Olivia's POV

My arm was throbbing in pain when the Dark Lord told us we could go. He said something else to Snape, but I couldn't listen. Once we were outside of Malfoy Manor, Snape put his arms around me and we Disapparated.

When we Apparated into our sitting room, he began to kiss me.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he said, sitting me down on the couch.

"It's okay," I said through gritted teeth. "I know it's not your fault. …I'd rather it be you than Him."

"I can't believe it's happened. I never wanted… What did he say to you? What is it he's asked you to do?"

"He just asked me things… asked what I was good at, what I liked to do. He asked what all you'd taught me. I told him. I told him about my duel with Lucius that time. He asked about Ellen, how she died. I played it up a bit, told him I hated Muggles and all that."

"What's the assignment?" he asked.

"He wants me to brew a Nightshade Poison. No big deal."

"He didn't allude to what he might use it for?"

"No."

"…We need to go see Dumbledore. He needs to know this has happened."

"Can't it wait a moment? I'd like to put some Dittany on this," I said of my throbbing forearm.

"Dittany won't work. Nothing will work, trust me. The only thing you can do is bind it to keep it from bleeding- its still going to hurt like hell. Going to see Albus will help distract you."

We went into the kitchen where Snape carefully wrapped my left forearm, covering the accursed mark. When he finished bandaging my arm, he kissed the palm of my hand.

"I'm so sorry," he said again.

"It's not your fault," I told him.

"It is. …I wanted a better life for you than this."

"I like my life just fine- as long as you're in it," I replied and kissed him.

He smiled slightly and kissed me back.

"Come on," he said. "Let's go see Dumbledore."

The headmaster was not in his office when we arrived. Snape insisted we wait in his office for his return. We entered the headmaster's office. Snape sat to wait, but I stopped to stroke Fawkes the Phoenix and look at the curious objects in Dumbledore's office.

"What are you doing?" Snape asked me.

"Keeping my mind off my injured arm," I replied innocently.

It was nearly 15 minutes before Dumbledore returned, Apparating into his office. He didn't look surprised to see us, but he did look tired.

I let Snape tell him about what happened, from the mission I was given to his being forced to burn the Mark into my arm. Dumbledore didn't say much, only asked to see the Mark. I unwrapped my wrist to show him the still-bleeding, throbbing Mark. He frowned, saying nothing. I tried to re-wrap the wound but couldn't do it with one hand. Snape moved over and tenderly re-wrapped my wound.

"Are you okay, Albus?" Snape asked as he sat back down. "You seem a little distracted."

"I'm…fine. I just have a lot on my mind. Olivia- I am sorry this has happened to you, but you seem to be handling it well. You can handle this, right?"

"Oh- of course, sir," I said.

"Excellent. Just keep me up to date on anything that happens. Severus- could I ask a favor of you?"

"Perhaps," he said uneasily. "…What is it?"

"I want you to stay here tomorrow night. I'd like for you to be on hand… I'm going to try something that has the potential to go wrong and… I need you here."

"Of course I'll be here."

"Good," Dumbledore said, pleased. "Olivia, you may stay here, too, if you like-"

"Unnecessary," I said quickly, sensing Snape's discomfort. "I can certainly take care of myself."

It was late when we got back to the house- or early morning, technically. We Apparated directly into the bedroom. I kicked off my shoes and crawled into bed.

"What do you think Dumbledore has planned for tomorrow night?" I asked, snuggling up to Snape.

"You never know, with Albus. …How is your arm?" he asked.

"It's okay," I replied. The bleeding had stopped and I'd removed the bandage. It looked, for all intents and purposes, like a fresh tattoo, but every now and again it would throb like hell fire.

"I still feel bad about it," he said with a sigh, kissing my forehead.

"Well…I could think of a few ways you could make it up to me… if you're not too tired," I said with a coy smile.

"I do love you in the dress," he said and kissed me. "But I love you even more out of the dress."

Snape's POV

Olivia started work on the poison for the Dark Lord the next day. I sat in the corner and watched as she worked on the potion. She refused to let me offer any assistance, insisting that she could handle it herself.

When it started to get late, I headed to Hogwarts. Olivia remained at the house to work on the potion. Dumbledore was already gone when I got there, so I went down to my office to work on schedules.

It was about 1 a.m. when his Phoenix Patronus appeared in my room. It didn't speak and was gone in a flash. I had a very bad feeling. I rushed to get dressed and practically flew up the stairs to his office.

