Susan was laying on her bed when I entered the dormitory. She had books opened and laying out all around her.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
She looked up, her eyes abnormally wide. "Studying. What does it look like?"
"Do you need all of those books?" I asked.
"If I read one page from each book then I'm studying for all subjects in the time it takes to study for one." She answered before returning her attention to the second book on her right.
"I…I don't think that sounds right." I said. "And how are you even keeping the information straight?"
"What do you mean?" She asked, not bothering to look up.
"How are you keeping track of whether you're reading Charms or Transfiguration or Potions?"
Susan looked up before slumping forward dramatically and knocking several books off the bed. "I haven't been. Everything I've read is meaningless because I don't remember half of it or know how it fits in with anything."
"So technically, you've studied for no subjects in…how long have you been doing this?"
"Shut up, Ruby." She said, her voice muffled by the covers she had buried her face in. "This wouldn't have happened if you had been here."
"I was visiting with Severus." I said, going over to pick up one of Susan's books off the floor.
Susan groaned. "He's stupid."
I picked up a second book and placed both on her bedside table, before giving her an unamused side glance.
"I don't like him." She added. "You should break up with him."
I sat on my bed. "You're right."
She lifted her head to look at me. "Really?"
I laughed. "No. We're not even technically dating so there is no way I can break up with him. And no, I'm not going to stop spending time with him."
She groaned again.
"Dinner?" I asked.
Susan answered with a groan.
"Get up." I said.
I was finally able to get Susan down to the Great Hall where she sat with an empty plate.
"You need to eat." I said.
"You need to eat." She said in an unflattering mimic.
"I am eating." I said ignoring her insulting tone.
"Why do you get to be happy?" She asked.
"I'm sorry, what?" I asked, a bit caught off guard.
"You're going to get perfect N.E.W.T's and I am going to get straight T's. You're going to get a job at St. Mungo's and I am going to apprentice with the squib." She explained.
"I don't think I'm going to get perfect scores and I'm still not entirely sure Snape didn't give you a T just to upset you. I can't say that's a real grade and you are going to work at the ministry and be an Auror and do all the things you want to do."
"I WILL NOT!" She shouted.
Her raised voice caught me off guard and the entire hall went silent. I could feel the eyes of everyone staring at Susan and I, I looked around subtly and confirmed it. I side glanced at the staff table and saw Severus looking down his brows raised in wonder.
"I think we need to go." I whispered to her, I stood up and tugged her arm.
Susan came surprisingly easily though tears were streaming down her cheeks.
I pulled her gently down the halls until we reached the hospital wing. I pulled her through the doors.
"Madam Pomfrey?" I called quietly.
Her head poked out of her office. "Miss Winston, Miss Samuels, can I help you?"
"I have it on good authority that you got a new supply of Draught of Peace and Susan desperately needs some."
"Of course." She said after glancing at Susan's tear streaked face.
She disappeared into her office and emerged carrying the vial of the sunny liquid.
She poured a small amount into a glass and handed it to Susan. Susan looked at it.
"Drink it." I urged.
"What good will it do?" She asked. "It's not going to make me do better on the test."
Madam Pomfrey took the glass back. "Hiatus." She said with her wand pointed at Susan.
Susan's mouth opened wide as though there where beams holding it so.
Madam Pomfrey poured the contents of the glass into Susan's mouth. "Clodo."
Susan's mouth shut and she swallowed.
"Feel better?" I asked after a few seconds.
A smile spread across Susan's face and her eyes looked slightly glazed. "I feel great. I don't know what I was so worried about. It's just a stupid test. I'm suuuuuper hungry."
She didn't even wait for me before she turned around and headed for the Great Hall, which was now empty.
"Dinner is so short here." She groaned dramatically before she turned and disappeared down a side corridor.
I chased after her as she made her way directly to the kitchens.
"Hey, you lot." She greeted the house elves who all looked a bit taken aback at her sudden appearance. "I'm really hungry, any chance you have any Cornish Pasties? Oh, no! What I really want are those reeeeeeaally good Yorkshire puddings with that gravy."
The elves, always eager to please, set out to make fresh Yorkshires and gravy.
"Are you alright?" I asked Susan.
"I'm fantastic!" She said.
"I've never seen you act this way." I said.
"That potion made me realize that I worry too much." She said.
"Right." I said, a little worried about just how strong Severus made that potion. Perhaps I worried too much and would, myself, benefit from some Draught of Peace. I would have to keep that in consideration.
