The Crimson Thread

DREAMS

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Severus stood by the door, his heart pounding. The dim light cast long shadows, and he felt a sense of anticipation. He was waiting for someone. Footsteps echoed in the corridor, growing closer.

A girl appeared, her silhouette framed by the faint light. She had long, curly brown hair and hazelnut eyes that shone with determination. Her smooth white skin glowed softly, and a simple yet elegant ring adorned her finger.

"I will wait for you here," she said, her voice steady yet laced with emotion. "Promise me that you will come back to me."

Severus stood still, his throat dry. He wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come. The girl stepped closer, looking deeply into his obsidian eyes. She reached out, clutching his collar, and with desperate intensity, she leaned in and kissed him.

The kiss was brief but filled with unspoken words and emotions. Severus felt a warmth spread through him, a connection that seemed to defy reality. But as quickly as it began, the moment ended. The girl pulled away, and everything around him began to blur.

He struggled to see her face, but it remained obscured. Yet he remembered her hair, her eyes, the feel of her skin, and the ring on her finger. As the dream began to fade, he felt a sense of loss and longing.

Severus awoke with a start, his breath coming in short, rapid gasps. He was in the hospital wing, the familiar scents of antiseptic and healing potions filling the air. Sweat trickled down his forehead, and he felt disoriented.

Beside his bed, a girl was sleeping in a chair, her head resting awkwardly against the back. His sudden movement jolted her awake. She looked at him, her eyes widening with concern.

"Severus," she called softly, her voice filled with worry. "Are you alright? Do you have any pain?"

He stared at her, puzzled. She had the same long, curly brown hair and hazelnut eyes from his dream. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice rough and uncertain. "I don't know you."

Her face fell, and she looked hurt. But she quickly composed herself, realizing the gravity of the situation. "It's alright, Severus. I'll get the mediwitch."

She moved away from him, calling for help. The mediwitch arrived swiftly, checking Severus's vitals and assessing his condition. The girl watched anxiously from the doorway, biting her lip.

After a thorough examination, the mediwitch turned to her. "Hermione, could you step outside with me for a moment?"

Together, they left the room. Severus, left alone, felt a strange tug at his memory. He whispered quietly to himself, "Hermione..." The name felt familiar, but no specific memories surfaced. He strained to remember, feeling a sense of something just out of reach, but nothing concrete came to mind.

The sense of connection from the dream lingered, now mingled with the frustration of incomplete recollections. Severus lay back down, his mind swirling with fragmented images and emotions, trying to piece together the puzzle of his past.