Hi,

I know a thorough apology is in order. Sorry for the late upload, life chimed in. Thanks for not giving up on me and the story! Thank you Guest Reviewer for encouraging me, and thank you arrons921 for showing support.

As per usual citation with bold.

Beware, I will mix up the original timeline shamelessly in this chapter, I hope you will like it. It will make sense soon, I promise!

Of course, this is Rowling's world and I am doing this only for fun.

Chapter 34. Run and Hide

"Master should be more cautious Master catches cold, all drenched!" – the house elf's squeaking voice hurt his ears, and it got to Severus as soon as he returned from his safe place into the next dawn to the dungeons.

The creature pushed him under the hot shower with alacrity with no place for an argument. Nonetheless, Severus tried to grumble. "It was only raining, you blasted elf, nothing to worry about."

"Master worries not, Chubby will. Master does his magic alone, Chubby settles the rest," – with that, the elf popped away.

Severus knew, without doubt, he would walk into his living room to see a table laid with hot coffee and toasts and a house elf less worked up, but probably still anxiously dancing until he somehow convinced himself his master was unharmed. With an acerbic grimace, he recognized that the house elf was slowly turning into a lighter, younger version of Guild, and had to wonder if this was his doing or some natural occurrence as the young elf matured. Whichever it was, some additional awareness was not amiss in their circumstances, he was sure about that. Especially when thinking back about his last night.

After some hours of heavy sleep, he'd sat up with a fright when he'd realized he should have reported Dumbledore's absence first thing as soon as he could leave Hogwarts. But how on earth could he possibly report to the Dark Lord about anything that happened in the castle that night without revealing his dealings?

He had known about Umbridge approaching the Headmaster's office by reporting to Dumbledore, saying nothing even remotely serving his master's interests. Then he'd been to Grimmauld to save Arthur from Lucius – not a typically easy circumstance to explain either. Even if he managed by some miracle to not meet Sage there, and all that unfolded from the second he saw her to the moment he cursed the Toad for showing up in the most inopportune time… how could he possibly report about Dumbledore or Umbridge when he was… preoccupied?

And the Dark Lord would curse him to kingdom come if he failed to report something with a magnitude like that!

Severus tried to rationalize his lapse and concluded that the only possible way to get away with his "slip" was to avoid the Dark Lord's curious eyes completely. However, Lucius would no doubt benefit from a chance to please their lord. So he'd written a long and detailed letter with all the particulars and background he was ready to share at his safe place, not to lose time while composing it, then he'd ordered Chubby to deliver it via a London owl within the hour upon his "return."

After the house elf had popped away to London, he'd proceeded filling up the "leaks" in his "memory" in case Lucius' account wasn't enough to satisfy Voldemort's curiosity. So he'd returned to the Infirmary. Well beyond midnight, it'd been silent and dark. Poppy wouldn't have minded him trying to help with Miss Edgecombe even if she'd seen him, but the mediwitch had been sleeping the sleep of the just. Just like the Ravenclaw girl. Severus had soundlessly approached Miss Edgecombe, then taking a page from Sage's book, he carefully lifted the girl's lashes and sank into her mind.

The surface was busy with incoherent fragments of thoughts and dreams. He tried to peek deeper. Cho Chang. To Severus' surprise, the sixth-year Ravenclaw girl's face featured more thoughts and emotion than anyone would have expected. Surely much more than he would have expected… and in most memories, Miss Chang was crying. He instinctively tried to choose some pictures where she was not.

Miss Chang and Mr. Diggory in the courtyard, Miss Chang and Mr. Diggory in Hogsmeade, Miss Chang and Mr. Diggory dancing at the Yule Ball, then another load of jealousy and Potter. Miss Chang and Potter on the main stairs, Miss Chang and Potter in Hogsmeade, Miss Chang and Potter in the room visibly belonging to Hogwarts, the same one he had no idea where to even look for… Severus tried to keep his puzzlement for himself.

Reluctance – he took a long look at the roots of this feeling, and the images about Miss Chang crying returned. Miss Edgecombe was out of patience patting her shoulder, so she agreed - to something. Whatever it was. A parchment was signed, Miss Granger was beaming, both the Ravenclaw girls found her abhorrently smug. Then again, Granger and the parchment, "Dumbledore's Army" – Severus needed all command over his sudden anger not to disturb the connection with the girl.

Various curses, hexes, jinxes… The Lovegood girl focusing, Longbottom disarming Finnigan, young Mr. Weasley producing a corporeal Patronus – what kind of alternative reality did the girl experience?! Potter swaggering around as a DADA instructor strangely was only a minor shock.

The girl's thoughts rambled on… Miss Chang was crying again, and Miss Edgecombe had enough. Her mother already begged her to be a "good girl," help the family, now she also wanted to protect her friend from Potter, his influence, his immature ways of only stepping up for his closest friends – not a wholly unfamiliar thought, Severus realized.

Then came the pimples, pain and shame. Miss Edgecombe was dragged to the Headmaster's office with Potter. She was frightened of the boy, of Umbridge, of the Headmaster… she felt shame and confusion. This was nothing like what she wanted! A sudden strike of peace hit her from nowhere, and she happily sank into someone else's will. Potter denied everything. The Headmaster showed off about a tenth of his skill, which proved enough for most to wish for cover… "Not Potter's Army, Dumbledore's army! Minister, you finally caught me!" – and darkness. What the hell?

Severus slipped out of the girl's mind having sufficient material to construct a tale to tell if the need happened to arise, especially if he'd mix what he'd found with his Slytherins' testimonies when he would hear them out – which he fully intended.

He'd returned to his quarters to do his alibi-brewing. The only remaining problem had been within his own mind. Because working hours next to his study, seeing his bookcase whenever he'd entered his personal storeroom and not thinking about any of what he had to omit was the hardest job he had ever demanded from himself, even with the help of his magic and all the world of Occluding.

