DECEMBER 1993

Georgeanna stared down into her cup and swirled the near-black liquid against the glass. The smell of Fyreroot and charcoal assaulted her senses and made her eyes water. She looked up and met the expectant expression of her exceptionally large friend. His eyes glistened with pride and his smile wobbled, as he himself had already had two full mugs of the drink.

"Em, what exactly is this, Hagrid?" She sniffed the contents of her glass and her nose tingled. She gulped down her apprehension and forced a smile to hide her nerves.

The giant man boomed, "It's muh own special recipe, that is. Been fermentin' behind the feed shed fer a special occasion such as this. Give it a go!" As if to prove that it was all quite safe, he took a hefty swig from his mug – the one Georgeanna had gifted him for Christmas that she'd charmed unbreakable – and grunted as he swallowed. He coughed up a small bit of smoke and winked down at her. Her face must have relayed her trepidation for Hagrid threw his head back and guffawed, drawing the attention of the other faculty members in the room.

They were gathered together in the staff room at the Headmaster's invitation to celebrate the turn of the New Year. The lounge had been transformed from a place of meetings and business into a warm and cozy party location. Instead of a singular long table and several smaller round ones with seating along the edges of the room, the space had been filled with lush settees and armchairs accented with fluffy pillows and tables covered in pristine lace tablecloths. A table along the back wall was laden with trays of elaborated desserts and pudding; an entire section of the table lined with bottles of wine and mead and spirits. The fireplace blazed and silver and gold lanterns floated through the air, offering ambient lighting to the room. Ambient music filled the air. A single look around the space and anyone who knew Albus could recognize his personal touch instantly.

Raising her glass in salute, Georgeanna allowed the cup to touch her lips for a brief moment before she sipped at the drink tentatively. She never thought she'd prefer the burn of Firewhiskey as she swallowed down this strange new drink. Her mouth was engulfed in flame and her throat ached with rawness. Georgeanna could feel the liquid as it traveled down to her stomach and settled like a stone in a shallow pond. She inhaled sharply and the air served as a temporary relief from the fire on her tongue. Attempting to hide her coughing behind her hand, she was given away by the cloud of smoke that erupted from her nose and mouth. It was possible that she was imagining things but she could've sworn she felt steam coming from her ears.

"This is…" she gasped. "This is something, Hagrid." She mustered up a pained smile and Hagrid beamed in return, patting her too-hard on the back and pouring more into her still full cup. She glanced around the room for Remus, hoping to signal him to come and take her place as Hagrid's drinking partner, and found him sat at a table with Pomona. The two were sharing a tray of desserts – most of which were chocolate based, of course – and speaking casually about one thing or another.

So Georgeanna settled into her spot on the couch and the more she sipped at Hagrid's special brew, the more her body adjusted to the heat that radiated from the drink. She felt warmth from the top of her head to the very tips of her toes. Her shoulders relaxed, often tense under the stress she put upon herself to act appropriately in social situations, and she became calmer and more comfortable.

Filius joined them and sat opposite from Georgeanna, sharing what minimal space was available on the sofa next to Hagrid. She had to refrain from laughing out loud at the significant difference in their builds. Should Hagrid scoot over even a few inches, Filius would surely be knocked to the ground or worse, sat on. Remus, too, came over to join their little group after some time. Hagrid poured another round of drinks for everyone. Remus, already having had several glasses of wine, took a large, unprepared swig of Hagrid's brew and nearly spit out the contents of his mouth. He gulped it down, the pain evident by the watering of his eyes and the smoke drifting from his ears.

The evening drew on and Georgeanna was beginning to see a different side of her normally professional colleagues. Pomona, Rolanda, and Minerva were sat at a table toward the back of the room, the three of them sipping on large glasses of red wine and giggling like school girls. They shared their favorite stories of students getting into ridiculous situations and the most unbelievable lies they told to get out of punishment. Albus and Remus had chosen a spot before the fireplace and were deep in concentration over a game of Wizard's Chess. From where she sat, it appeared that each time one opponent managed a move that resulted in a chess piece being smashed, the other had to take a shot of Firewhiskey. She did not envy the results of the game or the headache they would be facing the following day.

She hadn't noticed his arrival but Severus Snape was standing in a corner with Aurora Sinistra, the beautiful and mysterious Astronomy professor. She was mysterious to Georgeanna, at least; how else could someone convince Severus so easily to join them in a conversation where he didn't look as if he were dying inside with each word spoken? Aurora had flawless umber skin and shining black hair wound in an intricate knot at the nape of her neck. Her eyes were focused and catlike. Her hand was so delicately wrapped around the stem of her wine glass that, should she decide to simply let go, Georgeanna believed it would continue to levitate in place.

They were standing quite close together, closer than she'd seen him willingly stand next to others, and Aurora's attention was fixated on the Potions Mater only. Even when Hagrid attempted to stand in his drunken state, only to teeter back onto the couch and send both himself and Filius crashing to the floor, her eyes never wavered from Severus's face. He, on the other hand, was scanning the room as if he may need to escape at any given moment. His shoulders were tense and his held his whiskey glass curtly with both hands. His lips moved only marginally as he spoke and when Aurora smiled and laughed, Severus's mouth twitched into a smirk that filled Georgeanna's gut with fire – and it had nothing to do with her drink.

