A Life of Love - IV. A Testament to Love - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The next day was Bethany's project proposal.  Severus couldn't concentrate on his experiments for excitement and for concern about how Bethany's presentation was going.  Try as he might, he couldn’t get any work done.  So he went downstairs to read but found that difficult too.  Then he looked over Bethany's preliminary notes and sketches.  Even these seemed very good though a bit disarrayed for they were scraps now.  Severus read the first draft of the cards she had written as notes for the presentation.  He even remembered how convincing her argument had sounded when she had let him be her audience for practice.  He wished she would have let him do that near the culmination of her project, but she had been so upset with him then.  

Severus thought hard of a way to keep Bethany's mind off his current occupation and on the love they shared.  If she wanted him to move out, that would be the end of the relationship and there would be no future marriage with all the joys that she had described wanting.  He decided to give her a gift, whether she came home successful or not.  He would support her without question.  Maybe if he loved her and encouraged her enough in the pursuit of her dreams then perhaps she could look the other way at what he was doing.  She just needed to see that his love for her would not falter nor slacken just because of his involvement with the Death Eaters.  If he could just show her that, he was almost sure she would stay with him.

After a seeming eternity, Bethany threw open the front door.  Severus stood up from the couch.  

“I did it!” she said.  “They loved my presentation.  Or well maybe not loved it but they were convinced by it.  The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures is going give a grant to W.I.S.H. for another two years of study.  Plus they are going to begin working on methods to improve the conditions for the fairy population and their habitat despite the Muggles' destruction of the forest.”

Severus ran forward to catch her up in his arms and spin her around.  She leaned her head back and laughed.  When he stopped and set her down, she hugged him and kissed him passionately.  She started to pull away after several seconds but he cradled the back of her head and leaned forward to continue the kiss for another minute or so.  She seemed to melt in his arms.

Finally, he broke the kiss, saying, “Sweeting, that's such wonderful news!”

“Well,” she said, “None of this will be immediate.  You know how bureaucracies are.  They may take weeks or even months to decide how much money to allot, a plan of action to save the habitat, and so on.  The important thing is that W.I.S.H. was so thrilled that they have hired me indefinitely.  And whatever happens it will be at least two more years of work.”

“That's so wonderful, Darling.  And now I have a gift for you for all your hard work and today's achievement.”

“Oh, really,” Bethany said, her eyes lighting up.

“Follow me,” he said leading her up to his potion's lab.

“What are we doing in here?”  She glanced around nervously, afraid of what she might see.

“We, or rather you, are going to set your Phoenix free.”

Her eyes widened.  “Really?  You're going to let him go?”  She couldn't keep the excitement out of her voice.  “But won't you get in trouble for that?”  Her voice was laden with concern.

“I'm going to tell Lord Voldemort that I managed to make a stasis field but when I killed the Phoenix the next time, it never arose from the ashes.  I'll tell him that all the experiments finally killed it for the last time and I couldn't extract its essence.  Of course, I'll keep the ashes from the last time the Phoenix burnt, saying it was from the final death.  I plan to use those to try to create a potion of resurrection and eternal life but I don't think it's possible, even with the Phoenix.”

“Oh Sevy, I love you so much.  Can we let him go now?”

He nodded and Bethany pulled the cloth off the cage.  The Phoenix nuzzled her fingers for she was the only one who had shown the bird compassion since falling into the Death Eater's hands.  She put her arm out for the Phoenix to hop onto it.  As it did, the bird looked at Severus defiantly.  It was as if the bird knew Severus didn't dare to hurt it with Bethany right there.  

Bethany began talking softly to the bird.  “It's all right, Eon.  You'll be free now.  You can fly anywhere you want and no one will ever hurt you again.”  

The Phoenix seemed to understand her perfectly and made a happy sound.  Severus had not really thought that the Phoenix was intelligent enough to communicate with a person.  Perhaps, deep down Severus had known, but had pushed the idea from his mind because of the torture he was being forced to inflict on the bird.  Either way, he now felt the need to apologize to the Phoenix.  He didn't expect forgiveness.  He just wanted the bird to know that the experiment wasn't his idea

“I'm sorry for all the suffering I have caused you,” Severus said to Eon, the Phoenix.  “I didn't want to do it.  But the one who gave you over to me would have killed me if I hadn't.  Then your sweet mistress would have been alone with no one to protect her from him.”

