Severus found himself looking back upon that night as he sat in his office, contemplating all that had happened over the past few weeks. The night she'd left him had been nearly fifteen years ago and still he thought of it every day. He couldn't stop himself from wondering if she was even alive. She'd said she would come back and he still believed, as foolish as it was, that she would stay true to her word and return. He had tried to pry from her mind her true intentions that night but she had successfully kept them hidden from him. And now all he could do was sit and wonder. Although he assumed the hurt offset by her disappearance would eventually subside, the memory of her vanishing that night was still clear as a bell. He guessed that the recent reappearance of the Dark Lord had brought about these feelings. Whatever the reason, Lord Voldemort was back and rumors of war were spreading fast.

Only a few nights earlier, there had been a massive breakout of Death Eaters from Azkaban. They had been joined by the Dark Lord himself at the Department of Mysteries and a battle ensued. Several were hurt and Sirius Black had lost his life. He rather regretted not being there himself but he knew that his presence would have been awkward. Now was not the time to foul up his cover. He supposed his duty remained at Hogwarts anyhow, seeing as they were short on professors what with Umbridge's disposal of them all.

The students had finished their term on schedule and had left earlier that day. The staff at Hogwarts was all getting ready to leave now. He himself had spent the day seeing that his classroom and office were orderly. He would be leaving the next morning and would return to his ramshackle house on Spinner's End until it was time to return once more. After having spent all day tidying up and setting matters straight, he decided he would quite enjoy a walk around the grounds. It was rare that one got the chance to observe the beauty of the Hogwarts grounds as they were usually littered with students. Ascending from the dark dungeons, he climbed out of the castle's depths and into the warmer air of the upper levels.

Reaching the main corridor, he stopped short as he heard voices in the hallway. He peered around the wall at a group of people standing huddled at the base of the grand staircase. Dumbledore was standing in front of two male wizards and a witch. He could not see the faces of the three persons standing before Dumbledore, nor could he understand what they were saying. As he studied them more carefully, his eyes lingered on the witch. Her long, wavy, dark chestnut hair extended well down her back. She was quite tall and her thin frame was concealed by her worn traveling cloak. Although he was only seeing her from behind, there seemed something awfully familiar about her that he couldn't quite grasp.

"Ah, Severus," Dumbledore's voice called across the corridor. His heart began to pound, unaware that he'd been spotted. "What brings you out at this hour?" But he did not have time to answer the question, for at that moment the three strangers turned around and he caught sight of the witch's face. Although she looked worlds different, he knew without a doubt whom she was. Elegia Gravis.

Dumbledore did not interrupt his abashed silence but merely watched him with a humored smile. "I was just going out for a stroll," he finally managed to choke out. She had now realized who he was as well and was staring at him with a shaken expression.

"Excellent! Then perhaps you wouldn't mind escorting these three to the gate?" Dumbledore said in his cheery voice.

Not taking his eyes off her, he replied, "Very well then." He walked towards the heavy castle doors and was flanked by the two wizards and Elegia.

He remained silent as they walked through the darkened Hogwarts grounds. Through all these years he'd been thinking of things he would say to her when he saw her again but none of them seemed appropriate now. He could tell she was watching him out of the corner of her eye. The two wizards that were accompanying them were observing them both with puzzlement.

They reached the gate at last and the two wizards bid thanks for his escort. He watched her leaving in fear, thinking he would lose her again. As they both crossed through the gate, they left Elegia behind, leaving her standing in limbo between the gate and Severus. She glanced from him to the two wizards and said, "You two go ahead. I'll catch up later." They looked at her questioningly and she added, "I'll be fine. Go ahead." Their expressions still riddled with confusion, they walked a few more steps and apparated out of sight.

They stood there in silence for a long time, gazing at each other intently. A thousand questions racing through his mind, Severus finally settled on, "How long have you been here?"

"A couple of months," she said.

He felt a surge of anger. He didn't know why she hadn't contacted him since her return. They were once great friends. But then again, he supposed if she'd had any intentions of seeing him again, she would have waited a lot less than fifteen years to return.

Not being able to resist, he asked, "Why were you gone so long? Where have you been all these years?"

Her weary, care-worn features became more noticeable as she whispered, "Now is not the time to get into all of this."

Realizing he'd hurt her feelings by being so rash, he said more calmly, "I will return to my home tomorrow. Do you think you could find it within yourself to visit me?"

She hesitated as if debating his question. At last, she looked into his eyes and said simply, "I will." Although these were the same choice of words she'd used so many years ago when she'd lied to him, he could tell now that she was telling the truth. She stared at him a moment longer as if she couldn't believe it was really him. At last, she whispered, "I will see you soon."

Feeling like he didn't want to let her go, he watched her exit the gate. "Goodbye, Elegia," he whispered after her.

She turned to face him, bearing a pained expression. "Goodbye, Severus," she returned. Just like the scene that played over and over in his memory, she turned on her heel and vanished once again.