A/N-Hello there readers, I am happy to present to you my next, hard worked on chapter. I apologise in advance if it's a long one, but all I can say is, the wheels are in motion. So I hope it's worth it :D

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'Dear Mara,

I hope your holiday is going well, and I'm sorry to hear your friend was attacked, I hope he regains his memory soon so we can get rid of that Auror following you around, I hope you get real answers to that soon.

It sucks you already got a weeks detention for after the holidays, personally I think you shouldn't have snapped at Snape. I know, it's wrong he opened your diary in the first place but perhaps you should have taken better care of it? At least it had an alarm on it, I'd love to have seen his reaction! And I'd love to have one of those myself, but they are rather expensive..

As for me, I am doing good, thanks for asking. My parents are starting to become worried, though. Even though they are muggles, they can still sense something bad is on the horizon.

And Mara, try not to let those dreams, or nightmares control things too much. Don't let Lucius Malfoy pull the strings anymore, for your own well being.

I guess I will say goodbye for now.

Reply soon.

Hermione.

If only it were that easy. Mara thought as she rubbed her forehead.

She stared into the flames scorching in it's fireplace, and tried to rid Malfoy's face out of her mind.

The upbeat rock music playing from the wireless was helping a little, distracting her.

Mara reached out and put her letter on the coffee table, and let her arm hang off the sofa in a lazy fashion. She didn't want to close her eyes, for fear of seeing him clearer.

She pulled herself up off the sofa and ripped out some blank parchment from her diary, she was thankful it didn't scream on her touch. She leant over and began to write.

'Hermione,

I am glad you are well, and I will try to forget the dreams, but it's hard. Now that I don't have classes to keep my mind off things, the memories are getting worse and so are the dreams. And it's only been a week since I wrote to you, what does that say?

And about Daniel, he is being very evasive. Whenever I ask if he's remembered anything, he changes the subject, as if he hadn't heard me, what do I do?

I still haven't received any full answers as to why I have a watchdog following me, it's not like I can't defend myself! I feel like I'm being treated like a child. And Dumbledore still won't give me any real answers,but I've been thinking of going to Snape, maybe he'll tell me something.

I'm sorry to sound so whiny, but I'm sick of being kept in the dark!

Don't let me keep you from your holidays.

Mara.'

Mara sat up and stretched her shoulders, she figured she should probably go and deliver her letter as she stood, she set of to grab her winter coat and scarf. Then she made her way out of the common room, and an Auror was standing outside on guard duty

"Ugh." she muttered, and the Auror began following her, about a mile apart.

She really wished she could ditch the Auror, she smirked at how much trouble the woman would be in if she lost sight of her. There were plenty of hiding places in the castle.

Maybe she should hide for a minute or two, and watch the look of panic on the stinking Auror's face...

Forget it, Mara sighed, what was the point in causing any more drama..?

The owls were quiet when Mara arrived at the Owlery, they seemed to be resting, nestling in their perches. She ascended the rickety staircase with the letter in hand, but she paused at the top of the stairs when seeing a tall figure with his arm's crossed.

"Daniel?" Mara asked as she spotted him, staring out towards the icy lake and beyond, he turned around quite alarmed, then he exhaled.

"Mara, what are you doing here?" he asked, sounding relieved

"Sending a letter, you?" she asked, and Daniel turned around as she neared

"Just enjoying the view.." Mara stared at him "I like it up here, I can think without feeling confined." he explained, and Mara smiled a little.

"Yes, it's nice if you want peace I agree." Mara said as she reached the owl podium, Daniel watched as she called for a school owl, and a grey, aged looking bird swooped down to the perch.

Mara attached the letter to it's long claws along with a small pouch, told it where to head to, then it swooped back out of the tall, windowless archway with a cry.

"You don't have an owl of your own?" Daniel asked as Mara turned back to him

"No..I usually use Draco's owl, but he's taken the thing with him. So it's school owls for me for awhile." Mara explained, and it went quiet for a moment, until Daniel's curiosity got the better of him.

