Author's Note: Here's the next chapter you guys! I know you've all been eager to read more, but tell that to the little white Chihuahua named Luna who has been taking up all of my time recently. Read and review, you guys, it really keeps me going through the tough times! Thanks.

~LilReporterGirl

Snape's POV

I followed Olivia and Charlie around the dragon enclosure rather reluctantly. She was listening ravenously as Charlie told her facts about each of the dragons. He was trying to impress her with his knowledge. I could tell he liked her. He could hardly take his eyes off of her.

I felt somewhat sullen- I had brought her out here, to do something nice for her, and now all her attention was focused on Charlie Weasley. Then I reminded myself that I shouldn't care and tried to focus my attention on the dragons.

I did feel a little nervous around the dragons. I recalled my own sixth year in school, when Professor Yladcoff took the Care of Magical Creatures class on a field trip, to a dragon reserve in Romania. I had gone on the field trip, only because Lily had gone. While we were there, a group of dragonologists had a Romanian Longhorn for us to see. We all stayed a few yards away because the dragon was pulling at the chains that bound it. Its golden horns gleamed in the sunlight.

Lily got closer than any of the rest of us dared to. Suddenly, the dragon had broken free of its chains and flown straight at her. I was frozen to the spot. Luckily Professor Yladcoff had jumped in front of her and knocked her out of its path. Unfortunately, he himself had been speared in the arm by one of the dragon's golden horns.

I shuddered at the memory as I followed Olivia and Charlie around the enclosure. We came to the fourth dragon, the black one with horns.

"This is the Hungarian Horntail," Charlie said to Olivia, "She's probably the nastiest of the four. She can shoot fire up to 40 feet. And that tail is nothing to mess around with. I feel bad for whatever champion has to face her."

Olivia was silent a moment, looking down at the sleeping dragon. Smoke was coming out of its nostrils.

"I feel bad for the dragons," Olivia announced contemptuously.

"Olivia," I said warningly. I didn't want her to start on anything about animal rights.

"Why?" Charlie asked her interestedly.

"They're being taken advantage of, for wizard entertainment," she said indignantly.

"Personally, I agree," Charlie said.

"You…do?"

"Yes. Normally I spend time studying dragons in their natural habitat in Romania. I only came here because, well, it's Hogwarts."

"But they are kept in reserves in Romania."

"To keep them from being poached, mostly. But they aren't captive. The reserve is miles and miles of forest, mountains…deep wilderness, where Muggles don't go."

"They are captive, then. They can't just roam wherever they please. They have boundaries, right? That's like, the definition of captive."

"Well alright, but it's better than them being hunted down and killed for their blood and scales and fangs."

Olivia said nothing. He had made a point she couldn't argue with.

"It's late," I said suddenly, somewhat snappily, "We should go."

"Right. Thank you for the Sleeping Potion, Professor," Charlie said to me.

I said nothing but nodded curtly and strode out of the enclosure.

"It was nice meeting you, Olivia," Charlie called after us. Olivia glanced back at him and smiled.

I quickened my pace and didn't slow down until we were out of sigh of the dragon enclosure. Olivia glanced at me and smirked.

"What?" I demanded of her.

"Nothing," she said quickly.

"…I believe Charlie Weasley was flirting with you."

"Probably," she said indifferently.

"He couldn't keep his eyes off of you."

"…So?"

"Perhaps he would make a suitable boyfriend for you. He is not that much older than you and he shares your love of dragons," I said, just to see what she would say.

"Wh- …I don't want a boyfriend, Severus," she said quietly, looking at me with solemn emerald eyes. I quickly looked away from her.

"You are doomed to be alone forever then."

"That makes two of us," she said somewhat coolly.

"It suits me to be alone. It doesn't suit you."

"Oh come off it! You don't really want me to date Charlie Weasley, do you?"

I didn't respond to this and quickened my pace.

We didn't speak again the entire walk back to the castle and down into the dungeons. We stopped outside the hidden entrance to the Common Room.

"Goodnight Olivia," I said somewhat stiffly.

"Goodnight Severus," she said. She no longer sounded mad at me. "And thanks."

"Sure," I murmured and continued on to my office.

