Shadow and Light {Severus Snape x OC}

Chapter 5 Part 2

Summary:

My name is Alice and I wanted to become an Auror more than anything else.

Chapter 5 Part 2

Alice Mc.Garden was once again in the training room. It had become a habit, a kind of ritual that took place whenever she couldn't find sleep. She would grab her wand, lock herself in the room where she found refuge, and unleash all sorts of spells, hoping to regain her former strength... or at least what had felt like not so long ago to her. This night's training was particularly grueling. The stiffness in her legs made it difficult to maintain her stance, and she often lost her balance, causing her spells to become increasingly unstable.

In this state, Alice seemed unshakable, trapped in a demanding world where only the strongest survived. And that world judged her harshly.

Deep in her thoughts, Alice didn't hear the door unlock or the person entering. The dark silhouette of Severus Snape slipped into the room silently. He watched with a sense of dread the scene before him—the exhausted body of Alice Mc.Garden, driven only by her own self-loathing. The young woman was casting spells faster and faster, becoming breathless within moments as they took a toll on her. She was drenched in sweat, and her legs trembled from the strain. Severus stood frozen for a moment, stunned by the tragic and terrifying sight. He knew he had to stop her.

"That's enough! Alice, stop—put down your wand!" he ordered.

Finally noticing his presence, she snapped out of her frenzied trance, initially pointing her wand at him, not fully aware of who was speaking to her. When she finally recognized him, she lowered her wand, and Severus could see the bitterness etched across her face.

"You're talking to me?" Her exhausted body finally overpowered her mind, and she sat down on the floor with difficulty.

"You're not well, Alice... You should—" He was cut off before he could finish.

"Go away, Severus. Surely, you must have... a thousand things to do." She paused briefly. "More important things..." Finally, she lay down on the floor, her tone softening as she spoke.

"I... I'm sorry, Alice... Truly."

"It's been a long time since I've heard you apologize..." She turned her back on him, rolling to her side.

"You don't even have the strength to hate me anymore..." he whispered, moving cautiously closer to her.

She seemed so fragile to him, like she might shatter into thousands of pieces with the slightest misstep.

She remained silent, her gaze lost in the void.

"Alice..." he called softly.

"You haven't spoken to me... Not a sentence, not a word, no letters, no glances—nothing. And now that I'm pathetic, you come to pity me? I knew you were cruel, Sev', but this..."

He looked out the window for a moment. He couldn't bring himself to say the words out loud, but the thoughts swirled in his mind. Alice... I became what you hate most in the world—a Death Eater. How could you understand? I didn't ignore you out of indifference. I couldn't choose between hurting you with the truth or betraying you with a lie. This dilemma had consumed him, driving away one of the few people who had shown the patience required to be his friend.

"And what now?" Alice's voice cut through his thoughts. "Do I have to throw myself out of this window for you to finally tell me what's going on with you?"

"Would you really be so foolish as to take your life over such a trivial matter? Why do you do all that nonsence ?" he shot back.

Alice flinched, and Severus took a step back. A heavy silence fell between them.