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Caroline stared at the envelope in her hands. She just finished the making of Dreamless drought when she saw a familiar black owl tapping at the window. She stayed at Severus's quarters for almost a week now and deep inside, she knew this moment would come soon or later.

She took the letter from the owl and before she even managed to give her something in return or to pet her, the owl was gone.

Her hands were trembling as she stared at the letter, with her name written on the envelope, written by handwriting she knew too well. She went through all possible options in her head. Severus should be back any moment now, it was already afternoon and she knew he had only one class today after lunch. He would open it with her, wouldn't he? She didn't want to do this alone.

Fourteen years ago, Caroline was sure he would. After spending so much time together, the two had managed to become friends. Back than Caroline would even often described Severus as her best friend – although she knew for certain that he would never use this term for describing her. This term he reserved for only one person.

But she was aware of the fact that in the last ten years, they grew terribly apart. They managed to see each other from time to time – he was one of the few people in Britain who were able to brew some of the most difficult healing potions, and has visited St. Mungo's at least twice a year.

A sound of opening door disturbed her thoughts. Severus came in with hands full of parchments, and slammed the door behind him. He looked like he wanted to say something, as he sent all the parchments to his table but he stopped once he saw Caroline, pale and with trembling hands. That was when he noticed, that she was holding an envelope.

"It's from Rabastan," whispered Caroline and looked at her friend. Severus's face didn't change. He expected that much.

"Do you want to open it?" he asked in his usual cold voice, with a slight touch of concern. Caroline didn't answer, she just stared at the envelope and her name on it. Of course, she wanted to open it.

When she didn't answer, he continued. "The headmaster asked me to tell that he would like to have dinner with you today in his office. You can wait till the evening and then open it with him."

Caroline still didn't answer. In her head, she saw other people and what they would have said, if they saw her now. Her brother would probably read the letter himself and then burned it without even telling what was inside. Bellatrix would tell her that she was being pathetic. Rudolphus would laugh. And Rabastan. Rabastan would be probably happy that he was still able to move her emotions so much.

"Caroline."

Severus's voice disturbed her once again from her thinking. "I'll open it," she said finally and Severus saw that she had her emotions once again under control.

She opened the envelope slowly with heart her beating heavily in her chest.

Caroline,

I know you are there somewhere. Wixie refuses to tell my anything about your whereabouts. What did you tell her, that she won't give me an answer? I threatened to give her clothes, and she basically told me everything you were doing during the past years, except the little information about your current location. So, I tried some contacts at St. Mungo's and I was told that you took unpaid holiday till the end of the year. Are you serious? Merlin's Beard it's only February. Ten months' holiday is a long time, even for you. Are you afraid of me?

During one of his visits in Azkaban, your brute of a brother told me he would personally find me a dementor to give me a kiss, if I even try to contact you ever again. I guess that means that the peace we made before our wedding is now gone. Pity. I trust you not to tell him I contacted you despite his warning. You won't tell him, will you? I know you won't. You still love me, right? You just love to play Hide and seek with me.

Like the last time. I must say you surprised me. Where were you? The same place where you are now? Rudolphus thinks you fled the country, but I don't think so, that doesn't sound like you at all. You never were a freaking Griffindor, but you wouldn't just leave so cowardly.

You know I know you too well. So, where are you, my little mind reader? I would love to see you again soon. It's been almost sixteen years, and I can't wait to see you. What do you say? I have a lot of plans for us when we meet again. I'm sure you know what I mean.

I won't tell you where I am, for obvious reason. Once you have your answer for me, call Wixie.

I'm looking forward to our meeting,

Rabastan

P.S. I don't think it's likely, but I want you to know it anyway. If I'll find out that you're staying with a man, or that you were seeing someone during my absence, he will die. Slowly and painfully.

Caroline had to read it over and over again. Judging by his writing style, she would say he didn't change a bit. She could even imagine him while writing some of the sentences. I'm sure you know what I mean. She could see his smug face, as he wrote this sentence.

