Chapter 53: Of Spying and Plotting
Draco placed a silencing charm around his bedroom so Hermione wouldn't overhear his conversation with Gabrielle. "Has Hermione mentioned anything to you about having feelings for anyone?" He asked his fiancé straight out.
Gabrielle sent him a calculating look before answering. "No, she has not mentioned anyone by name but I know there is someone. Why do you need to know? Is this about her kissing Severus goodnight?"
"I think there is something between them," Draco told her as they sat down on his bed. "I think they both feel something for the other but are too afraid of the consequences to say anything."
"I know that Hermione thinks of Severus as her best friend and that she finds him attractive but I'm not positive it goes further than that." Gabrielle told him. "She has a soul mate out there that she has been dreaming of since she was 9. I don't think she'll settle for anyone but him, even if she does have some romantic feelings for Severus."
"Do we know that this soul mate isn't him?" Draco asked her, feeling sad that his mentor would get his heart broken.
"No, all I know is that he is tall and dark with a silky voice that she says reminds her of Severus…" Gabrielle trailed off with a smile. "The more I think of it, the more I think he could be her soul mate."
"You up for a little bit of meddling?" Draco asked her before pushing her back on his bed and claiming her mouth.
Bill and Remus were sitting in Severus' quarters sharing a bottle of fire whiskey. "So what is the plan now?" Remus asked them, pleasantly buzzed from the alcohol.
"Now we go back to work," Bill said sadly. He had enjoyed having the last few weeks off of work. "Since Fleur is healthy again I have no excuse to use and must go back to the bank."
"When are you two getting married?" Severus asked him. "Weren't you supposed to be married by now?"
"Yes," Bill told him sadly. "She decided to push the wedding back until it was safe to have it at the beach like she wants. She says that a woman only marries once and she is determined to do it the right way."
"Good thing you have the income to pay for it," Remus told him. "Weddings are unbelievably expensive. If Harry hadn't helped out I doubt Tonks would have had the wedding she deserved."
"When are you going to ask Hermione out?" Bill asked Severus, abruptly changing the subject. "She would make a beautiful bride."
Severus smiled at the thought of Hermione walking down the isle toward him in a beautiful gown. "Yes she would," he conceded. "Unfortunately I will most likely not be the one to make her so."
"You should just go up to her room, pick her up over your shoulder and drag her to the church. I bet she'd find it romantic," Bill slurred, obviously not able to hold as much liquor as the other two.
"She'd hex me so fast my head would be spinning," Severus told him. "Besides, I refuse to make a fool of myself in front of her. She doesn't know that I feel anything besides friendship and it will stay that way. I would rather go through life as her friend than risk losing that by admitting that I love her."
"But what if she feels the same and is doing the same thing?" Bill asked him.
"Then we will both die alone," Severus said pouring himself another glass. "At least I know what it feels like to hold her in my arms and kiss her. I can live off those memories."
"You are the most eligible bachelor in the wizarding world!" Remus exclaimed tossing the newest article from the Daily Prophet at him. "There are thousands of witches who would do anything to marry you."
"See, that proves it! You should ask her on a date and see if she could feel the same," Bill said triumphantly like he had made some grand point.
"She is still my student and I refuse to date a student. I feel bad enough lusting after one without making it worse by telling her. Can you imagine what she would think if she found out the bat of the dungeon was in love with her!" Severus sulked.
Bill and Remus finally gave up trying to encourage him and just joined in the drinking. They would have to try later to convince him to take a chance on her.
Gabrielle and Ginny were sitting in Ginny's room plotting. "I'm glad you think there is something there too!" Ginny grinned. "I figured it out on New Year's Eve and Harry figured it out on Valentine's Day. So what are we going to do?"
"We are going to get them to realize the other one may return their feelings. I think they are too scared to say anything so we'll have to give them that courage!" Gabrielle said with a laugh.
"How are we going to do that oh great Slytherin?" Ginny asked.
