Author's Note: Hey guys! Long time no see! I'm sorry I haven't updated in MONTHS but I lost a binder with my written fanfic stuff in it when I was moving back in to Mom's house and I JUST found it, like yesterday. So I will be trying to post more, more often. In the meantime, I know you're ready to start reading again so I'll just get on with it.

Snape's POV

I returned to Spinner's End around seven o'clock that evening but Olivia had not yet returned from work. I went upstairs and took a shower. When I went back downstairs there was a dark-colored owl perched on the back of my chair in the sitting room. There was no note attached to its leg. It looked like one of Dumbledore's owls. The owl didn't' seem to be particularly interested in me. His black eyes gazed straight ahead, looking content on the back of my chair like he owned it. I suspected this had something to do with Olivia and elected to sit on the couch and wait for her.

When Olivia finally arrived late that night she looked tired, but pleased. She flopped down next to me on the couch, not noticing the bird.

"They brought in a bloke today that had been mauled pretty viciously by something. It took us a while to figure out he had been trading Quintaped eggs illegally and one of them had unexpectedly hatched in his pocket," she told me.

Just then the owl clicked his beak and Olivia perked up.

"Verne," she said surprised. The owl flew to her shoulder and sat.

"He's been here for hours," I said.

"He belongs to Dumbledore. He's sending him with me."

"When do you leave?"

"First thing in the morning," she said. "I need to pack my bag."

Verne stayed on Olivia's shoulder as she climbed the stairs and went into her room. I followed and sat on her bed as she went through her closed, putting clothes and stuff into a knapsack. Verne alighted on a bedpost and leered down at me. His intense stare made me feel uneasy, reminding me somehow of Dumbledore's gaze.

"I don't think your owl likes me," Is aid when she was finished packing.

"You're so silly," she said, coming over and kissing me on the lips. As if to prove a point, the owl hooted loudly.

"It's a Dumbledore owl," I protested.

"Don't be ridiculous, Severus," she said, smiling. She sat beside me on the bed and Verne screeched. Olivia and I exchanged a look and we both stood to leave the room.

"Stay, Verne," Olivia said and shut the door behind us. From inside, we heard the owl hoot indignantly and we both laughed.

"Shall we go to your room?" she asked me with a sly smile.

"You read my mind."

Olivia's POV

I awoke early the next morning, tired and sore from my night spent with Snape. I needed to leave before the sun rose and I still had a few things I still needed to pack so I slipped out of Snape's embrace. He stirred a little, but didn't wake. I smiled at him fondly and stretched, then left his rom quietly.

I packed the last of what I needed, which included my toothbrush hairbrush and some potions ingredients I thought might come in handy. I dressed in jean shorts, a t-shirt and tennis shoes. I tucked my wand into my pocket and went to tell Snape goodbye.

He was still sleeping soundly, exactly as I had left him. I kissed his lips gently.

"I've got to go," I murmured to him. He moved a little but didn't open his eyes.

"Don't go," he murmured, still asleep.

"I have to. I love you Severus."

"I love you, too," he mumbled. "Lily."

My heart jumped into my throat and I froze. I forced myself to try and be understanding. I said nothing, but left the room and went downstairs where Verne was waiting.

Verne and I took off from the backyard, ascending high into the clouds quickly. The first faint colors of the sunrise were on the Eastern horizon, but I couldn't enjoy the sight. My heart still felt heavy. He had called me Lily. I knew he loved her, of course. I accepted that. But there was a question that lurked in the back of my mind that I refused to answer- Did he only love me because I reminded him of her?

Verne flew level with my broomstick, his feathers rustling in the rush of wind. I tried to relax and forget about Snape. I was flying again! And this time I was off on an adventure, a secret mission, for Dumbledore.

When it started to get lighter out, I Disillusioned myself and my broomstick so there was an even lesser chance of getting spotted. I flew slow so I could look at the map while I traveled. Every now and then I dipped down below the clouds to check out my surroundings. Every time I dived down, Verne remained above the clouds, as if he knew to be extra careful about being spotted.

Snape's POV

I awoke with the feeling I had lost something. That's when I realized Olivia was gone. I had a dim recollection of her leaving, but I had been half-asleep, dreaming. I felt lost and sad. I wouldn't see her for at least two weeks. We hadn't been away from each other that long since she first came to stay with me.

