Hello everyone!
First of all, a big thank you for the lovely welcome back. It's so nice to see so many familiar names in the comments and in my messages – I've missed you guys!
I'll be honest, I've been sitting on this chapter for about two weeks now, but it needed editing, and I got the most terrible flu. I just didn't have the energy or the mental capacity to focus on this, but I'm well on the way to getting better (except for this stupid chest infection I can't get rid of). I really wanted to get this new chapter up before I go to bed. So, here it is!
This chapter is pretty heavy but I can't deny how excited I am to finally share it with you. There's aspects of this chapter that formed part of the key story points I created way back in 2011 when I came up with this fic. It's been a long time coming! Haha.
Anyhoo, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter and I look forward to reading what you thought.
Thank you as always for reading, for leaving comments and adding me to alerts.
Love to you all! x
Chapter 21
Severus leaned an arm against the coarse bricks of the fireplace and peered down into the dwindling fire. It crackled and sputtered, the flames desperately seeking what little kindling was left to burn. He threw a fresh log onto it and watched the fire take hold of it.
"She knows."
The voice penetrated his mind, and he glanced over at the two Jays perched on the back of an old armchair.
"She knows you're up to something."
"Hiding something."
"Keeping secrets."
Severus tried to close his mind off to the two birds. He didn't need them to tell him what had been weighing on his mind since Lydia had written to him in the dead of night to say she wanted to try his potion three weeks ago.
He was under no illusion that he could keep this secret from Minerva for long. He would eventually have to give her a reason for his absences, but he couldn't tell her the truth right now.
Since finding out about her sister's disease, Minerva had been doing her own research, but he could tell, despite her resolve to help her, that she was losing what little faith she had. And while he had tremendous belief in his work, he didn't want to give her false hope.
"She is sensible."
"She will understand the risks."
"She will be less understanding of your reasons for keeping your secrets."
"Please do not listen to my thoughts," Severus said as he moved to sit on the threadbare sofa. Bits of stuffing stuck out at the seams, and he pulled at a strand absentmindedly.
He knew Minerva would be angry with him, but he would not keep it from her forever. When the time was right, he would tell her everything whether his potion was a success or not. He would tell her about it all, show her his research, and walk her through every inch of his findings. But it just wasn't the right time. She would understand eventually; he had to believe she would.
"You care for her."
"Of course I bloody care for her," Severus snapped. "I do not need you to point that out."
"You have not told her."
"You keep your heart closed to her."
"She will not hurt you. Not like the other one."
"Lily."
"Stop!" Severus stood up abruptly. "I do not want you in my mind tonight."
"You should not fear love."
"Love can heal you."
"Love can heal you both."
Lily's image appeared in his memory. Her soft, happy smile was so carefree. Her eyes sparkled in the bright sunlight, and her fiery hair seemed even brighter. This image had visited him many times over the years, tormenting him, a constant reminder of all that he had lost.
He stared into the fire, Lily's eyes shifting to a bright blue as her face faded and gave way to a knowing smile. A secret deliciously held in that look he found so irresistible. A warmth spread through his chest as he thought of all he could have with Minerva.
"Loving her does not mean you are betraying Lily."
"And you do love her."
"You must embrace it."
"You have a great capacity to love."
"And to be loved in return."
Severus sighed, closing his eyes and attempting once more to close his mind. But for some reason, he couldn't block the Jays. They hovered in his mind, dancing through his memories, stirring through his emotions.
"Enough!" Severus lifted his wand, casting a shield around himself. He felt the Jays retreat, his mind feeling refreshingly light and empty. It was like stepping out into a frosty night and taking a deep breath.
As he lowered the shield, he glared at the birds.
"Do not do that again," he said. "I do not need either of you to explain my feelings to me. I know my situation... and Minerva's. We have an understanding, and we are content. There is no reason to complicate anything."
The Jays did as instructed and remained out of his thoughts, but he could feel their discontent.
He did not need this kind of distraction, not today.
