Hi all! Apologies for such a long update. I'm officially done school until September, so expect many more updates! After this series, I'm thinking about doing a spinoff of sorts that focuses more on the father-son relationship between Severus and Harry. Also, I'm thinking about also bringing back my story Emerald Elegance, which is originally on right now, but with many revisions.

In the meantime, enjoy this chapter!

Severus paced back and forth in front of the fireplace, Celosia's wand sitting on the table beside him. Several hours earlier the wood had burned a bright red, Severus immediately taking notice as he sat on their bed, staring at her wand longingly and with conflict. Harry had gone off to the Weasleys, informing them of the current Celosia situation if ever the woman decided to show up. Severus had thrown Floo Powder into the fireplace immediately, Harry surprised that his ex-professor was calling for him- with his first name, no less- so urgently.

Immediately they knew that Celosia was in danger, yet Severus could not bring himself to Apparate to the Muggle forest that he knew she was situated in. Harry had gone right away, and whether someone else had accompanied him or not, Severus paced the living room, scolding himself for not going after the woman he loved.

Deep down he had come to a realization that he only brought poison to Celosia's pure soul. He had criticised and pushed her away just based on the fact that she was living her Muggle lifestyle for far too long. Perhaps she was well suited for Muggles- they were ordinary enough for her and obviously made her happy. Celosia had probably already come to this conclusion herself. Severus was the only thing in her way of living her life to the fullest. Had he not made such a big deal about her Muggle lifestyle, she would be out of whatever danger she was currently in. Hell, if he never got involved with her in the first place, she could be living the perfect life with her husband and their child.

When the flames in the fireplace turned green, Severus looked up, stopping his pacing when Hermione Weasley stepped through the flames and into the room. The witch was dressed in a simple Muggle outfit of jeans and a t-shirt, her wand sticking out of her pocket and a light blue sweater keeping her warm.

"Well?" Severus asked immediately.

"Celosia got attacked by Fenrir Greyback." Hermione explained, her arms crossed as she rubbed her arms with her hands. "Right when you called by Floo, Harry Apparated with Fleur to get her."

"Why the Delacour woman?" Severus' brows furrowed.

"She's a Weasley now and Fleur was really the only one there who was experienced enough in healing, if Celosia was badly injured. It played to our advantage, seeing as Bill had been attacked by a werewolf as well in the past."

"I thought Greyback was dead."

"Harry thought so too." The woman nodded. "That night in the castle, Greyback was feeding over Lavender Brown's body. Harry disarmed him and sent him flying out the window."

"Stupid boy, he should have used the Killing Curse." Severus sneered. "Or at least put into account that Fenrir Greyback is a werewolf, and therefore has advanced abilities, especially when it comes to jumping from high levels."

"Yes, it was a mistake, we get it." Hermione dared to roll her eyes, Severus' frown deepening. "This isn't about Greyback, Harry killed him for good this time. This is about Celosia's wellbeing."

"Where is she now?" The man immediately stopped his bitter rant, looking at the witch's eyes for the first time during that conversation. He had been looking anywhere but her eyes dreading to see what kind of emotion was portrayed through them. Hermione Granger was infamous- in his mind anyways- for letting her emotions show too much.

He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding as he saw her eyes filled with sorrow and relief. "She's stable at St. Mungo's. Harry and Fleur immediately Apparated her there and they gave her several wolfsbane injections right away. It should stop the venom from reaching to her system."

"So the likelihood she will be turned into a werewolf is low?" Severus asked, but it came out as a statement.

Hermione frowned, making the ex-Potions Master frown as well. "She still had a chance of being transformed, so it's not a definite no yet. Right now, we know nothing. They're still running tests on her blood, and she's unconscious. She suffered some physical wounds as well."

Severus looked down at the wand that lay on the table between them. His left hand went to his chin, covering his lip as he took in the information. Hermione remained silent, watching the man's every movements. "Would you like to see her?"

Severus looked up at her at the question. Of course he wanted to see her, but was it really a wise decision? He had spent the last 24 hours convincing himself that he was no good for Celosia, and seeing her on what could be her deathbed would stir up in him the fact that it was all his fault.

