Snape sat, irritated and anxious, at the teacher's table, not listening as Dumbledore made the usual announcements. He didn't bother to touch the food on his plate, which had already grown cold in any case.

She had dismissed him without answering that vital question on which might hang the outcome of the entire war. Whose side was she really on? And who could really tell? No one, of course.

No one could decipher what lay at her heart, no one could know what she thought and felt, no one knew her dreams and her fears. It was therefore somewhat unfair that she could know all that about him.

He answered Professor Firenze's solicitous inquiry as to his mental health with a half-hearted snarl, still dwelling on their conversation – if you could call it that. She had given nothing away.

And what did she mean by bringing up Sirius Black?

Students and teachers alike did not look up as a shadow suddenly obscured the enchanted ceiling. Outside, an amorous cricket preparing to sing heard the flap of leathery wings, and fell abruptly silent. Something landed gracefully outside Hogwarts with the subtle sound of talon scraping against stone.

Inside, the candles flickered. Conversation died away, before starting up again in a slightly higher pitch. Involuntarily, people found themselves darting nervous glances at the door to the Great Hall. Ironically enough, the only person who would be able to shed any light on the sudden change of atmosphere was too lost in inward contemplation to notice.

The candles flickered again, and went out, plunging the entire hall into darkness. A few people screamed, then looked embarrassed when they relit a moment later. Others laughed, dispelling the nervous tension.

Ah...

Snape's eyes widened in shock at the voice that only he could hear.

Who's there, he thought wildly, although the question was redundant. A soft chuckle danced in his ear.

Redundant, yes. So surprised? Can I not repay the visit my friend paid me?

You shouldn't have come like this.

Didn't you expect it?

No, Snape thought fiercely, I expected you to arrive in a more solid form. Get out of my thoughts, he added with a rising note of alarm as a stray memory flickered before his conscious mind. She was looking through his memories! A grosser abuse of privacy could not be imagined. She didn't acknowledge his demand. But there is another reason why I am here. Sirius Black has fallen into the hands of some... people. ...people? he asked witheringly.

Best to think of them as people, yes. They have been having fun, if it can be called that. They will bring him to Hogwarts.

But what sort of people are they?

He caught a trace of amusement in her answer

The sort of people who are not people at all. Considering what they have done, you will refuse to think of them as sentient.

Sirius Black was my enemy, he reminded her.

There are things repugnant to even the most embittered men.

He winced as laughter echoed through his head.

Get back to your dinner; you are worrying your friends.

They're no friends of mine, he protested, but she was gone.

Later that night, just as he was closing his office door after returning from the feast, he staggered and almost fell as a bolt of pain ripped through his mind.

Better.

Stifling a gasp, he stood up, moving stiffly. She stood illuminated by a shaft of moonlight, obscenely indifferent to his discomfort and frustratingly attractive. She laughed. It was the same light, mocking laugh he'd heard so many times before.

You did ask for a more solid form. The words settled into the forefront of his brain, bypassing his ears entirely.

Snape refused to dignify the jab with a reply, instead walking to his desk and pulling out some papers that needed marking.

"Now what?" he asked aloud. "What do you want from me?"

No need to talk, I can read your mind easily enough. She walked over and took a seat across from him. Talking to yourself isn't a good thing either.

"I at least feel less stupid that way," Snape muttered. He felt used.

Poor Snape, she commiserated, smiling slightly. He winced involuntarily. Life has not been kind to you, has it? But no matter. I am here for you.

Gold eyes locked into his, inscrutable.

I am always here.