They trudged up the road towards Hogwarts. Nova kept peering, paranoid, around the shadows for Greyback. Fortunately, they reached the gates without any sign of him.
Despite the fear Nova naturally felt she was excited to see Hogwarts once more. She spent the better part of her adolescence in the castle and had a sort of attachment towards it. Severus opened the huge front doors and they entered the dark hall. A little pinprick of light was coming towards them accompanied by footsteps. Severus threw out an arm to stop Nova from moving.
"Who is it?" demanded a voice familiar to Nova.
"Professor McGonagall!" she cried happily.
"No," said McGonagall. "That's me." She smiled warmly at Nova for a second before a worried expression crossed her face. "How did you get in here? What are you doing? These are dangerous times, Miss Romanov; you do not just go wandering around." For the first time McGonagall seemed to notice Severus. "Professor Snape, I did not see you."
"Professor McGonagall, since you're up, could you please take care of Miss Romanov here. She has had an accident." Severus strode off.
When he reached the stone gargoyles outside Dumbledore's office, forever Dumbledore's and never his, he said, "Peppermint!" This password reminded him of Dumbledore and how it should be Dumbledore, not him, living there. He went up the stairs and entered the office, but not without waiting to see if Dumbledore would invite him in like he used to do. Severus walked up to Dumbledore's dozing portrait and watched it sadly.
McGonagall and Nova went into McGonagall's office and shut the door behind them for privacy. McGonagall lit several lamps and pushed Nova into a chair. She lifted Nova's chin and examined the scratches.
"How did you get these, Nova?"
Nova explained the situation to McGonagall, telling her about her earlier meeting with Greyback and the fortune gone amiss.
McGonagall retrieved a bottle of a bitter-smelling, brown liquid from her cabinet and began blotting it on Nova's face. "You're lucky they weren't much deeper. Bill Weasley was attacked by Greyback and his face is covered in scars. Yes, you're very lucky, Nova, that Snape found fit to save you."
Nova nodded. "I am grateful."
"You're done." McGonagall stepped back and surveyed her work. Nova's face was fine other than some red streaks that would fade soon.
"Thank you, Professor." Nova hesitated. "What do I do now?"
"It looks like you are going to have to find Snape. I'm sorry, Nova."
"No, it isn't your fault. Where is he, do you think?"
"It would be my guess that he is in Dumbledore's office. The password is 'peppermint.'"
"I'll be seeing you then." Nova walked to the door.
"Take care, Nova."
Nova found her way to the Headmaster's office, passing through the places of her childhood. Nova knocked on the office door. She half expected for Dumbledore to open it, but instead Severus jerked it opened and stood back to let her in.
The room had not changed much since the last time Nova had been there, when it belonged to Dumbledore. The only differences Nova noticed was that a portrait of Dumbledore was now next to those of the other headmasters and mistresses and that a bowl of candies was lacking from the desk.
Nova entered with as much dignity as she could muster and looked around at the familiar surroundings. She smiled at the snoring portraits, recalling the way they talked to her sometimes. She leaned over the Pensieve. She only knew its name and had never discerned its use. Nova felt the soft chintz of Dumbledore's chair and gazed down at the papers littering the desk. She was surprised to find that among the pages covered in spiky dark writing she could detect snatches of Dumbledore's elegant script.
She looked up at Severus who was watching her. Nova backed away from the desk. They stared at each other for a minute, listening to the ancient grandfather clock in the corner announce one a.m.
As the chimes faded, Severus said, "We ought to get some sleep tonight."
"Indeed," agreed Nova.
Severus took his wand from the pocket of his robes and conjured a great four-post bed with pink canopy and hangings.
"This will be where you sleep." He informed her. He glided past her, heading toward the stairs, but paused and turned to face her. His lips were parted, as if to speak, but he remained silent, his eyes locked on hers.
Nova thought he was going to reach for her, at the very least say something, but instead he turned abruptly away and ascended the steps silently.
She climbed onto the bed. It was a bed she would have dreamed of as a young child, the satin pink canopy and squishy feather pillows. She crawled under the pink and white quilt embroidered with lace. The mattress sunk under her weight and molded to her body. She sighed blissfully and drifted off to sleep. She figured if she had this wonderful dream bed, why not use it?
When Severus returned downstairs later that morning in fresh robes, Nova was still sound asleep, a small smile on her lips. Severus looked at the pink bed and decided that as soon as she awoke, it would have to go. He could not work with that ugly bed taking up his office space. He left the office and went to the Great Hall for breakfast, sending a House-Elf to look after Nova. The first students and teachers were only just arriving in the hall.
