Chapter 8
To Grieve and to Love
Part 2
A/N: So I wasn't trying to rush this chapter but when the ideas flow, you gotta write! I'm not particularly happy with the way this chapter turned out except for the ending. With Part 1 and 2, they total in almost 14,000 words. I'm glad I split them in two, but I still feel something is off with this chapter.
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed/faved/following this story. When I receive these emails, it makes me really happy and I appreciate everyone who takes their time to read each chapter. Seriously, it means more than I can state.
Disclaimer: I only own Aurora and any other OC's.
~ oOo ~
Friday had appeared within the blink of an eye, and before Aurora knew what had happened throughout the week since her mother passed, the solemn witch found herself staring into a mirror that stood in the corner of her room. Her usual bright expression was replaced with a neutral façade, her eyes slightly red and puffy from the mourning she had endured throughout the last several days. Aurora stared into her reflection, her lips somewhat lifted as she stared at the chosen attire.
Her soft, chocolate brown hair was gently braided, beginning at the nape of her neck and flowed all the way down to her chest; plucking each individual section of the braid, Aurora pulled, adding volume too the hairstyle with several, slightly curled strands framing her face. Her short, lace black dress with cap sleeves accentuated her curves before she placed her maroon pea coat over her shoulders. Thick black tights covered her skinny legs while she placed her feet into ankle boots. A knock upon her bedroom door tore the woman away from the mirror and she turned to see Rose standing in the doorway.
"Hey…there's someone here to see you."
Aurora raised an eyebrow, questioning who it could be. "Oh? Well…could you please tell them to come up here? I'm…not quite ready."
"Of course," Rose replied, a small smile on her lips. Turning back to her mirror, the witch glanced over her hair and smoothed several fly-aways back into place. Aurora knew she was being fussy, but the poor woman was anxious and needed something to occupy her time. Grabbing the red lipstick off her bed, she touched up her makeup, flattened her dress and levelled her tights before looking back up into the mirror to inspect her appearance. A flash of ebony caught her attention and a voice seeped into her ears before she could make the connection.
"Aurora…"
Quickly turning, Aurora widened her eyes to find Severus standing in the doorway, his neck covered in a thick scarf and his shoulders a wool cloak. Aurora froze, her mind consuming several thoughts at once, but the one that pushed itself above the others was how ruggedly handsome Severus appeared. A heat crept upon her cheeks as her heart beat quicker, as it always had whenever she caught a first glance at that man each morning. She couldn't believe that he was here; and in her room, nonetheless!
But when she continued to stare and not say anything, Severus raised a hand and knocked on the doorway to gain her attention, though he wasn't aware that he already acquired it. "Aurora…?" Her name on his lips pulled her out of her stupor and the witch burst from her position and ran up to the man, clinging her arms around his neck and pulling herself against his chest. The witch placed her head in the crook of his neck and wasn't surprised when his response was to wrap his own arms around her, pulling her even closer.
The seconds ticked by before Aurora lowered herself, putting her hands against the softness of his cloak, staring up into his eyes. For the first time since the previous week, a true smile formed upon her lips, one that reached her eyes. Her voice was a whisper as she ducked her head down and said, "I missed you, Severus…" With the touch of his fingers against her chin, the wizard in question lifted her gaze towards his.
"I missed you too, Aurora."
Her expression grew as she reached her head upwards and kissed his cheek once again, but didn't stutter or excuse herself unlike before; instead, Aurora pulled backwards and stated, "Thank you so much for being here…Oh! Hold on one second…" Blinking, the Potions Master stood motionless, his fingers itching to touch where her lips had just been.
She walked towards her desk and pulled a spare tissue before walking back towards Severus and dabbed his cheek, who flinched, not knowing what happened. "Bloody hell, what did you do?"