Albus was unconscious when I arrived, slumped sideways in his chair. The sword of Gryffindor and a ring with a cracked stone lay upon his desk. His hand was blackened- it was obvious he had been cursed.

I set to work immediately, performing counter curses on his hand. I summoned a restorative potion from my office and poured it down his throat. Finally, I had contained the curse…but it was a deadly one and it wouldn't be contained for long.

Dumbledore opened his eyes.

"Why- why did you put on that ring? It carries a curse, surely you realized that? Why even touch it?" I demanded.

He grimaced.

"I…was a fool. Sorely tempted…"

"Tempted by what?" I demanded.

He did not respond. His secrecy, his lack of cooperation, his lack of trust in me infuriated me.

"It is a miracle you managed to return here! That ring carried a curse of extraordinary power, to contain it is all we can hope for; I have trapped the curse in one hand, for the time being-"

I stopped as he lifted his hand to examine it, seeming interested in it for the first time.

"You have done very well, Severus. How long do you think I have?" he asked conversationally. I hesitated, not wanting to put a time to it.

"I cannot tell," I said quietly. "Maybe a year. There is no halting such a spell forever. It will spread, eventually, it is the sort of curse that strengthens over time."

Albus smiled, seemingly unperturbed. I stared at him.

"I am fortunate, extremely fortunate, that I have you, Severus."

"If you had only summoned me a little earlier, I might have been able to do more, buy you more time!" I exclaimed, still furious.

I looked down at the ring, wondering what sort of power it contained that even Albus would be tempted.

"Did you think that breaking the ring would break the curse?" I asked.

"Something like that… I was delirious, no doubt," said Albus and with an effort he sat up in his chair. "Well, really, this makes matters much more straightforward."

I stared at him, not understanding, and he smiled again.

"I refer to the plan Lord Voldemort is revolving around me. His plan to have the poor Malfoy boy murder me."

I sat down across from him. I couldn't believe he was taking that seriously, when the more pressing matter of his cursed hand needed to be discussed. He held up his blackened hand in a refusal to discuss the subject.

"The Dark Lord does not expect Draco to succeed," I said with a scowl. "This is merely punishment for Lucius' recent failures. Slow torture for Draco's parents, while they watch him fail and pay the price."

"In short, the boy has a death sentence pronounced upon him as surely as I have," he said. "No, I should have thought the natural successor to the job, once Draco fails, is yourself?"

"…That, I think, is the Dark Lord's plan."

"Lord Voldemort forsees a moment in the near future when he will not need a spy at Hogwarts?"

"He believes the school will soon be in his grasp, yes."

"And if it does fall into his grasp, I have your word that you will do all in your power to protect the students of Hogwarts?"

I nodded curtly.

"Good. Now then. Your first priority will be to discover what Draco is up to. A frightened teenage boy is a danger to others as well as himself Offer him help and guidance, he ought to accept, he likes you-"

"-much less, since his father has lost favor. Draco blames me, he thinks I have usurped Lucius' position."

"All the same, try. I am concerned less for myself than for accidental victims of whatever schemes might occur to the boy. Ultimately, there is only one thing to be done if we are to save him from Lord Voldemort's wrath."

I raised my eyebrows.

"Are you intending to let him kill you?" I asked sardonically.

"Certainly not. You must kill me."

There was a long silence in which I studied him, trying to discern if he were joking or not.

"Would you like me to do it now? Or would you like a few moments to compose an epitaph?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Oh not quite yet," he said, smiling at my sarcasm. "I daresay the moment will present itself in due course. Given what has happened tonight," he said, indicating his blackened hand. "we can be sure that it will happen within a year."

"If you don't mind dying, why not let Draco do it?" I asked roughtly, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice.

"That boy's soul is not yet so damaged. I would not have it ripped apart on my account."

"And my soul, Dumbledore? Mine?"

"You alone know whether it will harm your soul to help an old man avoid pain and humiliation. I ask this one great favor of you, Severus, because death is coming for me as surely as the Chudley Cannons will finish bottom of this year's league. I confess I should prefer a quick, painless exit to the protracted and messy affair it will be if, for instance, Greyback is involved- I hear Voldemort has recruited him? Or clever Bellatrix, who likes to play with her food before she eats it."

His tone was light, but his blue eyes pierced me in a way so I knew I could not refuse. Finally, I nodded. He seemed satisfied.

