Author's Note: Hey guys! Time to start a new chapter in the life of Olivia and Severus, this being a post-Hogwarts time for them. I'm sure you're all eager to start reading, so I'll jump right into it! Don't forget to review!

~LilReporterGirl

Olivia's POV

After the night at the Ministry when Snape brought the injured Death Eaters to St. Mungo's, it was not unusual for him to bring me Death Eaters in need of healing. MY internship at St. Mungo's had expired when I graduated from Hogwarts, so he usually brought them to the house. Sometimes he took me to Malfoy Manor to heal an injury, but the Dark Lord was never there. I did meet a number of Death Eaters, however, though I found them an overall unpleasant lot.

It was Snape who came up with the brilliant idea of my opening a business. It happened about a week after school let out- Snape had brought Avery and Nott to get a few minor injuries healed. After they left, he fumed while I cleaned up my supplies.

"I hate that I have to bring them to the house," he complained. "I don't want them knowing where I live… Maybe I could talk to Dumbledore about getting you another job at St. Mungo's."

"What I need is a different location. Even at St. Mungo's I'd have to be sneaking around- everyone knows what the Death Eater's look like, thanks to the Ministry."

"…That's it then- get another location."

"What do you mean?"

"You've always wanted to have a vet clinic, right? So rent a place. Ellen left you money and regardless, prices are low now. You could have your veterinary practice…and heal Death Eaters in the back."

"That's perfect!" I exclaimed. "You're brilliant, you know that?"

The next day we made a trip to Diagon Alley- though it hardly looked like Diagon Alley anymore. All the windows were covered with wanted posters and tips for staying safe. Instead of cheerful witches and wizards plying their wares, there were sketchy-looking characters selling "protective" amulets and other items of a similar nature.

Several of the usual shops were boarded up.

"What-?" I asked, looking at Snape.

"Death Eaters," he said grimly.

"In just a few weeks?"

"The world knows they are back- they don't have to hide anymore. You give Death Eaters free reign, and this is what happens…"

"But it's senseless! I mean, the ice cream shop? Really?"

"They do it for fun," he said with a shrug, eyes cast down. "No one ever said it had to make sense."

We continued to walk down the street, looking at all the vacant locations. There were plenty of vacancies- those that hadn't been dragged off by Death Eaters had left out of fear.

"So you actually want me to work here? Doesn't look particularly safe, does it?" I asked Snape. He looked at me quickly.

"It will be safe for you," he said. "I can make sure of that."

I said nothing, but kept walking.

We soon passed a joke shop which was the only brightly-lit shop in the whole Alley. It was owned by the Weasley twins. I didn't go in, but did wonder to myself how such a happy-looking place had escaped the notice of the Death Eaters.

Not far down the street from the Weasley's shop I found a vacant shop. It had been a meat shop, but with a little work, I could see it being the perfect place for me. We talked to the landlord and settled on a reasonable rent price.

So the next few days I worked on the shop, cleaning it up. Snape helped some, but for all his brilliance he was absolutely dreadful at any sort of household type spells. I was better off working without him.

One evening I was working late, alone. Snape had been called away to do something for the Dark Lord. I was levitating a bag of trash out the back door to the dumpster when I heard a rattling noise. Suddenly, everything went cold. I looked up in time to see several dementors swooping over the fence towards me. I dropped the bag of trash I had been levitating and it burst on the ground. I grasped frantically at a happy feeling- settling quickly on one of Snape and I lying in bed, the way it felt to be wrapped in his arms…

"Expecto Patronum!" I shouted. My silvery wolf Patronus leapt out of my wand, snapping at the dementors and bounding after them when they turned tail and fled. I was feeling quite pleased with myself when I heard a scream.

I quickly cast my Disillusionment Charm and leapt over the fence, wand in hand. I followed the sound of screams down the streets to where several masked Death Eaters were harassing a Muggle-born woman who owned a bakery.

"We don't want your kind here!" one said. They were all firing jinxes at her.

"Abomination!" they hissed.

I wanted to yell for them to stop, but if I were discovered it would be the end of me for sure. Ministry wizards arrived on the scene and the Death Eaters flew off, cackling and shooting spells out behind them.

One of the stray spells shot into a building I recognized immediately- it was Ellen's old bookstore. The building caught fire from the spell.

"No!" I cried and raced into the burning building. I felt my Disillusionment Charm falter as I got close to the flames- several of the Ministry wizards cried out after me. The majority of the shop was already aflame, but I felt I could still save it. I had to.

"Augementi!" I cried and coughed from the smoke. The spell wasn't nearly powerful enough, but I kept trying.

It was useless and the smoke got so thick I couldn't choke out a spell or even see. I couldn't move. I tried to take a step forward and collapsed. That's when everything went dark.

Snape's POV

I was flying North with Rookwood. The Dark Lord had received intelligence of the traitor Karkaroff's whereabouts and had sent us in search of him. I was thinking about what I was going to do when we found him when Fawkes the Phoenix appeared above me. I nearly fell off my broomstick, startled as I was. The bird dropped a note down to me, then vanished.

"What in the bloody hell-" Rookwood said, but I ignored him, reading the hastily scribbled note. My heart dropped.

There's been an attack in Diagon Alley. Olivia has been hurt. Meet us at St. Mungo's.

~Albus

"I've got to go," I said weakly to Rookwood and before he could protest, I Disapparated. The Dark Lord would certainly be mad, but I didn't care about that at the moment- my mind could only think Olivia.

