A Return To Hogwarts

The next morning I hurried to get dressed, luckily my room also had a modest bathroom, with a shower. The water was barely lukewarm, but at least I was able to wash the sweat off from my passionate night’s sleep. While I soaped up and rinsed off, I wondered if Severus was naked in his own shower right at this moment, and chuckled to myself at the thought of us sort of ’being naked together’, even if we were in separate showers. I suddenly remembered the note from last night, but after a good night’s sleep I felt a lot better, and decided to let sleeping dogs lie.

I went through my clothes I had brought and settled on a lovely medieval looking dress. It was the one I wore when I had my oath-swearing ceremony to dedicate myself to Freya. It was pretty, with amber-gold colored lacings up the front similar to the shade of Freya‘s magical necklace, the Brisingamen; the amber lacings tie up a red bustier for Freya’s passionate nature, and the sleeves and skirt are black silk, symbolizing her correspondences to death, rebirth, and the unknown, and also to her mystical art of seidhr, trance magic. It is beautiful enough to wear as a ball gown, but comfortable enough to wear whenever, and not to mention that it gives me great cleavage. I laced up my riding boots, which are quite comfortable for doing a lot of walking, and hoped I wasn‘t overdressed. I looked stunning though, I had gotten a lot of admirers back home when I wore the dress to celebrations as one of Freya’s ladies. After I had dressed, leaving off my armor for the day, I assumed I wouldn’t need it on a tour of Hogwarts. I was sort of looking forward to my morning with Severus. However, after overhearing him last night I knew he had similar feelings for me, and I wondered if it could be pursued. What if Dumbledore’s rules involved no relationships with co-workers? I wouldn’t ask about it, but I guess I would find out should the occasion eventually arise. After finding a suitable place to keep my armor safe. I decided I should quickly put my other things away into the wardrobe, since I was much too tired last night to do so. I had just finished when there was a soft knock at the door. I went to open it, and of course it was Severus. He no longer smelled of fire whiskey, and didn’t look as greasy this morning, I wondered if my candid assumption was correct, and we had been at least naked near each other.

“I see you are ready. Good. Shall we get breakfast before or after the tour?” he said cordially, eyeing my dress, then back to my face.

“Before please, I haven’t eaten since last night.” I was starving, I hoped he wouldn’t mind walking around after breakfast. We headed up to the Great Hall, but passed it up to get to the teacher’s lounge.

“I hope you didn’t expect to eat in the Great Hall, I usually eat in here when school isn’t in session, when I’m here that is.” he pulled out a chair, offering it to me to sit. He sat down across from me.

“No this is fine, thank you. I’m sure the food will taste the same no matter where we eat it.” I wondered where he spent his time usually when he wasn’t here at Hogwarts.

As I said that, two plates popped out of nowhere in front of us. The elves must have remembered what I liked while I was here, because it was fixed the way I wanted it. Two eggs, toast with honey and butter, and a glass of fresh pumpkin juice, and a carafe of hot coffee. Severus had tea, and toast. He stared at me quite a bit, which made me a little nervous, as I didn’t like people gawking at me while I ate.

After a long silence, filled only by my fork clanking against the plate as I ate my eggs, Severus looked at me and said “When you are done, I figured we should start by going to the grounds outside, it’s a nice morning so I assumed after being in the dungeons all night you would like some sunshine.”

“How considerate of you,” I said with a smile, I was looking forward to some fresh air, unconsciously I put my hand on his again, he still did not pull away. “Is it chilly out?”

“It’s a fair morning, I would say, at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit.” he glanced down at my hand on his, I felt a finger twitch, but he didn’t reciprocate.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.” I took my hand away. He acted as though he didn’t notice any of it. I sipped my coffee to hide my nervousness.

“You have a bit of egg, just there, on the corner of your mouth.” he said raising an eyebrow. I tried to wipe it away, but finally, he grasped the napkin from me and wiped it away himself. He looked stunned at his own behavior in spite of himself as he tossed aside the napkin. “Yes, well, we had better be going.” he said clearing his throat.

We exited the main doors to walk the grounds. All the while he was pointing out things here and there. Hagrid was working on something outside his hut, I waved at him, and he waved back. We went to the black lake, and Severus continued to spout a bit of history about this and that, a few historical facts I didn’t really know when I went to school here. He looked just as striking outside against the background of the black lake and trees as he did in the moonlight last night when we walked the halls together. His robes flowed gently in the breeze. He rested a foot on a large rock on the shoreline of the black lake, making him look a little rugged, as he pointed out the rising and again submerging shape of the giant squid offshore. He went on to tell me of the creatures that shared home with the squid in the vastness of the black lake, I remembered most of the things he was pointing out, but I didn’t want to interrupt him at all. I was just enjoying him talking to me. We passed the greenhouse, where Professor Sprout taught herbalism, and went for a quick visit to the quidditch pitch. He showed me Slytherin’s quidditch team locker room, since I had never been on the Ravenclaw quidditch team, it was interesting to see. I have always been a fan of quidditch, just never good enough while I was in school to play on a team. On our way back to the front doors, Hagrid stopped us.

“I see yer showin’ the new girl around’ eh, Professor?” said Hagrid with a cheery smile.

“Yes, Hagrid, she needs to be familiar with the grounds if she is to work here.” Severus said with only a minor tad of impatience.

“I though’ Dumbledore, usually ran the tours here, but I suppose yer doin’ a fine job,” he said shrugging his immense shoulders, then he turned to me “and how ar’ you enjoyin’ yer tour, Aurora is it?” Hagrid said cheerily, nodding in my direction.

“I go by Siguna now,” I said still maintaining poise, it really didn’t bother me, I knew it would take everyone getting used to, “and yes, thank you, Hagrid. I am enjoying the historical tidbits I didn’t know.” I said respectfully. I always liked Hagrid. He seemed to have a good heart despite his lineage. I smiled at him. I briefly hoped I hadn’t killed any of his relatives. Giants, true full blooded giants, back home are very vicious. They would sooner rip your head from your shoulders, put it on a spike, roast it, and eat it as a shiskabob, before they would ask you how your day is going. Most of the time we didn’t have trouble, naturally though when food was scarce they would come to bludgeon a few of us, as we took out a few of their own ranks. I knew Hagrid wouldn’t intentionally hurt a fly, despite half of his lineage was a blood thirsty lot. His heritage was apparent. I had seen to many giants for it not to be obvious. I never thought about asking Hagrid if it were true, I thought it might offend him. I just figured he had to be at least half giant, average men don’t get that big, not even if they are fed meat and potatoes at every meal.