He was glad when the door opened, and in walked Lydia, closely followed by Filius. Lydia looked nervous. She clutched her scarf to her neck and looked around the room as she slowly moved further inside.
"Thank you for coming," Severus said as a way of greeting.
"The more I thought about it, the more curious I was," she said, her eyes drifting to the table where he had laid out his research. "I won't bore you with pleasantries, Severus. I expect you wish to get right to it."
Severus looked at Filius and raised an eyebrow. While she was correct, he wondered if denying her words would be more socially acceptable.
"Perhaps we should have tea first?" Filius suggested with a smile. "You've come all this way—"
"Do not worry, Filius," Lydia interrupted gently, giving the older man a slight smile. "I know Severus enough to know that sitting around and getting to know each other over tea is his idea of hell. He is doing me a great service in creating this potion. I do not wish to make him uncomfortable."
Severus was pleasantly surprised, and when Filius nodded in understanding, he took that as a sign to move on. He moved to the table and picked up the pile of letters she had sent him.
"You've mentioned here that your episodes seem to be triggered by stressful situations or distressing memories. Is that correct?"
Lydia nodded as Filius helped her out of her coat. "I should clarify that the stress I feel is the trigger rather than the situation. I had one a few days ago when I thought I'd lost my reading glasses." She gave a rueful laugh and shook her head at herself. "I think the level of stress I'm experiencing determines the intensity and length of the episode."
Severus quickly jotted down the new information in his notebook. "Are you able to recall what happens to you while you're experiencing one?"
"Yes," Lydia said, sitting down. "It always seems to bring up memories I'd rather forget. Sometimes, it's like waking up from a dream. I can recall bits of it, but they quickly fade. Other times, I remember it as if it had just happened."
Severus thought for a moment. "When it happens, are you seeing the memory as if looking at it through a Pensieve, or are you experiencing it?"
Lydia took a deep breath. "It's like I'm right back in the moment. But there's always a feeling in the back of my mind that keeps telling me it's not real and I can pull myself out, but... but sometimes I get stuck."
"Stuck?" Filius asked, sitting next to her.
"It's like I can't find my way back to the present," she said, looking at him. "And the longer I'm there, the more afraid I am that I'll never return."
"Which makes you feel more stressed," Filius said, then looked at Severus. "If the stress causes her to lose control, it could explain why her mind takes her back to places she'd rather not be."
Severus continued to take notes, nodding along with Filius's words. "I agree," he said after a moment. "But we will need to test it to know for sure."
"Do whatever you need to," Lydia said immediately.
Filius turned to her. "This isn't going to be pleasant," he said. "We'll need to put you under duress to see what is happening."
Lydia scoffed. "You won't need to do much," she said. "I'm already feeling quite tense."
"In that case, we should get to work," Severus said, putting down his notebook. "This will be the perfect time to test the potion."
Filius looked up at him with a frown, and Severus paused. He had a feeling the older man thought he was being insensitive. He looked back at Lydia, who was staring into the fire, and sighed.
"If that is agreeable to you."
Lydia looked up at him. "It's why we're here, isn't it?"
"To be clear, Severus will need to use Legilimens to access your mind."
"I am aware," she said, giving Filius a reassuring smile. "I am prepared."
Severus nodded and collected a bag from the floor, seeing that Filius was resigned to continuing. He pulled out a series of glass vials in various sizes, each containing a specific amount of the potion.
"What are you expecting it to do?" Lydia asked as she watched him.
"The potion should slowly draw you out of an episode you're experiencing," he said, arranging the vials in order of size. It should also give you a boost of magical energy and ease any confusion you might feel."
"Sounds like a miracle potion," she said wryly.
"I also hope that it will work as a preventative," he continued, unsure of how to respond to her. "I hope that taking a small dose each day will keep the frequency of the episodes to a minimum."
He gave her a steady look.
"It will not cure you," he said. "But it will give you more time before the inevitable."
