Delusion (A Severus Snape love story/Harry Potter fanfiction)

Chapter Thirty-Six - In Your Arms

Chapter Thirty-Six

"Severus?" Snape was jolted awake as cold fingers brushed against his exposed collar bone. His eyes snapped open as he fixed his groggy gaze upon the woman laying in his arms, adorably ruffled hair spilling onto his shirt as she snuggled into him.

"My love?" He murmured, planting a delicate kiss on her forehead as she smiled gently, arms wrapping tighter around his torso as her legs intertwined with his.

"I need to get back..." She whispered unsurely, tilting his head gently so he had no choice but to look her in the eye. "My family need me."

"I need you more, Melody." He replied softly, holding her closer as she burried her head into his shirt, tugging his abandoned robe more snugly over the two of them. "I can't let you go back, I can't lose you."

"I know the risks." She breathed, frowning into the fabric of his shirt as he pressed his lips into her hair. "I'm willing to take them. I have to go, I have to be with my family. They'll be worrying about me." She lifted her head, frowning up at him as he closed his eyes and tilted his face away from hers as not to betray the conflict within his mind.

"That might be true," He mused, pinching the bridge of his nose as she furrowed her eyebrows. "But I can't let you go, I can't lose you."

"Severus, please..." She sighed softly as she brought her arms up and around his neck, nuzzling into the crook as he gazed up at the ceiling. "I have to be with them. I need to protect them, I can't let them die. Not like you, not like Fred."

"Melody, listen to me," He hissed, cupping her chin roughly in his hands as tears bubbled in her eyes. "You aren't going. That's final." Melody pouted, shrugging off his grip as she slipped upright, rubbing her face with her hands whilst sighing.

"I don't think you understand Severus." She muttered bitterly, tilting her head to stare tearfully at him as he shuffled upright, frown etched across his pale features as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I have to go, I have to be there for them-"

"I said NO! For goodness sake Melody, stop being so stubborn!" He roared, getting up and pacing around the room as he snorted in hot bursts, muttering under his breath. "You can't go! They don't need you! You have to stay here, they'll be fine-"

"You don't get it, do you?" She shrieked, raising her voice to a yell as she stormed upright, glaring at him whilst clenching and unclenching her fists. "YOU HAVE NO FAMILY! HOW COULD YOU UNDERSTAND?"

She fell silent staring as he blanched slighlty, face going oddly blank as he sank back onto the sofa and stared into his hands. She nibbled her lip apprehensively, feeling her heaving chest slow as she padded gently over to him.

"Severus?" She whispered, going to place a hand on his arm when he shrugged her off aggrevatedly, scowling into the far corner of the room as his dark hair hung in a limp curtain around his face. "I'm sor-"

"Don't." He hissed, snapping his head up to give her a small glare before returning his attention to his hands. "Don't you dare apologise. You don't mean it, so don't say it." He fell silent, avoiding her gaze as tears rolled miserably down her cheeks. Not even bothering to wipe away the stains, Melodyswalloee loudly before turning to the door, fingers slipping around the doorknob as she waited for Snape to stop her, to say something, but he just sat in morose silence.

*~*~*~*

Melody turned the handle with surprising hardship as torrenting, scolding water gushed from the rusted copper tap and into the chipped, porcelain roll top bath.

She couldnt help but smile as the rags adorning her body for so long dropped to the floor and she relished in the cool, damp air relaxing her skin. She reached up and unpinned her bodacious red hair, allowing it to tumble down her back and tickle her bare skin as the steam coiled and swirled around her head. It smelt softly of rust, soap and the faint scent of Snape's collogne.