Chapter 7

To Grieve and to Love

Part 1

A/N: Alright, this chapter caused me several issues and I will explain. This chapter contains some heavy sorrowful moments, but I don't feel I really captured the essence of grief and pain. Describing painful moments without feeling I'm being repetitive has always been a weak spot in my writing. If my readers could please let me know how this chapter flowed in that matter, I would greatly appreciate it.

And for those who remember, as this was mentioned in Chapter 3, Aurora is half-Greek, and in this chapter, she will be speaking Greek in certain parts. All statements will be in Greek, and the translations are provided at the end of the chapter. If there is anyone who knows Greek and notices that I made an error (whether big or small) I do apologize! I do not know Greek and had to use Goggle Translator, so I am sorry if the quality is poor or incorrect.

While writing, this chapter was to be much longer, but the more I wrote, the more I realized that it would be better split up. I REALLY wanted this concept to be one full chapter, but in the end, I don't think it flowed all the well. So, here's Part 1 and Part 2 will follow ASAP (I am hoping).

Also, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has read/favorited/followed my story. I greatly appreciate all the support and it truly means a lot. Much love, my readers. Keep being awesome!

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

~ oOo ~

Several hours later, along with numerous cups of coffee, Aurora sat beside her mother's hospital bed at St. Mungo's as she twiddled with her thumbs, not knowing what to expect. As the witch turned her head to look at the clock, she noted that it was nearly three in the morning and she had been at the hospital since she received the letter from Rose earlier that night. Downing the remainder of what was left in her cup, Aurora crossed her legs and ran a hand down her face. Her eyes were puffy and swollen, as she'd had her turn of crying over the last several hours; but when the door suddenly opened, Aurora slowly lifted her gaze to see her oldest friend standing in the doorway.

Severus watched Aurora as her eyes slid from his back down to her mother before reclaiming his empty seat next to her side. Handing her some water and a snack he retrieved, the wizard opened his mouth to speak, but knew there was nothing he could do to console Aurora. Beside him, the witch in question was biting her fingernails, every few seconds her gaze would lift to glance at her mother's still body before looking back down.

When she had retrieved the letter during dinner, Severus had no idea that her evening would result into this. Once Severus had followed Aurora to her room, he was expecting something other than the grave news she had to tell, but when she said it was about her mother, he just knew that he had to stay by her side. Something deep within him said that he needed to be there for her, and although Severus' head refused to acknowledge the truth, his heart stated otherwise; and for the first time, the wizard actually listened.

When he felt that he had calmed Aurora enough that she could be by herself, Severus excused himself to speak with Albus, who, uncoincidentally, was standing outside of her quarters. When he explained the situation, the Headmaster understood the gravity of the situation and asked for the Potions Professor to keep him in the loop with any new information. And before Aurora even knew what was going on around her, Severus had flooed both of them straight into the waiting room of St. Mungo's where they were met by Rose who filled her friend in on the state of affairs.

And since they had been by her side, Aurora's mother hadn't opened her eyes at all, but Severus could still hear Rose's words from when they had first arrived.

"We were having dinner as usual when she suddenly just collapsed to the floor! Earlier she'd been complaining about her chest, but she's done that before and she said she was fine! She wouldn't respond, wouldn't open her eyes – nothing! I brought her here before I contacted you."

When he had left the room, the Potions Master spoke with the doctor and questioned what it could be, but the doctor only stated that she was suffering from a broken heart. Severus would have scoffed the idea, but he'd read several papers, all written within different centuries, stating similar symptoms to Cassandra's. He knew it was true, but something still tore within the wizard at having Aurora witness her mother experience such pain.

He wondered if Aurora had felt such pain when he left her, all those years ago?

Glancing back at his friend, he could tell her eyes were still bloodshot, she had yet to try and gain any sleep. "Aurora…you need to try and get some rest."

But she firmly shook her head, the answer she had given him the last ten times he'd asked. "I…I can't. What if she wakes up?"

"You do realize that I am still here."

