Hello! I hope you're all enjoying the summer! I'm trying to keep my word and keep the updates coming, so I really hope you are going to like this chapter. :)
Oh, and please, let me know, what you think, your reviews are pushing me forward!

The next day, she slept for a longer time than usual and when she woke up, she found a new Daily Prophet on the table, with a short note attached to it.

Head Auror to meet Hogwarts Headmaster in order to discuss safety measures

Head Auror Rufus Scrimgeour announced during a press conference, that he quickly called yesterday in the late afternoon, that he is up to meet the Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, in order to discuss safety measures due to some new information the Auror Department gathered about the escapes from Azkaban, that are still on the run (with Black being on the run for almost year and a half). At the end of the conference, he announced: "Although I called for this meeting very urgently, I must inform all the parents of Hogwarts students that for now, there is no immediate danger for the students in the castle, as the Auror Department and the whole Ministry itself is doing everything that can be done to secure the safety of the students. My meeting with the Headmaster is mainly to discuss his attitude regarding the safety measures and cooperation with the Ministry so that we can establish some new preoccupations."

The Minister of Magic, who was present as well for the whole press conference, supported the Head Auror's decision. "Head Auror Scrimgeour is very good at his job. When he approached me yesterday, and told me he is quite concerned about the safety of students in Hogwarts due to the lack of cooperation between the Headmaster and Auror department, as well as some new information his people gathered, I gave him immediate permission to hold a meeting with the Headmaster, and offered him the Ministry support, should Albus Dumbledore refuse to cooperate.

It seems that wizards and witches in Great Britain should be thankful for the people like the Minister of Magic and the Head Auror, who is concerned about the students and our children in the castle at all times and is even willing to confront such a big-headed and especially recently notorious wizard, as Albus Dumbledore.

When Caroline finished reading she looked at the note that was attached to it and written with Severus 's handwriting.

You can't deny that he is a Slytherin through and through. The meeting is tomorrow at 10:00. We'll go an hour earlier, to get you there unnoticed.

Well, she agreed with Severus. Her brother was Slytherin through and through. She wasn't sure whether he discussed the press conference with Dumbledore or not, but it was absolutely clear to Caroline, that he played Fudge and everyone else so that it would like he loathed Dumbledore and doubted his ability to secure the castle. Which was exactly what he needed to do in order to get the permission and support of the minister.

Rufus and Dumbledore weren't the best of friends and Caroline were fully aware of that, but she knew they both respected each other, and Rufus knew that to Dumbledore, the safety of his students was on the first place.

But she didn't think about it any further. Rufus would come tomorrow and that's all she cared about. She called for an elf and asked for breakfast and a few minutes later, while drinking her favourite cappuccino she read through the list of potions Severus had asked her to brew for Madame Pomfrey.

She spent almost the whole day preparing the Bone-growth potions, something that required a lot of concentration and focus, so she didn't even notice it when Severus got back. He would tell her about his plan for tomorrow – the students should have lessons at that time, but Severus had a free morning, so he would take her to the Headmaster office. He would cast a strong Notice-me-not charm on her and transform her hair for a different colour just in case.

The next morning arrived soon and Caroline listened to everything Severus's said. The corridors should be empty but stay behind me nevertheless. The charm should prevent everyone from noticing you. Umbridge has a lesson now, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Soon enough, they were standing in the Headmaster's office a Caroline once again rejected a lemon drop from Dumbledore. Rufus should arrive in less than an hour and Dumbledore said he expected there would be someone from Daily Prophet and some photographers to catch a moment of the Head Auror arriving at the castle.

Rufus was once again punctual. Exactly at ten o'clock, there was a knock on the door, and just after Dumbledore's short "come in" Rufus Scrimgeour walked inside.

Caroline was the first one the man with a resemblance to a lion looked at.

"Good morning," he started and then he turned towards the headmaster, "there were some reporters in Hogsmeade, Albus."

The headmaster just nodded at that and then he gestured towards an armchair that was already prepared for the arrival of the auror. "I've expected that much. Please, Rufus, have a seat."

For a few seconds, silence filled the room, but soon enough, everyone in the room turned his attention to Caroline as Dumbledore asked her a question. "My girl, Severus told me you had a few bad moments." He was looking at her through his glasses with his usual kind expression and waited for her to answer. Caroline just nodded. "Bad moments" was something they used for Caroline's outburst since she started having them.

All of them were looking at her and watching her reaction. Dumbledore with his kind expression, Severus with his typical emotionless face and her brother with an expression that looked like he didn't like what was happening at all. And Caroline didn't like it either. Although she didn't have a problem to discuss anything with her patients, she didn't like to be in the role of the one whose condition was being discussed.

"And how much worse did it actually get?" he asked again calmly.

