Rebecca Felan: Journey of a Muggleborn Slytherin

by Edgar-A.-Poe

Travel through the years at Hogwarts and beyond with Rebecca Felan, a muggleborn Slytherin. She befriends Harry Potter and the Gryffindors, becomes a spy, and has many other adventures. Rated M for later chapters. Eventually Rebecca/Severus.

13. The Summer After the Final Battle

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for Rebecca. I don't plan on making any money off of this.

Author's Note: I'd like to thank my lovely RP partner and friend Mandy for inspiring me in a direction to go with the rest of this story. That's why I've been able to write so much recently. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I also love reviews.

Songs for this chapter:

"Cough Syrup" by Young the Giant

"Little Lion Man" by Mumford & Sons

"Listen" by Beyonce

---

St. Mungo's, May 2-4, 1998

Severus could not remain conscious for very long, no matter how hard he tried to keep his eyes open. His vision wavered, blurring and blacking out unexpectedly. One moment he thought he could hear Potter's voice, then it was gone. Then he heard unfamiliar voices, Rebecca's challenging them.

He opened his eyes, saw only the back of her head. Her fiery red hair obscured most of his vision, and she appeared to be covering him from view. They were in the Great Hall, and he could sense hundreds of eyes upon them.

"This is Greyback's wand," she was saying. "Take it. I don't want it and I don't plan on using it."

"Why didn't you give this to Potter?" another voice, authoritative, demanded.

"Because I want there to be an understanding between us," Rebecca said. "I don't know you and you don't know me. But now you do know something about me, and that is that I don't want to harm you."

There was silence as they made their way across the Great Hall, Rebecca's body and hair still obscuring most things from his view. She believed she was protecting him, Severus' slow mind suddenly realized. But it would have been better had she just let him die…

He faded out again, the darkness of the back of his eyelids taking over once more.

Rebecca didn't look down at him, even noting the changing of his breathing. They headed toward a fireplace. They were going to Floo to St. Mungo's, probably much easier than trying to side-along two prisoners. The green fire enveloped them, and once they were out and in the main lobby of the wizarding hospital, the Auror took charge once more. A mediwitch ushered them along the floor and led them up some stairs at a brisk pace.

Finally, they were in a room to themselves.

"The girl, Felan, she won't leave him," the head Auror told the mediwitch who had led them up here.

"You must allow us to administer aid to him," the mediwitch said, turning to Rebecca.

"He's has three vials full of Blood Replenishing potion and an antidote for the venom of the snake that bit him," Rebecca said quickly, slowly sitting up.

"Thank you for telling me," the mediwitch said. "Rebecca. May I call you that? I'm Amanda."

Rebecca nodded. "I did what I could for him, Amanda. I'm hoping you can get him stable."

She let go of Severus, her hands trembling as she did so. Amanda the mediwitch levitated him onto the bed before calling for more help. Two other mediwitches entered the room and circled around Severus. Rebecca watched them carefully, standing a few feet from the bed.

The head Auror's voice called to her once more. "I can't leave you alone with him," he said. "You're both still under arrest. I'm treating you differently as a favor to Potter, you understand?"

Rebecca nodded, briefly glancing at him. "What's your name?"

"Gawain Robards."

"The new Head Auror," Rebecca said quietly. "Hopefully I'll like you better than Scrimgeour." She looked back to Severus, who was still unconscious. The mediwitches were taking readings on every possible vital sign before deciding what next to do.

"Rebecca Felan, you bare the Dark Mark, the symbol of the Dark Lord," Gawain said, taking out his wand slowly. "You're under arrest for treason against the Ministry of Magic and the wizarding world until a trial can be held for you."

Rebecca held out her wrists, not bothering to look at him again. He paused before tapping his wand against her nearest wrist. Magical binding soon wrapped up her hands and wrists, clamping her hands together.

He took her upper arm, but Rebecca shrugged away from him. "I prefer not to be touched," she said.

The Head Auror didn't say anything, instead gesturing to a chair next to the door of the room.

"We'll allow you to sit here," he said. "But I'll leave one of my men with you to watch over you and Snape. Once the mediwitches deem him stable, you'll both be going to Azkaban."

Rebecca was quiet for a moment. "I'd prefer a friend of Tonks', if at all possible," she said quietly. "If you know of any." She looked up at the Head Auror once more, her green eyes tired. "She was a friend of mine. I'd like to talk to someone about her, to see that she was well. I didn't get a chance to tell her goodbye."

Gawain Robards stared at the young witch sitting quietly in the chair before him. She looked ragged, dark circles under her eyes. Her hair hung limply about her face, and her shoulders were hunched forward in defeat. This was not how this girl had been described to him, not by those who had witnessed her or heard tell of her. It wasn't even how Tonks spoke of her. There had been a lot of talk about the young Slytherin, especially her rise to power in the Malfoy family and at Hogwarts. It was suspected that she bore the Dark Mark, but she also bore other scars in their shape. Those did not appear on any other known Death Eaters. Tonks had explained their origin to the Aurors quietly one day. She had always spoken well of the Felan girl. Were the rumors true? he wondered. Were she and Snape spying for Dumbledore this whole time?

Finally, he nodded. "Anthony was a friend of Tonks'," he said, motioning to the men standing outside. "I'll see if he will stay."

"I thank you," Rebecca whispered, looking back to Severus. The mediwitches were currently about to inject him with something.

"Excuse me, but what are you giving him?" Rebecca asked, her voice raised. The confidence that had seemed lost suddenly reappeared, and the tiredness that she showed the Head Auror gone.

Gawain watched the transformation with curiosity, glancing at the mediwitches to see how they would react.

"A Calming Draught," said the mediwitch holding the vial.

"The Calming Draught, when brewed correctly, is a light blue," Rebecca said, brows furrowing. "That potion has a color consistent with Deflating Draught, which might be appropriate for someone whose appendage was swollen by anything but venom."

Amanda turned to the mediwitch holding the vial and took it from her hands. "We are healers, not the executers," she said, voice terse. "You're excused, Nicole."

Rebecca watched the mediwitch leave, her eyes following the woman until she had left the room. Gawain watched Felan, noting that when the offending mediwitch had left, her eyes went back to Amanda.

"We are going to administer him a Calming Draught," she said, placing the vial in the cabinet on the other side of the room, beside Severus' bed. "It will ease the tension in his body and allow the antidote to go through his system. We'll monitor him every thirty minutes after that to see what more he might need."

She turned around so Rebecca could see the vial. Light blue. Rebecca nodded. Amanda reached down and opened Severus' mouth gently, tipping the vial's contents into his mouth. She induced swallowing, then replaced the empty vial in a bin for disposal.

"You're also dismissed, Bethany," Amanda said. "I'll remain with the patient."

The second mediwitch nodded and left the room. Gawain turned to follow her and sent in Anthony.

"She's different," he said. "Protective of Snape. Doesn't seem to regard her own safety."

"You think she's still on our side?" Anthony asked. "That thing about Tonks could've been a lie."

"You remember how Tonks spoke of her," Gawain said quietly. "That girl in there is not the same. She's been affected by what she's seen. And if reports are true, she captured Greyback. His wand is just corroboration on that. Supposedly, she also threw a dagger at Bellatrix Lestrange."

He pulled the dagger out of his robes. "Fresh blood," he said. "I'm going to have it tested once I get back to the Ministry. But I bet you think is Lestrange's blood."

Anthony nodded. "I'll stay with her and Snape until they're let go."

"Good. See to it no one enters beside me or the mediwitch that's in there now. We can't have either of them getting harmed. They're under Potter's protection. And we owe that boy at least that after he got rid of You-Know-Who."

"Yes, sir."

Rebecca looked up at the Auror who entered the room, shutting the door behind him. He was one of the ones who levitated her and Severus.

"You say you're a friend of Tonks'."

"I am. And her husband's. And her son's."

She didn't look at him for long, though Anthony didn't sense it was out of any sort of shame. Remorse, maybe. Sadness. She watched Snape lying on the bed intently, her eyes never moving from the accused Death Eater.

"She liked to transform her face into a pig for our amusement," Rebecca said quietly.

Anthony looked down at her, seeing the tears brimming on the edges of her eyes.

"I liked her because she was clumsy like me," the girl continued. "We bonded over something so simple, so stupid… I was glad when I finally saw how much she cared for Remus. They're two of the best people I know. Their wedding was beautiful, just like Teddy."

She finally looked down at her lap, her hands bound magically together. She seemed to barely be holding herself together.

"I know that I can trust a friend of hers," she whispered. "And I hope you'll tell me her last few months were happy ones."

Anthony wasn't sure how to respond. The Slytherin before him, someone that bore the Dark Mark, was showing sadness at the death of someone on the opposing side of the Dark Lord. She spoke openly and contextualized their friendship.

"She was as happy as any of us could have been surrounded by Death Eaters on all sides," Anthony finally replied, his tone even. "She had her husband and her son, and she was… she was better off than many of us in that respect."

He saw the girl nod. "I'm glad to hear it."

Neither of them spoke again.

Amanda the mediwitch changed the bandage on his neck wound, making a sound at the sight of the snake bites, still appearing so red and irritated. The skin could not pull over them well. Rebecca closed her eyes, slumping back in the chair. She should have rubbed some of the antidote onto the wounds.

"I'll do my best to help them in healing," Amanda said, heading back to the cabinet with the common-usage items she'd need. "But venom is a tricky thing."

Rebecca opened her eyes to watch Amanda to work. She cleaned the area around the wound with a salve, her movements gentle. Once the area was clean, she put more dittany on the wounds, waiting for a minute before sighing.

"The skin is having a tough time re-forming over the wound," she said. "We'll just have to keep it bandaged and change it every few hours for the next day or so. But he will survive."

Everyone was shocked when the mediwitch's arm was grabbed by Severus' hand. Anthony was across the room and grabbing onto Snape's arm, forcing him to open his hand and let go of Amanda, who retrieved a Sleeping Draught quickly from the cabinet.

Severus' eyes scanned the room as he fought against the Auror with his diminished strength. He saw Rebecca, sitting up in her chair. He opened his mouth, but still could not speak. His throat was dry, sore. His eyes pierced hers, but she didn't look away from him.

With a wave of Amanda's wand, the draught disappeared from the vial and Severus' eyes began to close. Finally, he slumped in Anthony's grasp. The Auror laid him back on the bed. Amanda seemed a bit shaken, but still looked to Rebecca.

"He… doesn't want to be alive," she said, staring directly into the brown eyes of the mediwitch.

"You saved him against his will?" she asked.

"I owed him a Life Debt."

"But that's gone now."

"Yes. But he's saved my life every day for the last year."

"I didn't think loyalty was a Slytherin quality," Anthony said.

"And bravery isn't a Hufflepuff quality," Rebecca said, glancing at the Auror. "But Tonks defied that norm, didn't she?"

Anthony didn't respond. Amanda went back to work, wrapping up the wound with clean bandages. With another wave of her wand, she checked his throat.

"His neck is fine," she said, turning to look at Rebecca once more.

