The corridors of Hogwarts were flooded with students on their way to their next class. The crowd parted as two people made their way through the masses. A Hufflepuff first year trailed behind Professor Blackwood. His wrist was firmly in her grasp. They arrived at a descending staircase in a dark part of the castle. The first year hesitated as it only seemed to get darker the further down the stairs they went. He looked up at Professor Blackwood for reassurance. What he found was an unreadable visage as they moved on. "Um… Professor Blackwood?"

"You said that you didn't know where the Potions classroom was, so I am leading you to that very class. Unless, of course, you want to be late and face the notorious wrath of Professor Snape." Agnes looked straight ahead of them as she spoke.

"U-uh… N-no ma'am, I don't."

"Then quit your doddling and get a move on!"

Professor picked up her pace down the stairs. Other students on their way down into the dungeons were approaching closely behind them. The Hufflepuff boy tried his best to keep up with Professor Blackwood without tripping over his own ankles. The task proved to be difficult, but he had managed to keep his composure as they approached the landing of the stairs.

Professor Blackwood turned to the left of the corridor. The first year followed her silently. Eventually, they arrived in front of an ancient looking wooden door. Professor Blackwood stopped and looked at the first year expectantly. What was he to do, now? The Hogwarts professor continued looking down at the young student before her.

"Well, aren't you going to go in?"

The first year said nothing. He didn't know what to say. Professor Blackwood sighed and turned to the door. The student was late for his Potions class, which meant that she was late for her own class - much to her annoyance. Professor Blackwood knocked on the door.

There was silence before the door swung open rather abruptly. The door was answered by an older man wearing all black robes with medium-lengthed hair to match. The first year stared at the man. This was the Professor Snape that he had heard about.

Professor Snape paused as he noticed it was Professor Agnes Blackwood who had knocked on the door. He was frozen in place as he was trying to figure out as to why she would be bothering him at that very moment. Agnes cleared her throat. "Professor Snape. Mister Zanderbelt is a student who has recently been added to your class this period. He had lost his way, so I escorted him myself. I am very confident that you can take care of things from here."

Severus Snape looked down at the first year Hufflepuff as if seeing him for the first time since opening the door - which it really was. Snape's mouth failed to aid him. He appeared he was going to speak, only to close his lips again. He momentarily pursed his lips before answering, "Yes. Thank you Professor… For… escorting Mr. Zanderbelt. I can… take him off of your hands from this point."

Agnes smiled and gave Severus a slight curtsey. "Thank you, Severus. If you do not mind, I will be on my way, then."

Severus watched as Agnes turned on her heels and came back the way she had come. "Well, boy, come inside. Ten points from Hufflepuff for being tardy!"

Finally back in her own classroom, Agnes slumped into her chair at the front. Her students were eagerly awaiting her instructions. Agnes looked to the side at the floating stick of chalk by the chalkboard. She looked down at the notes before. "We are still on… The Magical Theory of Spells?"

A student had answered her rhetorical question. Agnes hadn't cared for the answer. She was shocked that they were so behind! They should have been in the next chapter of the Magical Theory textbook by now!

Agnes place her elbow on the surface of the desk as she pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers. They had so much work still to do, and she had been more occupied with her own troubles.

"Alright," Agnes stood and turned to the chalkboard. The stick of chalk began to whizz around her head and shoulders. "Where exactly did we leave off?"

Agnes flipped through the pages of her curriculum and her lessons planned that she had made at the start of the term. Her students were behind. The should have been in the next section in all classes - not just the younger third years. I've got to to get them where they need to be… They need to be into The Magical Theory of Charms by the end of next week!

She headbutted the surface of the desk in her office. She would just have to speed things up. Even if that meant the students' hands would be cramping from the amount of notes that they were taking. It had to be done.

Agnes got up to leave her office. She glanced at the clock in the classroom as she passed through. The halls would be empty as the students were at dinner. Agnes debated whether it would be a good idea to attend dinner for once. She hadn't eaten a good meal in a while, but on the other hand there'd be Severus Snape to deal with. And after her foolish behavior the night before, she wasn't sure if she could handle that. She had invaded every ounce of the man's personal space with abandon.

After all, the man was still hung up on the death of that Lily Evans-Potter… Merlin knows why. No matter Agnes' feelings, it was wrong of her and she knew it.

A growl from Agnes' abdomen betrayed her hunger. She sighed as she could not deny her body the food that it did deserve. Without giving any more debate on the matter, Agnes made her way to the Great Hall.