By the time Chubby had returned and reported he had seen Lucius receiving the owl post, hastily gathering himself and Disapparating, Severus was at the edge of exhaustion. He'd listened through the elf's tale about following Lucius to Little Hangleton, waiting endlessly from a safe distance from the old manor and watching Lucius Disapparating with some content written over his face, he could only nod, retreat to his living room and cast the Locumtotum spell. It was already dawn.

Now, under the hot shower, Severus admitted to himself how handy he found this spell – for the thousandth time, again. The amount of emotion he had to conquer merited those two and a half weeks of adventuring he had just spent in the nineteen forties, free as a bird. It'd also been worth such a minor nuisance as a drenching rain at the end. He ate well, slept as long as he wanted and dreamt as much as he wished to his heart's content, and now, he finally felt ready to face his reality.

After coffee and toasts in his living room, caressing his bookcase on his way out of his quarters, the breakfast in the Great Hall was only the theatre it should have been.

Educational Decree No.28. hung on the walls of all common areas of Hogwarts, the hag took the Headmaster's seat, and the mood resembled a funeral. Severus was glad for the additional time he had bought himself to familiarize himself with the new prospects. His magic enveloping him and strengthening his Occlumency was very much welcome when Sage's perfume reached his nostrils as the witch passed behind him to take her usual seat. He didn't risk greeting her, and she didn't look in his direction.

All for the best, because there was no way of communicating anything worthwhile without tearing off his mask completely and making a fool of himself. Her eyes were a shade darker even than her usual, and her skin seemed slightly tan – had she treated herself with a holiday under the old Alsace sun? Severus was quite sure about her also using the Locumtotum spell to gather her thoughts the way he did, and he swallowed a smirk that obviously would have been out of place at the moment.

The Pink announced her reign in every possible way well before the breakfast was over. Studying his colleagues, Severus observed that Minerva must have made an exceptional effort to gather herself too. It was impossible to miss the dark circles under her eyes, but those eyes shone with determination. The short glance she cast on Severus carried more than he anticipated. Somehow the old witch managed to compass not only her resolve in that look but also her trust. She remembered their talks and knew she wasn't without support. And he didn't even need to use Legilimency!

Eating was out of the question, but at least he had his tea before the Monday classes. Severus doubted anyone noticed, but he tended to be more lenient with the silent discussions behind the cauldrons. At least he deducted only half the points from each Houses he could have, even before the sudden entertainment of the day erupted – quite literally – from a box apparently stuffed with magical fireworks blowing up on some of the upper-level corridors.

First Severus only found the prank childish, but he happened to pass by the first-floor History of Magic classroom – by chance, and with absolutely no purpose at all – and heard Sage's hearty laughter as she sent a fourth-year to ask for the headmistress's presence and help to deal with the tenaciously whistling flying elephant that kept stomping up and down her classroom.

Severus took a turn about the Teachers' Room, where his seemingly helpless colleagues discussed the issue of flying dogs, pigs and dragons in excruciating detail, guessing only their possible origins. He found himself attesting to their similarity to Filibuster's works. He suggested laying the problem into Filch's capable hands, earning an outraged gasp over his blatant lie from Flitwick and a half-swallowed chuckle from Minerva before he could make his escape.

After this, probably for the first time in his teaching carrier, he somehow left his classroom door open and patiently waited for the two tagging dragons to find their way from the dungeon corridors above the first years' cauldrons before he Evanesced their pitiful work and requested the headmistress help. The relief of his classes dismissed for the day was immense, especially because none of the students seemed to be capable of pulling together even a mediocre brew under the circumstances, and honestly, even Severus found it challenging to keep his equanimity. Especially when he heard the Toad command Filch to do magic, or stupefying fireworks! Merlin, that was indeed one of the more serious screwups he'd ever heard in his life!

As it was a Monday, an Occlumency session with Potter was hardly avoidable. In Dumbledore's ominous absence, it also wouldn't have been wise to delay preparing the boy. However, Severus was initially wary of the boy's mood. He expected even Potter would feel the weight of guilt after ridding the school of its Headmaster. This didn't prove to be the case.

Potter was in a much better mood than he would have ever imagined; what was worse, his first attempt at Legilimency instantly explained his unforeseen glee. The boy's mind was apparently all about tagging pink piglets that graced the night sky after two firework dragons crashed before the windows of Gryffindor Tower. Considering the nickname Severus chose for Umbridge, it called for even his defiant amusement.

However, the boy-wonder needed discipline, and at this point, he had to admit he would have benefited from that either. So he chided the brat as if he had any basis for doing so, without a qualm.

"Let's try again," - he said with cold determination, hoping his face carried the seriousness of their effort this time, and Severus ran into various pictures about childhood abuse.

Surely, even Tuney should have known better than that! He was amazed at how repugnant Petunia's behaviour proved to be. He only had a hunch about her beastly dealings, now it proved to be more than just turning a blind eye on all kinds of torture her fat son exposed his cousin in their first wasted ten years of their childhood. But it wasn't as far from her old ways as accepting her husband's dealings. Snape made a short mental note to mull over how that double-chinned walrus could have had such a hold on her.

Severus was tempted to question the boy when he received a shock so flagrant he raised his wand in the air ceasing the spell with disbelief.

"What was that last memory?"

"I don't know." The boy was struggling to get back on his feet, and Snape had again the disturbing feeling that he was in a constant state of surrender whenever they practiced. He couldn't fathom what deprived the Gryffindor hero of that so-called fight he must have had inside him and found his lack of showing some strength beyond annoying. It all wasn't as bewildering, though, as the last mental pictures he had seen, but it seemed the boy-wonder failed to even follow what transpired in his mind. "You mean when my cousin made me stand in the toilet?"

