I had wanted to post the next two parts together, but this chapter ended up being SO DAMN LONG that I'm just gonna post it as a stand alone. And also as a thank you for sticking with me :"3

IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT ALREADY, I POSTED A 3RD PART TO THE LAST CHAPTER. So maybe check that out before starting this one.

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You really hated the Dementors.

Not that there was any sane person on the planet who actually liked Dementors, but you were growing steadily sicker of their presence by the day. You hated waking up to grey skies in the morning, peering out your window as you braided you hair and seeing unseasonal frost on the ground, leaving dead flowers and brown, brittle grass in their wake. Hogwarts had always been such a bright, vibrant place in your memory; a far cry from the sullen, dull palette that now hued the school. Granted, you had already started off in a low place, but now you were certain that the thick, oppressive atmosphere that was blanketing the school was also contributing to the persistence of your depression.

You weren't sure if you could blame it on the Dementors themselves (they weren't even on the grounds, effectively shielded by the protective barrier that surrounded all of Hogwarts), but they sure as shit weren't helping. And it wasn't just you, either. Many of your students seemed to be sensitive to it, and they retreated to your classroom in the off hours in the hopes of finding some reprieve. A few had opened up to you about their fears and anxieties, and you were both grateful and honored that they trusted you in that capacity. But it only served to evidence that the entire school was under unnecessary duress.

So really, Halloween couldn't have come at a better time.

You had been one of the first teachers to volunteer as a chaperone for the Hogsmeade trip. Though it didn't thrill you to have to walk past the Dementors in order to get into Hogsmeade, once you were finally there, you felt a small weight lifted from your shoulders. To see your students actually smiling and excited was a massive reprieve from the desolation of the last few months. The enthusiasm of your third years visiting Hogsmeade for the very first time was utterly infectious, and you spent nearly the whole trip with a small posse of them, enjoying the company, and the retail therapy.

The little town had come through with festive decorations, the store fronts and stoops lined with carved pumpkins and turnips, the windows strewn with garlands of colored leaves and acorns. Everything smelled like cinnamon and sugar and wet fall leaves, and the warmth of the butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks had been particularly invigorating. You'd perused the shops with your little gang of Muggle Studies pupils, and you started to feel a bit like a student again yourself. You treated yourself to a few seasonal purchases, fulfilling a few of your childhood dreams now that you had the money, and at the end of the day, as you returned to the castle with a sack full of Honeydukes candy and a garment bag from Gladrags, you felt… good. Really good. Even walking past the Dementors again couldn't dampen your spirits (much). For the first time in a while you felt clear and energized. You actually felt a little foolish, finding that something as small a change in scenery could lighten your mood so drastically.

(What is it that they say, about all good things?)

You gave some serious consideration to simply napping through the Halloween Feast, given that you were already crashing from your butterbeer and Honeydukes induced sugar high. But the allure of the festivities and opportunity to wear your new outfit were simply too tempting to pass up. It was Halloween after all. The dress was pretty simple, the silhouette channeling your inner Wicked Witch of the West, with a full tea length skirt, cinched bodice and long sleeves (though it replaced the high collar with a boat neckline, and the cape wasn't nearly as long). But instead of being black, it was a dark emerald green, taking you back to when you were a teenager and you'd tried on a set of green velvet dress robes in the very same shop. You'd been a broke child back then, but you were an adult now, and you could do whatever you wanted with your paycheck goddamnit. It was a far cry from your usual attire of thrift store finds and pieces borrowed (stolen) from your mother, but it made you feel sort of elegant. Knocking out two childhood fantasies in one go (getting to be Margaret Hamilton, and also owning some honest to god dress robes for the first time in your life), you paired the dress with some black lace up ankle boots and your most dramatic pointed hat, before making your way to the Great Hall.

Even when you were a little girl, long before you knew you were an actual witch, Halloween had always been one of the Big Deal holidays in your home. For the first half of the evening, you would participate like any other child; dressing up in costume, going door to door saying 'trick or treat', then sorting the candy in front of the TV while cheesy horror movies played in the background. Your mother would get all of the chewy fruity candy, you would split up the chocolate, and then everything else would usually end up in a jar on the kitchen counter for the next couple of weeks. But after the typical Halloween festivities were over, your mother would insist on a more traditional celebration. One that involved candlelight, incense, sage burning and crystal gazing. She would convert the living room coffee table into an altar, where you would make offerings of crescent cakes and wine to the dead; your mother's friends who had been lost over the years, and also your grandfather, who you'd never known, but whose photo had been in the obituary section of the newspaper one year when you were still little. It had been the only time you'd ever seen him. Your mother had believed so avidly in the magic of these rituals, and as you looked back on them now… who were you to deny her that solace?

You weren't sure how Samhain was practiced in the wizarding world. It was something you'd always wanted to research, but had never had the time. You were interested in the origins of your mother's rituals, of how accurate they were to the rites of actual magic folk. You avoided approaching the topic in your classes until you were more educated on the subject yourself, but you did find yourself answering a few questions about how Muggles observed Halloween. And as it turned out, the celebrations of both worlds seemed practically the same. The same sorts of icons that were present in the Muggle world where also venerated by wizards. Carved pumpkins, black cats and spectral ghosts, as well as candy, costumes and orange, purple and black. The wizarding world and the Muggle world seemed to have the most crossover during Halloween, sharing similar traditions and symbolism. And it just made you want to know more about how that had happened. You'd made a note to make it a point of personal study… and of course, to ask Severus about it sometime, too.

