Snape In Love

Chapter 40

Making Each Day Of The Year

Monday morning came all too quickly. The night before, at dinner, the Headmaster had announced our engagement to the school. Severus had gripped my hand tightly under the table and fixed his face into the approximation of an embarrassed not-quite-a-frown. When the applause had died down he had said out of the corner of his mouth,

"That was all for you, not me."

"It was for us both, love! You´ll see!"

Sure enough, as the Great Hall had emptied after dinner, some of the older students from all four houses had approached the staff table to shyly offer us both their congratulations, and Severus grasped my hand once more. By the time his ordeal was over, and he had stiffly acknowledged everybody´s good wishes, my hand was aching, red and sore from his grip. As the Hall emptied I showed him what he had done.

"Good grief, Ella, why didn´t you say something? Here, let me get my wand..." Horrified, he reached into his robes.

"I didn´t want to, you seemed to need it too much!" I smiled gently as he performed a charm that melted the pain away.

"I did! I put up with an awful lot for you, you know!" he replied feelingly as he turned my hand over in his, stroking it with his thumbs.

As usual the owl post arrived at breakfast. Severus and I looked at one another nervously, ready to borrow Sirius´ copy of the Daily Prophet when it arrived. However, there was no need, as a clearly marked "Complimentary Copy" was dropped into my lap by a large tawny owl. I was horrified to discover that we were front page news.

"Hah! It must have been a slow weekend for news," Sirius commented grimly, and we all three began to read.

*****************************************************************

********************************************************************

I felt all of the colour drain from my face as I read, and I only needed to look at the whiteness of Severus´ knuckles as he gripped the newspaper to know what he was feeling. Fleetingly I wondered whether or not we could sue for defamation of character, but I quickly realised that there were no outright lies in the piece. And mud would, in any case, stick no matter what we did.

The general hubbub in the Hall had reached a louder pitch than usual, and as I raised my eyes from the page in front of me I caught dozens of pairs of eyes on me. I was painfully aware that I was flanked by both of my supposed lovers, both of whom held a copy of the damning article in which they were referred to as criminals. The embarrassment I felt was intolerable.

"Severus, can we go? I need to get out of here!"

"No!" he snapped. "We´re not going anywhere, not after last time! Stay there!"

"Snape, Ella looks ill..." Sirius began.

"Don´t talk to me, Black! We´ll discuss this later, in private, not here in front of the whole school! Do you want people to think we take this rubbish seriously?" he spat venomously.

Sirius opened the newspaper, folded it back, and began to read the sports page, turning to Professor Vector and commenting loudly on the Chudleigh Cannons´ latest signing.

Severus put his copy to one side and poured me a goblet of pumpkin juice.

"Smile, Ella, for pity´s sake!" he muttered grimly. "Otherwise they´ll forget all their good wishes of last night!"

"Oh, Severus, it´s horrible! What if people believe these lies?"

"Not now, Ella, not here! Pull yourself together, woman!"

I took the goblet he offered me and sipped it, although my stomach was churning and I felt quite ill. Rita Skeeter had painted me as some sort of slut who flitted from man to man, and place to place, and I feared that her comments would shake Severus´ confidence. It was only recently that I had truly and completely won his trust, and I was desperately afraid that it would be snatched away from me.

Miserably I willed breakfast to be over so that I could escape from all the watchful faces. At last my prayers were answered and the Headmaster rose from his seat, coming up behind us and saying,

"Sirius, Ella, Severus, come to my office, please. Oh, and Remus, find Harry and Hermione and bring them to me in about half an hour, please."

Remus nodded, and we rose to leave. I felt light-headed, and reached for Severus to steady myself, putting my hand on his arm. He covered my hand with his reassuringly and murmured, more kindly now,

"It could have been a lot worse. Don´t worry."

We were soon seated in Dumbledore´s office.

"I take it you´ve read the article, Headmaster?" asked Severus.

"Yes, yes. And it isn´t as vicious as I had feared it would be."