The Phoenix seemed to understand him.  Severus thought that the bird nodded but wasn't sure.  

Bethany was busy feeding Eon now. “May this keep you from being hungry until you can find food on your own.”  

She stroked the bird's head and neck.  Then she took him over to the window and opened it.  

“Farewell, Eon.  Take care of yourself and watch out for traps.”

The Phoenix seemed to hesitate looking back mournfully at Bethany.  The bird cried a single tear which dropped onto her arm.  Severus told Bethany to hold still while he got a vial.  He scooped up the tear, saying that at least he could use this healing aid to appease Voldemort.  Then Severus thanked Eon for the tear and wished him well.  Bethany raised her arm in a swift motion and Eon beat his wings.  The bird took flight with the help of the extra momentum Bethany had given.  

Bethany's eyes leaked tears watching The Phoenix go.  “I hope he'll be alright.”

“I'm sure it will be,” said Severus.  “So Eon, huh?  When did you name it?”

“The first time you let me feed him,” she stated plainly.  “Everyone deserves a name and someone to love them.  Besides a Phoenix is supposed to live for thousands of years before it dies.  So the name Eon seemed appropriate.”

Severus hugged her to his side and she smiled through her tears.

“Why don't we go have our own celebration?” she whispered seductively.

Severus couldn't say no to that.  So they went into their bedroom and didn't come out for two hours.  When they did, they were mussed up pretty well and quite hungry and tired.

At dinner, Severus brought up the idea that he could find another place besides their house to do his experiments.  He didn't know where.  But since Bethany was so upset by his tests, he was determined to keep the knowledge of them away from her.  Bethany was happy to hear this.  So Severus said he would go out the next day and look for the right place.

They slept peacefully that night after making love one more time.  

---

The following day, Severus left the house to look for a place to set up his lab.  The two lovers had decided that if Severus had a space away from their home to do his experiments for Voldemort, he would be able to keep them away from Bethany.  That way he wouldn’t have to move out altogether.  Severus planned to go work in his new lab during most of the day, just as if it were a regular job.  Then he could return home in the evening to the comfort of Bethany’s arms.  Of course, she had elicited a promise from him not to hurt any more animals and he had agreed.  He desperately hoped that his dark master wouldn’t assign him any more experiments like the one involving the Phoenix.  He truly wanted to keep his promise to his beloved.  But should he be ordered that to perform hazardous or lethal experiments on animals, he didn’t know how he would get out of the situation without raising Voldemort’s suspicion.  

While Severus was scouting likely places for his new lab, Bethany decided to clean the house.  She took out her wand and began straightening up, dusting, cleaning the dishes, and removing cobwebs in high corners.  As she was busy mopping, the door opened wide.  

Bethany just had time to look up, wondering why Severus had returned so soon, when she saw a strange woman with long, dark, wild hair standing in the doorway.  Her heavily lidded eyes stared at Bethany for a long moment, seeming to be sizing her up.  The woman was wearing the kind of unusual clothes that marks someone as a witch rather than a Muggle, for those who know the difference.  Her posture indicated a certain haughty self-control mixed with an air of authority.  

Bethany was in shock for a moment.  She wondered who this strange woman was that had the audacity to barge into her home unannounced.  For a brief moment, the thought flickered across her mind that this could be Severus’s secret lover come to challenge Bethany over him.  After all, this woman had acted brazenly by throwing open the front door and she seemed ready for a confrontation.  However, Bethany had faith in Severus’s love for her, especially after the Veritaserum incident, so the idea of him having a lover on the side quickly dissipated.  

Bethany was having trouble deciding whether to demand the strange woman confess who she was, or to order her out of the house.  Before Bethany could say anything, the wild-haired woman gave an evil grin and raised her wand.  She wore sleeves that draped at the end, and right before the woman made her move, Bethany saw the Death Eater's Mark on her left arm.  Then, Bethany heard the word "Crucio!" and was knocked back onto the floor in agony.  She screamed in pain and fear.  

After a few moments, the woman stopped the curse but she was cackling with almost insane laughter.  