"So. This Draco, are you two..you know?" he asked, unable to help that nagging question. Mara stared at him in confusion, then her cheeks flushed bright pink as she realised what he meant.

"What? N-no! Of course not, I mean..." Mara huffed then looked away in guilt, and she looked back at the owls as they the hooted quietly on their perches.

"You can tell me." said Daniel comfortingly as he neared her, and he looked in worry as she stepped away when he reached out to her.

"No..it's, it's none of your business." Mara said, gripping both her elbows

"You can trust me, Mara." said Daniel truthfully but she frowned a little, and stepped away again as he came closer.

"I...don't know if I can anymore." she said quietly, and Daniel frowned "Professor Snape..he said you might have been cursed multiple times throughout the school year, or even the whole time...is he lying? Or telling the truth?" Mara asked, Daniel went quiet and looked away, trying to find a way to explain.

"Snape isn't wrong..but he doesn't know the facts." Daniel said in irritation

"And what are the 'facts?'" Mara asked, feeling a little impatient, and Daniel sighed quietly

"Please, tell me." Mara whined "I'm sick of being kept in the dark like this, and being treated like a child. Like I can't look after or defend myself." she complained.

"I can't, Mara.." Daniel said mopily, and she put her hand to her forehead and rubbed it, and Daniel could see she was becoming frustrated. He didn't like seeing her like this.

"If you tell me, or Dumbledore he'll keep you safe. Is that what's bothering you?" she asked worriedly, and Daniel looked away again "Are you under threat by someone?"

he looked at the floor, and Mara looked in concern

"You are, aren't you. You have been the entire time." Mara assumed, and Daniel glanced back up at her with truth in his eyes "Idiot, why haven't you said anything!?" she said in disdain "You will be safe here." she said comfortingly, trying to keep it together, and Daniel shook his head.

"No, I'm not..and if I say anything, everyone else will be in trouble too." he said blatantly, giving in. And Mara stared at him.

"Daniel.." Mara walked up to him and took his hand suddenly, Daniel looked in confusion. Just a moment ago she was shying away from him.

But he looked into her sad, warm eyes and felt guilty again "you haveto tell someone. If people really are in danger like you say, you must tell someone. Professor Dumbledore is your best bet. I've told him things about my life he has kept to himself, he's told no one, not even Professor Snape." she said quickly, feeling guilty about that last part.

Daniel felt a little comforted by that, but discomforted that there were things Mara was hiding too.

"...if I tell him" Daniel paused, feeling very unsure if he should say anything at all "..will you be there too?" Daniel asked and Mara stared at him in worry "For moral support." he added and Mara felt relieved.

"I'm glad I've managed to persuade you." she said softly, although Daniel looked downtrodden "You might feel better after you've told someone." said Mara truthfully "..Shall we go now, then?" she asked, letting go of his hand.

"..I guess..sooner rather than later, right?" he said a little shakily and Mara nodded

"Come on, we'll have to arrange a meeting with Professor Dumbledore through that Auror downstairs." Mara added. She watched hopefully as Daniel descend the stairs first, then she followed in toe...

And before they knew it, they were both being rushed to the Headmaster, who Professor McGonagall had to call back from wherever he had been.

"You'll be fine." Mara said comfortingly to Daniel, as they both stood in front of Dumbledore's desk, who was now standing behind it talking to McGonagall quietly.

Dumbledore looked tired, Mara noticed, as he sat down slowly in his chair. McGonagall was leaving the office, and whatever she was going to do, it looked important as she rushed out.

"Mr. Matthews. When you are ready." Dumbledore said simply, in a friendly manner.

Daniel closed his eyes for a moment, then he looked down at Mara who was looking as expectantly at him as Dumbledore was.

"Uh..." Daniel didn't quite know how to start, and he was feeling nervous, as all eyes were on him "..it's kind of hard to explain." Daniel said worriedly, as he scratched the back of his neck.

Dumbledore didn't look put off, but Mara was beginning to feel disappointed, feeling like he was backing out.