She chuckled when she read the last note. She didn't doubt he meant it. Caroline looked up to Severus, who had been watching her the whole time.

After a while looking at her friend, she handed him the letter without a word. She watched him read it, without any emotion showed on his face. He looked back at her once he finished.

"I guess I should fear for my safety now," he said with a smirk o his face. Caroline smiled at that thought. She knew Severus wouldn't take it seriously.

He good thing was, that Rabastan probably thought Severus's place would be the last one Rabast probably thought she would use to hide. He would most certainly have thought she would hide at her brother's place – but Rabastan knew too well than to actually try his apartment.

They were both Slytherins. She was certain Rufus made sure than in case Rabastan would appear at his doorstep, he wouldn't leave it. At least not alive.

Caroline spend the rest of the afternoon brewing Pepper Up potions for Madame Pomfrey. She would probably do much more of them, if Severus hadn't interrupted her.

"As much as I enjoy your company, I must remind you that the headmaster requested it for dinner. In less than 20 minutes," he said.

Caroline gave him a look. "And you just can't wait to have your quarters for yourself, can you?" she with a smile on her lips. To her surprise, Severus just clenched his teeth.

"What?" she ased curiously.

"I have Remedial potions with Potter today," he said through the clenched teeth, "and believe me, I would much rather have anyone else to spend the evening, than this dunderhead."

That caught Caroline's attention. "Potter's got special lessons in Potions? With you?" she asked. She was never offered such a thing, despite her constant failures. Then of course, she wasn't Dumbledore's Golden Boy.

"Unfortunately, yes. Dumbledore insisted. Not that it helps much. He's a spoiled arrogant brat, just like his father" he snorted. Caroline pursed her lips, at the last sentence. She had another thing in common with the Potion master. The hatred for James Potter. Despite him being younger than her, he never wasted his opportunity to insult her. Her lack of abilities was a well-known fact and it was easy enough for him and his companions.

He and Black were the star boys of Griffindor. Every teacher liked them, even despite the fact, that they ended up in detention almost every week. She didn't remember the name of the two others, but she was sure as hell she didn't like them.

"How is it, that James Potter's son needs extra lessons?" she asked. Severus gave her a look as if he was actually thinking what to answer. Caroline tried to read something in his emotions, but his mental shields were up and as strong as ever.

"Because he's almost as dumb as Longbottom and that says enough."

Caroline froze. "Longbottom?" she asked, using her powers to control her emotions and stay calm. She was too aware of the fact whose son he was.

Severus seemed to fight and inner battle, whether to tell her, and try her emotions again, or not, and risk her being angry for not telling her. And probably because he knew, how annoying she could be while being angry, he chose the first option.

"Yes, Longbottom. He's a dunderhead as well. And a friend of Potter. The two of them are really unbeatable," Severus said.

"Who raises him?" she asked sharply, although she had a strong tip for that.

"Augusta Longbottom," was the short answer, "you know her, I presume?"

Oh yes. She did, and too well. When she started working in St. Mungo's as a mind healer, Frank and Alice Longbottom were already there. The witch had an emotional breakdown, once she found out that her husband was one the people responsible for the fate of the two aurors.

She was aware of who her husband was. That he had killed people before. But she couldn't imagine, he would torture people to insanity. That was behind her imagination.

But Caroline was a good mind healer, and soon, she became the best one in St. Mungo's. That was, when she asked for permission to treat the Longbottoms. It felt like it was the least she could after what her husband had done. But Augusta Longbottom made sure she knew how she felt about that idea. She refused to even meet with her and said that no Lestrange would ever touch member of her family again. She even went that far, that she visited the director of St. Mungo's himself, and demanded, that Caroline would stay out of the ward, where her son and daughter-in-law stayed, whenever she or other members of her family came for a visit. And Caroline had to respect that.

What would Augusta Longbottom said, if she found out that a Lestrange stays in the same castle as her grandson?

