CHAPTER TWO

After getting dressed, I dragged my trunk down the stairs and placed it near the front door, and went to the dining room. I had the shock of my life as I found Severus sitting in my seat at the table eating breakfast. I must have had a puzzled or surprised look on my face as Severus and Father both smirked at me. I took another seat, next to Severus, quickly and quietly whilst trying to cover my redness.

"Good morning dear," father said.

"Good morning daddy, how are you?" I asked.

"I'm fine sweetheart, now, today for 7th years, you will be going back to school tonight instead, so Severus will take you back, ok?" he said.

I nodded, but I was slightly confused.

After breakfast, I decided to go for a walk in the forest. Just as I grabbed my coat, a hand grabbed my wrist. It was Severus.

"Can I come with you, on your walk?" he asked, I nodded, secretly really happy that he'd ask to come.

We'd set off and we'd got pretty far into the forest, when we saw a bench. We took a seat and looked around us, being happy surrounded by nature.

"I love it here you know, it's really peaceful." I said to Severus.

"Yes it is; it's beautiful," he said, "like you." He murmured to himself. Luckily I heard it and looked at him. He looked at me and we both blushed and looked away. At that moment a doe and a stag wandered past us, they looked beautiful. I felt Severus's hand reach for mine and I held it.

As we walked back to the house, hand in hand, we talked and laughed like we'd been together for years. When we got in, father decided to take us out for lunch. After sitting and considering everything that had happened, I realised that I had to tell him how I felt. There was no denying that he might, at least, feel something towards me. I ran upstairs to get changed and to think about how I was going to approach this situation.

By the time I got downstairs, father had already apparated there, leaving me to side-on apparate with Severus. He complimented me on my choice of clothing and then we left for the restaurant. We sat in the corner of the restaurant and ordered. It was a high class place as I saw many of the rich pureblood wizards dining, I had been here before; I just like to look at the pompous fools who choose to come to dine here.

I had obviously been deep in thought as Severus had to shake me to remember to order my meal. After we had eaten, father had to leave for a ministry meeting, saying he would write to me and to keep safe whilst at Hogwarts, this year especially; and with a kiss on the cheek he was gone. It was a quiet trip back home to collect my things before leaving for Hogwarts with Severus. I ran upstairs and changed again as it was two in the afternoon and by the time we'd get there, it would be about five or six o'clock, so I decided to rebel and wear my own clothes, despite Severus' look telling me not to.

On the train there, I sat with Severus, as there wasn't anyone I wanted to sit with. We enjoyed the company of each other, though none of us would ever say it. After half an hour of small talk and awkward silences, I plucked up the courage to do something I was sure I would regret.

"Severus, can I tell you something, something really secret to me?" I said slowly as he looked up at me.

"Yes, of course," he replied.

"Well…. Earlier today in the forest, we had a moment, a nice one, and I've been feeling this way for a while, but haven't been able to say something about it…" I rambled out, "and what I've wanted to say, is that I really like you Severus, as more than a friend." I blushed madly, as did he.

"Well….. I don't really know what to say," he said, I looked down in embarrassment, "other than I understand what you're going through, and I too, do like you Adrianna." My head shot up so fast I almost got whiplash.

"Really!" I said.

"Yes, though we cannot tell anyone of our current predicament," he said seriously.

"Of course, but what is 'our current predicament', if I might ask?"

"It's what ever you want it to be, Adrianna." He smiled, like a genuine one at that!

"I'd like us to be more than friends, in a relationship maybe?" I said slowly.

"Yes, I'd like that." He said simply. I jumped up and hugged him, after some mild confusion, on his part, he hugged back.

This truly was the best day of my life.