Seventh Year, Part 4

On the following morning, Skyrah went to the Great Hall only not to raise further suspicions. If it'd been plausible, she'd have stayed all day locked in her dorm, refusing to give any explanations. She was glad that Severus had sat as far from her as possible. Even if competent at Occlumency, the turmoil inside her was too big to hide at all times. Having him close enough to smell him or brush past him would trigger her.

"Where were you yesterday?"

"Sitting my NEWTs, as you, I hope," said Skyrah, cuttingly. Despite her lack of hunger, she took an apple to keep herself busy. Perhaps Potter would leave her alone then.

So much for that.

"At eight. We were supposed to meet to discuss how the year has gone and plan what to tell the prefects this afternoon."

It was clear by her groan that she'd forgotten about it.

"We all know shagging is more fun than a Head Boy and Head Girl meeting, but I expected more from you."

"Don't lecture me, Potter."

He must have noticed something about her: the bags under her eyes she hadn't even bothered glamouring, her sickly pale skin, or her voice. She'd seldom sounded more tired.

"What's the matter?"

"As if you cared," she said with a bitter laugh.

"Maybe I do. What's wrong?"

"I don't need a Gryffindor to pester me."

"Can you leave our animosity aside and let me help you when you're clearly not okay? I've got good intentions. If you can't accept my help, fine, but we need to talk."

Incapable of eating anymore, she left the bitten apple on the table. She was too weak to oppose him when he took her hand and led her away, though she did break free from his grasp and followed him in silence. He hadn't been wrong, after all. The meeting still had to take place. He instructed her to wait by the entrance to Gryffindor's Common Room. Upon his return, he craned his neck to make sure nobody was there and began to walk, urging her to follow him again. After a glimpse at the object he'd fetched from his dorm, she couldn't quite make out what it was. A blanket of sorts, perhaps. At some point in an empty corridor, he covered them from head to toe with the strange piece.

"It's an invisibility cloak," he revealed.

"Bastard." Everything Severus had told her about feeling watched or the marauders seeming to come out of the blue made sense. "Three vassals under your command to outnumber Severus, a bloody magical map to stalk him, and this invisibility cloak to attack him without facing any consequences. You sicken me."

"Yeah, yeah. You're entitled to insult me," he whispered. After casting a silencing charm, he tilted his head, indicating that they could speak freely. She waited for him to start telling her what he thought should be covered in the prefects' meeting, only for him to look at her dead serious and say, "The only time I've seen you this distressed, you were thinking about your father. Has he found out about your secret relationship? My mates and I haven't told on you."

"My father doesn't know anything."

"So what's the matter? Did Snape hurt you?"

"I hurt him." She hesitated but found she needed to vent. Only Potter was available at present. "He proposed to me. I said no. We agreed to officially break up after our graduation." Potter's eyes widened yet she barely noticed. She put a hand on her chest, trying to keep at bay the flashes in her mind reminding her of Severus's desperation and the choice he'd been forced to make. Her heart physically ached. No matter she felt like she was drowning, her responsibilities as a head girl persisted. "At any rate, we shall discuss what we should've tackled yesterday."

"You aren't okay to discuss that. I'll lead the meeting today," he offered after the shockwaves passed. "You needn't attend. I'll say you're feeling under the weather and announce the next Head Boy and Head Girl."

Skyrah made an effort to nod, knowing Severus would ask her to accept Potter's offer if only to rest.

"Can't Professor Dumbledore help you with your… situation?" he asked.

"He already is."

"Clearly not enough, if you feel like you must break up with Snape. Who's your father? If the aurors are behind him, he must've appeared on The Daily Prophet. Yet Riddle…" He shook his head, his messy hair jiggling with the movement. "It doesn't ring a bell."

"'Riddle' won't ever appear in the newspapers."

"What name would appear?"

"What would you do if you knew? Go after him? Did you not pay attention to everything I told you? The punishments? Going against him will get you killed!"

"Doing nothing will get you killed. You aren't the same girl that used to confront me and Sirius. Your fire is gone."

Skyrah looked away. Facing the facts took the courage of a Gryffindor. "What is it to you?"

"We've worked together for a year. Is it so weird to believe I may have grown to care for you?"

"I can't forget that you're a liar, Potter. Have you told Evans how you used to bully Severus?" She clicked her tongue. "So I thought."

