A/N: Greetings to Ashliegh and to Cindal. Thanks for your input! Hope you all like this chapter. I happen to like this one a great deal.

The Dungeon ~*~

Hermione sat at the table in the Gryffindor common room, arguing with Ron. "I'm telling you that it's bicorn horn powder, not unicorn," she said.

"And I'm telling you that's not what Snape said in class," Ron answered adamantly.

Hermione turned to Harry. "What did he tell us in class? Bicorn horn powder, right?"

"Actually, I'm not totally sure, now," Harry admitted. His mind had been wandering to his recent lessons with Lorien.

"Look," said Ron. "It's right here in the book."

"I don't care what it says in the book! I know what Snape said in class. If you ever paid attention, Ron."

Ron blinked at her. "What? You don't care what the book says? Hermione, are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine." She gave him a look. "Ron, books can be wrong once in a while, you know"

"So can you." Ron was not giving in.

"Fine. Be that way. I'll show you that I'm right about this." Hermione stood up abruptly.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked.

"To see Snape," she announced.

"Now?" asked Ron incredulously.

"Yes, Ron. Now." Hermione was agitated.

"Hermione, it's late. It can wait until tomorrow."

I'm going to get the answer to this so we can finish this discussion." She stormed across the room and out through the portrait hole.

Ron rolled his eyes at Harry. "She's like a terrier with a bone."

Harry smiled at his friend. "It's part of what we love about her."

Ron rolled his eyes again.

Lorien walked to the dungeon with the package of bloodroot in her hand. The other hand fiddled absentmindedly with the odd-looking key around her neck. It was late and she would just slip in to the potion classroom to put it away in the lacquered cabinet.

The door was unlocked and slightly ajar when she got to the classroom, and she pushed it open to walk inside.

Snape looked up from where he was working at the front of the room. He smiled to himself.

"Ben notan, Sylvanesti," he greeted her.

"Ben notan, Elixani Ator." She smiled as she made her way to the open storage room.

He stopped what he was doing and followed to stand in the doorway as she unlocked the cabinet. He smiled again to himself as he watched her give the door a quick smack and it swung open before her. He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway.

"I see you no longer need my assistance," he said.

She looked up at the sound of his voice and smiled as she placed the small package on the shelf where it belonged. She closed the door and stood to face him.

"I seem to be managing fine without you," she quipped. "What are you working on?"

"A lesson plan for tomorrow," he replied.

"Really, what is it?" She walked toward him and he uncrossed his arms and straightened as she neared. He walked out through the doorway and into the classroom with her next to him.

"A class II restorative potion," he answered.

"With mandrake and unicorn powder?" Lorien asked.

"Bicorn in this one," he corrected her.

"Really?'

"Yes." He looked at her steadily.

"Ugh! They'll have to shred a lot of mandrake root, won't they?" she observed.

"No," he began slowly, "I have to shred a lot of mandrake root. Sprout gets upset if the students waste any. She despises growing any more mandrake than she absolutely has to."

Lorien laughed. "Tell me about it. Somehow she managed to talk me into helping her transplant this last bunch."

He nodded and gave her a knowing look. "I'm sure then that you would want us to use as little mandrake as possible in class as well."

"I don't deny it." She laughed again and lightly touched his forearm for an instant as she did so.

Snape frowned. He didn't like the thought of her knowing what lay under the sleeve of his dark robes where she had just touched him. What would she think if she knew?

He began to wonder if he should tell her, after all, she had accepted the werewolf for who he was. Perhaps she could be open-minded about his past as well. He looked at her as she turned to the pile of mandrake on the table.

Pain seared through the mark on his left arm. He grabbed at his wrist reflexively as a small gasp escaped him.

"Severus, I don't mind helping if you want..." She heard the sudden intake of air behind her and snapped her head around. She was alarmed at what she saw.

Snape stood there frozen, his eyes were closed and his face had gone white. He was gripping his left arm... 'Merlin's beard. His heart!' she thought.

"Severus!" She reached him in an instant and placed her hands on his arms. "What is it? Here sit down." She firmly sat him in the nearby chair. "Are you ok? Does it still hurt? Do you have a history of heart trouble?" She reached for his throat to see if his pulse was steady. Snape's hand closed around her wrist and slowly pulled her hand away from his neck.

Snape spoke again after a moment. "I'm fine," he lied softly, letting go of her arm.

"Really, Severus. This is nothing to ignore," Lorien said firmly.

"I'm fine, Lorien. It's not my heart," he insisted.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice obviously full of great concern.

He looked at her for a long moment and then his eyes could not longer meet hers. "Lorien. There's something you should know about me," he began.

She could hear the strain in his voice and a strange feeling began to creep up on her as he hesitated.

She knelt before him and placed her hands on his. He winced slightly as her touch met his skin so close to the Dark Mark.

"What is it? You can tell me, Severus." She spoke in a soft and reassuring way.