“Tha’s good. You take care of her now Severus. I’d show yeh’ my new class projects, but I’m afraid they’re sleepin’ rih’ now. Oh! Siguna, I bin looking‘ after yer raven, quite a fella tha‘ one. He‘s off righ’ now checkin‘ things out fer himself. I‘ll let him know yeh stopped by. He‘s been killin’ some rats that are runnin’ in the school garden. Quite a good fella he is. Helpful too.”

“Thank you, Hagrid. Sounds like he likes you. He doesn‘t kill for pleasure.” I said with a smile. I knew Hugo would be fine. He’s a very smart raven, even among other ravens. I often wonder if he is the reincarnation of Hawkwind. Hugo has reminded me of him so many times it is almost frightening.

“By th’ way, milady,” Hagrid bowed a quick bow, “Yeh look like a princess in that pretty dress… Sorry ‘bout that, not of’n we get ladies ‘round here that look like princesses.” his face flushed a little, as though he thought he might have said something a little too forward.

I blushed, while Severus looked away, and he almost looked paler for a moment. “Thank you again, Hagrid.” I said, still blushing a pink color which surely clashed with my dress.

“That’s fine, Hagrid, we must be going, lots to show her. Goodbye.” Severus seemed a little abrupt with Hagrid, but given Hagrid’s history with animals, I imagined we might have a few bruises if we stuck around to wait for his ‘projects’ to wake up, whatever ’they’ were. I waved good bye to Hagrid, and he nodded and gave a small wink. I felt like even Hagrid could sense Severus and I had some kind of chemistry. He’s sort of like me, wild in a way. If anyone could sense things like that I’m sure it would be Hagrid.

We walked briskly back up to the main doors, and he held the door for me as we went back inside.

“I suppose we should start upstairs then end in the dungeon. That way by the time we are done if you need to ready yourself for Dumbledore’s meeting with you, you may do that. Do you have any questions so far?” he said looking again at my dress, particularly the lacings.

“Not really at the moment, Severus.” We walked up the stairs, to the library, he showed me the portrait of the fat lady, where the Gryffindors call home while they are here, a few different classrooms, including Transfigurations, Charms, the History of Magic, and the observation tower for astronomy classes and so forth. He told me he didn’t want to show me the Divination classroom, because Trelawney isn’t really one for unannounced visitors. He briefly put his hand on the middle of my back while we walked, as though he was almost feeling comfortable with me. Yet just as quick as he did it, as though he caught himself being too friendly, he took his hand away again. Then a faint grimace graced his face and it quickly faded away back to normal. I tried very hard not to think about what I overheard last night after he left my room when he woke me up pounding on my door. If he was rooting around in my mind, I didn’t want him to know I overheard him. I didn’t want to embarrass him. I have utter respect for the man, and I wouldn’t want to create hard feelings, yet he was rummaging around in my head…

Finally we got back down stairs and began to head towards the dungeons. He showed me Filch’s office door, which was quite a ways away from our quarters, thankfully. I wouldn’t want old Filch listening to my late night sleep-moaning. Mrs. Norris passed us in the hallway, pausing long enough to sniff me and carry on about her business. I was surprised I hadn’t seen any of the ghosts yet. Finally we arrived at Severus’ Potions classroom. It was like I remembered it, Severus had begun teaching my fourth year, and he was young when he started, I think around the age of twenty or twenty-two, so that would make him roughly thirty-one now, I‘m twenty-six, so if something did transpire between us, we aren't that far apart in age, as far as I am concerned. Oh the wishful, but overly rational thinking again, I really need to stop that. As I followed him into the classroom, recalling my dream, I wanted to see the desk, when I was ‘serving detention‘ last night as I slept. Strangely, it was just as it was in the dream when I laid my eyes on it. It would almost seem we shared the dream, it was like déjà vu, I hadn’t seen his classroom in ages.

“This is my classroom,” the bittersweet tone was back in his voice, I knew he liked potions, but preferred to have the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, “This is where all the dunderheads give me headaches.” He said, ending with a ‘humph‘. He made his way to his desk, as if to check the bubbling fluids in the glassware on the desk.

“Severus,” I said as I looked at all the bottles on the wall shelves containing preserved insects, herbs, and colored liquids. “why are you being so nice to me? I mean, you aren’t known for your niceties.”

He looked a little shocked, maybe I shouldn’t have put it that way. After a pause of contemplation while he glared at me, he looked back down at the desk’s items and sighed, then he spoke. “Siguna, we do have to work together. I don’t want this to be unpleasant…”

“Now, you are lying.” I said, feeling brave as I interrupted him.

“I’m sorry, you’re right.” he said sighing deeply and slumping into his chair. “I don’t know what it is about you, but you give me an inner warmth. Something I haven’t felt in years. From the instant I saw you in the Great Hall. I knew we shared something, something very deep. It seemed to shake me to my very core. I…” he stared at me, as if waiting for me to run out of the room, yet I was still there. “That dress is so perfect on you. Hagrid was right, you look like a princess.” He said, and began looking down at a rack of empty vials of some kind amongst the other things on his desk.

I slowly made my way to him. He was silent and had started using his thumb and forefinger to knead his temples, while his other hand was supporting his upper body on his knee. I got behind him, and began to massage his shoulders.

“You’re so tense.” I said, hoping this wouldn’t be the time he pulled away. He didn’t pull away, in fact he began to relax back into his chair, letting me rub his back.

“Siguna,” He started to say. “I have done some vicious things in my life. You don’t want to get involved with someone like me.” He was relaxing further, and his voice relaxed as if he only half meant what he just said. I knew he was a former DeathEater, it was common knowledge, especially after my stint as an intern to learn to be an Auror, that is when I initially found out about his dark past. It didn’t affect me then, just as it is not affecting my feelings now. I know Severus knew it too.

“Severus, how did you know my feel…”

“Isn’t it obvious? The way you look at me, the way you were calling my name last night. I heard you and I wanted to go to you. So when I knocked, I had nearly made up my mind I would tell you how I felt, but the words wouldn't come, I decided it was against my better judgment. I half-hoped you were in a sound sleep, and wouldn’t answer the door. Then, when I laid my eyes on you again when you came to the door, the way the moonlight that was seeping in capturing your soft silhouette, you looked like a Love Goddess. I wanted to stay with you there last night, but I knew I couldn't. Then before that on the gargoyle‘s staircase, your nervousness, your unexplainable actions.” His tension slowly released and he was becoming like jelly in my hands. I pressed my breasts against the back of his head, and he leaned his head back into them, his lips parted, but no sound came out. He closed his eyes again, as he laid his head back into me.