"We play the game again and this time we help them like you guys all helped Draco and me." Gabrielle told her with a wicked grin. "We're all here in the castle, school hasn't started back up yet and we haven't celebrated together yet. It's a perfect plan!"
"We'll have Draco and Harry in on it as well!" Ginny said excitedly. "Tonks will help get the game set up since she loves it so much and it won't even look like we planned it!"
"Alright, let's think of some questions and dares that will let them figure things out." Gabrielle said and they got down to business.
"We're meeting in the heads' common room tonight to celebrate and play the game again!" Tonks told Remus excitedly. "Gabrielle and Ginny are telling the others so we just have to get Bill, Fleur, Severus and Charlie there!"
"I think you enjoy that game way too much," he told her with a smile. "I was hoping for an evening alone with my beautiful wife."
"You're not going to change my mind that easily mister!" She fake scolded him. "Now hurry up and get ready so we can go tell the others."
"Charlie might have plans for tonight," Remus warned her. He was amused at the look on her face when she spun around for him to explain. "It seems he has met a girl."
"Oh, who is she? Do we know her?" Tonks asked; she loved gossip.
"It seems he got up the courage to ask Rosemerta to the ministry ball but since she's been with Tom forever she was able to let him down easily. She suggested that he take her niece who had just come out of hiding now that Voldemort is dead. It seems her parents were killed during the first war and she's been in hiding ever since." Remus told his wife.
"So that's who the pretty brunette was he escorted to the ball. I just assumed it was an old classmate." Tonks said thoughtfully. "I take it they hit it off?"
"Yep, according to Rose she loves Quidditch and has been working as an owl breeder in Ireland while in hiding. I was also told she is looking to settle down and wants a big family." Remus told her with a chuckle at how she sounded perfect for Charlie.
"Well let's go find him and see if he's available tonight!" Tonks said as she pulled him out of their quarters and toward the entrance hall.
"You want to play the game tonight?" Hermione questioned the two giddy girls in front of her. "I thought we were going to have at least one night off before classes started again!"
"There's no use complaining Hermione," Draco drawled from the doorway. "These two and Tonks have their minds made up. It will be quicker to acquiesce to their demands."
"Fine, but I'm not in the mood for Charlie to be hitting on me. So be warned, one wrong move on his part and I'm using my wand." Hermione told them. She had noticed Charlie staring at her oddly at breakfast and lunch and was hoping he wasn't planning a new strategy to win her over. She had dreamt of Severus again last night and was getting more and more frustrated with her feelings for him. She hoped the game would take her mind off of her feelings, especially since she now knew he loved someone else.
"I doubt he'll try anything," Ginny told her. "I heard he got himself a girlfriend."
"The girl he took to the ball?" Hermione asked hopefully. She really wanted to see Charlie happy.
"Yep, I guess she is a niece of Madame Rosemerta and has been in hiding for years. Her parents were killed a few weeks before Harry's were. Charlie seems fully infatuated." Ginny told her friend.
"See, now you have no excuse not to play!" Gabrielle told her happily. "Come on, let's go get changed!"
Fred, George, Lee and the girls already had plans so they backed out of the game leaving the EDA plus Bill, Fleur, Tonks, Remus, Charlie and Severus. They were all seated on the couches around the common room. "It's a good thing Albus knew we would all be hanging out in here otherwise there wouldn't be room for almost 20 people!" Tonks said happily as she plopped down between Remus and Severus on the couch. Hermione was bustling around getting all the snacks and drinks to everyone and was the last to sit down realizing the only open seats were either beside Severus or beside Charlie. She took the safe route and sat down next to Severus. Not noticing the corners of his mouth fighting forming a smile at her choosing to sit as his side.
"I think Severus should go first since he is the most decorated out of all of us," Tonks said with a smirk and handed him the enchanted ball.
"I see it wastes no time getting into the personal questions," Severus said with a sigh realizing this would be a long game. "How many people have you slept with? As I said last time it was 4 one night stands." He made sure to add the one night stand part on so Hermione wouldn't think there was anyone special. Hermione was relieved that the number hadn't changed in the almost year since the last time the question was asked.
