Chapter 43

I couldn't believe it. I had let my guard down! So used to winning these bets, I had gotten careless. I was a bit annoyed with myself.

It was so embarrassing. Talking about marriage at this stage was too early. I didn't even like gambling; he was just accommodating me. Fine, since Severus liked me, I supposed it involved me. There were still three years until graduation, and I'd only be eighteen by then. I'd just let things take their natural course.

After struggling for a while, I calmed down.

A few days later, Severus told me it would be best to study Dark Magic in the Room of Requirement or the study room at school to avoid any uncontrollable situations at my estate. The defenses there still didn't recognize me, and this issue could be addressed after contacting Eileen.

Honestly, I wasn't in a rush to delve into Dark Magic. Madam Pomfrey would start teaching me how to treat magical injuries after the term began, and if I focused on healing spells, I wouldn't have much energy to spare for Dark Magic research. Whenever I had free time, Severus could teach me some basics. He'd been studying Dark Magic for a few years already, and I couldn't catch up to his progress in a short time. I'd have to take it slow.

During this holiday, Lily and I had another important task: securing the house.

Lily's family lived in a residential area separated from Spinner's End by a small river. It was a standalone house, which made it easier to surround it with protective spells.

Spinner's End wasn't exactly a high-end neighborhood; it was full of old houses with poor lighting and somewhat gloomy streets. The nearby mill had gone bankrupt a few years ago, making the area even more desolate, and the crime rate had been increasing. My parents had considered moving, but after watching me grow up in this house with all its wonderful memories, they couldn't bear to leave. Besides, with Severus now living next door and our relationship just established, it was a good time to bond, so moving wasn't an option.

Since we didn't want to move, I'd ensure our safety through magical means.

The protective charms Professor Flitwick had taught us were more than sufficient to deter Muggle thieves. Anyone with ill intentions would feel an overwhelming fear that prevented them from approaching the house. For malicious wizards, the charms would at least keep them from entering, though they'd need to break through the protections to get close.

There was no need to fear burglars and robbers. Street robberies were more common in the darker, more secluded alleys, which my parents always avoided, preferring to take longer routes. Plus, Isaya once chased a thief down the street with a newly bought kitchen knife, which reassured me a bit.

When I explained the spell to my parents, Isaya exclaimed, "So our house will be like a haunted house?"

Hughes laughed, "Sawyer said it only scares off those with bad intentions." He seemed a bit skeptical, though. "Uh, what about the people who deliver newspapers, milk, and mail?"

I chuckled. "As long as they're doing their job properly, they won't be affected. But salespeople might be too scared to come." Salespeople often aimed to sell more items and make a profit, which counted as ill intentions.

"That's even better!" Hughes laughed, pulling Isaya close, and they gazed at each other affectionately. "Now our home will be safe."

I discreetly rubbed the goosebumps on my arms. Even after all these years, they were still so lovey-dovey. Well, thirty-something wasn't old. Despite the mushiness, the happiness in the air was almost tangible. I couldn't help but aspire to such a life, setting a quiet goal to be so happy that I'd make my own daughter feel the same way.

Returning to Hogwarts, we entered a crucial year—our fifth year, the one with O.W.L.s, the Ordinary Wizarding Levels. Similar to Muggle world exams, these tests put students on edge, and we all faced a busy year ahead.

Lily became a Gryffindor prefect, with Remus as the male prefect, which was expected. From the moment she boarded the train, Lily was busy with prefect meetings and patrolling the train to maintain order.

As she left our compartment in her uniform, she winked at us. "Enjoy your time together!"

I wasn't annoyed. Instead, I leisurely walked over to Severus and sat beside him. "Thanks, we will." I nodded, signaling her to close the door.

Lily pulled a face and quietly closed the door behind her.

Severus chuckled softly, and I couldn't help but laugh too. How childish we were becoming.

As the train slowly started moving, we silently took out our books. Our shoulders and arms lightly brushed against each other, occasionally swaying with the train's motion. Soon, I got tired of reading. We had celebrated my birthday the night before, and I hadn't slept enough. I noticed Severus seemed wide awake, without any signs of fatigue, which puzzled me.

He glanced at me. "I'm used to it." Seeing my confused look, he added, "When do you think I practice Dark Magic?"

I was amazed. It seemed Severus had a busy nighttime schedule, including Dark Magic practice. No wonder I never saw him in the estate during the day. "Do you also practice in the Room of Requirement at school?"

Seeing Severus nod, I got a bit upset. "How many hours do you sleep each night? Learning Dark Magic isn't something you can do in just a few minutes."

He seemed amused by my concern. "I don't feel overly tired. My sleep is sufficient."

Severus didn't seem to mind the issue. "But it's still a heavy burden on your body! And," I hesitated, "and lack of sleep can stunt your growth!"

Seeing his raised eyebrows, I firmly said, "You're still growing. You need enough sleep, or it will affect your development."

Something I said must have amused him because Severus chuckled, coughing a bit. "Well, I seem to be growing fine. I should reach six feet. You don't need to worry."

"Oh." I had nothing more to say. Severus, though slender, was not shorter than his peers and even seemed to be growing taller. I guessed that Potter's irritation towards Severus might be partly because Severus would eventually surpass him in height.

"But…" I began but stopped. Would it be too nagging? I bit my lip and stayed silent.

Seeing my dejected expression, Severus good-naturedly turned, pressing my head to his shoulder.

"Aren't you tired? Rest on me for a while." He wrapped one arm around me, holding his book with the other.

He was too thin, his bony shoulder hurting my head. I lifted my face and said seriously, "You should put on some weight."

Severus, slightly annoyed, pressed my head back down. "Sleep!"

Satisfied, I nuzzled into the most comfortable spot and started to doze off. Severus sat quietly, occasionally turning a page.

I drifted off amid the train's rocking, vaguely hearing the door open a few times and perhaps Lily's voice.

When I woke up, I felt refreshed. It was already past 2 PM, and I realized I had slept for over three hours. Noticing Severus's subtle shoulder movements, I apologized and started massaging him. "You should have woken me up earlier. We haven't had lunch yet. Aren't you hungry?"

"I can manage," Severus replied indifferently. He seemed to enjoy the massage. Turns out I had a knack for it.

I worriedly tackled the pile of homework waiting for me. Every teacher relentlessly assigned work to remind us of the importance of the fifth year. I remembered my senior year in high school, though the endless parchment replaced stacks of test papers.

The assignments weren't difficult, but their sheer volume was daunting. I wasn't too worried about the exams. With enough revision over the school year, we'd be fine. Keeping calm was most important.

I was more interested in learning healing spells than in the exams. Madam Pomfrey hesitated about adding to my workload, doubting if I could handle extra studies while preparing for exams. But I insisted, and we started the lessons on treating magical injuries as planned.

With my time divided between homework and learning in the hospital wing four days a week, I still had a few days and weekends free for revision and to learn Dark Magic from Severus.

Lily still refused to study Dark Magic, and as a prefect, she was busy patrolling with Remus every night and helping first years navigate Hogwarts's ever-changing staircases. Especially around the full moon, Lily was even busier. The three of us had less time together than before.

I also noticed that Potter and his group appeared less often around us. At first, I thought it was because of Lily, but even she found it odd. I didn't believe they were avoiding us to study for exams; they must have found some new adventure. Lily didn't mind the peace and quiet, though it was short-lived, as more significant troubles awaited us later.