Loved By You. (A Severus Snape Love Story)

Chapter Twenty-Six: Picture Perfect Memories

So sorry guys, I know I promised to update a lot this summer but I'm afraid i've managed to keep myself busy with other things which means neglecting my fanfiction. I apologize so much but I hope to be writing more soon and I won't make you wait as long this time.

- AS394

On Wednesday night after dinner I quickly changed my clothes before heading along the corridor to Snape's office for my first 'real' Occlumency lesson.

I eagerly jumped into his office, giving the door a slight knock on my way in.

"Hey." I cheered, gently closing the door behind me.

"You seem to be unnecessarily happy this evening." Snape droned, shuffling around some papers on his desk before standing up to meet me in the middle of the room.

"Oh I don't know about 'unnecessarily', I get to see you." I smiled, jumping up on my tiptoes, gasping onto his shoulders, and giving him a quick peck on the cheek.

"You realize today will not be pleasant. You didn't enjoy our session last time and I'm afraid I'm going to have to step it up a notch.

"I know that, but I think I'm ready." I told him.

"If you insist." He mumbled. "But first, come over here and let me get a look at that hand." I did as he said and followed him back over to his desk. I watched as he pulled two chairs round to the front of his desk and sat there with me. I held out my hand and he took it from me, carefully unwrapping the bandages. I winced and tried to retract my hand when he got nearer the wound and I could feel him trying to rip the material off of the flesh it had gotten stuck to. Snape pulled my hand closer to him, but he didn't yank it or force it away from me he gently kept a hold of my hand as he managed to separate the bandage from my hand. "How does it feel?" He asked in an almost whisper.

"Sore." I replied bluntly. "But nowhere near as bad as yesterday." I added just to satisfy him.

"You realize that was a stupid thing to do, don't you?" He scorned

"Of course I do. But how else am I supposed to show my grandfather what she's really like." I tried to reason with him.

"You don't think your grandfather knows what she's like? Of course he does, but it's not like he has any control over the situation. The ministry employs her, they have a say in everything she does around here, and Dumbledore has no control." My professor explained.

I looked at him bashfully, not realizing how hard a situation my grandfather was in.

"You don't honestly think your grandfather would stand idly by and watch that wicked woman deprive her student of basic education, brain wash them, abuse them. I mean, if she can hurt you and potter and he doesn't say anything, she can do anything. Clearly you're Dumbledore's favourite students." He muttered, starting to re-wrap the bandage around my hand again.

"You know what happened to Harry?" I almost shouted.

"Of course I do, I'm neither blind not stupid." He spat.

"Then why didn't you do something?" I questioned.

"Aren't you listening? I can't do anything, I can't intervene, I can't say anything, or question her authority. She works for the Ministry which means she is above me, she can fire me if he wants to. And your Grandfather. She has complete control." Snape explained, his tone gradually getting sharper.

"But this is abuse! It's torture! The ministry needs to know about this,  they can fire her. What about the Minister? Doesn't he care?" I shouted, passionately, getting more riled up with every word I spoke.