Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, events and/or places that are recognized as being written and created by J.K. Rowling. J.K. Rowling owns all the characters and places from the Harry Potter books including the ones used in this story.

Snape led Clea outside and to a small grassy area near her apartment building. He placed his hand on a rusty can that a passer by would have assumed was garbage. Clea copied him, kneeling down on the soft ground. Before she could say anything, Clea felt an immense power pull her backwards at a great speed.

Once she felt the movement stop, Clea opened her eyes. If it wasn't for the fact that she was standing next to an adult Snape, Clea would have thought she was thrown back in time. Looking around, she knew exactly where she was; Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The entrance hall appeared to her just as it did all those years ago. It was massive and awe inspiring. She snapped her head around, taking everything in. The four house hourglasses that kept track of points and the double door entrance into the Great Hall. Everything was exactly the same.

Snape was slightly bemused by Clea as she continued to slowly turn around in place. "Are you finished?" he asked, picking up the used portkey, but keeping his eyes fixed on Clea.

"Yes, sorry," she said. "It's been a long time."

Snape nodded his head. "This way," he said turning around and walking briskly towards a hallway. Clea took step behind him. She stared at the back of his head as they walked. She couldn't help but feel that there should have been more said between the two of them. She was curious about what he had been doing all these years; why he didn't try to speak to her either. They were friends at school, well, until that Ball. Her thoughts suddenly drifted back to what happened at the Graduate's Ball during her 6th year, and Sirius. She once again felt scared tears filling her eyes as her mind rested on her brother.

"Don't think about him," Snape suddenly said. Clea swallowed hard and froze in place. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. A look of scandal draped over her face.

"He's not worth it," Snape continued. He stopped in front of a statue of a phoenix. Clea just blinked at him. She was so shocked that Snape had read her thoughts that she couldn't even find the strength to yell at him.

"Fizzing Whizbees," Snape muttered. The phoenix statue began to rise and a staircase appeared, circling out of the ground. Snape grabbed Clea's right hand, which was shaking and hovering over her gaping mouth. He stretched his fingers out, intertwining them with hers, and led her over to the staircase. They both stepped up and allowed the stairs to carry them up with it.

When the staircase halted, Clea felt extremely dizzy, but she still recognized where she was. She was standing outside the office of Albus Dumbledore.

Snape knocked twice on the door and it opened wide, revealing Dumbledore's circular office. Clea stepped inside, still holding Snape's hand.

"Hello, love."

Clea spun around to where the voice came from. A short old man with long dark gray hair stared at her from his portrait on the wall; he winked at Clea when he saw her look at him. Clea turned to Snape and raised one of her eyebrows. Snape shot the old former Hogwarts headmaster a dirty look and pulled Clea towards Dumbledore's desk.

Clea gazed around at all the portraits on the walls. She spotted one headmaster glaring at her with narrowed eyes out of the corner of his painting. Clea smiled slyly at the man, and he ducked out of his portrait completely.

"Professor?" Snape shouted. A shuffle of steps could be heard and Dumbledore appeared from behind a tall bookcase.

"Ah, Severus; you've returned." Dumbledore walked over to his desk. "Hello, Ms. Black," he said in his wise, light voice. Clea couldn't help but feel safe inside as Dumbledore's sparkly blue eyes danced across her face under his half-moon spectacles.

It took a Clea more than a second to respond to being addressed as Ms. Black for the first time in years. "Hello Professor Dumbledore. How are you?" she finally said.

"Perfect," Dumbledore said, making Clea giggle slightly. Dumbledore always had a somewhat cheeky personality that made Clea love him more.

"Have a seat, Cleopatra," Dumbledore pointed to an empty seat in front of his desk, as he sat down in his own high-backed chair.

"Thank you Professor Snape. You can return to your work now," Dumbledore said, glancing down at Snape and Clea's joined hands.

Snape nodded his head, released Clea and walked towards the door. Clea watched him leave and when he turned around he caught Clea's gaze, turned slightly red and bolted out of the room.

"Cleopatra," Dumbledore said, drawing Clea's attention back to him. Dumbledore smiled at her, but didn't speak for awhile. He stared into her eyes as if he too was reading her mind. Clea cleared her throat uncomfortably.

"How are you, Cleopatra?" Dumbledore finally spoke.

"All right," Clea said.

Dumbledore continued to stare at her, and Clea felt her heart sink into her stomach.

"Not good," she blurted out. "I mean. I'm actually pretty horrible; if I were to be honest with you."

"And I would like you to be completely honest, Cleopatra," Dumbledore said. He paused and watched Clea, who took a huge nervous gulp of air and held her breath.

"I would also like you to know Ms. Black," Dumbledore began, leaning forward in his chair, and articulating every word; "that I in no way believe that you've had a hand in your brother's escape or that you even know where he is. That is not what this meeting is about."

