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Chapter 15

Iris was in her office at the Ministry of Magic banging around angrily. Maybe it was because he seemed to be acting as if this project unimportant or because he got drunk last night. But underneath she knew it was because being in love with Severus had caused her to abandon everything she had worked for. She had become one of those sentimental shmucks she'd always made fun of.

Is it possible to be in love and still maintain who you are, she wondered idly.

She heard Severus' words echo in her head, after you ditched me last night I had nothing to do, and felt guilty. He'd been hurt by her disappearance last night and chose to work through it with alcohol. Maybe he's suffering the same way I am, she reasoned. Neither of us wanted this to happen. But it did. Both of us thought that we were anti-love, but look what happened.

She continued analyzing as she collected potion ingredients and stacking them on the table. Iris waved her wand so her door closed and a second time making her office fill with muggle music and she began singing at the top of her lungs.

This was why she loved working at the Ministry. No rules as long as you completed your tasks in a timely manner, and she loved working with potions. The radio changed songs and Iris squealed in delight as one of her favorites came on.

She swayed in time with the music and sang along to the tune, oblivious to everything around her. She looked at the potion that was brewing, decided it looked to much like Death Stopper Potion and cleared it with a disappointed sigh. Not that I really expected to get it on the first try, she thought as she continued to dance and sing around her office.

A movement at her doorway caught her attention and she snapped her mouth closed and quit moving as embarrassment washed over her.

Severus hovered in the doorway watching Iris....be Iris. Completely unaware that she was being watched and acting in total happy abandon as she danced around to an old Madonna tune. The second she'd seen him she'd stopped and was now watching him warily.

"Like a Virgin? You?" He teased nervously, unsure of how she'd react to him being there..

"Funny isn't it?" She said in an agreeable tone and he felt himself marginally relax.

"Listen Iris...." He cleared his throat and scuffed his feet against the floor. He wasn't good at apologizing and he felt uncomfortable doing it.

"Me too Severus." She answered shyly.

They looked at each other a moment before bursting into smiles, speaking without words.

"Come on in." She coaxed.

"So how's it going?" He asked as he followed her into the room.

"I've only tried twice but neither one was it." She said as they reached the table. "The first time it was nothing but the second looked like Death Stopper."

"Hmm. Well lets see what we can do." He replied as he pushed his shirt sleeves up.

"Severus? Can I ask you something?" She asked tentatively.

"Of course. What is it?" He inquired.

"Do you think we can work here from now on? I think we'd get more done." She said as they began mixing some ingredients together.

"I agree." He said as he began stirring the potion. "I think it's a good idea."

"Good." She said in relief. "Thanks."

"Can I ask you something now?"

"Sure." She answered as she watched the cauldron simmer with blue liquid.

"Why did you leave like that last night?" He asked trying to sound nonchalant.

Iris shifted her attention from the potion to the lightly blushing Severus, and found herself endeared. She lifted her warm hand to lightly cup his cheek and force his eyes to meet hers.

"I'm sorry about that. It's just that I feel too much. It's overwhelming." She said honestly. "I feel like I'm giving up who I am in order to love you."

"I don't want you to give up who you are. I love you for who you are. I love your goals and your mind. I love that you're comfortable enough with yourself to jump around singing in your office. I don't want you to change Iris." He answered sincerely.

"Oh Severus, you don't know how happy I am to hear you say that." She said as she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him sweetly. "You are a man of many nuances. You have what you present to the world, the angry, harsh, unreasonable man and you have what I see. And I see a man that is intelligent, accepting and surprisingly tender hearted. You fascinate me."

He smiled at her before turning back to the potion.

"Enough of this sentimental crap. Lets get back to work." He said as he cleared his throat.

Sorry for the update delay btw!