Disclaimers as per other chapters.

I'd like to thanks Starlight, Silver*Chime, geofan, Rachell, littleminx69, shortysc22, Blanche and cssnowstar for reviews and kind words. Much appreciated.

Writing fanfiction is interesting because you upload each chapter when it's finished, so you can't go back and rewrite and re edit. I had to go back and read over everything to make sure all the ends were covered and dealt with. Anyway enough of all that read and enjoy. Then please review, I value all opinions.

Chapter 16

McGonagall was leaving her quarters when she saw Dumbledore coming her way. 'Albus,' she said, with an air of expectancy.

'Minerva,' he said. 'I was just coming to see you.'

'How is she?'

Dumbledore smile reassured the witch's anxiety. 'She's awake.'

McGonagall clasped her hands to her chest.

'Thank God,' she said.

'Yes. Severus extracted two drops from that empty vial you found and brewed an antidote. We're lucky we have such a brilliant Potions Master because the potion she took was deadly. It was designed to bring back the memory but with such viciousness, that without the antidote Eleni, would have eventually slipped into madness and spent the rest of her life at "St Mungo's."'

'Goodness,' gasped McGonagall. 'How in the world did that potion come to be in her possession? Have you questioned her?'

'Yes briefly,' said Dumbledore, 'however she has no idea. She thought she was taking Severus's potion. She had left it on her bedside table and as usual took it before retiring for the night. It appears that someone exchanged the potions.'

McGonagall's face furrowed into apprehension and disbelief. 'How can that be? Are you certain?'

'It's the most likeliest explanation,' he said.

'But Albus it is such a callous act, I can't pretend that this news does not disturb me. Surely it was no one from Gryffindor. In fact I can't believe that any student would do such a thing, which leaves the only other explanation, an outsider….' Her voice fell away with worry.

'Precisely,' he said, 'but as you know since the events from last summer Hogwarts is even more protected. I can't fathom how an outsider could have broken in.'

'Which brings us back to either a student or member of staff and I can't imagine either of those scenarios.'

'Neither can I,' said Dumbledore. 'But Severus assures me that once he completes the analysis he'll be able to determine the brewer. He said each brewer has his own signature.'

'Where is Severus?' asked McGonagall.

'With Eleni. She wanted to speak to him for a moment. I suspect she wanted to thank him.'

'How is she?'

'Quite overwrought, not that that's surprising under the circumstances,' said Dumbldore. 'Of course she blames herself for everything. I hope that in time she comes to accept that it wasn't her fault.'

'Poor girl, it certainly wasn't her fault.'

Dumbledore glanced in the vacant corner nearby. 'She told me she doesn't want to see anyone but I think some friendly company will do her good.'

McGonagall pursed her lips and almost sneered. 'Which knowing Severus, I'm sure he will provide.'

'Now, now Minerva, let's give him the benefit of the doubt, he's not all bad,' he said with a friendly chuckle as the two began to walk in the direction of Dumbledore's office.

When the two pairs of footsteps had died away, three simultaneous gasps exploded from the corner.

'Do you reckon he knew we were here?' asked Ron.

'I don't know,' said Harry, from under the invisibility cloak, 'but you have to admit that the way he was looking in our direction, it seemed that he did.'

'So what do we do now?' asked Hermione, shaking her foot that had fallen asleep.

'Why should we change our plans? Let's go and visit her,' said Harry.

'But you heard what Dumbledore said,' said Hermione, 'she doesn't want to see anyone.'

'He also said that some friendly company will do her good,' said Ron. 'And we have a bag of goodies to cheer her up,' he added, shaking the paper bag in his hand.

'But what about Snape?' said Hermione, 'he's still up there.'

'Knowing Snape he won't be there for long,' said Harry. 'Come on let's go, my legs are beginning to cramp.'

'Do you think it was Snape that gave her the wrong potion?' asked Ron.

'It can't have been,' said Hermione. 'It was him that risked his life going into the Forbidden Forest to rescue her.'

'It could all be a ruse,' said Ron, 'part of some warped plan.'

