"There is a stirring in my soul; a restless, wild anticipation. I am staring out into the horizon, as far as I can. I can't see what's beyond it – but I can feel it."

– Lang Leav

CHAPTER 42: Stillness

November 21st, 2003

[Severus Snape]

Severus awoke slightly disorientated, not remembering when he ever drifted off to sleep. He cast his eyes before him to find Dawn snuggled and sleeping peacefully upon the crook of his arm, thinking how on earth this transpired as it did.

What was supposed to be a night working on deciphering the mysteries happening within the school, led to a first kiss after months of silent, built-up longing. What quickly escalated was the pair of them finally giving their bodies to each other, touching every forbidden spot they could until they made love upon Severus' usually cold, empty bed. It didn't feel real because he couldn't believe that it actually happened. He knew there was a sense of attraction with the woman so captivating and genuine and a connection he couldn't quite comprehend. But there was always a spark of something unique between them during their company, until finally, their lust led them through the night, and it was at their moment of absolute bliss, did he realise he cared for her so very deeply.

He fell for Dawn…Hard. He was infatuated by her presence. The thought alone sent ripples down his spine, tingling every nerve in his body. His heart strangely grew warm and for that moment, he felt loved too. He had never experienced a returned love and thus felt so out of his depth upon what he was currently feeling.

She returned his love and Severus felt safe with her soul so close to his own.

…Love? A word that never truly touched his lips.

He found his curious eyes wandering down upon her serene, sleeping form. Her warm naked body against his own gave him life, and the image of her pale curves and smooth skin was a sight to behold for his wary eyes eternally longing for some type of intimate connection. But he had to wonder if this was all just a cruel dream because it didn't quite seem real. The wondrous night he shared with her in absolute bliss had been one of - in fact only - night of pure happiness he had ever truly experienced. That kind of joy was not familiar to him. He has had a rare few one-nights with women anonymously in the past to satisfy himself and release the stress and tension of being Riddle's servant. Even some cohorts were offered as a gift from the Dark Lord himself after a completed mission, which it would be foolish of him to refuse. But they were empty and meaningless intercourse filled with desperate lust, and no purity or genuine love. Hollow feelings. Nights where he just wanted to feel something other than his usual emptiness. He hated when he succumbed to it because it made him feel treacherous and disloyal. Filthy, even. So, he found it best to simply do without.

He denied himself as such, for as long as he could.

And yet he still had to wonder if this was an illusion. A trick. A sick prank. He'd been fooled before.

He didn't ever want her to leave his side. He wanted to lay with her for many more blissful hours, taking in her scent and love, because that was a rare magic in itself. That night they finally gave themselves to each other, melting together as if their bodies had been searching for one another for eternity…It felt pure. Real. He could only wonder what she truly saw within him because surely, he could not have appealed so much to her. He wanted to wake her, kiss her, and make passionate love to her again, but instead, he could not tear his eyes off her in wonder and adoration. He was content enough just to hold her within her arms, resisting the urge to pull her tightly towards him.

But so, he allowed her to sleep, undisturbed. Her company alone was the balm to his bleeding heart, and it beat only for her. There was nothing else keeping it alive.

He must have drifted off to sleep again within such a soothing comfort until he felt a shift and watched as Dawn slowly awoke. Severus' heart melted when her face lit up in joy. Her face brightened in its familiar warm glow once again. Her smile seemed to light up the room, with her intense blue eyes gazing deeply into his very being, "Good morning, Severus. Slept well, I see?"

"Better than I have in years, and that is not an exaggeration, " Severus exhaled a sigh of relief, eyes scouring her exquisite lips once again – ones he could still taste upon his own.

"Hmm, " Dawn's smile widened, "I enjoyed last night."

Now it was Severus' turn to smile at the corner of his lips; hers was nothing short of infectious, "I'm relieved I did not disappoint."

Dawn's cheeks flushed slightly, "Oh, you were very good. You worry too much."

Severus reached over to some of her messy, curled locks obscuring her collarbone and ran a finger tenderly over the spot on her shoulder where he curiously discovered a small birthmark. His slender finger continued to trail slowly over her warm, flustered skin, watching her smile broaden at the touch and feeling her tingle under it. His fingers danced upon her skin, memorising every curve, wrinkle, and marks he could see. And there was a simple joy in the way he made her shiver and sigh wistfully from his touch, ever so curiously.