"Thank you, Severus…"

"I can't tell anyone, can I?" I asked after a moment.

He shook his head no.

"What about Olivia? I tell her everything, I can't keep this from her. She will despise me," I said, immediately wishing I hadn't told him that I tell her everything.

He considered my words a moment, smiling a little.

"Yes, I think that will be okay. …You know, I am glad you have Olivia, Severus. She is good for you."

"I don't know what you mean," I said stiffly.

"Of course," he said, still smiling.

I scowled and waited a moment.

"I don't know how I'm going to tell her… What words to use… How do you tell someone something like that?"

"I find a direct approach to be best," Albus said with a shrug.

"Obviously," I snorted.

Olivia's POV'

I was asleep when Snape came crawling into my bed around 4 a.m.

"I didn't think you were coming home tonight," I murmured sleepily as he kissed my bare shoulder.

"I didn't plan on it but now I don't think I could sleep," he replied quietly.

"What's wrong? What happened?" I asked, forcing myself to sit up and stay awake.

"I was going to wait until morning to tell you, but…"

Sitting there on my bed in the dark, Snape told me about the lethal curse in Dumbledore's hand and about Dumbledore's plan to let Snape kill him to save Draco. I had known about Draco's secret assignment, though I hadn't taken it seriously. Draco was spineless and weak…not like his father.

"I can't believe he tricked me into agreeing to this. There is no way I can do this… kill my only friend in this world, besides you," Snape said mournfully. "And what will we do without Albus? Without his guidance?"

"What would become of Hogwarts?" I asked.

"It would fall into the Dark Lord's hands. …I gave my word I would do everything I can to protect the students."

"What would that entail?"

"Convincing the Dark Lord to allow Minerva as Headmistress…or, which is far more likely, take over myself," he responded. "…but I can't do it. I can't kill him. I can't do it. I can't kill him. I can't be responsible for the Death of Albus Dumbledore."

I wasn't sure what to say, how to comfort him on the subject.

"He's going to die anyway," I said.

He looked at me and I looked away.

"…Besides, it's what he wants," I finished.

"For me to murder him? That's not normal! He's barking mad. Maybe it's time everyone stops giving him everything he wants," he snorted.

"Everyone does tend to kiss his butt," I said, "Metaphorically speaking."

We were silent for a long period of time.

"Let's not worry about it. Maybe it won't be necessary. Maybe Draco will get lucky," I said, laying back down. He lay down as well and I snuggled up to him.

"Maybe so," he said, though he sounded doubtful.

When I finished the Nightshade Potion a few days later, Snape went with me to deliver it to the Dark Lord.

"Well done, my child," He said upon inspecting the potion. "Very well done. And you received no help from anyone?"

"No, my Lord," I responded.

"Very good. I have a gift for you and Severus."

"My Lord?" Snape asked.

"It seems that Wormtail is in need of something to do. I give him to you, to assist you, until you return to Hogwarts."

"That is…most generous, my Lord," Snape said with a slight wince. "But are you sure you have no need of him here?"

"No, he will go with you," He responded decisively. "I will send him along this evening, to give you some time to prepare for him."

"Of course, my Lord. Thank you," Snape said and glanced at me.

"Thank you, my Lord," I added quickly.

Snape's POV

When we Apparated back to Spinner's End, I vented my frustration by kicking over a table. My childhood enemy- one of them, anyway- coming to live with us? Stupid, cowardly, disgusting Wormtail! The man responsible for selling Lily Evans to the Dark Lord, in my own house? I kicked the upended table again and one of the legs came off.

Olivia touched my arm gently and with a quick wave of her wand, fixed the table.

"Don't fret, love- we can make him miserable. This won't be so bad, you'll see."

"Yeah. Where is he going to sleep?"

"I could clear out my room. I sleep in your room most nights anyway," she suggested.

"No," I said adamantly. "That is your space. …We can put him in the attic. Let's go clear out some things," I said, motioning for her to follow me upstairs.

The attic was filled with boxes of old stuff. Most of it was just junk but that didn't mean I wanted Wormtail poking through it. Olivia found my father's old record player.

"Alright if I play some music while we clean?" she asked, undoubtedly remembering the last time she had touched the record player.

"Go for it," I said with a shrug.

