(( SOOOOO happy you all enjoyed the previous chapter :D Haha, and yes, Dawn has suspicions now but isn't COMPLETELY sure :P At least not yet, haha. Anyways :D Thanks for all the support and awesome reviews ^w^ They make me chuckle sometimes haha Here you are with chapter 51. Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter or any affiliated works. If I did, the story would not have been as awesome as it is today, I guarantee it xDD ))

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It had been a month and a half already since school had begun, and it had been the most brutal month and a half of academics Lilia had gone through in her entire life. In particular, Defence Against the Dark Arts… a class which had been converted to simply The Dark Arts.

It seemed professor Carrow took particular pleasure in teaching the Unforgivable Curses. In particular… ON students, in the case of the Cruciatus Curse.

The memories of the howls of pain from the other students sometimes haunted Lilia, making her shudder even under the hot water in the shower.

She could tell it disturbed many other students as well. Even the Slytherins. She somehow felt they hadn't expected the ideals of Lord Voldemort and Salazar Slytherin to be so… vile and deranged when it came to certain things.

On the other hand, she knew there were several Slytherins who were riding joyfully through the semester as Amycus Carrow's teacher's pets, willingly involving themselves in administered detentions and punishing other students.

School life had become difficult. There was no denying it. Lilia could see that even Dawn, someone who was rarely affected by calamity or depressing moments had become… tired. She didn't joke so easily anymore, or use her sarcasm as much, and she didn't talk so freely about random subjects anymore either, boys in particular. The usual devilish smirk upon her face rarely showed up anymore.

It made Lilia a bit saddened to see the take over of Hogwarts affecting her friend so much.

Sighing one evening after their classes had been finished, Lilia sat with Dawn in front of the fireplace, the oncoming winter chill beginning to seep into the school, drawing the students to more warmth. The oncoming winter weather was in perfect relation to the moods of the Hogwarts students. Depressing, cold, tired, dreary…

In fact, the attitude of the students around her had slowly crept it's way onto Lilia as well. She felt tired, bored, alone… Not to mention somewhat depressed since it had been over a month and still no indication from Severus that they were still… together.

He hadn't summoned her for anything, hadn't invited her to spend the night with him, made any effort to talk to her… She certainly hoped it was just because he was so much more busy with being a Headmaster.

She glanced at Dawn that evening though, nudging her softly. "Want to go to sleep early?" she asked.

Dawn looked up at her and nodded. "Yes. Sleep sounds absolutely perfect right now," she admitted, packing up her books and walking up to their dormitory with Lilia.

When they got there, they noticed several other girls who had gotten to same idea, having already tucked themselves in and headed off to a world of dreams and 40 winks.

Dawn yawned softly, walking over to her bed and put her books away, not even bothering to change out of her casual clothes. "I'm so exhausted from classes…" she murmured, laying her head down and closed her heavy lidded eyes.

Lilia nodded in agreement, moving to lay in her own bed and yawned again. "Mhmm… especially from Dark Arts classes…" she said softly.

Dawn nodded in agreement. "Especially…"

Lilia smiled faintly and sighed, rolling over onto her back and pulled the covers over herself, shivering slightly at the sudden chill of the dormitory room.

Dawn opened her eyes and looked over at Lilia who had gone very quiet and still, looking just about asleep. "Lilia?"

"Hmm?" the black haired youth asked softly, draping an arm over her already closed eyes lazily.

Dawn sighed. "How come you always sleep here now?"

Lilia frowned, puzzled by the question and moved her arm away, hiding it under the warming blanket, her head turning to look at Dawn. "Sorry?"

Dawn shrugged. "I mean, last year… Christmas in particular, you slept elsewhere a lot. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind or anything, I was just wondering how come you haven't slept wherever you used to for the last month and a half?" she asked.

Lilia shrugged.

"You haven't been going to see this… boy…" she murmured.

Lilia shrugged again and closed her eyes, snuggling under her blanket. "He's been… busy I suppose…" she said finally.

Dawn nodded silently. "Busy…" she whispered.

Lilia nodded faintly, quickly drifting off to sleep for the night while Dawn lay contemplating whether or not this could possibly be healthy.

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"Miss. Gunner… Miss. Gunner…" An exasperated sigh.

Lilia gasped when a jolt of pain shot up her spine and she looked in alarm at none other than Amycus Carrow. The Dark Arts professor as Hogwarts.

"Would you mind telling me, and the rest of your class, what it is that has had you so preoccupied for all of the class today, Miss. Gunner?" he sneered.

