The next few days were uneventful. Severus had told me that we would most likely not see a lot of him as things were changing so quickly and he was still one of Voldemort's most trusted followers. He would be needed quite often, and I understood. It was odd, in light of this new world order that he would still be working alongside the other Death Eaters, but, I supposed there wasn't much else to do unless he would outright betray them and that wouldn't help anyone.

So, most of my time was spent pouring over the Daily Prophet papers that Severus supplied me with, heating up tea on the rickety old stove and munching on stale crackers and bits of dried meat. I knew Severus did what he could, and it really wasn't much different from when we three were on the run on our own. My wounds were healing nicely – I'd always have scars of course, but it didn't really matter what I looked like. I'd be lucky to survive outside of this tiny cellar after all.

Ron stayed unconscious, though it seemed that he was getting more aware as time went on. He would flinch and screw up his eyes if I dropped the tea kettle, or shift the position of his head if I coughed. The last time Severus was here, he told me that he'd wake soon, and should be mostly healed. What we would do once that happened, though, was anyone's guess.

Footsteps across the ceiling interrupted my thoughts. My heart always skipped a beat or two before I recognized those familiar dragon skin boots on the stairs… there was no telling what sort of harm could befall us in this strange place. The few times I had seen him come down, he was always concentrated on the tray or bag he held in his hands, only glancing up after finishing his descent. He would then glance at Ron before giving me a small nod, producing a stool out of thin air, and filling me in on any information he could give me. Sometimes we sat in silence with tea. But always he checked over our wounds and gave me an update.

"He'll be awake within 24 hours or so." He proclaimed as he finished checking Ron over. He then turned on me, his cold, thin and pale hands lightly checking all my bandages. "You'll live." He said offhand. The corner of my mouth tilted up a bit before thoughts of Harry set in. He noticed my face and followed my train of thought.

"I apologize. That was inappropriate."

"No, it's all right. I'm going to need to make my peace with it sooner or later." I said weakly, managing a half smile. Severus looked as uncomfortable as I'd ever seen him. He seemed to look everywhere to avoid my gaze, his hands restlessly fidgeting and there was an awkward silence that stretched too long.

"Any news?" I asked finally, swallowing down the lump in my throat.

"No," he cleared his own throat, "I have a lead on finding some Order Members but I'll need time to pursue it."

"I see."

"Things are…different out there."

"It's only been a week." I reasoned. He finally met my eyes, showing me how sincere he was.

"Much can be accomplished in seven days."

"The world, I suppose." I muttered.

"The wizarding world for certain. The Ministry is already restaffed. The specifics of the new jobs are still being worked out. The school has been rebuilt. They are working on a few new additions…." He trailed off.

"Additions? You mean the dungeons?" Severus nodded.

"They're really going to put students in the dungeons?" I asked incredulsously.

"Only the impure ones."

I turned to look at him in shock. His face maintained it's composure as he shifted his eyes from the foot of my cot to my face. Another beat or two went past before a small shift of recognition crossed his face.

"Once again, my apologies. Every day this is how I must speak. It becomes…routine." Another uncomfortable silence hung between us for several seconds.

"That's not how you feel though, is it?"

"Pardon?"

"I mean, you don't think we…my…the 'impure' need to be punished?"

"Of course not. I am not a pure blood either after all." I recalled what Harry said about Severus admitting to being the Half Blood Prince and nodded. A thought crossed my mind.

"But you are close to V…him…are you not? How would you gain such trust if you aren't even a pure blood?"

"I was willing to go along with his plans. I am quite accomplished in potions and dark magic. I gained his trust when..." he trailed off, a haunted expression painted on his features. "Well, I rose to a challenge; and that combined with my…talents… I seem to have gained the admirings of a particular Dark Lord."

I smirked at this, noting once again how strange it was to hear the Professor who frightened the living daylights out of my fellow classmates make light of a particularily desperate situation.

"I suppose that's all we can do." The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them.

"Come again?" I could feel myself flush.

"Erm… I just meant that…with things the way they are out there…perhaps laughing about it is all we can do…for now." My eyes flitted around nervously for a moment. When they met his once more I noticed with relief that he had the smallest of smiles on his lips – perhaps a bit sad – but a smile nonetheless.

Suddenly he let out a low hiss and hunched over. I, in turn, leapt to my feet and drew my wand. A thin, shaky hand lifted to calm me. He lifted his head just enough to reveal one dark brown eye and a small bit of sweaty brow through the curtain of his black hair.

"I'm fine," he said through gritted teeth. "The Dark Lord…is calling me." My lips parted in shock as everything came together and I realized that it was his dark mark causing him so much pain... simply for a summons. I watched, speechless, as Severus rose and quickly made his way upstairs, closing the door and I soon heard the soft crack of him apparating away.

Slowly lowering myself onto the cot, I looked over at Ron and wished more than ever that he would wake up. I felt so alone. I didn't even have books to help me think. That gave me a thought. I stood quickly as a thought occurred to me. This was Severus's home! He absolutely must have all sorts of books and novels and textbooks upstairs somewhere. And he had just left….

I bit my lip, weighing the consequences; but, ultimately, I hurried over to the stairs and ascended them as quickly as my weak ankle would allow. Once I got to the top of the stairs, I hesitated foolishly before remembering that no one else was home. I moved slowly through the main level, careful to avoid windows and listened for any hint of arrivals. Not far from the cellar's door, around another set of stairs, was a study with shelves and shelves of books. I glanced around awestruck and quickly began my search. I had just chosen a third book when the unmistakable cracking sound of three separate witches or wizards apparating into the living space sounded.

I froze, scared even to move. It might be Death Eaters. It might, however, also be Severus bringing other Order members to safety. Straining to hear anything, I crept closer to the doorway, hiding my body as much as possible behind the open door and getting as close as I could to the muffled voices.

"This is certainly not necessary, I assure you." I recognized Severus's baritone immediately

"It's not your decision to make, Snape." An unfamiliar male voice sneered. I bit my lip, hoping to recognize the third voice. And I did indeed recognize it. It belonged to one Bellatrix LeStrange.

"Now, now, Severus. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear." Her high pitched cackle that followed made my blood run cold.