Chuckling, Aurora pulled back and showed Severus the tissue covered in her red lipstick. "I don't normally where makeup, so I forgot it was on and marked you. Sorry." She giggled again before tossing the tissue away and walking back towards her mirror to reapply a small amount of lipstick onto her lips that she had lost. As she looked into the mirror, she noticed Severus walking closer towards her until he had slowly placed his hands onto her hips, slightly pulling until she was against his chest. Turning in his grip, Aurora was speechless to see how close Severus was, especially when he leisurely moved his hands from her hips up to her cheeks.
With noses barely touching each other, Aurora could feel the heat of Severus' breath caress her skin as his thumb brushed against her bottom lip. Gathering a breath in order to speak, Severus' voice was low and deep, the vibration sending an electrical current through Aurora's veins. "I think you look more beautiful without the makeup." Standing there in the arms of the one she loved, time halted around the two, Aurora stared wide-eyed into Severus' and could vaguely see how their faces progressively inched closer together. When she could feel the contour of his lips against her own, Aurora closed her eyes and waited for a moment she hadn't experienced in a decade.
"Aurora! It's almost time to go!"
Opening her eyes, the two absentmindedly backed away from each other as Aurora played with her hair, walking towards the door as she yelled downstairs to Rose, "We'll be right down!" Turning her head towards Severus, she noted the vacant look in his eye and the subtle redness that draped across his cheeks. Holding a hand over her heart, she looked away and muttered, "We do need to get going…It's almost noon."
With his dragonhide shoes, Severus walked across the wooden floor and bent towards Aurora; before she could turn her head fully, he gently replied her previous statement with a kiss of his own against her cheek. His hand brushed against her back as he said, "I'll be waiting downstairs," and then he walked down the hall and out of sight.
Staring through the empty doorway, Aurora placed a hand on her cheek, the onslaught of emotions mixing within her heart as several tears formed in the corner of her eyes. Wiping away any sign of sadness before they could fall, Aurora grabbed the bouquet of flowers she had prepared that morning from her mother's garden and walked downstairs. Rose watched her friend walk down the stairs and couldn't help but smile sadly; she had done everything she could think to have Aurora smile and found it amusing that it took Severus being there for several minutes for him to accomplish the same feat. With a nod, Rose disappeared with a POP as she apparated to the cemetery, leaving both professors alone to travel individually.
With the flowers clasped tightly within one hand, Aurora grabbed Severus' hand and smiled up at him. Before you she apparated both of them, she said, "Thank you for being here, Severus. I can't say that enough…"
His thumb rubbed across her skin as he answered smugly, "I know." And she stuck her tongue out at him before they apparated and were sent flying within the air, both as the wind and through it, when they found themselves standing before the grave that contained the casket of Cassandra. Rose was already standing next to them when they arrived as Aurora stared upon the grave that would hold her mother for the rest of eternity. Glancing back at the other professor, she noticed he held a questionable look upon his face.
Turning back towards the grave, she answered his question which lingered in the air. "We already buried my mother the other day. Rose supervised the whole thing as I…I couldn't do it…"
"Sometimes…it's easier that way," Rose stated, as she looked towards her closest friend. Walking towards her, both females embraced each other, tears and smiles adorning their faces. "Today…allows us to speak with your mother and no one else."
Aurora nodded as she gently removed the tears beginning to fall. "Yes. Did you want to speak first?"
"Mhm. I plan on leaving afterwards so you can have time for yourself to speak with her. I know you need it."
"Rose…"
"No, no, don't give me that face." Rose attempted to be brave and smile, but with the situation, she found her tears falling as well. "Damn…" Walking towards the fresh gravestone, the caretaker knelt onto her knees and became absorbed in her own world, ignoring anyone and everything surrounding her. She had been the caretaker for Cassandra for the last five years and the mother had become a really close friend, not just a patient she was when Aurora was gone.
Standing off to the side, Aurora turned, wanting to give her friend her respectful privacy. Severus, who never strayed from her side and, despite her already wearing a coat, wrapped the edge of his long cloak around her shoulders and pulled her close; the witch lifted her lips into a smile as she leaned her head against his shoulder.
"Severus…?" Her own voice caught Aurora by surprise.
