Disclaimer: I do not own any of the following characters of Ms.J.K.Rowling.
A/N: La la la, life goes on. I'm feeling kind of sad now because of the four letter word – LOVE, or is it –LIKE?
Quote of the day: "I'm happy I fell in love. I may feel sad now but at least I had to chance to experience it. I don't care if I'm in tears or if my heart breaks; I lived life the way it's meant to be lived - With Love!" –Breaks out in tears-
Snape's arm reached out to feel the sheets besides him empty again. He was almost used to it. He had taken a sabbatical
from Hogwarts and was living in Paris. He had rented an apartment of his own which faced the Eiffel Tower, and filled it with
all the bachelor's necessities, mainly one single pot which he used now and then in the kitchen, and an assortment of cans of
food. He couldn't be bothered to make any, even though he knew magic. He survived on canned food, take out, or Ginny's
cooking, which he seldom got to eat because they spent most of their time in bed.
He had felt annoyed at first when Ginny refused to live with him. He wanted her around all the time, so he could shag with her
when he felt like it. But Ginny was a headstrong girl, and she had turned him down, saying she needed her own space. "I need
a life other than fucking with you, you know?" She had told him bluntly one night. That had won her a frown which she thought
irritating, so she gathered her things and left in a huff. However, she was pulled back by Snape, and she had been so angry,
she hexed him. Surprisingly, he didn't retaliate. Even after she apologized profusely and made love to him all night.
Well…life for them was strange in a way. They weren't in a so-called boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, but they cared for each
other well. Breakfast with Ginny and Snape was similar to watching a well choreographed ballet. They would both sit at the
table reading the Daily Prophet and an assortment of muggle newspapers. Without saying a word, he would set down his
empty teacup and she would refill it for him, with her head hidden behind the papers. She passed him her empty plate and he
would fill it up with her favourite waffles and caramel syrup while she rubbed her foot against his. Anyone would assume they
were a married couple but in fact, they weren't!
Ginny was content with life this way. She could shag anyone she wanted, and always come back to Snape. He never
commented on her behaviour, probably due to the fact that he didn't know and she never found the reason why she had to tell
him. She liked him immensely, as did he, more than her. But, she didn't know.
It was raining heavily that night. He wasn't expecting her to come around. She had told him she had plans the night before, as
they lay in bed. The heavy pounding on the door arouse him from a dreamless sleep. He struggle groggily into his robe while
he tried to open the door and grab his wand at the same time. A bedraggled Ginny who was soaking wet stood on his
doorway. She burst into tears the moment she saw him. "What's wrong? What happened?" He asked worriedly as he pulled
her into the apartment and tossed his robes over her heaving shoulders.
She smiled through her tears and threw herself into his arms. "Andrew asked me to marry him tonight! I said yes!" Her voice
came out muffled but he heard her perfectly well. He was dumbfounded. She was so young! Barely reaching twenty-five and
she was going to get married! He blinked. Once. Twice.
"I always knew that he would be the one." She said excitedly. "I wanted you to be the first to know. You've been so good to
me, professor. I'll miss you." She said as she tried to reach down to fondle him.
He had been fooled. He always knew that there would be an end to this. But, never did he expect it to end this way. Good
things never last. He was an expert at that. "I wish the both of you happiness for life." He choked out when he saw Ginny
staring up at him expectantly. He could have bitten his tongue off for saying that but it had won her smile. After she left, he
buried his head in his hands. How many times have he thought of saying the words to her but put them off? How many times
had he looked into her eyes while he lay on top of her and wished he could make her his? He had even wished them luck. He
was sad. He was cast aside. But at the same time, all he wanted was her to be happy. And he knew that no matter what, he
would always be there for her.
Ginny walked down the stairs leading to Snape's apartment quickly. She had expected an angry outburst from him. Maybe
even a hex or two. She didn't expect congratulations instead. She couldn't help but feel a small stab of disappointment. After
all, she had slept with him for 9 years. She liked him, a lot. Andrew's proposal came as a shock, and it didn't help matters
when he did it in front of the entire academy. She couldn't say no. But, unknowingly, there was a sense of regret lurking
around.
A/N: The flashbacks are over. Last and final chapter coming up next!