A/N- All right, chapter 4! I hope everyone is enjoying this fic just as they enjoyed the last one! Now, it's time for a little bit of explanation! To chapter 4 we go!!!


Chapter 4- Visitation Hours

She had spent the rest of her night, after her conversation with Voldemort, planning for her lessons the next night. Then, just as the sun was peeking over the horizon, she retired to her chambers.

The next night, when she awoke, she was overly happy, for she knew that she would be teaching seventh year Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts. She would have all four Houses, but the people she most looked forward to seeing was Harry, Ron, Draco, and, of course, her dear little Hermione. She freshened herself up a bit and headed out toward her classroom on the fourth floor. They had to relocate the classroom since last year because her group was going to be so large. She waved cheery hellos to the professors she passed--which were only Filtwick, on his way to have an evening tea; and Binns; who was on his way to fraternize with the other Hogwarts's ghost--and wished them a "good night."

Upon arriving in her room, she wrote "Professor Le-Annette Zachary" upon the chalkboard. A few minutes later, her class, led expectantly by Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco, entered the room and found their seats. The four leaders sat in the desks in front of Le-Annette.

"Good evening, class, and welcome to Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts," she said, gesturing to the classroom. "I'm, as stated on the chalkboard, Professor Le-Annette Zachary. Of course, I wish for all of you only to refer to me as Professor Zachary."

"Yes, ma'am," the class said in a tired monotone. Le-Annette smiled, concealing her fangs as she did so.

"I would have thought that all of you would've been happy to been able to stay out later than usual," she said, giving a slight laugh.

"Yeah, but not out in class," Dean Thomas said from three seats behind Draco.

"Oh, you wanted freedom?"

"Yes," the class said, a bit louder this time.

"Sorry, doesn't work that way."

The class groaned, and Le-Annette laughed.

She spent the rest of the class going over the syllabus for the year. She also informed them that they would start, next time they were in there, on vampires. She--like Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco--had to conceal a smile on that one. Finally, right before the bell rang, she assigned them all to read chapter one in their textbooks and summarize it. The class began to empty as soon as the bell rang, and rapidly only the four that had led the class in remained.

Hermione and Draco didn't move from their desks, but Harry and Ron took a seat on either end of Le-Annette's desk. Le-Annette caught Draco's eye and gave him a swift wink. He glanced over to see Hermione and was suddenly slightly unnerved.

"So, Professor, how's this class at night thing gonna work?" Ron asked, picking up Le-Annette's schedule. "I mean, it says here that you only have one class tonight…us. Are the classes gonna go on all week? Even on Saturday and Sunday?"

"No, Ron. If you were to read further down, you would see that I have two classes on Wednesday night. This being Monday, I'm free for the rest of the night. What do you four need?" Le-Annette asked, resting her folded hands on the desktop.

"What's going on…you know, in the Order?" Harry asked in hushed tones.

The vampire laughed. "What makes you think that I'm going to give up such information?" she asked.

She flipped the black braid that she wore her hair in tonight behind her back. Harry narrowed his eyes at her. However, it was Hermione who continued the conversation.

"You are going to keep us at least somewhat informed, aren't you, Aunt Le-Annette?" she asked. Draco, Le-Annette noticed, seemed to be lost in la-la land as he watched Hermione.

"I can't promise anything, but I can tell you that nothing new has happened since I've been brought into the loop," she said. The four looked disappointed. "Look, I'll try to keep you as informed as I can, but for now, you all should head off to bed. Go on, off with you!"

She shooed, with gentle gestures, Harry and Ron off her desk. All four gathered their things and with fond farewells wished her a good night. Now she had time to plan ahead a bit…or so she thought.

"They've taken quite a liking to you, haven't they?" Zion said, his eyes still as dark and his hair still as red as it had been when she first met him so many years ago.

"Yes, they have," she said, as she reclined back in her chair.

"They are like another set of children for you, aren't they?"

