Author's Note: Sorry it's taken so long to get the next part up. Been getting ready for graduation and college in the fall and moving out at the end of this month. Hopefully my new apartment will have internet!

Enjoy!

~LilReporterGirl

Olivia came down to the Potions classroom the next night at ten o'clock. This time she wasn't dressed quite so temptingly- tight jeans, a V-neck black sweater and black boots- for which I was thankful.

We would have to watch the potion carefully. It would turn form green to blue sometime in a two-hour time period. It would happen spontaneously and if the potion wasn't taken off the fire within two minutes, it would scorch and be ruined.

We moved the potion closer to my desk carefully, then Olivia and I sat down at my desk to grade papers. We glanced at the potion every minute.

"It's bad enough these third years have no idea what they're talking about, their grammar sucks as well. They can't even spell!" she said halfway through her stack of papers.

"Give them a D," I told her, "That's what I do."

She chuckled and wrote a D at the top of the paper.

"Ooh, look - the potion," she said at the same time I noticed it. We both stood at the same time and quickly removed the cauldron from over the fire.

"It has to cool, then we can bottle it. Go ahead and get four vials from the cupboard," I instructed her.

"Four? Why four?"

"One for each of the champion's friends."

"Oh, duh," she said, smacking herself in the forehead.

She grabbed the vials and brought them to me. I filled them and set them on my desk.

"We're going down to the lake at 5:30 in the morning, so you may want to get some sleep," I told her, "We're hoping to get everything set up before the students wake up."

"Sounds good," she said, starting towards the door.

"…If you want, you could come to my office at 5...we could have coffee before we go down to the lake," I said as she turned the handle of the door. She looked back at me and smiled.

"I'd like that," she said, "Goodnight Severus."

"Goodnight Olivia."

I woke up a few hours later and got dressed. I called up one of the house elves from the kitchen to bring down some coffee. The elf had not yet returned when there was a quiet knock on the door.

"Come in, Olivia," I said. She opened the door and walked in, shutting it behind her. She looked tired, but cute. Her hair was up in a ponytail and she wore shorts and a t-shirt.

"You're going to be cold when we go outside," I said as she sat down with a yawn.

"Doesn't matter, does it? I'll be in the water before long and the gillyweed will keep me from becoming hypothermic," she said with a shrug.

At that moment the house elf returned with a pot of coffee, along with sugar and cream. I indicated that it should place the tray on my desk, then leave.

"Thank you," Olivia said politely to the cowering elf as it moved to leave. The elf bowed and smiled a toothy grin before glancing hastily at me and retreating.

"Would it kill you to be nice sometimes?" Olivia asked as I poured her a cup of coffee.

"I am nice sometimes," I replied. "To people I like."

"So just me then?" she said with a smile.

"And Albus…most of the time."

We sat there sipping coffee in silence for fifteen minutes. When we'd each finished a cup, Olivia stood.

"We have to go down to the classroom and get the gillyweed," she said. I nodded in agreement and stood. I got my cloak and fastened it around my shoulders before following her out of my office and down the hallway.

I watched as Olivia dug through the store cupboard for the gillyweed. She found it but turned around, frowning.

"Gave you used the gillyweed for anything since we made the Gilly Draught?" she asked.

"No. Why?"

"Some is missing."

I nudged her aside and looked for myself. She was right.

"Fuck," I growled, "Someone's been in my private stores."

She looked rather amused.

"It's okay, Severus. Think of it logically- it had to have been one of the champions-"

"-Potter," I muttered darkly.

"-And if you see him use it during the task, then you can confront him about it. Punish him or torture him or whatever you want to do to enact your revenge."

"I love the way you think," I said with a smirk. "Come, we've got to go down to the lake."

Olivia's POV

The morning air was chilly and I couldn't help but shiver as Snape and I walked down to the lake from the castle.

"Do you want my cloak?" he offered, looking concerned.

"No, I'm okay," I assured him, crossing my arms across my chest for warmth.