Before long the house elves had finished Susan's request and handed her a cloth wrapped tin of steaming Yorkshires and a jar of hot gravy. She thanked them quite enthusiastically for their service before telling each of the elves she loved them before I got her to leave the kitchen. She held the tin and the jar in her arms, hugging them tight with a serene smile on her face. She rubbed her cheek against the jar of gravy.
"I love those house elves." She said. "When I first came to Hogwarts I thought they were weird looking little creatures but they are really very cute."
I didn't know how continue on with what she was saying so I just nodded my head. She continued raving about House Elves as we past the library. We were walking past the entrance when Henry Wood appeared. His eyes popped with surprise and he turned back around.
"Henry!" Susan yelled. She unloaded her puddings and gravy on me before she took off running. I followed close enough that I could see what was happening. Henry had stopped and turned around as soon as Susan had said his name.
Once Susan had reached Henry she wrapped her arms around him and pressed her lips eagerly against his. She held him for a good ten seconds before pulling away, a huge smile on her face and a shocked and confused look on his.
"I'm really sorry." Susan said. "I'm so stupid. I worry about too much and none of it is really relevant at all. I don't care what Mark says, I really like you and I'm not going to stay away from you because Mark said something vaguely threatening because let's face it, Mark can't do anything and you can handle yourself and I can punch him, I'm sure Ruby would smack him up and her potions boyfr—"
"Susan!" I shouted as I ran to her side.
Henry looked at me very confused.
"She's had a bit of Draught of Peace." I explained.
Understanding poured across his face. "Oh, right."
"Peace is in the name but honestly Susan hasn't been silent since taking the stuff." I laughed, but my joke was met with silence from both Henry and Susan. I let out a final 'Ha'. "Right, well Susan and I should get going. Studying. You understand."
"Oh but Ruby," Susan said. "I want to stay with Henry."
"You two could join me," He said. "I'm about to sit in the Library for a few hours."
She turned her attention back on him. "I was so worried about you when you were in hospital. And then I just pretended not to care about you at all, I was such a bit—"
"Susan!" I shouted again, wrapping an arm around Susan's shoulders. She grabbed the tin of Yorkshires from me and hugged them close. "We'll see you later, Henry. Say good-bye, Susan."
"Good-bye Susan." Susan said and began laughing hysterically at her own joke.
I pulled her away and Henry gave a wave and a smirk before we turned the corner.
"He is so perfect." Susan swooned. "Isn't he perfect?"
"Yes, he's perfect." I said with little commitment. I was more focused on getting her to the dormitory before she tried to kiss someone else.
"Oh, that's right." Susan said.
"What?" I asked.
"Henry isn't your type." She mocked. "You much prefer Ssseverus."
"Be quiet!" I snapped, looking around to see if anyone was in earshot.
"He's got the fire to get your cauldron bubbling." She giggled.
"SUSAN!" I shouted, shocked but unable to keep from laughing a bit. "My goodness, it's like you're drunk. You have absolutely no filter."
"You like Severus' filter." She said with a giggle.
I looked over at her. She had a devilish grin on her face. I burst out laughing. "I don't even know what that's supposed to mean."
Susan and I arrived at the Ravenclaw commons where the tables and couches were full of students studying. I could imagine there were even more cramming in the library. Susan and I and her tin of Yorkshires and jar of gravy made our ways up the steps to our dorm.
Susan plopped on her bed and removed the lid from the tin. Steam rose from the hot puddings. She reached out a hand for her gravy which I handed over. She unscrewed the lid and poured the brown liquid inside the tin before picking up on of the now soggy puddings. She took a bite and pure satisfaction spread over her face.
"Wan' wan?" She asked, her mouth full.
I raised my eyebrows as I mentally tried to decipher her words. She gulped down the mouthful.
"Sorry," She said. "Want one?" She lifted the tin and held it out to me.
I shook my head.
Susan soon had the tin cleaned out and we moved on to studying. We read in silence and every now and then we would quiz each other. It was nice studying with Susan when she was calm and focused for change.
Our study time came to an end with others began to come into the room and ready themselves for bed. Susan and I figured we should follow their example and changed into our pajamas.
I opened my eyes the next morning to find Susan sitting hunched on the side of her bed.
"Hey." I said.
She looked up at me, her face white.
"Are you alright?" I asked, sitting up.