"Start from the beginning." said Dumbledore gently, and Daniel sighed

"It might be better explained through a pensieve, Headmaster." said Daniel "I mean, I don't know if there's even one in the school..but.." he went quiet for a moment, and Mara looked between the Headmaster and Daniel before he spoke.

"I, do have one." said Dumbledore seriously, and Daniel looked at him in hopefulness "But perhaps it would be easiest to tell us in person, and in front of Miss Morris." Dumbledore explained, and Daniel frowned "And, if need be, you can show me the memory later." Dumbledore continued, and Daniel felt he was trying to suss whether he was lying or not.

"..Alright." Daniel sighed a little, and Mara looked up at him

"You'll be Ok." said Mara gently, and Daniel smiled a little back at her.

"..Ok. It, started before I met Miss Morris." said Daniel slowly, feeling her eyes on him, and figuring if he was professional about this, he might get through it a bit better. And Dumbledore looked at him, taking it all in "I was being threatened. I was told I would lose my job for what I did, and I had to do as he said or, well..that would happen."

"He? Mr. Matthews?" Dumbledore asked, and Daniel swallowed, Mara looked in worry

"The Death Eater who Imperiused me." It went deadly silent, Dumbledore had a deep look in his eyes, and Mara looked in fear.

"What? A Death Eater?! How could a Death Eater get through-"

"Miss Morris." said Dumbledore, pulling her attention "Please, let Mr. Matthews continue." he said gently, and Mara went quiet reluctantly.

Daniel looked at Dumbledore from Mara, and he balled his fists a little "..he wanted me to do something, and each time I refused him something he cursed me again, and again." Daniel continued, as if he hadn't been interrupted, almost.

He could see the burning question in Dumbledore's eyes, and he relented "He wanted me to keep an eye on Miss Morris. A close eye."

Daniel saw the instant fear in Mara's eyes, but he didn't like the look on Dumbledore's face even more

"Even though I did as he said, I came to like Mara's company, we got along, and he.. didn't like that."

Mara's heart started racing, she couldn't believe what she was hearing

"You-"

Dumbledore put his hand up as Mara spoke, and she went quiet again, she clenched her jaw in a bid to keep quiet. He waited patiently for Daniel to continue again, holding in his insecurities.

"And what did you do? To make him threaten you?" asked Dumbledore carefully, and Daniel looked away in guilt.

"What does he want?" Dumbledore asked, after realising Daniel wasn't about to answer,

but Daniel glanced at Mara meaningfully "Who is he?" Dumbledore asked, realising instantly what the Death Eater wanted by the look on Daniel's face.

"I..I don't know..I didn't see his face." it went silent, and he had a feeling neither Mara or Dumbledore believed that

"You didn't see his face once? The entire time he threatened you?" Dumbledore asked sceptically, and Daniel bit his lip a little.

"..No, I didn't. He kept his mask on." Mara stared in disbelief

"How could a death eater get in the grounds?" Mara asked in a shaky voice, trying to keep her anger in at the same time.

"That is a question best answered by Mr. Matthews." Dumbledore said instantly. Daniel looked up at the headmaster in worry.

After a moments silence, and realising Daniel wasn't about to say anything more, Dumbledore stood and turned impatiently.

"Phineas." Dumbledore called to a stern looking man in his portrait, his beard was pointed and he was wearing robes of silver and green.

"Go to your other portraits in the school, and gather as many Aurors as you can to congregate in the Entrance Hall."

"On my own? How many Auror's must there be in this place?" Phineas asked unhappily, but he stood up anyway at the severe look Dumbledore gave him, Phineas mumbled under his breath as he left his portrait.

"You will not be on your own in this hunt, Phineas. Professor Dippet, please accompany him. But first, retrieve Severus, tell him to come and collect Miss Morris, and to take her back to her common room. And if you could send for Kingsley too, he will need to be here to instruct the Aurors." the old headmaster left his portrait dutifully, and Mara couldn't hold it in

"Why do I have to go to my common room?" Mara demanded, and Dumbledore turned back to her

"You will be safe there, whilst we look for the Death Eater, Miss Morris." Dumbledore said gently

"B-but what if I want to help?" she said desperately

"You will be helping Miss Morris, by staying safe." Mara glared at the Headmaster, what did he or anyone else really care about her safety?

