Chapter 10

Can Dreams Become a Reality?

A/N: Oh man…I just…I just can't with this chapter. I feel it had so much potential this just fucking fell through the cracks. I've had much trouble with this chapter that there were days I didn't even want to work on it. But I forced myself so we could move along in the story. I would appreciate constructive criticism; I want to hear if anyone liked this chapter or not.

Also I apologize if there are any major grammatical issues. I went through it really quickly so I could post it – that's how unhappy I am with it right now.

This chapter does contain some Mature themes, so be weary of that when you continue on reading.

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

~ oOo ~

Aurora-Nyx Warrington…I love you.

I've always loved you.

It's always been you.

.

.

.

With skin clinging to skin, sweat dripped upon the other as the limbs mingled in an elegant dance that transcended time and space. The coupling of two individuals so deeply in love was a precious moment as they joined as one, their body, mind and soul swirling together, forming one person to demonstrate the trust and faith they had in the other. Clothes were tattered, shoes tossed across the room and the sheets were thrown from the bed as both wanted to see the other in all their naked glory.

"Oh, Severus…"

"Aurora!"

"Harder…please, more…agh!"

Breathy moans echoed across the stone walling of Severus' private quarters. Auroral lay beneath the muscled wizard, her arms wrapped around his neck as her head arched back, mouth open to release her silent screams of ecstasy. Her bangs clung to her forehead as Severus' long, black strands tickled her face. As their breathing mingled into one, Severus groaned, his hips flexing into Aurora's, their thighs beating against each other to the coupling of their lovemaking. Nails biting Severus' skin, Aurora threw her head into the crook of his neck, her body spasming from the glorious pleasure erupting through her muscles.

"S-Severus…please, I'm almost…"

"Aurora…" The wizard continued to whisper her name, the power of his thrusting increased, his impending orgasm was close, and he knew his lover was almost there as well. Grasping beneath her thigh, Severus pulled the appendage upward over his shoulder, their approaching release was just within reach. Screaming at the new angle, Aurora curled her fingernails into Severus' back, dragging them down as she rode her orgasm, causing the male to arch, his hips flexing against hers. Severus roared, a deep, animalistic howl encompassed his entire being as he reached orgasm, legs spasming as her wetness milked him for everything he had. Collapsing onto the bed, Aurora sighed, eyes rolling into her head as Severus dropped to his elbows, his obsidian eyes never losing her direct contact. Reaching across her forehead, the Potions Master whisked sticky strands of hair away from her beautiful face before dropping a kiss onto her lips. His words were the last that she heard as sleep overtook her senses.

"I love you, Aurora…"

"I love you too Sever – "

.

.

.

"AHHHHH!"

Jumping out of her perfectly deep sleep, Aurora rose from her resting position, hand held directly over her heart, her hair clung to the back of her neck with sweat dripping down her shivering skin. Chest heaving up and down in an anti-rhythmic motion, the witch couldn't do anything but stare absentmindedly at the stone fornication of her bedroom. With a sun that just barely risen over the horizon, Aurora was caught in the pitch-black room that belonged to her, unlike the bed she had occupied in her dream, which belonged to him. Slowing her breathing down, the witch waited until her heart returned to a normal beat before swinging her legs over the edge of her bed.

A dream…It was just a dream…she thought.

Groaning, Aurora couldn't do much other than hide her face in the palms of her hands. Her cheeks were beet red as she remembered every single detail of that which she dreamt. She'd recalled all her lessons from Divination regarding the essence of dreams and their importance to know she hadn't seen – or felt – for nothing. Her dream was something she'd been wishing on for some time. Aurora screamed into the air as she fell backwards onto her covers, wanting nothing more than to hide her shameful face. How old was she? Why did she have to dream a wet dream about Severus?!

But what made the female toss and turn in her already destroyed bed was how the witch wanted nothing more than for her wish to become reality.

