Well… you'll hate this chapter. But… this is Hogwarts and anything can happen, right? …so… relax. And… just keep reviewing this story which I know you like, despite the grammar and the spellings… and despite the absurd plot.

So… well… enjoy….and trust me. You will not be disappointed.

Chapter 43: Crawling for Forgiveness

The word "desperate" didn't quite describe the feelings Florence was having at the moment. She was not desperate, she was utterly distressed. So upset she was that she couldn't even cry; invisible tears running down her heart like acid rain. She felt excruciating pains in her chest, as if someone had stabbed her deeply. She was bleeding badly and no George was around to make it better. He was with his son; a son that was not the product of their love but the product of the love he had once shared with someone else. Even though, knowing George, that boy was not the product of love, but the product of lust.

Now she could understand Snape's feelings completely. He had felt this same way that same afternoon after the little chat they had shared. Why he had disappeared though?

Why was she thinking of Severus Snape now? Maybe because in some way she is always thinking of him… even though sometimes her thoughts aren't completely nice.

'Poor Severus,' She thought sadly, while walking towards the castle. 'He's been nice to me ever since the day he broke up with me.'

She was a little bit drunk, but that had nothing to do with the fact that she wanted to kiss Snape goodnight. No. It had nothing to with that. She had her reasons, of course… for one, she was really mad at George at the moment, and for another one, she was really upset about the whole situation. She hadn't thought much about having kids, but now reality had punched her right in the face. Her love was a father, and he needed to cope with the responsibilities that came with parenthood. She wasn't ready to be a mum, and the kid- George Jr- needed a father figure. She knew about reckless dad's first hand and she couldn't take George away from his son.

No, she couldn't. That was out of question.

By the time she had finished thinking about the issue of George's paternity, she had reached Hogwarts castle.

'Maybe not a kiss, but a hug and a couple of words of comfort… Severus has always been great with words,' She thought while strolling to her former professor's own chambers.

When she finally reached them, she clearly pronounced the password- dunderhead students- and stepped into his room. Nothing had changed; every piece of furniture was still in the same place as he had bought nothing new.

'Professor,' She said in a low voice, desperately trying not to make too much noise. There was no answer, 'Professor,' She called him. No one answered.

She did not call him this time, but continued to walk. When she reached his bedroom, she was surprised to find him asleep on his desk. It was freezing cold, though it was spring- maybe due to the fact that his chambers were situated in the school dungeons, and she decided to cover him with a blanket.

But when she reached his back, she was surprised to hear him shout "EXPELIARMUS"! at the top of his lungs. As Florence was holding no wand, the spell hit her chest instead. She landed on the floor, trembling like mad.

'Florence, what have I done?' Snape shouted, running to where she was and embracing her with his arms, 'No one ever comes here…I would have never thought it was you…'

'It's ok,' She weakly said, caressing his cheek, 'I've face worse spells… carry me to bed,' She ordered, smiling. He did as told.

'What are you doing here, Florence?' He asked, not daring to lay down next to her.

'I'll only tell you if you promise to hug me until I fall asleep,' She said grinning. Her attitude completely shocked Snape.

'I promise,' He said, entirely sure that he was dreaming.

'George has a son,' She simply said, 'so I ran away… like I always do… and somehow I ended here… like I always do.'

'I see,' He plainly said, then he added, 'Miss Pugliare, take off your robes and turn around so I can rub your back,' He demanded. She smiled, and proceeded to remove her robes as requested. She was now laying on her chest, anxiously waiting for Snape to touch her warm skin with his cool, strong hands.

He started caressing her shoulders smoothly and running a finger down her spine. He soon found himself leaving a path of kisses on her back.

'Don't do that,' She said firmly. Snape cleared his throat and continue rubbing her ached muscles as if nothing had happened. 'Don't do it because that's the way George always does it.'

'I see,' He once again said, 'He loves you very much.'

'You love me as well,' She said at once, 'And you, unlike him, have no son.'

'So?... What is it that you are looking for, Florence?' He asked while caressing her slim waist.

'Nothing, Severus… or everything, I don't know. I can't make up my mind…,' She explained carefully.

'Do you love him?' He enquired, knowing the answer.

'Yes,' She shortly answer, 'Of course I love him…'

'Then why aren't you with him?' Snape once again asked.

'Because I want to be with you,' She replied, turning around to expose her naked chest.

'No you don't,' He said with his hands on her hips.

'How can you know that? Why wouldn't I want to be with you, Severus? We've been dancing around this for years… and we've always found the other attractive…why won't I be aroused by your constant efforts to gain my heart? What had he done over the past 10 years? …mmmm…let's see,' She said sarcastically, 'Ok…he asked me for the divorce, he shagged around with every woman he could lay his eyes on, he flew to Japan without even telling me about it and…yes…have I mention he has a son?' She said caressing his chest above his black shirt.

'You don't love me,' He simply said. She said nothing, mainly because it was true… but also because she couldn't lie to him that way.

'If you don't want to make love, I can understand, but please, Severus…can you hold me? Because I'm not feeling very strong at the moment,' She sadly said, tears running down her cheek.

'Gods, Florence,' He whispered into her ear, while getting under the covers with her. 'Please, calm down… everything's going to be alright,' He answered shortly, not knowing where he had found the strength to refuse her.

'Thank you, Severus…you've always been good to me… how can I…?' She started to ask, but before finishing, she had found the answer. So putting her arms around his neck, she pushed him down for their lips to meet. And when they did, for Severus at least, everything that meant anything in the world for him became redundant.

He loved her. Oh, Gods! How much he loved her! How sweet were her lips!

The moment, however, did not last long, because she quickly pulled away and putting her head on his chest, she fell asleep.