A/N: I only own the plot and Andraste. (Thinking bout the things I would do if Severus was mine... please ignore the slightly illegal glint in my eye.)

Chapter 15

When Severus woke three hours later, Andraste was already up and ready for dinner. "You look like you're feeling better."

"I definitely am, I need to thank Hermione."

"I'm sure it can wait. Why don't we just eat here?"

"I would love to, but I need to be seen. I want them to know that I'm okay."

"The students?"

"Well, specifically the ones that report back to deatheater parents." She hesitated a moment before continuing. "So, now that you're not a spy anymore, what are you going to do about Draco?"

"Malfoy? I'm going to give the little prat the detentions he deserves."

"Excellent," she responded cheerfully. "Would you like some help getting ready for dinner?"

"Why?" he asked, his eyes narrowing. "Do you not think I'm capable of doing it myself?"

"No," she said, "it's just quicker if I do it." She punctuated her point by waving her hand, and he looked down to see himself fully dressed in freshly pressed clothes.

"Very well. So what do you have planned for Monday?"

"It's a surprise."

"I hate surprises."

"Good, that makes it more fun for me." Instead of giving him the opportunity to argue, she closed the distance between them and kissed him. They stood there, wrapped up in each other for an eternity, and then reluctantly pulled apart much too soon.

"We should go," he said.

"Yes, we should," she turned and headed towards the door.

"You know, your ruining my reputation as a heartless git."

"Being loved does that," she called from the other room. Severus stood there for a moment shocked, not knowing how she meant what she had just said and not daring to ask. Eventually he regained his composure and followed her to the Great Hall.

Andraste and Professor Snape took their seats at the head table, ignoring the fact that the room had fallen silent and most of the student body was watching them. George and Fred Weasley were the first to stand up and begin to clap. Soon every student was out of their chairs applauding. Dumbledore, seeing the looks of discomfort on Andraste and Professor Snape's faces rose to quiet the crowd. "First of all, I don't believe they understand why you're clapping."

A voice shouted from the back of the Hufflepuff table. "That was bloody brilliant, mate!" Another voice called out, "He has a soul!" Laughter and more applause broke out across the Great Hall. Dumbledore raised his hands, and once again the volume dropped. "The circumstances that many of you witnessed, and the rest have no doubt heard of, arose from grave events. This time things have turned out alright, but I warn all of you to be on your guard in these dangerous times. Would either of you like to say anything?" he asked, looking towards Andraste and Severus. Professor Snape nodded his head no, and was very displeased when Andraste stood.

"Since everyone's attention is focused for a change, I would like to take this opportunity to say something. When Professor Snape brought me in this morning..." She paused while another round of applause died down. "When he brought me in I had lost a lot of blood, and was most certainly in serious danger. I stand before you now feeling, for the most part, in perfect health. Much of that is attributed to the constant research and incredible intelligence of Hermione Granger. Thank you very much Hermione." More applause broke out, this time for the embarrassed girl at the Gryffindor table. Even Severus Snape was clapping. By the time Andraste sat back down, Severus had already summoned a house elf and given instructions for their dinner to be taken to his chamber. After leaning towards Dumbledore and speaking briefly, he stood up, and let Andraste out of the hall.

When they arrived a full meal was already laid out on the table in his dining room. Severus took his seat, and Andraste followed his lead. "So," Severus began once they had filled their plates, "what exactly do you have planned for this surprise?"

"You're not going to let this go, are you?"

"Absolutely not. I will not walk into a situation with no idea what to expect."

"Very well," she said, sighing audibly. "Quite honestly I'm not sure yet. I was thinking we would take them flying, but I don't know what I'm going to do about the diner they'll be missing."

"So you told me it's a surprise because you're clueless?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Andraste?" he said, his done getting rough again.

"Yes, Severus?"

"Bite me." That was enough to make Andi almost choke on the food she had just put in her mouth. Seeing the triumphant smirk on his face, she turned her focus completely to her dinner, and they lapsed into silence again. Once they had both pushed away their plates, Severus spoke. "I have a small boat in the Mediterranean. If you'd like, we could take the students there for dinner." When she didn't reply he continued. "It was just a suggestion. I'm sure you can think of something better."

"No, Severus. It's perfect. Do you think Dumbledore would allow it?"

"He should be here shortly, we can ask him then." The two had barely sat down in the living room when the door opened, and Dumbledore walked in followed by Lupin and McGonagall. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. Would you like some tea?" Severus motioned towards the tray he had already set on the coffee table, and the professors helped themselves before sitting. Minerva was the first to speak.

"Andraste, we are all very pleased to see you feeling so much better."

"Yeah, I'm kinda like the energizer bunny that way." The blank look on all four faces was enough to remind Andraste what a different world she came from. "Never mind," she said shyly. "It's nice to feel better." A silence drifted over the group as Severus studied the woman next him. She was no longer a stranger, but she was most certainly still very strange.

"Well, Dumbledore said eventually, "I'm sure you know why we're here. Severus has already told us most of what happened with Voldemort, but we would like to hear it from your perspective."

"Very well," Andraste began. "As you know, Severus drugged me so it would appear that I hadn't come willingly. When I woke up that creepy bastard was standing over me." Shock momentarily graced the faces of everyone but Severus, who was used to her terminology by now. They had heard Voldemort called many things, but this was a first. "He said it was nice to meet me," she continued, "and I told him the feeling wasn't mutual." This girl had obviously not been raised knowing of the dark lord, she lacked the respect that came with fear. "Someone didn't like that much, so they knocked me back to my knees. Snakeboy picked me up and told me to kill him. Through a stoke of dumb luck on Voldie's part, he discovered that if someone is touching me, my shield extends to them too. His experiments with me, as he put it, ended up killing two of his deatheaters, one being the man that was trying to curse me. Voldemort, of course, wasn't the least bit concerned. Eventually he asked m to join him and I spit in his face. I assume he's not used to being told no, because he told someone to kill me. Next thing I knew Severus had apparated us back here, and I had a knife in my side."

"Is that it?" Dumbledore asked.

"Not quite," Andraste replied. "As you know, I can read minds. Snakeboy's was too well guarded, but the other deatheaters didn't have the ability to keep me out, specifically Lucious Malfoy, the one that stabbed me."

"And what did you learn, Andraste?" Minerva asked, prodding her to continue.

"Most of the deatheaters are growing impatient with Voldemort. They think he should be more openly aggressive. And what's more, many of them are loyal only because of Lucious. He is, in fact, the one they follow."

"I will have to think on this farther," Dumbledore said. "There is a chance we could use that to our advantage."

"I quite agree, Albus," Severus said. "But for now I think Andraste should get some more rest."

"Very well," Dumbledore replied. The trio said their goodbye's and followed Professor Snape to the door, where they spoke for another moment before departing.