Dancing in the Dark - A Severus Snape Love Story

6 | Chilly Confessions

a/n

I just wanted to say a quick THANK YOU to everyone who has commented, liked, voted and read this far. It really means the world to me. This next chapter will be the last of the teasing before we get into some smut. But more teasing is ahead of course ;)

Enjoy!!

I started sprinting down the hallway before my mind could even process what I was doing. I can't let Severus get away now, not after what we had just shared.

I rounded the corner at the end of the hall just in time to see he had gone out the door that lead to the castle grounds. Cloak flying behind me, I burst through the doors into the snowy winter night. Stopping to catch my breath, I looked for any sign of where he might have gone.

The snow.

Moving my skirts to check the ground for footprints, I found a trail leading towards the courtyard. Without a second thought, I took off running again.

As I neared the courtyard, I slowed my pace to a walk. Peering through the archway, I could see Snape sitting on a stone, his head buried in his hands. Deciding it would be better to announce my presence, I spoke softly into the winter air.

"Sir... Are you alright?"

He seemed startled that I had followed him all the way out here but relieved he had not been found in this condition by someone else. Inhaling sharply, he turned his gaze to the ground. Sorrow burning his face.

But he didn't speak. Or maybe, he wouldn't speak.

I walked closer to Snape, trying to catch his gaze. But his eyes stayed fixed to their place.

Minutes had passed us by while I stood over the hunched professor. Snape still refusing to say a word to me. I felt myself getting more and more upset with him.

We had just shared our first dance, our first kiss. After all of that, he stormed out on me. Why did he have nothing to say for himself? Has this night truly meant nothing to him?

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. Unable to take the silence anymore, I finally let it all out.

"Sir, would you please say something! I've just had the most magical night of my life and you can't even look at me! Did all of that mean nothing to you?! Was I just a way to get back at Malfoy?"

That seemed to be a blow to him, but enough to make him lift his head. Guilt immediately washed over me as I noticed tears were filling his eyes.

"Don't you get it Miss Cross? No form of magic exists that could recreate what I felt with you this evening! I could barely enjoy that sensation for more than a few minutes before Malfoy so kindly reminded me that I am not good enough for you! Everything he said back there was correct. I don't know how to treat you right, I don't know what to do with a woman and I just know you will grow sick of me for it!"

This was the first time he had yelled at me, since being his apprentice anyways. But it was enough to shut me up.

How could you possibly not be good enough for me?

I knelt in front of him and took his large hands in mine, feeling the chill settling into his skin. "Severus, I can't think of a single man in this world who is more capable of love." He nearly smiled at me before his own thoughts seemed to prevent him from doing so.

He pulled his hands from mine and stared down at his shoes.

"But I can't..." He couldn't seem to admit the words. I squeezed his hands tighter, trying to get his attention back. "Yes you can! It takes a great deal of time to learn how to love somebody in all the ways that they need. But from what I recall, you were once quite the student yourself." My attempt to boost his confidence faltered as he sighed and shook his head.