1994

The stadium was packed with students, their voices cheering for each of the four champions. A dragon in the middle stood guard over a golden egg. Shaylah pulled her robes tighter around her. "Who do you think is going to get eaten?" Nate shouted over the noise.

She shoved her shoulder into his. "That's not funny."

He ignored her. "My bet is Potter."

A whistle blew and Cedric Diggory emerged from the tent to face his dragon. The entirety of the sea of yellow stood to cheer on their fellow Hufflepuff. Cheers erupted from the other students of Hogwarts but it didn't rival that of the Hufflepuffs. Everyone watched with wide eyes as Cedric approached the giant dragon who guarded the egg with its life. The dragon wasted no time in attacking, spitting fire in the direction of where Cedric stood. A collective gasp ran through the crowd. Cedric rolled and quickly transfigured a boulder into a dog. The dog immediately took the attention of the dragon, giving Cedric the opportunity he needed to grab the egg. A blast of screaming shook the stands.

Next came Fleur Delacour, the Welsh Green dragon she was to face stood proudly over its egg. Fleur stood as if paralyzed with fear, but only for a moment. She skittered to one side but the dragon followed, its eyes not allowing her to hide. Fleur aimed her wand at the dragon but nothing happened. She barely dodged the fire that threatened to engulf her. The sounds from the crowd were a mix of concerned gasps and grateful sighs as she reappeared on the other side of the fire unscathed. Again she aimed her wand at the dragon and its head began to lull. Slowly it came to rest on the dragon's own tail, a deep snore erupted from its throat lighting Fleur's on fire as she retrieved the egg. The flame was quickly doused and another round of heavy cheers shook the stands.

Viktor Krum emerged from the tent next. His confidence unwaning as he approached his dragon. His was the smallest so far but still a fierce specimen. Shaylah's eyes were pulled from the spectacle at hand when she felt another pair of eyes burning into her cheek. Her eyes traced the crowd and at the end of the green sea that surrounded her, sat Severus. His eyes were not on the dragon or its challenger but on her. Nate brushed against her, pulling her from the trance Severus had pulled her into. "He blinded it! He blinded it!" Shaylah brought her eyes back to the center where Viktor Krum had collected his egg and held it above his head. A massive cheer threatened to burst her eardrums.

Harry was last and his dragon seemed to be the most fierce. Shaylah could practically feel the boy trembling, even from a distance. The Gryffindors cheered and jumped up and down. Shaylah even shouted his name. She nudged Nate to do the same. Harry dodged the first attack quickly and fumbled to evade the next. Again Shaylah felt the burning in her cheek but she refused to look at him this time. As Harry kept out of the dragon's reach, a loud swish signaled the arrival of his broom, which he quickly mounted and was gone. The dragon followed, flying dangerously close to the crowd in the stands. The two disappeared but could be seen in the distance hovering around the castle. The crowd fell silent, waiting with baited breath. Nate nudged her again and whispered, "I told you it would be Pot-." He swallowed his words as Harry swooped in with the dragon still on his heels and scooped up his egg. The crowd thundered with cheers and applause. Even Shaylah found herself celebrating as she nudged Nate and stuck her tongue out at him.

The crowd began to disperse and make their way to the Great Hall for dinner, everyone was buzzing with the adrenaline from the challenge. Carrie joined Nate and Shayla at the Slytherin table not long after they arrived. "Did you see the way Krum handled that dragon?" she said as she rested her chin on the back of her hands, her eyes lost in a far away dream.

Marsha and Lexi arrived just in time to add how well they thought Krum had handled his dragon and the three discussed how handsome he was while in a deadly situation. Shaylah pushed around the vegetables on her plate as the others continued their conversation. Dumbledore's voice called the hall to attention, he congratulated the champions on completing the task and then confirmed the rumors of the Yule Ball, which would take place the next month. The excitement rippled through the room quickly.

Nate leaned forward over the table and placed his hand on hers. "Shay, you'll go with me right?"

Shaylah crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't know Nate, I still may not go." She saw the disappointment in his face but she wasn't sure how to fix it.

She saw Nate's eyes travel over her head before the deep voice announced his presence. "Miss Epans, my office, now!" The last word made her jump as it was a raised order. She didn't turn to look at him. When she spoke, it was to her plate.

"But sir we don't have-"

"It was not a request." The demand in his voice caused her to shrink.

Lexi's eyes were wide as she leaned towards Shaylah and whispered, "What did you do? He looks angrier than usual."

Shaylah shrugged. "I'm still behind on homework."

"Surely that wasn't about homework." Said Nate. His head gestured toward the exit of the Great Hall, where Severus had just disappeared.

Shayla finished the last bite of ham on her plate and stood. She waved to her friends, promising to tell them why Severus wanted to see her.

