Snape was back in his classroom, teaching the dunderheads, as he called them, and he still hadn't thanked Airiala and it was nagging at him.

Every time he saw her she had her nose stuck in the some book doing research for the Ultimate Truth. She seemed to be spending all her time on that and not doing anything else.

He had informed Dumbledore of how he had been injured.

It was discovered that he wasn't loyal to the Dark Lord. Somehow Lucius had learned that there was an element at Hogwarts and had questioned Snape about it. When he denied it, Lucius called him a traitor. Despite his best efforts to rectify the situation, Snape was eventually confirmed to be a traitor and they were order to kill him. Luckily he was able to avoid every killing curse thrown at him, but when the blades started slashing he wasn't able to avoid the points.

One pierced his side violently before he was able to apparate to just outside Hogwarts grounds. He had just barely gotten onto the grounds when he collapsed. Snape couldn't recall how long he laid there before Airiala came and saved him.

Her quick thinking had kept him alive long enough for Dumbledore to heal him, yet he didn't know how to thank her.

Snape had just entered Dumbledore's office when a book flew across the room, almost hitting him in the head.

"It's hopeless!" Airiala all but yelled. "I must have read every damn book in this office and I still don't have a single clue on what the Ultimate Truth is."

Snape ventured further into the office, the flying book resting in his hands. Airiala was pacing back and forth between two rows of stacked books. The wind was surrounding her in a mini tornado, causing her hair to float around her face.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Airiala stopped moving, causing the wind to stop too. She turned to face Snape as her silver hair fell back into place.

"No," Airiala replied. "Just having a difficult time finding what I need."

"I figured, but you do know that throwing the book isn't going to make it any easier?"

Airiala smiled. "I know, but it makes me feel better." Then her eyes widened and her hands covered her mouth. "Oh, God. I didn't hit you, did I?"

"Luckily not," Snape replied. "If you had I may have been unconscious."

Airiala walked forward and took the book from his hands. "Thank you," she said as she took it. She quickly placed it on a pile of books on Dumbledore's desk before turning back to him. "What can I do for you?"

For the first time since he was a student at Hogwarts, Snape was nervous. He didn't know why, but he was.

"I…was looking for the Headmaster," he said. He sighed to himself.

"Oh…Well, I think that Albus is in the Room of Requirement, or on his way to lunch."

Suddenly Dobby appeared with a sandwich, orange slices, and water. He flinched slightly at seeing Snape, but he held his ground.

"Thanks Dobby," Airiala said taking the tray from him.

"Dobby glad to help," he said before disappearing back to the kitchen.

Airiala set the tray on the cleanest space on Dumbledore's desk before turning back to Snape. "Is there a reason why he flinched when he saw you? It was almost like he was terrified of you."

"He is," Snape said. "When he was a house elf for the Malfoys I was a frequent visitor, and I never treated him kindly. Naturally he still fears me."

Airiala nodded. "Makes sense. Speaking of Malfoy…" she paused, unable to finish her sentence.

"Yes?"

"Albus told me what happened and I was wondering if you think Lucius would try to harm you while you're here?"

Airiala sighed as she finished. Ever since Albus had told her the story her fear that someone would come and try to finish the job haunted her.

"I don't believe that Lucius is stupid enough to attempt such an endeavor," Snape said even though he wasn't sure himself. Lucius was known to do anything if it meant his place at the Dark Lord's side.

"I hope you're right," Airiala said. "You better hurry to lunch or Albus will come searching for you."

Snape turned and was out of the office when realized two things: he had forgotten to thank her again and he was following her orders.

He also realized that he didn't care.