Author's Note: Hey guys, thanks for the reviews! I know this next part is gonna be totally random, I have no idea where it came from. Also, for the record, I know almost nothing about horses, except what I've read in books and online. So if I'm not always right, well, no one is right all the time. Read and review, guys!

~LilReporterGirl

Snape and I went out to the old barn that evening to work on the potion. Moonstar was still in the stall next to us but she was lying down.

"Should she be lying down?" Snape asked curiously. "Don't horses usually sleep standing up?"

"Not always. She's fine," I assured him.

"She's very fat," he observed. "I'm surprised she even can stand."

"She's very pregnant, Severus. There's a difference."

"Mm," he said and turned back to the cauldron.

It was around midnight when we first began to hear the quiet groans from the next stall. Snape walked over and peered into the tall.

"Uh, Olivia? I think the horse peed," he said, frowning. I walked over as well.

"That's… not pee- her water just broke," I said excitedly, fighting to keep my voice quiet.

"Oh. Eww… Uh, what do we do? Should we wake Don?" he asked, rather panicky.

"Only if there are complications. We shouldn't have to do anything. Horses usually give birth just fine on their own, without human intervention."

"Usually?"

"Relax, Severus," I said with a smile. "Just watch."

We both leaned against the wall separating the stalls and watched. Moonstar didn't seem to notice us- she was more focused on the contractions rippling through her body. She began to strain and push and before long the foal's feet emerged, then its head. I spared a moment to glance at Snape who was both transfixed and disgusted. I chuckled quietly then looked on as the mare pushed the foal the rest of the way out.

His coat was damp at first and he appeared almost black, but as Moonstar licked him dry he became a beautiful grey color with a white streak on his forehead. I went into the stall then and patted Moonstar's head, speaking softly to her and telling her what a good girl she was. Then I reached down and stroked the foal who was impossibly soft. After a few minutes he unfolded his legs and got unsteadily to his feet. He stood a moment, wobbling, then collapsed. I heard a soft laugh and looked up at Snape who was still leaning over the wall, watching the foal with a softness in his black eyes. I smiled and turned back to the baby. Moonstar had gotten up now.

"Come on little one," I said to the foal. "You've got to try again."

His ears pricked up at the sound of my voice. Moonstar nickered quietly to him. He unfolded his legs again, stood up, and took his first steps to his mother's side, where he proceeded to drink.

"Aww," I said, feeling my heart melt.

"Uh, Olivia- there's something else coming out of that horse," Snape said. "Is it another one?"

I looked up quickly.

"No Severus. That's afterbirth," I said as Moonstar pushed it out onto the hay.

"That's absolutely disgusting," Snape declared.

"You act like you've never seen anything being born before."

"I've not," he said.

"Really? Not even a dog or a cat?"

He shook his head.

"Do you want to touch the baby horse?" I asked.

"Uh…no. I'm fine here. Really."

"Oh come on," Is aid pleadingly.

"What about the mother horse? Won't it upset her?"

"She's fine. Come on."

He hesitated, then entered the stall. He knelt beside me in the straw and reached out with one trembling hand to stroke the foal.

"I am so vastly out of my element here," he said, his voice low and quavering. I chuckled quietly and kissed him.

"Come," I said, standing up and pulling out my wand. "Help me clean up this goop."

Together we cleaned out the stall and brought in some fresh hay. I made sure the horses were comfortable, then we went back to check on the Wolfsbane.

"Are we going to sleep out here again?" Snape asked.

"If you don't mind… I'd like to stay close to the foal."

"Fine by me. I'm happy wherever you are."

I smiled and kissed him again.

We lay down on the hay and he put an arm around me, linking his fingers with mine.

"Will you get to name the little horse?" he asked me.

"I'm sure Don will let me."

"What will you name it- is it a boy or a girl?"

"A boy," I said, smiling. "I'm not sure what I will name him. I have to think about it."

He nodded silently and kissed the crook of my neck.

"Goodnight Olivia," he murmured, his breath warm on my skin.

"Goodnight my love."

Snape's POV

Olivia ended up naming the little horse Finn and for the next few nights we slept in the born so we could brew the Wolfsbane Potion and so Olivia could be near the little horse.

One evening while I was working on the potion and Olivia was talking softly to Finn, the door to the barn opened. Olivia stood up, alert.

"Hey kiddo," Don said to Olivia. "Some of the workers are having a bonfire down by the woods. You should come."

"Perhaps," she told him with a smile. "We have to work on the potion."

"Ah," Don said with a nod and left the barn.

"You should go," I said, trying to sound indifferent as I stirred the potion. "Have some fun."