"I kissed him." She said, panic in her eyes. "I can't believe I kissed him. How could I have just kissed him?"
I smiled. The potion had worn down enough that she once again had inhibitions. "To be honest, I don't think he really cared and no one else was around to see it. Lucky you."
"Are you kidding me?" She asked. "He'll never want to speak to me again."
"I don't think that's true." I said. "He wanted us to join him in the library even after you kissed him. I think you're worrying a lot about nothing."
"You really think he didn't care?" She asked.
"I honestly don't think he did." I said truthfully.
"Do you think he likes me then?" She asked hopeful.
"I would assume." I said. "But I really don't know." I added relieving all responsibility if I was wrong.
"Who likes you?" Joanne asked, entering the room after a morning shower.
I looked at Susan.
"No one." She said. "He probably doesn't. No reason to make something out of nothing."
"Oh." She said. "I thought you were talking about Henry."
Susan's eyes went wide and her mouth fell open.
"I was going to say," Joanne continued. "I'm pretty sure everyone knows that Henry likes you. I'm impressed by you, though. I wouldn't be able to resist him like you are."
"What do you mean?" Susan asked.
"That fly-by obvious wink he gave you before he was knocked from his broom that day, I would have turned to mush if he had done that at me." She said, pulling the towel from her hair and fluffing her blonde locks.
Susan looked over at me and back at Joanne.
"Oh my goodness." Joanne said with a smile. "You didn't know? That's fantastic."
"I didn't think he'd like someone like me." Susan said. "I ignored the signs because..."
"Why wouldn't he like you?" She asked, now curling her hair with a spell.
Susan looked down and shrugged.
"You're smart." She said. "And you're sweet. Henry is also smart and sweet. He's nice to everyone. And that Scottish accent." Joanne let out a sigh. "So are you going to ask him out now that you know?"
"No." Susan said immediately. "I mean, I have so much more to focus on right now. We're almost done at Hogwarts and I'm going to hopefully be apprenticing at the ministry and he's going to be doing something to do with Quidditch. It will fail before it even begins."
"It will with that attitude." Joanne said.
"Right." I agreed, Susan stared daggers at me. "You think too much about it. It's not going to be anything if you don't even try. You obviously like him. We know now that he likes you. Just give him a chance. It's not like you'll be losing another opportunity if you take this one."
Susan sighed, defeated. "Fine, I'll talk to him."
I smiled. "Great. Though I was hoping you'd put up more of a fight. Now what will we talk about at breakfast?"
I had enough time for a piece of toast with jam before classes, which went extremely fast. In fact, the rest of the week was suddenly over and before I could catch my breath it was Sunday night and I was sitting in a quiet corner of the library.
The fifth years were causing a ruckus in the halls, happy to be finished with their O.W.L's. Madam Pince, however, could be heard loudly shushing them before the loud clunk of wood signaled the closing of the doors.
The library was almost exclusively occupied by seventh years. Most were hunched over books desperately trying to cram more information into their brains. Some were working in pairs or groups quizzing each other. I was part of the former, Susan was of the latter. She and Henry were sitting within earshot and quizzing each other on what sounded like Transfiguration. They had scarcely been apart since Susan talked to him on Tuesday at my urging.
My week was booked. N.E.W.T's were spread out over two weeks, all of my tests just happened to be crammed into just one week. Tomorrow I would sit Transfiguration, Tuesday would be Potions, Wednesday Charms, Thursday Herbology, and Friday Defense Against the Dark Arts.
I could almost feel my brain melting out through my ears as I turned another page in my Transfiguration book. As the hours ticked by the library cleared out. Library hours had been pushed back to midnight for Seventh years for N.E.W.T's.
"It's almost time to go, Ruby." Susan said, placing a hand on my table. Henry stood behind her, dark circles under his eyes.
I looked around for a clock as though I didn't trust Susan's word that it was nearly midnight. My eyes landed on a rather large grandfather clock that loomed over the stacks against a far wall. Both hands were nearly pointing upwards. I closed my book and made a mental note to wake up early from some last minute studying.
I left the library with Susan and Henry. Once we hit the point where Henry's path differed from our own, Susan stopped. This had been normal since Susan and Henry had made up. They would have long, drawn out goodbyes. I would usually wait for Susan to be done with her lingering hugs and farewells, but tonight I was too tired and my head was in a haze. Spells, incantations, and historical anecdotes swirled in a constant tornado in my head. I was convinced that I knew everything I would be quizzed about on the test in the morning but I was less certain that I would be able to pull the knowledge out of my stormy mind upon demand.
