𝑭𝑳𝑶𝑾𝑬𝑹𝑺 𝑰𝑵 𝑯𝑬𝑹 𝑯𝑨𝑰𝑹 - Severus Snape

SEVEN

7|THE FORBIDDEN FOREST

Her fingers played with the sleeves of her cardigan, eyes scanning her outfit one last time before she left her dorm. She grabbed the basket on her way out, glad the elves were happy enough to pack her a small lunch.

Severus waited for her outside the Ravenclaw dorm, ignoring all the curious stares he was receiving. He played with his fingers, awkwardly fidgeting as he debated the depth of her invitation. Was she asking him on a date or was it because they had become friends and she was being nice? Either option still made him nervous.

"Severus?" Willow broke him away from his thoughts, a bright smile on her lips warming his heart. She looked up at him with pure joy in her eyes, her nerves almost unreadable. "Shall we?"

"Here." He took the basket from her hands, carrying it as the secretly slipped out the school grounds and towards the forbidden forest.

Once they were away from peering eyes, Severus awkwardly offered her his arm, noticing her stumbling over the uneven terrain. The walked silently through the forest, Willow leading the way to her favourite spot. She kept her wand gripped tightly in her free hand, prepared for any dangers that may suddenly appear.

The sun shined through the trees, lighting up a small opening between the leafy canopy. Wild flowers grew around the trees, reaching up to the sunlight. Willow laid down the small blanket she had packed, sitting down first and leaving enough room for Severus to join her.

"You seem like the type of person who likes small getaways from the world so I thought you might like this spot." She quickly explained, filling the silence that was slowly consuming them. "I've been coming her since third year and not once have I encountered something dangerous or been caught."

"It seems so peaceful." Severus commented, lying back against the blanket and placing a cigarette in his mouth. He pulled out a lighter and lit the end, taking in the nicotine before passing it to her. "You don't seem like the type of person who would smoke. I expected you to turn your nose up at me."

"My mother, brother and Sirius all smoke at home so I usually steal one here and there." Willow shrugged it off, breathing in the toxins.

"I forget Black lives with your family." He casually stated, shuffling over as she lay down beside him. "My mother was telling me how angry Mrs. Black was when he ranaway from home."

"My parents always pick up strays." She chuckled, passing him back his cigarette. "Last summer Remus lived with us for most of the holidays and Lily would always spend weeks with me. I'm glad Sirius moved in with us, the stories he told me about his household are horrendous. You never realise people are going through hell till it's almost too late. I hope we can help his little brother."

"They sound like good people."

"They are." A comfortable silence fell over them as they enjoyed the sounds of nature. The slight breeze drifting through the leaves, birds singing to one another in the distance. "I've never heard of a wizarding family called Snape. And I'm assuming since you're friends with Malfoy you're not muggleborn."

"My mother is a witch." Severus revealed, glancing over at her as she watched the white clouds float over them. "She married my muggle father."

"What was her maiden name?" She asked curiously, meeting his stare. "I might know her family."

"Prince."

"As in Eileen Prince?" He slowly nodded his head in agreement, shocked she knew his mothers family. "You're wizarding royalty. The Prince's are one of the oldest families that used to have a strong sway in wizarding politics and general laws."

"I never knew that about my mother." A distant look filled his expression as he thought about his secretive mother.

"I don't know much but I do know that the Prince bloodline is going extinct with your mother and her two cousins the only ones left carrying the royal blood." Willow continued to ramble, reciting the facts she remembers learning about pure blood families. "And, well, now you are part of that. Make sure you marry someone very fertile and have many babies."

"I don't know if I want to have kids." He said grimly, shuddering at the thought of his childhood. "The bloodline can die with me for all I care."

"How poetic." She laughed, sitting up to pull the sandwiches out the basket. "I luckily have my brother to carry on the bloodline and family name. My family don't particularly care for blood status so he will easily marry Lily with no issue. Oh, sorry. I don't know if their relationship is still a touchy subject with you."

"It's okay." He smiled at her. "I've found a new bad habit to keep me distracted."