ℒℯ𝓈𝓈ℴ𝓃 ℴ𝒻 ℒ𝒾𝒻ℯ 𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ

❀ 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉ℯ𝓇 𝓉𝓌ℯ𝓃𝓉𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝓇ℯℯ ❀

❤︎𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓭, 𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓰 𝓸𝓯 𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓭𝓲𝓼𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓵𝓮𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓻𝓾𝓽𝓱 𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓮... 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓮𝓽. 𝓽𝓻𝓾𝓽𝓱 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓪𝓵𝓼𝓸 𝓲𝓷𝓯𝓵𝓲𝓬𝓽 𝓼𝓾𝓯𝓯𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓸𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓽❤︎

As I set aside my fork, a sense of disinterest pervades my appetite, for even the most tantalizing delicacies fail to stir a spark within me. Days, or perhaps even a fortnight, have passed since my nightmares have taken a turn for the worse. Upon awakening, a shroud of oblivion engulfs my recollection, leaving me with a profound unease, a restlessness that defies explanation. My dreams, like ephemeral black dots in the tapestry of my memory, remain elusive, yet my subconscious whispers of their dreadful nature.

"Is anything amiss, Saliah?" Neville's inquiry interrupts my reverie, prompting me to lift my head languidly and muster a forced smile.

I am reluctant to reveal my inner turmoil, for I fear burdening him with my misery, and so I attempt to conceal the extent of my affliction beneath a facade of composure.

"I am quite well, I assure you. Just suffering from restless nights. And yourself?"

The Gryffindor regards me with a skeptical gaze, his eyes penetrating the mask I wear, yet he chooses not to pry further. Instead, his countenance contorts, betraying his apprehension as he broaches a different topic.

"I have resolved to introduce Luna to my grandmother. However, I find myself at a loss as to how to proceed. You are familiar with my grandmother, after all, so you understand my apprehension."

Suppressing a laugh at the thought of Augusta Longbottom, I cannot help but appreciate the formidable presence she exudes, amplified by her unconventional appearance. Any who have witnessed the head of the Longbottom family in battle would think twice before crossing her path. A smirk, though devoid of mirth, tugs at my lips as I shake my head in response.

"Perhaps you could invite Luna to stay with you and your family during the vacation. Your grandmother is already aware of your relationship, and given that the Lovegoods are a pureblood family, much like your own, she is acquainted with Luna as well. It would then be merely a formality."

Relief washes over Neville, his sigh punctuating his gratitude as he pushes his empty plate towards the center of the table, vanishing it with a soft plop.

"Are you certain you should not be escorted to the hospital wing instead?"

I nod, the forced smile lingering upon my lips. Although Neville's suspicious gaze betrays his disbelief, he refrains from pressing the matter further, a gesture for which I am secretly grateful. Together, we depart from the Great Hall, our paths diverging as we traverse separate corridors. As I embark on my descent towards the dungeons, weariness weighing upon me, a faint smile adorns my lips. I find solace in the sanctuary of Severus's private chambers. The door to his laboratory stands ajar, a silent invitation that I readily accept as I step into the room. Within, I find the potions master fully immersed in his element, his hands deftly slicing ingredients with meticulous precision. I pause at the threshold, silently admiring the sight that has become so familiar to me—Severus, a vision of captivating elegance, his black locks cascading, partially veiling his striking countenance.

"Do you wish to halt there or witness the culmination of our efforts?" Severus's inquiry stirs me from my silent admiration, and I strive to approach the cauldron nonchalantly, suppressing the rapture that envelops my being.