Beyond the Dark mark

☆ Chapter two ☆

With the early morning light spilling through the windows, I slowly stirred from my restless slumber. The events of the previous night were vivid in my mind, and I couldn't shake the image of you standing there in your Muggle attire, your touch still sending a strange thrill through me even now. I groaned in frustration, knowing that I needed to get my emotions in check.

Rising from the bed, I reluctantly got ready for the day ahead, my mind filled with the memory of your scent, your voice, and your infuriatingly alluring presence.

As I made my way down to the Great Hall for breakfast, I was lost in my thoughts, my mind still reeling from the previous night's encounter. Despite my efforts to push the memory aside, her image kept resurfacing in my mind, much to my frustration.

I tried to maintain my usual air of indifference as I took my seat at the staff table, but I couldn't help stealing glances in her direction every so often, my eyes betraying my curiosity and a hint of desire.

Throughout the day, I found myself struggling to keep my mind on my work. Every time I saw her in the halls or in the staff room, my mind would wander back to the events of the previous night-the way her voice had sounded, the way she'd grabbed my chin, and the way her touch had set my senses on fire.

I knew I should focus on my teaching duties and the various tasks that came with being a professor, but I found myself increasingly distracted by thoughts of her. It was maddening, and I hated myself for it.

By the time the lunch hour arrived, I was in dire need of a moment to myself. I made my way to an empty classroom, where I took a seat at a desk and lowered my head into my hands, trying to regain my focus. But even as I sat there, my mind continued to wander, plagued by the memory of her presence and the effect she had on me.

I sat there in the empty classroom, the silence pressing in around me. It should have been a welcome reprieve, a chance to regain control over my thoughts, but it only seemed to amplify the turmoil within me.

My mind, usually so disciplined and sharp, was now a jumbled mess of conflicting emotions.

I couldn't stop thinking about her-how she had invaded my space, how her touch had lingered on my skin far longer than it should have.

The memory of her fingers tracing my jawline sent a shiver down my spine, one that I desperately tried to ignore. I hated how easily she had unsettled me, how she had made me feel vulnerable, exposed.

It wasn't just physical attraction, though that was part of it. No, it was something deeper, something that unsettled me far more. The way she looked at me, the way she challenged me-there was a connection there that I couldn't fully comprehend, and that terrified me.

I was used to keeping people at arm's length, to maintaining control over my emotions and my interactions. But with her, that control seemed to slip away, and I found myself at a loss.

I clenched my fists, willing the thoughts to disappear, but it was no use. The memory of her standing there in her Muggle clothes, so confident and defiant, was burned into my mind. I knew I should be focusing on my responsibilities, on the students, on the tasks that required my attention, but all I could think about was her-how she had made me feel, how she had managed to get under my skin.

I cursed under my breath, frustrated by my own weakness. I had spent years building walls around myself, ensuring that no one could ever get close enough to hurt me again. But here she was, chipping away at those defenses with a simple touch and a few carefully chosen words.

The bell rang in the distance, signaling the end of the lunch hour, and I knew I had to pull myself together. I couldn't afford to be distracted like this, not when there was so much at stake. With a deep breath, I forced myself to stand, smoothing down my robes as if that would somehow also smooth out the turmoil within me.

As I walked back to the Great Hall, I resolved to avoid her as much as possible. I couldn't allow these feelings to interfere with my work, with my duties as a professor. But even as I made that vow, a part of me knew it was a futile effort.

She was already in my head, and no matter how much distance I tried to put between us, I couldn't shake the feeling that she would find a way to draw me back in.

Re-entering the Great Hall, I made a conscious effort to avoid looking in her direction. I kept my gaze fixed straight ahead, forcing myself to focus on the mundane tasks of the day. But it was as if the air itself was charged with her presence, pulling my attention back to her despite my best efforts.

I could sense her across the room, could feel the weight of her gaze even if it wasn't actually on me. It was maddening, this constant pull, this unspoken tension that seemed to bind us together.

I sat down at the staff table, mechanically going through the motions of eating. The food tasted like ash in my mouth, my thoughts too consumed by the memory of her to notice anything else. I hated the way she had disrupted my life, the way she had forced me to confront feelings I had long buried.

But what I hated most of all was the part of me that didn't want it to stop, that was intrigued by the challenge she presented, by, the way, she made me feel alive in a way I hadn't in years. It was dangerous, this attraction, this connection. It was a weakness, one that could be exploited, one that could lead to ruin.

As I finished my meal, I resolved once again to push these thoughts aside, to bury them deep where they couldn't interfere with my life. But even as I made that resolution, I knew it was a losing battle. She was in my mind now, and no amount of resolve would change that.

For the rest of the day, I threw myself into my work, focusing on the students, on the potions, on anything that would keep my mind occupied. But in the quiet moments, when my thoughts wandered, she was always there, a constant, nagging presence that refused to be ignored.

As the day finally drew to a close, I found myself standing outside her quarters, my hand hovering over the door as I debated whether to knock. I shouldn't be here, shouldn't be allowing this to go any further. But there was something inside me, some deep, unspoken need that compelled me forward, that made me want to see her, to confront whatever this was between us.

Before I could overthink it, I knocked on the door, my heart pounding in my chest. The door opened slowly, and there she was, standing in the doorway, her expression a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

We stood there for a moment, the silence thick between us. I opened my mouth to speak, to say something-anything-but the words caught in my throat.

"Severus," she finally said, her voice soft, almost teasing. "What brings you here?"

I took a deep breath, my resolve wavering as I looked into her eyes. "We need to talk," I said, my voice low, barely above a whisper.

And with those words, I knew there was no turning back. Whatever this was between us, it was far from over.

" about what Severus?" Her voice called out. I finally blurt out my next words and her face is confused.h

"us..."