Meddling With Potions

A Win, But Also A Loss

Disclaimer: I only own Aurora and any other OC's. Remember, I will occasionally use quotes from both the books or movie, depending on the scene; I do not own direct quotes or phrases. UPDATE: I do not own any of the chapter pictures. All were found via Google. 

~ oOo ~

Since the afternoon she and Severus had spent in the Astronomy Tower, Aurora began to gradually notice a difference in her friend's actions. From that day forward, wherever Aurora went within the castle, she could sense as if a pair of eyes were on her, and, coincidentally, the sensation only crawled up her spine when she was in the same vicinity of the infamous Potions Master. On several occasions, she had caught his eyes watching hers, and when their eyes met, Severus simply looked away, but the witch would swear that a smile had graced his lips as he diverted his gaze and allowed his curtain of black hair to block his true expression.

In the weeks leading up to Halloween, Aurora had received a letter from her mother every several days discussing her health and always reminding Aurora to not worry. But how could the devoted daughter not? Aurora was worried that something would happen while she was in the midst of teaching and that she wouldn't be granted a final moment with her mother. The thoughts distressed the witch to the point that she had missed dinner several nights in a row – in which she didn't even attend the feast in the Great Hall – and Severus had stopped by her quarters afterwards each time.

And each time he had visited, he found his old friend cuddled in one of the armchairs facing the fire with tears flowing from her eyes.

The first night she wasn't at dinner, Severus wasn't aware of what he should do. Should he let his friend be in her solitude, or should he be by her side in her apparent time of need and desired comfort? That first night she wasn't present, the Potions Master, on a whim, stayed by her side when he found her in her quarters and merely listened to the pain deep within her heart. Aurora described her fear and how it was keeping her up at night; she couldn't focus, she had difficulty grading papers and noticed that it was interfering with her ability to teach her students. Knowing that she needed rest, Severus simply gave her a Draught of Peace, followed by a Dreamless Sleep Potion. He watched his old friend as the sleep potion took effect as her eyes closed, and her breathing became slow and steady. Knowing he couldn't leave the poor female in her chair, Severus gently lifted Aurora into his arms and walked into her bedroom and laying the witch on her bed.

It took Severus several moments to leave her personal quarters as he stood beside her sleeping form, simply gazing at her peaceful features.

Just as they talked in each other's quarters after dinner within the first few weeks of school, this became routine for some time as well. Up until Halloween, Aurora had realized that it was becoming easier to be aware of her mother's sudden decline in health, and not have it affect her work at Hogwarts as it first had several weeks prior. From the first night, up until the week of the holiday of the dead, Aurora was very thankful that Severus was by her side; the thought that he was simply there made the witch giddy on the inside knowing that he was there for her.

When the morning of Halloween appeared, Aurora had awoken in her chambers refreshed, relaxed and happy. The letters she and her mother had been sharing still deeply troubled her, but the witch knew that her mother would not want her to brood about it day-in and day-out. With the thought in mind, she dressed in her usual blue dress attire and stayed in her chambers for breakfast before heading up into the castle to attend her first class.

Halloween had fallen on a Friday and the students in all her classes were excited for the feast that was to occur at dinner that night. Aurora could tell that her students were occupied and she decided to release each class early; her students were ecstatic and she stated that it was her Halloween gift to them and to enjoy the feast and the weekend. Several students on their way out of the classroom thank her, which only made Aurora smile. On the way towards her own quarters, some of her students lingered in the hallways and she overheard several conversations where some students stated that she was "an awesome professor". These comments made the witch chuckle even more as one thought passed through her mind.