Chapter 5

In Need of an Escape

A/N: Again, a shorter chapter. This may seem more like a filler, but there is importance within. I wanted to explore what Aurora does outside of class, as well as her relationship with Severus since the term began.

And for those you who do practice ballet, I apologize if any terms are incorrect. I have never done ballet in my life and did some research to gain a little background; just enough to help me with this chapter. If something is wrong, please let me know. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I only own Aurora and any other OC's.

~ oOo ~

The next several weeks at Hogwarts felt as if time sped through each day, like a child going through their birthday presents within minutes. Though each day passed with a similar routine as the previous, Aurora found herself more than happy that she had accepted the position and came back to the castle where she had called home for seven years. Every day she found herself sitting at the teacher's table in the Great Hall where she shared several words with Severus. She recalled that he was more talkative at night when they both were students, and it would seem, to Aurora, that time hadn't changed at all. In fact, the realization made her chuckle, which caused her to receive a curious look from the Potions Master when this thought occurred to her.

She loved both her classes dearly. The Muggles History course was with First Years only, and the longer the class progressed throughout the year, the more interested the course began to seem to the students. Her Medicinal Potions course was only Second Years, as she had proposed to Albus before the term began; as this course was still new, Aurora had decided one day that the course could be altered and split. She proposed the alternate idea with Albus several weeks into the term and stated that they still keep a course for Second Years to learn more basic medicinal potions, but another course would be offered for students in their Sixth Year if they wished to venture down the path of a Healer. Immediately Albus understood Aurora's reasoning for creating an extra course and questioned if she would agree to have Severus assist.

The witch smiled but relayed that Severus had to worry about the entire Potions course for all years; she didn't want to put more work on the professor than necessary. By the time she left, Albus had agreed and stated that this would be put into effect for the following school year, and Aurora swore that once she walked out of the office door, she could see a twinkly of mischief within the Headmaster's eyes.

Several nights later, Severus had invited Aurora over to his chambers once again for drinks, in which she agreed. They had discussed their courses and how the students were doing in each course when Aurora relayed her proposal to Severus who agreed that there was potential in her decision. Such nights continued to occur where either the witch or wizard would invite the other over after dinner concluded to discuss their day. Aurora found her nightly conversations with Severus to be pleasant and relaxing; she was able to speak her mind, and although they had several arguments regarding certain matters, it was a nice way to spend an evening. Their meetings grew in frequency as the weeks progressed, and each time she was asked by Severus, Aurora would grow red in the face and remember the night she had kissed him.

The kiss.

For the next several days after that night, Aurora found it to be difficult when speaking with the wizard. She would grow red in the face, her voice would rise several octaves, and her words would be lost within her through. Severus had noticed this as well and opted to not bring the awkward moment to the table. He had had his fair share of thinking since that night and agreed with himself that he should just let it be and move forward.

Aurora, on the other hand, found herself pacing in her private quarters several nights wondering what the hell she should do.

The night it occurred, she had admitted to herself that she was still in love with Severus. Each time her eyes laid upon the Potions Master, her heart quickened and her palms grew sweaty. There was something about his demeanor that always caught the witches eye; the man was stern, but she knew he had a gentle side.

He was stoic, but caring.

He was a powerful wizard, and Aurora was attracted to everything about the man.

Some would say that the continuous use of black robes was too dreary, but Aurora thought that it fit his personality well. He always held an emotionless face, but she knew that he wasn't unemotional; the witch knew her friend had his fair share of traumatic events growing up. She knew of his childhood and what his father, Tobias, had put him and his mother through; Aurora empathized with Severus because she had been in a similar situation during her childhood. They shared a bond that only they understood and could relate to.

Aurora knew of his background as a Death Eater, and of his change in character when he sought Albus' help in an attempt to save Lily Potter and her husband. The witch had always thought that his motive had been caring and sweet, in a way; he was willing to give up his status in favor of the Dark Lord to save the woman who did not love him back. Despite everything, what she knew, and, most likely wasn't aware of, Aurora-Nyx Warrington could no longer ignore the burning passion within the depths of her heart.