"This was...unexpected, " Severus' hooded eyes soon cast away, as doubts slowly crept into his throat once again. He gradually withdrew his hand.

Dawn shuffled within the bed, propping her head on her hand, and curiously turning to the side to face him directly. Her eyes gazed at him curiously, "How so?"

Severus metaphorically bit his tongue, wishing he didn't say anything. But he tried to keep it together as best as he could, given the curious events over the last six hours. But he couldn't help but worry over the choices they made on that very night, "I…I still cannot fathom what you see in me."

Dawn looked at him as if he grew a second head, "More than what you see in yourself."

"Please, do not fool yourself, Dawn, " Severus whispered. He was conflicted – he was certain of that much. There wasn't a doubt that he enjoyed what they did, but now insecurities were flooding his mind, warping his choices and his desires. A small voice echoed within telling him that he had made such a big mistake.

But it was mutual consent. Although tainted by lust, they finally agreed to give themselves to each other. But he only hoped that perhaps Dawn shared these doubts too, so he could feel less terrible about it.

Dawn appeared perplexed, "You think I'm joking?"

"No, I – " Severus sighed deeply. He couldn't form the right words to say that would not offend. That was the last thing he wished to do.

This prompted Dawn to sit up against the bedhead, eyes still glued upon Severus' self-dismissal, but her voice remained measured and calm much to his relief, "You know I do not do falsities, Severus. When I said to you that I enjoyed your company, I meant it. Not as a false platitude. I feel...connected to you. I have for quite some time."

"I know...which is why I should never have allowed you to get this close, " Severus shuffled over and reached for the house robe thrown over the chair and slipped into it. He grimaced to himself soon realising how horribly battered his body was, with the sickening realising that she took notice of every other scar his form contained. Imprints upon his skin that their heated love that night made him temporarily forget, but now he was reminded once again of how broken he felt. How damaged he was in body and mind, now feeling as if he ruined a good thing because the thought of Dawn running her hands over every physical feature he hated about himself, made him feel guilty. As she deserved someone far worthier and more desirable than himself. Now he was having painful doubts, leading them both astray and blaming his own self-hatred and insecurities on allowing a good thing to diminish.

Once again, he ruins things.

Dawn scrunched up the blankets over her bare chest, "...Severus..."

Once he fastened his nightrobe robe over his waist, he turned sharply back to her, "I hurt people, Dawn. People suffer when I am in their vicinity. People perish under my watch. People I care about - " Severus swallowed bitterly, until he stopped himself cold, "I-I don't want that fate for you."

"You are not cursed, Severus. Why do you keep punishing yourself for your past?"

"Because I do not deserve...this, " Severus couldn't bear to speak, feeling his own voice grow hoarse.

"You do. Tenfold. You deserve to have someone by your side. Severus, I care for you. I want to see you happy. I lo - "

" - Do not say that word."

Dawn tilted her head to one side, eyeing him with such deep, patient empathy. Where he always expected anger, there wasn't any to be found, "You make it seem blasphemous. Love is more than this...what we did last night. Love is sharing a heart…Sharing pain, so you don't have to go through it alone…Supporting each other. Love is...Strength."

"Love is a fairytale for the easily fooled, " It happened with Lily, so he knew he wasn't incorrect here.

"Fairytales are stories. Love…is real, " Dawn sat at the edge of the bed and reached for his hand, who soon realised was trembling at his side again. He felt her caressing his fingers and her touch grounding him to the present and all he could fathom was how quickly his heart melted. The moment she touched him, he did everything in his silent power to fight back against the tears burning within his eyes. She lowered her voice to a calming whisper, feeling her thumb brush gently across his, "Please, let me love you. Allow me to love you...I want you by my side."

He really wanted her, too. Severus' heart skipped a beat, but he knew he was still hurting. He felt immense love for this woman, but the conflicting pain within his chest made him feel so lost, "I do not know how to…love you in return. This is far beyond me."

That word felt so strange to be ushered by him.

"You don't have to be afraid anymore, " Dawn offered him a sympathetic smile, "Especially not with me."

