Yo! So sorry about the...five and a half years long wait. Oops? I hit a terrible block and had no clue what I wanted to do with this one. Recently, I realized something else I started writing could actually fit in with this pretty well with a bit of editing, so that gave me some ideas. I've gone back and done some minor editing to fix things up, but it's mostly just rephrasing, though I added a few small things here and there.

More importantly, though I'm sure everyone's already going to do this considering how long ago the last update was, old readers who've been following for a while should go back to read the previous chapter which has been fully rewritten. It used to be the first few years in Violet's POV but has since been changed to the summer break before fifth year in Sev's POV.

Again, sorry for the long wait (and the long AN) and thank you to all readers so far!

Potter had made it through the hearing. She was allowed to return to Hogwarts.

Not alone, Severus forced down the relieved sigh that threatened to escape him as he listened to Dumbledore recount the hearing to the Order. A full court hearing for underage magic and exposure of magic to a Muggle who already knew it existed? How could they excuse that for anything other than unfair bias? Murder trials weren't even full courts half of the time!

"They sound desperate," said Lupin, voicing the very same thing Severus had been thinking. "Considering how reluctant they were to even listen to any of you, I'd say there's a good chance the dementors were sent by one of them."

"Can't put it past 'em," said Black in a mutter. Though, it wasn't as if he needed much reason to distrust the Ministry. "They're doing everything they can to discredit Violet, so why's she expected to help keep them safe? Why should she bother?"

"Now, Sirius-"

"No, answer me honestly, Albus," said Black. He leaned forward in his seat, gripping the edge of the table, grey eyes fixed on the headmaster. "They would rather see Violet lose her soul than admit Voldemort is back. If they can't even say he's back, they won't do anything to help her fight. So, why should she risk her life for people like them? If anything, she's the one at risk from them!"

"I understand how you feel, Sirius," said Dumbledore, his tone familiarly placating, "but you must understand. If Violet starts to pick and choose who is and isn't worth saving, she will be no different than Voldemort and that is something we do not want."

Black leaned back in his seat again, scowling. Severus was no different. Loathe as he was to admit it, he agreed with Black.

This entire situation had made it more than clear that the Ministry was essentially in favour of killing Potter if it meant they could continue being ignorant of the Dark Lord's return. Potter, it seemed, knew this as well. What reason did she have to continue aiding and fighting for those who openly wanted harm to come to her?

There was a good chance they would continue to deny everything and make more attempts on her life until she actually did manage to defeat the Dark Lord. They would accept and praise her then, Severus was sure, once everything was over and done with and they were guaranteed their own safety.

Pathetic.

The school year did not start well. They had already established that the Ministry was as much of a threat to Potter as the Dark Lord was, and yet they were being forced to accept one of the Ministry's own-Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, no less, in the castle. As a professor. The Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, on top of that.

By the end of the Welcoming Feast, Severus wanted nothing more than to go home, and it looked like quite a few students felt the same way. Hopefully, Potter would have the sense to keep her head down. The less attention she attracted from this Ministry bint, the better.

He should have known better than to expect something like that because Potter landed herself in detention with Umbridge by the end of her first lesson with the hag.

This was going to be a very long year.

Potter was hiding something. She was on edge, definitely wasn't sleeping well, and whatever the problem was, she was keeping it to herself, if Granger and Weasley's many exchanged glances had anything to say about it.

Severus thought the problem would pass, given enough time, but it only seemed to be getting worse.

He watched as, over the next few weeks, Potter grew paler and paler, until eventually, despite Granger's caution, Potter knocked over her cauldron during class.

Fortunately, the mess was cleaned easily and the potion was cool enough that the girl wasn't harmed. Still, Severus was almost relieved that he now had a reason to act and assigned her detention instantly.

Potter almost argued. He saw the sudden fire in her eyes, a fire that had been missing since she'd returned to the castle. And then Draco said something foolish and the fire died. She muttered acknowledgement of the detention and allowed Weasley and Granger to drag her out of the classroom.

Severus bit his tongue so he wouldn't lash out at Draco and called out for the students to hurry up and get out in his usual harsh manner. At least there were only a few hours until dinner. He wasn't going to have to wait long. He watched the rest of the students file out noisily and sighed once he was alone.

He was doing a very poor job of ignoring Potter.

Wondering why he was even bothering to deny everything in his own mind anymore, considering his behaviour, Severus returned to his classroom after dinner. Potter's detention was due to begin in five minutes.

She would arrive only a few seconds early, he figured, trying to delay the detention as long as possible. She was probably dreading it, wondering what torture he would inflict on her.

"Enter," Severus called out when there was a knock at the door. He glanced up when Potter walked in and checked the time subtly. Three seconds early. Just as he'd thought. "Sit. You will be writing something for me today."

Potter paled and her eyes widened. "W-what?"

Severus raised a brow. "I presume you know how to write, Potter?" Why did she look so alarmed? She was acting as if he'd told her to slaughter a first-year. "I have potion recipes that require being rewritten due to fading ink. And if, while doing this copying, you retain some of the instructions, all the better."

Potter relaxed infinitely, all but slumping in her seat. "Oh, alright. Er, I mean, yes, sir."

"Good." Severus used a spell to levitate the old parchments, the new parchments, an inkwell, and a quill across the room to the girl.

"So, you just want me to copy everything the way it is?"

"Yes."

"Okay." With that, Potter got to work immediately.

Severus watched her for a few seconds and then turned his attention to the essays that were waiting for him to drown in red ink. The dungeon classroom was quiet for a few minutes, and the only sound was the scribbling of both of their quills. But it wasn't going to be for long.

Fifteen minutes later, only Severus' quill could be heard. He looked up and, as expected, Potter had fallen asleep. She had managed to cushion her head on her left arm, though she still held the quill in her right hand. He sighed.

She'd lasted longer than he'd expected, but that was fine. He would wake her when the hour was up, scold her a little for falling asleep, remove a few points from Gryffindor, and then send her on her way.

He resumed his marking. This was fine.

That's it for now. Looking forward to reviews! Laterz!