The Durmstrang champion Viktor Krum entered the maze next, followed by Ada's friend Fleur Delacour. It was impossible to see what was going on in the maze after that, the hedges were too tall, but Ludo Bagman kept up a running commentary about the sort of things the champions would face in the maze – creatures ranging from spiders to boggarts, a sphinx with a complicated riddle, various spells and enchantments. He talked about each of the champion's performance in the previous tasks. When Bagman mentioned Potter's 'clever use of gillyweed' to reach the bottom of the Black Lake in the second challenge, Snape grunted softly.

"He stole it from my office," he muttered to Freddie, leaning close to her ear so Dumbledore couldn't hear him. She was surprised he hadn't told her about that, but then she hadn't really seen him much since Christmas. She couldn't help but wonder just how Harry Potter had managed to steal the gillyweed from Snape's office, which was protected with enchantments none but the most powerful wizards could break. Had someone helped him? Moody, perhaps?

Freddie felt more than a little awkward sitting between Snape and Dumbledore in the stands, but every time she happened to catch Dumbledore's twinkling eye he was smiling at her, seeming amused.

Red sparks came up from the maze and both Dumbledore and Snape leaned forward. Dumbledore's brow was furrowed. A moment later McGonagall and a man who must by Mad Eye Moody came out of the maze, levitating the body of a boy.

"Albus, is it-?" Snape began, but Dumbledore shook his head.

"It's Viktor Krum," he answered and a moment later Bagman's amplified voice confirmed that Krum had indeed been removed from the challenge. It was unknown what had happened to him, only that he had been found unconscious. Dumbledore relaxed a bit, but a few minutes later he sat forward again with a serious expression on his face.

"Something is wrong," the headmaster said and there was a sober, ominous tone to his voice that Freddie had never heard before. She glanced at Snape who was watching Dumbledore with his dark eyes, his face expressionless.

"What do you mean, professor?" Freddie asked the headmaster, but he didn't answer. His eyes were on the maze, searching, but try as she might Freddie couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. A few moments later Snape let out a soft cry of surprise. Alarmed, she turned to look at him only to see that he was holding his left forearm and his face was ghostly white, contorted with pain he was trying to hide. She felt herself grow pale and her heart leapt into her throat as she realized the Dark Mark was burning.

"Take Severus out of here," Dumbledore said to her, his voice soft but urgent. "Quickly, before anyone notices. Don't let him Disapparate."

"Yes sir," Freddie said immediately. She knew what it meant – Snape's pain and the serious expression on Dumbledore's face... the Dark Lord had returned.

She took Snape's arm, ready to lead him out of the stands, but he quickly jerked himself free of her grasp. Still he stood and followed her down the wooden stairs. No one seemed to notice, as they were all looking towards some commotion in the stands where the Durmstrangs sat. Freddie was going to lead him to the castle but as soon as they reached the bottom of the stairs Snape ducked beneath the stands. Freddie followed him into the shadows, her heart pounding, and saw that he had collapsed against one of the wooden support beams. She'd never seen him like this before. He was deathly pale and sweating, and his breath came in ragged gasps. He had his right hand clamped around his left arm, just below the spot where she knew the Dark Mark was burning. His jaw was clenched like he was trying to keep from screaming and his eyes were shut tightly.

She knelt beside him in the dirt, trying to get a handle on her own fear. A million thoughts were running through her mind, about the Dark Lord, and the Mark, and Snape and what it all meant. He would have to resume his role as a spy, return to the service of the Dark Lord, where he could be killed at any moment. She took a deep breath to steady herself and used her Occlumency to calm her mind. She'd more than mastered the skill over the last five years, with Snape's help. She quieted her turbulent thoughts and her voice was steady when she spoke.

"Severus? Is there anything I can do?" she asked softly. He jerked his head to the side in response, still not opening his eyes to look at her. She could see the sweat beaded on his forehead in the dim light and she wanted to wipe it away but she was afraid to touch him.

"How long will it hurt?" Freddie murmured. She could remembered the Mark burning on her mother's forearm, causing her great pain, but she always Disapparated less than a minute later. It had been several minutes now and Snape's Mark was still burning.

"Until I join him," he said, his voice hoarse. "Until they all join him."

"Dumbledore said not to let you go," she said and he nodded sharply. "Does that mean you won't have to go?"

"Not...yet," he said and Freddie could see that he was trembling.