"The bite just missed his jugular," the mediwitch continued. "The wounds are too far back. It nicked a smaller vein, though just barely, which explains why there was so much blood. But the Replenishing potions and the bandages seemed to have kept him stable until he was brought in. We healed the vein, but his throat is still under a lot of stress because of the puncture marks. How long were the snake's fangs?"

"Nagini's," Rebecca said quietly. "Probably about three inches, maybe four."

"Then she had poor aim," said Amanda.

Rebecca didn't speak.

"In any case, he should regain his voice in the next couple of days," Amanda said. "I'll be back in a while."

The next two days passed slowly. Rebecca did not move from her chair unless she was permitted to eat, drink, or go to the lavatory. And even then, she did not leave the room for very long. Amanda stayed in the room while she was gone. Anthony escorted her to the lavatory entrance and waited for her to return, with the warning that if she took more than five minutes, he had no problem following after her.

On the second day, Head Auror Gawain Robards returned. He spoke to Amanda for a few minutes before turning to Anthony.

"He's been given a clean bill of health," he said to Anthony. "But Azkaban's mediwitch will need to change his bandages daily."

"We'll make sure of it," Anthony said with a nod, flourishing his wand. Severus had been giving the Sleeping Draught every few hours, so he would not try to attack anyone again, so he was still unconscious.

Gawain motioned for Rebecca to stand, which she did. "I'm going to have to escort you through the building."

She nodded. He placed his hand upon her upper arm and led her from the room as Anthony levitated Severus, bringing up the rear. They were flanked by more Aurors, five on each side. It seemed all of St. Mungo's watched them go by. Rebecca kept her eyes trained forward.

Finally, they reached the lobby and used the Floo network once more. When they exited out the other end, ash covering them from head to foot, Rebecca quickly took in her surroundings. The entry point for Azkaban was small, dark, and damp. It reminded her of the Slytherin common room in a strange way.

The Aurors were surrounding them as they came through the Floo. Rebecca didn't like the feeling, didn't like how they crowded her. Gawain turned her so he could speak directly to her.

"All of your belongings have been taken and are in a safe place," he said. "But you must change into the uniform of the prisoners."

Rebecca peered around him, noting that they were waking up Severus. He struggled for a moment before they explained to him where he was. He calmed until he looked over at her. His face went blank, and he turned to face his captors once more. Rebecca looked again to Gawain.

"You will need to change in front of an Auror, to make sure you are not hiding anything else upon your person," he said.

"I'm not changing in front of you," Rebecca said, her upper lip raising at the threat.

"We have female Aurors," he replied.

"I'm not changing in front of anyone."

Her green eyes flashed, but she did not move. Gawain felt her body tense, could almost see the fear rising up within her.

"It's either that, or you will be forced to comply," Gawain said. "Your choice, Felan. You're a prisoner, not a guest."

He watched as her anger slowly melted away, replaced with complete neutrality. Gawain's brows furrowed at the sudden change of demeanor. He'd never seen anyone else do that again.

"A female Auror, if it pleases the Head Auror," she answered quietly.

Gawain turned and motioned to Eliza, who approached them. He handed off Felan to Eliza, who silently took Rebecca to a room off to the side, shutting the door behind her. Three male Aurors took Snape to a separate room. All was quiet for a few moments.

Rebecca hid behind her Occlumency walls as the female Auror checked her body for any other hidden objects. The Auror didn't touch her at all, but she could see everything. All of the scars, all of her body. Her wand flashed as the detection spells and her eyes scanned over every inch of her skin. Rebecca trembled in the cold, also staving off the fear she felt.

"Put this on," the Auror said, tossing the uniform to Rebecca.

She watched them fall to the floor, finally covering herself from view. She turned her back to the female Auror and quickly put the uncomfortable garments on. The uniform was plain, a large long-sleeved, white pullover shirt and white pants with a drawstring. She turned back to the Auror, who led her back into the main room.

The three other Aurors led out Severus, and Rebecca looked over her shoulder at him. But he was not looking at her. He looked straight ahead, right through her. She felt her heart sinking as she looked forward once more.

They took them to the only remaining cells, on the third floor of Azkaban at the very end. They pushed Rebecca into hers and shut the barred door behind her. Severus was pushed into the one next to her.

Rebecca turned to look at her cell. Only a toilet, sink, and cot with a small pillow and blanket were offered. There was no window, and barely any light.

She sat on the bed and let her head rest against the stone wall.

---

Azkaban, May 4 to May 12, 1998

Rebecca sat alone, quiet, balled up on the cot in her cell. The first day waned. She was brought a meal by one of the attending Aurors, but Rebecca only nibbled upon it. She could feel her resolve breaking down slowly. She only took solace in the fact that the new Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, had banished the dementors once and for all and had a select few Aurors running the prison until they could hire full-time wizards and witches to do so.

She did not move much that first day. It was difficult to keep her mind from wandering, so she practiced her first meditation exercises, the ones that had taught her how to clear her mind for Occlumency.

The sun was soon up, and Rebecca realized that she had not slept. The rest of the cells were eerily quiet. And it remained so throughout most of the day. The only noise that came was from the Aurors delivering their meals at lunch. After that, silence again.

A mediwitch passed in front of her cell, two Aurors following her closely. They entered Severus' cell beside hers, and Rebecca strained to hear them.

"I need to change the bandage on your neck," the mediwitch's soft voice said.

"Go away," Severus' voice croaked.

"Snape, we're required to keep you healthy," said one of the Aurors. "Cooperate or we'll use force."

There was silence. He must have moved somehow, because the next sound Rebecca could hear was a bit of struggling. It stopped, so the Aurors must have bound him. She heard the mediwitch removing the old bandage. After a few more minutes, they left.

Rebecca moved to the front of her cell and touched the bars tentatively. They didn't shock her or anything, so she pressed her face against them, trying to see into his cell. All she could see was the front corner, where he was not.

"I smell you," she suddenly heard from down the corridor.

That voice sent a chill up her spine. Rebecca looked the opposite direction, down the corridor full of cell fronts. Two cells down and across the hall, Greyback's face stared hungrily back at her.

He grinned when he saw watching him.

"I knew you were there," he said, pressing his face as far between the bars as he could. "I remember your smell. I won't ever forget it."

Rebecca glared at him. "Don't you ever give up?"

"Never, darling. I'll bite yeh yet."

She stared at him, feeling the fear creep up on her, trying to steal away her reason. He chuckled when she made no response, slowly beginning to stand to his full height, which his cell barely allowed.

"If yeh think I'd have done yeh one over before, just wait till yeh see what I do to traitors," he said.

Rebecca turned from him, retreated to the back of her cell. She sat in the corner and drew her legs up to her chest, hugging them to her and she listened to her breathing to calm herself. Greyback's laughter soon filled the corridor, and a couple of Aurors were soon coming to see what the sudden commotion was about.

Rebecca didn't sleep again that night, watching the front of her cell.

A few days passed with no visitors. They began to bleed together when Harry finally came. He appeared before her cell around mid-day without an Auror escort.

"Becca?"

She looked up, unsure if her brain was playing tricks on her. But it was Harry, standing in front of her cell. She scrambled to stand, forcing herself to move forward and reach through the bars to clasp his hands.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you," she whispered.

Harry looked at her sadly. "Same here, Becca. I tried to get others in, but they only permitted me to come in."

"It's all right," Rebecca replied, nodding.

Harry glanced into the cell next to her. "Good afternoon, Professor Snape."

There was no response.

"He's not talking these days," Rebecca said. "He's protesting being alive, I think."

They looked at each other for a long moment. Harry was unsure what to say.

"We're gonna get you out of here, Becca," Harry said quietly. "Don't you worry."

Rebecca paused, unable to respond. "How is everyone?"

"The Weasleys are still trying to come to grips with everything," Harry said. "And George..."

"I wish I could be there now that they need me the most." She frowned. "But my trial isn't for… actually, I'm not sure what today is."

"It's May eighth," Harry said. "And I'm sorry I couldn't get here before. They wouldn't give me clearance until they were all done shaking my hand. I've been helping Kingsley and some other Aurors hunt down the Death Eaters that got away."

"I'm just sorry that you have to see me like this," Rebecca said. "I haven't showered in four days. Disgusting."

Harry laughed. "We didn't shower for a lot longer this past year. Trust me, I don't mind. It's not like it's your fault, either."

There was a lull in the conversation.

"Kingsley's Minister," Harry said quietly. "I took your advice and started raising hell about having someone I trusted in Scrimgeour's open seat. As soon as I mentioned Kingsley's name, everyone started voting for him."

Rebecca nodded. "I heard something of the like. I told you, Harry, you have power now. You just need to know how to utilize it."

"He wants you out of here about as much as I do."

"I suppose that's good to hear," Rebecca said. "When's my trial?"

"May twelfth," Harry said. "Eight in the morning."

"Well, I have little choice in being there," Rebecca said with a half-hearted smirk. That smirk soon faded. "How's Remus?"

Harry frowned. "Not handling it well."

"I can only imagine. If only the Malfoys had gotten there sooner, maybe they could have saved Tonks…"

"It was a Killing Curse, Becca, no one could have done anything," Harry said. "He's really quiet. When I was leaving the Burrow, he said he'd come to visit you if he could get clearance."

"He doesn't have to," Rebecca said. "I'm not sure the atmosphere would do him any good."

"I think he won't care. He seemed pretty set on it."

Rebecca nodded. "Maybe he'll talk."

"Maybe."

"Tell the others hello for me," Rebecca said. "And be sure to send my love."

"I'll do that, Becca, don't worry."

Rebecca held onto his hand tighter, needing to tell him of their relation to one another. She was free to tell him, now that Voldemort was dead. He needed to know that he wasn't alone. And she needed him to understand… She needed to feel not so alone herself. She tugged him closer.

"I have something I need to tell you," Rebecca whispered, her voice barely carrying to his ear. "But you can't freak out, not here."

"What is it, Becca?" he asked urgently, his voice also quiet. He turned his ear toward her.

"Severus interviewed my mum right after the summer started," she began. "That's why I came to the Burrow so quickly—he sent the anonymous message to Alastor. Well, my mum admitted, as you know, that my grandmother was a witch—is still possibly a witch, if she's alive, but no one knows where she is. She's Isla Hitchens, decedent of the Isla Black from so long ago. What he left out was for our benefit, though, Harry. My grandfather, the man who married Isla Hitchens, was named Theodore Evans."

She waited. Harry turned his head slowly to meet her gaze.

"Evans?" Harry said quietly.

Rebecca nodded. "Your mum's uncle," she said. "He and his sister, your mum's mum, were twins, and Lily looked like her mum."

"You look like your grandfather," Harry finished. "That's why you look so much like my mum."

"Harry, we're related," Rebecca whispered, feeling an elation that she hadn't felt since the Battle at Hogwarts take over her.

A smile crept across his face. "Won't the Dursleys be happy to see another witch they're related to?"

Rebecca chuckled, though she wasn't sure how it sounded. "I just wanted you to know," she said quietly. "I'll have to mention it in a trial at some point, I'm sure."

"Thanks, really," Harry said. He held her hand a lot tighter now. "I always knew you were supposed to be one of my best friends for a reason."

