A/N: I know I'm kind of bad about personally thanking or responding to everyone so I'm going to take the time right now to do that. Thank you to my readers and a special thanks to Inez, Nadiahz, matt-hardy-lover-101, AngelProtectress (thank you for your advice- it has helped), muzikfan, mistofan, SweetieCherrie, CeresMaria, and EarlyMorningFreak for their reviews. An EXTRA special thank you to InkPhantom who has PMed me everyday, yelling at me to write :)

Also, any WriMos out there?

Now on with the show.

Chapter 6- Then There Was One

November 1990

"Do you know anything about Occlumency?"

"Occlumency?" asked Professor Kettleburn. "That's a bit out of my field, I daresay. Why do you ask?"

"Um, well, Professor Snape mentioned something about it during my last detention," she said cautiously. When she saw Kettleburn pause and a dark expression cross his face, she too paused. "Is it bad?"

"N-no," stuttered Kettleburn. "It's just a powerful kind of magic that is more commonly used by dark wizards and far more powerful than anything you'd learn here."

"May I ask you something else then?"

"Certainly. Ask away," he said in a tone of uncertainty.

"Where would you learn that type of magic?"

Professor Kettleburn stopped extracting mucus from his small batch of flobberworms and walked towards Millie who was sitting on the ground nearby, feeding cabbage and lettuce leaves to a younger mob that they had already gathered mucus from. She set the vegetation on the ground as Kettleburn sat down on a nearby log.

"Mildred," he began, his voice serious. "You're a smart girl and I know I shouldn't have to tell you that not all wizards are good people."

"I never really thought about it," she said. "But I suppose it's common sense. I mean, that goes with anything- wizard or not."

"Has anyone ever told you about the first Wizarding War?"

Millie shook her head and looked on, innocent and extremely curious.

Kettleburn let out a breath that he had not realized he was holding. "I'm probably not the right person to be telling you this and perhaps some of it I shouldn't say but I wouldn't be saying it if I didn't think you ought to know. It's for your own good." She nodded for him to continue. "Back in the '50s there was a student in Slytherin House by the name of Tom Riddle. He was a orphan... spent much of his young life in an orphanage until he came here. The way I understand it, he was a very astute young man. He had good grades and was in good graces with most of his teachers.

"Though he was a half-blood wizard, he took on the mentality of Salazar Slytherin in that Hogwarts should be more selective of who they allowed into the school for magical learning. In other words, he thought magic should be kept within magical families, thereby kicking muggle-borns like yourself to the curb."

"Why did he hate us so much?"

Kettleburn shrugged. "I suppose no one will ever know for sure besides Tom Riddle himself."

"What happened to him? Is he still alive today?"

"Well that's the question," he said. "You see, after he graduated from Hogwarts he became an extremely powerful dark wizard- one of the darkest our world has ever seen. He gained a lot of supporters and formed an army intent on purging the wizarding world of muggle-born witches and wizards along with any pure or half-blood that opposed his visions. People started going 'missing' at the start of the first war and once it was in full swing, it seemed that Riddle was unstoppable."

"Would it be wrong to compare Riddle to a wizarding version of Adolf Hitler?" she asked.

"No," Kettleburn said after a moment of thought. "They have their similarities, I suppose but right when Vol- Riddle-"

"Vol?"

"Shh. Sorry," said Professor Kettleburn. "Slip of the tongue. He fashioned himself a new name just before the war, refusing to be addressed by his muggle father's surname."

"What was it?" Millie asked.

Kettleburn looked around to see if anyone was nearby when of course no one was. His wariness surprised Millie. He seemed greatly perturbed. "It is not used in open conversation," he said. "There is a great fear of the name but if I say it this once, will you promise never to repeat it?"

Millie nodded eagerly without thinking. Her only concern was learning the name of the dark wizard and eventually finding out what in the world this had to do with Professor Snape and Occlumency.

Kettleburn leaned a little closer and in barely a whisper said, "Voldemort."

"Voldemort?"

"Shh. Now he is most commonly referred to as 'The Dark Lord' by his followers and 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named' by anyone else. Anyway, he was at the height of his power when he performed the killing curse on a single infant and it backfired, hitting him instead."

"So he's dead then. Right? I mean I've never heard of the killing curse but from its name, I'd guess its sole purpose it to kill."