I quickened my pace. As we approached the lake I could see Dumbledore standing down by the water with four people. As we got closer I could see that two of the people were Potter's friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

Like everyone else, I had heard the rumors that Granger was dating Krum so I supposed she must be his hostage. One of the others was a girl I had seen dancing with Cedric Diggory at the Yule Ball. I was pretty sure she was in Ravenclaw. The fourth person was a blonde haired young girl who had to be Fleur Delacour's sister.

"Good morning, Severus," Dumbledore said cheerfully and nodded to me. "Olivia. Did you bring the potion?"

"Of course," Snape said and handed him the four vials. Dumbledore gave a vial to each of the hostages, who uncorked them uncertainly.

"Bottoms up," Dumbledore said brightly. They drank the potion obediently and a minute later all four of them dropped to the ground. Dumbledore winced.

"I suppose I could have thought that through a little more- had them sit down… oh well, no matter. Are you ready, Olivia?"

I inclined my head and glanced at the lake where a crowd of Merpeople had surfaced. I unlaced my shoes and removed them and my socks. I took the Gillyweed from my pocket and began to chew it as I removed my shorts and t-shirt, revealing my green bikini. I grinned mischievously at Snape. He and Dumbledore were both staring at me, mouths slightly open. I handed Snape my clothes and swallowed the rubbery plant. I braced myself for the shock of the cold and dove into the lake.

The bite of the cold water on my skin knocked the breath out of me. I found I couldn't inhale at all. A moment later I felt a sharp pain on my neck on both sides, then I felt warm. I thought maybe I was dead, then I opened my eyes and saw several Merpeople floating around me, grinning. I looked up and could see Snape's face, distorted, peering down anxiously through the water.

"Olivia, are you okay?"

His voice was distorted. I raised my hand and was surprised to see my fingers were webbed. I kicked my feet and thanks to my elongated, webbed feet, I was propelled upwards with surprising speed…right into Snape who was leaning over the water looking down at me. I crashed into him and knocked him backwards into the ground. The impact of his body hitting mine was enough to knock the breath out of me. I lay on top of him gasping.

"Gills," Dumbledore reminded me. At that, Snape pushed me off of him and rolled me back into the lake.

"This is so cool," I said, letting my face go just above the surface of the water.

"Glad you're enjoying it," Snape muttered. He was soaked from where I had fallen on him.

"Come on Severus, help me get them into the water," Dumbledore said, nodding to the champions' friends.

He and Dumbledore secured ropes around the hostages' ankles and slid them in the water. I took hold of the ropes.

"Be careful," Snape said quietly to me. Dumbledore said something to the Merpeople in mermish and they made some response. I waved to Snape, then dove back down into the water, dragging the hostages behind me. One of the mermen motioned for me to follow him and I swam after him. The rest of the Merpeople swarmed around us, spears at the ready.

I looked around as I swam, observing all the different underwater plants. It took a quarter of an hour to reach the spot where the Merpeople wanted the hostages secured. We swam through what looked like the ruins of an old castle. I was curious but wasn't able to ask the Merpeople anything. I tried to talk but all that came out were bubbles. The Merpeople laughed at me and some motioned for me to be silent.

When we had secured the hostages, I knew I didn't have much time left to collect potions ingredients before my hour was up. I started back the way we had come, this time staying close to the bottom of the lake. Some of the Merpeople followed me, surrounding me in a way that was rather annoying. Still, I would rather have them with me and was given a true appreciation for them when they scared off a herd of grindylows who shook their fists threateningly at me and bared their teeth.

Snape's POV

Dumbledore and I waited in silence. It was unusual for him to go so long without saying anything to me and I suspected it had to do with the fact that Olivia had taken her clothes off in front of us. The thought made me smirk slightly. She was so confident in her youth…

As the end of the agonizing hour approached, I began to pace nervously.