"Yes, Aurora?" He tilted his head down to find her eyes shut tightly, as if she wanted to shield her vision from the world before her.
"It hurts…why does everything hurt so much?" Her spare hand squeezed his tightly, and the professor couldn't help but squeeze her fingers without having to say anything. The wizard, though he wanted to say something, couldn't find the words to do so. He knew people who had lost loved ones; hell, his own parents were gone, but the wizard hadn't concerned about the death of his father, though his mother's death did concern the man, Severus felt relieved when they had passed. Tobias and Eileen had brought nothing but pain and suffering upon his childhood, he had no concept what it was like to grow in a household where both parents loved the child unconditionally.
"Aurora, I…"
"No, I understand Severus, I don't expect you to say anything; sometimes…there's nothing that can even be said."
Looking down at the woman, Severus looked back and thought about the conversation they had at the hospital about what he had done. Back then, Severus knew he had been an ass, if that was even the best way to describe his attitude towards Aurora. For ten long years, Severus wished he could go back and erase everything that he said and kept Aurora by his side; being with her in that moment allowed the wizard to realize how much better of a man he was, simply by being in her presence.
With that specific thought in his head, Severus eventually replied with, "I want to take all of your pain away, Aurora. Is there something I can do…?"
With tears in her eyes and the most beautiful expression upon her face, Aurora stood until their noses were touching once more before admitting, "Please don't ever leave me. Even if we just remain friends, don't leave. You were my first real friend and besides Rose, you're the only person I'm really close to…you're the only one I trust."
As his mouth opened to say something, anything, Rose appeared by their side, sniffling as tears coursed down her cheeks. Though she was clearly upset, a bright smile held the female together as she said, "I gave my peace, Aurora. Thank you for allowing me this moment with you mother."
Looking up at Severus, she indicated for him to grab the flowers – which he did – and wrapped her arms around her closest female friend. They embraced each other for several moments before pulling away. "Rose, it has been an honor that you were my mother's caretaker. When I was away, she would always speak highly of you and how you made her situation happy. You were never just my mother's caretaker; you were a member of this family."
"Your mother recently told me the same thing. I am still so sorry for your loss, Aurora. Your mother was a magical person despite not having come from our world."
This caused the witch to smile. "Your words have made her smile, I am sure of it. Now…you remember what we spoke of earlier this week?"
Rose nodded. "I do, and I cannot thank you enough for being gracious. But…agh!" The female pulled several tissues from her jacket pocket and dabbed her eyes, laughing all the while. "I know this is a sad moment, but I am so tired of crying. How about you?" She asked as she handed Aurora a tissue.
"I agree. I don't know how long I'll be here but…"
"No, you take as much time as you need, alright? And Severus?" Turning towards the stoic professor, Rose stretched her hand out and they shook in understanding. "Severus, it was very nice to meet you, considering the circumstances. I'm betting you already know this, but please look after Aurora when you both return to Hogwarts. She's a very special girl." Simply nodding in response, Rose gave one last smile before she apparated and was gone. Knowing that it was now or never, Aurora stepped away from her position to stand in the same position Rose just occupied. Looking down, Aurora read the gravestone that was now the only marker left that proved her mother had once been alive:
Here Lies
Cassandra Helen Warrington
Beloved Wife and Mother
1944 – 1991
"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies"
Slowly, Aurora traced her fingers over the stone engraving over her mother's name. Long ago, Cassandra had told her daughter that she did not want her maiden or first married name upon her gravestone; she was loved and only loved her second husband and wanted to carry on his name, even in death. The witch remembered that she assured her mother that she would uphold this promise, and was proud she did so. Reading the quote beneath the dates, the witch laughed, proud that her mother had a way of expressing her love in both life and in death. Noticing that Severus had knelt by her side, she grasped the flowers from his hand before separating the bouquet into two and placing the first at the base of the gravestone and the second on the gravestone to the left.
"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies…" Severus read from the stone, one eyebrow raised in question as the quote was not familiar.
"That's a quote by Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher. My mother loved his works, even reading them to me when I was a little girl." Severus looked at her quizzically. "What?"