The feast was fantastic, as all celebratory Hogwarts feasts usually were, with spectacular decorations, scrumptious food, and… eclectic entertainment. The traditional multitude of floating pumpkins were in place as always, but the fluttering swarm of swooping bats was a new addition, as were the serpentine streamers and banners that whorled and writhed through the air. You enjoyed the meal despite how hungry you weren't, and you appreciated the company that you had, settled between Hagrid and Pomona, both of whom were bragging about their respective pumpkin patches this year. The ghosts' spectacle of gliding about the hall in formation was old hat (they did it every year), but Sir Nicholas' spirited reenactment of his own botched execution was a new one. However, you found that you had a hard time concentrating on any of it, because despite the cheerful mood that the Hogsmeade trip had put you in…

You'd be in lying to yourself if you didn't confess that there had been an underlying motive to buying an emerald green dress. You'd be in absolute denial if you didn't acknowledge that you had been glancing down the table to where Severus sat between Albus and Minerva, hoping to catch his eye for nearly the whole evening. And you had to admit that you were intensely disappointed that he hadn't looked your way once. Because every time you looked up, he would be looking in the other direction.

Towards Remus Lupin.

As the feast came to an end and the students were dismissed, you found yourself lagging behind, staying seated at the high table and fiddling with a cup of coffee you didn't even remember pouring for yourself. You had no business ingesting caffeine at this hour, but in your defense, your brain was rather preoccupied and your hands had gone on autopilot. Staring blankly out over the Hall as the crowd of students began to wane, you sipped idly from the steaming mug as your brain churned with troubled thoughts.

The next full moon was fast approaching, set to rise within the week. Once again you'd sat in on the brewing of the Wolfsbane potion, calm and contented within the cool walls of the potions lab. You knew that Remus had received his first dose today while you had been in Hogsmeade; Severus had assured you that he would deliver the potion himself. But in the month long span between moon cycles, you still hadn't managed to work up the courage to ask Severus what his damage was. Remus, for his credit, seemed entirely nonplussed by the cold hostility constantly thrown his direction, acting cordial towards the potions master when in company, and only ever speaking highly of Severus if he came up in your private conversations. Like he was used to being treated this way. You hadn't managed to ask Remus about it either… But as time pressed on, you couldn't shake your suspicions that Severus really might be prejudiced against-

"Gwendolyn?"

Your shoulders jumped as you were pulled out of your musings, by the voice of the very man whom you were contemplating. You could feel the heat crawling up the back of your neck as you peered up at Severus, who was standing on the other side of the table, watching you carefully with a brow arched high with bemusement. You glanced past him to find that the Great Hall was nearly empty. Only a few teachers remained behind; Albus, Minerva, Filius and Remus all stood together with Sir Nicholas and the Fat Friar, chatting quietly amongst themselves. It seemed that Severus had come over on his own, and that caused the heat on your neck spread to your cheeks. There was a mix of shame, at having been caught in the middle of your running dialog about him, and of trepidation, because you had finally gotten what you had been wanting all night; his attention. And now that you had it, you weren't quite sure what to do with it.

"Sorry," you breathed, smiling sheepishly before draining your coffee cup and setting the empty mug onto the table. You were careful not to catch his eye, lest he peer inside and find out what had you so distracted. "It's been an awfully long day."

Severus snorted through his nose, incredulous. "Has it?" he asked, folding his arms over his thin chest. "Rough go ferrying students about Hogsmeade?" You had to fight not to grin or roll your eyes as you rose to your feet, already exasperated with this conversation. This sort of banter, witty or otherwise, always came easily between you. It was one of the reasons you… were so fond of him. It's what made it so hard to simply come out and ask him about what had been on your mind these last two months; because you couldn't imagine a world where he would betray you like that.

His stony demeanor softened slightly as you stood, and you felt a little thrill of satisfaction bloom in your chest as his eyes raked over you. Took him long enough. You made a bit of a show of fluffing out your wide skirt as you stepped around the table to join him, and he watched your every move as you did. You were trying not to look downright smug as you approached him, leaning your hip against the high table as you stopped before him, perhaps closer than was strictly professional. You vaguely wondered if he could smell your perfume as you saw his nostrils flare.

"Well, third years can get a bit rowdy on their first visit," you explained, relishing the way he had to force his eyes back up to yours as you spoke. "I did get to make some excellent purchases while I was out, though." It was hard to see in the pumpkin-dimmed lighting of the Great Hall, but you rather hoped that he was blushing, that you weren't just imagining the wash of color high on his cheeks. You flipped your long braid back over your shoulder before asking, "What do you think? Is green my color?"

Severus narrowed his eyes, the corner of his lip twitching upwards at your cheekiness, and you knew that perhaps you weren't playing fair. You had promised him that you wouldn't make things weird, but… weren't you at least allowed to try and keep his attention? You wanted to make up for the three years of lost time, to show him that you were a woman, not just a former student, or an apprentice. Though… perhaps you were trying a bit too hard. You hadn't considered that, but under his suddenly scrutinizing gaze, you felt your insides turn oily. (Can't you do anything right, Gwen?) Just like that, your confidence began to whither, and you dreaded a reprimand as he opened his mouth to reply.

But it never came.

You jumped for the second time that night as the doors to the Great Hall burst open with a sudden clang. The remaining professors all turned towards the intrusion, to find a frantic looking Gryffindor boy booking it between the house tables, before he came to a stop at the foot of the steps that lead up to the high table. He doubled over then, his hands on his knees as he gulped down lungful's of air. (Had he run all the way here?)

"Wood! What's the meaning of this?" McGonagall pipped up in the lull of silence, quickly descending the steps toward her charge, sounding somewhere between irritated and alarmed. "You ought to be up in Gryffindor tower with the others."

