Here is the third and last short chapter of this work. I'm very sorry it took so long for this to be finished. I'd like to thank everyone for reading and reviewing.

Chapter 3

I continue to think of her in the days that pass, and to discreetly acquire news of her welfare. Just as I am certain I will no longer be able to refrain from contacting her, she sends me an owl herself.

There is even an invitation implied, so I make arrangements to visit her the next afternoon. My pureblood family would doubtless be horrified at the prospect of me flooing directly to an unmarried girl's apartment. Then again they would shocked enough at the interest I am pretending not to have in a muggle-born woman. I shrug it all off and go.

She greets me politely with tea and cookies. We both know how I hate small talk, but even I am not careless enough to ask this particular person blunt questions about intimate matters. And I am interested, in any case, in the progress of her budding career in the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes.

"Cleaning up problems with Muggles? That sounds like you. But you'll end in the Wizengamot I quite imagine."

She raises her eyebrows. "If anyone else had said that I'd suspect a compliment."

"Don't make such a mistake with me."

She nods, then looks me in the eye, keeping her face at an angle as if she is observing my reaction.

"You may be surprised to hear that I read a few books."

"Why would I ever be surprised to hear that?"

She looks impatient. "You know what I'm talking about, Professor Snape!"

"I'm not your Professor any more!" I snap. Then I look at her more calmly.

"Yes, I know," I say, and gesture at her to continue.

She is still giving me that strange sideways glance.

"I think perhaps you were right, and I am missing out on something. I don't have to give myself up, to be touched. Perhaps."

"You read this?"

"I read many things. I read of people who were afraid, who became less so. Of women who were strong, yet let others near them. It's not as if I never thought it could be pleasant, and I can consider it more seriously now."

I suddenly have an urgent need to know why she is telling me this, but again no way to ask.

"There's no way to wish you future success in your endeavors without it sounding deeply wrong, is there?"

She looks at me more directly then.

"I still... haven't found anyone, if that's what you mean?"

Counting all the ways in which it's the biggest mistake I could ever make with her, I reach out then and brush my fingers over her cheek.

She puts her hand over mine. I think at first she is stopping me, but she is only holding my hand and guiding it over her face and neck. She looks at me almost curiously, and I raise my hand to her hair and stroke it.

She is closing her eyes now, and I hope it is because she is enjoying my touch and not because she is pretending this is not me. I murmur her name very softly, and when she responds with a small smile I am reassured.

I put both hands on her shoulders then, and run them lightly down her arms. This is undeniably an intensely sensual experience for me, and I'm quite certain she feels the same. But though it doesn't seem to be threatening her, I know when to stop. When my hands reach hers I clasp them gently, then let go.

She is still gazing at me, then she herself reaches out and touches my face and my regrettable hair for a bit. It is a moment too solemn to interrupt.

I take her hand for an instant and kiss it, needing to establish that what I think is happening here is in fact the case. And again she nods and smiles.

I want to end this while it's still going so well. Or perhaps part of me wants to ruin it, because all I can come up with is to rather bluntly state that it's time for me to return to Hogwarts.

But she is an intelligent woman, and expects nothing else from me. She merely nods, and asks when I can return.

"As soon as you desire," I can't resist saying.

"Very soon then," she replies.

I nod, and as I step into the fireplace I finally smile myself.