Disclaimer: This work is based on the J.K. Rowling's World of Harry Potter. Everything you recognize belongs to her.

Professor Dumbledore stayed for dinner, so Dobby was in his element preparing a small feast. Dobby had expanded his repertoire of meals so Maerna felt more at home. Tonight, it was Smithfield Ham and baked beans. Severus eyes his plate in apprehension but Dumbledore seemed more adventurous and ate with gusto.

Maerna, however, picked at her meal. What did Dumbledore know? He knew her name but did he know that Severus kidnapped her on Voldemort's orders? He must not realize that Severus was a Death Eater, she reasoned.

"I was going to come over to Gri-where you were," Severus quickly corrected. "You need not come here. I know this cottage isn't your favorite place." Maerna paused and raised her eyebrow in for clarification but none was forthcoming.

"Thank you for thinking of me, Severus," replied Albus. "In truth, while there are lots of painful memories here, they are from the long ago past. I need to conquer those fears and focus on more important things at hand."

"Your past is important," Maerna pointed out.

"Yes, it is," agreed Albus, "but if it is keeping you from accepting the present and the future, then you need to lay it aside, including the negative emotions that come it." Dumbledore's ice blue eyes pierced her and then swept over to Snape. "This is something that both of you need to accept if you are going to work on Voldemort's project while ensuring its completion is futile."

Maerna began to choke on her ham. Severus calmly pointed his wand at her throat, "Anapneo", and she immediately began breathing easier. "Thank you," Maerna said almost absentmindedly as she stared at Dumbledore and Severus. "Which side are you on?" she demanded of the younger wizard.

A wry smile spread across his face. "That depends on who you ask," he answered cryptically adding to Maerna's confusion. "However, Albus is correct. Whether the goal is to make the potion successful or to sabotage it without causing suspicion, we will have to put our past aside and work together."
Maerna was still trying to piece the conversation together. Severus was a Death Eater. She had observed him bow before his master. He kidnapped her, watched another murder her grandmother. At the same time, he had challenged Voldemort's decision to have her removed to Lucius. Right now, she was watching him have dinner with Albus Dumbledore, like they were old friends. In truth, as far as prisoners, he had always treated her with respect as long as she didn't cause him ire.

"Why now?" she asked. "Why are you willing to trust me now."

"Because you've earned it," Severus said simply. "As you pointed out to me, you've been beyond the wards dozens of times. You never tried to turn me in. You didn't try to hide from me. In fact, you returned to me. You haven't even attempted to tell Albus about your kidnapping tonight. Not that it matters. He, or course, already knows. You've proven you can be trusted." Maerna looked sceptical, thinking back to Wednesday night. Severus must have read her face. "I was shocked. I was worried. You can imagine what the Dark Lord would do if you escaped my control." It was as close to an apology that Maerna would receive.

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Severus's spring break flew by. He wasn't happy about her attempts at creating Wolfsbane because it was a "colossal waste of her precious time" although he was impressed with the quality of the potion. "It's not good enough for consumption but held promise especially for someone who had never taken an official potion class." Maerna tried to argue that Wolfsbane could be classified under psychotomimetic potions because it kept the brain from transforming into a more base brain with only feral desires. Severus, however, didn't look convinced and insisted that the focus on other topics.

Maerna did feel as if the tables had turned in their relationship. A cloud of trust seemed to surround them like a web, but it felt very fragile like one wrong word would tear it apart. The curricula they studied had also shifted slightly with more focus on chemistry instruction for Severus and less potions for her.

Albus came over for dinner several times during the break. He seemed very relaxed about losing his position at Hogwarts. He told Maerna not to worry about it for he was sure it was temporary. However, when he and Severus left together for secret meetings, both would be tense and neither would discuss it with her. Two evenings before term started, Severus winced and rubbed his arm just as dinner was called. Albus turned immediately serious and nodded to him. Maerna reached out but he shook her away and walked out the door.

Dinner was a quiet affair before Dumbledore broke the silence. "I haven't seen you eat so little since the first evening I was here and you found out Severus was a spy." Maerna said nothing, so he pressed further. "You are worried about him? Why?"

Maerna glanced up at the question. Why? Did she have an answer? Did she consider him a friend? Would she be upset if something happened to him? She didn't want him hurt because he was human, but did it run deeper than that? Carefully, she chose her words. "Because I care for him," she admitted. "The problem is, I don't know who I care for? Who is the man I care about? In short, which side is he really on: yours or Voldemort's?

Albus leaned back and smiled. "Excellent question. I, of course, would tell you and anyone who asked me that I trust Severus Snape with my life. However, Lord Voldemort is a powerful Legillimest and has been through Severus's mind many times. I'm sure he would tell you that I'm a soft-hearted fool and Severus is dedicated to him. So, the question is, Ms. Danazul, do you trust my assessment or do you trust Voldemort's?"

Maerna shook her head. "Neither, the only one I trust is God's and he told me to stay with Severus. That, Severus needs me."

Dumbledore nodded in approval, "Then, please listen to your God. Severus may not realize it, Maerna, but he needs a friend. He needs someone who doesn't judge him but accepts him, flaws and all. You might just be the perfect person for that job."

Albus stayed until Severus got home several hours later. Maerna heard a low, urgent conversation in the kitchen but couldn't understand it. After the front door slammed, she ventured into the living room. Severus was sitting on the couch, eyes closed. Maerna quietly brought him a pain potion and some hot tea. He nodded his thanks but said nothing, so she curled up next to him and laid her head on his shoulder as he stared into the fire.