"Snape, I don't need your unrequested sass right now." She snapped, using his last name, but shook her head once more. The expression on her face altering as she looked up at him. "I'm sorry, Severus. You have done nothing but stayed by my side all night. I just…what if this is it?" She turned to look at him, curling her legs underneath and she twisted her body in his direction. "What if I fall asleep and wake up and…and she's…?" Aurora couldn't finish her sentence, a fresh wave of tears coursed down her cheeks as she held a hand over her mouth, muffling any sobs wanting to escape.

Reaching over and grasping her free hand, Severus tugged her fingers until she looked him dead in the eye. "Aurora…I can't say for sure what may or may not happen tonight. But get some sleep now so you're awake when she does open her eyes."

Looking over towards her mother's seemingly-lifeless form, Aurora questioned, "You promise you'll wake me as soon as something happens?" With a slow nod of his head, Aurora sniffled before standing to her feet, bringing Severus with her. Grasping her wand and pointing it at the two chairs, she whispered a spell, combining both into a loveseat couch. She beckoned for Severus to sit first before she lay on her side and placed her head in the Potion Masters lap. Turning her head to look at him, she meekly asked, "Is this alright? Your comfy…it'll help me sleep."

Swallowing the unwelcomed lump in his throat, Severus muttered, "Sure." Within minutes of Aurora closing her eyes, he could feel the even breathing of his friend, knowing that she had finally fallen asleep. Severus looked around the room, trying, attempting to avert his eyes; but to no avail, they quickly landed on the woman currently using his lap as a pillow. Without registering his next actions, Severus used one of his hands to gently run through her long, soft hair. He could hear moan slightly in her sleep, causing the wizard to abruptly stop, but resume when he realized that she approved of him playing with her hair.

Severus chuckled to himself as he didn't know what the bloody hell he was doing. Why was he at St. Mungo's, at three in the morning, playing with a girl's hair?

Because she's the girl you're in love with.

Brushing aside his unwelcomed mental thoughts, the wizard couldn't help but ponder if it was true. Was he really there simply because he considered Aurora a friend? He was friends with Minerva, but would he find himself being with her at the hospital for a similar situation? The wizard had noticed a change within himself over the last several weeks, a change, he realized, that he was approving. The man was smiling more, but only in the presence of Aurora, and he found that he wanted nothing more than to be by her side throughout the day.

Thinking back to the Quidditch Match just yesterday, he was aware that she had held his hand the entire time he was muttering the Counter Curse to save Harry Potter. The simple gesture of her being next to him was enough to calm his nerves and lessen to melancholy he held. Without grasping the notion sooner, Severus had relied on Aurora since term began to escape his past; she was able to soothe him in a way Severus hadn't felt since he was a student at Hogwarts.

But why…? He thought to himself. Don't I bring pain upon her because she remembers what I put her through? Grasping the bridge of his nose, Severus groaned because deep down, he knew. I'm still in love with this insatiable, but beautiful, woman… Looking down at the sleeping beauty within his lap, Severus couldn't help but feel happy, for once.

Not even fifteen minutes after she fell asleep, Severus notice something move out of the corner of his eye; lifting his face towards Cassandra, he noticed that the mother was slowly moving her fingers across the bedspread. Several moments pass before she began moving her head from side to side. Knowing Aurora would want to be awakened, Severus leaned down and whispered in her ear, while shaking her shoulder. Aurora almost immediately opened her eyes and rolled until she was looking straight up into Severus'; the professor quickly relayed what he saw and the female swiftly stood to her feet to stand by her mother's side.

"Mom…?" Aurora grabbed her hand and gently squeezed. Seconds passed before Cassandra opened her eyes and looked directly into those of her daughter.

"Aurora…? Is that you?" Cassandra's voice was dry and raspy, and at that moment, Severus knew that she did not have much time left.

Aurora could feel tears well up in the corner of her eyes once again. Several fell as she smiled and kissed her mother's forehead. "Nai mitéra, eímai edó."

