A/N: This one's dedicated to Muentiger and Dragonflytamer.

Chapter 36: Back at Hogwarts.

Sev's POV

I took them to Hogwarts. Laud had stood against my back. It was dark. Even the half-moon was gone, behind a cloud.

The gate was closed. I put Skye down again before sending my talking patronus up to the castle. Minutes passed, before I heard wheezy breath come towards us.

Filch.

"Professor Snape?"

"Open the gate Filch."

He didn't argue as he did it.

Laud and I went up to the castle's infirmary.
"Severus? What are you…" The medi-witch approached us before seeing the two teens. Her eyes widened as she saw their states. "Put them on the beds."

I put Skye carefully on a bed. Turning around to see to Draco, but Laud had that covered.

"Severus, what happened?"

"I don't know, Poppy. I just found them."

"Where?"

I didn't answer.

She didn't seem to care about the answer either, as she bent over Skye. Skye groaned.

"Cissy?" Poppy touched Skye's face gently.

"Daddy?" Skye groaned again.

"Your father's not here, Miss Wolfe…"

I reached out and grabbed her hand. I twisted the stone on her ring – and her Glamours faded from Cissy to Skye.

"I guess your father is here, then." Poppy didn't think more about it as she started tapping her wand on Skye's wrist and healing all of her injuries.

"So I take that's Mr. Malfoy."

I nodded. Laud removed Sev Drake's glamours.

"Severus, can I go wake Blaise?"

"Yes. I think he'd appreciate that."

123

"Where's Severus?"

I jerked awake. I was still in the Hospital Wing. It had accumulated many new occupants since I'd fallen asleep, this I knew from the voices. I noticed that a curtain had been drawn around Skye and me.

"He's with…" Poppy began, but she hesitated. I stood up and poked my head out of the curtain.

"In here, Remus."

Remus' head snapped up at me.

He walked up to me and I thought for a moment that he would hug me – he was smiling though.

"You are one very brave man." He said to me. I motioned for him to follow me into the drawn curtains.

"I told you you'd find her!" He whispered excitedly.

"What happened?"

"Before or after you saved Sirius' life?"

"Both."

"Well, they were first in the Room of Prophecy, where the Death Eaters met up with them. They fought all over the Department of Mysteries – and they reached the room with the archway. Well, you saw what happened there." He smirked a little. "Well, Harry chased Bellatrix all the way to the Atrium, where Voldemort himself showed up."

"Why did Potter chase her?"

"He was angry at her for killing Sirius – he didn't see everything play off entirely. He actually thought you'd killed Sirius."

"Is Black alive, then?"

"Yes, Severus, you saved him! I wouldn't be surprised if he walked in at any moment with a bunch of flowers for you."

I glared at Remus, who chuckled.

"But Harry thought Sirius was dead. So he chased Bellatrix, where Voldemort came in and…"

Remus told me about the duel with Dumbledore, how he tried to take over Potter, and how the Ministry of Magic now believed that the Dark Lord had returned. Bloody fool, that Minister was. I wouldn't be surprised if he was out of office within a month.

"Does Potter know that Black is alive?"

"No, not yet. He's still trying to break out of Dumbledore's office to murder you."

"That's nice to know." I said sarcastically.

"Sirius is up there too. Waiting for Dumbledore to be done with Harry. Dumbledore's still trying to convince Harry that you did not kill his godfather."

"Dumbledore will succeed." I said. Skye stirred again.

"Where was she?" Remus asked me.

"In the Department of Mysteries. The Unspeakables had kidnapped her and Draco. They were tortured and starved. And Skye's wrist was broken."

"Oh, I…"

"It was an open wound. The bone was sticking through the flesh."

Remus paled.

"How had they done it?"

"I don't know. Poppy healed her, though." I looked up at Remus from Skye's face; there was a light scar from the gash that had been on her face. "Her pulse was really low. She almost died in that room." The last sentence was barely audible. I felt a hand on my shoulder. Remus'. I didn't shake it off like I would've normally.

Perhaps I did need friends.

Aside from Narcissa and Lucius.

"She's fine, now." He said comfortingly. "How's Draco?"

I didn't know. I turned around and went to the next bed. Draco was asleep, too. He had a very visible scar underneath one eye.

"He's fine too, I guess."

"And their friends?"

"Only Zabini knows. He was here earlier – and he actually cried when he saw their faces."

We were holding our conversation in whispers.

"Did everyone come out all right?" I asked.

"The Order did."

"What about Lucius and Narcissa?" I couldn't restrain from asking.

"They're both fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Voldemort is perhaps a little mad at them, but they'll survive."

123

Skye's POV

Everything was sore and stiff. But the surface on which I was lying wasn't the hard floor I'd grown accustomed to. It was… soft and comfy…

My eyes snapped open. I sat up.

