Light cascaded through the open window, casting warmth over her bed. She had ballasted herself tightly in the sheets throughout the night, hoping to hide from the man whose face haunted her dreams. He had taunted her, his voice scratching in her ears. She had honed all her rage into one concentrated and excruciating scream; it exploded from the depths of her very soul. She watched it blast through him and his wicked smirk was shattered into dust. What was left of him hung in the air, glittering in the light that shone through the window of the room they were occupying. Now she was the only thing taking up space in the room, but somehow it felt smaller, more constricting. She cautiously traced her fingers through the air, feeling the specks of dust that were just a man. As her fingers brushed them, they fell to the floor with a thud, water forming on their landing spots. She took a quick step back as a small river formed, streaming in the direction of the door. She stepped softly on the balls of her feet to follow, careful not to obstruct the river that was now flowing so fiercely along the stone floor. It continued under the door, seeping into whatever was on the other side. With a deep breath, she placed her hand on the rough wood of the door. It was hot to the touch. She pushed the door open with a panicked thrust, but what lay on the other side would remain a mystery.

Her eyes crept open, stinging slightly at the light that had overtaken the chamber. Her bed sheets had become a cocoon around her, holding her in a snug embrace. She let out a heavy snort. Even in her dreams, he was insufferable. If she wanted to learn, she would have to work with him. She had been told he was an exceptional wizard, but would they be able to stand each other long enough for him to teach her? Or for her to learn? She twisted the corner of the bedsheet around her finger, staring up at the beautiful canopy that adorned the four-poster bed. Beautiful sage-colored fabric draped over the edges, embroidered with silver stars. She had been sorted not long after she arrived; the torn and tattered hat had muttered something about lineage and quickly shouted "Slytherin." She didn't really understand what it meant or why she needed to be sorted in the first place—she wasn't technically a student. According to Minerva, everyone was sorted, and she was given a brief summary of the houses and their traits.

Her stomach growled loudly, pulling her from the trance the canopy held over her. She dressed quickly and made her way toward the Great Hall. As she passed the portraits, a few only held their hands up in greeting, which was a shift in demeanor. She tried not to let it nag at her; perhaps they were moody due to something she knew nothing about. This world was still so new to her, there was much she still had to learn. Something as trivial as the postal system here was something she would need to be educated on.

In the Great Hall only Professor Dumbledore and Minerva graced the Head Table. She passed the four house tables that sat empty and imagined them filled with conversation and laughter. She couldn't wait to witness the hall in all its glory, bursting with life. Though no students graced the corridors at the moment, the house banners hung above their appointed tables. She had memorized the animals that represented each house. The Slytherin snake, the Ravenclaw eagle, the Gryffindor lion and the Hufflepuff badger. The history intrigued her so.

"Miss Dermott! How wonderful to see you this morning!" Dumbledore opened his arms wide, as if addressing the entire room; however, the only response was his voice, which faded in the air.

She gave a shy wave from her chest and an excited smile as she approached. "Is it just us this morning?"

Dumbledore and Minerva exchanged looks. "Yes, Professor Snape had business to attend to. Hagrid made a trip to Diagon Alley, he should be back soon though if you would like to meet with him. Professor Flitwick shall return at the end of the week and you may begin your training with him." A smile spread across his face and his blue eyes sparkled. It brought a comfort to her.

"If you would like, we could have a small lesson today. I'm sure you're eager to get started." Minerva said.

"That would be wonderful! I am quite excited to start, but also a little nervous," she said as she chewed on her bottom lip slightly.

"Do not trouble yourself, you'll do famously. I have no doubts." Dumbledore gave her a slight wink.

She took a seat next to Dumbledore and proceeded to gobble down the contents of her plate. With the prospect of training on her mind, she had all but forgotten the insufferable man until he took a seat to her side. Her eyes traced over him from her peripheral vision. She could not see his eyes due to the hair that had fallen over his face; it seemed almost intentional. Once her plate was cleared of all the breakfast she could eat, she stood quickly. "Could I meet you in your classroom in an hour, Minerva?" she asked, never looking in his direction.

"That will be perfect. I'll be waiting." Minerva smiled at her as she watched her take her leave.

