𝖱𝖺𝗏𝖾𝗇𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖶𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖣𝖾𝗌𝗄𝗌 ☽ 𝗦𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗨𝗦 𝗦𝗡𝗔𝗣𝗘✔️

𝔼𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕖𝕖𝕟

[Chapter 18 - The Lie]

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The only place Genevieve could think to go was Madam Pomfey's, whose quarters were conveniently located near the hospital wing. Standing outside her door, Genevive repeatedly rapped the door knocker, anxiously waiting for it to open.

"Oh my- what on earth happened to you?" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed as she answered the door, rushing her down the corridor to the hospital wing.

Trying to hold in her sobs, Genevive whispered, "I've royally screwed up this time, Madam Pomfrey."

Once they got to the ward, Poppy immediately went to her storeroom, grabbing the numerous bottles and salves she needed. Genevieve walked towards one of the white cots, sitting down to stop the shaking that racked her body.

No more than five minutes later, the mediwich returned with her supplies, dealing with the long gash on her forehead first.

"Who did this to you, my dear?" Poppy asked, using a damp cloth to wipe up the dried blood on the young witch's face.

"It was all my fault, I shouldn't have bothered him-" Before Genevieve could break into tears, Madam Pomfrey quickly interrupted her.

"Him? Did Severus do this?!?"

"Yes but-" the younger witch explained but was cut off by Professor McGonagall, who came dashing in.

"I cane down as soon as I could, Poppy, what's happened, " looking over towards Gen, she nearly died as she saw the state the witch was in, " Oh my Merlin, who did this to you, Genevieve?"

Unable to hold in the waterworks anymore, Genevieve burst into tears, allowing Minerva to hold her as she cried, "Severus, he was so good to me all week and I wanted to get him something in return, but when I went to give it to him, he freaked out. I should've left him alone instead of hounding him like a lost dog, it's all my fault."

Jumping from her seat, Professor McGonagall was shocked with what she heard, " Genevieve Blackwell! You listen to me, none of this was your fault, alright? Severus is a grown man and needs to take responsibility for his actions."

"But why? Why the sudden change?"Genevieve exclaimed, flaring into another bout of tears.

Minerva and Poppy exchanged looks before Minerva replied again.

"You see dear, there's something we haven't told you, I though Severus might have already but obviously I was mistaken."

Shifting her legs over top one another, the transfiguration professor began her tale, " Severus hadn't the best childhood, his father bet him and his mother regularly. When he came to Hogwarts, he became increasingly interested in the dark arts."

All this information was completely new to Genevieve.

"His obsession heightened until he had gotten too deep."

"What do you mean?" Genevive asked, flinching as Madam Pomfrey applied a cold salve to her bruised hip.

"Severus was a death eater dear,"

Suddenly everything clicked, yet all this new information was too much for the witch, leaving the hospital wing as soon as she could despite the other professor's calls back to her.

Running out, Genevive's eyes were clouded over with tears as she ran towards her private quarters. She didn't even look back at the brooding man of shadows who was watching from a distance.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Madam Pomfrey tried to follow after the distressed witch but she was too quick, already disappearing down the hall, though one figure did catch her eye just as he was making his escape.

"Severus!" she called down the corridor.

When he turned around, she put up a forced smile, "Sorry to bother you, there's one thing I'd like to discuss with you, please."

Walking with the mediwitch to the hospital wing, Severus walked over to her desk, tapping his foot impatiently.

"What was that?" Madam Pomfrey said as soon as the door shut.

Her arms were crossed and a frown graced her face.

"What was what?" Severus asked, bored.

"That." Madam Pomfrey gestured with her head to the room outside. "She was clearly upset and you completely ignored her."

Severus' face became thunderous and he half-turned to leave. "That has nothing to do with you," he said. "Stay out of it."

"No, I will not stay out of it!" she took a threatening step forward.

"For the last year, I have watched her go through hell with her family. Do you know what got her through all of that? You! You're the one she's always leaned on. You're the one who is always able to make her feel at ease. And now, now that she needs you the most, you're just going to give up on her? Have you gone mad?"

"This is not your call, Poppy!" Severus hissed. "She's not safe while she's associated with me, especially considering what I am. This is the best moment to cut ties with her."

Poppy's jaw dropped. "This is the worst moment imaginable for that, you idiot!"

Madam Pomfrey, taking another step forward, jabbed her finger in his chest, "That woman out there needs you. Whether you want to admit it or not, you care about her. We've worked together for over fifteen years, Severus, and the only times I've ever seen you smile were with Genevieve. You do not get to turn your back on her."

Severus opened his mouth but didn't seem to be able to find the words. Before he could think of a retort, Madam Pomfrey grabbed his shoulder.

"What if it's you?" she said urgently, "What if you're the only one that can put the pieces back together?"

His eyes widened and his lips pressed into a thin line. Without another word, Severus turned and marched out of the office. He didn't look back when she called his name one last time.

Things were better off if he didn't bring Genevive into his world, she would be safer this way.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello lovely people! How is everyone doing a mist this pandemic? For this chapter, I wanted Genevive to have another person in her corner other than Minerva, so that's were Poppy came in. I hope you all are staying healthy and staying safe xx

*The_lost_flower*