Unhappy Endings

45: Is That... A Date?!

"I've done the dungeons, Headmaster. No sign of Black. Nor anywhere else in the castle." Severus shook his head at Dumbledore.

"The centaurs and the merfolk haven't noticed a human, although they certainly noticed the dementors and had a lot to say about that..." You wrung out the last of the water from your hair.

Dumbledore nodded. "I didn't really expect him to linger."

"Remarkable feat, don't you think? To enter Hogwarts castle on one's own, completely undetected..." You narrowed your eyes at Severus but Dumbledore simply gazed at the students, refusing to take the bait. "You may recall, prior to the start of term, I did express my concerns when you appointed Professor --

"I do not believe a single professor inside this castle would have helped Sirius Black enter it, Severus. " Dumbledore cut him off, but Severus' eyes glittered darkly as Dumbledore gazes out over the surroundings. "No... I feel quite confident the castle is safe. And I'm more than willing to let the students return to their Houses. But tomorrow. For now, let them sleep... You two also best get some rest. It's astonishing what the body can endure when the mind allows itself to rest."

Without another word, the headmaster turned and departed.

"Come along." Severus called to you. "You need to dry off properly and the spell is too loud for here."

With no reason to protest, you followed the man to wherever he was taking you.

"Outside? Bloody hell, Severus, it's freezing!" You complained as you stepped out of the castle. However, he was quick to give a complicated wand maneuver which blasted warm air all over you, drying you off. "Okay, fine. But still, why outside?"

"Aren't you famished?" He inquired, not turning back to face you again. It was almost difficult to keep up with his pace.

"A wee bit peckish."

Severus smiled. "You rarely sound so British. It is... charming."

"I'm always British." You pouted and he could hear it in your voice without looking.

"Dinner." He admitted. "I'm taking you off the grounds, to apparate to a dinner."

Your body vibrated with excitement and from head-to-toe you became bubblegum pink. Was this... a date?! "What are we going to eat?!" You asked, voice now teeming with that very same excitement that colored your body.

"Brews and Stews is one of the only non-seedy places open. So there is it." As he stepped off of the grounds, he turned to look at you. "Oh!"

"Sorry, I can't help it, I'm so excited!!" You cheered cheerily. Severus' face softened even more and he held out a hand to you.

"Come now, mustn't be late."

As soon as you touched his palm with your own, you were ripped through space and landed smack dab in front of the very restaurant he said you would be dining at. And you were still bubblegum pink.