"We'll always be best friends now, whether you like it or not." Her smile faltered for a second, noting that his hands were getting colder. "You should get going. People will start to wonder if you're conspiring with me."

He gave her a look. "The list of witnesses for your trial have already been published. It's quite long."

Rebecca was quiet. "When is Severus'?"

"They day after yours," Harry said. "I'm still working on compiling a good list of witnesses to defend him. But I'm not having to work too hard, not after my speech when Voldemort died. And not after how he reacted to you when you said you saved him. It's won a lot of people over."

"Good."

There was a silence between them.

"Go on, I'll be fine," she said, nodding her head in the direction of the exit. "I've… dealt with worse than this." She attempted a smile, but couldn't form it entirely.

"Becca..." Harry shook his head. "We'll get you out. It'll be all right."

He pulled his hand slowly from her grasp, and Rebecca felt the warmth leave her. But Harry had not left yet. He was standing in front of her cell.

"I love you, Becca," he said.

"I love you, too, Harry," Rebecca said.

"I'm gonna to make sure all my friends know that," Harry said, nodding slowly. "This war, my mum, Dumbledore… they've all taught me how important love is. Without it, we'd all be like him, you know?"

Rebecca nodded. "Go on, Harry. You'll see me at the trial."

"Bye, Rebecca."

"Bye, Harry."

She watched him disappear down the corridor. He looked back at her before rounding the last corner and disappearing from her sight.

Rebecca retreated once more to the back of her cell, sitting in the corner again. It was here she felt the safest. Four more days, and then she would have some reprieve of the walls of Azkaban. She meditated some more, trying to clear her mind so that her thoughts would not bring her mood down anymore.

Remus did come to visit her a couple of days later. He attempted to greet Severus, but the man was still silent as he had been when Harry came. Remus approached the bars and shook Rebecca's hand and held it, feeling how cold she was.

"Give me the other one," he said.

She did, and felt the warmth flood through her, then. Rebecca looked him over. He wasn't sleeping, that much she could tell.

"Remus, I'm so sorry…."

He shook his head and looked down for a moment, as if trying to collect himself. "How are you?"

Rebecca didn't answer for a while, trying to formulate the appropriate words in her head.

"I… don't know," she said. "Even without the dementors, this place… it does something to you."

Remus nodded. "Don't lose your head, Becca," he said.

"I'm trying my hardest, Remus. Really."

He sighed, looking her over once more.

"How did you get clearance to visit?" Rebecca asked.

"I'm working with the Ministry," he said. "With Kingsley as Minister, suddenly the laws against werewolves have disappeared. I've got a position in the Regulation of Magical Creatures. Werewolf liaison."

"Congratulations," Rebecca said.

He nodded. "It has its perks."

He looked down to the ground again. "Andromeda, Teddy, and I are living with the Weasleys," he said. "Her house was destroyed by some Death Eaters a few days ago. And they need the support as much as…"

"I understand," Rebecca said.

Remus took in a deep breath. "I saw that Greyback is down the hall. Does he bother you?"

"Yes. I just sit in the back so I can't see him. The Aurors usually keep him quiet."

"Are you sleeping?"

"Not any more than usual."

"Well, Ron told me to bring these for you to cheer you up," Remus said, reaching into his robes. He pulled out a large bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. "Since he couldn't come himself. He's been helping out George with the joke shop, though I suspect he'll become an Auror at some point in the near future, too."

Rebecca's face brightened for a moment. "Oh, Ron," she said, sighing. "Always the one to think of food."

Remus smiled, his looking almost happy, though it was missing something. But Rebecca understood he was trying. She accepted the beans, then turned and put them back on her cot, hiding them under the blanket should a guard try and take them from her. She turned back to Remus.

"How's little Teddy?"

"He's wonderful," Remus said, smiling fondly. This smile was not lacking anything. "Andromeda and Molly are taking care of him for now."

Rebecca nodded. "I met Anthony. I don't know if that's his first or last name. He seemed all right."

"He was a good friend to Dora," Remus said, looking down once more. "He was one of the ones to, um, ask Kingsley to grant a reward to those Aurors who gave their lives for the Ministry. I'll be accepting an Order of Merlin, Second Class, for her at the ceremony they are planning for June." He bit his lower lip, hands on his hips, looking up at the ceiling of the prison.

Rebecca felt the first wave of sadness hit her since entering Azkaban. "I'm so sorry, Remus," she whispered.

"I just wish Teddy could know her," he said, looking at Rebecca now. "He deserves to know how brave his mum was, even at the end."

She saw the unshed tears in his eyes.

"He'll know," Rebecca said. "None of us will let him forget. You'll help him know her through you. He'll love her just as we did. He'll respect what she gave in order to make the world a safer place for him. He'll know everything about her." She smiled.

Remus nodded. "He will know her. He'll love her. She's still his mum, even if she can't be here to show it." He paused. "I'm sorry, Becca. I meant to come here and comfort you, not have it turn the other way around."

Rebecca ignored his apology. "You should talk to the others. They're worried."

"Just as it took you time to tell your story, so it will take me some time to tell my own."

"Talk sooner than I did," Rebecca said, desperation in her voice. "I regret not doing it before, when I should have."

"Now you're the one giving teacherly advice."

"Well, sometimes people need an outsider's perspective."

"I'll talk when I'm ready."

"I know."

Remus reached through the bars and Rebecca moved closer and took the offered hand.

"I need to get going," he said. "I have to get back to work."

"Sorry," Rebecca said. "Send my love to everyone again."

He nodded, his thumb brushing over her fingers. "Goodbye, Rebecca. We'll get you out of here soon."

She nodded.

He dropped her hand and made his way from her. Remus suddenly stopped in front of Greyback's cell and watched the man for a long time before continuing on his way out.

---

The Trial of Rebecca Felan, May 12, 1998

Two Hit Wizards brought Rebecca toward the chair in the center of the room. They forced her down and strapped her in with leather bindings, both her arms and her legs. She could not move any of her limbs more than a centimeter. She looked about the room, seeing that there were many spectators. Harry, Hermione, the Weasleys, and Remus all watched her hopefully, giving her smiles and thumbs-up. Hogwarts professors were lined up near them. Nearly all of the people there were going to witness for her.

"First witness," said the Speaker of the Wizengamot, Oliver Swift, "is Professor Minerva McGonagall."

The Transfiguration professor stepped up to the podium.

"State your relationship with the defendant Miss Rebecca Felan."

"Rebecca was a student of mine as well as a fellow member of the Order of the Phoenix."

"What was Miss Felan's standing in the Order?"

"She was a spy at Hogwarts for Albus Dumbledore, head of the Order, and soon she became a double-agent for the side of the Light in her seventh year."

"So you're saying that Miss Felan, though she possesses a Dark Mark and was seen by numerous witches and wizards in He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's presence, was a spy."

"That is correct, Speaker Swift. Rebecca Felan would never turn her back on her friend Harry Potter or Hogwarts, for that matter."

"And how certain of this are you, Professor McGonagall?"

Minerva's eyes narrowed and her lips thinned. "I have known this child since she was eleven," she said, pointing to Rebecca, who began to smile. They had angered McGonagall, and that was never a good thing to do. "I went to her muggle home and saw what conditions she came from, saw her with Potter and the others. Once you were her friend, Miss Felan would never drop you, no matter what. She came into the Order to protect those that she loved from the Dark forces. She would never change sides. She loves Potter too much. She loves Albus too much. She loves all of us too much. Rebecca Felan is not a Death Eater, nor would she ever be."

"Thank you, Professor McGonagall, you may step down," said Kingsley Shacklebolt, sitting atop his raised platform reserved for the Minister.

"Professor Filius Flitwick!" called the Speaker.

"Miss Felan was always a good student," said Flitwick, standing in the chair so people could see him over the banister. "What is more, she was attacked by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in her fifth year working for the Order. I helped her with the charm that covered her scars before she was forced to wear them openly."

Rebecca nodded to him, showing her thanks.

"Miss Felan would not turn to him— never," Flitwick continued. "Not after what he subjected her to. Albus told Pomona Sprout and myself, we who were not Order members but Heads of Houses, what Miss Felan was doing for the Order, her friends, and wizarding kind alike. She would not turn her back on that. Never."

"Professor Pomona Sprout!" the Speaker said.

"Miss Felan is a wonderful person. She is not a Death Eater. She is an Order spy for the side of the Light!" the small, portly woman banged her fist on the arm of her chair for emphasis.

"Remus Lupin!"

"Rebecca was the only student in her third year to confront me about my 'differentness'," Remus said, putting air quotes around the final word. "She knows what it's like to be different. She came into Slytherin House as a muggleborn. She was cast out by her peers, tortured by them multiple times. She turned to the Gryffindors, who were the only ones to accept her, really. Do you honestly believe she would turn back to those who tormented her, who also literally tortured her? I don't. The Rebecca Felan I see before me is the same one that I met all those years ago, when she was thirteen." He stared long and hard at her, and she met his gaze the entire time. "She is no Death Eater."

"Neville Longbottom!"

"Rebecca told me just this past year, when all those rumors about her and Snape were going round, that she was still spying for the Order," Neville said. "This was after she got her Mark, too. Rebecca wouldn't lie to me, let alone any of her friends. She helped us survive the Carrows! She helped me set up the Room of Requirement so all of us could go there, to be safe from the real Death Eaters."

"Luna Lovegood!"

"Rebecca brought Mr. Ollivander and myself food while we were being held captive in Malfoy Manor," Luna said airily. "She smuggled it in, and clean water, too. If any of them had caught her, I don't know what would have been done to her."

"Garrick Ollivander!"

"Miss Felan has a wand with a dragon heartstring as its core," Ollivander said. He still looked frail from his torture and entrapment. "And her wand is made of Alder wood. Both of those combined show that the person who the wand chose is resilient, has great strength, and is intellectually advanced."

"The point, Mr. Ollivander?" Speaker Swift asked.

"The point, Speaker Swift, is that Miss Felan showed her strength of character when she began bringing food to me at the risk of her own safety. She showed her resilience at doing what the Dark Lord told her to do, but still maintaining her core values. And she shows her intellectual prowess at having fooled the Darkest and one of the most powerful wizards of our time into believing she belonged to him when she was still an ally to Dumbledore and the side of the Light."

"Ron Weasley!"

"Rebecca's been one of my best friends since we got on the train to go to Hogwarts our first year. She wouldn't betray any of us. She's like another sister to me! She helped me get back to Harry and Hermione after I left them, when we were on the run. She's always been helping us. She even helped us escape Malfoy Manor when we'd been captured. She saved my life by pretending not to recognize me. She protected Harry, Dean, Griphook, and Hermione that day, too."

"Molly Weasley!"

"If you think that girl would hurt anyone of her own background, it's you who should be put on trial!"

"Arthur Weasley!"

"Rebecca's been through too much with my family for me to be able to say that she has hatred for anyone… unless, of course, you're the Dark Lord."

"Hermione Granger!"

"Rebecca is one of the most intelligent people I know. She is completely logical and a very talented witch. I've helped Harry and Ron out of a few scraps, and she's done the same thing for all of us. She saved us from Malfoy Manor this past year, well after she had received her Mark, and helped us to escape. She put herself in danger by doing that. Not many people would be so selfless."