Kettleburn nodded. "I forgot that you're only just beginning you're second year studies. You'll learn about the three Unforgivable Curses during your fourth year lessons in Defense, most likely."

"You can't teach me?"

"Oh, no. Surely, not. You'd need a more qualified teacher," he said. "Someone better trained in the Dark Arts and Defense against them."

"Like Professor Snape?" The question seemed to send a jolt through Kettleburn's body. Or at least what was left of it. "Well the mention of him did lead to this conversation. I haven't figured out the link though."

Professor Kettleburn cleared his throat and finally gestured for Millie to sit next to him on the log. "Many of Riddle's followers came from Slytherin House. There is a reason that that house is mostly made of pure-bloods. On occasion a half-blood is sorted in but almost all are raised within families that share Slytherin's view."

"Snape was in that house when he went here, wasn't he? And he's head of it now." She gulped. No wonder he despises me.

"Now, no one knows for sure where his loyalties lie but originally, Severus Snape was declared a Death-Eater and proud supporter of You-Know-Who."

"Death-Eater?"

"That's what his followers called themselves. Scarey looking, I remember. They would be seen in mobs in black robes and metallic masks. After You-Know-Who fell from power, most of them were either killed, disappeared or captured and sent to Azkaban Prison. There was only one I know of that got off 'scot-free' as they say."

"Professor Snape."

"Exactly."

"But how?"

Kettleburn shrugged. "All I know is that Professor Dumbledore defended him and still trusts him greatly to this day. Some say he turned spy for us, others think that he is simply fooling Dumbledore and becoming spy for the Death-Eaters. I suppose the only person that really knows..."

"Is Snape," said Millie. She exhaled loudly. It was certainly a lot to think about. After a moment of silence, Kettleburn reminded her not to repeat any of this even though it was common knowledge and speculation to most people. He was not proud that he had gossiped it to her.

"Now," said Kettleburn, rising to his feet. "Onto a cheerier subject. What are your plans for this weekend?"

Millie shrugged, still lost a little in thought. "Same old, same old. Classes on Saturday, detention with Snape on Sunday."

Kettleburn snorted as he went back to gathering mucus from the flobberworms. "I doubt you'll have class this Saturday."

"Why not?"

"It's the first Quidditch game of the year. Most of the staff goes. I'd be surprised if your lessons weren't canceled."

"It would be nice to have a free day," she admitted.

"You wouldn't go to the match?"

"Sports were never really my thing. I'm more into music."

"Ah, the artsy type?"

"Yea."

"Well you'll never know until you try," he said. "Have you ever seen a quidditch match before?"

"No but judging by the fact that I can't stand American football and that seems to be everyone's favourite where I come from...I figure I won't find quidditch overly interesting."

Kettleburn chuckled. "Well, I suppose quidditch isn't for everyone but if you change your mind, I encourage you to give it a try. After all, this weekend's match is Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff."

They wrapped up her lesson for the day while talking about the upcoming quidditch match but just as Millie was dismissed and began to walk away a thought came to her. She turned around and addressed Kettleburn once more. "Professor?"

"Hm?"

"One last thing," she said. "What ever happened to the infant? When the curse backfired?"

"He's still alive. Living amongst muggles, I heard. Dumbledore thought it was best that he grow up away from all of this. After all, he's famous."

"Dumbledore knew him?"

"Was the child of two Gryffindor students- James Potter and a young girl named Lily. Lily Evans."

Millie's eyes widened at the name. She swallowed hard and began making her way towards the castle. Remembering what she saw in her vision, she was now intent on finding out whether the killing curse casted a green light.

As the week went by, Millie tried to focus on her studies but the things that Kettleburn had told her weighed on her mind. She had hardly seen Snape and wondered if she would be able to act normal in his presence ever again. I wonder if he knows that I have Lily's wand... that would give him even more reason to despise me if he was fighting for the other side. Maybe he knew her when they went to school here. Millie snorted. The odds of that are probably one in a million. If Riddle was here during the 50s... well he could have gone to school with Lily. Snape is awefully young looking- unhealthy but young. I doubt he knew her.

