A/N: Firstly, thank you to Ms. McGonagall-Snape for helping me find the interest for this story again. Secondly, if any of the other 13 followers of this fanfic is still reading it, thank you to you as well.
I hope you enjoy this 6th part.

** I apologize in advance for the grammar and spelling mistakes you will surely find...

Still at your side - 6
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SS-POV

Back in our private chambers, I lighted the fireplace while Minerva went to check on Ross. She had been very quiet since we left the Malfoy's manor and I was afraid of what the Dark Lord may had done to her.
I sat on the couch and turned around when I heard her steps coming back.
"Is he OK?" I asked.
"He's sleeping peacefully. I thanked the house elf for staying and told her she could have a free day tomorrow. She managed better than I thought..." she said as she sat down next to me and took off her shoes.
"You know we could have asked Poppy or even Dumbledore to look after him," I reminded her.
"Albus is busy enough dealing with Umbridge, and Poppy doesn't need to know we're doing this..." she said as she made herself comfortable taking up part of my space of the sofa, as she always did.
"You mean us getting married?" I questioned and I looked at her in surprise.
"I mean us risking our lives," she said avoiding my eyes and I wondered if she was regretting all that.
"Minerva, if you want to stop this I would understand... I don't like you being in danger because of me and I'd feel much better knowing you and Ross were far from the Dark Lord..." I said, and she stared at me.
"I don't regret it, Severus, I told you I wanted to be at your side." she was talking with security but then her tone changed, "but even if I did, it's too late to step back."
"What do you mean?" I wondered, and then she strenght her left arm and rolled up her sleeve. I took my hand to my mouth and opened my eyes widely as I looked her beautiful white skin stained with the same mark I had in my forearm. With trembling fingers I caressed her burned skin, which would take a long time to heal, and carefully, not to hurt her, my fingers followed the lines of magic ink like if I didn't believe what my eyes were seeing. Still holding her on my hands I raised my head and gazed her shiny green eyes.
She broke down into tears and I pulled her into my arms... It was my fault! If I had left as I wanted the night she found me packing, now she would be sad and mad at me but at least her skin would be as beautiful as ever. It was my fault that she was chained to the Dark Lord forever, she would be asked to do terrible things and forced to serve the evil himself... all because of me...
"I'm sorry," I whispered to her ear, "I'm very sorry."
She broke our embrace and looked at me. The light coming from the fire made her skin look like gold and for the first time I noticed some locks of hair had escaped her bun and were falling at both sides of her face. I raised my hand with the intention of brushing those hairs back behind her ear but she coughed it into hers and interlace her thin fingers with mine. Not letting go of me, she changed her position, sinking her knees on the couch pillows to move closer. I could feel her breathe under my nose when she reached my lips. Her mouth was warm and she tasted like white tea leaves. Before I could respond her kiss she broke us apart.
"There's nothing you need to be sorry, OK?" she said staring at me, waiting for a reply to make herself sure I understood I shouldn't feel guilty. But whatever she said I would keep feeling guilty for our situation because I had brought the Dark Lord to our family... so I nodded to make her happy and went back to her lips. I had never liked the taste of tea so much until the first time we kissed.

TO BE CONTINUED...

A/N: This should have been longer but it's 2.40am and I should go to bed... I am sorry because it didn't happen anything special in this chapter. I guess you wanted to read about what happened while Minerva was alone with Voldemort but the truth is I have no clue and since I am not willing to spoil any other of my fanfics because of hurry, I will jump that part for the moment and I promise I'll try to make some flashback later to go back to that moment.