"Ancient Runes" a Severus Snape ff - Snape x OC

Chapter 31

Severus still held her sleeping body tightly. It was getting dark around them, twilight was falling and a fresh wind was blowing up from the lake. He didn't want to wake Lysanna, not now. She looked so beautiful lying there in his arms asleep with a tender smile on her lips. The whole school was probably at dinner by now, at least Severus hoped it was, because he didn't want to be seen by any of the students. The rumour mill in his circle of colleagues had already been enough for him that he really didn't need to think about the fact that there were now even students racking their brains about him and Lysanna and tearing their mouths at every little opportunity.

He picked her up carefully after lifting himself off the cold stone floor. Lysanna snuggled against him, but didn't wake up. He had to take her inside, she had to rest, after all he had just asked a lot of her. But none of that mattered right now, the only thing that mattered right now was that she was with him and forgave him. She allowed him to love her and even loved him back. Severus had never felt better in his life than at this moment, even if these new and very unfamiliar feelings still frightened him a little. She gave him the confidence that he needed.

Fortunately, he had made his way into the castle and to his chambers in the dungeons without encountering any students or colleagues. Severus had briefly considered taking Lysanna to her own rooms, but in the end the way up to the second floor seemed way too risky. A welcome excuse, as Severus had no intention of leaving her alone. He wanted to be with her, didn't want to have to let go of her.

He opened the door carefully and then laid Lysanna on the sofa. She immediately turned onto her side and her face was still graced with that satisfied smile he loved so much. She just kept sleeping and was probably really at the end of her strength. She had put up some resistance, even if she had been more than surprised by his attack. A light goose bump adorned Lysanna's soft skin, she must be freezing. Severus didn't hesitate and lovingly covered her with a woollen blanket. Being allowed to touch her body made his heart beat faster. The situation actually still seemed a bit surreal to him, just a few hours ago she despised him and now she lay on his sofa with a satisfied smile and slept. Tenderly he stroked a strand of hair from her face, gently caressed her shoulder and then sat down in his armchair. Slowly he calmed down and just enjoyed this pleasant wave of feelings that had rolled over him.

Severus' gaze rested on Lysanna, but his mind was still on the boathouse, reflecting on the past few hours. He had hoped that Lysanna would forgive him, but that the day would end like this he had never dared to dream. Unfortunately, with all the feelings of happiness and love, the one thought that he had successfully suppressed in the last few hours came back to him. He had let his feelings guide him, which had easily pushed back his fears and doubts, but now that the quiet of the night had settled, Severus was slowly but surely regaining control of his mind. Lysanna was about to leave Hogwarts. He had to let her go. This realisation hit him like a dagger in the heart. He didn't want to let her go, not now that he had finally revealed his feelings to her. Not now that he finally had everything he had longed for all his life. Severus himself fell into an uneasy sleep over these thoughts.

-

When Lysanna opened her eyes, she found herself enveloped in darkness. She had realised immediately that she was no longer at the jetty. She was lying on something soft, a warm blanket covering her, and after her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she realised in the dim light pouring in through the small windows that she was in Severus' chambers. She was lying on his sofa. Suddenly she also remembered what had happened at the boathouse in the past few hours. Her body was immediately filled with that pleasant warmth again. She felt surprisingly awake and rested, but it could only have been a few hours sleep. Lysanna didn't remember how she got here, the last memory she had was Severus' tender hug at the boathouse.