I was expecting myself to naturally pull away, but I didn't.

Instead, I leaned into Verita further and moved my hands to tangle themselves in her hair. I didn't know what I was doing.

She was the one to pull away ever so slightly and smile against my mouth.

"Thank you, dream-imposter Severus. Hm... I do wonder why you appeared," she pondered aloud.

"This isn't a dream, you incompetent girl," I sighed.

"If it isn't, why did you kiss me back?"

I was silenced by her words, and instead of replying, I grabbed her arm a little too harshly and pulled her upwards.

"Come on," I hissed. I was so kind to her before.

Why? I wasn't kind.

Because she was right about you kissing her back. Why?

Verita squealed, ripping her arm away from me, "That hurts! That's mean, Severus."

Suddenly, I felt my body become weightless.

That's mean, Severus.

The same words Lily Potter had said to me when I'd told her the normal kids didn't like her because she was special.

"Severus?"

I looked up at Verita's concerned face. Up?

"What-"

"Uh, you've been passed out for a good ten minutes..." Verita gulped, "I tried to carry you, but I can't."

"You insolent girl, of course you can't," I snapped.

"Why did you collapse? All I said was, 'that's-"

"That's enough," I said.

She nodded and we went back to the castle.

"So, this really isn't a dream?" She whispered. I thought it was was more to herself than me, but I replied anyway.

"It's not."

"Then I can do this?"

Her hand slipped into mine, soft and warm. My own hands were cold and harsh.

It made me wonder what Lily's would be like now. But I would never know that.

"Severus, you're zoning out again," Verita said, squeezing my hand a little.

"Verita, I'm not sure... about this..." I tried to say. I didn't know how to word it without losing her completely.

"You kissed me!" She yelled. I dragged her around the corner and into one of the classrooms.

"You kissed me," I stated, clearly.

"I did, but I thought it was a dream-"

"Well if you were in control, you obviously wanted it to happen!"

"Severus, please let's not argue," she begged, "I want this to be real. It hurts to pretend."

I found myself quietly agreeing with her, but I didn't tell her I wanted it to be real. I didn't tell her I liked her, and I didn't utter a word about Lily.

"Um, I'm sorry to intrude-"

I craned my neck to see none other than Professor Slughorn. After all, we were in his class.

"Horace," I said, with a hint of malice in my voice, "You need to get out. And say a word of this to anyone, and I'll use the obliviate spell on you."

Horace gulped, and stared into my eyes. He turned to Verita, then left.

"Will he tell anyone?" Verita asked worryingly, "If Dumbledore finds out that we're not just acting-"

"We are acting, and that's the way it's going to stay."