Chapter 41

I accidentally collided with Severus, and he instinctively reached out to steady me by holding my back. The intimate position left us both momentarily stunned. Severus seemed a bit flustered, standing rigidly as I lay against his chest.

Looking into Severus's deep, dark eyes, an idea suddenly popped into my head. Today, I was going to make a move. It wasn't my fault; it was the moment's fault.

This thought gave me courage. I lifted my head and kissed him. He stiffened but didn't push me away. Encouraged, I wrapped my arms around his neck. Having no experience, I tentatively licked his soft but slightly chapped lips.

Severus kept his lips shut. I could hear him swallowing nervously. At this close distance, his eyes were filled with my reflection. How long was I supposed to kiss him without a response? I began to feel a bit resentful.

Maybe my feelings transmitted to him because I saw a smile in Severus's eyes, and he slightly curled his lips before gently parting them and taking control of the kiss.

Soft and slow, our lips and tongues danced together.

I finally understood why couples liked to kiss so passionately.

I felt like I was melting.

Just then, a knock came from the door, followed by Lily's voice.

"Severus? Sawyer? Are you in there? I'm coming in..."

Severus's body tensed, and he tried to push me away. I tightened my hold around his neck and murmured against his lips, "It's locked..." Despite knowing this, Severus remained tense. I just rested my lips against his, waiting.

The sound of the doorknob turning, and Lily's puzzled mumbling, came from outside. "Locked? Strange, where did they go?" Her footsteps faded away.

Severus relaxed, and I kissed the tip of his nose. "I really had foresight."

Seeing him smirk, I grinned even wider. Annoyed by my laughter, Severus leaned in and kissed me hard, abandoning the previous gentleness for a more dominant and aggressive approach. I was forced to arch backward, relying solely on Severus's arm around my waist to keep me from falling.

When the kiss ended, I lay against his shoulder, breathless and grinning like a cat who got the cream.

"Got what you wanted?" Severus's voice was husky, his tone casual yet teasing, his breath tickling my ear.

I rubbed my cheek against his skin, feeling completely satisfied. "Yes, my dear."

We stood there for a moment before straightening up and opening the door. We found Lily sitting on the carpet, leaning over a low table with her study materials. Hearing the door, she looked up, surprised to see us.

"How did you get out of there? Have you been in there all this time? Why didn't you answer when I knocked..." She trailed off, glancing between Severus and me. "Ah—" She drew out the word, her voice rising, "Sawyer, did it work?"

Severus walked over to the sofa and sat down, clearing his throat, and picked up a book from the low table, burying his face in it. I joined him, sitting down without getting too close, and casually picked up Lily's Transfiguration textbook. "What do you think?"

Lily didn't bother reclaiming her book. She propped her head on her hand, studying us. "Something's different... definitely different..."

Different how? We always studied like this. Lily was just being melodramatic. I rolled my eyes inwardly.

"The atmosphere, the unspoken understanding between a couple. You two just sitting there already exude a sweet and warm vibe. That's love!" Lily exclaimed theatrically.

I burst out laughing, shoving the book in her face. "Just study!"

"Yes, ma'am," Lily teased, her eyes sparkling. "Sawyer, you need to act more ladylike." She gave me a playful wink, earning a glare from me.

With that hurdle cleared, my relationship with Severus became more open. We didn't hide it, occasionally holding hands on campus. However, neither of us were overly affectionate in public, so it didn't seem much different from before, aside from the "atmosphere" Lily mentioned.

Remus just smiled knowingly when he saw us together. Potter, surprisingly, didn't make any snide comments; he even seemed relieved. I suspected he had considered Severus a rival and now was grateful to me.

Soon, exams were over, and we boarded the Hogwarts Express.

In our usual compartment near the back, it was just the three of us—me, Lily, and Severus. We had gotten into the habit of discussing secrets in the train compartments, casting privacy charms effortlessly.

"I read recently that the Petrification Curse is an ancient form of Dark Magic. This suggests that the definition of Dark Magic is quite contentious," I remarked casually. "I think Dark Magic is useful. Otherwise, why would so many powerful wizards pursue it?"

Severus glanced at me, clearly recalling our previous conversation about convincing Lily to accept Dark Magic.

Lily frowned. "But those wizards are labeled as dark wizards. They study Dark Magic and become more sinister. Dark Magic corrupts people. What good is power if everyone despises you?"

"It's subjective. Everyone has a dark side. If you let it grow, you'll fall even without Dark Magic. It's like a gun; in a criminal's hands, it's a weapon, but in a policeman's hands, it's a tool for protection. Do we blame the gun for the criminal's actions?" I argued, trying to be as fair as possible. Severus listened quietly, familiar with the Muggle terms like "gun" and "policeman."

"I still don't like Dark Magic. Remember when Avery and Mulciber tried to use Dark Magic on Mary? If they'd succeeded, she might have lost a leg! And they called it a joke!" Lily's anger flared.

Severus muttered, "They're idiots. Only a few Slytherins are that reckless."

I chuckled, turning back to Lily. "You don't have to like it, just understand it. Magic is interconnected. For every curse, there's a counter-curse. Only by understanding Dark Magic can we combat it. Many curses don't have known counter-curses because we haven't studied them enough. And you might not know this, but Madam Pomfrey is an expert in Dark Magic."

Lily looked surprised and skeptical but soon nodded in realization.

"Yes, healing spell damage requires understanding the harmful spells and their effects. Dark Magic injuries are particularly tricky. You can't handle them without expertise in Dark Magic. Madam Pomfrey is neither dark nor evil. Though she's 'ruthless' when making patients take potions, she's not malicious." I joked, noticing Lily's expression softening.

"I plan to start studying Dark Magic to lay the groundwork for treating Dark Magic injuries. Severus, the Prince family is an old pure-blood family. They must have some texts on Dark Magic, right?" I continued.

"Yes, there are some. My mother organized a collection of the less sinister ones for me. They might be helpful. We can study them together. My mother taught me a bit before she left, and I've done some research since. No Slytherin would forsake this source of power," Severus replied. We had discussed this before, and now he repeated it for Lily's benefit.

"That's great! Lily, would you like to join us? Having more people would be more efficient."

"I'll pass for now. You two go ahead. I think I need some time to process this," Lily declined, shaking her head.

As expected, Lily needed time to digest this idea, which contradicted her Gryffindor teachings. But she at least accepted that Severus and I were studying Dark Magic. That was a good start.

We then shifted the conversation away from Dark Magic, making the rest of the journey pleasant.

At King's Cross Station, Mr. Evans came to pick us up, giving us a ride home. He dropped Severus and me off at our house on the way.

When we arrived, Isaya had already prepared dinner. I had informed her via letter that Severus would be joining us for dinner the day we returned. As we sat down, I cleared my throat to get my parents' attention.

"I have an announcement to make." I glanced at Severus, who guessed what I was about to say. Usually calm and aloof, he now looked embarrassed, staring at the tablecloth. I almost laughed but managed to contain myself with another clearing of my throat.

"Severus and I are officially dating. I thought you should know." Despite trying to maintain a serious expression, I couldn't stop grinning, feeling like I'd taken a joy potion.

Isaya's eyes widened in delight before she winked at me, her smile mischievous—'Good job, Sawyer!'

Blushing, I looked away. Hughes, confused by our exchange, noticed Severus's unease and laughed. "Severus, good choice. Just don't hurt our Sawyer; she's our treasure!"

Severus responded seriously, "Of course, sir. You can trust me."

Isaya and Hughes exchanged satisfied looks. They had seen Severus grow up and trusted him completely.

The dinner was warm and joyful, and I felt happiness bubbling up inside me.