It was late at night the next day. Lila was in her room, sleeping presumably, and Snape had just gotten back from another death eater meeting. Lila hadn't been the only one who caught onto Snape's disappearances. Igor Karkaroff had taken notice to the strange man's habit of leaving unannounced. He had seen Snape leave earlier that night and decided to stake him out, by waiting in his potions closet. Snape was walking through the castle halls on his way to his room, when he stopped in his potions closet to get some sleeping draught. He was mildly surprised to see Igor waiting for him. He knew Igor was an ex-death eater and he was expecting a time when he confronted him about his death eater status.

"Severus!" Igor exclaimed.

"The dark lord is disappointed in your actions, Igor and has since advised me to show you no mercy," Snape grabbed the man by his throat and thrust him up against the closet's shelf. He pulled out his wand and held it up to his throat.

"It has returned to my fore arm, Severus! I cannot allow my students to see this!"

"Pity. Perhaps this will always be a reminder of your betrayal to him."

Just then Snape heard footsteps outside. He stepped out into the hallway and looked in either direction. If someone had been listening to their conversation, it would be very detrimental. He did not see anyone but was concerned that someone may be using an invisibility cloak. He chose his next words carefully, just in case.

"I'm returning to my chamber, and I suggest you do the same," he looked the man up and down before leaving to intimidate him.

Igor stepped out of Snape's potions closet and started sluggishly walking towards his room, frustrated that he did not accomplish removing his dark mark.

Snape watched him for a few moments before putting a protective locking spell on his door. He then headed for Lila's room. He was still concerned that Voldemort may be after her once Crouch Jr. expressed his eminent awareness of their relationship. Snape had alerted Dumbledore about Barty Jr.'s configuration but the headmaster decided not to oust him. Instead, he took it upon himself to watch the man closely. If he had exposed Crouch Jr., then Voldemort may grow suspicious of Snape's loyalty and Dumbledore did not want that.

Severus knocked on Lila's door and patiently waited.

"Come in," she said from her bedroom.

Snape opened the door and found Lila lying down in her bed, "you cannot leave your door unlocked like that!"

"Calm down, Severus, I knew you would be stopping by so I left it unlocked for you."

"Do not leave it unlocked again."

She sat up, "this is ridiculous, Severus, am I supposed live the rest of my life in a state of worry that someone is going to kidnap me in the middle of the night?"

"It will only be for a little while," he knew that once Crouch Jr., was exposed Lila would probably be safe again.

"And the only reason I'm in any danger at all is because of you?"

"Yes," he answered with regret. He never meant to put her in danger. She was the only thing he cared about in this world and would die to defend her.

"Then maybe we shouldn't be together." Severus had been crowding a lot the past few days and although she understood his actions she still did not enjoy being under his constant surveillance.

He was shattered. The idea for them to separate never entered his mind. He didn't want to be apart from her, he loved her. He was in a state of complete dishevelment knowing that she didn't want to be with him anymore and the thing that stung the worst was this was the exact same reason his dear Lily never loved him. He wanted to tell her everything; that he was a spy, who Professor Moody really was, what happened with Lily. But Dumbledore had advised him to keep this all private and he knew he couldn't break that trust if he ever wanted even just a chance to be with Lila again. He was hopeful that she would change her mind once this all blew over.

Severus had been quiet for some time now and Lila was looking at him, wondering what he was thinking.

"Right. Why didn't I think of it sooner?" he tried to smile as he stood up and left her room.

Lila could tell he was upset but wondered why he didn't ask for them to stay together. She put it out of her mind and tried to get a good night's rest.

Only one more chapter until the end of Harry's Fourth year! :)