It had been exactly one month since the last meeting and things were not going well. The penetration of Hogwarts was imperative to the Plan. However, every possible entryway had so far proved airtight.

"We need to investigate that forest. There is magic in there that perhaps is strong enough to resist the wards." Bellatrix stated as she leaned lazily on the dark table. Severus blinked in surprise. His mind flew back to a moment long ago when Dumbledore was first introducing him to the school.

It was almost twilight. A gaunt faced Snape was following a curiously happy Dumbledore. They had made a full round of the castle and now were on to the grounds. Dumbledore stopped abruptly at the edge of the small path that Snape could see eventually wound itself down into a dark forest.

"Ah. Perhaps the most interesting area of Hogwarts: The Forbidden Forest. There is much ancient magic in there that I myself have not fully explored. Not that I particularly want to." Dumbledore commented cheerfully.

"Come, dear Severus. I now think it's time to show you your quarters." With that, he turned on the spot and started back toward the castle. Snape turned to follow him but not before giving the dark, swaying pines one last long look.

"Bella, you have a point." The room turned its attention immediately on the Dark Lord. Bellatrix's face took on a disgustingly genuine look of adoration and surprise.

"Why thank you, My Lord. I bet that there are things in there that even Dumbledore himself knows nothing about." Her statement gave Severus a feeling of great unease. He immediately sensed that this idea needed to be destroyed, and fast.

"I myself watched Dumbledore set those wards. I am certain that they circle the entire grounds completely." He watched as all faces turned to him. He instantly regretted his statement.

"Are you suggesting that we not even try, Severus?" the cool voice asked simply. Complete silence reigned around the room as everyone could sense the level of tension as it amplified tenfold. Snape knew he had to do damage control.

"Not at all, my Lord. I apologize, I spoke with haste. I will search the forest thoroughly when I return to the school tomorrow." Bellatrix shot Snape an angry look.

"No. I want to search it. I know Hogwarts just as well as you do and won't it seem suspicious if you are caught lurking outside of the wards?" Bellatrix didn't even bother addressing this question directly toward Snape. Her full attention was on the Dark Lord. Snape cursed her inwardly for he knew that her logic was sound.

"Yes. I think Bellatrix should search." With that, the Dark Lord rose from his seat and beckoned Nagini to him. He slowly walked out of the room leaving Bellatrix with her final instructions.

"Go soon and be thorough."

Angelina was diligently cleaning out Madam Pomfrey's many drawers and cabinets. As she rewrapped bandages and relabeled old jars of ointment, she reflected on her past month at Hogwarts. Yes, the work was hard but she loved it here. She had loved Hogwarts when she had gone to school, of course, but walking the halls as a permanent resident was such a different experience. She now felt as though she knew every corridor, every painting, every suit of armor. She loved all of her lessons. Madame Pomfrey was a wealth of knowledge, Professor Sprout could name every plant in existence. However, out of all of her lessons, the one she looked forward to the most was Potions. She smiled to herself as she thought about the hours that she and Severus spent arguing, experimenting, conversing. Angelina had never before in her life met a person like him.

"Good morning, sweetheart. What on earth are you doing?" Angelina snapped out of her thoughts quickly as Madame Pomfrey appeared by her side.

"Hello, Madame. I got up a tiny bit early this morning and thought that I would clean these out. I have nothing else to do today." Madame Pomfrey smiled gratefully.

"Why thank you, I don't know what I would do without you. You are a godsend." The older woman moved to evaluate to the supply shelves.

"Ahh, I think we are out of fresh pine, Madame. I was going to go collect some right after I finished with these."

"No, no dear. I might as well go. I fancy a nice early morning walk anyway." Angelina turned to face her questioningly.

"No, I can totally go. You can rest here, it's no trouble at all." Madame Pomfrey looked at Angelina with mock indignation.

"I may be old but I can still take a walk if I please, miss!" Angelina backed down with a laugh,

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to offend you!" Madame Pomfrey just chuckled and went back into her quarters to change for the day.

He knew that something was wrong as soon as she walked into the room. It amazed him how attuned he had become to this woman. The way she walked, the way she moved, even the look in her eye was all familiar to him. He could sense almost all of her emotions, even if he didn't know the cause of them. Right now he sensed anxiety and a horrible sadness. Still, he decided not to comment. This was his way. He had learned a long time ago that allowing a person to open up to you on their own often yields more information than if prompted. Not that he particularly wanted to know what was going on with her. At least that's what he told himself. He kept his actions as smooth and deliberate as always and his face as blank and impassive as ever.

"Good afternoon Prof… Severus." Her voice was shaky and unsure. Why had she reverted to his old title? They had been working together for an entire month and they had switched to a first name basis after a couple of weeks. His mind flew unbidden to that moment. Ah, that moment.

Her dark eyes were squinted in concentration as she leaned over the tiny cauldron with the vial of ambrosia held tightly between her fingers. The room was smoky and uncomfortably warm. They had been working on this extremely difficult potion for hours now. Exactly 3 perfect drops fell in and the dark brown liquid turned to a deep purple almost immediately. She stood erect as the relief washed visibly over her face as she let out a nervous giggle.

"Excellent job, Johnson. It is rare for a novice to have such steady hands." He praised her lightly.

"You can call me Angelina; after all, we are colleagues." She flashed him a quick look. This casual request for him to use her first name caught him completely off guard. And that was an extremely rare occurrence for Severus Snape. Snape, whose entire life relied on a constant cold, calculating thought process. Realizing the effect his continued silence was having he forced himself to speak,

"And you can refer to me as Severus." He stated quietly. Their eyes locked. It felt as if an electric current was raging its way up and down his entire body. Finally he could stand it no longer and had to sever the connection.

He brought himself out of his thoughts as her uneasiness could no longer be ignored.

Angelina could not concentrate. Had she really thought that she'd be able to maintain her composure? She avoided his slightly questioning gaze and moved suddenly over to the supply cabinet and yanked it open.

"What are we going to work on today? Felix Felicis or Drought of Living Death?" her voice was abnormally high pitched and the words came out in a rushed jumble. She could hear herself starting to disintegrate as tears quickly filled her eyes. She clutched at a vial so tightly that it threatened to splinter in her hands. He moved over to her quietly. She felt his hand slowly come over her own as he gently pulled the glass vial out of her grasp. No longer could she hold back.

"Madam Pomfrey is dead."