Tonks and Remus both answered one, Hannah and Justin answered 0. Gabrielle took a deep calming breath before looking fondly at Draco and answering 1. They all heard Fleur gasp as she realized her little sister was no longer pure. Draco kissed Gabrielle gently before also answering 1. They had decided to finalize their bond before the last battle as neither wanted to die without experiencing it. Susan was next and quietly answered 1 while Ron grinned at his older brothers before answering the same. Harry noticed the death looks he was getting from Bill and Charlie until he and Ginny both answered 0. Bill had 2, Fleur 5 and Charlie 1. Dennis, Colin, Luna, Neville and Hermione all answered 0.
Tonks turn was next and laughed, "Assuming there were no consequences or significant others, how many people in this room would you think about sleeping with?" She thought it was an interesting question, if she wasn't married to Remus and there were no consequences, she had to survey the room to get her answer of 4. Remus laughed at his wife's antics before answering 2. Hannah answered 1 and then smacked Justin when he answered 5. Gabrielle answered 2 as she had often wondered what Harry would be like. Draco smirked at his fiancé before answering 3 for her, Ginny and Hermione. Susan answered 1 and Ron blushed before answering 2 as he still wondered about Hermione. Harry and Ginny both answered 1 along with Bill. Fleur answered 4 with an apologetic shrug at Bill. Charlie answered 1 with a quick look at Hermione. Dennis answered 0 while Colin grinned before he answered 6, he was a growing boy! Luna and Neville answered 1 and blushed as they looked at each other. Hermione stared at the carpet as she answered 1, since she was staring down she didn't see the look on Severus' face. Severus schooled his face and then answered 1 as well but did notice the way Hermione turned to look at him curiously and then scanned the room like she was trying to determine who he was referring to.
Remus noticed the look Hermione gave Severus and grinned. He had thought she may fancy him but now he was certain she returned his feelings. He was trying to figure out how to get the ball to help him ask a question that would let the two realize they were perfect for each other. "When and with whom was the best kiss of your life?" Remus asked smiling, he knew Severus would answer with one of Hermione's kisses and only hoped she would do the same. "Mine was the first time I kissed Tonks after Hermione cured me. It was the best day of my life and sharing it with Tonks made it that much better."
Both Hannah and Justin said it was their first French kiss. Gabrielle and Draco's was the kiss right after he proposed. Susan said hers was the kiss Ron gave her after they got engaged and Ron said it was when she agreed to sleep with him, earning him a smack in the head. Harry and Ginny told them that it was when they soul mated. Bill said his was the first time Fleur kissed him; she said it was after he proposed to her. Charlie said his was when he kissed Hermione last time they played the game and she had to French kiss 3 guys. Dennis said his best kiss was when he kissed Hermione New Year's Eve, he also told them not to say anything to his new girlfriend Natalie since they hadn't kissed yet. Colin told them his best was when he kissed Millie goodnight after the ministry ball; the guys all catcalled at getting such a good kiss on a first date. Luna and Neville both agreed that theirs was when Neville proposed. Hermione was next and had to blush as she told them that her best kiss was when she kissed Severus on New Year's Eve. Severus couldn't believe that was her best kiss, he had been sure she was only kissing him since he was a good kisser but maybe it had been more? He was torn between the kisses she had given him on Valentines and the one from New Year's Eve. He finally decided on the kiss from Valentines day.
"When did you two kiss on Valentine's Day?" Hannah asked them confused.
"I actually kissed him twice that night," Hermione told them quietly. She wasn't ashamed about the kisses she was just worried what he would think of her. "I kissed him after we won the dance competition and then again before he left the hall."
"Severus was the Phantom?" Susan asked in shock. She had thought the man Hermione danced with was attractive. She had never thought that of Snape, but maybe she had been too biased by his previous treatment of her.