“Look, I am not an angel either, a Death Angel maybe… I have spilt a fair amount of blood.”

“The keyword there is ‘angel’, because the blood you have spilt was in protection of others, in the name of valor and honor. I have renounced those dark ways, yes, but the memories unfortunately don’t leave you once you have stopped doing them.” there was a reasonable amount of tension coming back into his shoulders.

“Well, I would hardly call you a demon… Severus, I can’t get you out of my head, what then, do you wish me to do? Maybe I should leave Hogwa…” I was afraid to ask him that question, but while we were being honest, I needed to know.

“Nonsense!” he snapped, but it wasn't directed at me precisely. “You will do no such thing.“ He sighed profoundly again, but this time, impatiently. He shook his head a little, dismissing my comment as though I had said something unimaginable. He regained a compassionate tone, “I think if it happens, it happens, but I’m not sure you know what you need to know about me. I have always been fond of you, Siguna. Even when you were my student, not in this way, but I thought you were a fine student and would become something useful to society someday. You did have an air of beauty back then, but it was inappropriate for me to see you as more than a student. Now I am realizing your beauty, your softness, your intellect as an adult, you’ve grown in both body and mind, and I am still here. Doing a job I hate most of the time, but only because my former dossier of horrors I had once been a part of, normal society would not let me back into it. I hope you know what you are getting yourself into, with someone like me. I have quite a few regrets. You, however, should be proud of your contributions, however violent they may seem to you.”


“I know, Severus, but after knowing of your past, I still have so many feelings for you… I can’t begin to tell you what I feel...”

“You don’t need to, I was reading your mind last night, with legillimency, dear one.” he continued after a deep relaxing sigh, I really wasn‘t very shocked to hear it. “I know every thought, seen every sweet deed we have already done together in your mind when you were in my presence last night. It only strengthened my desire for you. I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I, well, I’m not even sure why I did it. At first I thought it might be a good idea to screen you to make sure you weren’t plotting something, but then I saw the way you saw me in your mind, and it fueled and sparked a fire within me that I did not want extinguished. I was puzzled at first by it, but then I only wanted to see more. It intrigued me, in a way I didn’t know I could feel. When we were in Dumbledore‘s office I didn‘t need to stay with you, but you were like a magnet, and I wanted to be near you. I knew for certain you wanted me then, when I locked into you, then the Headmaster walked in, I felt like I had been caught red-handed. I was certain he was going to have a conniption. He didn’t, and, well…I was a little ashamed then, for having probed your mind like I did.” he sighed again, and paused, as though he was waiting for me to comment, when I didn’t speak, he continued. “When I came to collect you, and we stopped in the hallway, and the moonlight, oh… it seemed to beckon me to you, I wanted to embrace you, to kiss your lips, it was almost more than I could stand. I was hoping then you wouldn’t see my…state of arousal.” He tightened his fist, and stopped himself before slamming it onto the desk. He let out a sigh, and he relaxed again, before going on with his explanation. “Last night, I had fallen asleep in my study sitting by the fireplace, I dreamt of you in the moonlight, you were calling me to you, before I knew it, I was embracing you. It felt so real, and I thought I was still dreaming when I heard you calling my name, moaning and pleading for me last night while you slept, I realized I was awake and it was really your voice I heard. It was more than my self-control could stand, of course the fire whiskey I had a few drinks of didn't help matters. I couldn’t believe my own ears. I wanted you, I could tell at that moment we were sharing a similar dream. When I followed you last night, yes that was me, and I watched you briefly in the moonlight again, it was tearing me apart to watch you cry, ripping through my heart. I don’t know why I was compelled to follow you. I wanted to see what you were up to, yes, but something else urged me to follow you. I had heard your door creak a little, I almost thought you were going to knock on mine." Severus paused briefly to sigh again, and relaxed a bit more into the chair. "When I heard no knocking, it was then I decided to see what you were doing out of your room. As I watched you, I was assured then I how strongly I felt for you, I felt a terrible feeling in my throat watching you weep at the window, heart rendering, truly it was. I wanted to go to you, I wanted to…” he paused and clutched his forehead again, as though desperately trying to rub away a pounding headache.

I blushed as I listened to his explanations, and bent down to whisper into his ear. “Then let it happen Severus, you could have pulled away, but you haven’t. You could pull away now, but you aren’t. We could make it work. Don‘t let this be a regret, if it doesn't work at least we could say we tried.”

He sighed, and tightly shut his eyes, as if when he opened them I would have been a beautiful figment of his wildest imagination, he was fully relaxing into his chair now. He finally opened them again, and I was still there, gently rubbing his neck and shoulders, breathing down into his ear seductively. He moaned softly, and gently seized my right hand and pulled it to his cheek. My other hand subtly pulled his hair away from his face, while he caressed his face into my hand, with his hand on mine, kissing one of my fingers that got too close to his lips. My other hand traced down his jaw line to his neck, and back to his shoulder. He moaned again longingly, and I tenderly kissed the back of his neck, and then his earlobe. I sighed a seductive sigh into his ear, and he reached behind his head to touch my cheek, and he pressed my cheek to his. I kissed him ever so gently on the cheek. I reached down with my free hand, just to his chest and held him to me as I gently leaned on him. We weren’t as entwined as we had already been in my dreams, but for the time it was everything I could have ever hoped for. If I died at this moment of a heart attack, or a rogue bludger to the head, I would depart this life happy. After savoring a few more tender moments, he slowly released my hand that was still on his cheek and gradually sat up.

“If this doesn’t work out,” he said clearing his throat, as though he made up his mind that we were now together as a couple, “I don’t know how we can work things through as teacher and assistant. Yes I want you, and I want you so badly I can already taste you. I’m not sure Dumbledore will allow this relationship, however.” He stood up to face me.

“Should we tell him?” I said as I reached for him, putting my hand on the middle of his chest, he put his hand over mine and caressed it gently.