Nova yawned and stretched and thought about going back to sleep before she remembered where she was and why. She sat bolt upwards and stared around. The sun was streaming through the east windows.
"Miss," said an annoying high-pitched voice.
Nova screamed and sprang out of the bed. She was going to dash for the door when she saw the source of the voice. A small House-Elf with large pointed ears was watching her with wide amber eyes. She sighed and lay back on the bed saying to herself, "It's only a House-Elf, Nova."
"Yes, it is only Twinkle." agreed the Elf.
"I am sorry, Twinkle, I did not know you were here." Nova said to the little creature. There was something about House-Elves she found cute. She thought maybe it was their oversized ears.
"Don't apologize to Twinkle, Miss Nova. Master Snape sent Twinkle to take care of Miss Nova. Twinkle has clothes and food for Miss Nova."
Nova realized, a little embarrassed, that she had went to sleep in her clothes from yesterday. Her robes were wrinkled and twisted awkwardly around her body. She tried to straighten them.
The House-Elf jumped onto the bed. "Let Twinkle,"
As the Elf undressed her, Nova asked, "Where is Master Snape?"
"Master is having breakfast in the Great Hall. Master told Twinkle to bring Miss Nova breakfast here."
Freed from her old robes, Nova pulled on the fresh ones Twinkle had brought her. They were the standard black Hogwarts robes and, she was pleased to see, were lined in blue silk, her House color. She asked Twinkle where the robes came from as the Elf presented her with a platter of sausages and hotcakes. Nova conjured a table to eat at.
"Twinkle borrowed them from a student. Luna Lovegood is her name. She is not at school right now. Miss Luna was taken to Azkaban."
Nova did not answer and Twinkle left with a loud crack.
Twinkle, with another crack, appeared at Severus's elbow. He was eating a bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar sprinkled on it.
"Master Snape," squeaked Twinkle. "Miss Nova is awake."
"Is she eating? Did you find robes that fit her?"
"Yes, master, she is eating breakfast right now and is in clean robes."
"Very good, Twinkle, you may go."
Nova finished her breakfast, wiped her mouth on a napkin, and called, "Twinkle?"
Twinkle appeared at the foot of her bed. "Are you finished with breakfast? Let me take your tray." Twinkle took the tray and disappeared once more. Nova banished the table where she had eaten away.
Nova looked around the room. It reminded her of her childhood, when Dumbledore was always there, You-Know-Who was gone forever, and Harry Potter was only a baby. She tried to go back to those days, when you could walk through Hogsmeade without seeing a single Death Eater, when she looked forward to being a Gypsy.
She almost felt like an adolescent again until the pink bed where she had spent her night ruined the enigma of sitting in Dumbledore's office waiting for him to come and lecture her on the dangers of the Forbidden Forest. She did not want to send the bed away; instead she shrunk it until it fit in the palm of her hand and sat it delicately on the desk.
She sat down in a chair in front of the desk and tried to imagine Dumbledore sitting on the other side. She could almost see his bright blue eyes and snowy beard. His hands, both perfectly alive, were folded before him and he was wearing midnight blue robes spangled with silver crescent moons and matching Wizard's hat.
"Miss Romanov?" asked an ever familiar voice.
Nova looked around for Dumbledore's ghost.
"Miss Romanov, up here,"
Nova looked up at the portrait of Dumbledore, who was now awake. He smiled at her warmly.
"Dumbledore, how are you? Wait…No…You're dead. Are you…What's it like being a portrait and all?"
"Never mind that, Miss Romanov, what are you doing here? Do not tell me you were levitating Mr. Filch's cleaning equipment above his head again!"
Nova laughed. "No, I have not. It's kind of a long story."
"Don't worry about the story, I have already heard. News travels fast between portraits."
Nova was about to ask for advice on what she should do, but the door opened and in came Severus. "Good morning, Miss Romanov." Severus walked to the opposite side of the desk and sat down in Dumbledore's chair. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, thank you," Nova answered crisply.
Severus shuffled some papers on the desk. "I have work to do, Miss Romanov. I suggest you find something to do." He picked up a quill and dipped it in an ink pot.
