Snape's POV

Throughout classes the next day I felt exceptionally irritable due to lack of sleep, but tried to make the most of it. I was finally teaching my favorite subject…not to mention the fact that every time I looked at my desk, I thought of Olivia and smiled. I didn't see her at lunchtime and when she didn't come up to dinner, I got worried. I leaned over to Slughorn.

"Did you see Olivia today, Horace?" I asked quietly, hoping nobody would overhear.

"Oh yes, she came by earlier. She helped clean up after my sixth-years, then stayed and assisted with my second and third years. She's quite the talented witch. Speaking of talented- I had my sixth years brewing Draught of the Living Death and you'll never guess who surprised us all and won the prize?"

I didn't respond because his words made me think of another time, in another class of his, when I was a sixth year. He had us attempt to brew the Draught of Living Death. I hadn't gotten it on the first try, but Lily had. She'd won the bottle of Felix Felicis, which I had so desperately wanted. Slughorn said she had been the only student he had ever had who had been able to brew a potion well enough to win the prize.

"-Harry Potter," Slughorn said. I jerked out of my reverie.

"Potter?" I said, unsure I had heard correctly.

"Yes, he brewed it almost flawlessly. Clearly, the boy's inherited some of his mother's talent."

"Interesting," I said through clenched teeth. "All Potter managed to do in my class was get detention."

I pushed my dinner around my plate a few more minutes before getting up and leaving the Great Hall.

I went down to the dungeons and knocked on Olivia's door.

"Yes?" came a voice from within. I opened the door and walked in to find her sitting at her desk, eating a plate of food and reading a book. I shut the door behind me and sat on the edge of her bed.

"Why weren't you at dinner? Or lunch?" I asked.

"Because…there's not really a place for me up there, is there? I mean, I'm not a student, but I'm also not a staff member."

"Oh. I guess I hadn't really thought of that."

"It's okay. I don't mind eating by myself… How was your first day teaching Defense?" she asked, dog-earing the book she was reading and closing it. She turned in her chair to face me.

"Good," I replied. "Excellent, really. I gave Potter detention."

"What for?" she asked, grinning.

"Being cheeky," I snorted. I repeated the scene for her and she laughed.

"Wow," she said. "What are you going to have him do for his detention?"

"I don't know yet," I said grimly. "But it'll be good."

"Heh. Any outstanding students?"

"Some were surprisingly good…and most of the good ones were from Potter's little club last year, that Dumbledore's Army."

"Guess Potter is good at something."

"He's lucky, nothing more. …Horace said he brewed the Draught of Living Death on his first try. He had to have been cheating, I just can't figure out how. Granger I could see brewing the potion, but I doubt she would let anyone take credit for her work-"

"I forgot you have a thing for Granger," Olivia said teasingly.

"I do NOT 'have a thing for Granger'," I scoffed. "I've merely noticed she is a talented witch and she loves to take credit for that, especially in potions."

"Trying to impress you, I'm sure," she replied.

"I am not so easily impressed, especially with her little miss know-it-all attitude."

She grinned at me and I glanced at my watch.

"They'll be leaving the Great Hall soon. I should go," I said.

"Yeah," she said with a heavy sigh. I crossed the room and kissed her swiftly.

Author's Note: Okay, you guys are going to hate me…but I have to skip ahead some. It's the only way I'm going to be able to get done with this 1,000+ page fanfic. I know this is like the worst thing a writer can do (I didn't even end it at a good place!) but I have to. Just please don't stop reading cuz it gets really awesome. So, for the sake of time (and the fact that I have about 100 pages of this handwritten already) and so you guys don't have to wait so long for updates, I am going to skip forward to the end of sixth year…

Olivia's POV

I spent most of my days and nights walking the grounds of Hogwarts and helping patrol the hallways, sometimes with Snape, sometimes with Tonks or other members of the Order. Dumbledore was nervous, which made Snape nervous, which made me nervous.

One evening I was in my room when there was a knock on my door.

"Come in, Severus," I said as I fastened my cloak around my shoulders. He opened the door.