Growling when she realized the sun was peeking through the windows, Aurora stood and stretched, removing her pajamas as she made her way towards the confines of her shower. As the witch prepared for her day, Aurora took heed of the date and realized that it was already December Thirty-First – the last day of the year. Standing in her small kitchen, the female was still reeling from the morning she'd had, but was even more excited for tonight. Severus had asked to spend New Year's Eve with her, and she couldn't contain the bubbles bursting through her stomach.

Since Christmas Eve, Severus and Aurora spent even more time together since a vast majority of the student's returned home for the holidays. Neither had returned to the topic of Severus' confession, but, then again, their lips were locked with the other the moment they were alone. Speaking hadn't really been a part of their routine over the last several days. Squeezing her eyes shut, Aurora's mind would not let go of the images held within her dream; the way Severus held her, the way he kissed her, the way he… Oh god…

"Aurora…?"

Screeching, Aurora jumped in her position, assuming that she was still alone. "Severus?!" Eyes widening, she turned in his direction as he stood close by, his wandering eyes watching her every move. "When did you get here?!" she asked as she held a hand over her ever-beating heart.

"Just a moment ago, but you were deep in thought you didn't hear me. Everything alright?"

"Umm, yeah, everything's p-perfect." Damn my stuttering! Playing with the ends of her hair, she placed a strand behind her ear, giving her male friend a smile in the process. But Severus wasn't having it.

Stepping towards her, Severus gently touched her cheek then placed the palm of his hand against her forehead. "Aurora, are you alright? Your face is flushed and you feel warm."

"I-I'm fine, Severus. I think it's because I didn't get the best sleep last night." At that precise moment, her stomach growled as if on cue, causing the witch to giggle and the wizard to raise an eyebrow. "And apparently I'm hungry as well. If we don't leave, we're going to miss breakfast!" Placing a smile on her face, Aurora knew that Severus didn't believe her, but she needed to escape her room, and to escape the dream.

~ oOo ~

After breakfast had concluded, Severus questioned Aurora if she would like to spend the afternoon with him, as he had requests from Madam Pomphrey to refill several stocks of potions that were currently low in the Hospital Wing. The two had made plans for later than night, as it was New Year's Eve, but there was something on Auroras mind that she needed to seek an answer for. She shook her head and gave the wizard a bright smile, stating that there was something she needed to take care of before they met that night. Nodding his head, Severus glanced around to see if there were any students around their location – luckily, they were hidden behind a stone pillar near the Great Hall – and when deemed there were no prying eyes, leaned down and bestowed the witch a gentle kiss upon the corner of her mouth. Giggling, she waved her hand as she made her way towards the Grand Staircase, the Library being her next location as Severus made his way towards his office in the dungeons.

Trekking towards the Library, she waved and spoke several words as she passed several students, both wishing her an early New Year. Upon walking into the large room that housed thousands of texts, if not more, Aurora felt at home, surrounded by leather bound spirals of parchment, the old smell of ink and paper infiltrating her nose as she beamed, despite the reason she was there. Wondering through the aisles, Aurora spent some time looking for a particular book she had found when she was still a student in Divination. Though she remembered her lessons fairly well, the witch for looking for answers.

An answer for the dream she had.

Of course, Aurora knew full well what her dream meant, the message was clear as day. But there was something else, biting at her deep within that she needed to seek. She wasn't sure if she would find an answer, but the witch knew she had the time. Scouring through aisle after aisle, book after book, Aurora was about to give up her search, until she found what she was looking for. The book was rather old, as it was written within the early nineteenth century, but that didn't stop Aurora as a student to compare the findings within the book to that of her Divination studies. After speaking with her Professor on the matter, she knew that this was the best book in decoding and understand one's dreams.

Needing to read in the confines of her own personal space, Aurora checked the book out as she waved goodbye at Madam Pince. Knowing that she didn't really want to read in her room, the witch made the journey down towards the Dungeon anyway to grab her thick wool cloak and her scarf, preparing herself for the coldness outside the castle walls. Once burning beneath the layer, Aurora made her way towards the castle gates and found an empty courtyard; a soft blanket of snow had covered the grounds throughout the last several weeks. Despite the temperature outside, Aurora felt comfortable in these conditions as she brushed off the layers of the powdery snow from the fountain edge before taking a seat as she pulled the book from inside her cloak.

