Into the dark

CHAPTER SEVEN

It seemed that sexual tension had been causing all the friction between Severus and I. After the office incident, well let's just say things exploded and the next few weeks went by in a blur.  I had been stopping by his home after work almost every night to work on some up and coming charity gala. "It's for the children," he would say, making me feel guilty if I grumbled about not having any time to myself. We would walk in his grounds discussing ideas and finances deciding what would be the best way to raise funds while getting to know each other better. There was one spot that I loved most on his estate. It felt calm and the view was beautiful. He had taken me there the first time I'd officially gone over to work. It was a small shaded area by a serene lake where the grass was spotted with wild flowers. We would sit down and discuss everything. No subject was off the table. Whatever I wanted to know he was more than happy to talk about, yet for some reason as I sat there gazing at him and looking out across the water I only ever wanted to learn about him. 

He had come from a disadvantaged background which was why he felt so drawn to helping the other children. His father he had informed me was an inspiration for all the wrong reasons. He was a mean bully and made his home life unbearable. When his father put him in the boarding school he had hoped that life would get better but it hadn't. He had tangled with one of the popular boys, "James Potter," he spat the name out, and his gang and because he was in a different house they felt justified in making his life a living hell. Now I understood why he had looked at James that night with such loathing in his eyes and I couldn't blame him. Since leaving school he had invested all his time into helping others and somehow he had managed to earn a small fortune along the way. 

After a lengthy stay by the lake we would head back to the house and go to the library. It was astonishing just how many books he had. Every wall in the room was stacked floor to ceiling with row upon row of books that looked ancient and extremely well read. A couple of old leather chairs sat opposite each other with a small wooden table between them at the opposite side of the room. It smelled musty but inviting. I loved it. Next to the lake, I think this was my favourite place in the whole world. There was no repeat of the office incident over those weeks and I wondered if the novelty had worn off for him until he took me aside one night and breathing heavily into my ear which he had discovered gave me goosebumps, whispered, "Will you marry me?"

I was shocked at how quickly he had proposed to me as it had only been a few weeks since we had gotten to know each other but one thing I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was that I was head over heels in love with him. I didn't hesitate in my response. "Yes!" I squeaked. He grabbed me, pulled me in to his arms and then retrieved a small white ring from his pocket. He slipped it on my finger and lifting me, carried me to his bedroom.

Bellatrix squealed with delight when she heard the news. "You will be my maid of honour, won't you?" I asked.

"Definitely! Now, first things first, we need to go shopping. I'll make a list of what you will need and we can go this afternoon and see what we can find," she said excitedly.

"Uhm, I think Severus has a dressmaker coming later to fit me for a custom wedding dress but I'll still need lots of the other things like flowers and whatnots." 

"Where are you having the wedding?" she asked.

My face lit up. "Beside the lake."

"How romantic." She swooned. 

"I know! I can't believe it. Isn't he just wonderful?" I sighed lovingly and wandered to my office floating on a cloud.

The wedding preparations went well. The dressmaker fitted us out at double speed which I guess having unlimited finances ensured. There were no major hiccups with catering or the guest list and even the weather held for us. The sun blazed down across the lake as I made my way down the small aisle that had been set up by the lakeside and was framed on either side with white roses. At the bottom I could see Severus kilted out and looking ravishingly handsome standing beneath a bridal arch that was covered in pink roses. Stopping beside him, I smiled and held my hand out for him. The minister was most eloquent and after a short ceremony we exchanged vows, rings and kissed.

I could not have been happier as the guests congratulated us and we made our way back up to the house for the reception. We ate and danced and then the speeches began. It was odd not to have them during the main meal but I liked how natural it felt saying them this way, instead of forcing our guests to be ready at X o clock. Severus pulled my hand up to his lips and kissed it before turning and heading to the microphone. "Can I have your attention please." Everyone stopped and turned to face him. "I would like to thank a very special woman tonight for helping me win my love. Lily, I have been in love with you for a long time but it wasn't until I met Bellatrix that I finally had the courage to make my move." I turned to face Bellatrix, who stood there with a satisfied smile on her face, winking back at me. "I thought you wouldn't look at me twice if I met you under normal circumstances. I had to win your heart and Bellatrix was more than happy to give me a few pointers which I followed to the letter. I am sorry I came across as a jerk the first time we met." He winked at me and I blushed remembering all too clearly the way he had pinned me in the elevator and smiled as I looked back over my shoulder. Had that been part of the plan to win me? Why he had been in my building? I looked at Bellatrix in shock. Unconventional! Damn she was good. No wonder she kept pressing me for information on him and all this time I thought she had a crush on him, herself. If I wasn't so ecstatically happy I would have throttled her. "I could not ask to be happier than I am right at this moment. Thank you for becoming my wife, I love you with all my heart." He stepped away from the microphone and walked towards me. He bent down and cupping my face, kissed me softly. After a moment, he let go and as the guests whistled and cheered he wrapped his arms around me, lifted me up and carried me off to begin our honeymoon.