Once the train got to the Hogsmeade Station, Florence, Severus, Remus, James, and Lily all boarded the same thestral-guided carriage to finish their journey to the castle.
"Care to explain?" asked Hagrid, stopping beside the carriage with a curious gaze, "As far as I remember ya three were fightin' by the lake last year," he pointed to James, Florence and Severus, "And yeh?" he pointed to Lily, "Ya are always runnin' from 'im!" he pointed at James.
"It's alright, Hagrid," said Lily, "It's a truce."
"Right," Hagrid replied, looking from Severus to James, not believing that for a second.
After the welcoming feast, Florence walked to the Gryffindor table, attracting many confused stares.
"May I sit with you?" she asked Lily and Remus.
"Of course!" said Lily, making room for Florence to sit beside her.
"This is the first time in five years I see a Slytherin at this table," Said Remus across from them, "Where's Severus?"
"In our common room. He went there with Greengrass and Travers, two guys from the seventh year."
"He's trying to get information about the N.E.W.T.s already?"
Florence grimaced, "Unfortunately, I don't think that's the reason they're talking, Remus."
"Do you think he'll become, you know, a You-know-who follower?" whispered Lily.
"I don't know, Lily," Florence said, sighing, "I sure hope not," she looked up at the high table, wondering if maybe she should mention Severus's plans to the Headmaster, but then she saw Dumbledore walking towards her.
"Miss Delacour," Dumbledore greeted, stopping by their table, "Miss Evans, Mr Lupin. How was your summer?"
"Very good, professor. In fact, we became friends during summer," said Lily.
"I must say I'm happy to see a Slytherin at the Gryffindor table. It's past time we put an end to that rivalry."
"I wouldn't go that far, professor," Said Remus, "Severus and Sirius might still kill each other."
Dumbledore smiled, "Well, one old man can hope," He looked at Florence, "Miss Delacour, I would like to have a word with you. Walk me to my office, will you?"
"Sure, professor," Florence got up and followed him.
Florence sat in front of the Headmaster's desk, on the same chair she'd fallen asleep the night she ran away from home.
There was a tea tray on the desk, just like that night as well. Florence poured the tea and waited for him to start.
"How was your vacation, dear?" he asked.
"It was very good. I spent it at my godmother's house, Eileen Snape. It was great to finally get to know her. Also... Severus and I are dating."
Dumbledore paused briefly, looking at her, "Is there anything special about your relationship?"
Florence could tell he already knew about it, so there was no point in hiding it.
"We are blessed by the Enchantment."
Dumbledore nodded, "I had already felt a connection between you two. Thank you for telling me the truth," He paused, sipping his tea, "I believe you didn't tell any your friends about your father."
"No. And I don't intend to ever tell them."
"And Eileen? She knows the truth; she knew your mother and must've met your father at least once in the past. Did she say anything to Severus?"
"No. But she and I talked about it. I had questions about my parents' relationship and she had some answers. Regarding who my father is, she said that's my story to tell, so she won't tell Severus, or anyone else."
"Good. How was the talk you had with your father before the O.W.L.s?"
"It was fine. We met at my house in Hogsmeade, as you know. He complained that it had taken him two days to realize I was in Hogwarts and we made a deal, he and I. He'll let me live my life without his interference as long as I don't take sides in the upcoming war."
Dumbledore frowned, however he didn't seem surprised.
"You won't help us then, Miss Peverell?" he used her correct surname, in an attempt to remind her that she came from a powerful family and had responsibilities.
"No. I'm sorry, Headmaster Dumbledore. I can't. I don't know what my future will be, especially now that Severus…" she stopped talking, afraid of the Headmaster's reaction.
"I'm aware of Mr Snape's plans," Confirmed Dumbledore.
Florence nodded slowly, "And you know the worst part? He's met my father."
That clearly caught his attention, Dumbledore leaned on the desk, listening to her attentively, "How so?"
"At the Black-Malfoy wedding," Florence continued, "I refused to go, but Severus went alone anyway. I had hoped he'd see what a bore those rich folks are and give up on his plans of joining the Death Eaters. But nope! Instead of being bored to death, Severus met my father and they had an exciting dinner together; Severus even made an impression on father! Isn't it ridiculously ironic?"
Dumbledore looked worried, though he agreed to the irony of that story, but didn't say anything.
So Florence continued: "I'll have to break up with Severus once we finish Hogwarts. If he truly becomes a follower of my father's, I can't be with him. I'm thinking about going to study abroad," she said.
"And what will you do about the Enchantment?"
"If my father could resist it, I know I'm able to do so as well."
Dumbledore let out a heavy sigh, "I must say, Florence, that I'd hoped your feelings towards him would somehow change Severus' dark aspirations. He's a very powerful and clever young wizard, it'll be dangerous to all of us, if he decides to really join your father."
When Florence returned to the Slytherin Common Room, it was almost 10 p.m. And her boyfriend wasn't anywhere to be seen.
"Hey, Greengrass. Where's Severus?" she asked the teenager reading on the sofa.
"He and Travers went out for a walk, Delacour," he answered, clearly meaning something else and not a walk.