Wood shook his head, still panting as he tried to speak. "Can't… Can't get in!" he explained between gasps, looking from McGonagall to Dumbledore, worry etched on his young face. "The Fat Lady is missing. Professor Dumbledore, you need to come right awa-" But the Headmaster was already moving, sweeping past the young boy and hastening out of the hall with a speed that belied his age. Wood turned to tag along at his heels, trying to explain the situation further. There was a pause where the remaining professors all watched Dumbledore's retreating back numbly, before McGonagall was briskly rushing after them.

You were frozen, watching the whole scene play out with a sense of dim unreality. But as the rest of the teachers made their moves to exit the Hall, you felt your brain struggling to catch up. What the bloody hell was going on? Curiosity did more to get your feet moving than anything else, taking a step forward to follow after your colleges, but a hand on your shoulder stopped you in your tracks. Your heels stuttered, and you looked back at Severus, whose face had gone suddenly ashen, a distinct turn from the flush you thought you had roused in him earlier. He was clearly on edge, his jaw set, his eyes bright and alert. You swallowed hard, and didn't resist as he pushed you back against the table.

"Stay here."

His voice was soft and dangerous, and he gripped your shoulder tightly as he stared out over the hall, watching shrewdly as Lupin made his way after McGonagall. The change in his voice, in his face, made your heart start to pound rapidly in your throat, anxiety swelling within your chest. Something was wrong. "Severus, what-"

You barely got the words out before he rounded on you, using both hands to grip your shoulders now. His piercing gaze pinned you in place, and you held your breath as he demanded, "Stay. Here." There was to be no arguing, and you nodded minutely at his command. When he was sure that you wouldn't be following, he turned on his heel and fled after the others, rushing through the Great Hall in order to catch up, and leaving you with the cold beginnings of dread chilling your insides.

You were entirely alone now. The remaining professors had all vacated, the ghosts had vanished, and you were utterly, startlingly alone. The Great Hall felt simultaneously cavernous and claustrophobic, like you'd been swallowed by a whale, a potent mix of a large empty space combined with deafening silence. You were hyperaware of your heartbeat, feeling your blood pound thickly through your veins. You could hear your own breath, stuttering in and out of your lungs as you tried to keep it slow and even. And you could feel the hair stand up on the back of your neck, gooseflesh rippling over your skin and you found yourself fumbling for your wand in your sleeve.

But what good would a wand do you? You couldn't even perform the most basic of protective spells. Severus was the one who did all that for you, and he'd gone and left you here, completely defenseless. What were you supposed to do against any sort of threat? You're all alone and you're too weak to do anything about-

"Stop that," you whispered to yourself, finally getting your wand out of your sleeve and clutching it against your chest. You backed up against the high table, wishing you could press yourself against a wall, to prevent anything from sneaking up behind you. "He wouldn't just leave me here," you murmured. "He'll come back…" You stared across the empty hall for what felt like hours, at the still open doors and the dark hallway beyond, hoping to see him emerge from the shadows, to come back for you before you succumbed to your fear.

But it wasn't Severus who appeared through the doors only a few minutes later. Just as abruptly as you had been abandoned, you were just as suddenly joined by the entire Gryffindor house, all of whom were chattering excitedly as they filed in through the doors. You could see Percy Weasley ushering in students, shouting importantly over their heads to keep it down, to stay together. And just as quickly as your fear had set it, it dissolved right back into confusion. What in the world…?

"Professor Goode!"

You straightened up quickly at the call of your title, trying to compose yourself back into being someone who was an authority figure, and not a scared little girl, as Sun-jung Dove came bounding up the steps toward you, followed closely by Rory Scarlett. Sun-jung looked excited, while Rory appeared a little more reserved, glancing around the Great Hall cautiously as they approached you together. You swallowed thickly, looking over their heads towards Percy, who hadn't appeared to have noticed you yet, speaking with a handful of other prefects instead. You'd wanted to ask this question to the Head Boy, but Sun-jung looked fit to burst with the information anyway.

"What's going on?" you asked, a little surprised by how steady you managed to keep your voice.

Sun-jung held her fists by her sides, practically vibrating as she whisper-shouted the name, "Sirius Black!"

You blinked dumbly down at the girl, whose eagerness appeared to be entirely at odds with the bombshell she had just dropped. Your sluggish brain struggled to catch up with the meaning of her words, before they finally clicked into place with horrifying clarity. You felt your throat and chest clench tight with fear. "What?"

Rory, ever the rationalist, gently shoved on Sun-jung's shoulder, causing the girl to pout as she batted his hand away. "Will you chill?" he admonished, using his other hand to push his ever present sunglasses up onto his head. "You can't believe everything Peeves says…"

You blinked again, as Rory's statement made even less sense than Sun-jung's. Holding your hands up to grab their attention, you managed to quiet them both down with a look. Sun-jung had the decency to look contrite, while Rory maintained his steady stoicism. "What happened?" you asked deliberately, struggling to keep your voice even and clear, not allowing that tightness to let it crack. You were the adult. "Why are all the Gryffindor's here?"

Sun-jung opened her mouth with an impatient inhalation, but Rory cut her off with cool efficiency. "Professor Dumbledore sent us back. Told us to wait here," he explained, his arms crossed guardedly over his chest. "When we got to the portrait, The Fat Lady was gone." You nodded in understanding, as you had gotten that much from Oliver Wood, but there had to be more to the story, and Sun-jung was more than happy to fill you in.

"She was ripped to shreds!" the girl hissed, making a clawing, slashing motion with her nails. Your eyes widened at the graphic description, and you shook your head minutely, not understanding. If the Fat Lady was missing, how did they know she'd been-

"Her portrait was ripped to shreds," Rory interjected with a roll of his eyes, and Sun-jung scowled at him again, her hands flopping down to her sides. "She ran off to another painting on the fourth floor, allegedly."

