The last mission

'I think we will be done with it today' he said. Four more days had passed, and as Snape unrolled my bandages, only a thin, silvery line was visible where the dagger had cut my skin. By the time he was done muttering the eerie song, nothing else could be seen in my arm 'there you go. It's sealed'.

I put all my effort to answer him in a friendly and casual voice, concealing all the warm gratitude that was drenching me.

'Thank you, Severus. You're a very skilled healer'.

...

Later that Thursday, I received a message from Dumbledore requesting my presence. When I arrived at his office, Remus was there waiting too. He looked as if he had just recovered from a dreadful cold. As soon as we took our seats, the Headmaster began.

'Thank you two for meeting me in such short notice. I'm glad to see your wound is healed, Jane. There are no words enough to express to you two my gratitude towards your last services for this school'.

'I hope you understand it is crucial that these missions are not executed by myself in person. You see, my presence, alone, would not give them sufficient reason to agree with these restitutions. But two remarkable wizards that come a long way to represent my claim reveals that I'm not alone. It symbolizes that Hogwarts is powerfully backed up. And this, just like it has been proved lately, is a key to accomplish our pleas without confrontations'.

'The last time, unfortunately, this was not entirely true. And it dreads me to think that worst could have happened to any of you. This final mission, however, gives us no reason to believe there would be any incident such as that. Goblins can be threatful in many ways, but violence is not their ways to act. So I must, again, request your good willing and your trust, for I have already arranged a conference tomorrow morning with Braar, the leader of the Northern Ireland clan, who holds the guardianship of the mirror of Rowena Ravenclaw. Are you both disposed to carry out this third task?'

'Yes' I agreed.

'Of course' Remus added.

Dumbledore opened his mouth to keep on but, before he could do so, the door slammed open.

'You can't be serious, Albus' Snape stormed inside 'this girl has been cured for no longer than 2 hours and you're already…'

'I am not a girl, Severus!' I retorted, my insides boiling. Before I could carry on, however, Dumbledore gestured me to let him speak.

'Severus, I insist that any objections you have to Jane's decisions are sorted out between you two. She is, as she says, perfectly capable of making her own choices. So I suggest you leave now, or that you hold you apprehensions for later if you want to remain at this meeting'.

Fuming, Snape took a seat in silence. Remus had his eyebrows raised in an inquisitive expression.

'As I was saying' Dumbledore resumed 'you should be there tomorrow by eleven, and I don't expect it will take you more than a couple of hours to negotiate with them'.

...

'So… Snape is very protective towards you, isn't he? I didn't know you two were so… close.'

We had just apparated back in Hogsmead and were now strolling back to the castle. The meeting with the Goblins could not have been easier. Braar, the leader, was very grateful to Dumbledore for his part in assuring their people a wide variety of rights as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot court.

I was still seething with the memory of Snape's words, but I had presumed Remus would be curious after last night's episode.

'We are not. He was just being an arrogant git. He probably thought he didn't want to spend another fortnight wasting his time every day to treat me'. I knew, deep down, that wasn't true. Yet my anger was distorting everything I had pictured from our relationship in my head right then.

Remus didn't answer. I didn't know how much of that he had believed.

'Jane, I want to tell you something about me. The rest of the school knows it already, and Snape will waste no time to let it slip it to you as soon as he has the opportunity. He is very… intolerant towards my condition'.

...

By the time we arrived at the Headmaster's office, I was still sinking in that Remus was a werewolf. Why would something so terrible happen to such a sweet person? It wasn't fair. But I was concealing these thoughts and making sure to chat and laugh together as we always did. I wanted him to know I was okay with that. That he could feel accepted and comfortable around me.

Stepping into the circular room, it was no surprise Snape was there waiting for us. I averted my eyes from him, but not before I could see a glimpse of regret on his face. We shared no words while Remus and I recounted our expedition do Dumbledore, handing him the small silver mirror studded with sapphires.

'Want to have a cup of tea before you leave?' I invited Remus as soon as we stood up.

'Oh, Remus is not leaving today' Dumbledore replied 'he kindly agreed to stay over tonight so he could help me out with some other affairs tomorrow'.

'And watch the first quidditch match of the season' he grinned 'tea sounds great, but I wouldn't deny something stronger, to be honest…'

I chuckled and, without sparing a glance at Snape, we set out for my chambers.

...

Two bottles of raspberry wine later, our cheeks flushed from the alcohol and the warmth of the fireplace, Remus bade me goodnight and left for the guest room he was staying in.

I changed into my night dress and was about to pour me some bedtime tea when I heard that knock on the door. I knew it was him. I opened it, my face uneasy.

'Can I come in?' Snape mumbled. I had barely opened my mouth to say it was late and we could discuss that tomorrow when he added, pleadingly, 'Please?'.

I hated that he had this power over me.

I stood aside.

'I know you're angry with me' he stopped in front of the mantelpiece, gazing into the crepitating fire 'and that you have your reasons for that'.

'I do.'

'I'm sorry for calling you a girl. It's not because I underestimate you, Jane, but because I know you since you were eleven! Eleven, for heaven's sake, a child! Of course I have some trouble picturing you as a woman sometimes…'

'It didn't feel like that last time you saw me wearing this night dress'

He looked at me for several seconds, his mouth agape, before he continued.

'I don't deny that. That I feel… attracted to you. But I have already explained to you why I can't do this'.

That sudden confession broke me. I felt my brain melting and my heart racing.

'I also admit' he kept on 'that I have no right to be protective towards you. Yet I can't help it. And that is also why I'm here tonight. I'm worried about your… friendship with Lupin'.

In a second, all that soft-heartedness was gone. I was stunned. I could not believe my ears.

'The nerve of you' I started, my voice raising louder at each word, Snape closed his eyes preparing for the strike 'to walk into my room and try to tell me who I can or cannot be friends with!'

'So is that it? Friendship? Because it certainly appeared to be more than that…'

'What if it was? Weren't you the one telling me I should find a man?'

'He's my age! And even more dangerous to be with! There are things about him you don't know…'

'I know he's a werewolf, Severus' he gaped at me 'still, any woman would be lucky to have him'.

He stood there for several seconds, heavy breathing, rage in his eyes - then stormed out of the room.