Bethany held her ribs where the curse had struck, although the pain had seared through her whole body. She asked defiantly, “Who are you and what do you want?”

“Oh yes,” said the woman.  “It would be rude of me not to introduce myself.  I'm Bellatrix Lestrange, an acquaintance of your fiancé.”  She performed an over-dramatized curtsy, cackling again.  “We work together, you could say.  The reason I'm here is because you, Bethany Wright, know too much about what Lord Voldemort is doing, and you are interfering with Snape's important work.  The Dark Lord always spies after initiates.  He likes to know their weak spots, and you my dear, are Severus Snape's weakness.  Snape fooled us at first with his rigidity and desire for revenge.  He seemed not to care about anyone or anything.  Then we found about you.”

Bethany glared at her with guilty eyes that were, nonetheless, full of hatred for this woman who dared to threaten Severus.

“We've been watching you for some time now,” continued Bellatrix.  “We know how much he loves you, and that he told you things he shouldn't have.  We saw you let the Phoenix go.  You're a big liability, honey.  So I'm afraid you have to go.  Killing you will teach Snape not to disobey the Dark Lord.  Not to mention, you are Snape's biggest distraction, and he has more important things to give his attention to.”

Bethany had been thinking of a way to escape or fight back while Bellatrix was talking.  She started begging for her life.  Bellatrix smiled cruelly.  

Suddenly, Bethany rolled quickly to the left and grabbed her wand from where it had fallen. “Accio flowerpot!” she yelled, pointing her wand at the front door.  

The flowerpot outside flew into the house, knocking into the back of Bellatrix Lestrange's knee and causing the witch to fall over.  Bethany caught the flowerpot and threw it at Bellatrix.  

Bellatrix had recovered enough to cast 'Stunning Spell' that intercepted the flowerpot, and shattering it across the floor.  

Now it was Bethany's turn.  “Incarcerous!” she yelled, and ropes appeared from thin air to wrap around Bellatrix.  “How dare you barge into my home, threatening me and my fiancé!  I may not be a Death Eater but I know some of the Dark Arts, enough to cause you pain.”

Bellatrix, bound on the floor, cackled again.  “It is not I who threaten you.  I am merely a messenger from the Dark Lord.  Do as you want with me.  More Death Eaters will follow.”

Bethany knew this was true.  She wasn't sure what to do.  In her hesitation she didn't notice Bellatrix's hand, tangled as it was, edging towards her wand which lay next to her.  Suddenly, Bethany heard “Diffindo.” The ropes were cut loose and then Bellatric shouted, “Relashio!” 

Bethany was on her guard and quickly said “Protego!” to deflect the harmful spell back at Bellatrix, knocking her prone again.  Bethany screamed “Crucio!” with all of her soul before Bellatrix could get off another spell.

The curse hit Bellatrix, who wasn't expecting this from Bethany, and she lay on the ground whimpering.  Bethany's anger rose as did the power of her curse.  She held Bellatrix in the spell for several minutes.  The Death Eater wasn't used to so prolonged a Cruciatus being held on her.  She began screaming.  Bethany had no intention of stopping, though she didn't know what to do next.  

Afraid Bellatrix’s screams would attract more Death Eaters, Bethany tried out a spell that Severus had taught her.  “Langlock,” she commanded.  

Bellatrix’s tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth, making her mute.  At that moment, Severus burst through the door, wand at the ready.  He had thought it was Bethany who had been screaming.  When he saw Bellatrix on the ground he became irate.  Bethany cried out in relief to see Severus.

“She knows what you've told me.  They all know.  Someone saw me let Eon go.  She came here to kill me.”  

“I heard the Cruciatus curse as I got closer to the house.  Are you alright, Bethany?”  He blinked several times, amazed to she her standing.  “I swear if this bitch has hurt you... Sectumsemp—” he began, staring intently at Bellatrix, who was still twitching on the floor.

“Wait,” Bethany interrupted. “Before you slash her open, you have to think what will happen if you kill her.  Besides, it was me, not her, casting the Cruciatius curse just then. Though I have to admit she caught me off-guard with it when she first came in.”

“You were using the Cruciatus?”  Severus turned his attention to Bethany, looking bewildered.