In a few moments I heard the rapid scuffling sound of Susan catching up to me.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
I nodded. "There's just a lot to process, with the tests this week."
"You should study with Henry and I." She offered for the thousandth time. "I don't feel stressed at all."
"I think that has more to do with your constant ingestion of the Draught of Peace than with your study habits with Henry." I said.
"It works, you really should consider taking some." Susan said. "We could go to the Hospital wing right now. It'll still be working by the time the test comes around."
I shook my head. "It's late, we don't want to temp Filch. He already hates that curfew has been pushed back so that we have more time to study."
"It really does work though." She insisted.
"Oh, I'm sure it does." I said. "It was Severus who brewed it, after all."
Susan's face dropped. "What? You're lying."
"Am not." I said. "I watched him hand the bottle to Dumbledore to deliver to the hospital wing."
"You did not." She said.
"I swear." I said, a huge smile spreading across my face. "And you already said you thought it was a good potion, you can't take it back. You technically complimented him. I'm telling."
Susan let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. I gave her a cheeky grin and we continued on our way to Ravenclaw Tower.
The week flew by with each day ending before I realized it had started. It came with great relief that, despite the foggy haze that seemed to be ever present over my brain, I was able to access all the information within.
I rounded the corner quickly, my feet skidded over the floor in my hurry. Severus had offered one last lesson before my Defense test if I wanted one. I had accidentally fallen asleep on one of the sofas in the common room and slept all the way through dinner. It was almost eight and I hadn't studied for a moment.
I was nearly sprinting down the corridor when Professor Dumbledore stepped out into my path. I nearly fell on my face in my urgency to stop before I crashed into him.
"Ah, Miss Winston." He said. "Just the person I wanted to see."
"Hello professor." I greeted as I attempted to catch my breath.
"It looks like you're in a rush to get somewhere, hopefully I can pull you away for just a moment?" Dumbledore asked.
I looked down the way I was headed and thought about Severus waiting in his office to help me study for my last N.E.W.T. "Actually…I'm a bit late for a study group meeting."
"This won't take more than a minute." He assured. "Follow me."
He turned and began walking in the direction of his office. I looked in the direction of the dungeons and then after Dumbledore. I silently cursed my new obligation and followed the Headmaster.
We arrived at the gargoyle guarding the stairs to his office.
"Jelly Slugs." He said and the gargoyle jumped out of the way and the stairs spun to the top.
I followed him up to his office which was filled with all sorts of books, magical instruments, and portraits of former Headmasters lined the walls.
"Have a seat, Miss Winston." Dumbledore instructed, gesturing to a chair in front of his desk as he took the seat behind it.
I sat down and waited as he looked me over with a small smile on his face.
"I remember your first year at Hogwarts." He said finally. "You were so apprehensive and quiet. You were very unsure about what was going to happen at this new school, weren't you?"
"I suppose I was." I agreed.
"Now here you are, seven years later, certainly one of the top students in your year." He praised. "You absolutely fit the ideals of Ravenclaw house. I knew you were going to be intelligent beyond imagining as soon as you were sorted."
"Thank you." I said not sure why he was telling me any of this.
"I can expect great things from you." He said. "How have your N.E.W.T's been going? Do you think you've done well on the ones you've taken?"
I nodded my head. "I think so." I said still unsure why he was having this conversation with me, if maybe this was something he did with all the seventh years before they left, though I couldn't think of anyone else saying they'd had such a meeting. "I only have one left; it's tomorrow."
"Good." He said. "Very good. I expect you'll do excellent. Or rather I should say, outstanding." A smile spread across his face. "Are you planning on going to London to train at St. Mungo's? You are still planning to be a healer, aren't you?"
I nodded my head again.
"Splendid." He said resting elbows on the desk, clasping his hands together and resting his chin atop his knuckles. "St. Mungo's is always looking for exceptional witches and wizards and they should be lucky to have you.
"This isn't why I wanted to speak with you, though." He said after a small bit of silence, lifting his head from his hands. "I wanted to talk to you about Professor Snape."
At the sound of his name my stomach filled with ice, my lungs stopped working along with my heartbeat, and my throat refused to swallow. I hoped that my face didn't reflect any of the internal things I was feeling.
I let out a noise that I hoped would be taken as a questioning 'Oh'.
