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Chapter Six

Elaine nervously fiddled with her necklace as her first class of the day, the sixth year NEWT students, trailed in the classroom one by one, all eying her. She knew they were quite unsure what type of teacher she'd be and she couldn't blame them, considering they and decades worth of students had one Defense teacher after another. Herself included, now. Her only hope was she would stand out. And in a good way, she mused, remembering her seventh year professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, whose only skill, it seemed, was to endorse himself and his books.

Once everyone was seated, she cleared her throat, gaining their attention as she stood in the front of the classroom. "Good morning," she said, willing her voice to be clear, precise, as they all looked at her. She walked over to the chalkboard. "I am Professor Davies." She turned to face them after writing her name down. "How many of you know the theory behind nonverbal spells?" Harry's friend, Hermione, she believed her name to be, raised her hand. Elaine nodded in her direction. "Miss-?"

"Granger, ma'am. It requires intense concentration and mental discipline," she stated.

Elaine noded. "Correct. And the advantages for defense magic?" Granger raised her hand again, but to her surprise, so did Harry. "Mr. Potter."

"Er - the person you're dueling has no idea what spell you used?"

"Correct. Twenty points to Gryffindor." Elaine scanned the students. "Mr. Malfoy." The blonde looked up, a surprised look on his face. "What is the problem most people face when attempting nonverbal magic?"

"The wood in their wands," he responded, slumping back down in his seat.

"Correct. Ten points to Slytherin."

As she paired off the students in an attempt for them to practice nonverbal magic, she paced the room. Harry and his redheaded friend, Ron, were paired, and neither of them seemed to be having any luck. Granger, on the other hand, was able to stun her partner within a couple of tries, earning Gryffindor more points.

Nearing the end of the lesson, she flicked her wand, shutting off the lights. Surprised cries rang through the room, and she flicked her wand again, turning the lights back on. "Your homework is to practice your nonverbal spells. If you didn't succeed this lesson and you're able to perform nonverbal magic during your next lesson, you will earn your house points. You are dismissed." The students began to gather their bags, and as they started to leave, she remembered Severus had asked her to speak to Draco after lessons. "Mr. Malfoy, if you could stay behind for a few moments?" The blonde gave her a dark look but sank back down in his seat, waiting for the rest of the students to leave. "Professor Snape asked me to give you a message." She watched his face for a reaction but there was none; he continued to stare at her blankly. "You are to be up by five Saturday morning, and meet the two of us in his office. We are going to your home for a -" she paused. "You are required home at that time."

"Okay." He shrugged. "Can I go now?"

"Uh - yeah." Elaine watched him leave, his shoulders slumped. The poor child; she didn't know what his task was, but she knew whatever the dark lord had told him to do would not be easy for a sixteen year old. Nothing the dark lord wanted would be easy for anyone.

She thought about Severus again, and how she'd left him that morning. Elaine had never been under the cruciatus curse, nor had she ever seen it be performed. But she had read accounts on it and met patients who'd lost their minds from extended usage. She shook the thoughts out of her head as much as she could the rest of the day, and was surprised to see Severus standing in her classroom's doorway as she dismissed the last lesson. She waited until the students left before walking over to him.

"Hey," she said softly. "Are you feeling better?"

"Albus would like to see you," he informed her, ignoring her question. "He's in his office."

"But-" Elaine began, but he'd already turned around and was halfway down the hall, leaving her standing there not knowing what had happened.

She walked slowly to the headmaster's office, turning to look back at Severus for as long as he was in her view. When he was gone, she let out a soft sigh and tried to push him from her thoughts. She knocked on Dumbledore's door, and waited until she heard the soft, "enter," before pushing it open. The headmaster was seated behind his desk, and sitting across from him was Remus Lupin.

"Headmaster," she said coldly, completely ignoring her father. "You asked for me?"

"Yes. Have a seat," Dumbledore stated, gesturing to the empty seat beside Remus. She shook her head, crossing her arms. "Yes. Well. I called you here to see if you will entertain the idea of going to an Order meeting-"

"No."

