Author note: Thank you so much to Maria for being Beta. Thank you. I do not own anything from Wizarding World
A golden canoe paddle occurred from left before Severus Snape's whole, unkind world went dark. Air disappeared, balance slipped as the undercurrent grabbed ahold of the edges of his dusty cloak and brought him into the trebrosity. Adrenaline should have kicked in, but the pain on the side of his skull made it impossible to think. Nothingness filled his mind. Instead of fighting he just sank deeper. Cold liquid went under his garments, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind in the process.
His arms flowed above his head like a doll while his air bubbles travelled upwards. It burned not to breathe, but his body seemed to remember something his mind could not. He blinked as he gained his conscious. Seaweeds danced some places where the moonlight had managed to reached. How deep he had gotten?
His arms began to move as he felt the pressure to breath within his lungs began to build itself up and water was the only opinion. Muddy water flowed into his nostrils, nearly forced him to inhale it. He kicked the touchless surroundings below him, while the lake water slipped through his fingers.
If he still had his wand, then he might have gotten up, but he did not. He pushed off his cloak, letting it disappeared into the unknown in a vain hope that he could up. But by each second the gleam of the world got slimmer while the pain in his lungs increased. It burned not to breath. Every movement hurt.
A pale figure appeared near the surface, above him. Adrenaline had expired again, as his thoughts. Worse it had become cold. Whatever he tried to imagine, help would not come.
His instinct told him to keep kicking against the undercurrent with all his might despite the water kept slipping through his fingers. The water trickled his nostrils, begging him to came in.
Maybe he should just let it in? He was tired.
Suddenly, something pale appeared a few meters away from him. He could not see what it was through the darkness but he started to moved his limps faster.
Damn. Damn. Damn.
Why had he forgotten about the creatures which below the water? It did not matter if he was pulled down if just, he could get away from the creature.
Panic hammered through him. The figure seemed to came closer. It swam toward him. He would not be able to get away in time. He had no other choice. He opened his mouth and inhaled the water. The water filled every corner of his mouth, before it flooded into his thoart, and he let it continued. The water flowed into his nostrils as well, then into the channels inside his head. His insides burned by the cold water, melting them into pain.
Why could he not die faster? He felt something touched his lower back. He pushed his back forward, trying to created distance beneath him and the preditore. He tried to swim in front instead of up, but the current still had a better hold of him.
The creature touched him again. On his lower back. He swallowed the water, letting it fill up his insides again. His air bubbles flew upwards, while he sank.
Why did he have die twice?
Suddenly he was pulled upwards, instead of down. He could see something. The pale figure had gotten closer.
Maybe this time heaven had started an angel to help him, since he panicked the last time?
Everything burned inside.
The angel touched the fabric around his shoulder.
He did not do anything expect for following the touch.
Death would come quickly. Black dots appeared in the corner of his sight. He might be going to pain would stop. At last, he lost conscious.
A blurry version of the world was he opened his eyes again. He was rolled to the side, letting the vomit escape his mouth. He curled his back the best he could without moving too much, feeling the wooded blade of the bridge against his hip before a contraction started between his lungs. Every muscle in his back was tense, while the cold wind bite his skin. The October wind was cold. The lake water moved up his throat.
He tried to ignore the need to move, till the lake water mixed with vomit appeared in the back of his throat. It flowed into his mouth, filling every corner of it, until he had not another choice than to open up.
Vomit mixed lake water was coughed out his mouth at first, before it barfed out of his mouth. Tears continued to roll, while his muscles tensed as his humiliation continued. He threw up until he was sure that was no previous dinner left in his stomach. He rolled back to rest on his back, not caring that vomit was still resting on his check.
He blinked as all the blurring shades became colors and shades changing into more real-like version of the world above the water. Despite the sky was dark, and he did not know the side of his face still throbbing in pain after he hit by the canon paddle.
Maybe he was still "alive" ? He felt something was touching his chin. Someone dried off the vomit. Severus moved his head the best he could without moving the rest of his body.
A female was looking down at him, while her cold hands touched his shoulder. He blinked.
Maybe had he died?
Death. Was this death?
In confusion he stared with a slight burning in his pupils.
Her eyes were bright and slightly upturned but the best word he would use to describe her eyes was beautiful. So beautiful to make a teenage giddiness jump around his chest.