She was unmistakably in love with Severus Snape.

~ oOo ~

Before she knew it, Aurora found that the second week of October was upon the castle. Halloween decorations were beginning to appear around the castle, and the witch had to admit that she had placed a few pumpkins here and there around her classroom. She had even spent some time carving pumpkins, all of different colors and sizes, and placed an Anti-Decay Charm on all so they wouldn't rot before Halloween arrived.

When the second week of the spooky month had concluded, Aurora was sitting at the desk in her private quarters grading papers, tests, and anything else that needed a grade attached to the parchment. She had sat in the same position since returning from breakfast and realized that she had already missed lunch. Groaning, the witch stood from her position and leaned backwards, stretching her back in hopes her muscles would reduce any tension.

Just as she had finished a student's paper and placed it in her "graded" pile, Sapphire, who lay asleep on a cushion nearby, suddenly rose her head, squeaked, and flew off. Aurora paid no heed as she knew her dragon needed some alone time every once in a while. Having her quarters placed in the dungeons, she and Albus had created an enchantment that allowed only Sapphire the ability to enter and exit her quarters. Resuming her grading, Aurora dipped her quill in the small pot of ink and corrected any errors she saw. Within minutes, Sapphire had returned and landed on the corner of her desk, a letter clamped within her small mouth.

Grasping the letter, Aurora caressed Sapphires chin as the dragon squealed in delight. The witch grabbed a treat for her dragon, who wrapped its tongue around the small square, before flapping its wings and snacking on its pillow before resuming its interrupted nap. Opening the letter as she smiled, Aurora was pleased to see that it was something from her mother. Unfolding the lined paper her mother preferred to use, the witch leaned back in her creaky chair and began to read.

My sweet Aurora,

From your last letter, it would seem that everything has been going well at Hogwarts and you're happy teaching your classes. That is so wonderful to hear and I am extremely happy for you, my dear. When you first left and said that you were nervous because Severus would be there, I was skeptical and concerned for you – and don't make that scowl, Aurora, I am your mother and will always worry about you.

My only hope for you, my dear Aurora, is for you to find the happiness you have been searching for. I know you have suffered, my dear, for I witnessed what you endured when you were younger. I know I've apologized more than once, but I am still so sorry, my little goddess.

And I am still sorry for what I am about to tell you.

My daughter, you know that my health has been in decline since the death of your beloved step-father, and since then, I have been going strong for both you and me because the two of us have always been a team. But Aurora, I…I think it is almost time, my dear. These last few weeks, my body has been feeling more weak than usual and it has become difficult to complete everyday tasks. The reason I am writing all of this to you, my sweet little goddess, is because I vowed to always keep you informed; you deserve to know everything that happens.

Rose is still aware that if anything is to happen while you are away, that she will owl you as soon as she has the time.

Aurora, I love you so much. You have made me so incredibly happy to be able to call you my daughter. All those years ago, never would I have thought that we would have a witch in the family. But no day has passed where I regret discovering this new path of life for you. Cherish it, and love all opportunities you are given. I know teaching at Hogwarts will still be new for some time, but put everything you've got to teach those students.

And remember what I said about Severus? Just let time and your heart run its course and then you will find all the answers you seek.

I love you so incredibly much, Aurora-Nyx, for you have always been the brightest star in my life.

Love,

Your mother, Cassandra

Staring blankly at the paper, Aurora wasn't aware that the paper had fallen from her grasp onto the table. She sat there, numb and painless as her mother's words sunk deep into her mental capacity. Not knowing what else to do, she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths before opening them again. Her head was foggy and her stomach was tight.

Straightening her back, Aurora grabbed her wand and left the rest of the papers on her desk; they would still be there by the time she came back. Quickly entering her bedroom, she grabbed a bag and filled the case with necessary clothing that she would need. Before she knew what she was doing, she quickly stepped out of her chambers and into the dank, isolated dungeon hallway, she walked down the corridor and passed by the Potions classroom, where Severus was most likely working on student papers of his own. Before the term had begun, she had asked Albus if there was a spare classroom she could use for her personal hobbies, and the Headmaster stated that there was one that was mainly used for storage, and that she could use in her spare time. It had taken the witch only several minutes to locate to empty room before she had found it located far from her quarters.