“I don’t know how yet. I’m sure he already knows. That man knows if one of us uses the wrong bathroom on the wrong day.” He reached for me as I walked around the chair, and sank into my arms and held me tightly. He said in a low whisper, “Let’s not go any further with this right now. I’m rather overwhelmed. I haven’t felt this way in years, at least not with anyone who felt a fraction the way we both seem to feel for each other. If Dumbledore doesn’t allow this, I … well, we need to talk more, and you need to get to your meeting with the Headmaster. Come see me when you are done. I have to collect my thoughts. I don’t want this to be a lust adventure. I want this to be…right.” His voice slightly cracked. He held me for several more moments, gently rubbing up and down my back.

“I don’t want it like that either, Severus. I want you to think about this too, as I will be.” I wanted to wrap myself around him, envelope him, instead I savored the moment of being so close to him. He loosed his hold on me to look into my eyes again, and brushed my hair away from my face with a free hand, while his other hand remained on my waist.

“Just remember not to mention it unless he asks you directly. I want to be there with you when it is brought up, I don’t want us to have problems with the Headmaster, but I want to be thinking clearly when the time arises. I will see you in a little while.” He kissed my forehead, and held me tightly once more. “Now go or you will be late.” then he broke away from me, gently gripping my hand before letting go of me. He tilted his head, motioning for me to go.

“I will come back right after my meeting.“ I said, and he nodded in agreement. I started to head for the door.

As my hand reached for the doorknob. He called to me one last time. “Siguna…” I turned to look at him “I had a fantastic time this morning with you, and… I was wrong, you don‘t look like a princess…” he said with his hands in his pockets, trying to overshadow the front of his trousers by creating a diversion on either side of him with his pocketed hands.

“Oh?” I said.

“No,” he said almost stammering as though searching for the right words, “you look like a Venus… Aphrodite…”

“Freya?” I asked smiling.

“Yes… Freya, indeed. I did have a good time today, with you.” he said with a uncharacteristically vulnerable tone.

“Me too.” I smiled and walked out. I began to wonder what we would do later, talk, make love, or simply have dinner together, and retreat to our respective rooms after perhaps a kiss goodnight. I made my own way back to the gargoyle, wondering if Severus was having another private moment to clear his head, or if he was waiting till later to let me assist him. I know I could never compare with Freya, but she was my guiding light. Who knows, she is a Goddess of Love, perhaps she set this up. The Gods know when we need something, or when others need us most. It wouldn’t be the first time she sent me in the right direction. Before, on the other hand, she was saving my skin. I swear, to this day, I saw her, in the heat of my battle with a troll. I had been beaten up pretty bad, I had a concussion, blood and sweat was dripping down my face into my eyes. The whole world was spinning. Then, I know I saw her, she was motioning for me to get up, and quickly come to her. So I felt for the ground and pushed myself up, her eyes were firey-amber (normally they look blue or bluegreen, but they glowed like her necklace, the Brisingamen, at that moment). I scrambled to her, wanting to vomit for the pain and the spinning. As I did, I narrowly avoided a death blow from the club of the Troll I was fighting. He didn’t see exactly where I went, because at the same time I scrambled away, a small avalanche of snow struck him in the face. Freya kissed my forehead, and disappeared. I immediately regained control of my senses, a miraculous thing. I leapt up, and grabbed a war hammer from a fallen soldier from my side, I threw it with everything I had, and it miraculously hit the Troll between the eyes. It died instantly. Even with a concussion, I can’t deny I felt her presence, and the vision of her, though clouded with blood and sweat, was unmistakable. She was there in glittering gold armor, her fiery red hair was bright against the icy landscape. This was one of the battles I am known for back home, I only ever take half the credit for it, and insist to others that I was indeed aided by Freya, to which everyone usually replies that she wouldn’t have given me Her luck if I wasn’t deserving of it. However, she, like Odin, can give the luck, but can also take it away just as quickly. I can almost feel her around me, and see her in my mind’s eye now, giving me the strength to do what I have to do and smiling and nodding at her approval of me.

I arrived at the gargoyle in a matter of minutes, “Licorice Wand”, and the gargoyle leapt aside once more.

I entered Dumbledore’s office, he was sitting at his desk, and as usual, peering over his half-moon spectacles, his elbows were propped on his desk and his fingertips were touching together.

“Good morning Siguna.” he welcomed me in.

“Am I late?” I said, hoping I wasn’t keeping him from anything.

“Not really. I didn’t have a set time for you to be here, I just wanted to see you after your tour, did Severus show you all the sights?” he motioned for me to sit, and have another candy. I took another tasty treat from my gracious host.

“Yes he did, I learned a few things I wasn’t already aware of.” how true that was, I thought, while settling into a comfy chintz chair in front of his desk. I was once again delighted by the sumptuous candy as I chewed it.

“Excellent. Honeydukes makes the best candy around these parts. Yes, good. Good. I have a few things I would like to discuss with you, one is that the Ministry, don’t be alarmed there is nothing for you to worry about,“ he said with a slight stress on the word ‘you‘ while he held up a hand as though he was trying to settle my feelings with it, “is aware you are here. I have decided not to make you part of Hogwarts security just yet. They think you are here under the pretenses that you will be assisting Severus, which is the truth. So I’m not too concerned with that, however given the circumstances, I have another job I in mind for you that I believe you would be perfect for.”

“A different job?” I shifted in my chair a little. I trust Dumbledore‘s judgment, but I know he is quite eccentric, and his ideals differ from mine in some ways.

“Yes, I have decided that I should still follow through and have you as the eyes and ears, but in a different way. Not in the position of Defender of Hogwarts as you may have liked,” my heart nearly skipped a beat, could Dumbledore be rummaging around in my head too? I recalled I had thought that particular thought in that same phrase last night: ‘Defender of Hogwarts.’ Dumbledore went on, “but it could suit you, should you choose to take it. Of course you would also be assisting Severus too. Severus was actually the one to suggest he needed you as an assistant more than you needed to be a security guard of sorts anyway. I believe you could be quite a natural at it, I was thinking of the position of counselor to the students here.”

“A counselor, sir? I have no formal training for psychological treatment or advice.” I leaned forward in the chintz chair, almost hoping that I didn‘t hear that right.

“No. Not that sort of counselor, I merely want someone to listen to the students in an unbiased way and perhaps offer advice from personal experience. I assumed you could be perfect for this job. It would be a great help and you could still be my eyes and ears.”

Sounded like the same thing to me, I thought to myself. “I could try it, Headmaster.” I said, I must admit my disappointment, the prospects of listening to whining children all day was not a position I would enjoy being tied down to, as opposed to the latter.

