Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.  These lovely characters are the fine work of J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 1

Elena lounged languorously against the marble banister as she looked down at the children flooding into the entrance hall.  She had seen the faces and the uniforms change over time, but some things were always the same.  The excitement, the laughter, the anxiety of the first years, the lust of reunited boyfriends and girlfriends. 

She had seen every single entering class, either as a member of the living or a ghost, and seeing the Hogwarts students on the first day of school always made her feel alive again. 

Walking down one of the enormous staircases, Elena drifted into the great hall to watch the sorting hat at his work.  He had become a bit shabby looking over time, and certainly more eccentric, but he was still a very skilled magical object.  She settled into the corner and grinned as a shaky, slightly pigeon-toed brunette took a seat on the stool.  The sorting hat eventually barked out "Hufflepuff" and Amicia Aaron trotted over to join her housemates.

Elena had seen that one coming.  She hadn't guessed wrong for at least one hundred years.  She had come close, seven years ago, when Harry Potter had taken his turn, but she had decided his eyes were too unguarded to be a Slytherin, and had placed her bets with Gryffindor.  Correct once again. 

When her eyes had passed over this year's crop of new students she settled on the staff.

Releasing a sigh Elena examined this year's addition.  The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, no doubt.  He looked like another Gilderoy Lockhart, with long blond hair and striking blue eyes. 

Her vision shimmered for an instant and Elena's curiosity was sparked.  He was wearing a glamoury.  Stalking closer, she looked past the magic that was woven into his appearance and saw a man that was still very handsome, but with different coloring. 

The real man had black hair and dark blue eyes that appeared almost black.  His features, though still attractive, were a bit more defined, and there were subtle creases around his mouth that hinted at past burdens.  Whatever this new teacher was, he was not a Lackhart-esque fop.

Having satisfied her curiosity with the new professor, at least momentarily, Elena turned her eyes on the returning teachers.  Albus looked more weary than he had last year.  He was finally getting old.  Though age and death were not new things for Elena, she had witnessed it thousands of times, the thought of losing Albus pained her.

The headmaster had never seen her, she had never made her presence known, and she doubted that he had read of her in any history books.  Salazar had made sure to erase all evidence of her existence after her death.  Nevertheless, the felt compassion and respect for the old man.  He was a good and powerful wizard, characteristics that were rarely found within the same person, and he felt genuine love for his charges at Hogwarts.  His death would be a great loss to the wizarding world, and a great gain for Voldemort.

Voldemort…the name brought a scowl to Elena's features.  She hadn't liked him when he had been simple Tom Riddel, a student of impressive, but not unheard of, talent. 

Pushing the wretch from her thoughts, Elena's gaze landed on Minerva, one of the most uptight women she had ever had the opportunity to meet.  If she hadn't known Minerva in her wilder days, Elena would have had a hard time believing she was head of Gryffindor. 

She then passed on to Sara Sprout and Poppy Pomfrey, who had their heads bowed together.  Elena had watched the women's relationship grow and alter over the years, and their love was so wonderfully comforting that she sometimes felt jealous of the mortal couple.

Trelawny was looking misty and confused, no doubt pretending to have a vision.  If she had an inkling of an inner eye she might see that everyone knew she was an enormous fraud.  Rolling her eyes, Elena looking away as Sybil began speaking in 'tongues.'  It sounded suspiciously like pig latin.

Her gaze quickly passed over Ursula Hooch, whose eyes still bothered Elena, a creature who had seen many a disturbing sight during her overly-long existence.  Vilnius Vector and Linus Binns were engaged in a discussion about Irish faralluries, a cross between a gnome and a pixie.  Smiling, Elena watched as Rubeus Hagrid helped himself to a second serving of roast pig.  She had always had a soft spot for the half giant that was contantly rescuing creatures that would sooner bite off your hand than let you pet them.  Elizabeth Pince sat at one end of the staff table, and Elena pondered why every Hogwarts librarian had been an uptight spinster, and why each had looked the part to a perfect T.  Deciding that it must be some sort of universal law, her eyes settled on the dark figure that lurked at the opposite end of the table.

Severus Snape was sipping from a wine glass that he held within his delicate grasp.  The potions masters were always the most graceful of creatures, since coordination and subtlety were prerequisites for the post…without them you would blow yourself up before completing your apprenticeship.  Elena had always found Severus' presence disturbing.  He reminded her too much of when she was alive, and the memories were not good ones.  Tall, dark, brooding, with a malicious streak, he was very much like the namesake of the house for which he served as head.

His eyes scanned the room, and for a moment Elena actually thought his gaze had come to rest on her, but his slightly glazed expression told her he saw nothing at all, lost in his own thoughts.  Elena suspected they were not pleasant musings.