Rebecca saw tears coming to Hermione's eyes, something she hadn't seen in a very long time. Her heart went out to her friend.

"She kept me from being tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange," Hermione continued, sniffling. "She kept me from the fate that befell her while she was working for the Order. If she were a Death Eater, why would she have risked her own life to help us? She wouldn't have."

"Harry Potter," said the Speaker, his eyes traveling to meet the boy's from across the room.

Harry stood and walked quickly to the raised platform that was the witness stand.

"State your relationship to the defendant Rebecca Felan," said the Speaker.

"Rebecca's one of my best friends," Harry said. "Just like Ron said, we met on the train to Hogwarts our first year. She's always been there for me."

"What do you know of Miss Felan's relationship to the Order of the Phoenix?"

"She was an Order spy," Harry said. "She had been since the summer before our fifth year, but she told us in November of our fifth year, when Dumbledore said it was okay."

"Was she still working for the Order this past year, even though Albus Dumbledore was dead?"

"Of course," Harry said, looking at the man like he was crazy. "She kept up her appearances with Voldemort, but would always warn us when she would make a move in that regard. She helped us break into the Ministry this last year, helped us escape it, even helped us plan breaking into Gringott's. Like Hermione said, she helped us escape from Malfoy Manor when we were being held captive."

"Miss Felan bears the Mark of the Dark Lord," Speaker Swift said, narrowing his eyes. "What say you about this, Mr. Potter?"

"She had to accept the Mark if she wanted to be in the Inner Circle," Harry said. "She had to be a part of them in order to take them down from the inside out. She started with Bellatrix Lestrange."

"Why with this particular Death Eater?"

"She was the most threat to her," Harry said. "She suspected Rebecca and was jealous of her."

"Jealous how?"

"Because Rebecca took away Voldemort's attention from Bellatrix. She couldn't stand that. With Rebecca's help, the Inner Circle no longer functioned as well as it did before, because there was so much contempt floating around with Rebecca there. She helped with the downfall of Voldemort. That should count for something in her favor. She shouldn't be charged with anything. She should be rewarded for being courageous enough to do what most of us would cringe at!"

"Enough, Harry," said Kingsley, holding out his hand to the boy. "You may step down."

The Speaker turned to Rebecca as soon as Harry was safely back in the audience.

"Rebecca Felan, you are charged with treason against your Ministry for bearing the Dark Mark, the symbol of the Dark Lord. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty," Rebecca said, wondering why this hadn't been asked earlier.

"You maintain that you were a spy for the Order of the Phoenix and later a double-agent for the side of the Light?"

"I believe my friends and professors have already pummeled those indictments into the ground, Speaker Swift," Rebecca said pleasantly. The trial had lifted her spirits. "But the short answer to your question is: yes. I was an Order spy and a double-agent for the Light the entirety of my time with Tom Riddle."

"Those who served time with the Dark Lord usually call him as such," said the Speaker, a bit perplexed, though he tried not to show it. "Why do you not?"

"Albus once said that fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself," Rebecca said easily. "I call Voldemort Tom Riddle because that is his given name. He created the name of Lord Voldemort for himself even though he truly had no right to call himself a Lord. And certainly he was nothing to be feared, most especially now."

"Are you saying you did not fear the Dark Lord?"

"Not openly, of course," Rebecca said. "I feared his magic. Tom Riddle himself was nothing to be afraid of. Albus firmly believed that, and so do I."

"A few more questions, Miss Felan," Speaker Swift said, looking down his long nose at the girl. "Professor Charity Burbage disappeared last year. Some of the other Death Eaters in our custody claim that the Dark Lord was holding her captive. They say that you murdered her, Miss Felan."

Rebecca hung her head, feeling the rising hope within her dashed out. She collected herself and looked up, trying to slip on a brave face.

"I killed Professor Burbage at the order of Tom Riddle," she said. "I tortured Mr. Ollivander and my friend Luna at his bidding as well. I was forced to use the Cruciatus Curse innumerable times upon my classmates by Amycus Carrow. I Obliviated the memory of Professor McGonagall against her will and without her knowing this year, when she made it known that she knew I was still fighting and spying for the Order." She looked up meekly into the crowd and sought out the witch. "I'm sorry, professor."

McGonagall waved a hand in dismissal.

"All of these things I did to protect myself and others from more harm," she said. "I didn't want to kill Professor Burbage. But if I didn't, I would have died. She still would have died, but at another wand other than mine. You have to trust that I did what I had to in order to keep my position under wrap while eliminating as much unnecessary death or harm as I could. Even outside of Azkaban, I will have to live with the knowledge of what I've done every day of my life."

Speaker Swift paused a moment before stepping forward once more. "Was it you who Stunned and bound Fenrir Greyback at the Battle of Hogwarts?"

"Yes," she said. "Ron and Neville were fighting him. I told them to move and I overpowered him quickly and took away his wand and left him bound for the Aurors. I gave his wand to Head Auror Robards."

"And it has also been reported by witnesses at the Battle of Hogwarts that you threw a dagger at the chest of Bellatrix Lestrange just before Molly Weasley's Killing Curse hit her?"

"Yes. It hit her just below the heart."

"What made you throw the dagger at Lestrange?"

His eyes narrowed slightly, as if this was a question of his own curiosity instead of pure motive.

"Because I was told she killed Fred Weasley," Rebecca said.

Speaker Swift looked at her a moment.

"Have you anything to say on your behalf, Miss Felan?"

"I am happy with the light my friends have put me in, Speaker," said Rebecca. "I could not have done a better job myself."

"The Wizengamot will now be dismissed in order to make their calling," said the Speaker, glaring at Rebecca.

The crowd erupted in talk as the Wizengamot members left the courtroom. Cameras flashed down at Rebecca, still strapped into the chair. She was just glad she hadn't begun to panic, despite the fact that her scars and the Mark shone clearly in the light of the courtroom. And, she thought, at least they had allowed her a shower and some clean robes before appearing in court. A sight she would have been after ten days without showering. Lovely.

A few more minutes passed and the Wizengamot reconvened slowly. The room went dead silent. Kingsley Shacklebolt turned to Speaker Swift.

"Do you have a decision for the defendant?"

"Yes, Minister."

"Please proceed."

"The Wizengamot finds the defendant, Rebecca Felan, not guilty of any of the charges brought before this court," said the Speaker, looking as though he didn't want to say the words. "She may be released from her bindings and given back her wand and other belongings immediately."

The crowd cheered as the Hit Wizards approached her, undoing the straps upon her limbs. Once all of them were removed, Rebecca stood and turned to her friends, who were standing, clapping, and cheering the loudest of the crowd.

She ran to them before Kingsley could even present her back her wand. Harry was the first she found, and she hugged him. Everyone else—the Weasleys, Hermione, Remus—crowded around and waited for their turn. Finally, Kingsley descended from his platform and approached the group.

"Rebecca!" he had to shout into the crowd. He held out her wand, and she took it gratefully, grinning at him.

Kingsley offered her his hand, and she gladly took it, giving him a strong handshake. "I'd like to offer you an Order of Merlin, First Class, for your efforts in the war."

"What!" Rebecca said, her jaw nearly dropping in disbelief. "Minister, I—I can't accept that—I—"

"I won't take no for an answer, Rebecca," Kingsley said. "I know what you went through in order to help the wizarding world. You deserve this."

"Th—thank you."

"It's I who should be thanking you," he said, letting go of her hand. "Thank you, Rebecca."

She was too stunned to reply.

---

The Trial of Severus Snape, May 13, 1998

"We now call Rebecca Felan to the witness stand," said Speaker Swift.

None of them had introduced themselves when Rebecca had been on trial, and it didn't look like they would now, either. She only knew Kingsley Shacklebolt, who was seated in the center on a raised platform. He offered her an encouraging smile.

Rebecca stepped up from the crowd, making her way across the floor. She had to pass Severus Snape, the man who she would be defending with all of her might this day, the man who wished to be dead and had not spoken to her since the Battle of Hogwarts. Already he had been in Azkaban too long, and she would not have him be sent back there.

Two Hit Wizards were on the floor with him, though he was strapped to the chair and had no wand. He was still dangerous, as they had not Silenced him. He would have to speak in his defense at some point, just like Rebecca had to. She looked long at him as she walked past him. He did not meet her gaze, staring forward resolutely.

Rebecca made it to the podium where all of her friends had sat before her, defending her in her trial just a few days ago. She sat in the uncomfortably hard chair, knowing this was going to take a while.

"State your name," said the Speaker.

"Rebecca Michele Felan."

"Miss Felan, would you please describe your relationship to the defendant Severus Snape," he said.

"Professor Snape was my Potions Master, Defense Against the Darks Arts instructor, Headmaster, and my mentor," she said easily, hands in her lap.

"Explain what you mean by 'mentor'," said Speaker Swift.

"When I was accepted into the Order of the Phoenix in the summer before my fifth year, as the Wizengamot will remember from my trial just yesterday, Albus Dumbledore assigned Professor Snape as my mentor."

"What was he assigned to do?"

"To teach me how to become a spy," Rebecca said. "He taught me all the names of the Death Eaters, many defensive spells, Occlumency, Legilimency, nonverbal and wandless spells."

"State the time period over which he taught you these skills," the Speaker said with a sneer.

"The spying skills came first, ranging from the summer before my fifth year throughout that term," Rebecca said, glancing side-long at the Speaker. He did clearly not approve of the Dark Arts. "I was also taught Occlumency during this time. I attempted nonverbal and wandless magic also in my fifth year, but did not manage to fully grasp it until the next term, my sixth year, which was also when I learned Legilimency."

"How great was your knowledge of what was occurring in the Order of the Phoenix vigilante group?"

"Albus told me everything," Rebecca said.

The Speaker narrowed his eyes at her. "Everything?"

"Yes, sir, everything. Albus treated me as though I were an adult."

There was a pregnant pause in the room, and lots of uncomfortable shuffling. Rebecca looked into the crowd and saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione all huddled together. Ginny was with them as well, hanging onto Harry's arm. The Weasleys were there, as were all of her professors. Remus sat by himself in the crowd, but close to Harry and the others. The rest of the crowd were either spectators or members of the press.

"Explain to us what occurred in June of 1997 atop the Astronomy Tower at Hogwarts," the Speaker said suddenly.

"Professor Snape killed Albus Dumbledore out of mercy," Rebecca said, watching for any reaction from her mentor. He didn't even blink.

"Mercy," the Speaker said.

"Yes, a mercy killing," Rebecca said.

"How do you know?"

"Albus told me of the plan for Professor Snape to kill him."

"We will need memory evidence of this," the Speaker said, beginning to beckon for a Pensieve.

"With all due respect, sir, I am skilled in Legilimency and Occlumency," Rebecca said politely. "The same reason you did not provide me with Veritaserum is the same reason you cannot trust what you see in the Pensieve if it came from my memory. I could have tampered with it."

"Are you admitting guilt in that regard?" the Speaker said.