"How did you know it was me?" he asked.

"I don't get many visitors. I'm about to walk the perimeter of the grounds, care to join me?"

"I'd love to…but Albus wants to see us in his office. Both of us."

"Why?"

"He didn't say… You don't think he knows, do you? About us?"

"I think he does know, or at least suspects, but he doesn't care. It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me," he muttered.

"Come on then, let's go see. I doubt he wants to talk about that anyway, with so much tension in the air."

"You're probably right," he agreed.

Dumbledore was sitting at his desk when we reached his office, looking grave…but he always looked grave these days.

"Hello Severus…Olivia," he said, nodding to me.

"You wished to see us, headmaster?" Snape asked, sitting down.

"Yes. I wanted to make sure you would both be here this evening."

"Of course. Are you leaving again?"

"Yes. Hopefully for only a few hours… I'm taking Harry with me."

Snape and I exchanged surprised looks.

"If all goes well…" Dumbledore continued. "Well, I'll need you on hand either way, Severus."

Dumbledore got up and walked over to the window and looked out at the sky.

"A storm may not be the only thing brewing tonight," he said quietly. "If it comes down to it… the thing we have been waiting for…are you both prepared?"

I looked at Snape, who had paled considerably at the reminder of the task he would have to perform. I wanted to take his hand, to reassure him, but knew he wouldn't let me in front of Dumbledore. He caught my eye, but his face betrayed no emotion.

"Yes headmaster," we both said heavily.

"If it happens… I will likely be forced to flee," Snape said. "If someone sees. …Olivia will remain behind, act as if she knew nothing of my plans, and hopefully the Order will still use her as a spy."

"They will trust her, I believe. If it is one thing I have tried to impart upon them- upon everyone- is to always believe the best of people," Dumbledore said.

"Which will seem foolish to them if I am forced to kill you. I , whom you have always trusted, when no one else trusts me," Snape said.

I accidentally let out a snort and Dumbledore turned around. He smiled slightly at me, the first time I'd seen him smile in a long time.

"Severus, I believe there is someone in this room, other than myself, who trusts you completely," he said.

"Always have," I said.

Snape looked at me somewhat sheepishly.

"Of course. Sorry," he said briefly.

I smiled at him.

Dumbledore turned back to the window with a sigh.

"Perhaps I am wrong- it has been known to happen on occasion. …You two may go. I've already sent word for Harry to come up. Just be alert."

"Yes sir," Snape said.

We left Dumbledore's office and started down the stairs.

"…What happens if- after- they don't believe me?" I asked quietly when we were almost back to the dungeons.

"We will need to meet up somewhere, regardless of if they believe you or not. We won't be able to go home. We'll have to meet somewhere no one can find us…"

We were both silent for a while, thinking.

"…Do you remember that spot on the coast where we camped, a long time ago?" I asked. He smirked slightly at the memory.

"That was not so long ago," he said.

"It feels like it to me. It's been so long since we've been able to relax like that…"

He gazed at me softly.

"We will meet there, then," he said. "Afterwards. No matter what."

"Agreed," I said with a nod.

Snape's POV

Olivia and I took our walk around the perimeter of the grounds in perpetual silence. We saw Lupin and Mad-Eye come through the gates and enter the castle, followed a few moments later by a depressed-looking Tonks. She lifted her hand in greeting to Olivia, who merely nodded in response. When it got dark out, Olivia walked a little closer to me and slipped her small, cold hand in mine.

"…Severus, I'm scared," she whispered quietly, almost inaudibly. I squeezed her hand tightly and brought it to my lips and kissed it gently. I didn't know what to say. There wasn't anything I could say to make her feel better. I couldn't tell her not to be afraid- that would be stupid. She should be afraid- I was afraid.

I stopped walking and took her in my arms. I kissed her forehead and just held her close to me. I could feel her heart fluttering in her chest.

"Come on- let's go back to my office," I said softly, my lips still pressed against her forehead.

"But shouldn't we stay and watch the perimeter?"