“I told you I could do it with great effect, if properly motivated.  This Bellatrix Lestrange woman bursting into our house, trying to kill me, and threatening you, was more than enough motivation to blast her with an unforgivable curse.  As far as I’m concerned, a few minutes of that torture was too good for her.”

“A few minutes!  How did you manage that?”

“As I said before, all I needed was motivation.  Plus my heightened emotions pump more power into my spells.”  She shrugged.

Bellatrix, though greatly hindered by the pain from the Cruciatus Curse and still effected by the tongue-locking spell, managed to grab her wand while the couple was talking.  She rolled over and pushed herself to her knees, pointing the wand towards Bethany, apparently ready to blast her with a non-verbal spell.  

Severus yelled, “Petrificus Totalus!”  

Suddenly, Bellatrix couldn't move and fell backwards to the ground.  

As she was falling, Bethany called out, “Expelliarmus!”  Bellatrix's wand went flying.

“Lestrange,” Severus said.  “This will be the last mission you ever go on for the Dark Lord."  He raised his wand.  “I’ve always wanted to see what it felt like to use the Killing Curse on a Death Eater.”

But Bethany said, “Wait, if you kill her.  More Death Eaters will come to kill us both.” 

“We can't let her live.”  

Bethany thought quickly, “A memory modifier... so that she thinks she succeeded and tells Voldemort that I'm dead.”

“He'll find out that you're not, and send more Death Eaters after you,” Severus said.  

“Not if I move someplace far away and lay low so that he doesn't even know to be looking for me.”

“Alone?  You would go alone?” asked Severus.  “I can't leave because then he would know I was alive and not stop searching until he found me.  But I can't live without you.”

“Nor I without you,” said Bethany, touching his face.  “But I won't survive staying here.  And this way you can devote yourself to your studies and experiments without hurting me.”

They wrapped their arms around each other and cried.  

“I don't want you to go,” Severus said.  “I can't face this darkness without you.”

“I don't want to go either, but consciously or not, you have chosen the Dark Arts over me.  Not only can I not live with that decision, now I'm in mortal danger because of it.”

“I suppose I have to let you go then,” he said tearfully.  “Where will you go?”

“I'm not sure and I don't think you should know, just in case the Dark Lord tries to penetrate your thoughts.”

"How will I ever find you again?  Hold on..."  Severus pointed his wand at Bellatrix, who was starting to recover movement.  "Stupefy!”  Now she lay prone.  “It will be easier to adjust her memory if she is unconscious while we talk about our plans.  Now, how will I find you?”

“You may not, at least not as long as Voldemort reigns.  However, if things change, you can always ask my parents.  I should stay in touch with them.”  She trembled involuntarily.  “Oh Sevy, I'm so afraid.  I can't believe this is happening.”

“I'm so sorry,” he said.  “If I had known the repercussions of my actions I would have quit the Dark Arts years ago.  Please forgive me.”

Bethany nodded her tear-stained face.  She cradled his cheek in one hand and kissed him.

“So what are we going to do about her?”  Bethany asked, nodding towards Bellatrix.  “Do you have a Forgetfulness Potion or something?”

“That won't be enough.  She has to have a memory of killing you and me not coming in to see her.  That requires the 'Confundus Charm' first, then the 'Obliviate' spell, as well as the art of 'Legilimency'.  Luckily, I am well practiced in infiltrating other people's minds.  So changing hers should be easy when she comes around."

Once Bellatrix did awaken, Severus was right there.  He penetrated her mind and used a powerful combination of spells to alter her perception of what had happened.  He made her believe she had killed Bethany easily by surprising her and then had left the house without ever seeing Severus.  He handed her wand back to her and sent her on her way, befuddled.  

Bethany said, “I have to leave tonight before they come and check on their handiwork.  I need to pack a few things now.”

“Wait,” Severus said, “I have to be with you one last time.  We may never see each other again.”

Bethany agreed, although she felt that she didn't have much time to spare.  Severus took her over onto the couch and they made love for what they feared would be their last time.  

Afterwards, Severus helped Bethany pack a few light items.  Then it was time for her to go.  The two lovers shared one last lingering kiss.  They said a teary farewell.  Then Bethany 'Disapparated' to Severus knew not where.