As with all things that went on within the castle, Elena was aware of Severus' role as a double-agent, a servant of Voldemort whose only true loyalty lie with Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix.  She had watched their struggle against the darkness for the past two years, since Voldemort had revealed his presence to the wizarding world once again.  Elena had spent centuries watching Hogwarts without interfering.  She had never felt tempted to return to the world from which she had been expelled.  But now…now she was pushed to act by some unknown force.  The desire to reveal herself, the need to aid these valiant men and women in their task weighed heavily upon her.  Conjuring a chair, Elena sat and pondered her intentions. 

She watched as Nearly Headless Nick welcomed back his Gryffindors and the Bloody Baron scared the first-years senseless.  She new that she could become visible to people like the ghosts of Hogwarts, but she had not revealed herself to anyone since Salazar had died.  She wondered if she had forgotten how.  Shaking her head sharply she banished the idle thought.  She remembered how to show herself, and silly excuses would not banish this need to help.

She would reveal herself soon, but she was not sure of what action she would take to aid the Order.  It was not really her place to interfere with the living.  Perhaps she would simply manifest herself and see where that would take her.

2

Severus saw her for the first time as he patrolled the hallways on the night of the sorting feast.  It was one of the better nights for hall duty, since most of the students had exhausted themselves with overly-effusive greetings with their friends or made themselves sick on the food Dumbledore provided in too-generous portions.  Scowling over the prospect of yet another year of under-achieving potions students and overly-hormonal night prowlers, he spotted a figure leaning out of one of Hogwarts many balconies.

It was a ghost, but not one that Severus had ever seen.  The spirit was most definitely of the female persuasion.  She stood on her bare-footed tiptoes, gazing up at the clear Scottish sky.  A garment that could only be called a negligee hugged her delicate curves and brushed down to her slim ankles.  Long, gently curling hair flowed down to the small of her back.  Severus could not see her face since she stood with her back to him.

Curious as to the identity of this new phantom, Severus crept closer to the small figure.  Though he could sneak up on nearly every student he had ever encountered, his skills in stealth could not compare to supernatural senses, and the woman turned toward him before her got within four meters.

Severus felt his breath catch in his throat as he took in her ethereal beauty.  Wide eyes and smooth features greeted him.  She had delicately arching brows, high cheekbones, and a small, aristocratic nose.  Her jaw was delicate, but firm, and her lips full and soft.  For a moment Severus was worried that he had stumbles across a succubus, but her hair had obviously been blond while she had been alive, judging by its lightness, and succubi always had black hair.  Although, as a ghost, she lacked all color, the darkness of her eyes prompted Severus to assume that they had once been dark brown.

She did not move as she gazed at him steadily, and Severus felt himself shift uncomfortably under the weight of those lovely eyes.  He took a few steps forward, but stopped when she seemed to shrink away from him. 

Clearing his voice, Severus broke the awkward silence.  "Hello.  I am Professor Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts.  Might I inquire if you are a new addition to the castle?"

She raised an eyebrow at his question, then slowly shook her head in the negative.  As Severus prepared to ask her why she wouldn't give her name, the lovely spirit slipped through the wall to his left and disappeared from sight.

Severus, intrigued by her presence and her beauty, had asked the headmaster if Hogwarts had received any new ghosts recently.  Albus had replied that there had been no new ghosts for at least fifty years, and inquired as to the reason for Severus' question.  After explaining the details his late night rendezvous, Albus had guessed that she might be one of the castle's more retiring spirits.  Even so, Albus was surprised that he had never seen or heard of any ghost matching her description.

Determined to find out the identity of his mystery ghost, Severus had employed the Bloody Baron, also unfamiliar with the woman, as an incorporeal investigator.  The Baron had questions ghosts and portraits for weeks, but nobody had heard of her.  Well, nobody but Peeves.  The little rat had claimed that she was Mrs. Peeves, whose talents tended to the more tawdry side of ghostly deeds, but neither Severus nor the Baron believed a word he said.  That bloody poltergeist was an absolute nuisence, and Severus wondered why Albus hadn't exorcized him years ago.

After more than a month had passed with no progress on identifying the lady ghost, Severus had been ready to chalk it up to an overactive imagination and one too many cruciatus curses.

3

It had been a very long day.  Slytherin and Gryffindor for double potions; it was like combining selkie blood and tirnin petals…always explosive.  Severus had spent most of the class observing Draco Malfoy.  The boy, well, rather like a young man, was up for entrance into the Dark Lord's service next month, on his eighteenth birthday.  Although he seemed like even more of an arrogant snot than before, Severus could see fear lurking in his eyes.  He was sure that others wouldn't notice it, but as a man used to hiding his own fear, Severus was observant enough to discern it.

The class had ended on a particularly low note.  Longbottom.  Need he say more?  He had grown from being a clumsy little oaf to being a clumsy large oaf, and it appeared as though Severus hadn't shoved one piece of potions knowledge into that thick head of his.  Longbottom's cauldron had blown up with a loud boom as shrapnel flew across the room, injuring several students.