To her surprise, he must have felt some sort of embarrassment, or else he wouldn't be blushing.

"Don't change the subject. You mentioned your father isn't a Death Eater. He seems worse than that, and Professor Dumbledore's help isn't enough. The only one worse than a Death Eater and powerful enough to match the headmaster is You-Know-Who himself."

Denial. He'd expected that, after such an accusation. Shock, most certainly. Neither case scenario came true. Skyrah remained quiet. Severus hadn't even thought about the possibility that Voldemort could have had a daughter, or that if he'd had a daughter, Skyrah would be the one. Potter, not blindfolded with love for her, had seen the truth.

"I won't say a single thing about my father's identity. I made an unbreakable vow."

She might as well have screamed a 'yes'. It had the same effect on Potter. Only someone like Voldemort would force his daughter to make an unbreakable vow to keep his identity hidden. His brown eyes were round, yet he hadn't put distance between them. Skyrah had to give him credit: he didn't get scared easily.

"You must have valuable information. You could help the Order."

"Pardon?"

"Fight him. Join us."

"I value my life, thank you very much." Her joining the Order as an ally was meant to remain anonymous for security reasons, and so she played her role well.

"You're upset today, but when your mind isn't so cloudy you should give it some thought. You aren't like your father and he's made your life hell. It makes sense you'd want to fight him, and your best option is joining us."

"Drop it, Potter."

He did, more or less.

"Snape would never join the Order, but I see potential in you."

"You aren't a good judge of character. You think Severus is the worst. You've judged him all his life. He's been in so much pain, pain you contributed to. Day after day, you couldn't take a break. I know you somehow led him to Lupin when he was in his werewolf form."

"He lied to you if he told you that, apart from not having respected the secrecy vow. I saved Snape myself. I didn't know about the prank until it was almost too late."

"A prank?" She huffed, indignant. "Was your making fun of his social class and having him upside down, with his underwear exposed, a prank, too? You treated him horribly in our fifth year."

"He deserved it for calling Lily that slur," hissed Potter, beginning to lower his eyebrows. "He's just a future Death Eater."

To her disappointment, Potter wasn't entirely wrong about the Death Eater part. "Your actions were repulsive no matter your opinion of Severus."

"Why? People like Mulciber humiliate muggle-borns constantly. Don't they deserve the same? An eye for an eye."

"This is what you fail to understand: you think you're better than them, but in the end, you both hate a group of people. You're the same."

Potter was breathing raggedly, starting to feel offended and judged. "He wasn't defenseless. He fought back."

"Was he supposed to allow you to send him to the Infirmary without a fight?" Skyrah shook her head. "I don't like you, but Severus cares about Evans, and I want her to date someone with a good heart. Severus may forgive you or not. It's likely he won't, and he's entitled to that, but don't graduate without acting as the Gryffindor you're supposed to be and trying to make amends for your errors. If Evans ever cherished Severus, she'd be happy to know you apologized to him."

She made to leave – there currently weren't any students nearby – but he caught her wrist. She jerked her arm.

"Don't touch me."

"Don't scold me anymore. You made your point already, and you aren't my mother." Less sternly, he added, "You shouldn't go yet. You look like you've cried a lot. Let's wait."

It wasn't like she had a choice (Occlumency wouldn't hide her red eyes and puffy nose), so she obliged him and made a point not to look at him. She wrinkled her nose when a familiar rat ran past her.

"That rat, again," she complained.

"Again?"

"That's the familiar that keeps visiting Slytherin's Common Room. It isn't ours."

Potter frowned. Skyrah had a feeling he knew something she didn't.

"Are you sure it's that rat?"

"Positive. Why?"

It took Potter no time to realize that someone as stubborn as Skyrah wouldn't let it go until he confessed. He'd better speak as soon as possible. A part of him, the noble, Gryffindor part, felt like it was only fair that he didn't keep secrets after he learnt about her father's identity.

"It can't be. Why would Peter sneak into your Common Room?"

"Peter Pettigrew? What does he have to do with this?"

Not even Skyrah could remain stoic when Potter revealed that he and his friends were animagus and, Pettigrew, in particular, was the rat that had just walked past them. Suddenly, Skyrah saw why Lily liked Potter. He cared for his friends.

