Severus Snape

"Like rabbits in a den straight into the trap which awaits, you will all be smoked out. Under the cover of darkness, the wolf will betray those who refused him. But he does not come alone. The charms which protect will not hold. He comes tonight. He comes soon." Lavender collapsed to the floor with a gasp as the lights flickered and the feel of electricity crackled in the air.

The performance was flawless. I moved to show pretense of checking on the witch as the others stared at us, mouths agape.

Lucius stood first. "Severus?" He raised an eyebrow, and I understood his silent question and nodded.

"Damn werewolf," he replied.

Ms Bulstrude stood. "Why don't we just give him what he wants?" She motioned to Lavender.

"It may be too late for that. Greyback is not known for being reasonable. If he intends to retaliate on this place, my suggestion is that you not be here when he does so." I replied as I lifted up Lavender's limp form.

"But to leave now would undo everything," Marcus grumbled.

I shook my head as I attempted to move Lavender over a shoulder. "Then rabbits we shall be." I headed back up the stairs.

"Let's not be hasty," Lucius said. "Perhaps a change in location is wise. If there is any truth to this soothsaying, then that would be much more detrimental to our success."

The group nodded in unison.

"Then it is agreed. We will move in an hour. Get your things."

I carried the witch up the stairs and flopped her onto the bed before closing the door. "Brilliant effort."

She opened her eyes with a weak smile. "Where do you think we will go?"

"I am sure Lucius has many connections here in Knockturn Alley. I only hope the plan will allow us enough time to send your message." I took a seat on the edge of the bed.

She nodded. "If we are not too late to get out the warning."

"No. I think your connections within the Ministry are precisely what we need.".

"We will see. I've given up hope that there is anyone left who doesn't think me truly insane. Except you perhaps." She said voicing aloud the same fears I had kept silent.

"I am reserving my judgement on that matter for now."

She snorted. "That's fair."

I squeezed her hand before pulling her up from the bed. "Let's go." I wrapped her arm around my neck as she continued to feign weakness.

She glanced out the window as we moved toward the door and my eyes followed. The moon hung low as a sliver of silver in the evening sky.

"I'm so tired. And everything aches." She said.

"This is almost over, Lavender." I wrapped an arm around her waist. Maybe she was not faking. She felt so frail and meek beside me.

She sighed as she nodded.

"Damnit, Ms Brown. I did not follow you on this ridiculous mission only to have you surrender now."

Lavender Brown

Severus shook me, and as my joints cracked and my vision rattled, I felt his anger move through me, pushing aside the numbness filling the growing hole in my chest.

"Stop!" I shouted trying to shove him away.

He held strong. "Now then. As soon as we get past the protection spells, I need you to concentrate on your message and its recipient."

"Severus. We've discussed this a dozen times. I know the plan." I snapped.

"Then focus on the mission, not whatever the hell is going on inside that head of yours."

For once, I wish he would venture inside my head if only because I lacked to words to explain how hard it was for my to focus on anything right now. Every thought had to struggle like some sort of prehistoric creature crawling through the tar sands to get through the despair and loneliness which possessed my very being.

I closed my eyes. The warmth of the wizard's hand at my midsection drew my attention. From there, I flashed back to the time two weeks prior when he had grasped my hands high in the air as I struggled against him after our first meeting at St Dymphna's, my anger and magic boiling. Then I remembered when he had shoved me against the wall that morning I had awoken to him at my bedside followed by the moment he had grasped my wrist to stop me from eating the berries the first day we were on the run. A smile threatened my features as I next thought about how he had taken my hands in his to teach me to make a flame without a wand and then how he had clung to me as we rode through the Peak District. My memory continued to jump, next to the moment in the basement where his fingers had examined my injured flesh and repaired my broken ribs before forcing my shoulder back into place and then when he had cared for my wounds after Greyback attacked me in that same basement.

As my mind's eye replayed me sobbing pathetically into the professor's robes as he sat with me on the floor and the moment we shared just this morning when he had pulled me close and held me, something twisted within me. The gaping hole of emptiness and despair radiating from my core, seemed less overwhelming. In fact, in retrospect, I had been through these last two weeks including through the peak of the full moon and now near the depth of the new moon without my usual vices. There had been no cutting of my skin, no blackout drunkenness, no mind altering concoctions, no suicide notes, not even a calming tonic.

"Wait." I stopped and turned to Severus.

"What now?" He frowned.

As our eyes met, I felt a smile come over me. Briefly, a pleasant tingle echoed deep within me, and when I reached a hand out to touch his face, it became a warmth which broke through the numbness.

He opened his mouth and then closed it again, as if to say something and changing his mind.

"Thank you," I said softly. My cheeks burned hot as my heart fluttered. I licked my lips as I looked at his drawn tight with confusion. My thoughts raced as I scolded my madness.

As I dropped my hand and started to step away, embarrassed at my strange behavior, Severus pulled me to him.

Our lips crashed together as I felt a hand on my neck and one around my waist. As my eyes closed and lips parted, the emptiness within exploded like fireworks flashing behind my eyelids. Euphoria engulfed me; a true overwhelming light chasing away the darkness with which I'd become so familiar.

He pulled back and cleared his throat. "Can we continue with our plan now?"

A/N: I'd really love some feedback regarding the characterization of this intimate moment between Lavender and Severus. Did it stay true to character? Did it feel organic or forced? I'm waffling here. I just can't tell if the tension is there or not. Help me out, Friends!