DISCLAIMER:  Unfortunately for me, none of these characters are my creations.  If they were, they certainly wouldn't be classified as children's books.

Chapter Five

            Snape, having finally gotten rid of the girl, decided not to go to breakfast.  He rarely did.  He was sure that he could count on her to inform Albus that both were safe.  The serpent, Tanzle, wound itself about his arm.  He truly wished that he had Potter's gift, that he could speak to this animal.  He had always been fascinated by snakes.

            The girl had revealed her animagus form to him.  A snake.  The snake that he recognized from that night on the couch.  He was rather puzzled that a Gryffindor would have had such a form.  But then, for all of her fun-loving, disgustingly honourable nature, she had shown a rather calculating side of herself at times.  Perhaps every Gryffindor had an inner Slytherin.  It was something to consider.

            There was a knock at his door.  Only a few people actually knew that the hidden door was there.  It blended perfectly with the stonework of his office wall.  He waved a hand, and the door opened.

            "Hi, Sev."  Draco had taken to calling him by his first name when they were in private.  It was appropriate, he supposed, but he still hadn't gotten used to it.  Draco held his new broom in hand.  "Thanks for the broom."

            "Perhaps you can best Potter on it."  Snape smiled.  The expression was beginning to feel almost familiar. "You certainly have always had the potential."

            Draco grinned.  He had found out that Snape had been quite a good player at school as well.  "Perhaps you could give me some pointers."

            "Perhaps."  Snape answered, "And thank you for the new pet."  He held up his arm, the snake coiled around it.  "Perhaps he can be our new mascot.  But really, you shouldn't have spent the money."

            Draco ignored the admonishment.  Snape deserved the gift.  "I'm going to go try the broom out.  The Weasley's want to play a pick-up match."  Draco leaned against the doorway, smirking, "And Potter's drunk off his arse."

            "This early in the morning?"

            "Thanks to the twins.  They did a spell on the milk, or so they say.  Didn't make anyone else tipsy, though."  Draco's grin widened.

            "Yes, well, his mother could always get drunk off a thimbleful."

            "And how, Sev, would you know such a thing?"

            "Shouldn't you be headed toward the pitch?"  He attempted to dismiss the boy, but unfortunately Draco had gotten to know him too well.

            Draco nodded, but he wasn't about to let Snape off on this subject.  "I'll be back.  I want you to translate something on this ring mum gave me."  The light flashed green as Draco held up his hand, then the boy spun around and left.

            Snape had to struggle to close his mouth.  Even from this distance he had recognized the ring.  But it didn't explain why Narcissa Malfoy had possessed such a thing.  Or how she had kept it a secret from Lucius, for surely she had to have done that.  Otherwise, it wouldn't be on Draco's hand.  It would have been on Voldemort's.

            How had she acquired Salazar Slytherin's ring?

**********

            "So he knows."  Albus was gripping his cup of tea as if it would run away from him.  He had always feared for Severus during these missions and knew all too well how easily he could have been killed the night before.

            "Yes, he knows.  And I have a feeling we've lost a student."  Severus frowned.

            "Elisa Bainbridge.  Yes.  She will not be returning next week."

            "I wish I knew what had happened.  Why would she have gone to Voldemort?  None of her family is associated with him."  Severus hated being wrong about anything, but most about his estimation of people.

            Professor Morrigan snorted.  "You mean you didn't know?"

            He looked at her, frowning, "Well, of course you suspected, woman!  You could read her mind."

            "I didn't have to read her mind."  Aislyn smiled sympathetically.  Her heart went out to the girl.  "Her family died in a train accident.  She was alone, and she believed herself in love with someone who would never return her affections."

            "You mean to tell me that this girl has joined Voldemort because of a boy?"  Snape rolled his eyes.  Teenage girls baffled him to no end.

            "Not a boy, Severus.  A man.  She believed that this man would notice her if she joined.  She believed him to be a Death Eater.  And then, not only did he not notice her affections, he insulted her rather cruelly in class one day."

            Albus caught on quickly, "And she decided to get revenge."

            Aislyn nodded.  Snape was looking back and forth between them, confused.  Surely not!

            "You mean," he sputtered, "You actually mean that this girl had a crush on me?  Girls do not get crushes on me, Professor.  I'm just the evil, mean, slimy, oily-haired Potions Master that was likely birthed by a vampire."