“You could use your creativity at it,” he stated calmly, as though sensing my apprehension and disappointment, “do whatever you want with it, just be respectful of their feelings. Now on the matter of the Ministry, I can assure you there is nothing to worry about, I have taken every measure to ensure you are a legal resident and staff member in every way. I don’t know precisely how they found out you were here, but naturally, since it was something I was trying to keep quiet, everyone knew about it. Alas, there aren’t many secrets that can be kept, Siguna, remember that.” He peered at me for a brief moment and then smiled, it gave me a slightly uneasy feeling. “Well, I believe we are done for the day, if you don’t have any questions. I however am going to Hagrid’s hut to see his new acquisitions. You can come along if you like.”

“No, that’s quite alright, sir.”

“By the way, speaking of Hagrid, he tells me your raven is taking a liking to our school as well. Apparently Hugo has been helping with the rat infestation out in the school gardens.“

“He’s just trying to make friends. He often does the strangest things, it’s as though he picks up on what you are most troubled by, and tries his best to do what he can to help you. He‘s always been like that.” Hugo really did remind me of Hawkwind, they share the same basic traits.

“He is a marvelous fellow. Very inquisitive eyes. Well, if that is all, then perhaps you and Severus could do lunch, as the muggles say… it is around that time of day.” he looked at his famous watch, with all the dials and hands, to confirm the time. “Has he discussed any duties with you, yet?” he said peering over the half moon spectacles again.

“Not really yet, we had to cut things short so I wouldn’t be late to meet with you.”

“Oh, quite alright. Well I won’t keep you. I’m sure you and Severus have a lot to discuss, and many things to plan. He is really looking forward to having an assistant with your renowned abilities. It took some convincing at first, but when I spoke with him last night after he showed you to your quarters, he seemed to be quite enthusiastic about it. I think you two could be… good together. He said he had been rather fond of your abilities when you were a student, and was certain now, as an adult, you would have the patience and ability to help out around the dungeons. Well I’m sure Severus will have a lot to discuss with you about it. You know, if I didn’t know any better… “ he paused, and glanced over to a painting on the wall who had just mock-coughed “well… there I go again talking on and on, and you have things to do. Forgive this old man. Have a good afternoon, Siguna.” he smiled warmly and stood to show me out.

“Thank you sir, you too!” I nodded to him and walked with him to the door, and I began to leave the room. I looked back at Dumbledore, and he smiled and nodded once more. The painting who had mock-coughed looked a little mutinous, looking down at Dumbledore and shaking his head. There was a Slytherin flag over his left shoulder, so I assumed it was one of the former Headmasters who had been in Slytherin. I tried not to laugh, because the portrait’s expression tickled me a little. I waved goodbye to Dumbledore, and proceeded riding down the staircase again.

I nearly ran all the way back down to the dungeons. The hallways were still empty so there wasn’t anyone to stop me from dashing down the corridors. I got back to the Potions classroom and looked around, but Severus was no longer there. I decided I should check his room next to mine. I quickly back-tracked my way there and knocked on his door. To my surprise it was slightly ajar. I pushed it open cautiously, and walked in immediately noticing there were still a few bits of glass around the fireplace. The fire had long since went out. I called out to Severus, and he answered me from the next room. It was his bedroom, my heart jumped into my throat and fluttered. I swallowed my heart back down where it should be, and proceeded into his bedroom.

I entered his bedroom and found him sitting, fully clothed, on the side of his bed. His forehead was resting in the palms of his hands. I waited for an invitation to sit by him. He lifted his head and stood, his expression showed his worry.

“Well?” he said, obviously concerned about what Dumbledore and I talked about. As I recounted the events of the last half an hour, including the many subtle hints Dumbledore dropped about ‘secrets and being hard to keep them’, hinting around about us in general, and said we should spend the rest of the afternoon together, Severus and I, and then about the Ministry knowing I was here.

Severus stood there listening intently with his hands folded in front of him, and when I was done, he said “Well I am a little more worried about the Ministry than I am about his obvious hint-dropping to his knowledge about us. He must be ok with it, as he said you and I should spend the rest of the day together.” He was silent for a short time, a pensive expression consumed his face, thinking about what I had told him.

“Severus, who is the former headmaster in the portrait with the Slytherin flag?” I was curious about that one, the one that mock-coughed at Dumbledore.

“Oh, Phineas Nigellus?” he said.

“Yes, when Dumbledore was talking about your talk with him after you showed me to my room last night, and he was just beginning to say something about what he thought about you and I, and he, Phineas Nigellus, mock-coughed at him, to interrupt what he was telling me.”

Severus’ lips curled to a faint smile, “Well, if that isn’t something. Hmm…”

“If what isn’t something?”

“Well, perhaps I was a little… wound up when I talked to him about my first impression of you. Maybe I went on a little too much, about how I thought your skills would be useful to me, and I did go on a bit about your armor. Maybe Dumbledore sensed my feelings towards you as I talked with him. Either way, I’m certain Dumbledore knows. I‘m sure Phineas was listening, and his cough was an obvious signal for Dumbledore to stop talking.” he stood there as though he was waiting for me to say something.

“Have you thought about… us?” I said timidly, I was hoping he hadn’t been rethinking anything while I was gone.

“Oh, my dear one, you don’t have a thing to worry about.” He gently took my arms and brought me closer to him, wrapping his own arms around me, and kissing my cheek. I rested my head on his chest. “Yes, I have thought about it, and now I know Dumbledore isn’t going to make a fuss about it, we will tell him in a more formal way, but for now let us relax. Come.” he led me by my hand to his bed, and sat down. I sat down with him. He put his hand to my cheek, gently caressing it. “I just want you to know, my intentions with you are sincere. When I was… a Deatheater, I would have taken great delight in ruining your innocence, especially if it pleased You Know Who for me to do it, I do not want to hurt you, or to see you hurt in any way. I would never purposefully hurt you…” he seemed to be repenting a little as he spoke.

“Severus…” I said interrupting him because I wanted him to know it wasn’t necessary to explain himself.

“No, let me finish.” he said with kind conviction. “I want this to be more than a fuck-fest. I don’t want to rush you, let me know if things are moving fast in any way.” He looked into my eyes, this time not looking to find out secrets, but looking for my response. His eyes seemed to hold a tender emotion at this moment, far from the icy glares, and fiery anger the depths of his dark irises could contain.