Clea exhaled deeply, relieved. She was afraid that Dumbledore was going to grill her on her brother, and she didn't want to have to answer any of those questions.

"If you have something to say about what has happened," Dumbledore continued. "You can express those thoughts freely here."

Clea sighed. "I don't know what I think Professor."

"Please, call me Albus, Cleopatra."

"Um...Albus," Clea said with a bashful smile. "I, I just feel lost. I've felt lost since Sirius went to Prison." Clea fought back the lump rising in her throat. "I'm sad Albus. I feel sad all the time; even more so today. I just....I don't want to believe any of it! And...I'm scared," her voice weakened into a whisper.

"That's to be expected, Cleopatra," Dumbledore said, his voice felt caring and soothing to Clea.

A silence filled the office. Clea took this opportunity to try and suppress her sad thoughts.

"I've kept tabs on you through Madam Maxime," Dumbledore finally spoke, changing the subject. "She has told me that you're slowly becoming less quite and reserved but, despite that, she also said that you are an excellent teacher."

Clea blushed slightly at the compliments from Madam Maxime, her headmistress at Beauxbatons. But, she also couldn't help but feel embarrassed that her depression over the years had been so obvious.

"Are you happy at Beauxbatons?" Dumbledore asked her.

Clea nodded her head. "Yes I am. But it's no Hogwarts, of course."

Dumbledore smiled brightly. "I'm glad you said that Cleopatra, because I want you to come teach here."

Clea's eyes widened. She let her eyes fall down slightly and she stared wide-eyed at her fingers, which were twisting around each other nervously.

She thought for a moment. Yes, she would love to come back to Hogwarts, she did miss it. But, Paris and Beauxbatons were her home now.

Plus, Hogwarts was filled with so many wonderful memories of her past when life was joyous. She didn't want to taint them. She looked back on that time fondly, and actually being back at Hogwarts now made those memories sad ones.

"I assume I'd be teaching Care of Magical Creatures here too?" Clea asked. She didn't want to turn the job down so quickly.

"Actually, no," Dumbledore said to Clea's surprise. "Hagrid is our new Care of Magical Creatures professor."

Clea smiled wide at the mention of Hagrid. She hadn't seen him in so long either.

"Our Ancient Runes professor, Cleopatra, is taking a leave of absence. It is to my knowledge that you taught Ancient Runes for two years at Beauxbatons before becoming the Care of Magical Creatures professor?"

"That's true," Clea said slowly. "But, I'm not that interested in that subject and I only took that position because they were desperate for a teacher."

"We're desperate too, Cleopatra," Dumbledore said, focusing his eyes on Clea intently. "We have lost three teachers since last year ended."

Clea sighed. "You will also be needed to assist Hagrid in choosing his lessons, if he asks for the help." Dumbledore added, but Clea still looked unconvinced. "I assure you, Cleopatra," Dumbledore continued, leaning forward and smiling. "You're spirits will be very much lifted if you came here this school year."

Clea didn't understand but she nodded her head anyways, still keeping her eyes on her lap. "I don't know if I really want to come back to Hogwarts," she whispered. "There's too much of everyone I've loved...and lost in the air." Clea closed her eyes, all ready finding it hard to breath.

"I understand that," Dumbledore said. "Severus recommended you for the job," he added, quickly.

Clea sighed. She didn't know what to make of that comment; she shook her head gently, letting her hair fall into her face.

"I'm afraid I don't have a pay raise to dangle in front of you," Dumbledore said, finally getting Clea to laugh. "But, I assure you that you will make an old man delighted if you would accept his offer."

Clea smiled and finally looked up at Dumbledore. "Can I think about it, Profess...Albus?"

Dumbledore sat back. "We need to fill this position very quickly," Dumbledore said, dropping his mysterious tones. "I would appreciate your response no later than in two weeks from today. That would leave me another two weeks before the school year starts to find someone else, if you decline this opportunity." Dumbledore smiled and added more effect to his voice as he finished his sentence.

Clea got the feeling that either Dumbledore wasn't sharing everything with her, or that he was trying to charm her into saying yes. "I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you, Albus."

Dumbledore nodded his head and stood, motioning Clea to follow suit. "If it's ok with you, Ms. Black, I have a lot of work to attend to."

Clea smiled understandingly and hurried towards Dumbledore who reached for his pot of floo powder.

"Here you are," Dumbledore said, presenting Clea with the powder.

"Thank you again. I will be in touch very soon." Clea said, and walked into the large fireplace next to her.

"Cleopatra," Dumbledore said, stopping her from leaving. "Don't dwell on Sirius; everything will be resolved. I'm sure of it."

Clea smiled wide and felt tearful again; this time because she felt happy down to her core from Dumbledore's comforting words.

"Magie Tour! Apartment 831!" Clea screamed and vanished in a blast of green light.