As she opened the door, it was clear that this room hadn't been used in some time as cobwebs, dust mites and other creatures had established this room as their own. Sighing, Aurora spent nearly half-an-hour tending to the room as she cast spell after spell to sweep, clean and push all the storage to one side of the room. Once that had been completed, she retrieved an empty box from the wall and transfigured the wood into a record player, completing the same procedure to create a record from one of Aurora's favorite ballet's: Swan Lake. Quietly muttering, Aurora locked the door and grabbed the contents of her bag she retrieved from her room.

Shedding the clothing she was currently wearing, the Aurora shuddered as drafts from the upcoming winter season creeped into the spare classroom. Changing as fast as she could, the witch transformed her "professor" attire to something more comfortable, flexible and danceable. Slipping her slim, curvy legs into spandex shorts, she then replaced her regular bra for a thin, cotton sports bra. She then slid a slightly oversized gray sweatshirt over her head before sitting on the hardened stone floor. She carefully wrapped her pointe ballet shoes onto her feet before placing thick, black legwarmers over her legs and pulled them up to her calves while leaving the very bottom covering the heels of both feet. Smiling, Aurora felt comfortable in the attire; ballet had been a part of her life since she was a child.

After releasing the lock on the thick, wooden door and placing her pink ballet pointe shoes on her feet, Aurora flung her wrist towards the transformed record player. The sweet, melodic harmony that was Swan Lake echoed across the stone façade of the classroom.

With a smile on her face, Aurora sighed contently. Relaxing her muscles, Aurora spent the next fifteen minutes stretching her legs, her arms, as well as her feet from the first to the fifth position. She practiced her Tendu, her Plié, the Elevé, the splits, and even a ballet walk. When she felt that her muscles were loose and relaxed, Aurora took a deep breath, and, with a flick of her wrist, began flowing with the wind as her feet graced the stone floor and she flew around the solitary classroom to find the escape she so desperately needed.

~ oOo ~

Meanwhile, in Severus' private quarters, the Potions Master was leaning against the counter in the small kitchen area sipping a glass of fire whiskey. He had just finished grading a set of First Years papers which focused on the properties of the Cure for Boils potion they were to begin the following week. Grasping the bridge of his nose, Severus groaned. He knew that the art and skill of making potions was not for everybody, but this group of First Years worried him like no other.

Drinking the rest of his fire whiskey, the wizard placed his glass on the counter. Grabbing his wand, Severus made to leave his quarters; a sudden desire to walk amongst the grounds sounded soothing before he tackled the remaining pile of papers that had yet to be touched, yet alone graded.

As it was a Saturday afternoon, Severus was not surprised to find that no students were lurking in the corridors of the dungeon. Mist likely, they were studying in the library or enjoying the last decent afternoon before the winter chill began to run its course amongst the grounds. The Potions Master could not care whether the students were studying at playing; in that moment, especially after grading numerous amounts of papers and assignments, the wizard desperately needed a break, and if any students within Hogwarts were wise, they would steer clear of Severus in that moment of time.

Leaving his private quarters behind, the tall man walked away from his chambers, seeking the stairwell that led from the dungeons to the first floor of the castle. As the stairs grew close, Severus' steps slowed as his ears picked up on the most peculiar sound to have been heard within the dungeon walls. Stopping, the click of the man's dragon-hide shoes ceased to click against the stone floor of the corridor. Looking towards his left, the wizard located the source of the conundrum that had entered his ears. Severus knew that there were empty classes down the hallway; but he also knew that students were not allowed to be within an empty classroom, especially within the dungeon – Severus had made sure of that.

When the clicking of his heels continued once more, Severus made his way towards the direction of music, which grew louder with each step he took. The closer he was, the Potions Master realized that it wasn't just any ordinary music that was playing; the Half-Blood Prince recognized the music as that from Swan Lake.

