Chapter 28

He dragged her all the way to her room. Even when they entered a corridor full of students, he didn't even for a second release his hold on her. Minerva felt her face burn as she watched the students stop and stare at them, not knowing what to make of the situation. And when she had stumbled on her hem, he quickly caught her and pulled her close to him but then released her and continued walking, still holding on to her. That had caused more stares and whispers. He didn't even stop when they reached her flat and instead barked out the password and stomped in. Once inside he roughly shoved her into a chair and turned his back to her. Minerva hadn't realized the extent of his anger until he motioned for the house elf to remove Athena from his legs, as she had crawled up to him, expecting to be carried, and to take her inside the room. They were not to leave until he said so. Tootles obediently did what he said and Athena, being the perceptive baby she was, didn't raise a wail. She knew something was wrong and it was about time her parents had a talk with each other. He remained silent even after the house elf had taken Athena inside. Eventually he turned to look at Minerva, who hadn't moved from her position. Minerva involuntarily gasped. Where his face remained impassive, his eyes held his feelings for all to see. And she saw hurt… so much hurt, in his eyes.

"Severus," she said softly and hated how her voice wobbled. How is it that this simple man had managed to unnerve her in away that the most dangerous wizard could not? When had she allowed herself such vulnerability around him?

"Shut up," was his reply. He continued staring at her, until she squirmed.

"Do I make you that uncomfortable, Minerva?" he asked his voice soft. But she wasn't fooled.

"You are now," she replied. His lips curled into an angry smile.

"Do I also disgust you?" he asked again. Minerva was stunned. Where did this come from?

"Severus, who have you been talking too?" she asked, very bewildered. His smile didn't break.

"Has it been such a nightmare, being married to me?" he asked again.

"No, of course not…" she stammered. Never in her life had she felt like this. Even when facing Voldermort, her Gryffindor courage had come through. But now, she was scared. Not of his anger, but what his anger would make him do. Make him… leave her.

"Do you not honor the vows we made? I realized we were forced into the situation, but have you so little honor in you that our vows are nothing but words to you?" he said, his smile replaced by a sneer. The hurt in his eyes were replaced by anger. And so had her fear. Where the Gryffindor bravery had failed, the pride triumphed especially when slandered in such an unjust manner.

"How dare you say such a thing? I live by those vows and would never discredit them," she snapped, not shouting, but opting for the tone that he usually used when livid; soft and venomous.

Severus snorted. How does she do it? Lying to his face without a trace of guilt. And the innocence shinning from her blue eyes… she had obviously missed her true calling, Broadway would weep blood tears if they knew.

"So an adulterous act would be… respecting the vows, according to you," he said. He watched as the angry red tinges in her cheeks pale and her jaw dropped in shock.

"Adultery? You're accusing me of adultery!?" she was shocked. Stunned. Stupefied. So much so that she forgot she was angry at him.

"Adultery? You think I'm sleeping with another man? Severus, I'm not even sleeping with you, why on earth would I sleep with ANOTHER man?" she asked. If he had been less angry and a lot less jealous, he would have heard the truth in her voice. But his judgment was marred by the vision that would not leave him. His wife in the arms of another man.

"You still try. I caught you red handed and you still try," he said shaking his head in disbelief. He turned his back to her, and this brought back the anger. He was treating her like a child. Not trusting her word when she said she didn't break the metaphorical vase.

"Don't turn your back to me, Severus Snape" she hissed. She has never betrayed anyone that was dear to her and she loves this man, for goodness sake!

"Me? I'm turning my back to you? How about you, Minerva? You think I don't know what they're saying about you and Remus?" he said loudly, facing her, his eyes boring into hers. So the rumor had finally come back and bitten her on the arse. For a second she regretted her indifferent attitude to the rumor, but the feeling was short lived. Anger had returned and had increased in power. He would believe a rumor over her? How dare him!?

"And you believe what they say? You would listen to the words of gossipers instead of me!" she shouted back at him.

"I saw you with him! I saw you in his arms! He was holding you they way I should be holding you!" he bellowed back, a vein visibly throbbing in his left temple.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe he was consoling me? I'm not exactly having the time of my life right now and he's been my friend longer than you and I have been married, so why shouldn't I seek solace in him!" she cried.

"Because you come to me, I'm your husband, dammit…"

"But I never wanted to marry you!" she shouted, cutting off his words. Minerva bit her lips; she hadn't meant to say that. She definitely didn't mean it. But he made her so angry and the words flew out. She couldn't take them back now.

Severus felt as if she had slapped him. Or worst, ripped his heart out and stamped on it. They had their differences and true she had been reluctant at first, but he thought they had gotten over that hurdle. He thought she had accepted him. He thought she in time would learn to love him… like he loves her. But her words shattered it all. His anger dissipated and his face became grey with pain. Never had he ever been so emotionally wounded. Curse himself for ever falling in love with such a heartless creature.