And that was where she sat. The leather-bound book was thick and filled with terms, definitions, techniques for interpreting dreams and what to take from what an individual had dreamt. Aurora's purpose? She needed to know of other interpretations for what she'd dreamt. Was there something else behind the obvious? Did her dream stand for something that she wasn't aware of? But, most importantly for Aurora, she wanted to consider whether this was a topic to discuss with Severus so early in their relationship.

The witch didn't need a book to know, in simple terms, that the dream meant she was, not only sexually aroused, but that she wanted to become sexually intimate with Severus. Did she experience dreams such as this in the past? Of course. Were they as passionate as last nights had been? Oh hell no. What concerned the witch the most was how Severus would react if she explained it to him. After everything that had happened to them in the past, and within the last few months of becoming a Professor, Aurora didn't quite understand what they were, despite their conversation on Christmas Eve.

But that was just the thing for Aurora, Christmas Eve just occurred within the last week, the woman didn't want to suddenly bombard the Potions Master with a discussion of her sudden peak in sexual arousal. She was afraid. Afraid of anything that could separate her from the man she had loved for over ten years. Never having been in a relationship before, Aurora wasn't sure what to do, this was a situation she had never experience. Looking up at the clear blue sky, Aurora couldn't help but wish that her mother was here, she would've known what to say to her daughter. Noticing a sudden ball of liquid trace down her cheek, she wiped it away before chuckling.

I'm such a stupid fool, she thought. I'm worrying over absolutely nothing.

Realizing that the situation would only depend on an answer she dictates, Aurora closes the book and breathes a sigh into the cold air, her breath forming on the wind as she watches it float in the sky above her. The crunching of snow caught her attention as she turned around, noticing a Mr. Potter carrying his owl was walking in her direction, with his attention somewhere else. Smiling, the Professor knew the boy was something else. "Well, good afternoon Harry," she stated in his direction.

Eyes turning towards her, Harry smiled as he walked towards her side. "Good afternoon, Professor Warrington. I didn't see you there."

"I suppose not, your attention was fixated on Hedwig." Gently reaching her fingers towards the beautiful bird, Hedwig allowed the woman to touch her silky feathers as Aurora gently rubbed down the bird's back. "Such a beautiful owl you were given, Harry."

"I'm guessing Hagrid told you she was my birthday present?"

"Yes, he did. And I bet you were surprised."

"Surprised doesn't cover what I was feeling that day." Stretching his arm away from his body, both Harry and Aurora watched as Hedwig extended to length of her majestic wings to took her course to the sky. Feathery wings flapped as the owl flew around the courtyard before leaving the vision of the two individuals watching her. Taking a seat next to his professor, Harry added, "I've kept her in her cage for way too long, I finally felt ok with allowing her to go and come back when she needed."

Eyeing the boy, Aurora simply said, "Sounds like you were also letting yourself free, Harry." The young wizard turned towards his teacher, an unmistakable expression etched in his eyes. "I've seen you since term started. You're still gradually accepting the Wizarding World, aren't you…?"

"Yeah, I am." Turning his attention to the sky, Harry was hoping to see his beloved owl, making her way back towards him, but just as he knew he needed it was well, Hedwig needed this time to be free and to live. "It's been such a rush these last few months. One day I think I'm this…normal person, and then the next thing I find a whole world I've been a part of, but have never seen."

The boy sighed as he turned towards his professor. Aurora knew his look all too well, as it was the same she held when she first became a student all those years ago. "It's a feeling I'm all too familiar with, Harry."

Her statement made his eyes lighten. "You are…?"

"Yeah. I'm Muggleborn, so I knew nothing of this world at all until Professor McGonagall appeared at our door one day and said that I was a witch. But you, young Harry. You were thrown into this world as much as it was placed upon your shoulders. The last person in my bloodline to have magical powers was several centuries ago…" Harry gave her an odd expression. "Heh, I researched my family. You're just as completely new to this world, just as Ms. Granger. But you, Harry, had family members who had been in your shoes but you were kept in the dark. I can only imagine how this transition must have been difficult."