Severus's gaze met Georgeanna's across the room and she was caught in embarrassment. She hastily looked away and raised her glass to her lips, drinking down the rest of the contents. It was far too large of a mouthful and she coughed as it went down, scalding her tongue and throat. Hagrid patted her roughly on the back as he refilled her glass and she nearly toppled off of the couch. "I'm fine," she choked out, rising to her feet. She wobbled as she gained her footing. Her head swam and she had to blink several times before the room was upright again. Georgeanna walked the long route around the edge of the room to avoid crossing too-near Severus and Aurora's huddle, sipping at her drink along the way.

She stopped by Albus and Remus and watched the game for a time. Her head spun as they tried to explain the rules of Wizard's Chess and she found herself unfocused on their words. She couldn't stop herself from looking over and seeing Aurora lean in close and whisper something into Severus's ear. The normally stoic man's eyes widened for a fraction of an instant before he regained his poise and simply shook his head 'no'. This didn't seem to faze the Astronomy professor as she leaned a bit closer to him, her hand draping over his arm, and continued with their conversation.

Georgeanna was glad for an interruption when Albus spoke. "How are you this evening, my dear?" She had been tapping her finger anxiously against the side of her glass. She tore her eyes away from Severus and met Albus's curious gaze, his blue eyes glittering with mischief. "I do hope you're enjoying yourself." To her disbelief, Albus winked.

She bit the inside of her cheek before taking another large gulp. Had Albus been watching her watch Severus? Surely, she hadn't been that obvious. Why should she care who Severus spoke to or who he chose to spend his time with, anyway? He'd made it perfectly clear that he had no intention of befriending her. The man hadn't even properly thanked her for his Christmas gift. When she had gone to the Potions lab to begin her private brewing lessons as he'd instructed, Severus had dismissed her and declared that he was in no mood to teach anyone anything. He hadn't asked her back for the rest of the week and when she visited the dungeons to seek him out, she'd found the door to his office warded against her entry.

Now, there he stood in complete pleasantness with arguably the most beautiful woman on the staff. Georgeanna knew that Aurora's appearance had little to do with the argument, but she felt rather low in comparison to such a stunning and accomplished witch. She could never hold a candle to her. Feeling self-conscious, Georgeanna brushed her hair over her shoulders and turned her face away from Severus completely. Perhaps it was the drink that was making her feel so down. If that were the case, she'd better hurry to finish it. She held her breath as she polished off the contents of the glass. She gasped loudly and cleared her throat. Smoke trailed from her nostrils and her eyes watered. Georgeanna couched into the crook of her arm, struggling to hide the sound.

"Be careful there, you," warned Remus. "It'll sneak up on… Oh, come on!"

Albus commanded his rook to attack one of Remus's pawns. Remus groaned in response and poured another serving of Firewhiskey into his glass, knocking it back in on go.

"Blast it, old man. I'm beginning to think you've got tricks up your, your…" Remus slurred.

"Sleeves," Georgeanna assisted.

"Sleeves! Exactly. Knight to King Three."

The game continued on and Georgeanna quickly grew bored with the two men bantering back and forth about things she didn't understand. Her legs wobbled as she walked to the refreshment table. She placed her glass down and reached for one of the open bottles, not caring which one she grabbed. Silvery clear liquid poured from the spout and she filled her glass up, up, up, until she felt a hand on her arm.

Sybill Trelawney was not the face she expected to see staring back at her. The woman's eyes were abnormally large behind her circular frames. "Oh, my girl, I could sense your aura from across the room." Georgeanna's mouth opened slightly as she set the bottle down. Before she could ask, the strange woman began speaking once again. "There is a cloud hanging over your head." Professor Trelawney raised her hands over Georgeanna's head and began making circular motions as if she were shooing away a swarm of bees. "Can you not feel it?"

Georgeanna opened and closed her mouth like a fish, not knowing how to respond. The woman's many bracelets were clanging together and the colorful pattern of the scarf tied in her hair was making Georgeanna dizzy. "I don't… em… No?" She struggled to say something – anything - that would make the awkward conversation come to an end.

"You poor, poor dear. You haven't the sight at all. Pity, for I can see what lies within." Sybill blinked slowly and continued to stare at Georgeanna as if she was waiting for something.

Not knowing what else to do, Georgeanna retrieved her glass from the table and meekly responded, "…What?"

Sybill placed a hand on Georgeanna's wrist and squeezed gently. The older witch leaned in and whispered, "There is a darkness. A deep-rooted emptiness that splinters the soul and renders the heart all but useless. I can see it within you, my dear. Such pain." Georgeanna gawked at the woman, her mind reeling. "Alas, we are not born without our struggles." Professor Trelawney used her other hand to pat Georgeanna's shoulder reassuringly as if she'd merely shared with her a spot of inconvenient news. "'Tis a shame you appear to have no skill for Divination. I can see it plainly as the nose on your face. And those eyes! Grey and dull as the mind you keep, am I right?" Trelawney smiled dolefully at her.

Georgeanna clenched her jaw in offense. "I really couldn't say." She attempted to reclaim her arm at the same time Trelawney let go of her wrist and caused Georgeanna to pull away too harshly. She sloshed the contents of her glass onto herself, splashing her face and soaking the front of her dress. She gasped in disbelief.

Muffled laughter filled her ears. Georgeanna peeked over her shoulder to see Professor Sinistra covering her mouth with a delicate hand, her eyes twinkling with humor. Georgeanna's cheeks burned red. Severus, too, could only stare at the mess she'd made of herself. His brow arched as he glanced from her glass to the wet spot on the front of her dress and the droplet dripping from her chin. His lips pursed and Georgeanna's the back of neck grew hot.

"So clumsy. Perhaps you've had too much to drink, my dear girl?" Sybill offered.

She wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. Humiliation flared in her chest. Without another word, Georgeanna slammed her glass down on the table with a crash and stormed from the room. She fumbled through the Entrance Hall, tripping over her legs, and let her feet carry her out the main doors and into the night. The cold air bit at her wet skin and the snow crunched beneath her heels. She soon found herself standing on the steps with only the heat of embarrassment running through her veins to keep her warm.

How dare Professor Trelawney say those things about her? She didn't even know her. 'Darkness this, despair and loneliness that… It's just as Hermione said. The woman's a quack.' Georgeanna collapsed onto the stairs and pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. 'My heart isn't useless.'

She inhaled heavily. The icy air stung her nose and eyes. She blinked and felt tears fall down her dampened cheeks. Her heart was not useless and her mind was not dull; yet, why did the words affect her so powerfully? Did the rest of the faculty share Trelawney's opinion of her?

She was just a stupid, immature girl trying too hard to be something she wasn't.

'Oh, stop it!' she scolded herself. She laced her fingers in her hair and shook her head, laying her forehead against her skirt. Overwhelmed with drunk emotion, Georgeanna sobbed into her dress. She had been nervous and excited to attend her first all-adult party and had taken the care to wear her best dress for the occasion; it was the very same emerald green one she'd worn to the Welcoming Feast at the start of the school year. The relaxed calmness she'd felt in the staff lounge had irreversibly shifted into a tremendous distress. Her tears could not be contained and fell freely down her face. She shivered from the release of sudden overwhelming emotion and the unforgiving wind as it tugged at her hair and clothes.

She became aware of the sound of footsteps but could not bring herself to lift her head. There could only be one person who cared enough to come look for her anyway.

"I'm fine, Remus. I just needed some air," she whispered with a craggy voice.

Silence followed. She sniffled loudly and dabbed at her face with her sleeves but the fabric was too wet to do any good. The hem of her dress was damp and clung to her legs. Her shoes were covered in snow and her stockings had a tear running up one side that ran the length of her calf. She was truly in a right state and wished that Remus would just leave her be.

"Your dear Lupin is hardly self-aware at the moment."

Georgeanna lifted her head and shifted to see Severus standing on the steps, his black cloak draped around him like shadow. The wind tossed his hair slightly and Georgeanna sucked in a breath through her teeth. She struggled to her feet, slipping in her heels as she'd lost some of the feeling in her toes and had managed to leave her balance indoors. She grappled at the stone for support and one of her hands stung as it made contact. Twisting her wrist, she saw the skin on her palm was red and sticky. She blurrily inspected her other hand and noted that it looked normal. "There's blood on the stairs," she mused, her head swimming in confusion.

"No," Severus chided, "your hand is bleeding." He approached her slowly. His movements were dizzying in their precision and Georgeanna was mesmerized by how quickly he was suddenly standing beside her. "You've managed to injure yourself. Again."

"I did not." She swayed on her feet, clutching her hands to her chest.

Severus inhaled deeply and pursed his lips. "How else would you begin explain the broken glass in the lounge and the weeping cut on your hand?"

Georgeanna opened her mouth and paused. She stared up into the unknown depth of his onyx eyes and felt as if she no longer knew where she was. His face was beautifully pale in the moonlight and she wanted so desperately to run her fingers through his dark hair, if only to test that it was made of silk as it appeared to be. Her fingers twitched where they were laced together and she numbly pulled them apart. She reached out languidly, her hand growing nearer her target. So, so close, and then Severus's slender fingers wrapped around her wrist.

He turned her hand over and inspected the skin of her palm. Georgeanna thought it all felt quite familiar as he used his wand to clean and mend the broken skin. "You've done this before."

"It's a relatively simple process." He completed the spell and lowered his wand.

She shook her head. "No… well, yes, but that's not what I meant. You've done this," she whispered, turning her hand in his, "before." She traced her finger over the skin of his palm, mimicking the motions he'd just completed with his wand. Georgeanna crept closer, craving his warmth. She laid her hand out flat against his, reveling in the skin-on-skin contact. Sliding her fingers over his palm, she guided them over the skin of his wrist and toyed with the buttons on his sleeve. She circled a single button with her fingernail until it made her too dizzy to watch.

"Ms. Earnshaw-"

"Georgeanna," she interrupted. She blinked slowly as she finally met his eyes. Her heart beat heavily in her chest, mimicking the unhurried but steady pace of her finger on his sleeve. "Call me by my name."

Severus's lips twitched. He bit the inside of his cheek as he studied her. She was staring so openly at him and in a way he'd only experienced briefly before she would blush and glance away. She was not glancing away now. Her silver eyes were dark and metallic as they bore into his. They were watery and slightly unfocused; hazy in her drunkenness. He could hardly make out the scars on her nose and cheek in the moonlight as was stricken by how smooth and fair her skin appeared in contrast to her dark, wild locks. She was glowing.

Her hand slid further down his arm and came to rest in the crook of his elbow. When had she gotten so close? He could smell the alcohol in the air between them and the essential oils in her hair. Rose and cinnamon. It was a scent he'd become inured with in the tight quarters of his laboratory. Even when he'd decided to ward her from entering the space, the tantalizing scent had lingered for days. Now she was before him, all but pressed against his chest, and he couldn't breathe without drowning in her. This was exactly why he'd refused to continue with her lessons. This was the reason he couldn't allow himself to be close to her.

He didn't trust himself.

Severus removed his arm from her hold and took a measured step back. "You should return indoors." He moved away but was halted by Georgeanna gripping the material of his cloak. Georgeanna was holding him fast, her hand clutching at his waist.

