Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot and characters

A/N: Hello friends who are sitting besides me witnessing my insanely fast typing. Even though I could type faster. Dang. Ok so from here on in things will be a little rocky. Umm.. Mystery, perhaps? (Every time I use perhaps in a question I think of HP 2 where Snape says 'How about someone from my own house? Malfoy, perhaps?')

Chapter 35: Heat Wave & Being Brave

February ended triumphantly, bringing new hopes, dreams, memories, and lessons. I learned a few things about cat care, which helped Serenity grow a little bit. She was still the sweetest kitten I've ever known, even though I had known no others. Sev, on the other hand, was not becoming more understandable, but a bit more mysterious. Not in any bad way. I found myself perplexed by his every move, word, action, and breath. He was my sun and moon, showering upon me with brightness and warmth, even though he wasn't one for sharing every waking thought.

The sun finally melted all of the snow, bringing spring in like a beautiful rainbow out of the gray, withering earth. Hermione, Ron, Draco, Gwen, and I visited Hogsmeade for the millionth time of the year. Simple Saturdays silently squeezed by like nothing, but they would always be remembered.

"Can it possibly be any warmer?" Hermione asked, fanning herself with a book.

Draco took a book from the shelf too. We were in a bookstore, not for purchasing purposes, but because it was the only store with cooled air. It had to be at least eighty degrees outside, which was tremendously insane for the beginning of spring.

"Let's go get a butterbeer," Said Gwen, untouched by the heat wave.

"Aren't you hot?" I asked, "Or are you immune to any temperature above seventy?"

"I'm not immune. I like the heat. I was in Texas over summer. Heat is nothing to me now." She smiled and went merrily on her way to look at some comic books.

Ron corrected, "If it's nothing, then you're immune."

Only another minute of fanning ourselves happened before we decided to leave for the Leaky Cauldron. Slight breezes swept on our faces, which helped a lot as the outside heat hit us once more. Our destination was reached once feet shuffled a bit faster. I entered the pub first, followed by a cluster of my friends, practically trying to get in at the same time.

"Five butterbeers please," Draco ordered refreshments after finding a table for the group.

I had carried Serenity to Hogsmeade with me and placed her sleeping self on the floor of the pub when I took a seat. The butterbeer was given to us within a moment, ready to be scarfed down.

"We always see him on Saturdays!" Gwen noticed Lucius entering the Leaky Cauldron with a stern appearance.

Draco glanced at his father and then back at us, "He's always visiting Hogsmeade on weekends now. Ever since he bought me my own owl, we've been having to buy food every week almost. The damn bird eats more than any hungry human. It's ridiculous."

"He's coming over here," Mione stated, "and he seems angry."

Lucius strolled over to our table and greeted us. He was, indeed, in a bad mood. I could tell just by looking at him that something was up.

"What has Mortifer done now?" Draco referred to his owl.

"Nothing," sighed Lucius, "but he's eaten the remainder of his food, and so I must buy more. I decided to have a break first, as the weather is torturous today. Ahh," He glanced down at me with piercing blue eyes, "Maranda…I'd like to talk to you for a moment, if that's alright."

"Uh…Sure." I got up from my chair and followed him across the room.

Noticing my wonder, he stated, "Nothing to worry about. I was wondering if you would like to help me plan a surprise party for Draco. He's completely stressed because of Lockhart, and has no time to set up anything himself. His birthday is in a week, and I was considering having a small party for him in the Hogwarts' gardens."

"How will you set something up there?"

"Magic, what else?"

I laughed, "Sorry, sometimes I forget where I am."

"Don't worry," His smile made up for the previous bad mood, "It will be fun. But I need to schedule a day to pull this through, and then the night before should be when we set everything up."

I stuck out a hand, "Deal." He shook it and we walked back to the table.

When Lucius left, everyone wanted to know what was going on. I told them it was nothing to worry about, just a question he had. I was lucky when no one tried to pester me for information.