"What does it mean?"
"You're a professor, can't you figure it out?" Severus narrowed his eyes as Aurora gently nudged her shoulder against his. "Hey, I was only jesting. The quote is based off of an ancient Greek myth." Noticing his eyes bore into hers, he nodded when she asked if wanted to know the story. "Well, the story goes that in the beginning, all humans were round and large, each with four arms and four legs. One day, Zeus decided to split all humans apart, thus making all humans then have what we have today – two arms and two legs. From that day on, the humans searched throughout the world so they would feel loved and whole once again because they found their soul mate; this quote is supposedly based on that."
"You and your mother…are very much into Greece, aren't you?"
"Severus…you know I'm half-Greek, right?"
"No, you never told me that."
"Didn't you ever wonder why my name was hyphened, as 'Aurora-Nyx'?"
"No. I don't question people's names; look at mine, my parents decided to name me Severus."
"Hey, I love your name."
"Tch…"
"Seriously, I've always loved it."
"Whatever," he scoffed. "So…if you're half-Greek, were you and your mother speaking Greek?"
Aurora's eyes softened as she remembered. It had only been a few days ago, but the witch had no idea that the last time she would speak with her mother in the language that symbolize their heritage. "Yes, my mother taught me from a young age. It's been tradition in my family to name all the female's after an individual from Grecian history. With my mother loving both Greek and Roman mythology, she hyphened my name. 'Aurora' is the Roman Goddess of dawn, and 'Nyx' is the Greek Goddess for night. She used to always tell me that she loved both names so much, but still wanted to carry on tradition, that she named me both. She also used to tell me that I was her night and day, this is why she named me thus."
Grasping her hand, Severus could tell that she had difficulty explaining her name as her breathing quickened the more she spoke, along with the occasional crack in her voice. "Your mother really loved you, Aurora."
"I know. But…it's hard to feel that you deserve their love when one hated you." Looking over at him, she gave him a smile, but the wizard knew that it was all a façade. He knew she was hurting underneath and wanted her to let him in; though the man couldn't be a hypocrite. He was letting Aurora in a smidgen at a time, but knew that he shouldn't pressure the woman. "If it's alright, could I have a few moments with her? I…I think I'm ready to say goodbye."
"Take your time." When Aurora knew that he was far away, but still close enough to make her feel safe, she once again looked upon her mother's grave, sucked in a deep breath through her nose, and attempted to speak, knowing that there were things on her mind that she had to say.
"Mom…I can't believe that this is really happening… Just a few months ago, you and I were in your garden preparing the soil to plant your favorite fall flowers. This morning I went and picked the ones that bloomed the brightest. I had a hard time choosing, all were so bright and colorful, just like you, mamá." A hand was placed over her mouth as Aurora knew that the waterworks were forming once more. How many times had she cried this week? How many tears did she have to shed to mourn her mother? She knew the say 'time will heal all wounds,' but what about the fresh wounds when your grief is still new?
"You were always the bravest woman I knew, mamá. There were…" Aurora sniffled, pulling spare tissues Rose had placed within her pocket. "There were some things I witnessed when I was younger. I saw how Mark, my real father, hurt you. You always thought that you had tucked me into bed, ready to go to sleep, but there were times I snuck down just to make sure you were ok. Oh, mamá, you withstood all his beatings, al the nights he drank too much, and it was all just to protect me, wasn't it? I remember the times he beat me too; you did…e-everything you could to s-stop him. I knew that t-then and I most definitely know that n-now. I was s-so s-scared and afraid that he would kill us…but one day you decided enough and enough and left him. Mom…I wish I was brave enough to tell you this when you were still here but…I probably wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you. You made me the woman I am today, all because you never stopped protecting or loving me. I never knew what it was like to be loved by my father, but with you, I never needed to."