“Severus, it’s ok, I know. You don’t have to…”

“Yes I do. Now please just lay with me here a while. I don’t want to do anything right now. I just want to hold you. I just want to feel you next to me, I keep thinking I am going to wake up, and you would have been a dream.”

“I’m not a dream, Severus.“ I rested my head on his shoulder, and began to fiddle with a button on his chest. “Won’t we be too warm?” I said, eyeing all the buttons on his frock coat. I realized he didn’t want anything more than to just get a feel for each other. Perhaps he was trying to relive some innocence, before he became what he was years ago, possibly even to familiarize himself with the sweet purity of this kind of adoration he possibly never experienced before.

“You’re right.” He stood up and took off his frock coat, but kept his shirt underneath and his pants on. He looked like some sort of God standing there, his hair slightly ruffled, his shirt was a little wrinkled, and his eyes were soft as dove feathers at the moment. He looked both formidable, and vulnerable right now. I wanted to tear his clothes off him, but I decided to be good, for now. “I just hope you do know, that I am being honest with you. I don’t want to give you any reason to think I would lie to you. This is a relatively new experience for me, as I said, I haven’t encountered anyone who felt this way in return for me, as I feel you do. I just want to hear it from you, do you trust me?”

“Yes, Severus, I trust you. I think I would know if you were being insincere.” I said smiling to him, I patted the bed next to me, waiting for him to lay back down.

He looked deeply into my eyes, “Yes, I believe you would.” He said as he laid back down on to the bed next to me. “I’m sorry, I have just been worrying, I don’t want to mess this up. I want us both to be happy. I was just….”, he paused for a long moment, “afraid.” he looked as though the word itself was killing him to say, as he continued to look into my eyes, acting as though he had almost said too much, letting me in too far to his own consciousness.

“What are you afraid of, Severus Snape?” I asked gently, as I delicately traced his jaw line with my fingertips.

“Losing you…. and I’ve only just found you.” He kissed me, and rested his head back into his pillow, facing my direction.

“I don’t think you will have to worry about that for a long while. I’ve been through a lot, and this is the happiest I have been in what seems like eons.”

We laid there holding each other for quite some time, mostly in silence, aside from a contented sigh from either one of us now and then. I briefly wondered if this could work, what if his former dark self was lurking somewhere hidden deep beneath his flesh, he showed a hint of anger towards himself earlier when we were in his classroom, when he nearly slammed his fist into the desktop. I did feel I could trust him, and I was listening to my gut. I dismissed the thoughts I was having, as he kissed my forehead. I could feel his warm skin beneath his shirt, I longed to tear it from him, and enjoy the gentle movement of love-making with him. Before too long, I couldn’t help myself much longer, and slowly began to support my upper body weight on my arm. I leaned in and kissed his mouth so tenderly. He kissed me back in a sweet tender way, as he pushed my hair out of his way. He enfolded his arms around me, and gently pulled my head to his chest.

“I do want you, but not right now.” he reiterated. “Please, not yet. I want to enjoy this time with you.” He let out a soft sigh, as though he wasn’t quite convincing himself, but not fully explaining his hesitation. Maybe he was waiting until we told Dumbledore. I rested my head against his chest so I could hear his heart beating, and the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. It was a soothing, comforting sound. It had been so long since I experienced this tranquil sort of love. It seemed like eons ago, when I was with Hawkwind on a blanket of fur in the forest, in a similar position, listening to tree frogs and watching dragonflies zip along the banks of the pond that we went to for quiet time, often times making love until the sun set and rose again. This feeling I had longed for, this wonderful sensation of serene love. I could never get this from those barbarians I lived around, up north. I dearly loved my clan, but this… this was something I truly missed. After Hawkwind’s death, it was something I hadn’t felt since then, and had previously wondered if I would ever experience it again, until now. I could feel my heart itself warming and melting inside my rib cage, as though a dam was beginning to spurt water, or a wall I had carefully built was being torn down. At this moment, yes, I knew I could trust him, any other man would be, well, not this patient.

I was resting for quite some time just enjoying being in that state of personal paradise, I think he thought I was asleep. He whispered so softly I could barely hear him “I think I am falling in love with you. Nothing could spoil this moment.”

I whispered back to let him know I heard him. “I feel the same way, Severus.”

He lifted his hand to my chin to raise my head, and kissed me again. He stroked my cheek as he stared deeply in my eyes. I wanted him so badly at this moment that I could just feel the wetness building between my thighs. I put my hand over his groin and caressed his growing erection. He pulled my hand away, and brought it back up to his chest.

“Not yet.” he said with some mild sincerity, as if he was hanging by a thread, an inch from passion. His breathing was becoming more rapid, but he still insisted he was wanting to wait, for now. “Please not yet. I just want to hold you.” he sounded like he needed convincing more than I did.

I was able to restrain myself for a short while longer. I wanted to respect his feelings, but I knew he wanted to be with me just as much as I wanted to be with him. I continued to look into his eyes, and stroke his cheek. I kissed his neck, and he sighed. I got near his ear, and I could no longer resist the temptation that was building, after controlling it all this time. I whimpered as he rubbed my back gently, and then whispered seductively into his ear: “Please Severus, please make love to me.”

“Please don’t beg me… Oh God.” he moaned. “I want you.” he said breathlessly through gritted teeth.

“I want you too, Severus. Please, just let me pleasure you.” I whispered.

“Oh, I love to hear you say my name. I want to feel you.. No.. not yet.“ He closed his eyes, and let go of my hand. I resumed stroking him over his pants, and slowly began to undo his trousers. I kissed his neck, my breathing had become shaky, and the more I breathed into his ear, the more it turned him on. He started to stop me, and he moaned again as I kissed his neck and gently nibbled at his ear lobe, and he began to give up, letting me have my way. He put his hand on top of mine, wanting to guide me, and pulling me back at the same time. He was less and less hesitant, and he looked up, deeply into my eyes, as if searching to find an answer one way or another, should we or shouldn’t we?

“I really don’t think we.. Ohh.. ” I let his hardened cock free from the restrictions of his pants. He looked deeply into my eyes, and pulled me to him to kiss me. He kissed me gently, but forcefully, “I want you, God, do I want you, Siguna.” he said, nearly as though he was out of breath. He pulled his shirt up to his chest, apparently to not get anything on it.

He started pull me towards him, but I put my hand on his chest stopping him. “Just let me pleasure you, we don’t have to go further. I don’t want you to have to do this for yourself later.” I stroked the length of his erection. I kissed him and he kissed me harder, caught between wanting me to stop and wanting to take me there and then.

