Night had fallen when the two girls finally made their way out of the forest under the cover of Disillusionment Charms, with Ziggy trotting along after them. Ada had spent most of the time practicing her Patronus Charm, but still hadn't managed a corporeal form. They'd spent the rest of the time talking and Freddie had shown her some of the best places in the forest to gather herbs. They were walking towards the Beauxbatons carriage in no particular hurry, their hands clasped together so they wouldn't be separated, when Snape's voice broke through Freddie's Occlumency shield with such intensity she stopped short.

They are gone. Come here. Now.

A shiver went through her at the tone of his voice and Ada felt it.

"What's wrong, Freddie?" she asked, squeezing her hand.

"Snape wants me to come to his office now," she said and she started walking again at a much quicker pace. Did he know that she'd gone into the forest? Was he mad at her? She suddenly felt very much like a student again and she almost dreaded having to face her teacher when she'd been caught out of bounds in the forest.

"How do you know?" Ada asked curiously.

"Legilimency," she answered quietly. "He told me in my mind."

"It works like that?" she said wondrously. "You can have conversations with him in your head? Without eye contact, without even being in the same room?"

"Yeah."

"Isn't that weird? Having your mind completely open to one another?"

"Sometimes," she said with a slight chuckle. "Though I've grown quite used to it over the years. As for our minds being 'completely open' well, we are both skilled enough in Occlumency to hide any thoughts or feelings that we may want to. When we use it this way, just to communicate quickly, all we use are words. I didn't get any thought or emotion from him with this message – although from the tone of his voice, he didn't sound too happy."

"Is he ever?" Ada joked lightly and Freddie couldn't help but crack a smile.

"I know how to make him happy," she said slyly, thinking of the way she'd pleasured him with her mouth last night. She'd wanted to do it again this morning after breakfast, but she would have been late for work.

"I bet," Ada said, making a face and then giggling. "...What about your Occlumency shield? You said that it's always in place, that it's second nature to guard your mind all the time, right?"

"Yeah, but I can feel when someone is trying to get through it. It's a disturbance in my mind, sort of like...like catching something out the corner of your eye," Freddie tried to explain.

"Like in Star Wars? A disturbance in the Force?"

"Star what?" she asked blankly.

"Oh it's a Muggle movie. Well several movies, but it'd take too long to explain them. So how do you know if it's him trying to reach you? Couldn't it be someone else trying to gain access to your thoughts?"

"I know his presence quite well," Freddie answered with a shrug. "I've felt other people try to penetrate my Occlumency – when Severus and I are out and about together. It doesn't happen often and I can't usually pinpoint where they're coming from, but...anyone else trying to enter my mind feels like a sharp stab that gets more intense as I reinforce my shield. With Severus it's more of a gentle nudge and I can feel that it's his mind before I ever lower my guard. And I can still keep my Occlumency in place to an extent, so no one else could use Legilimency on me while we're talking. It's like our own little...little bubble inside my mind where we're both protected."

"That's amazing," she said as they drew closer to the Beauxbatons carriage. There were lights on in the carriage, no doubt the rest of the girls had come in before curfew. "And you don't need eye contact or physical closeness at all?"

"To an extent. For example, when I'm in London and he's at the castle we can't reach one another," she replied, but then she thought about it. She assumed it was the truth, but she didn't know if Snape had ever really tried to reach her mind over such a distance. Surely he had?

"Still it's quite impressive. And convenient at times I'm sure."

"It is," Freddie agreed with a nod.

She walked with Ada to the steps of the carriage and waited while the girl removed her Disillusionment Charm. Freddie kept hers in place, preferring to go into the castle undetected.

"Au revoir, Winifred, je te vois dimanche," Ada said quietly so they wouldn't be overheard. "For our next duel."

"Sunday," Freddie confirmed with a nod. "Bon soir, Adalene."

When Ada was safely inside her carriage, Freddie hurried towards the castle with Ziggy hot on her heels. She didn't like to keep Snape waiting, even if he was cross at her for being in the forest. She skidded into the entrance hall, expecting to find it empty of students at this late hour. Instead she found herself facing Dumbledore. From the looks of things he was on his way out and although he shouldn't have been able to see her the headmaster's blue eyes were locked onto Freddie's position. Only he wasn't smiling. He started to draw his wand from the sleeve of his robes but before Freddie could react his eyes fell on Ziggy who was sitting patiently at her feet. Dumbledore's expression softened into an amused smile and he put his wand away.

"Miss Gray?" he asked in a soft but pleasant voice.

"Um, y-yes sir," she said, mentally berating herself. She hadn't even attempted to be quiet running into the hall of course she'd been caught. Even if she had been totally silent she doubted she could've slipped past Dumbledore. He was too sharp.

"Quite an impressive Disillusionment Charm," he said. "I assume you are off to see Severus and didn't want to risk being mistaken for a student?"

"Something like that, yes sir."

"I suggest you move more quietly next time," he said with a good-natured smile. "And perhaps lose the kneazle."

"Yes sir. Thank you."

"Carry on," he said with a chuckle and continued on his way out of the castle. As if he knew what Dumbledore said Ziggy fluffed up and stalked away from Freddie's invisible form. She tried to call him back, tell him he didn't have to go, but the kneazle was already out on the grounds, chasing a toad that had pounced onto the moonlit path.

Freddie wondered where Dumbledore was going at this late hour – going to meet with an Order member perhaps? Or going to Hogsmeade for a drink? Or maybe he was just taking a stroll around the grounds. Either way Freddie pushed the thoughts of Dumbledore aside and headed – a little more stealthily – down the steps into the dungeon.