His eyes fluttered shut, whilst he heard the sounds of her quiet breaths beside him.

…But he was afraid.

They were colleagues – he knew in a small sense that this was unprofessional, but neither of them could control how they felt about each other. Each moment together brought them closer, and this night was almost inevitable for them as the intimate fondness between them grew. If it weren't for Harry and Ron interrupting their moment in the Hospital Wing, he may have even snogged her there. Neither could comprehend these feelings, but their infatuation grew over the last several months when they spent in such close company of the other.

He knew he was smitten with her and deep down, turning away would hurt him immensely. His mind was telling him to flee and remain level-headed. But his heart…Oh, his heart wanted her. She had already captured it so long ago with that infallible kindness, so now that spark of curiosity wanted so desperately to see where this will lead.

As scared as he was, he knew she was genuine. No other had ever shown patience and compassion as she did. No one else dared to give him such a chance.

His soul begged for her light. Her love…

That word again.

Severus' hand eventually squeezed back, gradually shuffling back beside her on the bed. A bed with such warmth, with the scented remnants of their passion still hanging in the air. He unclasped one side of his robe and wrapped her naked form under it, bringing her closer against him. Her hand rested on his bare chest, and he found himself trying very hard not to panic beneath it. Her body felt perfect against his own like two lost puzzle pieces finally finding their place. His eyes grew misty again, but she was unable to see. He did feel afraid. Taking this step was like diving off a cliff without seeing the ground below. He was fearful - letting someone in like this was unfamiliar territory, and he didn't want to hurt yet another person in his life.

Not like Lily.

He wanted Dawn - he wanted her so much that he never wanted to lose sight of her. She meant so much to him and for the first time in so long, he wasn't thinking of what could have been had Lily still been alive. He wished Lily had seen him as Dawn did and the thought of never having that had once pained him. Dawn was willing to give him a chance and see him for the man he strived to be, and not what he once was.

But he had her. The most genuine light of his life who wanted him for who he was, and not what she wanted him to be. She was willing to be by his side despite his struggles and pain and that is where the thought of Lily began to change. His perception of someone he grew up with was now so far a distant memory, and he soon realised that she failed to see him in his entirety.

Severus' hold on Dawn tightened, with his chin resting comfortably atop her head.

With her, he felt safe. And he's never truly felt this safe before.

November 28th, 2003

[Dawn Rheingold]

The following week had been so strange indeed. From the moment she left Severus' bed to that present day, it felt like she was harboring the biggest secret of all.

Well, technically she was. No one else knew of what they did that night and that alone should not be known beyond those dungeon walls. As much as she wanted to share her excitement with the world, it was a secret she knew she had to keep safe. Not just for the sake of her career, but for the protection of Severus as well, given his past. He didn't feel comfortable releasing such a secret, and they had discussed treading carefully around the school in its protection. A special, yet sacred secret she kept so dear to her, but protecting both of their hearts for the unforeseen future was something she was dedicated to.

They wanted to relish in its almost forbidden nature. The secret they kept hidden between them ignited a rare excitement within her and she didn't want it ruined for any reason that usual childish rumors would. She had downed the fuchsia-colored contraceptive potion Severus had on hand prior to leaving his quarters that night, where he explained that they were brewed for the Hospital Wing but never stored there in case students attempted to steal them. For good reason.

But since that wonderous night, she felt elated. Light as a feather. The joy she felt bubble within her was something she hadn't felt since her previous love so many years ago. The loneliness and emptiness that person had left her with, was something she had difficulty overcoming. Severus showered her with the love and affection she had since yearned for so long and leaning back into his embrace made her feel wanted again. Like a missing piece from her had finally been found and she felt whole again.

Being apart from him during the week had been difficult since she could only so much as glance longingly for him between classes. Even meals in the Great Hall had to be carefully orchestrated so as not to draw attention to their newfound magnetism and admiration for one another. Dawn was not as good at hiding her emotions as Severus was, so it was far more difficult for her to do so when students were present. Instead, she distracted herself in the conversation of her colleagues around her in her bid to keep her wandering eyes off him.

And yet she got the amusing feeling that Severus was doing much the same. The last thing she needed was a grin she couldn't explain because the heat simmering within her chest distracted her.