“I don’t want to have to do that later eith… Oh, Siguna, yes. That feels so … oh.. We really should stop… no… don‘t stop…” he kissed me, and let me stroke him, faster, harder. He smoothly thrusted his hips with the movement of my hand. I could feel his body tensing up, his muscles tightened as rigid as they could possibly go, then finally a release, with a moan so loud it seemed rattle the shelves on the walls. He came, but not in as large an amount as I expected, so I knew he had been up to something personal not long ago.

He kissed me again, and held me. The sweat beaded on his forehead, and he closed his eyes, as if to regain his senses. He whispered again to me, “That… that was incredible. I do want you even more now. I want to feel you against me. I want to be inside of you.” He gently caressed my hip, “But I want to wait… will you let me pleasure you? As you said, we don‘t have to go further. I think we could at least go far enough to share this feeling right now.” his eyes traced mine with a hunger, the same look I recognized in myself relating to the starved hunter and the rabbit.

At that moment, it was all I wanted to hear. I obliged by turning over on my back, and let him do to me what I did for him. He was slow and deliberate, caressing the outside, inside, while kissing my neck, and looking into my eyes making sure he was doing it right. Within moments I found myself wrapping my leg around his legs as he continued to caress me. He was becoming excited again, and he persisted to stroke me harder until I was moving my hips against his hand, grasping at his back probably leaving unintentional scratches. He moaned with me as I could feel the orgasm building. He looked into my eyes as I pleaded with him for more. I could see how large his pupils were with excitement, the exhilaration seemed to electrify the air itself in the room. His shaft was becoming hard again, I could feel it against my leg. I tried to shift myself to get completely on top of him but he wouldn’t let me. Instead, I took his cock back into my hand and firmly rubbed it as he stroked me, he began to thrust himself into my hand again, and moaned again with me. Finally my entire body tightened, pulling him in vain closer to me, wanting him inside of me, I climaxed, and accidentally bit into his shoulder, not too hard, but enough to leave a red mark. He climaxed again too, whimpering and moaning as though the sensation was too much to bear. By the end of my multiple orgasm that seemed to last and last, he had already finished his and had moved his hips away from me to release himself from my relentless groping. However, he was looking at me tenderly as my orgasm slowed and stopped. He rubbed his shoulder and looked at his hand, but I didn‘t draw blood. He didn’t say anything about it, and he smiled a satisfied smile. Apparently it didn’t bother him, perhaps he thought it was a personal ‘trophy‘ of our time together this afternoon. I was wanting more, but it was as though a twenty ton weight had already been lifted from me.

“Severus…” I said, his hair brushed my cheek as he kissed my forehead.

“Yes my love, my dear one.”

“I love you.” I whispered.

His head rested on my shoulder. “I love you, dear one. My Siguna, my Valkyrie.” He put his arm gently around my waist, and heaved a soft sigh of exquisite contentment. I wanted to live in this moment for eternity, with my Severus.

After a long silence, of just enjoying each other‘s presence, kissing and gently stroking each other’s various body parts, cheeks, shoulders, backs, I looked into his eyes, and hoping I didn‘t disappoint him by forcing the events of the last hour or so when he wanted to just be together for the sake of being together, I spoke. “We’re not moving too fast, are we?” hoping he didn’t harbor any secret feelings of guilt.

“No, my dear, sweet one. Now I want only to hold you. I do want more, but I am content. We will have our time soon enough. I want it to be perfect with you. I want to treat you like the lady you are, my love.” he said, eyes closed.

I kissed his forehead, and his lips curled into a sweet smile, which stayed there longer than I had ever seen him smile. We were in a sheer state of beautiful bliss. He nuzzled his head into a soft part of my chest, and before long we were napping the rest of the afternoon away.

We awoke in time for dinner, we were both hungry. We decided to shower before dinner, as he had not yet entirely cleaned off the mess on his belly from his explosions. He invited me to shower with him. He washed my hair in a most sensual way, and we came so close in the shower to making love, more than once, however we both stopped ourselves. He had backed me into the shower wall, almost picking me up, so close that I could feel his erection just on the outside of my vulva, and as he washed my hair he pulled my hips to his, and I could feel the head of his cock just a breath away from entering me, ’doggie style’. This of course, feeling his thighs on the back of mine, and the feel of his erection millimeters away from where I desired it to be, sent me into pleading with him again (“Please Severus, please now, I don‘t want to wait, please please please Severus, I‘ll do anything you want….“), to which he said nothing, but turned me around to kiss him. I wanted him so badly. I knew he wanted me too, but he always stopped just short of entering me. He did let me soap him down, and massage his chest, belly, his erection and testicles with the suds, to which he did the same for me massaging the soap onto my breasts, and kissing me as he soaped my again-aching clitoris with his hand. I washed his hair as he knelt before me, staring up at me, as if in disbelief a woman of my variety was in his shower with him, he kissed my stomach and my breasts tenderly. His dark eyes showed depths of deep loving admiration, something I didn’t know they were capable of holding. He rested his head on my stomach as the warm water washed over us. It seemed to hold a deeper meaning than I could understand at the time, it was though the cleansing waters were allowing us to be reborn, washing away his past deeds from his mind temporarily, and allowing my soul to release impurities that build up naturally over time. The shower itself was phenomenal, clearly it was the most sensual one I had taken in my life, it was truly divine in a sense that I could feel the Gods for a moment, enveloping us in their unconditionally loving arms, encouraging us to pursue our love. We ended our shower, and got dressed again for dinner. He had to repair a few places on his shirt, with a Reparo charm, as there was a tear, and a button or two missing. We went down to dinner, holding hands and smiling, feeling comfortable with each other.

Finally we arrived in the staff lounge area. Professor McGonagal was there, with Dumbledore, and Hagrid had strolled in rumbling about some ‘darn rats eatin’ the school cabbages‘. I nudged Severus and told him that this could be the right time, after dinner. He nodded.

We all sat and ate dinner, talking about the weather and how it was nearly time for the train to be sent off to Kings Cross station, platform 9 ¾, among other bits of small talk. Dumbledore had brought up a name I thought I had heard of before, Potter, I think it was. Severus emitted a grunt and became silent and he pushed a pea around on his plate, as if this particular student caused him severe discomfort. He stabbed the pea he was rolling around and ate it victoriously. After chit-chatting a while longer, we had all become full of dinner. Minerva had gotten up and excused herself back to her study to continue preparing some last minute things for the school year, and Dumbledore began to rise from his chair. Severus, nearing the end of the meal, decided he should take Dumbledore aside, with me of course, and declare what we had to tell him.

