Chapter 8 - because i love you

(A.N.: the ring is something that was helped picked out for me by xsiriouslypadfoot. She has truly become a big inspiration! And the video i posted up is one that i created myself! so please be kinda)

Andromeda Dumbledore's P.O.V.

    She frowned to herself as the hand on her arm got tighter and pushed her roughly forward. She had always been so careful not to get into trouble. She never went out when she wasn't suppose to unless she was going to a meeting with her friends but usually it was very late at night. So how in the world did she get caught? Did she subconsciously have a need or a desire to see him? Wether or not her heart was ready to see him, she had no choice. She felt tired and cold as she was forced toward Severus's office, she tried to struggle, to get away, but that only succeeded in her getting a back hand to the face which caused her lip to start bleeding. She made a noise as she was roughly pushed into his office. She glared at him as she wiped the blood off her lip but it was still bleeding.

    "I found her wondering the halls" Carrows spoke, his tone rather amused. She knew he and the other death eaters usually got to punish anyone they find in the halls, so she hoped Severus would intervene even though she didn't really want his help. Without it, her body could hurt worse then her pride. "can i punish her?"

    "no" Severus spoke softly his tone not giving away anything as to how he felt. She knew he was looking at her lip. She could see it in his face, his eyes darted quickly to her lips before he looked back at Carrows.

    "But sir, you said we could punish any student we found breaking rules" She looked from Severus to Carrows, back to Severus with an angry look on her face.

    "This one is mine" Severus snarled at him. She watched him, watched his face, trying to read him, but there was nothing there. She wondered if he was going to punish her or if he was trying to protect her.

    "Sir?" The man spoke softly, but didn't say anything else as Severus glared at him. Then not being to bright he spoke again."You want to have fun with her? Use her for your own amusement?"

    "That's right" Severus spoke with no emotion, both of them stared at him with shock. Carrows, she assumed because Severus wasn't usually this cruel or mean, nor usually this involved with things and her because she was truly shocked. Severus was a cruel man, but not like this. He had never hurt her physically, never attacked her and here he was talking about making her his mistress. Before Carrows could protest, Severus spoke again. "The dark lord left me in charge and i can do as i please. I will take care of this girl as i see fit, now leave us"

    "Yes, of course, sir" Carrows left the office, closing the door behind him.

    She watched Severus turn to look at her. She watched him look at her lips, particularly at the spot that was bleeding. He raised his hand and ran a finger across her lip wiping away any blood left on her face.  She took a deep shaky breath, she wanted to yell at him, tell him she hated him, but she couldn't, not at this moment, she couldn't bear to ruin this moment of peace between them. He was touching her even if it was the smallest touch and she didn't want him to stop. She moved closer to him, leaning against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her, neither saying anything and no one daring to move too fast. She looked up at him and despite the gravity of the situation going on around them, she smiled at him. The corners of his mouth lifted as if he was trying to smile back. He leaned his head down and brushed his mouth against her. She let him. She kissed him back before pulling away after a moment.

    "Sir?" She spoke softly, she was suddenly so confused. Her heart wanted to hate him, her soul wanted to push him away, but she could not. One hand rested against his chest, the other hand was tangled in his hair. She had not pulled away from him yet, but she knew she should. She took her hand out of his hair but left the other one on his chest.

    "Here, this will explain everything" He spoke softly. He moved away and her hand fell from his chest to rest at her side. She watched him with curious eyes as he went to his desk and pulled out a piece of parchment and then handed it to her. She took it but did not open it yet. "I will escort you back to your dormitory, but i would rather not see you back here if possible, I may not be able to stop him next time."

    "Yes sir" Andromeda nodded her emotions returning back to hate. She was wrong to have let him so close. She didn't want him to care for her, didn't want his help, but she would have been seriously hurt if he had not helped her.

    She sighed as she walked along side him still holding the letter in her hands. She was curious as to what it read, but she did not want to risk one of the death eaters seeing her read it in the corridor so she held it close to her body. His body brushed against hers as he took her hand. Without thinking she laced her fingers though his and they walked hand in hand to her dorm. There was no one around to see it, but she noticed he hid their hands none the less with the long sleeve of his robe.

    "thank you" Andromeda smiled softly before she gave the password to the portrait she went in. She waved to him just as the portrait swung closed. She climbed the stairs to the common room and found a quiet corner to read the note that was given to her. She opened it and read it.

Andromeda

Because i love you

S. Snape.

   Andromeda made a small gasp before dropping the letter to the floor. She sat down slowly against the wall before realizing exactly what it said. She grabbed the letter and held it to her chest. Tears fell down her face as she reread it. Damn it, she had been so stupid. She knew then she had been wrong about him. Yes, she would hate him for what he did to her grandfather because he had never explained to her why he had done it. But for other things, she had her answer. He had done the same thing as her with the same reason, only having the courage to sleep with the person he loved when he was drunk. She looked up at the people in the common room, all her friends, and they were there to help her.

Severus Snape's p.o.v.

    He was furious when he saw the cut on her lip. No one deserves to be treated that way and no one should be allowed to touch her like that. He couldn't believe the anger he felt, he had been to the point that he had to keep himself from shaking with anger. He had silenced Carrows telling him, he would deal with her himself. His hold on the school was wearing thin, and he knew it. He was doing what he could to protect everyone, but he was growing so tired of it all. He had half a mind to tell Voldemort what he really was and where his loyalties lie. Then he would think of Andromeda and know right then, that he had to stay alive as long as possible. He had to protect her until Harry found a way to kill Voldemort.

    He didn't know why he had pulled her into his arms or why he had kissed her, but in that moment she was all that matter. Then she pulled away and he was alone and cold again. He wanted her to know why he had slept with her that night. He loved her and when he handed her that letter his heart felt like it was pounding him his throat and he had done his best to keep her from noticing how nervous he was. He had slept with her that night because he had gotten courage from the whiskey, courage enough to sleep with the woman he loved and now he was afraid he was going to need that courage again. This time it would have to be without the help of alcohol.

    He went to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of fire whiskey. He sat behind the chair of the desk and raised his glass to the empty portrait of Albus Dumbledore. If only the old man knew how screwed up things had gotten between him and Andromeda, maybe he could offer some advise, but the old man was never to be seen in his portrait, always had business to attend to. Even in death. Severus wondered if his death would ever be as significant as Albus's and he doubted it. He doubted anyone would miss him. He downed the glass and threw it into the fire. The glass shattered and popped in the flames. He really wished he knew where things had gone bad, where it had gone from bad to worse.

    He could imagine Andromeda reading the letter in the common room and crying. He had known her all her life and she was predictable, well at least to him, because he had paid attention to her, watched her. He knew when she was upset she would sit by herself and cry. He had seen it happen when he made her upset in class. She would storm off into a corner and when she thought no one was looking she would cry. He could imagine her shocked at the words on the paper, the three little words that could change a person's life for better or for worse. Which then reminded him of something he had in his drawer. He opened it and pulled out a small box. Inside was a ring, a simple silver right with a heart shaped emerald in it. A gift his mother left.

    He had planned on giving it to her, but he didn't think now would be the time. Maybe when the war was over he would give it to her. Ask her to marry him, and if she said no, he would let her keep it all the same, a token of how he felt towards her. He rubbed his hand over his face before putting it back in the draw of his desk, on top of a letter he had written, in case something happened to him. He let out a small sigh. What if something did happen to him? What if he died? Would she miss him? Damn it, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.