Amongst seeing Harry in the corridors one afternoon, he had even asked if she was alright. She had even caught herself staring into space. Well, she was more than alright, really. She just couldn't tell him why. Instead, she told him she was fine, and wandered off, hiding the remnants of a smirk she could barely contain.

There were times when she was alone and thought back to him. Severus himself even had doubts if they should have been doing this at all, but neither could hold back any longer. Dawn tried to run it through her mind as if sometimes those doubts crept up on her, too, but she knew this felt right. She didn't know it any other way, and for once, she took the risk that would change them both.

She loved him. She had felt it for months prior during their increasing company and yet she didn't know the reality of it until his heated breaths that night drove her crazy, arousing a side of her she hadn't exercised in so long. And since that lustful night, she knew.

Yes, she deeply loved him.

Love was just a word until meaning was finally given to it. And Severus gave her that meaning. Those sweet, careful kisses as if a touch so delicate could cause her to shatter like glass. And she reveled in it. She had never anticipated for him to be so careful and gentle with her, considering how rough and inconsiderate her past lover was. Almost as if he'd been waiting for someone to enact those soft, delicate careful strokes upon her skin. A touch he reserved only her for. And she felt that. Still felt that, even. Every time she looked back at him throughout the day, she could still feel his arms wrapping around her and bringing her close. His eyes upon hers, his lips interlocking, his pleasurable moans…

…Dawn had to remind herself to breathe and to ascertain where she was. Lingering arousing thoughts of the Potions Professor was not something she needed in the middle of teaching a lesson. Or anywhere else that wasn't in a private location, really.

After Severus' hunt for the amber nightshade with Harry that evening, Severus managed to brew a potion granting them a temporary immunity enough for them to scour the forest and investigate the happenings there. And so, it was the following day when the weekend settled in, and the Professors were able to finally set out to the forest.

They met up at the forest boundary, leaving Severus to hand each of them a strange, murky purple potion. Once ingested, despite the horrid taste of earthworm-filled dirt, it would gain them a temporary protective barrier in which case they could safely cross the threshold without being affected by whatever was there. Well, more so for Severus' protection who could barely make it that far.

"So why exactly is Mr. Malfoy tagging along?" Dawn asked.

Harry shot her a look, "Because he knows about the vessel and was there when it was buried."

"Right, I see, " She agreed but still wasn't particularly happy about the additional person in their midst, but supposedly, the additional input would be beneficial.

Severus was a few clicks ahead of her, who hadn't once looked at her since they met up that afternoon. Perhaps he was trying his best not to arouse suspicion, but it just simply felt like such an awkward position to be in. She had been trying to contain her happiness when she was with Severus but hiding their smitten emotions from Harry and Draco was a tough task. Dark Wizards she could deal with. Infatuations, she could not.

But through their almost somber journey into the thick of the forest, Dawn couldn't help but wander so closely to Severus. Harry had been giving them both strange looks, seeing that they keep wandering off together on occasion, with her attempting to keep herself busy with the task. Draco, thankfully, remained oblivious.

The further they wandered to the suspected site, the colder each of them felt. It wasn't the chill of a dementor that sent her Auror alarm bells off, but it was a strange feeling of something growing in the atmosphere. Like a mild trickle of electricity against the earth, making her own hairs stand up on end, and riddling her skin with goosepimples. She finally locked eyes with Severus and noticed his brows raised in worry, with his face paling immensely. At least there was a comfort to know his potion had worked and they were, for the time being, safe.

When they stopped moving, a gripping silence befell them. A quiet crackling could be heard around them, like a buzz from a swarm of bees in the distance. A low vibration from under their feet. Lighting up their wands in unison, they continued forth until what they saw stopped them dead in their tracks.

A rim of an outline at their feet displayed the decay and rot of the earth within that boundary about the size of the main Charms classroom. Everything contained within it was quite obviously dead. The tree trunks were hollow and leafless, black with rot. The forest ground was burnt and dead, but not from that of a fire. Dawn spotted a few decaying carcasses close to the center far too deceased to identify. There was a ghastly smell that wafted under their noses, causing Dawn to throw her sleeve over her nose as her eyes watered. She could have sworn she heard Harry dry retch somewhere behind them.

"This is it, " Severus was the first to speak. But he, too, could not take his eyes of the damage the cursed vessel had caused.