"Oh my child, I have missed you, ti mikrí theá mou." Aurora bent down and lay her head on her mother's chest, allowing her sobs to escape as Cassandra slowly rubbed her hand up and down the spine of her daughter. Severus, feeling out of place, stood and walked out of the room, allowing the two to have time to themselves. Out in the hall, he found the closest Healer and stated that the patient was now awake, in which the nurse thanked the professor. Not knowing what else to do, Severus waited outside the closed door, arms crossed across his chest, his mind deep in thought about the rest of the night that was too come.

Inside the room, both mother and daughter held each other, not wanting to discuss the elephant in the room; but, Aurora knew that she needed to ask her mother. Pulling her arms away from the comfort of her mother, Aurora wiped her eyes before pulling a spare chair to the side of the bed and sitting. She grabbed her mother's hand, her voice quiet as she asked, "Mom…you've avoided this question for the last several weeks, but I need you to tell me know." Looking up, Cassandra knew what her daughter was going to ask, and it was her time to release the tears from within her heart.

"Is…is this it? Will you have to leave me…?"

Without skipping a beat, Cassandra nodded her head and whispered, "Yes."

~ oOo ~

Sometime later, Severus was still leaning against the wall when the door opened and Aurora stepped out before closing it. She leaned against the door and rubbed her eyes before leaning against Severus, needing as much comfort that she could get. Lifting his head, Severus turned towards Aurora as her tears seeped through his cloak. Turning towards her, Severus pulled Aurora into his chest as she breathed deeply, taking in the calming scent of her close friend.

"Well?" Severus' deep voice resonated within her as the first smile of the night etched onto her face.

Nodding her head against his chest, Aurora softly answered, "She said this is it." Aurora pulled away, this time, refusing to erase the sadness from her face. "My mother…she asked to speak with you."

Looking down, Severus raised an eyebrow and asked, "Excuse me…?" He wasn't sure he had heard her correctly.

"I don't know why, so don't ask. But…she said that she would like to 'speak with the man who broke my daughter's heart'." The Potions Master slightly winced. He had a feeling that Aurora had spoken to her mother about what had happened, but didn't know that it would come back to him speaking on the matter with Aurora's mother.

Sighing, he asked, "Do you want me to speak with her?" Looking up at him, Aurora nodded, causing her friend to sigh once more. The professor had not foreseen his Saturday turning into one such as this. Why would he go to speak with Aurora's mother? About a subject that should stay specifically between the two of them? But knowing that this would calm her fears, even just a little, Severus internally punched his self-importance away because he was doing this for her, for Aurora.

And deep down, Severus couldn't deny that, even with having her back within his life for the last few weeks, he knew that he'd do anything just to lift on a small on those luscious lips.

With a nod of his head, but no words from his lips, Severus slipped inside Cassandra's room, noticing how she watched him from the comfort of her reclined medical bed. Standing by the closed door, he nodded in her direction. "I was told you asked to speak with me." His voice was low, all devoid of emotion as he did not know what to expect.

"Yes," she answered, gesturing to the seat Aurora had just occupied. "Please, join me." And as he seated himself next to her bed, Cassandra stared at the man who had captured her daughter's heart all those years ago. There was a part of her that, before she passed on, wanted to know why he did what he did, but she knew that was to stay between the two of them. For now, she just wanted to meet the man her daughter admired.

"So, Severus, my daughter has told me many things about yourself."

"Has she now," was his response, not at all surprised that Aurora had spoken of him, though the professor was assuming the negative, just as he had always done.

Cassandra patted the side of her bed. "Oh, come now, Severus. Aurora has told me many things, and yes, I do know what happened between the two of you. But she has provided more positive descriptions, if you must know."

"Oh really…?" This caused the man to raise an eyebrow, not expecting such an answer.

"Why, yes. Look, Severus, I did not ask to speak with you about the past. My time remaining is very limited, and when she told me that you have been by her side all night, I knew I had to speak with you, so please be honest. What are your feelings towards me daughter…?"

