Sorry for the long absense, everyone. My husband is in the Army, and left almost immediately after Christmas for several weeks of training in another state (again!). Needless to say, I've been kind of moping around since the New Year. But, I finally had the bright idea of passing the time by working on this story! So I am happy to say that I am back, and I hope to resume my previous steady pattern of updates for you!

Also, a great big thank you to everyone who favorited/followed over the holidays (I will try to go through my emails and update my list- I like to personally thank everyone individually who encourages me via reviews/follows/favorites), and a LoL/thanks so much to the people who took me seriously on the last chapter and left me reviews saying simply, "Good job!" They really did make my day (see? I told you!)!

"Anne!"

She looked up from the pile of work paperwork fanned out around her on the bed at the sound of her name echoing down the corridor. "Sev?" she called back.

There was no reply- not that she had expected one. She hurried down to the kitchen to see him standing by the fire, warming his long, pale hands and shaking snow from his black traveling cloak. Small puddles were forming at his feet as the snow he had tracked in melted on the warm cobblestones. He turned at the sound of her footsteps. "I need to speak to you." He looked agitated.

Anne filled the kettle and flicked her wand, pouring tea for them both. "It's the middle of term, Sev," she said, frowning. "How did you manage to leave the school?"

"I did, but only just." He sat and accepted the mug, frowning at the tea. She knew he would have liked something a bit stronger, but she had taken to hiding the liquor after smelling it on Sirius' breath one too many times. His black, glittering eyes met hers and held her gaze. "I had my first Occlumency lesson with Potter last night."

"Are you alright?"

"Of course I am," he snapped. "A fifteen year old boy is no threat to me."

"So, what happened?" she sat back in her chair, sipping the warm liquid.

"I'm not entirely sure."

Anne raised an eyebrow. For Severus to admit ignorance was a very rare occurrence. "Well, walk me through it."

"It wasn't the entire lesson, just something Potter said at the end." He shook his head. "I have to admit, it unnerved me." He took a sip of tea. "At first, it was typical of teaching the brat. It took him hours to even attempt to Occlude his thoughts, of course, and he had a million and one useless questions-"

"Who did? Harry?" They both turned to see Sirius standing framed in the doorway.

"This does not concern you, Black," Severus said silkily.

"It does if it has something to do with my godson," Sirius argued.

Anne shook her head. "Sirius, please." His grey eyes met hers and she gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile. "If there is anything I think you would want to know concerning Harry at the end of this conversation, I will share it with you."

"You damned well will not!"

She shook her head, ignoring Severus' outburst. "Please, Sirius. Sev just needs to vent- talk about his problems a little."

Sirius nodded slowly, fixing Severus with a look of intense distrust. "You promise to tell me?"

She smiled. "I swear."

Sirius finally returned her smile, leaving them in peace once more. Anne turned to see Severus watching her carefully. "What?" she asked.

Severus narrowed his eyes. "You seem awfully friendly, considering you begged me not to send you here in the first place."

"I live with him," Anne rejoined bluntly. "It is in my interest to keep the peace. It's possible to be polite to someone even if you don't like them, Sev."

Severus sneered, but let the statement go without comment, returning quickly to his recounting of the week's events. "At one point, Potter got a- dreamy look on his face. There's no other word for it. And he asked me about the Department of Mysteries right afterward."

Anne frowned, concerned. "He what? What did he ask, exactly?"

Severus shrugged. "He wanted to know what was in it. He said he had been having recurring dreams about a corridor- that the Dark Lord wanted something from inside the Ministry-"

"How does he know all that?" Anne exclaimed.

Severus' glittering black eyes met hers. "I don't know. Anne, I think the Dark Lord is accessing his mind, somehow."

Anne studied his face for a long moment. "You have to tell Dumbledore," she said finally.

"I already have."

"And what did he say?"

Severus smirked. "You know Dumbledore."

"Yes." Anne rolled her eyes. "So now what?"

Severus drained his glass. "I have to continue the lessons. I told him to work on his Occlumency every night, to empty his mind before he goes to sleep-"

"Sev, he's only a boy."

"You think the Dark Lord will respect that?" Severus roared suddenly, jumping to his feet. "When he has spent years hunting down a target who was an infant at their first meeting- who is even now only underage and poorly equipped to fight him? Why do you think I have been working so hard to protect him? We are the only ones standing between that boy and certain death, Anne- you and I, the Order, and Dumbledore. And it wasn't enough to protect him last time. Or her." His voice dropped to his normal tone. "It is why I do what I do- to protect him. As much of an arrogant, insufferable little brat he is- just like his father- he is still her son. He is still a boy. I just-" He paused, sinking back into his chair and slumping uncharacteristically in his seat. "I just worry that I am not doing enough."

"No," Anne disagreed, reaching out to him. She took his hand in hers. "You give it everything you have, every day. You somehow manage to teach, to work with that horrible woman, to fight the Ministry- while still doing your work for the Order, while managing to play a dangerous double game." She smiled softly. "You are the only man I know who would even have a chance of carrying the burden you bear." She squeezed his hand. "Don't give up, Sev. You are smarter than Him. You have been playing Him false for years. He is no match for you. Think hard."

Severus shot her what might have been a glimmer of a smile. "This is why I come to you, Anne. You keep me sane."

She smirked. "I keep you alive."

Another update to come very soon!