He looked back at her. "You remember how I told you Ursa was killed by a Death Eater?"

She nodded.

"And how I knew the man before he killed her?" he asked.

She nodded slowly. The strange feeling was creeping up on her further.

"Didn't you wonder how I knew such a killer so well?"

"No, I never really thought about it," she admitted.

"You should have." Snape sighed and removed his hands from hers. He reached for the left sleeve of his robe and drew it back. The Mark was black.

Hermione walked quickly into the dungeon. She was annoyed at Ron and she was going to prove to him that she was right. What were the chances that Ron had paid closer attention in class than she had?

She was determined to have an answer tonight. It was just the way she was.

Snape was not in his office. She hoped he was in the classroom. She wanted her answer and she was not about to go looking for his private rooms.

Lorien gasped and stood up quickly.

"You're...You're a Death Eater!" She spoke in barely more than a whisper.

"Was, Lorien. I was...a Death Eater."

She stared at him, unsure how to react. Unsure how to feel.

He decided to tell her everything. How Ursa had been killed. How the Death Eaters had gone underground to wait. He told her about Dumbledore giving him a second chance and how he had been a spy. He watched her carefully as he waited for her reaction.

She was struggling with this, a good sign he realized. If she had rejected him outright she would have fled.

"So, you aren't..."

"No, Lorien. I'm not," he said, looking her steadily in the eye. "Please allow that some of us have made larger mistakes than others in our lives."

She nodded and looked back at him. "Every day brings with it a new chance for us to be someone different than the day before."

"Very wise, Sylvanesti." The faintest hint of a smile was on his face.

"Not my wisdom, Perth's. Severus, why are you telling me all this?" she asked evenly.

"I thought it only fair that you should know. That I should be the one to tell you. We are...friends...are we not?" he asked, a little hesitantly.

She nodded. "Yes." She frowned again. "But Severus, why did the Mark hurt you just now?"

He explained it to her.

Her eyes went wide. "You can't even possibly be thinking about going!"

"I have to." He rose from the chair.

"No! Severus, this is madness. I can't believe you aren't going to certain death!" Lorien cried.

"Perhaps. I don't think so, but perhaps," he said steadily.

"How can you be so calm about this?" Lorien was definitely not calm.

"It has taken me many years to learn to live with myself again, and if I don't go I'll be throwing that all away," Severus told her.

She thought she understood, but she didn't like it at all.

"Isn't there any way...?" she asked him softly.

"No, Lorien," he said quietly. "There isn't. I must go." He started to walk past her.

She touched his arm again and spoke softly. "Severus, please. Please be careful," she pleaded.

"I will." He turned to leave and then stopped. A strange feeling welled up inside him. Perhaps it was her concern for him, or perhaps it was the knowledge that he might not return, but in that instant he made the decision.

He whirled in a flurry of black robes and closed the short distance between them.

Startled, she took a step back and into the table behind her. She had nowhere to go as Snape grabbed her wrists.

Hermione was pleased. She would have her answer after all. The door to the classroom was slightly open and she could tell that the torches were lit. She thought she heard voices, and one of them was Snape's. She walked to the door to knock but stopped short at what she could see through the opening. Her mouth fell completely open.

Lorien gasped as Severus grabbed her. He didn't hurt her at all but he forced her back against the table a little harder. Her eyes widened as he took both of her wrists in one of his hands and leaned into her. His free hand he placed on the back of her neck and he held onto her gently but firmly.

She tried to look away but he held her with his hands and his eyes, and he spoke her name softly as he leaned closer. "Lorien."

His voice was silk, his gaze was fire.

She never had a chance to respond as his mouth closed over hers. She tried to pull back but the table prevented her from moving. He pressed his mouth harder against hers. She struggled weakly against him again, but he wouldn't stop. He held her until he felt her finally relent, and then he let go of her wrists. His free hand went to her waist as her hands rested on his chest and he pulled her against him tighter as he realized she was no longer resisting. After a long moment he gently broke away.

She said nothing but for a brief moment her eyes met his. He could feel her shaking and knew that he had frightened her, but he also knew it wasn't only fear that was causing her to tremble. He kissed her again and this time she met him willingly. After a moment he pulled away and looked at her calmly. Just as suddenly as he grabbed her he let go, and walked away, leaving her where she stood.

Hermione stood rooted to the spot, her mouth agape. It took a second or two for what she was actually seeing to sink in. The moment she realized that Snape was kissing Lorien she turned and ran for everything she was worth down the hall.

Lorien leaned against the table still, steadying herself. Snape was gone. She was trembling and she fought to calm herself, and to steady her shaking hands. She was horrified at everything that had happened in the span of just a few minutes. She was horrified that he bore the Dark Mark, and that he was now facing imminent danger. She was horrified that he had grabbed her, that he had kissed her, but most of all she was horrified that she had found herself kissing him back.