            Aislyn smiled, "So you do know what they say about you."

            "How could I not?"

            "And yet, you do not realize that there is a large percentage of the female population and only slightly smaller percentage of the male population that believes that you have beautiful eyes, a silky voice, and elegant hands?" 

            Albus had leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped and his thumbs twiddling, and was gazing at the ceiling as if it were the most interesting thing he had ever seen.

            "But they're supposed to hate me!"

            "What do you expect, Severus?"  Aislyn was grinning, "You're the only adult male in this castle who isn't ancient, abnormally large and grizzly, a disgustingly ill-kempt Squib, or a ghost."

            Snape looked at the headmaster, desperately wanting assistance here.  Albus continued to stare at the ceiling, his eyes twinkling.

            "So it's only because I'm the most eligible professor?" He was a bit relieved.  It was just not possible for him to actually be found attractive by females.

            "No.  That has a bit to do with it, but in general, it's because you're intriguing, a mystery."  Aislyn continued to explain, "And sexy as hell."

            "Whatever."  He didn't believe a word.

            The headmaster seemed to wake up, looking back at the two of them.

            "Now that that's settled."  Albus said, knowing all too well that nothing was in the least bit settled, "Do you think, Severus, that the little ruse still is in play?  Does Riddle believe you dead?"

            "It only worked long enough to get me out of there."  He looked at Aislyn, subtly thanking her before continuing, "He knew the moment I awoke this morning, thanks to this."  He motioned toward the mark on his forearm.  "And it's already itching.  If I don't go, he will use it to slowly drive me mad.  And if I do go, I'll never come back."  Snape looked as if he were quite willing to take that option.  It was certainly better than having to endure countless hours of torture.

            "I think I know a way to get past that,"  Aislyn said.

            "How?  There are no potions or spells to counter the effects of the Mark."

            "I think that I can dull the pain, if you'll allow it."

            "Very well, then," Albus smiled, relaxed again, "You will not go if he calls, Severus."

            Snape nodded, but didn't quite believe the girl's assurances.  "There is one other problem."

            "Riddle will change his plans because he now knows that we suspect him."  Albus said, nodding.  He knew all too well the implications of Snape's exposure, "And now he will enlist one of the students to disable Harry."

            Snape's frown grew.  That boy was nothing but trouble, but even he was able to admit that he was necessary.  He was, unfortunately, probably the only chance they had. 

            "Potter must be protected at all costs."

**********

            The morning after Yule, Draco walked to the Great Hall in unusually high spirits.  He sat in the chair that had become designated as his at the Gryffindor table. 

            "Ferret."  Ron greeted him.

            "Weasel."  Draco nodded back.

            Harry had his head buried in his arms.  "I am going to kill Fred and George." 

            "Really, Harry, it wasn't all that potent."  Hermione pointed out.  Harry rolled his head over to glare at her.

            "Well," Ron added, "Think of it this way, Malfoy can't even beat you when you're drunk and he's on a better broom."

            Draco snarled.

            "Yes, but Draco didn't fall off his broom, did he?"  Harry whined.

            "And, to correct your assumption, Weasel, I would have won if your family hadn't distracted me with their idiocy."  Draco asserted.

            "Oh, don't worry, Harry."  Hermione said, patting her raven-haired friend on the shoulder and completely ignoring Draco. "You didn't make that big a fool of yourself.  It was really rather cute."

            "Well, at least until you fell into Malfoy's arms.  That was a picture I could have done without."  Ron said, shaking his head.

            "Well, for once we agree, Weasley." Draco said,  "It was an experience that I could definitely have done without." 

            "Draco?" Harry said.

            "Yes?"

            "Shut up."

**********

            When classes began again, a small group of students did not return to their usual schedules.  At the time that they would ordinarily have begun their first class, this group stood in a dark, empty classroom wondering why they had been asked to come.  They knew nothing beyond the fact that there were new courses being offered.  All of the students in the classroom were seventh year, except for one.  She stood beside her brother and his friends, certain that she had been invited by mistake.  Draco stood apart from everyone else, leaning against a wall, and observing the Gryffindor trio (plus Ginny) in silence.  He already suspected the purpose for this, and by the serious expression on Potter's face, he knew that the other boy did too.  Harry was not listening to the conversation of the others.  He was staring into space, lost in thought.  Then suddenly, he turned his head.  Green eyes locked with silver.  Harry nodded.  He, at least, would not question Draco's presence in this group.  Unfortunately, Draco was already questioning it himself.