Sun-jung huffed, her turn to roll her eyes as she threw her hands up in exasperation. "Yeah and allegedly it was Sirius Black who did it!" She turned back to you, looking very emphatic as she continued her tirade. "He was trying to get into the Gryffindor tower, and she wouldn't let him in! That's what Peeves said!"

A silence settled over the three of you in the wake of this revelation, Sun-jung looking wound tight like a spring, ready to burst into action at any moment, while Rory appeared pensive, as if trying to puzzle out the logic behind all of this. You felt somewhere in-between. The story sounded absurd. Why on earth would Sirius Black be attempting to get into Gryffindor Tower? A better question, how the hell had he managed to get into the castle at all? How had he gotten past the Dementors? Though as absurd as the story sounded, clearly Albus had taken it seriously enough to send the entirety of the Gryffindor house back to the great hall. And assuming any of it was true… where was Sirius Black now?

It wasn't long before the rest of the student body had entered the Great Hall, Hufflepuff first, followed by Slytherin, then Ravenclaw, each house lead by their respective heads, and everybody looking confused. The remaining teachers had also arrived, and the ghosts had rematerialized to hover over the crowds. Rory and Sun-jung retreated back to join their house, and you found yourself naturally gravitating towards the collection of other teachers standing at the entrance to the hall. You had to fight your way through the throng of prefects that had assembled, but you squeezed yourself between Pomona and Septima, just as Dumbledore himself stepped through the doors. You glanced around, searching for Severus, and found him looking just as grim as he had when he'd left, if not more so.

"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle," Dumbledore announced, the entire hall going silent at the sound of his voice. Albus appeared to be calm, but the authoritative tone he took was one you'd never heard before; he was not to be questioned about this. Your heartbeat thudded in your chest, your eyes affixed to the headmaster as he continued. "I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the Hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately. Send word with one of the ghosts."

You looked over your shoulder, to the prefects who stood looking pale and determined, to Percy Weasley, who was looking gratified by his elevated position, to the ghosts, who were nodding their translucent heads solemnly, even the Grey Lady and the Bloody Barron willing to stand guard. And the rest of the students still looked puzzled as they gazed either at the Headmaster, or down at the stone floor they were apparently going to call bed for the evening.

"Oh, yes, you'll be needing…" Dumbledore had turned to leave, before doubling back and waving his hand absently. The house tables flew away to the sides of the hall, the pumpkins covering the candles dematerialized, and the floor was suddenly lined with rows and rows of purple sleeping bags. Dumbledore then bade the student's goodnight, before turning round again and exiting the Great Hall.

The teachers followed after Dumbledore then, and your heartrate spiked. The gravity of the situation came crashing down on you, swiftly and suddenly; you were expected to help search the castle. You, who had been struggling to regain the full use of your magic for months now, who couldn't successfully cast a protective charm, perhaps literally to save your own life, were expected to help search the castle. For Sirius fucking Black. You twisted the hilt of your wand between your hands, the silken ribbons you'd tied around the handle years ago turning damp in your clammy palms. You hadn't moved to join the other teachers yet. You couldn't force your feet to take a step. You couldn't do this. You couldn't. You couldn't!

Severus had the presence of mind to not sneak up on you this time. You saw him move into your peripheral vision first, before you felt a broad, warm hand slip over your waist, settling onto the small of your back with a familiar weight. Your breath stuttered out of your lungs at the sensation, your anxiety losing its sharp edges under the wash of comfort his touch brought you. Had always brought you. You wanted nothing more but to sink into him at that very moment, but your position was already compromising, given that you were still in the Hall, surrounded by students. But the gesture was effectively shielded by the cape of your dress, as well as his cloak, and he kept his hand on you as he carefully led you out of the Great Hall. Your heart was still pounding in your throat, but you wondered if he would let you stay with him. (Or would you just slow him down?)

Severus, however, had other plans.

You had barely made it out of the Hall when Severus redirected you towards one of the stone pedestals that flanked the doors, holding the torches that illuminated the Entrance Hall. You were too dazed to resist him as he gently pressed you back into the corner between the pillar and the wall, and your weak breath hitched in your throat as you stared up, your wide eyes searching for his in the dim corner. His hand was still on your waist, but he was peering over his shoulder at the other teachers assembled by the stairs when he murmured, "Stay in the Great Hall."

Your mouth fell open, but you were dumbstruck as you attempted to process what he was asking. Stay…? "What?" you asked breathlessly, your hands still wringing around the base of your wand. You managed to pull one of them away, grasping his bicep to try and draw his attention back to you. "Why?"

Severus seemed reluctant to look away from the hall behind him, but your insistence tugged his gaze back into your direction, and his hardened features softened a fraction. He sighed through his nose, staring down at you, at your hand on his arm, his own hand still on your waist, before he gently slipped both away from you. You immediately bemoaned the loss of contact, but kept your hands to yourself, returning your grip to your wand.

"There ought to be a teacher in there," he explained simply, as if that was somehow all of the explanation you would need.

You shook your head minutely, trying to look past him towards the other teachers, but the space you were wedged into between the pillar and the wall made it nearly impossible to see. What was he shielding you from? "But Dumbledore said-"

"I know what he said." You jumped slightly at the harsh bite in his voice, and stopped seeking out whatever was behind him, instead looking back up into his dark eyes. They were stony again, and you found yourself quivering under such intense regard. But it… it wasn't really aimed towards you… right? Your trembling must have been obvious, because he sighed again, sliding his eyes shut and pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers. "I want you… to stay in the Great Hall."