Chatter filled her ears from the many students within the Hall's contents. Her presence hadn't phased any of them in the least. Well, it was good to know that she wasn't viewed in the same manner as Professor Snape. Agnes took comfort in that.

Agnes swallowed the lump that was beginning to form in her throat before making her way to the staff's table. Dumbledore smiled and nodded his acknowledgement as she approached. "Professor Blackwood! So nice of you to join us this evening."

Agnes had been watching Severus in the corner of her eye. She watched as his body stiffened at the mentioning of her name. Apparently he hadn't noticed that she had even entered the Hall. Funny since he is usually the one who asks me why I never appear.

"I'm afraid that my appetite had gotten the best of me tonight, Headmaster."

"Pull up a chair, Professor! We're all very pleased that you could make it. The other Professors and I were discussing how the progress of the classes were going."

"Yes," Flitwick commented. "How are your classes going, Blackwood?"

Agnes signed and massaged her forehead in annoyance. "Not as well as I'd like I'm afraid."

The other professors said nothing as they waited for her to elaborate.

"I am afraid… that my classes are a week behind schedule… At least, they're behind what I would like for them to be."

They all seemed to understand, then, as they all nodded in unison.

"Never fear, Professor Blackwood," Dumbledore patted her shoulder. "Each student learns at their own pace, and as such, the classes take their own pace as well. Do not fret if you are slightly behind what you would like to be. As long as the students learn something and you, as a teacher, enrich their lives, that is all that really matters."

Agnes smiled to acknowledge that she had heard his words; however, the Headmaster was not fooled. He knew that she lacked confidence in herself. The smile didn't reach her smile. The Headmaster left the topic untouched. Agnes knew that the Headmaster spoke wisdom. She also knew that he did not believe her brave facade. Dumbledore was in her corner, though, and that is all that she could ask for.

The other professors carried on about different topics. Agnes, along with Severus, remained silent.

Severus was obviously uncomfortable. Agnes knew that it was her presence by his side that caused the man's rigid state. She mentally cursed herself as she focused on the embroidery of the napkin by her side. He was the person who she wanted to change for… the person who she hoped would one day fully accept her - flaws and all. Yet, she was the person who made his skin crawl.

Those many years ago she had been the only one there for Severus, though she cannot reveal the truth. Those many years ago he cried for Lily Evans. Those many years ago Agnes herself was crying for Severus. She should make a move to confess her feelings, yet she can't. The one she loves hates him. Just how the one that Severus loved hated him. The two of them drowning in their own agony for love that was never to be. Both of them yearning - both of them cursed with a cruel wanting. A wanting that neither of them could act upon. Lily Evans had married James Potter. Severus was madly in love with another woman that Agnes could never dream to compete with. Lily Evans was now dead. Severus is still loyal to the dead woman to the point of insanity.

Having eaten her fill - mainly her appetite no longer existing - Agnes stood to take her leave back to her chambers. Severus was startled by the sudden movement. He watched as Agnes left the Great Hall. She made her way back into the dark and damp dungeons. Severus wondered if he should say something. He sensed that Agnes Blackwood was in a foul mood - a mood that he was all too familiar with. Severus didn't understand while, at the same time, he understood almost perfectly.

Severus had seen something in those memories he had invaded. He had seen that Agnes wasn't the person that he had known the years that they interacted after graduating Hogwarts. Though, Severus did not understand the woman's obvious depression.

He could only watch as she exited the Great Hall's giant doors.

I apologize for my very long absence… I just haven't really had that much inspiration and most of the chapters that I had written in the outline were made to be fillers… While I am trying to stick to the outlines that I made back in September, I catch myself changing them to be part of the plot. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, really.

Along with the lack of inspiration, life goes on. Work, life, sleep; etc. The basic daily functions. Then before you know it, it's April.

One of the biggest things that has taken up most of my time is the fact that I am 26 weeks pregnant.

We are having a little boy and his name shall be Atticus Thanatos Wolfe. He's due July 25th, 2016, and we're very excited for his arrival! Honestly, I am excited and impatient for June and July to get here.

Also, I think if I talked to some of the readers, that would help my inspiration a great deal… So, are there any of you lovely people who happen to have Skype? Or even Facebook. I'd love to add you and talk to you guys one on one! If you're willing, just send me a private message and we can exchange information. If you're willing, of course.