She tensed, not liking the tone he was using with her today. She hesitated and glanced at Dawn nervously who sat biting her lower lip apprehensively.

"I don't believe Miss. Pyrites has the answer to my question," he said and glared. "Only you do," he said.

Lilia swallowed and then looked down. "I didn't get enough sleep last night… that's all… I'm sorry sir," she said.

He rolled his eyes. "How many times have I heard that pitiful excuse from you?"

She glanced up at him. "It won't happen again, sir," she said, irritation slipping into her voice.

He frowned. "I don't think like that tone, Miss. Gunner."

She was sorely tempted to tell him she didn't like his tone either, and he knew she wanted to. However, she merely clenched her teeth and said it again. "It won't happen again sir…"

"Of course it won't," he sneered wickedly. "I think after tonight's detention you'll remember to appropriately go to sleep and wake when you must, as well as to respect your elders," he said mockingly.

She felt sickened by the thought of detention dealt from Carrow's hand but merely nodded, accepting her fate. She then looked at Dawn nervously who had her eyes wide but was looking at her textbook, not Lilia. Lilia turned back to her own textbook and tried to focus, not liking the wincing expressions from other students she'd glimpsed when Carrow had given her detention for the evening.

She'd obviously heard it was bad… but she hoped he would not resort to the most severe detention since she was a Slytherin like him after all…

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"So, what is it that's been bothering you so greatly, Miss. Gunner?" he smirked.

Lilia stood in the empty class room which would serve as her detention room for that evening, wondering why he was bothering to ask.

"Is it… boy trouble?" he smirked, coming up behind her. He slid his hand down her arm and held her hand, lifting it, palm facing up and kissed just where her wrist began. "Perhaps I can help you there…" he smirked. "Such a pretty girl…"

She felt sickened by that thought and wrenched her hand away, tugging her sleeve down as far as possible over that exposed area.

He sniggered, obviously getting the reaction he'd wanted from her. "Oh… you'll hurt my feelings," he said, stepping away from her. "I should punish you," he said, looking at the back of her head.

She tensed, not liking the dangerous tone his voice had suddenly taken on.

He smirked wickedly, delighting in the thought of what he would see tonight. Lifting his wand, he strongly enunciated only one word he wanted to be heard. "Crucio."

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Dawn had been waiting outside Professor Carrow's classroom for Lilia when she had heard the first scream. She reached up and covered her ears, shutting her eyes tightly, but it seemed like the screams could still get inside.

Without much time, she bolted from where she sat and headed to the one place she hoped would provide some help.

When she got there, she burst through the doorway and went straight to Professor Snape's desk, looking at him. "You have to help!" she exclaimed.

He calmly watched her, putting down he quill he had been writing with. "Help with what exactly..? If this is another plea for me to help you insufferable children out of detention, it won't work…" he muttered.

She glared. "Not us children," she said firmly. She took a breath and then swallowed. "Lilia."

There was utterly no reaction from him. He raised a brow almost mockingly and looked at her. "And what about Miss. Gunner?"

She looked at him with a pleading stare. "She's gotten detention with Professor Carrow," she blurted. "He's using the Cruciatus Curse against her," she said.

He remained silent for some time. "And how would you know?" he asked.

She wanted to scream in frustration, wanting to tell him to go help her because she knew and didn't care, but she remembered there were all those portraits hanging and they would no doubt spread gossip among other portraits which students would eventually catch wind of. She shut her eyes and finally looked at him after a moment. "I know because I've gotten detention by that man three times already," she said. "The screams I hear from Lilia are not normal ones," she said.

He looked at her for some time and then finally opened his mouth again. "Unfortunately, I cannot help you… Miss. Gunner probably deserved her detention," he stated with unnerving calm, going back to writing. "You're dismissed…" he said seriously.

She looked at him with an appalled expression and slowly backed away, leaving the room, feeling numbed inside and out by what she'd just experienced. How could he just say no? Not make a single move to help her? Unless her thoughts were wrong… he was even more of a monster than he seemed…

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"This one, is off limits," Severus said, a slight snarl seeping into his voice as he pointed at Lilia who sat on the ground, hugging her trembling body as tightly as she could. She felt so alarmingly weak, like she might fall over if she stood for too long… and her whole body ached with the memory of the Cruciatus Curse.

Carrow flinched, looking up at Snape. "And why's that?"

Severus narrowed his eyes. "Because I… am her father…" he growled, having nearly said something else entirely. "I will not have you torturing one of my own just to amuse yourself, Amycus," he said seriously. "Any other student will do, but not this one," he said in a low and dangerous tone.