Severus steeled himself to face Voldemort that night.  His rage and despair at losing Bethany, probably forever, was enough to make it seem believable that he was mourning her death.  The idea was to confront the Dark Lord in fury and demand to know who was sent to murder his fiancée.  Of course, Voldemort would consider that agent inconsequential and simply tell him that now he was free to do his work without the distractions of emotional attachment.  Also, Voldemort would say that now there was no chance of any important secrets reaching the wrong side.  Bethany was not a supporter of the Dark Lord.  She couldn't be trusted and shouldn't have been told anything.  That was Severus's mistake and it had cost him his true love.  Now, he has learned his lesson.  Voldemort would expect a subservient apology for Severus's outbreak against him.  Severus could do it because he knew that Bethany was safe.  

But losing Bethany would make Severus’s heart stone.  His emotions would be sapped until all he felt was rage and the desire for revenge.  He would continue working diligently for the Dark Lord because he had to, but Severus owed him no allegiance in his heart.  All his heart was given to Bethany and pining for her.  Yet, he couldn't live heartbroken and wrathful all the time.  So eventually the pain would numb him so that he would become stoical.  Hardly any emotion would touch him because he did not care about anything in the world, except Bethany, whom he had lost forever.

---

Bethany had left in early April.  Severus Snape served Voldemort seemingly faithfully thereafter.  He even eavesdropped on Dumbledore's interview of Sybill Trelawney in the Hog's Head Inn and overheard the first part of the Prophecy of Voldemort's downfall:

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...

Snape was caught listening before he heard the whole prophecy and was thrown from the building.  However, he told Voldemort what he heard Sybill's prophecy.

---

On July 31, 1980, Harry Potter was born to James and Lily Potter.  

Soon after, Snape learned that Voldemort had decided that Harry Potter fit the Prophecy and had marked the Potters for death. Snape begged Voldemort to spare Lily, but was of course refused.  Voldemort reminded him that even if Lily wasn’t a threat, she was Mudblood, so her death would be part of the purging process that would purify the Wizarding blood-lines.  Besides, the Dark Lord asserted that Snape didn't need any more distractions of women, like the one he had to dispatch of before.  This reference to Bethany made Snape so angry he could have killed Voldemort right then, if he had the power to do so.  

The thought of losing Lily, though he had not had anything to do with her for a long time, reminded him of Bethany's loss.  He couldn't bear the thought of Lily, his dear old friend and still so belovéd Lily, actually dying.  Desperate to protect her, Snape warned Dumbledore about Voldemort’s plan to kill the Potter family.  He begged Dumbledore to keep Lily safe in return for his eternal loyalty to Dumbledore.  

On Dumbledore's advice, The Potters went into hiding at Godric's Hollow.  In October, the 'Fidelius Charm' was cast to conceal the location of the Potter family within their chosen Secret-Keeper.  Everyone assumed the Secret-Keeper was Sirius Black, James’s best friend.  But because of this wide spread notion, the Potter’s actually entrusted their secret to another friend of the family, Peter Pettigrew.  The 'Fidelius Charm' failed when Pettigrew was threatened by Voldemort, and betrayed the secret of the Potter’s whereabouts to the Dark Lord.  

On October 31, Voldemort murdered James and Lily Potter at their hiding place in the village of Godric’s Hollow.  When he tried to kill Harry, however, Lily's self-sacrifice to save her son caused the curse to rebound on Voldemort and he was nearly killed.  He lost all his powers.  

Distraught over Lily's death, Snape left his Death Eater acquaintances and reaffirmed his allegiance to Dumbledore.  He promised to protect Harry's life but told Dumbledore that no one was to know of his feelings for Lily.  Her death made Severus colder and more indifferent toward the world than he had been.  He had now lost the only two women he had ever loved because of his service to Voldemort.  The one good thought he kept in his heart was of Bethany and the fact that he may one day find her now.

---

It took months for everything to settle down. The Death Eaters were caught, or went into hiding, or claimed the 'Imperius Curse' had been cast on them.  News spread quickly of Voldemort's defeat, but it took a while for people to get over the still fresh shadow of fear that he had left lingering in their minds.  It wasn't until the middle of December that Severus had his scattered affairs in enough order, and Dumbledore had been observing him long enough to give him leave to travel.