Perhaps he should just give in and let Granger do his work for him.  He had done his best to discourage her interference over the years, since Longbottom would need to cope by himself once he left the relative safety of Hogwarts, but his will had been ground down after years of similar explosions and no headway in his education.  After seeing six students, and equal amount of bloody and seriously annoyed Gryffindors and Slytherins, to Poppy for medical attention, all Snape desired was a glass of Ogdens and his latest issue of PC, Potion Culture.

With a sigh he whispered his password, misanthrope, to the snake statue that hid the passageway to his personal quarters.  The marble scales suddenly glistened with life as Sarutin awoke.  The serpent blinked its eyes sleepily as what might have passed as a grin lit his gray features. 

"Good evening, SSSeveruss…long day?"

"Stuff it smart-ass," Severus replied tersely as he waited for the nosy serpent to move out of the way.

Sarutin's tongue flicked out in a teasing manner as his granite gaze shifted downward.  "Did sssomebody have an accccident?  How embarrassing."

Severus followed his gaze and noticed that some of Longbottoms failed potion had crusted on the crotch of his robes, forming a white splotch.  Sweet Merlin!  If he had noticed earlier he would have strangled the damn boy.  Growling at the impudent guardian, he hissed, "I would move if I were you, before I decide to blast some of those scales of your rotten hide."

The snake sighed as he uncoiled and shifted sideways, allowing Severus to gain entry to his chambers.  As he walked into his living room he heard Sarutin's parting jab.  "You might want to take care of that particular stain yourself.  We don't want to scare the poor house-elves, now, do we?"

Severus whirled around to issue a biting comment, but the stone figure had already resumed his place and lost animation.  One thing he despised about Hogwarts was its overly-quirky denizens.  Glancing down at his robes he decided to leave them on…a calming glass of whiskey was his first priority.

He drifted toward his study, snatching a bottle of Ogden's Best from his mantle and a glass from a side table.  As he settled into his favorite armchair he conjured some Bach with a lazy flick of his wand, then poured a generous portion of amber liquid into his glass.  He shut his eyes as he took his first sip and felt it burn down his throat and warm his belly.  Sighing as the tension began to drift out of his weary muscles, he turned to pick up his PC subscription. 

As his eyes focused on the settee that lined the opposite side of the room he froze.  The tension came and he carefully set the glass down, blinking his eyes to make sure he was not hallucinating. 

No…he hadn't gone crazy.  The peculiar image remained.  His ghost was lounging on the couch as a book floated before her eyes.  His volume of Moste Potente Potions, volume VI, he noticed in an odd flash of discernment.  He unfroze as a page turned on its own.

"What are you doing here?"  Severus demanded in a voice that sounded shaky and foreign to his ears.  Damn it man, he thought to himself, you face Voldemort on a regular basis without flinching.  A slip of a girl ghost should not concern him in the slightest.

His eyes widened as the little chit held up a slender finger to silence him.  Stunned by the action he abided by her wordless order as she finished reading the page.  The book shut of its own accord and floated down to rest on a nearby shelf as the spirit turned to look at him.

"Hello," she said quietly in a voice that sounded like it hadn't been used for centuries.  With a quirk of an eyebrow, Severus supposed that scenario wasn't beyond the realm of possibility.

"What are you doing in my book, touching my things?" he demanded rather harshly.  Having been thrown by her appearance, Severus needed to regain his balance, and there was nothing more Snapish than being irritable.

A glint of amusement lit her eyes and a small smile curved her lips as she replied cheekily, "I'm not touching your things, Severus.  I can't."

"You know what I meant, miss.  And how do you know my name?"

"I'm sorry if I've offended you, but I couldn't resist poking around while I waited for you.  You're lucky I didn't pick your underwear drawer.  Ghosts have very few limitations when it comes to snooping."

He growled at her as he stood to shove Moste Potente Potions back in its place in the bookcase.

Turning back to the woman a scowl settled on his angular features.  "Congratulations.  You know my names and you've violated my privacy.  Now, might you tell me how you know my name and why you were waiting for me?"  He pulled himself to his full, imposing height and glared down at her with a look that had brought first-years to instant tears.

"Don't try to intimidate me, Professor Snape.  I'm a long way from being an easily-frightened student.  You can't do anything to me."

"Oh, really?"  Severus asked with a sneer.  "We could always have you exorcized.  Ghosts are not completely immune to magic."

She gave a genuine smile in response to his threat.  "I would like to see you try.  You lack the power."  She gave a small sigh as his stance grew even more rigid.  "I didn't come here to fight with you."

"Well, then.  Care to enlighten me?"

"Yes, I suppose I should.  Will you please sit down?"  She made a graceful gesture toward the chair he had vacated.  After locking gazes with him for a long, tense pause, Severus lowered himself into his seat.

She gave him an appeasing smile as she appeared to gather her thoughts.  "It's a long story," she began, settling into the couch, "and it has come time for me to tell it."