"Miss Felan has already been acquitted of her charges, Speaker Swift, do not make this about her," Kingsley said from atop his platform. "She was merely reminding us that a Pensieve would not be a good idea in this regard, and I can't help but agree with her. Move along, please."

The Speaker nodded to his Minister before turning back to Rebecca. "Impart to us what Albus Dumbledore told you that night."

"He had been cursed by one of Tom's Horcruxes," Rebecca said. "He was dying, despite the fact that Professor Snape had already sequestered the curse to Albus' right arm. Albus informed me then that Draco Malfoy was assigned a task by Tom: to kill Albus. Draco was given this task knowing that he would fail it; it was a task given in anger by Tom to Draco for Lucius' failing in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries."

"Move along, Miss Felan, the Malfoys' trials are next week, which you are also a witness in," Speaker Swift drawled.

"My apologies," Rebecca said with a nod of her head. "Albus then told me that he had ordered Professor Snape to kill him if Draco was unable to go through with his task. Professor Snape had no choice, as he had orders from two different sides to complete this task."

"He was ordered by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to kill Albus Dumbledore?"

"No, Speaker Swift, that is not what I meant to imply," Rebecca said quickly, but evenly. "Professor Snape made an Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa Malfoy, saying he would complete Draco's task if Draco was unable to do so. He was sworn to protect Draco and help him at all costs. When Albus ordered Professor Snape to kill him, he was left with little choice."

"Earlier, Mr. Potter said that Albus Dumbledore's last words were: 'Severus, please.' What do you make of those, Miss Felan?"

Rebecca bit her bottom lip, remembering that night suddenly very vividly. She felt the tears pressing against her eyes, but she held them back.

"Albus was asking Professor Snape to show him mercy," Rebecca said. "The way he said it was a giveaway. Albus was so tired, and the curse was slowly beginning to take its effect on him. He would have lost his mind had he been allowed to live."

"So, in your opinion, you would claim Severus Snape is…?"

"Innocent," Rebecca said instantly. Finally, she saw her mentor move. He was looking up at her, as if trying to will her to stop talking.

"Actually, if I may amend that," Rebecca said, tearing her eyes from her mentor's. "It is clear Professor Snape killed Albus Dumbledore, but it was not out of any ill-will towards Albus. He is guilty of murder, because that is what occurred, but innocent of the want to commit it, because it is more than clear that he did not."

The Speaker looked at her for a long time, as if sizing her up. "Tell the court about your relationship with Severus Snape."

"I'm not sure I understand your question, sir," Rebecca said, furrowing her brows. She understood it fully, but perhaps if she made it sound ludicrous enough, they would drop it.

"What I mean to say is: how did you act around one another, in particular, this past year?"

"I don't see how we acted together while spying on Tom for the side of the Light has much to do with whether or not he is innocent."

"Miss Felan, please answer the question," Kingsley said pleadingly.

"I'm sorry, Minister," she said. "Professor Snape and I always had a very professional relationship with one another. It was always very clear that he was the authority and I was to listen to him, whatever it was we were doing. This past year we had to break that rule in order for myself to become a part of the Inner Circle."

She hated putting it like that, but there was no other way to say it.

"And what did you have to do, then?"

"I must explain a few things first in order for this to make sense," Rebecca said by way of introduction. "Tom was impressed by my spirit when he first encountered me in my fifth year. I convinced him I was not a spy then. That is how I received five Dark Marks carved into my skin by Bellatrix Lestrange and why Tom was so interested in me to begin with. Then, Professor Snape spoke with my mother and Obliviated her in order to protect her. He discovered that I was a descendant of Isla Black, who married a muggle Bob Hitchens and was subsequently removed from the Black family tree. My grandmother on my mother's side is Isla Hitchens, though no one knows of her whereabouts. My grandfather, also on my mother's side, was a muggle by the name of Theodore Evans, uncle of Lily Evans Potter."

There was an audible gasp about the room. Kingsley called the room to order.

"Please continue, Miss Felan," he said.

"You can see why Professor Snape then Obliviated my mother and sent an anonymous note to Alastor Moody, who was also my mentor of sorts, in order to put my family in an Order safe house and have me taken to the Burrow, so I could be watched more closely," Rebecca said. "Professor Snape then presented my Black family side to Tom, who then told him to get me from the Order's clutches. Professor Snape informed me of what would happen the night the Order moved Harry Potter from his uncle and aunt's home on Privet Drive to an Order safe house. He then returned for me when Death Eaters attacked Bill and Fleur Weasley's wedding at the Burrow."

"What does this have to do with your relationship to Severus Snape?" asked the Speaker impatiently.

"You must understand that this is a complicated story, and I apologize if I seem to be rambling," Rebecca said, forcing herself not to glare at the man. "I'm summarizing as best as I can."

The Speaker backed down a bit, and Rebecca continued.

"Tom was intrigued by my power and my new devotion to my pureblooded family, the Malfoys," Rebecca said. "Because there were no more Blacks left by name, I was left in their charge, since Narcissa is a Black by birth. Eventually, Tom saw it as a brilliant plan to match Professor Snape and myself together, so that we might produce extremely powerful pureblooded children."

She could see her friends were uncomfortable with this notion, but she and Professor Snape remained passive.

"Because Tom expressed this plan to Professor Snape, as his right-hand man he had to act the part," Rebecca said. "Tom ordered Professor Snape to propose to me. He did. We had to act a certain way around one another in the company of the Death Eaters, particularly after I received my Mark."

"Would this have clouded Severus Snape's judgment at all, do you think?"

"I don't see why it would have," Rebecca said. "He wanted to protect me, that was for certain. We were trying to protect the wizarding world from the forces of Tom. I'm not certain what implying any impropriety, of which there was none, on either of our parts is supposed to convince the Wizengamot of, Speaker Swift."

"Miss Felan, please," Kingsley said, exasperated.

The Speaker now looked very ruffled. After pausing a few moments to compose himself, he again lifted his piece of parchment.

"In her earlier testimony," the Speaker began, "Madam Poppy Pomfrey stated that Severus Snape was the one who gave you the antidote for the Black knife you were harmed with, and then he stayed with you that night." He looked up to her. "This was in your fifth year, you said?"

"Yes, sir," Rebecca answered stiffly.

"I see," said the Speaker, looking again to his parchment. "And, in his earlier testimony, Mr. Potter stated that Severus Snape was in love with his mother, Lily Evans, and that is the reason why he has fought for the side of the Light ever since." He allowed the hand with the parchment to fall to his side and looked up again at her. "Considering your striking likeness to Lily Evans, as well as your own knowledge of your being related to her, do you think this had an affect on Severus Snape while he was with you?"

"Certainly, but not sexually if that's what you're trying to get me to say," Rebecca said, unable to help herself. "No one told me anything of my likeness to Lily Evans until Sirius Black finally admitted to me what everyone else was too scared to say. This was the summer before my fifth year. He implied the same thing that you're implying, though I didn't understand it then. Now that I do understand it, I don't agree with him, and I do not agree with you, sir. Respectfully," she added, glancing up at Kingsley.

"Perhaps you might show us the memory of what occurred the night in question so that we may verify what took place," the Speaker said.

"We have already established that my memories cannot be trusted," Rebecca said.

"Yes, but the Minister seems to think that your memories can be trusted," Speaker Swift said fiercely.

"I will not relent my memories of that night," Rebecca said, beginning to panic. "What occurred that night is between myself, Madam Pomfrey, Albus, and Professors Flitwick and Snape."

"As the Speaker of the Wizengamot, I command you to release your memory for viewing!"

"I will tell you what happened, but I will not show you!"

"Miss Felan, show them the memory!" roared Severus from his chair.

Her eyes snapped to his and locked there.

"I can't," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rebecca's friends were all very distressed for her, but could say nothing lest they be thrown from the courtroom.

"Are you trying to hide something from the court, Miss Felan?" Speaker Swift continued. "Something, perhaps, that happened between you and your Potions Master in your fifth year, when you were not yet of age and a student?"

"Professor Snape wouldn't do that," Rebecca said, shaking her head. "He never did anything remotely like that."

"They will never believe you unless you show them, Miss Felan," Severus continued, hands clenched into fists. She was becoming very anxious, and that would not do well for her.

"What's there is private. What you said to me that night was private," Rebecca said.

"I'm not worth protecting, you stupid girl!" Severus shouted. "You should have left me there to die when you had the chance. I always said you had too much Gryffindor in you."

"I must ask the defendant to silence himself unless he is speaking directly upon his own behalf," Kingsley said, shooting Severus a look.

Rebecca stared at her mentor, her arms crossed over her chest in a protective manner. She looked harshly at the Speaker.

"Do you really want to see what Tom did to a fifteen-year-old girl?" she asked. "Here."

She put her wand to her head and drew out the memory, all of it, from start to finish that night. A Pensieve was provided for her, and she placed it in the bowl. The Pensieve was placed into the middle of the room, and Speaker Swift projected the image and darkened the lights. In the light of her memory, Rebecca stared in front of her, watching Severus Snape, who stared back at her. She looked at him so she would not have to see the memory nor the reactions to it. They kept one another's gaze as the audience and the Wizengamot watched the memory replay.

She thought about another night, the night she had received her Dark Mark. They had to kiss, then. Rebecca had felt something that night, and she could not leave it alone, just as she seemed to be unable to break his gaze now, in the courtroom. Did his helping her through the viewing of the memory by keeping her gaze mean that he did care, even though he hadn't spoken to her in days? Did he forgive her?

Rebecca closed her eyes at Greyback's voice, plugged her ears at the sickening sound of skin being torn by blade. While her fifteen-year-old self began sobbing, the tension in the room was practically palpable. With a glance to the Wizengamot, she could see they were all stricken by what they were watching, but more so how Professor Snape was reacting to her, comforting her as best a professor could for his student. The rest of the memory played out in silence.

The lights were brought back up, and the Pensieve held out to her. Rebecca retrieved her memory, restored it to her mind. Everyone stared at her. Wand still to her temple, Rebecca sneered at the Speaker.

"Perhaps now you would enjoy viewing my memory of the night I received my Mark," she said, her voice shaking slightly in her anger. "Then you could analyze whether or not Professor Snape was appropriate then, in front of Tom Riddle and his followers."

"That will not be necessary, Miss Felan," Speaker Swift said numbly.

Rebecca lowered her wand, replacing it inside her robes.

"That will be all, Miss Felan," Kingsley said with a pitying look in her direction. "You may make your way from the stand."

Rebecca stood, keeping her head high. When she went to pass her mentor on her way back to her friends, she heard his voice: "You should have left me to die."

She turned to face him, stepping close enough to him that the Hit Wizards became nervous and shuffled toward them. Rebecca forced him to look at her, uncaring of who saw or heard them.

"I owed you a Life Debt a thousand times over," she said. "You were my mentor. You kept me sane. You kept me alive. Albus gave me one order time and again, and that was to make certain you were safe and alive. After all that we lived through, you wished for me to leave you there and die because of a love that could never have been reciprocated? My magic would not allow me to. Moreover, I could never have lived with myself if I had watched you die and I had done nothing to help you. Hate me all you want, but I am at peace with myself for saving you, Severus Snape."