Being caught off guard with such a question, Severus leaned back in his chair and tilted his head. With an emotionless façade to conceal the heat that wanted to cover his face, Severus simply looked passed Cassandra and stated, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I see it in your eyes, Severus."

This made the man zip his eyes to look directly into hers; Severus narrowed his mouth into a thin line as she smiled.

"Whatever feelings you have for my daughter, can you promise this dying lady one thing?" At the mention that she was dying, Severus softened his expression slightly, knowing that he wouldn't be able to resist a request in such a manner. Severus nodded his head, and Cassandra released a breath of air she had been holding. "Please…please look after my daughter, Severus. After tonight, she will no longer have any remaining family who are alive, and I don't want my daughter to feel as if she has lost her place in this world. You've known Aurora, you know how she has such a big heart. I am afraid this world will one day crush her…"

A big heart doesn't cover it, the professor thought.

But then, Cassandra reached one of her hands towards Severus, indicating she wanted to grab his. Looking down between her eyes and her hand, Severus hesitated for a few moments before slowly reaching his hand towards hers; she grasped it firmly and placed her other hand on top. "Whether love or friendship is what you seek, please ensure that Aurora has a place within this world and that she remains happy and loved."

"Wait…" Severus spoke before he could stop himself. "What do you mean…so she has a place in this world?"

Shaking her head, Cassandra muttered. "I shouldn't have said that." Taking a deep breath, she added, "Has she ever told you about her real father?" But the man shook his head. "I won't say much on the matter, as it's a very troubling memory for Aurora to live through…but her father made her feel that she never belonged, that her life would never belong. I remember the day she sent me a letter the day she had met you; it was the first time she had ever found a place where she was meant to be."

Widening his eyes before resuming his stoic, neutral expression, Severus tightened his grip on Cassandra's hand. He knew that feeling, what it's like to be surrounded by people, but not feeling as if you're part of the group. Before he could formulate what he wanted to say, the Potions Master found himself affirming, "Cassandra…the relationship between your daughter and me is…difficult to explain. But I can promise you this: from the bottom of my heart, I promise here and now that I will do whatever it takes to ensure that your daughter is happy. I pledge to protect her, because from here on out, she will always have a friend by her side."

~ oOo ~

Not even an hour after Severus pledged to Cassandra to protect Aurora, the two of them resumed their originally position on the transformed loveseat as her mother requested to nap as she was feeling low on energy, in which Aurora immediately agreed. Her daughter was using Severus' lap as a pillow once more and delicately asked if he could play with her hair; remembering the promise he just made, Severus agreed.

To which, nearly an hour later, he was still running his fingers through her hair.

The silence between the two was acceptable, neither knowing what to say, but both comforted with the presence of the other. Looking up at the clock on the wall, the man noticed that it was almost five in the morning and a cup of boiling hot coffee sounded perfect. Just as he was about to question if Aurora needed anything to eat or drink, her voice cut through the silenced air. "Severus…?"

"Yes, Aurora?"

The witch smiled. Just the sound of her friend's voice was enough to bring peace to her aching heart. "Remember before term began, you said that we should speak of the past? Our…past? Well…I – I wish to tell you why I've held onto my pain for so long." Rolling onto her back so she was facing upwards at the mans she loved, Aurora grabbed one of his hands and held it close to her heart. "Do you remember that day?"

"Yes," was his immediate and curt response.

"Do you remember the last thing you said to me the day I graduated?" Severus nodded. "Do you remember my response?"

He nodded again. "Yes, I do. I…It was my first-year teaching at Hogwarts and…"

Aurora finished the sentence for him, seeing for first time how the memory was affecting the man as much as it did her. She closed her eyes, but only open them to look up at the man she loved when she finished her sentence. "It was the year we first began our relationship."

"It was." And I fucked it up.

"I thought we were happy. My last year was going great as I was acing all my courses; I thought the happiness I felt was going to last even after I left school." Aurora's chest tightened as she released Severus' hand and placed it over her mouth. "I thought you loved me."