Olivia's POV

I knew Snape was right about Charlie Weasley flirting with me. He had hardly been able to keep his eyes off of me and he had definitely been trying to impress me. Still I was surprised when the next morning during breakfast when a small tawny owl dropped a note into my lap.

Olivia,

How would you like to get another look at the dragons before the first task, this time without the Potions teacher? Come down to the enclosure sometime before midday and try not to get caught. Of course I'm not encouraging you to skip a lesson or anything like that.

See ya,

Charlie

"Well damn," I said aloud, not really knowing what to think.

"What's up?" Alex asked. She was sitting across from me eating breakfast, but we hadn't really said anything other than good morning to each other. Brandi was still sore over me not telling her what the first task was going to be so she was sitting down the table with Draco and some others, studiously ignoring me.

"There's a guy who wants me to skip class and come see him," I said quietly to Alex.

"Ooh, who is it?"

"I can't tell you that yet."

"Are you going to do it?"

"Probably."

"Why can't you tell me who it is? Is it a Gryffindor? Is it Snape?"

"No, no it's not Snape. And- well, it complicated. I'll tell you tonight, I promise."

"Okay," she said amiably and didn't press the matter.

I considered Charlie's offer as I finished eating. Of course I wanted to see the dragons again… and I didn't entirely mind seeing him again, too. He was nice…he had a nice smile, and he knew a lot about dragons. Plus I actually kind of liked the attention.

I decided my first class, Care of Magical Creatures, would be the easiest to skip - Hagrid could always be easily fooled by a forged note from the nurse or Snape. He was trusting and wasn't likely to double-check excuses.

So after breakfast I slipped out of the Great Hall, trusting Alexandria to tell Hagrid I was ill. I donned my Disillusionment Charm before leaving the Entrance Hall, taking care to make sure no one saw me vanish.

The morning was cool and the sky was clouded over. The grass was wet with dew. Birds in the trees of the forest were just waking up and chirping their good mornings.

The walk along the forest alone seemed to take forever but finally I reached the dragon enclosure- only it was now blocked from view by a large tent that half a dozen wizards were erected. Charlie was one of the wizards nearest me. I removed my Disillusionment Charm. Several people spotted me before him and began to shout, but then he turned and saw me.

"It's alright" Charlie said to the others, "She's the Potion Master's apprentice."

I smiled as he walked over to me and the others went back to what they were doing.

"Good of you to come," he said, smiling at me.

"Well I wanted to see the dragons again before they started ripping the champions apart."

"We'll be trying to prevent that, actually," he said with a laugh, "The dragons are still asleep. We're going to keep them that way until time for the task. We've separated them."

I followed Charlie around the tent to the dragon enclosure. There were now twenty wizards setting up stands around the enclosure for spectators. The dragons themselves, well…

"Cages, Charlie?" I demanded.

Each dragon was in its own iron cage, along with their nests of eggs, looking cramped. Charlie grimaced.

"I don't like it any more than you do," he said, "I didn't know they were going to put them in cages."

"Then do something about it."

"What would you have me do? Free them?"

"Well…obviously that wouldn't work out so great…but if you don't like it, why do you still stay with these people"

"Because…it's dragons," he said, his eyes alight. I smiled in spite of myself. Here was someone who I strongly suspected shared my love of not just dragons, but all animals.

"Wanna see something cool?" Charlie asked me.

"Okay," I said somewhat hesitantly.

"Follow me."

I followed behind Charlie as he left the enclosure and headed into the forest. I was somewhat reluctant - I wasn't sure I could trust him - but I followed anyway. After all, I could take care of myself.

"Do you like Quidditch?" he asked casually, glancing over his shoulder at me.

"Of course."

"Do you play?"

"Well, I was on the team, but I missed tryouts one year and they haven't let me back on the team since. Flint didn't want a girl on the team to begin with - Snape had to force them to let me play - but I was damned good."

"What position did you play?" he inquired.

"Beater. Did you play when you were in school?"

"Yeah. I was captain for the last few years."

"What position?"

"Seeker. We never lost a game. I got offered a spot on the national team, but turned it down to study dragons."

"I probably would have done the same. …I want to be a wizard veterinarian someday. I invent potions for animals."

"What kind of potions?" he asked interestedly.

"Flea repellent. Worm medicine. That sort of thing."

"Cool. …Are you up for a bit of flying"

"I thought you were showing me something?"

