Always

Chapter 12: A Promise I Will Keep

"Severus? What are you doing?" Beth asked confused as he faced the crowd. "Professor Washington and I have become good friends over the four months. I have never accepted that I could ever have a close friend like herself. You may have noticed what I have in my arms. 40 handpicked roses that Professor Sprout allowed me to pick from her personal garden. Professor Washington and I had a bet created two weeks ago. The bet was this: if she could make me laugh again in the Great Hall in front of the whole school, then I would confess our.....secret to you all. If she failed, then she would confess it. Today, on Thanksgiving Day, is the day that one of us was going to confess. However, she did not get me to laugh, and I will be very honest. I feared that she would embarrass me, so...I wanted to beat her to it." He spoke as Beth looked at him wide-eyed and he walked over to her and he exhaled. "Elizabeth Washington, at first, I felt true fear in the confession, because I feared that I would be seen as different or that I was weak. No longer." He said as he bestowed the roses to her and she watched him. "We do indeed have a confession to make. We are and have been seeing each other more often, and......" He spoke as Beth smiled. "We're dating! We are a couple as of two weeks ago!" She blurted out as everyone gasped. "Oh don't all act so dramatic." He scoffed as Minerva clapped for them and everyone stood up and clapped for them. Severus looked around and saw everyone smiling and cheering. They weren't laughing at him? At all? He smiled softly as Beth giggled. "This is a wonderful confession! Congratulations Severus and Elizabeth." Minerva shook their hands as they were lead to their seats. Beth put the roses on the ground and Minerva sat down. "We shall go around as professors and say the three things we are thankful for before I bless this meal to us all." She said as she turned to Filius. "I am extremely thankful for the friendships I have made at Hogwarts, that we are able to wear the clothes on our backs, and that we are able to possess the power of knowledge for our wonderful students." He said as the students all said "Amen." Pomona Sprout smiled as she coughed gently. "Well I must say, I am thankful that plants and the environment that we live on exists, I am thankful for the food we are given from the Earth and all of the relationships I have made over the years." She said as the students repeated "Amen." Madam Hooch nodded, knowing that it was her turn. "I am thankful as well about my friendships at Hogwarts, my family, and for the power of magic we are able to give to our students." She said as Beth knew it was her turn now. "I just wanted to say that I am grateful and ever so thankful for having been given this opportunity to teach at Hogwarts and to learn about my wonderful students and fellow professors. I am also thankful for my family, my mother, and my father for always being so supportive of my life and my decisions. Lastly...." She said as she looked at Severus, who was wearing a white dress shirt and black pants. He looked so handsome in, well, "normal people clothes". Not just his large black robes. "I am very thankful that I got to meet Professor Snape. He has changed my perspective on what I thought love was, and I hope there are many more memories we get to make together at Hogwarts. I love you." She spoke as everyone seemed to aww at this time. Severus smiled warmly, feeling a lot better than he did not have to hide his smiles and his laughs anymore. "I have never made a speech before on this day, but as I learned four months ago, there is a first for everything." He said gently as he cleared his throat. "I am thankful for having the knowledge of Potions that I am able to bestow onto young minds. I am also thankful for having the opportunity to teach at Hogwarts. I would like to echo Professor Washington's comment, but she has brought me a happiness that I have not felt ever since I attended Hogwarts as a student. Her positivity and her outlook on life have really warmed my heart and I too hope we have many more moments together at Hogwarts." He said as he held her hand on the table and she held his hand back and the students were so excited to see Snape falling in love. Minerva then said "Let us say grace." She said as everyone held hands together at their tables. As Minerva said the prayer, Beth thought about how it felt like destiny to be at Hogwarts doing what she loved but also to meet Severus Snape and to show him love and affection that he so desperately needed in his life. They both needed each other in life and she knew that they were going to be a good couple. They could fight, but they could learn to understand each other as time goes by. She held his hand tightly as she smiled feeling his hand in hers and she felt the strong and loving squeeze of his hand back as they had their eyes closed.