Chapter 3
-Neyla's view-
Again and again I looked at the empty seat next to me. Where the hell was Severus? He was usually there before me, wasn't he? Black took the chance and sat down in his seat. I was already more than annoyed.
"Our meeting didn't go very well last time. Sirius Black," he purred and held his hand out to me.
"I know who you are!", I said irritably, ignoring his hand. Dora seemed to be amused by this.
"Sirius she's a tough one. Maybe you can impress her with books," Dora laughed and shook her head.
"He'd be more likely to impress me with that if he just left me alone! I didn't join the Order to make new friends!", I hissed with a warning look at Dora. She had been nagging me all week about Black not being so hard on him, after all he had been innocent in Azkaban for twelve years. All well and good, but the guy was anything but likeable.
"You talk to Snivellus, no one else does," Black said with raised eyebrows.
"How old are you Black? Five?! Stop calling him that or I'll find a way to lock you back in your cell and maybe you'll grow up!" I hissed at him and stood up as a hand wrapped around my wrist and I flinched slightly.
"Let it go Neyla." Severus looked at me from pained eyes. Barely noticeable, I nodded and looked promptly at Black who was nowhere near vacating the seat.
"Sit here. I sat down next to the total ass. So sometimes, no wait, actually since birth I've regretted being a Black." I looked gratefully at my godmother and dragged Severus behind me without much thought.
"Oh you let her defend you, but you immediately insulted Lily as a mudblood!" suddenly roared Black. Andromeda rolled her eyes.
"I'm this close to putting you naked in the street Black, so shut the fuck up already!" Shocked, I looked to Andromeda, I didn't know my aunt like that. Severus tensed beside me at Black's words. Still, it didn't really seem to impress him.
"Knock yourself out. The girls like my body," Black hissed back.
"Enough!" the Weasley mother suddenly roared, looking warningly at Black and Andromeda.
"It's not enough until he's not sitting here anymore! And why are you even taking his side! He's a Death Eater!" spat Black at the two women.
"By Salazar Slytherin! Are you serious!!! Are you seriously asking why I'm on his side! You have him all the time..."
"Andromeda leave it!" hissed Severus as Dumbledore entered the room and gave us all an irritated look.
"Is there a problem?" Was the man senile or blind, if not both? Surely this problem hadn't just arisen a moment ago?
"No, Headmaster, just the usual bickering between Blacks," Severus replied coolly, looking warningly at Andromeda who was about to say something in reply. Dumbledore nodded briefly and then began to inform us of the Order's further plans. Severus didn't seem quite in the mood, he kept clenching his hands into fists. How long did Dumbledore actually need? He could see that Severus was not well from thirty kilometres away. Hesitantly, he reached for Severus' hand, which made him flinch barely noticeably.
-Andromeda's View-
Sirius' behaviour annoyed me from the very beginning. I didn't trust him where Neyla was concerned and I knew from Regulus' stories that Sirius didn't let things get out of hand at Hogwarts, so why should it be any different now. Thanks to Merlin, Dumbledore was through with his chatter after an hour, which was of little importance to me, as I kept in the background for Ted's sake. As soon as the headmaster had disappeared, I lost sight of Neyla and Severus. Well, they couldn't have gone far, or so I hoped. Dora was busy winning over the werewolf, so I went in search of my goddaughter.
"Why do you torture yourself unnecessarily?" I had found Neyla before, if my ears weren't completely wrong she was in the library, but who was she talking to. I quietly opened the door and looked in wonder at the two people, neither of whom had probably noticed that they were no longer alone.
"I'm not torturing myself," Severus hissed softly.
"No of course not, your shirt can change colours, or do you generally wear red shirts under your frock coat?!" growled Neyla in an ironic tone.
"Ney..."
"Shut up!" she growled softly at him. I had to stifle a laugh as Severus sighed in resignation and let himself fall backwards.
"What happened?"
"He freaked out because Potter didn't get expelled." I grimaced briefly; we should have realised that. I didn't want to understand why Severus had to appear here anyway, but everyone was falling on deaf ears with Dumbledore at the moment.
"Voldemort is a bit stupid, isn't he? I mean Harry's under Dumbledore's protection, as if he'd leave his golden boy with the Muggles, really," Neyla mocked as she conjured up water and bandages. Severus laughed darkly and shook his head.
"What?"
"I was just imagining you telling the Dark Lord he was stupid. Has Malfoy caught his latest victim yet?"
"No, that guy should just stay away. The only one I met this week was my father," she murmured softly. Oja Neyla definitely had a dislike for the Malfoys. When she suddenly kissed Severus, I pulled away. That was one thing I shouldn't have seen. Lucius would freak out if he found out about it that much was certain. Hopefully Neyla wouldn't get the idea to tell him that she had something going with Severus.
-Severus view-
I drew in a sharp breath as Neyla cleaned the cut on my shoulder. Why did she have to be so attentive.
"What did Black mean about Lily earlier?" she asked quietly, looking at me appraisingly and then turning her attention to the other wounds.