"Mara-" she pulled away when Daniel tried to touch her

"This is yourdamn fault!" Mara growled, and turned to face Daniel, who looked guilty in response "You let the Death Eater get here!" she cringed

"I-I'm sorry." said Daniel, thinking of the only thing he could say

"Miss Morris, please, try to calm down." said Dumbledore gently, pulling her attention again "We will handle the situation discreetly, and you will have to remain in your common room until the Death Eater is found." he said calmly, but Mara looked far from calm

"So, what, I'm just supposed to sit there and twiddle my thumbs?" she said in angry disbelief "I want to help. I don't want to be locked up in the common room." she continued, her voice rising, despite the fear in her heart.

"You will be helping, Miss Morris, by staying safe." said Dumbledore, looking at Mara and Daniel with an unconvinced look on his face. "Professor Snape will be with you, and there will also be an Auror outside keeping watch, as normal." Dumbledore explained, whilst trying to be comforting.

Mara wanted to let him know there wasn't anything normal about having an Auror keep watch over her! But she didn't want to fight anymore.

"Miss Morris." Dumbledore said softly, and Mara went reluctantly quiet "The Auror watching your common room will keep you up to date with what is happening." Dumbledore said "Once we have confirmation on whom this Death Eater is, we will tell you right away, Miss Morris. But until then, please try to calm yourself." Mara scowled and ignored the sound of the door opening, her mind overwhelmed enough already.

"Severus." said Dumbledore, happy for the intrusion "Just in time I think." Dumbledore said perkily, as he watched Snape walk over to them.

Snape glanced between the three, and he felt he'd just interrupted something. Dumbledore seemed on high alert, Matthews looked on edge and Mara seemed unhappy with something; but when wasn't she? He wondered.

"Severus, please take Miss Morris to her common room, and keep her there until further notice. I would like you to stay with her and keep your eye on her." Dumbledore didn't sound convinced, and Snape looked at him in disbelief

"Isn't that the Auror's job?" he asked in annoyance, and Dumbledore shook his head

"You said it yourself, didn't you?" Dumbledore said, and Snape lowered his eyes at him "That the Auror's are unreliable, that someone better should be watching over Miss Morris?" Dumbledore asked in mock sarcasm, and Snape glared at him, he stole a glance at Mara, she looked embarrassed.

"Yes, I did say that. It doesn't mean I should be doing the job." Snape corrected, and Dumbledore rubbed his temples..

"As Miss Morris's head of house it is your duty to oversee your students safety." Dumbledore reminded, and he saw the disdain in Snape's eyes "And that is why I am putting Mara in your care, Professor. As you say, Aurors are unreliable." Dumbledore said, quoting Snape's words again. Snape rolled his eyes quickly, and looked over at Mara, she was seemingly trying to keep out of it as she talked to Daniel.

"I am sorry, Mara. For all of this." Daniel said to her, but Mara looked like she didn't believe him

"If you really are, then tell the truth." she snapped, then walked past him.

Dumbledore noticed Snape give Daniel a quick, smug smirk before he followed after her, and suddenly he wasn't so sure about this.

But Dumbledore had to brush that aside, if he really wanted to catch that Death Eater; and he didn't like the idea of who that Death Eater could be...

Piercing screams and loud explosions sounded around the burning field, everyone was trying to escape the oncoming men in robes and masks, who were prowling the area for victims.

Gleefully they tortured and laughed at the cries of the ones they caught, whilst everyone else was stampeding their way towards the forest in hopes of freedom.

Mara followed and tried not to be trampled on in the crowd, but it was harder than it looked.

She gasped when someone knocked into her shoulder, causing her to spin aside. And again she was knocked into, and pushed to the outskirts of the fleeing crowd.

She rubbed her arm and tried to steady herself, but she froze as a pleading cry caught her attention nearby. Her eyes landed on a woman and her child, who were backing away from an oncoming Death Eater, begging in a foreign language she couldn't understand, and the woman looked like she didn't have her wand on her.

