Author's Note: Alright guys, time to start Year 7. Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me this long. I know in the beginning I promised it wouldn't be as long as the other stories I've written, but it sort of took on a life of its own, you know?

Also, I realized I forgot to give Olivia Apparition lessons in Year 6. That's my bad, you guys. Can we just imagine that Olivia did have Apparition lessons? I mean, I could go back and write it, but that would just be detrimental to my progress forward towards the end of the story. And it wouldn't be as good as if I had remembered to deliberately give her the lessons.

Anyways, I'm sure you're all waiting to get started with Year 7 and see how Olivia and Snape are handling their summer alone, so without further ado, here it is!

~LilReporterGirl

Olivia's POV

If I thought the summer was going to consist of Snape and I spending every day together, I was wrong. His days were spent primarily doing work for the Dark Lord or Dumbledore. Some nights he didn't come home at all and when he did it was late or he was tired, or both. Still, I would wait up every night and when I had heard him come in and go into his room, I would climb out of bed, tip-toe to his room, and crawl into bed with him. I would put my arms around him and bury my face in his back or chest. He was always tense when he came home but slowly he would relax in my arms and, if I was lucky, roll over and kiss me.

Then most morning he would awake with a start, the Mark on his arm burning, and he would be gone before breakfast. When that didn't happen there would be an owl tapping at the window and he would leave right after breakfast. Not always immediately after breakfast- on rare occasions he would scoop me up and carry me back to bed. I really liked those days.

Still, I spent most of my time alone or with Mouse. She had grown into a fat cat while we were at Hogwarts and she had free reign of the dungeons. A fat cat who, while cute, mostly liked to sleep. I would read or listen to music, but there was still a definite emptiness to the house. The eternal feeling of something missing. When Snape was home, the feeling was gone and I forgot about it, but whenever he left it was back again, as if it had never really left in the first place.

One morning I was home alone, listening to Blue October and reading a book on Dragonology when there was a knock at the front door. I froze. We never had visitors. For some reason, my mind went straight to Death Eaters, though I don't know why they'd be after me. Snape had said they were aware of me- as his adopted cousin, of course- but that they were unconcerned with me. Though I supposed something could have happened- like they found out the truth about Snape and were coming to kill, rape and torture me.

The knock came again and I pushed the thought from my mind. I grabbed my wand and hurried downstairs. I peeked out the door…and was surprised to find myself looking into the electric blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore. I opened the door quickly.

"Hello Olivia," he said, smiling pleasantly.

"Hi. Uh…Severus isn't here."

"I know. It is you that I am here to see. May I come in?"

"I suppose," I said, mystified. I stepped aside to let him in, then closed the door behind him. I led him into the sitting room. With a flick of my wand I turned off the radio that I had brought down from my room.

"Sorry, I'm not really used to guests…would you like some tea?" I asked him.

"No thank you," he replied, still smiling.

"Well, sit down if you like," I said, gesturing towards the couch as I flopped down in Snape's chair.

Dumbledore sat. I noticed that his eyes didn't move curiously about the room.

"Have you been here before?" I inquired.

"A few times," he said, then paused a long moment. "…I wonder, Olivia, if you remember my offer to procure for you a Summer internship at St. Mungo's?"

"Of course…though with all that's gone on, I'd forgotten," I admitted.

"Understandably. I imagine it must be rather boring for you with Severus gone so much."

"A bit," I said, wondering how this was related. "But I keep myself entertained. …I wish I could do more to help Severus, though."

"Ah," he said, his blue eyes twinkling. "If you take the summer internship, you could help. Not Severus, exactly, but you could be a useful asset to the Order of the Phoenix."

"What is the Order of the Phoenix?" I asked, puzzled.

"The Order of the Phoenix is a defensive group that fought against Voldemort-" I flinched "-when he first rose to power. And they are fighting against him now."

"Oh…and Severus is a part of this group?"

"Of course. In fact, he's one of the most important members, because of what he does. The risk he takes…of course, you wouldn't be doing anything too dangerous. Mostly you would be on the lookout for anything suspicious. Meanwhile, you'd be getting medical experience."

