Chapter 23- Please Forgive Me

Daylight shone its beams of brilliance through the infirmary's gargantuan windows, illuminating the ginger hair of a boy who was fast asleep on a cot. Footsteps were heard, though no display of a maneuvering person gave proof to them. Bright blue eyes squinted into the morning light rays, his face twisting into confusion as he heard the scuffling of feet and urgent whispers. Ronald Weasley sat up, gazing at his surroundings with no idea where the sounds were coming from.

Suddenly two heads appeared in the air. The first one was a boy of about Ron's age. He had jet-black hair and emerald-green eyes, which were now affixed upon Ron with a look of excitement.

"Ron!" he called silently. "You're actually awake! You usually sleep in all the time."

He glanced around and when he saw that no one else was present, he threw a cloak off of his and the other persons body. Ron glanced at the girl next to the boy. She had fluffy, brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. She was smiling at him with, what seemed to be, tears in her eyes.

"Oh, Ron!" she exclaimed happily. "It's so good to see you! It's taken us forever to get in here. Madame Pomfrey wouldn't let you have any visitors!"

As the two people stared at him excitedly, they were only met with a confused one.

"Who are you?" Ron asked slowly, his eyes scrunched up in bewilderment. "I mean . . . I don't even know your names! And how did you do that disappearing thing?"

Their smiles faded and the girl exclaimed to boy, "Of course! How could we be so stupid!" she then turned to Ron. "I'm Hermione Granger, and this is-"

"Harry. Harry Potter," the boy added quickly. "Hermione, this is weird," he added to the girl.

Hermione nodded, her bushy curls fluffing around her face. "I know. But there's no way he will be able to revive his memory until Dumbledore and Snape return."

"Where are they, anyway?" Harry said with a hint of anger in his voice, though directed more at Snape than Aletta.

Hermione shrugged. "Dumbledore wouldn't tell us, remember? Though I'm sure they'll arrive soon, wherever they are."

Harry started to pace and said irately, "But it's been five weeks, 'Mione! How can it take that long to get whatever it is they need to restore Ron's memory?"

Hermione threw her hands up in annoyance and said, "Like I said, we have no idea where or how long the journey is supposed to take! Though I'm also a bit afraid at the length of time, Harry. I don't think the school believes the story about Ron being sick, anymore."

Harry nodded in agreement, "Though you have to admit, we've kept the secret good since the school is just starting to get suspicious."

Hermione laughed nervously at the joke. Ron had watched the two, becoming more and more confused.

"Am I supposed to know you guys?" Ron asked curiously with a look of pure innocence in his eyes.

Hermione smiled sadly and said, "Oh, Ron. You'll know soon enough who we are," she then looked at Harry forlornly and added, "I hope."

Harry gave a small smile and nodded in agreement.



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

So if you're feelin' lonely ... don't

You're the only one I'd ever want

I only wanna make it good

So if I love ya a little more than I should...

Please forgive me - I know not what I do

Please forgive me - I can't stop lovin' you

don't deny me - this pain I'm going through

Please forgive me - if I need ya like I do

Please believe me - every word I say is true

Please forgive me - I can't stop lovin' you.

-Excerpt from "Please Forgive Me" by, Bryan Adams

The thunder, soon enough, diminished as the sunlight of a new day began to rise. Aletta's upper body was strewn across the desk in a heap, her arms spread across every way. She was tired, and only when she woke up did she realize it. Her head quickly turned to Severus' sleeping spot, but he was not there. A pang of guilt sprang into her heart. She had wanted to be left alone, but not to the extent that he would stay out all night. Aletta's body and soul ached for his presence, his touch . . . his love. If only he had swept her into his arms and declared an undying love to her, she would have given herself to him completely without any doubt or hesitation. Aletta knew she loved him ever since her conscience forced her away from his offering state, but for some reason, her love for him wasn't enough. To love and be loved in return was what she had been searching for her whole life. And if Severus loved her, she could not ask for more.

The rustling of leaves was heard outside the tent, and Aletta's heart seemed to skip a thousand beats. Maybe it's Chiron, she thought. But there was just as good a chance that it was the object of her affection.

A dark figure opened the flap of the tent, and she knew then that it was he. His exalted appearance stepped over the threshold, soaking wet in his boxer shorts, his white t-shirt in hand. Severus approached his suitcase without even glancing at Aletta's disheveled state, and pulled out clothes that usually situated his attire. The more Aletta gazed at him, the more tears that began to fall. She didn't know why, but his presence was enough to make all the earlier detained tears flow willingly. She must have sniffed, for his dark gaze looked her way as he pulled on his black robe.

"You're upset." It was visibly a statement, not an inquiry.

Aletta looked up at him from her hands and said with glazed eyes, "Not really."

Severus buttoned up his robe and approached her slowly. He seated himself across from Aletta to her surprise, and took her hand in his.

"Forgive me," he said softly, truly.

His gloomy depths bore into her own, his face somber and regretful. With that said, he dropped her hand somewhat reluctantly and stood up.

"Coffee?" he asked as he set a boiler of water on the stove. "I had fortunately discovered a . . . what is the bloody thing called," he pulled a plastic container out of the cupboard and read it, "Instant Coffee resting in the back of the highest cupboard," he frowned and turned it around in his hands, "Those muggles make an 'instant' for everything, don't they?"

Aletta, still dumbstruck by his behavior, nodded with a small smile. And the two professors continued the rest of the morning as though yesterday never happened. But what they both didn't know was that it was still very much on the other's mind.

A/N- I promise that the next chapter will be much longer.