It was several hours later when Wikeni was awakened by a loud noise from downstairs. She sat up straight, immediately alert. She crept out of bed silently, then reached for the dragon-handled dagger Severus had given her on her birthday the first year they were married.

"For protection," he had explained.

Now Wikeni felt she needed it.

She quietly tiptoed down the hallway, towards the stairs, and gently placed her feet in between the posts of the banister so as not to make creaking noises on the steps. She made it all the way down, then swiftly demounted and squatted, turning the corner to peer into the kitchen.

It was Professor McGonagall, who had puffy red cheeks and bloodshot eyes, but still seemed to have an air of dignity and intensity. She had met her and Professor Dumbledore when she had accompanied Severus to Hogwarts once so that she could see the castle. Severus and Dumbledore talked business in his office while McGonagall had been asked to keep Wikeni company for the duration. McGonagall had been surprised to find out Severus had a wife, and a little put out to have such a fool's "job," but not displeased. They joked about his grumpy demeanor while McGonagall told Wikeni stories about his childhood at Hogwarts. She had not seen her again until now.

"Professor?"

McGonagall jumped slightly, but quickly caught sight of Wikeni crouched on the floor.

"What on Earth are you doing down there?"

"Sorry, I thought you were a stalker." She straightened up. "I don't know why, but I've just really been on edge lately, like… like… like something's going to happen, you know?" She twisted the dagger nervously, then placed it on a nearby end table.

"Oh dear."

"What? What's the matter?"

"Perhaps you ought to come with me."

"He WHAT?"

"Listen, Wikeni just… sit down," said Professor McGonagall.

"No way. No way! There is absolutely NO WAY that he could've done something like this… never… not… not… not in a million…" Wikeni began, but then broke down crying. "He… he couldn't… could he?"

"I was there, Mrs. Snape, I saw it happen," said a dark-haired boy. He looked quite uncomfortable.

"How do you know?" she whispered. "Are you sure it was him?"

"I saw what he did, okay?! I'm not stupid! He killed Professor Dumbledore!" the boy yelled, but he seemed to be scolding himself rather than Wikeni. He sat down roughly, running his fingers through his messy hair. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay… it's… okay. I just… I just didn't… I didn't know…" She resumed her crying.

"I'm so sorry, Wikeni. I understand how you must feel," said Lupin, a man she had just recently been acquainted with. Wikeni looked up angrily.

"How would you know?" she hissed.

"I'm not saying I know how you feel," he stated calmly. "I'm saying I understand."

"What's the difference? What does it matter? He's as good as dead."

Several people in the Hospital Wing sucked in their breath.

"We were hoping, Wikeni, that you might have the most understanding of him. After all, those of us who knew him best, who… watched him grow up…" started McGonagall, but she began to choke on her words and stopped for a second to regain her composure. "We thought you might understand why he would have done this. Has anything set him off lately? Anything unusual?"

"Why? You want to track him down, to kill him?"

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no…"

"But that's just it, isn't it? You may not want to, but what will your courts do? Do you have the death penalty? I've heard of Azkaban, and the dementors. Don't think I don't understand what you're doing, because I do. Even if I did know where he is, I certainly wouldn't tell you, least of all the ministry." She glared at Tonks, whom she had also just met tonight.

"You think I'd kill him?" she asked, scandalized.

"If need be, yes. Even I would. But that's the difference… I'll admit it. You all lie to me and say 'Oh no, we just want to find out why he did it,' but I – am – not – stupid. I may be a Muggle, but I know human nature when I see it."

"We just need some help…"

"And what about me, huh? What if he comes back for me?"

"He's not going to…"

"How would you know? You said yourself that you thought you knew him, but now he's changed. I have no idea what to do."

They were all very silent for a while. A beautiful blonde woman continued wiping a young man's heavily gouged face, tears streaming down her cheeks. Wikeni's eyes swept the room. Almost everyone was crying, but who was crying for Severus? She wondered where he was. Was he alright? Was he being punished by this "Dark Lord" or was he being praised? She heard that some Malfoy boy was supposed to kill Dumbledore. And how on Earth did he suddenly become this "Half-Blood Prince?" Since when had Severus ever been proud enough of his parents to even mention them, let alone to turn one of their names into a formal title? She was sure even his mother…

Wikeni stopped and thought for a moment.

His mother.

Eileen Prince.

She might have all the answers they needed.

"I think I might know who can help."