Prolog: Memories Forgotten

It was the year of the great battle of Hogwarts when Madame Tara Doe was hired as Madame Pomfrey's assistant. Though Madame Pomfrey had insisted she needed no help in performing her duties, Minerva had insisted she 'take the girl on'.

Tara had just barely finished University when she was hired, but after the first week Professor Severus Snape was the only faculty member who considered her skills inferior. However, Madame Pomfrey had her working with the potions master on almost a regular basis, and it wasn't long before he realized her potential, not only as a mediwitch, but also as a potions mistress.

He found himself enjoying her company and even debating with her. It wasn't long before he'd invited her to assist him with a few of his personal projects. The staff would often joke about whether Tara was Pomfrey's assistant or Severus's.

Tara felt it first…the insistent tugging of her heart at the sight of him. The silkiness of his voice and the grace in his movements made her weak. Severus followed soon after. He began seeing her, not only as an enjoyable companion, but also as a very attractive woman whom he couldn't seem to take his mind off of.

It was after one of those debates over tea that it happened. Tara had reached the door and was about to show herself out when Severus grabbed her arm and pulled her back against him, claiming her mouth with a searing kiss that left them both breathless.

It took a while, but deep kisses before parting developed into long, drawn out snogging sessions and soon even that wasn't enough. Their conversations became both casual and personal. Eventually she'd admitted that she'd never been intimate with anyone. When he'd asked her why, she'd told him it was because she'd never found the right man.

'I know it sounds a bit unrealistic, but I guess I'm just waiting for the one.' She replied hesitantly.

'Am I the one?' he questioned, surprising both her and himself.

She studied him before answering, 'I think so. Severus…I think I love you.'

He'd kissed her then and shortly after introduced her to the bed in his chambers.

Many of her things stayed in his rooms after that, as she'd often find herself waking up there instead of her own. It came to the point where his bed felt empty without her, and hers cold without him. They knew without a doubt that they loved each other…that they belonged together, despite the many fights they'd had.

Like most good things, trouble came after this one. The war had escalated and Hogwarts came under attack. She'd begged him not to go that night, had told him about the fear that had gripped her from out of no where. Though he'd heard her out, he explained to her that it was his job in the war, that the order needed him. She countered by saying she needed him, and he took her in a passionate kiss.

'After the war, after the Dark Lord falls…marry me?' he asks nervously. 'Tara, before I met you I fancied the idea of not surviving this war, but you've given me something to fight for and a future to look forward to. I can't see my future without you in it. I swear to you that I will do everything in my power to make sure we both survive. Just promise me that when we do, you'll still be here…you'll still want to be with me. Tell me you'll marry me.'

'Of course I will.' She nodded, tears running down her face. 'I love you, Severus.'

"Don't cry for me…Don't give up on me, Tara.' He pleaded with her. 'You're all I have.'

She'd followed him, hidden in the shadows as the scene unfolded before her. Her heart was torn into two when the Dark Lord ordered the serpent to kill him.

One Year Later

He had survived the war, though just barely. He'd spent an entire year in a coma. She'd sworn to his unconscious form that she'd wait for him, no matter how long it took. The only thing that kept her going was his last few words to her.

She'd continued with her job at Hogwarts, but visited him as often as she could. Her heart sank a little more each time she had to listen to the mediwitch tell her there was no change, but she kept trying…kept hoping. She couldn't lose him. She'd already lost so many others. She felt helpless, being unable to do anything but wait for him to either wake up, or leave her like the others had.

She was working on a personal project when she'd gotten the owl from Minerva telling her the news. She'd rushed to St. Mungo's as quickly as possible and met the headmistress at the service desk. Minerva had been one of the few people who knew about her relationship with Severus, and the only one who knew Severus had proposed to her, as he'd gone to her for advice before doing so.

'Before you see him, there's something you should know.' Minerva had told her, 'Tara…he doesn't remember you.'

She had been shocked, but had told herself that he'd get his memory back. After the first couple of weeks though, it hurt her too much to see him recovering so quickly and yet never recognizing her for what she'd been to him. Instead, she relied upon Minerva for updates.

The day he was released, Tara turned in her resignation papers. Minerva had tried to get her to stay…as did her heart, but she wasn't strong enough to face him every day remembering what once was, what she'd given up hope for ever having again. She was finally forced to accept the truth. They had both survived, but at a terrible cost. The war had taken him away from her.