"We were friends and I was in love with her, in the fifth rumblings took it to the extreme and I called her Mudblood in anger. She never forgave me for that until she died. Shortly after that I decided to follow the Dark Lord. He was fascinated by my talent and I got attention for the first time, which is great when you're seventeen," I told her between clenched teeth.
"I don't want to say anything, I don't really care about blood status as you know, but in order to not get completely lost in Slytherin you should fit in a tiny bit and this is coming from someone whose mother is of Muggle descent. You were angry and you say things you might not mean. Dad calls Mum that when he's angry, oddly enough she laughs," Neyla replied, smiling slightly as she fixed the bandage and magically cleaned my shirt.
"She laughs then? Your dad insults your mum and she laughs?", I echoed incredulously and got dressed again.
"Mum says she can't take him seriously, after all he was the first to kiss her unknowing what blood status she has. Maybe he should have asked first?" she smirked slightly embarrassed and put her hands to my cheeks.
"Thanks for fixing him up," I murmured softly.
"Why didn't you go to Dumbledore and tell him you weren't able to attend this meeting today?"
"Maybe I underestimated the injury," I sighed, resting my head on the back of my neck.
"That being said, I'm not the kind of person who would admit to being too weak," I continued, grabbing her hand and pulling her onto my lap.
"You're not weak, you're hurt," she grumbled softly to herself and rested her head against my shoulder.
"Maybe. Who cares if I'm going to die a miserable death from this torture," I said, barely audible. Absently, I stroked her back.
"Me and your friends?" Slowly I raised my head and just looked at her for a while.
"You said you needed time?"
"Yes I did. A week of listening to how nice a werewolf can be outside the full moon. While Dora was nagging me about it, I was thinking about our conversation in the pub. I could tell you regretted your decision back then, even though you barely showed how you felt. And that kiss...um...well...it was quite beautiful, or rather it was enchanting and breathtaking at the same time and I couldn't get it out of my mind," she replied smiling slightly and pressed her lips to mine with restraint. I buried my fingers in her long blonde hair and pulled her closer to me, even though this caused renewed pain, the feeling of happiness that Neyla had chosen to feel almost completely numbed the pain. Breathing heavily, we broke away from each other. Neyla put her forehead to mine and gently stroked my cheek with her thumb. Her storm-grey eyes radiated so much love and peace that they captured me completely.
"I know this is going to sound completely stupid, especially because I've wanted nothing more than this for over four years, but can we keep what we have to ourselves? I just don't want anything to happen to you," I whispered softly. I would have preferred to go downstairs right now and rub everyone's noses in the fact that Neyla belonged to me, but her protection came first.
"As long as you tell me what Voldemort and Dumbledore want from you, it will remain between us. I don't want you to hide anything from me. If you are hurt, I want to know. When your thoughts turn dark, I want you to talk to me. I may not be able to help you in all things, only stand by you and hope this horror ends soon. I have no idea how to have a relationship, but I want this, even if it's a secret," she replied just as softly and blew a kiss on my lips.
"We should go home, you need rest badly, most of all you need a pain potion. You can come with me to my place. I was never bad at potions." she replied slightly embarrassed and rose. Smiling slightly, I shook my head.
"I'm not a nursing case and Dumbledore..."
"Can wait until tomorrow," she interrupted angrily and reached for my hand.
"And how would I explain to him..."
"That you need some time for yourself, your injuries were not without their consequences and you are only a human being, not a Muggle machine. Don't be like that, let the old fool fidget for once, you're not his slave Severus." Amused, I raised an eyebrow. I hadn't known Neyla to be so assertive, well except for Draco she had the Slytherins under control.
"Neyla don't get me wrong, you just realised what this could be between us..."
"Okay Professor Snape you sleep in the bed I sleep on the sofa. Goodness and I thought my father was a stubborn ass, but no, Professor Snape even beats him." she grumbled annoyed and pulled me to my feet.
"If he does, I'll sleep on the sofa and you'll sleep in the bed," I said laughing softly and kissed her gently on the forehead. There was probably little point in resisting, for one thing I lacked the strength to do so and if I was honest with myself, her closeness did me a world of good. Neyla shook her head with a grin and went ahead, where she was immediately intercepted by Andromeda.
"Either I, or your father, will come to you in three days. It would be an advantage if you didn't have a male visitor, you know how he can be when it comes to his girl. Severus, I would advise you not to hurt her, you won't survive."
"Um..."
"The library is not a good place to sneak snogging and now make sure you both leave before Dora gets out of here," Andromeda interrupted Neyla smiling slightly and shooed us both towards the front door. Still caught off guard by the fact that she had seen us, but still silent, I followed Neyla. In the next side alley she pulled me into her arms and apparated not two seconds later.
"Welcome to Edinburgh. My flat is not particularly big, yet you sleep in the bed I am used to the sofa. Some days I don't make it to my bed," Neyla smirked and led me to one of the blocks. I was surprised that she lived so modestly, her clothes didn't suggest it.