Friday evening she was studying contently inside her quarters as it poured down raining outside. Just before she was about to call it a night, there was a light tapping on her solitary window. She looked up to see an owl perched on the rain-soaked sill with a piece of parchment within his beak. She cracked the window to let the bird inside and fed it a few bread crumbs before it flew off into the night. She unfolded the note to see that it was from Dumbledore, excusing her from her classes tomorrow. He mentioned that she did not have to go to the match if she did not wish but could use the spare time for homework if she needed it. She sighed happily as she readied for bed, taking her time. It was nice to know that she could sleep in and enjoy a day to herself.

Darlene was overly excited to see Millie at breakfast on Saturday morning. "And not in your school robes, I see. Are you excited about the match today?" she asked as she sat across from Millie.

"I'm not sure if I'm going," Millie said with a shrug.

"Did they cancel your classes? I figured they might," she answered before Millie had the chance. "Quidditch is a big deal here."

"Is it the only wizarding sport?"

Darlene nodded. "You should come sit with me. Callum is the keeper for our team and William already left for the pitch with his new girlfriend." Darlene rolled her eyes. "Said he wanted to make sure they got good seats but you know he's just looking for a good place to steal alone time," she said as she wiggled her brows.

Millie smiled and shook her head. The girls finished their breakfast, enjoying their lighthearted conversation. Darlene isn't so bad. Besides, it's nice to have someone to talk to other than professors.

Making their way onto the quidditch pitch, Darlene changed the topic towards Millie's lessons and detentions.

"How many more do you have left?"

"Seven," said Millie. "They really haven't been too bad. I expected much worse from him."

Darlene shrugged. "I suppose some of that was our doing but most people don't even enjoy being in the same room as Snape, let alone slicing into live animals for him. I can't believe that didn't bother you!"

"He probably shares your feelings," said Millie. "I think he was aiming for something to strike a nerve."

Darlene laughed. "That sounds like him."

"He seemed pissed that I was fine with everything," Millie said, joining in with Darlene's laughter.

"He always seems pissed at one thing or another. There was this one time in my third year where one of the Slytherin girls was dared to send him an anonymous Valentine. When an owl delivered it to him at the staff table, he seemed shocked at first- practically froze- then he eyed it with suspicion before opening it. Once he had read it, knowing full well that everyone in the Great Hall's eyes were on him, he tore the card in half then gave us all a look like he was going to force feed the entire student body poison."

"He'd do it too!" Millie burst out laughing and the girls had to clutch their stomachs as they found their seats amongst fellow housemates. "Maybe he's just shy around girls. What did the card say?"

Darlene shook her head. "The girl never told anyone what she wrote. Denied the whole thing. I can't even remember her name to be honest."

"Oh, speak of the devil," Millie said, sobering up as they both looked up to see Professor Snape take a seat next to Professor McGonagall. He looked down for a moment and Millie waved, feeling odd about having been caught looking in his direction. He glared back at her which made her turn back to Darlene, suppressing another fit of laughter. "I mean he is so grumpy at times, it is comical."

"I'm surprised he didn't take house points away for unnecessary waving."

As soon as the match started, William joined them with his girlfriend, Effie. She was a 4th year with short, choppy blonde locks and a surprisingly foul mouth. For such a pretty, little thing, you would not expect her to know the meaning of such profanity but she spoke it proudly. It was humorous once they got past the initial shock. It soon became their job to try and calm Effie down as she shouted obscenities towards the Hufflepuff team.

"I'd hate to see her with someone she loathed," Millie said to Darlene.

She shrugged. "I takes some getting used to. Heard she comes from a rough family. I'm sure dinner around that table is interesting. 'Pass the fucking potatoes!'"

As time passed, Millie found herself enjoying the weather and having a good time with her housemates. Though she had not paid much attention to the actual game, it turned into an enjoyable event. Around 1 o'clock, she began to get the munchies and grew bored of the game. The crowd noise had died down substantially as other students were also contemplating running back to the castle for a quick lunch.

"It doesn't end until they catch the snitch, right?" asked Millie.

"Yea," answered William. "They have been known to take weeks sometimes but don't worry. That hasn't happened before here. I'm sure the teachers would call it a draw or something."

"Come on you fucktard! Catch the God damned snitch! Shit, you can horse around later. I've got Potions homework!" cried Effie.

"Who doesn't?" someone yelled from the back of the Ravenclaw stands as there was an eruption of chuckles.

Just then, the mob of Ravenclaw students separated down the middle as a bludger came flying through the stands. Thankfully, Darlene was paying more attention to the game than Millie at that moment and was able to pull her friend's head out of the line of fire but it was not enough. The bludger grazed Millie's ear and along with a warm burning sensation along her skin came another vision.

