Disclaimers as previous chapters.

Well this chapter has taken ages to sort out and write. Plus I've been busy with work and other projects.

But thanks for those who have reviewed, in particular Starlight, Silver Chime, littleminx69, Lizz, vandaluzija, geofan and anyone else who has dropped in but has not reviewed.

It has been interesting re-watching Harry Potter (finally got the DVD), and in particular Snape and keeping the Snape in my story to the canon. Although my Snape tends to be kinder.

I'm thinking of eventually doing a sequel once I finish this story. Perhaps bringing Eleni back once she's older and graduated. It might be interesting.

Anyway I hope you all enjoy this chapter and please do review with opinions etc. They are very welcoming!!!!

Chapter 18

The late night wandering had taken its toll on Harry, Ron and Hermione. The three Gryffindors overslept and after tumbling out of bed and throwing on their clothes, had to race to the Great Hall to make it in time for breakfast. But even as their sleepiness lingered they were in great spirits, animated about Eleni's recovery.

Ron helped himself to a healthy dose of scrambled eggs and sausages before spotting Malfoy immersed in deep discussion with Crabbe and Goyle. A glint of triumph was clearly visible on Malfoy's face. Ron nudged Harry and Hermione under the table and nodded towards Malfoy.

'Check out the look on his face,' he said.

'He's beaming,' said Hermione. 'Looks like he hasn't heard the good news.'

'Perhaps he needs someone to spoil his day,' said Harry. 'What do you think?'

'Be my guest,' said Ron.

'Hey Malfoy,' Harry called out. 'Great day isn't it?'

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle stopped talking and glanced over.

'For us maybe but not for you Potter,' sneered Malfoy.

'Really,' said Harry, with a wide smile. 'Why don't you tell us why?'

Malfoy smirked and laughed loudly. 'We were just discussing your little friend. You know the one that's lost her marbles.'

'Gee,' said Ron, deciding to join in the fun, 'who can Malfoy be referring to? Do you know who he's talking about Hermione?'

'Surely he's not talking about Eleni,' she said loudly. 'But I do wonder how she's feeling this morning, especially after all those chocolate frogs she ate last night. You know the ones we brought her. She couldn't stop eating them.'

'Oh that's cute,' Malfoy yelled out. 'Miss Mudblood sure likes to liar. So do her friends.'

Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at each other, the three of them noticing that Malfoy's usual translucent skin had turned paler than usual.

'Liars?' asked Harry. 'Is that what you think we are? Well why you don't you go and ask Madam Pomfrey. Look she's over there, she's just come in for breakfast.'

Malfoy cursed under his breath.

Those having breakfast on the other tables quickly spread the news and within moments the Great Hall was awash with mutterings of Eleni's recovery.

Malfoy's face whirled around taking in all the happy faces. He flew to his feet clutching his wand, his face crimson. His eyes rolled with both helplessness and anger. Both Harry and Ron reached for their wands in case of a Malfoy attack but after a strangled grimace, Malfoy ran out of the Great Hall with Crabbe and Goyle close behind.

'Well you've certainly spoilt his day,' said Hermione.

Harry frowned. 'Yes but what do you make of it? I mean did you see his face, he looked like he was going to be sick. Why should it matter to him whether Eleni recovers? What has he got against her?'

'Well for starters she's a Gryffindor and she's our friend,' said Ron.

'Perhaps,' said Harry. 'But it's still weird. I'm beginning to think he had something to do with what happened to Eleni.'

'So do I,' said Hermione.

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

Snape waited for the gargoyle to step aside before briskly climbing the stairs to Dumbledore's office. The backlog on his desk was rising and he still had to do the analysis on the potion found in Eleni's room but Dumbledore had that morning sent an owl inviting him to breakfast in his office. Snape hoped it wasn't going to take long. In fact he longed for life to return to normal. He wasn't sure what he felt when he had seen Eleni curled up comfortably on his couch that morning. Yes he grudgingly admitted he was somewhat fond of the girl because of his past relationship with her parents but he had never before encouraged any relationship between himself and a student and was perturbed at his behaviour to the contrary.