Outside the door, the mighty wizard raised any eyebrow and question who the bloody hell would be playing music from a ballet classic at Hogwarts. He assumed that it was a student, either escaping the hard life of a Hogwarts student, or a First Year who was homesick. Quickly grasping the iron handle, the Potions Master opened his mouth, preparing himself to yell DETENTION to whichever dunderhead decided to break one of Hogwarts basic rules. Flinging the door wide open, Severus opened his mouth to yell at the student when the words fell limp on his tongue; the sight he witnessed before him was both majestic and beautiful, all in one.

Before him stood Aurora in all her glory, but Severus couldn't tell what he found majestic or beautiful; the curves that graced her body in her current attire, or the way she graced the floor with her pristine and flawless movements across the flooring.

Severus could have sworn she was hovering above the ground, it was as if her feet weren't touching the cold, ancient stone. With his hand still wrapped around the iron handle, the Potions Master couldn't help but stare upon the woman who had been on his mind since before the term began. His eyes wavered over her flawless body and examined the way her taught muscles tightened when she stretched her legs and how elegant she twirled, pranced, waved and rotated her arms. Grinning, Severus already knew that Aurora had always been beautiful, and this moment was no different. What the mighty wizard found appealing was the increased tightness of his trousers; luckily, the wizard had worn his cloak; crossing his arms over his chest, the Potions Master was able to hide the noticeable bulge from any onlookers.

As moments pressed on Severus stood stock still in the doorframe, his eyes glued to Aurora's form; her eyes closed, the attention she held was all in the movements she enhanced her body with. Searching deep within the dark depths of himself, Severus knew that he could stand there and watch the woman all day. Even when they were students all those years ago, Severus knew that Aurora was the epitome of perfection.

The wizard was able to secretly admit it to himself when he was a student; standing in the doorway watching his long-lost friend grace herself as she practiced ballet, Severus could feel a small smile form upon his lips as one thought entered his mind.

She is far more beautiful than Lily ever was.

Looking to the side, the wizard noticed that the record player had ceased to play the enchanting music of the classical performance. But the female still danced away. Severus watched as her entire body straightened, toes pointed directly towards the ground; all time froze as Severus' breath hitched within his throat. Aurora stalled before lifting one leg straight into the air and wrapped an arm around the appendage. Using her momentum as an advantage, she twisted on her pointed foot, her body twirling as she gained speed. Letting her leg go, Aurora bent her knee at a ninety-degree angle and performed several Pirouette's in a row before dropping to one knee and arching her spine backwards, an agile movement of the hand followed; her heartbeat and deep breathing could be heard in the emptiness of the classroom.

That is, until Severus gently shut the heavy wooden door and it creaked as it latched into place.

With eyes as wide as saucers, Aurora turned her attention towards the door and squealed as she noticed the mighty wizard standing with his arms crossed, He simply stared at her without muttering a word as she remained in the same position. Cheeks burning with embarrassment, the powerful witch slowly stood to her feet; glistening trails of sweat trickled down her cheeks and she used the end of her sweater sleeves to remove such atrocities from her skin. Fumbling with the sleeves, neither individual said anything as they simply stared into the others eyes. But Aurora couldn't stare into Severus' beautiful obsidian orbs; his stare was too intense for her weakened stated. Since admitting to herself that she was still in love with the man, she found it extremely difficult to be in his presence without blushing or stammering. Turning her attention towards the side, she grabbed her wand off nearby crate and transformed the record player to its original form.

"Um…" was all she could mutter. There were several things she had wanted to say, but none could escape her tightening throat. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she meekly asked, "I-I didn't see you there, Severus…"

The mighty wizard raised an eyebrow and simply responded with, "Obviously."

Turning her attention back towards him, Aurora narrowed her eyes and glared at him. Sticking her tongue out at the man – whose eyes enlarged as she turned her attention away from him once more – and began packing her previous clothes and robe into the bag she had brought with her. Clearing his throat, Severus took a step forward and said, "Aurora, that was…pleasant. I didn't know you practiced ballet."

