A Light In The Dark

A Severus Love Story

Part Five

Caught in the Act

* Aurora POV *

I sat in the head masters office fidgeting nervously. Severus sat beside me and squeezed my hand once for comfort. I bit my lip but that one gesture had calmed me a great bit. Suddenly the door opened and I jumped as the headmaster strolled into the room humming to himself. He took a seat behind his desk and laced his fingers together staring at me with curious blue eyes.

"Severus told me that you wanted to talk to me Aurora? I am very interested in hearing what it is you have to say." Dumbledore said with a happy little smile and inclining his head towards me. He was so kind and nice how could he ever forgive me for keeping this from him? He was going to fire me for sure and I just couldn't handle that.

I stared at the floor feeling like a student again before Severus gave me a stern look and I let out a sigh. "Headmaster I am afraid I have been keeping something from you. Something very important and will probably make you change your mind about hiring me ..." I said and he raised his eyebrows curiously. I pulled back my sleeve revealing the faint outline of my dark mark and said quietly "I am a former Death Eater. My parents forced me to I promise I didn't want to and I never plan on ever returning to those dark days."

Dumbledore let out a small chuckle and I looked at him in surprise. That was not the reaction I had been expecting. He got up from his seat to cone stand next to me and placed my hand in his and patted it gently. "My dear girl I may be old but I am not a fool. I knew from the first time we met what you were but I also know who you are in your heart. I know what you have done in your past but I also know that you plan on making up for the bad you have done with ten times the amount of good. Now if that is all I do think there may still be some of that apple pie you do so love left down at dinner. If you and Severus would join me of course."

With that Dumbledore left the office leaving me staring at the door with a dumbstruck look on my face. After a few minutes Severus cleared his throat and I looked over at him with wide eyes. He gave me a small half smile and said "I told you things wouldn't be so bad didn't I?" I nodded and stood up to stretch. Having that off my chest I felt ten times better and I heard a loud growl come from my stomach. I smiled sheepishly remembering that I had been to nervous to nervous to eat earlier. Severus must have heard because he asked "Shall we go down to dinner then?"

I nodded and followed him out the door with a new bounce back in my step. I stuffed my face with my favorite foods and made conversation with Severus. Finally with a full stomach and a warm sleepy feeling all over my body the plates cleared and I was ready to go to bed. To my surprise though Dumbledore stood up clearing his throat and the room fell to silence.

"Now that are stomachs are full and we are ready to go up to our nice warm beds I have a few last words for the night that hopefully you will all think about. We all have things in our pasts that we regret and would take back. In some cases these things can define who we are right her in the now. We must remember though that no matter what has happened in our past our future is what defines us. For a short time of wrong doings can be out numbered with a life time of good. And with that good night and sweet dreams." he said and walked out o the hall without looking back.

I sat in my seat amazed at the speech he had just given. He hadn't mentioned me directly but I knew it was towards me and he told everyone what he had told me. I smiled to myself touched by his words. I probably would have stayed there all night thinking about the sweetness of the act when I felt a hand on my shoulder and saw Severus staring down at me awkwardly. "Are you going to sit here all night Aurora?" he asked.

I laughed and put a hand to my face and said "Oh I was off in my own little world. Thanks for bringing me back to reality Severus." I batted my eyes at him flirtatiously. He pulled on his collar and his face turned a bit of color rose on his face.

"Shall I walk you to your room then? It is rather dark isn't it?" Severus said with concern in his voice. I smiled, he actually remembered that I was afraid of the dark. That may even sweeter then Dumbledore's speech. As much as I really wanted to walk with him I shook my head. I had things I wanted to do before I headed to bed.

He shrugged, though he couldn't hide the disappointment in his eyes, and walked out of the hall. I waited a couple minutes before finally leaving the room myself. I walked down the deserted hallways keeping my wand close to me urging it to grow brighter and jumping at every move in a portrait. Finally I made it to the teachers bathroom and I let out a happy sigh as I let all the candles.

I quickly stripped out of my clothes and threw on a white fluffy robe as I ran my bathwater. The room was soon filled with the fruity scent of my favorite bubble bath and I scattered flower petals all through the water. I bent down lifting the bubbles to my face and breathed in the heavenly scent. I smiled and I blew them away. Everything was now perfect for a nice long relaxing hot bath.

I untied my robe letting it drop to the floor as I took a step into the water. The warm water hit my freezing feet sending pin pricks up to my ankles. I let out a small shiver as I dived head first into the huge tub then swam back to the steps. I stood up and threw my head back getting my hair out of my face when I saw him standing there in the doorway.

For a second I was speechless as I stared into his dark round eyes but then I let out a small scream as I dived back into the tub.

* Snape POV *

I laid there on my bed staring at the ceiling unable to sleep. I had spent most of the day trying to calm down Aurora. I had spent most of the day with her convincing her everything was going to be all right and even though she had been in panic mood all day I had enjoyed the one on one time with me. Now after all the excitement was done and over with my mind was whirling with thought of her, yet again. Not to mention another little issue was keeping me up, if you catch my drift.

I finally sat up deciding that a cold shower would ease my trouble and made my way down to the teachers bathroom. I walked without a light letting the darkness surround me, it still puzzled me that with a past like her it was the dark that scared her more then anything.

As I drew closer to the bathroom a sweet fruity scent overtook me and I couldn't help but think that Flitwick must be having another one of his baths. I didn't think twice as I opened the door after hearing a loud splash. The steam hit me hard and it took me a minute to clear my head and when I did I let out a gasp at what I saw.

Instead of Flitwick sitting on the edge of the steps I saw the thin perfect body of Aurora throwing her hair back as water dripped down her body. Mixed with the light and the water her body seemed to glow and I just couldn't pull away … she was beautiful. My eyes looked over every inch of her body committing it to memory until I saw her turn and look at me. She seemed unfazed at first as if not believing what she was seeing. Then her eyes grew wide in terror and that's when she screamed.