A/N: There is a scene of a mild sexual nature at the end of this chapter.

Chapter 22

The girl in the mirror looked far too similar to the one she had seen before, and yet different, too. She had always had shadows in her eyes, had always borne the look of someone who had seen too much too young, but that look was heightened.

The crowds were going wild, excited to greet their new TriWizard Champion, increasing the pain in Evanna's head even more. Harry was clutching her tightly, refusing to let go. She felt dizzy, between the pain and the lack of air….

"C'mon, boy, let 'er go, now, let 'er go-" a gruff voice said. A great wail went up beside them and the cheers and music turned sour, silent.

"My boy! My son!"

A large cut was on her temple, smaller scratches all over her face and hands. Her eyes were sunken, dark bruises underneath them from lack of sleep. Her skin had a sickly grey pallour. She wore hospital pajamas, for that was where she was. In the Hospital Wing, for observation.

Evanna whimpered as the warmth was pulled away from her and the raw grief of the father washed over her. It took her several moments to regain her sense of self in the tidal wave of thoughts and emotions surrounding her. Harry. She had chased after Harry, because he was in danger. In danger from someone in Hogwarts.

And he had just been taken from her.

She searched through the crowd desperately, before seeing the man she wanted, dressed in black robes-black robes rising out of a large cauldron, evil being reborn before her eyes, her classmates killed and tortured-Harry. She had to save Harry. He was not safe yet.

"Professor! Professor Snape!" she cried out, all but falling in her Head of House's arms.

"Merlin, child, what-"

"Harry-Harry isn't safe!" she sobbed, and because she knew she would never be able to vocalize all of what she needed to say in time to save him, she thrust forward with her consciousness, dumping everything that had happened tonight into Professor Snape's mind. His obsidian eyes widened.

"Headmaster! Quickly!"

With dead eyes, the girl studied her hair. It was long and curly, black as midnight, and an utter mess, with twigs and leaves sticking out in all directions and a large chunk missing in the front-singed off from a stray spell.

She refused to allow Professor Snape to send her away. She had not blasted away shrubbery and seen what she had seen and done what she had done to not see it all the way through. She would make sure Harry was still alive.

As soon as the Professors blasted down the doors to the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office they blasted the Death Eater away from Harry. Evanna rushed into the office and grabbed hold of Harry and did not let go.

"You're alive, thank Merlin," she murmured.

"I thought you had died-like Cedric-"

"I thought he had gotten you-"

The professor's dose of Polyjuice had faded by this point in time, revealing a Death Eater in disguise.

It was so strange that she still looked the same. She had watched a boy die earlier that night, and she still looked the same. She had watched the Darkest of Dark Magic being performed and she still looked the same. She had nearly killed her brother and herself and she still looked the same. She had nearly lost her mother and she still looked the same. Her father had stolen every last shred of innocence and childhood from her and she still looked like that stunted little ten-year old girl, grateful for even the smallest moment of human contact. All of that and she still looked the same.

Suddenly, Evanna could not stand it. She began searching through the cabinets and drawers of the small infirmary bathroom until she found a pair of scissors. She held up a curl in the mirror and lifted the scissors to it, hands shaking. She watched numbly as the long curl fell into the sink.

Over and over she cut and cut, her hand shaking less but her tears coming faster and faster until she stood in the middle of a pile of her own hair, crying in a hospital gown and bare feet. She looked in the mirror again. Instead of long black hair to her waist, Evanna's black curls ended just above her chin in a jagged, uneven cut. She couldn't find it in her to care. She felt jagged; why should her hair not look it?

Evanna walked out of the bathroom and to the other bed that had been curtained off. The only visitor that remained was a big, black dog that slept at the foot of the bed. The boy occupying the bed had his eyes closed, but he was stiff. Alert. No more asleep than Evanna was.

The dog was growling at her. Evanna stepped back, a little fearful of the thing.

"Shhh," she murmured. "I'm a friend."

"E-Evanna?" Harry said, sitting up in the bed. She nodded. "Calm down, Snuffles. She's not going to hurt me. She saved me tonight."

The dog turned and gave the boy a lick on his hand, and, if Evanna wasn't much mistaken, glared at her. She didn't realize a dog could glare.

"Nice dog you got there, Potter," she grumbled, holding herself back a little.

"Nice haircut you got, Malfoy," he said in a mocking tone. Evanna blushed, then shrugged.

"It-it needed to be done. Long hair isn't practical in war time," she said.

Harry nodded sagely.

War. We're at war now. And Evanna-I don't know what she's going to do.

Evanna swallowed, suddenly unsure of why she had come to Harry's hospital bed. She was not sure what she was going to do in this war. She knew what was expected of her, certainly. She knew what would be the wisest course of action, yes. But what she was actually going to do? Which side she would land on?

Evanna turned to leave, not saying anything more. She heard Harry get out of bed behind her and grab her arm, that old electricity tingling up and down her skin.

"Wait, Evanna," he said. "Than-thank you. I-I don't think I'd be-"

Evanna smiled softly. "I'm only sorry I didn't realize what was going on quickly enough. If I had-"

"If I hadn't insisted on taking the Cup togeth-"

There was another growling noise and Evanna looked down to see the dog pulling Harry's pant leg with his teeth, trying to coax the boy back into bed.

"I think your dog wants you to sleep," she said dryly.

"Not much chance of that tonight," Harry muttered. Evanna very much agreed. "Good night, I guess, then."