"Don't go."

He shook his head and the mask slid into place. "This is highly inappropriate, Ms. Earnshaw. I won't tell you again."

"No," she demanded, pulling him closer. He refused to budge and instead she was forced to step closer. She stumbled and nearly lost her footing. If it wasn't for Severus remaining so still, she surely would have slipped down the stairs. Her other hand came to rest on his shoulder. She jabbed her finger against his collarbone. "You will tell me again, and you'll use my name when you do it." Her stare became defiant.

Severus narrowed his eyes and locked his jaw. She was playing a dangerous game and he was not accustomed to losing. "Go inside, Earnshaw." He glowered down at her.

"You," she poked at his chest. "Ridiculous…" Poke. "Stubborn…" Poke. "Man!" She went for a final jab but Severus caught her arm before she could make contact. He wrapped his long fingers around her wrist and pulled, tugging her until she collided against him.

The breath was instantly lost from her lungs. She hadn't realized how utterly frozen her skin was becoming until she was thrust into the blazing heat of his chest. Georgeanna tried to pry herself from his grasp but he held firmly. "You are clearly intoxicated. Otherwise, I would consider this interaction overtly insulting. How dare you-"

"Don't treat me like a child!" she cried out. She shivered against him and he realized that her clothes were still damp from her spilt drink. Her eyes were rimmed red and her cheeks were wet, and Severus began to understand that it was her tears that made her skin gleam. "Everyone treats me as if I'm some sad, broken thing to be handled gently. Well, I'm not!" Georgeanna ripped her arms away from him and wrapped them around herself. She was trembling in earnest from the overwhelming emotion and unshakeable chill. "And you… you're the worst of them all." Her bottom lip quivered and she sucked in a breath, new tears filling her eyes.

"At least the others are pleasant to my face – I know what they say behind my back, I'm not stupid – but you treat me as if I'm no more than a bug under your shoe. A bloody inconvenience." She inhaled shakily and stepped back. "I don't know why I've been trying so hard to impress you. Honestly, I can't justify the need for your acceptance when I know it'll never come." Her voice cracked and she closed her eyes, steadying herself. "But is it really so difficult for you to just say my name when you speak to me?" Tears fell and rolled down her ruddy cheeks. She bowed her head and Severus saw the rise and fall of her shoulders as she fought back her silent sobs.

This was not the situation he expected to find himself in when he followed her from the staff lounge. Aurora had offered to come along but he had been looking for a reason to separate himself since she'd made the ludicrous offer to join him for the night. As if he'd want that.

No, what he'd wanted was to make sure Georgeanna hadn't injured herself too greatly after he'd seen the broken glass and the blood droplets on the tablecloth. Whatever words Trelawney had spoken to her had been visibly upsetting. Severus knew that the young woman was out of her element to begin with as he'd watched her consume far more alcohol than someone of her size should in one sitting. Now, there he stood before her equal parts furious and concerned. He did not approve of her beratement and if she had been in her right mind, he would have torn her to shreds for it. All of that was overshadowed by the way his stomach lurched as he watched her composure crack with each word she spoke.

He knew he was not a kind man, and yet his chest ached for the young woman. He could not explain his reasons for treating her so cold and distantly. He would not come forward and tell her that it was too dangerous to be his friend, to be someone close to him. She could never understand that his only true friend had died a brutal, untimely death and he blamed himself for it. He refused to allow it to happen again.

Severus cleared his throat. He shifted his footing uncomfortably as he debated his next move. Reaching out for her with an unsteady hand, he shrank back when she verbally lashed out, "Don't touch me!" Her eyes were feral and her lips were pulled back into a grimace. Severus's shell hardened at her dismissal of him. An old and familiar feeling began to unfurl in his stomach at her rebuff. Rejection.

"You d-don't get to do that. It's not f-fair." Her teeth chattered and she brought her hands up higher on her arms to cover her chest. "You can't keep h-helping me and then ignoring m-me the rest of the t-time."

"If you do not return indoors, you'll become ill."

"Stop acting like you c-care! Just leave me." She toppled down and sat in a heap on the steps. Her hair splayed over her shoulders and covered most of her upper body, giving the illusion that she was nothing but a shadow on the ground.

Severus made up his mind to give her exactly what she asked for and leave. He would march up the stairs and forget her where she sat. Once the door was closed behind him, he would move on as always; discarding her outside with the cold.

He sighed heavily, blaming the wine for his following actions. He released the clasp at his throat and swung his cloak off of his shoulders. With a flourish, he covered her with the black material. The frozen air began to bite and pry at his clothing, desperate to get at his skin. He never liked winter.

Holding out his hand, he commanded, "Come." She did not budge. He ground his teeth together, damned that he was sinking to her level. "Georgeanna." She flinched. "Come with me." Severus's patience was stretched incredibly thin. Before he resigned to pulling his hand away, a smaller one emerged from beneath the cloak and wrapped itself around his. There was a tug, a tangle of legs, and then Georgeanna was on her feet once more. His cloak was wrapped around her head where only her eyes were visible among the fabric and chocolate waves of her hair.

"The sheer obduracy you harbor is astounding." He guided her up the stairs, one at a time and matching her pace, his hand securely linked with hers. He focused on the wind in his ears and not how perfectly their fingers interlaced.

Georgeanna was doing her absolute best not to fall over. Her vision was shaky and her head spun with each step. She was grateful for Severus's support. If it weren't for his steady grip on her hand… her hand. They were holding hands. She began to blush fiercely and her stomach flipped; the latter making her feel more nauseous than elated.