"What?" I said incredulously. "It´s horrible!"

"It´s quite tame by Rita Skeeter´s standards," observed Sirius.

"Well, she hardly did a character assassination on you, did she?" I snapped, close to tears.

"Ella, calm down. Think of the baby," Severus urged, taking my hands in his.

"The baby that half the wizarding world is going to doubt belongs to you! How can you be so - so - reasonable! I saw how angry you were at breakfast!"

"Because I´ve had some time to think about the article, and much as it pains me to admit it, I believe that Black´s right!"

"Thanks, Snape!"

"Yes, well, don´t get used to it, Black."

"Rita Skeeter has, indeed, done a lot worse in the past, and I am quite certain she will do so again," Dumbledore agreed, much to my irritation. "All I need from the three of you, particularly you, Ella, is your assurance that you will not let this article affect your relationships," looking at Severus and Sirius in turn, "and that there is nothing else you are keeping secret which she may use at a later date to discredit both you, and, by association, this school."

"There's nothing," replied Severus grimly.

"No, nothing at all," followed Sirius innocently.

Dumbledore nodded and turned to me.

"Ella. You were the main target of her attack this time. Can you assure me that there is nothing in what she said that she may elaborate on at a later date?"

I met his gaze steadily as I remembered returning Sirius' kiss at Beauxbatons, and guilt surged through me, making me flush. I didn't dare look at Sirius, or Severus, as I said,

"There's nothing, Professor Dumbledore. There has never been anything between Sirius and me. Not in that way."

As I spoke, I knew it was the truth, and that as long as Rita Skeeter hadn't been in the corridor with us at Beauxbatons that night, our secret would be safe. The Headmaster seemed satisfied with my answer, as he smiled and went to sit at his desk. Sirius and Severus looked at one another and nodded briefly, and I sank back in my chair, relieved. I hadn't lied to Dumbledore. I couldn't, I knew he would always see straight through me. Yes, I had kissed Sirius, but only because for a few seconds I had forgotten who he was. And besides, that kiss had been the catalyst that had brought me back to my true love. I shouldn't feel guilty about it, I thought.

There was a knock at the door. It was Remus, with Harry and Hermione. When they had entered, the Headmaster stood up and looked at us all gravely.

"And now to more pressing matters, now that we are all here. I´m afraid I have had some most worrying news. It concerns Lucius Malfoy. He has absconded from Azkaban prison, and nobody knows where he is."

"What?" spluttered Sirius incredulously. "How?"

"It appears he had help. According to Arthur Weasley, the Minister for Magic has not been seen since going to visit him two days ago regarding his appeal."

My stomach turned over and I reached out for Severus. He put his hand on my shoulder, frowning angrily.

"They´ll be caught, surely?" I asked.

Everyone was silent. Eventually Hermione spoke.

"It'll be okay, Ella," she said shakily, trying to convince herself as well as me. Harry hugged her fiercely, for once looking older than his years. As he released her, he said,

"You know, I´ve almost felt sorry for Draco over the last few months, but I bet he´ll be overjoyed to hear this!"

"Pah!" Severus burst out, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Potter, but I have to disagree. The boy's never been less obnoxious than in these last few months. You know, I actually think he was happy when his father was sent to Azkaban! Just because you imagine that your relationship with your father would have been idyllic, it doesn't mean that everyone's is!" he continued, pacing the room, ending up inches away from Harry, his eyes glinting. "Not all Slytherins turn bad, Potter. Something you find difficult to believe, I know, but no less true for that!"

"I'm sorry, sir," Harry answered, unflinching. "I do believe it. At least, I believe that if they do turn bad, they don't always stay that way."

Severus gave him a penetrating look, and turned away, back to me, his expression unreadable.

"Severus, am I right in thinking that you don´t have any classes this morning?" the Headmaster enquired.

"Indeed, Headmaster, not until after lunch."

"Very well. Draco hasn´t been informed yet. Please bring him to me."

Severus nodded silently, and we all rose to leave.