He finally exhaled the breath he had been holding since he arrived. He had been picking at his plate but hadn't taken a bite. His eyes had been flicking to her far more than he would have liked, so he left the veil of hair that had fallen on his face. She wouldn't be able to see his expression, or his eyes roaming over her. The knots in his stomach were a nuisance, he hardly knew this woman but she upset the very balance of his being. He longed to lash out at her, but his mouth wouldn't let him. It was maddening. He owed her nothing, yet he felt he owed her everything. It was the most unsettling emotion that had ever stirred in him. He couldn't comprehend it and he abhored it.

As Dumbledore and Minerva stood to leave, he had yet to take a bite. "Accompany me on a walk, Severus?" Dumbledore asked. His tone carried more than a hint of command in it.

He followed alongside Dumbledore, through the corridors and out onto the grounds. Both walked with their hands clasped behind their backs. Their robes billowed in the soft stream of wind that whipped around them. A light mist left them speckled in tiny droplets, slowly soaking into his hair as they strolled near the Black Lake. The sun hid behind the thick blanket of clouds that had overtaken the morning sky. "I have come upon some information that may prove beneficial in our difficulty," Dumbledore finally broke the silence of their company.

He mumbled, "Mmm, and what is that?"

"I cannot disclose it in its entirety just yet," said Dumbledore. "But our new friend Miss Dermot may prove a challenging pupil." He turned to Severus and folded his hands in front of him.

"How exactly?" he replied with a raised brow.

"Just be patient with her," Dumbledore said, "but also don't be surprised." He continued walking as if the topic had come to an end. "And what of Trevor?"

Her name rattled in his mind along with the odd warning he had just been given. He shook his head slightly as if to fling all thoughts of her out. "He has agreed to your offer, but he wasn't particularly thrilled."

"That is to be expected. I have no doubt he will prove most useful at infiltrating Voldemort's ranks once he is a master of Occlumency. No one is more qualified to teach him than you, Severus."

"I wouldn't have to if I had just held my tongue." He roared. The inward anger had worked its way to the surface.

"What's done is done. We must move forward from here, just on a new path." Dumbledore said calmly, knowing the biting tone that Severus' words had held was not directed at him.

The silence enveloped them once more as they made their way back toward the castle. His hair was dripping with accumulated mist. Small droplets pattered his face and ran down his nose. His mind filtered through the highlights of their conversation. As they entered the castle, the sound of distant pattering feet slowly grew louder. Then she was there, right in his face. Her wand held at the ready as if she had decided she no longer desired him in her space. She clutched it as if ready to cast him out. Then, with all the daintiness of a dancer, she waved her wand gingerly over both of them. "Exaresco." Instantly, the heaviness that burdened their clothes from the mist evaporated, and his hair no longer dripped down his nose. A huge smile graced her face as she watched. He thought she might faint. "I did it!" Her eyes swelled, and there was no question as to what kind of tears teetered there.

"Excellent!" Dumbledore cheered. "And only one lesson?"

"Minerva taught me several spells today! I cast them all on my first attempt!"

Her excitement was a bit contagious. The corners of his lips tilted upward, but he quickly forced them back down. "I was actually heading out on the grounds to dance in the mist so I could try the drying charm; just so happens you beat me to it."

"Well, I really must be off. Thank you for the quick dry." Dumbledore said with a wink as he patted her on the shoulder and disappeared down the hall.

She twirled her wand between her fingers for a moment. "Look, I'm sorry about how we met when I arrived here. I still don't know what brought you to my house that night and I may never know but it also brought me here." She gestured around them. "I'm Elsie." She thrust her hand toward him.

He eyed it suspiciously for a moment, a brow raised as if waiting for it to bite him. "Severus." He clasped her hand in his and once again their skin melted together. He dropped it quickly. "Perhaps soon I could explain, but for the time being, I'm afraid I cannot."

He honestly hadn't realized that they hadn't been introduced during their initial ordeal. He hadn't learned her name until this moment; he just knew her as Dumbledore had referred to her. Or, rather, how he in his head referred to her—mostly with irritation. She was an enigma, and she irked him. She smiled up at him with possible hope in her eyes. He wasn't sure what she was so hopeful about. "Would you like to go get some lunch?"

"I suppose." He droned.