I could feel it; that oddly terrifying feeling I always got when someone unwanted was around. Of course, it was like this almost every day for me since I'd been on the run from Death Eaters for two years. I wasn't quite sure why I was hiding, though, but I knew it was right. Almost every day I would be attacked and have to find a new place to get away from the men that sought me out.

I was a sixteen year old who lived a very hard life since the age of twelve when Voldemort's followers broke into my parents' home and murdered them right in front of me. I only got a glance at the faces before I was knocked out and taken to the dungeon that became my home for the next 3-½ years. One of the faces haunted me more than any of the others, though, was my uncle's face. That black hair and crooked nose were just part of the nightmares I had every night, but it was the piercing black eyes that would wake me up screaming.

And this particular morning was no different.

As always, the last thing burned into my eyes before I started screaming were the black orbs that would continue to haunt me for the remainder of my life. This morning the screaming stopped short when I felt a presence in the small flat I'd purchased for the week. This was a different presence, though. This person meant no harm to me, but on instinct, I grabbed my wand from under my pillow anyway before heading into the living room to see who the intruder was.

At first, I didn't see anyone considering the darkness of the room. The sun was just starting to rise and only a small ray of golden light flashed onto the dingy rug of the sitting area. I squinted my eyes as I searched, but was interrupted by a deep voice from a chair in the far corner.

"Miss Ivory," the voice said calmly, as if announcing my presence.

I yelped and dropped my wand. I stood frozen in place as the person in the corner waved his own wand, making the lights in the room go on. I swallowed and looked at the man, relief flowing through me immediately.

"Professor Dumbledore," I said, nodding in his direction and suddenly feeling very conscious of what little clothing I had on. I froze again when someone cleared their throat from behind me. I turned slowly around to the same face that had woken me not ten minutes before.

I gulped loudly. "Snape," I spat his name and picked up my wand again before asking, "What are you doing here?"

"Perhaps we can discuss the matter after you've gotten dressed?" he proposed. I glared at him.

"Please, Ivory," Dumbledore said, noting the tenseness in the room. "I'll make some tea while you're dressing."

I nodded once again before padding back into my bedroom. As soon as I shut the bedroom door behind me, the panic attack came on. It was just an old habit of mine. As soon as the shock was gone I would hyperventilate and shake uncontrollably for several long minutes. And even though the two men in the living room wouldn't dare hurt me, I still couldn't help it. I had been hiding from everyone. I felt like if anyone I loved came near me, they would surely die or betray me.

Albus Dumbledore was a good man. He was headmaster at my old school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was an excellent wizard and also a very old friend of my parents. But Severus Snape was a cruel man who played both sides of good and evil so well that I wasn't sure which side he was really on. He was the man who had just stood there, doing nothing, while he watched his own brother and sister-in-law get brutally murdered by other Death Eaters for reasons unknown to the outside world.

That reason was that Voldemort wanted me. Badly. Probably more than he wanted Harry Potter, actually. That's why he had Lucius Malfoy and Fenrir Greyback always showing up wherever I was. It hadn't occurred to me yet that they always seemed to find me just a little too quickly and they could be tracking me.

I dressed quickly in a pair of faded jeans and a plain white fitted t-shirt before hurrying back into the living room, tying my long blonde hair into a loose knot on top of my head along the way. Dumbledore was already seated on the moth-eaten couch with two steaming cups of tea waiting on the table in front of him. Snape was standing with his own cup of tea by the fireplace looking anxious.

"How did you find me?" I asked as I sat carefully next to the old wizard. He looked the same as I remembered him. Same long gray beard, same silver eyes. I hated those eyes. They looked at me with that knowing gaze. The eyes of a man that knew too much.

"I believe you ran into Alastor Moody not too long ago. He informed me of your whereabouts," he said before taking a sip of tea. "I've had some people looking for you for quite some time now." When I frowned at him he chuckled lightly. "I promised your parents I would take care of you. I feel the need to fulfill their wishes."

I was still frowning. "Why did it take you almost five years to find me then?" I was getting angry, but I didn't really understand why. It was kind of comforting to know that no one had forgotten me.

"You've become very good at hiding yourself when you don't want to be found." He paused, studying my face. "You've grown into a lovely young lady, Ivory-"

"Please, just call me Ivy," I interrupted him, turning my arms when I noticed my uncle staring curiously at the scar on my left forearm.

Dumbledore smiled down at me. "Of course."

"So, what now?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest. "You think you can just show up four years later and expect to be able to drag me back to school with you or something?"

"Oh, no. That's not it at all," Dumbledore spoke coolly.

Snape shifted slightly, looking aggravated at the response. It was clear that he had intended the exact thing I'd accused them of.

"What do you want then?"

Dumbledore smiled sadly at me. "I understand why you would be angry with me, Ivy, but please see reason. You've been gone for four years. It's time you got back to school so you can get the future you want."

