A few days have past ever since the fairy returned back to Earth. Sudden silence crept up on both the friends. 

They couldn't find anything to talk about after the fairy told her best friend about her banishment. 

Florina was embarrassed to show her face to her fairy knowing fully well that she was the reason the poor fairy got banished. The fairy kept denying it but that didn't convince Florina.

The witch was torn apart with extreme guilt, she was the reason her fairy lost most of her powers. She was the reason the fairy lost her all yellowish glow that turned grey and dim. So instead of having another long conversation, they leaned towards silence. Their interactions was reduced to a minimum, occasionally giving faint smiles when they face each other.

Bubbles, the house elf, passed by Florina's quarters once and even she noticed the awkward uncomfortable air between the two friends. She wanted to intervene but decided not to remembering her last failed interaction with Florina.

It was a Sunday morning and Florina was called in to the potion's master office urgently. Not wanting to keep the impatient wizard waiting, she quickly got dressed in her simple black silk robes and matching boots.

A few minutes later, Florina knocked on his door. She heard the monotone voice from within say "Come in."

She quickly slipped inside his office, spotting him sitting behind his desk marking some essays. He wordlessly gestured for her to sit in front of him which she did so silently.

"You called for me Sir," she started.

He nodded looking up from the essays, "Indeed Woods."

The wizard got up from his chair to sit in front of her frowning slightly. It was evident by his serious expression that he was deep in concentration, trying to formulate his words. After a few moments of silence, he began calmly.

"By now, it is evident how fruitful and successful the useless mission was," he said sarcastically "so much so, that the reason we began this mission is now cancelled. You obviously heard of the headmaster's decision to cancel this year's educational theater."

Florina took a deep breath and nodded. Severus kept looking at her impassively but she could sense his anger within wondering if that anger was directed at her or the headmaster.

"But apparently, that journey wasn't as fruitless as it seemed," the witch raised a brow as the onyx eyed wizard went on "for one, it made me more aware of your mysteries. Why would a maniac ghost like Agrippa, someone who died hundreds of years ago, would have a personal grudge against you and want to kill you?"

"Why was he acting like there was some invisible creature with you? And why..." he moved forward in his chair "would that house elf beg me to hug you to stop you from dying as if she clearly knew it would work. And to my surprise, apparently it did."

He sat up in his chair the black in his eyes pouring into her blue ones. She visibly swallowed trying her best to not look in Rose's direction. Her fairy wasn't as terrified of the wizard knowing about her secret. The fairy was already banished so it didn't matter to her. She however kept a hawk like stare at the wizard observing him intently.

Severus immediately noticed the slight unease of the witch and smirked. He waited for the witch's response calmly. Florina kept avoiding his gaze by all means.

She took another deep breath nodding to herself, "Sir, would you believe me if I told you I don't know myself?"

He frowned arching a brow, "That's practically impossible. It didn't seem so when the ghost spoke of the mysterious creatures that chained him in the mirror. If I remember correctly, he pointed at something beside you and you turned to it."

The witch's eyes widened in surprise, "You...you meant that."

Severus furrowed his brows in confusion, "What else could I have meant? He was in a maniacal state. It was evident that he wanted to take revenge...and he did."

Florina hung her head low in defeat, "Sir before I answer your questions I need to once again tell you I am sorry for all you have been through –"

"Florina!" he suddenly exclaimed "Stop apologizing for things you didn't do or have a hand in. Just accept that it's life, it's out of our hands. When will you get that in your head?"

He didn't seem angry at her but rather genuinely amused. So amused that he didn't notice addressing her by her first name a few seconds back. She however took notice and stared at him in confusion.

"Sir..." she spoke cautiously "do you realize you called me by my name instead of Woods? Just like you did many years ago. When we were friends. " she suddenly asked "What changed?"

He immediately avoided her gaze crossing his legs. "A lot has changed but I would rather we focus on the main issue here if you don't mind."