"Remus and Mad-Eye can cover it-"

"Or Remus and Tonks. Let's ask Remus and Tonks," she said quickly. I looked down at her and- as much as the idea of the werewolf and the Metamorphmagus copulating disgusted me- I smiled.

"Okay my little cupid," I said and kissed her again.

When we entered the castle we immediately spotted Lupin, alone on the stairs.

"Hey Remus, come here," Olivia said. She hurried up and met him halfway. I stayed behind, but could still hear what they said.

"Hey, I need a favor," she said.

"Anything."

"Can you and Tonks patrol the perimeter for a while?"

"Well…sure. But why?" he asked curiously.

"Severus and I need some time…alone," she replied. I winced.

"Oh. Ew. Sorry I asked," he said with a grin.

"Oh shut up," she said. "Where's Tonks?"

"Corridors of the second floor. I'll get her," Lupin said and turned to go back up the stairs.

"Did you have to tell him that?" I asked when she came back down.

"Kept him from asking too many questions," she said with a shrug.

Although we'd had no intention of doing what she'd told Lupin, when we reached my office one thing led to another and we ended up doing…it. First against the door, then the desk, then the floor. It made us forget about what the night may have in store. In our frenzy, I somehow forgot to employ my usual protective enchantments. Olivia and I lay naked and exhausted by the fireplace when Flitwick came bursting through the door, screaming about Death Eaters in the castle. We both grabbed our wands and I instinctively slamemd the door shut. Olivia Stupified an astonished Flitwick, who fell, hitting his head on the desk.

"Shit, shit, shit," I said, scrambling to get dressed.

"Did I do okay?" she asked, biting her lip.

"Yeah. Yeah. Can you- Memory Charm?" I said, fingers trembling while I tried to fasten my buttons. She nodded and pointed her wand at Flitwick.

"Obliviate," she said quickly.

"Oh my god. I can't…I don't think I can do this," I said, feeling, for the first time in a long time, full-blown panic.

"Yes you can. You made a promise to a friend- you swore on your life. You are doing this for Dumbledore, for Potter, for the Order, for Draco…and all those other things Dumbledore said. Just remember…and I'll be there with you-"

"Oh no you won't," I interrupted quickly. "It's too dangerous. The Death Eaters will be expecting you to help us. The Order will be expecting you to help them. You could get seriously hurt. Besides… I don't want you to see…that."

"Fine, well, what do you propose I do?" she asked, crossing her arms across her bare chest.

"First- get dressed. Apply your Disillusionment Charm and go to your room until it's over."

She dressed in silence and I waited until she had applied her Disillusionment Charm before opening the door. I was startled to find an anxious-looking Granger and Luna Lovegood, but betrayed no surprise.

"Professor Flitwick collapsed- you girls go look after him while I go help in the fight," I said without missing a beat, quickly stepping past them.

I hurried up out of the dungeons, wand in hand, hoping, praying that Olivia had listened to me…though her room door did not open as I hurried past it.

Olivia's POV

Snape should have known I would not sit idly by while he was in danger. I kept my mind barricaded as I followed him out of the dungeons. His black cloak billowed behind him as he ran up the marble staircase.

It was easy to see things were not going well when we reached the fight. One of the Death Eaters was out cold on the floor, mask and robes askew. One of the Order was in bloody shreds on the floor- it looked like one of the Weasleys. I had to stop myself from pausing to help or at least see if he were alive. Snape was still moving through the action, spells were being fired in every direction. I kept low and didn't draw any attention to myself…but I did deflect a spell that Amycus the Death Eater cast and kept it from hitting Ginny Weasley.

I saw Neville Longbottom running at the stairs, which had a barrier cast over it. Longbottom hit the barrier and was thrown backwards into the air. One of the Death Eaters ran through the barrier, unharmed. Snape took the initiative and also ran through. I followed close behind. The Mark on my arm tingled slightly as I passed through, unharmed.

Snape stopped just outside of the door to the Astronomy Tower, which was slightly ajar. An eerie green glow came from outside. We listened intently.

"Draco do it or stand aside so one of us-" Alecto screeched.

