The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But The Truth

Chapter seven

He could tell something was wrong and she didn't have to say a word. She silently screamed at him with every glance, every gesture. It was not subtle; he could feel it.

"Alright then," he said, putting down his wineglass. "Tell me what is bothering you." He was careful to use just the right tone, to make her tell him what it was, and not argue about how he asked the question, or be offended that he would assume something was wrong, which could imply that he thought he knew her so well.... Oh, please just talk to me, he wished as hard as he could.

"I want to know what it is that you refuse to tell me," she stated bluntly, and then went on. "All the secrecy." She glared at him, and snapped, "Why? I know you're not married or something like that..." Then the look. "Unless you're hiding her, too."

"No, no, nothing like that," he assured her.

"Because I'm a Mudblood?"

"No, no, please don't say that, darling."

"I want to know, Severus," she growled. " and I want to know NOW."

Ever since the conversation with Neville, Evelyn had unable to stop thinking about Severus's insistence on secrecy. Neville had said, "I know why," and although this had not registered on Evelyn's brain at that time, she remembered it later, and now was obsessed with it. Why should Neville know, when she could not?

Severus looked across the table at Evelyn and sighed. He got up from his chair and paced quickly, running his hands through his hair. This was too much. "Evelyn I have told you over and over, it is not my wish, but it is for the best, for your safety that things are this way."

"Yes you have, but you are changing the subject, Severus," she retorted, knowing she was right, and that it was making him angry but she didn't care. She raised her voice a little. "And it's not enough anymore."

He opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off. He listened, knowing better than to make her angry at him. An angry Evelyn is what his boggart would probably change into now. "I don't want to hear about how you can tell me later, one day soon. I know I agreed, but soon is not coming soon enough! How long do you expect me to live like this? And I don't care about any danger. Danger, outrageous lies, whatever it is, there is something. We both know there's something you're not telling me, and I'm sorry," she hesitated, and went on, quickly and with determination in her voice, "If you don't tell me tonight, right now, I am not ever going to see you or speak to you again."

She would do it, too, he thought. Just on principle. Because she was most stubborn person he had ever met.

Why can't she just believe what I say? He crossed the room toward her. "WHY can't you JUST BELIEVE what I SAY?" he shouted.

Her eyes widened. He lowered his voice, and asked, "Why can't you trust me?"

She stared him in the eye and, without missing a beat, won that argument. "Why can't you trust me?"

"Alright!" he snapped, pointing one finger at her. He grabbed his cape and then turned to her, and said, in a pleading but resigned voice, "Why are you so stubborn?" He walked quickly to where she sat, and with a quick peck on the lips, he told her "Let's get a potion. I'll be back in a few minutes."

Then he thought for a moment. "No. If we're doing this, I want absolutely no doubt left in your mind," or your heart, he added silently. "Would you happen to have Veritaserum?"

"Yes."

"Let's get it."

When they returned to the dungeon with a bottle of Veritaserum, he set it on the table, and he picked up his wineglass. He drained it in one swallow and then looked her in the eyes.

"If you ask it of me, I can modify your memory to forget what I am about to tell you, but I will only do that if you ask me. That's really the best thing.... In case you decide you don't really want to know. You can write yourself a note or something, explaining that your question was answered to your satisfaction but you just choose not to remember...." he trailed off as he noticed her expression.

He grabbed the Veritaserum and looked at the label. "Extra strength," he read in a dry serious voice. He opened the bottle and poured about half a glass. Evelyn noticed that his hands were shaking, but said nothing. He swirled the liquid, then inhaled. "Not bad," he observed. He closed the bottle, and placed it on the table.

She looked up at him and saw the truth in his eyes. No need for Veritaserum. This man was not lying to her. She had seen in those eyes the look of love, but she had never seen it to this degree. This was more than love. This was love, trust, fear, and hope. He sighed, closed his eyes, and drank the potion down all at once. He leaned back in his chair, brushed his hair from his face, and announced, "It will take about 3 to 5 minutes to take effect."

"Good" she remarked, and got up, walked over to him, and stood behind him, and leaned down to hug him and kiss his cheek and with one soft finger traced his chin, cheek, lips, nose, eyebrows. "Because I just want to say, before we get started, that I believe you, I trust you, and I have faith in what you tell me, about how things will be different one day."

He turned his head slowly and asked softly, "Then why are we doing this?"

"Because I want to KNOW."

He sighed, and told her everything.

After the facts were presented, Severus waited, knowing there would be questions. He was surprised to see Evelyn pour a dose of the Veritaserum.

"This potion's effects last for approximately six hours, Sev. Fair is fair." and she smiled and began drinking hers.

They talked for awhile about Voldemort, prophecies, the Order of the Phoenix, but eventually the conversation turned to other things, and in time, came to the declarations of love and loyalty which would never be broken, or forgotten. A good Veritaserum not only compels the user to tell only the truth, it also makes the user tell it in the most efficient way, in such a way as to not be misunderstood, so they made the most of those last few hours of January.

"Severus, listen to me," she whispered.

"I am listening, darling" he replied. "and seeing and tasting and smelling and touching." He continued distracting her from the conversation with soft kisses and caresses. He took one of her feet, by the ankle, and ran a finger slowly along the bottom of it, tickling her. "You ensnare my senses, that's what you do, you know." She struggled but he held her firmly, tickled for a moment longer and then released her.

"I'm listening." He already knew what she was going to say. She had mentioned it before.

"Severus, if the worst should happen..."

"No!" he stated emphatically. "I will not consider it, and you will not either."

"Severus, I love you, but you do not command me," she said softly. "You can't deny my right to make my own decision. You know what my decision will be. You make your own. You know my wishes, but I can't command you either. I can only hope that you change your mind, knowing that you can't stop me."

"Oh, Evelyn," he sighed, covering his face with his hands.

"I am making the plans already. I have everything I need. I have written the letters to the girls. I have written one to Uncle Albus. In case something goes wrong. Have I forgotten anything?" She did not mention her father.

"Oh, Evelyn." He was in tears. In desperation, he begged her again to reconsider. But her mind was made up. And she definitely had the stubbornness that was common to the Dumbledore family.

"I'm sorry, Sev. But we had to have this talk. Now it is over, and we won't have to mention it again." Then she held him and kissed him as he cried until he fell asleep, and then she cried.