Chapter 4
-Neyla's view-
"Did you think I lived in a mansion?" I asked, amused, as we entered my flat and Severus looked around silently.
"Well, your style of dress suggests you do," he muttered quietly to himself, looking irritably at the television.
"I may be a half-blood, yet I grew up largely like the non-magical children. Some days the thing is on just so I don't feel so alone. My time at MACUSA was exciting no question, but I was on my own and couldn't just go home. I don't like big rooms because I feel lost in them, which is why I preferred to move into my own flat rather than back to my parents' house," I explained to Severus, slightly embarrassed. I was a little embarrassed that I was partly afraid to be here alone. The reason I slept partly in the office, I was safe there, at least I thought so.
"Loneliness can be cruel," he whispered softly, eyeing me anxiously.
"Quite." I retrieved the pain potion from my first aid cabinet and set the vial down on the table before flopping down on the sofa and watching Severus explore. I wasn't particularly surprised that he paused in front of the bookshelves; after all, his private rooms were more like a library where he lived.
"You're an Auror and you have Potions books here?" he said in surprise.
"These are Christmas presents from my father. Potions was my favourite subject back then, apparently he didn't know what else to get me," I replied, smiling slightly.
"May I?"
"Like you don't already know them all?", I laughed and sat up so Severus could sit next to me. Barely noticing, he shook his head, grabbed one of the books and dropped down beside me.
"I don't know this one. It's rare and very expensive." he said quietly and a few minutes later he sank into his own world. Smiling slightly, I shook my head, turned on the TV and rested my head in his lap, I was dog tired and watching Severus read put me to sleep even more. He seemed so relaxed and peaceful about it, something I had the pleasure of experiencing a few times in his rooms but still it was too rare in my opinion. I winced briefly as a blanket lay over my body and Severus absently stroked my arm.
"I may be reading, but I'm still paying attention," he smirked, gently stroking my head. Smiling slightly, I closed my eyes, letting the sounds of the television wash over me and enjoying the gentle touches of Severus until sleep finally overtook me.
-Andromeda's View-
After I was finally released, I went straight to Glasgow. Cataleya looked at me slightly irritated as I stood in front of her door, after all, there were still two days to go.
"Lucius will drop dead if he hears about this, so it would probably be better if we kept it to ourselves. Severus and Neyla," I said curtly and went straight to the kitchen.
"If you're telling me that they're a couple, then my dear, I have to tell you that I'm not particularly surprised." Perplexed, I stared at my best friend. That was a joke just now, wasn't it?
"Oh come on Dromeda. Recall my daughter's last year at school. Neyla had always been fascinated by Severus, ever since her first day at school. You didn't hear much about her in the last class, except for the ill-bred brat and Professor Snape," Cataleya laughed softly and pressed a cup of tea into my hand.
"Oh yes, Dora complained that Severus was too strict and kept imitating him, whereupon Neyla said that if she kept it up, she would be allowed to keep Filch company for the rest of her life," I said with a grin. Dora was the clumsy one who only had nonsense in her head, while Neyla had probably clearly got the inquisitive nature from both parents, which is why I was more than just surprised when she was assigned to Slytherin.
"Neyla could never stand it when someone said something against her favourite professor. You could have put Severus in Azkaban and Neyla would have found a way to get him out. You said yourself that they get along, so I had a feeling. Still, I think it would be wiser not to tell her that Sev is Lucius' best friend. If I'm not mistaken, it's Neyla's first relationship and I want her to finally be able to do what she wants without feeling like she has to do everything right for Lucius. Sure she had a lot of freedom, yet there was always Lucius' fear of Abraxas catching her."
"Severus did have a crush on Lily..."
"Dromeda, feelings can change. At least give them both a chance, if Severus feels the same way as Luc, no one will know. The situation we are all in is more than risky. Voldemort is rallying his followers, he wouldn't tolerate one of them not being completely on their game and if Severus loves Neyla, she would be the perfect bargaining chip, especially after what happened with Lily. You're my best friend, so do me a favour and forget what you saw today. Let the two of them have the little happy moments they share outside of war. It's hard enough to hide all this and believe me, I know what I'm talking about," she interrupted me with a pained smile. Understanding, I nodded, even if Cataleya didn't show it, she was suffering from her own decision. The Daily Prophet usually ended up unread in the trash, probably out of self-protection.
"As for Luc, well, he should be glad it's Sev and not Sirius or the werewolf. No offence to Remus, but has Dora ever thought about her future in this matter?" I contorted my face in agony. I would have preferred Dora to stay with Charlie, but since he wanted to be a dragon keeper, this wish remained unfulfilled, and the fact that she then fell in love with Remus, of all people, was not exactly an advantage.
"Probably not," I grumbled cynically.
