Note from author: Hello everyone! I know I have kept you waiting for this part and I'm sorry! I was sick for two weeks, I had the flew, and I was so tired I couldn't write. I hope to write more parts soon, but I've got other stories as well and they need to be finished too :) I hope you enjoy this and thanks for waiting and thanks again for all the kind reviews of the previous story!

Enjoy!

Cheerio,

Aribeth

It was the same. Even in the failing daylight she could recognize everything. Hogwarts hadn't changed. Even after a terrifying time where things had been uncertain and many things she had loved had been destroyed, the castle looked as it always had looked. Yes, ten years had passed since you-know-who was defeated, but the scars he had left upon her heart would never fade away, no matter how much time passed. With a sigh, Miranda walked forward. She didn't want to think about that. Losing Hugh had been hard, but losing Lily…. The thought itself had almost destroyed her.

Her footsteps led her to the front gate and with a sigh she knocked. How many times had she knocked upon Lily's front door? How many times had she seen Harry playing in the garden? Not enough, she now realised. Miranda had been too frightened to put them in danger. James and Lily had been in danger by their continuous fight against you-know-who. If those Death Eaters would follow Miranda to their hide-out, then everything could have gone terribly wrong. The fact that it was Sirius who had betrayed them, hurt even more. Sirius! James' best friend. Miranda shook her head and tried to think about something else. The fact however that the two only men she had ever loved, both had sided with you-know-who, made her feel ashamed. Why had she not seen the truth?

The front door opened and Professor Dumbledore appeared upon the other side. With a smile he nodded and said:

"Miss Bloom, I have been expecting you for quite some time now."

She tried to smile, but as always, the smile didn't reach her eyes.

"I am sorry to keep you waiting, professor. I took me a while to gather my strength to get back to this place, more time than I expected," she replied.

His blue eyes met his and Miranda had the feeling that he could read her through like he had always been able too. He moved away from the door and let her in. She followed him, while they passed the Great Hall and walked through the many corridors. Memories came back to her and she smiled when she remembered how happy she had been those seven years. When they passed the corridor towards the dungeons however, she froze. She still remembered how she had run away from him, after he had betrayed her for the last time. Sometimes, in her hardest nights, she wished she had never run away from him. Sometimes, she tried to fantasize how it could have been…

She shook her head and started walking again. When she shifted her gaze back towards professor Dumbledore, she noticed him staring at her.

"I know more then you might expect, Miss Bloom," he said, while he as well continued.

"I'm not sure what you mean, professor," she whispered, while a frown crossed her face.

"There's little in the castle that isn't a mystery to me, Miranda," Dumbledore replied.
He turned around to face her and the warm smile he gave her, made her feel better in an instant. The fact that he had said her name, made her believe that he indeed now more than she had thought he would.

"It's best if we talk things through in my office. This conversation is best kept private, I think," the professor continued.

She nodded in agreement and followed him to his office. When they finally arrived there, she took a seat on the opposite of his desk and looked through the room. She had never been here before and she was surprised to see how many things Professor Dumbledore kept in Hogwarts. But then she shook her head. Of course he did, it was his home!

"So, Miranda, why don't you start with telling me why you contacted me?" Dumbledore started.

Miranda looked back at him and then answered:

"As you are aware, professor, I have studied many magical creatures in the past years. Ever since I was little they got my attention and when I arrived here in Hogwarts I knew what I wanted to become. I want to teach, professor. I want to pass my knowledge to other students, so they can benefit from my experience and become even better wizards."

"I'm afraid to tell you, Miranda, that for the moment I already have a teacher for magical creatures," his voice was sincere and she could tell that he felt sorry for her. She hadn't given up already, however.

"I know that professor," Miranda smiled and then continued, "Like I also know that you do not have a professor who specializes in certain magical creatures, like dragons."

Professor Dumbledore smiled and she could see his eyes sparkle with joy.

"You've been thorough, I see."

"Of course, professor. I would do anything to make my dream come true," Miranda said truthfully.