"I apologize. I didn't realize I had been forcing you to do something you so strongly despise," he said, his tone weary and Minerva felt like crying hearing it. She wanted to deny it. There was nothing she disliked in being his wife. She wanted to tell him that she hated not being able to perform her rights as his wife, especially her bedly rights. But her pride was stronger. She mustn't let him see her weak, already she had exposed her emotions to him. So she remained silent, but gave herself the luxury of looking away. She stared blindly at her bookshelf, not seeing him turn to her, his love for her shinning brightly in his eyes. She didn't see him look at her sadly, didn't see him come to the painful solution. He will release her, willingly.

"Minerva, I release you from your vows. I do so willingly and I bear you no ill will. I hope you find real love," even though I doubt you can find someone who'll love you more than me, he added silently. Minerva turned to him, understanding his words. Fear gripped her heart, and as she saw him pull out the thread that bonded them, her heart slowly began to break. He was leaving her. But her pride didn't waver. His jealousy was so strong, there was no way of reconciliation. Soon it would be over.

He conjured a scissors and without taking his eyes of Minerva, he snipped their wedding thread. Their bond. Her love. His love.

And…

Nothing happened. The thread remained in one piece. He saw her eyes widen and quickly turned to look at the thread in his hands. He snipped again. Nothing happened. Again and again. He continued until he felt a soft pressure on his arm. He looked down to see her hands. She was smiling a little.

"Leave it Severus. I believe it won't break," she said. Severus couldn't find the words. He was truly speechless. All he could see was her and all her could hear was his heart putting itself back together again.

"Let's talk," she said and guided him to the twin armchairs. They sat facing each other, Minerva with her legs tucked under her.

"You believed the rumors and thought I was cheating on you because you saw Remus and me hugging?" she asked gently. Severus felt a sudden surge of anger, but quenched it. She was willing to talk it out like adults, so he wasn't about to start screaming. And besides, they'd already done that.

"Yes and no," he answered. Minerva raised an eyebrow in question.

"No, I didn't believe the rumors when Sinistra came up to me with the story, but yes, I did believe it when I saw you with Remus," he answered. Hearing that Minerva's eye narrowed dangerously and her hand twitched to her wand.

"Sinistra? I always knew she was a loaded gun, just waiting to feed someone those treacherous bullets of her," growled Minerva, unconsciously wrapping her finger around her wand. She knew given the chance she would hex Sinistra without a moments thought. And this incident flamed that desire even more.

"And she got me in my weakest spot," said Severus.

"Severus, this is the truth. Remus and I are only friends. I too am aware of the rumors flying around, but I never thought much of it because…"

"You trusted me," said Severus sadly. Minerva sighed.

"Don't blame yourself. I should have seen you when I heard about it. Well, I'm going to tell you now. For the past few weeks, Remus has been acting as my personal Dear Abby. Sometimes… I … find things hard to deal with… so I turn to him, but it goes nothing beyond that. Remus wouldn't have allowed it anyways," explained Minerva. Severus sighed. He did have a knack for putting his foot in his mouth. This time, he had put both feet in his mouth.

"I'm sorry, Minerva. I did jump to conclusion," he said softly. She smiled, partially at his apology. She believed that this was a first for him.

"You wouldn't be Severus Snape if you didn't," she joked and it earned her a small smile. However the smile disappeared in place of a frown.

"But why couldn't you have come to me? I am more than willing to share whatever burden you carry about our daughter. I…" he didn't continue as Minerva had suddenly gotten up from her seat and turned to face the fire.

"I couldn't talk to you, because it was about you," she said. She couldn't see it, but she could imagine his shocked look. She had to tell him.

"Severus, how much do you remember about that night?" she asked. He didn't have to ask which night. He had questions of his own.

"A bit here and there," he answered carefully. He knew where she was heading.

"Do you also remember me having taken advantage of your situation?" there she had said it. Silence filled the room. Slowly she turned back to him, but instead of a horrific look, she came across and amused Severus look.

"I must have heard you wrong. Did you say you took advantage of me?" he asked. He must be hearing things. He hadn't expected her to say that at all.

"Yes, you were barely conscious and I… when we were in the tub… I… forced myself onto you," she said, her face turning bright red. If she hadn't looked so serious, Severus would have laughed. He suddenly felt a lot lighter.

"So you didn't want this marriage because you felt responsible and didn't want to burden me as well, am I right?" he asked, his face straight.

"Yes, like I said you were barely unconscious," she said. He stood up and nodded. Then he walked closer to her, his eyes thoughtful.

"If I was barely unconscious, as you said, the how come I can remember the taste of your skin under my tongue?" He asked his voice dropping to a whisper. Minerva's eyes widen, not at his words but the intensity of his eyes.

"How come the image of your beautiful pink tipped breasts between my lips is still fresh in my mind? Or the paw print birth mark above your left thigh or my tongue diving deep into you, stroking you?" he continued, his breath tickling her ear. She closed her eyes as the memories came back. It had suddenly gotten hot in here. But he wasn't done.

