Severus told Felicity carefully of the passing of the two years she had been asleep. He told her tentatively of the Dementors and Sirius Black. He touched upon the details of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, uncertain what to tell her. As it came to the maze, his words faltered and he grew silent.

"That was months ago now," he said after a time, "we've entered a new school year."

"Ess," said Felicity sharply, "what are you keeping from me?"

Severus smiled bitterly. She knew him better than he would like to admit.

"Felicity, I have always warned you, haven't I, that Dark magic never truly dies?"

Felicity nodded thoughtfully, thinking about the words the Pegasus had said.

"The Dark Lord..." words again failed Severus and he looked down at his hands.

Felicity gasped in realization.

"He lives?" she whispered.

Severus looked up at her with a strange torment in his eyes.

"He has returned. He is regaining his strength. But he is staying hidden."

With a sigh, Severus began to explain that he was being forced to return to his old masters side on Dumbledore's orders. He told her of the Order of the Phoenix. Once the information he felt safe to relay to her was given, they fell silent, lost in their own thoughts.

"Felicity," he said quietly, "what happened the night you were attacked?"

Felicity froze in place. She was worried he would be angry with her, but all she felt was sadness and disappointment, which was far worse.

"I was restless... Then I felt that I should get out of bed and walk. I walked a while, then I felt something there, something Dark... And then... There was something behind me and something ahead of me. Then the thing behind me touched my neck," she shivered at the memory, "then the thing ahead told it to leave me and it did."

They sat in silence.

After a while, Severus put Felicity to bed, as she was tired. For the first time, in a very long while, he slept soundly that night.

Severus jolted awake. He had over slept- what if the alarms had gone off when he had been sleeping? And Felicity had started to-? But then, with a sigh of relief he remembered that Felicity had awoken, he no longer had to listen for those damned alarms. With a slight pang of guilt, he remembered that he was supposed to alert Dumbledore of any changes and he had forgotten to in his joy the night before.

He rose and showered, washing his hair which had become greasy with neglect, then dressed and made his way to the living area humming to himself. He was greeted by the sight of Felicity in the small living room curled up with a book on the sofa in one of his dressing gowns. She looked up as he entered and smiled at him, making his heart flutter with joy. She was home.

He sat beside her, looking at the title of the book on its battered spine.

"Pillgarts Transmogrifications and Potionatical Miscellany and its Political Remuneration? Isn't that a little heavy for morning reading?" He asked with a smile.

She looked over the top of the book at him in a way that so reminded him of her mother.

"There is no better time, it gives me something to think about for the rest of the day," she said with a smile.

"Indeed," he responded, "but there is a lot to think about today as it is. We must go to see the Head Master, inform him of your awakening."

Felicity nodded. "Are there any clothes I can wear?"

Severus nodded and showed her to where some of her things had been stashed away over the years. He directed her to the shower and settled himself before the fire place, taking up the book she had been reading, flicking through the pages idly until she re-emerged, dressed and ready to go.

"Ess, where's my wand?" she asked.

Severus jumped to his feet and moved to the cabinet on the far wall, where a number of strange objects were arranged. With a wave of his own wand the door clicked open and he reached inside, taking out her wand, then resealing it. He handed it to her and she smiled widely.

"Thank you for keeping it safe, Ess," she said quietly.

Then, together, they went to the Head Masters office.

Dumbledore barely showed a flicker of surprise, but Felicity saw it. He listened patiently to their accounts, asking very calmly to see the shiny red marks where the Shade had touched Felicity. He looked them over inquisitively, then sat back in his chair, looking over his half-moon spectacles at them.

"Now, Miss Evans," he said softly, "what is it you wish to do?"

"What do you mean, Professor?" she responded, meeting the penetrating gaze with one of her own.

"Well, after the incident, we had to inform the Ministry that you had passed on to the next world as it was the only way to have you remain here. Of course, this meant that you were removed from current lists of students and the Trace on you was lifted. You could, if you so wished, return to Education, but this will not be an easy undertaking. I do not tell you this lightly, but because of what I know of your character, I feel inclined to inform you that the Ministry has inserted an official into Hogwarts this year. She is the Ministers right hand and would not hesitate to inform him of misdemeanors.

"If you decided to discontinue your education, we have a safe house that you are welcome to stay in, as you are in danger from Lord Voldemort."

"Albus," said Severus in a warning tone.

Dumbledore glanced at Severus, but looked back upon Felicity.

"Neither of these options are easy, but they are yours and you are free to make your choice."

Felicity looked at Severus, but he was staring intently at Dumbledore. She sat in silence for a few moments, looking about the walls at the portraits who were sleeping in their frames. Then she nodded slowly.

"I want to continue with my education, Professor, if that is acceptable?"

Dumbledore nodded and stared up at the ceiling.

"Things will have to be re-organized and certain staff members informed... If all goes well, you may start again next Monday."

As Severus and Felicity walked back down towards the Dungeons together, safe in the fact that it was early and so few students would be awake, they chatted quietly together of what Felicity would be studying next and how Severus was certain she would glide through it easily. Just as they were discussing Arithmancy and it's merits, they were interrupted by a little cough behind them.

"Hem Hem."

Severus's jaw tightened and Felicity felt confused. They turned and were confronted by a small toad like witch dressed in very frilly, very pink clothes. Felicity was taken aback by the startling and unsettling mix of sweet and ugly. She got a great sense of something deeply wrong with this witch.

"Good morning Severus," she said in a girly voice that jarred against her age.

"Dolores," he responded curtly.

The woman turned her little eyes on Felicity and she repressed a shudder.

"And who's this?"

Politeness took over and Felicity smiled at the woman.

"My name is Felicity Evans, Professor," she responded.

The woman smiled widely and Felicity had to fix her smile in place. She had assumed that calling the woman 'Professor' was the right thing to do as if she was not, it would be a compliment and if she was, all the better.

"I don't believe I've seen you before, Miss Evans," she said sweetly.

"There are a lot of students in the castle, Dolores," said Severus sharply, "now we must be going. Miss Evans and I have an essay to discuss."

The woman watched their backs as they walked away. Severus thought he knew what she was thinking, but he would be damned if he cared what that awful woman thought. When they were in the safety of the Dungeons Felicity spoke.

"Who was that horrible woman?" she asked quietly.

"Professor Umbridge. The Ministry's spy."

"Ah. That would explain it."