Chapter 8 Someday in the Dungeons

"Come in." Severus called from his office door. Stella slowly walked in to see him sitting behind his desk scrawling something on a bit of parchment.

"Your poor students. You always did have horrid handwriting." She said, closing the door behind her and sitting down in the seat infront of his desk.

"I don't think that's why they dislike me." He said, a small grin crossing his face. He stood from behind his desk and took the seat next to Stella.

"So... that 'someday' has come at last Severus."

"Yes I suppose it has. Well if you're anything like I remember I should probably ask you to not interrupt until I've finished."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll find that I'm almost exactly the same in all respects." She said, putting her feet on the desk and crossing them.

"I'm sure." He said more to himself than to her, while taking a longing look at her. "Well... where shall I begin?"

"Graduation... 'I've done something stupid.' I think that would be a good start."

"Right. Look Stella, I didn't join the Death Eaters because I was evil or because I supported the Dark Lord."

"Dark Lord? That bastards name is Voldemort. He's the reason my family is dead and the reason that I've missed the last 16 years of both my life and my nephew's."

"Alright. I didn't do it because I supported Voldemort. I did it for you."

"For me? How the hell did you arrive at that?"

"As you remember I was the only one to master Occulmency when we were students here?" She nodded. "Well Dumbledore wanted to put a spy into the Death Eaters and he needed someone who could use Occulmency and since I was the only one he asked me."

"I'm still failing to see how you've come to the decision that you did this for me."

"I did it to keep you safe. I wanted to tell you the truth, that I was only becoming a spy for Dumbledore. However Dumbledore thought that it would be better for everyone that they just thought that I had decided to join the evil forces."

"Did you have anything to do with James and Lily's death?" Stella asked, looking him square in the eyes.

"No I did not." He said, honestly looking straight back at her.

"Alright..." She said, trying to keep from crying. "So you were never evil?"

"Never. I've been working for Dumbledore the whole time." He replied. Stella stood up and started to pace, he also stood and rested against the side of his desk.

"I... uh... oh God Sev." She said, throwing herself into his arms. "I've wanted to believe for so long that you didn't really turn evil. I never wanted to accept it." She whispered to him, beginning to cry.

"I wanted to tell you. It was killing me not being able to. You do know that I've always loved you Stella." He said, pulling her slightly back and looking her in the eyes.

"I..."