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KYA was sure there had never been a more intimidating castle than Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. True, the castle was much the same as any centuries-old castle, made of the same varying stones and had the same towers and buttresses as any other castle she had come across throughout her academic career.

But somehow, Hogwarts seemed larger, darker, perhaps, or merely perhaps that was her intuition of the place that had educated one of the greatest Dark wizards of the age.

Standing in front of it as she was escorted up to the gate by a waiting Auror, a handsome bloke close to her and Quirrell's ages, perhaps a few years older. The wizard looked to be in his early thirties, pale skin near the color of paper, with dark hair, high cheekbones, and piercing green eyes, introduced himself as Auror Jack Brennan and escorted her from her carriage, she felt incredibly small, for some reason.

She could not shake away how she suddenly felt small and very angry.

How could the school's Headmaster have not paid better attention to the Dark Lord when Lord Voldemort was simply known as Tom Riddle? Could they not see the path the boy was going down? And as for her dearly beloved friend, why was Quirrell not paid closer attention to upon his return from his sabbatical?

Surely, someone would have noticed changes in his usual patterns of behavior. At least, this was what she tried to tell herself.

The acting Headmaster or Headmistress of any magical school had a responsibility to ensure their staff was safe and protected, as well as their students, and in her mind, Hogwarts had drastically failed Quirinus.

Frustration bubbled within her chest that she forced herself to stamp down as best as she could and stalked after Auror Brennan, who had graciously offered to take her travel bags for her after balking upon opening her carriage's door and discovering she was holding Quirinus's Moke, a fully grown magical lizard of considerable size, Toma, that she had cared for when he had left.

She remembered him saving the creature from a neighbor's nasty Kneazle, and the Moke had taken a liking to him, tending to ride on his shoulders on days when he ventured out of the house.

On days when it was too dull and dreary and rainy to spend outdoors, she remembered the lizard having free reign of the wizard's home.

Thankfully, when Toma had been left in her care, he seemed to care for her, or at least tolerate her company enough not to bite her. She was feeling especially fond of the creature since their carriage had arrived and she had met her escort and personal guard appointed to her by the Ministry of Magic.

Toma had sensed her initial wariness within the first few seconds of Auror Jack Brennan upon meeting the handsome wizard and tried to bite his thumb off when he had reached for her hand to help her descend the carriage's platform, which she'd refused.

The Auror had kept his distance after that, though the man continuously shot the lizard withering looks. Kya could not be sure, but she swore the Moke preened as she held it, and something glittered in Toma's dark beady eyes akin to triumph. Perhaps even smug victory against him.

As they walked, she took particular interest in the dark forest that surrounded the property, which Jack in an attempt to make conversation, told her the students called the Forbidden Forest.

"I wouldn't consider it an option if I were you, Luv," Jack called out in a rough voice over his shoulder, in a casual tone that made her blood boil. "There are centaurs, giants, and werewolves in the Forest, darling. You wouldn't want one of your pretty little legs to be ripped off if you get it in your mind to go in there," he commented dryly.

"I wasn't," Kya replied, trying to keep her voice as level as possible, all the while trying to shove down the annoyance flaring to life in her.

She looked down to Toma in her arms and saw the Moke's tongue flicking out and its eyes narrowed in a look that she could only describe as dislike.

She turned her attention back towards the castle, this time looking towards the towering iron wrought black gates that stood before them, two ancient-looking stone gargoyles supporting the metal cage from either side, and one of them spoke to her, its ruby red eyes glinting in the sunlight.

"Name and purpose of your visit?" it barked.

Kya opened her mouth to speak, though before she could say a word, Auror Brennan stepped forward and answered on her behalf in an authoritative tone laced with just a hint of pride.

"Please inform Albus Dumbledore that Auror Jack Brennan is here, escorting Healer Kya Ericksen to the castle and her new quarters."

She watched sullenly, her eyes downcast and cold, as the gargoyle slowly swiveled its gaze to Kya for a moment and then, to her surprise, took flight, though with how heavy the stone creature was, its flight pattern was wonky and uneven, its equilibrium off, but eventually its silhouette faded as it took to the skies with the Auror's message.

They did not have to wait long for a reply, and it was upon the stone gargoyle's return that the iron wrought gates swung open with a heavy creak, and the pair were allowed to step onto the school grounds.

It was hard for Kya to get a proper look at the massive structure, due to its size and a rather peculiar sense of structure, unlike anything Kya had ever seen, not even her school back home in Denmark was quite this unique.

On one hand, Hogwarts was beautiful and mysterious, with its various turrets sticking out at unconventional angles.

But on the other hand, if she did not know any better, she would have said that it looked a little bit grotesque. It was not exactly what she had imagined her friend's home to look like, where he lived during the academic terms, based on people's descriptions of the place, and photographs she'd seen.

As she reluctantly allowed Auror Brennan to continue leading the way, Kya also noted that overall, she found the school to be disturbing but she could not quite put her finger on exactly why.

It seemed otherworldly, for lack of a better phrase. Magical, almost, and all that entailed with such an obvious description. She took in the towering buttresses and the massive Courtyard and clocktower with pursed lips.

She had expected to feel something mighty, perhaps even awestruck that she was in one of the greatest wizarding schools in all of Europe, though with how terribly the school system and the other staff had failed Quirinus, she was not surprised that she felt nothing.

A few of her distant relatives had attended Hogwarts once, but they were all dead now, with no one left alive who remembered them to mourn them.

When the two were brought inside to be shown to Quirrell's bedside in the Hospital Wing, it was a sallow-faced wizard, tall, emaciated, and unpleasant, who first greeted them. The man was easily distinguishable from the other staff who passed him by, busy with their end of term duties before the summer officially began.

He introduced himself as the school's Potions Master, Severus Snape, spoke to Kya with obvious difficulty, and looked upon her with scorn, though she suspected the man had learned of her past affiliation with his colleague and disapproved.

As she stood alongside Auror Brennan as the Potions Master took slow and carefully deliberate steps towards her, her gaze was drawn to his face.