'Look,' said Harry again, 'let's stop arguing and get going. And let's keep the voices down, I wouldn't want Filch to catch us.'

The three continued slowly, occasionally tripping over each other's feet almost causing the invisibility cloak to fall off.

'Wish this cloak was wider,' grumbled Ron more than once.

'Ouch,' Hermione cried. 'Ron can't you do something about those big feet of yours. That's like the tenth time you've trodden on my toes.'

'Well if you could keep your hair out of my face,' said Ron.

'Shhh,' whispered Harry. 'I can hear something in the distance.'

They moved to one corner and once again held their breath, as the footsteps became louder and louder.

'It must be Snape,' whispered Ron.

'Quiet,' said Harry. 'If he discovers us we're dead.'

The three shrank against the wall, wishing there was a way to turn themselves into mice.

Just as he reached where they were, Snape stopped and appeared to be looking around suspiciously.

Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at each other, not daring to move or even blink. They knew Snape couldn't see them but he was acting as if he knew someone was hiding in the darkness.

However after another minute of agonised waiting, Snape moved away, his footsteps heavy and angry. And even though his robes were camouflaged in the dark, he moved so rapidly a swishing sound reverberated down the corridor.

Harry, Ron and Hermione didn't dare move till they were sure he was out of earshot.

'Whew that was close,' Harry finally said.

'Did you see his face,' said Ron, 'it sure looked angry.'

'Well thank God he didn't catch us,' said Harry, 'with the mood he's in, he would have given us a whole year's worth of detention.'

'And turned us into toads for the heck of it,' said Ron.

Hermione giggled.

'Keep it down,' said Harry. 'Come on let's go.'

*****************

When Snape arrived at Dumbledore's door, he spat out the password and stormed up the stairs to Dumbledore's office. The pain Eleni was in was understandable but he had little tolerance for self-absorption. He had only been harsh because he wanted her to snap out of it. Her current state of mind wasn't doing anyone any good.

'Severus,' said Dumbledore, when Snape stormed in. Dumbledore studied his younger colleague's face and shook his head, half in amusement, half in exasperation. 'I suspect that your talk with Eleni didn't go as planned,' he said.

Snape paced the office. 'She's in the throes of self-pity.'

'Severus, her mood is only natural. I wish you'd show a little more tolerance. Come on sit down, we need to discuss what she told us.'

Snape sat across Dumbledore and crossed his legs.

'Tea?' asked Dumbledore.

'No thankyou.'

'I hope you weren't too hard on her,' said Dumbledore. 'She's in a very vulnerable state.'

'She'll survive.'

Dumbledore closed his eyes as if struck by a sudden headache. 'Severus really.'

'Don't worry,' said Snape. 'She'll be fine. It was what she needed. And if you permit me saying so, it was you that insisted I look out for her and it was precisely what I was doing.'

Dumbledore held up his hands in defeat. 'Very well Severus, for now I will trust in your judgement. Anyway we have other pressing concerns.'

Snape nodded and listened.

'I told Minerva about the exchange of the potions,' said Dumbledore, 'and she is as disturbed as we are. I am hoping that no student here at Hogwarts had anything to do with it.'

'I find it unlikely,' said Snape, 'that any student could have brewed that potion.'

'And it's impossible that an intruder could have Apparated into Hogwarts, not with all the protection in place. Unless it was someone from the Ministry.'

'Unlikely,' Snape said again. 'Whatever their feelings about what happened I doubt they'd take those sort of measures. As far as I'm concerned, it reeks of the other side. Someone who knew her memory was returning. Someone who wanted her out of the way.'

'Someone afraid to be identified,' said Dumbledore.

'Exactly.'

'But she said they were wearing masks.'

'To their way of thinking,' said Snape, 'it would be best to be safe than sorry.'

'I will talk again to her tomorrow,' said Dumbledore, standing and moving to the Pensieve, 'and have her tell me the whole story from start to finish.'

Dumbledore stared at Fawkes who was watching him soberly. His plumage was lush and shiny, as if he had recently been resurrected. 'Remember what I told you Severus, about my suspicions that someone from the Ministry was perhaps working as a double agent?'