The remainder of our Hogsmeade visit smoothly went by, leaving my friends with another saturday embedded in their memories. Back at Hogwarts, I sprinted towards the dungeons. Today was the day to try and hint to Snape that I told Hermione and the gang about us. I already figured out a plan; I would straight out tell him and choose what to do from there depending on his facial expression. If he is A) miffed, then I would explain myself thouroughly and remind him that I am a complete loser, and hope he can see how guilty I feel. If he is B) Distraughtly Agitated, I will run away and hope he doesn't kill me. And if he is C) Shocked and Agitated, then I will be prepared to fight with him verbally until he understands that I am sorry. Any one of those choices all has anger in it. But I could take it. My heart was ready to leash out and let Sev decide if he wants to take it or shove it away. I could no longer hold this compunction in my every waking thought. I had to tell the truth, and be brave for the both of us.

"Good afternoon, Maranda," Snape greeted me as I entered his cozy room, which held scents of vanilla and cinnamon.

I mustered up the strength to start telling him as I approached the front of the room. It was now or never. I would prefer never, but seeing as I've bacxked down from enough in my life, it was time to sieze the moment and live with no matter what fate has to offer. "Hey, Sev. Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Yes," He half-smiled as I sat next to him, "tell me what's on your mind."

Here it went...the moment to decide if he could handle my mistake or not. "Let's start at the beginning," I spoke calmly despite my nerves, "There was a night that you and I congregated in your balcony/alcove room upstairs. You had given me presents and honesty, leaving me perplexed in my own realizations. I was so thrilled, and still am, to have you by my side. But...I did something awful."

"-What would that be?" Sev questioned in one of the seconds I didn't speak. His facial expression during this moment was one of wonder. Nothing deathly yet.

"Alright," My heart felt like popping out of my chest because it was beating so hard, "I told Hermione about my birthday night spent with you. I told her, Ron, Draco, and Gwen. I had to say something to them. I couldn't go around and have this huge secret to hide from them. You can hate me, but I couldn't lie to them. I will understand if you don't love me anymore."

My way of seeing things now: If I could tell Sev I loved him…I could say anything else.

I looked for a sign of anger, hatred, or building malice. Nothing shown on his face. He stared deeply into my eyes, seemingly trying to pull my soul from them.

"I…" my words failed. I was a disappointment to myself.

"My dear," oh the velvet voice vocalizes, "You made a promise with me. No one is supposed to know."

My lips quivered. I felt small. "I'm horrible. It was a mistake. Like I said, you can hate me if you want. I don't really deserve to be loved by you. But I'm glad I told the truth."

"Now, listen. I am upset, but don't become flustered over this. Your friends have a right to know about your life. It's respectable to tell them certain things from time to time. however, you should have come to me before you told them. But I am able to forgive you."

"Sev..." I sighed in relief, but wanted to go further with my bravery. "Sev, say those words please." We faced each other, knees against knees and hands holding tightly. I continued wearily, "I believe that you can feel it, but I want to hear it. After all, I do love you..." Saying my own words brought reality to me.

Parting his lips, Sev deepened his breathing, "Maranda, this is not simple. I care so much for your happiness, but I don't want you to get hurt. Please be careful."

He wouldn't say the words, but he did express care. "Not the answer I was expecting, but I'll take it for now. I would never want you to say something you're not comfortable with. But why did you tell me to be careful?"

"I want you to enjoy life while it's here. Don't change anything for me, especially concerning your friends."

My God...I had completely forgotten...Snape barely talked to anybody. He had no true friends. It was depressing realizing the man you loved hadn't a friend in the world. I let go of his hands and stood up, helping him up as well. He held a hint of bewilderment over his face like a mask.

"You must be so lonely. I'm so sorry." I wrapped my arms around his hips and hugged him while my head rested on his chest. His arms enveloped me too, and for once I felt as if I had given a gift.

Snape didn't stop hugging me, nor I him. He gently spoke, though his words were a bit muffled, "Correction, I was ... lonely." He waited a moment before adding, "Don't let yourself fall too fast. I am a man of many sides. You won't want to be involved in the mess of me."

I looked up from his chest and lightly joked, "If I find a map, I won't be too lost in your personality. Besides, you aren't the only one in this room who has a multiple-personality problem."

After a few more moments of clinging onto one another, I kissed Snape's lips tenderly and walked to the door.

"Snape," I turned around before leaving and caught his eyes, "please don't forget, those three words that are flying around in your head are allowed to escape at any time."

I left the room feeling accomplished, yet left on a limb. We were nearly perfect together, Snape and I. Sure, he was obviously protective of me as if he were the criminal, but other than that we had a magical romance growing. All because I was brave enough to confront Sev, our connection became stronger. Maybe even warmer than the heat wave.