Professor Sprout sat next to Nova. The day was beautiful but impossible to enjoy. Nova wrapped her arm around the waist of her old Herbology teacher who sobbed into her shoulder. Tears were running down Nova's face and into her hair. She could barely stand to look at the fragile-looking body lying before them. The little man spoke on and on about Dumbledore's life, his achievements, and his affability.
Nova knew, watching Dumbledore's tomb being consumed by flames, that the end of his life brought on a new era, an era where chaos and uncertainty ruled.
"I think I'll take a walk." Nova announced suddenly.
"Where to?" asked Severus nonchalantly.
Nova hesitated. If she told him where she planned to go, would he let her? "To Dumbledore's grave."
Severus seemed unsurprised. "Of course, perhaps you would like to borrow a cloak? I'm sure Alecto would lend you one. Classes have not started yet; she's probably in her office."
"Thank you," Nova said and slipped through the door and down the stairs.
She looked up and down the corridor. A few students were walking towards their first class.
"Excuse me," Nova said to a fair-haired boy with a swollen lip. He looked to be maybe a third year.
He looked Nova over, saw where she had come from, and sneered. "Yes?"
Nova felt herself flush. "I am looking for Professor Carrow's office. Could you tell me where it is?"
The boy smirked. "Which Professor Carrow, there's a brother and a sister?"
"I'm looking for the sister, Alecto Carrow. Would you happen to be able to show me where her office is?"
"Yeah, I guess. At the end of this corridor take a right and go down that flight of stairs. At the bottom, turn left and her office is the second door on the left. A portrait of toads is across the hall from it."
"Thank you," Nova said and followed his directions. She knocked on the door, almost hoping she would not be there.
"What?" Alecto demanded, yanking the door open. "Oh," she said when she saw Nova. "It's Snape's slave, is it? What do you want? Something for Snape, I guess."
"Well, actually, I was wondering if I could borrow a cloak."
Alecto blinked. "You want to borrow a cloak? What type of crazy errands is Snape sending you on? Here, come in and I'll try to find you a cloak, though I have no idea what you need it for."
Nova stepped inside. She was standing in a small, but tidy, office with a desk covered in homework assignments that needed to be graded and broken quills. Several soft chairs were situated around the room. The adjoining room was Alecto's private sitting room and bedchamber. Nova waited in the office as Alecto vanished into her bedchamber and reappeared with a thick cloak, which she handed to Nova.
"Thank you, Professor Carrow. I'll return it, I promise."
Alecto grunted in response and opened the door for Nova to leave.
Nova remembered the castle pretty well and was able to find the Entrance Hall with ease. Before stepping outside she wrapped the cloak around her shoulders and pulled the hood up.
She tramped towards the lake, her heels often getting stuck in the damp earth. Her blonde hair swirled around her. A chilly breeze was coming off the lake, but Nova knelt down at the place where Dumbledore rested.
The world was spinning. It was spinning around Severus and Dumbledore. Severus's head was spinning. It was spinning around the decision he had to make right then.
It was the most the difficult thing he ever had to do, but Severus uttered the fatal curse.
The world was not spinning any longer. It was frozen in place. Everyone was frozen, watching Dumbledore propelled over the edge of the tower with the force of the spell.
Then the world was falling. It was falling apart. Falling apart as Dumbledore was falling. He was just falling. Dumbledore was falling to the ground and he was dead.
Severus turned and ran. It felt like he was running from a crime. He was really running from himself.
He did not recognize himself. Who was that man who killed Dumbledore?
One part of him said it was a man who did what he could, however desperate it was, to redeem himself.
The other part told him he was a coward who stayed close to the Dark Lord for safety.
Since Severus had been Headmaster he had not went to Dumbledore's grave. He could have gone anytime, but he chose not to. He did not want the grief and regret that would accompany such a trip, both physical and emotional.
Right then, sitting in his office, he felt an overwhelming urge to go to the gravesite.
He almost stood up and went but remembered Nova was there. Would he be invading her privacy if he was to go? How well had she known Dumbledore?
Severus went to his closet and retrieved a cloak. He left his office, the ink on the nib of his quill drying, and walked through the corridors, weaving between students. He dodged Filch who wanted to know how to punish a child who had locked Mrs. Norris in a cupboard and slipped through the front doors. His cloak billowed out behind him as he walked towards the lake. The wind blew his black hair away from his face.
Nova looked up as Severus approached. His long hair was swept away from his face and his dark robes and cloak were undulating about his thin body. She stood up immediately wondering if he was angry with her. Had she taken too long? Nova feared he was sick of her and was going to drown her in the lake.