She didn't ask him anymore questions, not wanting to cause him any more pain. She sat down next to him, leaning back against the wooden beam, not caring that her new dress was getting dirty. She didn't dare to touch Snape, even though she wanted nothing more than to comfort him, just sat silently a few inches away from him. He let go of him arm suddenly and took her left hand in his right. His skin felt like ice and he was squeezing her hand so hard she thought he might break it, but she didn't even think of asking him to let go.

They stayed like that for several minutes then slowly Snape started to relax. He took several deep breaths before his breathing evened out. He let go of her hand and Freddie watched as he pulled the sleeve of his robes up to look down at the Mark. The snake and skull were black but quickly fading to red, like it was cooling off.

"It stopped?" she asked him quietly.

"It still hurts, but it is no longer burning. He must have everyone he expected," he said tightly. "Did anyone see us leave?"

"No, they were all looking at something in the Durmstrang crowd."

"Karkaroff. His Mark would have burned, too. No doubt he fled."

Karkaroff was the Headmaster for the Durmstrang Institute. Freddie had met him once before, and knew he was a Death Eater. He was a deeply unpleasant man who she disliked intensely.

"He fled?" she asked, somewhat surprised. Karkaroff seemed like exactly the sort of Death Eater who would return. He was evil and sadistic...but then he had named the names of other Death Eaters to stay out of Azkaban after the fall of the Dark Lord. Snape had told her that. He'd even tried to name him, but Dumbledore's word kept Snape out of Azkaban.

"He'll be killed," Snape said shortly. "He's a coward. He may have been killed whether he returned or not, but he definitely will be now. I may be killed as well, if I do not get the opportunity to explain my absence tonight."

"Oh Severus..." she said, putting her hand on his arm, but he jerked away again.

"You should leave," he said harshly, getting to his feet and pulling his sleeve down back over the Mark. She quickly stood as well, brushing the dirt from her dress. "Get out of here. Get your things out of my house and go!"

"What-?"

"You were nothing more than a distraction," he hissed through clenched teeth. "I do not have time for distractions. I was getting tired of you anyway. Go."

She knew he was lying but his harsh words still stung.

"You don't mean that," she said quietly, taking a step closer to him.

"I mean it. You mean nothing to me. Leave," he said forcefully. Before she could stop herself she slapped him hard across the face, surprising both of them. She'd never hit him before, but his words had made her so angry. She took a nervous step back but he grabbed her wrist, squeezing it so tight she bit her cheek to keep from yelping. He didn't say anything but his dark eyes were full of anger and something else...fear.

"You're just scared," she murmured. He tightened his grip on her wrist and opened his mouth furiously, but she cut him off. "I know you love me. You're scared I'm going to get hurt. We knew this was a possibility, Severus. We knew you might have to go back to him eventually. That's why we resumed my Occlumency training after what happened with the Philosopher's Stone. We knew this was going to happen. I told you before – I'm not going anywhere. No matter what happens, no matter what you say or do, I'm not leaving. I love you."

He let go of her wrist and exhaled slowly. He couldn't even look at her, he was staring at the ground. There was an angry red mark on his left cheek where she had slapped him and she felt slightly guilty.

"...I'm sorry, Winifred," he whispered finally. "You're right."

"I know I am. And if you ever say that again – that I don't mean anything to you – then you won't have to worry about the Dark Lord, I'll kill you myself."

He let out a short, hollow chuckle and looked up at her finally. She could still see the fear and pain in his eyes, but he cupped her cheek gently.

"I'm sorry," he said again. "I love you."

"I know...and I suspect so does Dumbledore. That's why he wanted me here with you tonight, didn't he? He knew something like this would happen."

"He had a feeling," he said with a nod. "...I'm glad you were here."

"Me too. I'm just sorry I couldn't do anything to help with the pain," she said remorsefully. "And I'm sorry that I slapped you. You just made me so angry, saying all that."

"It's okay," he said, rubbing his cheek absently. The mark was already fading. "I just...I don't want anything to happen to you, Winifred. I know I won't be able to hide you from the Dark Lord. You are too close to me, we live together, it's... It would be better if you left, if you moved away maybe went into hiding then I could keep you safe."

"I'm not leaving, and I'm not hiding. I'm not going anywhere without you."

"I may not be able to protect you from Him," he said, his voice strained. "And I... I don't know what I would do if I lost you, Winifred."

He said this last part in a whisper, his voice raw with emotion. She put her arms around him in a hug and he returned her embrace, resting his chin on top of her head.

"It's okay, Severus," she said softly, her voice muffled by his chest. "It's going to be okay."

"You don't know that," he said uneasily and squeezed her tighter.

"It will be okay. I can handle it. Whatever happens...we will handle it together."