.

The Dark Man with a Past

"You don't have to tell me anything yet," Elaine's mind was a whirl but here in Severus's arms it all seemed unimportant at the moment. He was here and she was safe and that was all that mattered.

Severus tightened his fist in her lilac robe, "You will hear all about it from Potter and Lupin tomorrow. I had hoped to speak on my terms."

"Alright," she wondered if she ought to get up so she could see his face, but when he pressed his face into her hair and she snuggled closer. "Would you like me to ask questions or would you like to just tell me what you would like me to know?" She asked tentatively.

"I have a dark past," he began, voice gruff, "—which you know or can guess. There are others of my kind. Wizards and witches who use wands and—magic." He faltered over the last word as though it was a swear. "About seven years ago there was a great battle between a powerful dark wizard and the light." It sounded so black and white when he said it like that, but when he continued in a tired voice she began to see the shades of grey beginning to show through. "I had chosen the wrong side in my youth, but betrayed my first master. I became a spy. I won't attempt to sweeten it—I preformed unforgivable acts." She could feel his dark mood growing.

"Was the dark wizard resolved?" She asked.

"What? Oh—yes. Completely."

She pulled back slightly to look up at him. His face was tight and his eyes stared unseeingly at the ceiling. "And you?"

"I died—or at least I let them think I did. Just one in a long line of selfish decisions."

Elaine let that slide for the moment. "So why are Lupin and Potter here?"

His breath hissed out, "Apparently, from what I could gather between their general stupidity, they are equal parts 'protecting the innocent populous' from me and needing some sort of help." The last was said bitterly.

"Can I stay in here tonight?" She felt like a frightened child despite being five and thirty.

Severus began to sit up and Elaine released him, feeling the sting of rejection deeply.

"Of course—can you manage for a half hour? I have to check the house."

Ah, the hall walking—of course. "Yes, what is it that you do out there?"

"Checking the wards," he lifted his wand and gave it a tiny swish, sending stars sparking through the air.

Elaine watched, enthralled; some long forgotten tiara-wearing child in her bouncing up and down and squealing 'Shiny!'.

"Wards?" She said instead.

"Protective magics," there was a long pause. "You are taking this rather well," he said finally.

Elaine smiled at him, "You have always been singular not frightening or dangerous. Severus—" she continued, reaching out to take his hand, "—nothing has changed."

His look of relief was its own answer.

Lilac, #15

For reference to the wards & checking the halls refer to Chapter 12—The Sorcerer in the Corridor.