'Good morning Severus,' Dumbledore said, when Snape entered. 'Please come and sit,' he added extending his arm and pointing to the small table covered in a crisp cloth and adorned with silver cutlery and china plates.

'Thank you,' said Snape, taking a seat and unfolding his white napkin. He gave it a sharp shake before setting it over his knee.

'I heard that you had a late night visitor,' said Dumbledore, pouring the tea for the two of them.

'It certainly doesn't take long for news to spread,' Snape scowled, as he helped himself to eggs and bacon.

'Poppy informed me,' Dumbledore said with a slight twinkle in his eye. 'I went to enquire how Eleni was first thing this morning. She told me that Eleni hadn't spent the night in the hospital wing.'

Snape shrugged nonchalantly 'By the time our conversation was over, it was too late to return her to the hospital wing. I lengthened one of the armchairs and she slept there.'

'It seems our Eleni had a busy night,' laughed Dumbledore. 'Poppy also informed me that earlier on, after you left the hospital wing she had another visit.'

'Don't tell me,' said Snape, 'let me guess. Potter and his friends.'

'Yes.'

'No doubt sneaking through the school corridors under that infernal invisibility cloak.' Snape shook his head in annoyance. 'If you recall, she did tell us she didn't want visitors.'

'Yes I know,' said Dumbledore, 'but from all accounts I believe she appreciated the visit. It probably did her a world of good.'

'And I suspect,' hissed Snape, 'that it was Potter that encouraged her to break school rules and sneak down to the dungeons last night.'

Dumbledore shook his head. 'Severus don't underestimate Eleni's determination. I have a sneaking suspicion that even before their visit, she had decided to go and see you.'

Dumbledore sipped his tea and watched his stormy younger colleague. 'You haven't told me what Eleni needed to talk to you about.'

Snape sliced his eggs with razor like movements before answering. 'She wanted to confirm her suspicions.'

'So she remembered it was you that pushed her out of the way?'

'Yes.'

'And?' asked Dumbledore.

'I told her everything, including what I had walked into. Additionally I explained about how I met her parents and the agreement between myself, her father and you.'

Dumbledore's eyebrows shot to the ceiling. 'You surprise me Severus.'

Snape shrugged. 'She deserved to know who her parents were, the kind of people they were and how I came to know them. I also explained about the Ministry and their reaction to what happened.'

'And her brothers?'

Snape cleared his throat after swallowing a mouthful of food. 'She hasn't as yet asked but I have no doubt that she soon will.'

Dumbledore stroked his beard and contemplated the situation. 'Is she still asleep?'

'Yes,' said Snape, 'I gave her a good dose of dreamless sleep potion otherwise she would have been up all night thinking about what I had told her. And there's enough time for that later.'

'Very well,' said Dumbledore leaning back in his chair and watching Snape refill both their teacups. 'But I do want to talk to her today, so if you can let me know when she awakes.'

'Yes of course.'

'And I think it would be better if I spoke to her in your quarters, before she returns to the hospital wing. It's best we don't let on that the conversation is taking place.'

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

Eleni's return to consciousness was slow and languid. At first she couldn't quite place where she was, only that the surface she was laying on was firmer that her own bed yet not as hard as the mattress she had awoken up on in the hospital wing. Yet strangely enough she felt warm and safe, in fact the safest she had ever felt. Like she was enveloped in a shroud of protection that would never let her come to any harm.

She rose further to consciousness and eventually opened her eyes. She blinked several times and stared puzzled at the pale grey ceiling, unable to recognise or place it. Her hand lightly stroked the soft blanket covering her as she stretched luxuriously under it.  The suddenly it dawned on her.

Oh my God, she exclaimed inwardly, I'm in Snape's room. All at once she remembered the midnight journey down to the dungeons, his initial anger followed by the abrupt change of mood and his invitation for her to spend the night in his quarters.