His eyes were black, almost a void, and his face was blank and impassive, rendering it almost impossible for Kya to tell what Professor Severus Snape was thinking or feeling. She flinched and quickly looked away as she noticed the edges of the wizard's mouth pinch and turn downward.

His head turned downward as well, and she felt her stomach churn when she came to understand that the Potions Master was, without a doubt in her mind, slowly, openly, and without any shame, eyeing her form and assessing her attractiveness.

Her cheeks burned red, and she pretended not to see as she sharply turned her head away. She was pretty enough at twenty-five, she supposed. Skinny but not unhealthy. Her dark auburn brown hair she kept shoulder length and layered, with caramel highlights to give her pale complexion a little bit of warmth so she didn't look too washed out, and she had lost a considerable amount of weight since Quirinus's abrupt departure following the worst argument they'd had.

His absence had affected her greatly and sent her into a deep depression, though she kept her front door unlocked and her home ready for him if the day came when he would come to his senses.

She had been used to wizards checking her out during her school days and back home at the institute where she worked as a Healer, but the fact that the Potions Master's silent appraisal was occurring of her within seconds of meeting the man, gave her the chills. She glowered at Severus.

His smirk only succeeded in enraging her as his fingers folded across his stomach, amusement dancing in the wizard's narrowed rich black eyes.

"Healer Eriksen, Auror Brennan, I trust that your journey here was…unremarkable, I take it?" remarked Severus in a listless tone as he came to stand in front of the two, folding his fingers together in front of his middle, his voice a buttery purr.

Kya clenched her teeth and shifted Toma in her arms, stifling a smile as the Moke's tongue flicked out and brushed against her cheek.

She did allow the faintest ghosts of a smile, however, to flit across her face as she watched a shadow of something akin to amusement flit across the Potions Master's face as Toma arranged himself into a more comfortable position on her shoulders and promptly fell asleep within seconds.

All the while Auror Brennan recoiled and looked positively disgusted that a beautiful witch like her could allow such a creature like Toma so close to her.

The man looked away, wearing a small frown. "It was, Severus." He cast a glance towards Kya and frowned at seeing the dark circles that clung to the skin underneath her eyes, clearly worried for her. "However, Healer Eriksen is exhausted and would like to rest before meeting her patient, Professor. Her rooms are which way..?" he asked, though Kya was quick to interject and eager to shake off the arrogant man.

"There's no need for you to escort me to my room, Auror Brennan, I—I could take myself, you have done more than enough by seeing me safely here," she stammered quickly, turning her attention back to the Potions Master, whose smirk widened just a fraction of an inch.

It was a subtle gesture but one that was not missed by her. It became clear to her that Severus Snape was enjoying watching her squirm.

"Quirinus, Severus, how is he? I—I mean…Professor." She squirmed and mentally kicked herself for her mistake and tried to pretend she did not hear how her voice broke.

This was not like her. Thankfully, Severus did not seem to notice, or if he had, he was choosing to ignore and could not be bothered to even pretend to care and answered.

Severus looked at her with a small frown. Kya's gut twisted at the look of almost impassive indifference on the tall wizard's sallow features. She was almost afraid to try to read his expression.

"Professor?" she asked, fear shadowing her hopes when he did not reply.

Severus slowly lifted heavily-lidded eyes to her, the expression within them exhausted and heavy.

Taking a deep breath, he delivered the news.

"He made it through our Head Matron and the St. Mungo's Healers' procedures in their combined efforts to attempt to repair some of the damage done to his skin. Thus far, there has been significant improvement, however, he has a grueling path ahead of him, you must be prepared. He will be…much changed, the Headmaster suspects, and it is best to be prepared for anything, Healer Ericksen," he commented. "He is asleep, for now," he reported in a crisp professional tone, showing no emotion at all as Kya practically dissolved in relief and clutched Toma even tighter in her arms for support.

Severus's lips twitched. It seemed the wizard was pleased enough that he could bring the witch decent news.

However, none of them were so quick to declare Quirrell fully mended. He was not.

"I do not think I need to inform you he is not out of the woods yet, Healer Ericksen," Severus cautioned, immediately tempering her happiness. "Professor Quirrell has not yet regained consciousness and there is no telling what his temperament will be like when he wakes. His injuries are extremely serious, and some will scar him. He may never fully recover," he stated.

She nodded in understanding, forcing herself to swallow all the bile that had gathered in the back of her throat. She almost felt sick, but could not allow her emotions to swamp to the surface and show in front of either wizard. She closed her eyes for a moment and willed her nausea to calm before continuing her plea to be allowed in to see him.

She tried to speak in what she hoped was a professional voice, though she hated hearing the faltering crack and dip in her tone as she battled against the urge to cry.

"Regardless, Professor Snape, sir, I've come all this way. Your Headmaster asked for my help, and I will not leave until I have done what I can for him, as his Healer and as….a friend," she finished lamely, swallowing down hard past the lump in her throat. "Please," she begged, her worry returning. "I do not intend to take up too much of your Head Matron's time this evening. Just five minutes is all I ask. I will return to him at a more comfortable hour. For now, I just want to ensure he's comfortable and there is nothing more that I can do."

Severus nodded, seemingly in understanding.

"Follow me," he commanded, and turned on the heels of his shoes and motioned for Kya to follow him with a curt wave of his arm, saying nothing of the large Moke in her arms, for which Kya was grateful.

She hoped Toma would bring him some small measure of comfort and back to the man that she secretly loved.

She did not bother to look back towards Auror Brennan as she and Severus left the handsome wizard behind, or she would have seen the seething look in the wizard's catlike green eyes and the grinding of his teeth, a look of murderous contempt in his eyes at being ignored as he was.

Professor Snape led Kya through the vast hallways of Hogwarts towards the Hospital Wing that were still a whirlwind of activity with the students preparing to head home for the summer, and into the Hospital Wing.

He led her towards a private alcove near the back. A large blanket had been hung from the rungs of the wizard's bed to allow separation from the students who had clambered around Quirrell's bed wanting an eyeful of their former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who had been subjected to Lord Voldemort's cruelty for the whole year.

Severus barked at the group to leave, and the students immediately dispersed, not wanting to get in trouble within the last few days of term and risk losing precious House Points.