Before she could even say anything, Severus answered it for her. "A lot." She gave him a look and he returned it before he turned his attention back to Dumbledore. "Her mental shields are getting weaker every day. Especially since the day, he wrote her the letter."

At the last sentence, her brother straightened his back and fully turned his attention to Severus.

"He did what?" he asked in disbelieving voice and Caroline held her breath at that. Rufus was slowly getting angry with this situation. Caroline didn't know how much information have Dumbledore and Severus actually provided Rufus, but she could see her brother was furious that he didn't know about the letter.

When Severus didn't answer, he turned to his younger sister. "He contacted you even before Wixie came?"

Then again, Caroline nodded her head. It seemed to be the only thing she could do while trying to maintain her mental shields up.

"Albus, I thought we had an agreement that you'd inform me in case he tried to contact her." Rufus's voice was sharp when he spoke with the headmaster and Caroline could hear the anger behind it. Dumbledore didn't answer immediately.

But Caroline knew. She was well aware of the fact why the headmaster didn't contact the head auror. Rufus trusted Albus, but he didn't know the facts Caroline did. That Severus probably met with the Dark Lord and his followers on weekly basis, which now included her husband as well. And Dumbledore, no matter how much she liked him, had bigger plans than protecting one of his former students from her marriage.

After a minute or two of silence, Dumbledore stood up from his chair and turned to face the small window in his office.

And Caroline, who had been focusing all her abilities on her mind magic could sense a slight emotion from him. Guilt. If that didn't warn her, the look the headmaster gave her was apologetic enough to make her realise she wouldn't like what he was about to say. She could sense the growing emotion in her brother as well and even Severus seemed to become wary of the headmaster upcoming plan.

"I've been thinking about it for a while, my dear," he started calmly, "and despite the fact that it worked surprisingly well last time, I don't think it's good for you if you stay in the castle. The circumstances changed enormously."

That what as a cold shower for the witch. She didn't really expect that. And neither it seemed, did Rufus and Severus. A deadly silence fell over the room until Dumbledore spoke again.

"Don't think I don't want to help you, Caroline. If you wish to stay, you are always welcome within the castle's walls," he started explaining. "I just wish you reconsider. I know how torturing it must be for you to be here."

"And where, would you suggest her to go, Albus?" asked her brother sharply. "He can find her almost anywhere thanks to the bloody ring!"

As he said, Caroline instinctively looked at her left hand where her wedding ring was. It was there for almost eighteen years now, as it was still impossible to take it off. It was a goblin-made wedding ring, that held a certain amount of power of its own since she and Rabastan said their wedding vows. Thanks to the rings, it was possible for Rabastan to locate his wife and if needed, to apparate to her. Hogwarts however, was so full of magic, especially the old and powerful magic, that the power of the ring was somehow suppressed.

"There are a few options," Dumbledore started slowly as he eyed the only witch in the room. "firstly, you could leave the country."

"No." Caroline didn't even think before she gave her a sharp answer. She told them sixteen years ago that leaving Britain was out of the question. She still had too many things that held her there. But none of them seemed surprised by her abrupt answer. They always knew it wasn't a possibility to her. They knew what and who made her stay in the country.

"I thought so," started the headmaster slowly again before he turned to her brother. "Rufus, try to listen to me till I'll finish, please."

Caroline could see like Rufus clenched his teeth and she really started to be afraid what the next suggestion would be. And she was even more afraid that she already knew.

"You may consider actually contacting Rabastan," he continued and as he made a short pause Caroline noticed her brother clenched his fists obviously fighting an inner battle with himself whether to actually listen to the headmaster till the end or just hex him straight away. "Caroline, your abilities make you one of the best liars I have ever met. I truly believe you can contact him while still maintain all the secrets that you want to maintain."

But that was where Rufus's patience expired. "Are you listening to yourself, Albus? Don't you remember their last encounter? It was pure luck that she and the child survived it. I won't allow you to make her a piece of your chess board, Albus. I mean it. You and your Order can risk yours and your family's and friends' lives recklessly but I rather kiss Fudge's feet than to allow her to go back to him and spy for you. Do you even realise I am the head of the auror department? What kind of auror would I be if I let my own sister walked into the hands of one of the most dangerous Deatheaters there is? Not to mention his family. And you've heard it. Her mental shields are weak. Forget it."

Caroline didn't remember the time she would see her brother so furious. He was literally shaking with anger and his usual calmness and cold-headiness were gone.

To her surprise, Severus decided to speak as well. "If I may offer my opinion, headmaster, I must agree with auror Scrimgeur. Caroline's mental shields weakened significantly over the past weeks and therefore I must say I don't deem it very wise to send her to make a contact with him. It could affect her abilities and her mental state even more."

"Let's just listen to what Caroline has to say," said Dumbledore calmly and turned his full attention to the witch.