Snape took a deep breath and burst through the door, me on his heels.

I quickly observed the scene before us- the Mark in the sky, casting a green glow over everything; Dumbledore slumped against the wall looking weaker and more haggard than I had ever seen him; Draco, his wand held in a white-knuckle grip, looking terrified; Amycus, Alecto and Fenrir the werewolf backing Draco. A quick sweep with my mind and I could tell Potter was there, immobilized beneath his invisibility cloak.

"We've got a problem, Snape," said Amycus. "The boy doesn't seem able-"

"Severus…"Dumbledore said quietly, weakly, though effectively silencing Amycus.

Snape stood, transfixed, staring at Dumbledore. I stood, worried that he wouldn't be able to do it. Worried that, if he didn't do it, he would break the Unbreakable Vow. He would die.

Snape's POV

If I don't do this, I am going to die, I thought to myself, my mind reeling. If this was going to work, I had to mean it. If I didn't mean it, the spell might not work, like the Cruciatus Cures. If I didn't mean it, the others would be able to tell.

And Potter. I could tell he was being held by a spell, under his Invisibility Cloak. He would see. I could imagine those emerald green eyes, staring at me in betrayal and hatred…again. And Olivia. I knew she was there, too, I wasn't an in idiot. Now she would have to see me kill…

Dumbledore. This was all his fault. Everything. I masked my face in hatred and stepped forward, pushing Draco out of the way. The other Death Eaters and the werewolf backed away silently.

I stopped and gazed at him, my face a mask. Inside, my heart was pounding and I felt a bit nauseated.

"Severus…please…" Dumbledore said.

I hate you for this, I thought to myself as I aimed my wand at his heart.

"Avada Kedavra," I said, my voice a growl.

A jet of green light hit him square in the chest and I couldn't tear my eyes away as he was blasted into the air. He hung in the air a moment, beneath the bright green skull someone had foolishly cast in the sky. Then he fell, slowly, out of sight.

Everyone stood there in stunned silence while my brain screamed flee and my body refused to move. I heard a blast from downstairs and adrenaline coursed through me.

"Out of here, quickly," I said, grabbing Draco by the scruff of his neck and forcing him out ahead of me. We hurried down the darkened stairs to the dust-filled room where the battle still raged. Half the ceiling seemed to have fallen or been blasted in.

"It's over, time to go!" I shouted, still pushing the boy ahead of me as I headed for the door.

I didn't know how the others had gotten in and I didn't stop to ask. The only thing I knew to do was the head for the gates.

It was cold out, but I was numb to it. I didn't even stop running when Hagrid came out of his cabin and started shooting spells at the Death Eaters behind me with his umbrella. Alecto stopped to toy with Hagrid. I kept running until I heard Potter's voice yell Stupefy and a red jet of light shot past my head.

There it is, I thought to myself.

"Run, Draco!" I said, pushing the boy ahead of me and turning back to face Potter.

He should kill me, I deserve it, I thought.

"Cruc-" the boy began but I deflected the spell and knocked the boy off his feet. He got back up as Alecto set Hagrid's house on fire.

"Cruc-"

"No Unforgivable Curses from you, Potter! You haven't got the nerve or the ability-"

"Incarce-" he started but I deflected it again.

"Fight back!" he screamed. "Fight back, you cowardly-"

"Coward, did you call me, Potter?" I shouted, my blood boiling. "Your father would never attack me unless it was four on one, what would you call him, I wonder?"

"Stupe-"

"Blocked again and again and again until you learn to keep your mouth shut and your mind closed, Potter!" I sneered, deflecting his curses again.

"Now come!" I shouted to Alecto. "I t is time to be gone, before the Ministry turns uo-"

"Impedi-" Potter began but before I could even deflect his spill, he hit the ground, writhing and screaming.

"No!" I shouted to the Death Eater cursing him. "Have you forgotten our orders? Potter belongs to the Dark Lord- we are to leave him! Go! Go!"