She browsed through the box of old records next to the record player. A minute later, Lynyrd Skynard started playing. I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help humming along as we moved boxes out of the attic. We put most of them in the closet in her room and in my closet. We stored the last few in the potion-brewing room.

Up in the attic, I summoned a cot for Wormtail to sleep on. Olivia messed with the record player and a slow song I didn't know started playing.

"You know what would be hot?" she murmured, coming up behind me.

"What?"

"If we made love in his bed before he gets here."

I turned to face her.

"You're so bad," I said, smirking.

"You know you love it," she retorted.

"I love something," I said, kissing her hungrily and slipping my hands under her shirt.

When we went back downstairs a while later, Olivia took the record player and box of records to her room. We added extra protection to both our bedroom doors, then went downstairs to wait on Wormtail. We sat next to each other on the couch. We were quiet for a minute.

"So, what does this mean for us? Do we have to be careful around Wormtail?" she asked finally.

"…No. I don't care what Wormtail knows. He's too much of a coward to say anything. …You know, you're not a student anymore."

"I know, I've been thinking about that," she said mournfully.

"About…what, exactly?"

"Well, I won't be at Hogwarts anymore… and you will be," she said. "We won't see each other as much."

"Oh," I said.

I had thought about this as well, of course…or tried not to think about it. There was a tentative plan in the back of my mind that involved Floo'ing back home every night from my office.

"What did you mean?" she asked me.

"Only that…well, with your no longer being a student…our relationship is no longer inappropriate…or at least, not as much as it was," I said. "There is still the age thing."

"It's not as if we're the only ones… At least I'm not like those American teenagers who marry older guys for money," she replied.

I was silent a moment, thinking about what she said. What if we did get married? Would you even want to marry me? Did I want to marry her? Well that was a stupid question. Of course I did, I loved her. But the timing wasn't right…if she even wanted to marry me at all.

I realized I had been silent for a long time. I cleared my throat and said the first thing that popped into my head.

"Dumbledore still wouldn't approve," I said.

"How do you know? He's all about 'the power of love'," she said with a smirk. "…Hippie."

I chuckled slightly. At that moment there was a knock at the door. I sighed and stood up to go let Wormtail in.

"Maybe if you don't answer, he'll go away," Olivia suggested. I smiled at her.

"We could only be so lucky," I said.

Olivia's POV

I decided immediately that I did not like Wormtail. I'd met him before, of course, but I liked him even less now. I didn't like how he hungrily looked me over, even wile Snape was talking to him.

"You are not permitted to be in any room of this house but your room, the bathroom, and the kitchen. All other doors are locked and heavily guarded. Attempting to enter them would be…quite foolish, on your part."

At this point Snape noticed Wormtail's gaze. He walked over to me and put his arm possessively around me. Wormtail's eyes widened, but he said nothing.

"You are not to steal any of our belongings," Snape continued. "You are not to bother Olivia. And your door will be locked at eleven every night."

I followed Snape upstairs as he showed Wormtail how to open the passages behind the bookcases, then showed him to his room.

Snape and I went back downstairs and talked for a while. After a few minutes, I glanced upwards.

"I wonder what he's doing up there," I mused.

"There's no telling," he replied, rolling his eyes. "Probably something disgusting."

At eleven o'clock that evening, Snape knocked on Wormtail's door and told him he was locking him in for the night.

"But what if I have to go to the bathroom?" Wormtail whined.

"You can figure that out yourself," Snape sneered.

With that he shut the door and sealed it.

"What if he does have to use the bathroom, Severus?" I asked.

"I don't want him wandering about the house at night. Besides…he can transform into a rat."

I chuckled and followed Snape into the bedroom.

The Dark Lord didn't call on me to do anything else after brewing the poison so I started spending my days working at the clinic. I tried not to be home much during the day because Wormtail creeped me out. More than once I'd caught him lingering outside of the bathroom door after I bathed.

One day when I came home from work, Snape and I came home from work, Snape and I hopped in the shower together to have some fun. When we finished, he toweled me off and we got dressed. When Snape opened the door, he found Wormtail trying to peep through the key hole.

There was a loud crack and Wormtail was blasted off his feet. Snape grabbed the sniveling man by the back of his shirt and dragged him up the stairs into the attic. Snape tossed Wormtail into his room, then glanced back at me.

"This will only take a second," he said and shut the door.

There were several dull thuds, some loud shouting and what sounded like Wormtail crying. Snape came out a few minutes later, scowling but looking satisfied.