“Sir,” started Severus, rising out of his chair at the same time as Dumbledore. “I need to tell you something, in private.” Severus said in a low voice, as though trying to keep it down, so McGonagal and Hagrid wouldn’t hear, as she talked to Hagrid near the door way about what she had planned for the evening in her study to prepare for the upcoming term.

Dumbledore eyed me. “Private, Severus?”

“Well, Siguna is involved in what I need to talk to you about.” he said tilting his head in my direction.

“Ah I see.” he said casting a seemingly-knowing glace in our direction.

We strolled outside to the courtyard, and Severus began to explain what we were feeling to Dumbledore, in a most nondescript way as possible. Dumbledore, looked as serene as usual.

Dumbledore interrupted him, “Severus, why do you think I suggested Siguna be your assistant?”

“…Because you felt I needed one?” he said with that twinge of dislike from being interrupted, even by Dumbledore.

“Because I felt you needed some one.”

Severus looked a little confused, had Dumbledore planned this? Was he playing Cupid? I listened attentively for Dumbledore to continue.

“As far as I am concerned, Severus, Siguna, you two are adults. I neither endorse, or disapprove of your relationship. In fact, Severus, as your friend, I am happy you have found such happiness. I am too old for horseplay, or the love of a beautiful woman. I knew you were getting to that point, a point I should have realized in myself years ago. You two compliment each other nicely. I only wish I had taken such pursuits earlier in my life. It would warm this old man’s heart, should you two… Ah, well, get together. However I must impose that when school starts, you keep things professional around the children. Other than that, I will be happy to turn my head in the other direction.”

“As always, Headmaster. I am nothing but professional in the presence of the students.”

Dumbledore momentarily raised an eyebrow, and went on speaking. “Good, well, keep that in mind. I already had a feeling about you two, before you even met each other. Now I must bid you good evening, as I have important things I need to take care of. The Ministry has sent me an owl, and I have to provide adequate documentation for Siguna’s need here, and don’t worry, your love life will not be mentioned.”

Severus nodded to Dumbledore, and looked as though he could hardly contain himself, however his general demeanor was unaltered. I knew what he had on his mind, and I didn’t need to be a master at legillimency to see that. We bid Dumbledore good-evening. Severus took my hand, and led me back to his room. We entered his quarters, and he poured us a drink, thankfully not of fire whisky. He lit the fire in the fireplace, all the glass that was scattered had been cleaned up while we were gone (Presumably by the House-elves). He excused himself for a moment to take his frock coat off, and invited me to get comfortable as well. When he returned, he once again was wearing his white undershirt, and pants. He was quite attractive, the way the sparks of the fire captured the warmth in his eyes. He spread a white fur rug in front of the fire, and beckoned me to sit with him. Candles magically lit around the room and it was peaceful. He touched my cheek with his fire warmed hands, and kissed me with gentle intentions.

“Siguna, do you want me as badly as you did earlier or do you need rest?” he said out of breath, looking as though he was about to burst out of his pants.

“I think we had a nice nap earlier.” I smiled softly, as I touched his thigh.

He caressed me gently, passionately, and began to slowly help me out of my clothes, as I began to do the same for him. His warm skin on mine felt so marvelous. He kissed me gently, stroking every curve on my body. I helped him with his pants, trying not to tear his clothes off of him. I took his throbbing rock hard cock into my mouth. He gently put his hands on the back of my head, careful not to press down too hard to gag me. His entire body trembled as he watched me going down on him. I could feel the muscles in his legs tightening to balance himself so he could watch me better. He stopped me a moment later, and brought me up to stand to kiss him, he was still shaking a little, as though it was everything he could do to not force himself upon me. He undressed me the rest of the way, caressing me gently paying careful attention to my breasts, and my other pleasure zones. We laid back down on the floor, and he kissed me delicately again, as though I was a tender flower that would be crushed with too much handling. I shoved him to his back and gently sat on him, but not taking him inside of me yet. Instead I teased his cock a little bit, with the heat from between my thighs. Severus moaned as though it was too much to bear.

“You’re so… warm.” he said pulling me closer to him to kiss me again, while his hips moved a little in a rhythmic motion, trying to enter me. “Please…oh please, I can‘t… oh…” he was pleading with me this time, the sweat was beading on his forehead. I could feel the throbbing in his erection, pulsing. He looked as though he was enjoying it, at the same time like it was extreme torture. His level of aggression increased just a little as he carefully, but a little strongly, pushed me back to the floor on the fur rug, then he became gentle again, kissing me down my body, down my chest licking at my hardened nipples, tenderly kissing my stomach, and… oh… yesssss the sweet spot.

I felt so close to climaxing, then I had to stop him. “Make love to me Severus, now, please.” I begged, with a breathy persuasive voice. He stopped giving me ultimate pleasure, and gazed tenderly into my eyes. “Please Severus, I can’t wait any longer. I need you, I want you.”

“I do want you now, Siguna. No more stopping.” he whispered as he carefully positioned himself and pushed his way inside, watching my face for signs of discomfort, as he was more than adequate, especially with the raging hard-on he possessed at the moment. We moaned in unison. He kissed me, then before he was too close to orgasm, he stopped. He laid on his back and pulled me towards him. He wanted me on top of him. His head tipped backward, and moaned again as I slowly sat down on him, teasing him only for a second before I let him enter me. He let me rock back and forth, caressing me, pulling me down every few moments to kiss me. Finally, after several minutes, we both began to tense as the final orgasm hit us both hard. We were both moaning in tandem, flesh on flesh, he grabbed my hips and guided me through it, back and forth, rocking against him, buried deep inside of me. His hip and thigh muscles tightened, and he let out a final moan that could have possibly been heard throughout the castle. Finally the satisfaction I craved from him, and he from me.

For the first time in years it felt good to be alive, he seemed to feel the same. His actions and his pleasantly satisfied expressions that graced his face, he appeared to be more than satisfied. I hoped this moment could last forever, holding each other. We were tiring out, and fell asleep together, entwined as I had dreamed. However thoughts of home entered my mind just before I succumbed to sleep. What was I going to do now, when I was done here? I couldn’t leave Severus, and I don’t think he could ever leave Hogwarts. Perhaps I would have to stay. What could tomorrow bring, I thought, as sleep descended upon us.