He tried to raise himself to sit up, maybe even come close to her but as he sat up, he felt a slight shaking in his world shifted sidewards in the flicker of a second he sat up before his hands slipped on the wood beneath his hands.
She grabbed him by the shoulder and laid him back on the bridge which he had been laying on the entire time. Much to his surprise, something was placed beneath his head. It felt soft and fluffy, but warm.
Maybe he was in heaven? The temperature pointed toward that he was still on earth. But of course, maybe heaven could be cold.
Her touch brought him back to her. She had started to dry off the old vomit on his chin. A shiver ran through him.
Severus had never been the one to be enhanced by appearances, yet he had been mesmerized by her features. Her pretty lips crawled upwards as she noticed his eyes returned to hers. His throat ran dry, as their eyes met again. She could not be real. She could not be yet… She was thereafter almost drowned.
Was she an angel? Her doll-like features made him believe that she could be. She kept dry off the vomit before her hand placed itself on his shoulder. Even through the fabric of his jacket and the blanket, he could feel her touch. It was light and feathery but she seemed real. He wanted her to be real. He licked his lips, unsure what to say.
"Well, thank you for helping me. His words sounded dim-witted, but that was what came out. His head still throbbed a bit, and his tongue seemed heavy. But she beamed at his words.
"You are welcome." She answered as she broke their mutual glance. Her voice was light.
An excitement grew within him as her pale cheeks became pink. His breath hitched a bit. He usually did not have this effect on females, especially not beautiful ones. It was usually women who wanted to be near ex-death eaters. She started to stroke his shoulder with her thumb. His lips crawled as her smile depended on each stroke.
If he did not know better, he would have believed that she was infatuated with him. But it could not be. No pretty girls had been inflated by him. He was unsure if he was trembling because of the cold wind.
"Severus, can you breathe very slowly?" She whispered. He nodded as the smell of freshwater and cleanness inhaled his nostrils. She had not said her name so he did not know how she knew him.
But still, her arm slid across his back, helping him to sit up. She helps him to sit up again. His lungs behind his ribs still hurt, but he could breathe again. But suddenly a cough got stuck in his throat. He started to cough and almost got strangled in them. Panic began to spread in him until she made a circle on his back.
"Cough it out". She said.
Her hand smoothed whatever she had placed on him and let her fingertips dance over it. She made an effort not to touch his naked skin but wrapped it tighter around his shoulders. He turned his glance away from her when the coughs finally stopped. Unsure of the situation he started to look down at himself. He was wrapped in a fluffy blanket from top to bottom except for his shoes, which popped out at the end.
"Breathe." She whispered.
His eyes flickered toward her feet, which were bare. She was not a siren which ended up in the wrong place. But still, Severus narrowed his brows in thought. His gaze flickered up toward her legs, noticed how bald and pale they were till his eyes at last ran over her body. Her figure was slim but it shimmered a bit in the moonlight. Severus closed his eyes, as the situation began to become clear. She was not human. She could not be human.
Her hands kept touching his jacket, slowly nearing his naked skin. She was so close the heartbeat she almost touched his alabaster skin, before her fingertips drew back.
"Almost there." He said with his breath.
Her eyes flickered to his with some kind of emotion he had never seen directed toward him before. If he had dared to believe it then he would have thought it was longing.
"Am I dead?" He asked with a dry voice. His hands sought hers across the bridge.
His little finger managed to touch hers before she pulled her hand away. It did not take long because her pale cheeks became red.
"No" She answered.
"You are alive." She said. She smiled kindly to him and tugged him tighter into the blanket.
Suddenly a sound interrupted the moment. They pulled their eyes away from each other and looked toward the source.
A lamplight glided on the bridge serenely
toward them. Severus swallowed while his pulse went up. She did not say
anything and neither did he. She let go of him and crawled forward. She placed her hand on the other side of his leg while the rest of her body sat as it did before.
"Sorry", She whispered when she clumsily touched his knee by a
mistake.
Was he going to die now? Was she going to kill him?
He heard the weak sound of boat paddles moving. He held back his own breathing to listen. Her breathing could still be heard.
"Row." One of the voices in the distance.
"Hurry," The voice said. Severus blinked. He knew that voice.
"Maybe if we are quick then everything will be fine" A light male said on the boat.
Severus closed his eyes. Annoyance within him grew when he realized that he knew the voices too well. He stretched his head around her and looked toward the lake. In a little boat were three silhouettes. A small one, a broad one and a tall one. Severus curled his upper lip at the sight. In the corner of his eyes. He could see that she stared at the boat as well. All joy had left her features and
left behind sadness.