Nova removed her wand from the deep pockets of her robes. She pointed it at him threateningly. "Do not come any farther. I do not know what you want and what you might do to me. Just don't move."
Severus stopped and watched her. Great, he thought, she's afraid I'm going to attack her. He wondered vaguely why he had not confiscated her wand. Surely he should have foreseen something like this happening? Severus eyed her wand and considered whether or not she was a good dueler. Dumbledore had said she was talented, but Dumbledore also thought Harry Potter was talented and where was Potter now? Oh, that's right, he chuckled dryly, no one knows because he's hiding.
Severus had pulled his wand from his pocket without Nova even seeing him do it. He aimed the wand at her. Nova's surprise at his speed did not register on her face. To Severus, she looked determined and very angry.
"Why don't you curse me?" she demanded.
"I have no reason to harm you." Severus replied quietly, watching her every movement closely.
"Then why did you come here? You knew I would be here."
Severus also knew she had a point but waved it away. "Put your wand away, Nova."
"Why should I? Why should I not kill you and take my freedom back? I could liberate myself and avenge Dumbledore, and no doubt countless others also, with one spell."
Severus lowered his own wand. He had not thought about the fact that Nova, and everyone else for that matter, considered him Dumbledore's murderer. It had slipped his mind that no one else knew the circumstances, understood the plan, or even knew that Dumbledore was doomed anyway. Dumbledore had made his poisoned, his infected, hand seem like a minor injury and only Severus and himself knew the truth. Only they knew that it would eventually, slowly and painfully, kill him.
"Because," he said slowly. "That is not the way Dumbledore would want to be avenged. If you think Dumbledore would have wanted you to kill me, you did not know him very well."
"He may not have wanted it, but he at least deserves it, doesn't he? Shouldn't his murderer be brought to justice?"
His eyes flashed dangerously. After Dumbledore's death, the Dark Lord's ascension to power was rapid. Severus was not used to being accused of murder, but congratulated for it. He was a hero to the Dark Lord after he had killed Dumbledore. He did not feel good about it, but he had did it, at least in his belief, for the common good. Though no one alive other than him knew how complicated a situation it was and how long it had been being planned out.
And this accusation was coming from no less than a Gypsy.
No, Severus corrected himself, not even a Gypsy anymore, a slave.
Severus surveyed Nova. She was a wanderer. She was almost as tall as he and very thin, like the malnourished Gypsy she was. Her long blonde hair was silky and thick. Her dark blue eyes stood out vibrantly from her pale heart-shaped face. His black eyes studied her blues ones, searching for the source of determination behind them. He wanted to know why she did what she did. Firstly, though, he had to assert his authority.
"Miss Romanov, put your wand away." Severus ordered firmly.
Nova raised her arched eyebrows. She hesitated for a moment before lowering it without putting it away. She did not want to be completely submissive to him, but then she did not want to give him a reason to hurt her.
They both eyed each other suspiciously. It was very quiet and still outside. Even the lake was motionless, thin sheets of ice floating on its surface. Each breath they took produced a little white cloud of condensation which rose up before their faces. His eyes feel to her lips, parted and bright red from the cold and her creamy throat, exposed by the too-big cloak. Nova shivered as his dark eyes slid over her and she could not resist the thought that the moment was slightly sensuous.
At first Nova thought the footsteps coming closer were her heartbeat. Soon the steps were close enough that Severus and Nova cold hear the crisp blades of grass crunching beneath shoes. Severus whirled around and Nova took his turned back as an invitation to stun him. The student running towards them skidded to a halt next to the Headmaster's body.
"What do you want?" demanded Nova of the boy.
She thought he was probably a first-year, slight with a round face. A purplish bruise circled one of his hazel eyes and his uncut hair did not hide the long gash he was sporting down the side of his face. His eyes flicked from Severus to Nova and back again. He did not know if he should be scared of this strange woman or worship her for ridding the school of Snape. He chose to just gape.
"He is simply stunned." Nova said in a reassuring tone. "He will recover, I promise. Now what is it you want?"
"I have a message for the Headmaster from Professor Carrow." The boy stopped gaping and stared interestedly at the stunned professor.
"Well, then, I suppose I'll have to revive him so you may tell him your message and get an answer."
"No!" exclaimed the boy. "I…I just mean…that…Yes, I guess you'll have to." The boy sighed, resigned to the fact that Snape would have to be returned to his usual condition.