Amycus looked at him and finally relented and nodded, glancing at Lilia. "Fine… my apologies Headmaster… I wasn't aware of her status," he muttered.

Severus nodded and turned away, motioning for Lilia to follow.

She got up carefully and followed Severus out into the hall, watching him stride ahead of her. She was unsure of he wanted her to do her own thing now or follow him… so she followed, hoping it was the right choice.

She was surprised to find they were in his bedchambers of all places. She looked up at him as she stepped into his bedroom. "Why here?" she asked.

He frowned. "Because here is the only place where irritating portraits won't spread gossip," he said and looked at her. He then winced slightly. "Why would you allow yourself to be put into such a position as you were today?"

She looked at him in confusion. "I didn't. He was looking for an opportunity to give me a detention, I swear," she said.

"Then don't give it to him," he said firmly. "You Don't understand. Amycus Carrows is a Death Eater, but he is a coward when it comes down to the reality of things… He will prey on any weakness any student shows simply because he revels being in power over you all. You were no different. It is most unfortunate that I had to step in and reprimand him for it," he said.

She looked up at him, feeling a bit guilty by dragging him into it and no doubt drawing attention to him. "Sorry…" she said.

He looked at her and his shoulders relaxed a bit as he let out a breath he hadn't quite let go. "Don't be…" he said and reached up, pinching the bridge of his nose softly and closing his eyes.

She looked down and suddenly felt so overwhelmed that even though it would draw attention to him, Severus would still come and help her if she was in danger. She eyes smarted at the thought but she rapidly blinked any threatening tears away and looked up at him. "I was scared you were mad at me… or didn't want me anymore…"

He looked at her and raised a brow. "Why?"

She shrugged. "You never spoke to me since we came back here from the Ministry… you never invited me to come spend the night, or called me to your office… nothing…" she said and looked down. "I got scared that maybe you didn't want me anymore…" she said. "Didn't care about me anymore…"

He sighed and rolled his eyes. "You're such a child, Lilia," he said in a slightly exasperated tone. "You have no idea how much I wanted to, but the fact is being Headmaster takes up a lot of my time…" he said, frowning as he looked at her. "Besides, if I brought you to the office we couldn't speak normally because of all those infernal portraits," he pointed out.

She nodded, understanding that much. She then looked at him again. "Can I stay?" she blurted.

He looked at her. "Stay where?"

She looked at him with mild frustration. "Here. With you, tonight?"

He sighed and then nodded, motioning for her to step further into the room. "Alright. But just tonight."

She nodded, moving not towards the bed but into his arms, closing her eyes and just holding onto him, almost afraid to let go, fearing he might disappear for another few months without any word to her.

He could feel that much, placing a hand upon her head and gently stroked her hair, then slid his hand down to her backside, holding her to him with one arm. The other, he placed upon her shoulder and eventually used to push her back a little and looked at her.

She tilted her head back to look at him as well. "I've missed you…" she whispered.

Certainly they'd glimpsed one another in the halls or at dinner, but finally hearing those words from her tugged on something inside him and he realized he'd missed her even more than he thought he did as well. He leaned down and kissed her gently, at last, after several months. "I missed you too…" he murmured against her lips when they pulled away a little.

She felt a slight smile tug upon her lips and she moved to where the bed was, feeling exhausted after her day, wanting nothing more than to fall asleep next to him like she had a few times. There was just nothing like it.

The two moved to lay down in his bed and within a minute, Lilia was out like a light, facing him while he watched her sleep.

Severus reached out, gently pulling the covers up higher on her, knowing how the cold got to her, especially at night. He sighed and lay his head down, closing his eyes and while holding her gently, eventually let himself slip off into sleep as well, well and truly having missed this feeling of ease he'd not had with Lilia for some time now.

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Dawn sat in the hallway, having seen Snape go into the Defence Against the Dark Arts room maybe five minutes after Dawn had left his office. She'd watched him retrieve Lilia, coming out of the room with her and go elsewhere into the castle; not in the direction of the headmaster's office at least.

After some time, Dawn had returned to the girl's dormitory, climbing into bed for the night… not in the least bit surprised that Lilia had not returned that evening.

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(( Yay! :D Some Severus and Lilia love 3 Finally ^w^ Just a tiny kiss but still something after months of nothing huh? Anywho, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter J And now off I go to get ready for yet another splendiferous long and dull day at work -_- … Retail officially sucks LOL ))