The Era of Aria Snape

103

Chapter One Hundred and Three

ARIA HAD CHOSEN to stay at the castle for Christmas and help Draco with his task, she knew that she wouldn't have been able to enjoy the festive holiday knowing he was stuck at Hogwarts, pondering over how to complete it.

However, helping with his task proved to be a challenge considering that whenever the pair were in the room of requirement, tantalizing items would appear, tempting the two into doing anything but fixing the vanishing cabinet. At first, there would be no more than a bed in the corner, but within the past few days, many more questionable things had emerged, creating an unwelcome yet pleasing distraction.

"Draco..." Aria groaned, "we need to get this done."

He said nothing in response his lips finding hers again as he pressed her against the wall eagerly. It wasn't as if he hadn't seen her for ages, no, they spent almost every waking hour together, so the urgency with which he kissed always came as a surprise to Aria.

"Happy Christmas." He whispered against her neck.

Aria had lost track of the days, they all just merged together as of late, going by far too quickly for her liking. "Come on, fix this thing so this can be over with and we can move on." She grabbed his face between her fingers and forced him to look up at her. "The sooner this is done the sooner we can be together, you know that, right?" Aria had a plan, they would run away the moment the job was done. They would flee to some muggle country, somewhere off the map. She only hoped that her father would be kept out of this whole ordeal and not have to kill anyone or face the Dark Lord's wrath when she disappeared.

The next few days were spent slowly mending the cabinet. Things were looking up as the objects they sent through returned quicker and quicker.

Everything was going smoothly until Professor Snape cornered Aria after class one day. "Dad?" She asked cautiously and looked up at him from her desk.

He said nothing, grabbed her arm, and rolled up her sleeve, revealing the dark mark. He sighed as he released her arm roughly. "What have you done?"

"It's not like you don't have one!"

He turned to face her, slamming his hands onto the table. "That is not the point. Aria... this could have been avoided. You did this for Malfoy, and you will pay for it with your freedom."

"Seeing him suffer is torture. I would do anything for him!"

Snape looked down at his daughter with shocked eyes. "What kind of love spell did that boy put on you?"

She shook her head. It was no love spell or potion, no charm or incantation. It was simply what she felt. Seeing him weak and vulnerable had struck a chord in Aria and she had been unable to leave his side since his tears had trickled down her clothing. "No spell, father. I love him. You've felt this way, about mom... you know the feeling." Her father's face remained still, black eyes emotionless. "I'm sorry," she pulled down her sleeve, covering the tattoo.

"If you die..."

"I won't die, and neither will you."

"I will kill him if you die. I will..." Snape trailed off, searching his daughter's face.

"You'll see, dad. None of us will die."

He nodded and reached for her, pulling her into his chest and cradling her head in his arms.

"I know you made the Unbreakable Vow," Aria murmured.

She felt him nod slowly.

"I'll do it, so neither of you have to."

"You will not-"

A student walked in at that moment, interrupting the two. Aria stalked out, letting a few tears slip from her eyes. She loved her father, more than anything, more than life. As she was about to turn the corner, a familiar chime of voices filled her ears.

Harry and Ron.

They were speaking about something that happened recently at the Weasley house; fire, Death Eaters... Aria's heart skipped. Was everybody okay? She couldn't exactly prance along and ask them, nor could she send an owl. It took her by surprise how much she still cared for that ginger family, despite everything and what she had chosen to do with her life. She missed the way Molly would hug her as if she were her own daughter or the way Arthur would laugh at her jokes and Fred would tease her while Ginny braided her hair and Ron watched, making snotty, amusing comments. Most of all, she missed George, nothing in particular that he did, just him. She hoped more than anything that he was safe and well and that when everything was over, he'd find a way to forgive her for everything she had done and had yet to do.

But she had chosen her side and as long as Draco remained on that side, she would too, regardless of the consequences.