So sorry that I haven't uploaded lately - had so many hours of work, no motivation, and a damn faulty word document. I had to recover this chapter at least 3 times. I'll try my darnedest to upload faster for the next chapter. Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter.

Hannah awoke the next morning feeling better than ever, only with the smallest sign of a fever, which disappeared after a small vial of anti-fever potion. She got changed into her usual clothing, then sat back on her bed petting Spero for a while. Her thoughts were nothing but positive as she remembered the previous night. She currently had nothing to hate, she didn't have classes until Monday, with the day being Saturday, she had managed to break down Adrian's walls a bit, and she was now in her own room. Although she was still a bit uncertain with a lot of other things, she still didn't fancy the idea of being at a school, she didn't have any purpose, she wasn't entirely alone, and she didn't entirely have her own room, although for the first time in her life she had another person she didn't mind talking to. Her thoughts broke with a knock on the door. Snape edged the door open, not to look in. "I'll be in my study when you want to get up, we need to discuss something." His tone was none but neutral.

"Mhmm." Hannah hummed back, not feeling any need to address him any other way being early in the morning. The door gently closed and Hannah was again alone.

Half an hour later, Hannah entered Snape's study, with Spero perched on her shoulder. "Be seated." Snape spoke neutrally. Hannah sat on a chair which was adjacent to Snape, behind a desk. Piles of parchment was spread across the desk, all relevant to the lecture Hannah was about to receive. "Please talk to me now, I hate conversing just as much as you do, but some things just need to be discussed." He looked at Hannah pleadingly.
"Alright." Hannah replied, making an effort not to allow her confusion into her voice. She still strongly hated conversing, and she still felt uncomfortable talking, with the fear she'll say the wrong thing. Snape pulled a piece of parchment out of a pile.
"Firstly, how did you know about these ingredients, and where did you get them?" Snape held the notes Hannah had written before the incident.
"An accessible library and the forbidden forest." Hannah replied, trying to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
"Could you not elaborate any more?" Snape asked, his voice surprisingly still neutral.
"Not really, no. I don't tend to take note of the books I read, nor do I remember where in the forbidden forest I found them, as it was dark. Unless you wish to rummage through my books I have, which I'm almost certain you have already, then I can't definitely answer your question." Hannah replied again, not allowing her annoyance or sarcasm to etch into her voice.
"Very well, I'll just have to ask for your word then. I can't have you looking through dangerous books, nor can I have you snooping around forbidden areas, or brewing poisonous draughts. As you can see, I've been up all night planning for your education and wellbeing, I'd hate for my work to be wasted." Hannah's eyes drifted over the parchment again, a heavy feeling hitting her with guilt as she saw the effort he had put into her.
"You have my word." She replied, for no other reason but guilt. Snape's eyes showed the shortest sign of approval, before turning to his usual neutral look. He nodded his head then proceeded to read over the parchment.
"I also have planned a study timetable for you. I am aware that you are well behind with your studies, being deprived of school from such a young age, so I have made the effort to organize private tutoring for you with certain teachers and students." Snape eyed Hannah as he saw discomfort wash over her. "I'm still awaiting their approval, although I'm certain they'll agree." Snape glanced at Hannah, awaiting a response. "Please speak Hannah." He edged her.
"Who will the tutors supposedly be?" Hannah voiced her greatest worry.
"Mcgonagall, Adrian, and myself, most likely." Snape eyed Hannah for approval, but instead just received an unchanging look.
"You said students? That's only one." Hannah returned.
"Well, Mcgonagall and I will be busy at times – we'll have to find capable substitute students. I do have a few in mind, although with recent events one of my choices mightn't be very suitable."
"Draco?"
"Indeed, he's definitely one of the most advanced students, although his relationship with Pansy is quite the hurdle. Adrian is probably capable of tutoring you with all subjects, but of course his most excelling are Charms and Potions. I think it best if I were to supervise you with Potions and Defence, while Mcgonagall will, hopefully, tutor you with transfiguration. I believe you are well up to standards with Herbology, and I hardly feel it necessary to express my thoughts towards Divination." He finished his lecture off with a scowl at the word Divination. Hannah nodded in response, not knowing what to say. "And one last thing before you may go, I need to discuss with you your Legilimency skills. I think you understand the importance of occlumency, especially when trying to protect your thoughts from the dark lord's penetration. I need to know what about your skills are superior to his – I can't risk not having the ability to entirely protect my mind." Snape reluctantly pleaded.
"I couldn't tell you, but it isn't hearing thoughts which gives comprehension – but insight and what's in sight. One who speaks in riddles will never be heard until someone solves them, and sometimes, if you look far enough, you can solve the equation without hearing the problem. It isn't just mind penetration which you need to worry about – actions speak louder than words. You're not an open book, but sometimes your cover blows. As long as someone doesn't have the insight to read further, then you haven't to worry." Hannah sat a moment longer, awaiting a response from Snape, but instead watched as his eyes flickered through emotions, as he comprehended the words Hannah spoke.
"You may go." Snape eventually voiced, still absorbed into his thoughts. Hannah left the room with Spero, then headed for the Great Hall.

