Forever Yours

23. Escape

Jo didn't know how to take the news.  Chad had told her what he did and what he found out, leaving out the small detail at the bottom of the page.  He couldn't tell her about that.  Not now.  Not until he was sure of what it meant.  He had to do a little more snooping first, but maybe Jo could help him with that.  Chad frowned, confused.

"Jo, there was something else too."

"What is it?" Jo asked him. 

"Down at the bottom of her chart, there was something that unnerved me."

Her eyebrows shot up in alarm.  She didn't like the worried look that suddenly came across his face.  "What is it, Chad?"

"There was a symbol at the bottom.  A skull with a red circle with a line through it, the sign for poison at the hospital and something else."

Jo gasped.  "So you're telling me someone is trying to poison Lucy?"

"No," Chad said slowly.  "I'm telling you that someone is trying to kill her."

"Any idea who?" Jo asked, her heart pounding in her chest.  Someone from the hospital was trying to kill her best friend.  

"Death Eaters," he answered.  "It's the only people I can come up with that would want to."

"We have to warn her," Jo told him frantically.

Chad nodded.  "I know and we will.  As soon as she gets home."  He got up and delivered a kiss on her cheek.  "I'll meet you at the apartment tonight.  Then we'll go check on Lucy."

~ * ~

Severus and Lucy spent the entire day together just talking about things.  They decided that they were still going to continue to write letters up until the very end and Severus would make a point to visit at least once or twice a week depending on his schedule at Hogwarts.  They would spend the whole day together.  Severus took Lucy home that evening and stayed with her until nightfall.  He made sure she was okay before he left.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked her for the third time.

Lucy smiled at him.  "Yes.  I'm going to go and take my tonic and then I will await your letter.  It is your turn, you know."

"Yes.  I know," Severus said.  He paused.  Then impulsively he leaned in a caressed her lips softly with his.  "I will see you soon, Lucy.  If you need me for anything-"

"I will contact you or come to Hogwarts," she finished.  "I love you."

"I love you."

With a wave goodbye, Severus left the apartment.  Lucy sighed wearily as she closed the door.  She had a long and emotional day and the evening wasn't going to be any better.  She had sent word to Jo at The Potion Notion that she was awake by owl from Hogwarts and she sent her an answer saying she would see her as soon as she got off work, that they had some things they needed to talk about.  Little did Jo know that was the understatement of the century.

Her friend arrived at seven, her boyfriend Chad in tow.  They all exchanged hugs and sat down in front of the fire that was roaring in the fireplace.

"So, have you missed me?" Lucy asked.

"Like crazy," Jo answered.  "But I have to ask, how was your ball?"

She blushed.  "So beautiful.  And I found out a few things too."

"Like what?"

"Severus told me he loves me."

Jo gasped in surprise.  "Really?"