"Not without you," she said. "Then it wouldn't be fun. We can finish up the Wolfsbane and we can both go."

I said nothing, not wanting to tell her that I didn't particularly want to go. Hell, if she wanted me to go, I would go. She came back into the stall and helped me finish up the Wolfsbane for the night.

"Come on Severus," she said, taking my hand and leading me out the door. "It will be fun."

As we walked past the cornfield we could see the glow ahead from the bonfire and hear the faint sound of music. As we approached the bonfire I could see there were dozens of people out there- some dancing, others sitting around watching and talking. They all seemed to be having a good time. The music was Muggle music, coming from a wireless stereo. Most of it was music I had never heard.

Olivia went around and talked to some of her friends. I trailed behind silently. After a while a song came on that made Olivia perk up.

"Ooh I love this song. Dance with me, Severus."

"No."

"Why not?" she pleaded.

"Because. I don't know how to dance like that," I said stiffly.

"It's easy," she insisted. "You don't even have to know. You just move."

Somehow she pulled me to the edge of the crowd, where it was darker, and we began to dance. It was awkward at first, but got easier as I relaxed and actually listened to the song. It was called "Magic Carpet Ride" and Olivia told me alter it was by the Steve Miller Band.

When the song was over we collapsed in the grass.

"That was fun," I said breathlessly. "I'm thirsty."

"Me too. I'll be right back," Olivia said, getting up. I watched as she disappeared into the crowd. She returned a moment later with two cold beers. She handed one to me, opened the other and took a sip. She swallowed and made a face.

"That's disgusting," she said. "Must be an Irish thing."

I smiled and sipped my own beer.

"At least it's cold," she said, taking another sip.

We sat there in silence a while, watching the others dancing. Then from amongst the crowd, Lupin came up to us. He sat down on the grass in front of us, a beer in his hand.

"Hello Severus. Olivia," he said, nodding to us both.

"Remus," I said without emotion. I didn't feel like being angry and hostile tonight. True I did not like Lupin…but he was a right sigh better than Black or Potter…or Wormtail, who was currently in the service of the Dark Lord.

"The full moon is tomorrow night," he said, tilting his head back to look at the sky. "Will the potion be ready?"

"Of course," Olivia said. "You and I will go down to the cellar before the moon rises. You will take the last of the Wolfsbane. Severus will lock us in and I will transform into my Animagus form, until I am sure the potion has worked. When I am sure, I will let Severus know and he will let us out."

"And I can go into the woods?" Lupin asked. "I wouldn't want to frighten anyone…"

"We will go into the woods," Olivia told him. "I will go with you, to make sure nothing bad happens."

I stared past them, pretending I didn't care.

"You know this new Wolfsbane doesn't make me feel as ill as the other did," he said to her.

"It's because of the honeysuckle," she said.

They walked for another few minutes, then Lupin got up and left, saying he was going to find someone. When he was gone, we sat in silence a moment. Then Olivia sighed quietly and moved closer to me so she could lay her head on my shoulder. She continued to sip her beer though she grimaced in disgust every time.

Two beers later a familiar song began to play. I stiffened slightly as Desperado began to play, then relaxed a little as I remembered dancing with her for the first time at the Yule Ball.

"What is it about this song?" she asked me, midway through the song.

"…It was my parents' song," I said quietly.

"Oh," she said and didn't push the matter. She was still leaning her head against my shoulder. She began to sing along quietly. I just listened, thinking to myself that, in a way, it was our song too.

Olivia and I stayed out long after everyone else had retired. We moved close to the fire, which soon became nothing but smoldering embers. We talked a little, but for the most part just sat, enjoying each others' company and the lack of secrecy and responsibility.

When the wee hours of the morning found us, Olivia was laying her head in my lap, her green eyes half closed. I was running my fingers through her silky red hair when I heard the first signs of morning life stirring on the farm.

"Come on," I said quietly to Olivia. "Let's go inside."

Olivia's POV

Snape and I slept most of the day away, waking in the late afternoon to check on the Wolfsbane and give Lupin the final dose. He was already in the barn when we got there, sitting on the hay and staring morosely at the simmering cauldron.

"You okay, Remus?" I asked him. He jumped slightly, startled.

"Yeah, fine," he said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Snape scoffed and walked over to the cauldron to add the last bit of wolfsbane.

It soon got dark outside and the three of us made our way to the cellar before the moon could rise. I hadn't been to the cellar since I was a kid. It was a storm-proof shelter with an iron door, perfect for keeping a werewolf in, should the potion not work. There were shelves lined with jars and cans of food.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Snape asked me quietly as Lupin went into the cellar and plopped down in a corner.

