I do not own Harry Potter. So Sorry about the long delay in finishing this story. I have had so much going on that I lost all inspiration to write fanfiction at all and had to force myself to finish other stories. I started going through my notebooks and rediscovered this story and realized that I hadn't finished it. I am so sorry again about the delay and hope that it was worth the wait! ENJOY!

Airiala was beginning to look normal again. Her skin had more color, her hair seemed more bouncy and shiny, and her eyes were back to a warm gray.

She was positively beautiful.

Snape knew this, but tried not to dwell on it. If he did he knew that he would forget what he was doing, namely keeping Airiala busy and happy so that she didn't end up killing herself.

"Okay," she said softly. "now you need to add the witch hazel in intervals of one piece every ten stirs, clockwise." She lowered the large Potions book that Snape had "discovered" a few days ago when this had all started.

In reality, the book was one of his mother's old Potion manuals that she had written before she married. Snape had discovered it after she had died among some of his mother's potions supplies. He had set it aside to one day discover what some of the potions inside actually were, as his mother hadn't labeled any of them properly. Finally he had a good reason to break it out and try it.

"Now let simmer for 20 minutes, remove from fire, cool and drink."

Snape stepped back from the now simmering potion and looked over at Airiala. She had set the book on the desk she was sitting on before sliding off the desk and stretching. Snape tried to keep his eyes off her, but it was difficult when the girl was arching her back like that as she stretched.

"Those stools can really be a pain when sitting for long periods," she said finally after she finished tormenting Snape with her stretching. "I hope that this one does something. The last three were only recipes for really nice shampoo." She made a face as she remembered tasting them. "Luckily they weren't deadly or I wouldn't have made it."

She smiled up at Snape as she spoke and it was in that moment that Snape realized just how much he missed her smiles. How much he had missed their talks, and how much he missed their arguments.

"You know," he said to the smiling girl, "I just realized that we haven't fought since the night of the Christmas party."

He knew the minute that he said something wrong was the minute that her smile disappeared. He wasn't sure what exactly he had said, but he knew that it had affected her drastically.

In an attempt to rectify the situation, because he hadn't gone through all this so far for her to revert back to how she was before they started experimenting with the potions. He opened his mouth to speak.

"I'm sorry."

Snape shut his mouth in shock. Airiala was apologizing to him? He narrowed his eyes in confusion. That didn't make any sense at all.

"I was angry and I said and did things I shouldn't have done. I'm sorry if I... offended you in anyway."

"What are you talking about Airiala?"

She raised her head, her deep gray eyes meeting his onyx ones and Snape was surprised to see tears flowing down her cheeks. Without much thought he moved forward and reached out to gently wipe her tears away.

"Why are you crying?"

As he wiped the tears away Airiala couldn't help the realization that his hand was gently caressing her cheek, so soft and gentle, so unlike the Snape that she knew. She blushed and a small breeze began to blow about the room.

Although she was sure that he felt it, Snape said nothing about it before pulling his hand away. The breeze continued slightly as Airiala's heart continued to pound in her chest.

"There," he said softly. "Now you look much better. There is no crying in potion-making. Tears could ruin the whole thing."

As Snape turned away from her to glance back at the still simmering potion, Airiala let her embarrassment wash away as confusion filled her.

Why wasn't he angry with her?

Raina was looking for Pyro.

She had to thank him for what he had done. By kissing her he was able to use his powers to warm her up from the inside.

He had saved her life.

She found him in the Astronomy Tower, once again without a jacket, just staring out across the grounds.

"Pyro?" he turned at the sound of his name and for a few seconds did nothing else as he registered who was speaking to him.

"You should be in your room," he said softly. "It's too cold up here."

"I can handle it," she said stepping forward so that she was standing next to him. For a few moments they just stood there, side by side, looking out across Hogwarts grounds.

"Pyro," Raina said softly, "I just wanted to say..."

"That you hate me?" he said softly. "It's alright, I know." Raina turned to look at him, but he continued to look out over the grounds. "You don't have to worry about me. We can continue on like we have been, as acquaintances."

"But," Raina said softly," I don't want that."

Pyro turned to look at her and for the first time his glowing eyes didn't frighten her, but instead caused small flames of desire to start burning her from the inside.

"I want to stay with you Pyro."

"What are you talking about?" He said, confusion very much clear in his voice.

"I want to give you another chance Pyro," she said softly and watched as his eyes filled with hope for the first time since he had come back into her life. "I want us to start off with a clean slate, to start over."

Raina smiled at him and then held out her hand.

"Hi, I'm Raina!"

For a moment Pyro just stood there staring at her, his eyes looking from her face to the hand she had extended out towards him.

Then, he smiled back and placed his hand in hers.

"Nice to meet you Raina, my name is Pyro."