            Professors Snape and Morrigan walked into the classroom, being unusually civil toward one another.  They were followed by Dumbledore.  Draco thought that he saw a familiar black dog sitting outside the doorway.

            Dumbledore cleared his throat.  The group of students ceased all conversation and turned to look at him.

            "I am sure you are all a bit curious about why you have been asked to come here this morning."  The students nodded and made general sounds of assent, "Yes, well, you are all the best students from each house.  We have brought you here because the best is what we need."

            Draco looked over at Weasley.  He highly doubted that the red-head was one of the 'best.'

            "You each have different talents, but all of those talents are highly important to what we are going to ask you to do.  If you accept everything that I am about to tell you, none of you will return to your classes for the remainder of the year.  Instead, you will be taught together, here in this classroom.  You will be learning how to fight a war."

            Harry took a deep breath, but maintained eye contact with the headmaster. 

            "You will be taught by all of the teachers in this school, but most of the classes will be headed by one of three people, and often by two or all of these three together.  They will be Severus Snape, Aislyn Morrigan, and Sirius Black."  He stopped for the indignant voices of those unaware of Sirius's innocence to cease, then continued, "I would not place you in the hands of a dangerous person.  I assure you that, despite rumors and evidence to the contrary, neither Black nor Snape has any true ties to Voldemort."

            Most of the class breathed a sigh of relief.  Hearing that, Sirius bounded into the classroom and changed into human form, but not before snapping at Snape's ankles.

            "We have information that Voldemort will attack the school.  The information that we have implies that he will attack during graduation.  However, this information has been compromised, due to the fact that our spy, Professor Snape, has been exposed."

            Most of the classroom gasped at the information that Snape had been working both sides.  They looked at him with a new respect.  This man had faced Voldemort.  Had lied to him.  Had somehow managed to live.

            "We now do not know when this attack will occur, although we expect that it will be sooner rather than later."  Dumbledore continued. 

            At this, Harry spoke up.  "It will still be at graduation.  Voldemort knew that we would expect him to change it, and so he decided to keep the plans the same."

            Ron murmured, "Your dream, Harry?"

            Harry nodded.  Dumbledore smiled at him.

            "Good, then perhaps we are not as out of the loop as we had thought."  Dumbledore paused to look each student in the eye.  "I will remind you all that should you accept this request, the lives of your friends will be in your hands.  You will be the leaders, the generals.  You will be taking them onto a battlefield.  Many of them, and many of you, could die.  There are, among your peers here at this school, those who will sympathize with Voldemort's cause.  You may find that you are fighting your friends, or even your family."

            Draco closed his eyes, but instead of darkness, he saw the front gardens at Hogwarts littered with bodies in school uniform.  Then, he saw his father advancing on him.  Draco raised his wand, but couldn't bring himself to utter the curse.  It was his father, despite all of the pain that the man had caused him, it was still his father.

            Draco ran from the classroom. He couldn't do it.  He couldn't sit there and take classes knowing that they would expect him to go up against his father.  He ran out into the gardens, not paying attention to where he was going, until he reached the lake.  He sat there, on the shore beside it, looking out at the water but not really seeing it.

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

            Hermione found him there an hour later.  She came and sat beside him, not saying anything.  She just waited for him to talk.

            And talk he did.  He told her of how he had been told, not asked, but told, to take the Dark Mark.  How he had hedged, avoided the subject as long as he could.  He told her how his father had come to him, informing him that they had a project for him.  He was to prove his loyalty to Voldemort by injuring Harry.  He was to make sure that Harry would be completely incapacitated.  He was the insurance policy, Lucius had told him.  Voldemort didn't trust Snape to do the job.  And since he already hated Harry, it would be an easy thing to do.

            That had been when Draco had completely refused.  He had shocked his father by refusing him.  For the first time in his life, he had refused him.  And then he had found himself tied to a wall in the basement of Malfoy Manor, being fed broth by a house elf.  His father had broken his leg.  Each night the man had come down and tried some new form of torture on him.  Curses and muggle devices both.  He had seen such hatred in his own father's eyes.

            And yet, he told Hermione, he couldn't kill him.