"They will not hurt me despite the awful annoyance to me at several hours doing the day. "He said." She glanced toward him. She raised from sitting down on the bridge, took a couple of steps toward him and placed her hands behind his armpits. With the help of his hands he raised
himself to stand up. She was there to help him, every inch of the way. The
world swifted sidewards, made his knee shake and his throat closed itself
again.
" Can you stand? " She whispered.
He nodded, despite he was almost panicking inside. He breathed in through the nostrils and slowly the air became easy to inhale. His nostrils caught on something clean and sweet. He
turned his head despite the pain and muttered.
"Thanks." He started to shake again as another blow from the October touched him.
"Do not hit with the paddle." One voice yelled on the boat.
Severus started toward the boat, knowing who it was. Adrenaline spitfires through his veins. He needed to say something fast to her. He looked at her back and met her eyes. Her bright, beautiful eyes.
"Your eyes are," He said. Blood rushed through his head, and insecurity started to play. Why would the words not leave his tongue?
"The brightest eyes that I have seen. "He said.
Uncertainty grew in him. Was it is a dumb thing to say?
" Honest?" She whispered. He nodded.
She looked down to side, hide the side of her face in her shoulder. Her pale cheeks became red. It might have do to shyness her reaction, but at the same time a smile grew on her lips.
" Thank you so much for compliment, Severus. " She said.
Her eyes returned to his with a gleam, and her smile grew. So did His smile. For a second that was all that matter. The moment was interrupted by the sound of the boat coming closer. The paddle row in fast speed. He had to leave and he did not want them to see her. He began to walk. His legs were locked in a uncomfortble cram, as he moved.
" I am sorry for what happend to you" She whispered. Her fingertips touched the fibers on his blanket, while her other arm was straight out behind if he fell backwards.
" I hope that someone can make a potion for you so you will feel better soon. " She said. They had only taken one step before she added.
" I also hope that your lungs are alright. "
" If there is anything I can do to make easy for you to heal then so say. " She said. He stepped in front of her the fast he could and blocked the boat's veiw of her, which was coming closer.
The side of his face's throbbing had milded a bit, yet his lungs still hurted. Especially around his heart had tighten. She glazed quickly to side, look the little man and the two imbiciles.
" Do not look too much at those in the boat. I do not like to share. " He said.
She just look at him with a soft smile. Was she real?
" On the bridge. " yelled one of the voices.
" Row. " yelled one more.
" Good maybe we are in time. " Said the last voice.
He turned his attention back to her. He did not know if it was because the moonlight made her pale skin stand out against the darkness that made ugly insecurities came forward. But she did not look at the boat, but the waves in the water.
" I promise." She whispered back. Two words and yet he wanted her to be real. Two words and yet he wanted her to be real. More than anything else.
Suddenly she made an effort to move past him. He stepped in front of her, almost falling over his own feet.
" I can get in the boat by myself. " He said. Her lips parted, while her brows raised.
" I have learn to keep things for myself in quite an earlier age and I would keep you in peace for the imbecilic youth. " He said. The penny dropped in front of her after a second.
" Thank you. Can I see you again? " She asked.
" Yes soon as my body will allow it. " He said.
" I know you need to go but I will say that I hope you feel better tomorrow. " She whispered.
The wind swifted, and the cold his skin had ignored became hit his skin suddenly.
What should he say? What should he say that could make her became his? He did not know her name yet he alright had a brunch of names in his head he could call.
" Goodnight, Love." He said. It was so simple.
" Goodnight, sweet Severus." She said. She gave his arms a gentle squeeze.
The boat's nose hit the bridge, and made all the all wooden blades shake. She smiled at him before he turned his back to her.
" Goodnight." He heard her whisper. He stepped forward toward the boat, nearly blinded by the strong light in the lamp on the front.
" I am so glad that we founded on the bridge the bridge and not in the water. There is a undercurrent." The small man in the front stated. The lamplight casted a blueish light on his skin. Severus narrowed it his eyes at the small man.
" I hardly noticed as oxygen left my lungs rather quickly." Severus snerred.
He looked down at his shoes, as he stepped into the boat, and left the bridge. For a second, he was worried, that the same would repeat but did not it. The universe thought he had gotten enough for that day. The boat's ground turned sidewards. First to one side then to another. He stumbled on his own feet almost dumbly feeling unstable until he founded the rhyme. He knew that everyone were looking at him.
