The Prince's Love

Chapter 4: Starting the Road to Recovery

Severus' POV

When Poppy said those words, something inside me broke. My heart fell, and I felt empty inside. What will I do with my life now? How could I complete my life as a double agent, if I couldn't even move my legs? Who will I be, if I can't be the dungeon bat, strutting down the hallways, with my cape billowing behind me? How will I even be in a relationship with Melissa, if I can't do anything without help?

Melissa seemed to take it even worse than I did. The moment she heard the news, she sat herself down on my lap, wrapped her arms around my neck, and started sobbing into my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around her and soothingly started to rub her back.

I sent a silent message to Poppy with my eyes, and she seemed to get the message because she took Draco and left the room. Leaving Melissa and I some space to try and figure things out. I rested my chin on her head, and just held her.

After a few minutes, her sobs turn to small snuffles, and she looks up at me. "I'm sorry," she says looking ashamed. "I shouldn't be the one crying right now when your whole life just got turned upside down."

"No, it's okay, this changes a lot of things for you too, it's okay to be upset." I paused looking at her sadly, before continuing. "And Melissa, if you don't want to be with me because of this, I understand. You deserve someone who can go on walks with you holding your hand, take you on dates, carry you when you're tired. With me, you'd just be stuck pushing my wheelchair around, or whatever the heck it is I'm going to be using, and-"

Before I could keep going, she cut me off. "Severus, stop. I don't care if you're in a wheelchair for the rest of your life. I'm still going to love you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, I'm not going to leave you just because you can't move your legs. Besides, it's my fault you're here in the first place."

"I'm glad, but why on earth do you think this your fault?" I asked her, shocked that she could really believe that.

"I knew something was off with you since breakfast that morning. I should've just gone and seen you, not waited for later. I even had the chance to at lunch, I noticed you weren't there, I could've gone to see you, but I didn't and now look at-" she answered, starting to tear up again towards the end, but then I cut her off.

"This isn't your fault, I should've noticed the symptoms, or at least just sucked it up and gone to see Poppy. I was stupid and pushed it aside as a stomach virus, and this is what I get. But we can't keep blaming ourselves. There are always going to be things that we want to change, but we can't change them. And to quote Dumbledore for a second 'It doesn't do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.' I'll get through this, I'll find a way to walk again, and I will make whoever did this to me pay," I told her, starting to feel better myself towards the end.

"I know you will. And I'll be with you every step of the way. I love you Sev, and no injury or sickness can tear us apart. We will get through this, and we'll get through it together," she said confidently.

"I love you so much, Isa. More than you know. Thank you for not leaving me over this. I figured you would, I'm not much of a boyfriend as it is. And now that I'm like this, even more worthless. I figured you would just give up on this relationship because you wouldn't think it was worth it," I said sadly, still somewhat thinking that she might still do that.

"Sev, I would never do that to you. And you are NOT worthless. You're an amazing person, and I'm so lucky to have you. I wouldn't trade you for any other guy, whether you're paralyzed or not. Also, when did you start calling me Isa?" she asked me, with a curious look on her face.

"Oh um," I coughed uncomfortably for a second and then continued, "It's just, you called me Sev, and I wanted to give you a nickname too, and I thought that one worked well on you. But if you don't like it, we can change it, I just thought-" I awkwardly explained to her, hoping she wasn't mad that I called her that.