"I am. We have to fly a bit to reach it though."

"Well…okay."

"Don't worry," he said, flashing me a smile, "Accio, broomsticks."

A minute later two broomsticks came speeding towards us through the forest, probably from the castle. Charlie grabbed them both and handed one to me. He quickly mounted his.

"Follow me," he said and ascended into the air before I was even on my broomstick. I swung one leg over the broom handle and took off after him.

From the air I could see that the forest ahead of us sloped downward suddenly into a valley. The valley was filled mostly with dense trees, but there was a large pool of water, like a pond, and a river of water that flowed down over the side of the valley into it, forming a sort of waterfall. Charlie descended into the valley and headed for the waterfall. I followed silently, wondering how I had never managed to see this place before. Suddenly, Charlie flew into the waterfall and disappeared.

I stared. It looked like solid rock behind it to me.

"Come on through," said Charlie's voice from the other side, sounding weird - echoey and distant. I decided it was best to go through fast, like the barrier at Kings Cross Station. I backed up, inadvertently holding my breath, and rushed through.

I stopped abruptly when I came through the water on the other side. It was a sort of crevice in the rock, maybe six feet high so that my head almost hit the ceiling when I came through. I hovered to the ground as I looked around in amazement. The daylight coming through the waterfall made a pleasantly dim, reflective light that danced along the rock. It was beautiful, but this wasn't what had me amazed. Against the back of the cave was a hippogriff…and beside her, a baby hippogriff, no larger than a three-month old horse colt. To top it off, Charlie was on his knees beside the baby, stroking its feathery head. The mother hippogriff was looking at him in a rather bored sort of way but when my feet touched the ground she focused her yellow eyes on me intently.

"Charlie?" I said anxiously.

"Bow to her," he said and patted the mother hippogriff's side, "It's alright, Emma. Olivia won't hurt you."

I bowed to the hippogriff, not daring to look her in the eye. After a moment, she bowed her head to me, then looked back at Charlie and her baby.

"Come on," Charlie encouraged, looking at me.

"I'm close enough," I said faintly, not wanting to anger the mother hippogriff. She could easily rip us both to pieces.

"I almost forgot you were a Slytherin," Charlie said in a teasing tone, "The lot of you are nothing but cowards."

"I'm not a coward," I said hotly, "I just have a general aversion to being ripped to shreds."

Charlie laughed and got to his feet. He walked over, took my hand, and tugged me towards the baby. He pulled me to my knees beside the little hippogriff. The baby looked curiously at me with light blue eyes and seemed to smile at me. I reached out slowly and touched him. I petted his head, like Charlie had, and the hippogriff rubbed his head against my hand.

"So soft," I said quietly, "Like a baby chicken."

Charlie grinned at me, his blue eyes reflecting the dancing light that shone through the waterfall.

"So…Emma, huh?" I said, looking at the big hippogriff.

"Yeah… When I was fifteen I found her in the forest. She had broken a wing and couldn't fly. She was just a baby then herself. I helped take care of her for a few weeks - Hagrid and I did. She trusts me. I went for a fly yesterday - it's been so long since I flew around Hogwarts grounds - and I spotted her in the air. She led me back here, where the little one was sleeping."

"Have you named him yet?"

"Not yet. I'm not so great with naming. I named Emma. Hagrid wanted to call her Featherfawn. …You can give him a name, if you like."

"I'd love to… but I have to think about it."

We sat in silence, stroking the little hippogriff who ended up stretched across our laps, dozing.

"How about Windquest?" I said finally. Charlie let out an amused laugh.

"I like it," he said. "It's unique."

We sat there for a while and Windquest continued to sleep. I stroked his head absently while watching the patterns of light on the rock. From the corner of my eye I could see Charlie was looking at me and smiling, a small sweet smile.

"So what's your favorite animal?" Charlie asked me casually, leaning back with his arms behind him.

"Magical or non-magical?"

"Hm…non-magical."

"Well…tigers. Definitely tigers."

"Why?"

"They are so majestic and powerful. Beautiful yet dangerous…"

"Like dragons," he said with a faraway look in his eye.

"Like dragons," I agreed.

"They like to nest in places like this, dragons do," he said looking around.

"I can see why. It's so peaceful and…safe."