Caroline just swallowed. She saw both Rufus and Severus were basically hypnotizing her, but she couldn't tear her gaze from Dumbledore. What if there was something to it? Even though she couldn't sleep in the night because of the fear, part of her longed to see Rabastan again.

As she was thinking, she could sense Rufus's anger. He hated the idea of her ever coming close to her husband again. Not that Caroline could blame him. He was the one who saved her when she was hiding before she found the shelter in Hogwarts. And he wasn't exaggerating when he said that it was pure luck she survived it. It really was.

But.

She knew Rabastan. And she had never felt a hatred from him towards her. He loathed many. He despised even more. But before, she was sure he cared about her. Did he still?

She wasn't naïve, at least not that much to think that they had a happy marriage ahead of them. But surely, if only she could speak to him. Ask why. Did he participate in the murder of her parents? How many people did he actually kill? What about the Longbottoms? There were so many questions Caroline longed to know the answer to.

xXx

She and Severus stand together in his quarters again. Rufus left already, too angry with her to actually discuss anything. Severus left the office shortly after Caroline's brother and the witch then spend a good hour with the headmaster alone, before she departed to Severus's rooms again, covered with Dumbledore's powerful Notice-me-not charm. Once she got back, she could feel even Severus was surprised and not quite happy with the outcome of their today's meeting.

"You know you can't allow yourself to let the shields slip even a little bit, right?" Severus started and Caroline just sent him a look. Of course, she knew. After Rufus departed the Headmaster office so abruptly after she proclaimed her decision, Severus didn't wait long to start throwing one argument after another to show how bad idea this was. Including the fact that Caroline knew all about Severus's role in the war. And not just that. Caroline was quite sure she was the person who knew the most of the Potion master's secrets, as she had seen a great deal of them all that time ago when she was the one who taught him everything.

"You don't trust me." It wasn't a question.

"Not where Rabastan is concerned," he answered coldly before he made three steps towards her so he was standing just a few inches from Caroline's face. "I'm risking my neck every time I go there and I don't want it all destroyed by you. Your shields were down several times during the last few days, so forgive me if I am a little bit concerned. I don't know what is making Dumbledore come up with something as stupid as this, nor do I know what his plan is, but I disagree!"

His voice grew louder with every other sentence and Caroline even stepped back to keep more space between herself and now furious Severus.

"I can handle this, Severus," she said calmly, although inside, she tried to persuade herself she really could. He just snored at that.

"I will keep all the secrets, Severus," Caroline said again, this time with even more confidence than before.

"Are you trying to persuade me or yourself?" he asked with a cold voice.

That was actually a good question that Caroline didn't have an answer for. And Severus, naturally, noticed her hesitation before answering.

"I thought so." Was all he said after a moment of silence before he turned around to walk towards his room just to turn back to face her a moment later.

"Just tell me," he started again, measuring her every move and facial expression, "what if he finds out about Cormac?"

Caroline saw this coming. She was more focused on her mind magic than she was in the previous weeks, her shields stand tall and strong around her mind and her energy focused on the mind of the wizard in front of her.

So, when Severus said this, she was prepared. She didn't tremble, nor did she lost control. She looked at him, this time with an icy stare and emotionless voice. "He won't."

And she was hell determinate to keep this word true. She was never the type of person who would say she would die or kill for someone. But she would rather die than reveal her husband the secret about their son. Severus didn't have an answer for that.

The next day, Severus helped her pack her things and Caroline soon called Wixie to prepare it for transport. When she and Severus reached the headmaster office again, Caroline could still feel Severus's disagreement with this whole situation.

Caroline's vision was blurrier every minute that past. She tried to listen to everything Dumbledore and Severus were telling her, but it took a lot of energy because her heart beat faster every second.

After some last advice from the two wizards, she stood ready to grab the Portkey that Dumbledore created for her.

She sent one last look to the headmaster and the man she used to live with. And while Severus's face was as emotionless as usual, she could see encouragement in the face of Albus Dumbledore. And then she grabbed the Portkey.

Next minute, she was standing in the living room of her house with Wixie already there. She was sure Rabastan would be here any moment, so she just quietly told Wixie to unpack her things and start cleaning the house again.

Her heart was beating extremely fast, she could feel the adrenaline in her veins and the sweat in the palm that she was holding her wand in. Not that she felt her wand would be of any use to her. But she held it tightly nevertheless while sharpening her mental senses to its maximum.

She stood in the living room for several minutes with her eyes closed when she sensed it. Another mind's presence. A mind she would recognise anywhere, even after all this time. Caroline sharpened her senses even more, but there was no one else. He came alone.

She could feel him coming closer until he finally reached the living room and she opened her eyes. And there he stood, looking just the way he looked in Severus's memory and was looking exactly at her.

"Hello, Rabastan."