CURSED: FROM THE BEGINNING [D.M]

-(17) she can keep it from him

ZILLIAH is unfortunately the last one to hand over the paper to Severus at the desk. With an internal growl, she gets up from her seat and walks upto the front of the empty classroom, her eyes resolutely fixed on her steps all the while she could feel his stern glare on herself.

As she reaches him, she casts her eyes upward and finally meets his glance (not because she wanted to but because she had to) that was examining her with the utmost scrutiny. He snatches the paper from her hand and skims through it. "Why were you late? You and Draco", he finally asks the inevitable.

"We were studying for your test in the common room", she lies.

"Were you really?", he looks back up, the glare still pretty much prevalent.

She hardens her eyes down on him, perhaps to assert dominance. "Yes."

"Do you really think you can get away by  lying to me, Zilliah?"

No. All that she had learnt about deception, she had learnt from the very man before her. "Whatever, I've got to get going", she shakes her head, fetching her gaze away and making to turn back.

But his sudden hand on her shoulder as he stands up from his seat, makes her halt. "Remember what I told you", his voice comes in warning. "Remember the consequence. Remember who he is, Zilliah."

"What the hell are you on about?", she grits out, still half turned, refusing to meet his eyes because she knew that he could dig through them and he could dig through them very well.

"You know what I am on about." His voice is irritatingly composed. "He is a Malfoy. You know how fiercely loyal they are to the Dark Lord. He is Draco Malfoy."

She scoffs, the need to defend him howling within her. "He is just Draco."

"No." It's cold, determined and she can pratically feel his gaze burning into her side. "No, he is not just-"

She cuts him off impatiently, rounding about with a intact glare, having had enough of this. "You are the one to talk about this. Really, Severus? After what you are?"

"All I have done-", his voice is piercing and stern "- and all I ever will do is only for your protection."

"I don't need protection", she hisses back. "And I know all that you are doing is only because of her. Because of Lily Potter. Only because she made you swear-"

"Enough!", he bellows suddenly, losing control over his calmness, his eyes the meanest she has ever seen them. He lifts his hand off her, his features slipping back into neutrality almost quickly, regretting ever having shown anything else. "You should leave."

And no- fuck no- she isn't letting this conversation end like this. "I am not-"

"I. Said. Leave." His voice is calm, too calm and deadly. See now that's kinda.. scary. Because she knows the man before her, maybe even better than anyone else who knows him.

She manages to hide her fear and shoots one last glare his way and walks out the class, desperately trying to hold her anger in.

Yes, she knows of the potential threat hanging over her head if Draco learns about the truth. She knows. But she can keep it from him, can't she? Yes. Yes. She can. She will. She had before. Even despite wanting to give in, to confide, to soak in the comfort he was offering to her in a moment of need, of desperation, she had held back. She had restrained her emotions.

But it didn't make her feel any better.

Okay, fuck it. Maybe she should focus on something else. Like making sure she doesn't end up fucking pregnant. Yeah, that's a good distraction. Severus sure wouldn't like that. Nor would her mother. Or anyone for that matter. Not even Draco or herself.