Once the students had exited the room and the Hospital Wing was empty save for the two of them and the Head Matron, Madame Pomfrey, who stood by Severus's side with pursed lips and a grim expression on her face, only then did he pull back the curtain and allowed Kya to enter first with her arms full of Toma, Severus and Madame Pomfrey trailing closely behind their colleague's best friend.

Her breaths caught in her throat as her eyes rested over Quirinus's form.

Her former best friend lay unconscious and motionless on a small cot covered with piles of gray heated blankets, the man's skin was faded and pale. His breathing was weak and shallow. He appeared more dead than alive, but it was his face that her horrified and stricken gaze was drawn to.

She did not nearly look, but she could not bring herself not to. She knew that she would never forgive herself if she did not look upon the damage that she had had a hand in causing, she was not a coward.

If she had gone after him, had followed him following their vicious row the night he'd left her alone, none of this would have happened.

She could have convinced him to come back, she was sure of it, and now, he was suffering. Because of her. Tears welled in her vision as she looked solely towards the right side of his face. Kya's first thought was that Quirinus was wearing a mask. One of those realistic rubber ones the Muggle children wore on Halloween that looked like flesh. But the horrific disfiguring mark that covered the right side of the poor man's face was real.

What Poppy and the other Healers from St. Mungo's had not been able to heal fully, the mark started on his forehead, caught the side of his nose, the edge of his lips, down the length of his throat, and likely covered the majority of his chest, and then circled back up around his right ear.

Her next thought was of a brand. A burned scar. Half of his face had been disfigured somehow on accident when the Potter boy had touched his face. Kya hardly recognized her beloved friend's profile. Her legs buckled and before she could collapse to the ground, she darted towards the edge of her friend's bedside and perched herself on the cot. Lacking the strength or wish to remain to stand, she stood by his motionless form.

She took one of his hands and held it to her lips, letting her tears fall freely without restraint, not caring if the school's Head Matron or Potions Master saw. She nervously raised her eyes to his face, her shaking fingers tracing the familiar lines of his pale and thin cheeks.

Her mind flooded with memories of the moments they had shared and visions of the life she still hoped to enjoy with him if she could convince Quirinus to come home, to be with her, to stay, and promise not to leave. Poppy and Severus stood at the foot of the low bed, respectfully giving Kya the space that she needed. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Kya spoke, directing her question to Madame Pomfrey.

"When will Quirinus wake up, Madame Pomfrey, please tell me?" she asked dryly, purposefully trying to keep her voice as flat and emotionless as possible, though to see her friend in such a horrific state, was difficult.

A shadow of regret clouded the Head Matron's face as Madame Pomfrey took a moment to awkwardly clear her throat.

"That's…difficult to say when, my dear," she stammered. "His body has been through a great ordeal," she said slowly, wringing her hands together and casting somewhat of a skittish glance towards Severus, though the Potions Master's sallow expression remained professionally impassive. "He has to heal. That will take time, and…." She paused and trailed off.

"And?" Kya questioned sharply in the Head Matron's direction, yet not willing to take her eyes off Quirinus in the hopes he'd wake up. She feared the reason the older witch had not finished her thought.

Madame Pomfrey exchanged a dark look with Severus and continued.

"Well, my dear, there is always a chance of infection. As a Healer, I am sure you are well aware of the risks."

The Hospital Wing's Head Matron cringed as the thought left her mouth and looked towards Severus for help, though when the Potions Master showed no signs of offering any sort of verbal encouragement, her shoulders slumped. However, an elderly voice from behind her came to Poppy's rescue.

"She is strong, Healer Ericksen, you need not trouble yourself," Professor Dumbledore encouraged as the Headmaster of Hogwarts lingered for a moment near the doorway, though upon seeing her perched on the edge of his former Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor's bedside, he moved closer. He rested an ancient hand on Kya's shoulder and squeezed the appendage with surprising force for one so old. "I think…that he has a reason to carry on," he patiently reminded his teacher's friend and resident live-in-Healer. "He will not give up." Kya nodded slightly and returned her attention to Quirinus, though before she could hold his hand and remain by his side, another voice chimed up from the doorway, having followed Dumbledore.

"Healer Ericksen?" a man's voice questioned, causing Kya to turn her head sharply in the direction of the speaker.

She looked over the newcomer's face as the older wizard shuffled in towards where the crowd was gathered around Quirrell's bedside, lowering his head in slight reverence, though Kya was quick to notice that the look did not meet the man's eyes.

She looked over the man's face, her eyes widening as she arched her neck. Her fingers curled over the handle of her wand, and she almost bristled as she noticed Auror Brennan lingering in the doorway and was quick to put together the fact that this man had been led up to the castle and the Hospital Wing by her escort.

She frowned and felt her cheeks burn in anger, but she held herself still and straight and professional.

"Yes, sir, what can I do for you?" she stammered, halfway rising from her spot on the edge of the mattress, though the older wizard quickly motioned with a wave of his hand for her to sit. She did so but remained confused. As he came to stand by her side, Kya saw him remove a hand from the handle of his wand tucked securely in his belt. It was clear the wizard had been expecting some sort of skirmish to have broken out when he had arrived at the Hospital Wing.

The man did not immediately say anything but instead looked towards the school's newest patient and repressed a shudder at Quirrell's vicious burn mark that would scar and cover the right side of his face.

"Merlin's Beard, Dumbledore, what on earth…?" he trailed off as he removed his hat and looked towards the Hogwarts Headmaster for confirmation.

"Burn markings, Cornelius, these are cursed wounds," Dumbledore quietly explained, his expression as grim as a grave, and the edges of the man's beard twitched without bidding as he flicked his gaze towards Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, looking more tired and haggard than usual, and then towards Kya, seemingly waiting to be introduced. "Minister, this is Healer Kya Ericksen, a personal friend to Quirinus and she was the man's neighbor once, years ago. She will be acting as the man's live-in-Healer following his discharge from our Hospital Wing in another few more days. I am hopeful that with Healer Ericksen's expertise and given her history with him, her efforts to heal him will prove successful and there will be no need for this competency trial you wish to put him through, there is no need for that, Cornelius, I implore you to see reason," Albus spoke softly.