Eleni squeezed her eyes shut as she remembered what Snape had told her, about working with her father, how her father had been captured by Voldemort. There was so much she hadn't known. Not only had her parents been powerful Aurors but university professors and her mother had been a Potion's master, Snape's university teacher no less.

She laid back and thought about what he had told her, half torn between blazing pride in their achievements and despair at how easily they had been struck down. And by people who were still at large, who had never been brought to justice.

'Good morning Miss Devon,' said Snape, appearing in her peripheral vision.

'Hello,' she said startled at his unexpected appearance. She hadn't heard him come in. All at once she was shy and unable to meet his eyes, worried about his reaction now that it was morning.

'I trust you slept well,' he said in a neutral tone.

'Yes thank you,' she said, struggling to sit up and surprised at how weak she still was.

'How are you feeling?' he asked, noting her lethargic movements.

'I'm okay,' she said, 'just a little shaky.'

'No doubt due to your late night hikes,' he said. 'I've been informed that you had visitors prior to coming here last night. You know you were supposed to be resting.'

Eleni didn't look at him but instead studied the blanket covering her.

'They didn't stay long Professor,' she said in a pleading tone. 'And anyway Madam Pomfrey caught us and made them leave. Please, I wouldn't want them to get into trouble or anything.'

'We'll see,' he said, 'but may I remind you Miss Devon, that all these infractions are going to cost you many detentions.'

'I know,' she said.

'Well never mind about that now,' he said, when he saw that her face had become suitably remorseful. 'Professor Dumbledore wants to speak to you as soon as possible, so I suggest you clean up and then have breakfast.'

'Okay,' she said, as she carefully stood and tested the strength in her legs.

'The bathroom is the second door on your right,' he said, watching her take a few tentative steps. 'You'll find everything you need in there.'

Eleni felt better after her shower, clearer and stronger, as if the water had washed away the cobwebs infused in her body. It had been strange using Snape's bathroom, although it was so fastidiously clean and neat and with no visible personal affects that it could have well been anyone's bathroom.

When she re entered the room, she saw that he was sitting at the table working through a pile of notes, deep in concentration.

'I had some breakfast brought down for you,' he said, without raising his head but nodding to the opposite end of the table.

She almost went to say that she didn't want any breakfast that she wasn't hungry but the sight of cereal, toast and scrambled eggs and its tantalising aroma wafting to her nostrils, quickly changed her mind. She sat down opposite Snape, thankful that the table was long and rectangular. It was peculiar enough being in his quarters without having to be too close in proximity. Even though he had been open and honest the previous night with his recounting, Eleni needed to time to digest what had taken place. There were so many barriers encircling him that it was difficult to know what he was thinking and worse, feeling. She glanced at him before filling her plate, careful not to make too much noise and disturb him.

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

It didn't matter how often Draco wiped his brow or how many times he willed himself to relax, the nervous sweat that had begun after hearing about Eleni's recovery had refused to abate. He crept through the corridors, eavesdropping into teacher's conversations, praying that what he had heard at breakfast had been a pack of lies.

Surely Eleni Devon hadn't recovered. Mr Borgin had assured his father that the potion would destroy her mind.

However wherever he went, he heard the same words. 'Yes it's true, she's awake. Minerva told me herself.'

Draco returned to his room before first class, his stomach churning like stale milk. His black owl "Viril" eyed him as he sat at his desk and hastily scribbled a note to his father explaining the latest events.

Father, father, he murmured to himself as if chanting a mantra, I'm sorry but it wasn't my fault. I did as you asked. It was Mr Borgin that failed you not me. With trembling hands he tied the note to "Viril's" leg, who was pecking at a dead rat and annoyed to be interrupted.

'Now go,' Draco told him, 'go to father and hurry. It's an emergency.'

Draco remained at the window watching, till "Viril" was only a speck in the sky. He then downheartedly went to class.

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

When it was obvious that Eleni had finished eating, Snape went to the fireplace to summon Dumbledore.

