June 1977

Florence woke up that day thanking all magical and muggle gods that all the exams were over for the sixth years and she had nothing but a great summer day ahead of her and a fun End Of Term Ball in the evening of the next day to look forward to.

For the fifth and seventh years, that day and the next meant O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s.

May Merlin help them.

She thought as she got up around nine to organise her suitcases, for in two days they would all be boarding the train to start their much-needed summer vacation.

For the next night's Ball, Florence chose a beautiful dark-blue dress with matching undergarments, and she couldn't wait to have Severus remove it all after the party.

She left her dormitory and waited for her boyfriend in the common room, watching her housemates gathered around the large table filled with breakfast food that had been put in there - since the Great Hall had been transformed for the OW.L.s and N.E.W.T.s.

She waited for a long time but he didn't show up. Then she saw her friend Regulus Black leaving the boys' dormitories and walked to him.

"Hey, Reggie."

He smiled, "Hi, Florence. What can I do for you?"

"Do you know if Severus is still in the dormitory?"

Regulus hesitated before answering: "You know I don't like lying to you, so I won't. Severus didn't sleep here last night."

She frowned; she had seen him walking into the boys' dormitory as she walked to the girls' the night before.

Could he be pretending to sleep in his dormitory while he was actually working on Potions for her father during the night?

Unfortunately, she wouldn't put it past him.

But if that was the case, be had lied to her more than a few times in the past five months, since he had promised her to stop working for the Death Eaters.

"Thanks, Reggie. Take care."

Then she thought about what she could do; she could either wait for Severus or have breakfast on her own. She went with the second option.

But Severus didn't show up and the breakfast table was cleared, so Florence went to the Gryffindor common room, hoping that her friends were there.

Why do the Gryffindors have to live on the 7th fucking floor? She thought when she finally reached the Fat Lady's painting.

"Golden Hippogriff," Florence said, but the portrait didn't move, glaring at her disapprovingly, as usual, "Yes, I know the password. Now move!"

The Fat Lady opened up the passage slowly.

And Florence entered the Gryffindor common room, finding Lily, James and Remus on the living space, sitting by an open window. She walked towards them, throwing herself onto an armchair.

"Hi, guys," She sounded tired, and felt heartbroken, the reality of what she'd have to do hitting her.

"I could ask you what's wrong, but we already know the answer begins with an S," said James.

Florence sighed, "I have reason to believe Severus has been lying to me for the past five months," all three Gryffindors looked at her, shock written on their faces.

"What do you mean?" asked Lily, frowning.

"He hasn't slept in his bed last night," Florence explained, "I searched for him before breakfast and found out Eric Travers is also missing; so he's either still making potions for the Death Eaters or cheating on me with Travers."

James and Remus burst out laughing, "I'm sorry, Flor," said Remus, "I know it's no laughing matter, but I doubt Severus would be dumb enough to cheat on you."

"Besides, Travers is not that good-looking," added James.

She sighed, feeling the tears gathering in her eyes despite her friends' attempt to make her laugh: "Well, if I confirm that he's still invested on becoming a Death Eater, after today he can go out with whoever he wants – even Travers," but the tear that she quickly wiped told them how she really felt.

The three of them looked at Florence; they were used to seeing her annoyed at her boyfriend, angry as well, but they had never seen their Slytherin friend like that.

She was always laughing and joking around and talking about Quidditch or Charms, helping them with their duelling techniques or teaching them Potions shortcuts that had Slughorn showering both Slytherin and Gryffindor with House Points at every class; but crying was just not characteristic of her.

"If Sirius were here, he'd be running out that door to find Severus to beat him up for making you cry," said Remus.

"Well, if you need someone to teach him a lesson, it'll be my pleasure," offered James, "Not that you can't kick his arse on your own, Florence, but I'd love to do it for you."

"Thanks, James," she smiled as she wiped more tears, "But I'll handle Severus myself, when I find him."

It was late when Florence finally went back to the Slytherin common room, after having spent the day with her Gryffindor friends.

They had cheered her up and she was more angry than sad at the end of the day.

"Florence," she heard her name being called as soon as she had walked into her common room.

She stopped, not turning around to look at him; she was suddenly filled with fury; the warrior side of her veela too close to the surface, she could even feel the warmth on her skin that indicated her presence.

She slowly turned to face him and the desire to punch him was almost uncontrollable.

"Where have you been all day?" Severus asked.

And his words were the last straw, "What? You can't be serious! Where were you all day?" She turned and walked towards him, her hands itching to punch him.

"I was out, with some friends," he replied, moving a hand dismissively.

"Since last night? Because I know you didn't sleep in the dormitories, Severus."

"I bet Regulus told you that!" he was suddenly angry.