She turned from him, then, from his black eyes that glared up at her.

"Severus Snape, you are charged with treason against your Ministry for bearing the Dark Mark, the symbol of the Dark Lord. How do you plead?"

"I bear the Dark Mark," Severus said quietly, evenly, "for that I am guilty. I have been an Order spy for a very, very long time, as has been pointed out by the surprising number of people who have testified on my behalf. For being treasonous, I reply not guilty. However, I was still a Death Eater, and deserve so much more than two weeks in Azkaban for what I have done."

The Speaker blinked at the man that was before him: a broken man, a man who no longer wished to live. He was truly and irrevocably remorseful about what he had done.

"That is all I have to say," Severus said, looking away from the Wizengamot.

"The Wizengamot will now be dismissed in order to make their ruling," said the Speaker.

The Court reconvened after a much longer period of time, but the Speaker looked truly pleased with the outcome. Rebecca couldn't tell if this was good or not.

"Do you have a decision for the defendant?" asked Kingsley.

"Yes, Minister," said Speaker Swift.

"Please proceed."

"We find the defendant, Severus Snape, to be not guilty of all charges. He may be released from his bindings and given back his wand and any personal belongings that were taken from him upon his arrest."

Severus Snape sat stock still in the chair, growing more rigid by the moment. The Hit Wizards unstrapped his bindings, and he stood on his own. Kingsley approached him and handed him back his wand.

"Severus, allow me to present you with an Order of Merlin, First Class, at the awards ceremony next week," he said after the other man had taken his wand.

"I deserve no such award for the things I have done," replied the solemn man, who was now obtaining his possessions back from the Head Guard of Azkaban.

"I must insist upon you accepting it."

"And what will you do, Minister, if I do not?" Severus asked, glaring at Kingsley. "Will you perhaps throw me back in Azkaban?"

"I will give you the award whether or not you are there to accept it," Kingsley replied. "I suggest you be there."

He walked away. Severus attained all of his belongings quickly. The Hit Wizards and Head Guard moved away, revealing Rebecca Felan standing, waiting for him. She approached him slowly, and he found he could not take in a breath.

Rebecca stopped just inches in front of him, staring into his eyes intently. Finally, she raised her arms toward her neck and undid the clasp to the necklace he had given her. She reached out and took his hand in hers. Severus kept his face impassive, but she felt so much warmer to his touch than he could ever remember another person feeling. Her green eyes did not leave his own.

"This is yours, Professor Snape," Rebecca said evenly. She placed the necklace into his hand and closed his fingers over it. She let him go unwillingly, though to anyone else it would have appeared as if she did not care.

She reached into her robes and pulled out the beautiful ring of white-gold. The emerald in the center of the ring caught the light. She held it out to him.

"And this is yours, too," Rebecca whispered.

Severus stared at the ring, his eyes moving slowly toward her face. Finally, he could breath. Her face was a mask, looking evenly ahead, just like his. Her green eyes quivered just slightly, giving her emotions away. His hand moved toward hers and plucked the ring from between her fingers.

Their eyes met again. He began to turn from her.

"I would like to explain myself," she said. "What I requested of you that night—"

"Spare me, Miss Felan," Severus said, head snapping back in her direction. The rest of his body followed. The whole room was filled with noise of people talking, but sections of it became quiet at the sudden raising of his voice.

"I have had enough of your coddling," he continued. "I do not need anything that you feel you owe me. I certainly have no need of your explanations for your actions."

"I—I still saved your life," she said quietly, looking suddenly much smaller before him. "I don't regret it."

But his anger bowled her over. All of the fury that he had been feeling since she kissed him, forcing the antidote down his throat in the process, could no longer be contained.

"And I can honestly say, Miss Felan, that this was the biggest mistake of your life," he said, teeth bared. "I told you time and again that I did not have any desire to live. The least you could have done to repay me for saving your life was by letting me die."

"You don't mean that," Rebecca whispered.

"I do, and I mean this as well," Severus said, taking a step forward. "I want no further contact with you, Miss Felan. The sight of you before me this very moment is sending me into a rage the likes of which you could only imagine."

He saw her bite her lower lip, a habit he thought she had broken. But she seemed to have something more to say, even though she looked about ready to turn tail and run at that moment.

"What I said to you that night—"

"That, most of all, I do not wish to hear again," Severus said, sneering. "Only a witless chit like you would claim what you have. To think that such a simple phrase would have power over me, to erase everything and make me fall to my knees before you. No, Miss Felan, you are so utterly incorrect that it should pain you."

With that, he saw something within her break. She suddenly looked away from him, to the floor. Perhaps a quarter of the room watched them, but Severus did not care. She had caused him enough agony, enough suffering, and certainly did not leave him to his devices as had been his wish.

He pushed away the memory of that night, when he was lying on the floor of the Shrieking Shack. The way she had cried, how he had been relieved to feel her trying to save him. And that had angered him. He was frightened, terrified to die. And he felt comforted by her ministrations, had taken solace in her soft lips pressed against his quickly cooling lips…

Severus came back to the present, successfully pushing back the memory. No. It had been a moment of weakness, because he had lost so much blood. He wanted nothing to do with her. No more from Rebecca Felan, the student who had caused him nothing but trouble.

Finally, she spoke. Her words were so quiet, only he could hear them.

"Thank you, once again, for everything you've ever done for me," she said, her voice trembling. There was another long pause. Finally, she glanced up at him before turning away. "Goodbye, sir."

She turned away from him, heading back to the others, who were all waiting for her. He watched her walk away, wondering momentarily if he should say anything to call her back. But that was not the type of person he was. He did not comfort, and he certainly did not apologize. He didn't want her around him. He hated her.

Severus left the room. Rebecca had trouble keeping her mind clear as she approached her friends.

Hermione moved forward, but Rebecca shook her head. "No," she said. "I have other things to attend to."

Hermione took a step back, and Ron reached out and took her hand in his. Rebecca looked around, only seeing pitying looks mixed with outrage from everyone, especially the Weasleys.

"Mr. Weasley—"

"Arthur."

Rebecca cleared her throat. "I have to go find my family. Do you know what safe house they're in?"

---

The Aftermath, May 13 to June 27, 1998

Arthur came along with Rebecca to the safe house her family was in. She was unusually quiet, but it was not his place to press the issue. She had not looked as though she was in any danger of crying; she merely looked pensive.

Her parents and brothers had been ushered to a relative of Arthur's, his cousin Brandon and his wife Hannah. They answered the door and allowed them entrance. Rebecca's family was in the living room. Her mother stood and gasped before trying to make her way forward to hug Rebecca. Her father stopped Rose by grabbing her wrist.

"Roger hasn't been pleased for the entirety of the year," whispered Brandon in Arthur's ear. "We've mostly had to keep him on Calming Draughts to keep him from trying to leave. We stopped giving them to him yesterday when we heard Rebecca was found not guilty."

Arthur gave a quick nod of his head and watched what was happening before him. Rebecca stood before her family, watching her father intently.

"This is all your fault," Roger said, standing and pointing his index finger. "You're why our lives have dropped off this year. Why we've had to hide in this bloody place all year."

"I was trying to protect you," said Rebecca, her voice level, though small. "I was putting you in danger because of who I was, who I'm related to."

She glanced at her mother. "Rebecca, honey, I was going to tell you—"

"Quiet, Rose!" Roger shouted, glaring at his wife before turning back to Rebecca.

"You're free to go," Rebecca said. "The war is over. I'm sorry that I had to take your lives from you, but you're alive because you were here."

"I don't want to hear anything else," Roger snapped, taking a step toward Rebecca. He paused, waiting for her to react. But Rebecca simply stood still, watching him with impassive eyes.

"I don't want you anywhere near my family again," Roger continued. "We're getting our things and going home. If I see you anywhere near any of us or our home again, I'll call the police." He paused. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mr. Felan, I understand," Rebecca said.

She turned to face Arthur.

"Becca!" her mother's voice called.

"Rebecca, Dad doesn't mean it," Nick said. There was the sound of him standing and trying to get to her, but being blocked by his father.

Rebecca didn't respond to any of them, hearing her father's muttered voice ordering them upstairs to gather their things.

She looked to Arthur's cousin and offered her hand. "Thank you for taking care of my family," she said, shaking his hand. "If there's anything I can ever do for you or your wife, please let Arthur know."

"You're most welcome, Miss Felan," Brandon said.

Rebecca dropped his hand and began walking for the front door. When she and Arthur were outside, she looked up at him.

"It appears that I'm in need of a place to stay once I'm done taking my N.E.W.T.s," she whispered.

"You don't even need to ask, Becca," Arthur said, holding out his hand.

But she looked very much frightened in that moment, so he put his hand down at his side instead of moving to comfort her.

"Come on, let's get you back to Hogwarts," Arthur said.

The next few weeks, Rebecca buried herself into studying when she was not testifying in different trials. The Malfoys were eventually freed, restored to their home. Their pride was shaken, and most of the wizarding world didn't quite trust them, but people at least considered them for their contributions to the Battle of Hogwarts. Narcissa and Draco, after all, had rescued Harry, and Lucius had saved Remus.

Having Draco in their shared dormitory and common room area helped Rebecca to focus a bit. His familiar ease with her made her feel somewhat less tense, though her mind still reeled when she was not directly doing anything.

Harry was made an Auror. Kingsley had given him, along with everyone from the past year, the option of returning next year and re-taking their respective years. But Harry and Ron had declined. Kingsley then took Harry directly into the Auror program and had him continually searching for the remaining Death Eaters. Ron told Kingsley that he needed to help George in the shop until things normalized, then he would take Kingsley up on his offer, which the Minister was glad to hear about. Hermione was going to return the next year, along with many others who had been in hiding that year. Until then, Hermione was traveling to find her parents and restore their memories after having Obliviated them to save them. Mrs. Weasley was going with her to offer help.

Rebecca told Kingsley she was going to take her N.E.W.T.s. She didn't want to return the next year, and she wasn't going to give up on them without at least trying. He respected her wishes and allowed her to go back to Hogwarts.

Severus Snape was nowhere to be found. Rebecca suspected that he was at his family home, staying out of sight. McGonagall took over as Headmistress, with Flitwick as her Deputy for now. But both were still reviewing for the tests for their respective classes. Needless to say, those classes felt a bit more stressful than others.

The remaining Slytherins didn't speak to her. Goyle no longer flanked Draco everywhere. So she and Draco stuck close to one another no matter where they were, for their own safety from their House.

The N.E.W.T. tests came and went. For each one, Rebecca felt exceedingly focused, as if her life depended upon each one. Each of the proctors for the practical portion of each test had looked at her warily before she began. But she inevitably impressed them, though she was quiet and only spoke when they asked her a direct question, or when she was performing a spell. Her entire Defense practical she performed silently. Others stopped to watch her move from one spell to the next gracefully. Then she cast her Patronus as her final spell. She recalled the moment of elation she had felt when saying those words to Severus, the simple phrase that she had finally allowed herself to admit.

The wolf shot from her wand tip, standing before her regally, shining brighter than he ever had before. Rebecca gave a tiny smile of fondness before letting her wand drop to her side. She turned to the proctor and gave a bow. He dismissed her, and Rebecca left the Great Hall.