"What do you think of him?" Dumbledore asked.
I let slip another sound. I didn't know what I meant for this one to mean. I covered it up by clearing my throat. "He's…an…adequate professor…I guess…" Something clicked in my head. "He's a bit too liberal when it comes to handing out detentions though."
I breathed an internal sigh of relief.
Dumbledore continued to watch me with his ice blue eyes, their corners wrinkled from the smile he was still wearing. "He can come off as quite harsh, can't he?"
"I…I suppose." I said.
"But it's only natural for a young woman, such as yourself, to be intrigued by his intelligence." Dumbledore said.
My heart stopped again, my eyes bulged, my breath caught in my throat, and I was barely able to whisper, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"I've seen the glances he sometimes gives your way at meals." Dumbledore informed.
My heart stopped. "I…I don't understand."
"I've known for quite some time." Dumbledore said folding his hands on his desk in an official manner.
"Known about what?" I asked, trying to force a look of innocence while fighting back tears.
"You're not in trouble, Miss Winston." He said. "Nor is Professor Snape."
I kept my eyes down and watched as I moved my fingers.
"Severus has been through a lot." Dumbledore said.
I looked up at him.
"Severus came to me looking for help recently and I gave it to him, in the form of protection for the Potters." He said. "And in return I'd like him to remain at Hogwarts as a professor. He made me a promise and I would hate to see him break it. More importantly he made a promise to Lily Potter to watch over her son. While, for now the boy is in the care of muggle relatives, one day he will arrive here, to this very school, and I need Severus to be here."
"What do I have to do with any of this?" I asked.
"I am certain that when you leave Hogwarts, Severus will go with you." He said.
"That's ridiculous." I said.
"Is it?" Dumbledore asked raising his eyes to look at me over his half-moon spectacles.
"He hates me!" I argued. "I'm well aware of that and you should be too, what with how many times you've found me in detention."
Dumbledore shook his head, a smile still on his face. "There are things that you can't possibly understand." He said. "I don't know what the future brings, I've never been much of a seer, but I think we can all assume that the Potter boy will do great things. I also think that Severus will have a part in what this boy will be able to achieve."
I sat in silence.
"Severus has grown attached to you." I opened my mouth to argue but he continued on. "You can deny it, Miss Winston, but you know it to be true and I know that you have become attached to him as well. I can't say this didn't all begin with animosity but something changed didn't it?"
I stared at him, using all of my willpower not to cry.
"You were placed into Ravenclaw." He said again. "Intelligence isn't the only trait coveted by that house. Wisdom is also greatly appreciated. Sometimes wisdom forces us to make decisions that are difficult. I know how you feel about Severus and for someone to want to walk away from something like that is unimaginable, I think you'll understand that what is right isn't always the easiest thing to do."
I shook my head, there was no point in denying anything anymore. "I don't want to hurt him." And with those words the string holding me together snapped and my tears began flowing down my cheeks. "You said it. He's been through so much. I don't want to hurt him too."
Dumbledore gave me a look brimming with sympathy. "It's understandable. I don't want to see Severus upset any more than you do."
"Then don't make me do this." I said, a sniffling mess. "Please."
"I can't make you do anything you don't want to do." Dumbledore said. "I'm just letting you know what is going on and why it is important for Severus to remain at Hogwarts. I know you'll make the right choice in how to handle this."
"I think you'll be greatly disappointed." I said, shaking my head defiantly. "Are we finished?"
Dumbledore looked up at me as I stood from my chair and gave his head a single nod.
"Thank you for your opinion, Professor." I said. "However, I think I will handle this situation as I see fit, and in two weeks it really won't be any of your concern."
Dumbledore's expression remained as a slight understanding smile and gave me another single head nod.
"Good day." I said as I turned to leave.
By the time I reached the bottom of the stairs leading to the Headmaster's office any nervousness, fear, or embarrassment I felt had turned to anger. Tears continued to stream down my cheeks but a fire blazed in my belly. I ran the whole way down to the dungeons.
My insides were being gutted by the flames raging inside me. I was angry at Dumbledore for being wise to what was going on between Severus and I. How dare he be so calm about everything? That stupid smile on his face as I was falling apart in front of him. Who did he think was to tell me to stop my…whatever it was that Severus as I had? Why wasn't he more upset about the fact that one of his professors was practically dating one of his students? What kind of school is that man running?