With her cloak in hand, Aurora smiled at his "compliment" and shook her head at his choice of words. She could tell that he was about to say something else when she reached down and pulled the sweater over her head, peeling off the thick article of clothing. Pulling her hair down from its ponytail, she ran a hand through the long locks, allowing the curls to cascade down her almost bare back.

"Um…A-Aurora?"

"Yes, Severus?" Aurora turned towards the man who instantly turned his head away, a small blush was evident across his cheekbones. This caused Aurora to giggle as she placed the sweater in the bag and walked up towards Severus. His eyes quickly darted towards her before returning to stare at a random spot on the wall across the room. "Severus…" She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Were you going to ask me something…?"

"Yes, yes there was." His eyes focused on hers, refusing to drop towards the clothing that barely contained her chest from his vision. "Before I found you, I was in need of a break. These students of mine are dunderheads and I cannot go back to grading their papers. Since you are here…would you care to join me?"

Tilting her head, Aurora immediately smiled and looped one of her arms through Severus' and pulled him close, heading towards the door. "I would be delighted too, Severus."

Body tensing at her touch, Severus looked down at her eyes. The blue of her irises was so strong and clear, Severus swore he could her emotions listed within. Though he was a master of Occlumency and Legilimency, the wizard vowed that of all the magical individuals he knew in his life, Aurora was the only exception – he would not cast those spells on her. But even without the use of Legilimency, Severus could've swore that he saw a reflection of his own feelings swirling within her beautiful eyes. Without realizing, the wizard had tightened his arm around her grip and reached to open the door; in that moment, Severus never wanted to leave her side.

Though Aurora had dropped into his life once more, he had never felt at peace as the moment she had laid her hand upon his arm.

~ oOo ~

It had taken the two individuals some time, as Aurora had wanted to change before they ventured out of the dungeons, but they had eventually made their way towards the astronomy tower. No student was in sight, and, although she loved her position as a professor, Aurora was glad to have several moments to herself within Hogwarts without being surrounded by the entire student population. She giggled at the thought because she knew that Severus was the same way; well, almost the same.

Once at the time, Severus stood by the stairs as Aurora made her way towards the railing; placing her hands on the wrought iron, she leaned over the railing and took in the scenery around her. Breathing in deeply and releasing the cleansing air, Aurora felt at home; Hogwarts had always been a second home for her since she was eleven years old. The castle was simply magical and she could never forget the beautiful greenery and the flora that stretched for miles surrounding the castle and the Forbidden Forest.

Watching from behind, Severus felt as if he was glancing at a curious child who had to take in everything that was around them. With Aurora, the wizard knew this had been a characteristic of hers since the day he met her all those years ago. She was curious, and so desperate to learn anything she could sink her mind into. In one word, Severus would describe her as special; but she was special to him.

Leaving his position by the stairs, Severus joined Aurora by the rail and leaned against one of the stone pillars, arms crossed with a natural scowl on his face. A gentle breeze shifted across the air, billowing around the witch's hair and twirling the strands until they danced in the wind. The movement caught Severus eye; from there, he couldn't remove his vision from her beauty. Sensing somewhere was watching her, Aurora looked in Severus' direction and noticed his intense, striking eyes were fixated on her.

"We may be at Hogwarts, but you could take a picture – it might last longer."

Quirking an eyebrow, the corner of the wizard's mouth lifted, and Severus had to force the smile back into a scowl. Without phrasing his statement, he blurted, "So what were you doing in that classroom?"

Chuckling, she answered, "As you said for yourself: I was dancing ballet."

"Indeed, thought my question still remains: why?" But that was when her eyes lost their color, their warmth.

Their love.

Turning her head away, Aurora focused her attention on the vast expanse of the grounds before her eyes. From her viewpoint, she could see students walking amongst the grounds, some were splashing in the Black Lake, and she could've sworn she saw Harry Potter walking towards Hagrid's Hut. A tightening sensation crept within the middle of her chest, and Aurora placed a hand over her heart. Rapidly blinking the sudden tears away from her eyes, she whispered, "I needed some space away. And in moments like that, dancing has always been my escape." Turning back towards Severus, she noticed that he had left the pillar behind and stepped forward until he was directly by her side. The tears she refused to fall allowed one to escape and it trickled down her cheek towards her chin. Severus felt a sudden need to erase the sadness from her face with his thumb, but something held his arm against his side as he regretted the moment.