I nodded my head slowly.

"Overall it is your decision to join the Order or not. You are of age."

"I'll do it," I said certainly. "I want to help…like Severus."

"I knew you would," he said, smiling again. "You start work Monday. You'll be meeting Healer Mycroft in the lobby at 8 a.m. Think you can handle that?"

"I-of course. Wow. Thank you, sir."

"Thank you, Olivia. I'll be in touch."

Then he was gone, just as quickly as he had come. When he was gone I headed upstairs to my room. I wrote letters to my friends- Mari, Brandi and Alexandria- telling them about my internship. I didn't tell them about the Order- that seemed sort of obvious. Even Dumbledore had been whispering when he told me about it. I knew when to keep my mouth shut.

Snape's POV

I was exhausted. I needed a break. I had been working my ass of ever since June and I was tired. Tired of the Dark Lord and tired of Dumbledore and tired of the Order…but it couldn't be helped.

I'd spent the morning with Lucius and Avery, looking for traitors on the Dark Lord's orders. We returned around 5, then I left and went to see Dumbledore, who seemed to be smiling more than he had in the past month.

"What're you so cheerful about?" I asked moodily, sitting down in the chair in front of his desk.

"What did you do today?" he asked, ignoring my question.

I told him.

"Did you find anyone?"

"No," I replied despondently.

"Good," he said and smiled again. "…Olivia's joined the Order."

"What?" I demanded, jumping to my feet.

"Sit down, Severus."

"Albus! …She's just a child!"

"She is of age," he reminded me. "It was her decision."

"The hell it was. You went to her with your smooth, fast-talking, you- you coerced her. I know you."

"I did no such thing. You can ask her yourself."

"I can't believe you! You would do this, put her in danger…without even telling me? I'm still her legal guardian!"

"I am telling you, Severus…and she isn't in any danger."

"What's she doing then?" I demanded.

"I've arranged an internship for her at St. Mungo's. She'll just be keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. Besides- Dilys will look after her," he said, motioning to a portrait of an elderly witch with long, silver ringlets of hair.

"Oh. Great," I snorted. "A picture will protect her."

"Hmph," said the portrait and the witch turned and disappeared.

"Severus," Dumbledore said disapprovingly. "…Olivia will be in no danger. It will be a learning experience for her…and it will keep her busy while you aren't home."

"She's always managed fine on her own," I said curtly.

"So you think, but it doesn't do anyone any good spending so much time alone."

"She has a cat," I muttered.

"She needs human companionship."

I scowled but said nothing. He had a point. He was smiling again.

"What are you smiling about?" I demanded.

"It warms my heart- your blatant concern for her. You care for her. It's nice to see you care for someone. …Is it because of her resemblance to Lily?"

"I'm leaving now," I said, heading for the door. "…And for your information, their eyes are different. And their personalities are different."

"How so? They are both very compassionate people."

"Not true. Lily cared for everybody, even werewolves," I said with a sneer. "…Olivia only cares about animals. And a select few people."

Olivia's POV

The sun had just set when I heard the front door open and close. Snape was home early! I hurried downstairs to greet him.

"Guess what?" I said as he hung up his cloak.

"I already know," he said stiffly. "I talked to Albus."

"Oh. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. …It will be a good learning experience for you."

"Something's wrong. I know you, Severus."

"I, well…I'm a bit concerned with you working for the Order. It's a dangerous business."

"Yeah? Well what you do is about a billion times more dangerous, but you don't see me complaining, do you? Sitting here worrying myself to death all day…"

"I'm not complaining," he said quietly. "I'm trying to think of it positively."

I studied him silently a moment, then smiled.

"Are you hungry?" I asked, starting to walk towards the kitchen. "I could summon supper from Hogwarts-"

He snagged the back of my t-shirt and pulled me back to him.

"I'm not hungry for food," he murmured, then kissed me. I smiled and allowed him to lead me towards the stairs.

"You really do need to eat dinner," I told him a while later. "Have you been eating at all lately? You're so thin…"

"Not really," he said, unconcerned. "…I'm used to it."