Unable to control her emotions any longer she burst into tears and ran from the room.

Remus and Sirius were laughing uncontrollably. A good deal of the bottle they had opened was missing and the two friends were well on their way to being inebriated. They had been reminiscing together and trading stories that kept them amused while they drank. As the evening wore on, everything had become much funnier, and now they were in a drunken fit of hysteria.

Lupin lay on his back on the couch, and Black sat cross-legged on the floor.

"Stop!" begged Lupin. "Stop it, you're killing me." He was trying desperately to regain some semblance of control.

Black's laughter abated a bit. "Hey, you know what?"

"What?" Remus asked, still chuckling.

"I'm hungry," Sirius announced.

"No kidding. You?" Remus teased.

"No, really," Sirius was insistent.

"Padfoot, I am not moving from this spot. I don't think I could get up if I wanted to," he snickered.

"It's alright, I'll go," Black offered.

"Yeah, sure. You'll just waltz on down to the kitchen," Remus said facetiously.

"I will," Black insisted. He rose with a little difficulty to his feet. "What do you want?"

Remus thought about it. "See if they have any more of those cookies they made earlier in the week."

Sirius saluted Remus. "Be back in a jif."

The large black dog trotted off down the hallway a little unsteadily.

The headmaster was in his chambers also thinking about chocolate chip cookies. He had been up reading when the craving for a midnight snack came upon him, and he rose from his chair and pulled on his dressing gown. He could have summoned a house elf, but he decided he would stretch his legs and walk to the kitchen.

He was nearly to the painting of fruit that marked the entrance to the kitchen when it swung open. A large black dog emerged carrying a large plate of cookies in his mouth.

"Good evening, Snuffles," the headmaster said, a little surprised.

The dog looked at him. "Wmmf," he replied and turned to head toward the Gryffindor tower carrying his prize and staggering a little as he went.

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and then shrugged and reached for the pear. He hesitated again as he heard someone running. Looking up he saw Hermione Granger tearing up the hallway toward him.

"Good evening, Miss Granger," the headmaster said politely.

Hermione barely slowed as she looked up when Dumbledore spoke, and after only the briefest glance at the headmaster, burst into tears and continued to run for Gryffindor tower.

"Well. That's not good," he said aloud to himself.

He reached for the pear again when he heard the next rapid set of footsteps. Lorien was running up the hallway toward him.

"Good evening...."

She burst into tears at the sight of the white haired wizard and ran past sobbing on her way to the medical wing.

"Well, that's not good either."

He turned one last time to the painting of fruit. More rapid footsteps. He turned to look down the hallway yet again. Snape was walking rapidly toward him, a look of grim determination on his face. Oh, this definitely wasn't good. The headmaster sighed and gave up on getting any cookies.

"Severus?" Dumbledore spoke as the younger wizard approached.

Snape nodded. "It's time."

The headmaster sighed. "Severus, do you really think..."

"Albus. We've been over this."

"I know. You can't blame me for trying once more. Be careful, Severus. Even if it just doesn't feel quite right get out."

The dark robed wizard nodded.

"And Severus?" The old wizard stepped forward to embrace the younger one like a father would a son. "Come back to us."

Snape stepped back as the older wizard released him. He was unable to say anything at that moment and merely nodded as he turned to leave.

Hermione ran up the stairs, some two at a time and finally flung herself at the fat lady.

"Panthera leo!" she gasped. The portrait swung open and she ran inside.

Harry and Ron looked up as she burst into the room.

"Well?" said Ron expectantly.

Hermione couldn't answer. She was bent over panting with her hands braced against her legs.

"Why were you running, Hermione?" asked Harry.

She continue to pant at the floor, but held up a finger to indicate that she needed a minute. When she finally looked up the boys could see how upset she appeared.

"Hermione, what is it?" Ron asked, suddenly concerned.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

She looked at each of them and then around the almost empty room. "Bathroom," was all that she said. The three friends headed to the boys bathroom.

They checked to make sure it was empty and then Harry locked the door. He and Ron looked worriedly at her.

"Did you find out?" Ron asked as Hermione slumped back against the wall. She shook her head.

"Did you see Snape?"

She closed her eyes and nodded.

"What is it?" Harry overrode Ron's interrogation.

She opened her eyes. "It was awful, Harry."

"What was, Hermione?" Harry asked worriedly.

"I saw him," she said.

"Snape?" Harry asked.

She nodded. "I saw him.....kiss her." Hermione's voice trailed off as both boys wrinkled their noses at the thought of Snape kissing anyone.

"Hermione, you're making me sick," complained Ron.

"It gets worse," she whispered.

Harry didn't really want to know but spoke anyway. "Tell us, Hermione."

She looked at him with wide eyes. "It was Lorien."

A/N: Hermione could obviously use a little chocolate after what she saw. If anyone else feels the need, I believe there are still chocolate chip cookies that the house elves made in the kitchen.