Especially at the middle of the boat sat Longbottom, nearly twitched under his glaze. Severus glared at Longbottom, knowing that Longbottom would started to shake but the moment of terror for Longbottom was interrupted by a boy- choir voice.
" I did not mean to hit you with the paddle. I thought it would go through you. " Severus merely glared at the fourteen year old boy, who was sitting across Longbottom.
" The youth's stupidity never cease to sursprise me. " Severus snerred.
" Especially both of you lacked the intellect to cast a spell to find me in the water." Severus said as he stepped pass their feet. He had managed to look pass the end of the blanket which his sweetness had given him.
A pain collied in his chest. She was not his yet. As he sated himself down on the boat's floor he wondered what her name was. It could be a name which was not normal in the wizard community. Maybe she even had normal name with a twist like Margrethe instead of Margert? His fingertips touched the fibers of the blanket and remember that his head at the moment she was called sweetness. His daydreaming was interrupted by Flitwick's short figure stood in front of him.
" Are you alright, Severus? You smiled." Flitwick whispered. Before Severus could respond Flitwick muttered. " Longbottom and Altavila did not noticed." Severus nodded when the pain in his chest continued. Maybe it was the water looming in his lungs? It could not be his heart still hammering over her?
" Get some sleep, Severus. I will heal you when we get home. " Flitwick said. He saw that Flitwick took something behind him and heard him lay it down behind him.
" Do not be to angry at Altavila. He went to me straight away. " Fliwick said.
" But he could have cast a spell instead of running for ten minuttes. " Severus said.
" He paniced and so did Neville. He was shaking when I came to the boat. " Flitwick said. Severus merely glanced at the broad man and wanted nothing more than hit them all boat with the paddle. But instead of this lake, he would choose a river. Flitwick blue eyes flickered down to the blanket.
" How did you get a blanket? I thought you could not do magic?" Flitwick said.
" That fact does not concern anyone, but me. " Severus said. Flitwick raised his hands in an innocent manner.
" Alright, Severus." Flitwick said as he raised up. Severus let himself fall back and let the back of his skull met whatever Flitwick had placed under his head.
Sweat collied on Severus's forehead as Flitwick gleefully explain how spirits were different from ghost. That spirits like him had gone done the tunnel of light, but panicked before they crossed. That spirits had gain the privilege that he could be human for a few hours, if they had enough magic in their veins.
Severus closed his eyes, trying to block out the images of how it had happened yet they found the way. He remembered the tunnel so well. How warm it was, how the light shined at the end and he just had to go forward. Despite it was heavenly and felt more like home than anything before, memories had kicked in of he could meet. He pulled back, and kept pulling until he stood in the Shrieking Schack.
He did not understand why he was looking back at his own face until he realized he looked at his own body. The throat of his body was ripped open and the body's head laid in a pool of blood.
But mostly he remembered he looked around and saw nobody there. Nobody mourned him. He was alone and stared down at him. Emotions which should have died became a sea in his chest.
His fingertips founded the blanket she had given. The memories of his death fade as her pretty face appeared. What did the past matter if he founded his love?
The next day evening.
Probably because he had lost some brain cells after Altavila had hit with the paddle, Severus returned the next day to the lake. He had gone after curfew, knowing that the students were taking care of and the teachers would not ask for his present. The grass still wet after yesterday's rain. The rain went under the leather of his shoes, and into his socks. It was stupid, quite stupid indeed. He had not even told bloody Flitwick where he was going. So if he died this time nobody would know. But still his feet had another idea, along with his mind. The cold wind bite the tip of his nose, and slammed his hair back. The landscape around Hogwarts always looked different after curfew. The hills were dark, and at times the hills could seem eerie with the lights coming from the castle's windows. Severus had crossed his arms, placed his hands under his armpits to keep his hands from freezing. It was only autumn, yet the temperature was below the freezing point. He went down the little hill, which would led him to the lake. Emotions were conflicting inside him. He thought that he what she was but he coud be wrong?
