Darkest Desire

16. The Fourth Champion (EDITED)

Well, I've been feeling quite inspired when it comes to this story, so I've decided to make another update. Please comment and vote..... oh, and this chapter is is dedicated to JazzBoxx because she always cheers me up with her comments.

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"Well....." Aurora started, unsure what to tell the taciturn Potions Master as she tried to avoid looking into those intense onyx eyes.

"Aurora, I'm only going to ask you one more time" Severus said, his voice dangerously low "What the hell just happened?!"

Aurora tried desperately to ignore the flutters in her stomach at the sound of her name coming from his lips. She realized with a startle that this must have been the first time Severus had ever called her by her first name. Part of her was still shaken at Dominic's intrusive actions, while the other part was grateful for Severus's intervention. She would have probably done something she'd regret if he hadn't stepped in. But how much could she really tell him about her past with Dominic? She couldn't reveal too much, otherwise she'd be betraying the trust both her parents and Albus had placed in her with her promise to keep a low profile. Drawing attention to herself in this manner was unacceptable, even if it meant she couldn't be completely honest with the Potions Professor.

"Nothing" she brought out with difficulty "Just....a misunderstanding"

"A misunderstanding?!" Severus was looking at her in disbelief "Surely you're joking? I had to forcibly pull that man off of you!"

He could hardly believe the nerve of the chit! Walking into his classroom and finding no other than a Ministry official about to nearly assault one of his students was already beyond his comprehension, but her apparent familiarity with the man was definitely more than worrisome. He hadn't expected himself to react so fiercely given the situation, but it seemed that when it came to the infuriating young witch there was no in between-he seemed to only be able to deal in extremes when it came to her.

"And I'm grateful for that!" Aurora exclaimed "But I had it under control"

"Under control?" Snape drawled, standing in front of her, his imposing figure accentuated by the signature black cloak that billowed around him.

"Repeating what I say won't change my answers, Severus" Aurora reminded him, trying to keep her cool "And I can handle Dominic"

"How come you know the Kuzenkova brothers in the first place?" he questioned her with an angry sneer.

"My parents knew their parents.... I've been seeing a lot of them over the years. 'Mitri more than Dominic" I said, phrasing my answer carefully.

"Oh so its 'Mitri  whose company you prefer?" muttered Severus angrily, his jaw clenching. He told himself it was the thought of men of power abusing their authority and instead choosing to use their official positions at the ministry to influence young women such as Aurora that was so upsetting to him, but there was an even smaller part inside of him that was merely annoyed that she'd choose to respond to those affections, although her refused to dwell on those thoughts.

"Dimitri is like a brother to me!" Aurora snapped, irked at the insinuations the Potions Master was making about someone she cared about in nothing but a friendly matter. Why was it any of his business anyway how she felt about anybody anyway?!  He had no right to stand there and make such accusations when 90% of the time he barely deigned to acknowledge her existence in any case "Don't you dare accuse me of things you know nothing about!"

"Maybe you shouldn't have secret rendezvous in my classroom then!" Severus bellowed, getting increasingly more frustrated at Aurora's obvious disregard for how he'd remedied a rather compromising situation for her mere moments before. Didn't he have the right to know what went on in his own classroom?! Wasn't he entitled to some sort of explanation after what seemed to have transpired between one of his students and a prominent Ministry official?!