A competency trial? Kya's eyes widened and her heart was in her throat upon hearing the Headmaster's declaration.

"Why?" she asked, the question leaving her lips before she could stop herself. "Why would Quirinius be put on trial? The…the incident with the Potter boy was an accident, Minister, Quirinus was not in control of his actions or of his mind, he's gentle and kind, he was under Lord Voldemort's influence," she snapped, anger flaring to life within her chest.

"Do not say his name," the shorter, stout wizard snapped at her as a violent chill wafted down his spine at the utterance of the Dark Lord's chosen name meant to inspire fear in the wizarding world, a vein in his neck protruding as the man's face flushed as he turned his wrath towards the Hogwarts Headmaster and spoke to Dumbledore in a scathing tone. "My dear Albus, your declarations that this man was possessed by Lord Voldemort are utterly preposterous. He was defeated, years ago, there's been no signs of his return since. What you are suggesting, that Voldemort could still exist is ludicrous, do you even comprehend how ridiculous your letter to me sounded?" he chortled and scoffed. "This man is to be placed in front of the full Wizengamot and questioned for his actions of attempted murder against a minor, Healer Ericksen, Albus. We will require his memories for the Wizengamot's jury to review during the proceedings, though I would advise you not to speak of this man like that, my dear," Minister Fudge chastised Kya as he turned to glare at her. The look of daggers would have had the Danish witch pinned in one second if the Minister of Magic had been of a mindset to allow it.

"Like what?" Kya asked defensively, rising to stand, though she felt as though her legs had been hit by a Jelly Legs Curse and she could barely stand upright, though somehow she managed and moved to stand protectively by Quirrell's left side.

"Like he's….human," Fudge stumbled over his words, causing Kya to laugh, though the noise was a bitter sound.

"He is a human being, Minister. And as for his memories, sir, I appreciate the Wizengamot considering them. I'd like to request that you take mine as well. If he's to be placed under trial for his crimes, I wish for the men and women of the jury to see Quirinus as I see him. As…my friend, as a good man, with a kind heart," she murmured in a shaking voice, casting a longing glance towards Quirrell's unconscious form on top of the bed. She thought she saw one of his eyes give a twitch behind closed lids, but she could not let herself dwell on it despite the spark of hope that ignited in her chest, and reluctantly returned her attentions towards the British Minister of Magic and spoke to Minister Fudge in a cold and clipped tone laced with dislike. "I know what the world will see him as, once the truth comes to light, Minister, I know that. But I will never see him as cold-hearted, as a monster." She frowned and gave her head a curt little shake to clear it, refusing to entertain the thought. "You may take both of our memories to use in your jury's Pensieve if it would help you to understand what has happened to him, but I am more curious as to how he managed to survive. I hope once he's healed, he will tell me the truth and open up to me," she whispered affectionately, a faint ghost of a smile tugging her lips upward as she looked toward Quirinius's form.

Minister Fudge's face drained of what little color was left, and the shorter wizard made an odd noise of dissent through his nose.

"Healer Ericksen, my dear, please. Of course, I will send someone to your home or his home, wherever you choose to send him following his discharge, an Auror will come by at a designated date to collect both your memories. But I hate to say this, but he will not open up. There is nothing left of the man. He's empty, and a madman. He tried to murder a student. Speaking to him, at him, for so long, could trigger something. You're playing with fire if you think you could reach within him," he protested, though something in his tone faltered as he looked into the witch's furious expression.

Kya heard Minister Fudge's words and her jaw clenched as she rose fully to her feet and strode towards the older wizard angrily. Kya felt her cheeks redden in anger. She would not abide by anyone speaking about Quirinus in what she believed were odious terms. They did not know him as she did.

She raised her head high in a haughty look and scowled at Minister Fudge, pursing her lips angrily. "I don't care if you dislike my methods, Minister, but I do care when you disrespect me so blatantly and I will not have you say such things about Quirinius. He does not deserve what you say, nor what the public's opinion of him will be following his trial if you want to put him through even more torment than he's already been through. Hasn't he suffered enough?" she pleaded, though she did not give the Minister of Magic a chance to finish as she continued. "I am his Healer. I am here at Professor Dumbledore's request and you and your government will back off and let me deal with Quirinus as I see fit. He is my patient. I will be taking him home in three days. I will place a series of protective enchantments around the perimeter of his home and the surrounding property. He will not escape, and he will not be wielding a wand until I deem he's well enough. He is not a threat to me or any of the neighbors in Doveport, sir. He should be well enough and recovered to walk around by then, I hope. If you still see the need to send an Auror to his home to collect both our memories, then do it, send one, I will show you whatever memories you want to see, and convince Quirinus to give up whatever evidence it is that you're looking for, and supervise me if it would put your mind at ease, but for now, he needs to rest." She turned her back on the silent and simmering Minister of Magic and angrily looked towards the Hogwarts Headmaster and Potions Master for their combined support.

Their Minister thought she'd not be able to reach her friend. She would show them, show them all. He would recover and hopefully, in time, he would see how much she cared for him, and perhaps this time, she could convince him to stay. She quickly realized that Minister Fudge had the power to make Quirinus's life even more difficult and realized her mistake and quickly began to try to correct her egregious error.

"Please forgive me, Minister," she tried to apologize as her anger cooled, deflating her indignation. "I—I meant no disrespect towards you or the way your government is run, but I…I cannot bear to see him this way, I am the one who should beg forgiveness." She cleared her throat. "I am a guest here in your country." Kya lowered her eyes. "Your Healers and staff here have already helped him, more than I had any reason to hope you would, considering…." she conceded, her whole body practically shaking with the solemnity of her words.

She suddenly could not bear to look the Minister in the eyes.

It was, however, Professor Dumbledore who broke the awkward and heavy, almost suffocating silence that now lingered in the Hospital Wing.

"There is no need for your apology, Miss Ericksen. You will do no more than I'm sure any of the Healers of St. Mungo's could do." His blue eyes seared into Kya's own as if the wizened old warlock were reaching into Kya's very soul.

Kya nodded gratefully and swallowed a lump in her throat and tried to think of something to say to supplicate the Minister's temper somewhat, though again, before she could utter a single word, Dumbledore came to her defense.