Mara tried to move on, her hands balled and roved to her wand, and her fingers gripped it tightly. She glanced back from the fearful woman and child, and back to the forest again where so many were fleeing to.

She gruffed and pulled out her wand in defeat, she really didn't want to see innocent people hurt

"Hey!" Mara shouted, the Death Eater turned around, looking ready

"Stupefy!" Mara yelled, quicker than he could turn, and a blast of energy hit him square in the chest, sending him backwards into a burnt out tent, crumbling the remaining foundations down with him.

The woman looked back at Mara in fear

"Go!" Mara shouted, the woman picked up her crying child, and showed a sign of appreciation on her face before she rushed off.

"Bitch!" roared a voice from behind, and Mara, without a second to defend, cried out when her arms were grabbed and pulled behind her back painfully, making her drop her wand; she struggled relentlessly to get away, whilst she was being turned around to face her captor.

"Fuck!" snapped the Death Eater

"Get off!" she yelled, and a sharp pain gripped her as a spell hit her, she cried out and fell to the floor in a heap when the Death Eater pushed her away.

Fog swam around in her mind and a buzzing in her ears sounded, the only thing she could think of was the immense pain, unlike anything she's ever experienced, being inflicted on her.

She soon began to hear not so clear voices talking about her, shadows loomed over her and one even closer, she heard laughing as a figure almost covered her completely.

Mara stretched her arm out shakily, feeling the ground for her wand. The Death Eater seemed to realise this, and just as she found it, he gripped her wrist, pulled her wand out of her hand and threw it away again.

"..Morris's brat.." the Death Eater said thoughtfully, Mara squirmed and sobbed feebly as she felt the Death Eaters hand slide over her thigh slowly, then he paused unexpectedly "..nah..."he muttered, sounding as if he was rethinking something over, and Mara whimpered in relief when he let go.

But her whole body shuddered and tensed again when she felt the bloke's boozy, harsh breath against her ear.

"Tell your daddy..." the Death Eater sneered suddenly, gripping her full attention."..I'm coming for him." Mara's body froze and the Death Eater rose off her, and blackness overwhelmed her before she could hear anything more...

Mara gasped heavily and jolted upright, it was warm and she could hear fire crackling, it was like she was still right there, in that blazing field. She looked around and saw the fire was just coming from the stone fireplace, and as she looked around some more, she realised, in her common room.

She quickly got up off the sleek, leather sofa, then held her head in response to the dizziness that followed.

She felt sticky, sweaty from that horrid dream, and she decided it was best to have a nice soak in the bath, and calm herself down, once she had regained her composure.

But before she went to leave, she'd only just noticed that Snape wasn't around, he wasn't sat on the chair he sat at before.

..Maybe he was just outside, getting an update from the Auror? Then she scowled, and hoped it wasn't that pretty woman from before.

She exhaled and rubbed the back of her neck, and decided to go before she thought too much on it, but a part of her was glad for the small distraction...

Almost an hour later, before she fell asleep in the water, she pulled herself out of the bath tub and wrapped a pink towel around herself.

She pressed her hands against the sink and stared at her tired reflection in the mirror.

That dream was still pounding around inside her head. Or, more, that memory.

She had come to realise, during the time she spent in the foamy water, that her dreams were becoming memories, and the memories were becoming clearer.

She now, unhappily remembered what that death eater had said to her four years ago 'Tell your daddy, I'm coming for him.'Mara shuddered, what did that mean? She tried to scour it around her mind, but nothing came up..

But, remembering saving that woman and her child, cheered her up somewhat...yet another part of her wishes she would have just carried on towards the forest. But that would have made her a bad person, wouldn't it?

Mara sighed and hung her head; she looked down as her wet hair fell over her shoulders, in the form of a nice distraction. She pulled it up into a messy bun and stared into the mirror again, she realised she needed a haircut, then she sighed and she wondered why she couldn't worry about things like that every day, like other girls her age..she shook her head and decided to get dressed into her blue top and generic jeans, and took her towel back to the dorm room.

