Unfathomable Desire

Chapter 43

I rounded the corner towards the dungeons with Mack at my heels. I suddenly collided into a hard body, whose strong hands wrapped around my arms to steady me. I was face to face with Severus and relief flooded over me. 

"Where have you been?" he asked me, keeping his hands on my arms. "I've been looking everywhere for you." 

"I was dealing with something," I said. 

His eyes finally darted towards Mack and he quickly let me go. 

"Severus." His eyes grew wide at using his first name in front of someone. "What happened? Why is Dumbledore gone?" 

"Miss l/n-" Severus started.

"She knows." I gestured towards Mack. "She was the one the one who saw us the other night." 

I watched as pure terror settled upon Severus's face, trying to make sense of the situation. I could see his brain trying to come up with something to say that will excuse what Mack saw. I grew impatient at having to relive this. 

"It's fine, Severus," I said, trying to draw his attention back to Dumbledore. "She knows and it's fine. We can talk about it later." Severus looked between Mack and me, confusion on his face. "Severus, where is Dumbledore?" 

Severus appeared to snap back into the moment. "Dumbledore is gone," he said. 

"I know." I was getting annoyed. "Am I still safe?" 

"You're concerned for your own safety?" Severus said, feigning a look of surprise. "That's a first." 

"Now is really not the time. Can you tell me what's happening? Why did Dumbledore leave?" 

"It doesn't matter, y/n," Severus said. He placed his hand on my back and led my back up the steps towards the Great Hall. Mack followed behind. Once we made it up the steps, he turned back to face me. "It's not safe here anymore. He'll come looking for you as soon as he knows Dumbledore is gone." 

"I'm not afraid of him," I said. "Let him try." 

"He'll kill you," Severus hissed. 

"Excuse me, who's trying to kill you?" Mack chimed in. 

Severus looked at her as if he had forgotten she was there. He pursed his lips, before turning back to me, ignoring Mack. "You have to go." 

"What?" I asked. "Go where? I'm staying here." 

"No," Severus said. "You are most definitely not. Go get your stuff, quickly. Remus is waiting for you." 

"Are you serious right now?" I asked, raising my voice. "I can't go." 

Severus grabbed my arms urgently. "This is not up for debate, y/n. You need to leave, now." 

"Where am I going, Severus?" 

Severus looked at me with an apologetic look. 

"No!" I ripped my arms from his grip, taking a step back. "I'm not going home, Severus." 

"Please," Severus pleaded with me, a desperate look flashing in his eyes. "I won't lose you. Not like this." 

Tears rushed to my eyes but I stood my ground.

Severus turned to Mack, addressing her. "You need to take y/n, and help her pack. Get all her stuff and meet me back here." 

"I don't even understand what's going on," Mack said, looking between Severus and myself. 

"All you need to know is that someone is trying to kill y/n." When Mack hesitated, Severus went on. "If you're her friend, you will take her to her dorm and pack her things. Protect her, please." 

Mack looked at me with concern. She grabbed my arm and whispered through her own tears. "Please y/n, let's go." 

Feeling defeated, I let Mack drag me up to our dorm room. 

"I can't go Mack," I said while I sat on my bed. "This is my home now." 

Mack was quickly packing my things. "Y/n, Professor Snape seemed pretty serious. I think we ought to listen to him. If you're in danger like he said, then you should go." Her voice cracked and tears were falling down her face. 

"Mack," I said, wrapping my arms around her. 

"I love you, despite your strange taste in men," Mack whispered into the crook of my neck.

I laughed through a sob. "I love you, too." 

We packed together, keeping my essentials to one bag. Mack promised to send the rest of my stuff later. 

We made our way back towards the Hogwarts doors that led to the outside. Severus was waiting for us. When he saw us approach he quickly grabbed my bag. 

"I'll walk you to Remus," Severus said. 

I turned to Mack and hugged her tight. "Thank you," I said. 

"Just... stay safe, ok?" 

"I'll try," I said as I broke from our embrace.  "Can you tell the twins and Corey I said goodbye?" 

"Of course." Mack wiped at her cheeks. 

I took a final look at Mack and left with Severus's protective arm around my back.