(A/N: This scene was inspired by the TV series CSI.)

That night, Sarah left with Draco to return to Hogwart while Snape went back to the house to collect things he wanted to keep and Sarah's belongings. He knew it would be better for her, emmotionaly, to stay at Hogwarts. The next few days were extremely hard for her and she often remained in her room, closed out from everyone else, including Draco. A week later, four men were held in the custody of CSI, all of them having the nickname, Bud and similar descriptions. Since there had been no fingerprints on the scene, the only way Bud could be identified was if Sarah would point him out. Snape had only seen him twice and had confessed he probly wouldn't be able to tell him apart from the other three men. She was scheduled to go in the next day and her nightmares that night had intensified. She never let Snape know when she was having them because she didn't want him to know. On the day she had to go, Draco was allowed to come with her and be there for her. They entered the lab silently and two investigators took Sarah with them to another room.

"Alright Sarah," said one of the CSI agents. She was a female with blond hair and a slim build. "You won't even have to speak. One by one the suspects will step up so he's facing you, turn to the side, turn to you again and then step back. When you see the one, write the number down. If you think you need to see one again, let us know."

"Remember," said the other agent. This one was male and had a gruff look to him. "They are in the other room and are in handcuffs so they can't hurt you. Also remember that you'll be able to see them, but they can't see you."

"It won't matter," she muttered. "He still knows it's me." The woman handed her a small note pad and a pen and proceeded to call them up.

"Number one, step up." The first man stepped up, but already she could tell he was not the one. She waited as he turned to the side and then left and watched the next one. He wasn't Bud either, and neither was the next one. Then the fourth one stepped up. Sarah gasped painfully as she remembered the night he shot her and her dad. Tears flooded her eyes and as she glanced down at the note pad she realized that all she had to do was write that number down and she would finally be free. Her hand trembled and she placed the tip of the pen on the paper. She glanced back up again, his sneer and dangerous eyes were boring into her and she was shaking. She looked back down at the paper and then back up at him...

Snape and Draco watched as they brought Sarah back. Her nose and cheeks were red and her eyes were flooded with tears. Snape immediatly wrapped his arms around her and soothed her a little.

"How'd it go?" he asked. The CSI agent shook his head.

"She choked." he answered mournfully. "She didn't identify him." Snape closed his eyes and withdrew from her. He put his arm around her and left with her back to Hogwarts. Once they were inside the common room, she broke down again.

"I couldn't do it," she wept. "I was too afraid. Now he'll be released and I'll be next."

"No you won't," said Snape softly. "You're my daughter and I will protect you and be here for you for as long as it takes." She sniffled and nodded as he embraced her tightly. "I love you, Sarah. I will not let him hurt you again."

"I love you too, Dad," she whispered. Draco left quietly to his room leaving Snape and Sarah alone.

That night, Snape woke to the sound of Sarah screaming. He burst into her room faster than lightning and found she was still asleep.

"NO!" she shouted. "LEAVE MY MOM ALONE!!!" Snape woke her gently and her eyes snapped open. Fear was engraved on her face and tears were flowing freely down her cheeks. Snape held her close as she cried softly. "I can't believe she's gone," she sobbed. "It's not fair!"

"Hush," whispered Snape. "It's okay, I miss her too."

"She probly never saw it coming. What if she suffered for a long time? She must've been so scared..."

"Try not to think about it," Snape said softly. "Everything will be alright. We'll pull through this." Sarah withdrew and nodded, wiping her eyes.

"It's just, we used to argue a lot and the last time I saw her, we were fighting. Now my last memory I have of her is yelling at her to go away and leave me alone." She burried her face in her hands and cried again. Snape placed his arms around her and comforted her. He soon felt himself fighting back his own tears which was rare because he seldom cried. (I'm crying now :'( ).

"She loved you," he managed to say. "And she knew you loved her too. I know it hurts. It hurts like hell, but we're going to get through this."

"I just feel so weak," she muttered. She looked up at him, her eyes were bloodshot and tears were still falling. She had never before looked so broken and his heart was ripped in pieces just seeing her like this. It reminded him too much of when he was a child and lost his own mother.

"It's okay to be weak sometimes," he said softly. He couldn't prevent it. A small tear escaped and rolled down his face. Sarah gasped when she saw it and hugged him again.

"You were screaming again last night," said Draco as he and Sarah ate their breakfast quietly. They had both gotten permission to stay in the slytherin common room for breakfast so they could be alone.

"Nightmares," she muttered.

"It hurts, doesn't it?" She nodded.

"Like hell." He reached across and took her hand.

"I'm here for you, always."

"I know," she whispered. "Just don't leave me."

"I won't. I promise you." She smirked and he kissed her hand softly.

"You really have changed since I first met you."

"I hope so," he muttered. She smiled and took a sip of coffee.

"I'm so tired."

"You should sleep," he said staring at her.

"I can't. I'm afraid to go near my bed or even close my eyes."

"What you saw was traumatic, I will admit," he said softly. "But I don't like seing you like this... again."

"I don't like being like this."

"Then at least let me try to help you."

Sarah looked out the window and shivered.

"It won't be much longer. He'll soon come."

"No," he said as he moved over closer to Sarah and hugged her. "No he won't. He won't ever lay a hand on you again... ever." She looked at him with tears in her eyes and was angry that she couldn't hide her emmotions.

"I just wish the time would come sooner and be over with."

"No you don't," he said softly. He held her tightly as she started to cry. "I love you, Sarah, more than anything. You mean everything to me and I don't want you to go." He placed a small kiss on her neck and she pulled away. "You really need to sleep." She nodded and walked over to the sofa. He went with her and laid down across the sofa with her. He put his arm around he and waited till she was asleep.

Snape came in some hours later and found both Draco and Sarah asleep on the sofa, Draco with his arm protectively around her. He went into his room and came out with a blanket. Ever so carefully he placed it over both of them and left silently as they slept.

(A/N: For those of you who are getting mad b/c you think I've made anyone out of character, nobody forced you to read this, okay? I do need criticism to get better, but don't come hammering down on me like I superglued your face to the screen and pulled on your hair while giving you paper cuts and sprinkling lemon juice on them until you read every last word. If you don't like the fic, then just stop reading this and read something else. Don't come bashing on me, telling me I'm a no good fan who ruins HP even if it is true. There's a difference between giving suggestions and just flat out being a pain in the ass (pardon my french). If I get another review saying trash, I will personally come over and torture you by glueing your face to the screen and making you read my earlier works which, believe me, are two million times worse than this. Thankyou.)