"No," – Severus answered, showing his annoyance - "I mean a man kneeling in the middle of a darkened room."

He remembered that room and was only glad for the dim lights and the Dark Lord's evident tunnel vision in his focus that didn't show those standing around by the walls. How much could Potter ascertain? Did he know the location? And more disturbingly… was the memory placed inside him, or did the little dimwit try to contact the Dark Lord?

"It's nothing."

Nothing?! Severus' eyes rounded on the blatant lie. Did the prat really take him as a fool?

"How do that man and that room come to be inside your head, Potter?"

"It… it was just a dream I had."

"A dream?" Severus' fragile patience evaporated with such a speed he could practically sense it was leaving his body, and he fought hard against the urge to begin to yell. "You do know why we are here, don't you, Potter? You do know why I am giving up my evenings for this tedious job?"

"Yes."

"Remind me why we are here, Potter."

"So I can learn Occlumency."

Severus slowly blew out the air to control his emotions through breathing. He would definitely not think about all those things he would have preferred to do with his Monday evening, and he also would not lose his mind now that he knew at least the boy didn't ask for the image in his mind… The only hope was the boy's guilt. At least he fervently hoped it was guilt that made him avert his eyes…

"Correct," – he finally said when he was sure he was master of his voice. "And dim as you may be, I would have thought after weeks of lessons and your supposed relentless practicing you would by now show some progress… How many other dreams about the Dark lord have you had?"

"Just that one."

The reply came too quickly, and it was too short to believe it. Severus was tempted to search for the truth but was wary of the implications. Still, the shameless lie triggered him in a way only disrespect could, and he involuntarily stepped closer.

"Perhaps you enjoy having these dreams, Potter. They make you feel special – important?" The bile rose in his throat thinking about all those sacrifices other made for the child and the war, and truthfully his fright of not being able to make this brat work and cooperate was almost as sufficient to make him lose his temper as his sense of justice. "That is just as well, Potter, because you are neither special, nor important, and it is not up to you to find out what the Dark Lord is saying to his Death Eaters."

"No, that's your job, isn't it?"

Severus almost laughed up. Finally, a flicker of acknowledgement from one fighter to another – if only the brat counted as for one! He would have put his hands together praising whatever deity if he had just seen that famous spine he hoped for and determination instead of defiance…

"Yes, Potter, that is my job. Now let's try again!"

Severus sank into the boy's mind, distracted by his hopes to awaken that spark of a fight he so thoroughly missed, and…

"Protego!"

It felt as if the shield-charm ran through him, almost sending him to the ground, tearing up boxes and defences in its wake. He saw his father yelling, his mother's helplessness, all the feelings of being vulnerable, lonely, pining for a sense of home and a total lack of safety erupted from his soul… he saw his initial humiliation when he arrived at Hogwarts which didn't exactly prove the safe haven he hoped for… Rebecca Ruthwore making fun of him struggling on a broomstick – oh, not that, you brat!

"ENOUGH!"

Severus hazily saw the boy hitting the shelves, knocking off various jars that slid and broke behind him, and with an absentminded wand-move, he repaired those. He needed a moment to close back his magic inside him; he never wanted to let it loose now…

One more moment and a deep breath, and he came to terms with all that happened. If the boy finally would begin to develop, he would need to have more care. Probably even empty some additional memories into the Pensive. He spared a glance at the memories he already stored in there, and seeing them undisturbed calmed him.

"I don't remember telling you to use the shield charm, but there's no doubt that it was… effective," – he offered. At least Potter had the sense to shut his gob. However, Severus didn't mind the intrusion as much as he probably should have otherwise. He would show what was inevitable to show with such close contact to ensure the boy's progress; Potter was way more important than he could ever be. Maybe this would be the day of the breakthrough… "Let's try it again, shall we?"

Severus more-or-less anticipated another intrusion on his mind, but this time the endeavour took them both back onto the Ministry's corridors. Denying the pull, he lifted his wand and shouted gracelessly.

"Explain yourself!"

"I dunno what happened, I've never seen that before… I mean, I told you, I've dreamt about the door, but it's never opened before."

At the moment, it would have been hard to decide if it was his fear or fury the greater because what the boy just said would have meant the Dark Lord accessed Potter's mind while he was within… or it was a lie. Severus decided to take it for a lie and be furious. However, his angry words only earned him a well-aimed jab for being a Death Eater. He was ready to jump the boy-wonder's throat, if only figuratively when they both heard a shrill scream through the walls.

What the fuck… - he didn't realize he even uttered the thought, and the boy seemed honest when he attested not to have seen anything extraordinary on his way down to the dungeons… Severus' worst premonitions overwhelmed him when the scream repeated, and he left his office to replace his fears with facts.

In the Entrance Hall, he found a curious crowd. Trelawney stood just under the main staircase with her trunks and in uncontrolled hysterics. Facing her, the Toad on the third step wore her most repulsive, self-assured smile. One look upon the Slytherin students assured Severus he didn't need to worry about them. Most seemed only entertained. Some Gryffindors and Ravenclaws were out of their minds with worry and fear. Minerva already approached with such determination and he wouldn't even have tried to step in her way.

He spotted Sage a few steps away in the crowd. Her face didn't show her emotions, but her eyes were heavy with the shields about her mind. Severus stepped behind her without contemplating his moves.

"What's going on?" – he silently asked her, watching the crowd, and the witch answered in a subdued voice without moving her head.

"It began in the West Tower. PP made Filch gather Sybil's trunks. She doesn't take her dismissal easily. I wonder what Albus would say…."