"Beautiful," he murmured, leaning towards me.

"The cave?" I asked, smiling.

"That too," he said and he leaned in and kissed me.

It wasn't entirely unexpected, but it still made my heart jump. He was a good kisser and when he finally pulled away I was speechless.

"Well," I said breathlessly.

"Well," he said and smiled.

"What does this mean?"

"What do you want it to mean?"

"Well…we can't date. You live in Romania and I'm still in school."

"For two more years," he reasoned, "After that, well you could come to Romania, if you want. You can do anything you want. It's your future."

I was silent. I didn't like thinking about the future.

"It's not just that… there is another. My heart can never belong to you," I said softly.

"You have a boyfriend?"

"Not exactly, but…my heart belongs to him."

"Does he love you?"

"I think so."

"You think?" he asked with a wry smile.

"…When do you leave to go back to Romania?" I asked.

"Tonight. We'll be taking the dragons back after the task."

"Well…we can see each other tonight, before you leave. And we can write."

"But we can't be together?"

"I'm sorry. But I do like you. I want us to be friends."

"It's okay. We can be…pen pals."

I smiled at him somewhat sadly, but my mind was on Snape now. My heart belonged to him, of course…but how did he fit into my future? What if he did not succumb to his feelings for me before I graduated? What would happen then? I would have to move out of Spinner's End…what then?

Charlie and I flew back towards the castle before lunchtime. We touched down before we reached the enclosure then walked back together.

"I'll walk you back to the castle," Charlie said.

I shrugged indifferently.

Sow e walked back to the castle, sticking to the edge of the forest.

"I'm going to try and get time off work for the second task. Maybe I'll get to see you then."

"Perhaps. …It's not more dragons, is it? The second task?"

"No. I don't know exactly what it is, but there won't be dragons. Dumbledore would have told us already."

We walked silently for a minute.

"You missed several classes," he said to me.

"It's alright. I'll just forge an excuse from the nurse. Or Snape."

"You're very bad," he said with a smile.

"What do you expect? I am a Slytherin."

"I'd be terrified Snape would flay me alive. Of course I was a goody two shoes in school. Prefect and all that."

"I can get away with it. Snape wouldn't get mad if he found out I was forging notes. He wouldn't, like, give me detention."

"Because you're a Slytherin?"

"No, because…he's my cousin."

"Woah! Like first cousins."

"Second cousins."

"Oh. I guess that's not so bad."

"What does it matter if Severus and I are cousins?"

"He lets you call him by his first name?" he asked, bemused.

"Well…Only when it's just he and I alone," I admitted, "What does it matter if we are cousins?"

"It doesn't matter. I just…didn't expect it. You're so pretty and nice and Snape, well…"

"He's not so bad as everyone thinks," I said quietly.

"Well, Dumbledore does trust him…but Snape is just…"

"Unpleasant," I finished, "Most of the time. But sometimes he does good things."

"Like what?"

"Well, he saved Potter and your little brother from a werewolf last year. Stood between them and a full-grown werewolf during the full moon. Even after Potter and his friends knocked Snape out."

He was silent a moment.

"Ron never told us that," he said, "…Did they really knock him unconscious?"

"Yes. It was my understanding they hit him with three Disarming Spells at once. And he didn't even punish them for that- he told everyone that Potter and his friends had been Confunded."

When we got to the castle, Charlie stopped.

"I'll leave you here and get back. They'll need me- the task starts soon."

"Alright. I'll see you later?"

"Stick around after the task. Come find me."

"I will."

He hugged me quickly, much to my surprise, and hurried off, head down in an embarrassed sort of way, not looking back at me.

Our timing had been good, I discovered as I walked back into the castle. Students were just starting to trickle into the Great Hall for lunch. I tarried in the Entrance Hall, looking for Alexandria, but saw Snape instead. I started to slink away into the Great Hall, but he saw me and called out to me.

"Olivia," he said loudly. I cringed and walked over to him.

"Where have you been?" he asked, "You missed a Potions class. You've never missed a Potions class."

"If you must know… I was with Charlie."

"Charlie Weasley?"

"Do you know any other Charlies?"

"What did you two do?" he asked, scowling.

I smiled mischievously and he scowled again.

"I'm just playing, Severus," I said, "All we did was… well you can see."