Finally, the tests were over. She did not take the train back to the Platform. There was no need. She simply gathered all of her things into the bag Hermione had given her and left the wards of Hogwarts and Apparated. She and Draco had made plans for later that summer. Rebecca wasn't sure she wanted to return to Malfoy Manor again, so they mutually agreed on Diagon Alley.

Those at the Burrow welcomed her back readily. She participated half-heartedly in conversations and games before retiring early. She was set up in Percy's old room. But she was mostly left to her own devices, though they tried to get her to talk over the next few weeks.

"I don't want to talk about anything," Rebecca said each time. "I want to forget it all."

For the benefit of her friends, she did engage more in conversations and whatever gameplay they desired when they were home. But most of the day found Rebecca by herself while everyone else was at work. She and Ginny kept each other company on occasion. The other girl seemed to sense Rebecca had many more issues than she could begin to solve, so they mainly spoke of other things—anything beside the war, beside what had happened to her and others.

Hermione and Molly returned, having found her parents and restored their memories to them. At the moment, they needed some space to deal with everything that had happened. Hermione was upset by their rejection and wouldn't speak to anyone until Rebecca spoke with her. Hermione was back to her normal self by the next morning, and was already writing a letter of explanation to her parents and had sent it to them by that afternoon.

The next week saw them all at the award ceremony. Everyone who had participated in the war somehow was given an award. Those who had given their lives to the cause had family members present to accept their awards. Little Dennis Creevey and his parents accepted Colin's Order of Merlin, Third Class and Remus accepted Tonks'. Dumbledore received another Order of Merlin, First Class, which his brother Aberforth was there to accept. Aberforth also received an Order of Merlin, Third Class, for allowing all of those people to enter Hogwarts to help.

The Weasleys all gained Second Class medals, and Ron and Hermione each received their First Class medals. Then Kingsley paused.

"The next medals I wish to give out at once," he said.

Rebecca could immediately sense this was not going to end well.

"Both of these individuals have been severely misjudged because of their House. Albus Dumbledore believed in these two individuals, however, and trusted them both above all others with his deepest secrets. They worked tirelessly, even when all hope seemed lost. Both protected Harry Potter over the years, regardless of what befell them. Please help me in congratulating Severus Snape and Rebecca Felan, who will both receive Orders of Merlin, First Class."

The crowd began applauding. Rebecca stayed glued to her seat until Harry nudged her. Finally, she put on her brave face and stood, letting the crowd behold her. She kept her hair down and had not allowed anyone to touch her face with a spec of makeup. She indulged Molly in putting her in one of the dresses she now owned. The brown one that she had worn for Severus' birthday.

Slowly, she made her way to the podium, where Kingsley waited with the medals upon their silk straps. Severus was already there, letting Kingsley put the medal around his neck, though he looked annoyed. He wore his usual black robes, though his collar was much higher than she'd ever seen it. He stood mostly on his right leg, and limped when he turned to face the crowd at Kingsley's motioning.

His magically enhanced voice carried over the crowd.

"I do not deserve a medal for what I have done," he said evenly. "And I hope the Minister soon realizes the error of his way in bequeathing me with something of this magnitude and takes it from me."

Without waiting, he limped back across the stage, passing Rebecca without glancing at her. He began to make his way down the stairs when the crowd had begun to come to their senses. Kingsley turned to Rebecca, looking a bit perplexed at what had just happened. But he smiled when he placed the medal over her neck.

The crowd clapped again when she turned to face them. She tapped her throat with her wand before speaking. She looked at the crowd for a long time. Finally, everyone was silent. She could still see Severus making his way down the aisle, limping slightly.

She looked down at the medal hanging around her neck. She clutched it in her hand and pulled it off her head, then turned to Kingsley and handed it back to him.

"I don't deserve this," she said, her voice still magnified.

She tapped her throat with her wand again and turned from the Minister. The crowd was murmuring, moving about restlessly as she made her way down the stairs from the stage. She glanced up, and from down the aisle, she could see Severus staring at her from the entrance, his hand on the door. When he saw her looking, he gave her a scathing looking before turning and walking out.

Rebecca made her way back to her seat and took it once more, staring forward, intent upon not hearing anymore. Kingsley called up Harry next, and the crowd roared for him. Rebecca stood and applauded along with everyone else.

Her friend accepted his award graciously, making a nicely put together speech that was brief. Then, he asked Kingsley for Rebecca's award.

"My cousin is very humble," he said with a smile. "She's just overwhelmed by your kindness, Minister."

Kingsley handed Harry Rebecca's medal, and the crowd applauded once more as he made his way from the stage. He reached his seat, next to hers, Ron's, and Hermione's, Ginny sitting next to him. He put the medal in her lap.

"You deserve this," he whispered harshly. "You have earned this, putting your life on the line for others and helping where you could."

"I've earned this by killing and harming others," Rebecca said, her hand tight upon the medal as she tried to shove it back at him. "I've earned this by listening to an old man who thought he knew better than everyone else. Earned this for taking the Dark Mark."

Harry stared back at her, taking the medal and spreading the silk straps upon it. He pushed it over her head and grabbed her by the shoulder, forcing Rebecca to look at him.

"That was not your whole purpose, and you know it, Becca," he said. "You have done the wizarding world a service. Start acting like it. You have power, just like you told me."

Once Kingsley had made his closing speech, they all their way back to the Burrow. Rebecca put her medal deep within her bag, hoping to forget about it.

It had been two weeks since she took her N.E.W.T.s when Kingsley Shacklebolt called upon the Burrow just after dinner. He asked to speak to Rebecca. She stepped outside, where they could speak privately.

"I'm hopeful this won't turn out like the last time I was told a Minister wanted to speak to me," she said, trying to inflect her sentence with enough humor.

Kingsley chuckled even at her vague attempt at normalcy. "No, this is good news, Rebecca. I had your test scores graded first, so that you could know the results."

He handed her a sealed envelope. Rebecca looked at him for a moment.

"Why?" she asked.

"Curiosity," Kingsley said. "And I also wanted to give you the opportunity I've given everyone else again, should you decide you don't like the results."

Rebecca watched him, her face unreadable, though she seemed to stare directly into his thoughts.

"Somehow I think you already know the results," Rebecca said, taking the envelope from him.

She tore open the flap quickly, taking out the parchment inside and scanning down the page. She glanced back up at Kingsley.

"There's a mistake," she said, her grip tightening on the parchment. "All of these scores are too high."

Kingsley smiled pleasantly at her. "Those are the scores you earned, Rebecca," he said easily, motioning to the parchment. "I'll admit, I saw them just after having all of your tests graded and speaking to the proctors. But the N.E.W.T. officials compiled these—they're trustworthy."

"But I only received one Exceeds Expectations," Rebecca said, "in Astronomy. The rest are Outstandings, even History of Magic."

"The officials were impressed with you, Rebecca," Kingsley said.

"Is there something you want with me, Minister?" Rebecca asked, folding the parchment back up and replacing it in its envelope.

"I've come to offer you a job at the Ministry," Kingsley said. "Harry said that you've seem listless since your trial. I'm of the opinion that it's because you have nothing to do."

Rebecca didn't say anything.

"I suspect that you think I'm going to offer you a position as an Auror," Kingsley said, smiling again. "But I'm not. I have learned a bit about you over the years, Rebecca. I know that you don't like fighting, though you're more than proficient at dueling."

"So what job do you want to offer me, Minister?"

"I want you to come work for me as my personal assistant," he said. "You'll go with me wherever I go. You'll keep track of my meetings, of the people I'm meeting with, and you'll be my trusted advisor and my body guard, if you'd like."

Rebecca frowned. "You want me to spy for you. You want me to read the people you meet with, to tell you what to tell them to get to comply to your requests."

"Of course not, Rebecca," Kingsley said. "It's not spying. I simply see that you have a very good skill set for politics. I'd like to help you get into the Ministry, to get you started. I think that you could be Minister one day."

Rebecca scoffed. "Minister, with all due respect, I see right through you," she said. "My answer is no. And don't offer it to me again. I won't decline so nicely next time."

Kingsley called after her, but Rebecca entered the Burrow again and shut the door quickly behind her. She beckoned to Ron, Hermione, and Harry, who followed her upstairs. She showed them her test results and explained the situation.

"I think he had them faked," Rebecca said.

"Becca," Hermione said, "it's the official seal at the bottom."

"And Kingsley is Minister," Rebecca said. "He can do whatever he wants. In any case, I'm not spying for anyone again. Ever."

"We don't blame you for not taking the job, Becca," said Ron. "You could come work with me and George at the joke shop. We could use the extra hands."

Rebecca shook her head. "I'm looking into apprenticeships," she said. "I want to be a Potions Mistress."

"Not surprising," Harry said with a smirk. "Good luck. But the Aurors would be glad to have you, just to let you know."

"I'm sure they would," Rebecca said flatly.

The next morning, when everyone was at work, only Molly, Ginny, Hermione, and Rebecca remained at the Burrow. Rebecca was reading when a knock sounded at the back door. Molly answered and let whoever it was in. Rebecca looked up when she saw Head Auror Gawain Robards enter. She put her book down and placed her feet on the ground.

"Miss Felan, I need to speak with you," he said. "I have a proposition for you, and I'm hoping I don't come off presumptuous."

He seemed a bit nervous, and Rebecca wondered if it was she that was making him nervous. She considered the man as she hadn't last month. He was perhaps middle-aged, with a head of brown, shaggy hair. His eyes matched the color of his hair. His features were in proportion with his body, as he was a tall man, big about the shoulders. But he acted as though he didn't wish to be imposing, attempted to make himself smaller.

"Well, since you began with such a statement, I hope you aren't, either," Rebecca said. "I want to like you after the treatment you gave me at St. Mungo's."

She motioned to the chair across from her. He took it, then quickly looked back up at her.

"I'd first like to apologize for forcing you to go through the search at Azkaban," he said. "I had no idea—"

"Please, Mr. Robards, you were doing your job," she said. "I can't expect preferential treatment."

He stopped, then nodded. "I was impressed at both of the trials," he said. "You certainly do live up to everything that I've ever heard about you, which is why I'm here now."

"You're not going to offer me a job as one of your Aurors, are you?" she asked with a tiny smirk.

"I've already talked to Potter about it," Robards said. "He told me not to bother. I won't say that I'm not disappointed, but what I'm about to offer you might be something more appealing."

"Okay," Rebecca said, sitting forward slightly. "You have my attention."

"I have connections with the American Ministry," Robards said. "I knew their Minister for Magic, Brian Smith, when we were children. His father was stationed near where we lived as a child. We've kept in touch."

He reached into his robes and pulled out an envelope. "He sent me a letter via Floo a few days ago," he said. "It seems their Head Auror has retired. He asked me to leave my Ministry and my country to take the job. They're desperate to fill it with someone qualified, and he needs someone he can trust. Their Ministry hasn't been very strong since last year, when You-Know-Who took over."

Robards looked at Rebecca for a while before continuing.

