Enchanted Parchment

This instalment highlights how people can be braver when writing things down. I am working hard to keep this story going - the day I do not update is the day you should be worried about me!

Yours, humbly as always ~ SS19

Why do you insist on treating me like a child?

Where, may I ask, did that come from?

You embarassed me just now - you talk down to me in public. It's patronising and condescending.

That was never my intention, Severus. I thought you appreciated my sense of humour?

You continually fuss over me, meddling where you shouldn't and do not belong, forcing me to eat...I understand that you bought me and my life is mine, and you own me, but please, surely I deserve a little dignity?

Is that what you think? That I own you?

You do own me. You paid the Minister so he would not send me to Azkaban. I understand that. I serve you.

You think you are a servant?

I do it willingly! But I do not understand why you seek to undermine me and treat me like a child!

Severus. I want you to listen to me very carefully now. You are not a servant. I do not own you. I did not buy you like some sort of animal or pet. I did pay the Minister for your freedom, and I would do it one hundred times over, but it was not to buy you. I am hurt that you would consider me that despicable.

But I -

As for my meddling - has it ever occurred to you, my dear boy, that I simply care about you? Perhaps it is the only way I know how to demonstrate that. I worry about how you do not eat and do not sleep and do not interact with others and are almost a shadow. If I tease you, it is because I thought our relationship had reached that stage - you know I do not say anything to hurt you. Or to undermine you. Or to patronise and condescend. That is never my intention.

I thought that -

You are incredibly important to me, Severus. I treat you like a child because in some ways you are a child. Mine. That is how I see you. That will never change.

I don't know how to answer...

Then don't. You do not have to say anything, Severus. Just understand and heed my words.

How can anyone think that?

Think what?

How can you see that. In me?

See what?

Something worth...caring...about?

Let me ask you - why should I not care about you?

Because of what I am!

And what are you?

A...

Yes?

I'm a monster.

No.

A Death-Eater.

No.

I harm people! I kill people!

No.

Do not deny my past.

It is exactly that. Your 'past'.

What?

You speak of yourself, a monster, a Death-Eater, a torturer and a killer in the present! That is your past!

It is the same thing.

No. No! That is a past life! You are different now! You are...you are not that.

It is a part of who I am.

How can I convince you otherwise?

Severus. Do I need to spell it out? Is that what you are waiting for?

No.

Then I shall say it anyway. I love you, Severus. There. That was what you wanted?

Do not play with my emotions.

I am not. But I will follow it up with something extremely important. I could never love a servant of Lord Voldemort.

That is my point exac-

But I do. Love you, I mean. So how could still be a Death-Eater?

I don't...

Think about it and come back to me. Please. Think about it.