Harry considered Aurora's words and smiled, as she had been the only one to perfectly describe, not only his situation, but what he was experiencing. "To…tell the truth, it's been easier than I thought it would be. I mean, I've struggled, especially with Potions, but I've made some great friends and they've been helping tremendously." A smile formed on Aurora's face as she listened to his words. She was about to speak when Harry continued. "But, your class has also helped, Professor." He turned his attention towards her as Aurora turned her head to the side.

"M-my class? How so, Harry?"

"Well…" Twisting his hands in his lap, Harry kept his attention on her. "It's just…you're very nice and friendly. You treat your students as students, but, you also treat us as people at the same time. You're always working to ensure we understand the material. But I like how you're teaching us information while not wanting to change our opinion, as you stated the first day of class. I know I'm at Hogwarts while in your class, but it doesn't feel like I am at the same time because of what you're teaching. I mean, I wish I could've grown up in this world the whole time, but keeping at least one class about the muggle world has…"

"Helped the transition? So you're not completely cut off from the world you grew up in?"

"Exactly!"

Chuckling at his response, Aurora clasped her hand on her student's shoulder. "I am very glad to hear that Harry, very glad. Our upbringings were different, but I know the struggle. I love being a Muggleborn and a Witch; trying to find the balance between the two is tricky, especially when you're still standing in the middle of both doorways. Have you told anyone this, Harry?" The boy shook his head. "Well then, swing by my office if you have any questions, whether it's related to class or not."

"You mean that?"

"Of course I do! But Harry, listen…" Turning in his direction as she bent on leg on the stone edge, Aurora stated, "Don't see this as if I'm forcing you. I agree, I think you've found some great friends in Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley. I just wanted you to know that you have another person to speak with if you ever need to."

"I…I greatly appreciate that, Professor. Thank you."

"You are very welcome, Harry."

"Aurora…?"

Turning in the opposite direction, Aurora noticed Severus standing against the closest doorway towards the front gate. Giving the man a soft smile, she turned towards Harry and noticed the expression his eyes had as he looked straight at Severus, the latter providing the same expression back. Sighing, Aurora patted the young wizard on the head and reminded him of her offer before standing and walking towards Severus. But she looked at the boy as she added, "Please don't stay out here too much longer. The sun I starting to drop and it's most likely going to snow again. So stay warm!" The boy only smiled before tightening his cloak around him and walking in the opposite direction.

Severus had already began trekking towards the castle as Aurora sped to catch up with the man. Book held tight against her chest, she asked what he had been doing before he found her. Without glancing in her direction, he replied with, "I finished all the potions and went to seek you out. You weren't in your room nor the library. But," he glanced at the book and frowned when he noticed the title. "It would seem that you were there before making your way out here."

Her eyes lowered. "I needed some place quiet to think. I didn't want to be in the library, nor my room so I came here."

"And here you've been for the last several hours, I would assume."

Aurora slowed her speed before stopping. "Hours? What time is it?"

Sighing, Severus turned towards her as he grasped her hands and noticed the redness of her skin, her fingers beyond cold as she was not wearing gloves. "You dunderhead…you forgot your gloves didn't you." His stare penetrated her eyes as Aurora averted his intense gaze.

"I…I didn't forget. I chose to purposely not wear them as it's hard to turn pages with thick gloves on."

This caused the wizard to sigh, the breathy tone singed with slight anger. I'll say it again: you dunderhead. Can you feel your hands?"

"No."

"Can you feel mine holding yours?"

"No."

"Stupid."

"Hey! Now that was mean…oh!" Aurora was wrapped in additional heat as Severus quickly threw his cloak around her shoulders. Taking off his gloves, the wizard held them out for her to take, and one glare had the witch sold as she placed her fingers inside the warmth of the fur-lined hand-warmers. Sighing, Aurora cuddled into the added fabric around her face, a tingling feeling erupting across her body as her skinned warmed and let go of the frozen aspect of the cold. "Leave that on until we reach my chambers."