"Don't worry, Severus. I'm sure she is fine," Albus said to me. "I told the Merpeople to stay with her at all times."

"Who's worried?" I muttered and forced myself to quit pacing. A moment later there was a large splash and Olivia surfaced. She no longer had gills or webbed fingers and feet. She dragged herself onto the shore, panting heavily and teeth chattering.

"Dude, it's f-freaking cold," she exclaimed.

She didn't have to tell me. I was all too aware of the goosebumps on her skin and her nipples protruding through the thin fabric of her bikini top. Albus, too, let his eyes linger longer than was necessary, but who could blame him?

I quickly removed my cloak and draped it across her shoulders. She pulled it tight around herself for warmth and, still shivering, grinned proudly at me. That's when I noticed she had a bag in her hand- a bag filled with plants.

"Murtgrass, g-gillyweed, l-liverwort, tadfoals, p-plimpys-" she said through chattering teeth.

"Well done, Olivia," I said and looked to Albus. "May I take my frozen apprentice inside now?"

"What?" he said, shaking his head as if to clear it. "Oh, yes, of course. Good job Miss Cain. And thank you."

"S-sure thing," she said with a smile.

I couldn't help but put an arm around her as we walked back up to the castle. I pulled her close to my side for warmth, not caring at that point, if Albus saw. All I cared about was keeping her warm.

When we reached my office Olivia locked the door while I stoked the fire that was in the fireplace.

"Get over here," I said to her, not meaning to sound bossy but doing so out of habit. Luckily, Olivia didn't take it that way. She walked over to the fireplace, shedding my cloak as she did so.

"You could have dressed a little more modestly," I said, looking her over.

"Don't be such a prude, Severus," she said, wringing out her long wet hair.

"I am most definitely not being a prude. Nor am I complaining," I replied. "I just don't need Dumbledore seeing everything that I see."

"He won't be seeing everything that you get to see," she responded and with that she removed her top and stepped out of her bathing suit bottoms.

I was too stunned- among other things- to speak. Olivia laughed at me and turned around in front of the fire to dry her extremities.

"Did you see Dumbledore's face before I dove into the water?" she asked with a chuckle. "Priceless."

I cleared my throat and managed to find my voice.

"It isn't funny, Olivia- you can't keep taking your clothes off in front of people."

"You know I always thought he was gay," she continued as if she hadn't heard me. "He always seemed to have a thing for Potter…but he could hardly keep his eyes off of me, could he?"

"Olivia," I said with an exasperated sigh. "…Even if someone is…and I'm not saying Albus is, but…you can be very distracting when you want to be."

"Aw, thanks Severus," she said with a grin.

"Whatever," I muttered. "Now will you please put your clothes back on?"

"Okay, okay…but only because you said please."

She pulled on her shorts and t-shirt that I had brought inside, neglecting the bikini that lay sodden on the stone floor by the fireplace. I could still see her nipples through the t-shirt.

"Well," I said. "I guess it's an improvement."

Olivia chuckled and sat down in front of the fireplace.

At that moment there was a knock at the door. Panicked, I vanished Olivia's bathing suit that was on the floor before quickly opening the door.

"Someone's been dripping water in my hallway," wheezed Filch. I let out an annoyed sigh.

"I will take care of it in a moment, Filch."

Then I shut the door in his face.

" 'Someone's been sleeping in my bed'," Olivia mimicked with a grin. "Goldilocks?"

"I know," I said, somewhat amused. "You read Muggle fairytales when you were a kid?"

"I read everything when I was a kid. I grew up in a bookstore," she replied. "…Hey, what did you do with my bikini? Where did it go?"

"Where do Vanished objects go?"

Olivia shrugged.

"Into non-being," I said, answering my own questions.

"Aw, Severus!" she protested. "That was my favorite two-piece."

Olivia's POV

Snape insisted that I drink a potion that warmed me throughout my body, then told me to go back to my dorm and get some rest before the second task. He promised he would wake me before it was time for the task. I was too tired to protest, so I said goodnight- even though it was technically morning- and drowsily made my way back to my dorm.

