The Cheshire Cat

How Deep is your Pain?

It was odd. Severus wasn't one to openly hug someone even when he cared so him hugging Cheshire... him kissing Cheshire wasn't expected in the slightest.

It scared him, how much he cared for the girl, but he let himself accept it.

Even Dumbledore was shocked when he found out but he didn't do anything about it.

After that happened the rest of the year was spent hearing about Harry Potter's adventures and conversations that two people never thought they would have.

"Severus?" Cheshire asked as she sat by the fire in Severus' classroom one day.

"Yes?" Severus asked not bothering to look up from the papers he was grading.

"How deep is your love?" 

Severus froze.

"My love for what exactly?"

"Your love for anything."

"My love is deeper for some things than others I believe. What about you? How deep is your love?"

"I don't know."

After that they sat in silence until Cheshire asked another question.

"Severus?" She asked as she turned her head towards him.

"Yes?" He replied as he looked into her eyes.

"How deep is your pain?"

"Deeper than even I can comprehend."

Cheshire got up and moved to to hug Severus from behind as he stood in front of the fire.

Her arms were around his waist and her chin rested on his shoulder. His arms held hers and he leaned into her.

"How deep is your pain?" He asked as they both sat staring into the fire.

"Deeper than I can even begin to explain." She started as he turned and her arms moved to his neck and his to her waist.

"But it gets better with each day I'm with you." 

So there they sat, with foreheads resting against each other, and encased in the others warmth, thinking about how they wish they could stay in that moment forever...

The moment was ruined within is seconds as Rabbit ran into the room.

"We can't find Alice..."