I pushed open the door to the classroom at a run and didn't hesitate for the door to close before rushing into Severus' office. His back was turned and he was hunched over, glancing at a book that was sitting on the table. I ran to him without hesitation. He turned around just in time to receive the impact of me running into him. I heard some air escape his lungs in surprise as I wrapped my arms tightly around his middle. I pressed my head into his chest as my body shook with fresh sobbing.
He didn't say a word. I felt his body tense.
"Ruby?" He asked, not as though he didn't know if it was me but as if he were asking every question all at once.
He placed his hands gently on my shoulders as he pried my grip off him to look me in the eyes.
"Let's just go." I was able to choke out in broken sobs.
"What's happened?" He asked.
I couldn't tell him about Dumbledore, I wouldn't. "Let's just go." I repeated.
"What's wrong?" He asked. "Ruby, tell me what happened."
"Just come with me." I said. "I hate it here."
"Anywhere." He said automatically. "I would go anywhere with you."
"Then it's decided." I said taking him by the hand and pulling him out of the office.
"No." He said, planting his feet. "It's not decided. What's happened?"
"I just want to leave and I want you to come with me." I said.
"Tell me what's happened." He said. "Please, Ruby. I've never seen you like this."
I stared at him. "Just tell me you love me." I whispered.
He stared at me in silence for a moment or two before shaking his head. "I don't understand."
My insides collapsed as the inferno was suddenly extinguished. Fresh tears forced their way from my eyes. I turned and ran, leaving Severus behind. He might have tried to stop me but everything was drown out by the sound of my own heartbeat pounding inside my own ears.
My throat contracted in pain as I tried to fight back the cascade of tears that was coming. I didn't want anyone to see me crying. I had to get out. I had to get out of the castle and go somewhere I could be alone. I opened a door leading to the grounds and ran across to the Whomping Willow. I walked around at a distance before charging and dodging the branches before sliding into the gap under the roots. I sat in the tunnel, breathing in the cool night air that smelled of damp earth. It was dark enough that I couldn't see a difference between when my eyes were open and when they were closed. I ultimately left them closed because it was easier to stop the crying and felt my way through the tunnel. My fingers glided over rocks and dirt as I made my way to the Shrieking Shack.
Finally, I arrived at the opening into the house and pulled myself up. It was still black as pitch though the shoddily covered windows allowed for strips of moonlight to cut the darkness like a blade. I sat with my back pressed against the sofa. I thought how stupid I was for arguing with the headmaster about something that didn't exist. Severus never cared about me and I couldn't believe I had allowed myself to believe that he had. I leaned my head back on the sofa cushions and sat in silence as the tears slid down forming two puddles on the fabric.
I cried until I couldn't. I sat in complete silence, unwilling to move from my spot. It started out very faint, as though I had imagined the slightest noise because when I stopped to listen there was nothing. I heard another noise, louder this time but it was gone as quickly as it had sounded.
I continued to listen. Finally, the steady sound of footsteps approached. It then appeared as though a light were appearing at the opening of the tunnel. So faint at first I couldn't be sure than my eyes weren't playing tricks on me. The light grew steadily brighter and the footsteps steadily louder. I watched the opening.
A wand with a glowing tip appeared Severus' face appeared soon after. A look of relief passed over his face. He didn't say a word as he entered the room all the way. Whether consciously or unconsciously, he placed himself between me and the only exit.
"I'm glad I found you." He said, kneeling on the floor.
Silence fell again.
"I do, you know." He said. I stared at him wondering what he was talking about. "Love you."
I changed my position so that I was sitting up on my knees.
"Very much." He continued. "I didn't want that to be the circumstance in which I told you but I love you, Ruby. You have to know that."
My heart jumped for joy in my chest.
"If you thought for a moment that I felt any differently than I do, then I'm sorry." He said. "I love you, more than I could possibly explain, and I want to be with you. But I also want you to finish your schooling. If it weren't for that I would have been gone with you the moment you uttered the request."
I crawled across the floor until my face was inches away from his.
"I love you, too." I whispered, before I pressed my lips against his. I felt his mouth smile under mine.
I pulled back. A fire returned to my belly but it was very different from the one before.
I placed my hands on each side of his face and looked over the individual features that made up the person that I loved so dearly. We both leaned in to one another in a much more eager kiss. My hand slid from his cheek, to his shoulder, to his elbow, to his hand.
"Nox." I whispered against his mouth as I removed the wand from his hand.