"Aurora…" Severus went to stroke her cheek but she flinched.

"But things between us began to change the night James and Lily were murdered. You became distant, though I knew you were grieving – I understood. We tried to work throughout the year, despite you being a teacher and me a student, but as it progressed, we fought and argued over everything. And on my last day, I was about to tell you something I'd kept within my heart since the day I met you as a first-year." Aurora bore her eyes in Severus', and within her glance, he knew what she wanted to express that day. Clear as day he could see the memory replay within his mind.

"I had just graduated and ween to seek you out in the dungeons where you usually were. I was so happy that I was no longer a student and could enter our world as a respected witch. But before I could say anything, you broke what we held onto through the year; you broke us. I was hurt, as unexpected. But as I tried to question if I did anything wrong, you simply stated that you couldn't be with someone like me because I wasn't Lily."

Severus averted his gaze from hers and leaned his head back. Taking several deep breaths, the wizard clenched his stomach; waves of nausea coursed through his body as he fought to remove the onslaught of memories. But he needed to relive the past just as much as Aurora did. Looking down at her form, Severus was about to speak, but she held a finger upon his lips, silencing his unspoken words.

"I cried, Severus. I cried because you held on to me all year long, leading me to believe you actually cared and that you wanted me. And at the last moment, not only did you compare me to a girl you had crushed on for years, but you compared me to a dead woman."

"Aurora, I…" Removing herself from his lap, Aurora sat next to the man. She felt the anger inside from reliving the past, but she felt no anger towards her friend, as she had forgiven him the day he apologized over summer.

"I love you."

Twisting his body towards her, Severus held his breath. "What?"

"That was what I was going to you that day, Severus." No…that's what I want to tell you right now. "I was never given the chance to express my feelings for you. And what was my response? I…I slapped you. I screamed and cried, yelling that you were a coward and that all men were deserters. But before you left, you told me that you could never love another as your heart would only belong to Lily; after that, you apparated and I didn't see you for ten years."

Aurora blinked, as there was a secret she was still keeping from the man. Grasping her hands in her lap, the witch bit her lip, and muttered softly, "I called you a coward because…during my last year, you made me feel that I was actually worth something in this life. Growing up…" She turned her head aside; the words she was about to speak were ones she had never even relayed to her mother, though she knew. "I was never treated as if I was meant to be loved by any man, that I was a worthless piece of shite that would push everyone away. And in my last year, you made all that go away – until you left me."

Hearing her side of the confrontation between their younger selves, Severus could see why she carried the pain upon her shoulders for nearly a decade. Thinking back on the conversation he had with her mother, Severus could now see the correlation between what Cassandra had mention, and what Aurora just admitted.

During the time, all those years ago, the wizard knew that he had been lying. It was true that he had "loved" Lily since they met as children, but the day he met Aurora was the day he knew was true love existed; never before had he believed such an astronomical sensation could occur, as he never even witnessed it with his own parents. But with the death of Lily and her husband, Severus found himself attached to the love he thought he had for the first witch he met.

Looking back now, Severus knew that the love he held for Lily was nothing more than an escape from the home he grew up in. She was his first friend and the only person who seemed to care about his existence until Aurora arrived during his fifth-year. When he learned of her death, something within Severus broke; it was if he felt his purpose for being alive had disappeared, and he didn't know where to obtain it again. The wizard forced himself to believe that if he kept his love for Lily alive, that he could continue on living despite her death.

He was aware of Aurora's presence the entire time, but couldn't acknowledge that she was the real reason he continued to breath each and every morning. Looking back through the last ten years, Aurora had been the only individual he thought of each morning he woke, and each night he ventured to sleep.

Holding his breath, Severus reached forward and pulled his closest friend into his chest, one arm wrapped around her waist while the other held firmly against the base of her neck. Aurora instantly wrapped her arms around Severus' neck and held him just as close. Both held onto each other for several minutes, neither realizing that the other didn't want to let go. Severus breathed in her scent, and Aurora breathed in his; the wizard wanted to kiss her lips just as much as she to his; he wanted to say I need you, and she, I love you.