Severus went to see Bethany's parents at their home, knowing that they could tell him where she was.  He couldn't have received a colder welcome.                                                                           

As soon as Mr. Wright opened the door and saw Severus, his face began to redden. “How dare you show your face here?” he yelled.

“Please, Sir.  I'm looking for Bethany.  Do you know where she is?”                                                                                                        

“Now why on my daughter's life would I tell you that?” Mr. Wright spoke harshly.  

Severus looked down in shame.  He cared deeply what Bethany's parents thought of him.

“How could you Severus?  We took you into our home as one of our family.  We loved you.  You seemed, at the time, like you were good for our daughter, like you loved her.”

“Sir, I do love her.  That's why I want to find her so much.  My life has been empty without her.”

“The life of a Death Eater would be an empty one I would imagine.  Do you realize how close you came to getting Bethany killed!  And now she is still in hiding, fearing that Voldemort is still out there, that his minions may come after her if she comes out of concealment.  Nothing good came of you two living together.   And now, just as we predicted, she has-”

“What's going on?” said Mrs. Wright, drawn by her husband's yelling.  “Oh Severus, what are you doing here?”  

“I'm looking for my fiancée,” he said dryly.  “Will you tell me where she is?”

Mrs. Wright started to say something but her husband stopped her.

“He has become a Death Eater, Elena.  Do you want to turn our daughter over into his hands?”

Elena Wright trembled and tears rolled down her cheeks.  “But what about...”

“Hush, Dear.  Don't tell him anything.”

“But, Richard, she needs him in her life.”

“No, she doesn't.  She has us,” said Richard Wright.  He turned back to Severus.  “Bethany is doing just fine where she is.  She is living happily without you.  That is all you need to know.  Don't traipse in and ruin her new life.  Leave her and us alone.”

“I am no longer a Death Eater, and I stopped serving the Dark Lord long ago.  My allegiance has been to Dumbledore for some time, and as always to Bethany.  You may not tell me where she is but I'll search for her if that's what it takes.”

“Go ahead and look.  She's well hidden.  She doesn't need a coward who comes crawling back to Dumbledore as soon as his master is destroyed.  I can hardly even believe that Dumbledore would take such a risk.  No doubt you're lying.”

“It's not a lie!” Severus yelled back.  “I left The Dark Lord before he was destroyed. I tried to save the Potters, who had been marked for death.”

“Well, that didn't go over very well now did it?”

“That wasn't my fault.  Their Secret-Keeper betrayed them.  Dumbledore had them in hiding with a 'Fidelius Charm' on the place.  If you want to blame someone for the Potter’s deaths, then blame their Secret-Keeper.  It's all Sirius Black’s fault.  He's the one who betrayed them.  I had nothing to do with it.  Now please, won't you at least give Bethany a letter from me?  I can't find out where she is that way, but if she wants to contact me after reading it, she can.”

“I won't subject her to any more pain,” her father said sternly.  “Now leave.”

The door closed in his face.  

---

Severus left and went in search of Bethany.  He asked W.I.S.H. if she had joined them again, but they said they hadn't seen her since March.  Severus supposed it would be too dangerous for her to stay working for the same organization, but perhaps she worked in a similar area.  He searched through all the names on the list of people who worked at The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.  He couldn't find her there and wondered if she had changed her last name.  He contacted magical creatures rights groups all over the country.  He even hired investigators, but nothing came up.

---

Within the next month, Igor Karkaroff, a known Death Eater on trial for his crimes, denounced Severus as a Death Eater, in front of the Wizengamot Jury.  However, Dumbledore vouched for Snape's loyalty.  This made Severus all the more indebted to Dumbledore.  

So despite how much he had hated the school, he asked for a job at Hogwarts.  Dumbledore hired him.  Severus, however, was not assigned as the Defense against Dark Arts instructor as he had requested.  The Headmaster wanted to keep Severus as much away from the Dark Arts as possible.  He allotted Severus the job of Potions Master, instead.

Now that Severus had been vouched for at a Wizengamot court hearing and had a steady, respectable job under the surveillance of Dumbledore, he decided to go back to Bethany's parents.  He took with him a Note of Commendation from Dumbledore, to whom he had told the story of his and Bethany's eternal love for one another.  He wanted at least that much credibility that he was doing well.  