"If it works," Lydia said matter-of-factly, sounding more like her sister than ever before.
"Yes," Severus said with a sigh. While he believed in this potion's potential, there was still a very high chance that it would not work at all.
"So, where would you like me?" She asked, her normally bubbly outlook giving way to one of determination.
"That does not matter," Severus said with a frown.
"Wherever you're comfortable," Filius quickly interjected.
"I'm not sure we'll find a comfortable chair here," she said, giving them a slight smile. "But I'm quite comfortable where I am."
Filius turned to the Jays, and they flew over to nestle themselves on Lydia's lap. She petted Lizzie's soft blue feathers and smiled.
"They're here to monitor you," Severus said. "They will be the eyes into your mind."
"So they have explained." Lydia looked up at him, giving him a long, searching stare. Severus couldn't help but wonder what else the birds had said to her.
"We have said nothing she did not already know."
Severus wasn't sure he wanted to know what that meant and quickly pushed it out of his mind.
"I'll bring something to the forefront of your mind, and if an episode is triggered, I will withdraw to observe you. Is there a particular memory you would like me to look for?" He asked.
"I'm giving you access to my mind, but I don't want you pawing through my life at your own leisure," she said snippily, reminding him of Minerva again. "I will guide you to something."
Severus smirked. He rather liked this version of her.
"You should sit down, too, Severus," Filius said, pulling up a sturdy wooden stool and placing it directly in front of Lydia.
Severus could tell the older man was nervous despite his attempts to hide it. Taking pity on him, he did as instructed and sat down opposite Lydia. He was grateful for Filius's help, especially knowing how much he hated keeping secrets from people he cared about.
"Tell me when you're both ready," Filius said, standing beside them, his wand at the ready in case anything went wrong.
"I'm ready," Severus said.
Lydia's face was full of mixed emotions as she took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm ready."
"I'm going to count down from three," Filius said. "Three, two, one..."
"Legilimens," Severus whispered.
He felt Lydia waiting for him, her presence welcoming him into her mind. When entering a person's mind, he would see reels of memories rushing by, but he was surprised to see only faint flickers of Lydia's. She'd clearly had some training in Occlumency at one point in her life, and he couldn't help but wonder why. Perhaps he had always underestimated Lydia's magical abilities. Or could it be that her disease had already weakened her by the time he met her?
Before he could dwell much more on his thoughts, he felt Lydia guiding him, pulling him to a gossamer memory that became clearer the closer he got. He reached for it, expecting it to draw him in, but suddenly, he felt Lydia's presence disappear. Assuming an episode was in progress, he started to withdraw, but he felt himself being pulled back in.
He gave in to the feeling. Perhaps Lydia was directing him somewhere else. He was dragged through her memories, all of them clear as day, indicating that her guard was down. He had no idea where she was taking him, but he could sense a sudden urgency in the energy.
Suddenly, he found himself standing in the middle of a dark hallway. There was a ringing in his ears as he orientated himself. He looked around at this new environment; the dark wood walls and moving paintings hung on the wall.
He knew this place.
Lailoken.
He turned around and looked for Lydia, but she was nowhere in sight.
The ringing in his ears was still there, and he wondered if it was more related to Lydia's memory of the noise than his hearing.
Severus started walking down the familiar hallway, checking every corner and room for any sign of Lydia while trying to remember where this particular hallway put him in the house.
But he didn't have to wonder for long. Soon enough, he came to the main staircase and spotted a young girl kneeling on the floor, peering through the bannister. She wore a long white nightgown, her hair braided down her back, and she held her hands over her ears as music exploded from somewhere below.
Severus looked over the bannister and saw the doors open to a room that he recalled was once the ballroom. It was a party—a formal one, judging by the dress robes and evening gowns.
The sound suddenly became much clearer, and he looked down to see that the little girl had removed her hands from her ears. On closer inspection, he realised he had found his target.
"Come away, Miss Lydia." A House Elf rushed out of a nearby bedroom and tried to usher the small girl away. "You is supposed to be in bed."