A booming blast erupted all around them. Georgeanna jumped in fright and tripped as her toe caught the edge of the stair in front of her. Severus was quick to react and wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her. They both looked up and over their shoulders to see the night sky filled with a blazing burst of color. Georgeanna's eyes widened drastically at the mesmerizing sight of red and green stars fizzing across a sea of black and fading just as quickly as they appeared. There was another resounding boom and the colors were replaced by twinkling silver and gold.

"What is this?" she wondered breathlessly. Her hands were placed on Severus's chest and his arm had found its place securely around her with his hand at the small of her back. She could not tear her eyes away from the enthralling display of shapes and color that were swimming through the sky. Purple then blue then green; she could barely contain the childlike wonder that filled her at the sight.

"It appears the Headmaster has prepared a firework display to celebrate the New Year." Severus watched the glowing light dance in her eyes. If Georgeanna had glanced away from the sky for even a moment, she would have witnessed the flicker of emotion as it passed over his face. He paid no mind to anything but the soft body in his arms.

"Fireworks," she mused, her lips curling into a content smile as her head tilted further back to enjoy more of the view.

Severus considered how easy it would be to lean forward and capture those lips with his. Far too easy. Should he decide to follow through with his desire, Georgeanna would be remiss to stop him. He resisted the urge to pull her further into his arms and kiss her until she begged for air.

Based on his past experiences with women, he did not foresee a positive outcome. It had been far, far too long since he allowed himself to feel any remote form of attraction for someone other than Lily. Even without attraction, his interactions with women had been very few and very far in-between.

Georgeanna gasped and he was once again distracted by her mirth. She was too innocent and unblemished to ever find interest in a man like him. He hardly believed he was worthy of being called a man at all. His dark past would only sully her bright future. No, he would not allow himself to act on a single whim where Georgeanna was concerned. She was to remain out of reach and safe from his contamination. It was for the best.

The fireworks concluded with a reverberating symphony of cannons and an explosion of color that illuminated the sky. A shower of pink and red sparks rained down and dusted them with a coating of starlight. Georgeanna began to feel increasingly dizzy and unfocused as she looked dazedly up into Severus's face, her eyes glazed and sleepy. She traced over the line of his brows and down the slope of his nose. She'd always liked his nose. It was pronounced and added dimension to his face. His dark hair was sparkly and shiny and she knew he'd be unhappy with the amount of glitter there. She absentmindedly reached out and ran her fingers along his temple. Cautiously, she delved her fingers into his hair and shook it gently, careful not to pull. She repeated the action with her other hand and completed the motion by standing high on her toes and brushing the top of his head.

Wobbling slightly, she leaned against him to regain her balance. One hand fell to rest on his shoulder and she found herself mere inches from his face. His expression was impassive but there was flicker of something deep and secret in his eyes that left a burning feeling in her chest. Her vision went in and out of focus. His scent was warm and masculine and utterly overwhelming. Somehow, in that moment, Georgeanna felt unbelievably at home in his arms. Beginning to lose herself in the sensation, her head tilted forward and her lips gently brushed the corner of his mouth.

Severus tensed at the action even as Georgeanna's head came to rest on the crook of his shoulder. Her breathing was slow and even and he realized that she had succumbed to her drunkenness and passed out. He knew not how long he stood there, his arms wrapped securely around the unconscious young woman, before it dawned on him that it was really happening. Georgeanna's knees began to give and Severus quickly reacted by scooping her into his arms. He was not the most physically robust man; yet it was not her weight that affected him, but the soft moan that escaped her lips as she nestled closer to him in her slumber.

Severus Snape had spent decades conquering his emotions. He was a master in Occlumency. He prided himself on his constant, consistent state of control. This woman would not tempt him no matter how delicious she smelled or how supple she felt pressed against him.

He wordlessly charmed the castle doors to open and secure upon his entry. The Entrance Hall was shrouded in darkness and only a few flickering torches remained alight. He knew Hogwarts like the back of his own hand and had traversed the layout in the dark thousands of times before. Somehow, on this night, it felt new and intimate. Never had a situation such as this occurred in his lifetime. He took the stairs swiftly and cautiously. Each footfall and corner turned was with a sense of care he'd never needed. The journey to the fourth-floor corridor had not been quite as arduous before.

Navigating to her office, Severus deliberated whether to allow himself entry or to set her down and allow her to continue on her own. He glanced at her blissfully unaware state and decided that he'd best follow through with seeing her in. Her office was dimly lit by burning embers in the fireplace. The door to her bedroom was only a few steps away. This was completely uncharted territory. He'd never entered a woman's bedroom without an invitation; not that he was familiar with such context. But this was about a sense of duty and nothing more. He adjusted his hold on her and walked across her office.

The door in question was left cracked open and he nudged it further with his foot. It swung open with a creak but Georgeanna did not stir at the noise. Her bedroom was completely dark. He'd only been inside once and not further past the doorway, and he could not quite remember where her bed was. Frustrated and losing confidence in his decision to come this far, he was stunned to hear a soft voice whisper, "Lumos."

Georgeanna held her wand out and pointed it across the room to where her bed awaited her. Severus was quick to get there and set her down gently. Without removing a stitch of clothing, not even her shoes, Georgeanna smiled dreamily at him, extinguished her wand, and was lost from consciousness once more.

Severus had never descended to the dungeons more quickly in his life.


