Well, I wasn't planning on expanding this fic, but since you've all been asking and pleading for more, I've decided to throw a few more chapters in. I'm open to ideas, so if you've got any let me know. Tell me what you want to happen and I'll do my best to put it down on paper! Thanks for readin'!

Awakening

It was quite dim where I awoke. Nonetheless, the clout of the candlelight seemed to burn my eyes the moment I opened them. I had to squeeze my eyes shut again to keep from blinding myself.

"Easy now young lady, take your time."

The voice sounded in my ear like an angel whispering from Heaven. So distant, yet right by my side she spoke. I could feel her hands enclosed around my fingers. She felt warm.

I felt so cold. My lips were numb and my lungs felt like they'd both collapsed. What a dreadful feeling. Why do I feel so… alive? I thought for sure I'd died in his arms.

Oh Merlin!

My eyes popped wide open the instant I remembered what had happened. I'd died in his arms.

I gasped loudly and sucked in a deep breath of air as I tried to sit up. "Oooh!" My head hurt so badly and my stomach churned. I couldn't hold myself up. After I'd collapsed back onto the bed I heard her voice again.

"Easy. Easy! You've had a long night Miss Chamberlain; it won't do you any good to burn the midnight oil so soon. Lay back and relax. You're perfectly safe now."

I recognized her voice. It was Madam Pomfrey. That means I must be in the Hospital Wing. I'm still at Hogwarts. I'm still near my love.

I didn't want to, but the profusion of potions surging through my body deprived me of the ability to get up again. My eyes rolled around behind closed eyelids. I could feel Madam Pomfrey brushing her hand across my dampened forehead.

I did try to relax as she had asked of me. Lying on my back with my head turned to the side I tried to remain perfectly still. I could feel my own breath blowing across my shoulder. Madam Pomfrey combed her fingers through my hair and curled her fingertips around behind my ear.

"That's much better, dear. Now when you're ready you can open your eyes." I could feel her pulling her hands away from me. Then doing as I was told I gently let my eyes flicker open.

At first everything was a blur. I blinked until the nurse came into focus. By the look on her face I could tell that she felt far more cross than her voice had suggested.

"Welcome back Miss Chamberlain," she said irritably. "We almost thought we'd lost you. You're quite lucky Professor Snape had a fresh antidote on hand."

I put my arms behind me on the pillow and sat up on my elbows. Madam Pomfrey stood up and began pulling the curtains around my bed. There was no one else in the Hospital Wing.

"Professor Snape," I repeated after realizing that I was no longer anywhere near his arms. "Where has he gone?" I asked in an awfully demanding voice.

Madam Pomfrey gave me a severe look that made my tone pale in comparison. "Back to his office I would imagine," she said. "He slipped out of here shortly after he'd brought you in."

"Did he say anything?" I asked eagerly. I watched her carefully as she began refolding some unused towels.

"No," she answered blatantly. "At least not to me. He spoke to the Headmaster after I'd taken you into my care. I imagine he'll be here shortly to speak with you."

"He will?" I asked excitedly and sat straight up in my bed.

Madam Pomfrey gave me one more severe look and sighed irritably. "Yes. Professor Dumbledore always checks in on my patients once they regain consciousness."

"Professor Dumbledore?" I wrinkled my face in disappointment and felt my heart sink deep into my chest. "Perhaps you misunderstood me. Who I meant was Professor Sn-"

"I know very well who you meant, dear." Madam Pomfrey sat back down on the edge of the bed and looked deep into my eyes. She wasn't a very mean woman and she was quite small in size, but the look she had in her eyes alone was awfully intimidating. "Professor Snape is in no way responsible for you. He's neither the Headmaster nor your Head of House. You'll not be seeing him before you leave tomorrow."

I drew my eyebrows together in anger. Who did she think she was telling me whether I would see him or not? "He saved my life," I told her. "Perhaps it would be prudent if I first thank him in person before leaving. Or, at least to let me say good-bye."

Madam Pomfrey stood up again. "You needn't make excuses in front of me, Miss Chamberlain," she said. "It is Professor Snape's wish that you do not see him again."

Without even feeling it coming on, I felt a tear drip down my cheek and spill onto the ivory blankets rumpled at my waist. Madam Pomfrey saw my teardrops and sighed sympathetically. "I'm sorry my dear, but it's for your own good."

She looked over at the large oak doors at the entrance to the Hospital Wing and hesitated before turning around and heading into the office at the back. I looked the other way and saw another familiar, sorrow face standing between those heavy oak doors.

It was Professor Dumbledore.

He saw me crying in the bed and silently stepped over to me. He raised his hand once he reached the side of my bed and made a calming motion. "I'm very pleased to have you back with us Miss Chamberlain. You gave us all a nasty fright."

I rolled my eyes and turned my head away from him. More tears spilled down my cheeks when I squeezed my eyes shut tight. "You should have just let me die," I heard myself whimper. I felt the pain and heartache more now than ever before. I had seen the seriousness in his eyes assured me that Madam Pomfrey spoke no word of a lie.

The man I've loved for the last seven years never wanted to see me again.

I may as well be dead.

"Elizabeth, look at me." Professor Dumbledore spoke so softly I almost didn't hear him. "Please, look at me." His fingertips touched beneath my chin and gently turned my head his way.

I opened my eyes and willingly looked past those crescent glasses into his baby blue eyes. His eyes were far friendlier than those black tunnels I tried so hard to lure myself into over the years, but the soul deep desire still lingered behind in those deep, dark tunnels.

"Why won't he see me, Professor?" I asked him.

Professor Dumbledore took his hand away from my face and cupped his hands in his lap. "Exposure to lust and infatuation will only increase the heartache and pain you feel, Elizabeth. Your wounds will not properly mend unless you're given the time you need to heal your heart. You won't be able to do this unless you leave him behind along with your memories of Hogwarts. Believe me my darling, Severus won't give you the satisfaction your heart seeks… at least not yet."

"Not yet?" I repeated immediately. "Do you mean to say that-"

Professor Dumbledore raised a hand and silenced me before I had the chance to continue. "Don't trouble yourself Elizabeth, once you've had a taste of what the future has to offer you, you'll have forgotten all about him and you'll find love again. By the time you're his age now, you'll both understand why I cannot allow you to bid him farewell this evening."