"Yes, he did," she paused, "But the thing that has bothered me the most is that I saw you walking to the boys' dormitory last night, and many other nights," she looked at him, not hiding the pain in her eyes, "How long have you been pretending to sleep in the dormitory when in reality you've been going out to work for the death eaters, Severus?"

He didn't reply.

So she continued: "How long have you been lying to me? Have you actually stopped working for them, even for a while?"

He slowly shook his head and Florence closed her eyes, feeling her chest tightening in the face of his betrayal.

"So you've been lying all along," she whispered, looking around them, where there was a small gathering of students forming, expecting to see them fight.

She stared at Severus, noticing how he looked torn – and she could tell he knew he'd fucked up.

Florence felt the tears coming again and wondered once more how would she be able to walk away from him, when she loved him so much. She silently turned her back on him and went to the girls' dormitory, not wanting to cry in front of all of the Slytherin House.

Severus didn't stop her, feeling heartbroken and knowing there was only one person to blame for his pain: himself.

Florence had cried that hard only a few times in her life – all of them related to the death of her mother.

But that night, after locking the bathroom with a couple of spells so that no one could hear her weep, she sat under the hot shower spray and let the tears roll free.

She knew if they kept dating and her father learned about it, he'd most likely kill Severus.

Lord Peverell, or Voldemort, would never accept his daughter marrying a half-blood with nothing to his name, no matter how brilliant he was.

She couldn't risk his life. Plus, she really didn't want to raise her kids near her father's xenophobic, aporophobic and racist ideals – that was hoping she'd get to have any kids with Severus and her father wouldn't force her to have an abortion if she got pregnant.

No.

She'd rather live alone than put Severus and their yet-to-be-conceived kids at risk.

Once she finally had no more tears to cry, Florence got out of the shower and put on comfy pyjamas.

Using an glamour so that no one could see her red eyes, she walked back to the common room, all there was left to do was talk to Severus once more, maybe he would finally make the right decision.

I can hope. She thought as she looked around the common room trying to find him; but he was nowhere to be seen.

So she knocked on the boys' dormitory door. Regulus came to open it.

"Hi, Reggie, I'd like to know if Severus is already asleep."

The boy hesitated, "He… he's not here, Flor. I haven't seen him since we came back from- since we came back," he didn't want to tell her where they'd been.

Florence looked at him, realizing that her sweet friend was involved in the same kind of trouble Severus had got himself into. But she decided not to say anything, one problem at a time.

"Thanks, Reggie. Good night."

Where would Severus be at this time of night?

She magically changed her pyjamas into a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt and went out to look for him.

Severus stood in the common room watching Florence turn her back to him and walk to the girls' dormitory, leaving a gaping painful hole in his chest, where seemingly his joy used to be.

He knew he had fucked up, and he had been aware of the consequences.

Now it was time to suffer them.

He let out a defeated sigh and decided against going after her, for there was nothing else he could say, he knew she'd not change her mind.

So he left their common room, going for a walk, not caring if any Prefects found him walking past curfew, his heart heavy with sorrow and regret.

He knew that he had failed in convincing her about the pros of him working for the Death Eaters, so he imagined he wouldn't have Florence for ever, for her walking away from him would happen in the future - but it was happening too soon!

He had expected to have at least another year by her side.

Severus didn't want to be without her, but he failed to see a solution; there was no way out for him anymore, he was already in too deep with the Dark Lord, he had made too many poisons and draughts for him already to get out without facing any (potentially deadly) consequence.

He walked up the Marble Staircase and stopped by a window on the first floor, tears threatening to roll down his face, but the soft sound of steps in the next corridor had him pulling the reins on his feelings and hiding behind a column.

"Who is there?" a girl asked, the Ravenclaw Prefect badge clipped to her coat.

"It's me," Severus showed himself, once he realized it was Rosmerta.

"Well well well… this must be my lucky night," she smiled, walking towards him, "A hot night like this and I happen to find you, all alone, in a dark corridor past curfew…" she stopped very close to him, touching a hand to his chest, "I'll have to give you detention, Severus."

He took a step away from her, with a disapproving face, "No need for that. I'm on my way back to my common room. Excuse me," he tried to get past her, but she moved in front of him again, making him realise it wouldn't be that easy.

"No need to hurry," she said, touching her body to his, "We are all alone here, Severus, we have all night…"

"What kind of cheap whore are you?" he snarled, using an insult to try and make her stop.

But Rosmerta took no offense and smiled brighter instead, "Whatever kind you want me to be, Severus."

Then she kissed him.

Florence was walking up the Marble Staircase, trying to find her boyfriend, when she heard voices in a first-floor corridor and went there – finding more than what she had been looking for.

"Severus?" Florence gasped, not wanting to believe her eyes.