'What does Professor Dumbledore want to speak to me about?' she asked nervously, when she sat back down on the elongated armchair that she had slept on the previous night.

Snape turned his black hooded eyes towards her. However when he saw the anxiety clouding her features, the intensity in his eyes lessened. 'He only wants to run through what you remember about that night and the events leading up to it. It might provide us with some clues.'

Eleni nodded but continued wringing her hands with worry.

'Good morning Eleni,' said Dumbledore, stepping out of the fireplace. 'I trust you slept well.'

'Yes sir,' she said.

Dumbledore moved to the other armchair and sat down. 'Now Eleni,' he said, 'I wanted to have this conversation here before you return to the hospital wing because I want to keep it private.'

Eleni nodded and watched as Snape folded his arms and leant back against the only shelf free space available.

'Now,' continued Dumbledore, 'I want you to tell me everything from the beginning, from the moment you met the man in question.'

Eleni took a deep breath and began her story.

She told the story slowly but methodically, often pausing and closing her eyes to remember some detail. Dumbledore listened, sometimes interrupting with a question but never taking his eyes off her.

'And you don't know what he looked like,' he asked, as Eleni came to the end of her story.

Eleni shook her head. 'It was strange,' she said, 'his face kept changing, like it was made of clay or something. It was always moulding itself into different features.'

'Mmmm,' said Dumbledore, 'some kind of advanced concealing spell.'

'But I do remember his teeth when I gave him the passwords, they were made of gold. I remember the way they glinted in the light but I guess that was a disguise too.'

Dumbledore nodded. 'And his voice.'

'That never changed,' she said, 'except when it became nasty, when he was killing….um,' she stumbled flustered and upset, 'you know what I mean.'

'Do you think you'd be able to recognise that voice if you ever heard it again?' asked Dumbledore.

Eleni paused but only for a moment. 'Yes absolutely. I'll never forget that voice for as long as I live.'

'Is there anything else you can remember?' asked Dumbledore. 'Just run through the scenes again in your mind.'

The room was quiet as Eleni closed her eyes and let the images replay across her mind.

'There was something else,' she said, 'but…'.

'What?' asked Dumbledore.

Eleni looked at Snape. 'Well that night but it was only for a moment the man rolled up his sleeves and I saw the mark on his forearm, like the one that Professor Snape has.'

'Are you certain?' asked Dumbledore.

'Yes. That time I saw Professor Snape's mark I knew I had seen it somewhere before.'

Snape nodded in acknowledgement.

'So it was death eaters that killed my family,' said Eleni.

'We suspected all along it was death eaters,' said Dumbledore.

'Then my information isn't really helping you,' she said.

'Yes because it's tangible evidence,' said Dumbldore, 'and important for when we catch them and bring them to justice.'

Eleni rubbed her eyes, suddenly feeling tired. All the talking had drained her.

Dumbledore leaned over and handed her a chunk of chocolate.

'This should renew you a little before we return you to the hospital wing,' he said.

'Thanks,' she said, before taking a welcome bite.

Dumbledore stroked his beard as he watched her eat.

'Eleni,' he presently asked, 'have you thought any more about the other night when you took that potion you thought was Professor Snape's?'

'Not really.'

'So there's nothing more you remember?'

Eleni stared at her chocolate for a moment before brushing away a thought that like a leaking tap began tapping at her thoughts. She thought she had kept it hidden but Snape was as quick as a vulture.

'What is it?' he asked.

'Nothing,' she said hastily, looking away.

Snape took a hurried step towards her. 'Something crossed your mind a moment ago. What was it?'

'Eleni,' Dumbledore said gently, 'it doesn't matter how insignificant you might think it is. I need you to tell us.'

'But,' she stammered after a moment's silence, 'I can't because it doesn't make sense. I mean it's nothing, it doesn't mean anything.'

Snape moved closer, his face tight with annoyance.

'Eleni,' Dumbledore said again, 'we can't help you, if you don't help us.'

She looked at them, pale and wide-eyed, her throat trembling with tears. 'I just don't want to get anyone into trouble.'

