[Chapter 11 - The Big Question]

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It took time for Genevive to truly recover from the death of her grandmother, though no one knew the extent of her grievance, not even Severus who had been her rock during her suffering.

The funeral firmly showed Genevieve her standings in the Blackwell family. Adelaide, Cedar and Amaryllis stood to the right of the coffin with Genevive on her one to the left. Yet, Genevive had no energy to care. She didn't care anymore; because the only family she ever had was waiting for her arrival back at Hogwarts.

Today, Genevive was back teaching, sitting on the corner of her desks waiting for her students to come flooding in. Lo and behold, they began to fill up the seats in front of her, looking curiously at the hand mirrors placed on each desk.

"Good afternoon class" Genevive greeted them, hopping up off the desks and occupying the leather chair behind the desk.

"Good afternoon Professor Blackwell" they chorused back.

After taking the register, Genevive began the magical theory class.

"Now, today we're going to be practising the fundamentals of magic as we know it, " she noticed some student taking out their wands, " No need for your wands, you won't be needing them for this class, "

"Magic isn't just about spells and incantations, no, it's much more than that. Magic doesn't just come from saying a spell or waving your wand; it comes from inside us, " Genevieve laughed lightly at the looks of confusion on the children's faces, indicating some demonstrations were in order.

"For example, our ancestors didn't have wands to do magic, they used their wills. Let me show you, " Genevieve took out her own mirror and placed it in front of her.

"I want to change the colour of my hair. To do so, I must imagine it changing, imagine the colour I want to change to, the way it feels as the colour appears, " As she spoke, her dark locks started to shift into a bubblegum purple, shocking her students.

"Now I want you to do the same, you have the rest of the class to do so, " They took to the task straight away, envisioning the colour they wanted their hair to take.

Soon, the class became a multicoloured swap shop, except for one. Genevive went around helping the students, encouraging them as they managed to achieve the task when she noticed that one student hadn't completed that exercise.

"Is everything alright?" She asked the girl.

"Ugh, I can't do it, " the little girl huffed, pushing the mirror away from her.

Genevive knelt down in front of the desk, moving the mirror back to her, showing a promising smile, " Yes you can, just imagine it happening in your head and your magic will cover the rest."

The girl thought hard about the colour changing, a strand at the front turning blue.

"This is useless," she complained.

"Don't worry, just a bit of practice and you'll have it mastered in no time, " Genevive assured her, heading back to her own desk just as the final bell rang.

"Your homework is to practice what you learned in class, and before you leave can you please put all the mirrors on the front desks, thank you"

Once all the mirrors were put away, the student's dashed out of the classroom and made their way to the great hall for lunch. Genevive tidied up her desks, putting away loose sheets of parchment, then headed down for a well-deserved lunch with the other professors.

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After a day of teaching, Genevive was exhausted. Deciding she would turn in for an early night, she headed up to the teacher's wings and to her private quarters. Once the painting door swung open, Genevieve wasted no time in curling in her armchair, grabbing her "Le Fantôme de l'Opéra" and igniting the magical flames in the fireplace.

Snuggled up nicely, her high heels scattered by the door, Genevive was just about to continue reading chapter 5, when one of the school's owls tapped its beak against her window.

"Who on earth would send a bloody letter at ten past nine?" she grumbled, looking over at her grandfather clock, then begrudgingly making her way over to the window and opened the latch, letting the burgundy owl perch on the window ledge.

Taking the envelope, Genevieve examined the handwriting, a neat smile working it's onto her lips, carefully undoing the seal and taking out the letter. She scrupulously read through its contents, when finished took no time in grabbing her clock and dashed out of her room, a spring in her step as she made her way down to the secret gardens, wondering what her suitor had planned that was so urgent.

Reaching the door, Genevive slowly pushed open the large wooden door, gasping at the sight in front of her. Strings of lanterns hung around the stone pillars, each flame emitting a warm glow that bounced off the petals of the flowers. Walking in further, Genevive's smile turned into a smirk, yet her eyes still shone with admiration.

"I must say, you've outdone yourself, " Genevive complimented her inamorato, coming closer to the table set out in the centre of the garden.

Severus sat effortlessly in one of the two chairs, his face illuminated by candlelight, fidgeting with his hands to keep him from messing up what he so desperately wanted to be perfect.

"Please, take a seat, " Severus pulled out her chair for her.

Genevieve graciously sat down, placing her cloak behind her, "If you plan to woo me by means of appetite, I must inform you I'm still exceedingly full from supper." she eyed the setting of the table, curious to what Severus had planned.

"Actually, I was hoping we could chat over some mulled wine?" He asked, using his wand to conjure two brass goblets and a bottle of elf made wine.

"A very fashionable choice indeed, " Genevieve thankfully took the goblet, sipping on her beverage," So what had you planned to converse about? I'm dying to know?"

Severus stayed silent for a moment, unsure of how to phrase his burning question.

"Well... I'm not sure quite how to do this, " Severus took the glass out of Genevieve's hand, setting it on the table, bringing Genevieve to rise and stand in front of him.

Taking both of her delicate hands, Severus placed them in his own, "Genevive, will do me the greatest of honours and be my partner for the Yule Ball?"

Genevieve was in shock, did he really want to bring her, out of all people. The silence led Severus to sulk, surprised when she did answer, "I would be delighted to, "

"Really?" he asked wide-eyed, not believing his hearing "Yes, thousand times yes!" Overcome with joy, Severus held her tight and spun her around, smiling as she laughed at his enthusiasm.

They spent the rest of the night in the garden, telling each other their darkest secrets, then watching the stars overhead as Severus wrapped his arm around her.

Here, they were just two fools in love, neither one knowing the true extent of the others feelings. They waited for the night of Yule ball, where they would dance the night away in each other's arms.

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These long chapters seem to be a recurring thing, but no one seems to be complaining to I'm going to take it that you like the longer pieces.

*The_lost_flower*