Millie's world went black for a moment as she felt an invisible force knock her back. She could feel her feet lift from the ground and the breath was driven from her lungs. She gasped for air but there was none, only pain. She shuddered and like a flashlight in the dark, she began to see. There were two boys, each with ginger hair and identical faces. As though she was flipping through a photo album, she saw them age through their teenage years within seconds. There was a flash of great orange fireworks and then there was only one... one twin left.

Millie woke up in the hospital wing to the horrible revelation that she had missed almost an entire week of classes. It was Thursday. Not only had she missed her Sunday detention- which probably peeved Snape to no end- but she would have to cram to catch up on her studies before she had the first half of her second year exams. This all of course hit her after she realized that there would not be a Thanksgiving holiday break in this country.

"Ugh," she moaned as she tried to sit up in her cot. Looking over at her bedside table she saw a small package of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and a card. She set them both gently on her lap and began to open the card.

Dear Millie,

I'm not quite sure what to say besides that you've been out for a few days by now and I'm a little worried. I want to talk to you about what happened. Everything happened so fast and it was sort of strange... I could have sworn I pulled you out of the way in time. At least you got to miss a detention! He'll probably make you serve a make-up detention though. Speaking of which I saw him talking to Dumbledore the first time I came in to visit you. Their conversation was hushed but I overheard a bit and wanted to talk to you about that as well. Anyway, don't worry about your school work. I can help you study.

Get well soon.

Your friend,

Darlene

P.S. Effie asked to stop by but somehow I did not think that was the best idea. It's the thought that counts though, right?

Millie smiled at the last thought then took a deep breath as she folded the card and set it down. She spent the next few minutes running through any and every question that Darlene could possibly ask her and formulating answers for them. Expect the worst. Hope for the best. Her thoughts were interrupted as Madam Pomfrey peaked through the curtains surrounding her cot.

"I'll go get Professor Dumbledore," she said before Millie could even mutter a 'hello.' "He'll want to know that you're awake."

It was not long before Professor Dumbledore was by her side, twinkling blue eyes and all. He sat down on the edge of the cot and turned towards Millie, taking one of her hands in his.

"Was it that bad?" she asked.

"Ah," he said, holding up a single finger. "There is our first problem. You always assume the worst."

Millie shrugged. "I'm a pessimist."

Dumbledore nodded. "But you needn't be. You have much to offer this world."

"I do?"

"And there is another thing," he said, holding up a second finger. "You lack faith in yourself. This is something you will work on, yes? For when we have a darkness inside ourselves, we must find something to be the light. Now, you no doubt know what I have come here to discuss."

Millie nodded. "You want to know what I saw. It was surprisingly brief. Are there any red-headed twins on the Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw quidditch teams?"

"No."

Millie frowned. "Well I saw two red-headed boys. Identical. But the bludger was what touched me...and just barely at that."

"What did you see?"

"The boys were close. They grew up together until about the age of 20 or so. Then there was one."

Dumbledore remained silent and tightened his lips in a subtle gesture of contemplation. As Millie looked closer she could have sworn she saw something withdraw from deep within his eyes.

"Sir? Is everything all right? Was I seeing the past? Has a student died playing quidditch or something?"

He exhaled loudly. "Mildred I want you to record this in your journal as soon as possible and never, never under any circumstances mention it to anyone else despite what you may find out on your own. Understand?" He patted Millie's hand and stood before she could object. Still trying to wrap her mind around the meaning of his words, his next question hardly registered as she absently nodded.

"I'll send for her then," he said and turned towards the door.

"Wait. What?"

"She has been anxious to speak to you since it happened. Not to worry. I'll inform her that you are awake and she may visit. Ta ta," he said with a wave of his hand, then vanished behind the curtains.

Not thirty minutes later, Darlene came stumbling into the infirmary with her arms full of Millie's books. She smiled haphazardly as she deposited them on the nearby table.

"Dumbledore asked me to bring you these," she said, gesturing toward the books. She sat down in a nearby chair and tried to catch her breath for a moment. "Sorry. I was just so concerned, I couldn't get down here fast enough. You have no idea how much I blame myself for what happened. If I had reacted faster-"

"It isn't your fault."

"Yes it is."

"No, really. The bludger barely touched me, thanks to you."