"Well get un-used to it. I'm not going to let you starve yourself. You'll feel better if you eat."

"Unlikely," he said, but obliged me by getting up. We dressed and I followed him downstairs to the kitchen. He summoned food from Hogwarts and we sat at the table to eat.

"So, when do you start work?" he asked, picking at his pork chop.

"Monday. Will you be able to take me? I haven't been to St. Mungo's since I was little, when I had dragon pox and Ellen took me."

"I should be able to, yes. What time?"

"A little before 8."

He nodded slowly and ate a spoonful of potatoes. He dropped his spoon suddenly and let out a little cry of surprise. He gripped his forearm and let out a little hiss. He looked up at me, his black eyes filled with pain.

"I have to go," he said.

"Eat first," I insisted.

"I cannot keep Him waiting."

"Eat quickly, then…please."

He let out a sigh and quickly wolfed down his potatoes and pork chop, took a few bites of beans, and washed it down with a swig of pumpkin juice.

"I'll be back," he said, standing up.

"When?"

"Before Monday," he said with a weak smile.

Then he Disapparated with a pop and I was left alone with my food and his unappreciated sarcasm.

It was past midnight and I was still waiting for Snape to get home. I was lying on the couch in the sitting room, reading a book about medical potions that I had read a thousand times. There was a sudden pop and a hooded figure wearing a mask appeared. I let out a little scream of fright, reminded of Lucius Malfoy and the other Death Eaters at the Quidditch World Cup. The hooded figure collapsed into a chair and I could tell by the pale hands coming from the sleeves of his robes that it was Snape.

I got up and approached him. I carefully removed the mask from his face and laid it aside. I tried not to notice that there were a few spots of blood on it. His face was deathly pale- even his lips were white- his hair was askew beneath his hood and he wouldn't look me in the eye.

"Are you okay?" I murmured. He shook his head no. I tried to kiss him but he turned his face away.

"Don't," he said, his voice hoarse.

"What did He have you do?"

"I don't want to talk about it…I can't."

"Okay," I said, nodding my head. "…Come on."

I pulled him to his feet and he followed me upstairs to his room. He kicked off his shoes and robes and crawled into bed. I crawled in beside him and snuggled up close to him. He felt cold.

"I'm a mess," he said, exhaling heavily.

"You are a mess," I agreed. "But that's alright. I love you anyway."

He rolled over and looked at me curiously. It was the first time I'd said the 'L' word out loud.

"You…love me?"

"Duh."

"Why?"

"…I don't know. What kind of question is that? We love who we love."

"…I love you too," he said. "I think."

"You think?"

"It is difficult. For me to love…and I can't understand why you would like me…why anyone would like me."

"You are a good person, Severus."

"I'm not," he replied dismissively.

"You are. I know there is good in you. Apart from that…well, you are quite mysterious and sexy."

He smiled faintly, then his smile faded and he sighed heavily. I could tell by his eyes that he was thinking about whatever the Dark Lord had made him do. Who he had seen tortured or killed…

"I scared you when I came home," he said to me.

"A bit," I admitted. "I thought you were Malfoy at first. Hell, I was scared when Dumbledore knocked on the front door. I thought it might be Death Eaters."

He let out a mirthless, hollow laugh.

"Death Eaters would not knock, Olivia," he said. "…It's not right. You shouldn't have to be scared all the time."

"But these are scary times and it's only going to get worse. I'd be stupid not to be scared. …At least now I'll be doing something. Contributing…sort of. I'm part of the Order anyway."

He said nothing but put his arms around me and held me close. Before long his breathing slowed and he relaxed a little and I knew he was asleep. Even asleep he was still tense and on edge. He needed a vacation. Unfortunately, doing what he did wasn't a job…it was life.

As I drifted off to sleep, I imagined the two of us vacationing at the beach. I couldn't picture Snape in shorts, however, so I tried imagining us camping…That one was a little more believable. I fell asleep smiling and drifted off into good dreams.

Author's Note: Well? Let me know what you think! Reviews pleeease! You know I'm waiting on them!

~LilReporterGirl