"Hmm…" – Severus grumbled his understanding. Oddly enough, standing so close to her filled him with unexpected ease. As if he could finally breathe after holding back the air for a whole long day. Sensing the heat of her body, the scent of her skin calmed him despite all the craze around them, and Severus curled his hands into fists in his robe's pocket not to reach out and caress her waist. He suddenly felt the weariness of the day. Sage only passingly glanced back at his face, but it seemed she caught up on his mood effortlessly.

"What's wrong?" – she asked as if the scene before them wasn't sufficient reason for what she had seen.

"Potter."

She didn't glance back at him again.

"Having your session?"

Severus grumbled affirmatively. "He tells me he saw a vision for the first time just now. Down in my office." Sage gasped and inclined her head to see some of his expressions from the corner of her eyes. "I'm unsure if I wish he was lying," – Severus added in a weak attempt to appease her.

"Of course you wish!" – She huffed. "Do you think He could detect you?"

Severus bit his lips and looked around in the Hall again, partly to remind himself of their audience. "I always knew he might…."

"Severus–"

There was no time to hear what she might have warned him about, or whatever was on her mind to say, because Trelawney renewed her wailings, screaming on the top of her lungs:

"But Hogwarts is my home!"

Sage's face contorted despite her occluding. "I cannot watch this," – she whispered.

Severus had to nudge her before she turned towards his shoulder. "Malfoy," – he warned, indicating Draco with a subtle move of his head.

Sage sobered and glanced at the boy not far in the crowd, trailing his gaze all over the audience of the extraordinary scene, hopefully not only feigning nonchalance as his glance slid through them, flashing a grin at his Head of House, which Snape dutifully acknowledged with a subtle twitch in the corner of his lips. He wouldn't have fooled Lucius, maybe, but Draco was yet happy with his approval.

Meanwhile, Minerva stood up for Trelawney at the bottom of the staircase. Her courageous words were honourable enough but threatened her with losing her own place in Hogwarts too, which Severus couldn't afford.

"Merlin, not that!" – he grumbled, and for his bewilderment, Minerva suddenly lost the ability to speak. He only saw Sage sliding her wand back into her robe's sleeve as she slipped away from him and got to the older witch through the crowd.

"Oh, my, Dolores, your upper respiratory problems prove infectious! Filius, would you help me to take Professor McGonagall to the Infirmary?" – Severus heard Sage's voice.

Flitwick readily obliged, lifting Trelawney's trunks with a flick of his wand too. McGonagall regained control over her vocal cords of her own will, but it seemed she understood the plot easily, gesturing for Trelawney to follow.

"Come, Sybil, whatever the future holds, you could use a calming draught, I dare say," – she told her brusquely, and for Severus' wonder, the Divination professor followed them with the blankest face, and without uttering a word.

If it was not an Imperius in action, Severus knew nothing of magic. He eyed his colleagues suspiciously, but in their close proximity to each other, it was impossible to spot the wand that issued the curse. He turned his head to see if the Pink Toad reacted, but he could hardly even see her from Pomona Sprout!

The Herbology professor's wide back and tall hat obscured the view completely, such as it must have shielded the others from the Toad's observing eyes… Holy stuff of Merlin! So this was that absurd DADT club used for! – Severus quickly turned back and fled to his dungeons before someone saw the grin forming on his face. Pomona Sprout of all wizards and witches! – he mused, sauntering through the under corridors. If even she was ready to participate in this collaboration, Minerva and the others might stand a chance!

His glee was short-lived, though, because as soon as he saw his office's door still opened, he had the worst premonition of the day. Chubby would have closed it if Potter had left like he supposed he would…. and if he hadn't left, he was alone in his office for all the time that passed.

Severus rushed inside his office and gasped with horror seeing the brat submerged to his waist in the Pensive! All his debates with Dumbledore, the details about his students' leanings, Héloïse and her gardens, Sage bowing to the Dark Lord, James Potter and his merry gang of morons roaming the school, Lupin attacking in '75, not even talking about….

Severus little less but jumped into the Pensive, searched through his memories and found Potter by his father, watching as the worthless scum offered to the mass to take off his pants – oh, not that! No, not that, for Merlin, NO! He would not let another generation of utter morons laugh at his scrawny ass shine about the fields like a second sun in the early summer! If he could grab bloody James Potter by the wrist and break his wand with the experience and knowledge now he had, he would, but as things were at the moment, he could only grab his worthless son, and by the collar of his robe, fling him out of the Pensive!

He had no idea how much a fright he looked like when he turned the brat around in his office, twisting his wrists. He only knew he had to push the little turd far enough not to squeeze the life out of his undeserving neck!

"Having fun?" Somewhere deep, actually very deep, under his feral rage, Severus felt he should calm down, but honestly, it was way too far a warning to hear…. To conquer his first rage was only sensible to the point he could utter a word or two above his heaving chest. "So… been enjoying yourself, Potter?"

The boy seemed to mumble something, but truth be told, he didn't care.

"Amusing man, your father, wasn't he?" Looking at the brat, he hardly saw him, but somehow all the possible secrets he could have gathered grew upon him, and his sense of humiliation and helpless rage revolved with the additional fright.

"You will not repeat what you saw to anybody!" – he shouted, this time fully aware of being threatening enough. "Get out! Get away from my sight! Out!" – he barked, only realizing they weren't alone in his office when the boy approached the door.

"Me too?"

Sage stood in the doorway, shocked and flabbergasted, but Severus had no patience for her either. Not now.

"Everybody. Out! Don't you dare to show a face in this office ever again, Potter!"

He let his magic rumble and shut the door on them and could only hope against all hope that it would somehow ease the rage and the pain…. He already felt he was slipping back to what he knew himself to be some twenty years ago when he wanted to kill. Oh, yes, he wanted. He wanted to kill them all, to break bones and twist joints and watch the horror and the bewilderment on the faces around him when he had done all those things his twisted dark mind could come up with. And somehow, a part of him wanted the same again.

