The sky was beginning to turn pink as Lyria made her way back to the castle. She was completely exhausted.

Grasping her cloak tight around her, the autumn air made its way through the rips in the fabric and she shivered. Her boots were caked in mud and her hands had been rubbed raw.

For a moment she contemplated going to Madam Pomfrey, but the thought of laying in her soft warm bed won out.

She was already half asleep as she slipped out of her dirty clothes and put on her warmest pajamas. At least working with Kettleburn had helped her take her mind of Severus, she had barely thought the name before she fell asleep.

"Minerva,"

McGonagall turned around to see the potions master gliding towards her, a few students scurried out of his way and she really couldn't blame them. He looked quite distraught.

"Ah, Severus, yes I am sure you have questions for me."

She resumed walking and he fell into step beside her.

"Minerva have you- are you aware-, I know you-"

She sighed and stopped him, not waiting for him to spit out the question.

"Yes Severus, yes I know where Lyria is. She is assisting Professor Kettleburn in his preparations for the second task."

"I am aware, but is that also why she seems to have disappeared from the castle? Why she cannot continue her duties as my apprentice? She hasn't even attended meals, what's going-"

Minerva lowered her voice slightly, just in case her words were caught by a student passing them as they rushed to class. "Miss Lyria is not the only one of the castles staff that has been absent Severus, as I am sure you noticed."

Actually he hadn't, but thought it prudent to keep that fact to himself.

"The... nature, of the creatures they are working with necessitates that they prepare at night. Not only to keep from the eyes of curious students but for the creatures themselves." Her voice returned to it's normal volume, "So, Lyria and the others will be sleeping during the day, making it quite difficult for her to attend your class Severus."

"I see."

They walked in silence for a few moments, Snape chose his next words carefully.

"Minerva, did Lyria mention anything else to you?"

"Are you referring to the incident involving a certain Ilvermorny Professor"

"I see she did."

"It was I who asked her about it. I wanted to make sure she would be okay working with Pendragon occasionally as she assisted with preparations."

Snape stopped in his tracks. When she realized that Snape was no longer next to her Minerva turned and went back to him.

"She's working with Pendragon?!"

"There isn't much we can do to avoid that Severus. But she was confident that she would be okay, and if he tries anything she will let me know immediately. It's been taken care of."

His scowl remained in place and she sighed. "Severus if you are worried then talk to her, not me. Now if you'll excuse me," she walked a few steps down the corridor to the Transfiguration classroom. "I need to begin my class, let me know if there's anything else you need Severus."

A week went by. And nothing. She wasn't at any meals, the few times he saw her early in the morning she scurried away from him and into her room. He was at a loss, and it was killing him.

Students began to notice Snape's bitter mood. He was even more terse than usual, he took away about 50 house points per day. Students were now basically learning from their textbooks as he spoke infrequently and offered little guidance in class. The 7th years in particular couldn't help but note that his change in mood corresponded to Miss Artemis' disappearance.

There were rumors that she was helping prepare the next task along with a few other Professors, but no one was quite sure.

Part way through the second week of her absence things got particularly bad. Snape was handing out detentions left and right, and Artemis' kindness seemed a phantom of the past.

Eva Grace, had been quite fond of Artemis as she sat with her friends in the corner of the Potions classroom they talked.

"Why do you think she left?"

"Maybe it wasn't her choice! I've heard that this task is huge, preparations started the night the champions arrived." Responded her friend Megan Joel.

"But why did they have to take her? I thought Potions were dreadful before but now…"

"I know what you mean." Megan giggled. "I much prefer watching Snape make goo-goo eyes than this!"

The whole table erupted in giggles and Snape took notice. "Joel, 5 points from Gryffindor. Keep your table quiet as you work."

"Yes Sir." replied Megan.

The girls continued their work but halfway through the brewing process Eva hit a snag. Her Elixir to Induce Euphoria had turned into a dark sludge that smelled of wet leaves. Certainly not euphoria-inducing.

Eva raised her hand, she had checked the instructions a dozen times and whispered to Megan for advice but they couldn't figure it out.

Snape continued to pace on the other side of the room, obviously not seeing her.

"Uh, Professor?" She called, everyone turned to look at her.

"Miss Grace?"

"My potion looks weird, we can't figure out what I did wrong."

"Congratulations, I'm so proud." He sneered and turned away once more.

"Professor wait I-" As Eva stood she bumped the table and some of their ingredients fell to the floor.

"5 points from Gryffindor for making a mess in my classroom."

Her cheeks burned at the embarrassment, but at the same time she was angry. All she had done was ask for help!

"Artemis would've helped.." she said under her breath to Megan.

"Detention Grace."

She sighed and cleaned her mess, Megan looked at her sympathetically and helped.

At the end of the hour students cleaned their stations and headed out but Eva stayed behind to receive her punishment. Snape sat at his desk and didn't look up when she approached.

"Report to Hagrid's hut at dawn tomorrow, you will be helping him clean the Quidditch pitch."

"Yes Sir."

The next day Eva rushed to Potions, she couldn't wait to tell Megan!

Her friends were already seated as she rushed to them.

"I saw her! I saw Artemis!"

The table lit up.

"You did! Where?"

"What did she say!"

"Is she coming back?"

Before she could explain Snape entered the room and they all fell quiet.

After Snape gave his usual sparse instructions she began talking to her friends in a hushed voice.

"I had to be at Hagrid's for detention at dawn, and I saw her walking back from the forest!"

"The forest? What was she doing in there?" asked Megan.

"Who cares? I was just happy to see she's still around!"

"Did you talk to her?"

"Yeah!"

She paused, making sure Snape wasn't around to take house points.

"She said that she was working on the task! She's been working at night and sleeping during the day, that's why she can't be here."

Megan looked hopeful, "Does that mean she'll be back after Friday?"

"That's what I asked! But she said she wasn't sure, I didn't get to ask her anything else before Pendragon showed up and they headed back to the castle."

Snape had been listening in, it was the first news he had heard of Artemis as well. He decided not to let on that he had heard their conversation.

As the group of Gryffindors headed out of the room at the end of the lesson he called "Miss Grace, I need to speak to you."

Eva sighed, probably detention again.

She walked to his desk but this time he stood and was looking intently at her. Snape waited until all the other students had left before asking.

"Miss Grace I heard you beguiling your friends with news of Miss Artemis."

Uh-oh.

"Yes Sir."

"Did she say anything else to you?"

"Yes Sir."

"Well Miss Grace, let's hear it."

She paused, unsure of what to do. She didn't want to anger Snape, but also thought it was fair for him to know.

"Well um… Professor… she said she wasn't sure if she would be coming back to help our class."

Snape's face was unreadable. "Did she say that exactly."

"She said 'I'm not sure it would be best to continue to help with potions.' She looked like she wanted to say more but then Professor Pendragon came around the corner and said they had to get back to the castle."

Snape said nothing for a moment and Eva shivered at the coldness in his eyes.

"Very well, thank you Miss Grace. Although please refrain from gossiping in my class in the future."

"Of course Sir."

"You may go."

She scampered to the door, but just as she grabbed the handle she got a wave of bravery.

"Professor?"

He had sat at his desk and did not look at her.

"We miss her too." She rushed from the room.