The journey down towards the dungeons didn't take much time, but the silence between the two had Aurora on edge. Was she so engulfed in the text and her own questions to realize how late she had stayed? Mentally kicking herself, the witch knew that she, at twenty-seven years old, was about to receive a lecture from the infamous Severus Snape. Ah fuck, she thought. And as they entered his chambers, she faced the man and prepared to apologize, but was met with Severus' lips upon her own as she was thrown against his portrait door. Book escaping her fingers to the floor, Aurora draped her arms around his neck, pulling the man closer.

Severus invaded Aurora's mouth and claimed it as his; Aurora reciprocated his actions as their tongues battled one another. The witch, most definitely, was not expecting such an action from Severus, but as his hands crawled down her waist until they clamped onto her hips, a spontaneous moan escaped her lips, causing the man to pull her against his chest, tightening this remaining grip. Needing to breath, Aurora pushed against Severus until their lips separated, leaving her slowing intaking air as Severus pulled her towards him. Expecting their lips to meet again was what she expected, but instead, Severus leaned his forehead against her own and exhaled a sigh of relief.

"Don't ever…do that again…" Though he stood with perfect composure, Aurora could tell their shared lip-lock session caused to man to weaken as he slowly breathed in and out. Looking deep into her eyes, Severus kissed her temple, where his lips stayed as his hand gently cupped her cheek. In a whisper so quiet, Aurora wasn't sure she even heard him, Severus softly stated, "I couldn't find you anywhere…And when I do, you're beyond freezing cold." Closing her eyes, Aurora mentally scolded herself. The kiss wasn't any other kiss they had shared recently; it was Severus' way of explaining his current rampage of emotions. Tightening her grip on his neck, she pulled the man forward as his wrapped around her waist. "You dunderhead…"

His words caused her to chuckle. "I promise I'll be careful next time, Severus."

Pulling from the confines of her warm embrace, Severus turned his back towards her. "I don't think you understand these feelings I have for you, Aurora."

"I know, all too well." Walking up to his side, she placed a hand on his arm as he cast his eyes in her direction. "But Severus…" She cast her eyes towards the blazing fire across the small living space. "I…what are we…?"

Facing her, the man asked, "What do you mean?"

Sighing, Aurora retrieved her text that had fallen on the ground and took her normal spot upon his couch, with Severus following suit. Tracing the cover of the book, Severus watched with curious eyes, wondering what she was doing with such a text on dreams – and then he remembered the dream she had mentioned earlier that morning. "Severus I'm scared."

"Of what, Aurora…?"

"That this, between you and me, is all a dream," she mumbled quietly.

Reaching towards her hand, her grasped the delicate skin of her fingers as to stop her from tracing the title of the book. She didn't look his way, but Severus could hear the escalation in her breathing and the way her skin slowly grew slick from nervousness. "Is that why you sought this book after breakfast? Did you have a dream concerning us?"

"Uh…w-well, you see…yes and…no? Not, exactly?"

Grasping her chin to look his way, Severus was surprised to see the redness coat her cheek, in which curiosity got the better of him. "So, what was the dream of, if I can ask?"

"I'd rather not say…but…" Looking up at the man she loved, Aurora further added, "Severus, I know you've never used it against me before, otherwise I would've sensed you. I don't want to speak of it, so please…"

"You're wanting me to use Legilimency?" Aurora nodded, her blush reddening, but was accompanied with a slow growing curvature of her lips. "Will I know what to look for?"

"Don't worry, I'll show you."

"Hmph, alright." Placing a forefinger against her forehead, Severus muttered "Legilimens," and was thrusted through the mental capacity that was Aurora's mind. Severus saw images of the two of them together before her voice entered his ears, speaking to him what she had thought earlier. Severus didn't understand her words, couldn't comprehend why she was questioning her fear. But then she displayed the dream she had, and Severus knew all at once. He witnessed their coupling, the way she moaned and the way he thrust deep within her; the wizard couldn't witness what she had dreamt and deny that he'd had similar thoughts. Pulling away from her mind, Severus found that Aurora had moved from the couch and now stood in front of the fire, arms clasped around her midsection as she stared at the mantle.