"I'll be fine, Severus," I said with a small smile.

He glanced past me at Lupin, then pulled me to him possessively and kissed me.

"Ew," Lupin said behind me. Snape scowled and I stepped away, smiling at him. He shut the heavy iron door. I pulled out my wand and sealed the door while he sealed it from the other side.

It wasn't long before Lupin began to transform. I quickly turned into my animagus form as a precaution. When his transformation was complete, I studied Lupin carefully. His eyes were still human and sad-looking and his scent was mild, not full of anger and testosterone like it would be if he hadn't retained his human mind. I used Legilimency to check his mind, which was a little harder in my wolf form, and when I found it was still human, I projected my mind through the door to Snape, who was expecting me.

He's fine, I assured him, open the door.

I heard the door click and it swung open. I walked out, still in my wolf form. Snape stepped backwards, looking a little anxious. I grinned at him, showing my sharp, pointed teeth. I circled around him, rubbing his legs affectionately and he reached down to stroke my fur nervously. Lupin left the cellar on all fours and headed in the direction of the forest. I glanced up at Snape once more before hurrying after the werewolf.

It did not take us long to reach the forest, running quickly past the rows of corn, potatoes and other vegetables. We passed Don who was out for a walk. He waved to us, not looking at all unnerved to see a wolf and a werewolf running across the farm. I yipped cheerfully at him in greeting, but Lupin tucked his tail between his legs and lowered his head, making a whimpering sound that portrayed a sense of shame.

When we reached the trees we ran for many miles without stopping. The foliage was dappled with the light of the full moon shining through the leaves of the trees. I achieved a simple pleasure in running that I found I had been missing in the past year. Lupin seemed as if he were enjoying himself as well.

When we reached a wide river, Lupin didn't stop at all but ran full speed ahead and leapt into the water, splashing me. I didn't follow him, but slowed down and lay in the shallows. I watched Lupin swim, splashing water up into the air, the droplets sparkling silver in the moonlight.

After a while I grew tired of lying in the river. I stood and shook the water from my fur, then began to make my way along the river bank. Lupin swam closer to the shore and followed me. After a while, I spotted a glow in the thicket.

"What's that?" I said aloud, but it came out as a yip. Lupin seemed to get the message though, as he looked in the direction I was looking. We headed in the direction of the luminescent glow.

We stuck our heads through the thick bushes and saw a ring of mushrooms with glowing faeries. Their glittering, beetle-like wings shone in an array of colors, each of them different. We watched silently as they danced atop the mushrooms, some playing small wooden flutes. Lupin's tail thumped against my back as he unconsciously wagged it from side to side.

We lay down side by side, watching the faeries with our heads on our paws. All of a sudden, Lupin convulsed and began to turn back into a human. I transformed back so I could put my hand on his paw as his fur retracted and his clawed feet became hands.

He lay there a moment, gasping to catch his breath. The faeries had disappeared, along with their light, at the appearance of two humans in their grotto. I stood and pulled out my wand to give us some light.

"That was pretty amazing," I said of the faeries, helping Lupin to his feet.

"Not the weirdest thing I've ever seen in a forest, though."

"What's the weirdest thing you've ever seen?"

"A car that had run wild of its own accord in the Forbidden Forest."

"Oh that came form Potter and Weasley, that's no mystery."

"Freaked me out, though," he said with a grin.

Lupin was quiet as we walked back towards the farm and he seemed to be dragging his feet.

"What's wrong, Lupin?" I asked quietly.

This time he didn't deny there was anything the matter.

"I've just been feeling down lately… like I don't really belong anywhere. …A lonely feeling, I guess…but I deserve it."

"Being a werewolf doesn't make you a bad person, Remus," I said to him. "There are plenty of b ad people who are just human. You don't want to be a bad person, do you?"

He shook his head, not looking at me.

"You'll find somebody…someday. Someone that will make you feel better about yourself. You'll see…"

"No one wants to be with a monster like me…"

"You'd be surprised."

Lupin and I walked back form the forest in silence. As we reached the edge of the farm where the fence ran around the edge of the property, I spotted Snape waiting for us. He was leaning against the fence, a very serious look on his face.

"Remus I must speak with you immediately," Snape said as soon as we were within earshot.

"Severus nothing-" Lupin began.

"It's not about that," Snape interrupted quickly. "…Something has happened. Dumbledore needs us both, immediately."

The color drained from Lupin's face and he nodded curtly.

"Olivia, go get your things and be ready to leave," Snape said to me.

"Am I not to know what's going on, then?" I asked, affronted.

"Olivia- now," Snape said forcefully. I recoiled at his tone and looked to Lupin for support. He carefully avoided my gaze, looking at the ground. Hurt, and highly annoyed, I stalked towards the house.