'Just tell us,' Snape growled.

Eleni clenched her hands and pressed them against her forehead. 'It's something I remembered about that day, when everyone went to Hogsmeade. I was in the library and I couldn't concentrate so I returned to the Gryffindor common room and when I entered, well…um…I…saw…'

'What?' demanded Snape, edging even closer.

'I…saw….Hermione coming out of the girl's dorms, I mean it probably doesn't mean anything but it was strange because I saw her leave with Harry and Ron earlier.'

Snape and Dumbledore exchanged glances over her head.

'She said she had forgotten something,' said Eleni.

'Why didn't you tell us this before?' asked Snape.

'Because…. I don't know I forgot about it, it didn't seem important, it was just now eating the chocolate that reminded me.'

Eleni looked at Dumbledore, her face stricken with pain. 'Hermione's my friend, I know she'd never do anything like that, she just wouldn't.'

She then looked at Snape whose mouth was twitching, although the rest of his face had an unreadable expression as if he needed to internally retreat to contemplate what she had just said. Eleni wished that the conversation had just been between her and Dumbledore. She knew how much Snape disliked Harry, Ron and Hermione. And now not only had she betrayed her friends but had given Snape all the ammunition he needed to make life even more difficult for them.

'I'm going to need to talk to Hermione,' said Dumbledore.

Eleni groaned and buried her head in her hands. 'But Hermione would never do such a thing, I know she wouldn't,' she said in a muffled voice.

Snape retreated back to the wall and cleared his throat. 'Miss Devon, please pull yourself together,' he said. 'As brilliant as Miss Granger is, I'm afraid that not even she is capable at this stage to brew that potion. Suffice to say, many of the ingredients are neither stored in my classroom or office. It would have been almost impossible for her to obtain them.' His lip however curled for an instant as he remembered the time the Granger girl broke into his private stores during second year for Bicorn horn and Boomslang skin.

Eleni's entire body breathed in relief. 'So you're saying Hermione had nothing to do with it?'

'Yes,' said Snape almost reluctantly. 'It's likely she had nothing to do with it. It is my belief that it was someone impersonating Miss Granger. And without a doubt they were using "Polyjuice".'

'My sentiment exactly,' said Dumbledore before turning to face her. 'Eleni under no circumstances are you to discuss this with anyone, I do not want to alert the culprit. News at Hogwarts has a tendency to travel quickly.'

Eleni nodded.

His face softened when he saw the concern on her face. 'Now I think it's time to return to the hospital wing,' he said. 'I want you in bed resting for the rest of the day.'

'I'll escort her,' said Snape.

'Very well Severus,' said Dumbledore, 'as you wish.'

As she followed Snape out of the dungeons and to the hospital wing Eleni wished she could have instead remained in Snape's quarters. It had been nice waking up in front of the fire, feeling safe and warm. But Madam Pomfrey was probably wondering where she was and when she'd be arriving. She had been cross enough last night when she had discovered Harry, Ron and Hermione sitting on her bed.

The hospital wing to her relief was empty when they arrived.

'Change into your bedclothes,' said Snape, 'while I go and tell Madam Pomfrey you're here.'

Eleni nodded with relief and went to her bed and quickly changed. The walk back to the hospital wing had zapped the last of her energy. She was in bed and almost asleep when Snape returned.

'Madam Pomfrey will be here in a moment,' he said, 'to give you a restorative potion.'

'Okay,' she said without opening her eyes.

'And Miss Devon,' he added a little menacingly, 'don't think that because I once knew your parents that I am going to change my behaviour towards you in class. If anything I will be stricter than before.'

Eleni opened her eyes and looked him straight in the eye. 'I never expected that you would change,' she said.

'Good,' he said, 'I'm glad we've made that clear.'

'Professor Snape,' she said as he turned to leave.

'Yes.'

'Thanks for explaining everything last night, I really appreciate it.'

The corners of his mouth only moved slightly but Eleni didn't mind because she knew he was pleased by her comment.