Notes and Disclaimer:

As ever, everything not Allosia belongs to JKR.

On my peculiar use of commas - I hear the way these folks speak very clearly in my head, and I am intentionally misusing the commas to try to get that inflection across. Sorry if it's distracting.

I've mentally mapped out about the next 20 chapters, so there will be lots more to come. Thank you to all my reviewers, if you leave an email address with your review I will let you know when there are significant updates.

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Severus Snape exited the castle and started down the slight slope in front of it, to the clearing Allosia had been flying in for the last month. Once there, he watched her for a little while, silently, noting how she never looked at the ground once. She only would, when it was time to land.

She had taught him that trick, but it would never be second nature to him as it was to her. For Allosia flying meant becoming oblivious to the mere notion of the ground, all directions, all possibilities must be equal. This strange and somewhat dangerous outlook spoke to her character, to the strength he knew she had, knew she must have, to be an auror and to be just the way she was. She was unafraid to cry and unafraid to hit, and he well knew there were few people both those things could be said about.

He cast Exaudio at her and was pleased but not surprised to see her twitch as if an insect had buzzed past her ear. He laughed softly and she made a noise of annoyance before whispering to him from that distance, "that tickles!"

"Sorry, I thought shouting an invitation for drinks might be ill-advised under the circumstances."

"When?"

"Whenever you're done - I'm working on something for a journal, I'll be up late, and there are some issues we need to put some thought to."

"I see."

Snape thought about reassuring her, but then thought the better of it. It was her job to work out how confident she was of his desire. And under the circumstances he knew that they'd have to be very sure of themselves if they could even begin to trust each other.

He made a face, waiting for an answer from her.

"How is it I can hear your facial expressions, Severus?"

"Impatience is loud. Shall I expect you?"

"Yes, in a while."

"Very well," he said, bowing his head slightly and turning to go. Then he paused, and mumbled the words to end the spell before striding off into the dark.