Chapter 8
It was past midnight, and the rundown house on Spinners End, tucked in between equally run down houses, was cloaked in near darkness. The only source of light came from the glow of a lamp in the living room, turned down low and set on the end table next to the couch.
You and Severus were laying on the couch under a blanket, arms around each other and your leg hitched over his hip. Severus watched your eyes drifted closed as you fell asleep in his arms. His heart clenched, as it always did, at the love and warmth he felt when you were near. He wondered if he would ever truly get used to feeling this way. To him, the warmth of your love was like spring sunlight touching winter snow, thawing and soothing every ache in his heart and soul. He wanted to know that feeling forever.
You and he had been each other's shelter and happiness for the last three years. With you, he'd started thinking of a hopeful future. Something he hadn't done since he was eleven, and his hope had been cruelly crushed. For the longest time, he'd waited for the same to happen with you. Would someone or something take you from him too? But nothing had. You had stayed by his side, protected him as he protected you. And something broken inside him started knitting itself back together.
Somewhere in the distance, there was the sound of shattering glass and the muffled wail of a siren. This was far from a good town, but it was the only place you had to live at the moment. The house was newly warded though and you were both safe inside.
Yesterday, you had both graduated. That same day, you packed your belongings, walked hand in hand to the edge of the Hogwarts grounds, and apparated away. Most of today had been spent cleaning and repairing the house that had stood empty for almost a year.
There was much that still needed to be done. Figuring out what to do next, finding work. But that could all wait for now. Right now, Severus just let himself be in this moment, with you safely tucked up in his arms. With you, he was home.