He wanted to see Potter's son helplessly crawl in the mud and realize what he had thrown away. At the same time, his goddamned father and godfather would writhe in the Cruciatus, having spasms till they crapped themselves, and lose their minds – he wanted the whole fucking school to watch them, the whole bloody Ministry of Magic and especially trice goddamned Albus Dumbledore, who worshipped their shite as it was pure gold and all their burps as the essence of wisdom.

The first few bottles rattled and broke; he didn't even notice, only jerked his head to see a row of different jars detonating, volleying shreds of glass and preserves with tissue and samples of magical beings all over the room. It felt marvellous!

He blasted his shelves and his desk before his attention turned to the window showing the Lake. Wouldn't it be nice to hear them cry out in despair as the Black Lake washed that dirt out of the school?! Because he was still there… he could hear his mumbling from the other side of the door and Sage's voice asking him out on his deeds, shriller than he'd ever remembered…

"I didn't ask what you have seen, Mr. Potter; I asked, what you have done!"

Bless her! He never thought another's outrage could calm him, but this time anger didn't fuel anger, like those times he remembered it did in his youth…

Sage… she shouldn't cry with agony and horror like the rest… He didn't want Lily to see him torture those morons… she was better than that; it would have been unbearable… Severus glanced at the window, making sure he didn't break it. The Black Lake should stay out at least until she was too close to get hurt…

Some sense of reason slowly returned, and he felt utterly confused. What had just happened? What happened to those twenty years? He was alive. Most of them were dead or in hiding… Lily wouldn't see him. She had died long ago… Sage…

Severus stepped closer to the door with a faint intention to find her but stopped short when she slipped inside the room.

The witch spared a quick glance for the shreds of glass, tissue and wood scattered all around the place, then looked him in his pale face, that still contorted with the shadow of his rage. Whatever she saw, she didn't act as if he frightened her or as if she was repulsed in any way. She only stepped closer, not giving a mind to the shards screeching under her shoes.

"Are you all right?" – she asked silently.

Severus had no answer, but strangely he couldn't take his eyes off her face. Not that it evoked any thoughts, not this time. His head felt hollow and cold, and he was strangely in a state without feeling. Like one of the armours out on the corridors, his consciousness persevered to a point, and his limbs were definitely there and working… just no emotion and not a single thought.

"He will apologize to you."

"I advise against it."

"Severus–"

"You'd better go now. You cannot help."

When she nodded, it seemed to be a small victory.

Severus stepped to the Pensieve and dutifully reintroduced the memories into his mind. He hated every second of it, but it must have been done… the safety of them in the Pensieve was only an illusion. The safety of whatever in his mind was also an illusion. Anyone could come and rob him anytime. It was a mistake to try to protect whatever belonged to him outside his head… his brain was one of his better assets. His brain, his wand and his magic roaming, even helping to Occlude.

But in the last memory restored into his mind, his wand was taken, his brain couldn't save him, and his magic wasn't roaming like it was minutes ago… The room swam before his eyes, and Severus grabbed onto the edge of the Penseive to hold himself upright. He should not show weakness; he must not. This witch might act kindly to him, but she didn't know who he truly was. She didn't know she barely got saved from the Black Lake…

Severus straightened himself, ordering his features into an emotionless mask before he turned to see Sage leave. Curiously, she didn't turn yet to the door.

"All right." her tone was direct and emotionless. He couldn't detect any measure of pity or other bullshit in her eyes. "I came to discuss our need to report Trelawney's dismissal. Aberforth took her in for the moment, Minerva and the others are cleared, and Umbridge is content for now. I attempted to contact Albus, but I doubt it was a success. I don't know how to leave Hogwarts at the moment, but the Dark Lord should surely want to know."

Her words came from a different dimension, from another world Severus didn't feel in contact with. Even if all she told made sense on a logical level.

"Chubby can safely pass a letter to Lucius," – he told her. It felt peculiar, he was still operating as a useful piece of some engine, and it didn't seem it used to be like that all those years ago.

"Thank you. In that case, I'd like to borrow your elf, if you don't mind."

She was so polite. It also felt out of place. People had no respect ever, especially not after – a short flash of all that happened by the Lake, and Severus felt a sudden tremble running through his body. His stomach was a tough knot for what felt like ages, now the sensation joined with nausea. He only realized he was slipping when the witch stepped closer. Something told him if she touched him, he would lose his marbles.

"I said I was all right," – he barked with a snarl.

"Of course you are; who said you weren't?" – Sage stepped past him and threw a handful of Floo powder into the hearth. "Sage Moody's quarters" – she told the green flames and gestured for him to step through.

Nothing made sense anymore, and Severus couldn't think clearly. However, the Floo was bad… he knew it was bad.

"Umbridge," – he uttered, trying to recall the details, but Sage shook her head.

"She's in the Great Hall. Come," – in her urgent call and matter-of-fact tone, Severus couldn't find a reason to quarrel. Anything but to show weakness… he stepped through the hearth.

On the other side, he found himself in a living room he hadn't seen for months but which still held a sense of calm and the memory of solution. Just like in November, stepping into these quarters felt like stepping through a curtain of serenity. The first impression it gave was the warmth, alien to anything he was used to in the dungeons.

The Floo whooshed behind him, and as Sage stepped through the hearth, a bubble lifted the cover on the cauldron, and the silent clinking pushed Severus' senses on edge. He grabbed onto his wand, but the witch passed by him and only added some herbs to the concoction. Lemongrass and rosemary judging by the changing scent of the steam. Severus' mind distantly registered it was probably a mild headache potion…

He watched Sage, frozen in place, as she went to wash her hands, ward the hearth against intrusions, change out of her Hogwarts robe and rearrange some paperwork. Then she mentioned she was to make lavender tea and asked if he wanted some.