"How could this have even happened?" Harry finally asked.

"Time, as we suspected. Perhaps the vessel was not enough to contain such a power. A disease, " Severus turned to the others, looking just as ill. He reached to the spot of his neck where the horrid scarring of his mauling was left in its wake, as if there was an itch he couldn't satisfy, "It's growing in power. That much is certain."

Dawn's eyes turned pleadingly toward him, "What do you think we should do?"

"We must keep it contained. Will the protective staves be enough?"

She wasn't so sure, so she gave an uncertain shrug, "I-I don't know, Severus. I've never encountered anything like this before."

"Whatever it is, it might be our only way to at least slow it down, " Draco said, "This is Voldemort's last remnants of his power. Not a simple curse by any means. It makes sense for him to have something of a failsafe."

Harry nodded, "He's right. We can only try this until we have another solution."

Severus turned grimly in turn to Draco, Harry, and then Dawn. Once his eyes rested upon hers, his expression softened, "Is it possible to reverse the staves instead of keeping things out, but to contain whatever it is, inside?"

She nodded slowly, "Yes, I think that is very much possible."

"Then we have no time to waste."

Without another word, Severus and Dawn rounded the affected area, casting protective charms at whatever healthy, viable sections of the earth they could find. When all the staves glowed and connected, they faded into the earth sealing inside the darkness that could so easily ravish the rest of the forest.

Once they were satisfied enough to depart from the clearing, the four of them journeyed back to school grounds and made their direct beeline to the Headmistress' office to break the news. There was no time to spare, and she needed to know. Something that they were discussing rather feverishly during their walk back.

Led by Dawn and Severus, they determinedly entered the office to find Minerva surprised to find all four of them present and equally as startled.

Minerva raised an eyebrow, lowering her quill to eye them carefully, "What could possibly warrant the need to burst through my office door?"

Severus stepped forward, taking immediate charge, "I fear we have a situation in urgent need of attention."

Minerva blinked, "Which is…?"

"The illness, Minerva, " Severus took a small pause, before continuing in a lower tone, "…My illness."

It was then Minerva placed her quill back in its holder with a quizzical look upon her face, until a slow realisation formed. But at that point, she looked like her heart had stopped ever so briefly, "What about it, Severus? Has it…Has it returned?"

Severus shook his head, "No. But the object we cast it in has damaged the earth in the place in which it was buried. We've just returned from investigating it."

"We knew something was happening when Severus ended up at the Hospital Wing, " Harry said, leaning forward against one of the guest chairs, "We had to know for sure."

The Headmistress appeared speechless, "I can't fathom how such a thing has been causing such fatalities around the school grounds. How is it spreading?"

"By touch, most likely. Contagious, " Dawn said, "Severus was able to brew us a potion to protect us when we went in there, but I am afraid that might not be enough. It's been contained in a protective barrier, but we must figure out a way to safely remove it or somehow destroy it. It will not hold for long."

Draco snorted rather darkly under his breath, "There's no destroying that. We had to shift it to a bloody object to avoid killing Severus."

Although Dawn did not quite understand what truly happened beyond what Severus had told her, she couldn't help a sadness welling deep within her of the possibility of Severus almost losing his life over this. The scarring on his neck she had tenderly traced on that wondrous night, evoked such deep empathy for her now that she knew the full extent of how sick he really was. It seemed almost unfathomable that his life had hung in the balance for so long, that speaking of such an illness caused her to worry. The urge to reach out and hold him was strong, but she had to stay professional, and their love to remain a precious secret.

After a long pause, Minerva looked to each of them for guidance, "What must we do?"

"I have to alert my department of this, Minerva."

"We cannot so have this as a public spectacle."

"It won't be, " Dawn drew in a careful breath, "There are specialty divisions that can handle mysterious curses. They could have far more knowledge in containing such a thing, than we do. All we can do is slow it down. The rest is beyond our capabilities."

Severus lowered his voice, "If this plague continues to run rampant, the school may be in terrible danger."

"What, shut it down?" Harry's eyed, widened.

Minerva shot him a stern look, "I will not lose another student in that way if keeping the school open poses a significant risk to another, " She turned to Dawn as she stood up from her chair, "Contact your department to look into this at once. I will alert the Minister for assistance."