It had been a year since he had first gone to the Wrights.  He had been hoping his network of searchers would have come up with something by then.  They hadn't.  So Severus braved seeing Bethany's parents again only to find that they had moved.  The people living there now said that they had left the country.

It suddenly hit Severus that if Bethany had wanted to feel really safe, she would have left Britain altogether for someplace obscure.  But where?  The new occupants of the Wright house could not tell him where the Wrights might have gone.  But they wished him luck in searching.  Severus went back to work, and in his spare time he widened the search to all of Europe, hoping desperately that Bethany hadn't fled the whole continent, for America perhaps or Australia.

---

Over two years passed and he heard nothing.  Then one day in May, Severus received a letter from a barn owl with the morning post.  He recognized the handwriting immediately and felt his hands start to shake as all the blood ran out of his face.  He became dizzy and knew he had to get away from the Great Hall to read the letter.  However, he found it difficult to stand.  He staggered like a man with a gut wound. 

 As he stopped to regain some composure, Dumbledore asked him if he was alright.  The Headmaster seemed worried until he noticed the feminine handwriting on the envelope.  Then Dumbledore smiled and winked at Severus, telling him he would no doubt feel better soon.  

Severus hurried out of the Great Hall to his rooms where he could have some quiet.  With trembling hands he ripped open the envelope and read the following:

Dear Severus,

I know that it has been a long time since our parting.  I don't know much of what has happened to you since then.  After the downfall of You-Know-Who, I worried that you had been killed or sent to Azkaban for life.  I listened for word of you, but as you know I am in a very remote area.  I finally heard that you had become Potions Master at Hogwarts and Head of House Slytherin.  I couldn't believe it.  Congratulations Professor!  My parents said that it couldn't be true because once someone has turned to the Dark Arts there is no turning back.  But I remembered how you already wanted out.  I told them that, and also how you had stayed to protect me.  I pointed out that You-Know-Who's downfall would be the perfect time for you to return to the light.  They couldn't argue with me that Dumbledore would not have you as a professor if you weren't trustworthy.

Yet, I still worried.  I was sorry to hear about Lily's death.  I know, or at least feel that I know, how much she meant to you.  I was concerned that her death might have been the breaking point for you.  For my part, I don't know how safe the world is from You-Know-Who's followers.  I assume they are all in hiding or imprisoned but I am still a bit reluctant to come out of hiding.  Perhaps, that is less the truth than the fact that I love what I do now.  I am living in Germany on the edge of the Black Forest.  My current job is a five year study of unicorns and the symbiotic effect of the forest and unicorns on each other.  My current findings suggest that unicorns actually magically enhance the forests they live in, and the creatures who live there as well.  Meanwhile, the forests offer the unicorns a haven from those who would seek them out for the wrong reasons.  Can you believe I am actually getting paid to research this?  I am finally living my dream of working with unicorns!

I don't know how your life has been going.  Perhaps you have moved on and found someone else to love.  So perhaps I shouldn't say that I still love you and am constantly reminded of you. My parents didn't want me to write to you as I have longed to do since I discovered your whereabouts.  However, one day recently my mother broke down and told me that you had come looking for me after the downfall of You-Know-Who and had said that you were no longer a Death Eater.  She said your allegiance was to Dumbledore and me.  I know that it was years ago that you came looking for me but it stirred my heart.  This past week, May 19th, would have been the anniversary of our third year of marriage.  The anniversary gift for this year is one of crystal, so I have enclosed the crystal pendant from the dress that I was wearing the night that you proposed.  Keep it and remember me.  I had to write you, Severus, no matter the consequences.  You may be angry with me for not supporting you in your dark pursuits or you may have moved on.  No matter what though, I had to write to tell you that I am alive and well.  I would like for you to come see me any time that is convenient for you.  If nothing else entices you to come, then let me say that I have a surprise for you that would make travel half way around the world worthwhile.  Please send your response back with this owl.  I am not a part of the Floo network.  Contact the Unicorn Guard's German division to find out how to reach me in person.  They know to be waiting for your contact.  I desperately hope to hear from you soon.

