AN: Thank you guys so much for the love on the last chapter, hope you enjoy this one as well!

Annoyed I closed my office door, going straight for the fire whiskey in my desk. This hadn't been the outcome I had wanted when I had stormed into the Headmaster's office.

"Dumbledore", I hissed as I slammed his office door shut, "You can't evade me any longer."

"I wasn't, Severus", the old man replied calmly while closing his eyes. "I just hoped to avoid an unnecessary discussion."

"Unnecessary to you perhaps. How dare you let her join the Order? You promised me you would keep her safe!"

"And I intend to keep it. Being in the Order isn't exactly the same as handing her over to Voldemort."

A small shiver went down my spine when he uttered the name. I never got used to hearing it, and ever since he was back it impacted me even more.

"Of course. That's why no one has ever lost their life being in the Order", I spat, "I know that I am just one of your pawns but I won't let you use her."

The Headmaster sighed in frustration. "She offered to help our cause, Severus, and I am fairly sure it is for your sake alone. I won't turn down help and I assure you I will keep her safe."

And that had been his last word on this matter. He refused to discuss it any further, ignoring all my protests and making me leave his office.

Sighing I sat down at my desk, bringing the just filled glass to my lips. It's been weeks since I had found out about Elizabeth joining the Order and our relationship had suffered severely since then. I was still furious at her for deceiving me and avoided her at every meeting, hadn't given her a chance to talk to me. I simply didn't understand why she couldn't see in what danger she had thrown herself.

And then there was Black. Not only had I to endure him at the meetings, but it seemed that he had taken an interest in Elizabeth. It had been subtle at first, him staring at her, trying to sit next to her whenever he could; until he had started to openly flirt with her.

I growled at the thought alone. I knew that I had no right to interfere after the scene I had made but the thought of Black gaining Elizabeth's love was a nightmare. He was seriously the last person I could tolerate at her side.

I knew if I'd tell her the truth about him, about what he had done during our teenage years, I would ruin every possibility for him to be with her. But it wasn't my place anymore. Especially not after the scene I had made.

Shivering I entered the dark hallway of Grimmauld Place. It was getting colder these days, winter approaching rapidly, making the days shorter and the nights longer.

Trying not to make a sound I navigated through the corridor and to the stairs leading to the kitchen in the basement. I was a little early for the Order meeting but I was hoping to catch Severus for a moment, even though I doubted he would listen to me. It's been weeks since our first shared meeting and he hadn't given me any chance to talk to him again, ignoring all my explanations. I had hoped that he would eventually calm down after a while and would understand — but he didn't. It seemed to get even worse with each time he saw me. It hurt me incredibly to have him act that cold even so I knew I was doing the right thing. If my information would just help a little in protecting Severus, every anger of his was worth it.

"Liz!"

Smiling Sirius greeted me, rising from the kitchen table. With a swift motion he came over to give me a hug and I couldn't help but smile and return it.

"Sirius", I replied, glad to see him. He had become a friend to me, someone who cheered me up after another failed attempt to make up with Severus, someone who made me laugh in these dark times. "How are you doing?"

"Always better when in such lovely company", the man replied while slowly letting go of me, just to reach for my braid which was hanging over my shoulder, holding my hair together today. "The braid suits you. Even though I prefer your curls loose."

With a smile I shook my head. His flirting had intensified over the last few weeks. I didn't take it too serious though, knowing that he was simply lonely, trapped in his family's house with nothing but the occasional Order meeting. Nevertheless he had changed since I had first made his acquaintance, his eyes slowly losing the darkness he had experienced in Azkaban, his features becoming softer.

"Charming as ever I see", I replied and took a swift look around the kitchen which was deserted. "So I am the only one so far, huh?"

"Not quite."

The dark voice instantly send a shiver down my spine and quickly I turned around, looking into Severus's face who had silently appeared behind me on the stairs. His look was cold as ice while he scanned the two of us, his eyes narrowing when he saw Sirius still holding my hair, being so close to me. Quickly I brought a little more room between my friend and me, pulling my braid out of his grip, suddenly feeling caught.

"Snape."

"Black", the Potions Master spat back.

I had noticed already that there was no love lost between those two, even though I didn't quite know why. But the glaring looks they exchanged every time they met was indicator enough that something was off.

"You're early."

"It seems like I am just in time", Severus replied and met my eyes for a moment, making me feel like a student again and quickly I looked down.

Without another word he strode past the two of us to take a seat at one end of the table while Sirius immediately went for the other end.

Before I could even think about where to go, the latter called out for me, pulling back the chair next to him and with a crooked smile I accepted the offer, not daring to take another look at Severus.

Furious I tried to ignore the laughter from the other end of table, the flirting and the swaggering of Black. If I would have it my way I would've broken apart the two of them the moment I had seen his filthy hands on her.

Why? Why didn't she see through him? Why did she seem to enjoy his company so much to the point that she spent additional time with him? I had noticed how she was always one of the firsts at the meetings – which might have been the reason for my own early appearance. I knew I had no right and still I didn't want to give Black any more chance to get even closer to her. He simply couldn't gain her love, not him. It was selfish and egoistic of course. I should give her the chance to be happy, knowing quite well I couldn't give her that without putting her into danger, but seeing her with him was unbearable.

Fortunately I didn't have to listen to the two of them any longer as more Order members poured into the kitchen, switching the small talk to more serious things before Dumbledore arrived and officially started the meeting.

I could barely follow the meeting today, even had to be gently elbowed by Sirius to give my own report. The coldness in Severus's eyes had terrified me, fearing I had broken even more between us than I had with me joining the Order.

So when the meeting finally came to an end, I didn't hesitate a moment, following the Potions Master who had left the kitchen first right away.

"Severus", I tried to stop him, quickly jumping into his path. "Can we talk please?"

"I don't see the point", he replied coldly and tried to pass but I wouldn't let him.

"Sev-"

"Are you still holding on to your resolution to stay in the Order?"

"Yes-"

"Then we have nothing to talk about", he spat, unable to hide the fury in his eyes. "Why don't you go and bother your new best friend instead?"

"Sev, please", I begged. "Sirius-"

But he wouldn't let me finish, simply making his way past me and out the door.

Swallowing hard I stared at the dark empty corridor, holding back the tears. Why couldn't he understand that I wanted to protect him just as much as he wanted to protect me? Why did he have to be so harsh, making everything even harder for the both of us?

"You need to give Severus some time, Elizabeth, he will calm down again."

When I heard the voice behind me I quickly tried to regain my composure before turning around with a smile. I didn't want to show how much the whole situation affected me.

"It's nothing, Professor Dumbl-... I mean Albus. Did you need anything?"

With a sad smile my former Headmaster looked at me but instead of saying something he gently spun me around again.

"Um-"

"Your scar", he simply answered and I could feel his blue eyes scanning my exposed neck - the main reason I preferred to wear my hair loosely. "I just noticed it, coming up the stairs. You always had it, I presume?"

"As far as I can remember, yes."

A long silence followed before the old man moved around me to face me again. "I might know why you've lost your memory, Elizabeth."