Tonks interrupted the inevitable debate, "I still say the best kiss I ever got was Remus and my first kiss as man and wife." She smiled at her husband and kissed him again.
"My turn!" Hannah said excitedly. "Oh, this one is good! If everyone in the rooms possessions were up for grabs which item would you want most, from whom and why? I would have to say that I want Ginny's amethyst necklace."
Justin wants Harry's firebolt, Gabrielle wants Fleur's first edition Complete Charms Anthology while Draco wants back his 1st edition Complex Transfiguration Guide that he lost to Hermione at New Year's. Susan wants Ginny's dress she wore to the ministry ball, Ron also wants the firebolt, Harry wants Severus' Golden Phoenix Award and Ginny wants his gold caldron. Bill wants Harry's Gryffindor painting and Fleur wants Hermione's rose table in her bedroom at HQ. Charlie wants Bill's fang earring, Dennis wants the painting he made of Harry playing Quidditch while Colin wants Harry's pensive. Luna wants Hermione's favorite pair of boots and Neville wants Hermione's limited edition Herb Anthology book. Hermione, of course, wants Severus' 1st edition Most Potente Potions book that she gave him for Christmas. Severus wants that ring Harry showed him that looks like his grandmothers. His admission that he wanted the ring caused many to be confused but Harry was glad he was vague so not to give away his secret. Tonks wants Susan's pink jogging outfit and Remus wants Harry's photo album of his parents.
Justin's dare was for them to play musical chairs before it was Gabrielle's turn. She begged the ball to help her get Hermione and Severus together. "Are you in love or have you ever been in love and if yes how many times?" She asked grinning. "I am currently in love and it is the only time." Draco and Susan both said they were both in love only the once where Ron had to say he had been in love once and he was now currently in love. Harry, Ginny, Bill, and Fleur all said only currently. Charlie answered yes he was in love once although he was in the process of getting over it (aka Hermione). Dennis and Colin had never been in love, Luna and Neville just the once.
Hermione knew her answer was going to shock a few people but also knew she had nothing to loose. "I am currently in love with someone." She told them with a very sad smile. She was confused by the hurt look on Severus' face at her answer but figured it was because she hadn't told him before.
Severus felt like his heart dropped out of his chest at her answer. She was in love with someone else. He had never really felt his heart break before. He had known he didn't have a chance with Lily so it didn't hurt too much when she married James Potter, but this was excruciating. Remus noticed his anguish and shook his head with how dense his friends were; Ginny was feeling the same way. "I was in love once long ago and I am currently in love." Severus was finally able to answer. He was so miserable that he didn't notice the single tear run down Hermione's cheek at his answer. She may have known what he would say but it still hurt to think of him with anyone but her. Remus, Tonks, Gabrielle, Draco, Ginny and Harry all saw the tear on their friends face and wanted to shout at the two for being so dense. Tonks, Remus, Hannah and Justin had only ever been in love the one current time.
Draco was next, "Who is the sexiest person you know?" It was a slightly different question than the usual one of who is the sexiest person in the room, so it could be even more interesting. Most of them all said their significant other, Charlie, Dennis and Colin all answered Hermione. Hermione smiled shyly at Severus before answering him and he smiled back before answering her. He was glad she found him so attractive, even more so than the person she was in love with. She was thinking the same thing and her heart was filled with a hope she hadn't felt in a while.
Susan's question was 'Who is your best friend?' She answered Hannah, Ron and Harry said each other. Ginny said Harry, Bill said Charlie, Fleur said Bill, Dennis and Colin said each other, Luna and Neville said each other, Hermione answered Severus and he also answered her, much to the surprise of the group. Tonks and Remus answered each other where Hannah answered Susan, Justin answered Hannah, Gabrielle and Draco said each other.
Ron was confused by his question, "Do you believe the person you're in love with, loves you back?" He wondered why the ball would ask such a stupid question. "Yes." Harry, Ginny, Bill and Fleur answered yes, Charlie answered no, Dennis and Colin weren't in love. Luna and Neville answered yes. Hermione sighed and hung her head before answering no. Severus was shocked at her answer and wanted to just pull her into his arms to erase the sadness but didn't believe it was his place. He also answered no and missed the look of hope that Hermione sent his way.