"He's leaving. Tomorrow," he said, seething.

"It's okay, Severus. Really," I said.

"…We need to talk. Come," he said.

I followed him into the bedroom. He sat on the edge of the bed and I shut the door.

"Narcissa and Bellatrix came by here today," he said.

"Oh Bella came by, did she?" I said, teasing him lightly. I'd been poking fun at him ever since I realized how much Bellatrix's attitude towards him actually got under his skin. I constantly teased him that she secretly had a crush on him.

"This is serious, Olivia," he said.

"Sorry, I was only teasing," I said, sitting behind him on the bed to rub his shoulders. "What did they want?"

"Narcissa wants me to help look out for Draco this year while he works on his assignment."

"Oh, is that all?"

"No. I…I…made the Unbreakable Vow," he said quietly.

"You did what?" I said, uncertain if I'd heard him correctly.

"I made the Unbreakable Vow," he repeated.

"Why? Why would you do that?" I demanded, ceasing to rub his shoulders.

"Because…Bella goaded me into it. …I didn't see any way out."

"What exactly did you promise?" I asked.

"To protect Draco, to help him…and to complete the job, should he fail," he finished with a sigh. I sat back on my heels, shocked.

"I already promised Albus I would do it," he said, turning to look at me.

"Yeah…but now if you can't go through with it…you'll die."

"…There's nothing I can do. I can't run. I've got to do it…or die."

We were both quiet, then I hugged him, burying my face in his chest so I wouldn't cry.

"I really don't want you to die," I murmured.

"Don't worry," he said, stroking my hair. "I'm not going to die."

Snape's POV

The next morning when Olivia left for work, I went to Malfoy Manor. I told the Dark Lord I was heading back to Hogwarts a few days early and I didn't trust Wormtail alone with Olivia.

"As you wish, Severus," he said and he summoned Wormtail back. I thought to myself that it seemed a little too easy, but merely thanked him and left.

I went to see Albus after that. I told him about the Unbreakable Vow…and about the problem with Wormtail. I told him that Wormtail had been spying on Olivia in the shower…not that he'd been spying on us in the shower. Albus was silent, taking it all in.

"…Have you thought about what will happen to Olivia when you return to school?" he asked.

"Of course. …She has her clinic now, so she'll be working. She can stay at the house, of course."

"Alone?"

"It's not as if I don't trust her to be alone."

"One would think you would be concerned for her being alone…for her safety."

I felt myself go pale. Wormtail knew where I lived. Several people knew where I lived. And they knew Olivia would be home alone when I left Hogwarts.

"…What do you suggest I do?" I asked weakly. He smiled.

"I was going to offer her a place to stay…here. At Hogwarts. She could have her own room, down in the dungeons. There are plenty of empty classrooms down there that could be converted into a room for her. You can ask her about it when you get home, see what she thinks."

I nodded slowly.

"…Do you have another reason for doing this? Something you're not telling me?"

"I just want her to be safe, Severus…and if it comes down to it, she can remain here after I am dead and you are forced to flee. She can continue working with the Order, be your connection. Continue her role as a spy."

"Nonsense. They won't trust her without you around. They know how close she and I are," I said.

He raised an eyebrow at me and smiled.

"They will trust her, if she plays her part well. She has made friends within the Order. They were all quicker to trust her than they were you."

"…I will tell her," I said, resigned.

"Excellent. Also, I would like for her to ride the train on September 1st, as a member of the Order. She and Tonks will be on board."

"Right. …Have you had any luck finding a new Defense teacher?" I asked, smirking slightly.

"Unfortunately, no. However, I do have a plan."

"Oh?"

"Yes. If he will consent to return, I will employ Professor Slughorn."

"But…he has never taught Defense," I said, scowling.

"And he won't be teaching Defense now."

I stopped scowling, not daring to hope.

"What are you trying to tell me, Albus?"

"I want you to teach Defense this year, Severus. I think I owe it to you."

I was speechless. I almost wanted to hug him- but I could wait until I could home and hug Olivia (among other things).

"As you wish, headmaster," I said, but inside I was smiling.

Olivia's POV

Snape was waiting for me in the sitting room when I returned home from work. He stood when I Apparated and he was smiling.

"What are you so happy about?" I asked as he pulled me to him and kissed me.

"I'm always happy to see you," he said.

"Yeah, but not that happy. What's up?" I asked, smiling at whatever could make him smile.

