January, 1977

Hogwarts

A week had gone by since they'd all returned to the castle, when Severus found a letter on his bed – and by the crest in the wax seal, he knew from whom it was.

He opened it, learning what his new instructions were: the Lord needed him to brew fifteen vials of Veritaserum, and Eric Travers would get the list of ingredients with him as usual.

Severus hesitated, he couldn't let Florence see him with Travers, nor could anyone else see them for word could get to her. He quickly wrote on a piece of parchment his extensive list of ingredients and his fee, for twenty-five days of work to bottle fifteen vials of the very advanced Veritaserum he asked six thousand galleons.

He had never seen that much money before and to think he could be getting that in less than a month by doing something he enjoyed was very exciting. However, the person he wanted to share that excitement with the most was the same person that could never learn about it.

He left his dormitory and saw Travers in the common room, he discretely dropped his list on the floor by the window and walked to the sofa. Travers didn't wait long to pick up the list and leave the room.

Then Severus waited for his girlfriend as if nothing had happened and they walked to the Astronomy Tower.

February 1977

Luckily for Severus, Florence had afternoon Quidditch practices twice a week so, in those days, he could work on his Veritaserum without worrying about her noticing his absence.

And whenever she returned from practice and asked what he had done that afternoon, all he had to do was say he had spent the day studying Potions – so she never noticed his lie.

April 1977

As the end of the term got closer, Florence spent more afternoons worrying about Quidditch which gave Severus more time to work on more orders from the Death Eaters.

The fact that he was lying to her was justifiable in his mind, for the money he had already saved was more than enough for him to pursue his Potions Master degree – something that would ensure them a very comfortable future.

May quickly arrived and Slytherin won the Quidditch Cup for the second consecutive year, the final match being against Gryffindor – making that the third game that James Potter left the field on a gurney after being hit by one of Florence's bludgers.

But the best thing was to see James Potter – with his head bandaged – and Sirius Black, both dressed in Slytherin robes, delivering the Quidditch Cup to the Slytherin Team in front of the whole school.

May 21st 1977

Florence took a shower and went to her common room to be part of the celebrations for the winning of the Quidditch Cup and for her birthday, but as soon as she had arrived at the party, she was hugged from behind by her boyfriend.

She turned to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him, noticing his hair was still wet from the shower.

"I have a special celebration planned for you," He said over her lips.

"Really?" her eyes sparkling in desire and mischief, "Something special happening in the skies that we need to go to the Astronomy Tower to see?"

"No. I have something else planned. It's a surprise for your birthday."

She smiled, "You remembered! Take me to it then, you know I love surprises," She touched his half-hard dick through the fabric of his pants and he kissed her again.

"Fucking lucky Snape!" Someone shouted and they stopped kissing.

Severus took her hand and they walked out of the common room.

Florence followed her boyfriend up to the seventh floor, where he turned left and stopped in front of an empty wall.

"So?" she asked, looking up and down the corridor, "We're fucking on the corridor by the Gryffindor Tower?" she pulled him for a kiss, "I must say I'm not against it."

"Well well well, are we discovering you have something of an exhibitionist, my love?"

"Again, not fully against it," She kissed his neck.

"Good to know, however, the surprise is not public sex. I'll save that for next time," He kissed her and whispered: "Close your eyes."

She obeyed.

And after a few seconds he was walking her into a room.

"You can open your eyes now," he said.

She did and exclaimed: "What is this place?" she looked around and found herself inside a muggle motel room – a sexy motel room decorated in dark greys and greens, the stone floor and the wall candle sconces reminding her of the dungeons.

"This is the Room of Requirement. James told me about it. It provides everything you require. You just have to be very specific when you ask."

"So if I wanted to wear a sexy nightgown to seduce my boyfriend..." and they watched as a package appeared on the bed. "Hmm, I like this place." She kissed him once more before picking up the box and going to a door that probably led to the bathroom.

Severus smiled as he watched her go, knowing he'd have to thank James later for telling him about this Room.

About an hour later

"Are you ok?" Severus asked between breaths, looking at his girlfriend's flushed face on his chest.

"I'm better than ok," Florence replied, just as breathless, "But I sure am sore," she winced a little.

"Let me help you with that," he took his wand from the nightstand and cast a healing spell that eased her discomfort.

Then he laid down beside her, feeling exhausted and satisfied, pulling her to his chest.

"I have never lost control over my veela like that before," she whispered, meaning how out of control she was to the point of begging for anal sex mid-sex.

"Why do you think that happened?"

"I'm not sure, but veelas share their origin with merpeople and sirens, who are known to be a little crazy and highly sexual beings."

"Well, I am not complaining," he added with a lopsided smile, "That was fucking hot."

"It was just so strange. I felt very out of control when she took over," she looked up to his face, her head on his chest.

"Can't say I don't like her."

"Just don't push her. Veelas tend to be prone to issuing ultimatums and sticking to them."

"Happy birthday, love," he whispered, kissing her softly.

She smiled and closed her eyes, falling asleep.

Severus stared at the ceiling, Florence's sleepy words reminding him of the expiration date of their relationship.

He didn't want to think about a life without her, but he knew that was what the future had in store for him. It was already too late to go back on his decision and there was no convincing her of accepting his choices.