Snape ran through the corridors searching, he had to find Elira and fast. He couldn't bare for her to think he was using her.

He panicked when he couldn't find her, 'gods please... for once be on my side.'

"Severus! Why on earth are you running in the corridor like a gazelle fleeing the lions mouth?!" McGonagall shrieked as he nearly crashed into her.

"El... Elira Argolli! Have you seen her?" He panted, as exhaustion took over.

"Yes! I have seen her, she just rushed past me in floods of tears! I demanded that she stop but she ignored my request.." Minerva explained, her eyebrow arching at the wizard before her. "And why do I have the feeling you have something to do with this?"

"Your intuition exceeds you as always Minerva, now please, where did she go?"
Snape pressed, rolling his ebony eyes with frustration.

"I don't know, but I passed her a few corridors away from the prefects bathroom....." the witch exclaimed, completely flabbergasted as the black robed wizard disappeared with haste.

〰〰〰〰〰

"What are you looking at?" Elira scowled as an irritating screech surrounded her. It was a laugh that could grate on the most easy going of ears.

"My name is Myrtle, and this is my bathroom!" The ghost snapped, swishing around Elira angrily.

"Well, myrtle, I don't see your name on the door so pipe the fuck down." Elira spat, trying desperately to control her sobbing.

"Do you know what I think? I think that some boy has broken your heart and now..."
Myrtle sneered, before being quickly interrupted.

"And now she seeks some solitude, without the likes of you causing her any further anguish! Sod off back to your shit infested toilet!" Snape spat at Myrtle as he came face to face with Elira.

Elira couldn't help but snort a tiny giggle as Myrtle swished away in outrage.

"Thanks for that.." she whimpered, turning her attention away.

"My love, you must believe me. You're mother is wrong! I have never had any intentions of using you to upset her. Believe it or not I didn't want to fall in love with the daughter of... that but gods I did. I hate her and I have made that only too clear, but my love for you is true and from my heart." He explained, sitting down on the floor and taking her tear soaked hands in his.

"You could be lying!" Elira scoffed, pulling her hands away. "I could be, yes.. but I am not. And deep down.. in here.. you know that." He purred, running his fingers down her chest towards her heart.

"Severus, I want you to love me! I want what we have to be real."

"It is real, and nothing your mother can say will change that. I don't only hate her for what she did to Lily you know, I hate her even more for what she is doing and has done to you!"

"Severus... you don't have to worry about me. As they say "I'm big enough and ugly enough to look after myself!"
Snape chuckled and kissed her forehead gently, "you're definitely ugly enough!"

Elira pretended to be shocked as his long slender finger poked her arm, "Oi! You cheeky bugger."

"I love you Elira, and I know that you love me too.