The holiday passed quickly, soon the week after passed...and now it was January 1st. Ingrid's Birthday.
She had chosen not to celebrate it the past year, with the absence of her sister it seemed pointless. Who would even care?
Soon enough, just as she had expected...Umbridge had gained control of the School. Now granted the post of headmistress. Ingrid swore she'd never seen a nosier woman.
She still insisted on spending time with Ingrid, for a reason unknown. Inviting her to tea fairly often, yet Ingrid avoided this.
It was intense at hogwarts, with more rules going up every day. Apparently a group of students (Including Harry Potter of course) had formed a army in Dumbledore's favor. And the minister had mistaken it for Dumbledore's attempt to take his job. That was at least what Minerva said, or ranted.
The pictures on the wall where taken away, Hogwarts becoming more tense and stricter. Students hated it, yet Ingrid attempted to make light of every situation. She needed to stay strong for the students.
Ingrid was also shocked and saddened at Dumbledore's absence, but life goes on. And she needed to teach..
However, she was in a terrible mood. Severus hadn't spoken to her much since the kiss they'd shared before leaving for the holiday, and she found herself thinking about him more than usual.
She had memorized his voice, the way he walked...his eyes...that large cloak....good godric that cloak.
Ingrid's day had passed quickly, and she decided that evening to go and speak to Severus. Even for a short while, she missed being around him...she'd had to sit with Flitwick every night at dinner.
And she couldn't deny that he was very nice also, but she missed Severus.
Oh good godric Ingrid, you have it terrible.
She strolled through the corridors, before hearing soft crying near the courtyard.
What on earth-
Umbridge had been getting crueler by the day, with new inventions to hurt the students. And her illfaced punishments, they where children! Ingrid never stuck up for them however, not wanting to get in trouble with Dumbledore.
She walked towards the source of the crying, rounding a corner. And then she saw it...
Brian Darcy, a sweet little Gryffindor boy...bawling his eyes out on a little bench. Ingrid gasped and rushed to his side. Quickly wrapping an arm around him.
"Shh...what happened darling what happened?"
She asked, he simply sniffled and held out his hand.
I will not chatter in class
Was inscribed on his little hand. Blood dripping down.
Ingrid's eyes widened and she took her wand from her pocket, she waved her hand..placing a soothing charm on the boy's wound. He nodded a thank you and continued to cry.
Ingrid felt absolutely terrible, how could Dolores! Under her nose also! She had suspected-Severus had warned her...yet she did nothing. NOTHING.
Ingrid heard footsteps, she turned to see both of the Weasley twins walking her way. She looked to the crying boy and to them.
"Oh blimey. Brian what's wrong?"
George asked, sitting down next to him.
Ingrid subtly pointed out the wound on his hand, George gasped and nodded. Fred walking to the other side of him.
Ingrid stood up, preparing to go speak to Severus.
"Calm him down and get him back to your common room. We wouldn't want her to know about this."
Ingrid instructed, placing her hands in her robe pockets.
George and Fred nodded, sitting down next to Brian. Ingrid walked towards the potions classroom, promptly bumping into Harry in the process.
They whispered short apologies to eachother, before Ingrid continued to walk on.
She walked through the corridors until she reached the potions classroom. She looked up at the large door, it was unusually opened. When it was often closed and locked...
"Severus?"
She asked, peering into the room.
Severus had his hands on the large cauldron table, head down and mumbling. Ingrid lowered her eyebrows and took a step into the room.
"Severus are you alright...?"
She asked, going to place a hand on his shoulder.
He turned sharply away, flouncing towards his desk. Ingrid looked to the chair at the head of the room, automatically knowing he must've been tutoring someone.
She turned towards his desk, he was now sitting down with his head in his hands.
"Sev...are you alright-?"
"Don't SEV me. You sour woman....thinking you have the automatic right to know everything about be well guess what Ingrid-YOU DONT! And you'd best stop trying to know, unless you want to hurt yourself."
He cut himself off, groaning and placing his head back in his hands.
Ingrid was taken back, Why on earth would he suddenly lose his temper-? She had done nothing to him. And hadn't spoke to him since-
That's when it hit her. Monday's where when he tutored Harry....in Occlumency...
She sighed and walked over to him.
"I don't have to know everything about you. I just want to know why you are upset, can you blame me? You don't enjoy when I'm upset."
She grabbed a stool and sat in front of him, placing a gentle hand on his arm.
He attempted to shake it away, but her grip was firm. He looked up, meeting her eyes. She invited him to tell her, opening her mind.
"....Potter. Curses-why am I telling you this? Why you?!"
He shook slightly...falling back in his chair, she grabbed his hand; automatically calming him down.
"I'm here to listen. If you tell me what's going on...you will feel a whole lot better I assure you."
She insisted, gently squeezing his hand.
"Potter, he saw them...he saw the memories...my memories. Of his father-I could not be more humiliated."
He told her, a few tears dripping down his face.
"And of course he is going to run away-telling all of his little friends. I'll be the laughing stock...that terrible nickname-"
"James Potter is dead, and you are here. And as far as I know Harry Potter will not tell a single soul what he saw here tonight unless he wants all of the points from Gryffindor taken."
She insisted, he quickly retaliated.
"You don't know James Potter-"
He scolded, pointing a finger at her.
"In fact I do! His wife was best friends with my sister, and he and all of his friends made fun of my haircut for three years. You aren't the only victim. You aren't the only one-!"
"Bah!"
He exclaimed, standing up.
"Severus....you are not alone in this."
She told him, turning around on the stool.
"I know you may not want to believe this, but you aren't. I've been bullied...lost my entire family and my sister. And you might feel alone and sad, and you feel you have nothing to live for.....but you do. I'm right here Severus, I love you."
Ingrid froze, not believing the words that had just came out of her mouth. Those three words had been so difficult to say for her entire life...and they had just slipped out.
She couldn't believe it, she had never been able to verbalize her feelings. Ever. Not even to her beloved sister or her old cat.
He paused, turning to face her.
"You....you what?"
He asked, looking troubled.
She took a breath in and stood up, looking him in the eye.
"I love you."
She repeated, he clutched the side of his desk..mouth agape.
She sighed and walked towards the door. How could she have been so stupid, it was too fast...far too fast.
She was stopped, feeling two hands on her waist..pulling her back.
What the-
Before she could even consider what was going on, he had already pressed his lips against hers.
His hands stayed steady on her waist, Ingrid pressing hers against the side of his face.
What is happening?
He pulled away from her, still holding her close.
"I...I thought it impossible, for anyone to love me."
He observed, brushing her hair away from her face.
"For so long I had been called unlovable by everyone around me, even you felt that way when you first met me. But now...well I believe actions speak louder than words."
Ingrid felt a blush creep over her face, before he leant down to kiss her again.
Ingrid allowed this, singing the happy birthday song happily in her head.
And so it had been said.
-AN-
Thank you for reading :)
SHE FESSED UP YAAAY
I hope you enjoy this fanfiction as much as I'll enjoy writing it! This will be the only book, therefore it will be really long. This whole story takes place within the Goblet Of Fire, Order of the Pheonix, halfblood Prince, and deathly hallows! I'll be publishing whenever I finish one of those books/movies. THIS IS THE ORDER OF THE PHEEONNIXXX