"My dear, it will be a long night. Quirinus shows no apparent signs of waking anytime soon. Perhaps you could use this time to get settled into the room that we have prepared for you during the duration of your stay here with us, and I would suggest that you familiarize yourself with the castle's hallways and floors. Something tells me when Professor Quirrell wakens, he will not want to remain bedridden and once he can walk, some fresh air will do him wonders. You should use this time to get comfortable, Healer Ericksen. Minister, if you could please accompany me to the gates, I will happily see you out. You may send a trustworthy Auror to Quirinus's home in Doveport in a few days when Kya sends words that he is ready."

Kya nodded eagerly, jumping at the chance to get away from the Minister, who so far was only succeeding in causing the blood within her veins to burn hotter than dragon fire.

"I—oh, yes, Albus, th-that would be lovely, thank you. There is no need to send someone with me, I—I could take myself, perhaps a little walk and some fresh air will do me good, I...I will return in an hour or so to check on him, and if he should wake up before then if you could send a Patronus, I will come immediately, please," she stammered, cringing as she noticed out of the corner of her peripherals Auror Brennan's interested look.

Professor Dumbledore and Severus Snape nodded their agreement.

As the air around Kya clamped, she forced herself to take a staggering step forward.

"Excuse me," she mumbled and left the room in such haste, wrapped in fear of the way Minister Cornelius Fudge's narrowed and suspicious eyes followed her to the exit.


NEWS of Quirinus's ordeal in the underground chambers below the school seemed to have traveled fast. The staff seemed to be doing what they could to quell the rumors of what exactly had transpired, though only Quirrell and the Potter boy knew for sure.

Kya was certain a lot was going on behind the scenes to attempt to persuade the students otherwise that she could not see. She even overheard Professor Minerva McGonagall, the Transfiguration Professor Quirinus had spoken so highly of, and she was one of the reasons he had entered into the world of academia as a career, scolding a student for spreading such vicious slanderous lies about their former Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor.

Her cheeks turned red as the Transfiguration Professor stormed down the hallway with the student in tow, but she did not stop. Professor McGonagall did not look at Kya as she passed, though Kya thought she saw the briefest flickers of sympathy dart through the witch's catlike green eyes behind the lenses of her glasses. Professor McGonagall did not look at her as they passed and kept her gaze fixated straight ahead.

Kya wondered with a sickening jolt what lay ahead for Quirinius, and by extension her, and the damage done to his reputation by his actions of attempting to kill the poor Potter boy on the Dark Lord's orders. She wondered if Professor McGonagall would believe her when she stated the man they had known as their Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor was not the man she had lived next door to and had grown fond of and fallen for, a few years back. But now, with her feelings for him intensified, she was not so sure. It would all depend, it seemed, on how Professor McGonagall viewed her former student and colleague. Kya chewed on her bottom lip a moment before continuing through the hallways.

She was grateful the Headmaster had given her leave to move about the grand old castle at will and she aimed to take advantage of that permission, most often at night, when the halls were quiet and she could not sleep, too consumed with worry over Quirinus to sleep.

She was having trouble getting Quirinus out of her head. She had been fascinated by her friend before, but now that he was hurt and in need of help, she did not know what to think, what she would say to him when he woke and regained consciousness and was cognizant enough to hold a conversation.

The more and more she searched her mind for why he had left her alone, why he had gone in search of the Dark Lord and become fascinated with the Dark Arts, the more frustrated she grew. She would never be able to understand his reasons if she could not speak to him.

She felt her blood boil as she thought about the British Minister of Magic and how he seemed to think there was nothing of her old friend still within him. What she wouldn't give to set Toma on him. A few good bites from a fully grown adult Moke lizard would do the arrogant prick well.

She believed that some people were born broken, born wrong, but Quirinus, the man that she had known and befriended, the man that she loved, was gentle, kind, and good. Timid at times, yes, but that nervousness did not usually last very long, long. The longer lengths of time he spent around a new person, the more comfortable he became. He, like she, was an introvert. Minister Cornelius Fudge seemed a brilliant man, but he was getting so wrapped up in his belief that Quirinus was emotionless and nothing but a vassal for pure evil that he was losing sight of his job as Minister. His responsibility should be to try to take care of Quirinus, to learn his reasons, and not treat him like the wizard was less than human. She scowled, sighing.

In every hall she entered, she would touch the walls, wondering if Quirinus had been in this room. Her fingers smoothed over the hard stone, the cold seeping into her fingertips. She pressed her cheek against the cold stone, letting out a slow, shaky breath, feeling some of the tension that had gathered in her shoulders slowly dissipate. It was soothing, calming, and relaxing. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she pressed herself against the cold stone. She reached out and felt the warmth of the stone warmed by a nearby torch.

She found herself enjoying the cool more and felt closer to Quirinus in that brief second.

"What are you doing out at this hour, Healer Ericksen?" came a man's rough, grating, and hoarse voice.

Kya turned, ripping herself away from the cool stone to see who it was that was standing behind her. Auror Jack Brennan stood there, a twisted little grin on his thin lips. Kya pressed her back against the stone wall and swallowed down hard past a lump in her throat, glancing up and down the hall.

She prayed for Professor McGonagall or the Headmaster to reappear, but she knew they would not. They were likely at the end-of-term feast, preparing to send their students home for the summer holiday. They would be far away and unable to defend her.

"The—the Headmaster, he told me that I could—"

"It's his word that matters, Luv, and Dumbledore, he gave me no such order, darling," Jack interrupted Kya.

"Then, please, sir, I will return to my room—"

"We will see what the Headmaster hopes to do with you," Jack cut her off and he was on the witch in a moment, placing her wrist in a painful vice grip, leaving her with no time to fumble for her wand. She let out an indignant cry of pain as she was dragged through the dark and desolate halls of Hogwarts, struggling to get free of the man's grip.

No help came. The other staff must not have heard or were too preoccupied with the feast taking part in the Great Hall to care.

A staff member, Professor Vectra, she thought the black-haired witch's name had been, had invited her during her walk about fifteen minutes ago, though Kya had politely declined, fearing she could keep no food down with how worried she was for Quirinus.