The fear of dying by a creature and the same time he wanted to see her. The later was the most dangerous especially since emotions never brought any good. He regretted his decision when he had come to the bridge. His eyes glided from one of the side of the lake till the another. He pulled his hands out of the armpits, shivering a bit as a cold wind his bare skin. He stared at the black lake. Nothing came up from below the surface. He narrowed his eyes, looking for any disturbingness in the clear surface. Severus swallowed, knowing how stupid that he had gone down in the first place. He pulled his wand, unsure what exactly he should do, until it was dark around. He raised his wand above his head and swirled a bit.
" Lux" He muttered. The candles in the lamplight glowed after his words. The light hit the surface of the water, but still after a few seconds where the light lay undisturbed on the water he realized nothing had come up. Maybe she was talking to one of the other creatures? He tried to ignore the positive feeling which was growing in him. He wanted to see her, despite it being so dim-witted on many levels. He took a step toward the bridge.
" Hello." He said the best he could with his voice.
He grimaced at himself before he shook his head. She was probably sleeping. He placed the wand back in his sleeve before he turned on his heel. He had just reached the end of the bridge, when he heard a knock against a wood. He did not even think before he turned his torso to look back.
" Hello." A light voice called back.
At the end of the bridge, she sat, and looked at him. Her smile was wide, and she waved at him. He did not stop himself from letting his own lips crawl upwards. It was a long time since somebody had waved at him. He turned the rest of his body, despite his better judgment.
The light of the lamp made her pale skin seem gleamy. It was typical for naiad to be attractive no matter what but she was beautiful. She began to wave toward herself, indicating that he should come toward her. Severus narrowed his eyes.
" If you want to talk then you can come closer as my voice is tired after yesterday. " Severus said.
His arm pits were wet. The naiad just beamed at his words before it threw itself back and disappeared into the water with a splash. He stared straight home, ignored the uncertianity in his chest as flickers of seconds went by.
Maybe he had hurt her feelings? It was not until he saw something in the water. An ivory figure moving closer beneath surface. His lips tried to conceal a smirk. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he founded it slightly sweet that she wanted to talk with him. It was rare that people from the other world wanted to talk. She appeared from the water surface, only a few meter from where he was standing. She drew back her hair, while she gave him a smile.
" Is this better? I do not want to stained your voice." She said. His eyes ran over her. Her shoulders were bare and her wet hair made her doll- features stand out. Especially her slightly plump lips which lured him to kiss.
" Yes. Much better. " He answered. After Flitwick had thrown some healing spells on him, when Severus had been carrying back to Hogwarts. The spells had worked and Severus had gotten the after effects minimized. But still he felt his legs began to shake.
" Did Flitwick heal alright you? " She asked. Severus nodded as he bend down to sit on the bridge. With the help of his hands he managed to sit himself on his bum. The wooden creacked and hurted his buttocks slightly, but else he was comfort.
" Yes, Flitwick did. I would not have any after-effects expect a slight coughing. " Severus said.
" I am happy to hear that. " She said.
The naiad lend forward slightly, placed it it's exposed breasts toward the wood. Severus swallowed hard, despite he had a feeling it knew she was doing. Yesterday the torso had been concealed with leaves, but tonight it was expose. So he could see everything. Severus crossed his arms, tried to ignore the warmth below his navel and kept his eyes locked with hers.
" Despite I have a lot of respondiblities to have, I have discovered since yesterday what kind of nymph you are." Severus said.
"It is sweet of you to read about me. It is the first time someone has taking such interest. Thank you. " She said. She raised herself to sit on the bridge and sat before him. His thoart felt dry. He should not but his glaze travelled downward. Her small breasts were perky, and within his reach to touch. He felt he started to shake.
" What are your other respondseblities? " She asked. She lend backwards, showed more of her exposed torso in the process.
" I once to teach at Hogwats but not such longer. But I have a chamber in the school so I can be in peace. I read a lot, take care of the students and I can still make potions." He said. He excluded the fact he disliked most the students.
" What do you like to read ?" She asked.
" Mostly everything expect romantic novels. " He said.
" But what do you prefer?" She pressed.
" Faction and history. What about you? What do you? " He asked.
" I read too. But I have to time it else I lost track of everything else. At the moment I spend more time now on writing, learning how to perform magic and spend with Snowy." She said. He raised an eyebrow.
" Who has deserve the nickname Snowy? " He said.
" She is my pet, and an otter. The name came because she has white fur and large eyes." She explained.
" Why is Snowy now? " He asked.
" Sleeping. She had been running around. " She asked. She turned her pretty head, and a small smile crawled on her lips.
" What creature I am then? " She asked. Redness spreaded across her cheeks.