Standing from the couch, Severus made his way over until they were back to chest; with his hands on her shoulders Aurora still didn't turn around, so he decided to speak first. "Aurora, are you ashamed of it?" She shook her head no. "Then why…?"

"A whole lot of reasons. I've never been with a man before, relationship wise or intimate; I'm terrified of losing you; with everything that happened at Christmas, I didn't want to tell you this – I thought I'd scare you…everything's happening so quickly…" Turning in his arms, she leaned her head against Severus' and took in his scent. "I'm confused, mainly."

"About us." A statement, not a question, was Severus' reply.

"Specifically, what this is between us and…if there's a future."

Her words caused the wizard to sigh as he nudged Aurora away so they could see one another. "You've always been a worrywart. Always seeking an answer when one isn't needed. Aurora, on Christmas when I said I love you, did you doubt my words?"

"N-no, I did not, Severus…"

A small lifting of his lips had the female on edge. "You were also the type of student that needed to hear and to see something before understanding in full. I guess I'll just have to show you."

"Huh?" Raising an eyebrow, Aurora didn't have a chance to question Severus' words as he scooped her slim frame into his arms and carried her towards his room. "Ah! Severus?! What on earth are you doing?" But the man didn't answer, but providing the woman with an evil smirk as he slammed the heavy wooden doors towards his personal room with his shoe. Walking to the side of his bed, Severus dropped Aurora to her feet and, without saying a word, removed the layers of cloaks until she was standing in just her jeans and a thick sweater.

"Take off your shoes." The huskiness erupting from his voice shook Aurora's breath as she reeled in sudden arousal, while still processing his intentions, but it was the stare she received from the man that instigated her to obey his command. Kicking off her boots, she tossed them in a random direction, her stare and his collided, neither blinking, neither saying a word. As she finished, Severus, too, removed his dragon-hide boots when Aurora's breath hitched in her throat; she had no idea what the man was thinking, but in that moment, she didn't care. Her need to feel this man outgrew her need to know the why in everything she sought. Moving past Aurora, Severus sat upon his bed until his back was flat against the headboard, his arm outstretched to grab her hand. She slowly reached out in confusion until his soothing voice calmed her nerves. "Sit in front of me."

"Um…O-Okay…" Following his directions, Aurora climbed atop the black, fluffy comforter until she was seated between his legs, her back firm against his chest. Anxiousness crept into her heart as she knew nothing Severus was planning; but whatever he had in his thick head, she knew naught, but as his fingers delicately skimmed across her thighs up to her shoulders, she had a sudden idea what he had planned.

"So…" Dipping his head down to her ear, Severus quietly muttered his words, the heated breath from his slips caused a shiver to run its courses up and down her spine, her back arching slightly, lips closing as a moan wanted to escape. His calloused fingers traced the contour of her arms, gently skimming her skin and leaving goosebumps in its wake. Aurora was lost in sensation, unaware that Severus slowly lowered his hand until she could feel the man pop the snap of her jeans, the coolness of his fingertips melted the heated flesh of her lower abdomen. "These dreams, have you had them before?"

Knowing she would be a blubbering mess, Aurora simply nodded, the back of her head fell to Severus' shoulder, her breathing hitched the more he touched.

"I see…" Smirking, Severus bent down and nibbled her earlobe, the pants escaping from her lips had the wizard on edge. Fondling the line of her underwear, Severus grabbed the rim of her jeans and edged them down the length of her curvaceous legs, and, before she could protest, maneuvered his way underneath the remaining fabric until he was greeted with the curls of Aurora's nether region. Severus wasted no time in dipping his finger between her folds, closing his eyes as he caressed the heat Aurora emitted, her wetness arousing the wizard to the point he had to control his hips as to not thrust upward into her.