Severus shook his head.

"Why am I here?" – he eventually asked the witch, still standing closer to the hearth than to her inviting couch and armchairs.

The warmth and the scented air made him dizzy, and made it harder by the minute to keep to the tension he needed to keep him alert and thus safe.

"Did you have plans for the evening?"

Her asking back felt out-of-blue. Plans for an evening should be considered at leisure and awaited; such things didn't call up any thoughts. But admitting to his lack of planning was also not something he would do with equanimity…

"I don't remember," – he admitted after a long pause. She didn't seem as if she found it strange at all.

"Why don't you sit down till it comes to you?"

Severus had no explanation why.

Really, why not? The soothing scents her cauldron emitted began to overwhelm him, especially since they combined with the lavender tea's steam….

The witch was already sitting by a corner of her workbench, by the looks of it correcting essays, turning her back partly on him. At the moment, it felt reassuring. She didn't make him act for an audience, not even for as small one as herself in her own living room.

Severus sat down.

The armchair was soft and deep, much softer than his own down in his quarters. It lured him to the same sense of safety the warmth and the scents tried to offer. Should he accept this? Why? What did she want? At that particular moment, the witch hardly seemed as if she wanted a thing at all. Definitely not from him. If anything, she seemed as if she'd forgotten about his presence completely.

Severus stared at the witch. His body seemed to work in unreasonable overdrive, he couldn't slow down his breathing because his heart beat a frenzied thump, the blood was running in his veins wild, carrying the sweet taste of adrenaline all over, which he could distinctly taste on his tongue… it proved hard to recall what might have set off the panic. He was running from the Lake, he knew, he remembered his fear, the total loss of dignity, he wanted to hide, but there seemed to be people everywhere! Gods, if only he knew then that there might be a witch around with scented quarters…. Would have they hurt him even if he knew this place to hide?

He grabbed on the armrests and tried to pant as silently as he possibly could. The witch shouldn't be made aware of his struggles. Perhaps unknowingly, but she offered refuge. He shouldn't disturb her…

Severus, don't disturb the lady! – Eileen Snape's voice had never been stronger than a hush, that time it still felt as if she'd shouted. Mrs. Crombie always had sweets, but she only gave some when she arrived. Severus wasn't at home when she arrived because mother believed he should try and go back to the Muggle school. It didn't work out well. Jimmy Bowman and his gang of about five bigmouth muggle kids chased him through the district until he managed to slip down by the riverbank to hide in the grass and watch them running on, searching for him. Of course, now he was dirty and panting and wholly unfit to awake Mrs. Crombie for his share of sweets. She dozed off sitting by the kitchen table waiting for mother to mend some of the strange clothes she kept carrying here and to give her herbs for her stomach-ache. Severus sat patiently and tried to pant as silently as he could, praying for his father to arrive home later than usual and Mrs. Crombie not to forget the sweets. He got both, but there was no good in it. Mrs. Crombie woke before his father arrived, but she decidedly would never offer sweets for dirty children, who "whoever knows whatever they were up to"- and she was gone. Father arrived late because he wasn't sober.

Severus had a fleeting thought whether Sage ever offered sweets for a kid or not, but even before he could have berated himself for being an idiot, his gaze fell on the mug of lavender tea in front of him. He fought off his suspicious nature and tasted it. The lavender and the honey combined into something warm and sweet like the summer. It filled his cold stomach with soothing it pleasantly and working that strange knot slowly into release.

It took about a handful of unlinked memories and sipping the whole mug of tea until he felt his lashes fall heavily, but at that point, he didn't mind it any more. The witch wouldn't attack him, she had never shown she wanted to hurt him, and no one else was around. He had a feeling if he disciplined his mind in good order, he could think now of anything that transpired, but he didn't want to. The scents and the warmth lured him into slumber, probably since he'd stepped through the hearth, and he wasn't going to refuse it anymore.

He had no recollection of Sage extracting the mug from between his fingers or dulling the lights to a candle charmed above her table. He also had no idea about her conferencing with his elf, leaving the rooms for a short while, or changing into her nightclothes and retreating to sleep. He only slept deeply and peacefully without any kind of dreams disturbing him, almost until dawn.

Awakening in an unknown armchair, with his back hurting in the unfamiliar softness that couldn't support it, and staring at a room through the drowsy haze, was first disconcerting. Then he heard the soft noises through the open bedroom door where the witch slept and the recollections of his last night hit him in the gut.

Whatever the witch understood about his feelings, she most likely saved the school from a flood, possibly saving the brat's unworthy life and also his soul and sanity in the process – and now she just lay there on her bed innocently, hugging a pillow and dreaming with a smile on her face. Severus stood in her bedroom door, watching her for minutes, his head leaned over on the doorjamb, and he just let that abundance of emotion flow through him. Gratitude, incomprehension, love… A huge part of him only wanted to lie beside her. But she obviously deserved better for her efforts than receiving a thorough fuck, even if, honestly, there was not much else he could think of at the moment to express himself. He knew it wouldn't suffice.

Coming to this conclusion, Severus stumbled out of the witch's quarters and strolled down the short flight of stairs to find his own. He avoided his office and his study, rather summoned whatever he needed to engage his attention, essays to mark, notes to check, until the enchanted chart of detentions and point loss fell into his hands.

Potter lost one hundred points to his house and earned detention for a day every week of the spring term with his Head of House just the day before.

Merlin, this was impossible! – Severus stared at the chart and tried to recall if he proscribed any of those, but obviously, he didn't, which meant that a Potter was caught for his dealings, severely punished and reproached… for his deeds against him?

