𝓢𝓽𝓾𝓹𝓲𝓭 𝓖𝓲𝓻𝓵!

C55 Until the party's over

It was only an hour later that I got up and quickly put my clothes on. An exhausted-looking Severus looked up at me. ''Where are you going?'' He reached for me and I smiled. ''I need to get back before anyone sees me.'' I whispered and sat down on the bed, he pulled me to him and hugged me tightly. ''Stay.'' He nuzzled my head with his. ''I wish I could. I have to get back before anyone notices I'm missing or before someone doing patrols finds me.'' He cupped my face gently. ''If you're found, you will be interrogated, possibly tortured, and then sent to class. I cannot promise to keep you safe this time if this happens.'' I nodded. ''Is it true that they have been using the first years as curse practice?'' Severus nodded slowly. "How could you let that happen? Hogwarts has always been home for so many and these first years, they are all going to be so traumatized. The whole school is." He gave a heavy sigh. "It's not like I can step in, believe me I don't like it either but it has to happen this way. Things are going to happen soon, it's going to feel like forever but it should be over with quickly." I studied his face. "Are you talking about you-know-who dying?" He nodded. "There will be other deaths but if this goes the way Albus planned then there shouldn't be as many as there could be." I sighed, tucking his hair behind his ears. "How exactly is that going to happen?" He shook his head. "The less you know the better it will be for you, I don't want you here when it all goes down." It made my heart sting. "If someone finds out who you are to me... They'll hurt you, kill you, Merlin knows what else. I just can't do this with you on my mind. He will see you and I don't know what will happen then."

I took a deep breath, this whole thing was messed up to begin with. "What would you have me do? I can't just leave you alone, Severus I can help. I can do something. Anything." He shook his head sadly. "So stubborn." I smiled. "It's why you love me, anyway I should go." I leaned in to give him a kiss and he swept me up in his arms, kissing me deeply. "Stay." He whispered softly. "I don't want this to end yet. I just want to be with you, everything feels right when you're with me." He pressed his forehead against mine. I closed my eyes and breathed him in. "I want to, believe me, I want to so badly." He kissed me, taking me in.

George flashed into my mind for a split second and I felt guilty. "There's something weighing on your mind... Do you want to talk about it?" I scoffed. "Did you really just..." He grinned, it's a habit. "George, a lot has happened since we've been apart. I traveled the world a bit with the twins and he helped me a lot." He nodded. "He has deep feelings for me and I have some for him but not as deeply." Severus frowned, his eyes looking away. "I thought we were done Severus, I didn't know if I'd ever see you again. Nothing happened anyway. Nothing really. Some kissing but Fred was ready to return, to check in on his family so we all agreed to come back. I left him earlier, we kind of fought." Severus nodded. "I get it, it just doesn't make it easier." I smiled softly, grabbing his hand and holding it tightly.

"I really have to go..." He sighed heavily. "Please, be safe." I nodded. "As safe as one can be nowadays." I smiled and kissed him heavily before pulling myself away. I exited the room and looked at the portrait of Dumbledore, he was reading a book. "Why didn't you just tell me? I could have understood it all. I could have done something." He looked up from his book. "My dear, I know exactly what you would have done and that is exactly why I didn't allow you to know. You would have tried anything to save me, to save everyone in the process." I sighed. "What do you know, you're just a portrait." I frustratingly started walking to the door. "I may not be the real him but I know what he knew." I rolled my eyes and silently made my way down the stairs, peering around the corner, looking left and then right. I started making my way to the room of requirements, silently walking down the long corridors until I saw Filtch's cat. "Crap." She started meowing and I knew Filtch wouldn't be far behind, I started running, looking behind me and then back in front of me. I went to look behind me until I collided with something hard. A man I had never seen before turned around. "Shit." I gasped and tried to get back up but he drew his wand. "You have no idea lovely." He smirked and it made my stomach roll. "What are you doing out of bed so early? Come to think of it, I don't believe I've seen your face before. Right then." He slammed me against the wall, wand pointed to my face. He looked me up and down, a smirk forming on his face. "Definitely never seen you before. Where are you coming from?" I gulped as his wand moved to my throat. "The headmaster's office. I've been out of school and was recently captured and forced to return." He was silent as his wand lowered, his eyes trailing lower. "I'd very much be in your debt if you let me get to bed before class starts." I tried my best to smile at him. His brow rose and he looked like he didn't like that I had the audacity to even ask. "Fine, get out of here before I do something you'll definitely regret." I nodded and took off running to the room of requirements, sliding in quickly. My heart was beating out of its chest.