Sorry it's been so long. But the stunning conclusion to the HP series inspired more to write. Yes, certain elements of my story are now rendered non-cannon, but I'll still keep on with my story without any spoilers to DH, except for one tiny story arc I was already considering for this story. Enjoy, I shall be back with more.

Ch. 26 - An Unfortunate Fall

The moment the sun peeked out from the east, Lyric was up. As her roommates continued to snore quietly, Lyric quickly got dressed and headed out into cold morning. This was another favorite tradition, an early walk in new snow. Though the students had made a sizable dent in yesterday's snow, another sprinkle of snowfall during the night left the grounds of Hogwarts fresh and untouched. As soon as Lyric stepped outside, the air froze in her lungs.

She pushed through the thick snowfall, just to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Fascinated by the animals that dwelled there, Lyric had spent a lot of time just standing near the forest, never quite brave enough to step in. Maybe it was the events of last night, maybe she was just too tired to think straight, but she couldn't help it today. She crept in, as though she were sneaking up on the forest.

She wasn't three trees in when a heavy hand clapped down on her shoulder. Lyric turned to find Filch glaring at her.

"Going somewhere?" he asked, smiling demonically. The old man was only too happy to have caught a student breaking the rules. "Best take this up with your uncle." And with that, he pulled Lyric out of the forest, and marched her back to the school.

No sooner had she and Filch rounded the first corner than Snape should appear. Snape was wearing a heavy cloak, as though he was headed outside. Lyric stopped short, while Filch kept trying to drag her on.

"What are you doing with a student at this hour?" Snape demanded from Filch. Lyric was a bit taken aback, as she had expected Snape's scorn to be directed at her.

"SHE was out in the forest at this hour. I was saving her life, and now I'm getting her in trouble. Any other questions?"

"I don't believe that's your duty, I'll take over from here," Snape grabbed a hold of Lyric's other arm.

Filch was defiant not to lose his opportunity to punish another student. "Like hell it's not," he spat back. He tightened his grip on Lyric's arm.

"For your information, Mr. Filch, I sent Miss Dumbledore into the forest to gather the rest of the sloe berries before the birds make off with the last of them."

Lyric smiled at Snape, grateful for his help. It didn't last long.

"Miss Dumbledore, do you have a death wish?" Snape asked accusingly.

"No sir," Lyric answered.

"Then perhaps you wouldn't be so daft as to wander into the forest alone. I expect you to wait for me next time. Come along now, there is other work to be done." Snape pulled hard on Lyric's arm, but Filch was ready to let go. He and Snape stared each other down a moment longer, before Filch released his grip and stormed down the corridors.

"Thank you," Lyric gasped as soon as Filch was out of sight. She was silent for a moment as she expected Snape to release his grip on her. "Excuse me," she demanded.

"I'm afraid, Miss Dumbledore, we have business to attend to."

"And what business would that be?"

"Picking the rest of the sloe berries."

"But sir-"

"Come along, Ms. Dumbledore, if you serve your detention this morning, you can be free this evening, does that sound fair?"

Lyric studied his face. Why was he suddenly being so nice? "I suppose," she ventured cautiously. She wondered if the previous night had anything to do with his sudden change in behavior.

Snape let go of Lyric and headed out to the grounds. She stared at his back for a moment before going after him.

Lyric followed close behind him till they reached the edge of the forest. "You've your wand, Miss Dumbledore."

"Yes sir."

"I suggest you keep it handy. Step beside me now, I'd like to keep you in sight."

As Lyric withdrew her wand, she poured over every possible meaning of what Snape had just said. They forged into the forest, Lyric hardly paying attention to her surroundings and more to the professor beside her. The forest floor had considerably less snow, however, this had left the ground icy and somewhat more difficult to navigate. Since she wasn't watching her steps, it wasn't long before she tripped over an exposed tree root.

Pain tore through her left knee as she felt it contact with a rock with a defiant crack. Her jeans ripped and the felt the rock rip a jagged wound in her knee.

"Bullocks!" she cursed loudly. She could feel a warm wetness surrounding her knee as her jeans turned a tell-tale shade of red.