JANUARY 1994

The threat of Sirius Black had come to Hogwarts once again. This time, Harry Potter's best friend, Ron Weasley, had been at the center of the attack. The unfortunate lad had been asleep in his bed when, suddenly, the escaped madman had appeared kneeling over him with a dagger. How Sirius had once again entered the castle unseen was a complete mystery; although it was quickly learned that he had entered the Gryffindor Common Room by gaining access to a handwritten list of passwords dropped by none other than Neville Longbottom.

The entire staff was up in arms over the recent break in. Professor McGonagall suggested that the nightly rounds should be increased to a minimum of four faculty members instead of the already assigned two. This would allow for more eyes and ears to be on the alert during curfew hours. Georgeanna didn't say so, but she wondered if having more people partaking in security rounds would do any good if Sirius Black had already managed to get into the castle twice without being noticed until it was too late. In her opinion, it would be wiser to have someone posted just outside the Gryffindor Common Room, as this had been the location of the attacks both times. She felt inexperienced in these matters and decided to keep her ideas to herself as the staff meeting grew tenser and the conversation became heated.

"We all just want what's best for the safety of our students. If the Headmaster agrees that security measures need to be increased, then so be it," Filius chimed in, his squeaky voice heard above the rabble.

Pomona tapped her finger on the table as she spoke, "What I'd like to know is how Sirius Black keeps getting in! This is a dangerous oversight."

"Perhaps there is more to the situation than we are prepared to accept. It is highly probable that Black has an accomplice." Severus narrowed his eyes at Remus from across the table.

The latter leaned forward in his chair and thumped his fist on the table. "What exactly are your accusations, Severus? That someone in this room is in cahoots with a murderer? I only know of one individual capable of such a thing." Remus's eyes were deadly sharp as he stared down the potions master.

Georgeanna glanced back and forth between the two men, confused by Remus's words. She didn't have long to contemplate the meaning before Albus stood and held his arms out, effectively silencing the chatter. "We must not allow ourselves to become distracted by these shortfalls. At this time, Hogwarts is in a state of danger that can only be deterred by a sense of focus and togetherness as we remain vigilant against this threat." He paused and looked around the room. "The Ministry of Magic continues to reassure that they are doing everything within their power to recapture Sirius Black and, until the deed is done, the dementors shall remain here throughout the search."

"Fat load o' good they're doin'," Hagrid muttered under his breath. If Georgeanna hadn't been seated next to him, she might not have heard his interjection.

"That being said," Albus continued, "I will take Professor McGonagall's suggestion under advisement and relay my decision by week's end. If the Heads of House will remain behind, I bid the rest of you good evening." He clapped his hands together with finality and took his seat once more.

Georgeanna pushed back in her chair as the rest of the staff made to depart. She caught Albus's eye and he nodded discreetly at her, dismissing her as well. He had asked to speak with her after the staff meeting and she wondered if she should wait outside or return to her office until he was ready for her. Georgeanna followed the rest from the room and found Remus waiting for her in the hallway.

"Care for a cuppa?" He rocked on the balls of his feet with his hands in his trouser pockets. She agreed to the invitation, assuming that she had time for at least one cup of tea until the second half of the meeting was over. As they climbed the stairs to Remus's office together, she couldn't help but think about the strange thing Remus had said earlier.

"Remus, what you said to Severus…" she began.

"Hmm?" He paused on the landing and faced her; his brow arched.

"What did you mean by it?"

Remus shifted his feet and looked at her squarely. "I don't quite remember." He shrugged his shoulders.

"You said someone in the room was capable of working with… with a murderer."

She watched as a darkness crossed over Remus's face and was quickly replaced by his typical, pleasant demeanor. "Some things are said in the heat of the moment, Georgie. I wouldn't go looking any deeper for meaning." He patted her on the shoulder and continued toward his office, Georgeanna following meekly behind. There was something Remus wasn't telling her. She had witnessed him and Severus get into more verbal sparring matches than she could remember, but Remus had never claimed anything quite so pointedly malicious. Now, he was insisting that it meant nothing. Georgeanna felt suspicion arise and wondered what it was he was keeping from her.

Following a relaxing cup of tea, she headed back down to the staff lounge. She passed through the door and to her dismay, the room was empty. She supposed it was too much to ask for the Headmaster to simply stay put until she came back. Looking around the room, Georgeanna realized that it was the first time she'd been alone in the lounge since her incident with the Boggart. A chill ran up her spine. The wardrobe had long been removed from the room but she could still feel its presence in her mind. She often found herself dreaming of that night and the reoccurring event of Greyback emerging from the cabinet and seeking her out with bloodthirst.

She retreated from the room and closed the door behind her, sealing her feelings of unease within. As the full moon drew nearer, she struggled to cope with her heightened senses and sensitivity toward certain emotions. It would only be a few days until the change and her body felt like she was wearing someone else's skin. The muscles in her back were tight and her joints ached throughout most of the day and night. If it wasn't for Poppy's nearly endless supply of relaxation draught and pain potions, Georgeanna was sure she'd have been in far more miserable of a state.

Arriving at the gargoyle that guarded the Headmaster's office, Georgeanna relayed the password – 'Peanut Brittle' – and ascended the stairs. She ran through her head a list of topics that Albus might want to discuss with her. Nothing seemed vitally relevant as she knocked on the door and entered the office at his command. As she stepped into the room, she was hit with a familiar scent. She glanced around the space but saw that only Albus was present. The old wizard was seated at his desk and gently stroking the feathers of his Phoenix, Fawkes.

"Looking for something, my dear?" he called to her. Ceasing her search, she shook her head and crossed the floor to the armchair Albus gestured at.

