When I awoke the next morning, I found myself still on the couch of the common room, a blanket thrown over me. Confused I sat up and felt the memory come back to me. With a sigh I wrapped my arms around me. I could still feel the embrace of the dark-haired man, could still hear his heart beating. Never would I have thought that I would get that close to him, that he would allow for me to call him by his first name.

With a small sigh I turned around and could barely suppress a gasp. I wasn't alone in the room. There, on one of the armchairs, sat the dark-haired man. His head supported by his hand, deeply asleep.

A smile appeared on my lips as I watched him and couldn't help but wonder that he actually had stayed. I remembered me asking him for it. I had been vulnerable and didn't want to be alone – but never would I have guessed that he would actually stay.

Carefully I studied his features. Never had I seen the dark-haired man so relaxed, so calm. His aloof mask replaced by ease. I had often wondered what had made him the way he was, always cold, always distant. I barely knew something about his personal life. Everything I had found out had been in the last two months. And it was basically just two things: there was this red-haired woman in his life of whom I had seen the picture on Halloween that made him cry and the fact that he had pledged his life to Professor Dumbledore. I wished I could just ask him. I wanted to help him, wanted him to be happy, see that smile I had gotten to experience more often on his face. But I knew it would never happen. He would probably forever remain a mystery to me.

"I see you're finally awake."

His voice ripped me out of my daydream. A slight blush on my cheeks I looked at him. "I am so sorry you had to stay with me. I should've not asked you to."

"I had to make sure you were alright anyway. I am your Head of House after all."

I nodded absently. Of course. He had a responsibility to take care of me that was why he had stayed, nothing more.

"Thank you anyway, Professor."

"Severus."

He looked at me intensely. "Whenever we're alone, it can be Severus. That is, if you want it to be."

"Just if you're comfortable with Elizabeth, Severus."

He nodded contently and rose from his chair. "If you're feeling alright, I'll leave you then. If you should require anything else, I'll be in my office… Elizabeth."

And before I could answer the dark-haired man had left the common room, leaving me alone again.

.

For the next few days I didn't see the Potions Master apart from during the meals. He seemed to avoid me, always trying to sit at the other end of the tiny table the Headmaster had left up so the residents of Hogwarts that had stayed could sit together. I could understand him, the sudden intimacy we had shared, him seeing my deepest fears, had been a lot to take in for me as well and still it mad me feel lonely. My friends wouldn't return until after New Year's and talking to my professor had been like having a friend around.

More and more I resorted to staying in the Slytherin common room. I had read the book I had gotten as a present from the dark-haired man a lot, taking in every word about his researches. I had always known that he was incredible when it came to Potions but I couldn't even have guessed how brilliant he really was.

It was New Year's Eve when he decided to talk to me again. I was just making my way out of the Great Hall after dinner, when I heard my name being called.

"Hey Brighton, wait!"

I turned around and looked into the brown eyes of the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, a small smile on his lips. "Do you have any plans for tonight?"

Confused I looked at him, while he was ruffling his hair. "Um… why do you ask?"

I had plans actually. I wanted to spent the evening in the Room of Requirement, checking on my Felix Felicis, maybe brewing something else, before sneaking up to the Astronomy tower. I loved New Year's Eve and even though there were no fireworks at Hogwarts, I always sneaked up to the highest tower, hoping I would see some far away illuminations.

"Well, I thought, you know… you could show me some of the books, you talked about."

I could feel a blush creeping onto my face. Did Oliver Scott seriously ask me to spend time with him? "Um… I kind of had plans…"

"Oh come on, I'd really like to get to know you better. We could sneak into the kitchens, get some Butterbeer and just hang out, celebrate New Year's."

"5 points from Gryffindor for wanting to sneak out, Scott", the dark voice of Severus interrupted our talk. "And you heard Miss Brighton, she is busy and can't join your enlightening company."

I bit my lips to not let out a chuckle while the Gryffindor captain looked angrily at the Potions Professor, but kept silent. He knew very well not to fight with the Head of House Slytherin.

"Miss Brighton, I need to speak with you."

"Um… of course, Sir."

I followed Severus through the Entrance Hall, leaving the irritated Oliver standing there. When we reached the dungeons, out of earshot of everyone else, I dared to speak again.

"Thank you, Severus." I had missed his name on my lips.

The black-cloaked man slowed down a little, letting me catch up to him. "Did you actually have plans?"

"Yes, I wanted to check on my Felix Felicis, maybe brew some more and then climb up to the Astronomy tower around midnight. Maybe I'll catch a glimpse of some fireworks."

I was so happy to talk to him again that I forgot who he actually was. I had just told a teacher that I was planning to sneak out past curfew. I was such an idiot.

Severus came to a halt in front of his office. He had raised his eyebrows at my words. "Elizabeth, I can't let you sneak out."

I felt my heart sink at his words. The idea of spending New Year's Eve alone in the dark common room sounded horrible.

