"Tell you I'm sorry. You don't how lovely you are. I had to find you. Tell you I need you," – Coldplay, The Scientist

Chapter 11: Destiny and Fate

"I have some good news for you Severus," Dumbeldore announced as Severus came into his office.

"Please sit," he smiled drawing up a chair. "I know you have had your eye on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position for some time. Next year you will finally receive it,"

Severus couldn't help but feel happy, suddenly something dawned on him, "What about Faith?"

"Oh, Ms. Sloom? She is resigning from teaching. She will not be returning to the school. Said something about this having changed. Not what she expected to be," Dumbeldore said with his same smile.

"Thank you Headmaster," Severus replied flatly and he rose from the seat. It stunned him to know that Faith would once again be leaving his life

"I'm going to miss this school," Faith murmured to Lily sadly as they walked to their next Final. It was the second to last day of their seventh year. The seventh years were excited to be finally leaving school, but still somber about leaving behind all the good times that they had had.

Severus was rather giddy to be leaving school. No more hearing 'Snivillus' hissed in the hallways. No more jokes about his hair, his nose or another extremity of his. No more shoves, sneers, and mocking. How could he possibly miss school after all that?

But…there was one thing he would miss. Actually, more like one person, Faith. She had done nothing but treated him with kindness the moment she met him. She'd tutored him, never made fun of him, defended him when others did, talked to him, greeted him in the halls, and talked to him about his father. She was the only one that truly cared in his life. How could he not miss her?

When Severus returned to his classroom, Faith was already there sitting in a chair.

"Hello,"

"Hello," she responded. The two just wallowed there in silence for a minute.

"I just wanted to let you know that I won't be returning to teaching after this year," Faith said finally standing up. Severus looked at her, nodded "So I've heard,"

"There really is no reason for me to stay….is there?" she asked. Dear God! Was she asking him? What did she want him to say? What could he say? Why, yes Faith. There is a very good reason for you to stay. See, I've been in love with you pretty much ever since we we're eleven. Long time I know. Why didn't I do anything about it you ask? Well, when it comes right down to it, I'm a damn coward. A big one. But I love you, that's why you should stay. So, I can continue to not do anything about it.

"Nope, no reason I can think of," he shrugged.

"I don't even know what I'm doing here," Faith groaned turning around.

"Funny, me either," Severus shot back.

"Why…I-," she stuttered spinning around on her heel. "God! You're bloody infuriating! I can't stand you!"

"Well, what else is new?" Severus roared throwing his hands up in the air.

"I'm leaving!"

"Good!"

"Good!" she hollered back as she spun around on her heel and left. Severus stood there fuming and paced the classroom. 'She's so annoying!' he though fiercely.

Severus looked down at the book in his hand. When he glanced up he saw Faith come into the library. Acting on nerves, he whipped behind a shelf. He watched from behind the shelf as Faith returned the books that she had loaned from the library. A horrible feeling was clenching at his stomach. Tomorrow could very well be the last day he would see her again…forever. He needed to tell her how he felt, but his stomach kept turning flip-flops when ever he would talk to her. His tongue would swell up and his mind would go blank. He wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do. Severus sighed and rested his head against a book. It moved and fell from the shelf landing on its cover and opening to a page that said:

Chapter 7

Destiny and Fate

Tommorow, Tomorrow was the day he was going to finally tell her. He had to. The book was a good enough sign. Picking the book up, Severus decided tomorrow after the graduation ceremony. He nodded to himself, closed the book, and walked out of the library with a newfound courage.