Bethany went on with conversation, though a look of panic swept over Severus for a moment. 'Aunt Timble?'

"Oh, I'm going to be a professor at your school tomorrow." Bethany tightened her grip on Snape's arm. "Right, Severus?"

The look of panic transferred to Ron as Snape answered with a nod and a smile. Severus? Since when had Aunt Timble been friends with Professor Snape? When had THEY gotten so... friendly?

"Well, we'll be off then," Bethany started leading Severus across the street. "I've got a wand to find!"

Snape started at this. "What happened to your old one?"

A dark look crossed Bethany's face. "Voldemort snapped it."

They walked into Ollivander's Wand shop, where Mr. Ollivander himself, still a bit frail, greeted them.

"Ah! I remember you, Miss...Mrs...Timble?" he glanced at Snape, and Snape's brow furrowed, then lifted in realization. Oh.

"Yes, it is still Miss Timble," Bethany smiled a bit sadly. "I am in need of a new wand, and I believe that a nice, supple wand would do, but I could be wrong. After all, it IS the wand that chooses the wizard."

Ollivander nodded at this wisdom he had said to her years ago, and started pulling out boxes, seemingly at random.

"Cherrywood and Phoenix feather, ten and one- half inches, rather stiff," he placed it in Bethany's hand, and it caused the nice flowers nearby to burst into flames. "Perhaps not. Alright, how about Oak and Dragon heartstring, eleven inches, supple." Again, it had adverse effect on the flowers. "Wait, wait! I've got it! Dogwood and unicorn hair, eleven and one- half, bendy." This time sparks flew out the tip. Bethany smiled, and she paid for the wand, plus a sickle for those poor crispy flowers.

She and Severus walked arm in arm down the street, and Severus noticed her glance at the pet store, where a kitten was mewling, it's paws pressed against the glass.

'Not now, but soon,' he thought, and they made their way to a hotel, as Bethany wanted to ride the Hogwarts Express at the station. They shared a room, and after feeding their owls and letting them out for the night, they went to sleep in separate beds.

The morning light hit Snape's eyes, and he opened them to find Bethany was not in bed. He sat up, looking around, as if she was just sitting around. After giving up on that, he stood up from the bed, making his way to the small restroom. Just as he arrived

there, Bethany opened the door, only dressed in a towel. Severus noticed this just as she tripped on the rug and fell on him.

"I'm so sorry, Severus!" she helped him up, only to let go of her towel. Awkward silence fell as they took in this information. What seemed like hours later, Bethany looked Severus in the eye.

"Severus?" her blush deepened to a dark pink.

"Yes, Bethany?" he answered in a deep drawl.

"Do you find me... hideous?"

"Of course not!" Severus handed her towel back to her. "I find you to be a fiercely independent, beautiful, cheerful woman with a brilliant mind and sense of humor!" he got quiet for a moment. "I was... afraid these feelings were unrequited."

"No, they never have been." she brushed along his chest with her hand. "I've always had feelings for you."

He chose that moment to kiss her, and fire seemed to burn within their cores. She returned his kiss with an intense passion, and they were locked in each other's embrace. They stayed like that, separating slowly, gasping for air. Bethany rested her head on Snape's shoulder.

"We have to get ready, the train leaves in an hour." she stated simply, and Severus nodded, then kissed the top of her still wet hair.

As they went through a rushed morning routine, and they quickly scrambled to find clothes, Bethany halted Severus when they were out the door.

"Wait!" she exclaimed. "You need muggle clothes!"

Severus looked down at himself. Perhaps she was right. He took out his wand and flicked it at himself. His robes became an all black T- shirt with dark washed denim jeans and a black hoodie jacket. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt denim. He smirked at the thought.

Bethany was still in muggle clothing, a pink sweater and faded jeans with ankle boots and a jumper. Her red-orange hair was in a pony tail. She was smiling brightly, which made a warm feeling in Snape's chest erupt. He liked that feeling very much, and decided that he liked her smile. Severus promised himself that he would make her smile at the VERY least five times a day.

"Come. We've a train to catch." they apparated with a faint pop!