She could eat nothing until the wizard woke and they spoke to one another until he knew he was not alone.

She was dragged up a winding staircase. If it were not for the punishing grip that Auror Brennan had on her wrist, she very likely would have fallen the winding steps. When they arrived outside of the Hospital Wing, the Head Matron, Madame Pomfrey, was standing just outside talking to a small boy of about eleven years old or so, from the looks of his short frame. Thin and somewhat emaciated, with messy scrawny black hair in need of a good comb and a trim. When he turned around to look to see who was approaching, her heart gave a painful flutter as she caught the briefest glimpses of the boy's lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, and the piercing eyes of catlike green behind his glasses that looked to have been broken a time or two.

This must be Harry Potter, she thought wildly, chewing on the wall of her mouth until it hurt, and wondering what the boy was doing here, with his arms laden full of what looked like sweets, instead of down at the feast in the dining hall with the other children.

Madame Pomfrey glanced at her and Jack as she saw them approach, and when her eyes found Kya's reddened face, the older witch straightened, and she positioned herself in front of the Hospital Wing's now-closed doors.

"The Hospital Wing is closed to visitors except for Professor Quirrell's immediate family members and his Healer," the Head Matron bit out at Auror Jack Brennan.

Kya felt some hope immediately swell in her chest.

"I found the witch wandering the castle, mum," Auror Brennan said, bringing up Kya's wrist to show her.

Madame Pomfrey shot the arrogant handsome Auror an incredulous look of disbelief.

"As did the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall, sir, both of whom passed her by without any incident. Do you think I am going to disturb Dumbledore to tell him what he already knows?" she demanded hotly. "Let Quirrell's Healer go. Please do not make me say it a second time, sir."

"But she—"

"Is his Healer and has every right to be let in to see him." Madame Pomfrey flicked his gaze towards Harry Potter, and Kya thought she saw an expression of sympathy flit through the older witch's eyes for a moment. "As for you, Potter, I'm very sorry, but I do not think it wise to be permitted to be allowed to see him. Considering what he did to you down below in the underground chambers, boy, I'm surprised that you even want to see him, you should run along downstairs to join the others at the feast, Potter," she commented, all the while as Jack Brennan let go of Kya, fuming, stepping away.

Kya gently rubbed her wrist and stepped away from the Auror, stumbling backward towards the Hospital Wing's Head Matron. Madame Pomfrey steadied Kya, placing her hands on her arms and keeping her at arm's length.

Her back was to her, for she did not want to take her eyes away from Auror Brennan until the man was well out of her sight.

She listened as his footfalls faded and she only turned around to face Madame Pomfrey once she could no longer hear the Auror.

"Thank you, Madame Pomfrey for that. I...apologize. I don't know what the Auror means by making a scene," she said softly, lowering her pained gaze to the ground and then flicking her gaze towards the boy, who'd come to stand alongside her, his arms heavily laden with the sweets he'd brought.

Madame Pomfrey nodded in understanding and cast a distrustful look towards the spot where Auror Jack Brennan had stood a moment ago.

"For as long as I can remember, Brennan has been doing foul things to pretty witches, Healer Kya. I cannot imagine what the man would do to you," she replied flatly, looking her up and down from head to toe slowly. "Probably use his wand on you, dear."

Kya shivered.

"Well….thank you, then, for making sure that didn't happen," she said, and bit her bottom lip as Madame Pomfrey offered her a curt little nod and turned heel to disappear back into the Hospital Wing, though not before barking at the Potter boy one last time.

"To the feast, Potter, away with you now, don't make me take away House Points so close to the House Cup ceremony. I think that Professor Quirrell seeing you now would be a danger to both of you. If you two would kindly excuse me, I need to see to the rest of my packing to prepare to depart following the feast's ending," she gravely advised, unsmiling, her voice flat, and disappeared without a word, leaving Kya alone with Harry Potter.

She flicked her gaze towards the Potter boy, unsure whether to be awestruck to be in the presence of the only known person in the wizarding world within Europe who had defeated the greatest Dark wizard of their age, twice now, or irritated.

"Er…h-hello," the young boy stammered awkwardly, trying to smile up at Kya as he craned his neck to look her in the eyes, though it came out more like a grimace.

"Hi," breathed Kya, not knowing what else to say. The boy had appeared seemingly out of thin air and she, like Madame Pomfrey, was questioning Harry Potter's actions to come to the Hospital Wing to try to see Quirinus.

She suspected with a heavy heart that Potter would be the last person he'd want to see when he woke, and there was no telling what Quirinus's behavior would be like.

She remembered Professor Dumbledore's grave warning to her when he'd visited her home two days ago to deliver the news of Quirinus's condition, that following the taxing ordeal of being possessed by Lord Voldemort for well over a year, he was unsure of the lingering effects it would have on his former teacher's personality.

She cringed to think at the thought of her beloved friend hurting anyone. Quirinus had always been so gentle, he would not have hurt a fly. To picture him attempting to murder an innocent child was almost unfathomable. She stiffened and looked at Harry.

She was about to open her mouth to speak, to ask him what he thought he was doing here, and why he had brought so many sweets, but the boy interrupted her before she could speak to him.

"Are you Professor Quirrell's…friend?" he blurted out, which strangely enough, the eagerness in his voice began to set Kya at ease.

"Yes, I—I am, his Healer, as well. The wizarding world equivalent of a Muggle doctor, you could say. My name is Kya, Harry, Kya Ericksen. I grew up with your professor and was his next-door neighbor and his best friend. Your Headmaster called me here thinking that I could help heal him. I hope I won't let him down," Kya replied as she turned to face the boy and neatly folded her hands together in front of her middle, staring at him. She remembered recalling the Potter boy was brought up by his Muggle relations, and likely would not know what a Healer was and thought to educate him on that aspect of life while she was thinking about it. She swallowed a lump in her throat. "Is there something I can do for you, Harry?" she questioned, trying to stifle her smile as the boy gave a visible jolt at the mention of his first name. She watched as he winced and absently reached up a hand to touch his scar, and then his green eyes widened as if a light had ignited behind the boy's eyes. She waited for him to speak.