All the while she was speaking, Severus could hear every word, every detail loud and clear as he watched Aurora give her peace. He had never known that her father used to abuse her, just as his own father had. Closing his eyes, Severus could see the empty beer bottles surrounding his father's chair, and how he used to attack his mom, and when he was bored, how he would attack Severus as well, both verbally and physically. Thankfully, Hogwarts had been his escape for seven years when he beatings increased, but the wizard what Aurora had at the time? Just thinking of someone laying a finger on the beautiful woman sent Severus into such a rage; he felt as if he needed to know everything that the man put his own daughter through. Before he could think more on the matter more, Aurora's voice seeped through his ears and he was once again drawn to what she needed to say.
"Mom…there's more that I wanted to say, but please know this: I love and miss you, so much…You were my best friend, my partner in crime when we went shopping, but most importantly, y-you're the r-reason…the r-reason…" The witch hiccupped as her sobs caused the inability to speak; she calmed her breathing before continuing. "You're the reason I didn't let my father win. He made m-me feel so worthless, that I was lower than dirt. I w-wanted to end it all…but you taught me about strength and how I needed to see and believe in who I was, not what other's saw in me.
But above all, mamá, thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for allowing me to attend Hogwarts when we knew nothing of the world of magic. You were so understanding and willing to let me enter a new world, just so I could experience something that made me happy." Standing to her feet, Aurora brushed the dirt off her tights before she then placed her hand atop the gravestone. "You will forever be missed, but never forgotten." Taking in a deep breath, Aurora let the remaining tears fall so she could turn and brave the new world that stood before her feet. A world without the existence of her mother; she was deathly afraid, as if she now had no one to guide her on the rest of her journey. But Cassandra taught her daughter everything she knew, leaving Aurora in two different worlds with the knowledge to not only survive, but to live.
As the grieving witch turned, her eyes softened as they fell upon Severus, who had diligently been watching the woman as she spoke her peace to her mother. But what the witch was not expecting were the two individuals standing next to the Potions Master. Clamping a hand over her mouth to suppress yet another, unwelcomed gasp, Aurora ran towards the new individuals and wrapped her arms around Minerva and Albus, a bright, shinning smile grew on her face when the realization dawned on the witch.
Pulling back and erasing and sadness that was left upon her face, Aurora looked at the Headmaster and a fellow professor. "What're you two doing here? Shouldn't you be at school?!"
Minerva hushed the woman before pulling her in for another hug. "Everything's ok, as we won't be gone long. We were informed that today was when you were burying your mother, and we wanted to pay our respects."
This caused Aurora to tilt her neck to the side. "But…who told you? The only person I told was…" Turning in Severus' direction, she noticed the intent stare he was giving her, his posture was tensed, but his eyes surrendered to her.
Their interaction caused Albus to chuckled as he admitted, "Severus explained it all to us, so we decided to stop and give you our regards." The Headmaster noticed the look the previous student gave, but shook his head. "No, we wanted to stop by, my dear."
The witch couldn't contain the happiness that now flooded her heart and she found herself laughing, as the other three individuals watch closely to see if she was alright. Aurora continued to chuckle until she grabbed her sides, as her eyes teared up for a different reason other than to cry. "Oh, you guys! I don't think you understand how happy this has made me!" Looking at each one individually, Aurora smiled and, for the first time that week, felt that everything was going to be just fine – that she would survive within this world. As she spoke with Minerva and Albus about her mother, and answered all the questions they had for her, Aurora was unaware that the one individual she was not speaking with was watching her the entire time. With arms crossed over his chest, Severus watched as the smile she bore grew bigger and wider; he knew that she was happy, and the professor internally smiled.
Looking at Cassandra's grave, Severus thought about the only conversation he had with Aurora's mother. At the time, it had seemed weird to pledge to her mother that he would protect Aurora, but Severus would never go back on the promise he made to Cassandra. Regardless of the fact that she passed away or if she was still living, Severus would make the same pledge over and over if it was the only way to prove how much he loved this woman.
