The Dark Lady (Severus x OC)

19. The fight in the cave

The sea was calm, and the waves lapped the sand. The screams and laughter of the children playing on the shore sounded above the rhythmic lullaby of the water. A few meters away, Hellen was bathing with the water up to her waist, while playing with Eily.

She picked up the girl in her arms and threw her into the air, carefully dropping her onto the water. Eily laughed and kicked her feet, splashing around her.

Severus watched them from under the shade, smiling slightly at the girl's distant laughter. It had been a good idea to return to Hawaii for the holidays.

Hellen climbed out of the water and carefully laid Eily on a towel, before wrapping the girl in a bathrobe. The woman's skin had taken on a light tan tint in the few days they had been there, and her hair fell freely past her shoulders, dripping.

He couldn't get enough of looking at her, but suddenly, a burning discomfort in his arm made his face wrinkle.

"Severus, what's wrong?"

"My arm stings again," he rubbed his forearm over his shirt.

"That's what you get for not using mosquito repellent," Hellen shook a bottle of cream and began to apply it to her legs. "You always relax too much."

"I don't think it's because of that," Severus rolled up his sleeve and looked closely at the faint bluish stain that covered his skin. It looked like a bruise.

"When did you hit your arm?"

"I think you did it to me last night," she gave him a surprised look that quickly turned into one of mischief.

"I didn't hear you complain," she dried Eily's hair, smiling, but Severus kept looking at his arm, worried. That elongated stain...

"It reminds me of the Mark," he murmured. Hellen gaped at him in alarm.

"Do not joke with that."

"I don't. But the feeling is similar."

They both stayed silent for a few minutes, while Hellen applied cream to the girl.

"Have you talked to Dumbledore about this?"

"Not yet. I wanted to rule it out... I hoped it was something else," she looked at him scared.

"What if...? Do you think he is...?" she didn't dare ask the question, but he understood it.

"I don't know, but there is a possibility," Severus looked at her. "Don't you notice anything?"

"I've never looked for him," she replied nervously. "If he were alive, he could find me," Hellen hugged Eily, worried. "What if he comes back?" she whispered. "What are we going to do?"

Severus didn't respond. He felt suddenly very cold, despite the scorching heat of the sun.

***

"What is the reason for your visit?"

"We want to meet with Minister Fudge."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"We don't need it," Dumbledore smiled, but the secretary looked at him with a grim expression.

"I will inform him of your arrival."

They waited, without much hope. Snape was tense, as if expecting a surprise attack, and McGonagall looked around surreptitiously. The Lady seemed distracted but was actually exploring the other apartments with her mind. She could feel Eily, but she still didn't know where she was.