Where's Draco?

"Skye?"

I jumped at the voice.

"R…Remus?"

"Severus will be here soon, okay?"

"Okay." My voice sounded a little hoarse.

"Skye?" It was a new voice. Well, it wasn't Remus' voice, it was Draco's.

"Dray?"

I couldn't see much in the darkness, and then I felt two arms around me.

"You're okay!" Draco whispered in relief.

I clutched him. He'd been there the whole time.

"I'll go get Severus." Remus announced before leaving through the drawn curtains.

My eyes were now used to the dark. Draco let me go and sat down next to me. He held both of my hands in his.

"I love you so much, Skye. And I'm sorry I couldn't protect you more."

I leaned in and kissed him softly.

"I love you too, Draco. At least we're out of there."

I heard him laugh a nervous laugh in agreement.

He lied down next to me and pulled me into his arms. It felt good. I felt… safe… instead of fearing when the men in masks would come to crucio me or make me so… inexplicably cold…

"Skye? Draco?" Dad burst through the curtains minutes later. "You're awake?"

I sat up again. The bed was rather small for two people, but I needed a hug from dad right now. Draco had copied my movements.

"Hi." I said hoarsely.

"Hey." Draco waved.

"I can't believe you two are all right." Dad said.

"Just fine, dad."

I held my arms up – I wanted a hug! Dad chuckled and complied with my wish. He moved over to Draco.

"Thank you, Draco."

"Anything to help family." I heard the smile in Draco's voice.

"Can we catch up tomorrow?" I asked, suddenly very tired. Dad glanced at me.

"Of course. Goodnight." He came to me and pressed a kiss to my forehead before leaving us. I can't believe that he hadn't said anything about me and Draco. But we took that as sign that he approved, or didn't notice, so we settled into that position again.

123

"No way!"

"Yes! And then…"

I stuck my head out of the closed curtains. In the bed across from mine Luna was sitting – with Baise next to her. I hurried to hug them both.

"You're back!" Luna exclaimed, her red earrings dangling as she bobbed her head in excitement.

"Yes! And you two are a couple!" I beamed at the two of them.

"Skye? Is that you?"

"Hi, Hermione."

She rushed to hug me too, be it a bit tight.

"It's good to see you too, but please don't squeeze so hard."

She let go of me immediately.

"Are you all right?"

"I think Madame Pomfrey missed a rib. Excuse me." I walked past her to the medi-witch's office. I knocked on the door.

"Skye? What are you doing up? You should get back in bed!"

"Ma'am, I think there's something wrong with my ribs… or my back…"

She tapped her wand and pointed it at me. A little spark came from her wand.

"Yeah… it seems so…"

She tapped her wand on my back and smiled.

"You should be done now. Go back to bed."

"Thank you, ma'am."

I walked back to Draco. He smiled at me.

At least we were out of that horrible place.

123

I woke up. It was my second night in the infirmary. Today had been uneventful. After dad was here this morning I stayed in bed. Luna was in the bed across from me and Draco next to me. Hermione and Ron were also there – as was Neville. (Umbridge was lying in a corner, seemingly muttering to herself.) I'd heard about their adventure in the Department of Mysteries. They hadn't heard mine, though. Mine and Draco's.

I tried to place what had woken me up. Now I get it.

"Sorry." He said. "Didn't mean to wake you."

"Just get in here so I can continue sleeping."

Draco smiled at me in the darkness as he slithered into my bed and pulled me close.

"I've been awake this whole time." He whispered to me.

"It's odd, isn't it?" I asked, "Being back here after a while."

"We will have nightmares." Draco confirmed. "I'll always be afraid when I hear a door opening. Waiting for a voice to command me to tell them a secret. And when I refuse…" His eyes closed at the thought and I felt him shiver. I placed a small kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you."

He kissed my forehead.

"Anything for you."

I sighed. Happy.

Draco went back to his own bed after a while, leaving me cold, but I understood. In Prince Manor we could sleep next to each other. Not at school. Dad didn't mind anymore, as he already knew Draco was my mate. He knew trying to forbid us from doing anything was a waste of time, but because dad knew me and he knew my morals – he trusted me.

123

"What about our OWLs?" I asked. It was just after breakfast and Dumbledore was visiting the group of teens in the Hospital Wing.

"The Ministry of Magic has agreed that you and Draco will not be taking tests, but that the assignments you've handed in will determine your OWLs."

"That's good." Draco smiled. "At least I'll do well in Potions."

Dumbledore chuckled. "I'm sorry for everything you were put through."

"It's not your fault, sir." I frowned. "It's the ministry that's incompetent."

