A/N: Okay! It has been a while. School is absolutely crazy this year, so I can't update as frequently. Apologies. :( BUT! I do hope you enjoy this new chapter. I've worked hard on it and your feedback means the absolute world to me. Thank you all for your wonderful support and love. In return, I continued this story. XD

DracoPansy: Pour répondre à votre question (pardonnez la longue attente) oui! Je suis content que vous le trouviez intéressant. C'était le début d'une histoire de trois chapitres. Merci pour votre avis! De plus, si vous parlez anglais, cela faciliterait la conversation. Mais sinon, pas de soucis!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All belongs to J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros.

Chapter 2 – Sanatum Altum Cicatrices

Severus hadn't seen Claire in almost a week. To be honest, he was avoiding her. He couldn't
count on himself when he was around her. He knew that if he saw her again he might not go through with what he had decided.

Just what exactly had he decided? Well, when he spoke to her on his birthday, for a brief moment he thought that maybe it would work. Maybe she would be happy with him. It did not take long for him to wake up. Can you see how she affects him? How could he think such a thing? A Death Eater and a murderer, that's what he was. Who could love someone like him?

The Potions Master decided that the staff room would be the best place for him to go. It was the weekend, so no one would be there. Another perk is that no one would expect him to be there. That way he would have solitude to sort out this mess.

As he made his way to his preferred wing backed chair by the fire—regrettably, it was red—he thought about what he would say to her at their next meeting. He was only lying to himself if he said they wouldn't talk again. And although Claire was not the type of person with whom you could plan out a conversation in your mind, he had to try.

He also reminded himself about the new book he was holding. It needed to be read. He would not spend his whole Saturday pondering his problems with Claire. Although deep down he knew that would probably end up being the case.

The fire was warm to his left. Yes, this was good. It was quiet. No students.

"Someone's deep in thought."

Snape started. Maybe he should've looked about the room instead of blindly walking over and sitting down.

"Not that that's anything new," she continued.

As you can guess, it was Claire. Her feet were curled up next to her on the chair to the left of Severus and the fireplace. A book, piece of parchment, and quill rested on her lap. He noticed that her hair was down over one shoulder and curly…most likely from being taken out of a braid. He rarely saw it down, and had to admit that she looked beautiful. Another thing he never saw was the pair of glasses she now wore. Her hair framed them marvelously. All of these observations happened in a moment, mind you.

"Hi," she added with a warm smile.

He nodded. "I didn't realize you were here." Idiot. Stating the obvious.

She inclined her head in a nod. "Most don't," she replied. "It's why I come."

He nodded. "Well…forgive me, I didn't mean to disturb you, I—"

Claire shook her head. "No, no you didn't. I'm glad."

She seemed absent. He could tell something was on her mind.

She frowned, gathering her thoughts. "It's good to see you. I…I've been very busy this week."

She had to know that he was avoiding her. Why wouldn't she confront him on it? That's what he had expected.

Claire set her things on the end table beside her. "Um…"

Snape's eyebrow arched slightly. This was new. He watched as her speech faltered and she attempted to form words.

"Would—would you, that is I, um…I have something, to show you. It, well it…I."

"Hang on," he interrupted with a smirk tugging at his lips. "Am I mistaken, or are you stuttering?"

She smiled at her lap.

"And blushing." If only she did that more often…it would certainly make him look less ridiculous.

She laughed softly. "I suppose I was."

Quite the role reversal for a moment.

He smirked. "My good looks making you nervous?"

Claire loved it when he joked with her. Although it used to be rare, he had become more comfortable with her as time went on. She laughed shook her head. "You have no idea."

Ew, was she serious? Severus was being completely sarcastic. He knew where he fell in the good-looks department. Where did that comment even come from anyway?

"Well, I have something to show you," she continued with a smile. "It wasn't ready on your birthday."

She had finished it soon after his birthday in fact. But since then it appeared as though he was distancing himself from her. At least, that's what she had thought. Now, she realized she was in the wrong. Claire hated assuming things about people in the first place.

Severus agreed, and followed Claire. He was internally kicking himself, however. This was exactly what he had told himself he would not do! But turning down a gift was considered rude…right? Listen to him. Never in his life had he thought he would ever give a rat's arse about being rude.

Surprisingly, instead of turning the corner to her quarters, she took the stairs leading to the dungeons. He recognized the route of course, and soon they arrived at his potions lab. And then it dawned on him.

He glanced suspiciously down at her. "Were you the one stealing from my stores?"

She smirked, "Yes." then looked at him. "I'm sorry, but I had to keep it a surprise." He chuckled quietly.

Claire retrieved about a five-inch size flask from a hidden area behind the shelves. Noticing his look, she said, "What? You would've found it, curious man!"

He nodded. "You're right."

Claire approached him, suddenly seeming nervous. "I…well, here."

She handed him the flask. It was of a very unusual colour and consistency. Severus did not recognize it at all. He turned it around and read the label.

Sanatum Altum Cicatrices

He didn't know how long he stood looking at it. Severus knew what this was. He also knew that there was no possible way Claire could've brewed it. He had already tried.

He handed it back to Claire and she removed the stopper. "I assume you recognize the name."

He nodded. "I do. And I think you should know that—"

"Wait." Her eyes pleaded with him. She knew. This confused him. "Please. I promise this will work."