Both equally stubborn to admit what they had been hiding for ten long, frustrating years.

"Aurora…"

But the voice of her mother pulled Aurora away from the warmth of Severus' embrace. Looking towards she mother, she noticed that Cassandra's eyes were open and rushed to be by her side. Severus raised his head and looked upon the different monitors that read Cassandra's health; her heart rate was dropping and the wizard knew that she only had a few minutes left, if that. The wizard felt that he needed to leave, so the mother and daughter could share this final moment privately, but something held him back. Instead, he stood to his feet and stood directly behind Aurora, placing a firm hand on her back to reassure her.

"I kóri mou…"

"Nai mitéra, eímai akóma edó."

"O to koritsáki mou. Den écho polý chróno."

"No! Mom you can't leave me!" The tears she held back were rushing down her face. Aurora couldn't see straight, her surroundings became blurry; a strong ringing began to fill her ears, the beat of her heart was consuming her ability to breath. Heart wrenching gasps escaped her mouth; she felt helpless as there was nothing she could do. But the witch knew that if she didn't speak with her mother now, she would never gain the chance to do so again. "Mamá… Please, I still need you, I can't lose you too…"

Cassandra slowly reached across the bed to grasp her daughters hand. Both mother and daughter stared into each other's eyes, not willing to accept this fate, but knowing they must. "O glykiá kóri mou, pós se agapó." The woman's breathing was becoming labored, and Severus noted that she was hanging on just long enough to speak with her daughter one last time. "You have…always been my little goddess, the most precious jewel of my life. I am forever sorry that your real father ever laid a hand on you…I have regretted that since the moment I left him."

"No, Mamá! I was never mad at you!"

"My little goddess…I cannot express how much I love for you. Everything you have done has made me…so…proud of you." Lifting a hand towards her chest, Cassandra took a moment before she could speak again. "I am so proud that you are happy…and that you are doing something that makes you happy. Please…please don't ever forget to live your life!" Aurora grasped her mother's hand with both of hers; her face was a river of grief. The anguish which engulfed your sense was overwhelming, and you were barely aware that Severus was now holding you against his chest. "Aurora…?"

"Yes, Mamá?"

"Min stamatísete poté na agapáte tin kardiá sas. Ftáste se ekeíno pou agapáte kai zíste mia zoí chorís na lypásai." (Don't ever stop loving with your heart. Reach out to the one you love and live a life with no regrets) Thymitheíte óti tha parakolouthó pánta páno sas. S'agapó." (Remember that I will always be watching over you. I love you)

And with the last word as it left her lips, Cassandra's heart monitor produced a final beep before turning still, cascading the room in a death of silence. Aurora looked up at the monitor then quickly down at her mother. "Mamá? Mamá?! Wake up. Wake up! MAMÁ, WAKE UP!" Grasping her mother's shoulders, Aurora gently shook her body, unwilling to believe that the person who raised her, who loved her unconditionally, was gone from this world.

Severus couldn't fathom the scene before him. With all the death he had seen in his life, he had never before seen an individual so distraught at the moment of death of their loved one. The scene before him broke Severus' heart and he had to reach for Aurora to pull her away from her mother; turning the poor witch until her face was clutched to his chest, Severus held her firmly so she didn't have to witness the scene anymore. Just then, a Healer entered the room and was about to question the commotion, but noticed the scene and bowed her head. Grasping the sheet at the edge of the bed, the Healer pulled it over Aurora's mother until it fully covered the woman's body in respect; it was the sign of death, and Severus did not want Aurora to see such a sight.

Walking towards the door, he pulled Aurora in his arms until they stepped out into the hall where she collapsed onto the ground. Her wails and howls of sorrow broke the wizard on the inside. The promise he had made to her mother not even an hour earlier reiterated within his memory, and the wizard knew that this was one of those moments he had pledged to. Dropping to his knees, Severus held Aurora, knowing in that moment, all he wanted to do was curl the woman he loved in his cloak and hide her from the pain that engulfed her being.

