I heard Severus knock on the door. At first, he was gentle, but by the third knock it had become more abrupt, more needing.

"Verita, I have news."

Shoving the door open, I asked, "What is it?"

"Imperio. She's in a lot of danger," Severus explained slowly, taking my hand.

"We have to find her," I said, grabbing my wand from my causal cloak subconsciously.

"Verita, it's too dangerous for you."

"I'm not a child, Severus!"

"Compared to me you are!"

I felt the sting. It ran through my veins like Severus' love, but this time, it was sour. I could almost taste it, like an Acid Pop. Gulping, I stepped towards him.

"I'm not the girl you knew in Hogwarts, Severus. I was damaged beyond belief because of you. You have no idea what I went through when I was captured," I said slowly, then added, "Both times."

Severus' coal eyes stared back at me, almost lifeless. I cried out, allowing my words to fill me with guilt.

"I didn't-"

"Let's go," he suggested, ignoring me. "Imperio must be waiting for our arrival."

I sucked in a breath sharply. He was beyond annoyed but I had to do it. There was something about Imperio that set my instincts off. I knew I had to save her.

"Thank you, Severus."

I took his hand. He was displeased by this but his fingers wrapped around mine anyway, providing me with the familiar feeling of warmth and comfort. I was at home at last.

Arguing with Severus wasn't like how 'normal' couples argued. It hurt both of us, and although that may be true in a lot of cases, we needed it to grow stronger. It was an obstacle we'd overstepped when I was at Hogwarts because we were too busy hiding our relationship to worry about each other.

Now, everything was about us. My only goal was to protect Severus, and likewise, his was to protect and save me.

It was impossible. If we were too busy worrying about each other's wellbeing, we weren't looking after ourselves. While holding Severus' hand tightly, I decided that I had only become such an easy target because of my ignorance towards the fact that I, too, had to protect myself.

Severus and I arrived swiftly to the location I had been held at. Imperio's gentle cries could be heard throughout the building and it struck something inside of me, like a light switch. I felt rage flowing through me like blood.

"Klaus," I told Severus. "I don't know about last names, and there's another two, but I'm pretty sure Klaus is doing this. I'm so stupid, Severus! He did this so that I'd come back!"

"We can't be noticed," Severus hissed shallowly. "Be quiet."

"Verita isn't coming for you, sweetheart," Klaus' voice boomed through the entire house, making Severus and I flinch. We retreated behind a wall, listening in.

"S-she will," Imperio snapped back. "I know she will."

"Then why isn't she here?"

"I am."