"The only reason I can think of is that Pettigrew is spying on us Slytherins. He's casually there when they discuss You-Know-Who."

"Why wouldn't he tell us?"

"Because he may not be who you think he is. Don't trust him."

Potter snorted. "Don't be ridiculous."

Skyrah ignored the comment. "You're the king of your group. Black's a noble, which also comes with a lot of power. Lupin could be compared to the clergy, and Pettigrew's always been at the bottom of the social pyramid: a peasant. He sought power and protection in you, but perhaps he needs to feel valued. It's those at the bottom that have the power to revolt."

"You're speaking nonsense."

She almost rolled her eyes. "I've got nothing better to do with my time."

"He'd never betray us."

"Even brothers betray each other when there is power in the middle. You'd know that if you'd paid attention in History of Magic."

"Could you drop the historical references already? My gut tells me what you're saying is impossible."

"Your gut was wrong about me, too." She was getting on his nerves. She could tell by his flared nostrils. Since she wouldn't convince him that way, she forced herself to speak gently, "There's something off about Pettigrew. It may not have to do with him feeling unvalued by his friends. The reason doesn't matter anyway. Facts do. He frequently visits Slytherins when we discuss you-know-what and hasn't told you. You should be careful."

Her advice came to deaf ears. Potter's loyalty and faith in Pettigrew surpassed his for Skyrah.

Later that day, Severus came into the Ghoul Studies classroom. Skyrah was already there, sitting at a desk by the last row.

"You don't look okay."

Neither did Skyrah, although he didn't mention it. It was bad enough she appeared so worried about him.

"Potter got me in a bad mood," he explained, pulling her into his arms. "He apologized and expected me to forgive him. I don't even know why he'd say sorry."

"I asked him to. It's the least you deserve."

"I didn't forgive him. I can't."

"That's understandable. He was horrible to you." She paused, a bit hesitant. "Though he said something about his saving you from Lupin in our fifth year..."

"He saved the werewolf, not me," scoffed Severus.

Skyrah believed him and melted into his arms. "I love hugging you. I'll miss it." Severus sighed and kissed the top of her head. She was trembling when she added, "I love it when you kiss me like that, too."

If he kept holding her and kissing her, she'd break down. He knew her. So he did the opposite. He put distance between them and pointed his wand at her. A duel would be the perfect distraction. She acknowledged his effort, for she smiled at him fondly before seizing her wand.

"Give me your best," he told her.

"Only if you do the same."

In a blink of an eye, a hex had been shouted and Severus was dodging it. For nearly an hour, they didn't stop, even if they were sweaty and breathing harshly through it all. Then Severus kissed her like it was their first kiss (a brief peck) and took her hand in his. His thumb caressed her serpent bracelet. He hoped she'd always keep it, to never forget him and how much he loved her. He'd always keep her leather notebook.

"Have you talked to Professor Slughorn yet?" she inquired.

"Yes. He believes that, given my background, I'd benefit from starting an apprenticeship with Rosalind Lestrange and sit the exam to become a potioneer after the training."

"Isn't she…?"

"All her family is faithful to You-Know-Who."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"Perhaps, but it'll help me as a spy. She's written some articles. Marked or not, she's good at what she does. I can learn from her and learn about her circle." Skyrah gave him a nod, much as she disliked Severus being so close to the Lestranges. He cupped her face with a hand and brushed his thumb across her cheek to appease her. "What are you doing next school year at the end?"

"Ilvermorny's History Professor is retiring in a few years and I could have a chance at being hired, especially with a recommendation note from Dumbledore himself. He reckons it's my best option. The US is far from my father, after all."

And from Severus, were the sorrowful words left unsaid. But even so, Severus knew Dumbledore was right. Voldemort wouldn't go to America unless he had a good reason. Skyrah would be freer there than in Europe. That plus her safety were his priority, and so Severus finished by saying, "Ilvermorny will be lucky to have you one day."

Even when her heart was breaking, he had the ability to make her smile.

Meanwhile, the marauder's map was showing Potter that Pettigrew was in Slytherin's Common Room near Regulus, Avery, and others. When he questioned his friend about it, Pettigrew justified his actions by saying the Order would need this kind of information. Potter believed every single word. Skyrah wasn't emotionally stable and saw things that weren't there. So he told himself.

