Celosia had worked in the garden all summer, keeping her mother's flowers alive and well, even growing her own in the large greenhouse. She had even grown more flowers at the front of the house, where she had a perfect view of Severus' home. The windows were covered with heavy curtains and she had never seen him out, which made her disappointed.

She had never knocked on his door asking for anything, and Severus was grateful. He was hardly ever home, having to do things for the Dark Lord. Although no Death Eaters could get into his house, he was still being careful, and wanted Celosia to never step foot in his home unless he was sure it was safe. If she needed him, he would detect it, and meet her outside.

Throughout the entire summer Severus never heard from Celosia, which probably meant she didn't require assistance from him. A part of him was hurt. Was she just purposely avoiding him? Then again no such threat would be able to penetrate their wards.

Celosia frowned as the end of summer was nearing. She had joined the Order of the Phoenix again, and was one of the few Order members that were going to be adding security to the castle with the Triwizard Tournament in action. Not once had she walked over to Severus and ask him for something. She didn't need anything. She had thought about making excuses just to see him but thought against it. Severus Snape got bothered easily, especially from her.

When an owl came for Celosia she had jumped up in surprise after reading it, immediately packing her things. She walked all along the garden and greenhouse, putting special charms on the plants and equipment so they wouldn't die in her long absence.

As she was doing the flowers at the front of the house, Severus stood at his window, watching her curiously. She was in her robes rather than her usual short skirts and shorts during the summer and her trunk was at the door.

Celosia looked up as a voice called her name. Severus stood at his doorway, leaning against it with his arms crossed. "Going somewhere?"

"Molly just sent me a letter." She explained, flicking her wand over the many flower pots. "The Death Eaters invaded the Quidditch World Cup."

Severus faked surprise. "Was there anyone there you know?"

"Harry."

Of course. Severus refrained to roll his eyes. He knew that the Death Eaters had invaded the site but he didn't know that Potter would be there. Perhaps that was why they went, rather than the usual reason of just wreaking havoc.

"I'm going to the Burrow." Celosia's voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he walked over to her.

"Do you think that is wise?" He asked. "Term starts in less than a week. You can see Potter then."

"No, I need to see if Harry is safe now." Celosia snapped, shrinking her trunk and summoning it to tuck into her pocket.

"I don't see why you're so concerned." Severus frowned, his arms crossed. "It would also be much safer if you waited until the appropriate time to leave so I can go with you."

"Come with me now." She shrugged and his eyes narrowed.

"Absolutely not." He snapped. "You will wait."

"Why are you refusing I go? Is it because he's James' son?" She sneered.

Severus' eyes narrowed at the accusation. "Once you Disapparate, your wards will diminish, thinking you have already left to go to Hogwarts. They won't keep up like usual until you come back in the summer."

"I won't even be here."

"Yes but your wards are also laced with mine; I will not allow you to destroy my wards as well just to visit the boy." Severus said. "You are going to stay here until we both leave to go back to the school."

"Don't tell me what to do." She exclaimed and glared at him, making him blink in defense. "I am going to go to the Burrow to see if my nephew is alright!"

Severus frowned, knowing that once she wanted something, she wouldn't go back. That was how the Evans girls were. "Fine."

"Good." Celosia calmed down, nodding her head. She was about to Apparate before Severus extended his hand towards her. "What?"

"Your wand." He merely said and her eyes widened. "Give me your wand. I'll give it back to you once you return in one piece."

"Severus, I'm just going to the Burrow!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air around her. "I'm a grown woman, older than you even, you don't need to baby me!"

"I'm only looking out for you." He said and she sneered at him. "I will only allow you to go if you give me your wand, that way I can assure you will come back."

"What if I plan on staying at the Burrow until the teachers need to depart?" She raised her eyebrows.

"The Weasley's do not need the extra person." Severus scolded, his memories going back to when he was a teenager and he had tried telling his mother that the Evans couldn't be bothered with taking care of him as well. "Three days, then we will both depart for Hogwarts. Until then we will both spend those three days at the Leaky Cauldron."

Celosia crossed her arms, furrowing her brows. "Why the sudden want to keep me safe?" She knew about his involvement with the Death Eaters, and he probably had known that they were around, so the risk for everyone was high.

"I told you I would be here for you." He merely said and Celosia looked at him in the eye, seeing no reason to think he was lying. Hesitantly she stared at his open palm and sighed, setting her wand in it.

Severus gripped onto the wood, smirking. "Thank you."

"You're just as stubborn as I am, Sev." She sneered and Severus' smirk grew. "You better be packed and all when I come back."

"Which won't take long, I expect."

"Not at all." Celosia rolled her eyes and looked at Severus, seeing his smirk still there. She couldn't help the corner of her mouth turn up into a smile. "I appreciate you looking after me."

He nodded, seeing Celosia Disapparate in front of him.

Harry sat at the table in the Weasley's kitchen. His scar was throbbing and he constantly rubbed it here and there, Ron, Hermione and Ginny looking at him with curious and worried glances.

"Harry, someone's here for you!" Molly's voice called from the other room and Harry stood, Celosia running through the doorway.