Georgeanna sunk into the velvet cushions. "No, I just thought I smelled… Never mind." She blushed a bit and shook out her hair from behind her ears.

She thought she'd smelled Severus. She'd been able to pick out his scent in a strangely acute manner similar to how she could distinguish Remus in a crowd. Georgeanna had barely been in the same room with Severus following the New Year's Eve party and wondered what she'd done to infuriate the man now. Her best guess was that she'd said or done something to offend him at the party. She'd awoken the next morning in her bed with little to no recollection of the events of the evening after she'd had her second glass of Hagrid's special brew. It wouldn't surprise her if she'd attempted to speak with Severus and he'd considered it a great impertinence to be seen conversing with her in public. Even so, in recent day's past, she'd received her normal doses of Wolfsbane Potion delivered to her office via house-elf on time, every time.

In an attempt to make amends for whatever she may have done whilst drunk, Georgeanna had approached Severus in the dungeons a few nights prior. It was surprising for her to find his office door not only unwarded but left wide open so late after he'd finished his classes. She walked into his office to find it vacant with the light shining from behind the door of his laboratory. Unprepared with what to say or how to apologize for something she had no memory of, Georgeanna had slowly pushed the door open as to not interrupt him. Her heart had promptly lodged itself in her throat at the sight of Severus seated at his workbench with Aurora Sinistra leaning over his shoulder.

The Astronomy professor was pressed directly against Severus's back and the man seemed to have no issue with their close proximity. Aurora went as far brushing her lips over the shell of Severus's ear and Georgeanna clasped her hand over her mouth to prevent a gasp from escaping. She'd seen them together on New Year's but had never guessed at the level of intimacy they were sharing in at that moment. Severus rose to his feet in a single swift motion, turning to Aurora with a crack in his mask of indifference. He opened his mouth to speak but caught his words when he noticed Georgeanna in his peripheral. His attention now glued to the young woman fixed in the doorway, he snapped his mouth shut and pursed his lips. His eyes darkened as he glared at her. Aurora, too, became aware of Georgeanna's presence, and the three of them simply stared at one another wordlessly.

"I…" Georgeanna began to back away, knocking her elbow on the doorframe. She hissed through her teeth and clutched her elbow in pain. "I'msosorry!" She hastily spun on her heel and escaped from the awkwardness of the situation as quickly as she could. Her foot caught the leg of a desk on her way out of Severus's office and she nearly tumbled to the floor. For a split second, she thought to go back and straighten the desk but remembered that it was not a proper time for formality and scurried from the dungeon. She had not the fortitude to go back since.

So, Severus had taken to avoiding her whenever possible, and Georgeanna had managed to evade Aurora. It wasn't difficult to stay away from Sinistra as she and Georgeanna typically had very different schedules to keep. The staff meeting that day had been the first time the three of them had been present in the same room and it had given Georgeanna heart palpitations. She had not expressed her findings to Remus – it would only give him a sense of power over Severus to know of such a secret – and she had been unable to continue with any of her Potions lessons; the latter being the most disappointing of it all.

Georgeanna had truly come to enjoy spending time in the Potion's lab and even considered the subject to be one of her favorites. It had been nearly a month since Severus first shut her out and she wondered if, at this rate, she would ever be allowed back in. Her luck was not proving too well.

"You appear rather distracted this evening, Georgeanna. Pray, tell me what's on your mind?" Albus's calming tone reached her ears and she realized she'd been staring into the fireplace, completely ignoring him.

She blinked her eyes a few times to regain her composure and smiled brightly at him. "Oh, I'm fine, really. Just a bit tired."

The Headmaster studied her thoughtfully for a moment as he reached into a bowl of mixed nuts and offered a handful to Fawkes. The Phoenix ruffled his feathers and sifted through the selection with his curved beak before selecting a large macadamia nut. He crunched happily, perfectly content.

"You must be wondering why I've asked to speak with you without much occasion." Albus steepled his fingertips and glanced at Georgeanna over the lenses of his half-moon glasses. She nodded silently in response. "Well, as I'm sure you are aware, we've reached the mid-point of the school year here at Hogwarts. It was in our original agreement that you would remain as a part of the staff for one year only. A trial basis, if you will." He paused and Georgeanna felt herself leaning forward in her chair, hanging on every syllable. "Are you quite happy with your position here, Miss Earnshaw?"

She sat up straighter at his use of her surname. "Yes, Headmaster. I enjoy it very much. I've been able to learn a great deal in assisting with classes, and everyone has been so helpful."

"Everyone?"

It was Georgeanna's turn to pause. She thought carefully as to how she should answer such a loaded question. "… Yes."

"Is that so?" Albus tossed Fawkes another macadamia nut and the bird caught it in mid-air. "I was under the impression that you were still quite at odds with Professor Snape." He folded his fingers together elegantly and placed his hands on his lap beneath his desk.

'Damn, of course he knows. He must know everything that happens within these walls,' Georgeanna thought. It was probably best to be honest and straightforward with Albus, but she didn't quite know how to best describe exactly what was going on between herself and Severus. There wasn't much of anything to even discuss. "We get on… all right. There hasn't been much need for me to assist in Potions so I've kept out of his way. I'm sure if there was something for me to do, he would let me know." She believed her answer to be as good as any, even if it wasn't necessarily true.

"And your personal lessons?"

"Oh, those are going very well! Filius, erm, Professor Flitwick says I'm advancing quickly and that I'm already at a third-year level," she beamed. She went on to describe her progress in other subjects with gusto, pointedly avoiding her Potions progress. Albus, of course, noticed.