Harry paused and thought for a moment.

He enjoyed the fact that this witch was looking him in the eye and talking naturally, not in the way that some adults tended to when speaking to him, dumbing down their voices and talking very slowly, as if he suffered from hearing problems or were stupid for having grown up 'the normal' way, he called, in the company of his non-magical aunt and uncle and was ignorant to the complex ways of the wizarding world.

"Erm, w-well, I—I came to speak to Professor Quirrell. I…wanted to see him, I…I don't think that he was at fault for what happened. It wasn't him, Miss Ericksen, I just know it was Lord Voldemort's doing, and the fact that he's alive has to be a good sign…right? How do you think he survived?" Harry stammered, suddenly looking a little bit sheepish as he shifted the weight of the sweets in both of his arms.

Kya smiled in response to Harry Potter's awkward stance and looked at him with an affectionate little smile. Aside from her and perhaps Dumbledore and hopefully Professor McGonagall if she had a chance to meet and speak with Quirinus's favorite former professor and colleague, he would be one of the few who believed that. She was sure the rest of the wizarding world would see him as a madman. Minister Fudge's scornful words from earlier flashed through her memory at that moment and she had trouble sending them away. She remembered she owed Potter an answer and thought for a moment.

"I don't know," she admitted truthfully, looking at Harry Potter in surprise, as a warm feeling rested within her heart for the child. "But I don't think it's a good idea for you to see him. I think that you are the last person that Quirinus, I—I mean Professor Quirrell—needs to see right now, Harry, I'm afraid that I cannot let you in to see him, I don't think it's a good idea, I'm afraid that he might…hurt you, Harry, please follow the Head Matron's advice and go back downstairs to the feast," she stammered, correcting herself as she realized Harry would not know his teacher's first name. "You should be with your friends. Let me worry about him. He is in good hands with me." She tried to smile at The Boy Who Lived, though she could tell it did not reach her eyes. She could feel her cheeks' reluctance to be molded so falsely into a gesture she did not mean.

Harry sighed in defeat and made to turn away, though, for some strange reason, something came over the witch at that moment.

"Harry, wait for a moment." Harry paused and turned around hopefully, his peaky face a study in almost solemn eagerness. Kya hesitated and looked towards the closed door of the Hospital Wing. "I suppose I could…let you in to see him, just for a moment, if it will make you feel better, but I want you to stay behind me, am I clear? I don't know what he's going to be like if he's awake, and when...when he sees you," she told him in a stern voice.

Harry nodded eagerly. "Yes."

She hesitated. Her actions were odd for her today.

As kind and caring as Kya was, she rarely allowed visitors in to see her patients unless the patient themself had cleared it with her beforehand, which Quirinus, had not. She cast a glance towards the left and right of the corridor. Not a single body. It was only the two of them. She was ripped from her thoughts by the sound of Harry Potter's voice. She blinked and came back to herself, looking at Harry as he spoke.

"I don't think many of the others believed me when I told them it was Professor Quirrell. We—we thought it was Snape," Harry whispered, looking suddenly shamefaced, much to Kya's surprise. "But now that we know…people are going to hate him. He… was weak and a coward for letting this happen. I thought that his lessons were a bit of a joke, that he was a joke," he admitted, looking remorseful as a blush speckled along his cheeks.

Kya immediately stiffened in defense and her face flushed hot with anger, not caring that the boy in front of her was eleven.

"You did not know him, Potter, not as I did," she seethed. "You and the other students have no right to say such things about Professor Quirrell. He is a brilliant man, and you could not have asked for a better teacher to teach you Defense Against the Dark Arts. Quirrell is a gifted scholar, one of the best. He…he's made mistakes, yes, but what happened to him was not exactly his fault, Harry, you must understand that," she implored the boy. "It was mine." Kya defended Quirinus as she had to his grandparents once, years ago, within the first month of their friendship.

However, this time, her anger, which was still a hair's breadth away from imploding as she was still on edge over Minister Fudge's words, threatened to overcome what self-control she had left. She sniffed and turned away.

"You might not like him, Harry," Kya quietly acknowledged. "But please try to understand when I tell you the man that you knew this year during school is not the same man that I did. How much he means to me, how much he will always mean to me, I don't like to hear people saying such horrible things about him."

Harry furrowed his brows into a frown and looked at how the witch was softening as she spoke of Professor Quirrell.

"I guess…you are his Healer and know him best," he conceded, mumbling as he looked down at the Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's Beans in his arms. "I'm sorry, I...I didn't know," he mumbled, looking at the sweets and not at Kya. Before Harry could say anything else, a guttural scream came from behind the closed doors of the Hospital Wing, startling the first-year so badly he dropped the sweets.

It was muffled as if Madame Pomfrey had only just then thought to throw up a Muffliato Silencing Charm, but Kya recognized it in the lilt of Quirinus's tone. She was suddenly frantic and all notions of letting Harry Potter visit were shoved to the back of her mind.

"Stay here!" she cried, her eyes growing wild with panic for the man that she loved. She turned on her heels and bolted through the front door, not bothering to look behind her to see if Potter had obeyed her command and was staying put. Nothing else for the moment mattered but him.

Her eyes grew wide and horrified and she was not prepared for the scene that met her eyes. At first, she thought she was seeing things, for it could not be true. She could not believe that Quirinus had managed to regain consciousness to bolt from his bed and was now attempting to put as much distance between himself and Madame Pomfrey as possible, who had backed him into a corner.

His kind and gentle features were now twisted into something wild and feral, and combined with the man's horrific burn scar on the right side of his face, he looked truly monstrous, Kya realized with a sickening jolt. Her mouth went dry, and she felt as if her chest caved in terror as the emotion seized her entire body. His body somehow looked taller and stronger than it did the last time she had seen him, the night of their vicious row.

She felt tears touch her eyes as she inched forward closer, a hand extended as if to touch him, and she motioned for Madame Pomfrey to back away with a curt jerk of her head.

"Leave us be, Madame Pomfrey. I will be alright on my own. Let me," she pleaded. "Take Harry down to the feast," she quietly instructed, careful to keep her voice level-headed.