"Please, Teensy, just a while longer," Lydia begged. "It's Hogmanay. I want to see who arrives to be First Footer."
Teensy sighed and sat down next to Lydia.
"I hope it's Bertie," Lydia grinned at the elf.
"Young Sir is away, Miss Lydia," Teensy explained. "I is hearing him telling Miss Neva when he was last here."
Lydia looked disappointed. "Then maybe it will be Peter," she said, brightening up. "Or maybe even Mrs Hartley, or—"
As Severus listened to the girl reeling off names, he tried again to leave her mind, but he couldn't. He felt like something was keeping him in place, and before he could try again, Lydia gasped. She jerked away from the bannister, Teensy following suit. Severus, however, rushed forward to look over it.
A tall, dark-haired young woman marched across the foyer; her head held high, her back ramrod straight. Severus felt something shift in his chest. He'd recognise her anywhere...
Minerva.
She wore a pale blue gown that glittered under the candlelights, her arms and shoulders bare and clear of scars. Her hair was piled up on top of her head, ringlets spilling down around her neck. She looked about 17, and despite the many years that had passed since this night, she really hadn't changed much.
"Where is she going?" Lydia wondered aloud, getting to her feet and running down the stairs before Teensy could stop her. Severus followed.
"Neva!"
Minerva turned to look at her little sister. "You should be in bed," she said with a smile.
"Where are you going?" Lydia asked.
Minerva glanced toward the ballroom and then leaned down to speak quietly to Lydia. "I'm going to see the Hartley's."
"To do First Footer?" Lydia asked excitedly. "Can I come?"
"If you're fast," Minerva said. "Put something warm on; it's raining outside."
Lydia ran up the stairs, and as much as Severus would have preferred to stay with Minerva, he felt himself being drawn away as Lydia's perspective changed.
He found himself suddenly in her bedroom, and he kept his eyes firmly fixed on the carpet as Teensy helped the girl into warmer clothes. In a matter of minutes, Lydia dashed out of the room, still pulling her cloak on. Severus was on her heel, and they were about to descend the stairs when she stopped abruptly and hid behind the bannister again.
"Where do you think you're going?!" A shrill voice snapped from outside the ballroom.
Severus looked down into the foyer and watched a tall brunette storm across the floor. He watched Minerva spin around, worry on her face as the woman approached her.
"Answer me, girl!"
Minerva flinched slightly and closed her eyes for a brief moment before answering, her voice calm. "I am taking gifts to our neighbours," she said. "It is Lailoken tradition."
The woman gave her a hard stare as she stopped in front of her. "That is the responsibility of the Lord and Lady of this house."
"Yes," Minerva held her ground as the woman edged closer, threateningly. "As I am now Lady of this house, that responsibility is mine."
The woman's hand shot out and grabbed Minerva's throat tightly. "Your responsibility is to get back in that ballroom and dance with as many eligible men as possible. You are a woman, Minerva. You will birth the next Lord that will take on these responsibilities."
"I am not an animal waiting to be bred!" Minerva seethed. "My father gave me this house, and I will-"
The woman slapped her hard. "Your father was a fool!" She snapped. "Filling you with ideas that you can be something when your purpose is to ensure this family continues for another generation."
"I am of age, mother," Minerva said. "This house belongs to me, and I am no longer under any obligation to bend to your will."
"You will, Minerva," the woman said dangerously. "Or I will make you."
A moment of fear flashed through Minerva's eyes, but she still held her ground. "Never," she whispered.
A loud crack rang through the air, and all of a sudden, all hell broke loose. The Grandfather clock struck midnight, and the ballroom erupted with cheers. Lydia screamed; Minerva held a hand to her chest as blood seeped through her fingers. Her mother raised her wand, a long black tendril curled out of the end, and she brought it down against Minerva's arm, her skin exploding at the impact.