"Don't," Severus's voice interrupted her from her thoughts, "you're overthinking it again. Don't. Just go to see the headmaster already and stop thinking about Longbottom."

Caroline just nodded at that. There seemed to be much more distractions than fifteen years ago. She turned to clean the vials and ingredients from when she brewed the potions, but Severus stopped her again. "I'll take care of this. It would take you a lifetime. For Merlin's sake, just go already."

She gave him an annoyed look. Of course, it would take her a lifetime. She wasn't able to cast the cleaning spells successfully.

She was already at the doorstep, when Severus stopped her again and pointed his wand at her. She could feel the spell spreading over her body, as he made sure, she wouldn't be visible. "The students should be in Great Hall now, but be careful in the hallways anyway."

And Severus was right. Most of the students were in the Great Hall and the ones that weren't didn't notice her, thanks to Severus's charm. Soon, she was in Dumbledore's office and the headmaster was gesturing for her to sit down.

"How are you doing, my dear?" he asked, with his usual calm voice. "We have a lot of to discuss."

xXx

To say Rabastan was angry would be an underestimation. He was furious behind himself. Where the hell was she? He was sure she was still in the country. He tried all his contact he could use, while still being a wanted prisoner, but nobody has seen her since the day after his escape.

He should have find her that very night. But she wasn't and home and he was sure she was at work. He knew she worked at St. Mungo's, but he couldn't very well just march in there and demand to see his wife.

He was certain that the brute of her brother had hidden her somewhere. But to confront him would be probably as stupid as to visit Dumbledore. The head auror was too dangerous even before, and now, he would have the advantage of not sitting in Azkaban for almost fourteen years.

Just the thought of Azkaban send shivers through his back. It affected him. A lot. He was out for a week now, and not a night passed without him having several nightmares every night. But he knew it could had been much worse. He saw what Azkaban did to Bellatrix and Rudolphus.

He felt like he at least had some humanity left. Well, if you can call that a humanity. There are a lot of people who would question that even before his stay in Azkaban.

And the damm house elf wouldn't tell him a thing about Caroline's whereabouts. She still hasn't replied to his letter. It was all fucked up.

xXx

"What do you mean, you won't be here for much longer?" asked Caroline sharply. It slowly got to her nerves that the only people she basically spent all her time with recently, were probably one on the few ones in Britain, whose Occlumency shields were unbreakable even for her.

"Just what is says. Soon or later, Dolores and Cornelius will find a way to get me out of the school," he said and Caroline wondered how he maintened his calm voice.

"Why are you telling me this? Should I pack my things? What is the meaning of this, professor?" Caroline was getting nervous.

"No, my dear. You are free to stay for as long as you wish to," Dumbledore told her. "At least for as long, as you're not a threat to my students."

Caroline frowned at that. Dumledore knew she would never harmed a child. She was a healer, for Merlin's sake. But her neutrality was something she wanted to maintain. She would help Dumbledore, because she owed him that much, but she refused to participate in any battles.

"There's another thing. Severus has some Polyjuice potion. He's well aware of what I'm going to say to you, as is Minerva, Filius and Pomona," the Headmaster continued. "I told you in the beginning that I would request your services. I must therefore ask you to use your talents and help me to protect my students. Surely that's something you would agree to do?"

Caroline knew what he meant and gave him a barely visible nod.

"Good. Now, listen to me carefully," he started and explained her everything. She would use the Polyjuice potion and would take the looks of one of the professors, probably Minerva's. With some short interactions with Dolores Umbridge, she should be able to find at least some of her plans. He was just asking her whether she had understood everything when one of the portraits basically shouted at Dumbledore that he should come to the entrance hall immediately.

Dumbledore stormed out with an apology and a request to wait for him. She rolled her eyes. Typical. She was quite sure she wouldn't be able to leave even if she wanted to.

But this time, she didn't have to wait too long. The headmaster was soon back, and this time, Caroline could see anger in his eyes.

"Dolores just fired Sibyl Trelawney."