Isn't He Lovely-Professor Snape

Deathly Hallows Pt 13

The room was bathed in the soft glow of the moon, casting ethereal shadows on the intricate pictures and decorations that adorned the walls. The large window on my left framed a view of the moonlit garden, its beauty at odds with the heaviness that lingered within.

I lay on the bed, my eyes fixed on the ceiling, each crack and imperfection a silent witness to the tumultuous events that had transpired. The weight of Voldemort's proposition settled over me like a suffocating cloak, and the vulnerability I felt was palpable in the stillness of the night.

The door creaked open, and Severus entered, his presence both a relief and sadness waved through me. His dark eyes met mine, and a silent understanding passed between us. The air seemed charged with unspoken emotions as he quietly closed the door behind him.

"Severus," I breathed, his name a whisper that hung in the quiet room.

"Niamh," he replied, his voice a low murmur, laced with concern. He approached the bed, his black robes billowing as he moved, and took a seat beside me.

His gaze never left mine, and in those eyes, I found a rare vulnerability, a reflection of the shared turmoil we faced. He pulls up a chair right next to the bed "I sensed your distress," he admitted, his fingers tracing absent patterns on the bedspread. "The Dark Lord propositions are... daunting, to say the least."

I nodded, a mixture of gratitude and apprehension welling within me. "You shouldn't be here! What if you get caught?"

He quickly shook his head "the Dark Lord requested I come check up on you"

Severus's hand found mine, a familiar gesture that brought a sense of grounding. "You're not alone in this, Niamh."

Tears threatened to spill, and I looked away, my vulnerability laid bare. "I'm scared, scared of the path laid out before me, of the darkness that seems to consume everything. And his offer... it's a twisted version of companionship. One that-" I pause as a tear rolled down my cheek "-im not willing to make"

Severus tenderly squeezed my hand, his touch conveying a deep, unspoken ache. "There's nothing I feel like I could say to make this right," he uttered with a heaviness in his voice. "However, I do know that this is no choice you can make. But by complying to his wishes... you will live comfortably for the rest of your life."

His words hung in the air, carrying a sorrow that painted an image of a future he had once promised to give me. The weight of his unexpressed emotions bore down on us, turning the room into a somber haven for the unspoken. It was as if the very air between us held the residue of shattered dreams.

A flicker of pain crossed Severus's eyes, and for a moment, I glimpsed the heartbreak he concealed. In the quiet exchange of glances, there lingered an unsaid truth—the wrenching realization that the life that I had envisioned, where he and I might be together, was slipping away.

I met his gaze, finding a mixture of compassion and determination in his eyes. The room, once a solitary refuge, became a sanctuary where honesty and vulnerability intertwined.

Leaning in, Severus's voice was a gentle murmur against the quiet backdrop of the night. "You are so strong Niamh, which is why you need to comply with him. I believe you can overcome this, there's strength within you that he fails to grasp, you just have to be patient."

A fleeting but genuine smile graced my lips. "Thank you, Severus."

He nodded, a silent agreement passing between us. "Now rest. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day"

Severus's hand remained intertwined with mine, a steadfast anchor in the tumultuous sea of uncertainty. The room, draped in shadows, embraced the stillness of the night. The daunting revelations lost some of their sharpness, overshadowed by the genuine connection forged in adversity.

As the fire crackled in the background, casting dancing shadows on the walls, Severus and I sat in shared contemplation. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a silvery glow on his features. In the quiet of the night, the room seemed to cocoon us in a fragile peace—a respite from the chaos, a moment to gather strength for the challenges that awaited tomorrow.

The seconds turned into a minutes, and the room became a haven where words were unnecessary. It was as if the night itself held its breath, allowing us a moment of respite from the storm raging outside.

Eventually, Severus spoke, his voice a soothing balm in the darkness. "Niamh, you're stronger than you realize. Voldemort may see you as a pawn, but I see someone with the resilience to defy the darkest of destinies." He squeezes my hand and then whispers "I just wish that there is something I can do to stop all of this. What I've put you through- it's just not fair"

"Please don't blame yourself. You have done everything possible to protect me. I'm the one making reckless decisions. Your the one putting out the flames to my fires"

He nods, but I can tell he doesn't believe my words. I even don't fully believe them. My heart wants to, but my head keeps telling me not to trust him yet.

A couple more minutes go by and I think about what he said earlier. I dare to speak up "Severus, what do you see in all of this? What is my role in this twisted game he's playing?"

He sighed, a heavy exhale that seemed to carry the weight of years. "You are a wild card in this game. Unpredictable, untamed, and possessing a strength that Voldemort underestimates. He sees you as a potential mother of his heirs, a pawn in his quest for power."

The fire crackled in the background, the flames casting shadows that danced across the walls. I took a deep breath, feeling a newfound strength coursing through my veins.

"But Severus," I began, uncertainty lingering in my voice, "what if defying him means endangering those I care about, people like you and all of my friends?"

He regarded me with a thoughtful expression, his eyes piercing through the shadows. "Choices are never easy, Niamh. There will be sacrifices, and the road ahead may be treacherous. But remember, true strength lies in the ability to make difficult choices for the greater good."

I nodded, absorbing the wisdom he offered.
Severus then stood, his tall figure silhouetted against the moonlit window. "Rest now, Niamh"

His hand left mine, then traced it up to the side of my face, gently stroking my cheek with his thumb. He leans down to give a soft kiss on my forehead, then turns to leave.

The door closed behind him, leaving me in the quiet embrace of a room that seemed to mourn the fragments of a connection slipping through the fingers of time. The moonlight outside now illuminated the lemon tree with a melancholic glow. My bed cradled a heart shattered by the cruel decree of a destiny that chose to separate what should have been inseparable.