The professor kept silent for a moment and his gaze shifted away from her. Miranda felt slightly nervous and she slowly moistened her lips. She needed this job. Where else could she go? She wasn't a traveller. She wanted to settle down, to find a home.

"Miranda, I'm terribly sorry…." Professor Dumbledore started.

"Wait, professor, there's more," Miranda suddenly interjected. If she had to tell him everything, then she would do so.

"Miranda, I'm not sure…"

"I promised Lily to watch over Harry," Miranda said.

Professor Dumbledore suddenly stood up from his seat and his sudden movement made her scared. Nervously, she played with a curl of her black hair and gazed at him. What would he think of her now?

"Harry Potter. You promised to protect Harry Potter?" professor Dumbledore asked surprised.

Miranda nodded.

"When we were in our seventh year, Lily made me promise to protect her children if anything would happen to her and James. I know I wasn't there when they were killed…," Miranda swallowed and tried to fight her tears. She would hate herself forever for not being there when her friend needed her the most, "And I know that ten years have passed without me being there for Harry, but I wasn't ready. It is a lame excuse, I know, but I'm not a strong person and after everything… I needed time. Now, I'm ready to fulfil my promise."

Dumbledore smiled when he saw the devotion in her eyes. Lily and Miranda had always been close. They would have died for each other and he could see that the promise they had made towards each other, was one that could not be forgotten. If he was right, and he was sure he was, although he didn't wanted to be, then Harry was still in danger. Someone extra to protect him wasn't a bad idea. Miranda didn't think of herself like a good wizard, but Dumbledore knew better. She had been able to defeat death eaters who had killed many good wizards. This woman had strength in her that would become important in the future. The fact that she and Severus shared a past together…. Well, that wasn't bad either. Severus was carrying his guilt for ten years now and Dumbledore knew that Miranda would be able to help him with that. He nodded slowly. Yes, Miranda might be the resolution for a lot of problems.

When Miranda saw him nodding, she felt hope growing inside her. She would do everything to become a teacher at Hogwarts. She would be able to protect Harry and do the things she wanted to do.

"Alright then," Professor Dumbledore said, while he took a seat, "I will be happy to offer you a job then. You do know, Miranda, that when you say yes, you can't go back?"

Miranda frowned.

"What do you mean, professor?"

"If I let you be a teacher at Hogwarts, then I need to know that I can trust you. You can't come for a year and leave when you want to leave," Professor Dumbledore explained.

"Of course not, professor!" Miranda said, while she rose from her seat, "I will always stay here, as long as you need me. I promise that."

Professor Dumbledore smiled.

"Thank you, Miranda. You can go now. I'll see you in two weeks, when the school year starts."

Miranda smiled and shook Professor Dumbledore's hand with joy.

When she turned around and walked towards the exit, she couldn't help but smile to herself. She finally would be able to do everything right. Everything would finally go as planned. She would become a teacher, would protect Harry and would have a home! Things couldn't go better!

She opened the door and wanted to leave, when she froze. Before her stood a man with black, greasy hair and dark black eyes. His face was pale, as he had not seen the sun in a long time and although he obviously wasn't sick, he was very thin. Miranda swallowed. His dark eyes stared right into her blue ones and she felt memories coming back to her in just a few seconds. His touch, his kips, her love, an afternoon in the room of requirement, a child with black eyes… She felt everything become black, when she felt someone's arm upon hers.

"Miss Bloom, are you alright?" Professor Dumbledore asked, while he helped her back on her feet.

She stared at him and then shifted her gaze back to the other person. She swallowed and then nodded slowly:

"Yes, I…. I am fine, Professor. Thank you."

"I think you already know Professor Snape, don't you?" Professor Dumbledore asked, with a playful twinkle in his eyes.

Miranda nodded and smile faintly.

"Good evening, professor," she greeted Severus.

He kept silent and just stared at her. She knew he was thinking the same things as she was and that didn't help at all. She stood up, grabbed her bag and said:

"I'll see you in two weeks, professors."

She left the room fast and didn't stop until she was back at the gates. Everything back to normal? Was she stupid? Professor Snape…. She leaned against the gated and closed her eyes. Did he really have to be in every part of her life?