Snapes eyes became two fathomless holes. 'Are you saying that they could have been involved in the murders of Eleni's parents?'

'It is a possibility.'

'Have you discussed this with Fudge?'

'No only you,' said Dumbledore, 'I have no proof only suspicions.'

'This whole situation had become very troubling,' said Snape.

'I agree and in the meantime we must keep an eye on Eleni,' said Dumbledore. 'Once whoever is responsible realises that she's recovered, there's no guarantee they won't try again.'

'Very well,' said Snape, 'I will see to it.'

*****************

Eleni stared into the semi darkness, willing herself to fall asleep but aware that sleep was going to elude her for the rest of the night. The blanket covering her, twisted in her hands as she thought of Snape. She remembered his angry words but she knew she had to talk to him. Madam Pomfrey said she was going to make one more check on her before retiring to bed. She just hoped she wouldn't have to wait too long for that to happen.

A sound at the door alerted her. Eleni lifted her head in panic. She hadn't forgotten that someone had switched the potions with the goal of harming her.

'Eleni,' whispered a voice from somewhere in the darkness.

'Who's there?' she whispered back.

'It's Harry,' said the voice. 'Hermione and Ron are here too. We're under the invisibility cloak. Is the coast clear?'

'Yes, there's no one here,' she said, as her head fell back onto the pillow with relief.

The three Gryffindors appeared at her bedside, as if out of thin air.

'Sorry,' said Harry, when he saw the look on her face, 'but we had to use the invisibility cloak because we're not supposed to be here.'

Eleni knew she had told Dumbledore she didn't want to see anyone but she found herself smiling at the trio, it was better than laying alone mulling over everything. 'You gave me a fright,' she said.

'We tend to do that,' said Ron, plonking himself at the end of her bed and opening up the bag he was carrying and emptying the contents. 'We brought you some goodies from Hogsmeade. A person can't survive in the hospital wing without lots of sweets,' he continued, as he handed her a chocolate frog before unwrapping one for himself.

'So how are you?' asked Hermione, sitting in the chair that Snape had occupied not long ago.

Eleni shrugged. 'Okay, better than what I was.'

'As we were coming up here, we heard Dumbledore telling McGonagall about a potion being switched,' said Harry.

'Yes,' she said, a little perturbed at the question and not certain of how much she wanted to divulge. She shuddered to think of their reaction if they knew the whole story.

'So someone really snuck into your room,' said Ron.

Eleni nodded as she unwrapped a chocolate frog and took a bite. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten.

'Do you have any idea who?' asked Hermione.

'No,' said Eleni, 'not yet.'

'It happened the day most of the school went to Hogsmeade didn't it?' asked Harry.

Eleni nodded again as she took another bite.

'But how did they get into the Gryffindor dorms,' said Ron. 'Wouldn't they need the password? I mean it couldn't have been someone from Gryffindor.'

'It's more something a Slytherin would do,' said Hermione.

'But they'd never be able to sneak in,' said Ron.

'Well you and Harry managed to sneak into the Slytherin common room a few years ago,' she said, sucking on a piece of candy.

'How did you that?' asked Eleni.

'Polyjuice potion,' said Harry. 'Hermione brewed us some. You can turn into anyone you want, all you need is something of the person.'

'Wow. Did you get caught?' asked Eleni.

'Almost but the mission was a success. We got the information we wanted,' said Ron.

'Eleni what I don't understand,' said Hermione, 'is why someone would want to hurt you like that.'

Eleni shrugged while playing with the empty chocolate wrapper. 'I did some really dumb things years ago that had tragic consequences. That's why I lost my memory.'

'What sort of dumb things?' Hermione asked cautiously. 'You don't have to tell us if you don't want.'

Eleni looked at her. 'I can't tell you because if I do you'll hate me.'

'No we won't,' said Ron, in between chews.

Eleni busied herself unwrapping another chocolate bar. She noted that the pain in her body had eased considerably.

'You three,' she said, 'are the only real friends I've ever had and I'm scared that I'll lose you if I tell you the truth.'

'I'm sure it's not as bad as you think,' said Hermione.