All My Love Forever,
          Bethany

Severus's palms were moist.  He felt the world reeling about him as his heartbeat seemed to pound through his whole body.  Bethany was alive and safe.  She still loved him and thought of him.  He re-read the letter and unwanted tears formed in his eyes.  He had not been so moved by emotion, especially to tears, for a few years now.  Severus had spent his time steeling himself against the pain of the world through discipline as well as armouring his heart and mind.  His associates knew him as a restrained, guarded, and austere man.  Yet, here he was, after all this time, on the verge of tears.  

He had to write Bethany a response immediately and then contact the Unicorn Guard.  His mind mulled over the past years' experiences.  He couldn't think of how to express himself, nor what was appropriate to say after so long a separation.  He wrote down what gushed from his heart first.  It was a very long letter that he decided sounded too personal because of the years that lay between them.  He discarded that letter and tried again.  On the fourth draft he wrote:

Dear Bethany,

I would love to visit you.  I have not forgotten you, nor have I “moved on,” as you called it, to someone new.  My heart has and always will lie with you.  There is much to say, but it seems better to say it in person than to write it in a letter, if only for the sake of expediency.  I intend on coming to visit as soon as I can contact the Unicorn Guard.  You may expect me this weekend.  I am sending this letter now rather than writing more so it can speed its way to you.  I will see you soon.

Yours Eternally,
       Severus

He immediately sent the barn owl back on its way.  

Severus then went to Dumbledore to explain what had happened and ask if he could have leave to go to Germany for the weekend.  Dumbledore not only granted him leave, he also told Severus how to contact the Unicorn Guard in Britain, which could send him to the German branch.

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Friday afternoon came and Severus was already gone from Hogwarts.  When he reached the headquarters of the German Unicorn Guard he was handed an envelope and told there was a Portkey inside it.  When he opened the envelope he found a dried blue rose that looked very much like the one Severus had given Bethany when he had proposed.  

His mind swam with memories as he reached out to touch the flower, forgetting it was a Portkey.  The moment he touched it, the world around him began spinning and he felt as though he were falling.  Suddenly, the ground rushed up and he just gathered his wits about him in time to land on his feet.   

Severus looked about him in wonder.  He was in a glade.  The trees nearby were massive but beautiful.  Looking around he saw, just a short walk away, a two-story cottage made of stone, with a front porch swing and thatched roof.  It was nestled in among its surroundings with moss growing up the side of it.  It appeared to be part of the forest.  Severus began to walk towards it.  

As he neared, he saw a beautiful woman with long, free-flowing golden hair.  She was in a soft knit dress that fell to her feet.  The dress was simple but flattering, and it was dark blue like the rose in his hand.  The woman was standing on the edge of the porch looking out into the forest.  He followed her gaze and thought he saw a shimmer of white suddenly disappear.  Severus looked back and, as he did, the woman on the porch looked around and spotted him.  She smiled and waved, then stepped down from the porch and began running to greet him.  He found he had quickened his pace too.  

In only a few moments, Severus had reached out and grabbed the young woman, spinning her around in his arms.  He began to cry as he looked at her smiling face which he thought he would never see again.  She was crying too but also laughing.

“You came!” she said.

“Almost the moment I found out where you were,” he replied.  “I would have come sooner but I had to wait for the school week to be over.”

“That's right... Professor,” she teased.

He ignored it.  “I never thought I would see you again.”

“‘Never give up hope,’ I have learned.  I thought, in time, once the darkness had passed, that we would have our chance again.  And here we are.”

Severus looked at her, his eyes brimming with love.  She seemed so carefree, unlike the last time he had seen her scared and crying.  She seemed renewed somehow.  He guessed it was from being around the unicorns.  Her eyes were clear, her skin glowing, her golden hair caught the breeze.  He found himself leaning towards her without even thinking.  All he wanted in the world in that moment was to kiss her enticing lips, to feel her softness pressed against him and the steady beat of her heart, to hold her so close no one could ever take her away from him again.  

Suddenly, she had tilted her head and leaned in.  They were kissing and he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his strong embrace.  He thought he might die of joy for he had his Bethany in his arms again, a possibility which he had thought he had lost forever.

Continued in Chapter 3

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