Wildflowers

Please, please, please...

That evening, Severus found himself once again seated at the long staff table in the Great Hall, though his mind was elsewhere. He had spent much of the day lost in thought, replaying the earlier conversation with Katelyn over and over.

The feeling of her presence beside him, the sound of her voice speaking to him like they hadn't been on opposite sides of a deep emotional divide—he held onto it like a fragile lifeline. But there was still a weight in his chest, a heaviness he couldn't shake.

Dinner passed in a blur, the sounds of clinking silverware and hushed conversations blending into background noise. He hardly noticed anything until she appeared again.

Katelyn slipped into the seat beside him, her presence so familiar and yet so unexpected that it caught him off guard. His heart skipped a beat as he glanced at her, seeing the same easy warmth in her eyes that had begun to thaw the icy distance between them.

"Hey," she said softly, her voice cutting through the din of the Hall as if it were meant only for him.

"Hey," he echoed back, trying to keep his voice steady, though he couldn't help but feel a rush of something close to relief at her being there, close again.

She hesitated for a moment, picking at her food absentmindedly before she finally turned to him, her eyes searching his. "I was wondering..." she began, her voice quieter now, as if the vulnerability of what she was about to say required the cover of low tones. "If you wanted to come spend some time with me tonight."

Severus blinked, surprised by the offer. His heart raced, but he remained calm, careful not to let the flood of emotions show on his face.

Katelyn's gaze flicked away briefly before meeting his again. "We could just... watch a movie or something," she continued, her tone softer, almost tentative. "Cuddle. That's it. I just... miss being near you." She paused, her expression turning more serious as she added, "But that's all. I'm not ready for anything else, Severus. I need more time."

For a moment, Severus just stared at her, his mind racing as he processed what she was offering. It was bittersweet—being near her again, so close to the intimacy they had shared, but knowing the walls she had built were still standing, at least for now. She wasn't ready for more, and despite the flicker of hope earlier in the day, it wasn't enough to erase the hurt they had both been through.

But he understood. Deep down, he understood. He nodded, his voice quiet but firm. "I understand, Katelyn." He hesitated for a moment, then added, "I miss you too."

The simple admission seemed to lighten the air between them, and Katelyn smiled softly, a mix of relief and something else—gratitude, perhaps—crossing her face.

They finished dinner in relative quiet, the tension between them eased, though Severus couldn't help but feel the pang of bittersweet longing settle deep inside him. She had reached out, but he knew they were still far from where they once had been. It was progress, but the sting of the past remained.

After dinner, they walked together through the dark, wooded path that led from the castle to her cottage. The moon hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the ground as they walked in companionable silence. The cool night air surrounded them, the only sounds coming from the rustling leaves and the occasional call of a distant owl.

Severus walked slightly behind her, his mind swirling with thoughts. As they moved deeper into the woods, he couldn't help but feel the bittersweet pull of their situation. He wanted to be with her—desperately.

Every step he took toward her cottage felt like a step closer to something he had lost, something he wanted to reclaim. But deep inside, there was a lingering pain. The truth of it, though unspoken, still gnawed at him. When she had learned who he truly was—his darkness, his desires—she had pushed him away.