When I Apparated into the lobby of St. Mungo's, Albus was waiting for me.

"Where is she?" I demanded fiercely, grabbing him.

"She's going to be fine, Severus-"

"Where?" I repeated forcefully.

He observed me silently for a few seconds- I felt like hours- then motioned for me to follow him.

He led me upstairs to a room where a team of Healers stood around a bed. I shoved one of them out of the way so I could see.

She was badly burned in several places. There was a thick, healing paste over half her face. Several untreated burns were on her arms and legs. A Healer was listening at her chest with a stethoscope. Olivia opened her eyes when I stood before her. She smiled sort of sheepishly at me, but it turned into a wince.

"She needs a potion to clear the smoke from her lungs," the Healer said. "The rest of you go and fetch some more Burn Paste."

The Interns left the room so only Dumbledore, myself, and the Healer- it was Healer Mycroft- remained.

"Is she going to be okay?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

"Oh she'll be right as rain in no time. The smoke got into her lungs is all. The burns will heal rapidly- she's a strong girl," Mycroft said.

I collapsed into a chair by her bed, relieved.

"What happened?" I demanded, looking at Albus.

"There was a Death Eater attack in Diagon Alley. The old bookstore, Ellen's store, caught fire. She tried to stop it," he said.

"Alone? What was she even doing down there?"

"They were harassing Muggleborns and there were-"

"Dementors," rasped Olivia, her voice hoarse.

"Hush- do not try to talk," Mycroft told her. "Lay back and close your eyes- do I need to get you a Sleeping Draught?"

She shook her head and lay back.

The others returned. I stayed by her side while they dabbed on the bur paste. She reached blindly for my hand and grasped it tightly before she would let them give her the potion. I stayed with her- even when the Mark on my arm burned like fire. I clenched my left first and grit my teeth, determined to ignore it. Albus noticed, but said nothing. Soon Mycroft and the others left.

"She needs to rest and heal, but you may stay if you like," Mycroft said to me. Then he left. It was just Dumbledore, myself, and a sleeping Olivia.

"…Where were you before you came here?" he asked me.

"Rookwood and I were going to hunt down Karkaroff," I said reluctantly "We were flying North."

"And you just left? Without explanation?"

"…Yes."

"He is going to be furious."

"He is furious," I said, flexing my stinging wrist.

"You should not have left. These are war times- you know how important it is not to lose focus when a comrade is injured-"

"She's more than just a comrade!" I barked without thinking. "She-…You sent me the note, saying she had been hurt and was in the hospital, what was I to think?"

"I would not have told you, had I known, I would have told you to remain where you were! What if this foolish mistake causes you to lose your life?"

I said nothing, but looked at Olivia. She appeared to be deeply asleep.

"You need to go to Him," Albus said quietly. "Explain."

"No!" I said defensively. "It can wait-"

"It's hurting you, Severus."

"I will not leave her."

"Severus you're being ridiculous. She is going to be fine. Now go- or have you forgotten your promise?"

I stared at him, eyes blazing. I squeezed Olivia's hand before releasing it and standing. I said nothing to Albus, conveying my feelings through a burning look, and Disapparated.

Olivia's POV

When I awoke in the hospital I was alone. I felt slightly panicked. I had heard Snape and Dumbledore's conversation. Dumbledore had remained a while after Snape left. He just stood there, looking at me, as if pondering something. Then he left.

I had no concept of how much time had passed and I feared for Snape. I sat up, fighting back a wave of nausea as I did. The burns on my arms and legs had healed. My lungs felt a little sore, but I could breathe clearly. I didn't wait for Healer Mycroft to come by and tell me that I should take it easy and rest- I already knew that and I was too worried about Snape to wait. Feeling slightly guilty about leaving after all they had done to help me, I closed my eyes and Disapparated.

As soon as I appeared in the sitting room, I knew Snape had not been home. It was cold and dark in the house. I was about to Disapparate to Hogwarts when I realized I was wearing nothing by a hospital gown. I needed clothes…and a shower. I smelled like smoke and burn paste.

Okay, I reasoned with myself. If he isn't back by the time I'm done showering, I'll head straight to Dumbledore.

I hurried through my shower, taking the time to wash my hair well so it wouldn't stink. I towel-dried my hair and hurried into my room to dress. I heard a noise downstairs and hurried down, pulling a t-shirt over my head.

It was Snape, of course, and he'd lit a fire in the heart.

"You're home," he said, surprised.

I nodded.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay…" I said quietly.

He sighed heavily.

"…We need to talk," he said, looking at the floor.

I noticed that he had a mark across his face, as if he had been slapped or hit with a Stinging Hex. I was on the verge of asking about it when he spoke, shocking me.

"I think we need to take a break," he said quickly.

"Wha- what?" I asked, taking a step backwards. Surely I hadn't heard him right?

"I worry too much about you and it is affecting my work. I… I just need a few days to myself to think things through. I'll go stay at the Leaky Cauldron-"

"No," I said immediately. "I'm leaving. It's your house, after all. You are no longer bound by law to let me stay, I'll just go. I thought-"

"Olivia, you don't have to leave, I just…"

"Go fuck yourself, Severus," I said and Disapparated, leaving him looking stunned.

Author's Note: You guys know what to do- read and review! I know you all must hate me right now, but I promise I will update soon! Love y'all and thanks for reading!

~LilReporterGirl