"Still." He said with a small smile. "Oh, before I forget, you and Draco will be staying in professor Snape's quarters."

I frowned again.

"You aren't ready for a bunch of people yet, so we'll be putting you with your head of house."

"That's odd." Hermione spoke up. Both Dumbledore and I looked at her.

"It is, Miss Granger, but Skye and Draco have been through quite an ordeal."

Hermione didn't ask anything out of respect for Dumbledore, but I knew that she'd bombard me with questions soon.

"If you don't mind, I have to go now." Dumbledore said politely and left, his head hung a little low. As I had predicted Hermione was instantly beside me.

"What happened?" She demanded.

"We're not to tell, Granger. But what we can tell you is that Cissy Wolfe and Sev Drake weren't real." Draco piped up. Hermione's eyes widened. "That had been us."

He jumped off his bed and came over to me. "And you and I have to talk."

"That sounds dangerous." I teased. He smirked before turning his expression to serious.

"Oh, it is."

He held his hand out to help me up. I took it, but I regretted it as soon as my feet hit the floor.

Every single muscle in my body hurt.

Draco's arms were around my waist.

I giggled a bit. The way I was standing was actually quite humorous if it didn't hurt so much.

"Let's go to your dad." He whispered. I nodded. I straightened up – my legs ached a lot. He kept a hand around my waist as we walked down to the dungeons. Luckily the rest of the school were in class, otherwise it'd be a bit difficult. We just went into dad's quarters, assuming that he would be in class.

"Skye?"

My head snapped up, painfully.

"Laud!"

He rushed over and hugged me.

"I'm glad to see you're okay."

After he'd hugged me he hugged Draco. He led us to the living room.

"Thanks for saving us." I said, sitting down.

"I was just glad we'd found you. Severus and I have been incredibly worried."

"Did you hear anything from Lucius and Narcissa?" I asked, sensing Draco's question.

"Severus received many letters from Narcissa, I don't know where they are, though."

Draco lightened up a lot.

"Can I offer you two something to eat?"

"No, thank you." Draco and I said simultaneously.

"Well, at least you two don't have to go to school for the rest of the term."

"Yes, there's that, too." I smiled.

"Thank goodness for that." Draco said, relieved.

There was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it." Laud was halfway to the door already.

"Hello." Sirius greeted

"Don't be rude, Sirius." Another voice chided him.

"I'm not…"

"I'm Laud." Laud cut across him.

"I know." Sirius said. "Is Snape here?"

"No, but he'll be here soon. You can come in; Skye and Draco are already here."

"Really?"

"Morning, Skye. Draco." Remus greeted me.

"Hello, Skye. And greetings, young nephew… is that even right?"

Somehow I doubted it.

"Hi, Sirius."

"Hey, I don't know… I just know you're uncle Sirius." Draco teased.

"Hey, do you think your dad will like this?" Sirius whipped out a bunch of bright yellow flowers.

I almost keeled over with laughter. I could just see dad's face if presented with those beauties.

"I'm not sure if them laughing is a good thing…" I heard Sirius mutter to Remus, but Remus was joining in on the laughter.

The door opened again, this time welcoming dad. He stared at the party in his small home.

"Snape!" Sirius smiled brightly and pulled dad into a hug. "Here you go." He pushed the flowers into a very unfazed-looking dad. "You are my hero, and if I were a female I'd probably be snogging you right now!"

Dad looked simply horrified at the thought.

"Don't worry, Snape, I'm just yanking your wand."

At those words I giggled again. I saw dad eye the flowers and look at Sirius, as if daring him to answer the unasked question about the flowers.

"Those are actually for Skye – a 'hope you get better soon' gift."

Dad held the flowers out to me.

"Thanks, Sirius."

123

Sirius and Remus joined us for dinner. We ate it in dad's quarters.

"So, they won't remember anything?"

"Not at all."

"That was some impressive magic, Snape." Sirius sounded impressed.

"Thank you, Black."

"You know, you can call me Sirius."

"I will as soon as you call me Severus."

I felt incredibly tired all of a sudden.

"May I be excused?" I asked.

"Of course." Dad said kindly.

"Me too, please?" Draco asked. Dad nodded again.

Draco pulled me by the hand to my room – which we'd be sharing. I quickly went to take a shower.

I stepped back into my room.

"Skye, is that mine?" Draco asked me.

"What?"

"That shirt."

I looked down at myself. I thought I was wearing a normal overlarge T-shirt.

It wasn't. It was one of Draco's sweatshirts.

"I think so."

"It looks good on you."

"Thanks."

Draco went to take a shower after that. I climbed into my bed and waited for him.

He slipped in and pulled me into his arms. His wet hair tickled my face.

"Night, Dray."

"I love ya, Skye."

I barely heard it as I was halfway asleep.