Mouth open and eyes shut tightly, Aurora was immersed in sensations floating throughout her being. Waking up that morning, she had no idea that revealing her dream would lead to sech endeavors, but as Severus curled his fingers into her point of pure pleasure, all she wanted to do was to let go. For once, she didn't want to think, to understand, to question the purpose; Aurora simply wanted to give in and allow her desires to manifest as she succumbed to simply feel.

From his position, Severus could see her defenses fall, her willingness of having to comprehend the world around her crumbled as she gave in to what he knew she truly wanted. Though their years apart, the man knew Aurora entirely, and he most definitely knew that she pulled herself back when it came to obtaining something she truly wanted. She was always the "think first, act later" individual and although Severus had admired, and respected, that specific quality about Aurora, he wanted her to give in.

The gasps and moans elicited from her mouth pulled Severus from the depths f his mind as he focused on giving Aurora what she wanted, and ultimately, what the man had been wanted to gift to her since she returned in his life. His husky breath warmed Aurora's skin while his fingers rubbed circles around her sensitive clit; as her back arched and her own breath was nothing more than heated pants, Severus knew the end was near. Biting down on her earlobe, Aurora inhaled sharply as Severus pushed his hand farther down and entered one finger inside her slick warmth. The woman winced, the sensation utterly new to her body; Severus took heed of her reactions, whispering nothing but loving words into her ear as his one finger slowly pumped her warmth while his thumb returned to provide attention to the sensitive nub that would grant her pleasure.

"S-Severus…" Aurora's voice was nothing but a murmur, the outside world incoherent as all she wanted to do was enjoy the way Severus' fingers appreciated her lower region. The woman was a bumbling mess; words, other than Severus' name, were nonexistent. One hand reached around and grabbed locks of his hair while the other gripped his sheets so roughly her knuckles had turned white.

"Aurora…"

"Oh…oh god, Severus…!"

The man pressed his thumb harder and increased the speed of his index finger, curling slightly each time he entered. She was there, Severus could feel it as her body pulsed, along with her increased warmth and slickness. Biting down on her ear once more, the wizard ordered, "Let go," as the witch opened her mouth wide and screamed towards the heavens. Her legs bent and pushed together, pinning Severus' hand in her womanly depths. Aurora's entire body shook violently as she rode her orgasm, gasping for breath, she was vaguely aware of Severus removing his fingers as he gently placed a kiss against her temple. Turning her head slightly, she could make out a smile on his features, but was met with the back of her eyelids as she succumbed to a pleasure-induced slumber.

Waking with a groan, Aurora slowly opened her eyes, a hand rubbing the side of her head as she vaguely remembered the events of that day. Sitting upright, the female glanced at her surroundings, and, upon realizing that did not wake up in her room, Aurora squealed and covered her face in embarrassment. Looking down, she noticed that she was clad in only her black underwear and baggy sweater and squealed even more, for she recalled the intimate moment between her and Severus.

"Aurora?"

Snapping her head to attention, Aurora slowly turned her gaze upon the doorway to find Severus leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed with an eyebrow raised. Heat flushed upon her cheeks, her legs pushed together in remembrance of where the wizard's fingers had delved. Grabbing the blanket, Aurora threw the comforter over her frame and curled into a fetal position against the mattress, wanting to forever avoid the gaze of the man currently chuckling at her reaction. She barely had a moment to breath before the confines of her safety net was removed and her gaze was met by his. Crouching, Severus moved several strands of hair away from her beautifully reddened face before speaking. "It's almost midnight."

Not expecting those words to be the first he spoke, Aurora raised her eyebrow in question, and, timidly, sat up once more, her hand finding it's place upon Severus' cheek. "I…I didn't mean to waste the evening, Severus…"

"Is that what you think? Hmph, come with me." Severus stood from his position and made his way towards the door, but stopped when he noticed Aurora refused to leave the bed. Shaking his head, the wizard asked, "Would you like me to leave so you may…redress, yourself…?" Eyes shut tightly, Aurora merely nodded her head without looking in his direction, to which the man chuckled and closed the thick door behind him. Aurora, knowing she was along, quickly stood and retrieved her jeans, to which were neatly folded upon a chair in the corner of the room, and dressed in her boots, along with her cloak around her shoulders. Once ready to face Severus, she opened the door to see the wizard dressed warmly as well. Extending his hand and tilting his head in the direction of his portrait door, the two left hand-in-hand, though Aurora was curious as to what he had planned.