"Harry-"

The boy looked at her with those beautiful green eyes, just as clouded with demons as her own. A million things raced through her mind to say to him-I'm on your side-I'll fight for you-Stay away from me-We can't be friends anymore-I want to be more than friends-

"Yes?" he said hopefully.

Evanna shook herself. Perhaps she could remain a child just for one more night.

"Good night, Harry," she said softly. Then, before she lost her nerve, she ran up to him, bare feet smacking against the floor, and hugged him tightly. "I'm glad you're my friend."

He hugged her back. "Me too."

~Severus~

The night had been so long and it was nearly dawn. Every muscle ached and his bones felt as though they were made of lead. He felt as though he was a hundred and five instead of thirty-five.

The Dark Lord had accepted his excuses, had agreed to his remaining on at Hogwarts, but he had not been very happy about it. Severus couldn't help but blame Potter's escape for some, if not all, of the Dark Lord's rage. Or maybe thirteen years without experiencing the Cruciatus made him all the more susceptible to it when he finally felt its awful embrace again.

He stumbled as he crossed the threshold of his quarters, cursing at his own weakness. Narcissa was sitting in the living room, waiting for him.

"Severus!" she gasped. "What on earth-"

"The Dark Lord," he said, cursing the groan he was unable to suppress, "he is back. And was not altogether pleased with my delay in answering his call."

The blonde gasped, a lovely little expression that had her pink mouth forming a perfect 'o'. She wrapped Severus' arm around her thin shoulders, supporting him to the bathroom. He tried to protest, but she would not allow it.

"You've nursed me all these months, Severus Snape," she said. "Let me repay the debt."

She flicked her wand to start a warm bath going, floating essential oils and epsom salts through the air to deposit themselves in the tub. She had enough experience to know that sometimes magical means of pain-relief only worsened the after-effects of a Cruciatus.

"There is no debt," he said. She pursed her lips.

"I will be the judge of that," she said, flicking her wand toward him, removing his soiled robes in an instant. He protested, cheeks going ruddy, and she gave a little smirk. "Nothing I've not seen before, Severus. Now, let me help you in."

Soon, Severus felt his muscles relaxing as the warm water and soothing scents worked their magic over him. Narcissa was rubbing her small hands over his shoulders, working out the worst of the kinks.

"Now, tell me what's happened," she said in a low voice.

Severus hesitated for a moment, closing his eyes. Images danced across his vision, from that blasted Seer, years ago, to just earlier that night, Evanna Malfoy shoving her own disturbing memories into his mind (how had a thirteen year old done that?) wild fear emanating from her very core. The black haired child had wormed her way into his stone cold heart in much the same way her mother had.

"Severus?" Narcissa said. "If you're not ready-"

"No," he said. "There are things you need to know. Please, join me."

Narcissa gave a shy sort of smile. "Why, Severus Snape," she teased.

He rolled his eyes. "Please, Cissa. I need to feel you safe in my arms today."

The blond acquiesced, removing her houserobe and nightgown. She was far thinner than the first time they had been together-the effects of the wasting curse Lucius had placed on her still ate away at her, though much more slowly. But, she was still the loveliest woman he had ever seen. That she would choose him, after all this time.

He grunted slightly as she settled into the bathtub in front of him. She immediately leaned forward, obviously scared she had hurt him.

"Severus, I-"

He wrapped his wiry arms around her slender form and pulled her towards him, placing a soft kiss on her shoulder. She gave a soft sigh.

"Tell me what I need to know," she said in an almost whisper.

He told her everything. From his terror when the children had disappeared, to Evanna's strange new power. He told her that her son had remembered her survival and immediately informed Lucius. He told her of how Evanna had clung desperately to Potter and only released him when the Headmaster had threatened to have her sedated. Both wept at the danger and terror that the children had had to live through, and wept even more at the thought that this time, there truly was no escaping Lucius Malfoy's hold over Narcissa. Then, they were both silent for a good long while. Finally, Narcissa spoke.

"I need you to do something for me, Severus," she said. "I need you to help Evanna. Guide her. Protect her. Help her grow to be the woman she ought to be."

"You speak as if you will not be able to do that yourself," he replied, a hint of bitterness to his tone. He tightened his grasp on her.

"I may not," she said. He began to protest, but she put a finger to his lips. "It's the truth, there is no use denying it."

"I will stop it-I won't allow-"

"If the Dark Lord had not returned, you could be facing several years in Azkaban for withholding a man's wife from him," she said. "With the Dark Lord back? You'd be a half-blood usurping a high level Pureblood's wife. Your life would be forfeit."

"I joined to get rid of such outdated-"

"You have risked yourself enough, Severus," Narcissa said sternly. "And you have given me the most wonderful two years."

Her hands traced along his jawline and he felt his heart constrict as he caught her lips in a kiss. She tasted of saffron and salt water. Tears. She was crying.

"Narcissa-" he murmured.

"Please, let me get this out," she said, eyes still closed, lips still terribly close to his own. "There are things you need to know."

Severus swallowed and nodded. He felt Narcissa take in a deep breath.

"I've not been altogether truthful about Evanna," she said. "Not to her, not to you, not to anyone."

Severus felt his heart rate quicken. "Narcissa, what are you-"

She lifted up to whisper in his ear. His eyes flew wide open and he looked at her in shock. Her blue eyes were full of tears as she nodded gravely.

"Why tell me this now?" he demanded. "This-this changes everything."

Narcissa shook her head helplessly.

"You have to help her, Severus," she begged again. "Please, you have to help Evanna."