Auld Lang Syne was being sung loud and merrily. Lydia rushed down the stairs, but Teensy caught her, pulling her back as Minerva ran for the doors.
"Bombarda!" Minerva shouted at the doors, and they shattered. Her mother chased her as she fled, and Severus wanted to go too. He knew there was nothing he could do to help this young Minerva, but his blood ran hot with hatred for the woman who could do this to her own daughter. He wanted to hurt her. He wanted to make her suffer.
Lydia was still crying and screaming. A chorus of hip-hip-hooray could be heard, and Severus felt himself being pulled out of the memory.
Suddenly, he was back in the Hog's Head, his heart thundering. Filius appeared in front of him, his face panicked.
"I couldn't withdraw you," the old man said, tears in his eyes as he checked Severus over. "I couldn't even find you. The Jay's said she'd taken you in so deep that it even took them a while to locate you."
"How is she?" Severus asked, brushing off Filius's concern.
"Not good," Filius said, drawing Severus's attention to Lydia, who lay perfectly still on the sofa. Tears streamed across her face, but her eyes were closed. She was silent. "She was screaming for someone to stop right before I pulled you out. I didn't know if she was speaking to me, but… it didn't seem safe to leave you in there."
"You were right to do so," Severus said as he rose from his chair and approached Lydia.
"What happened?" Filius asked.
"I don't know," Severus said honestly. "But I have a feeling I wasn't meant to see what I did."
"What was it?"
Severus remained silent for a moment before looking up at him. "I don't think Lydia would be too pleased if I told you."
Filius nodded quickly, seeming to understand. "Of course, I shouldn't have asked."
Lydia's eyes flew open, and she sat up, taking Severus and Filius by surprise.
"Mummy, stop it! Please!"
Severus grabbed Lydia by the shoulders, turning her to look at him. "Lydia, I need you to drink something for me," he said, trying to keep his tone soft. He knew immediately she was still trapped in that memory, still seeing the world through the eyes of a child.
"She's going to kill her," Lydia sobbed, beating her fists against his chest. "Do something. Stop her!"
Severus knew he should force the potion into her mouth, but he felt an overwhelming need to know what had happened to Minerva after she had fled.
"Lydia," he spoke calmly, waiting for the woman to look at him through her tears. "Where is Minerva?"
Severus could feel Filius hovering behind him and knew he wouldn't be happy that he was straying from the plan even more than they already had.
"Lydia, where is Minerva? What has happened to her?"
"So much blood…" Lydia's head dropped into her hands. "I can't… I can't stop it… there's too much…"
Severus tightened his grip on her arms and shook her slightly. "Lydia!" He snapped her name, forcing her to look at him again. "Tell me what happened to Minerva. Where-"
"Severus, stop it!" Filius said from beside him, pulling his arms off her. "She is in distress. You need to pull her out!"
Filius thrust the potion into his hands, and Severus held it momentarily. He felt sick to his stomach and took a slow, steadying breath. What happened was in the past, and he had to remind himself that Minerva had not died that night. She was alive; she was thriving.
With that in mind, he steadied Lydia's head and, with Filius's help, tipped a cap full of potion into her mouth.
Lydia jerked away from him, her back arching as her head fell back against the sofa. Severus and Filius jumped up to hold her in place, ensuring she didn't fall from the sofa or hurt herself.
Then, as quickly as it had all started, it stopped. Lydia slowly opened her eyes and peered up at them both.
"What is my name?" Severus asked.
Lydia blinked at him, collecting her thoughts as she shifted on the sofa. "Severus Snape."
"And what do I do for a living?"
"You… you are a teacher at Hogwarts."
"And this?" Severus indicated to the man beside him.
"Filius," Lydia smiled. "My favourite teacher."
Filius returned her smile, his eyes filled with tears as he let out a relieved sigh. "You were always one of my favourite students."
"And who are you?" Severus asked, wanting to keep things moving.
Lydia rolled her eyes. "Must we really—"
"I need you to say it," Severus interrupted impatiently.