I tried to find something to do but it was useless. The house was too quiet, too empty-feeling. How had I ever managed all those years alone? I tried brewing a potion, just to busy my mind, but this too proved futile. Without Olivia there beside me, I felt incomplete. We worked so well together, like a well-oiled machine. Now a piece of my machine was missing.

I let the potion burn, then vanished the contents of the cauldron.

I think it was then that it really hit me. I really and truly loved this girl, and I couldn't live without her. I wanted so badly to jump on my broomstick and go after her, it was almost unbearable. But I couldn't. School would start in a few days and it wouldn't do for Hagrid and I both to be absent, not with that Ministry woman coming to teach. No, I had to be there for Dumbledore and accept the fact that Olivia would be okay on her own. She was a grown witch, after all. She could take care of herself.

I stayed at Hogwarts the last few days before school started back, not wanting to stay at Spinner's End, where I would constantly be reminded of Olivia's absence.

The evening of September 1st I wen for a walk around the grounds before the feast. I was trying to keep my mind off of Olivia and also of off the Umbridge woman who had turned out to be even more horrid that I expected. She was short, squat and she wore nothing but pink. And she thought she was better than Albus and had already been trying to tell him how to run the school.

I was down by the lake when an owl descended out of nowhere and landed in a tree. He looked a lot like the owl Albus had given Olivia… I watched as the owl looked around the grounds intently. He took off suddenly and as he flew over mea folded piece of parchment dropped to the ground by my feet.

I picked up the parchment and my heart leapt to see Olivia's handwriting. I glanced back up at the sky, but the owl had vanished. I looked down at the letter.

Severus,

I had to send Verne with a report for Dumbledore, so I thought I would drop you a letter too and let you know I'm alright. I'm staying in a motel at the moment to get some sleep. I'm on one of the cities on Dumbledore's map, not far now. I'll leave tonight…though who knows how long it will take Verne to deliver these letters. He really is a brilliant bird, though. Why don't we have an owl?

I miss you more than I can say. I'll be thinking about you on September first. It feels so weird, not being there for school. I miss you and I love you. Stay safe.

Love,

Olivia

I closed my eyes and held the letter close to my heart, not caring if I looked foolish. Then I folded the note to put in my pocket, but not before I kissed the note, inhaling deeply, hoping for some lingering scent of her perfume or raspberry shampoo but there was nothing.

Throughout dinner that evening I kept one hand in my pocket, fingering the folded letter. I barely paid attention during the Sorting. Even Umbridge's speech about Ministry interference at Hogwarts didn't affect me like it should have, and when Albus wanted to talk about it later in his office, it was obvious I hadn't paid attention.

"Are you alright, Severus?" he asked.

"Fine. Just tired," I mumbled in reply. "I didn't sleep well last night."

As I walked down to my office, I thought about Olivia's letter and found myself wondering if, somewhere, she was thinking about me, too.

Back in my chambers I looked at myself in the mirror, at the dark circles around my eyes and the worry lines on my face.

"You really are slipping, Severus," I said to my reflection.

Olivia's POV

The day Verne returned to me after delivering my letters was the same day I first saw the giants. I was disappointed to see the owl had no responses for me- no letter from Snape, not even words of encouragement from Dumbledore or confirmation that Verne hadn't been intercepted. I didn't take it out on the owl, however, who looked exhausted from his journey. I gave him a treat and let him perch on my broom for a while and rest. After all, it wasn't Verne's fault all the men in my life were insensitive butt holes.

It was that evening when I first saw the giants. They were spread out in a valley with fires here and there. At first I thought it was some sort of human campsites, then they started moving. They looked like bits of mountain or boulders moving. They were huge, some 20, 25 feet tall. I made sure to fly above their line of vision. Giants were very wary of magic.

Verne and I landed on a ledge from which we could watch the giants and not be seen. I searched for any sign of Hagrid and Maxime, even though it was dark out and thought it unlikely I would spot them.

I learned quickly that just because there is firelight coming from a cave does not mean Hagrid is there. There were several rogue giants who huddled in the caves, who didn't seem to be part of the valley group.

I spent several days watching the giants, looking for any sign of Hagrid and Maxime. I soon learned I wasn't the only one there. Death Eaters, masks and all, frequently visited the giants. At night they went poking about in caves, probably looking for Hagrid and Maxime as well.