Nova snickered lightly and recovered Severus. He struggled to his feet, glowering at Nova. Nova simply shrugged. Severus casted her one last of his threatening glares before turning to the messenger-boy.
The boy looked boldly into his Headmaster's eyes and relayed the message. "Professor Carrow says the Minister of Magic will be joining you for dinner in the Great Hall this evening. Mr. Thicknesse would like to check up on the student progress and go over the lesson plans again."
Severus cursed under his breath. "Tell Professor Carrow to be sure everyone is at dinner in the Great Hall tonight and that two extra seats need to be added to the High Table, one for Thicknesse and one for Miss Romanov."
"You're going to allow me to meet the Minister of Magic?" Nova asked. "I did not realize those in my…ah, position usually receive such honors."
Severus scowled at her. "You aren't meeting the minister; you're having dinner in the same room with him. It is quite different, you see. You probably will not even be addressed by him. If you prefer eating with the House-Elves though I'm sure we could arrange that."
Nova watched the messenger-boy as he walked away and said, "I do not believe I would prefer that. Though I guess you would prefer it if I went and lived with the House-Elves. You don't seem to care for me much. I did not realize Death Eaters were ever unhappy with gifts given to them by their master."
Severus gritted his teeth angrily. "I do not consider people gifts, but if you think of yourself as one, I'll treat you as one. I wonder what I shall do with you. I could always re-gift you. Greyback would enjoy you as a Christmas gift."
"You mean Christmas supper?" demanded Nova, strutting off towards the castle.
Severus did not answer and she kept walking, proud and aloof. She threw open the front doors and crossed the Entrance Hall, trying to appear confident. The students, milling about before their next classes, stared at her as she ascended the stairs. They looked at one another, wondering what this new blonde apparition meant.
"I saw her coming from the Headmaster's office this morning!"
"She asked me for directions to Professor Carrow's office."
"Which one?"
"The witch,"
"Is she a new teacher?"
"I think she is a reincarnation of Albus Dumbledore!"
"She's Snape's lover!"
Severus, instead of lingering at the tomb, which made him feel nauseous, had trailed behind Nova. The students did not notice him immediately and he caught the gist of their speculations. When they detected his presence all the talk of reincarnations and mistresses ceased and was replaced by quiet murmuring about the day's lessons. Severus pursued Nova up the stairs, ignoring the inquisitive students. They passed through corridors and climbed several more flights of stairs. They seemed to be going to the Headmaster's office, but Severus really could not say. All at once, alone in a corridor, Nova turned on him.
Severus watched silently as Nova stood there, in her wrinkled robes, looking around. She seemed to be trying to think of words to say. She sighed a little, staring at her surroundings.
"Snape," she addressed him. "I spent seven years in this castle. Perhaps they were the most important seven years of my life, I can't say. I could have remained here longer, but I chose not to. I think it hardly makes a difference. Dumbledore gave you a position here for a reason, but I do not know that reason. I do not think anyone can understand Dumbledore's reasoning. I just find it hard to swallow that he would have given you a position at the school if he knew you were a Death Eater. Dumbledore was the most powerful, intelligent man I, or any who knew him, had ever met. There must be some reason, Snape. Dumbledore would not have given you such influence with the students if he did not trust you."
"What are you asking, Miss Romanov?"
"I don't know," Nova answered. "I don't think I'm asking anything. I'm just saying that it is strange that Dumbledore trusted you so much. I guess he had his reasons. There must be something about you that makes you different from the others."
Severus was on the verge of telling Nova his story. Telling her about his childhood and how he was a Half-Blood. Telling her about being a Slytherin and the pressure he faced and explaining his friendship with Lily and his love for her. Talking about his vow to protect Harry and all the mistakes he had made. Admitting to her what was really going on that night on the tower. It was all on the tip of his tongue, but he bit it back.
Nova, frightened that he might be angry at her boldness, stepped back from him, but Severus grabbed her shoulders and pulled her to him. She winced at the rough grip and he loosened his fingers without releasing her. Nova bowed her head, watching his feet rather than meet his eyes. Severus slackened his grip more and moved away from her.
He brushed past her and she followed without asking anymore questions. Severus went directly to his desk in his office and started working. Nova sat in a chair watching him without anything else to do, watching the way he chiseled the words into the parchment, the way he read through papers rapidly and jotted down notes. Severus attempted to ignore her, her blue eyes boring holes into the top of his head and he surreptitiously glanced up at her, self-conscious of the way he blotted his ink and his hair fell into his face.