She sighed and went to the girls' bathroom, where she took a shower, thinking about how devastating it was going to be to walk away from Severus; and it wasn't just because of the Enchantment; if she were being honest, she had to admit that she loved him already, breaking up with him once they finished Hogwarts would break her heart as well.
Next morning
Severus waited for Florence for almost an hour in the common room, they had agreed to walk together to their interviews with Prof. Slughorn about that year's classes – something all sixth years had to do at the beginning of the term.
But Florence didn't show up. A blue-eyed girl told him Florence had left the dormitory early that morning to go to the Quidditch trials.
Damn it! He thought, predicting trouble in his near future while he walked to Slughorn's office.
After enrolling for the trials to get into the Slytherin Quidditch team, Florence had her interview with professor Slughorn about what classes she was going to take that year.
At the end of the interview, the professor invited her to join a select group of students he called the 'Slug Club', to what she politely declined.
Then she went to the Gryffindor common room.
"Magna alumni," she said to the lady in the portrait.
The Fat Lady stared at her angrily, "Excuse me? Aren't you seven floors above your Common Room?"
"Excuse you. I know the password, my friends gave it to me. Now move!"
The portrait slowly moved, grumbling and complaining about security and that Slytherins would start invading her space and how she feared for her integrity.
Florence ignored the painting and walked in.
Apart from the colours, and the real windows, the Gryffindor Common Room wasn't that much different from the Slytherin one.
"Florence!" exclaimed Lily, surprised to see her friend there at that hour- "I've just finished talking to Prof. McGonagall about my classes. You almost didn't find me here."
"Good morning, Florence," greeted Remus coming down from the boys' dormitory, "Where's Severus?"
"Don't ask me. I have no idea," Florence answered, sitting on the red sofa.
"Did you two have a fight?"
"Not yet, Lily," said Florence, "Not yet."
Severus saw when Florence walked into the Great Hall with Remus and Lily. But she sat at the Gryffindor table instead, beside Lupin, who looked at her with too much interest.
Severus barely touched his food, watching Florence being all smiles to the werewolf, her veela-magic making all nearby male eyes pay attention to her.
And he felt jealousy taking control of his body.
Stupid werewolf. He thought, getting up and leaving the Great Hall.
Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom
When Florence got to the classroom, Severus was already there, sitting at a desk by himself.
"Good morning, Severus," she said, sitting beside him.
"Are you talking to me?" he snapped.
She just glared at him and didn't answer.
So he continued: "Where were you this morning?"
Florence slowly turned her face to him, furious, "Where was I this morning?" she repeated with a deceitful smile hiding her anger, "You've been Merlin-knows-where since yesterday and now you think you have the right to be angry and ask me where I was?" she looked at him, no longer smiling, "I know you were out with Travers somewhere, Do I even want to know what you two were doing?"
"No," he grumbled.
She stared at him, worry in her eyes.
"Severus, listen to me, I've told you before, please reconsider…" her voice dropped to a whisper.
"You. Don't. Own. Me. Florence!" he growled between teeth, trying to avoid attracting too much attention, "Stop trying to tell me what I should and shouldn't do. How I should feel, who should I be friends with! You don't know what life can be like! You have no right to tell me what I should be in the future!"
"And you have no right to ruin our lives!" she whisper-shouted back, remembering her decision of breaking up with him once they finished Hogwarts.
Severus stopped as he saw the tears welling up in her eyes. He had never seen her cry and he didn't want to be the one to make her do it – he wanted her to be the happiest woman alive. And for that reason he needed to work for You-know-who – for that would make him rich! And then he'd be able to give Florence the future she deserved.
Florence looked at him in incredulity, through their still-growing mind connection she was able to get the gist of what was going on in his head.
"You're an idiot, Severus," she whispered, "A huge idiot. I don't need you to be rich to be worthy in my eyes. You're the only one who needs that validation," She stared at him, needing him to see she wasn't joking, "There's only one thing I've made clear I won't accept from you."
"I know. That I don't join them," he said looking at his notebook.
"Exactly," she sighed and entwined one hand with his, "And put it in your head that I don't care you're poor…" she saw him rolling his eyes, "I know it bothers you, but I don't care! Just like I don't care that you're always grumpy and complaining about everything," She pulled his face towards her own and whispered: "I love you, Severus," Then she softly kissed his lips, "But don't ask me to accept you becoming a Death Eater."
At that moment, Prof. Page entered the room, beginning the lesson.
But Severus had absolutely no idea what the professor was talking about and he couldn't care less. Florence had just said she loved him – him! He couldn't take his eyes off her. That beautiful, clever, sexy, powerful witch loved him.
He leaned towards her, whispering in her ear: "I love you too, Flor," He caressed her neck with his nose, making her shiver.
She turned to him and smiled; they were about to kiss again when someone threw a snowball at them.
Severus turned around to make them regret it but it was James Potter who had thrown it and he had already conjured up another one to throw in case the first one missed, and he whisper-shouted: "You two better cool that off before you end up in detention!"
Florence whispered "Thank you" to her friend and moved her chair a little farther from her boyfriend's.
Severus acknowledged Potter's help with a nod, and started paying attention to the lesson.