"And when you slid onto me, so wet and so ready, and when you screamed my name… how can I remember it all, if I wasn't awake for every moment of it?" he asked again. Then he moved away and she softly moaned the loss of his body heat. She opened her eyes to see him stand just a little away from her, staring into her face.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked softly. He looked away, but returned to her face.

"For the same reason you didn't. I thought I was to blame," he said. Minerva laughed softly.

"I guess we're both mistaken. What we did was a mutual act then," she said and expected him to nod. Instead he stared at her, his face bewildered.

"Minerva, the string couldn't be cut," he said. She nodded. When did they start talking about that?

"Albus mentioned it could only be cut if both party mutually agreed. I was willing to release you…"

"But I'm not," finished Minerva, looking away. A hundred emotions passed through his body. He tilted her face to him. It was now or never.

"I love you," he whispered. She closed her eyes.

"Don't Severus, don't say it because you feel you should…" put he placed a finger on her lip to silence her.

"You're right, I shouldn't say it. I should show you," he leaned forward and caught her lips with his. He could feel her stiffen. She didn't believe him, so he deepened it. He coaxed her lips to part and his tongue sought hers. He felt her gasp when the two made contact and he could feel her arms wrap around his neck. He pulled her closer and continued to kiss her, their tongues moving in rhythm. When he finally released her, they were both panting. Her eyes were still closed, a smile on her lips. He dropped soft kisses on each of her closed eyes and thrilled when she sighed happily.

"I believe you," she said and he kissed her again.

"I love you too," she said when they pulled apart, her eyes still close. Severus had no doubt of that, but his heart still did a little dance at her words. He kissed her again. Slowly his hands moved across her body, as he languorously caressed her tongue and lips with his. It felt so right to be holding her like that. And he loved the way she fitted nicely into him. A perfect match. She pulled away from him slightly and looked up at him, her blue eyes shining into his. He looked happy, and it made her heart thrill to know she had caused it. And she realized something else too. There were no more traces of regret and despair in his eyes. His eyes were shining, as she knew was hers. He now had a bright future to look forward too, and she would be part of it all. Finally, she, Athena and Severus were a family.

"Severus do you love me?" she asked. He looked at her, an eyebrow raised.

"Yes, I do," he answered.

"Do you really, really love me?" she asked again.

"Yes I really, really love you," he answered, not knowing where she was getting at but playing along anyways.

"Are you sure you love me?" she asked once again.

"Yes, I'm very sure," he answered once again.

"Then why aren't you pulling me to the bedroom for a night of passionate lovemaking?"

He laughed. Really laughed, which stopped abruptly when Minerva began to grind softly against him. He felt himself respond and by the smug look on his wife, she felt it too. He swept her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom.

}

"The swelling should go down by tomorrow morning," said the crisp voice of Poppy Pomfrey to her patient.

"That's good news. I don't want to explain this to anyone," said Remus, gently touching his swollen nose. Thank goodness it wasn't broken. He'll have to remember to return the favor to Severus.

"I dunno, Remus. It suits you," said a third voice. Remus narrowed his eyes to his friend.

"Like a black eye would suit you," he growled. Sirius laughed.

"Cheer up Remus, it was for a good cause," said Poppy, smiling.

"Do you think those two have sorted things out yet?" asked Sirius. Poppy and Remus exchanged looks.

"They'd had better. It's not easy trying to think up juicy rumors," said Poppy.

"And to carry out those certain juicy rumors," added Remus. Sirius laughed again

"I can't believe the two of you. You two deliberately started a rumor about Minerva and Remus, to make Severus jealous. Poppy, good choice in going to Sinistra first, and the Sprout bit, a stroke of genius! Remus, my friend, you are lucky to be alive," said Sirius, shaking his head. He had known of the plan beforehand but he couldn't believe it worked.

"It wasn't really planned. Minerva's had a lot on her mind and Remus was there to listen to her. I just used that to its full advantage," said Poppy. Even knowing that her intentions had been good, Poppy still felt guilty for tricking her friend like that. She really hoped that they were right and Minerva and Severus had sorted things out.

"I was sincere in listening and consoling Minerva," said Remus truthfully. No one doubted his words.

"You do know that if she finds out, you two are in trouble, major trouble. And she will find out," said Sirius. The other two just shrugged their shoulders. They'll tackle that hurdle when it came.

"I propose a celebratory drink at Three broomsticks, Remus is buying," said Sirius. Remus laughed but didn't mind.

"But what if it didn't work?" said Poppy, nervously chewing her lip.

"It worked," said Remus and Sirius simultaneously.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" the men cheered loudly and before long the three were enjoying mugs of butterbeer and toasting to the new couple who were having their own celebration, under lots and lots of satin sheets.

THE END

Well, that's it you guys, my mission is complete.

Thanks for your patience and the great reviews y'all, your words have really motivated me to write…

I hope the ending was good, I spent a lot of time on it, perfecting it, hope it measured up

Well, adios!

Azy, TeleriMaiden.