You felt your lips start to quiver, and it took everything in you not to start crying right then and there. You didn't even know why, but the building swell of dread and fear and uncertainty had crested within you and was threatening to spill out over the corners of your eyes. You swallowed several times, trying desperately to keep it together in front of him before asking, "It's Sirius Black, isn't it." It wasn't so much of a question, as simply seeking confirmation. Secondhand information and speculation from a couple of third years wasn't exactly a reliable source, and though it was clear that Albus was taking the situation very seriously, it still just… didn't seem to make sense.

Severus had lowered his hand from his face and was watching you carefully now. Less than an hour ago you had been trying to play seductress, confident in your new dress, in your own charms. Now, you wondered if he was seeing you for the child you really were. "We don't know that," he answered softly, thought there was still an edge to his tone that belied how troubled he truly was. He was clearly just trying to be diplomatic. Or perhaps trying to calm you down. But one thing Severus never did was sugarcoat things. You knew he was telling you the truth. "But… it could be."

You felt more than heard the high pitched keen rising in your throat. Severus winced, and you clapped a hand over your mouth to contain your terror. So it was true. They really did think there was a chance that Sirius Black had entered the school. Your lowered your hand from your lips, but kept your fingers curled against your chin, pinching one knuckle between your teeth. "How?" you hissed, shaking your head yet again in disbelief. "How did he get in? Get past the Dementors?"

Severus' expression turned even darker with these questions, and he pulled his gaze away from yours to peer over his shoulder again. You could still hear the voices of teachers chattering in the Entrance Hall behind him, and his eyes only narrowed further. "With help," he whispered, the words falling from his lips like frozen venom, and chilling you to the bone. He turned back to you, and though his expression was still dour, he reached out and placed a surprisingly gentle hand on your shoulder, his thumb dipping under the neckline of your dress to brush your skin. "Stay in the Great Hall," he pleaded, brows drawn together, frown tugging at his lips. "Please."

The hand you still held pressed against your chin finally fell away as you stared up at him. He was so adamant that you stay behind, that you not join the search. A younger you would have believed that he was simply protecting you again, just as he had always done when you were a girl, just as he surely continued to do so now. But the older part of you, the part that was already turning cynical and jaded at the age of twenty one, was afraid. That maybe he didn't want you to join, because you would be too fragile to defend yourself, the castle, the students, should you actually find Sirius Black. Because you would probably die if you tried. "Why?" you asked, your voice cracking on the single syllable. "Why do you want me t-to? Because I… I'm t-too-"

Your stuttering was cut off by the tender press of a cool hand against your feverish cheek. You realized your vision had gone fuzzy, had drifted away from his face as you'd stammered, and when you locked eyes with him again, you found that familiar coal black gaze, the abundance of concern in their inky depths. "Because I asked you to," he stated firmly, and there was clearly to be no arguing with this, either.

You squeezed your eyes shut tight, errant tears leaking from the corners of your eyes. Damn it. Could you just not fall apart, for once? Your throat clicked as you worked it, searching for your voice that seemed reluctant to reply. "Alright," you managed to croak, nodding your head, and you felt long fingers brush over your cheeks. Soothing. Caring. Protective… Protecting you. Again. And you felt like you didn't deserve it. You caught his hand in yours, clutching him tightly as you opened your eyes again. His features had softened, but he was still looking grim. Determined. He was so much stronger than you. "I'll stay."

The intensity of his gaze had you trembling again, but he sighed with relief at your compliance. Of course you would stay. You didn't want to go looking for Sirius Black. Leave that to the witches and wizards who could actually do something about it if they found him. But when you felt Severus squeeze your hand, felt him start to pull away, you didn't want to let him go, either. You were suddenly overwhelmed, wanting to keep him here, keep him safe. Why should you stay in the security of the Great Hall while he left to hunt a madman? Gods forbid, what if something happened?

You let go of his hand, only to dig your fingers into the front of his frock coat and pull him close. You weren't thinking, not coherently, your buzzy, fear soaked brain glazing over as you fumblingly pressed your lips against the corner of his mouth. You didn't know if you were deserving of his kindness, his protection… But you did hope that you were someone worth coming back to. "Please be careful," you whispered against his cheek, savoring the warmth of his breath against your neck, taking comfort in the nearness of him.

After a moment, he nodded once, the scrape of his stubble brushing against your lips, before he slid his hands up to your shoulders, gently pushing you back. You let your hands drop, still clutching your wand in one of them, and peered up at him reluctantly. That… might have been another stupid, desperate move, you realized, but he was looking just as resolute as he had been before. But he didn't linger. Lifting one of his hands, he pressed his palm against your cheek one final time, before finally turning away, presumably to join the hunt, and leaving you pressed in your little corner.

He'll come back…

You clutched your wand with both hands again, taking a deep, steadying breath. Okay. You needed to get back into the Great Hall. Stepping out from behind the pillar you'd been wedged against, you found that the Entrance Hall was not yet empty. A handful of teachers were still clustered around the foot of the grand staircase, and your breath caught in your chest as you unexpectedly locked eyes with Remus Lupin. He looked… anxious. It was a look you weren't familiar with, coming from him. It was understandable, given the circumstances, but it was just unusual. You expected a comforting smile, maybe a nod, but you got nothing. Just an enigmatic stare, which reminded you that you ought not to be lingering either. You bit your bottom lip, offering him a nod of acknowledgement, before you heaved open one of the towering doors to the Great Hall, and slipped inside.

The hall was abuzz with conversation. Most of the students had already settled into their sleeping bags, but the candles floating overhead were still lit, and everyone was huddled into groups, chattering excitedly. As you scanned your eyes over the room, you immediately saw a familiar group of faces gathered together near one of the fireplaces. Did… your third years usually hang out together outside of your class? You were just about to make your way over to them, when you saw a bustle of robes walking briskly in your direction.

