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Chapter 19
Remus let Bellatrix fall unceremoniously from his shoulder so he could gently shift Analise to a more comfortable position.
"Bellatrix used some kind of hex on her! She's not breathing Severus. Don't you have some kind of potion to revive her?" Remus fired off.
"Arthur?" Severus shouted toward the kitchen.
"Yes?" Said Arthur Weasley as he came to see what the yelling was about. "Oh dear, what happened to Analise?"
"Bellatrix LeStrange attacked her." Snape explained impatiently. "Listen Arthur, will you take Bellatrix to Azkaban? I need to see if I have anything that will help Analise."
"Certainly." Arthur agreed at once. He levitated Bellatrix in front of him and guided her out the door.
"Come up to the lab Lupin." Snape said as he headed upstairs. "Do you know what kind of hex was used?"
"No. Analise was already unconscious when I arrived. Bellatrix was actually in the middle of the killing curse when I stunned her." Remus said as he repressed a shudder at actually speaking the words.
Severus looked shocked at this news and began clinking even more furiously around with his ingredients. Lupin noticed this at once and was immediately put on edge.
"What is it?" Remus asked with worry.
"She was in the middle of the killing curse? She probably used the Slashing Hex on Analise." Snape said with slight alarm.
Lupin, being the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts, knew exactly what that meant and he would have came to that conclusion himself if he'd been thinking clearly. "She's bleeding internally then?" He asked unnecessarily.
"Yes but I can concoct the antidote. It will take about three hours to brew though." Snape informed him.
"Does she have that much time before she bleeds to death?" Remus asked shakily.
"We have to try." Snape offered as a reassurance before he quickly began working.
Remus turned away from Snape and began pacing nervously. Stopping every once and while to grasp Analise's cold hand and murmur soft words of encouragement.
"You're going to be fine sweetheart."
"Hold on Analise."
"It will be over soon."
"I'm so sorry for treating you shabbily. It was absolutely inexcusable. You have to be ok so I can tell you that."
"Almost done now."
"I really do love you."
Remus was glad Severus was so wrapped up in his potion making he wasn't paying attention to him. He'd be giving me such shit for being so weak over a woman.
Snape distantly heard Remus heard soothing himself through his words to Analise and tried not smirk. He continued preparing the Healing Antidote and willed himself not to listen. But he couldn't help wondering how it must feel to have the person you love laying half dead on a table while you helplessly paced the room. Damn love to hell, he thought contemptuously. Who needs it?
"It's complete. It just needs to brew. I'm going downstairs but I'll come back when it's ready." Snape announced as he excused himself.
Remus sat down next to Analise and just gazed at her. Her usually luminous skin was very pale and dingy and even her normally golden hair looked sallow and lifeless.He reached out for her hand and was once again struck with how cold she felt.
Thoughts kept turning over in his head and he couldn't help but wonder if he'd have behaved himself that night he'd found out that she was part Veela if she'd be laying her now. It's no use thinking about it. It's happened and you can't take it back, he thought idly.
Time seemed to have stopped for Remus. Every time he looked at his watch it was only five minutes later yet it seemed like an hour. Finally, Severus returned to give his final tending to the potion.
Snape poured the antidote into a goblet and handed it to Remus. "Make sure she drinks every last drop of it." He said and turned to go.
"Aren't you going to stay to make sure it works?" Lupin questioned.
"I know it will work and besides I'd rather not watch you two fawn all over each other." Severus replied as he reached the door.
"Snape!" Remus cried and watched him turn around. "Thanks for all your help."
"Now don't get all sappy on my ass. Give her the potion Remus." And with that Snape was gone.
Remus turned his attention back to Analise and felt the clench of anticipation in his gut. I hope this works, love. He tipped her head back to allow the potion to trickle down her throat. He held the goblet till it was almost upside down to ensure that there was absolutely not a trace of potion left in it.
He sat back and waited expectantly for something to happen. He noticed her skin returning to it's normal shimmer and her hair began to sheen again. Relief flooded through him when her blues eyes opened.
"Analise. Thank Merlin!" He exclaimed as her freezing hand heated back up.
"Remus?" She asked in confusion. "Where am I?"
"At headquarters." He replied.
"Why? What happened?" She inquired.
"You were attacked by a Deatheater." He answered and squeezed her hand comfortingly.
"Bellatrix LeStrange. I remember now. I knew she looked familiar but I couldn't place her." She said.
Analise sat up gingerly and waited for the feeling of lightheadedness to pass.
"How did I get here" She quarried as the thought occurred to her.
"I brought you." He said shyly.
"How did you find me?"
"Because I came to apologize to you Analise."
Analise searched his remorseful gray eyes and felt herself weaken as he tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. Oh Merlin. I love him. When did that happen?
"Maybe we should talk about that." She said.
"Yes. We should." He answered guiltily.
"So what happened that night?" She asked.
"I had a bad experience with a Veela and I guess I just took it out on you." He said quietly.
"You know you really hurt me that night Remus. I've never once given you any cause to doubt me or my motives." Analise said honestly as she bit her lip and tried not to cry.
"I know. I'm sorry. You've been nothing but wonderful to me since we first met and treated you like vermin." He said ruefully as he brushed her cheek sweetly.
"I want you to know, I'm not a full Veela. I'm only part so I don't have the vicious intent they do." She said.
"I know that now and I'm sorry I doubted you and sorry I hurt you." He answered.
Analise leaned forward and cupped his cheek gently as she leaned in kissed his firm warm lips.
"I'm sorry too. I should have told you straight up, not assumed you knew." She apologized.
Remus brought her hand to his lip and brushed a kiss against her palm.
"I am truly in love with you Analise. Not because you're a beautiful temptress but because of the incredible person you are." He said tenderly.
"I'm in love with you too Remus." She answered and held back a laugh as his eyes widened in shock. "Don't look so surprised. You said you knew it was going to happen."
"I'm not surprised." He said automatically but when she raised her eyebrows in doubt he decided to fess up. "Well, a little surprised."
"What happened to being self assured?" She teased.
"You were right. I was being cocky." He answered before he brought her to him for a soul searching kiss.
It was the best kiss they'd shared, since he knew now they were in love. When she pulled away Remus felt bereft for a moment until he looked into her loving eyes.
"Can we go home now?" She asked huskily.
"Of course." He said as he jumped up to lead her downstairs.
"How was I revived anyway." She asked conversationally on the way down.
"Snape made an antidote potion." Remus answered.
"Hmm. I'll have to thank him before we leave." Analise said.
"Severus." Remus called when they reached the landing.
Snape came strolling in casually though you could see the concern in his eyes.
"Ahh. Still alive are we? Pity." Snape said as his eyes rested on Analise.
"Yep. Sorry to disappoint you." Analise said as she made her way over to him. She leaned up and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thank you Severus." She whispered quietly.
"Woman, that's the second time you've done that! Now stop kissing me!" Snape demanded, though he was secretly pleased. "Go on. Get out of here."
"Alright, alright. We're going." Remus said as he tugged Analise out the door.
That was a nice long chapter! With no cliffhanger I must point out :)