"Need I ask about Potions or are you going to tell me that it's 'all right'?" He arched his silver brow at her. Fawkes cooed and clicked his beak together, diverting Albus's attention momentarily. The Headmaster extended his arm and Fawkes slowly climbed on to the offered limb. Albus stood and motioned for Georgeanna to follow him as he walked up the staircase behind his desk and to the large, circular window that made up most of his back wall. He pressed his fingers against the pane of glass and it swung out gently, even without any visible hinges. Georgeanna sometimes had to remind herself that the castle had been built and developed by centuries of magic and that sometimes, things didn't have to make perfect sense.

Dumbledore held out his arm where Fawkes was carefully perched and the Phoenix began to unfurl his wings. Georgeanna was impressed by his large, colorful wingspan as he stretched and ruffled his feathers. Fawkes blinked slowly at Albus before flapping once, twice, and lifting off his arm. The Phoenix soared gracefully through the window and into the night. She watched until the red and orange shape of Fawkes became a mere spot against the blackened sky. Thousands of stars could be seen twinkling in the clarity of the darkness. Just above the tree line of the Forbidden Forest, the waxing moon taunted her with its fullness. She sighed heavily, knowing what was to come in just a few days' time.

A warm hand on her back startled her from her reverie. "I cannot begin to imagine the amount of pain and suffering you've endured in your lifetime, Georgeanna. Many families were torn apart by the war and, yet, I believe yours suffered a fate unlike the rest." He patted her back gently and pulled his hand away, linking it with his other to rest behind him. "Despite all of that, it is my professional opinion that you are thriving most successfully. Taking a step further and considering your rare condition," Albus continued, waving his arm and wordlessly closing the window, "I must wonder if you're developing enough socially. Have you formed any relationships outside of Remus and the Niall McCreary?"

She felt rather put on the spot by his line of questioning. Her first thought was, no, she hadn't. Not any real, go-to type friendships. Sure, she felt that her relationships with Filius, Pomona, and Hagrid were pleasant enough that they could have a chat and a cup of tea perhaps, but not the type where she sought out any of the mentioned for advice or to share gossip. She was far too intimidated by Minerva; the woman made Georgeanna feel as if she was constantly under a magnifying glass. Rolanda was good with idle chit-chat but unless Georgeanna wanted to discuss Quidditch facts, the conversation was usually kept to a polite length before falling into silence. There wasn't an ounce within her that could be persuaded to seek out Aurora after their recent encounter in the dungeons and she still didn't know much about Trelawney…

"Not particularly, no." She felt as if she'd somehow failed as a task she'd no knowledge of being assigned. "There's not very many people here my age. I do enjoy speaking with the students, but I know that there is a line I can't cross." Brushing her hair back behind her ear, she turned away from the window and faced Albus fully. "I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to make real friends. Niall still doesn't know… I haven't told him about my curse."

"Your curse?"

"Being a werewolf."

Dumbledore smacked his lips and nodded his head with a pronounced, "Ahh." He tapped his chin with a jeweled finger. "And why have you decided not to share this information with him?"

She shrugged. "I suppose I'm afraid of how he will react. It's not common to meet werewolves in society. That's what Remus tells me, anyway. He says most of our kind chose to live on their own or in communes like the one where we met."

"Do you believe he will treat you unkindly?"

Deep down, she knew the answer before her mind could form the words to respond. "I'm worried he'll be afraid of me."

Albus remained quiet for a long moment following Georgeanna's admission. Her mind was left to fill the silence with made up instances where she admitted the truth to Niall only to watch him run away from her screaming, or worse – he could spread the information so that the entirety of Hogsmeade would know about her inner darkness. Her memory strayed to Robert and the tales he would tell of werewolves being chased out of villages and towns with torches and pitchforks; how wizards and muggles alike would hunt down and kill werewolves before they could transform. Robert had warned her from the very beginning that she couldn't trust anyone with their secret, not even other werewolves.

"But what is living without risk and fear?" His blue eyes twinkled and he smiled mischievously at her. "I would never pressure you to reveal yourself to anyone you do not deem trustworthy; however, someday, you will have to begin to have faith in others. Friendships are one of the most important relationships you can have in a lifetime. I would hate for you to miss out on the joy of them."

Georgeanna sat with Albus's words for the remainder of the night. She lounged on the couch in her office, eyes staring unfocused at the fireplace. It had long since burnt out and she'd not moved to relight it. Alone in the dark, she sat with only the company of her racing thoughts. She'd been feeling the need for more companionship recently. She dearly cared for Remus – he was her family more than her friend – but she yearned for the presence of people her age.

It was time to act on the very thing she had been delaying. She decided to write to Niall and invite him to dinner at the Three Broomsticks the following week. It would give her enough time to recover from her transformation and the weekend would not fall on a Hogsmeade school trip, so the village would be free of roaming students. It would give her enough time to prepare all of the things she wanted to say to him and give him enough time to back out should he be angry with her for not speaking with him since before Christmas.

Taking a deep breath, Georgeanna sat up and summoned a sheet of parchment and writing materials from her desk. She pulled the coffee able closer to her and began to write her letter. Should Niall agree to the invitation, Georgeanna was ready to take a major step forward in their friendship.

She'd decided to tell Niall that she was a werewolf.


A/N: Thank you all for being so patient! I know this chapter is a bit shorter than the last one but I didn't want to wait any longer to post something for you guys. I've been struck with a massive case of writer's block for the last week and it's awful x_x I know what I want to write and can't seem to get the words out.

I really hope you enjoyed this update! Please leave a comment if you can. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Take Care - Faux