Orli "You said it yourself—that you only regarded me as a student. Since I was being 'presumptuous,' naturally I won't trouble 'you' any further—Professor Snape."
Snape "...I was wrong."
Snape spoke in hushed tones.
Orli froze completely. Like ice water extinguishing blazing coals, her fiery heart was suddenly drenched and heavy.
Snape "I shouldn't have spoken those words that day."
Snape continued.
Orli "How swiftly you reverse course."
Orli bit her lip sharply.
Snape "Because I discovered I cannot..."
A deeply suppressed tremor threaded through Snape's voice.
Snape "I'm not as noble as I imagined—merely selfish and weak..."
Orli "Noble?"
Orli studied him intently:
Orli "Your notion of nobility was self-righteously severing our connection, declaring eternal love for another woman?"
She advanced a step toward him, desperately containing the sob threatening her throat:
Orli "During that 'glorious moment' of your 'nobility,' did you consider that I possess a heart too? That I have dignity?!"
Snape retreated half a step, seemingly unable to meet her blazing gaze. Yet he quickly lifted his eyes to hers again:
Snape "Everything I said that day was false—"
Orli "Such as?"
Orli challenged.
Snape "..."
Snape paused extensively before finally speaking.
Snape "You are not merely my student."
Orli "Nothing more?"
Snape remained silent. He leaned against stone walls, apparently engaged in fierce internal warfare.
Orli "Don't torment yourself, Professor."
Orli smiled with weary resignation.
Orli "Harboring unforgettable love is perfectly natural. I never dared hope for anything beyond friendship."
Snape "No, Orli. It's not like that..."
Snape exhaled deeply, as though reaching momentous decision. He withdrew his wand, tapping air with deliberate precision.
Silver luminescence poured from his wand tip, eventually materializing into an enormous, silent panther upon the floor. It stood momentarily, approached Orli, sniffed gently at her trembling hand, then dissolved into nothingness.
Snape "It changed long ago."
Snape watched Orli as tears gathered in her eyes—tears she fought desperately to contain.
Snape "But I cannot drag you into dishonorable circumstances... I cannot abandon Hogwarts now. War has commenced—I must remain here."
Orli "What if the war ends?"
Orli's eyes fixed unwaveringly upon Snape, but he shook his head with profound sorrow.
Snape "If such a day truly arrives, if by then you still remain willing—I could resign my position. We could begin anew... But someone like me has virtually no chance of surviving this conflict..."
Orli "No!"
Tears finally escaped Orli's control, streaming down her cheeks before she hastily wiped them with her sleeve.
Orli "If you die, I absolutely refuse to live on alone."
Unspoken words burned within her. Should Snape perish again, she would first exhaust every means to destroy Voldemort.
Snape "Orli—you're threatening me."
Something unreadable flickered in Snape's obsidian eyes.
Orli "Yes, I'm threatening you."
Orli lifted her chin defiantly, tear tracks still glistening on her face.
Snape's gaze held hers for endless moments. Finally, he extended his hand, drawing the girl before him into his embrace with infinite slowness.
Orli rested her head quietly against his shoulder, arms encircling his waist. They held each other in profound silence, neither speaking, only listening to the whispered rhythm of each other's heartbeats.
After considerable time, Snape spoke beside her ear in tones soft as dreams:
Snape "I will do everything within my power to survive. I promise."
He lowered his head, pressing the gentlest kiss to her hair near her temple.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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