Tonks shook her head as she figured it out and muttered under her breath, "Can they get any denser?" before she, Remus, Hannah, Justin, Gabrielle, Draco and Susan all answered yes.
Harry was supposed to be next and he decided they should switch to 'I Never', "Only this time you can either say something you've never done or something you think you can't do, you don't know or haven't seen. Like I can't swim or I've never been to Ireland." He knew they needed to get some less than subtle hints for Hermione and Severus to realize their feelings. "I'll go first, "I don't know how to speak any French." Those who had to drink were Bill, Fleur, Hermione, Gabrielle and Draco since they all knew some French.
Ginny was next with, "I've never seen the inside of Snape's quarters before." Bill, Hermione, Severus, Tonks, Remus and Draco were the only ones to drink.
Bill said he had never killed anyone and Tonks and Draco both had to drink. Fleur said she never kissed or had been kissed by one of her teachers and Dennis, Hermione, Hannah, Justin, Gabrielle, Draco, Harry and Ginny all had to drink. Charlie said he had never slept in the same bed as someone of the other sex before and was shocked to see Hermione have to drink, even though she blushed very deeply and wouldn't meet anyone's eye. Snape, Tonks, Remus, Gabrielle, Draco, Susan, Ron, Harry, Ginny, Bill and Fleur all had to drink as well. Harry was glared at by Bill and Charlie for his answer.
Dennis was next and grinned at everyone before saying he never kissed someone who was his significant other. He thought everyone would have to drink but was surprised when Severus didn't drink. "What?" He asked the group, "I already told you that they were all one night stands."
Colin's turn was next and he said he had never seen a member of the opposite sex naked. Hermione, Harry, Hannah, and Dennis were the only ones not to drink. Ginny laughed at her brother's looks, "What, you don't think I grew up in a house of boys without seeing one of you starkers!"
Luna was next and said she can't sing to save her life. Hermione, Severus, Hannah, Justin, Gabrielle, Draco, Susan, Ginny, Fleur, Dennis and Colin all drank since they could sing. They played a few more pointless rounds and were getting quite drunk before it was Harry's turn again and he said the one thing he knew would get the two thinking. "I have never been romantically in love with my best friend," he told them with a salute to Ron. Ginny grumbled before drinking since she considered Harry her best friend. Fleur, Luna and Neville all had to drink and Tonks then had to grab onto Severus to keep him from falling off the couch when Hermione quickly took a drink. The table was silent as they tried to process the meaning of that through the haze of alcohol. Severus made sure everyone was still focused on Hermione and tried to discreetly take a drink as well. This time it was Hermione who almost fell out of her seat. She desperately tried to believe that meant that he loved her but it just didn't make sense with everything he said to Albus. Her head started to spin and she was about to pass out. Luckily Ginny noticed and rushed over to help her to her room.
Severus spent the rest of the night convincing himself that Hermione was so drunk she didn't understand the question and that was why she took a drink. Tonks, Remus, Harry, Ginny, Draco and Gabrielle stayed behind to discuss the implications of Hermione and Severus getting together.
"I don't see a problem with it," Draco told them. "As long as they wait to make it public until after graduation there won't be any problems."
"Are we really sure they are in love with each other?" Tonks asked. She wanted to be positive before she agreed to meddle.
"I know for certain that Hermione loves him," Ginny offered as she was the only one Hermione had confessed to.
"Severus has told me himself that he loves her," Remus added to his wife. "He also thinks she will never love him back."
"Hermione overheard a conversation between Severus and Albus and is convinced that Severus is in love with someone else. She missed some of the more important parts of the conversation and that is why she doesn't think it's her." Ginny told them, knowing she was breaking her friends trust but knowing it would be hard to convince her otherwise.