Eleni looked at her. 'It is. Actually it's worse. You see a lot of people were killed because of something I did. My family and people from the Ministry.'

Harry, Ron and Hermione gaped at her unable to speak.

It was Harry that finally spoke up. 'Well whatever it was you did, I'm sure you didn't mean it. It must have been an accident.'

Ron and Hermione nodded in agreement.

'Remember that you were sorted into Gryffindor,' said Ron, 'and Gryffindor's might make mistakes but they'd never kill anyone on purpose.'

Tears glistened in Eleni's eyes.

'That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me,' she said.

'And what is going on in here,' cried a voice.

The four jumped into the air with shock.

'Madam Pomfrey,' said Harry, 'we were just paying Eleni a visit.'

'At this time of the night,' she cried again. 'Visiting hours were over long ago.'

'But they only came to say hello,' said Eleni, 'they weren't doing anything wrong.'

'If Professor McGonagall finds out about this, she'll be most annoyed,' said Madam Pomfrey. 'Eleni needs her rest and the three of you need to go back to your rooms. And not another word,' she warned, waving her finger as Ron was about to speak.

'You better go,' said Eleni, to the trio, 'I don't want you getting into trouble. But thanks so much for coming and bringing the sweets. I really appreciate it.'

'We'll come again,' said Hermione.

'Yes please do.'

'Enough of this chatter,' said Madam Pomfrey. 'Didn't anyone hear what I just said? Now I want the three of you to leave without another word and you Eleni need to rest. You've been through an enormous ordeal and your body has not fully recuperated.'

Harry, Ron and Hermione gave Eleni a quick wave before they filed out of the hospital wing.

'Now shall I get you some "dreamless sleep potion"?' Madam Pomfrey asked Eleni.

'No thanks,' said Eleni, closing her eyes, 'I don't need it.'

'Well then go to sleep.'

'I will,' said Eleni.

But the moment Madam Pomfrey left, Eleni opened her eyes. She studied her surroundings, wondering where her clothes were. She didn't fancy walking around in her hospital gown. The light was dim but eventually she spied a cupboard at the other end of the room.

Getting out of bed proved difficult. Every part of her ached and she wasn't sure that she'd be able to stand unassisted. But after a few wobbly steps, a little strength returned to her legs. Eleni walked slowly to the cupboard and opened the door. There in a neat pile to her relief, were her clothes, all washed and pressed.

With trembling fingers she slowly undressed and then began to put on her clothes. She didn't know what time it was or if her legs would make it but Eleni knew she wouldn't be able to fall asleep if certain things weren't resolved and clarified.

She found some spare cushions and squashed them under the covers to make it look like there was someone in bed asleep. She wasn't sure that Madam Pomfrey would be fooled but hopefully she had left for the night and wouldn't be back till morning.

'Okay,' Eleni told herself when she had finished. 'Here goes.' And if he was asleep she decided, she'd wait outside his room till morning.

Except for the odd candle burning, there was little light in the corridors. More than once Eleni wished for the comfort of her wand to give her some much badly needed light. But it was in her room and she certainly wasn't going to walk all the way to the Gryffindor room to fetch it before going to the dungeons. She knew that her legs would never last the distance.

The journey was slow and laborious. She had to make frequent stops, leaning her hand against the wall for support and to steady her dizzy spells.

But eventually she came to the dungeons and carefully she began to descend the stairs, feeling the cold emanate up from the floor into her legs and torso.

She didn't know where his quarters were and prayed that he was either in his classroom or office. The dungeons were dark and she didn't fancy searching through the damp corridors for his rooms.

Eleni breathed a sigh of relief when she came to the classroom and saw a light coming from under the door. She rested her head against the closed door and steadied her breathing. She knew that without a doubt he'd be angry but she had to see him, tonight, no matter the consequences.

Snape was inside standing by his desk studying a list of formulas, making corrections, as he set up a cauldron. He was tired but not in need of sleep. He thought he'd get a start on the analysis.

He turned sharply when he heard the knock on his door.

(end of chapter)

I am sorry that it's another cliffhanger, I didn't mean it, it's just that the chapter would end up being too long.