The Year of the Revolution II. The Discovery of Friendship

29. Restraint

Another night, another witch, another feeling.

But since the night before he slept like a blessed two and a half hours that equaled to almost eight, love came out of Sev's pores. 'It's true, I have stopped caring what happens to me, it has been worth living until now just for last night. But at the same time, of course I don't want to die, leaving everyone who loves me and would suffer for it. I will fight, I will do everything necessary to get ahead, with greater dedication and will than I have put up to now.

'And in this Lauren has an essential role. I will not have anything committed with her, if it crossed my mind it was because I let too much time go by without being with Lily, who from today has started to tie her hair up with the green cord, which I can see when her back is turned to me in the Great Hall, as a constant reminder of what happened last night.

'But I will be close, a true friend. I know how to do it very well, I have spent more than six years doing it with who now, yes, I know will be my eternal love. To begin with, I am going to give her a nice birthday present that she can always carry with her and that represents who we are and what we do together. This time I am not going to think about anything concrete, only about the feeling of complicity and mutual devotion that she inspires me.'

He Summoned with his eyes closed evoking the bright green eyes that adored him and to which he returned with intensity. When he opened them he was stunned at what had appeared. 'Whoah... Won't that be too much? Well, if this is the representation of what I feel, this is how it should be.'

When he went down to the Common Room at exactly midnight on that February 19th, Lauren was already waiting for him in the dark in her usual spot, with her back turned. He came up behind her, quietly, and reaching her, still unseen by her, he conjured the Disillusioner and the Muffliato. He put his hand on her shoulder as he leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Congratulations, my friend."

She didn't flinch, she just turned to look at him. Her eyes were not to be seen in the dark, but he kissed her cheek for the first time and placed his gift in her hand. "We are now invisible and silent," he told her.

He turned on his Lumos for her to see. It was a small pendant, set in a very fine silver chain with its clasp, in the shape of two snakes intertwined by their tails and with their heads facing each other, one of them green and the other black, and with eyes of the opposite colour, both of them mineral material.

"Severus... where did you get this from? Thank you very much, but I can't accept it."

"You already know that I can Summon anything made of natural materials. Keep it and wear it if you want, but don't let anyone see it."

"No, of course, it's us... It's beautiful. Have you designed it in your mind?"

"Not exactly, I've only thought of you and it just came out."

"Merlin! You have an artist inside... And besides, the chain is silver, and the minerals seem precious, onyx and jade, surely. It is a jewel and it is spectacular. Do you realize what it means? You can make a living out of it."

'It hadn't even crossed my mind. I don't understand about those things, but Lauren does, she has loads of money.'

"I don't think something like this would come out if I devised it to sell it, and I'm not going to repeat another one like it, I want it to be unique, just for you. Please accept it."

"Of course, but think about what I told you and try it, it can solve your life. Can you put it on me?"

"Sure."