Snape sat, drowning in his thoughts. She was right – Voldemort didn't have much insight, he's too focused on one thing to be bothered with another. As long as he didn't blow obvious cover he shouldn't worry, but it still didn't explain how Hannah had the ability to penetrate his mind. Did she even have superior skills to him? Or did he just tend to blow his cover around her? There's something about the girl which makes him feel like he should be himself, something which makes him feel like he can do or say whatever, and she won't have an opinion until she knows everything. Perhaps, that was why she could penetrate his mind – because his emotions weren't controlled. Or perhaps, he's never tried to keep her out. Perhaps he didn't mind the she had access to his thoughts, perhaps he just simply trusted her.

Hannah arrived at the Great Hall, to get food for Spero, before heading for the doors of the castle to go outside. She hadn't yet explored outside the castle, apart from at night, when she couldn't see anything. She had never really been in the mindset to admire anything, but for some reason everything seemed so much more impressive today. She walked through the clocktower courtyard, hearing the bells as they chimed at 8am. Everything seemed so much more impressive when students weren't swarming around. She circled the castle for a good hour, admiring everything she hadn't yet noticed, then sat under a tree adjacent the lake. She watched over the lake, the only thing she didn't find near as impressive as one would. She still hated water more than anything, the thought of water made her relive the memories of a decade ago. Spero sat on her lap, looking as though he was feeling the same as Hannah. He too looked upon the lake, looking as if reliving a terrible moment.

Hannah's thoughts were broken as she heard footsteps approaching her. She looked up to see Adrian holding Ligo in his arms. "Morning." Adrian voiced, sounding not near as unenthused as he usually did.
"Morning." Hannah responded, half mocking his tone.
"Snape talked to me about the tutoring. I hardly think you need it." Adrian spoke, as he sat adjacent Hannah.
"I hardly think I want it. Tutoring in general, that is." Hannah replied. She didn't exactly love the thought of having schooling, let alone extra tutoring on top, but she didn't dare argue with Snape. She might as well use the time she is alive to at least follow the rules to make one happy.
"I think it's more to keep you occupied than to actually tutor you. Although he seems very particular about Defence Against the Dark Arts and Potions. He does get a bit pushy with potential for those subjects." Adrian reasoned.
"Keep me occupied? I'm sure there are many more entertaining ways to do that." Hannah replied, half sarcastically.
"Well, keep you distracted from your thoughts, would be more accurate. You know, instead of staring off into a lake reminiscing." Adrian half joked. Hannah continued to stare off into the lake, nodding absent mindedly. "He's just worried about you. I've never seen him worry about a student before. In fact I've never seen him show any emotion before. His walls just really broke that night." Adrian stared off into the distance alike to Hannah, then brought his attention back, before turning his head to face Hannah. "I think all of ours did."

Hannah smiled.

Thank you so much for reading this far, please review and follow and favourite if you're liking it so far, send me suggestions, predictions, requests, anything. If you want to be apart of this story, just send me a message or review saying the name you want to be (can be your own), your house, year, and a slight description of your appearance. I'll find a way to sketch you into the story.