Le-Annette scowled at her sire and former lover. "What brings you by, Zion, dear?"

He laughed at the undeniable sarcasm in her voice. "I thought you could use the company," he answered.

"You're lying. You're here for another reason altogether."

"Okay, okay, you got me. Did you tell him?"

Zion was suddenly grave.

"Yes, I told Voldemort," she said quietly.

"Not Voldemort, I could care a less if you told him or not. I'm referring to Severus."

Le-Annette's eyes grew dim. "No, I haven't. I will, though. It's part of the plan, isn't it? I always stick to my plans," she said.

"Sure you do."

A knock sounded at the classroom door.

"Enter," Le-Annette commanded.

"Speak of the devil," Zion said so quietly that only Le-Annette could here him as Severus entered the room.

She cast a wary look in her sire's direction but dared say nothing. Severus paused when he caught sight of Zion.

"I'm sorry, Le-Annette. I was unaware that you had company," he said.

"Of course you were. You're not psychic. Severus, this is Zion. Zion, this is Severus," Le-Annette waving her hand between the two as she made the introductions. Both nodded politely in the others direction.

"What brings you by so late, Severus?" Le-Annette inquired.

He seemed to consider his reply. Finally he said, "I know that you used to teach Potions. There is a difficult one that I've been having particular trouble with. I simply wondered if you would like to help me. However, if you are busy…"

Potions…now that was something she missed. Her interest was piqued. "What potion is it?"

Zion sighed. "Not that this isn't incredibly fascinating…but I must take my leave. Good evening, Le-Annette, Severus."

"Good evening, Zion," Le-Annette said, and Severus replied with a nod.

"It's a version of a truth serum. Not as powerful as a veritserum, but easier to brew…or so I'm told," Severus replied after Zion had exited the room.

Le-Annette stood. "That is easy…I must say I'm surprised you haven't been able to brew it. Here, I'll come and help you out."

"Thank…ah!" Severus gasped, gripping his left forearm. He seemed to be trying his best not to cry out in pain.

The Dark Mark! Le-Annette thought. Oh no!

"He's calling," Severus said, rolling up his left sleeve as though he needed a visual conformation. "I must leave."

"No…Severus! You can't go!" Le-Annette said, grabbing his right arm.

He looked at her with the strangest expression. "And why can't I go? I have to go!"

"You can't…He knows," she said, loosening the grip on his arm only slightly.

He seemed to stop focusing on the pain. Now, all his attention was on her.

"What do you mean, 'he knows'? What does he know, Le-Annette?" he asked, quietly.

Le-Annette now understood why most students feared the Potions Master…It had to be that voice.

"Voldemort knows you're a spy for Dumbledore," she said, letting go of him completely and going back to his seat. Severus seemed to visibly shuddered at the sound of the Dark Lord's name.

"I washed him of his suspicions…how could he know, Le-Annette?"

Oh, how she wished he wouldn't us her name! The accusation that flooded from it…the guilt that filled her!

"I told him," she said.

His eyes widened in shock and anger. "Why?" he growled at her.

"He knew, Severus. He knew already. I simply went there to find out if I was right…and I was. He did know," she said.

"I don't understand," Severus said.

"Zion had had a vision a couple of nights ago. He said that Voldemort already knew about you and was going to kill you tonight. I went to speak to Voldemort to see if he was right, and he was. Please, Severus, even if you are angry with me…don't go. I did it to save you," she pleaded. It seemed as though she'd been doing this a lot lately.

Severus didn't answer. He simply strode from the room. Le-Annette ran to the door after him.

"Severus!" she called up the hall, but he walked determinedly away from her. "Please! I'm sorry!"

She yelled and yelled, but he did not look back.


End Notes: So, what do ya think? I really, really, really like this chapter. Oh, and Preston, I looked up that word we discussed, and I know what it means! It's not bad! Anyway, please R & R! Thanks!