Dawn nodded, without missing a beat, "Of course. I'll contact them right away."

With a last dismal glance at Severus, she turned away and hurriedly left the office.

They had to keep the school safe. And in turn, the magical world. What they had discovered sent shivers down her spine.

December 10th, 2003

[Harry Potter]

Since their horrifying discovery in the forest, Harry had been communicating with his wife quite regularly since. Although he was looking forward to the Christmas break, it was still just over a week away.

The idea of something almost alive and sentient brewing in the forest made him ill to even think about it. In fact, the idea of anything related to Voldemort still clinging to life, sent him extremely uneasy. He and Draco spent some time talking about this, feeling as if they hadn't quite finished ridding their previous enemy vanquished for good. The idea of the Horcruxes came to mind and it was enough to send him back into a panic once again. He hoped with everything that they had, that history was not about to repeat itself. He couldn't bare to endure that again, especially now that they were all rebuilding their lives.

Through his own haggard, heaved breaths it took a while for him to calm down in the confines of his private quarters instead of sticking his head out of the window for some fresh winter air. Anything to wake him back up to the horrid present he found himself in, even if it would take the bitter frost to do it.

How could such an object do this? Here he thought they found the solution to saving Severus' life, when in fact, neither of them had put in a single thought as of the future complications one such vessel might have. Containing one of the most brutal pieces of magic they had ever seen, now seemed impossible. And considering how large of an area that object had gradually destroyed, it was only a matter of time until half the forest was decimated, and it edged nearer to the school. That would be an entirely new problem and one that would very well be out of their hands.

Dawn seemed a little more distressed at the idea of this vessel – he had seen her leaving the grounds rather frequently likely to convene with her boss as to what their next step may be. Her behavior was a little more panic-ridden than her usual stoic public demeanor. Sometimes he could even see some of her professionalism slip.

However, Severus' expression was the most interesting of all. There was a deep dread seeped into the man's face, clear as day, indicating the twisted curse and what it did to him. Harry was undeniably scared for him too and he had to wonder if Severus was far more vulnerable because the curse had taken hold of him before. Either way, he needed to keep that man away from that area, and given the way Dawn was sympathetic in Severus' presence, it seems as if that was a thought that struck her, too. After all, she had seen him briefly succumb to it before and if that was any indication of how much that affected him from such a distance, what would happen to it if he wasn't protected in any way?

Harry shuddered at the thought. He did not want to endure that again and to see Severus on his death bed declining severely by the day was enough for his own heart to shatter. That alone was not something he'd ever want to witness or have repeat again.

A few days later, Harry and Draco were chatting in the staff room over chips and pies, when they were visited by Dawn and Severus close to midday. They had arrived at the same time and decided to awkwardly sit on opposite sides from each other, even despite the multiple empty seats around them. The pair of them adopted the same somber expression as he last remembered, likely chatting about the investigation themselves. As with Severus' apathetic look, Dawn's eyes constantly shifted from Severus and over to the bowl of round-colored sweets on the table. It was almost as if she seemed rather distracted.

"So, um, any updates with the case?" Harry asked, feeling an odd slight bit of tension within the room.

She shook her head, with her curly hair shifting from her shoulders, "No, nothing as of yet. A team was sent out to monitor the site, but I've heard nothing since."

"Depends on if no news is good news. Which it never is, " Draco placed a forkful of pie into his mouth.

"Try being an Auror, " Dawn reached for a pitcher of water, pouring herself an empty goblet full.

"I still don't know how you do it. What's it like? You know…being an Auror?" Harry asked, after a short pause. It was a question he'd been curious about for a while, but since the subject was brought up, he took that opportunity, "I realised I've never once asked you."

Dawn raised an eyebrow, "Shouldn't you ask Ron that one?"

"Yeah, I could, but I want to know from your point of view since you've been one for years."

"Harry, I wouldn't tread on those waters, " Severus said warningly, but in a strange, soft way. He knew he had seen and endured enough terror for his young life already and Harry knew he had the strength to withstand it.