"Harry!" She took sight of her nephew, immediately pulling him into a bone-crushing hug. The boy hugged her back just as tightly before his complaints of how long she was holding him were muffled by his face in her robes.

To Harry's relief, she pulled away, pushing him down into a chair as she went on her knees, looking up at him. Her hands moved his head from side to side, rolling his sleeves up and examining him. "It's nice to see you too?" Harry said unsurely and Celosia looked him in the eye, smiling.

"You didn't run into any trouble, I take it?" She asked and he nodded. Her hands went to his hair and she patted it down. "You are in desperate need of a haircut."

"It's fine." Harry pouted and she laughed, standing up and taking the seat beside him. "What are you doing here?"

"Mrs. Weasley sent me a letter saying that you were attacked at the World Cup." Celosia explained, facing her sister's son. "Of course I had to make sure you were ok. I would have been here earlier but Severus was being a stubborn mule."

"What did he do?" Harry asked, Hermione and Ron taking the seats around them, quietly explaining to Ginny who Celosia was.

"Refused to let me go, I kept telling him I was though so he gave up." She smirked and Molly walked in with a smile, offering tea, which she took with a smile.

"Why was Snape there?" Harry asked as Molly handed him some tea as well.

"Well you know I moved into your grandparents' old house, the one Lily, Petunia and I grew up in. It's right across from Severus' home."

"So you grew up living across from him?" Harry didn't bother hiding his surprise and shock.

"That must have been a bloody awful childhood." Ron said and Molly scolded him.

"It was, for the most of it." Celosia admitted with a laugh. "At least you're ok, that's all I needed to know. What happened?"

"Don't know really, Death Eaters just started setting the camp ground on fire." Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Escaped though, then Barty Crouch Senior found us."

"The important thing is that you're safe." She smiled and kissed her nephew on the forehead.

"Will you be staying for dinner, Celosia?" Molly asked and the woman shook her head standing up.

"As much as I would love to, I have to get back." She sighed. "I promised Severus."

"Why does he care?" Harry asked. "What did he do?"

"The fool took my wand." Celosia frowned, feeling vulnerable that a piece of her was currently in the hands of a man she had hated, loved, detested and was thankful for.

"Does he not realize you could have needed your wand in case you ran into any trouble?" Hermione raised her eyebrows and Celosia shook her head.

"I just have to get back to him and we'll be staying at the Leaky Cauldron before going back to Hogwarts." She sighed.

"You're coming to Hogwarts?" Harry asked and his aunt nodded, making him grin. "Teaching?"

"Bloody hell no." Celosia scoffed. "I'm smart, but not smart enough to teach. You'll just see me at Hogwarts."

Harry nodded, Celosia pulling him into another hug. "I'll see you in three days, love."

"Bye." Harry smiled and Celosia winked at him before Disapparating.

Severus had been ready and packed merely five minutes after Celosia left. He sat in his living room, feet propped up on the table as he leaned against the arm chair. He fingered his and Celosia's wand in his hands, the clock in front of him ticking away at the seconds.

He started to become uneasy when ten minutes had passed. How long did it take to just check if a boy was ok? Yes she would probably want information on what happened and a full examination of him physically but surely she would have been back five minutes ago.

Once twenty minutes passed Severus sat uneasy, twirling Celosia's wand in his fingers, his own in his lap. The long brown wand with intricate carvings made him examine it at length, taking note of every detail. It really was a piece of work and absolutely beautiful. A perfect fit for her.

A small spark emitted from the wand and Severus stared in wonder before he heard a knock on the door. Grabbing his wand as well he shot up, making his way to the door in less than two seconds and throwing it open.

Celosia stepped in, brushing a strand of brown hair off her face. Severus closed the door quickly behind her, crossing his arms. "You took your sweet time."

"You didn't tell me to rush." She smirked and turned around to look at him, a hand at her waist as she leaned against the couch.

"We're leaving now; the wards are starting to diminish." He shrunk his belongings and stuffed them in his pockets. Celosia didn't move when Severus offered his arm and he raised a brow.

"I'd like my wand back." She smiled and he stared at her.

"When we get there."

"You promised me I would get it back once I came here." She frowned.

"I promised nothing." He sneered. "You will once we have a room at the Leaky Cauldron. I don't want to risk you trying to escape me."

Celosia raised her eyebrows. "That thought has never occurred to me, but thank you Severus." His brows furrowed and she smiled. "Of course I won't hurt you; you're trying to protect me. I've done everything you said and gave you my wand, what makes you think that I'm going to try and run?"

Severus frowned, knowing it was a stupid accusation. But he wouldn't dare tell her that and ruin his pride. Celosia shrugged and walked to the armchair he was sitting at before, propping her legs onto the arm and looking at him with a smile. "I guess I'll be staying here then."

Severus' frown deepened as the woman twirled a lock of her hair in her fingers. "Wandless. Defenseless."

Rolling his eyes at her method he threw her wand over at her, which she caught with a smile. She felt the warmth of it under her fingertips and Severus walked over to her, offering a hand. Celosia was impressed at how he was such a gentleman now and she smiled, looking up into the brown eyes she loved and took hold of his arm. At that instant Severus pulled her into him, both of them Apparating.