I looked down at Elizabeth noticing how her mood changed instantly. I had avoided her again. The encounter at Christmas had been too much for me, she had gotten too close to me, way too close. I didn't even know why I had stayed, when she had asked me to but the "Of course" had escaped my lips quicker than I had wanted to. I had watched her sleep thinking about how she had been able to influence me that much, to make me care that much. When I had seen her cry, had seen her so vulnerable, it was as my body had reacted on its own. I didn't understand it and it scared me but at the same time I couldn't resist her charm any longer. I wasn't quite sure why I had offered her my first name but when she had called me professor again, the next morning, it had felt so wrong after having been that close to her the night before.

"I know…" Her words interrupted my stream of thought. "I'll go back to my common room then. Good night."

And before I could say another word, the blond girl had walked past me. Confused I watched her and sighed silently.

"Elizabeth, wait."

I caught up to her again. "If you really wanted to brew something, you may use my office and private storage."

Her eyes widened at my words. "That is very generous but I wouldn't want you to have to spend your New Year's Eve with me."

"I don't mind", I answered. "That is, as long as you don't blow us up again."

She let out a tiny chuckle. "Promised."

"Well then."

I opened the door to my office, letting her pass through it. I couldn't help looking forward to brew some potion with her. I had never met anyone who loved the art as much as I did, who had the same passion and talent for it.

"Is there anything in particular you wanted to brew?"

"Actually, yes", she answered. "There is this memory potion I had brewed quite a few times but it was never strong enough. After having read your researches on Fluxweed though, I think I can make it stronger."

I furrowed my brow. "A memory potion? Why would you need that?"

I saw how her body tensed, how she fought with herself before she let out a tiny sigh. "Do you remember the black snakes?"

I nodded, she didn't have to explain further. I remembered the dark reptiles crawling towards her vividly.

"I've had nightmares, ever since I can remember. It's always been the same one, always been the black snakes attacking me, pulling me into the darkness, whispering… I don't know where those dreams came from, nobody was able to tell me. I was adopted when I was five, shortly after they had found me on the streets and had put me in the orphanage. I still don't remember how I got there or what happened before that. The first thing I remember is my adoption." She took a deep breath, talking about it seemed to hurt her. "I just want to know… I need to know what was before that, where the dreams came from. They're too distinct to not have a cause."

Her eyes easily gave away how much it occupied her thoughts, how desperate she was to find out. I knew of course that she had been adopted, the talk of the 'muggle-raised' Slytherin had reached me too but I hadn't heard the circumstances yet.

"I think you are right, they are too peculiar to just be nightmares. I suspect magic behind them, the same goes for your memory loss." I quickly walked over to the table in front of the fireplace where I usually brewed and with a wave of my wand a cauldron appeared. "Get everything from the storage, I'll prepare."

She did as she was told. It wasn't long until the fire under the cauldron was lit and ingredients were being cut. I normally preferred to brew my potions alone, didn't like amateurs tampering with my work, but it was different with her. She knew exactly what she was doing, had a feeling for it, a talent.

"I think it's ready…"

"…for the Fluxweed, yes", she finished my sentence and added it to the liquid which turned light blue. It was done.

Elizabeth took the ladle and scooped some of it out, bringing it to her lips. She had agreed before that it was best to try it here, in my office, were I could help her if somehow the mixture would be poisonous.

Quickly she drank up and placed the utensil back on the table. I watched her carefully, waiting for a sign – but nothing happened. She let out a disappointed sigh before she turned to me, a sad smile on her face.

"Thank you anyway, Severus. It was worth a shot."

"I am sorry, Elizabeth." The apology sounded odd on my tongue – I couldn't remember ever apologizing to a student – but I meant it. I really had wanted to help her.

"It's fine, really. I didn't have high hopes." Her voice gave away that she was lying. "Nevertheless I enjoyed being able to brew with you."

I wanted to tell her the same but felt how my tongue tied at the words. I wasn't used to phrasing my emotions and telling her, admitting out loud, that I enjoyed the time with her was too much.

"Good night then."

"Good night, Elizabeth."

She made her way to the door, as the clock struck midnight, it's sound echoing through my office. The blonde girl stopped in her tracks and turned around again, facing me, a shy smile on her lips and the warmth in her green eyes.

"Happy New Year, Severus", she whispered and wanted to leave when I stopped her again.

"Wait."

Confused she looked at me while I reached for my wand. Her first memory of the new year shouldn't be the failed attempt to restore an old one. With a slight wave the fires in the room were dimmed before I muttered another spell. Colourful lights emerged from the tip of my wand, roaming through my office, exploding like little fireworks. I payed little attention to it, just carefully studied the amazed green orbs of the blonde girl. The astonishment quickly turned into pure happiness and I could feel how it invoked the warmth in me again. The light she was radiating with her smile seemed to fill the dark dungeon, outshining the conjured illuminations with ease. I didn't understand how she was capable of doing it and it fascinated me incredibly.

When the sparkling came to an end and we were enveloped by the darkness of the dungeon again, she simply smiled at me, her eyes full of gratitude.

"Thank you, I couldn't have wished for more", she muttered before she turned around and left my office for good.