Florina had other things to open up about as well and she dropped the subject. She knew Rose wouldn't mind if she told him yet she took a subtle glance at Rose to take her permission. The fairy gave her a faint smile reading her mind and nodded.

The witch turned back to the impatient wizard and took a deep breath, "Sir, I don't know if you still remember that but you mean a lot to me. You were there for me when no one else was," he gave her an unreadable expression his frown fading "The least I can do is to be honest with you."

"But I truly don't know the answer for your questions. However I do know the reason why you would need to hug me. But I didn't know that the house elf knows about it as well, I am as shocked as you are."

The potion's master was silent for a few minutes staring at the witch without blinking. She knew he was trying to read her mind to decipher if she was being honest and she let him. She knew that Rose is the only one who is safe from his mind and no matter how much he tried, he cannot see her in the witch's mind.

When the wizard was sure of the witch's honesty, he nodded for her to continue.

"Sir, beings like me have a...a life gauge inside them which keeps them alive. It might sound strange but if I use a certain power, that life gauge will drain quickly. My body is not capable of handling that immense power all at once and it will literally suck the life out of me."

Severus arched a brow in confusion and disbelief, "Excuse me?"

Florina remained silent looking innocently back at him. 

The wizard grew impatient with her silence and snapped, "You seem to be implying that you are not a human like us. What 'certain' powers are you referring to?"

A certain power was the only subtle way Florina could think of to describe her fairy Rose. The witch was aware that her fairy wasn't ready yet to reveal herself and thus she had to revert to other methods for clarification.

"Powers out of the ordinary sir," Florina said calmly "Making myself and others invisible without needing an invisibility cloak for example. Or making my trunk hover by itself without needing a wand," Severus immediately recalled his interaction with her at the start of the year. At that time, it struck him as odd when he saw the trunk hovering in the air without help or a wand.

Florina continued, "All those drain my energy quickly sir as I still haven't mastered them quite yet."

Severus nodded still confused. "So where do I come in all of this?"

Florina chuckled softly earning her a glare from the cold professor. She recollected herself quickly, "Well...only a person with a warm and loving heart can help me regain that lost energy –"

Severus interrupted her with a scoff and rolled his eyes unable to control himself. Florina however seemed hurt as she knew he would mock her instead of understanding her. He felt immediate guilt washing over him when he noticed the sad expression that washed over the witch's face.

"Look at me," he snapped softly moving forward in his chair to meet the sad eyes. The blue eyed witch refused to meet his own and looked at her feet embarrassed "...Florina."

The witch immediately faced the wizard. He smirked gently feeling victorious that he used the one thing that could make her look at him. Realizing that, Florina frowned at the wizard.

"I apologize for my behaviour earlier. It's simply unbelievable that me out of the entire universe is described as a warm and loving person. Regardless, please continue..."

Florina immediately shock her head in disbelief, "You are. Just because you don't know how to show it doesn't make it impossible. Severus you are not Voldemort."

The wizard didn't know which should he be mortified at, the fact that she called him by his name or the fact that she said Voldemort's name openly. Feeling uncomfortable that they are talking about him openly, he dismissed it entirely and beckoned her to continue.

Florina nodded, "Sir only someone like me, who is sensitive to other people's energies, would be able to feel it no matter how much you tried to hide it. It not something a human can hide to be honest."

His face itched with confusion, "So why is my heart warm and loving as you so eloquently said might I ask?"

Florina sighed in defeat at his sarcastic tone.

He couldn't control being a human being for a few seconds, she scoffed in her mind. Had to revert back to his old ways.

It took her a long while before she answered carefully, "I....I don't know if I am the right person to explain that to you sir. Especially if you keep responding sarcastically at my every word."

"Pardon?" he arched a brow. Florina remained silent staring back at him.

Suddenly, she saw a mischievous expression morphing on his face. 

He moved forward in his chair once more not breaking eye contact with her and whispered "Alright then, I would honestly like to know the reason for that and I don't mean it sarcastically in anyway my good lady," he gave her a smile.