            She cried.  And she wrapped her arms around him and told him that he had friends now, friends who cared about him.

            Draco sat there in the unfamiliar warmth of the girl's arms and began to cry himself.  Friends, she had said.  He had friends.  One sitting here beside him, giving him the first real hug that he had ever received, and another, standing behind them both, watching.  Draco could almost feel the too-serious emerald gaze of the boy's eyes boring into his back. 

            "Let me talk to him, 'Mione."  Harry said.  His voice was soft and gentle, but commanding.  The girl stood and, nodding at Harry briefly, headed back up to the castle.

            "She was right you know."  Harry said, coming to sit beside him, "We are your friends now.  Even Ron, although he wouldn't admit it."

            "How can you do it, Potter?"  Draco looked over, studying the boy beside him.  "You do realize, don't you, what they are asking you to do?"

            Harry nodded.  He sighed, watching the ripples that the breeze made across the lake.

            "They want me to kill Voldemort."

            "They're going to send you, a seventeen year old boy, out there against He-who-must-not-be-named, Lord of all that is Evil.  And they chose you because of something that you can't even remember doing!"

            "It's what I have to do.  I've known it from the first day that I found out who killed my parents.  I've known for nearly seven years that it would eventually come to this."  A breeze ruffled Harry's hair.  He paid it no mind, continuing to stare out at the water.

            "Have you ever killed someone, Harry?"

            Harry nodded, but then he looked down at his hands, "Yes, Quirrell, but it was hardly my doing.  It was luck more than anything.  I've never done the…the…"

            "You've never performed Avada Kedavra."

            Harry shook his head.  He looked over at Draco.  Draco could see the fear in his eyes, and behind that the determination.

            "I'll do it, Draco."  Harry said, holding the blonde boy's eyes, "I'll do it because I have to.  I'll do it because he killed my parents.  I'll do it because he killed Cedric.  I'll do it because he took Ginny and used her.  I'll do it because he sent Neville's parents into St. Mungo's.  Just because I've never done it, don't think that I would hesitate when the time comes."

            "I know you will.  But I can't."  Draco looked down at the grass between his feet, "I have none of your Gryffindor bravery, Potter."

            "I know that you don't want to fight Lucius.  Believe me, I understand."  Harry surprised Draco by taking his hand.  "Take the classes, Draco.  I'll feel better knowing that you can defend yourself.  And when the time comes, if you don't want to go out there, don't.  No one will judge you for it."

            Draco looked down at their clasped hands.  Harry's skin was several shades darker than his own.  He wore a ring very similar to the one given to Draco by his mother, except it was a ruby in a gold setting.  Draco ran his thumb over the stone, thoughtfully.

            "Where did you get this ring?"  he asked.

            Harry smiled, "Let's just say I inherited it."

            Draco nodded and turned his hand over, showing Harry his own ring.  "Mum gave me one like it for Yule."

            Harry's eyes widened.  Knowing where his ring had come from, he could easily guess the origins of the other.

            "Draco, do you know what that means?"

            Draco shook his head, "She just said it was for protection."

            "Draco, let's put it this way," he remembered Dumbledore's words at the end of his first year, "Only a true Slytherin could possess that ring."

            "Well, I am a Slytherin, so I guess that makes sense."

            Harry shook his head, "No Draco.  Think about it for a moment."

            Draco thought, and his eyes widened at the realization, "But I thought that You-Know-Who was…"

            "Dumbledore says that he was only a distant cousin who happened to share a good number of Slytherin's rarer talents.  I share a good number of those same talents as well, but that doesn't make me his heir."

            "But your ring's almost exactly like it. That means that you're…Oh!"

            Harry nodded, "Well, you definitely should take the classes now."  He waved a hand at Hogwarts, "This is our castle.  All of this, it belongs to us.  Our ancestors helped build it.  It's only right that we should defend it."

            "I'll take the bloody classes, Harry, but I still can't guarantee…"

            Harry waved a hand at him, dismissing what he was about to say, "Don't worry about it."

**********

            The two boys walked into the classroom.  Draco noticed Snape's eyes watching him walk toward an empty chair.  The small class had been broken into tiny groups.  The professors were attempting to determine the less obvious abilities of the students.  Snape was sitting at a table with Ron Weasley.  Each was staring at a map, poking little figures of soldiers around with their wands.