The kissing couple jumped apart; Rosmerta let out an "Oops" with a big smile on her face.

"Florence, this is not-" Severus started to say.

"-not what I think it is?" Florence interrupted, "Really, Severus?" she looked at them both with disgust and incredulity before leaving the corridor; if she had thought she was heartbroken before, now her soul had been shattered.

She didn't care anymore if anyone saw her crying, she removed the glamour and stopped trying to wipe her tears as she ran upstairs to the Gryffindor Common Room.

"DAMN IT!" Severus shouted, hitting the wall with his fist.

"Forget about her! Let's get back to what we were doing, Severus," said Rosmerta, trying to touch him again.

He pushed her away and the girl almost fell to the floor, then he looked at her with disgust and ran after Florence.

He had already lost her because of his wrong choices, he couldn't let her think he had been cheating on her.

For the first time ever, the Fat Lady didn't question the fact the Slytherin girl knew the Gryffindor password. She quickly opened up the passage, showing sympathy in her blue eyes.

Florence walked in, wanting to be left alone and she hoped no Gryffindor would be up past curfew.

But she was wrong for right on the sofa, she found Lily and James snogging heavily.

The couple jumped when they saw her and her red eyes – they had never seen her so distraught.

"What happened?" asked Lily, getting up and hugging her friend.

"As if we don't know already, Lils," said James, getting angry, "What did Snivellus do this time?"

"I saw him with Rosmerta… kissing," Florence couldn't find words to speak anymore.

"WHAT?" shouted both Gryffindors.

"I can't believe he did this to you!" said James, furious, "What a twat!"

"Did he see you?" Lily asked.

"Yes," Florence wiped her face, "I think he followed me here. I heard footsteps behind me on the stairs, but I didn't look back to see if it was him."

"I'll go out there and see if he shows up." James got up from the sofa and left the common room.

Severus was sitting on the floor, in front of a very angry Fat Lady.

He had his head on his hands, looking lost, thinking of what he would say when he saw Florence.

"What the fuck, man?" he heard James' voice as the portrait opened.

"Is she ok?" Severus asked.

"What do you think?" James growled, "She's as fine as she could possibly be after what she just saw!" anger punctuating every word, "Is there any explanation to what Florence saw, Severus? Because even if there is one, it won't change the fact that you're AN IDIOT!"

"I was walking, Rosmerta found me and kissed me," he said in a bored voice, "Florence showed up right then and saw it. End of story."

"So you haven't been cheating on Florence?"

"Cheating on her?" Severus looked at him as if he was mental, "What kind of moron would cheat on her?"

"Can't disagree with you," James conceded, "But if that had never happened before, then why didn't you stop Rosmerta? Don't tell me she surprised you! Everybody knows she has a crush on you!"

"Yeah, I could have stopped her but… I was angry and I... I've already lost Florence," he sounded broken.

"And whose fault is that?" James crossed his arms on his chest.

"Mine, ok? I know that! I was stupid enough to lose a girl like her!"

"And, again, I can't disagree with you. Florence is the best thing that's ever happened to you! And you were stupid enough to lose her."

They fell silent for a moment.

"Is she staying the night in there?" Severus asked.

"Yes. She's probably sleeping already; she was crying hard, man. The all-powerful, super-smart, funny, gorgeous and sexy Florence Delacour was crying because of your sorry ass."

Severus felt like he had been slapped, "I really don't deserve her," he whispered.

"But there's not much that can be done about it, is there? With the Enchantment and all that…"

Severus let out a heavy sigh, saying in a small voice: "Someone told me that the Enchantment does not guarantee that we'll stay together. If she really has a reason, she can find a way to live far from me."

"Is that what you want?" James asked.

"No! I am just an idiot..."

"Yes, you are. Working for the death eaters, man? What were you thinking?"

"You wouldn't understand, James," He shook his head, "The money they've paid me so far is enough for me to get my Potions Master Degree and not need to work a day for the three years it'll take me to finish it."

James looked at him, impressed. "Holy shit. That's a lot. Well, you can try to apologize to her," he said after a while.

"No. She won't forgive me." Severus murmured, shaking his head again, feeling lost.

"No, she probably won't," said James, before walking back to the Fat Lady portrait, considering that conversation finished for he had nothing else to say to his friend sitting on the floor, "Will you stay there?"

"Yes," said Severus nodding.

James hesitated before asking: "Are you for real? You love her enough to sleep on the floor and yet you did everything that would make her break up with you. I don't understand you, man!"

"Don't try to."

James shook his head and walked into his common room.

In the following morning

Florence was leaving the Gryffindor common room when she saw him: Severus was asleep on the floor, he hadn't even conjured anything to make himself more comfortable, there was no pillow, no mattress, not even a blanket. He was lying straight on the cold hard floor.