Moving his gaze back over to Aurora, he could see the redness fill her cheeks as her personality and liveliness was coming back from hiding in the dark for several days. His eyes scanned over her attire and was vaguely aware that he shouldn't be having the sexual thoughts about the poor woman, considering where they were, but that didn't stop the wizard from grazing his eyes over her legs, up to the shortness of her clothing, and the bare lace that spanned across her chest. Feeling as if a pair of eyes were on her, Aurora turned to see Severus still focusing his attention on her. She smiled up at him in which he returned the favor by barely lifting the corner of his mouth; but the difference was enough for Aurora to notice and she cherished the moment, knowing that he would only do it for her.
~ oOo ~
Later that night, Aurora found herself sitting in one of the armchairs she had placed in her personal quarters at Hogwarts, looking back on how the rest of the day had turned; Albus and Minerva had spent almost an hour with her and asked different questions about her mother while giving their sympathies. Aurora didn't need her fellow colleagues to give their respects, but the kind thought had Aurora realize that she definitely wasn't alone anymore, despite what she had felt through the last several years. When they departed, as they had to return to the school, Severus returned with Aurora to her home where they sat at the kitchen table and spent some time talking about her mother.
At one point, Aurora questioned how Severus was able to be with he when he normally had several classes on Fridays, and the professor admitted that he had canceled classes just he had. The witch was appalled that he would do so because she became guilt-ridden brought her focus back to him. Severus exclaimed that one day wouldn't hurt the students, and, in all honesty, the Potions Master admitted he was thrilled to rid himself of his dunderhead students for one day. Knowing that teaching was not Severus' exact forte, she knew that he needed a break here-and-there to save his sanity from some of the students that were in his classes.
She eventually dropped the subject when she stated that it was time to head back to the castle. Questioning if she was ready, the witch merely looked up at her friend and smiled. Whether the was at the castle or the home she grew up in, Aurora admitted that she would miss her mother regardless and that going back to her second home would help with the healing.
With that, Severus held her hand through their apparition until they were close enough towards the castle.
Once inside, he noted that it was later in the day and they had made it just in time dinner. At that moment, Aurora's stomach growled with the intensity of a hundred lions roaring for their meal; she gave an embarrassed smile to Severus and admitted that she hadn't been eating properly all week and, on some days, barely remembered to eat at all. The wizard wanted to scold the witch then-and-there, but remembered where he was and simply scowled in her direction and called her a dunderhead for her stupidity. The comment merely made the witch laughed as they made their way towards the Great Hall.
When they entered, they were met by several other staff members when walked up towards Aurora and expressed their sympathies. When the students gradually arrived and resumed their seats, several noticed their professors returned; their waves and smiles made the witch in question giddy on the inside as she returned their smile and a wave of her own. Severus smirked next to her, but quickly hid the expression as he drank his pumpkin juice. When Albus stepped towards his podium he gave a small pre-dinner toast before turning towards Aurora; as he turned back towards the students, he spoke gently where he voiced that Professor Warrington had returned because she had a death in the family and asked the students to bow their heads in silence.
Aurora gasped when she noticed all students, even those who occasionally caused trouble in her classroom, bowed their heads. She could feel a tear course down her cheek as she was not expecting such a student body to be so humble and kind. Quickly, she stood from her seat and thanked both the students and staff from the bottom of her heart and that her mother was now resting peacefully, no longer suffering as she had for several years.
Though the beginning of dinner was appreciated by the witch, her smile eventually turned neutral as she could feel her muscles slow and the smile fade. There is only so much happiness someone can contain within their heart with the pain is still so fresh.
The meal was over in what seemed to be several seconds, and next thing she knew, Aurora was changed into her sweats with a shot glass in one hand and the rest of her fire-whiskey in the other. Down the third shot glass of the burning liquid, she looked at the clock, she had barely noticed she'd been alone for almost an hour before she heard her portrait state that Severus wanted to speak with her. Allowing the man to enter, the wizard stepped into her quarters to see his friend's condition.
"Aurora?" Severus questioned her name as he neared the chair she was sitting in. Noticing the alcohol and the emptiness of her expression, the wizard grabbed both bottle and glass, placing them on the table before kneeling in front of her. "What're you drinking for?" Severus found himself asking gently despite the ache he felt inside for her.