            "Well, Mr. Weasley.  I was certain that you would be an abject failure." Snape said, "I suppose that even I can be proven wrong at times.  You do seem to have a rare talent for strategy."

            Ron beamed.  Harry clapped him on the back, "Well, I suppose Satan is giving sleigh rides right about now.  You've just managed to get a compliment out of Professor Snape."

            The class then dispersed from their groups.  Two of the students walked out, following Madame Pomfrey.  Three  walked out with Hagrid and 'Snuffles'.  Nine students were left in the classroom.  Snape and Morrigan stood at the front of the classroom.

            "The class will only be together during a short time every day, specifically for the purposes of planning."  Snape said, explaining, "During all other times, a few of the students will be leaving to do more specialized training that is specific to their talents.  Some will apprentice with Madame Pomfrey to learn medical magic and others will be training in hand-to-hand combat as well as wizard dueling.  You all are still here because you will be the central force.  You will learn dueling as well, among other things, but the curses you will learn here are those which you have before been forbidden to use.  You will be learning the Dark Arts." Snape's face briefly contorted, but he continued.  "You are the strongest young wizards in this school.  You are the ones who can handle it."

            Snape sat down on a stool behind him, his face even paler than usual.  Professor Morrigan looked at him concerned, and quickly looked to the class, "Please, could you take a break?  Come back after lunch." She asked.  Most of the students complied.  Draco went up to the front, concerned.  Harry stayed as well, but hung back. 

            Snape jerked and slid from his stool.  Only the fact that Draco was holding one arm kept him from falling face first onto the floor.  Aislyn pulled back the arm of his robes.  The Mark glared back at her, angry and appearing almost infected.  It was no infection, just the anger and hatred that were causing this.

            "Hold him still, Draco.  It's Him.  He's calling, and Severus has been trying to ignore it all day." Aislyn explained.

            Draco grasped his guardian by each arm, holding the convulsing man as still as he possibly could.  He knew what happened to a Death Eater who ignored the call.  It was worse than Cruciatus.  It could very well take Snape's mind.  He called Harry over to help him, and then he watched as Professor Morrigan grasped Snape's head and looked into the unfocused, blankly staring eyes.

**********

            "Severus, you have to listen.  You are happy now.  Think about that.  You are happy for the first time in years.  Don't let him take that away."

            Snape stood in total darkness.  He was alone.  He had lost everything.  He had tried so desperately to atone for his past, and he had failed.  Draco dead, Potter dead, Dumbledore dead.  Everyone gone.  Because of him.

            "No, Severus.  No.  They are here.  Draco is here, and he worries.  He is holding you.  Harry as well.  Everyone is safe.  He's trying to turn your memories to physical pain.  Think on your happiness, not on your guilt.  You have nothing to be guilty for.  Not anymore."

            "Who are you?"

            "Someone who cares."

            "Hurts.  Oh Merlin, it hurts."

            "Of course, but you don't have to let it take you.  You can send the pain away.  Just concentrate.  Concentrate on something that feels good.  Concentrate on something beautiful."

            And so he did.  He concentrated on the last beautiful thing that he remembered.  Long, auburn silk.  Beautiful hair moving through his fingers.

            "Well, I certainly didn't expect that."

            "What?" a groan, and the mental Severus fell into a fetal position.  The hair was gone.  The pain was back.  But then, a light formed in the darkness.

            "I didn't expect you to imagine me.  Aren't I just an annoying twit to you, Severus?" A form stepped out of the darkness.  Aislyn, dressed in flowing white, her hair like a flame.  Even through the pain, Severus managed to laugh.  Then the pain intensified.  He was not in darkness any longer.  Now, he was at a Dark Revel, a young girl cowering before him.  He saw himself raising his wand, pointing it at the girl.  He heard the words, he saw her fall.

            "No!  Come back, Severus!  Don't go into those memories.  You are not that man any longer."

            "If I am not that man, then who am I?"

            "Remember, Severus.  You have done so many good things.  You chose to change, and you did.  You are a good man."  The imagined Aislyn took him by the hand, pulling him away from the Dark Revel back into the darkness. 

            "I don't believe you."

            "Then let me show you." The woman-child pulled him forward.  A door appeared in the darkness.  She pulled him through.

