the middle of them. Raine looked up and Draco and he her. Suddenly, Draco ran as fast as he could toward his wand.

"No you don't!" Raine yelled as she ran toward him and leapt at him before he could reach his wand.

The two wrestled on the ground ineffectively until Draco had successfully mounted Raine and had his hands on her shoulders. "Looks like I've got you were I want you."

Raine gave him a fake smile and reached her hands up to his shoulders and flipped him onto his back. She held him at his hands.

"You know," she said conversationally, even though she was out of breath, "it's a lot more useful when you hold a person at the hands."

Raine smiled at him and he, amazingly, smiled back. They could hear footsteps' approaching them and Raine was suddenly hauled off of Draco in a pair of strong arms.

"This is a Dueling Club," Sirius laughed. "Not a Snogging Club."

Maya's huff came from behind Sirius and he added quietly, "Though we have held a meeting or two for that one, haven't we Maya."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *



Water started to drizzle down to the soft banks of the river as flicker of light flashed over the calm scenery of the forest. A small rumble of thunder followed the flash, causing the ground to quiver flippantly. Another flare of lightening illustrated a dark haired man; shivering slightly as a soft graze of cool air brushed over his insipid, clean skin. The next roll of thunder was louder than the former; causing the man to lift his head from his hands and gaze into the murky, overcast sky. As brightness sparked again, it highlighted his somber eyes, his soul showing through all the murkiness and remote. It was a gloomy soul, showing the sweet misery he now felt for a loss so saccharine. The light rain turned to a downpour and he pulled his white t-shirt over his head. The safe haven that he once had was not welcome to him anymore, especially the loveliness in it. He would be damned if she loved him, because he positively did not love her . . .

Something he had told himself for a lengthy time; he did not love her. But if it was factual, then why did he have to inform himself of it so frequently to be content? For some odd reason, he had not convinced himself entirely that he did not love her. His mind believed it . . . but his heart and soul didn't. Follow your heart, the children's books say. But he didn't have a heart, or so he believed. He could not love one and be loved in return. It was preposterous . . . unattainable.

A clicking of hooves disrupted his thoughts. The man brought down his shirt from his head and it wetly stuck to his chest. He was greeted with a soaked Chiron.

"Severus," the centaur said softly. "We need to talk."

Severus sneered at the animal and said, "There is nothing to discuss, therefore we cannot talk!"

Chiron walked closer and informed quietly, "She loves you."

Hearing the word caught him off guard and he glared up at Chiron. "What?"

"You heard me."

Severus glared at him and said, "I'd like to see you prove it."

Chiron's eyes became ablaze with fire and he yelled, "Are you so blind with ignorance? How could she not love you? If she didn't, she would have come to me in a heartbeat. But no, she stayed, and she wanted to stay!"

Severus stood up quickly, his eyes shooting daggers at the centaur, "She is a whore! The way she had acted around me was begging for me to take her! But only to get what she wants!"

"And what does she want, Severus?" Chiron shouted as he stamped his hoof in fury.

Severus glared at Chiron, his nostrils flaring as he failed to seek out an answer. Finally, he collapsed down on the rock "I don't know."

Chiron's muscles relaxed. "Exactly. You. Don't. Know."

The two men were silent, Severus heart beating wildly as he mused about Aletta.

"Why did you make up that story about her doing things to get what she wants? It makes no sense, Severus-"

"-I know!" Severus yelled. "It was the only way I could explain for my attraction to her. But she confessed to it!"

Chiron shook his head and said, "You know she didn't mean it," Severus shook his head in confusion, "Why, Severus? Why all this trouble?"

"Because I love her!" Snape shouted automatically without thinking.

Chiron smiled. "I know, Severus. I know."

With one last smile, Chiron galloped off with Severus yelling at himself, saying he didn't know why he had said it.

A/N- Does this chapter suck? Tell me if it does. Thanks for reading it!