Chapter Seventeen: Aftermath
I don't really know what happened; it's all an annoying blur. One moment Neville is imploring me to hear him out, the next I'm regaining consciousness in a room straight out of Susan Kay. Ezra was there giving me a look that turned my stomach. He talked to me, about our union. He touched me, not there… but my shoulders, my arms, he held my hands. He forced me strip, put on this wedding dress. I will admit it was luxurious fabric, but I felt so wrong. He started talking to me about the Phantom of the Opera, how he was Erik, and I was his Christine. Neville was Raoul. He had over heard me talking about how I loved Erik, and my feeling that Christine should not have left him. He thought that if he was Erik I would love him. So I was in this dress looking at a replica of myself and being forced to listen to him perform this sort of wedding service. He would speak for all the parties you would find in a real wedding, he would answer for everyone, me, the pastor and himself. After the service, if you can call it that was through he made to kiss me. This is when I couldn't stand it anymore. I couldn't imagine getting anywhere near him. I pulled a con. I leaned into him and then hit him, once he was down I grabbed his wand, froze him, but I couldn't stand to touch anything of his. I knew I didn't have time. I just ran. I have never liked to run. But this met my first rule that would dictate my fleeing or just general exercise. I was terrified. It was raining. Blowing, lightning was a pleasant, but frightening form of illumination. I ran to the woods. I figured I could hide in there. My shoes had broke right out the door so I ran in my stocking and wedding gown. It caught on everything. The snags slowed me down and brought other nastier things to come and scratch me. I eventually shed the skirt in a bush and continued fleeing. My feet got such abuse from the undergrowth and rocks. I was tired, cold and wet, but I knew that if I even thought about stopping he would find me and I would never see this place, or any place again. I wanted to see Neville, I loved him. I was even wishing to be with Professor Snape, even in the foulest mood. Then I saw ahead of me this house. I went for it, adrenaline, endorphins and anything else that my body could possible use was used. I got to the door, I remember banging on it till my hands hurt and I could scream no more. The door opened and I remember nothing more. Until of course you found me. To see my potions master there beside me will I know forever rate, if not beat in some respects, my wedding day and any children I should ever have. I am not afraid of intimacy, not of love, marriage, or men. People fear I will lose trust, but isn't the loss of trust inevitable in your life. You don't trust you parents for a day or a two after they tell you that they made up Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny. I am not afraid. Neville is here with me. The darkness was thick yes, it was frightening, it was bleak, but my love for this boy, this man beside me was a light.
Tessa had said in the infirmary when she was deemed able to have company by Madam Pomfrey a few days after her return to Hogwarts. She had sat tall with her hand clasped tightly in Neville's as she spoke. The Melees, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, and Pomfrey were the only adults or anyone else to hear the tale. Mrs. Melee became over whelmed by it all and she and her husband left the hospital wing until she was back in control. Neville and Tessa were exchanging looks that were too intimate for Severus and he, and the Dumbledores soon left as well, soon the couple were alone. Severus spent his time outside the infirmary door physically blocking admittance to the students who wanted to see Tessa. He had to latterly fit himself into the door and give harsh orders to the likes of Chris Phyllips, LeRoy James, and Madison Carson.
"Patience is a virtue!" Severus snapped at the clamoring group. "I will personally inform you when you may see your friend, now get out of here before I start taking points and your free evenings!" That dispersed the crowed, even if it was begrudgingly. Behind the children was Evelyn she was smiling and quickly closed the distance between them. He held her close and inhaled her hair before he took her mouth.
"Do I get to see her?" She asked playfully. But Severus whished to be slightly more engaged with something else and did not let her enter anything but his arms. As they embraced the soft indistinguishable sounds of singing voices were only a fleeting thought in their mind. After a time, one couldn't venture to say they entered the infirmary. Neville was speaking to Tessa.
"Tessa I love you. Without you by my side I would surly shrivel up and die, you make me whole, you make me brave, and you make me feel. Will you marry me?" There was a definite lump in his throat as he spoke. Evelyn picked up her pace as did Severus, but both remained as silent as ever. Tessa gasped. From the other side of the screen Severus and Evelyn peeked and watched their students.
"Oh Neville, Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times YES!" Tessa cried. Neville slipped something onto her finger; it looked like a pop top. Though meager, Evelyn could think of nothing more romantic. The couple kissed. Then Neville noticed something. Rising her hand he looked at her finger, the top had cut her.
"I've hurt you!" He cried and quickly mended the wound. He then turned his wand tip to the top and was about to transfigure her a real ring when she spoke.
"What do you think you're doing? Don't you dare change this pop top! You proposed with it, I'm keeping it because it's the best engagement ring in the whole feckin' world." She cried looking up at her hand like the ring she wore boosted a diamond as big as the Ritz. They kissed again. This was when Severus and Evelyn decide to make their presents know.
"Congratulations to both of you." Severus said, Evelyn whipped tears from her eyes and smiled at them.
"You watched us?" Neville asked coloring scarlet.
"Just enough to know that we should wish you joy." Evelyn said.
"And when may we return the favor?" Tessa asked looking pointedly at Severus. Evelyn took her turn to color, and Severus mouthed from behind her, "Soon." The young couple smiled knowingly.