grumpirah: The rant at Jorja was needed, and I shall make sure that we don't see too much of that anymore. Thanks for the review

All The Pretty Horses: I sent you a PM, and I hope things are looking up. What he went to see Dumbledore for is revealed in this chapter. Thank you for the review

ladychris07: Thank you, and here is more

ShiningGalaxy: Here is more for you, and I'm glad you enjoy it so much

Live Laugh Love Potter: All those reviews, my God! (is very shocked and happy) I'm so glad you love this story so much, and thank you so much.

Lyra Waterflame:Yes yes you can have more. Thank you for the review

A/N: Currently unbeta'd, so all mistakes are more. I wanted to get this chapter out so you wouldn't be waiting for much longer. I'd like to thank you all for making Into the Night such a success, and to those who lurk, feel free to leave a review, the door is always open.

ooOoo

Here's a toast to all those who hear me all too well. Here's to the nights we felt alive, here's to the tears you knew you'd cry, here's to goodbye tomorrow's gonna come too soon. All my time is frozen motion, can't I stay an hour or two or more, don't let me let you go. Don't let me let you go.

Here's to the Night- Eve 6

ooOoo

Allison awoke, rubbing sleep out of her eyes and getting out of bed as quickly as was possible. She'd completely forgotten, in all the mess and confusion of what had happened to her father, that she was expected on the ice later that morning. Janice had put aside time for a lesson, and for her to do her program a few more times.

She grabbed her skate bag and clothes, riding her bike to the arena.

"Morning, Allison," Janice called, making her way toward the coaches' dressing room.

"Morning Janice," she called back, pushing on the other door and sitting down on the bench. As soon as she laced up her skates and grabbed her music, she began working her blades into the ice and stroking. There were certain patterns she had had to follow in order to pass her tests, and it never hurt to go back to the basics.

"How do those blades feel?" Janice called as she stepped on to the ice.

"They're okay, but I'm going to have to get them sharpened soon," Allison acknowledged. "Why? Do you see something wrong?"

"No, no. You just haven't been on the ice for a while, that's why I wondered."

"Oh, no, they're fine." Turning backward, she skated and turned forward again, jumping off her blades, only to come crashing down again.

"Now do you see why that happened?" Janice called as Allison picked herself up. "You didn't turn properly, and the blade on your right boot slipped, and that results in a wonky take off. Try again."

Three, four, five times later, still nothing.

"Janice, can we just not do anymore of these today? It's just not working."

"You have two of these in your program, you know."

"Yeah, but it's not a competitive piece. At least it's not right now. If I run through it, couldn't I downgrade those two jumps, just to get through it today?"

"If you do that, your body will get used to the downgraded jump, and more often than not you'll be using that one instead of the Axel."

"It's just not working for me this morning, though, and as I recall you wanted me to run through the program as well. Besides, I'm not competing right now, what's it matter if I don't do the Axel today, and it decides it's going to show itself some other day?"

Shaking her head and sighing, Janice agreed. She skated over to the boards, popped Allison's music into the CD player, and the beginning chords of Man on the Moon by R.E.M. filled the arena.

"Mott the Hoople and the Game of Life, yeah yeah yeah yeah. Andy Kaufman and the wrestling match, yeah yeah yeah yeah…"

This was where Allison felt at home. She could lose herself in the music and not have to worry about anything else for the rest of the morning. She knew nothing would ever be the same again, but all in all, it was worth it.

She'd come to that dreaded jump… she knew she had to do it. She'd regret it if she didn't…

"Good girl!" she heard Janice shout over her music. "That's it!"

She finished and found herself lying on the ice. She'd done it, she could land that stupid jump, and at that point, that was all that mattered.

ooOoo

Albus Dumbledore entered the arena swiftly and quietly. No one could have heard him, he was sure of it. Looking over the ice, he saw none other than Allison McCormack pulling on a sweater and making her way toward the dressing room.

He followed, knocking on the door.

"Just a minute!" she called, sounding as though she were just packing the rest of her things away. Not thirty seconds later she opened the door. "If this is about…"

She stopped, her eyes open in surprise.

"Professor Dumbledore," she greeted him. "How can I help you?"

"Miss McCormack," he acknowledged. "I had been hoping to have a chat with you, but it seems you have a clever way of avoiding me."

"Not on purpose, I assure you," she answered. "Just let me finish up here and I'll be right with you."