"I have no future," I grumbled. "You should know that since you seem to know everything."

"What do you mean?"

"Voldemort's got other plans for me," I growled.

"Please, do not speak his name." He paused for too long. "I don't know what plans he could have for you, but that is exactly the reason I think you should come back to Hogwarts. You will be safe there. I will hire guards for you specifically and you can stop losing sleep over him."

It was a tempting offer, but I wasn't sold yet. I looked at the ground for a long time while I contemplated this. "And what does my uncle think?" I looked up in time to see Snape's face looking pained while Dumbledore smiled slightly.

"Severus has a tough exterior, but I can tell that he misses you terribly," Dumbledore said softly.

I didn't take my eyes off of Snape. "Somehow, I find that very hard to believe."
"I understand your hostility towards him, but you must know how broken up he has been over the years about not knowing if you were even still alive or not."

I blinked, but otherwise stayed completely still and silent.

"Will you please take the offer." It was Snape who broke the silence.

I could feel the hysterics trying desperately to wrack my body as my uncle pleaded with me. It was suddenly like everything he'd done to betray me didn't matter anymore, but I forced them away, shaking my head fiercely. "I'm sorry, but I can't." I got up quickly and paused at the doorway leading back to my room.

Dumbledore sighed. "I understand, but just in case you change your mind I will leave your train ticket here on the table. It leaves at noon today. Take care of yourself, Ivy."

There were two faint pops that echoed in the room and I knew they were gone. I waited two more moments before collapsing on the floor. I didn't cry. I'd given that emotion up years ago. But I did scream. I screamed so loud that I was sure someone heard. I immediately groaned to myself, knowing I had to leave now.

I didn't know how I ended up where I was at the moment. I didn't remember showering or charming my skin and hair into perfection. I didn't remember dressing in a pair of ripped jeans, a black fitted t-shirt and black trainers. I didn't remember packing what little things I had or leaving the flat. And I didn't remember how I got to the train station or when I crossed through the barrier to platform 9 ¾. So now I sat in an empty compartment on an almost empty train wringing my hands and silently screaming at myself for what I let myself do.

I was on my way to a place I never planned on going back to. I always loved being at the school. It held so many mysteries and so many of my old friends, but I just couldn't shake the feeling now that it was tainted. It was part of my old life. I was a very different girl than I was the last time I was at Hogwarts. No good could come from this.

But I sucked it up and slowly got off the train when it pulled into Hogsmeade station. After sending my luggage ahead of me, I trudged through the dark grounds, not letting my eyes stray from the ground. I was afraid to look up at that familiar brick building because I knew that if I did, I would surely break down. Somehow, though, I made it all the way to the giant oak doors and pushed them open. I now stood in front of the doors that would lead me to the Great Hall where I could hear everyone chatting happily during dinner.

After contemplating to turn around a few times I looked up at the clock to my right. I'd been standing there for fifteen minutes making up my mind, but the truth was, I'd made up my mind a long time ago. When I'd become numb to my actions as I got ready, I'd already known I would come back to this place. When I got on that train, I'd already known I was ready to face my Uncle for the first time in four years. And when I walked up those steps that led me to where I was now, I knew I needed this. I needed to be around people again. I missed being normal.

There was only one thing left to do.

Without another thought, I pushed the heavy doors open to reveal a very large room with chatting students and a table full of professors at the other end. The talking immediately died as every head in the room turned to look at me, but I kept my eyes on Dumbledore, who stood quickly to his feet to see me better. Another figure to his left stood up quickly too and my eyes darted to the other figure. It was Severus Snape, my uncle. And I froze.

It took me a long time to realize that Dumbledore was hurrying over to me, not caring that every student in the school was being nosy. There were probably rumors flying around them as I took in each new breath. But I could care less. None of them knew the horrors I had been through and they weren't about to know the truth.

"Was the train ok?" Dumbledore asked quietly, placing a soft hand on my shoulder.

I nodded, tearing my eyes away from my uncle to look at the old wizard next to me. "I only have two conditions for coming back."

"Yes?"

"First, I get my own room and bathroom." Dumbledore nodded. "Second, I have access to the library, astronomy tower, and kitchen whenever I want."

"I don't see why there would be a problem with those conditions. I'll make the arrangements," he told me meaningfully. "Now, I'm sure you are very hungry. Why don't you come sit next to me and have some dinner?"

I nodded and followed the professor back to the front table. I waited while he drew a chair and a plate for me. I was very aware of the eyes that still burned into me, but I ignored them and kept my eyes on my plate as I sat down. What was really bothering me was that my uncle was sitting right next to me and keeping his eyes locked on my face. I knew he could see the emotions no one else noticed and I wanted to scream at him to leave me alone.