"I'm not saying you should talk her out of these feelings, just that you make it clear to her that life alongside a werewolf is anything but easy. Remus isn't Greyback I'm aware of that, yet he's just as shunned by wizards and witches and not without reason." I had to agree with my best friend. Talking Dora out of these feelings was the wrong way to go, but that was Cataleya. She saw the world through different eyes and was less prejudiced than the rest of us, and that was how she had brought up Neyla, which had led to the odd argument with Lucius, especially when Neyla started school in a Muggle school at the age of six.
"Leya have you ever regretted your decision?"
"No. There were days when I was jealous of Narcissa because she can be with him all the time, but I know he doesn't love her and that makes it more bearable, especially easier, to keep fighting and believe that one day this war will end and Lucius will return to where he belongs," she replied, smiling slightly. I had turned against my family out of love for Ted, but there were days when I regretted that decision, especially now that the war was flaring up again.
"Love is so much stronger than hate Andromeda. Remember that," Cataleya whispered softly and hugged me.
"It's just so hard."
"I know, just like I know you're strong. I have some things to do and Luc will be by later. We can talk more tomorrow," she murmured, slightly embarrassed. Understanding, I nodded, it was going to be harder than I thought a few days ago, that much was certain. I would not only let Ted go, but also my best friend, whom I could trust with everything. Cataleya always had an open ear for everyone, even though some days she wasn't feeling very well.
-Severus View-
Irritated, I looked around the next morning. How the hell had I got into bed? I didn't even know what time it was, something that didn't suit me at all. At least the night had passed without dreams, which I must admit more than surprised me. Slowly I struggled out of bed and went in search of the owner. Eventually I found Neyla in the kitchen. Dressed only in a bathrobe and her hair wrapped in a towel. Merlin stand by me and don't let my thoughts slip into the gutter. Neyla turned around at that moment and looked at me sheepishly. Reflexively, she pulled her bathrobe higher.
"Morning.", I murmured slightly absently.
"Morning. Coffee's ready, I'll just go and get dressed," came from her, barely audible. Irritated, I looked after her. Had her mind changed overnight? I shook my head briefly, hoping it wasn't the case, when she returned five minutes later.
"Are you all right?" I asked, slightly uncertain, glancing at the clock above the door. Dumbledore would be freaking out, it was close to noon and he still had no news. Well it was the summer holidays, so I could give him a wide berth.
"I'm fine, I just thought I'd be done before you woke up," she replied with a wry grin.
"Are you uncomfortable that I saw you like this?", I asked and pulled her towards me.
"As a matter of fact, yes. Just don't think it has anything to do with you, even with my mother it makes me uncomfortable," she murmured sheepishly and snuggled against my chest. I found this a little strange, but I let it go and didn't probe any further, maybe I would find out what was so bad about it for Neyla, after all, she wasn't standing in front of me completely naked.
"How did I make it to bed?"
"It would truly have been a miracle if I hadn't woken up at night. You fell asleep on the sofa and it looked anything but comfortable, so I unceremoniously shipped you off to bed. You grumbled like an angry little bear and said it was detention, but then you were quite happy," she said, smiling slightly.
"In fact, I haven't slept as well as I did today for a long time," I said frowning and kissed her on the forehead.
"Maybe it's the lavender. I decorated half the bedroom with it so I could sleep, but it's not much use if you rarely sleep in it," she replied thoughtfully.
"Lavender?"
"Well my professor said the dream lotion potion was not a solution to escape one's dreams, lavender would be an alternative to that and would not be addictive." Astonished, I looked to her. I had actually mentioned this once, only I didn't stick to it myself. It was easier to gulp down a potion than to believe in the effects of herbs. However, the fact that Neyla still knew this and adhered to it impressed me in a certain way.
"How bad are your dreams?" I asked, slightly worried.
"It's just a dream that drives me crazy. I had just finished my training and was assigned to my unit. That unit that was ambushed. Out of ten people, only two survived. Vampires are real assholes!" she answered quietly and lowered her gaze. I darkly remembered those headlines, but since this was an incident in the US, hardly anyone paid attention to it.
"But you're not..."
"Of course, I'll suck your blood at night!" she interrupted me laughing and shaking her head.
"No, I was in a coma for three months. Which no one knows so keep it to yourself." she followed up more seriously and kissed me gently. Neyla probably carried more secrets than I would have ever believed. As much as I would have liked to spend the day with her, Dumbledore would probably be jumping in the triangle by now, so I had to force myself away from those sensual lips.
"I'll come over in the evening. Maybe you'll want to tell me then what exactly happened on that mission."
"I have a date with Dora. If I cancel, she'll send Aunt Dromeda after me. Um wait." she replied pained and ran out into the hallway. Slightly taken off guard, I followed her.
"This is my spare key, I'll try to escape my dear cousin and you can continue to browse through my potion books in the meantime," she suggested with a sheepish smile and bit her lips.
"Thank you," I replied with a grin. Everyone got me with potion books though, didn't they? But these books that Neyla had in her possession were extremely rare and such a chance would probably not come my way again so soon.