"If she is determined that he doesn't love her then only way to change her mind is going to be for him to tell her," Harry told them. "She will rationalize away everything else, even his answer to my last I never question."
"Hopefully Severus will be easier to convince now thanks to the games tonight. If I make him examine her answers he will realize he is the only one she could love." Remus told them.
"He won't make a move while she is a student," Draco told them. "He won't even kiss her through the game so he definitely won't be saying anything while she is still a student."
"We'll have to get them together over the summer on a project then," Gabrielle told them. "The only way they will figure things out is if we keep forcing them together."
"We only have 3 weeks till graduation," Harry reminded them. "We need to plan something fast."
"What about a wedding?" Draco asked casually. "All old fashion pure blood weddings take place over a week long period. There are multiple parties and dinners and everyone stays in the same place. It would be a perfect opportunity."
"And just who's wedding were you thinking of?" Tonks asked him, "I know Bill and Fleur don't have anything that grand planned."
"How about our wedding?" He asked Gabrielle who was smiling as she had figured out what he was hinting at already. "We would have to get Fleur's permission since you're not of age yet… but it is doable. Plus we can kick my mother out then and have the manor to ourselves!"
"You're saying we would only have to suffer a few weeks of your mother and then she would leave us alone to honeymoon the rest of the summer and move out of the house permanently?" She asked smiling. "We should have married sooner if it would have gotten her out of the house!"
"I'll have mother start making the plans right away," Draco told her. "We will set it for two weeks after term. That should give everyone plenty of notice."
"How do we keep them together the rest of the summer?" Ginny asked.
"We bring in the big guns," Remus told them and they all gave him questioning looks. "We tell Albus!"
Severus was pacing his sitting room the next morning. He had been up half the night analyzing Hermione's answers to the questions as well as re-looking at everything that occurred between them. As much as he tried to keep his hopes down… he couldn't help but feel elated. The only thing that made sense with her actions and answers was that she felt something for him in return. His heart felt like it was going to fly away as he had never been so happy. He was nervous though. He had no idea how to proceed or even if he should/could. He knew nothing could happen while she was a student, but there were only 3 weeks left. He only hoped they could spend some quality time together before she left for school.
The other thing that bothered him was the fact that she would be away at University so long. She had no need to take a single potions class as she was way above master level already. He had written to the dean of the university again and explained the situation. The man had flooed him that morning to discuss her. She would be offered full scholarship and test out of all potions classes. She would have to take all the final exams and perform multiple potions for review. Assuming her NEWT score to be as high as they expect and with all her achievements the University was willing to award her degree at the end of the school year. Severus found that Minerva had been speaking with them as well, for they had narrowed the transfiguration classes that she would need down to two semesters. That meant she would only be away for 1 year of school and would receive her Mastery in Potions and her certificate in Transfiguration. She would need a 1 year apprenticeship in transfiguration before she received her mastery, but she could do that close by, in the castle even!
"Severus my boy, what has you so energized this morning?" Albus asked entering the Potion Master's domain without knocking.
"I had a very enlightening evening last night," Severus told him. "It seems things are not nearly as hopeless where my love life is concerned."
"That's wonderful," Albus said twinkling. "Does this mean you and our dear Hermione are an item now?"
"Unfortunately not," Severus replied. "I have not made my feelings known to her and she has not said anything to me. But there were some probing questions asked that led me to conclude that she may feel the same as I."
"What are you waiting for then?" Albus asked his friend confused. "You should be preparing to sweep the wonderful girl off her feet!"
"I will not be wooing her until she is no longer my student. I feel bad enough lusting after her from afar. I refuse to break the vow I made to you and this school." Severus told him. "I will pursue her after graduation."
"She will be away at university for many years and then she will have her family responsibilities. Remember that she will soon be finding out that she is royalty. I suggest you already be together when she finds out." Albus told him.
"I will not rush into this. Yes, I am in love with her, but I will not act like some lovesick fool. I will court her properly, or as properly as I can as we have already kissed. I will ask her to spend more time with me this summer and we will converse while she is at school. I will ask her properly after she finishes her schooling." Severus told him.
