The Potions Master and the Ravenclaw

"The Dark Lord Wants to Meet... Me?"

Snape, as always, woke first. They had hardly moved, still in the same positions as when they had fallen asleep. He couldn't see a clock and he had no idea what time it was. He didn't want to disturb her, so he just lay still, watching her. Holding her. Inhaling her scent and feeling her chest rise and fall against his.

She had been so brave. Never even cried. And he knew it was for his benefit. Not wanting to burden him with her fear, not wanting to make him feel any guiltier than he already did, not wanting to distract him from his task. He thought about how she looked when he surprised her on the hospital ward and she was standing there between her two patients, wand out, ready to hex whoever was coming in. Protecting them. A boy she barely knew and a man she had never met. That fierce look on her face. Anyone who had seen it would have certainly been hesitant to cross her.

God, he was proud of her. And oh, God, how he loved her.

He dreaded the conversation they would be forced to have when she woke up, but he hoped she would face it with her usual strength and acceptance. He hoped she wouldn't be afraid. He hated himself for allowing his darkness to seep into her light. He hated himself for bringing war and danger and deception into her life, though he knew from experience that the war would eventually touch everyone in their world.

She was so very young and she would have to do a lot of growing up very quickly. Not just loving an older man and playing house and having a job (important though it was). Her life had been hard and she - like Snape himself - had not exactly enjoyed a carefree childhood, but this was war. There would be death and loss. Fear and uncertainty. She had been a young child during the first war and she had not known the atrocities that occur in wartime. Yes, losing her father in the first war had been horrible and Snape would have to see to it that she didn't lose her husband in the second, but she hadn't seen what he - Snape- had seen. She would see it now. And she would lose friends due to her association with him. Eventually, everyone would know him as a Death Eater. It would cost her. He hoped she was prepared for it and that she wouldn't resent him for it. He hoped he would be enough for her. Her heart was so sweet and giving and he hoped that wouldn't change. He wanted to keep his kind, loving, innocent girl as long as he could. He had a strong feeling she would bear it all with her usual grace, and it gave him hope.

But today he'd have to tell her she would be required to meet the Dark Lord. That her own husband who had sworn to protect her was intentionally putting her in grave danger. Mortal peril.

He hated himself for it.

But he was used to hating himself.

Severus Snape was very good at hating himself.

He felt her hold on him tighten, then felt her lips pressing a sweet kiss onto his shoulder.

He smiled. Madeline was the one person who made him forget how irredeemable he was, if only for a moment.

"How did you sleep, my love?"

"Like a rock," she said, laughing. "Did you sleep?"

"I did."

"Good. What time is it?"

He raised his head up to look at the clock. "It's afternoon now. A little after four o'clock."

"Tell me you love me."

"I love you."

She kissed his chest and looked up at him.

He laughed softly. "Already, little girl? You're insatiable."

"I know. It can't be helped. You've made me this way, you know. It's all your fault," she teased.