Perhaps an alternative brewing procedure had been discovered that he was unaware of. Highly unlikely, but it was the most logical assumption at this point.

"Only if you want me to," she whispered.

He gazed into her eyes for a moment. Not in hesitation, but wonder mixed with confusion. There were still things he did not understand.

Severus nodded. "I trust you."

Claire's eyes warmed, and she smiled ever so slightly. She withdrew a small vile from her coat, poured the contents of the flask into it, and handed it to Severus. He stared at the vile for a moment, before downing the deep blue liquid it held.

For a while, it seemed like nothing was happening. And then Severus's neutral expression became that of pain. Although he attempted to conceal it, Claire could tell he was in great pain.

Severus gasped. What was happening? He felt Crucio, he felt every kick or punch in his stomach he had ever received at the hands of the Dark Lord's servants. And he saw them. Every moment of torture flashed across his mind in bursts. Claire watched helplessly as he clutched a table doubled over, his eyes blurred.

Then, just as suddenly as it had come, the pain ceased. For a moment Severus remained still, heaving deep breaths. And then he visibly noticed something. Claire watched him clutch at his ribcage, then the side of his jaw.

He looked at her. Claire had never seen his eyes so bright. "It worked," he said.

Claire beamed. "It did!"

He approached her cheerfully. "It healed everything." Aches and pains that always haunted Severus from his life as a Death Eater were gone. Even though they had been patched up as well as a medi-witch could do, the only way to completely heal them was by this potion. Something Severus had always thought impossible.

What he did next surprised them both. Severus gently and somewhat awkwardly enveloped Claire in a hug. She returned it gladly, resting her head on his chest.

"Thank you."

Claire smiled as his deep voice washed over her. Before she could respond, she noticed something. The scar Severus received from the Dark Lord himself still peaked out from under his collar. Claire reached out and moved the fabric aside.

Severus reached up and ran his hand down it. "I suppose it can't work for everything."

Claire frowned in thought, then pulled out a piece of parchment from her coat. Her eyes glanced over it until she was satisfied, then retrieved the potion. Severus tensed when she placed her finger over the wound, drawing it down in increments. He supposed she was measuring it.

Next, she carefully let three drops fall onto her fingertip. Severus observed her determined features. Her eyes. Watched as they flitted to every area of importance to her at the moment. The flask, the drops, his wound. Then she caught his gaze. He glanced quickly to the flask, but her slight smirk told him he was too late. She applied the potion in one downward movement. Surprisingly, there was no residue on her finger.

Just as the time before, it took a moment for the potion to take effect. When it did, Severus's neck jerked to the side in pain. Then he flinched at whatever the potion was inflicting his mind with. Soon enough though, it was over. Claire watched as the scar completely disappeared.

She smiled and caressed the now-smooth skin. Then she met his gaze…his eyes seemed distressed. But then, she was still learning how to read him.

"It worked."

Severus nodded. "Claire," he began hesitantly. He noticed her smile widen, then he realized he had called her by her first name. Drat. Not helping. "I…" Okay, she was extremely close. The Potions Master took her lingering hand to bring it down, but somehow he couldn't. He was going to have to do something, though. Now he was holding her hand. Also not helping.

He sighed. "Claire, I must know something."

At her tilted head and open expression, he assumed it was okay. The parchment that held the brewing procedure still stuck out of her coat pocket. He reached down, and withdrew it. At this, her expression shifted to that of slight apprehension. But Severus unfolded it nonetheless. And although he appeared calm outwardly, internally he was frantically scanning the page for the information he feared was there. And then his eyes rested on a line he had seen before. One that had disheartened his one and only attempt at this potion.

The recipient cannot brew this potion. It must be brewed for him/her, and the brewer must love the recipient.

Severus set the parchment on the table and looked up. He almost couldn't read her just then, but she seemed…hopeful. Hopeful of what, he did not know.

"It's true," Claire said, smiling just a little. "I don't know how it happened, or when…but I've fallen for you." Beat. "Big time."

And then she waited. Probably for almost a minute. Severus was completely stunned to hear her say it. He never thought in a million years he would hear that said to him. Especially not coming from Claire. She was…she was completely out of his league.

No. He couldn't let her do this. He let go of her hand and stepped back. He also never thought that something as little as that could be so difficult.

He was trying to formulate what he would say, but it was impossible as he witnessed Claire's lovely eyes dim.

She nodded. "I understand." Her nostrils flared and her jaw tightened. Severus's heart ached. "I only wish you would've told me sooner. Before I…" She glanced at his lips, then met the eyes she had become so fond of. "If you—" Her voice cut out. Severus knew that Claire rarely cried, that she hated to. He had never seen her cry and would have been satisfied if it had stayed that way. He feared he would not last much longer himself.

Claire had curbed her emotions to an extent. "I'm sorry," she finished.

Severus needed to leave. He couldn't handle everything. She was apologizing to him. For what? Kissing him? Spending time with him? Making him happy?

He shook his head. He wanted to tell her everything was alright. That she was the best thing that had ever happened to him. Maybe even that he loved her. He did none of those things. Instead he hesitantly and gently tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"I'm sorry."

And then he walked away.

Thank you for reading! You all are wonderful, have a fantabulous week!
Your honest feedback is always appreciated. :)

And for those of you who have read He Smiled, forgive me for the LONG delay. Believe it or not I am working on a new chapter…it's just taking me forever.

Anyways! Bye guys!

FW