A/N: A lot of this chapter was rewritten, but I like how it turned out. Happy 4th of July weekend!

I opened my eyes and was surrounded by a large white light. Lying on my back, I sat up and rubbed my head. I looked around, trying to figure out where I was. Suddenly, a being approached me.

"Arabella Strauss. Is that you?" the being asked.

I squinted to see who it was and gasped. "Headmaster?"

His eyes filled with shock. "It truly is you. It worked."

"What? What worked?"

"Forgive me. I had to see you. How are you?"

I grimaced. "Excuse me?"

He reached out his hand and gently touched the bruise on my face from Snape's strike. Then, he drew his hand back with a sigh.

"You're alright, thank goodness."

"What are you talking about? Where are we? How are you even—"

He held up his hand. "All is well, Miss Strauss. My plan seems to be going rather well."

Dumbledore circled around me, examining me. He was dressed in a long white robe that touched the ground and followed his every move.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, growing impatient.

He looked at me. "Severus gave you that mark, didn't he? That bruise on your face."

"Yes. So?"

He nodded. "And, you were just at Malfoy Manner, correct? You were just tortured by Severus in the presence of a few Death Eaters?"

I rubbed my arm. "Yes, but what does—"

"And, Harry? Is he alright?"

"I do not know, sir. I wish I could say he was, but I only know he's hunting horcruxes."

Dumbledore nodded and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Severus. He will take my place as headmaster of Hogwarts."

I stepped away from him. "What?"

"That is where you are being taken to presently. You will be safe there."

"Why the bloody hell does it matter? Harry and his friends are in need of your help and are more important! More than I am!"

He was taken back by my outburst. "You must trust me. You just—"

"No. No, I don't even know whom to trust. You broke your word in keeping Snape's secret and you bring me here to tell me I'm in need of rescuing. Your help would be more useful towards Harry. He needs your help."

He sighed and smiled. "You will understand soon. Trust Severus. He will—"

"You ask me to trust that monster? Have you not seen what he's done?"

"I will say no more on the subject. All will come to pass in the end. You will see. Trust him and all will be well."


I sat up with a massive headache. I was in a bed. Turning my head, I saw Severus sitting in a chair beside the bed.

"Nightmare?" he asked.

I didn't answer.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts."

"Hogwarts?" I asked, scanning the room. "Why am I here?"

I realized I was in my own room while I stayed at Hogwarts. It was empty because I hadn't come back for the new year.

"You'll be safer here. No one is allowed to come up to this floor under my orders."

"Your orders?"

He hesitated. "I have been given the position of headmaster."

That did it. I lunged at him, hitting whatever I could. He grunted at my small punches, and took out his wand.

"Immobulus."

Suddenly, I couldn't even move. He cleared his throat and tried to speak once again.

"I didn't want to tell you this, but I can't keep it hidden for much longer. It's better that you find out now."

I was about to answer smartly, but I held my tongue out of curiosity. His eyes no longer looked like they were covered in darkness and anger. They were the eyes of an innocent child. A lost child.

"You're familiar with what…Dumbledore told you about my relationship with Lily Evans." he began.

I said nothing.

"We'd known each other since we were children. She, well, she was unlike anyone I've ever known. We were…very close. I was very fond of her, loved her, I confess."

The more he spoke, the harder it was for him. It even looked painful.

His eyes grew bitter once more. "After an incident that I've always regretted, our friendship was never the same. After she married James Potter, all connection between us seemed to cease."

He had stopped looking at me and was now staring at the floor.

"I was once a Death Eater…" he began.

He paused and shut his eyes. I heard him deeply inhale and exhale. His breathing was a bit shaky. Then, without another word he waved his wand.

"Legilimens." he said, harshly.

Suddenly, everything went black but I hadn't gone unconscious. A vision began to appear in my mind.

"Hide her. Hide them all. I beg you." Severus pleaded.

Dumbledore appeared. "And, what will you give me in return?"

"I-In return?" he stuttered. "Anything."

Lily Potter's voice filled the air. It was a gentle whisper.

"Harry, you are so loved. So loved."

Suddenly, several other voices filled my head.

"We both know Voldemort has hired the Malfoy boy to kill me."

"Avada Kedavra!"

"Snape! He trusted you!"

"You said you would keep her safe!"

"He doesn't need protection. The dark lord is gone."

"He will return, and when he does, the boy will be in terrible danger."

Severus cringed, as if in terrible pain. "No one can know…"

I blinked and I was back in my room. Severus was still standing in front of me, and his eyes were fixed on mine. I wasn't sure what to say. I was in complete shock and disbelief.

"Now, you know the truth." he said, quietly.

"Why would you show me this? Why not show this to…the ministry? To Harry?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No one can know."

"But, why? Everyone thinks—"

"I don't care about what anyone thinks of me. I swore to Dumbledore that I would do this. Even if I don't come out of this alive, I will-"

"Dumbledore is gone. You don't have to go through this as the villain."

"It's far too late. I agreed to do this. I owe Dumbledore everything."

"You owe him nothing. He's manipulated you."

Severus lowered his eyes. "Perhaps. But, I'm not doing this for him."

I swallowed. "For…her?"

"Yes. I swore that I would protect her son. He has nearly found all the horcruxes. It's only a matter of time before he comes here."

"Here? To Hogwarts?"

"Yes, the dark lord has sense his coming. You must remain in this room. Never come out or you might be killed. Do you understand?"

He looked at me with concern. I nodded and he sighed in relief.

"I must go. Be safe." he said, heading for the door.

I gulped. "Severus?"

He stopped and turned. "What?"

"I just…I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you have to go through all this alone. I should've had better faith in you. This whole time…you've been on our side, and I didn't—"

He silenced me with his lips on mine. His hand made its way behind neck and gently pulled me closer.

He pulled away and said, "You've nothing to apologize for. This was my choice. It's my burden to bear, not yours."

His eyes caught glance of the bruise on my cheek. His brushed gently brushed over it and he shut his eyes.

"But, you did bear it, didn't you?" he asked.

I remembered the sting of the strike and rubbed my arm.

"You had to do what you—"

"No. I've bruised you in a way that cannot be forgiven or fully healed." he said, shaking his head.

"Severus, you-"

"Don't pardon what I did. Pretending or not, I shouldn't have done it." he said, his voice getting angry.

I lowered my eyes. "Okay."

He lifted my chin with his finger and looked into my eyes.

"Forgive me. It hurt me as much as it hurt you."

I smiled a bit. "I forgive you."

I wrapped my arms around him and shut my eyes. He just stood there in silence.

"No matter what anyone says, I'll always see you as a brave man. The bravest man I've ever met." I whispered.

He pulled away and opened the door. With one final glance, he left. I heard the door lock and I hugged myself.

Be safe…

A/N:Thoughts? So, Arabella finally knows the truth! I actually rewrote a lot of this chapter and I wasn't even planning to have her find out Snape's "good guy" side until much later...but I thought it wouldn't have been very believable without him explaining a LOT of stuff himself. So, hope you liked it and please review!