It was a very subdued group that descended the spiral staircase and went their separate ways at its foot. Harry and Sirius went off to meet Ron, then go to see Hagrid, while Hermione and Remus went to see what would be Hermione's new quarters the next year, and spend some time alone. Severus had been silent and brooding until we had reached the foot of the stairs, and I almost expected him to simply stalk away along the corridor without a word. However, he turned to me and said peremptorily,

"Go to your rooms, and start to pack up all your belongings. I´ll come to you as soon as I can. You´re going to move in with me properly. I think it's about time, don't you?"

"I - are you sure? I don´t want - "

"Don´t argue."

Leaning against him, we stood holding each other close for a moment, then he lifted my chin and kissed me briefly but tenderly, and we parted.

It was over two hours later before Severus came to me. I had packed everything, and I sat in the armchair thinking about the Malfoys, father and son. Draco was so like his father in appearance, and yet Severus had maintained that he had been relieved that his father had been imprisoned, so their similarities were perhaps only superficial.

I had never liked Draco. He was an obnoxious bully who delighted in belittling people. I suppose my perception of him had been coloured by my friendship with Hermione and Harry, but Severus too used to grow impatient with him, particularly as he had spent seven years trying to hide his dislike because of who Draco´s father was.

Finally, Severus came in and I rose to greet him. He enfolded me in his arms and buried his face in my hair, sighing heavily.

"What is it?" I asked, holding him close around his waist.

"He didn't take the news very well. He's scared. Apparently he's always known he'd be expected to take the Dark Mark after his eighteenth birthday. He's not that bad underneath - and he´s terrified of his father."

"I'm not surprised!" I muttered feelingly.

"Like I told Potter, Draco was actually quite relieved about what happened before Christmas, thought it would let him off the hook. Now, he's not so sure."

Severus sat down and pulled me on to his lap. I wound my arms around his neck and twisted a lock of his hair around my fingers as I said,

"Off the hook? As in, receiving the Dark Mark?"

"Yes," replied Severus sombrely. "You do understand that Voldemort wasn´t defeated, don't you? I mean, not completely?"

"Of course I do! But surely he was weakened enough not to pose any threat? Not for a long time, anyway?"

Severus shrugged, his forehead knitting as his fingertips traced my cheek.

"We don't know."

I drew his head towards me, and rested my cheek on it.

"Have they sent aurors?"

"Yes. The Ministry's in turmoil, they're running around like headless chickens, apparently. Nobody knew about Fudge, so nobody knows who to trust any more." He gave a hollow laugh and sighed, burying his face in my chest so that his next words were muffled. "They don't know what to do first, go on a manhunt or conduct an internal investigation! Then, of course, there's the small matter of electing a new Minister for Magic!"

"About Malfoy..." I mused, "You wouldn't have to go and join the search, would you? I need you here..."

He squeezed me tighter and shook his head.

"Shouldn't think so. Don't worry."

Something evasive in his tone made me push us apart so that I could see his face. He looked up at me, worried.

"You will have to, won't you?"

"Honestly? I don't know. Maybe."

I shivered and drew him close to me again. We sat like that for a while, until he said finally,

"You all ready to go?"

"Yes."

"Sure?"

"What?"

"Sure you want to give up your bolt-hole?"

"I don't need a bolt-hole from you, love."

"You did," he answered as he looked at me seriously, raising an eyebrow.

"I know better now." I silenced him with a finger on his lips. He closed his eyes and sighed. "And how about you?" I asked. He opened his eyes enquiringly. "You might get sick of my...incessant prattle!" I teased.

"I'm getting used to it," he shrugged. "Anyway, it was too quiet without you. I was lonely."

"And now you'll never be lonely again," I said as I pressed my lips against his.

"Let's go," Severus murmured when we finally broke apart, his mood noticeably lighter. "I have something to show you."

"What is it?"

"Our new home!" he said importantly.

"The Headmaster agreed?"

"The suite's ours as soon as we want it!"