Opening her mouth to speak, Aurora found that it didn't matter what she said, drinking away the pain was never the answer and she had only experimented one other time when she found that her step-father passed away while she was at school. Rubbing a hand across her face, Aurora could feel the after effects of the minimal alcohol she had consumed. "It just hurts…" she eventually whispered.
Scowling, Severus responded, "So you then drown yourself with alcohol?"
"I only had three shots!"
"Aurora, the bottle is half empty. The wrapper is on the table! You drank half a bottle of fire-whiskey?"
"Wait…really?" Looking around Severus' body, the witch noticed that, indeed, she had consumed nearly half the contents of the whiskey. She growled at herself, not paying attention to the amount she had been drinking. "Bloody hell…I just wanted a few shots."
With the scowl still on his face, but with a gentle voice, he asked, "How're you feeling right now?"
"I actually tolerate my alcohol pretty well, I just…feel fuzzy, but…it's not from the drink. Everything still hurts; all that I look at reminds me of my mother."
"Aurora, look at me." When she refused and turned her head away from shame, the wizard grasped her chin and forced her to look at him. Damn this woman and her stubbornness. But that look…No, Aurora, don't give me that look… Taking a breath, Severus said, "At least you're mourning your parents. When I discovered my parents were gone, I was barely phased at their deaths. I feel no remorse, no regrets, nothing at the thought that they are no longer here. But you…" Letting go of her chin and grasping her hand, Severus placed hers over her heart and held his on top. Her heartrate increased as she looked down at their hands before meeting his eyes, but what Aurora didn't know was Severus' was beating just as fast, as if they were mirroring the other. "You have a heart, Aurora; you feel everything around you. You see, you feel, you express and you love. This is who you have always been, since the day I met you. That pain you feel? That's your heart saying you care."
Turning her head away, Aurora's cheeks burned; she knew Severus was right, her mother had told her the same concept throughout her life. But why did she have to feel so strongly? Why her? Why must everything come with a painful price that she must endure just to know that she cared? Severus says I love and I feel, but is it too much? The witch internally criticized herself, but stopped and widened her eyes when the words that were spoken from Severus' mouth pulled her out of her reverie.
"At least you have a heart."
"No!" she all but yelled.
With both hands, she grasped Severus' face and leaned forwards, close enough to feel his breath against her lips. "Don't ever say you don't have a heart, Severus. Just…don't."
"Aurora…you don't know what you're talking about!"
"Yes I do!" Holding his hand against her heart, she dropped hers to his; their beats matched as one. Aurora could see the strain on Severus' face, but she did not let go. "Severus…I feel and you feel; I see and you see; I love…and I know you love too. Our childhood and lives have been different, but we breath the same and we live the same."
Narrowing his eyes, Severus glared in her direction, but knew that she was to stand her ground. "At least you're mourning. What child doesn't mourn for their own parents?!"
"The kind that was abused!"
Silence.
Breathing hard, Aurora didn't drop her hand from his chest, she wanted to keep it there, the beating of his heart through his thick robes was comforting. It reminded her that, at least, he was alive and was not going to leave her anytime soon. But she couldn't look at his face; her vision remained on the sculpted neck hidden beneath the collar of his robes. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she rolled her eyes in attempt to stop the few droplets of water that fell; but these weren't tears for her, these were tears for him.
"You remember."
"Of course I remember." She moved her gaze to meet his, whose were wide and frightened. Severus felt as if he was an open book. Aurora was the only person who knew of his childhood and the way his father had treated him, but even that didn't stop the vulnerability seeping through his veins. "You and I are just alike, Severus. I…I was abused by my real father when I was younger too."
"I know…" It was her eyes who widened this time, but he answered her question before she could even ask. "Your mother accidentally slipped when she spoke to me the night she died. I didn't press for anything but…I also heard when we were at the cemetery this afternoon."