"Professor Goode? Is everything alright?" Percy Weasley was apparently taking his role of being in charge very seriously. It certainly suited him, but you really wished he would just mind his own business.

Swallowing down your nerves, you offered him a semblance of a smile, before sliding your wand back into your sleeve. "Yes, Percy. Everything's..." Well… no, everything wasn't fine. Obviously. You cleared your throat. "The search is getting underway now. But I…" you paused, grasping for an excuse. You couldn't tell him the real reason you were here. Or at least, not the full version of it. "I was… asked to stay behind," you settled on, and you saw the Head Boy's confidence crack just a fraction. Shit. You quickly reached a hand out to touch his arm, offering what you hoped was a comforting smile. "Don't worry, Percy," you assured him. "You're still in charge." He visibly relaxed at this, and you dropped your hand. "I'm just here if… you need some faculty support." Gazing out over the multitudes of students, you nodded slowly, both for his benefit, as well as your own. You didn't just have to be hiding in here. You could be useful… Helpful. "If anyone has an emergency, needs to go to the Hospital Wing, that sort of thing." You desperately hoped no one would have to, but you could still escort someone down the hall to see Poppy if the need arose. It was on the same floor after all...

Percy mimicked your nod, clearly thinking that this was a very wise idea indeed. "Of course!" he concurred. "Understood. Thank you, Professor." You were nearly expecting him to salute you, but he simply spun on his heel to return to his pacing of the hall, slipping seamlessly back into his role of being 'in charge'. It baffled you that Percy was raised by the same parents as Charlie and Bill. Sure, Bill had also been Head Boy, but he hadn't been quite so uptight about it. At least speaking to Percy had given you a little perspective. You weren't completely useless… You could help people here. And right now, you needed to help your kids.

Sun-jung noticed you approaching first, and as she raised her hand to wave you over, a dozen heads swiveled in your direction. It wasn't the entirety of your third years assembled by the fireplace you realized as you took a mental headcount. Hermione Granger was missing from the group, as was Ernie Macmillan. But you could see Hermione in a corner nearby with two other Gryffindor's, and hopefully Ernie was with the rest of his Hufflepuff's. The rest of the class was here though, and they were all regarding you with a mix of expressions, ranging from curiosity, to anticipation, to downright terror. It was those who exhibited the last that concerned you most.

"You guys okay?" you asked, tucking your skirt under your bottom as you knelt down on the stone floor between Chrissie Kanker and Dakota Halton. Chrissie looked visibly shaken, wringing the edge of the sleeping bag she was sitting on with her hands, and her fellow Ravenclaw, Marina Hart, was rubbing her back in soothing circles. Dakota, on the other hand, looked more pale and withdrawn than usual, already curled up inside of their sleeping bag, and actively avoiding your gaze.

Everyone else glanced around anxiously at each other after your question, but it surprised you when Lucas Amari was the one to speak up first. "What's going on, P-Professor?" the boy stuttered, point-blank, looking both earnest and fearful as he sat back on his knees near the fireplace. The current circumstances were probably exacerbating his already anxious nature, but he also seemed oddly determined, as if having all of the facts would give him the power to cope with this situation.

You sighed through your nose at his question, peering around at the collection of other faces. "What have you all heard?" you asked diplomatically. You could certainly guess, as Sun-jung was suddenly looking a little guilty, pulling the hood of her robes up over her head. You could already tell that rumors had spread through this hall like wildfire after you'd left.

"Rory and Sun-jung told us everything," answered Alder Moss, jerking his thumb towards Rory beside him. Both Alder and Rory were on top of their sleeping bags, Alder sitting cross-legged, while Rory was reclining back with his arms behind his head, his ankle propped up on his knee as he stared up at the starry ceiling. You noticed his sunglasses were back in place, and he was also avoiding all eye contact. "Is it true?" Alder asked, his voice dropping into a whisper, as if trying to keep from being overheard by the other groups of students outside of his own. "Is it Sirius Black?"

Swallowing hard, your eyes flickered around the circle. When you had been their age, there was nothing you hated more in the world than being lied to by adults. Your mother had always been straight forward with you. So had Severus, for that matter… As much as you wanted to protect them, what else could you do, but tell them the truth? "Professor Dumbledore seems to think that it could be." You bit the inside of your cheek as several of your students went pale. Faces that had been overjoyed with the novelty of Hogsmeade and the holiday festivities mere hours ago were now anxious and withdrawn, and it made your heart ache to see them so afraid. Because despite some of their tough exteriors, they had to be afraid… you certainly were. "No one is taking those sorts of allegations lightly, even if they came from Peeves. If he's still in this castle, he'll be found."

Chrissie had finally laid down on her bag, trying to take deep breaths with Marina still calmly stroking her back, while Lucas had his head between his knees, looking for all the world like he might lose his dinner. Irene Morgan was suddenly beside him, snaking an arm around the boy's shoulders comfortingly, as Neptune Anderson summoned a bucket, surreptitiously placing it beside the shaking Ravenclaw. Sun-jung was no longer looking as confident as she had been when she'd first given you her version of the tale, as if hearing that Dumbledore was taking it seriously had made the whole thing very real. But she was flanked by Louve Campbell and Leigh Hawkins, both of whom had scooted closer to be shoulder to shoulder with the trembling Gryffindor. Rory had finally taken off his sunglasses, and he and Alder were both staring at each other with purpose, a silent resolution playing out in their eyes. You knew now wasn't the time to be getting the warm fuzzies, but you couldn't be more proud of them in this moment, seeing the array of different houses come together like this. Both Keelan Drake and Dakota had retreated into their sleeping bags, but while it appeared that Keelan might have actually fallen asleep already, sort of like he did in your class sometimes, it was Dakota who ultimately broke the silence that had settled over the group.