After dessert was served, Dumbledore stood up for his usual speech. He went through the normal rules and welcomed Horace Slughorn as the new Potions teacher, but at the end he tacked on a new item that no one was expecting. "We also have a returning student this year," he told the crowd before him as he gestured to me. "Miss Ivory Snape has decided to come back for her last two years of school. I hope all of you will join me in trying to make her as comfortable as she can be this year."

That statement did it. With the head master announcing my arrival and my last name being said, everyone knew I would be getting special treatment since I was Snape's niece and there was something knowingly odd about me. The room buzzed with excitement and rumored frenzies as I stared at my hands. I couldn't believe Dumbledore would announce my presence when everyone already knew I was there. I didn't want attention on myself and now I was likely to get ten times more.

"Ivy," a deep voice drawled from behind me.

I turned around and looked up into the black eyes of Severus Snape. I cringed slightly as I took in his sullen expression. This man didn't look anything like the menacing murderer that I remembered. He was almost pathetic with the depressed look his mouth formed. His eyes were sad and droopy, like he hadn't slept in years. I almost felt sorry for him. But that feeling only lasted for a moment before the rage came back inside of me.

"What do you want?" I snapped, pushing up from the table and walking away from him. I knew he was following close behind me.

"I need to talk to you," he said frantically.

"So talk," I growled, turning back around to face him when I reached the entrance hall.

"In private, if you don't mind," Snape pleaded, taking a step back when he saw the fierce look I gave him.

I rolled my eyes and folded my arms over my chest. The hall was deserted. "This isn't private enough for you?" I asked, gesturing around them to the empty hallway.

Snape nodded, but didn't say anything. He took in my appearance and sighed. "You're ok, then."

I scrunched my nose in disbelief. "That's it? That's all you wanted to say to me? Of course I'm not ok!"

"No, that's not it," Snape said quietly, looking at the floor. "I just wanted to tell you that what happened with your mother and father-"

"Oh, please. Don't even start with that," I threatened. "You don't need to tell me why you did it, ok. I already know."

"No, I don't believe you do," he stuttered. "Please, just let me explain."

"I don't need an explanation four years later. I needed one that same night! I needed you to tell me you were cursed and didn't know what you were doing, but that's never going to happen! Now, I'm going to bed," I told him fiercely. "When you have something better to talk to me about, come find me." I turned towards the staircase that would lead me to my private rooms. I only got halfway up the staircase when a faintly familiar boy stopped me.

"Ivy?" The boy said cautiously. He was deeply tanned with messy dark hair. He was at least a foot taller than me and looked to be around my age.

I stared at the boy for several long moments before recognition filled my mind. "Blaise?" I asked, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

"Yeah, it's me," he said, engulfing me in a hug. "How have you been?"

"Honestly?" He nodded. "Terrible. What about you?"

He fidgeted a little. "Better than you, I suppose."

"What's wrong?" I asked my old friend.

Blaise's eyes darted around the deserted hallway. "Do you think we could go somewhere a little more private?"

I nodded and led him up the staircase, through a few more halls until they came to a large black wood door. I unlocked it and closed the door behind us once we were both inside.

Blaise looked around the room. "You got your own room?" he asked in surprise.

I sighed heavily. "That's what happens when you get captured by Death Eaters and tortured for three years before you have to go into hiding for two more years." I paused in thought. "I guess being Snape's niece helps, too."

Blaise stared at her. "That's where you've been?" I nodded. "What happened to you?"

I winced. "I'd rather not talk about it right now if that's ok." Blaise nodded. "So, what's the big secret?"

Blaise immediately scrunched his face into an angry scowl and slowly lifted the left sleeve of his sweater to reveal an ugly black tattoo of a snake twisting around a scull. I looked from the horrible mark to Blaise's face and immediately saw the pain behind his eyes.

"Oh no," I whispered. I reached a finger out to graze it lightly over the mark. "When?"

"On my sixteenth birthday," he replied, covering the mark again. "No one in Slytherin even knows."

"I won't tell a soul," I vowed.

"It's my own father's fault."

"What do you mean?"

"He killed my mother two years ago," he mumbled quietly. "She was the only thing standing in the way of me getting this."

I immediately felt the guilt come on. Blaise's mother had helped me escape the chambers that I'd been forced into for three years. I was positive that this was the reason of her death. I swallowed hard, trying to rid myself of the nasty feeling rising in my throat. "I'm so sorry, Blaise."

"It's not your fault," he replied, staring at the floor.

I made a pained face that went unnoticed by my old friend. "I'm tired," I finally said. "I think I'm going to go to bed."

Blaise nodded. "Will you have breakfast with me in the morning?"

"Of course," I said, smiling. I hugged him and walked him to the door before taking a shower and going to bed.

Sleep didn't come easy for me that night. The comments Blaise had said about his mother's death kept replaying in my head. I couldn't believe that this beautiful woman was gone and it was all my fault. I felt like I should cry, but I hadn't done that since I was a little girl. I didn't even know how to cry anymore. But somehow I finally drifted off to my first dreamless sleep in over four years.