I opened my mind to him and let him view the memory of Charlie and I flying over the valley and behind the waterfall. I let him see Windquest. I meant to stop before it got to the kiss, but slipped up. Snape withdrew quickly, a disgusted look on his face.

"It was meaningless," I said quickly, "I am NOT dating him."

"I wouldn't care if you were dating him," he said bitterly, "You need to date somebody."

Then he headed into the Great Hall. I followed him, scowling, but not saying anything. He could say he didn't care all he wanted to, but everything about him made me think otherwise.

Snape's POV

I tried to convince myself I didn't care wither way. Olivia had said it had been meaningless but she had seemed pretty happy during the memory. It had definitely been romantic.

You should be happy for her, I told myself as I picked at the food on my plate, Happy she's out having fun. Being a teenager. Not lusting after someone like you.

I sighed heavily and pushed my food away. I stood to leave the Great Hall, thinking I could go for a walk to clear my mind.

"Everything alright, Severus?" Albus asked.

"Just fine," I said quietly.

As I was walking out onto Hogwarts grounds, Karkaroff came out the Entrance Hall behind me.

"Severus," he said, "You've been avoiding me."

"I've not been avoiding you, Igor. I've been busy. As I am busy now… I am due down at the enclosure."

"But Severus-"

"I know what it is you wish to talk about and I would rather not discuss it."

"You prefer to pretend it isn't happening then?"

"While I can," I snapped, "It isn't happening now."

"And when it does happen? What will you do?"

"Why do you care, Igor?" You know where my loyalties lie - my name was one of many you squealed fourteen years ago."

"Severus, fourteen years ago -" he bean.

"I'm not condemning your actions. You saved your own skin. Obviously, I am none the worse for it. Now leave me," I said, "Moody already has his eye on me. I'd rather not draw attention to myself by consorting with you."

"You do have a point," he said, "Quite right. I will see you later, Severus."

He turned and went back into the Entrance Hall and I continued walking alone. As if my day hadn't sucked enough already, now Karkaroff had to bring up the damn Mark. I touched my left arm absently where the Mark had been branded into my flesh so many years ago. It had once been so faded it was hardly visible. Now the liens of the skull were light gray. If it turned completely black, the Dark Lord would be returned to power and if it burned he would be calling us to him.

I jerked my sleeve back down. As if I really needed something else to worry about.

I had to meet the other Heads of Houses in the Entrance Hall less than a half hour later so we could lead our students out to the dragon enclosure. I let Minerva line the lot of them up as they trickled out of the Great Hall, down the stairs, or up out of the dungeons. She separated them by house and when the time came, I led all the Slytherins out. Olivia made her way to the front and walked alongside me, not saying anything.

"Where are your friends?" I muttered.

"Why are you so grumpy?"

"I'm not grumpy," I scoffed, "I have a lot on my mind."

"Right. Well, Brandi still isn't speaking to me because I wouldn't tell her what I know about the first task."

"And the other one?"

Olivia gestured vaguely over her should and shrugged. I rolled my eyes. I spotted Karkaroff leading the Durmstrang boys up. He looked pale and nervous - either about the Mark or worrying about Krum.

Most of the students were chattering excitedly with each other and being loud. Olivia seemed content to walk alongside me in silence and I was content to let her do so. When we reached the stands that had been erected around the enclosure, I made my way to the front row, scarcely looking down at the enclosure, which was empty.

"Where are they?" Olivia whispered, coming to sit beside me while the rest of the Slytherins filled the rows behind us. I pointed wordlessly to a tunnel that ran between the stands on one side of the enclosure.

"Oh," she said.

It didn't take long for the task to get started. Diggory walked out of the tent at the other end of the enclosure. He looked like he was going to be sick and held his wand aloft in a trembling hand. Out of the other end of the enclosure came the dragons, surrounded by several wizards with wands out. The cry from the crowd was one of amazement. Another group of wizards brought out a nest full of eggs carefully wile the first group distracted the dragon. Charlie was one of the wizards who brought the rest out. When everything was in place, all the dragon handlers stationed themselves around the enclosure, wands at the ready in case something should go wrong.

Of course Charlie had to come and stand in front of our stands. He glanced up at Olivia, grinned stupidly and waved. She waved back, smiling. The dragon shot a jet of flame towards him suddenly and Charlie had to jump out of the way.

