Let Me Hear You

[ Distractions ]

Snape's final words sent me spiralling. He confirmed that he had, in fact, seen my vision. Imaginary or not, he had seen me naked. How was I ever going to be able to look him in the eye again? I have to drop D.A.D.A.; maybe I'll pick up Care of Magical Beasts to spend more time with Tas. I am humiliated; this is as horrifying as someone reading my journal. And that someone just so happens to be Severus Snape.

I need to speak to Dumbledore and arrange my class transfer as soon as possible. How was I going to explain to him that I can no longer be around Snape? Maybe I can say he has been stubborn and disrespectful; anyone would believe that. Dumbledore isn't anyone, though.

All throughout my rampant overthinking, a voice has been ringing in the back of my mind. I tried to block it out by coming up with my next escape plan. I eventually gave in and heard a whisper; even in my mind, it was barely audible. "Severus." I swallowed hard. "Severus." It got louder. "Severus." It was screaming now.

"Ugh!" I ran my hands down my face. I am going insane. The desire to remove myself from his presence was fuelled by one fact: Snape had seen me naked, and that excites me. How did I get here? How did we get here? I know that my seeming "attraction" is not one-sided. Severus Snape does not seem like the type to get butterflies in his stomach.

"I heard you weren't well, Miss Goldstein." I jumped and gasped at the sudden appearance of Dumbledore at the foot of my bed. "Oh, I apologise. I should have known you were deep in thought." He walked around to sit in the chair next to me. "Should have known, sir?" I questioned. "I have been standing here for close to five minutes now." He chuckled lightly. How had I not noticed him?

"Sorry, sir. I've got a lot on my mind." I sat up and swung my legs over the bed to face him. "I know." My heart sank. Either another wizard in this school can read my thoughts, or Snape has spoken to him. "Severus came to me." Fuck! He wouldn't have told him about my vision, would he? "What did he say this time?" I rolled my eyes, and he laughed again. "Relax, Hazel. He merely explained your apparent connection."

My jaw dropped. Apparent connection? I knew something was happening between us, but I didn't think we were "connected" in any way. "Please do not be concerned, Hazel. Severus certainly isn't." He wasn't concerned. How could he not be? "I don't understand. What has caused this "connection" sir?" I have too many questions, and I need answers. He sighed, looking intently at me over his half-moon glasses. "There are many different reasons why this sort of connection can occur." I nodded, urging him to continue.

"It can be that two people are destined to work together on a particular project, usually one of great significance." I began keeping a mental list. "Or that they need to help each other through a trying ordeal." The only thing this is trying is my patience. "Most commonly, however, the two souls become bonded to each other. The stars seemingly align, granting access to mind, body, and soul." He felt confident, like he thought this was the most plausible explanation to our "connection".

"You can't honestly think that Professor Snape and I are bonded souls, sir." I frowned at him. "That is impossible; he is a teacher, and a hostile one at the best of times." I was trying any reasoning I could to escape this. "Only to those who do not know him." He hummed. He still felt oddly confident, and there was a hint of something else that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Was it...approval? Shivers spread down my spine, and he gave me a knowing look.

"As I said, please do not be concerned. Severus has already begun his research, and I am sure he will come to you if he learns anything." He's researching us. I was looking down at my lap, fiddling with the hem of my skirt, when my eyes travelled to Dumbledore's hands. "Sir, what happened to your hand?" I gasped and reached out to examine his right hand, which was blackened as if he had frost bite. How did I not notice this on Friday night?