She considered leaving him there, but she couldn't, just one look at his face, partially covered by his hair, and she felt her stupid broken heart beating faster. She loved him, and she knew she always would. After wiping a tear from her cheek, she touched his arm.

"Severus. Wake up. What are you doing here?"

He woke up startled, looking around, suddenly remembering where he had spent the night, "Florence!" he quickly got up, "Good morning. I've... I've been waiting for you."

"Since when?" she frowned.

"Yesterday."

She stared at him, not believing his words, "You slept here- on the floor? Why?"

"To wait for you," he said as if it was obvious, "I can't let you believe I've been cheating on you."

Hearing those words, and just imagining that they could be true, broke her heart in even tinier pieces. Florence looked at the stairs, trying to stop the tears from restarting.

"I haven't!" Severus quickly exclaimed, sensing her despair, "I'd never do that! I love you."

She kept her face turned to the side, not looking at him.

"Maybe you could find a way to forgive me, we could talk..." he tried.

Florence frowned again and quickly turned to face him, "No!" she exclaimed, angrily, "There's nothing else for us to talk about! You chose to keep working for them, and told me half-truths for months to keep me from seeing what was actually happening: you never stopped working for the death eaters."

He didn't deny, so she turned around and walked downstairs.

Severus followed her, trying to explain: About last night, I was walking and she…"

Florence stopped in the middle of the stairs and turned to look at him, "I don't give a fuck about what happened last night, Severus! I cried about it, of course, it hurt seeing you kissing her – yes! – but I can imagine how that happened. What I can't see past is your lies! You lied to my face for months! You chose to keep working for them, even though you knew – you knew!" she repeated, poking his chest hard twice, "I would not stand by your side if you chose that path! I'd stand with you through anything and everything, Severus, there was only one thing I told you I couldn't live with! And you chose exactly that," she finished in a softer tired voice, tears about to overflow her eyes again, she wanted to throw herself into his arms and pretend none of that had happened, that she didn't know about his lies and hadn't seen him kiss Rosmerta the night before - but she couldn't, all of that had indeed happened and her heart was in pieces.

Florence walked downstairs in silence until they reached the dungeons.

But before she could walk into the common room, Severus held her arm and made her stop, walking towards her and trapping her between his body and the wall by the Slytherin Common Room door.

He couldn't not notice her shiver - she was hurt, but she still loved and desired him.

"You know more than you're telling me, don't you, Florence?" he asked.

"I don't know what you mean," she quickly said, moving away from him, "All I know is that I've spent many weekends at the Blacks and Rosiers Manors and I saw how they truly lived; I saw the fear, as big as their greed. The racism, the way they looked down on those who had less than them. And I've never, not even for a moment, wished that I was one of them."

"That's because you're not poor!" he accused.

"I already told you I don't give a fuck you're poor!" she was furious.

"But I do!"

"You're the biggest idiot I have ever met!" she shouted, pushing him away and entering the Slytherin common room, leaving him alone in the corridor.

A few minutes later, Florence left the common room to go have breakfast at the Great Hall and Severus followed her, but she did her best to ignore him.

When they reached the large oaken doors, she turned to the right and went to the Gryffindor table to sit with her friends, and Severus kept walking left towards the Slytherin table.

Florence sat beside Lily, her friends looking at her with compassion.

"Are you still going to the Ball tonight with him?" Sirius asked, unable to wait another minute to ask that.

"I don't think I'll go to the Ball, Padfoot," she replied with a sigh.

"You could go with me," added Sirius.

"I'm just not in the mood for parties today. But thanks for the invitation."

A few feet from them, at the Ravenclaw table, Rosmerta was telling her friends – in a very loud voice – all that had happened the night before and how she thought that now she was really going to get Severus to pay attention to her.

"I think he'll even invite me to go to the Ball with him tonight," Rosmerta said, and many students turned to look at Florence to see what she had to say about that. But she said nothing, "Hey, Evans!" Rosmerta called, "You are a good friend of his, has Severus told you anything?"

Lily turned to the Ravenclaw table, looking furious, and shouted:

"Yes, Cassiopeia! As a matter of fact, he told me everything about some whore who threw herself at him last night in a dark corridor! He told me how he pushed her away and went to sleep in front of the Fat Lady!"

"Cassiopeia?" Florence asked, unable to stop her laughter.

"That's her first name, she hates it," explained Sirius, and Florence laughed.

"Why did he sleep there?" they heard a friend of Rosmerta's asking.

"Because Florence was inside our common room and he couldn't get in to talk to her," explained James.

"He slept on the floor for her?" whispered another friend of Rosmerta, "Wow, he must really like her…"

Rosmerta got red with anger. Florence briefly looked her way, a small smile on her lips.