Chapter 16

                                    

                                          
WARNING: The following chapter contains much fluff. If you're like me, you will blush and squeal. Don't have too much fun!
                          
Snape's POV
                          
Why did I say it?!? I told her I loved her?? Where did that even come from? 
                          
I ran out of there as fast as possible, running in a random direction. I ended up at the astronomy tower. Why did we always end up here? Ever since this year started, every time one of us runs somewhere, we end up here.
                          
I leaned against the wall to catch my breath. Did I love her? Did I really? I vowed only to love Lily. Was what I promised impossible?
                          
I sat on the ground with my legs stretched out in front of me. I conjured my patronus, expecting a doe to appear and remind me of my pain. What appeared, though, was not a doe.
                          
A thestral? Why was my patronus now a thestral? 
                          
Isn't it obvious? You love Posey, and her patronus is probably a thestral, the voice in my head stated. I hated that voice sometimes, mainly because it was usually right. I sighed and my patronus started walking away. But where?
                          
I followed it. Seemed like a good idea, right? 
                          
It led me silently through the deserted halls and towards the room of requirement. But why? 
                          
When I entered, the thestral walked over to another patronus. The two thestrals stood facing each other and the girl who was plaguing my mind looked just as confused as I did. Then she saw me and was scared. She dropped her wand and backed away. I, too, set mine down and put my hands up as I walked towards her.
                          
"Please don't hurt me," she begged. I looked into her eyes and saw how sad she was.
                          
"I would never hurt you, Posey. Don't you remember what we've done together? If I won't let you hurt yourself, what makes you think I would hurt you? We've slept together, for Merlin's sake!"
                          
I grabbed her hands and made her look me in the eye. I wasn't sure until now, and I had to tell her.
                          
"Atropose Richter, I love you and vow to protect you until the end of my days."
                          
Posey's POV
                          
I was speechless. I was terrified that he would hurt me, but I did remember what we'd done together. He was holding my hands tightly and staring into my eyes with his black ones. 
                          
"Atropose Richter, I love you and vow to protect you until the end of my days." He wanted to protect me?
                          
"Severus," I started, taking my hands away from his, "I don't know what to say." He looked sad. 
                          
I had to stop being afraid of him. Dumbledore trusts him, so I should too.
                          
I stepped closer to Severus and touched his cheek with my hand, smiling.
                          
"I love you, too, Severus." His eyes widened and he grinned so wide I thought his face would shatter. He grabbed me and kissed me passionately, one of his hands tangling itself in my hair and the other holding me by the small of my back. I gripped his robes tightly as I kissed him back. When I pulled away to breathe, he rested his forehead against my own and held me close. My hands went to his shoulders and I couldn't help but smile. 
                          
He moved away from my quickly, though, holding his forearm as if it burned.
                          
"I'm being summoned. Meet me in my chambers if you want to later." With that, he was gone. He apparated out of there as fast as he could.
                          
I don't know what I was thinking. I simply walked out of the room of requirement and wandered down the stairs towards the dungeons. 
                          
I made my way to Snape's quarters, but hesitated at the door. He wasn't here yet, after all. I raced towards the common room, rounding corners at top speed and flying down stairs. As I approached, I shouted the new password (which was Buckbeak) and ran through the doorway. I hurried into the bathroom so I could shower, washing myself from head to toe with wonderful smelling soap, and then I stepped out, dried off with magic and went to find some muggle clothes to put on.
                          
I decided on some faded ripped jeans, a black tank top, a green denim jacket, and combat boots. 
                          
I waved my wand and my hair became wavy and silky. I was ready. 
                          
I shoved my wand into the pocket on the inside of my jacket and ran from the common room to Snape's room.
                          
I knocked, hoping he was there. The door opened and I saw Snape standing there with wet hair and a towel in hand. Was he just in the bath too?
                          
"I didn't think you were coming," he breathed.
                          
"Why wouldn't I come?" I asked with a grin. He let me in and went into his bedroom for a moment. He came back a few minutes later with muggle clothing on instead of his robes.
                          
Dark jeans, a leather belt, boots, and a black button down with the top two buttons and the sleeves undone. He sat on the sofa and I joined him, snuggling into his side and listening to his heartbeat. 
                          
After a few minutes, he started leaving kisses on my forehead and on my hands as he brought them to his lips. When we made eye contact, he brought his hand down and tapped my nose gently with his left index finger. 
                          
"Boop," he said softly. I blushed and giggled, snuggling into his shirt to hide my red face.
                          
"You lose it if I'm trying to be cute, but when we're in bed, you don't blush or laugh or anything. What's up with that?"
                          
I shrugged. "I guess you're just being too cute," I replied. It was his turn to blush and chuckle. He kissed my forehead again and I turned into a cat. I rubbed against his side and curled up in his lap to go to sleep, purring the whole time.