"Watch your back, Charlie!" one of the other dragon handlers called to him.

I laughed rather cruelly and Olivia kicked me. I slid her a look but she glared defiantly back at me. I avoided her gaze and focused my attention on the task.

The Delacour girl was next. I watched rather disinterestedly as she tried to put the Welsh Green to sleep. It stumbled sleepily, then let out a jet of flame as it snored. The flame caught her skirt on fire and she let out an alarmed scream before using her wand to put the flame out.

Then came Krum. I snuck a look at Karkaroff, who sat with the other judges. He was on the edge of his seat, his face pale and glistening with sweat. Krum, who was frowning even more than usual, had his wand out from the start He didn't miss a beat- he shot a spell at the dragon immediately. It roared in pain and shot fire at him. Krum dodged the flame and went for the nest. The dragon stumbled backwards, stepping on the nest and almost crushing Krum. Olivia grabbed my arm tightly. I glanced at her. She was frowning. She looked pissed.

"What?" I muttered, shaking her hand away.

"He let the eggs get squished! That's like six baby dragons that won't get born now!"

I didn't know what to say to this so I just said "Oh" and nodded my head.

Potter was the last champion to face a dragon and he had he Hungarian Horntail - Charlie had said this was the most dangerous and temperamental of the four. I felt like I imagine Karkaroff probably felt when Krum walked onto the field, only I wasn't showing it.

Potter had his wand out and looked terrified, but determined.

"Accio Firebolt!" he shouted. The dragon was crouched protectively over her eggs and as long as he didn't move, she didn't either.

"Did he just use a Summoning Charm?" Olivia asked me quietly.

"I think he tried to…but nothing is happening"

My hands balled into fists, waiting for something to happen…anything.

Potter's broomstick came hurtling towards him through the trees and stopped in midair beside him.

"Thank God," I breathed quietly. It was his only chance. He wasn't a particularly skilled wizard - he couldn't have performed the Conjunctivitis Curse, like Krum - but he was a damned good flyer, loathe as I was to admit it.

I could feel Olivia's eyes on me while I followed Potter's movements as he ascended into the air. I took a moment to scowl at her but quickly returned my attention to the boy as the Horntail shot a flame at him and he dodged it. Olivia chuckled quietly, not at Potter but at me. I didn't acknowledge her but continued to watch Potter tensely. He flew around the Horntail in circles, making her follow him. Then he dodged another spurt of flame, just to be met by the tail end with the spikes. The crowd around me gasped and groaned. Even I flinched as Potter's shoulder was gashed open. Olivia inched closer to me and touched my hand gently. I scowled and pulled my hand away, still not looking at her.

Potter flew back and forth, higher and higher.

"He's trying to lure her into the air," I murmured.

It worked! The dragon stood, stretched her black leathery wings and - Potter dived and grabbed the golden egg before the dragon even knew where he had gone.

The stands around us exploded with applause and cheering, though there were some hissing from the Slytherins behind me. Potter landed and hurried out of the enclosure where he was met by Minerva, Hagrid and Moody. Charlie and the other wizards had moved forth as soon as Potter's hands had closed on the golden egg. They subdued the enraged Horntail with some difficulty and a few burns, and managed to get her out of the enclosure.

I looked down at the field when Potter came back out to receive his score. He tied with Krum. I watched as Potter walked back off the field. His arm didn't look too bad now, so he wasn't too seriously hurt. I glanced sideways and was surprised to find Olivia was no longer beside me. I glanced around quickly but she was nowhere to be seen.

Students began to leave the stands and make their way back to the castle. I started to follow them, but turned and walked behind the stands, around to where the dragons were. Olivia was standing at the edge of the trees, alone. I looked around and saw Charlie hurrying towards her.

"Sorry. I ad to see my brother and Harry before they went back up to the castle," he said as he approached her.

"That's okay," she said, smiling.

"Want to go for a walk in the forest?"

"I'd love to."

"Hey Michael! Cover for me, will ya?" Charlie called to one of his friends.

"You owe me one, Charlie!" the boy called back.

Charlie took Olivia's hand, they shared a smile, and the two of them walked off into the woods together. I turned, my insides squirming unpleasantly, and walked back up to the castle alone.