In a bid to take her mind off that 'dream', she took out some homework from her trunk and took it back downstairs, she sat back on the sofa and turned on the radio.

Before Mara could turn to her homework, however, the door to the common room opened. She glanced up to see Snape entering the room, and she watched as he walked silently towards his chair again.

"Sir?" Mara said, drawing his attention "..hows the search going?" she asked in worry, and Snape looked back at her, it looked like he was brooding over something.

"Not well. Morris." Snape replied emptily, pressing his hand against the chair, and Mara looked in disappointment.

"Well...what are they going to do if they can't find that, Death Eater, by the time school starts again?" Mara asked in concern, drawing Snape's distant attention once more, and Snape saw the fear in Mara's eyes.

"I suspect, if your-that Death Eater hasn't been found by the time term starts, the Headmaster would be well advised to close the school until they do." Mara stared in concern, it sounded like Snape just corrected himself. Why?

She looked back down at her homework, and rubbed her shoulder.

"What's happening with Dani-uh, Auror Matthews? Professor?" Mara asked, recalling that Snape didn't like it when she addressed Daniel by first name. Remembering back to the night of Slughorn's party, and she shuddered.

"I don't know." Snape said simply, sounding as if he couldn't care less.

Mara frowned a little at the parchment in front of her, and Snape noticed she was concentrating hard on it.

"What is that?" Snape asked, drawing Mara's attention

"Huh? Oh, just some, homework, sir." Mara said nervously, and it looked like Snape didn't believe her "It's the homework you set us over the holidays, Professor. See." she offered for him to take it, but he seemed to take her word for it this time.

"And what brought you to do your homework, over the festive holidays?" Snape asked blandly, and Mara glanced up at him

"..well, I'm stuck here." Mara said gloomily "Might as well do Something." She added, then looked back at her parchment with warm cheeks, and she wondered..should she tell Snape about what she remembered?

Snape looked at her, and it seemed like she was struggling with something

"Have you learnt, Stupefyyet, Morris?" Snape asked out of the blue, and the look on Mara's face had confirmed to him that she hadn't.

"Uh...sort of-I mean, I haven't had the chance." Snape rose his eyebrow at her, and she stared "I haven't had a partner to duel with!" she protested, almost knowing what he was thinking "How can I practice without a partner!?" she explained quickly

Snape looked at her in disdain

"Then practise with me." he said, and Mara stared

"What? B-but this isn't a classroom." Snape gave her another disdainful look as he stood, she frowned then stood begrudgingly.

Mara knew the drill, and she and Snape stood a foot away from each other and took out their wands

"Sir-"

"The key is to concentrate." Snape explained, cutting Mara off "Now, I will defend. At the ready." Snape commanded, and Mara quickly took her stance, if wobbly

"One-two-three-"

Stupefy! Mara spoke in her mind and swung her wand, only a small bolt of power escaped the tip, and Mara didn't like the mocking look in Snape's eye.

"Again." Snape ordered, and she held her wand out

Stupefy! She concentrated harder, and a jet of power streamed weakly towards Snape, who merely swung his wand off the dust.

"Again."

Stupefy! She cried louder in her head, more power escaped with a more energetic swing, but Snape defended himself quickly enough with a shield charm, which deflected the spell away, and caused a vase to smash to the ground. But Mara looked happy with the effort, despite Snape's annoyance.

"Again." he called, getting back into stance, ignoring the smashed vase.

Stupefy! She swung her wand eagerly, the quick fire hit Snape's instant shield, which hurtled back towards Mara, and sent her flying onto the floor with a gasp.

"You are getting there." Snape commented, and Mara glanced up at him with a pleased expression on her face, despite the fact she'd just attacked herself "Continue." He gestured for her to get up, and she hoisted herself up with help from a chair. And suddenly she wondered why they were duelling, instead of talking about what happened earlier in Dumbledore's office.

She went back into her stance nevertheless, and without a moments thought,

Stupefysounded in her mind, and Snape just barely had time to use his shield against it, which, in turn caused him to fly across the room and to hurtle to the floor.