Alecto and Amycus obeyed, running to the gates, but I stayed behind, wanting to see if Potter was okay and make sure everyone else got out okay. I was also looking for Olivia. I thought I saw a flsah near the flames of Hagrid's house where his hound was trapped inside.

"Sectum-!"

I turned back towards Potter furiously, deflecting the spell. I could tell he was about to perform Levicorpus.

"No, Potter!" I shouted, blasting him off his feet, this time effectively Disarming him. "You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who invented them- I, the Half-Blood Prince! And you'd turn my inventions on me, like your filthy father, would you? I don't think so… no!"

I shot at spell at his wand, knocking it well out of his reach.

"Kill me then," Potter panted, full of rage. "Kill me like you killed him, you coward-"

"DON'T CALL ME A COWARD!" I bellowed and hit him across the face with a Stinging Hex. All of a sudden something enormous hit me. Razor-sharp talons tore at my flesh. At first I thought werewolf, but it wasn't the full moon. I heard feathers rustling and knew it was a hippogriff.

I should just let it kill me, I thought morosely…but I had a job to do. I turned and ran to the gate. Once outside, I turned and looked back out the castle, wondering how long it would be before I saw it again. Then I Disapparated.

Olivia's POV

My charm wore off as I emerged from the flames of Hagrid's house carrying Fang, just in time to see Snape run out of the gate and Disapparate. I set the dog down and started back towards the castle, coughing, my eyes watering from the smoke.

When I reached the castle, I could see a crowd beginning to form around Dumbledore's body. I couldn't stand to look. I collapsed on the ground on the other side of the steps and closed my eyes. I was completely exhausted, mentally, physically and emotionally, but I was still started to find that I had fallen asleep.

I awoke several hours later cold and alone. The Mark was gone from the sky and the grounds were empty. I heard the sound of someone sobbing quietly and lifted my head to see Lupin holding Tonks in his arms. She was sobbing and he had silent tears streaming down his face, his eyes closed. I opened my mouth to say something but was overcome by a fit of violent coughing. I startled the couple and they broke apart to look over the banister where I was hacking.

"Olivia!" they both said in surprise, then looked at each other uncertainly. I coughed so hard I began to retch. I rolled onto my hands and knees and promptly vomited. At that point, they both came down the steps.

Tonks helped me up and Lupin wiped my face with a handkerchief. I stumbled away from my puddle of vomit.

"W-what happened?" I wheezed, leaning against a tree. They exchanged glances.

"Well…what do you know?" Lupin asked.

"S-Severus left me," I said, thinking quickly. "He pushed me… What happened?"

"Olivia," Tonks said quietly, placing a hand on my shoulder. Her eyes full of tears, she looked to Lupin for help.

"Snape killed Dumbledore," he said softly.

'W-what?" I said, slumping back against the tree. I allowed tears to form in my eyes. They both stood there anxiously, uncertain. I could tell they wanted to believe me.

"Dumbledore…" I repeated softly, letting the tears fall. "…W-what am I going to do? I thought he loved me. After all I did…the Order…the Dark Lord…"

I pulled up the sleeve of my robes and stared at the Mark. I rubbed it furiously, as if to erase it.

"I was a spy for Dumbledore…and if I don't go back…they'll find me. They'll kill me. …What am I going to do?" I asked in a terrified voice. They looked helplessly at one another.

"McGonagall," Lupin said firmly. "We have to take you to see McGonagall."

Tonks nodded and they helped me to my feet. Tears still streaming down my face, I allowed my friends to lead my up to McGonagall's office. In my mind, I was congratulating myself for playing it so well.

Mad-Eye and several other members of the Order were sitting in her office with her, talking quietly. All talk ceased when I entered the room. Mad-Eye leapt to his feet.

"What is she doing here?" he demanded, both mismatched eyes trained on me. "Everyone knows she was his little pet. We've no reason to trust her!"

"Calm down, Alastor," McGonagall said sharply. "Remus…what is she doing here?"

I looked to Lupin, who nodded at me.

"S-Severus left me. I didn't know he-he… He pushed me out of the way, down the stairs, and I was knocked out-"

"Lies!" Moody barked.