" A nayad, which are the most physcially attractive kind of nymphs." Severus continued. The nymph face lit at the word attractive.
" Thank you, Severus." She said. Severus quicked an eyebrow. It was nice to be thanked
" I have an idea that you have slight humaniod in your blood because most nymph live in Greece." The nayad nodded.
" You are right. I used to be a human. A witch to be exact. " She said.
" But that is a little over a year ago." She muttered. Her leg ran around in the water, creating a circle.
" What happened to you? Since you changed into a naiad inside of a spirit? " He asked.
" It is a longer story which it is not very comfortable. But an unicorn saved me when I was close to dying and since I was near the water I tried into a naiad. " She said.
Severus stared at her. She kept making a circle, seemed to transfixed until she turned her attention back to him.
" You can tell that story another time if you want to." He said. She beamed at his words.
"I can tell you something. " She said.
" You have a beautiful nose. It is very masculine. " She whispered.
Adrenaline rushed through in his veins. How dare she to mock him? Especially he had walked down to the lake, after he almost drowned the day before… His raging thoughts came halt, when her eyes had adoration gleam to it.
" My nose? Nobody had told me that before. " He said. He kept his voice neutral, but inside his chest the joy had return. Did she like his nose?
" Can I kiss it?" She asked as she lend forward. She looked like a cat, full with excitement and ready to jumped on him. " Yes you can. " He said. He closed his eyes, unsure how to act in the situation. He could her cleaniness as she touched his shoulders. He kept his eyes, not wanting to be the illusion if she was just dream. Then he felt something wet on his nose. He opened his eyes, saw she pulled in her tongue and then afterwards grinned. Confusion clouded his mind, until realization hit him like break of dawn. She had licked his nose.
" That was a weird kiss. " He said. It was hard to conceal his disappointment.
Her brows narrowed, and her smile dropped for a second. She lend forward again and drop a kiss on his nose tip.
" That was better." He said. Much to his dismay, redness spread across his cheeks. It was stupid that he reacted that why, especially he did not know her better. But she seemed infatuated with him and he wondered if his heart's fast phase pumped in similar manner.
She lend toward him again. She titled her a bit. His breath hitched as her rosy lips kissed his cheek. His pulse had gone up and a dumb feeling of joy spread within him. How could he respond? She lend away and smile at him.
" I am sorry for the weird kiss, I tried to seduce you. " She said and looked down.
" By licking my nose? " He said.
" I thought it might turn you on. " She said. Before he had a chance to think about, she said.
" You are the first I kiss since I have became a naiad. " She said.
" You have interested me for a while. " She said. Her fingertips founded his. Quivers started in his fingertips and they travelled up his arms.
" How long?" He asked.
" For a year." She said.
He stared at her. Could she be real? How could she want him?
At first he thought it was because of her until he felt her fingertips ran though him. He was changing back.
" I am sorry, Angel. But I have to leave. " He pulled his hand away from her hands. He lefted himself from the bridge, ran to the end of it and then up the hill. It was embrassing, that he could not control. When he had reached of it, he heard her call out.
" Wait, Severus. " He turned around, saw she was only a few steps away. She glanced at him with a gleam in her bright eyes and tried to touch his hand.
" I did not mean to scare you. " She said.
" You did not." He said
He looked down at his hand. His hand gone translucent, and he could see the wet grass through them.
" I know that you are a spirit, and only for a few hours I can touch you. But it does not bother me. " She said. He stared at her for he did not how long.
" I will came back tomorrow. " He said. She smiled at him, and gave a another kiss on his translucent kiss.
He ran up the hills, unsure how to respond to her love and the emotions of vulnerability.
The next day…
The next day he returned the lake after discussing with him over the stupidities which could follow. But he saw her sitting by the lake and smiled at him.
" Hello." He said as he sited himself on the bridge.
"Hello." She said. She laid her head on his knees.
He knew that he was falling in love with her. Her kindness, her sweetness, her beauty.
She had lend forward after she had told how exactly she changed into a naiad and how happy she had met him. So was he.
Her lips met his. It was short, almost childish but all doubts away. She loved him and he loved her. Whatever illusion of love he had before disappeared. He never loved anybody but his naiad. He loved her. It did not matter than they could only touch each other for a few hours. It did not whom she had been in a previous life. It did not matter that he had been an unlikable person. He wanted their two lonely souls would be linked together till end of time.