She Belongs to Me

Chapter five

Remus was absolutely charming. Gentle and soft-spoken, and a werewolf. Evelyn was intrigued, but still couldn't get Severus out of her mind. She tried, and was for a time distracted by the many tales of Remus Lupin, who had been everywhere and was so fascinating. She actually had a good time with him and had decided that further association with Remus was a definite plan, and not only to distance herself from Severus. She really did like Remus.

Remus really liked Ev too. Shocking, she was. And amusing. Her habit of speaking to strangers rattled Remus every time she did it. And then there were the Muggle ways, the southern ways, and the tribal ways by which she continued to live. But instead of turning him off her, it attracted him.

Remus was a gentleman for about a week or so, and then one night, after kissing Evelyn's hand at her door, he slipped his arm around her waist, pulled her close and very softly kissed her lips. His mustache tickled and Evelyn felt butterflies in her stomach. Oh this is good, she thought as he continued his expert exploration of her lips and tongue. Evelyn nearly lost herself as they continued into full fledged frenzied snogging and thought, to hell with Severus, and then a wave of sadness and guilt washed over her. Remus, fully in tune with her physically, felt this and desisted with the seduction. He asked her softly, "What is it, Evelyn?"

She said nothing, but her shoulders sagged and she covered her face with her hands.

Remus gave her a gentle hug and whispered to her, "If you want me to, I will stay. If you want me to, I'll go."

He waited.

Evelyn stared at him, unable to make a decision.

Remus knew the answer when Evelyn whispered desperately, "I don't know! I don't know! Part of me says yes and part of me," she unconsiously put her hands over her heart, "says no.

"I don't know," she ended sadly.

Remus took her hands in his and kissed both of them. "Never, ever would I advise one do anything other than follow one's heart."

He smiled at her, that melancholy half smile which was so sweet to her that it hurt. "I'll see you tomorrow, Evelyn." Then he squeezed her hands and kissed them once more, with all the passion he possessed, and then walked away.

Evelyn slowly entered her room, and cried herself to sleep.

It was becoming more difficult for Severus to avoid Evelyn, and not hearing the rumors and gossip was impossible. That the Weasley twins were trying to lure her to working for them was noted by everyone with amusement.

Severus, being the king of sneakiness, had more than once lurked in one of the secret passages next to the library and stood at the hidden entrance to see her, be near her, and hear her voice, and on this day, he was there when Fred and George made one of their frequent visits.

"Good evening, Evelyn," they said in unison.

"Hey there, fellas," she answered sweetly, and smiled.

"We're here again to offer you," Fred began, and then George continued, "a very important and highly paid position with our enterprise."

"More money," Fred promised. "Loads of it!"

"Choose your own working hours," George offered.

"You name it," they both said.

Evelyn sighed. "I thank you again for your kind offer, but I think I'll stay here with my books and leave the magic mayhem to the two of you."

"Come on, girl!" Fred pleaded.

"You don't belong in this boring old library," George insisted.

"You belong with us," they assured her.

"No" she sighed. She was NOT in the mood for any Fred and George BS, bless their hearts. She looked at them both with blazing eyes. "Enough is enough, already!" Then she smiled to soften her words.

There was a moment of silence.

Severus held his breath.

Fred and George looked at each other grinned, turned to her again and asked her, "Will you go out with us again?"

Severus was staggered when she laughed out loud and gushed, "And here I am, dressed as Scarlett O'Hara today. This is like the first scene of the movie, when the Tarleton twins ask Scarlett to have barbecue with them." She continued giggling, they certainly always know how to cheer me up, she thought, while Fred and George sat there staring at her, amazed by the mood swing, and with no idea what she was talking about.

Severus seethed with jealousy; he wanted to tear the entire building down. On Fred and George Weasley's heads. He listened, feeling sick.

"Well?" the twins asked.

Evelyn's giggles died down, and she sighed and said, "No. I've had a long day. Tonight I want to relax, and have a long hot bath, Zeppelin on the stereo, and a drink or two. And I am not going drinking with y'all again."

"We promise to behave." They tried looking innocent, which caused her to laugh again, because they came nowhere near innocent-looking.

Fred, charming to the bone, implored her, "Come on, girl."

George, with a mischievous gleam in his eye, in a horrible imitation of a southern accent, "My dear Miss Evelyn, we wonder if we could have the honor of your company this evening."

"For barbecue," Fred added.

"Or anything else you might fancy," they said suggestively, and with that, Evelyn banished them from the library.

"Out! I mean it. I'm old enough to be your mother! And I'll tell your mother if you continue acting like this." She put her hands on her hips and threatened, "I might even make up some stuff."

The twins gasped. "Oh, Evelyn, you wouldn't!" George moaned.

"I might... And look." She pointed out the clock. "It's closing time. Scat!"

"Never say never," they reminded her as they reluctantly left, trying to look pitiful, innocent, amusing, and sexy all at the same time. And no doubt doing a better job of it than anyone else on the planet at the moment, she had to admit.

She locked the door after them and turned to go back to her table. She was shocked to see Severus standing there, silent, staring at her. She quickly looked away.

"On the other hand," she announced to one of the paintings on the wall, "Those boys are very attractive." She paused, as if considering them, "And they do make me laugh." The painting agreed.

"And who's to stop me?" she declared angrily to the ceiling.

"Evelyn." She could hear all the emotion in his voice, and her anger vanished, leaving only confusion, curiosity, and a racing heart.

She turned to look at him. He looked years older, broken, and forlorn.

"Severus?"

"Evelyn," he placed a hand over his heart. "I deeply and most humbly apologize for all the pain I have caused you, and I beg you to forgive me for what I have done."

Her heart lurched. How could she not forgive him? "Yes I forgive you."

He reached for her hands. "Ev, am I still in your heart?"

"Oh Sev! Of course! My heart is yours. But I thought you didn't want me." She began to cry.

He held her tightly as she wept. Tears streamed from his eyes too. "Oh, I want you. Always have. More than anything I have ever wanted in my life."

"But Ev," he looked her in the eyes, "we must discuss this, and I want you to be open-minded, and give me a chance. Because I think we were meant to be together."

"Yes" she whispered.

He released her slowly from his arms and took her hands in his.

"If you will do one thing for me," he hesitated, then rushed ahead. "If you will do one thing, I will do anything you want. I will give you anything you desire. You will have only to let me know what you want, and it will be yours."

His voice shook. "I will be your willing slave and servant. I promise this to you." His eyes devoured hers. "Because, I love you, Evelyn."

"Oh, Severus," she whispered. More tears blurred her vision. "I love you too."

He released her hands, moving his fingers slowly from the tips of her fingers to her wrists and gently up her arms to her shoulders. With one hand caressing the side of her face, the other he entangled in her hair, and gently pulling her head back to look up at him, he gazed into her eyes once more and then kissed her until they were both dizzy.

So it was agreed that they would see each other secretly. He only hinted at danger and assured her it was temporary. The one thing was to ask no questions, though her curiosity was aroused, and eventually began to simmer...