"Tch…" the witch said as she closed her eyes. Grinding her teeth, she swallowed her fear and stated, "Severus…I believe you have a heart. You endured all that pain as a child and still lived."
Severus tried to pulled away but her grip was strong. "Look where it landed me, Aurora. I became a Death Eater! I've become a terrible man! I've killed, Aurora, murdered people in cold blood. You say we're alike? Then why did our futures turn out so opposite of each other?"
"We all make mistakes, Severus. Our past does not define us; we define ourselves. Sitting before me, I see a brilliant wizard who has suffered greatly through his life. But I see a wonderful man whose loyalty stretches farther than the sun on the horizon." Laying her forehead against his, Aurora breathed slowly, hoping that her words somehow reached the wizards mind. "A person without a heart wouldn't stay with someone going through the pain of losing a family member. Severus, your heart speaks louder than you let yourself hear."
Pulling away, Severus grazed her cheek with his thumb, his eyes scanning hers, trying to understand just what this female saw in him. He wanted to believe her, he knew he should believe her, but the choices his younger self made had the wizard questioning himself.
"What is your heart trying to tell you, Severus?"
Ignoring the increased rate he felt within his chest, Severus scowled and resorted to sarcasm. "It says you're annoying me." Knowing his statement would anger his friend, Severus was dumbfounded to see a smile on Aurora's face. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled the man in for a tight embrace, nuzzling her face into his shoulder.
"Oh, you meanie," she replied softly.
Without a second thought, Severus wrapped his arms around her, seeking the comfort he found when she was against him. Their embraces were becoming a norm; before, Severus scoffed at the idea of intimate contact, even the thought of hugging Lily was alienated from his mind. But with Aurora, she somehow erased all his doubts, worries, fears, pains and anxieties. He felt as if he was a clean slate when she stood next to him, that his crimes could be so easily forgiven. Tightening the grip he had on her shirt, Severus licked his lips and opened his mouth to speak. As he gained the courage to do so, the wizard could feel Aurora's limbs slack as her body molded against his more. Looking down at her face, Severus couldn't help but smirk when he realized her condition.
The damn woman fell asleep on me.
Chuckling, the wizard placed one arm under her legs and stood, making sure that Aurora's head stayed in the crook of his neck. As this wasn't the first time Severus carried Aurora to her room, he hoped that it wouldn't be the last. Grateful that her bedroom door was already open, he walked straight towards her bed and laid her on top of the covers, carefully pulling the comforter under her feet before pulling it over her body. Aurora moaned slightly as she rolled onto her side, facing Severus. Kneeling down, the wizard whisked a few stray hairs behind her ear, gazing and admiring the beauty Aurora held. Severus was astounded that someone was Aurora told him he had a heart. He'd been told throughout his life that he didn't by numerous people, but hearing her say otherwise made the wizard feel that it was true.
Daring himself to do so, Severus leaned towards Aurora and pecked her forehead with his lips, lingering a few seconds longer. Standing, the man didn't even make it towards the door before he heard Aurora's gentle voice call out to him. As he turned back, he noticed that she had rolled to her other side, curled in a ball, her soft breathing indicating that she was now relaxed. Grabbing the door, he turned to exit before her voice once again caught him off guard. This time, it froze the man in his spot.
"I love you, Severus."
~ oOo ~
Alright my friends, that is Part 2! I hope it was what people were expecting – thinking – hoping? Whichever, please leave me a review and let me know! All comments make me dance around my living room, in which I almost trip on my cats.
And, there were several songs I listened to that helped construct this chapter so here they are (I do no own these videos, these were straight from YouTube!). And yes, I'm addicted to Attack on Titan so of course there is an AMV for Levi – in which I just discovered this song, which speaks levels to me personally 3
Levi Ackerman – On My Own (AMV)
watch?v=47VsfzmyGic
Terra's Theme (Orchestral with Lyrics)
watch?v=Gax5ob68L3A
Kingdom Hearts II – Dearly Beloved [Extended w/ DL Link] watch?v=TG1pRNQAByI
Alright my lovelies, see you next time!
Chocobocolina :3