"Albus is going to let me teach Defense this year," he said, black eyes gleaming.

"Really? That's excellent! …But I don't get to be there," I said sadly.

"And I have more good news- You get to stay at Hogwarts! Albus suggested it, for your own safety. We get to change one of the unused classrooms into a private room for you."

This time I kissed him excitedly. He held me to him, his hands on my waist. I could tell he was excited, too, but in a different way now. I grinned against his mouth and bit his lip playfully. He looked down at me and smiled. He kissed me again, lifted me by my waist and pushed me against the bookcase. He unsnapped my jeans and pulled them down around my knees.

"Wait, where's Wormtail?" I groaned.

"Gone. Like I promised," he said, pulling my jeans the rest of the way off and tossing them aside. "Put your arms around my neck and hold on."

I did as told. He held me steady against the bookcase with one hand and guided his cock into my warm, wet opening with the other.

"Fuuuck," I moaned as he entered me and pushed as deep as he could.

It was hard and quick and amazing. My legs couldn't support me afterwards so Snape carried me over to the couch. He sat down and I laid my head in his lap. I smiled up at him. He smiled back and brushed a strand of hair out of my face.

"…So who is going to be Potions Master?" I asked curiously.

"This ancient guy, Horace Slughorn. He was Professor when I was in school…he was also Professor when the Dark Lord was in school, which I think, is why Albus wants him back. They were close. Slughorn was head of Slytherin House."

"Yipes…a young Dark Lord," I said, shuddering slightly. "What's he like? Slughorn, I mean?"

"Oh he is nice enough. Has a bit of a flair for famous people- he'll probably have a heart attack when he meets Potter," he said sardonically. I laughed.

"Albus wants you and Tonks to ride the train and patrol on September first, for protection," he continued.

"Cool. When do I get to design my room at Hogwarts?"

"Well, I've got something to do tomorrow…but we can go Monday. No one else is around, it's still too early in the Summer."

Snape's POV

Monday came quickly and Olivia and I got up early. We ate a quick breakfast, then Disapparated to Hogwarts. When we appeared outside of the gates, I used my wand to unseal the gates.

"The gates are more heavily-protected now than they were before," she observed.

"Yes, Albus is worried. There will be a lot of extra-protection this year, now that we've got the Ministry and the Aurors back on our side."

"Why isn't there anyone here now? No Aurors?"

"Because there aren't any students here now."

"Yes, but it isn't students the Dark Lord is after, it's Dumbledore."

"He is after students…but He knows that as long as Dumbledore is alive, he can't get to them."

"But when Dumbledore dies…"

"I will convince the Dark Lord to allow me to become headmaster. I will do the best I can to protect the students. I gave my word."

"Hm…Headmaster Snape, huh? Sounds like that could be fun," she said, smiling.

We continued up the path to Hogwarts. I glanced around to make sure no one was around, then decided now was as good a time as any to tell her.

"When it comes down to it…I may have to flee Hogwarts. If I kill him and someone finds out. You will have to stay behind. Pretend you knew nothing of my plan. Act devastated, heart-broken. Convince them to let you remain in the Order, even remain a spy if you can. We need someone on the inside. Do you understand how important this is?" I asked her.

She nodded solemnly, green eyes wide. I took her hand in mine, squeezed it tightly, then kissed it.

"Hello Severus," said a voice. We looked up to see Albus standing at the foot of the stairs, watching us and smiling. I quickly released Olivia's hand.

"Headmaster," I said uneasily. "We were just coming to fix up Olivia's room in the dungeons."

"Of course- how are you, Olivia?" he asked.

"Good, sir. And thank you so much for letting me stay here," she said.

"Of course, my dear. It is the safest thing for everyone. Severus, if you don't mind, I've got a little job for you once you show Olivia to her new room."

"…Sure. No problem. I'll meet you in your office in a few minutes," I said.

He nodded to us, still smiling, then walked away.

"He definitely saw that, didn't he?" Olivia asked breathlessly once we were safely in the dungeons.

"I'm not sure…but if he asks, I will deny it. I don't want him to know. He…he would hold it over me."

We found our way to an unused classroom not far from my office. I stayed a few minutes and watched as she began transfiguring what was already there to what she wanted- desks into a bed, chifforobe, and whatnot.

"You can go," she told me. "I can handle this."

"If you're sure…"

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me.

"I'll be back soon," I promised her.