Alexandria and Brandi were sitting in the Common Room when I entered, along with a few seventh years who paid no attention to me.

"Where've you been?" Brandi asked.

"And why are you wet?" Alex observed.

"Not so loud," I shushed them. "…I've been in the lake…part of the task. I nearly froze to death and I'm exhausted. I want to go to sleep."

"Okay. Want us to wake you before the task?" Brandi asked.

"No, Severus said he would."

I went into the dormitory where a few other girls were just beginning to stir. I pulled the curtains around my bed and crawled underneath the covers. I was asleep almost immediately.

I awoke several hours later, feeling as if I had slept too long and knowing I had missed the second task. I dressed and made my way into the Common Room, highly annoyed. Brandi and Alexandria were sitting by the fireplace.

"That lying bastard forgot to wake me up!" I exclaimed. "I'm going to kill him."

With that I left the Common Room, leaving my friends looking rather bemused. I stormed down to Snape's office and knocked impatiently then, without waiting for an answer, opened the door.

"You lying tosser, you forgot to wake me up," I said crossly, sitting down in the chair in front of his desk.

"I didn't forget," he said calmly. "I had every intention of waking you but when I went to do so…you looked so peaceful and beautiful, I couldn't bring myself to wake you."

I huffed and crossed my arms, finding it very difficult to stay mad with him.

"Well you know what you have to do now, don't you?"

"What's that?" he asked warily.

"Tell me about the task. In detail."

He smiled at me.

"That I can do…and I'm not a tosser."

Snape gave me the details of what happened during the second task, which included the confirmation that Potter had stolen our Gillyweed.

"That prat," I snorted. "What are you going to do? Tell Dumbledore?"

"He wouldn't believe me- he never thinks bad of precious Potter… No, I will think of something much more horrible and humiliating."

Snape did not mention his revenge on Potter again until one day in March. Brandi had given me a copy of Witch Weekly magazine, which contained a detailed article written by Rita Skeeter about Potter's relationship with Hermione Granger…and Granger's relationship with Viktor Krum.

It was already past lunchtime when Brandi gave me the article, therefore I had to wait until after the last class of the day to show Snape. As I descended the stairs to the dungeon, magazine in hand, I passed Karkaroff. He was frowning and seemed distracted. He was muttering quietly to himself. I hurried to the classroom where Snape was cleaning up after his last class, looking thoroughly annoyed. He relaxed a little when he saw me and gave me a weary sort of smile.

"Karkaroff?" I asked and he nodded, "He is a creeper."

Snape let out a short laugh and shook his head.

"Have you seen this?" I asked, holding up the magazine.

"Yes," he said with a smirk, "I caught Potter and his friends reading it under the table during class."

"What did you do?" I asked eagerly.

"Took house points," he said casually, "…And read it aloud to the class."

"Ha! Excellent," I said with a grin.

"I rather thought so. Then Igor had to come and ruin my good mood…"

Snape and I talked about the article until it was time for dinner, discussing what we thought was true and what was just Skeeter's speculation. When the time came, Snape and I walked down to dinner together. There we parted ways and I went to sit with my fellow Slytherins, all of whom seemed to be discussing Skeeter's article.

Midway through dinner a small owl alighted in front of me. I frowned and took the note from it. The handwriting was unfamiliar to me.

If you are still into sneaking out and feeding strays, meet me tonight at ten o'clock at the end of the road heading out of Hogsmeade, past Dervish and Banges. Bring food. Tell no one. Don't get caught.

~Blackie

I stared at the letter in quiet disbelief. How random! I immediately decided I would do it. After all, Sirius Black wasn't a bad guy. Dumbledore didn't think so and I believed Dumbledore. Snape refused to voice his opinion on Sirius' innocence and I knew better than to push the matter…and I wasn't going to tell him about going to meet Sirius, unless I felt I needed to.