Yours truly | Severus Snape - Sequel to Sincerely yours

The Monster

A/N: Sorry, I forgot to publish the chapter!! I am currently "working" as an house elf at my mothers' so I've been so busy I totally forgot that it was already the beginning of the week! Anyway, here's the new chapter! I hope you enjoy it:)

Have a great day,
Lulu

"I'm a Death Eater."

The room held its breath as Mary stared at Severus. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. It couldn't be true. There was no way it was true. Sure, Severus was dark and gloomy, but a Death Eater? No.

"I don't believe you", Mary said finally, her voice thin as if it hadn't been used in a while. Severus' eyebrows knit as he studied the expression on Mary's face. The battle between denial and something... Something darker.

"Mary..." Severus began, but he was cut off by Mary, who suddenly stood up.

"I said I don't believe you!" Mary said, her voice suddenly much louder.

The room held its breath as the silence hung in the air after Mary's words. And then, when it felt as if one could no longer breathe, Severus broke the silence with a low, quiet whisper:

"Then why are you crying?"

Mary swallowed. He was right. She hadn't even noticed the burning hot tears rolling down her cheeks. She was too shocked to notice them. She was too shocked to feel them – to feel anything. And then, slowly and silently, she sat back down, shaking like a leaf in the autumn wind.

Gently, Severus took Mary's hands in his and guided them on his lap. And when Mary finally found her voice, she had only one question in mind.

"But you don't have the mark."

Severus sighed, a hint of a smile curling in the corner of his mouth.

"Oh Mary, always analysing everything", he murmured. He let go of Mary's hands and lifter his left arm so that the inner forearm was facing upwards. And with his right arm, he rolled up his sleeve.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

"It's empty", Mary pointed out dryly.

Severus rolled his eyes has he pulled out his wand and touched his left forearm ever so slightly.

Even though Mary had already expected this, the sight of the dark mark forming on Severus' left forearm made her heart skip a beat.

"See?" Severus muttered silently, raising his gaze back to Mary.

After analysing the mark on Severus' arm for another moment, Mary breathed out heavily and leaned her back on the sofa. Her hands found her face as she took another deep breath, trying to take it all in.

And boy, did it take a while. One doesn't simply find out that their secret, professor boyfriend is also a Death Eater and continue their day with a carefree soul.

After a moment of breathing heavily, Mary finally uncovered her face, eyes staring blankly at the roof.

"A Death Eater, huh?"

Severus nodded.

"As in the servant of the Dark Lord?"

Severus nodded again.

"Well shit", Mary mumbled. And then, she said something Severus had definitely not expected.

"That's actually kinda hot."

Now it was Severus time to jump on his feet with shock.

"Mary what the hell!"

A smirk crept on Mary's lips as she sat on, crossing her feet under herself as she studied the disbelief in Severus' eyes.

"What do you want me to say?" she asked. "To scream at you? To run away? To call you a monster?"

Severus' throat bobbed.

"I am a monster", he whispered.

Slowly, Mary stood up in front of Severus and placed her hand on his cold cheek.

"No. No you're not."

Severus snorted and turned his face. "You're young. You've never looked in the eyes of a monster."

But it wasn't only Severus, who was staring off to abyss. For Mary's eyes had also wandered away from Severus, an empty look in her green orbs.

"Haven't I?" she whispered.

****

A couple of hours later, Mary and Severus were lying on Severus' bed, Mary's head rested on Severus' chest as she listened to his heartbeat. Severus' arms was wrapped protectively around Mary's waist, when he suddenly propped himself on his elbow.

"What did you mean?" he suddenly asked.

"Hm?" Mary hummed silently, still lost in her thoughts.

"When I said you haven't looked in the eyes of a monster", Severus continued, this time his voice getting slightly serious. "You said 'Haven't I?' What did you mean by that?"

Mary groaned and pulled the covers over her face. "Don't remind me."

Severus' eyes flickered in concern. "Remind you of what?"

Mary pulled the covers off her face with a silent thud and sniffed. Then, she turned her dark green eyes to Severus, an uncertain shadow on her face.

"Mary? Is everything alright?" Severus asked, shifting closer to Mary as if he could that way protect Mary from whatever that was bothering her.

Mary sighed deeply. "I don't know", she admitted.

Severus waited patiently, letting Mary gather the strength to continue speaking.

"You know Alison, Clary and I were visiting my uncle during the Easter-Break, right?" she started. Severus nodded.

"Well, one night when Clary was bonding with Uncle Theo and Alison was pouting in her and Clary's room, I had some time to explore in the mansion."

Mary held a break as her voice was starting to shake. Severus must have noticed that as he placed a tender, soothing kiss on Mary's forehead.

"I went to Uncle Theo's study – and before you lecture me about how it is wrong to snoop around, I-"

Severus stopped her by placing his hand on top of Mary's.

"I'm not going to lecture you."

Mary gave Severus a thankful smile. And then, she continued.

"I found something. I was going to ask about it later but when you told me you were a Death Eater, I... It changed everything."

Severus' jaw clenched.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked. His voice was tight, as if it hurt him to form the words. "Do mean you want to-"

"What!? No, no no no!" Mary cut off quickly. "I don't wanna break up with you! It's not about you!"

Something flickered in Severus' eyes. At first, Mary thought it was just relief. But deep inside, she knew it wasn't just that. It was realization. As if suddenly Severus had known exactly what Mary was talking about.

"Than what is it about?" he asked.

Mary stared at Severus, biting her lip. And then:

"It's about my father."