Outside Severus' office she was stopped by a fifth year from her house. He was a tall boy with short brown hair and green eyes that matched the scarf around his neck. He seemed to be rather nervous as he asked her if she would accompany him to the Yule Ball. Shaylah didn't get a chance to answer as her name was bellowed from the confines of the office next to them. The boy grew even more nervous at the sound. Shaylah apologized and slipped in the door, where Severus sat impatiently waiting behind his desk.

"What potion are we practicing, Professor?" Shaylah asked quietly, though she knew the answer. She made her way toward the table where a cauldron would normally be waiting for her.

He stood and folded his arms behind his back. He took slow steps toward her. "We did not have a lesson planned for tonight." He said as if she had shown up on her own accord.

"Oh, then why am I here Professor?"

He came closer to her, an indignant look on his face. He kept arms length between them this time, his arms still behind his back. "Did you know there are no familys with the surname Epans?"

"How can that be sir, that is in fact my name."

He clenched his jaw, she could see the bitterness on his face. He took another step toward her. "So you say. I find it awfully odd that there are no records of that surname, but I'm rather familiar with its opposite."

She raised a brow at him and plastered an arrogant look on her face to cover the nervous pulses in her stomach. He took out his wand and Epans appeared on the blackboard in a tidy script. He didn't take his eyes off of her as he flicked his wand and the letters turned, flipping the name backwards. snapE. He waited for a reaction but thanks to him, she had learned how to control her impulses. "I'm sure it's only a coincidence." she said quietly, keeping her face unchanged though her heart had dropped into her stomach.

He didn't keep the same composure. He stepped closer, the tip of his nose brushing against hers. His teeth were clenched and his eyes had taken on a darker shade. She didn't back away, instead she planted her feet as if readying for a duel. The uneasy feeling struck her, mincing with the nervous pounding of her heart. She let him in but only for the smallest of moments, then the feeling faded again. "You. lied." He growled. "Not only are you proficient in Occlumency, I am all too familiar with your methods."

"I don't know what you're talking about sir."

Their noses were still touching, the closeness too much for her. She fought the urge to run her fingers through his hair. "Who are you?" He whispered. His voice was so quiet, she was sure the words weren't meant for her.

He was still searching, his eyes boring deep into hers for the answers he so vehemently sought. Then, as if he had found a piece of the puzzle he pulled his face back and pressed a palm to the side of her cheek. The warm calming feeling she had so come to know ran through her. The darkness in his eyes dissipated and for the slightest of moments she saw the look in them that she often saw in her Severus', the look of adoration. Unfortunately, as quickly as it had come it vanished. He ripped his hand away from her as if she were deadly and she took a step back. "Shaylah Epans. That's who I am sir."

"So you say." Something was running through his mind, she could practically feel it buzzing, but she would never know what it was. Were pieces of her Severus collecting inside of him? Bits of his future self, their future, coming to light? "Dumbledore would like to see you." His demeanor had become that of his usual annoyed self. He waved her away as if nothing unusual had happened.

A single tear ran down Shaylah's cheek as she made her way to the Headmaster's office. She wiped it away as she ascended the stairs behind the gargoyle and placed the mask of a student back over her face. Her heart tore in her chest, begging her to let loose the hurt that had encased it. For a moment she had sworn she saw her future in those dark eyes, the same ones that would one day shine with unfettered love and excitement as they looked at their newborn son cradled in his arms. Those eyes had seen so much and held so many secrets, they were the doorway to the very soul.

"You wanted to see me sir?" Shaylah asked as she entered the large office. The majestic phoenix squawked at her from its perch.

"Ah, yes! Miss Epans please." Dumbledore gestured for her to come closer as the pensieve he had been using floated back toward its case. "Memories, like time, are something quite fickle. We never lose them, but as we age they tend to change."

"Yes sir." Shaylah was unsure how to respond to something so incredibly relevant to her current situation. She fiddled with the sleeves of her robes, tugging them lower.

"I hear you have advised against a certain Professor. Why exactly is that?"

"I saw Professor Moody put something in the Goblet of Fire while I was on my way to Care of Magical Creatures sir. I was suspicious so I felt I should tell someone." She lied.

Dumbledore hummed. "That is a tremendous accusation, Miss Epans." The old wizard folded his arms behind his back.

"I know sir, I meant no harm. I only thought it was relevant once Harry's name was called. He couldn't have put it in himself, could he?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "No, he could not." There was an uncomfortable silence and Shaylah opened her mouth to speak but Dumbledore spoke first. "Thank you Miss Sn-Epans. You may go."

He knows.

As she descended the stairs she pulled the precious photo from the pocket of her robes. It was still just her beaming smile that graced the photo, but now the scenery was different.