Lowering his mouth towards her ear, Severus whispered, "I will never leave you, Aurora. I swear that to you."

~ oOo ~

Several days had passed, and in that time, Aurora had been running back and forth within herself; the poor witch was struggling to accept the death of her mother. Since the early hours of the fateful Sunday, Aurora was caught in the middle where she would agonize over the pain that consumed her and the ability to accept the fate of the most precious individual that she had lost. She barely remembered that night, only that Severus stayed by her side until Rose appeared at St. Mungo's to take the poor witch home to sleep off the agony and despair.

Severus spent his time speaking with Albus on the matter on how Aurora needed several days off to take care of any personal concerns. He expressed that he would visit Aurora at her home, but the Headmaster declined, stating that she needed this time to grieve, and that she would seek him out when she was ready; Albus had owled the girl stating that her classes would be canceled for the week and that she could take as much time as she needed. He had received a quick lettered reply, noticing that there were noticeable tear stains across the ink of her words. She replied that she was very grateful for Albus in his understanding and that she would be burying her mother by the end of the week.

What the Headmaster found peculiar was that Aurora had requested Severus to speak to speak to her classes at the beginning of the week and explain that she wouldn't return until the following week. She didn't say more on the situation, but her words made Albus smile; he had noticed the changed between the two over the last several weeks and only hoped that, this time, peace would grow between the two and they would act upon their desires.

Later that Sunday night, Severus had bene sitting in his personal quarters, attempting to finish grading papers and assignments he had neglected since he had spent the previous night at the hospital, but was struggling with the racing of his thoughts. The wizard could not stop picturing the sight of Aurora watching her mother pass on as she had; he could visibly see the love both mother and daughter shared, and could only imagine the struggle she was enduring. The thought disturbed Severus in several ways because he knew that, although her friend Rose was with her, she was suffering alone.

And the Potions Master wanted to be by her side, even if he just held her hand.

Grabbing the bridge of his nose, Severus growled, annoyed at the onslaught of confusing emotions mixing with the stoic façade he forced upon himself day-in and day-out. It didn't take an idiot to unearth that the man was still in love with the woman, he just didn't know how to go about it.

Still fixated on the assignments, he wasn't aware of the envelope with his name written across the middle appearing before his eyes. Dropping his quill in his ink, the wizard knew it was from Aurora and opened the letter, quickly reading its contents.

Severus,

I know I just saw you this morning before Rose took me home so I could sleep. Looking back over the course of the last twenty-four house, I don't think I properly thanked you for all the help you gave me through this tumultuous time. Severus, from the bottom of my heart, I sincerely thank you for staying by my side, both when we were with my mother and at her bed as we watched her pass onto into the afterlife. I don't know if I will ever be able to repay you for such kindness.

Severus scoffed at Aurora's words. Kindness? Bloody hell Aurora… But he continued to read.

I know you're scowling, Severus. Whether you like it or not, you do have kindness in your heart. If I'm the only one who sees it, then I will keep it a secret. Your kindness will only exist between the two of us, if that pleases you.

The initial purpose of this letter was to explain that Rose has assisted me with arranging a funeral for my mother. We will be burying her alongside my father at a local cemetery this Friday at noon and I was hoping if you would join me and Rose to pay our respects. I don't expect you to be there, Severus, but your presence yesterday was…very soothing and I was very thankful you were there. I could not have survived last night without you.

Albus is aware that I will be away for the rest of the week to take care of other personal matters. Both my classes will be canceled for the rest of the week, but if you have the availability, would you please stop by each class on the first day and explain that there was a family emergency and I will not return until next week?

Oh, and explain that the essay to be due this Wednesday? Please explain that I am allowing an extension and will collect it next week; I would greatly appreciate this.