The Head Matron did not need to be told twice.

Only when Madame Pomfrey had vacated the Hospital Wing did she turn back around to face Quirrell.

The man was staring at her blankly, but she focused on his eyes instead of the horrific burn mark that now disfigured the right side of her poor friend's handsome face. They had the look that she used to attribute to him trying to make up his mind on something.

"Quirinus? Can you hear me? It's me, it's Kya, I'm here, I'm right here," she asked more softly, and to her utter amazement, he stiffened.

She approached and looked at him cautiously. She did not know how to go about this. She flinched when she came to stand a few feet in front of him and Quirrell brought up his left hand and hovered his trembling fingertips over her cheekbone.

"Kya...?" he murmured in a hoarse, reedy-sounding croak that was more of a dry wheeze than anything else, but she almost choked on the sound of her name from his lips and furiously blinked back her tears, sure the salty liquid would slip from her eyelids at any given moment if she could not control herself. She could feel her friend's fingers on her face even though he did not touch her. It was like an electrical charge that caused goosebumps to erupt all over her skin. As she watched him, she felt a swell of happiness rush up inside of her. She hoped that he remembered her, that she could tell him soon when he was in a better mindset to talk, that she loved him, that she was right here by his side where she was standing and she wasn't anywhere else.

At that moment, she felt that everything she had done in her life, granted it was only twenty-five years, was worth it. She had done the impossible. She was bringing him back. She thought she was the luckiest witch alive now. She shivered when his left hand's fingers trailed through her hair.

"It's me," she whispered in a choked voice trembling with emotion.

She caught her breath, praying that she was not imagining the sensation of feeling his fingers in her hair. But his fingers moved once more through her hair. He kept his other hand hovering near her cheek. She caught the wizard's fingers and held them to her lips as she turned to gaze up at Quirrell's face.

A cry of surprise was ripped from her lips as she watched her friend's jaw clench, more emotion on the wizard's face than she had ever seen in him before. His hand shook as it drifted away from her face and he suddenly looked disgusted, as though he could not stomach the mere sight of her. His lip curled up into a vicious snarl and Kya watched in amazement. It was rage and confusion on Quirinus's face, but it was emotion on the wizard's face.

Visible on his face, was unmistakable emotion, to see her. Her lips parted in amazement as she thought she saw his eyes momentarily turn red. It frightened her, and she felt a wave of cold air wash over her body at the change in him.

She was about to speak to him, though before he could, his strength and adrenaline surging through his veins left him and he pitched forward.

Kya took advantage of the opportunity to catch him before he fell, letting out a grunt as she struggled to support his body weight in a semi-sort of hugging position. She was grateful Quirinus did not fight her in his state of confusion.

She knew that he was still too weak to fight back. With effort, she managed to escort him back to his bed and went to work immediately subduing him, waving her wand, and not budging as magical restraints secured him to the bed. She could not believe how bad his burn marks looked. She brought a hand to her lips and her throat tightened as she perched herself on the edge of his bedside. She kept in a sob that almost threatened to release, and her eyes glossed over. She stiffened and reminded herself that she knew she needed to keep it together, for Quirinus.

Kya leaned in towards his face. His eyes were closed, and his breathing had slowed. She knew it wasn't a good sign. She scanned his features. He was even paler than before if that was even possible for him. He had always been pale, but now, the poor man was as white as a ghost.

She ran her hand along his cheek, running the knuckle of her index feature down his burn mark. He roused with a jump and a pained cry of surprise, looking at her through glossy and red-shot eyes, unfocused, and Quirrell only blinked at Kya rapidly.

The face that was looking back at her was the look of someone ready to give up on life.

A look that told Kya that Quirinus Quirrell just wanted to end his suffering. Suffering that she had not known about during the last year or so and it broke her heart and almost made her want to weep for him.

He was void with no hope left for himself. She exhaled a shaking breath and scolded herself for letting her emotions get the better of her. She had to do what was right by him and she would not—could not—lose him. Eventually, in Madame Pomfrey's storage closets, she was able to find what she needed and set about tending to the worst of his burns with a foul-smelling poultice from a jar laced with Dittany.

Before she knew it, as she fluffed the pillows behind his head, tears were pouring down her cheeks and she let herself sob quietly without restraint, knowing they were alone and no one but him would hear, if he could hear her. If he was still conscious at all, which Quirrell did not look to be.

"I'm sorry…I…I'm so…so sorry…" she managed to sob out in between small delicate kisses that she planted on top of his hands and to the left side of his cheek, thinking that any movement of his facial muscles had to hurt, and the wound at his right side looked open and weeping and causing nerve damage. After a while, she regained her composure. She rose quickly, waved her wand she had placed upon a small wooden bedside table to conjure a tissue and dabbed at her eyes, and then proceeded to dab the rest of the ointment onto the man's burns, unbuttoning a few of the buttons on his purple silk pyjama shirt that Madame Pomfrey looked to have dressed him in and continued examining his burns.

They snaked their way down the right side of his face and coated his chest and torso almost completely. Dabbing the last of the mixture on his stomach, she was careful not to harm him in the process and finally re-buttoned his shirt and left it slightly hanging open in the hopes it wouldn't cause Quirinus further discomfort. She would check on him and reapply the poultice every few hours if that's what was required.

She stayed at his side throughout the night, though her eyelids felt heavy as the evening progressed well into the night, and it was getting harder to keep them open. She hoped that when her mind was clearer and she wasn't suffering from exhaustion, she would be able to think a little better.

Perhaps figure out a way to keep him calm while awake so she would not have to resort to more barbaric means like restraint to prevent him from lashing out at anyone, even her, who might upset him.

She rested her head back against the chair she had conjured by her bedside. Kya had no intention of sleeping but as soon as her eyes were shut and she felt Toma crawl into her lap and curl up into a ball to sleep, she felt exhaustion begin to overwhelm her.

Perhaps sleep wasn't such a bad idea after all. She was out in seconds and all she could hear before drifting off was the sound of her and Quirrell's breathing, and her last thought was how in sync their combined breathing sounded, how right it felt, almost, and then, Kya slipped into a fitful sleep.