"Really? But Dumbledore insisted that it must have been the bludger."

"He did?"

"I mean... you fell over. No. You were knocked over...off your feet really. What else could it have been?" Darlene paused for a moment, half thinking and half expecting Millie to reply. "Oh this is silly," she said, finally. "Obviously you blacked out and don't remember."

"What did happen after I blacked out?" Millie asked tentatively. Well calling it a black out isn't a complete misnomer.

"Well," began Darlene, "it was rather odd. At first I thought you were having a seizure. You convulsed once or twice then you froze."

"Froze?"

"You went rigid. It all happened so fast though. Dumbledore was there instantly with other professors by his side. Before I had much time to think about it, Dumbledore had Hagrid, the gameskeeper, whisk you off to the hospital wing. They both left the game with you, along with Flitwick and Snape. It was rather an odd sight actually- like four grown men tending to the life of a wilting flower."

"Wilting flower?" Millie snorted, breaking from the seriousness of the conversation. "You should be a poet. Seriously."

Darlene laughed. "I didn't mean for it to sound like that."

"The half-giant and his three great sorcerer escorts on a quest to return the wilting flower to its home in the castle..."

"Wow," said Darlene. "What kind of medication are you on?"

Millie laughed but immediately sobered as she noticed that Darlene was not laughing. "What?"

"It's just... has something like this happened before? The whole ordeal was just bizarre and I know I keep saying that but it was. I've seen some weird things at Hogwarts. I promise there is never a dull year." She stopped and looked towards Millie expectantly.

"No," said Millie. "It hasn't happened before. It felt like something knocked the wind out of me."

"Well you landed quite hard on the bleachers."

"It was sort of bizarre from my end too, honestly. But you mentioned having questions for me?"

"Yea," said Darlene. "When I overheard Snape talking to Dumbledore, he said something like 'I don't understand why you've placed her in my charge.' Um... and something like 'how am I supposed to keep her out of harm's way when I don't know...'"

"Don't know what?" asked Millie.

"I lost their voices after that," she said, shaking her head.

"So what was your question?"

"I feel kind of nosey for asking but is any of that supposed to make sense?"

Millie furrowed her brow, repeating what she had said she overheard over and over again. She shook her head. "No but it is interesting. I'm glad you told me. Did you hear anything else?"

"No."

Millie frowned.

"What is it?"

"I just wonder if maybe he is purposefully prompting me to get angry with him. I mean you and I have discussed the fact that Snape is overly grumpy over nothing but there are times he yells at me for something so unbelievably small. I can't help but wonder, after you just told me that, that maybe Dumbledore doesn't trust me and is using Snape to find out more."

"They say he was a spy during the first war, you know," said Darlene. "And Dumbledore does trust him but why wouldn't he trust you?"

"I don't know. It's given me a lot to think about. Sunday ought to be interesting."

Darlene nodded. "You'll have to let me know how it goes but for now just rest I guess."

"Actually, I was thinking about getting started on all of this," she said, gesturing towards the pile of books that Darlene brought in earlier.

"Sure. Want help?"

"That'd be great," said Millie. "Let's start with History and go from there."

"Ugh. Do you really need me for that?" asked Darlene.

"Figured I'd get the worst out of the way first."

Millie spent the rest of her time in the infirmary catching up on all her missed work. It was not overwhelming but having Darlene there in the afternoons was nice. She even introduced her to a bit of third and fourth year charms. Saturday evening, Millie was finally released and allowed to return to Ravenclaw Tower.

"Figures," she said to Darlene as they walked towards the Great Hall together for dinner. "Just in time for another detention. Why couldn't I have been released tomorrow at this time?"

"He'd probably still make you go," Darlene said as they joined Callum, William and Effie at the Ravenclaw table. "Look on the brightside. At least you can get a good night's sleep in your own bed and you won't have any work to do tomorrow because you're all caught up and then some."

"I guess you're right," she said.

"Yea," said Callum. "I think it's supposed to rain tomorrow but we were just going to relax in the common room. You're more than welcome to join us."

"Thank you," Millie said. For the first time in a long time, she felt as though she fit in just fine.

A/N: Not overly content with the ending- I prefer cliffhangers but I suppose this will do. I had a really hard time figuring out where to end it but I do thankfully have the next chapter outlined in detail. I just can't get enough of Severus Snape.