"I told him I couldn't do that to my Minister, not having just won the war," he said. "But I told him I had someone in mind who might be willing to take the position. I mentioned your name, and he seemed very excited."

Rebecca's brows furrowed. "Go to America?" she asked. "Be a Head Auror?" She shook her head. "Why would you even think of me?"

Robards looked at her for a moment, and she could almost see him thinking. Finally, he sighed before answering.

"Potter tells me no one can lie to you," he said. "I don't want to test you, because I've been wanting to like you the moment Potter stood up for you after the battle."

"I appreciate that."

Rebecca was shocked into silence after that, listening carefully to what Robards had to say.

"I had Anthony report to me what happened over the next two days when I wasn't there," he said. "You're extremely loyal, perhaps to a fault, he told me. You're sharp, quick, and have a nasty tongue, like any good Slytherin should. I've witnessed some of these traits already, so I wasn't surprised when he confirmed it. Then I went to your trial and watched how your friends spoke of you, listened to how you spoke of yourself."

He paused. "Then the trial I was waiting for: Snape's. Your defense of him moved me. I came up to speak to you after his trial was over, but you had already approached him. I'm sorry to say I heard everything. I don't want you to think that I naturally pry, because I let other people do that—it never sat well with me. But when Potter came in the next day, talking about how your father had treated you when you went to find him after getting him to a safe house…"

He pursed his lips. "I know what Kingsley wants to do with you," he said. "And I don't approve, not after seeing how you reacted to receiving your Order of Merlin. There's a lot more to you than most people realize, I think, Miss Felan."

Rebecca stared at the man before her, unable to speak. He held up the envelope again.

"This is the offer Minister Smith is willing to make you," he said. "I'll tell you right now it's very generous."

"But I've never even—"

"You were close to the Dark Lord, a close member of his Inner Circle," Robards said, interrupting. "You defeated Bellatrix Lestrange twice, if the rumors are true. You're as skilled a duelist as Alastor Moody and Severus Snape, they're saying. Potter's corroborating. Kingsley also had your N.E.W.T. scores released to a select few people, so naturally everyone knows. You're intelligent, you can be discrete, and you're loyal. You are the perfect candidate for this job. Moreover, something tells me you need to get away for a while."

Rebecca considered him for a moment before leaning forward and taking the envelope from his hand. She opened it and looked at it.

"You're kidding me," she said, eyes locating his.

"Brian is a very nice man," he said. "He needs to keep his Ministry from crumbling around him. You're the type of personality that he needs right now. If he was to convince someone from Britain, perhaps close to the Ministry or a war hero, people would regain faith in him and the American Ministry again."

"So he wants to use my stance to his favor."

"Yes, but the important thing to note is that he does not want to use you," Robards said.

Rebecca looked at the parchment again. A year contract, renewable if she chose. She could break it whenever she wished. Leave that would accumulate if she didn't use it. One hundred thousand galleons for the year. She would help to train the new recruits, drill the existing Aurors, and lead them out on raids for sympathizers of the Dark Lord or any magical terrorist groups. She would be part of the clean-up crew if anything got out of hand, and would oversee any Obliviating that needed to occur.

And she would be a thousand miles away from England, from all of the problems that weren't letting her sleep. From all of the chaos in the aftermath of the war. From so many people pulling her in different directions. The constant sorrow she felt. Not being able to help her friends cope with their losses. Not understand how she felt about everything.

And she could escape him. His memories. Hogwarts. The Burrow. Malfoy Manor. The Headmaster's office.

She could leave these feelings behind. Her terror, her anger, her sadness, her love… Everything.

"Yes," she said. "I do need to get away. Please tell Minister Smith that I'll arrive at the date he has listed on the parchment." She glanced again at it. "July fourth. Isn't that when the Americans celebrate their independence?"

Robards nodded. "He wanted to show you the beauty of D.C. when you arrive," he said. "It's a Saturday this year, so you're certain to enjoy yourself. I'll make the final arrangements. And I suspect that you'll tell everyone in your own time." He gave a polite smile.

"Yes, thank you," Rebecca said.

He stood. "I'll take my leave, then," he said. "Please tell… Molly that I appreciate her letting me into her home."

"I will," Rebecca said, stepping forward. She offered her hand. "Thank you. I really appreciate it."

He shook her hand, smiling. "It's my pleasure."

Robards left, leaving Rebecca by herself, holding onto the envelope.

---

Goodbyes, July 3, 1998

There was a huge tent out in the Weasley's backyard, just as there had been for the two weddings that had taken place here. It was really a lovely night for a going away party. The air was warm, but not oppressive, and a slight breeze came through the trees and bushes.

Everyone was doing their best to at least pretend to be happy. Hermione was better at it than everyone else. She handed Rebecca a box, then kept one for herself, gave another to Harry, and then one to Draco, who had also joined them at the table.

"What's this?" Rebecca asked, raising an eyebrow at her friend.

"I've charmed these boxes to send items back and forth," she said. "If it can fit in the box, then it will send it. Even if the item is magically shrunk."

"Brilliant," Ron said.

Draco smirked. "It is rather ingenious, Granger, thank you," he said. His tone was kind.

"You're welcome, Malfoy."

It was still a bit tense, but there were moments when Rebecca thought that things were going to be okay between her Gryffindor friends and the Malfoys. Even Lucius and Narcissa were gathered with Molly, Arthur, Andromeda, Teddy, and Remus.

"You better keep in touch," Harry said, an arm draped over Ginny's shoulders as he pointed at her.

"I will, don't worry," Rebecca said, giving a soft smile.

"Pardon the intrusion, but I'm going to need to pull Miss Felan away for a moment."

Professor McGonagall's voice carried over the dull roar of the crowd of people that were under the tent. Rebecca looked up and smiled at the new Headmistress, standing.

"I'll be right back," she told her friends at the table.

She followed McGonagall to the edge of the tent. The older witch turned to her, desperation clearly written on her face.

"I'm going to attempt a last effort at getting you to stay," she said evenly. "No one wants you to leave, Miss Felan, least of all me. I need someone to take over my Transfiguration post. You're more than qualified to do so."

"I appreciate the offer, Headmistress—"

"Minerva, for the love of Merlin," McGonagall interrupted. "I believe we have reached that point, Rebecca."

Rebecca couldn't help but smile. "Minerva. I appreciate the offer. But I've already accepted the position. Besides, Transfiguration is very much a love of mine, but it isn't my passion."

"Horace is still the Potions Master," Minerva said. "But I could offer you the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."

Rebecca furrowed her brows. "I thought that you'd offered that to Professor Snape?" she asked. "And that he's to take over the Deputy Headmaster position. I heard Professor Flitwick didn't want the added stress."

McGonagall sighed. "Yes, that is all true. Bloody gossipers."

"I'm not going to take the position away from Professor Snape," Rebecca said firmly. "And I'm certain there are more qualified people than me to take over your post as Transfiguration professor."

McGonagall paused, her lips thinning. "Is it because of what Severus said to you after his trial?"

Rebecca sighed, rolling her eyes. She turned from McGonagall, but the older witch was still spry. She stood in front of Rebecca, fists upon her hips.

"If that is what is driving you so far from home, Rebecca, I believe you're making a grievous mistake."

"Minerva. I've accepted the offer to work in America. I'm going, regardless of whatever you or anyone else thinks about why I'm leaving. And if that's the sole reason you think I'm leaving, then perhaps you don't know me as well as you claim to."

The two witches stared at one another for a moment. McGonagall faltered.

"Rebecca, my apologies," she said quietly. "I know that you have been through much more than most of the students…"

"Please, I don't need to hear the same thing again," Rebecca said. "I'm trying to move on, and this is the only way I can see myself doing so. I can't go back to Hogwarts right now. I can't be here right now. I can think about him right now."

She clamped her mouth shut, not meaning to say the last sentence.

"Rebecca, you are not yourself," Minerva said. "Are you certain you're making the correct decision?"

"It doesn't matter, does it?" Rebecca asked. "It's been made."

She looked to McGonagall once more. "I'm sorry that I had to Obliviate you," she said quietly.

"It was for my own good," McGonagall said with a smile. "I'll miss you, Rebecca."

"I'll miss you too, Minerva," she said.

"I know you don't enjoy being touched, but I hope you'll make an exception for an old woman."

Before Rebecca could say anything, McGonagall's arms were around her, hugging her tightly.

"Take care of yourself, Rebecca," she said, drawing away after a minute.

She walked away, leaving Rebecca standing there for a moment. She turned back to the table where her friends all sat to see them in generally good spirits. She watched them, observing. They would be fine without her, all of them. They could keep themselves together, could console one another in the bad times and support each other through the successes. Even Draco was fitting in better than she could have imagined.

Someone touched her shoulder, and Rebecca jumped.

"Sorry," said Remus. "I forget sometimes."

"It's okay," she replied, calming her beating heart.

"Are you sure those Americans are going to treat you well?"

She shook her head. "Not you too."

"I supposed Minerva's ploy didn't work, so I thought I'd try myself," Remus said with a shrug. "Why are you leaving, Becca?"

"Because I've agreed to a lovely job that happens to be elsewhere."

"I know that you haven't wanted to talk about anything, but don't you think now is the time to do just that?"

"No, and please stop, Remus," Rebecca said. "I'm going. End of discussion. No one can convince me to stay."

"No even Severus?" Remus asked.

"Wow, laying it on a bit thick there," Rebecca said, rubbing her forehead with her fingers.

"I don't think there's one of us here who didn't hear what he said to you after his trial," Remus said, lowering his voice.

"Which should tell you that he wants nothing to do with me, just as I want nothing to do with him," Rebecca said. "Not after how he treated me."

"I don't think that's true, Becca."

She sneered at him. "Do you want me to admit that I'm still in love with him?" she whispered quickly. "Do you want me to tell you the only reason I'm leaving is because I was spurned? What do you want from me, Remus? What?"

"To know that you're going to be all right," he said evenly. "I know this is going to be a moment of the pot calling the kettle black, but I don't think that you're as stable as you'd like us all to believe."

"You and McGonagall really were conspiring, weren't you?" Rebecca asked. "Who put you up to it? Harry? Well, whoever did or didn't, stop. I'm tired of it. All of it."

She turned from him, exiting the tent and standing under the open air. The night enveloped her, the breeze blowing comfortingly through her robes. It was quiet, and no one seemed to follow her. Rebecca let out a sigh, breaking the silence of the air around her.

In the quiet, she heard rustling. Her head turned quickly, eyeing the area she'd heard the sound come from warily. Finally, her eyes adjusted. A dark figure stood within the tree line, watching her.

Rebecca slowly took out her wand, but he continued to stand there. She cast her Patronus, muttering the adjustment to the spell Albus had taught them as Order members. Her wolf came fluidly from the tip of her wand. It formed solidly, then loped over to the figure in the trees, illuminating Severus Snape's face just so.

Severus took a step back as the wolf approached him. But he paused when the wolf opened its mouth.

"It's a wolf." A pause as the wolf stood before him. "I'm leaving. Are you happy now?"

Then it faded into the air, dissipating with the breeze. The dim light it offered fell away. Severus looked back up to see Rebecca Felan's back as she walked back up to the Burrow.