Severus, again, thank you. Writing this letter to you, my closest friend, has given me the chance to finally breath and realize that my mother is forever gone – but I am not alone. I remember your words from last night, and I cannot express the meaning behind those words and how they have focused me throughout the day. I will hold you to your promise, Mr. Potions Guy.

I will see you in a week, unless you join me on Friday, but please do not feel obligated to be there.

Oh, and Severus? I miss you.

Love,

Aurora-Nyx Warrington

Reading and rereading the letter completely through several times, Severus dropped the letter onto his face, a hand outlined the smile that had formed on his lips as he read her words. The beating of his heart confirmed that Severus was, indeed, in love with the insatiable woman names Aurora; more in love with Aurora than he had ever bene with Lily. With his answer to her request already settled, Severus continued to work late in the night, knowing he had to finish grading the assignments of his dunderhead students before class the next day.

With the next day being Monday, Severus had walked into Aurora's first class, the Muggle History course, and caught the surprised expressions of her first-year students. Standing at the front of the class, Severus with the same merciless voice and stoic countenance as if he were teaching in his potions room, and he could tell some of the students – such as Mr. Weasley – were afraid of his presence in their non-potion course. His voice echoed across the noiseless stone room. "As you can see, Professor Warrington will not be joining you in class this morning. She had an emergency family affair occur over the weekend and will be absent for the remainder of the week."

Murmurs grew across the classroom as the students looked to others, questions what was going on. Several had stated that it was weird their professor hadn't been in the Great Hall at all yesterday or even that morning. Hermione raised her hand and spoke before Severus could tell her no.

"Professor, might we ask what has happened?"

"No. All Ms. Warrington has asked is that I inform you that the essay that was to be due this Wednesday has now been extended due to her personal absence." Some of the students cheered at the thought of having an extension, but there were others who were concerned for their teacher's wellbeing.

"But, sir, isn't there you anything you could tell us?"

"My, you are a bunch of noisy brats." Severus grasped his nose, a signature he realized he'd been repeating quite often, as of late. "Ask her yourself when you see her next week. Now get out of this classroom, I have somewhere to be." Severus swept his flowing cape behind him as he walked down the center isle and exited the classroom. He didn't have his class of fifth-years for another hour, so he strode up the stairs to the Headmaster's office and knocked on the door until he was allowed in. Albus greeted him with a smile as he stood in front of the elder wizard's desk.

"Ah Severus, I see you just came from explaining to Aurora's students of the dismissal of their classes this week?"

"Yes Albus."

The Headmaster smiled as he stood from his seat and walked towards Fawkes, gently rubbing the Phoenix under its beak. "I'm assuming most of the students were happy to have a break from one of their classes, eh?"

"Considering most of the dunderhead students at this school would rather play then study."

"Now, now, Severus." Albus turned towards the younger wizard. "I feel that you have come to speak to me on another matter than that of the students studying habits."

Clearing his voice, Severus walked towards Fawkes as well, noticing that the birds time was nearing its end, but assumed that it wouldn't be for another year or so. "I received a letter from Aurora last night. She suggested something that I feel would…ease her situation if I were to explain."

Eyes glistening with a sparkle of new life, Albus leaned his head forward. "I'm all ears, Severus."

~ oOo ~

Translations In order:

Nai mitéra. eímai edó = Yes mother, I am here

ti mikrí theá mou = my little goddess

I kóri mou = My daughter

Nai mitéra, eímai akóma edó = Yes mother, I am still here

O to koritsáki mou. Den écho polý chrono = Oh my baby girl. I don't have much time left.

Mamá = mom

O glykiá kóri mou, pós se agapó." = Oh my sweet daughter, how I love you.

Min stamatísete poté na agapáte tin kardiá sas. Ftáste se ekeíno pou agapáte kai zíste mia zoí chorís na lypásai = Don't ever stop loving with your heart. Reach out to the one you love and live a life with no regrets

Thymitheíte óti tha parakolouthó pánta páno sas. S'agapó = Remember that I will always be watching over you. I love you

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Chocobocolina :3