I went upstairs quietly, into the room I shared with Snape, and began to throw things into my trunk. I thought about not packing Snape's things for him and letting him figure it out on his own. But I ended up doing it for him anyway, to save him time.

When I returned downstairs, our trunks floating behind me, Snape and Lupin were waiting for me just outside the door.

"What took so long?" Snape asked impatiently.

"I was packing your bloody trunk!" I snarled. "Next time I'll leave it behind for you to send for later."

Snape said nothing and Lupin looked away, as if he were pretending he wasn't there. Snape whipped out his wand and gave it a swift flick. Our trunks vanished, presumably sent back to Spinner's End.

"We'll have to do Side-Along Apparition. Can you help, Remus?" Snape asked. Lupin nodded swiftly.

"I can Apparate. I did pass the test," I snorted.

"Not this far," Snape said. "And now when you don't know where we're going."

"Where are we going?" I asked. He ignored me.

"We'll stop at the coast," Snape said to Lupin. "Then continue to Hogwarts. Albus will meet us there."

"Olivia, your hand, please," Lupin said quietly.

I gave him my left hand. He squeezed it reassuringly. Snape took my other hand rather forcefully. I started to say something, then the three of us were jolted forward.

It was the regular pain of Apparating, but this time it seemed more intense. I clung to Lupin's hand throughout the journey. When my feet hit the ground my stomach lurched and I promptly vomited onto the sand.

"Lovely," Snape said, stepping back. Lupin steadied me so I wouldn't fall and pulled my hair back out of my face so I wouldn't spew in it.

When I had finished emptying the contents of my stomach, Snape conjured up a glass of water and handed it to me without comment. If I hadn't wanted to get the taste out of my mouth so badly, I probably would have dumped the water on him.

Once I drank the water, the goblet vanished. Snape and Lupin took my hands again and, without warning, Disapparated.

When we appeared outside of the gates of Hogwarts, I felt as if I might puke again, but I had nothing left in my stomach. Snape immediately began walking up the path to the castle. I glanced up at Lupin.

"Come on," he said quietly and we started up the path, a few yards behind Snape. I didn't speak. As we got closer to the castle we spotted the headmaster coming down the path towards us. Lupin and I quickened our pace to catch up with Snape by the time he reached Dumbledore.

"Has he been expelled?" Snape asked immediately.

"No. I have persuaded the Ministry to suspend its decision, pending a formal hearing."

The headmaster looked even more weary and tired than the last time I saw him. Snape breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to me.

"Go to my office. You may use the Floo Powder there to return home," he said.

"I'm about bloody tired of-!"

"No Severus," Dumbledore interrupted. "I have a job for Miss Cain to do."

"What?" he snapped.

"It can wait," Dumbledore replied evenly. "Remus I want you to go to headquarters and wait for me there."

Lupin nodded and headed back towards the gate.

"Severus, find out what you can- who sent the dementors," Dumbledore said. "Go-"

"I want to know what you have for her to do," Snape said stiffly.

"It's nothing dangerous. It falls under her internship at St. Mungo's. It is a way for her to help the Order, risk-free. That's what you want, is it not?"

"Of course," he muttered. Then he turned on his heel and headed back towards the gate. He Disapparated as soon as he left the grounds.

"What is it you want me to do, sir?" I asked, eager to help, mostly because I knew it would irritate Snape.

"Did Severus tell you what happened?" he asked.

"No. He just ordered me about and was very irritable," I said, annoyed.

"Harry Potter and his cousin were attacked by dementors. He used the Patronus Charm to fight them off. The Ministry wanted to expel him- snap his wand in half. I persuaded them not to."

"Dementors? …The Dark Lord."

Dumbledore nodded.

"And what is it you need me to do?" I asked.

"The Muggle family Harry stays with, the Dursleys, will undoubtedly take their son Dudley- that's Harry's cousin- to the hospital closest to Little Whinging. They are extremely opposed to all things magical. I want you to go, pretend you are a Muggle doctor- confund the other doctors, if you must. Get Dudley in an exam room, away from his parents, and treat him for the dementor attack. He is a truly unpleasant boy and I think the attack hit him hard."

"I can do that," I said with a nod.

"I knew you could. And I wouldn't tell Healer Mycroft about this if I were you."

"Of course sir."

"And Olivia- try not to be cross with Severus. He is under a lot of stress. I'm sure he feels the dementor attack is his fault- as if perhaps, he hadn't been away, he would have heard and been able to warn us."

I nodded, thinking to myself that, from Snape's attitude, he probably blamed me.