"I received a letter from my mother today. It was just like any other letter we've shared since I came back to Hogwarts."

When she resumed her silence, Severus questioned, "It would seem your sadness stems from this."

Aurora nodded. "Severus…my mother has been sick for some time now. We first noticed it after my step-father passed away during my Sixth Year. Since then…it has progressively gotten worse and no doctor can explain why, not even the healers at St. Mungo's." Wiping the tear on her own, Aurora closed her eyes, hands tightening their grip on the railing. In that moment, she allowed herself to soak in the late afternoon of the setting sun. It wouldn't be long before the sun would set and night would once again claim its rightful position.

"Usually Rose, my mother's caretaker, sends my weekly updates on my mother's health. This time, it was my mother to tell me that…that…" Several more tears leaked from the corners of her saddened eyes, and this time, Severus slowly reached his hand out to place it on the small of her back. Deep within, the usually apathetic wizard fought against himself to be more sympathetic, but even around the individual he felt the most comfortable with, it was still difficult expressing any sort of emotion for an extended amount of time.

Grasping his hand, Aurora looked into Severus' blurry face – due to the increased tears – and held his attention. "Severus…she stated that she believes her health is getting worse. She doesn't…she thinks it won't be much l-longer b-before…" But she wouldn't finish the statement as her breathing turned to hiccups and the waterworks began. Needing solace and something to cuddle, Aurora rotated her body into Severus' and gripped her fists into the front of his thick, black shirt. With her entire body shaking, she held on tight, for fear that if she let go, she would lose all that she held dear.

Chocking back a gasp, Severus stood frozen in place as muffled sobs of the girl within his arms soaked his clothing with her tears. Seconds passed by as Severus' limbs relaxed and before he knew of his actions, his arms gently wrapped around Aurora's shoulders and pulled her closer to his chest; her cries wavered before dismissing. A few hiccups could be heard from the witch every now and then, so Severus swallowed his nerves and softly rubbed his hands up and down her back.

Aurora sighed. She was content in the moment, all her fears and sorrow vanished the moment Severus had encompassed her within his arms. The warmth she received from his embrace left a smile to form on her lips. Turning her head to the side, Aurora sniffled as a few remaining tears escaped and trickled down her rosy cheeks. A cold finger lingered on her heated skin as it wiped all the tears away, causing Aurora to glance upward towards Severus. Letting her still tightened grip go, the witch wrapped her arms around Severus' waist and seized the perfect opportunity to nuzzle her face into his chest. She could feel the vibrations of his chest move up and down as a small chuckle was released from his lips. In that moment, Aurora knew that everything would be alright.

"Severus…?" she asked softly.

"Hm?"

"Do you think…my mother will make it through?"

Closing his eyes, the might wizard had no answer for her question. To be blunt, he did not know her mother and therefore couldn't provide any answer to resemble whatever truth there may be. "Aurora, it would seem that you just need to change what you're thinking."

Giggling, Aurora sniffled once more and leaned her head against his chest. She didn't want this moment to end as she could feel Severus' heartbeat against her ear; the soothing, rhythmic beat casting away any previous thoughts she had and solely focused on his arms wrapped protectively around her. "You're right, Severus. It's hard because she's all I have left."

"No, Aurora. She's not all you have left." Raising an eyebrow, Aurora pulled back as Severus placed his hands on her shoulders. "I know it hasn't been easy between us, but I'm still here."

This caused Aurora to smile as her cheeks turned redder than they were. "Oh, Severus Snape…you still surprise me."

As her words passed through his ears, Severus couldn't help slightly scowl. Deep down, he knew she meant no harm Oh Aurora…if only you knew the depth of my words.

~ oOo ~

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