Severus looked up the entry, again and again, McGonagall countersigned it, Sage proscribed it. He didn't even have a thing to do about it all, these witches just thought to take it upon themselves, and they changed the axis of the world… The terror about if the brat told what he saw in the Pensive only spoiled the moment a breath later, but then it was overwhelming.

"Chubby!"

The elf popped into service readily, but his ears lay back as soon as he saw the look upon his master's face.

"Chubby, do you know about this?"

The house elf leaned closer to read the entry in the charmed chart-book and shook his head with honest incomprehension.

"Potter boy tried to steal from Master, he had to admit to that to his Head of House, and now he's getting punished," – he relayed in his squeaky voice. "Master unhappy for Potter boy punished?"

Severus stared at the elf.

"For stealing?" Not that it wasn't a charge he would never have had in mind, however hard it would have been to prove it… But now? "What did the Toad have to say about this?"

The elf shook his head.

"Chubby knows not that Master, Chubby heard nothing from Evil One since she'd left the Infirmary last evening." He only went on seeing Severus's brow rising with a question. "She told Professor McGonagall, Professor Moody and Professor Hagrid they were the next in line to go. Evil One joked she didn't decide on the right order yet and promised to find out. Blinky is a good house elf for Professor McGonagall. Chubby tried to cheer him for a whole hour after. Blinky worries about losing his place in Gryffindor tower if the Head of House needs to leave castle soon."

"You may go back and tell that elf he does not need to worry. Hogwarts may lose some of the teachers, but I will do my best to ensure it is not Minerva McGonagall. The school needs her."

The sudden affection he saw in the elf's bulgy eyes was disconcerting. He wasn't used to such open displays of any positive emotions. Thankfully the house elf had the good sense to pop away after a short word of gratitude.

The short hour before breakfast, Severus needed to conquer his mixed feelings and re-establish some of his usual defences without relying overly much on his Occlumency. He was painfully aware of what Héloïse would suggest about hiding within his mind and had no intention of destroying the little progress he'd achieved.

The Great Hall proved to be no less of a silent battlefield than he anticipated, even if Minerva didn't seem to have hard feelings for him or if Sage didn't press him by looking in his direction or even greet him. The Pink Toad ruled beyond any attempt to tame her, and most seemed ready to bow to her, only to avert attention from their plotting the day before. All outings from the castle seemed hopeless, and Severus began to contemplate how the Dark Lord would react to his spy being hindered in giving his reports.

At least Sage didn't need to go to France either, not until the Toad dismissed her, and he didn't have to face the Dark Lord to lie about Trelawney's whereabouts. Sybil Trelawney was a rare stupid bint, but she had never been in greater danger than now, the first time without the protection of Hogwarts' wards since she'd given that damned prophecy.

Severus' musings got short when he noticed the unusual number of owls descending on the Gryffindor table. The commotion around them enticed more and more kids to join them from different houses. Even the Lovegood girl seemed interested enough to leave the Ravenclaw table behind, although usually, she wasn't even aware of her surroundings. Severus' glance fell on Potter and his friends opening letters, and his appetite was gone.

On his way out of the Great Hall, he couldn't help noticing the Toad approaching Potter, and he gave in to gloating. After all that transpired the last day, he wasn't certain if he could be bothered about any of the brat's issues.

At least he thought that until the recess after his second class of the day when returning from his storage room, where these little dimwits kept switching up the letters of the alphabet, he saw a swish of Beauxbatons blue skirt about his office door. He left the storage for the dogs and hurried after the vision, only to find his office empty. Not even his usual charms could reveal anyone's presence in the room.

The only change he could recognize was a bunch of empty parchments placed upon his desk, and he was quite certain he didn't put it there… what the… He pulled his wand again and cast Revelo. The parchments flashed in a greyish light, but aside from that, nothing seemed to have happened.

He sat down and focused. He knew he saw her, at least a sign of her. Whatever this was, she clearly meant it for him and for him only. What was something that she knew about him that no one else did? The answer now was ridiculously easy. Severus let out his magic and touched the parchments with intent to read them, and soon letters formed and revealed the January edition of the Quibbler.

Harry Potter Speaks at Last – The Truth About He Who Must Not Be Named And The Night I Saw Him Return,by Rita Skeeter. Had the world really gone that insane?

Severus began to read, wincing at every line break and swallowing at every name. He tried to set the disturbing image of the beaming brat from the front page aside and process the news. Potter was surprisingly low-key with the strictest tendency to stick to the facts, which would have improved his homework greatly. The familiar emptiness he felt glancing at the boy's face quickly filled up with the weight of a rock.

All the names and details, all the words and methods described, were disturbing in their familiarity. The places the members of the first circle held around the Dark Lord, the protocol, even Malfoy's usual subservience and Avery's stupidity shone through the text in overwhelming detail. He was well aware when his place was mentioned in the circle and couldn't help but close his eyes for a second when it came to the Dark Lord's assessment of his betrayal and its possible consequences. He needed a moment to remind himself, it was water under the bridge at this point.

The boy continued describing the Dark Lord's appearance in such detail, he had to think about the impressive fact that the brat had indeed survived such a meeting, which was the more puzzling the more he lamented about it… the Dark Lord's words, his promises, his wrath, his plans…. He knew what Potter was talking about.

Severus tapped his finger at the parchment, concealing it all. This was doubtlessly something the Headmaster would have loved. A way of fighting back against Umbridge's rule, and – perhaps unknowingly the Ministry's incompetence – with sense and effect. Somehow, he doubted the brat could trump this up alone. But the consequences…

He tried to make a quick mental list of the possible aftereffects, but those were way too wide-ranged, thus uncontrollable. Gryffindor idiocy. If needed, one should step up and blow up half the known world indeed, but the detonation should always be controlled, or the brewer would risk life and limb for his efforts. Why, oh why did Dumbledore place politics into the hands of immature kids who didn't even have time to learn the basics of logical thinking?!