"How did he get in?"

It wasn't much more than a whisper, the edges tinged with a tightness you were all too familiar with. Without thinking, you reached a hand out, gently squeezing Dakota's shoulder through sleeping bag in a way you hoped was comforting. You were gratified when the Ravenclaw didn't pull away from your touch, and you gently rubbed your thumb back and forth over their arm. With a great sigh, you once again told them the truth.

"I don't know," you admitted, frowning at your own lack of information. You were certain this was the question that was being most hotly discussed among the other students right now, and you felt inept by knowing about as much as they did. Though, while you didn't know how Black got in, you certainly knew how he didn't. "Hogwarts is protected by founder's magic," you explained, recalling back to the multiple conversations you'd had with Severus about the subject. "Enchantments left here by the four founder's to keep it safe and secure, since… well let's be real. It's like 20 students for every teacher in this place." You were gratified when this got a light chuckle out of a few of them. You carefully continued. "I'm reasonably certain he didn't Apparate or fly in, because I'm also reasonably certain that the founder's magic has not been compromised. I don't think Professor Dumbledore would have left all of you in here had there been a breech that powerful."

There were some nods around the group, a few rigid faces turning softer with this information. You also found it to be a comforting thought, but getting too comfortable could be a detriment in a situation that required caution. Your hand still resting on Dakota's arm, your thumb absently stroking back and forth over the soft purple fabric, you reflected back on when Sirius Black had first escaped, on the conversation you'd had with Minerva when you'd first arrived at the school. She'd mentioned something about sufficient evidence, and you shivered remembering her words. "I think…" you murmured, your eyes unfocused as you simply spoke your thoughts to your most trusted students. "I think however he got into Hogwarts, is the same way he got out of Azkaban."

There was another lull of thoughtful silence as your students absorbed this information, but Leigh was the one to break it this time, her voice incredulous as she asked, "And how do you think he did that?"

You drew in a breath, the reasoning bright like fresh neon in your mind, but dread caused the answer to stick in your throat.

With help.

"The lights are going out now!" Percy's shrill announcement caused everyone to jump, including yourself, and you turned you head to look over your shoulder at the Head Boy. Pulling back the sleeve of your dress, your old amethyst watch told you that it was really kind of early to be sending a bunch of teenagers to bed, but… well, Albus did tell Percy he was in charge.

The light in the Great Hall dimmed, the candles blowing out, but the smoldering fireplaces, gibbous moonlight and multitude of stars shining from the enchanted ceiling overhead were enough to illuminate the faces around you. You smiled sheepishly at them, before you pressed your hands together imploringly. "Alright guys, try to get some sleep, okay? I'm supposed to be the responsible adult around here." You heard several incredulous snorts from the gloom, and you pretended to be affronted as the remaining children started to shuffle into their bags. And you thought you had been cheeky as a kid.

You wondered what your own next move would be. There were already prefects stationed at all the doors, and the Head Boy and Girl were both pacing the hall. You figured you could set yourself up at the high table, where you could observe the whole hall, and would be easy to find if you were needed. But you felt a tug at your skirt, and swiveled you head around to find Chrissie staring up at you from her sleeping bag cocoon with wide, sea-green eyes.

"Will you stay here with us?" she whispered, and you heard a soft sigh from your other side. Dakota… perhaps pleased that someone else had asked the question. And you felt a soft tremor ripple through your shoulders. These kids were depending on you… They trusted you in the daylight to keep their secrets, to confide in you. Now in the darkness, they were asking for your protection.

What would they think, if they knew how weak you truly were?

"Yeah," you whispered, giving Chrissie's shoulder a comforting squeeze. The girls eyes fluttered shut contentedly at your assurance, and you turned back to Dakota, who had moved slightly closer to you. You smiled sadly, pulling your hat off of your head and tossing it to the floor. "I'll stay." Chrissie and Dakota's sighs of relief weren't the only ones you heard around the group, and you closed your eyes, taking a steadying breath. They were depending on you…

It had been less than a month since the last time you had spent a night curled up on a cold stone floor, and it certainly wasn't any more comfortable this time around. You wondered if the sleeping bags were charmed to be soft on the inside, because you couldn't imagine anyone getting a good night's sleep on the floor like this. The night was sure to be a long one, and you passed the time by watching the star filled ceiling, recalling your astronomy classes and searching for constellations in the clear night sky. The Fat Friar had glided over to you at one point, whispering in your ear that he had personally cleared your classroom and quarters, and that the first floor of the castle was secure. You hadn't even considered that your personal rooms might have been at risk, and you shuddered to consider just how many rooms were in this damn castle. Were they searching every single one? Was that even physically possible?

It was nearing three in the morning when you were finally tasked with an errand. It had been the Head Girl, Penelope Clearwater, who had approached you with a first year in toe, and asked if you would be so kind as to escort them to the restroom. The little Hufflepuff had tears in her eyes as Penelope whispered the request, and you made a big show out of insisting that it would be no trouble at all. You certainly wouldn't let on that you were shaking in your proverbial boots, but at least the loo wasn't far from the Great Hall. The Fat Friar had said the first floor had been cleared, after all. Not that you would allow for a false sense of security. You told Maddie that you were very impressed with her Lumos Charm as you walked across the hall with her, and she managed a smile through her sniffles at the compliment. When you finally reached the restroom, you were relieved for once in your life to find Moaning Myrtle was already occupying it, assuring you that it was safe. You waited by the entrance, playing the age old game of giving Myrtle compliments to keep her from crying, and when Maddie had washed her hands and returned to your side, she was no longer crying either.