"Tell me my dear boy, will you marry her?" Albus asked him. Severus had never been the type for marriage before; he just hoped it would be different this time.
"If I was not her teacher and I knew she loved me she would already be my bride," He told him honestly. "I cannot imagine my life without her and I don't want to have to try. If she ever agrees to marry me then I will be the luckiest man alive."
"And what of her royal obligations?" Albus asked him, he hated playing devil's advocate but these were things Severus needed to consider before making a claim to the girl.
"I have no real desire to be King but I believe I would do a decent job of it." Severus told him. "If my mother was still alive I would most likely be betrothed to her. I do not believe the Queen will have any problems with my pursuing Hermione, I only worry about what her parents will think as I am closer to her father's age."
"So you will be leaving the school then if you pursue her," Albus stated. He knew it would happen but he couldn't imagine the school without the dark potions teacher.
"Yes," Severus said looking into the eyes of his mentor. "As much as it will pain me to leave, it would hurt more to remain here without her. I am unsure how I am going to survive this coming year without her."
"She will be away at school for many years," Albus reminded him.
"Only the one," Severus told him proudly. "She is so advanced they will allow her to test out of all the potions classes and most of the transfiguration ones. She will only need a semester of Transfiguration classes to graduate. Then perhaps she can apprentice someone close by."
"Did you have anyone in mind?" Albus asked with a chuckle.
"Well, there are two certified transfiguration masters in this school. I would think one of you would jump at the opportunity." Severus said with a smirk.
"Yes, I believe it will be amusing watching Minerva sputter if I mention taking Hermione on myself. Do you think she will hex me?" Albus laughed.
"Well, I believe I will head to breakfast and then go tell Hermione the good news about her schooling." Severus told him as he realized it was late enough to talk to his apprentice. He really just wanted to see her again; he was getting addicted to her presence.
Hermione moaned as she opened her eyes. She had a hangover from all the alcohol the night before; she really was a lightweight when it came to drinking. She made her way to her bathroom to take a relaxing bath. She had a lot to think about. She was more confused after Severus' answers the night before than anything. She desperately wanted to just ask him, but didn't want to hear him tell her he was in love with someone else. "This is so confusing," she mumbled to herself as she soaked in the tub. She closed her eyes and focused on the good feelings. As long as she had him as a friend she would be content, lonely but content. She wouldn't risk loosing him entirely; she couldn't imagine her life without him. In fact she was actually dreading going off to university just because she would have to leave him behind.
She had just finished getting dressed and looking (unsuccessfully) for a hangover remedy in her potions box when there was a knock at her bedroom door. "Come in," she said still wincing from the sound of the knocking.
Severus smiled at the sight of her; she was beautiful even in sweatpants and a t-shirt. He could tell she was still feeling poorly from the alcohol. "I come bearing gifts," he told her holding out the potion he had brought her. "I figured since you missed breakfast you must not have been feeling well."
"Wonderful man," she mumbled as she downed the potion. She stumbled back to her bed to lie down. She was sure she must look a mess but she couldn't bring herself to care at the moment. She did enjoy having him near though.
Severus helped tuck her under her covers. "Go back to sleep for a few hours, it will help." He kissed her forehead before heading towards the door.
"Stay," she pleaded as she slowly fell back to dreamland. He wasn't sure what to do. He desperately wanted to stay by her bedside but knew it wasn't proper. He knew Albus wouldn't mind, so he sat down in the armchair next to her bed. He had never before watched her sleep, she was so peaceful. "Don't leave me," she mumbled out and his heart clenched.
"I will never leave you," he told her quietly thinking she was just talking in her sleep.
"Promise," she said. She loved him so much and couldn't imagine him with anyone but her. She didn't want to let him go.
Severus ran his fingers gently along her face, moving her wild curls away. "I promise," he told her with a smile, knowing he would never consciously break that promise. He pulled a book from his robes and settled back to read while watching her sleep.