Suddenly he recalled Umbridge approaching the Gryffindor table just hours ago. There must have been a reason for Sage to place this here in such a curious manner. Severus blew out the air with exasperation, and he couldn't help rolling his eyes. If there was something he was not up to, especially not right after last night, it was defending the little prick, but what else could he do?

Cursing savagely under his breath, Severus closed his office, storage and classrooms on his way to the upper levels and saw a commotion on the first-floor corridor. Even those standing far enough from the history classroom could hear young Mr. Weasley's disrespectful yelling.

"You cannot mean to hold us here until she gets back?!" – the boy sounded truly terrified, and Severus made his way to the classroom while Sage wearily answered.

"You've heard my orders, Mr. Weasley. They were quite explicit."

When Snape rushed into the history classroom, Granger emitted a strange noise of surprise, something between a yelp and a scream, which made her two boyfriends jump and turn to the door, only to pale with shock. However, Sage seemed as if she relaxed seeing him.

"Thank the goddess, have you read it?"

He nodded, but before he could utter a word, Granger turned to Sage with what seemed a long-going argument.

"At least give him a chance to hide, Professor Moody, just a single chance to run before that horrible woman returns!"

"I will not hide!" – Potter protested. "Let her come. I can go see Snuffles."

"That's right," – Weasley offered his support, "we can all go if you just give us a chance…."

"No, we cannot!" – Miss Granger stood up against her accomplices energetically. "Can't you understand? She wants to expel you; in other words, you would lose your wand. How would you stand up against–"

Granger clearly hesitated if to say the rest in front of him, and Severus had enough.

"Is it true?" – He only watched Sage's face.

"She said so," – she nodded. "She smashed inside here about half an hour ago, in the middle of our class and demanded Mr. Potter's head. I could only deter her by pointing out that she had no valid order from the Ministry. It was bollocks; she wouldn't have needed a thing, but somehow it worked, and she dashed away, throwing threats around. I expect she already has a committal order signed by Fudge himself."

Severus grimaced but couldn't deny he was glad she thought about seeking his help. It felt good on a level wholly unconnected to war or politics. It was like she took the moment when she let him Apparate her to some steps further… he shook the thought out of his head, refusing to be such an idiot, and returned to rebuild the events of the last half an hour.

"How did you–" – he indicated the stairs with a wave of his hand, unknowing if any other knew about her deliberately contacting him.

"Oh, Inequalis Duplicii."

The kids looked lost, but Severus finally understood that moment of a swishing blue skirt, and he couldn't forego an appreciative half-smile. Sage made herself a double to deliver the Quibbler, which must have dissolved as soon as she completed her task. One of the more obscure magic the Alchemists were famous for even among the Muggles, the magic that made someone appear at different places at a time. He heard legends using the charm in a duel but wouldn't ever do it himself. The focus it needed would be distracting to the point of endangering one's life.

"Was that the thing when you doubled yourself?" – Weasley had to clatter in.

"Yes, Mr. Weasley," – Sage dutifully replied. "Any ideas?" – she turned back to Severus.

He looked over at the kids. They were frightened. Granger more of the consequences, Potter probably more of his presence. He could already hear the rhythmic steps from the corridor and unmistakable giggling.

"Could we win time?" – he asked Sage and could only pull a shoulder on her eyes rounding out with understanding when Miss Granger couldn't curb the know-it-all she was.

"Do you mean a time-turner?"

Severus's lips pushed together in sudden anger as he recalled her probable misuse of her device some years ago, but even Sage seemed close to losing her temper.

"You are welcome to use all the time-turners you have on your person, Miss Granger," – she offered acerbically and kept staring at Severus. It was only too plain to see her reluctance.

"Of course, if you have any better ideas," – he tried, but the rhythmic steps kept closer and closer out on the corridor.

"It would solve more than one issue, wouldn't it?" – Sage finally asked and nodded. And it instantly called for Severus' reluctance because if there was a thing he was resolved against, it must have been to deal with Potter at all… he knew the witch meant him to teach him, he knew it! Blast it, but he won't!

Severus decided to leave the issue for later with a deep sigh, and with visible disgust, he grabbed both of the boys by the shoulder, while Sage took hold on Miss Granger's arm, then on his, and chanted the spell.

After a short fall through the familiar blackness, patched with a sequence of colours, Severus's feet reached the ground again, and he let go of the two boys with disgusted haste.

He wanted to apologize to Sage when the kids began the shouting match.

"Where did you take us?"

"Where are we?"

"This just didn't happen. It's impossible to Apparate at Hogwarts!"

Disturbingly enough, Miss Granger seemed more bothered by the fact she mentioned than their changing location at all.

"You are right, Miss Granger, so we most certainly did not Apparate," – Sage assured her, looking around in the orchard for someone to greet.

"Then what have you done to us?" – the girl demanded, and Sage sought out Severus' eyes with not much short of desperation.

He could understand her reluctance to share the details, but something had to be said.

"Patience, Miss Granger," – Severus warned, "I also strongly advise you all to exercise your better manners while–" – hearing Sage's gasp, he looked around startled but could only see a shadow of a witch approaching among the trees.

"That's Polla!" – Sage looked around with fright, but there was no escape.

Severus cursed.

"Hold them!" – he commanded with a quick decision, grabbed on an arm that was closest to him and reached out for Sage. When she took hold on the boys' shoulders, he uttered the spell,

"Locumtotum vocatur" – and their whole group disappeared from the sight of Sage's shady aunt.