            He watched himself, in yet another memory, when he was much younger.  He held a heartbroken girl in his arms.  She was crying, sobbing on his shoulder, because she believed that the man she loved would never notice her.  He knew that she had no reason to cry.  The damned boy had noticed her and wanted her.  He had overheard his rival talking about her.  He didn't want to tell her.  He wanted her to forget that boy.  He wanted her to notice him, not the other.  But he did tell her what he knew.  He advised her to admit her feelings.  He told her that the boy cared for her.  And he watched her leave and had soon afterwards seen her in Potter's arms.  The next thing he had heard was that they were engaged. 

            "This is supposed to be evidence of my goodness?"

            "You loved her.  You wanted her and yet you did not take advantage of her when she was vulnerable."

            "A month later, I pledged myself to the Dark Lord."

            "And when he killed her, you went to Dumbledore with all that you knew.  You have helped her son in much the same way that she once helped you."

            The surroundings changed.  He was in the forest.  A muggle girl stood before him, her clothes in shreds.  She must have been about thirteen.  He could hear the sounds of the Death Eaters in the distance.  He wrapped a cloak around her, telling her to go before they found her.  She ran.

            "I never had any stomach for the Revels."

            "You saved that girl's life."

            "I nearly lost my own for doing it."

            "And yet you did."  The room changed again.  It was suddenly filled with people.  They were all people that he had seen before, somewhere, but he only recognized a few.  "These are the people who are alive because of you, Severus."

            "And yet, not one of them cares."

            "There are people who care about you.  People you have helped."

            "Like who?"

            The room dissolved.  It was his office now, decorated as it was this year.  He watched as Malfoy ran into his office, shutting the door behind him.  His memory-self bent over the boy, questioning him.  He watched the conversation between the two of them, and then watched himself help Draco through the door.

            "You are that boy's father now, don't you see?  He even asked for you to be his guardian.  He trusts you, Severus, and for him that's a difficult thing to do."

            "He's a good boy."

            "Thanks to you."

            "He'll leave.  He'll graduate and then he won't need a guardian.  I'll only be alone again."

            "No.  He's family for you now.  And even if he did leave you, there are others who would not."

            "Like who?  Everyone hates me."

            She took his hand again.  She pulled him back to the darkness.  Except, it was no longer darkness.  It was no longer cold.  It was filled with soft, warm light. 

            "I don't hate you, Severus.  I never did.  And no one else does either."  The dream-Aislyn smiled, "Well, maybe You-Know-Who does, but he doesn't count."

            "It still hurts."  It did hurt, badly.  The memories of his guilt threatened to crash in on him, but they seemed to be held back by the light.  They could not get in.  They could hurt him, but they could not take him.

            "It always will hurt, Severus.  But you are happy now.  You could be even happier, if you allowed yourself to be.  There are people who love you, Severus."  She kissed him softly on the lips.  The pain died.

**********

            Snape's eyes had drifted closed, and Draco began to panic.  Professor Morrigan had collapsed against Snape's chest.  Harry looked across the two bodies at Draco, questions in his eyes.

            "Maybe we should get Dumbledore."

            Snape's head shot back and he let out a low moan.  Aislyn stiffened, and tears began to fall down her cheek.  She did not wake.

            "It shouldn't be affecting the both of them." Draco said, "It's You-Know-Who.  He's manipulating the Mark."

            "What the hell was Morrigan trying to do?"

            "I haven't a clue, Potter."

            Snape's eyes opened.  He raised his head to look down at the two boys holding him and the girl unconscious across him.  The boys let him go.

            "Are you okay, Sev?"  Draco asked, concerned.

            "I'll live.  Aislyn…"  Snape put a hand on her head.  She was breathing slowly but steadily.  "She must have exhausted herself."  He sat up, pulling her against him.  He brushed her hair from her face.  Her eyes opened slowly.

            "It worked."

            Snape nodded.

            "I was worried that it wouldn't."  She raised a hand, cupping Snape's cheek gently.  "I couldn't lose you."

            Draco pulled Harry toward the door, completely ignored by the two professors. 

            "Did you mean what you said in my dream?"

            She nodded.

            "Everything?"

            In answer, she wound her fingers in his hair and pulled his head down to hers.  Dumbledore found them like that moments later, having been alerted to the incident by the students.  He just left them there, smiling as he walked away.  Severus deserved to be happy.  He was quite certain that his 'niece' would do just that.