"Language, Miss Dumbledore. Are you alright?"

"Not really," she said turning his attention to the blood.

Snape took a hold of the rip in her jeans and tore the material to expose her knee. The cold air rushed against her exposed skin, but soon his warm hands were moving up her leg. He stopped when he reached the fresh gap just below her knee and set pressure against the wound. This sent a pulse of pain through Lyric's nerves, but she moved her knee closer to him, not wanting his hands to let got.

"I've brought nothing for a wound, we best get you back to Madame Pomfrey."

"Just a moment longer," Lyric moaned, unable to stop herself.

"Lyric…Miss Dumbledore, there are a number of beasts in this forest that are catching a whiff of your blood as we speak. It does us no good to hang around the forest," Snape warned. He then took a handkerchief out of his pocket to tie around Lyric's knee.

As soon as he had tied up her knee Lyric stood up, but collapsed back down in pain. "I can't walk," she said pitifully.

"Of course not," he said. Lyric strained to tell if he was annoyed or not. "Come on then." Snape wrapped his arms around Lyric, hauling her upwards. "Lean on me then."

Lyric dug her arm underneath Snape's coat and along his back. She felt his warmth against her cold hands. Snape's hand snaked over her shoulder and held her fast.

They struggled against the uneven terrain, not saying a word to one another. Yet Lyric, nuzzled fast to his chest, couldn't help but take in the smell of him. He smelt of burning cedar and tea and just a hint of cologne. The same her father used to wear. Once the castle was in sight, Snape loosened his tight grip, and Lyric's hand came out from underneath his robes to rest outside of his clothing. Again, no words passed between them.

They came upon Professor McGonagall first. Upon the sight of them, she grabbed Lyric from Snape's arms. "I'll take her to the infirmary, Professor Snape," McGonagall was strangely firm about the matter. "You run and fetch her uncle."

Snape nodded in agreement to McGonagall, and took pains to avoid looking at Lyric. When he was out of earshot, McGonagall leaned in quietly, "How did this happen?"

"I tripped," Lyric answered, bewildered at McGonagall's behavior.

"Did he do this to you?"

"What? NO!" Lyric slowly understood that Professor McGonagall, along with a number of students and staff, did not entirely trust Snape as a teacher.

"Are you sure, dear. You can tell me," McGonagall pressed.

"I promise, it's nothing more than my own clumsiness."

The old witch was quiet for a moment. "What were you doing out there?"

"Serving my detention."

"At this hour?" The witch was livid.

"Professor Snape wanted the last of the sloe berries before the freeze or the birds wiped them out," Lyric explained. "He asked me if I'd rather serve a morning detention so that my evening would be free."

Professor McGonagall was silent the rest of the way to the infirmary.

Madame Pomfrey was busy attending to Lyric's knee when Snape and her uncle arrived.

"Lyric," her uncle called softly, "are you alright?"

"Yes, of course. Honestly, Uncle Albie, it's a scratch and a sprain. Nothing serious."

"What were you doing in the Forbidden Forest?" he asked. Clearly, Snape had not already explained.

"Detention."

"At this hour?" Dumbledore exclaimed.

"Yes, I was with Snape. Uncle Albie, it was my fault, I wasn't watching where I was going and I tripped," Lyric could not understand her uncle's anger.

"Severus, students are not allowed into the Forbidden Forest until it's been cleared by me first. Even with a professor. It's far too dangerous. Please do not put my niece, or any other student, into danger without clearing it by me." And with that he turned and left. Professor McGonagall turned to follow him.

Lyric was speechless. She didn't realize things would escalate so quickly. "Professor Snape?"

"That is all for today."

Madame Pomfrey sent Lyric to her dormitory, insisting she stay off her knee until it healed entirely. Lyric was dying to see Snape, but she couldn't think of a good excuse to find him. Monday, Lyric walked into Potions eagerly, yet Snape was his same cold, distance self. He said nothing to her, not even of their standing detention the following night.

On Tuesday night, Lyric couldn't wait for dinner to be over. She practically ran to Snape's office, and was there early for once. "Evening, sir," she called cheerfully.