"Lydia McGonagall," she said with a sigh. "My son's name is Logan, and my sister is Minerva. I live in Lailoken, Scotland and I—"
"That is enough," Severus said, holding up his hand to stop her. "I had to be sure."
"How do you feel?" Filius asked, sitting down beside her.
Lydia considered his question for a moment and then smiled. "I feel wonderful. Better than I have done for a long time."
"That's brilliant," Fillius beamed.
"What do you remember?" Severus cut through the happy moment and reached for his notebook. "Tell me everything exactly as you remember from the moment you entered the room."
"I remember it all so clearly." She looked delighted as she recited it all moment by moment. She was giddy, excited as she recalled their exact words and the feelings she experienced. But then, as she explained how she welcomed Severus into her mind, her smile faltered.
"Merlin... you were there," she said, staring in horror at Severus. "You saw it..."
"You must have taken me to it for a reason, Lydia," he said. "Why? What did you want me to see?"
"No!" Lydia glared at him. "I promised never to speak of that night to anyone outside of my family, and I will not break it."
"Who did you promise?"
"That's enough," Filius said, standing up. "I'm going to get some tea. Lydia needs to rest for a moment before we continue."
Severus huffed and snapped his notebook closed as Filius left. Lydia sat quietly, her hands clenched tightly in her lap as she peered up at him through tears in her eyes.
"What did you do?" She asked.
Severus frowned. "What did I do?"
"I was taking you to a different memory, and you—"
"I didn't do anything," he growled. "I lost you in there, and when I tried to withdraw, you dragged me along with you."
"Why would I do that?" She looked terrified.
Severus sighed. "I can't answer that for you."
"She wants you to know."
"She's preparing for the inevitable."
Severus glanced at the Jays who were now huddled together on the table.
"But she is afraid."
"Afraid it is too soon."
"She does not want to break her promise."
"Has..." Lydia sniffled. "Has Minerva ever told you about our mother?"
"No," Severus said. "I know they did not get along, but she does not talk about her."
Lydia wiped at her eyes. "Minerva didn't live up to her expectations."
"She didn't marry a wealthy pureblood," Severus said.
"No, she didn't," Lydia said, her tearful eyes growing dark. "She was right not to."
They fell into silence again, but Severus had to know more.
"What happened to her that night?"
"It changed everything," she said, staring into nothing.
"Before we gave you the potion... you said your mother was going to kill her," he said.
"If Peter hadn't seen what was happening, I think she might have," Lydia said, lifting her eyes to meet his.
"Peter?"
"He saved her life."
Severus stared at her. He had always thought Minerva and Peter were close because they had grown up together. But this, this explained it even more.
When Filius returned with tea, Severus sat deep in thought as he and Lydia talked of old times. Once Lydia was in a better state of mind, they continued with their work.
Severus made notes as Lydia described her experience, how she had somehow found herself in the memory even though she had been directing them to something else. The Jays confirmed everything Lydia had told them, and Severus was able to fill in the gaps himself when they lost sight of him and Lydia.
Filius tested her magical ability, and Lydia found that she could easily do spells that had been difficult since her diagnosis.
"I feel like a child again," she said, gripping her wand tightly. "It feels a little unstable."
"Perhaps we gave her too much?" Filius asked.
"I think so," Severus said, checking which vial they had given her and making a note. "We'll give you a lesser dose next time."
"If you want there to be a next time," Filius added.
Severus looked up at them. He hadn't even thought about that.
"I will admit that this session has frightened me," Lydia said with a tense smile. "But the memory mishap aside, I feel like my old self again."
"Does that mean you wish to continue?" Severus asked.
"Yes."
Severus felt relief wash through him. It was clear that the potion worked; it just needed to be refined. They couldn't stop now, but Filius looked hesitant.
"We need to find a way to ensure this doesn't happen again," he said.
"I don't think we can avoid that," Severus said. "We cannot control what Lydia's mind does."