"Elaine-"

"I said no, Professor. I report to you. Going to see-" She stopped. "My part in the war is hard enough. I would prefer not to have your order members judge me like they do Severus, thanks." There was a pause. "If that's all you needed-"

The headmaster sighed. "Yes, that was all." Elaine turned on her heel and left.

Severus opened his door and stared at Elaine, who'd been knocking for the past five minutes. A glance at the clock told them both it was late, past the students' curfew. "What are you doing here?" Severus asked finally, exhaustion plain in his voice.

"I wanted to speak with you. May I come in?" Elaine waited for his reaction, but he simply sighed and turned away from the door, leaving it open. Elaine slipped in and shut it behind her. They stood in silence for a while, neither sure what to say or how to begin the conversation. "Are you - do you feel better, now?"

"Yes, I'm well. Thank you." More silence, which Severus broke. "I don't see why you care, Elaine. I was your teacher for seven years and did not treat you well - why do you care about my wellbeing?"

"I just do," Elaine responded, earning a snort. "I don't have to be here, you know. I came to make sure you were okay after being tortured, you don't have to be rude to me."

"I am a rude man," Severus snapped, whirling on her. "In case you haven't noticed, I am rude to everyone, not just you."

"But why? I don't understand."

Severus laughed bitterly. "You wouldn't," he told her, his voice dark. He turned to face the wall. "The problem, Mrs. Davies, is that you are young. And a mother. And a widow." He let out a heavy sigh. "I cannot afford not to be rude to you. Now if you will please leave." He marched toward a door, opened it and went in, slamming the door behind him.

Elaine stood in his rooms alone for a minute, wondering what on earth had just happened, before turning on her heel and leaving.

"I want you to be my wife," Ben whispered to her one evening, as they sat outside the children's home. Ben had spent that summer after graduation with her as much as possible, in between his family duties. His father was having difficulties, so Ben had stepped up and was helping around the house as much as he could.

Elaine just laughed, letting her head fall back onto his shoulder. "We're seventeen, Ben. It's a little young to get married, don't you think?"

Ben sat up, turning her to face him. "I mean it, Lanie. I've been in love with you forever. And seventeen's legal, in the magical world. I know you want to stay here until eighteen, but you could come live with me instead. We've graduated. You don't have to stay here anymore."

"Mrs. Montenegro would kill me if I ran off," Elaine informed him. "And you haven't been in love with me for forever, you never even spoke to me until end of sixth year, and even then-"

Ben silenced her with a kiss, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a ring. "We don't typically have engagement rings in the wizarding world, just the wedding ones, but I know you were raised like a muggle." He held out the ring to her. "Elaine, I love you. I do. We're young, but I know what I want in my life, and that's you. I want you. I want you to share my name, I want to raise children together. I want a life with you. So please. Marry me." Elaine could only cry and nod as he put the ring on her finger.

The week passed all too quickly, and before Elaine knew it, it was Saturday morning, and she was yawning on her way to Severus' office. The two hadn't spoken since their late night meeting in Severus' office, an encounter Elaine still hadn't been able to figure out, and yet now she found her heart was pounding going to see him.

Kyle and Roger hadn't come back down to see her, either. She saw them both in classes but both boys seemed to be avoiding her again, and she let it go. They would come to her, when they were ready.

Halfway to the dungeons she ran into Draco Malfoy, whose pale face was, if possible, even whiter. They stood there, looking at each other, before the boy shrugged, continuing his way. She followed close behind and soon they reached Severus, who was standing outside his office so still he was very nearly a statue. He cleared his throat upon seeing the two of them.

"Are we ready?" he questioned. Draco merely nodded, not able to find his voice, and Elaine too nodded. Severus led them inside to his fireplace. "The headmaster has had this unlocked for floo powder, to leave. To return we will head to his office. Are we ready?"

Review? I know it's a bit short, I've had a busy week. Enjoy!