"Yes." He almost whispered out and Hermione felt her heart ache. Never in her entire life had she witnessed the man before her in a vulnerable state, yet here he was, almost speechless when it came to Celosia Dilaurentis.

Celosia awoke to a comfy bed, white sheets surrounding her. A bright light invaded her senses and she squinted, Harry's face being the first thing she saw. The boy smiled, and she then felt his hand squeeze hers gently. "Morning, sunshine."

"Where am I?" The woman asked groggily, sitting up ever so slowly. She could feel the pain in her abdomen and she bit back a gasp in pain. The memories of Greyback attacking her flooded back into her mind, and her free hand shot up to her neck.

"St. Mungos." Harry replied. "Greyback's gone, for good, I made sure of it. They gave you a strong dose of wolfsbane to combat the venom in the bite."

"Thank goodness I won't be a werewolf then." Celosia sneered. "I can't handle running through the forest naked once a month. A period is bad enough."

Harry let out a chuckle, his grasp tightening slightly. Celosia noticed, and looked over at him. "The thing is, there's no 100% chance it's going to stop the transformation."

The woman blinked. "So there's still a chance I could be turned into a werewolf?" The silence following was all the confirmation she needed. "Well this is bloody fantastic."

"For a woman who got beat up and then bitten by a werewolf, you're awfully comical about this." Harry observed with a concerned smile.

"I've been through enough to know that you need to laugh once in a while." She smirked, gripping his hand tightly. "How did you know I was in danger?"

"Your wand was lighting up. Snape sensed it immediately and called for me."

"Did he come too?"

Harry frowned. "No, Fleur came with me."

"Fleur?"

"I was visiting Ron and Hermione- Fleur of course was there with everyone else."

"You mean you went to visit Ginny." Celosia smirked and Harry forgot the seriousness of the conversation, shaking his head with a smile of his own.

"I went to alert them of our current situation in relation to you." He clarified and Celosia nodded her head, staring down at her fingers.

"I'm sorry I ran off." She murmured, feeling intense guilt flood through her. She didn't want to make Harry and the entire Weasley family worry about her just because she was emotionally unstable for a few hours of her life.

"You should be." Harry scolded. "We were worried sick, and then look what happened."

Celosia shifted her gaze up to the ceiling, sniffing as she tried to repress the tears of guilt beginning to flood her eyes. A squeeze from Harry's hand made her look over at him.

"Don't do that to me again." He almost whispered and Celosia nodded her head slowly, blinking several times before releasing her hand from her nephew's.

"Where is Severus, anyways?" She asked, changing the subject. It tore her heart in two to see Harry so worried about her.

"Back at the house, last time I checked. Fleur went off to tell everyone your status, I'm guessing Snape's getting updated as we speak." Harry replied, keeping his eyes trained on his aunt. She gulped slowly, running a hand through her hair and staring at the closed curtains covering the window beside them.

"He must really hate me right now." She murmured.

"Actually, quite the opposite." This made Celosia look up at Harry.

"How's he been?"

Harry frowned slightly. "He honestly has been keeping to himself lately, more so than usual. He's been far from mad though- just really upset."

"Probably with me."

"Yes." Harry admitted. "We both are pretty upset with you for running. But I think he more regrets what caused you to run off in the first place."

"Oh." Celosia nodded her head, shifting on the bed and fiddling with her fingertips again. "That."

Harry's hand grasping her chin gently and raising her head surprised her, their eyes making contact. "He didn't mean any of that- you know he didn't. He's just so in love with you he lashed out when you refused to marry him."

"Gosh, I'm a stupid woman." Tears began to line the brim of her eyelashes, and Harry looked at her with a pitiful smile, his hand still supporting her face. "Who refuses a marriage proposal?"

"Do you love him?" Harry asked. In the back of his mind, he thought about how never in a million years would he so willingly have a conversation with his aunt about her relationship with Snape.

Celosia smiled, allowing a tear to slip down her cheek. "More than anything in the world."

For some reason, this made Harry grin. "More than me?"

