Authors Notes: I apologize to all for not writing sooner. I have a lot on my plate at the moment but hopefully this next chapter will keep you satisfied or hungry for more. The usual disclaimers apply, I dont own Harry Potter or its characters, if I did I would be writing more books and rolling in riches. Sadly it belongs to J.K. Rowling. I apologize about grammar, spelling and everything else as well. I m writing this at the only available time I have which is 2.35am, that's how devoted I am.

UNDER YOUR GAZE

Ginny awoke with a start, not knowing where she was, mentally cursing herself for not bringing her wand with her. It was the one thing she was always taught, how could she be so stupid? How could she be so careless? Her vision still hazy, she thought she was probably at home, had a nightmare about Snape being alive, she sniggered at the notion. 'The old bat alive, and Harry dead that will be the day'. She thought to herself. Her vision was becoming clearer and suddenly the panic began to rise, this indeed was not her house, nor her room. The walls were maybe a yellow once but now they looked run down and were peeling to show the beige underneath, the duvet she was sitting on was green, hers were red, in fact she never owned a green duvet in her life! The ceiling was lower than hers, and the light fixture looked like it needed to be fixed as it was hanging by threads. This was definitely not her house! There was only one bedside table on which sat an old lamp, the shade of it a dark green, a book with no title and a glass of what she guessed was water. She stood up, when a dark shadow appeared leaning against the door.

"Are you sure it's wise to move, in your condition?" Snape's tongue spat out, he was dressed all in black, head to toe, and the only things missing were the swishing robes. Ginny rubbed her eyes, she was imagining things but Snape wouldn't disappear. And what condition was he speaking of? The heat must have gotten to her more than she thought.

"I've finally done it!" She cried out and then actually began to cry. "I've gone insane, I have to check myself into St. Mungo's or whatever those places are called here." She was hiccupping as she said it, Snape sighed and was frustrated. Ginny was pacing the room, her hands in the hair, her face once again wet with never ending tears, her nose and eyes were probably red. She sniffled.

"They are called psychiatric hospitals and you don't need one, sit." He commanded and she instantly did what he said, not really understanding why. He always held authority over everyone, she thought she was different, but in her fragile state she wasn't thinking clearly. He picked up a glass off the table and handed it to her, she looked at it carefully before sniffing at it. Years of being cautious had taken their toll.

"For Merlins sake woman I haven't poisoned it and haven't touched it, I left it for you." He stated. She nodded her thanks and took a few slow and careful sips of the clear liquid, still not trusting what she saw, if he was alive than maybe Harry no she couldn't think about him, it would only bring about more tears and she had enough of shedding tears for a life time.

Snape stood leaning against the wall near the bedside table, arms crossed, tapping his foot impatiently. "Well aren't you going to ask me?" He snapped again.

"What?" Ginny questioned placing the glass back on the bedside table. Snape raised an arched eyebrow, as if to say are you really that thick? And at that precise moment, Ginny sure as hell felt like it.

"Oh. Why are you alive? How did you survive? I mean Harry, Ron and Hermoine saw you die." Ginny said, stuttering over the word of her late husband. If Snape saw it he completely ignored it. He didn't move from his position at the door, when he spoke.

"What they thought they saw and what happened next are two completely different things. As you must have seen Fawkes never returned to Hogwarts after Dumbledore's death, but he did return when Hogwarts was under attack from the death eaters and Volde..."

"Don't!" Ginny pleaded, that bastard didn't deserve the name. In fact if he could be called nothing that would be too good for him. "Please just call him Tom." Once again Snape raised an eyebrow but said nothing he continued on.

"He found me, lying in a pool of my own blood, I was probably a minute away from death, when Fawkes began to cry. You do remember that phoenix's have healing properties?" Ginny nodded in response. "I didn't think his tears would do any good against the amount of blood I had lost but apparently it had, the wound started to heal, I still have a rather large ugly scar of course." Why he was telling her this bit, he didn't know. He tugged self-consciously on the collar of his jacket. "Gave whoever picked up my body an awful fright when I choked out the word Poppy, I don't think they knew whether to try and finish the job or take me to see Poppy. Luckily they didn't have too, Hagrid came over and saw I was still alive, he knew what had happened and picked me up like I was his bride." Snape was chuckling. He never chuckled but it seemed to suit him somehow, Ginny smiled, he looked good where on earth had that thought come from?

"Anyway I was taken to see Poppy and I made her swear to tell no-one I was alive, to the wizarding world I was dead, to the muggle world, I was just exactly that a muggle." He shrugged his shoulders. A sudden thought occurred to Ginny.

"You didn't want to let the wizarding world know you were alive because of all the questions, and because Dumbledore is dead who would believe you? Even delving into your mind, they might consider that you altered your memories." Snape smiled, and Ginny smiled in return. He should do that more often, it really looks good on him. Ginny mentally slapped herself.

"Very well done, I am assuming you are Mrs Potter?" He didn't wait for her reply. "You might outdo Granger one of these days." Ginny ignored the first comment, it was no surprise to anyone that she would marry Harry.

"She's not a Granger anymore, didn't you hear she's my sister in law." It was Snape's turn to look surprised, obviously he hadn't been keeping up with the wizarding world either, then she wondered if he knew Harry was dead? He must of, whispers get around even in the muggle world, and even if you didn't want to be part of the wizarding world it was always going to be a part of you.

"Well it's getting late, I will accompany you back." Snape started. This was incredible, where was old, snarky Snape? Was this guy an imposter? Had she made him up because she was lonely? No even in her wildest dreams Snape would not be the one to come to her aid, in her time of need. And just exactly how late was it? No that couldn't possibly be the time she must have been knocked out longer than she thought.

"No thank-you I'm perfectly capable of finding my own way home." She hissed at him, standing and feeling a little giddy but it passed, she put it down to her being out in the sun, which she vowed never to do again without a hat.

"Absolutely not! These streets are dangerous at this time, and besides Potter would have my head, if something happened to you." He hissed. She felt ill, so he didn't know, more tears were streaming down her face, she felt angry for some reason, and she had no idea why. Was she angry because he had survived and Harry hadn't? Or was it the mention of Harry or of being Mrs Potter? She didn't know, but she was enraged.

"I'm not an idiot contrary to popular belief, nor am I some little helpless damsel in distress!" She stormed towards the door that looked like it was the front, Snape behind her. She opened it before slamming it shut, and opening it again. "Oh and my husband's dead!" She declared before running down the street, it was Snape's turn to look shocked, he stood still for at least a minute, his mouth open before going to sit on his favourite green chair in the living room, he would probably drink more than he should tonight, to get the events out of his head. Why did she have to show up now?

Authors Notes: R&Rs are always welcomed, I hope you enjoyed it, more on the way when I have time.