"Oh, now!"

He pushed me off his lap, laughing, and stood up.

"The rooms are a bit - neglected, you know."

"So? That all adds to the fun!"

"Does it? Hmm. If you say so..."

I waddled excitedly along the corridors, Severus smiling indulgently at my side as I enthused and made plans.

"You haven't even seen the rooms yet, Ella!"

"Doesn't matter!" I replied happily.

We passed the doors to his classroom and office, to the heavy oak door at the very end of the corridor. He withdrew his wand and said, with a sideways glance at me,

"Alohomora!" and the door swung open. I followed him inside eagerly, and found myself in a very large, very dusty room. It was the same size as Severus' office, perhaps a little larger, with a floor of what appeared to be multi-hued slabs of slate, dulled by decades of dust and neglect. A set of four arched windows, like the two in Severus´ bedroom, was at the far end and had they too not been covered in grime and cobwebs they would have flooded the room with light. The walls were panelled in oak and one wall had recessed shelving almost to ceiling height.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" I exclaimed, turning around to take in the whole room.

Severus raised his eyebrows enquiringly as he too looked all around him.

"Well, it will be!" I corrected myself. "It just needs a good clean. Can't you see it?"

He laughed softly and came up behind me, slipping his arms around my waist and murmuring lovingly in my ear,

"I can now that you've seen it."

Taking his hand in mine I pulled him along behind me towards a door in the far corner that I had just noticed.

"Is this ours too?" I demanded.

"Yes, this is too!"

I stepped into a smaller room, a little smaller than Severus' bedroom. There were windows on two walls, and between them was a corner turret with windows all round. I felt light-hearted the moment I walked into the room, and I turned to Severus with shining eyes.

"Do you feel it?"

"Feel what?" he replied, puzzled but with laughter in his eyes.

"This room - it feels so light! So - happy!"

"How can a room feel happy?"

"It just does!"

"You haven't been seeing Trelawney, have you? She's always on about 'vibes', the silly woman."

"No!" I snorted. "But Severus, can't you just picture it? A cot over there, and a rocking chair in the turret where I can sit with the baby..."

He hugged me fiercely and said nothing, clasping my head to his chest. I knew then that he could see it too.

"Well," he began, his voice cracking, "the first thing we need to do is get the house elves to clean the place up. Before you show it to Hermione, Ella, or she'll have the two of you doing it yourselves!" he warned sternly. "Then we can decorate it, make a doorway through to the bedroom, and then it's all up to you, it doesn´t matter to me how it´s furnished, as long as it´s comfortable."

"I can't wait to get started!"

"Hmm. As long as you don't overdo it."

"I won´t. I've got you to look after me, haven't I?"

"Always, love."

I didn't want to leave that room and its peaceful atmosphere, with its turret offering views of half the Hogwarts grounds, even across to Hogsmeade. However, Severus was holding me, and the lure of our bed was too strong for me to resist. I ran my hands down his back, squeezing gently, and murmured his name.

"I know. Me too." he replied, understanding my meaning. "Come on."

We walked back into the main room, arm in arm, stealing kisses on the way and smiling into one another´s eyes. Severus opened the door to the corridor and turned to me, and I pushed him out into the corridor playfully, eager to get back to our room. He laughed as he stumbled slightly, then did a half-turn and froze, glaring down the corridor as he straightened up to his full height and saying icily,

"Well, what are you waiting for? Get inside!"

I peered out round the edge of the door frame to see a gaggle of bemused Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, crowding their way into the classroom now, gaping down the corridor at us. Severus took my arm and guided me back into the room hurriedly, shutting the door behind us once more as he said,

"It's my third year class! What time is it?"

"It must be after lunch already!"

"Damn it! I have to go. That's another afternoon spent wanting you!!" he said, highly annoyed. I pressed my hand against his trousers and said mockingly,

"Oh dear..." as he grasped my wrist and kissed me longingly.

"I'll see you later!" he warned, sweeping out and leaving me alone.