Holy fairies, he is smiling at me! Florina exclaimed in her mind, an actual smile no smirk.

She suddenly felt her heart melt as instant longing washed over her. She missed the old times where he would act playfully cunning or mischievous in certain situations. It was mostly to get her to confess about things she didn't want to share. But regardless, she would always unconsciously comply.

Florina smiled back feeling the colour rising in her cheeks, "Alright. Well, love is an amazingly warm feeling sir, but the warmth you are giving off is different. It's different than anything I have ever felt to be honest," she whispered that last part slowly.

The wizard's smile suddenly fell frowning at her statement. 

He sat up tensely as she went on, "It's almost like your heart is harbouring an enormous amount of love that is living inside you. And judging by how fast I was healed, I could tell you still harbour that love within you to this very day."

Severus avoided her gaze looking at his feet. He knew exactly what she meant. He however knows that she has no idea about his loved one yet she could tell that she hit a sensitive subject. They awkwardly stayed in silence with the wizard still avoiding the witch's stare.

Florina felt immediately curious, is he truly in love with a woman? She found herself wondering.

Rose replied, "Judging by how he reacted, he might have yes. Florina!..." she said quickly to grab the witch's attention, "I know you are bursting with curiosity right now but it's not a good idea to ask him directly. He is clearly hurt by the memory so let's leave the poor man alone for now."

Florina, who wanted to protest, eventually complied with the fairy's request and remained silent. She wondered instead how quickly the mood can change from happy and playful to grey and grim.

The witch stood up grabbing Severus' attention and gave him a weak smile. "I think I should get back to my quarters now unless you have anything else you want to ask me."

Their eyes poured into one another for a moment until the wizard broke it and shook his head. Florina nodded and wished him well before she made her way to the door. She stopped abruptly however when she remembered a certain memory between him and his look alike David.

She turned on her heels, "There was something I meant to ask you sir ever since I got out of the hospital wing," she moved forward until she stood in front of his desk. 

"I heard you talking with David about his reputation, something about a thing he did to me in the past, what did you mean by that sir?"

"You heard that huh," he murmured more to himself but she caught it and nodded.

Their eyes locked for a while as it took him long to respond. It seemed like he had an internal turmoil he wanted to sort through.

After an extensive pause, he sighed, "I am not exactly the person to disclose this sort of information Woods. If you have certain questions, then its more prudent if you discuss it with him I am afraid. As much as I cannot stand the bloke, I have to admit I don't want to be involved in this drama."

She let out an impatient sigh, "Sir, you know very well he will refuse to answer."

He shrugged, "Then it's your own problem to sort out I am afraid. Not to mention that his own brother didn't inform you of anything related to his sibling, so why should I? As intimidating as I may seem, I still have my own morals Woods and gossiping about someone else's life is not one of them," he ended shortly.

She stopped the urge to roll her eyes and sighed deeply instead, "Why does everyone around here don't want to tell me shit?" she got an intense glare from the wizard but it didn't faze her "Do I even know my own fiancé? Now it seems like I don't even know him."

He turned to her suddenly showing slight interest, "You are engaged?"

The witch dropped her gaze immediately, "were." She corrected.

He kept gazing at her. His gaze however didn't show any emotion as he settled with his poker face. 

After an uncomfortable silence, he whispered "I am truly sorry for your loss Florina."

Her gaze was still fixated at the ground as she didn't trust herself not to sob. 

Truth be told, the sheer mention of her beloved was more than enough to get her to crack and lose composure. But her healers always told her of ways to avoid it when that indeed happens as it was a contributing factor to the recursion of her depression.

Thankfully, the mysterious Professor picked up on the subtle hints and stopped staring at her, giving her some privacy. 

When she felt the intense feeling of wanting to burst to tears, she immediately ran out of his office. 

She wasn't able to see the expression on his face which was sadness and remorse for her loss. 

After all, he was very familiar with what she felt.