"Quiet, Alastor," McGonagall said sharply and looked at me to continue.

"I thought he loved me…" I said and shook my head. "I came to you because…because I don't know what else to do. I was a spy because Dumbledore asked- no, because Severus was one and there was no way for me to escape the Dark Lord's notice. I- I can't go back…but if I don't…they'll hunt me down and kill me. …What do I do?" I asked, sounding desperate.

"We don't need any more damned spies!" Moody snarled.

"Alastor," McGonagall said wearily, but sternly. "…We'll discuss it, Olivia. Wait outside, please."

"Yes, Professor," I said, eyes cast down. Lupin put a hand on my shoulder as I passed, then shut the door behind me. I slumped to the floor in the hallway to await the verdict.

Snape's POV

I sat, feeling like a zombie, as everyone recounted the night's events to the Dark Lord. I found out the others had gotten in through the Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement. They had shot the Mark off to draw Albus back to the castle quicker. Greyback had attacked Bill Weasley and thought he was dead.

I told my part of the story in a seemingly non-caring voice. After ridiculing Draco for his inability to perform, the Dark Lord asked about Olivia.

"She remained behind, my Lord, in an attempt to stay with the Order. We thought it may be beneficial to you in the future, if you need to find them…"

"Very good," He said. "When are you meeting up with her?"

"Later tonight if I may, my lord, at a secret location."

"And are you sure we can continue to trust her, Severus?" He asked thoughtfully.

"Of course my lord," I said immediately, though I was a bit taken aback at his question. "She will do whatever I tell her…she is mine."

"Do you love her?" He asked simply.

"I- my Lord?"

"Do you love her?" He repeated.

"Well…yes," I said, knowing it was pointless to lie about something like that to Him. Several of the others sniggered and I glowered at them.

"Then that is good enough for me, Severus," He said and got off the subject.

When He finally allowed us to leave, I went straight to the place where I had agreed to meet Olivia. She had not yet arrived. A quick sweep ensured I was alone on the coast. I wanted very badly to hit something, to let out the hurt that was building inside of me. I ran up the beach to the nearest tree and began pummeling it with my fists until I felt blood beginning to trickle down my hands. I ran back, into the roaring, crashing waves, until I was up to my waist. Then I screamed, roaring my pain and frustration into the cold, unfeeling night.

Olivia's POV

"Severus?" I said quietly, approaching the water. He lifted his head and turned to look at me. He said nothing. His face was wet- with tears or seawater, I could not tell. Probably a combination of both. I waded into the water and took his hand in mine. I let him back to the beach and made him sit in the sand while I made a small fire. By the light of the fire, I saw there was blood on my hand. Looking down, I saw it was from Snape's bloodied knuckles.

"What did you do?" I asked, kneeling beside him to examine his wounds.

"I murdered my best friend," he said, his voice low and hoarse.

"Oh hush," I said. "You didn't murder him. He told you to do it. You were doing him a favor- he would not have lasted the Summer."

He said nothing, eyes cast down, not looking at me. I continued to work on his hands, cleaning the wounds and using a little of the Dittany I had in my bag. I had just finished his hands when I noticed his torn robes. I lifted his shirt to see deep wounds that had been hastily, poorly bandaged. Blood was seeping through the bandages.

"What happened here?" I asked. "A spell?"

"Hippogriff," he said, wincing. "You didn't see?"

"I was saving Hagrid's dog from the fire," I replied. "You've lost a lot of blood- I need you to lie down and let me fix these."

"What's the point?" he said morosely. "You should just let me die- it's no more than I deserve."

"Don't talk like that," I said, frowning.

He didn't respond, but allowed me to remove his shirt and lay him down on a blanket I summoned up.

He lay silent for the most part as I tended to his wounds. When I finished the hippogriff slashes on his chest, I examined every inch of the rest of his body for injuries.

"Does it hurt anywhere else?" I asked him. He lifted his right hand and placed it on his bare chest, over his heart. With tears in my eyes, I kissed the spot.