First of all, I have to admit that I am not a native speaker, so there might be a few mistakes, but if you were so kind as to write me a message to tell me of them, I would immediately correct them.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling, and I don't earn my money with these stories.
This story was written during the National Novel Writing Month 2021.
Sonnet 138
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William Shakespeare – Sonnet 138
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When my love swears that she is made of truth,
I do believe her, though I know she lies,
That she might think me some untutored youth,
Unlearnèd in the world's false subtleties.
Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,
Although she knows my days are past the best,
Simply I credit her false-speaking tongue;
On both sides thus is simple truth suppressed.
But wherefore says she not she is unjust?
And wherefore say not I that I am old?
O, love's best habit is in seeming trust,
And age in love loves not to have years told.
Therefore I lie with her, and she with me,
And in our faults we flattered be.
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Severus sat on his armchair in front of the chimney fire, reading, when someone knocked on his door. He looked towards the clock: it was quarter past ten in the evening on a Friday. There was only one person who would come to him at this time. He put his book aside and opened the door. There she was in all her glory: hair as bushy as ever, eyes as sparkling as ever.
"Hi," Hermione beamed at him.
"Hey," he replied and let her in.
They never talked much and so he wasn't surprised when she as soon as he had closed the door flung her arms around him and kissed him.
He pressed her firmly against him and kissed her hungrily back. It had been too long. It was always too long.
Stumbling they found his bedroom and fell on his bed.
These secret meetings had been going on for almost two years, starting shortly after the War. First with tea and light conversations, then with deeper talks about everything that had happened and still haunted them. But they had soon found out that this – them being as close together as man and woman could be – was the best way to deal with life. This was forgetting and reveling in another reality for at least one evening every now and then.
Afterwards, she lay in his arms and drew circles on his chest. "I love you," she said, not for the first time. "Only you."
But he knew it was a lie they never addressed. He knew she had broken up with Ronald, but that she was dating someone else. She only ever came to him on Friday evenings and only stayed for one night, often not even that. If there was no one else, why wouldn't she stay with him longer or come on another day? No, he was sure she spent her Saturdays with that other man whoever he was, and he was sure the ring she wore today on her finger was an engagement ring.
But it was okay. He liked playing pretend with her and he would continue to enjoy every single minute she deemed agreeable to spend with him. He was old and broken and they both knew it though she would reject this idea every time he brought it up. But he had more life experience and knew what this was but they both had a silent agreement to never discuss it. This – them together in the dark – was good and they didn't want to destroy it by labelling it. He didn't tell her of his nightmares and sometimes wishes of death, and she didn't tell him of her perfect relationship and how she would marry and buy a house and have children eventually. They both knew what the other felt and dreamed about, but they never acknowledged it. No, this was their pretend time.
Sometimes he had the urge to speak plainly with her, try to make her talk about her life and love, try to make her move in with him and be with him completely, but he knew that would destroy everything. She only wanted, needed him sometimes and it was his problem if he wanted, needed her all the time. They had a level of superficial trust which made everything easy. Only like this their love could remain pure and a dream. This was their pretend time, and it was perfect.
He tightened his arm around her and was glad when she fell asleep. Apparently, tonight she was staying. He lightly kissed her head and fell asleep with a smile and a heavy sigh.
THE END.