I spent most of my time in my Animagus form, poking about in caves. When I slept, I slept in caves too mall for giants to fit in.

It was probably my fifth day there when I found Hagrid and Maxime. They were huddled in a cave together, no fire. As soon as I transformed into my human form, Maxime pointed her wand at m, a fiery look in her eye.

"It's okay, Olympe," Hagrid siad quickly, soothing her. "Tha's Olivia Cain. She's a student."

Maxime relaxed a little and lowered her wand.

"Professor Dumbledore wanted me to come and check on you. You haven't sent a report in a while."

"We couldn't risk it with Death Eaters on the lookout for us," Hagrid said.

"I've seen them," Isaid with a nod. "I've been staying in my Animagus form. I don't think they know I'm here."

Hagrid told me they had befriended the leader of the giants. Then another chief had taken over, one who didn't like them, who listened to the Death Eaters more.

"At night we've been going from cave to cave, trying to convince as many of the rogues as we can to join Dumbldore," Hagrid said. "We've convinced maybe three so far."

"That's good then. …I'll let Dumbledore know you're okay."

It was getting dark out when I left Hagrid and Maxime's cave so I headed back to my cave. I decided I would rest a bit, then head straight home. I couldn't wait to see Snape…

I was awakened a few hours later by a hand grabbing my by the scruff of my neck and dragging me out of my cave. I tried to twist and bite to break free of my attacker, but I felt a wand being pressed against my throat. Suddenly, I was forced to return to my human form. Someone had me by my hair now and every time I tried to turn to see who it was, they tightened their grip.

"I know who you are," hissed a sickeningly familiar voice in my ear.

I was released and pushed to the ground. I stared up at the looming figure of Lucius Malfoy who held his wand aloft, illuminating his face with blue light. I was uncomfortably aware of the fact that my wand was still in the cave.

"I know who you are," Lucius said again. "But I do not know why you are here…"

I said nothing. My heart was pounding, my mind racing. One wrong move and I was dead…or worse.

"I could kill you quite easily," he said nonchalantly. "No one would ever know. No one would find your body."

I tried to keep my voce calm, but inside I was shaking.

"Severus would find out. He would kill you," I said defiantly.

"Oh would he?" he said with a chuckle. "I'm not so sure. Now tell me, Olivia…Why are you here?"

"I'm here because Dumbledore is stupid enough to think he can trust me. Because he trusts Severus. He sent me to find Hagrid."

"So where are they?" he asked somewhat tauntingly.

"If I knew, I would tell you. These scent trails are all old. Maybe they've moved on, maybe they headed back already. Maybe the giants killed them and ate them weeks ago."

Lucius laughed again.

"No. they aren't dead. Not yet," he said with a grin. "…Let me ask you this, Olivia…"

I hated the way he said my name and they his eyes moved hungrily over my body.

"-If your loyalties do not lie with Albus Dumbledore…Why not reveal yourself to us?"

"I did not see a need to. I didn't expect anyone down there would know me. They would have no reason to trust me," I said. "And besides…my loyalties lie with Severus."

He laughed again.

"If I wanted to, I could make you forget about Severus. I could do things to you you've never even dreamed of. …Severus already claimed you, though. He always did have a problem sharing. Pity," he said, looking me over.

"You're a pig," I spat at him.

With a swift movement he ha me by the hair again, this time with me facing him.

"The things I could do to you…" he said, his face inches from mine, close enough to smell his foul breath and see the cold look in his steely gray eyes. "I could have you. Have you and make you forget it ever happened… But I won't do that. After all, if you can't remember it, well where is the fun in that? But someday I will have you. You will succumb to me."

"Never," I said defiantly, to his face.

He laughed softly, then kissed me. I struggled against him and when he tried to put his tongue in my mouth I bit down as hard as I could.

I received a swift kick to the ribs and was thrown to the ground. He struck me hard across the face.

"Little bitch," he said, spitting out blood on my face. "Go! If you have any sense at all you will Disapparate back to Dumbledore and tell him everything is fine and you won't mention this to anyone."

He aimed another kick at m as I crawled back into the cave for my wand. This kick caught me in the side As my fingers closed over my wand in the dark, I Disapparated.