"I did it!" Mara exclaimed in delight, which was short lived upon noticing Snape unmoving on the floor.

"..Professor?" she asked in worry, pausing and looking over at him "Sir?" she hurried over to Snape, then relief hit her as he moved and she looked down at him in worry

"Are-are you alright..?" she knelt down and tried to help him to sit up, but he pulled away and helped himself up "I-I didn't mean to..."

Mara stepped back as Snape pulled himself up with the help of a table.

"Professor?"

"Speak of this to no one." he threatened, and Mara looked down

"I wont.." she said quietly, and he knew she wouldn't "huh." Mara looked as Snape pressed his hand against the table, almost locking her in.

He didn't know what had come over him, but when he looked into her confused, blue eyes it felt like the beast inside him was escaping, and he wanted her; And Mara could see the wildness in his dark eyes.

"..Mara.." Snape trailed off and stared at her again, could it be that, because she had actually shown some power, he was..turned on, by it?

Mara's heart was pounding, and the inhalation of sugar candy again was enough to drive him. Where was this daring part of him coming from, suddenly?

"..Sir.." she said raggedly, and closed her eyes for a moment as he leaned in.

She pressed her sweaty palms gently against his chest, and she allowed one to slide slowly towards his shoulder, and cup it. Snape closed his eyes and jolted a little when her fingers dug into his back, but, he wasn't complaining.

This is what Mara had wanted, for them to just, accept each other. What was wrong with that? It felt..right. Right, but..awkward.

They were both tensed, trying to figure out what was going to happen next.

"..sir..." Mara whimpered, then she flinched suddenly

'You know what to address me as.' growled a voice

'I-I'm sorry, sir.'

She squeezed her eyes shut, and before she could pull away, Snape had already reeled back as the door opened, with raised voices behind it. Daniel and an Auror had appeared.

Of course, there wasn't any damn privacy at Hogwarts, Snape sneered to himself. But, apart of him was thankful for the distraction.

Snape took this to be his exit, and he moved quickly away from Mara, as she stood there in shock.

She watched as Snape approached the Auror, and it was the same woman from before, jealousy shot through her like a lightning bolt and she glared over at them.

The Auror led Snape out, and tears were beginning to form in the corner of her eyes.

"..Mara?" Daniel asked in increased worry, as he walked over to her, and he looked in surprise when she leant into him, he thought she hated him now "..what's wrong?" Daniel asked "Did Snape upset you?" he asked irritably

"..i-is there something wrong with me?" Mara sobbed, and Daniel looked down at her "..I..I can't just be..normal?"

"Mara, you Are normal. But you aren't making any sense..what has he said or, done?"

"N-nothing." she shook, and Daniel decided to press his hands on her back in comfort "I'm just.." Mara sighed quietly "scared.." Daniel took that to mean she was scared of the death eater, because of him.

"But..th-there's something I need to tell Professor Dumbledore." she said shakily, and Daniel looked back down at her in worry

"I-I've remembered something," she let go of Daniel quickly and rubbed her eyes of the tears, trying to dismiss Lucius Malfoy's voice from her mind, ruining everything "I remember, what that Death Eater said to me four years ago."

Daniel stared at her

"You mean..at the Quidditch world cup?" he asked and Mara looked in surprise "Dumbledore's told me all about it, in hopes I might tell Him something about it.."

Mara looked away briefly

"What did you remember?" he asked in concern

"He mentioned my father." Mara said, trying to sound more stern through her shaky voice, as she stared at Daniel determinedly.

"Then, we'd better get you to Dumbledore." said Daniel, despite his horror, and he let Mara lean into him again. Mara leant her head onto Daniel's chest and closed her eyes, and despite everything, she imagined the chest she was leaning on to be Snape's. And she had a sudden feeling of dread she couldn't brush off..

A/N A note about publishing. Since the holidays are nearly here it's getting hectic, and it's getting harder to publish. But I'm determined to finish and I will keep on publishing, even if there may be long gaps. So I will apologise in advance for that issue

But in the meantime enjoy your holidays guys! :D