"If we could, we wouldn't be here," she said, smirking slightly to lighten the mood. "If this happens again, then at least we'll all be better prepared."
They agreed to meet again in two weeks, and Severus gave Lydia a journal to record any episodes or side effects of the potion.
"Will you be returning to Lailoken tonight?" he asked as he packed away his research.
"No," Lydia said. "Filius mentioned a cottage I could use."
"I thought it best to keep her close so I can monitor her," he said. "I will stay with her until dinner and return after."
"I must head back now." Severus checked his timepiece. "Please repeat the same magic tests before dinner, before you go to sleep and first thing in the morning."
"I will," Filius reassured him. "And the Jays will remain with her at all times. They will report anything I need to know."
Severus nodded. "Thank you."
"Thank you, Severus," Lydia said, taking his hand. "And please, don't mention a word of this to Minerva. Not yet."
Severus knew from the look in her eyes that she wasn't talking about the potion. He nodded in agreement.
"But you should know, I do wish to tell her everything, eventually," he said. "And when I do, it will be everything."
Lydia gave him a warm smile. "We'll do it together."
Severus left them in The Hog's Head and rushed back to the castle, arriving just a few minutes before the class he had promised to return for. The rest of his afternoon went by quickly, and despite how much he tried, he couldn't stop his mind from replaying Lydia's memory. Minerva's cry as the whip slashed open her flesh rang in his ears, and he didn't even notice the bell had signalled the end of his final class until he saw his students packing away.
He was in his own world as he walked to dinner, and only half listened to Pomona as he ate. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Minerva conversing with Dumbledore, waiting for the opportune moment to speak to her.
"How was your afternoon?" Minerva asked once Dumbledore turned to speak with Professor Vector on his other side.
"Productive," he said. "Dare I ask who took my classes?"
"Albus," she said with a smile.
"Did he?" Severus looked around her at the Headmaster and frowned. "I hope he followed my lesson plans."
"I made sure that he did," she smirked. "But let's not forget that he was once an excellent teacher and knows his way around a potion or two."
Severus scoffed but thought it best to say nothing more.
Later that night, after Severus had finished his patrol with the Slytherin Prefects, he walked into his quarters and sat heavily on his sofa. He was exhausted. He glanced down at the bag he had hurriedly discarded before starting his class and pulled his notebook from it. He read over his notes, pleased with how well today's session had gone.
From a purely academic point of view, he had gained more insight into Lydia's disease by being trapped in her memory than he ever could have from observing on the outside. He wondered why that hadn't occurred to him to try before now. He made a few more notes in the margins, questions to address in the coming weeks as they continue to test the potion.
Eventually, his eyes shifted out of focus as his lids grew heavy. He placed the book back in the bag and tucked it away in his wardrobe, out of sight. He quickly got ready for bed and went through the portal.
As he slipped into Minerva's bed, she shifted slightly but did not wake. He waited momentarily for his eyes to adjust to the darkness and then stared at her back. He pushed her hair out of the way and pressed his fingertips to the silky fabric of her pyjama top. He could feel the raised scars, and he traced one from her shoulder blade down to the base of her spine.
Anger welled in his chest, spreading through his veins like Fiendfire.
Minerva shifted again, this time rolling over onto her back, her head turning to face him. She was still sleeping, and he lifted his hand to touch her cheek. He knew he should let her sleep, but he couldn't stop himself as he leaned over her and kissed her on the lips.
She opened her eyes as he pulled away, giving him a sleepy smile and stretching deliciously against him.
"Hello," she whispered, curling into him.
Severus wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and kissing her once more.
"I won't ever let anyone hurt you." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.
Minerva frowned, still half asleep. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing," he said, pulling her into his side and stroking her hair. "Go back to sleep."
He felt her relax into his shoulder, her hand resting on his chest. He took hold of it and brought it to his lips as he silently promised to do everything he could to keep her safe.
So, there it is! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and please remember to leave a review – I'd love to know your thoughts x