The darkness hung heavily over the cottage, only accentuated by the occasional flicker of candles that danced with shadows on the walls. Severus sat on his bed, a tome of ancient potions and remedies lying open on his lap. His mind was elsewhere, lost in thoughts and theories on how to develop a cure for lycanthropy that plagued his friend.
The door creaked softly, barely audible over the rustling pages. Elara Belby, the daughter of the celebrated potions master Damocles Belby, stood at the threshold. Her silhouette framed by the moonlight leaking through the window, casting an ethereal glow around her.
"Can't sleep?" he asked, without looking up, assuming she was there for one of their late-night discussions on potion ingredients and their properties.
"No, it's not that," Elara replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she stepped into the room.
Severus looked up, finally noticing her presence fully, "What is it then? Another idea for the Wolfsbane Potion improvement?"
She shook her head, moving closer, "Not exactly. I..." she hesitated, the moonlight playing in her eyes, revealing a depth of emotion seldom seen.
Severus closed the book and set it aside, motioning her to sit beside him on the bed. "What's troubling you, Elara?"
"It's...this," she said softly, leaning forward and pressing her lips against his in a tender kiss that seemed to freeze time itself.
Severus sat stunned for a moment, the kiss igniting a multitude of feelings within him he had not realized he harbored. As they pulled apart, he searched her face for answers.
"Why?" was all he could muster, his voice low, laced with surprise and something he dared not name.
Elara took a deep breath, her eyes locked with his, "Because I couldn't stand another moment not knowing what it would be like. And because...because I know you feel this too, Severus. This isn't just about the cure, is it?"
He sighed, the weight of secrets and hidden feelings bearing down on him. "Elara, this is dangerous. Your father, the work—we have too much at stake."
"I know, I know all of that. But doesn't this mean something too? Can't we fight for this as well as the cure?" her voice was earnest, pleading.
Severus looked away, conflicted. The desire to push everything aside and admit his feelings was overwhelming, yet the risk of complicating their mission weighed heavily on his heart.
"Elara, I..." he started, then stopped, unable to form the words that would either kindle hope or extinguish it forever.
"Say no more, Severus. I understand," she said quietly, her voice tinged with sadness as she stood and moved towards the door. "Goodnight," she added, leaving him alone with his turmoil.
The room felt colder, emptier, as Severus pondered the gravity of the moment they'd shared. A moonless night, indeed, yet it seemed as if one of the stars had descended to earth, if only for a fleeting kiss.
They spent the rest of the week in an awkward tension, each day passing with few words exchanged, yet laden with unspoken emotions.
"What are we going to do about this, Severus?" Elara finally broke the silence one evening, her voice steady, though her hands trembled slightly as she stacked vials on the shelf.
Severus paused, weighing his words. "I...I don't know, Elara. This isn't simple."
"Nothing worth having ever is," she countered softly, her gaze meeting his.
"And your father?" Severus ventured, the question hanging between them like a sword.
Elara sighed, a long and weary sound. "He might never understand, but I can't...we can't deny what's here. Can we?"
Severus watched her, the resolve in her eyes stirring something within him. "No, we can't," he admitted, the weight of his admission both freeing and terrifying.
In the days that followed, their late-night discussions resumed, though now there was a new depth to their conversations, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that had formed between them, as fragile and as strong as the flicker of candlelight against the darkness.
After a month of this delicate dance, Damocles had reached his limit. One evening, as Severus and Elara were quietly discussing a complex potion theory, Damocles burst into the room.
"Oh by the love of Merlin's hat, you two can date! I have had it with you two giving each other guilty looks!" Damocles exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
Severus and Elara froze, turning to face him. The room was silent for a moment, save for the crackle of the fire.
"Father, I—" Elara began, but Damocles raised a hand to stop her.
"I've seen the way you two look at each other. It's as clear as day. All this tiptoeing around is driving me mad. If you two have feelings for each other, then so be it," Damocles said, his tone softening as he saw the surprise and relief wash over their faces.
"Are you sure, sir? I would never intend to disrespect—" Severus started, only to be cut off.
"Severus, you are as capable as they come, and I've come to see you as much more than just my apprentice. If my daughter sees something in you, who am I to stand in the way? Just... be careful, both of you. We have important work to do, and I can't have you two lost in each other's eyes when there's a breakthrough on the horizon," Damocles advised, his tone now carrying a mix of seriousness and warmth.
Severus nodded, a sense of relief and gratitude flooding through him, "Thank you, sir. We'll be careful, I promise."
Elara smiled, taking Severus's hand, "Thank you, Dad. We won't let you down."
Damocles nodded, giving them a small smile, "I know you won't. Now, let's get back to work. We have a cure to find, and who knows? Maybe love is the missing ingredient we've been looking for."
The tension that had once filled the room had lifted, replaced by a sense of hope and determination.
"And no more sneaking around, the walls are thin, I heard Elara and you kiss. It's frustrating." He said, leaving the dining room to his office.
Elara's cheeks flushed red at her father's blunt revelation, but she gripped Severus's hand tighter, an unspoken promise between them.
Severus, trying to regain his composure, called after Damocles, "We'll be more transparent from now on, sir. You have my word."
Damocles's voice floated back, lighter now, "That's all I ask. And Severus, try not to look so terrified. You're amongst friends here."
Elara giggled, easing the tension, "See? He's on our side. We just have to...figure out how to be together and not derail our research."
"Indeed," Severus sighed, a smile breaking through his concerns. "I suppose a balance can be found. Your father is a wise man, Elara."
"Looks like we'll embark on two quests then: one for the cure and another for...us," she said, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"Both equally challenging and rewarding, I'd say," Severus replied, wrapping an arm around her. "To breakthroughs and to us, then."
Authorsnote: I'm gonna be honest i wrote this after reading a webcomic that made me want to find the author and demand he be Arrested for torture, back and forth with melodrama. It was unbearable so I thought. "How much would i need to spend on their Patron to demand them to end this torment." then I thought. "Would an Assassin be cheaper?" and finally. "I better make Elara and Severus of official before I get arrested for conspiracy to murder, wait is that a thing?" I was going to make this at least three chapter, but then I remembered I don't like torturing my readers, unlike that Korean webnovel. peace out, I need therapie.
