I shot up, my lungs feeling like they're on fire as I was out of breath. Sweat dripped of my forehead, barely avoiding the corners of my eyes. I tried to become aware of my surroundings, slowly it would fade back into detail. In a matter of minutes I was staring at the empty, dark walls of the sleeping chamber. At the opposite of me was Beatrice's bed, she was sleeping peacefully, mumbling some sounds I could not make words of. Having no idea how late it exactly was, I slipped out of my bed and skipped softly towards the door. Slowly I slipped through it and made my way to the common room. Before I reached the carpet, I noticed a figure sitting on one of the dark with a hint of green sofa's provided for us. Before I could recognize the silhouette, he turned around after hearing me slip on the stairs. A blank, pale face was looking back at me.
'Why are you here?' Severus asked.
'I did not expect you to be here at this hour,' I walked over and seated myself in the seat opposite of him. There was a low fire cracking in the fire place between us. Just enough to notice one's presence and to see flickers of the eye. He had nothing much to say to me, or was unsure to. Instead, I decided to play housewife for a bit. If we were to be stuck in one house for the rest of our lives together, acting like a married couple was part of it.
'We should see real estate together soon,' I suggested, almost excited at the idea of nagging him with lamps, chairs and kitchen counters.
'I assumed you were to arrange it yourself,' he answered, not very fond of the idea of going anywhere together. I was already expecting resistance, but we had to come to reality, slowly the least. At this castle we had at least some freedom, but soon that would be all over and we would see all of each other. Every ugly piece. I shook my head at him.
'My parents do have a selection made for me, but I figured since it has to be your home also you should at least be present and I rather have it settled sooner than later. It'll be our first, yet easy, duty as future husband and wife,' I was hoping he would crack and approve, taking one step at a time would be a lot easier on both of us than diving right into the deep once we have to.
He took a moment to take it all in, almost forgot why and then nodded with nothing much else to add.
'I suppose Hogsmaede next week is a fine moment for that,' he suggested and I nodded my head in agreement.
'Just because we don't like each other doesn't mean we can't be civil companions, you know,' And I meant it. I always strived to feel safe at the place I would call home, it's what I need in order to function properly, which I wouldn't be able to if I was to avoid my husband at all cost for the rest of my life. Many of my ancestors who have gone through arranged marriage ended up not in love, but as good friends. And although that looks like a shot in the dark with a individual like Severus Snape, he deserved the option to try before being labelled as a horrific choice. He looked at me when I told him that, calculating to see if I was making a bad joke or just being weak. I suppose he came to the conclusion I was neither when he nodded his head.
'Just don't expect any flowers or spontaneous gifts,' I scoffed at the idea alone.
'Oh please, whoever thought that such things are actually spontaneous and romantic is delusional. It is nothing more than buying someone's trust without knowing it, mostly because they know they already broke that trust. Just trying to decrease the damage by building it up as much and as quick as possible right before it escalates,' I laughed, thinking back at examples like Valentines Day; For the past 6 years at Hogwarts I had made it my hobby to observe the young couples on this particular day, watching them making a foul out of themselves. It never disappointed.
'If you say so,' He didn't believe me and he didn't care much so didn't ask me to prove it either. That was going to be the foundation of balancing our marriage out. No questions and no caring for the questions. I noticed my body tensing up, having trouble to stay in place. Shivering and hot at the same time; It meant it was time for me to go. I stood up, stretching my neck as I did.
'I'll be off to bed now, I'll see you next week. Goodnight Severus,' I walked off, putting 2 of my fingers on his shoulder when I passed by – not even my full hand. That was the only amount of touch that I was comfortable with at this time. While I slipped back into the sleeping chambers, I head my someone whisper my name. In shock I turned around to see who saw me come in, but I noticed it was just Beatrice mumbling in her sleep, coincidentally speaking my name. Which wasn't alarming, she did this often. No one really knows what happens in her dreams for it to be this way, she never remembers any of it when she wakes up. Relieved that no one caught me, I went to my bed, hopefully without any nightmares this time.