A playful punch to his abdomen was what made him release his hold on her chin. He chuckled lightly, Celosia smiling as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "If a man can make you cry while saying the sweetest, most heart-felt things to you, then you know he's a keeper."

"Maybe I'm the only man you need in your life." Harry joked, earning another bell-like laugh from his aunt. "But in all seriousness, I think you should talk to Severus. Make sure he knows that this isn't his fault in any way."

Celosia nodded her head slowly, turning to look at Harry once again. "When did my nephew grow from a little boy to a man right in front of my eyes so quickly? I wish you could stay thirteen forever."

"Merlin knows I don't." Harry cringed, standing up. "I'm just trying to make my flesh and blood happy."

"Harry, you make me very happy."

The boy smiled, leaning over and planting a kiss on Celosia's forehead. "Severus makes you very happy too."

Celosia grinned, giggling again. "You called him by his first name! There's another sign you're growing up so fast."

"That was a one-time thing!" He assured, grabbing his coat and beginning to walk to the infirmary doors.

"But you did it twice!" Celosia smirked, turning around to watch him leave. Severus at the door made her blink in surprise and she stared at the man dressed in black from head to toe, his arms crossed as he leaned against the doorway.

As Harry passed him, he stopped right at his side. "She's all yours." He muttered before walking away. Severus hesitated, part of him wanting to stop Harry in his tracks and thank him for the last five minutes he had witnessed. His pride got in the way and he shook his head mentally, stepping into the room, closing the door behind him.

Celosia watched him as he got closer with every step, the two not releasing eye contact. When he approached the bed, he sat down on the corner of it, breaking eye contact to examine her up and down. "How are you feeling?"

"Better now that you're here." She nearly whispered.

"I was talking about your injuries." He shook his head. "I almost got you killed."

"You weren't the one who ran away."

"But I was the cause." He looked at her sternly. "I apologize. I didn't mean a word of it. Maybe at the time I did but-"

"Severus, it's fine." Celosia silenced him by taking his hand in hers. "I forgive you. Can you forgive me?"

The man grasped her hand, letting out a breath. "If the venom somehow gets to your system and you become a werewolf, it'll take a while for me to forgive you."

"As long as you'll have me still." She murmured.

"I'm not even right for you."

"If you try to talk yourself out of this relationship again, I am going to handcuff you to my wrist." The Muggle reference made Severus' brows furrow in confusion, making Celosia smile. "We've been together and apart for so many years. Don't you think it's time we deserve to be together for good?"

Severus merely stared at her, keeping silent. For the entire time she had been gone, he had tried convincing himself that Celosia belonged with a Muggle man who would treat her right in all aspects and keep her safe from the magical world by not being involved in it at all. He had tried to convince himself that he was a bitter man who did not deserve the love of a woman with a heart so pure, and that she could do so much better than him.

Celosia could sense his hesitation and leaned up to bring her lips to his. They lingered for a moment before she pulled away, gripping his hands. "And with Harry's blessing, what more proof do you need that we're a perfect match?"

This made Severus smirk. "I guess that in itself is a miracle all on its own." He leaned over to rest his forehead against hers. "It's like you're reading my mind."

"It's not mind reading, it's Legilimency." She mocked and he pressed his forehead to hers with a smile. "Life is all about mistakes, how else do you learn? We're both at fault here- you aren't the only one who has faults. We're in this together."

Severus closed his eyes, absorbing her words. "I'll marry you, Severus Snape."

This made him pull away in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"I said I'll marry you, silly. If the offer still stands of course."

A genuine grin made itself on Severus' features, which he never knew he was capable of. "It still stands."

"Well call up the Weasleys and tell them we've got a wedding to plan for."

Severus released their hands, standing up. "Slow down, you need to heal first. And we need to deal with this werewolf possibility."

"If Remus Lupin was able to handle it with your assistance, then I'll be perfectly fine."

From behind the wooden doors of the infirmary, Harry and Hermione leaned against the wood, both smiling as they heard Severus and Celosia joking around. "I didn't know he was capable of laughing." Hermione whispered.

"I didn't even know he was capable of love." Harry smirked right back.