"No no, it's alright. I'm willing to indulge, " Dawn leaned back in her chair, resting her hands on the table in front of her. She took a moment to breathe and find the words she needed, "Being an Auror becomes your life. For every day you spend not on the job, it still takes over. You think and act like one, always on guard and always watching your back. Reprieve is difficult, especially when you spend most of your days in dangerous situations. You lose people. It doesn't get easier, especially with all the gruesome things one would witness. Twisted dark wizards, sadistic vile stains of the wizarding world. They will take anything and everything from you without remorse. Without an ounce of empathy..."

"...Dawn..."

But Dawn determinedly, continued, "...It changes you. And not always for the better. We've had to do things we weren't proud of, especially at the height of the Second War. We've had to kill, either in self-defense or it was the only option. We've had to subdue enemies by any means necessary. We've saved people. But sometimes we were unable to. Losing a life under your watch is difficult to fathom. It is a difficult line of work, but someone has to do it."

Harry lowered his head, sombrely before turning his attention back towards her. There was a measure of relief on his face, knowing he decided not to tread that path as he once desired to, "I once considered such a prospect, but I am glad I opted for Professor instead. I couldn't imagine doing what you do. I've seen enough, and I couldn't bear to see anymore."

"A very wise decision, Harry, " She offered a smile of relief, "Especially someone of your heroism and fame for defeating Voldemort. You've done more than enough, without being an Auror."

"His penchant for trouble knows no bounds, " Severus spoke, with a slight smug curvature of his lips.

Harry shrugged dismissively, regardless of Severus' usual sarcasm, "Over the years I've learned not to seek out trouble. I've well learned my lesson now."

Dawn smiled; a welcome warmth to the concerned demeanor she had since adopted, "And you best adhere to it. One must be extra considerate, especially now with a little one on the way."

Draco looked like he swallowed something sour, "Another Potter?"

Harry shrugged, "What, you don't read the Daily Prophet?"

"Not when I know your ugly mug will be in it."

Harry almost choked on his coffee, with Severus suppressing his own sly smirk on the other side of the table.

They continued to talk about other things, often rounding back to the problems of the vessel. Harry knew he needed to speak with Hermione about this issue if she did not already know from the Minister himself. Perhaps she might even be able to search for an alternative solution, but the transference spell was quite literally their last hope. They already knew this from their efforts last time, and any deeper into finding further solutions treads dangerously further into the Dark Arts. Something neither of them was prepared to venture to.

Regardless, there was nothing else they could transfer it to again, or else find another location to decimate. It was a risky business and one that stressfully consumed their current days.

Eventually, Dawn and Draco left their company to their respective duties, leaving Severus and himself alone with their thoughts. Once Dawn was the last to leave, he noticed Severus' face drooped in worry. Something very rarely seen with him.

"I know you're worried, " Harry said quietly, "I am too."

The man hesitated, tapping his fingers almost nervously on the table, "How could I not be? That thing almost ended my life. I do not want to endure that again, or have it happen to anyone else."

Harry shook his head, "We won't let it. You are to stay far away from it as possible."

"It is rather a peculiar situation and one I believe leaves us unable to form a logical solution, " Severus spoke slowly, "That curse alone will continue to contaminate other beings until it sends them into their own horrific deaths. We all must be cautious."

"Then what was the point of sending that Hufflepuff in, if the vessel is enough to kill on its own?"

"I think – " Severus leaned back in his chair, heaving a heavy sigh as he did, "It may be possible that someone else within the school is aware of it. Perhaps they used this student intending to test its capabilities, or even to help locate it."

Harry felt sick to his stomach, "They are using it to kill people? Sending them to their deaths so that…they can end their own lives."

"And hide the true master puppeteer, " Severus added sombrely, "Why have a murderer when beings are forcibly killing themselves?"

Harry's jaw dropped, appearing speechless for a few moments. Formulating any coherent sentence at this point was difficult, "Are we really thinking that someone is actually behind this?"

"Do we have an alternate theory?" Severus spoke firmly.

"No. I just…The idea of it all makes me sick."

"I share the sentiment, despite said irony. I know the true capabilities of such a disease. If it doesn't kill you from the inside, the ignited madness of it alone would be enough, " Severus spoke the last few words softly. His eyes flickered around the room weighing heavily on the words that were said.

That's not exactly what Harry wanted to hear. Now he wasn't so sure if Hogwarts was truly a safe place after all.