//Running Out of Breath // A Severus Snape Story: Book One:

Chapter Three: Shakespeare and Potions Class

Chapter Three:

Shakespeare and Potions Class

That night Snape did not sleep. He looked up at the ceiling taking an occasional glance at Adriana. he let out a long, tired sigh. Adriana remained next to him holding on to him tightly. To Snape it looked as if she had been running away from something...but what? He constantly asked himself.

He closed his eyes for a moment. It was silent in the room, nothing except the sound of his and Adriana's breathing could be heard. A nice reprieve...he let out one last long sigh falling asleep, just as the sun rose at dawn.

*Later That Morning*

Adriana woke up, a strong sick feeling welling in the pit of her stomach. She sat up, rubbing her forehead to quell the growing migraine she felt. She looked to her side, at Snape who still hadn't woken up. She felt slightly embarrassed to say the least.

She got up from the bed, a shiver went up her spine when her bare feet touched the ice cold floor.

Adriana looked back over to Snape, a small smile appeared on her face. She pulled back her hair tightly, looking into a small mirror. She walked over to him, leaning down and kissed him on his cheek...

"thank you Severus..." she whispered.

For a moment at least she felt that darkness that followed her for so many years fall away. She walked into the other room sitting in the large arm chair, helping herself to one of Snape's books.

Snape opened his eyes, sitting up. His hand touched where she kissed him, lingering there... He opened and closed his eyes a few times. He still felt very tired, but obviously he couldn't go back to sleep due to his full schedule of classes that day. He stretched out his arms and his back letting out a yawn. Once he felt all his bones crackle he stood up and walked over to Adriana.

She closed her book,

"Did you sleep well?" she asked,

"I'm sorry if I bothered you, it's just... You wouldn't understand if I told you."

She stood up and went to leave the room before he could get a word in. He stopped her, motioning for her to sit back down. She didn't dare look at him, she still felt too embarrassed. She sat down, holding her knees to her chest. He sat down in another chair saying nothing, just waiting for her to speak.

She placed her feet on the ground letting out a long breath before speaking. Her eyes remained looking at the ground.

"well, ever since I can remember I have felt this... This-" she began to say but Snape interrupted her.

"look at me when you talk..." he said, his deep monotone sending a shiver up her spine.

She forced herself to look up, her brown eyes looking directly in his cold black eyes.

"continue..." he said his tone still cold.

She nodded and continued her story.

"I saw my mother die right before my eyes... I was only twelve... She was killed by a death eater." she said having to hold back tears,

"that is what I dreamed about last night... And when I woke up I felt as if the dark lord himself were in the room with me." she said as tears streamed down her face.

She wiped her tears roughly,

"you mustn't waste your time with me you have classes to teach, and it's my duty to assist you to the best of my ability to do so." she said with a determined look on her face.