When you entered the Great Hall again, Maddie had thanked you quietly before trotting off to find Penelope. But you had barely heard the thanks, as you'd been startled to find the Headmaster standing just inside of the door when you'd entered. He must have arrived mere moments before you had. You'd just taken a step toward him, hoping to ask him for some news, to know how the search was going, but Albus turned away without even noticing you, walking instead towards Percy, who was standing down by the corner where Hermione was sleeping.

You felt stupid, for feeling slighted by that.

Forget it. If there was anything important happening, you would find out eventually. You made your way back to your third years, taking back your spot on the floor between Dakota and Chrissie. They were both sleeping soundly, which was impressive, given how anxious they'd been before. Dakota worried you in particular, but you hoped that maybe… when this was all over… that maybe they could start trusting you a little more. You felt particularly weary all of a sudden, propping your elbow on your folded knee and resting your head against your palm. The caffeine and the adrenalin were starting to ware off now, and you just wanted to close your eyes…

You didn't know Severus had entered the Great Hall until you heard him speak.

"The whole of the third floor has been searched. He's not there." Severus was speaking with Albus only a few feet away from where you sat, in the same spot where the Headmaster had been discussing with Percy. "And Filch has done the dungeons; nothing there either." Severus looked tired. More so than usual, anyway, the shadows under his eyes looking deeper, his skin looking paler than you'd ever seen it. Perhaps it was the lighting in the Hall. But he still held himself tall and upright, like a soldier reporting to his general.

Who was also looking awfully tired, you realized. Albus was usually a paradigm of vigor. It was unusual to see him looking so worn down. The Headmaster was asking after the upper rooms of the castle, the astronomy tower and the Owlery. But Severus assured him that they had all been searched, and Albus responded with a long sigh, taking off his half-moon glasses and rubbing them between the sleeves of his robes. "Very well, Severus. I didn't really expect Black to linger."

There was a pause as Albus returned his glasses, and even in the dim lighting of the hall, you could see Severus' jaw clench momentarily at the mention of Black. "Have you any theory as to how he got in, Professor?" he asked, his voice low, but firm. You could still hear it from where you sat, and you were startled by the edge in it.

Albus leveled the Potions Master with a knowing look, and raised one white eyebrow as he folded his hands in front of his robes. "Many, Severus," he admitted, before glancing away, peering about the Great Hall as if spotting one of those theories floating about in the air. "Each of them as unlikely as the next."

Severus' face, usually so impenetrable, was suddenly lined with anger, his mouth twisting into a scowl, brows draw together and nose creased unpleasantly. "You remember the conversation we had, Headmaster, just before, ah," he paused, glancing towards Percy, who was still standing there, attentively watching the whole exchange. Severus looked like he could have hexed the Head Boy right then and there, but he returned his attention to Albus instead, dropping his voice. "The start of term?"

This time it was Albus who looked stern, and though his face did not contort with anger like Severus', his expression had hardened and his own voice had dropped a dangerous octave. "I do, Severus," Albus replied, his words as forbidding as his face.

But Severus either didn't see it, or he didn't care. "It seems almost impossible," he hissed through clenched teeth, "that Black could have entered the school without inside help." His eyes were narrowed and his fists tight by his sides as he took a step closer to the Headmaster, completely butting Percy out of the way. "I did express my concerns when you appointed-"

"I do not believe a single person inside this castle would have helped Black enter it." Albus hadn't moved an inch, hadn't raised a finger, but his tone alone made Severus stop his advance. They seemed to stare at each other for a very long time, Severus' lips a thin, tight line as he was clearly fighting back the words he wanted desperately to say. But Albus merely heaved another sigh, before stepping around Severus dismissively. "I must go down to the Dementors," he explained as he made his way towards the main doors. "I said I would inform them when our search was complete…"

Severus twisted around, watching Albus walk toward the doors, Percy sycophantically following along behind the Headmaster. The anger was still etched his face, but it was now joined by a palpable bitterness at having been disregarded so thoroughly. And you felt a lump form in your own throat as his eyes suddenly met yours. You weren't sure when you had started twisting your hat in your hands, but you quickly dropped it, making to stand up and join him…

But he sullenly shook his head, effectively stopping you in your tracks. You sat back down obediently, watching after him as he turned to leave as well, his footsteps sharp and swift in the quiet hall. Your shoulders sagged as the door thumped shut, and you sighed heavily as you peered around at the heaps of sleeping bags around you. Movement from the corner caught your eye; not the steady rise and fall of sleeping bodies, but the twisting shift of conspiratorial eavesdroppers. It was Hermione, you realized, and the two boys she had occupied the corner with. You wagered one was a Weasley, if the red hair was any indication, and the other was a black haired boy you didn't recognize. But they were all clearly still awake, and you were sure they had overheard the same conversation.

And you wondered if it left them just as sick with dread as it had you.

You would have to ask Severus about his theory later; Albus might not have been interested in it, but you certainly were. What sort of help could Sirius Black possibly be receiving? And from who? Though these questions were quite compelling, you couldn't help but wonder if Severus was perhaps… being a little paranoid about it. Albus wasn't a fool; he was arguably one of the greatest wizards of all time. He clearly had his reasons for disagreeing with the idea, but Severus was just as clearly adamant about it. You always got the impression that Albus and Severus were somewhat close (Severus had regularly talked to the headmaster about you, they must have spoken about other things), so seeing this hostile exchange had been… disturbing.

But it was too late to be pondering this now. They obviously weren't intending to move the students back to their dorms tonight. And though you knew, feasibly, that your job for the evening was done, and you could go back to the comfort of your own bed… you had no intention of leaving this spot tonight. All you wanted to do was help your kids... and when they woke up in the morning, you would be there to tell them that they were safe again.