Aurora allowed Severus to swiftly guide the two of them through the castle, her arm wrapped tightly around his as she trusted his movements. She knew Severus was not afraid to be seen by any of the students as, for those who decided to remain in the castle for break, it was past their curfew. They twisted through the many stone corridors and made their way up several slights of stairs until Aurora knew they were headed to the Astronomy Tower. The female hadn't been there since the day she confided in Severus regarding her mother's condition; though it brought painful memories, the location itself was special, and she was surprised that the male professor decided to bring the two of them here.

Walking up towards the railing, Aurora gawked at the view she had of the entire grounds, as well as the beautifully lit sky that surrounded her every move. Severus watched from afar before wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her against him. Tensing, Aurora closed her eyes and breathed in Severus' scent; her limbs relaxed as she covered his hands with her own. She was jittery around the wizard and she knew that he knew, but the woman was nervous, and frankly, self-conscious over what had occurred earlier in the night.

"Aurora…" The female was pulled from her depths of her mind when Severus' voice flowed through her ears. "There's only a few minutes left until midnight."

"Is there really?" Turning in his arms, Aurora raised her head to admire the man's face in the moonlight. "Severus, I…W-Why…" Turning her head away, she could her face darken, but knew this was something she needed to question. "Why did you…?"

"Because I love you, Aurora-Nyx." At those simple words, Aurora could feel nothing but warmth; warmth what she felt by those words and warmth at the way he was admiring her. "Aurora…I don't go back on my word. At Christmas when I said I loved you…my words were a promise." Gently stroking her cheek, Severus lowered his hand to grasp the pendant around her neck that had been his gift to her; he'd knowns he hadn't taken the trinket off since she opened the present. In a small voice, Severus mumbled, "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about you in the same manner."

"Severus…"

"Earlier, you stated that you didn't know what we were, well let me ask you this: what do you want us to be?" Severus gripped Aurora's waist as one hand held her cheek as his gaze penetrated her eyes. "It took me ten years to realize that I fucked up our first chance together. I do not…I will not fuck up this time. Aurora, please, I…" Severus growled, eyes closing in frustration. "Dammit…" he mumbled.

"Shhh…" Placing a finger upon his lips, Aurora knew, in that moment, that everything she had been secretly hoping, was unbelievably true – and she couldn't have been happier. "I know, Severus, I understand. I love you, so much. Stay by my side, and I'll stay by yours."

Mouth going lax, Severus could do nothing but marvel at the beauty that stood before him. "Be mine…" he whispered. "That's all I've ever wanted, was for you to be mine." As the last word left his lips, the clock tower chimed midnight, signaling the change to the new year as both lovers simply stared into the other's eyes.

"Severus, what do you want for the new year?"

"All I want is you by my side. I want our relationship to grow and all I want to do is to love you."

She giggled. "Don't steal my words, Severus." Grabbing his cheeks, she pulled him in for a kiss, and a kiss the man delivered. They devoured the other, Severus guiding Aurora until she was locked against one of the stone pillars. Hands flew into hair, gripped certain parts of the other's body, but most importantly, they held one another, finally in a place where they each knew what they wanted. Pulling back, the redness returned to her cheeks as she meekly asked, "Severus…do you think we could do more…of what we did earlier…?"

The corners of his lips turned upwards as he stole another kiss. "For you, Aurora, anything."

~ oOo ~

This chapter was all over the place. It had so much potential as there were certain concepts I wanted to portray…but my mind was everywhere when working on it, I couldn't grasp it all.

Was it good?

A piece of shit…?

Also, I'd love to hear what people think might happen in future chapters! I'm curious where my readers are thinking Severus and Aurora are headed!

See you next time lovelies!

Chocobocolina :3