"Miss Dumbledore," he said with an air of indifference.

"What'll you have me doing tonight?" she said.

"Professor Sprout needs a hand with her Mandrakes tonight. Their leaves have gotten too long, and they refuse to have them trimmed. She figures you can get them while they're sleeping."

Lyric's face fell. She wanted to spend the evening with Snape. "So is that it, you'll be passing me off onto other professors from now on." She felt the anger rise in her throat. "Is this because you kissed me, or because you took me out into the forest when you had no business doing so? What exactly did you have in mind out there?" she yelled loudly.

Snape was silent, but Lyric could see the words he wanted to yell catch in his throat and flush his face. He waved his wand towards the door and it slammed shut behind her. "Do you want someone to hear?"

"Maybe I do, then at least you'd acknowledge it," she shot back.

Snape came out from behind his desk and grabbed Lyric's arm. "Miss Dumbledore, this has gone on far enough," he fumed quietly. "All of this is quite inappr-"

He was cut off by Lyric's mouth. She pressed her mouth firmly against his, drawing his body closer. All of the confusion and anger she had felt melted into his mouth. She slowly drew his tongue into her own mouth, feeling the warmth and the wetness of him. Her hands moved by themselves, tracing up his chest and around his neck.

Snape made no attempt to break the embrace. And when her arms wrapped around his neck, he responded by grabbing her hips and hoisting her up against him. At her new angle, Lyric moved her tongue into his mouth. Snape, nearly losing his step, brought Lyric to his desk, laying her out, knocking papers to the floor. All the while, their mouths never parted.

Snape crawled on top of her, domineering her, and pressing himself into her. His hands ran the length of her body, stopping momentarily on her breasts, sending shivers deep to her loins. This brought a moan from deep within her, it was barely audible in the silent room. Snape suddenly stopped, climbed off of Lyric and stumbled back across the room as though he had just realized she was a horrible poison he had just ingested.

"What?" Lyric cried, catching her breath.

"I can't," he pleaded.

"But-"

"We can't!" he hissed.

Lyric suddenly felt like a fool. She slowly stood up. "I guess I'll go to help Professor Sprout then?" she asked. She was actually glad to get far away from Snape at the moment.

"You misunderstood me earlier," Snape said, finally regaining some composure. I told Professor Sprout we'd do it for her, she's got other things to attend to this evening. Do you have a coat?"

"No sir," Lyric answered meekly.

"Here," Snape extended his own coat to her, pulling another cloak on for himself.

The coat swallowed her whole, leaving very little of her showing. Lyric felt it a blessing. Yet, it carried his scent. The cedar and the tea and the cologne mixed in her head, clouding her judgment further.

The blast of cold air rushed against her face, yet did nothing to calm the arousal she still felt. She followed close behind Snape, not daring to step beside him.

The walk to the greenhouses was short. The cold was quickly eradicated as a blast of warm, moist air ran against her face. Snape removed his cloak and took the coat from Lyric. He said nothing. Handing Lyric a pair of earmuffs and garden shears, they set to work.

The tension sat between them, growing with every glance, or the occasional accidental touch. The Mandrakes remained asleep, so the job went quicker than expected. Snape thrust the coat back at Lyric, and headed out into the night.

It was a beautiful night. The snow fell quietly on the grounds, silencing any life. The light from the castle fell onto the white snow, making it glow. Each breath Lyric took escaped in a white cloud into the night sky. Lyric stopped to take it all in.

Snape was nearly a dozen yards ahead before he realized Lyric was no longer following him. He turned to see her in the snowy moonlight, staring up at the sky, her cheeks rosy from the cold. Lyric turned to Snape, her green eyes alive in the night and smiled slightly at him, wanted desperately to get rid of the awkward silence between them. He wanted to kiss her, he wanted to wrap her up in his arms and hold her, but he couldn't.

Turning his back to her, he started back to the castle leaving her alone with the snowfall.

More to come soon, I promise. Sorry for any mistakes, didn't want to wait to have this beta'd.