Grabbing her things, she walked with her things into the corridor and stopped. "Is there something wrong?"

"No, no, not at present."

"Forgive me for asking, sir, but if there's nothing wrong, why did you see fit to meet me in a skating arena instead of summoning me to your office?"

"If I had done so, would you have headed my request?"

"Of course."

"Please do not lie to me, Miss McCormack, I have given you no reason to do so."

She hung her head. "No sir, you're right, I would not have. I would have said to hell with it and ignored it."

"My thoughts exactly," he answered. "Would you object to returning to Hogwarts at this point in time? I must admit it is quite chilly in here."

"Not at all, sir," Allison hoisted her bag further up on to her shoulder.

"Very well, if you'll grasp my arm…"

She nodded, and obliged, holding her breath until they arrived back in the Headmaster's office.

"Are you alright, Miss McCormack?"

"Yes sir," she coughed, wiping ash and soot from her sweater. "I still don't quite understand why you asked me to come to your office. Did I do something illegal?"

"Of course not," Dumbledore answered. "Professor Snape asked me to collect you."

"What?" Allison shook her head. "Why? Why didn't he just get me himself?"

"He doesn't believe he can protect you."

"Yes he can!" she sat down in the chair opposite Dumbledore's desk. "Severus Snape is the best person for the job. He's done more for me than any other person I've ever known. I still don't understand why he asked you to collect me from the arena. Where is he that he couldn't do it himself?"

"I'm right here, Allison," he answered, emerging from the corner.

She gasped, running and embracing him. "Explain this to me as though I'm five years old. What is going on?"

"I asked Professor Dumbledore to collect you."

"Yes, that much we know, but I don't understand why." She let go and stared at him. "The last thing I remember is falling asleep. When did you leave and why did you go to Professor Dumbledore?"

"Because you need help, Allison, and I cannot continue to help you. Not when Lestrange and Greyback are still after you."

"I…I…" she stuttered. "What do you mean? You can't continue to help me? You're not…"

"No," he told her, "I told you, never again. But Dumbledore can offer you a hiding place."

"Me? What about you?"

"I've told you time and time again, Allison, you don't need to worry about me."

"Yes I do!" she could barely control her voice. "You're one of the smartest men in the world but sometimes you're just so stupid!" She covered her eyes and turned away from him "Of course I worry about you, I love you! When you love someone, what happens to him or her is important! What happens to you is important to me! Stop telling me I don't need to worry!"

"Miss McCormack, calm yourself," Dumbledore interrupted. There was no need to raise his voice, though Allison was sure he had before. "Of course this is in no way ideal."

"Ideal? No, it's not ideal!" she struggled. "I've lost my father and my mother in the last four days, Professor. I've just started to piece my life back together; if it weren't for Severus I would've died. Is there any other way?"

"I'm afraid not," he answered. "This is not a permanent measure, Miss McCormack, it is only until Severus can track down Lestrange and Greyback."

"That could take years!" she shook her head. "They still want me, even if their focus has shifted. No matter how we look at this, Professor, they want us dead."

"I realize that, which is at the heart why Severus asked me to protect you."

Her eyes went wide at the implication.

"Is there any chance I could have a day or so to think about this, sir?"

"Certainly, but I'm afraid I can't give you any more time after that, Miss McCormack. They are moving quickly, and the sooner we hide you the better."

She nodded, and, taking her leave, walked out of Dumbledore's office and out into the school grounds. Once there, she turned, and saw no one following her.

Excellent, she thought. The sooner I get out of here, the sooner I can go home and really think about what the hell I'm doing.

She flung herself outside the gates, and Disapparated before Severus knew where she had gone.

ooOoo

Reaching home once again, she flung open her door and went into the kitchen. She dropped her skate bag loudly on the floor and turned, only to find Severus standing in her way.

"If I might…"

She held up a hand, shaking her head twice. "No…" she went up the stairs and shut the door behind her.

He knew that to have something like this dropped on her again would no doubt make things even more difficult. He wanted to protect her, and to hide her was the only effective way he could think of. Judging from her state of mind the day before there was no way she could fight Lestrange and Greyback off on her own.

He could not bear to lose her. They had gone through too much for him to lose her the same way he had lost Lily.

Again, it always came back to Lily.

As much as he loved Allison, it would always come back to Lily.

No matter what he did, and no matter how much he willed it away, it would always come back to her.