On their graduation day, Potter proposed to Lily on the school grounds in all his Gryffindor bravado. Severus spotted Skyrah amongst the cheering throng. She was wearing her usual stony mask, only that, when she looked back at him, it cracked for a fleeting second. She entered the castle while the crowd was distracted by the popular, newly-engaged couple.

She stood by the door of their Common Room but didn't pronounce the password, having sensed his presence. There were several things Severus wanted to tell her: that he'd always love her even if he never got to call her his wife; that he'd treasure every instant they'd spent together; that she was his world; that he hoped she'd forgive herself, for he'd forgiven her. When she turned around with tear-stricken cheeks, words failed him. He could only do one thing. He kissed her deeply and delicately at the same time. She rested her hand on his cheek after putting an end to the kiss, just like she did in their second year to prove that he wasn't ugly.

"Thank you for thinking I was worth hoping for. I'm sorry it hasn't been true at the end."

"Don't say that. You're worth it," he said, going in for a second kiss. Their lips didn't touch. A familiar voice calling Skyrah sweetheart had startled her.

"Grandma Brighid! Mum! You aren't supposed to be here."

Severus looked at Skyrah, searching for a sign that told him what to do. She was too mortified at having been caught in a loving embrace to notice. When thinking about the proposal, he'd thought about meeting her mother and grandmother, though he hadn't thought as far as what he'd tell them. He'd planned on turning to Skyrah for advice first. Fate had other plans. He barely knew their names (Brighid and Andraste) and some details Skyrah'd told him about them.

"Clearly. You wanted a moment of privacy," said Gradma Brighid.

There was a twinkle in her eye, as if she were amused by the situation, coupled with fondness on her smile, the reminder of how much she adored her granddaughter. Andraste was eyeing them both. Unlike Brighid, she looked worried. One thing was clear to Severus: these women knew who he was. The proper step to take was to introduce himself anyway, so he did that, extending his hand in hopes of creating a good first impression. How to do that when having dated behind her back? To his surprise, neither her mother nor her grandmother appeared disgusted by him. On the contrary. They looked elated to meet him, if her smiles were of any indication. After shaking hands, he expected awkwardness to spread around them and silence to prolong over time. It wasn't the case.

"You left so abruptly. The ceremony hasn't ended yet. What's going on?"

"It hurt to stay there, watching soon-to-become Mr and Mrs Potter. I… I was jealous," she confessed.

Her family exchanged a look. There were very few reasons why Skyrah would be consumed with envy to the point of fleeing the scene. Severus wished to tell her not to let such feelings dictate her actions, yet wouldn't that make him a hypocrite? He couldn't help his jealousy either. Potter's dreams had come true. Severus's were shattering.

"You can still change your mind about the proposal," he whispered, though he knew it was futile and dangerous. "We wouldn't marry soon. Maybe in a few years… If your father isn't here anymore, we could…"

Skyrah's face softened. "Hanging onto false hopes will hurt us." That was the moment Brighid and Andraste understood Severus had proposed to her and she'd said no. Stubbornness ran in the family, and she'd been set on breaking up with Severus from the moment she revealed it all to them and asked for their advice.

"I know. I had to try one last time, though."

She sighed and kissed the corner of his mouth. "We must say goodbye. Are you coming inside to get your luggage too?"

"Not yet. I should spend some time with… fellow Slytherins."

Skyrah understood. Maintaining connections with their classmates was essential for his future job. She looked at Severus with a hint of worry, as if asking him if he'd be fine with her family for a moment. After his reassuring nod, she went into the Common Room to get her stuff.

It was only once she was too far to overhear them that Brighid said, "My granddaughter doesn't know me well if she thinks I'll allow her to lose her soulmate."

A flush rose to his cheeks. Brighid had spoken with such conviction he couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed. Soulmate was a concept he'd never given much thought to, yet now he couldn't help but think their matching crows indicated exactly that.

"We're breaking up to remain safe."

"You're breaking up because she's frightened," countered Brighid.

"Aren't you?" He was terrified, like Skyrah. Just imagining her under the cruciatus curse was enough to make his skin crawl.

"I'm more scared of the power she lets her father have. It's fear that he feeds on."

Severus stopped to think if there was truth in those words, if Voldemort was less powerful than most people believed him to be, if fear alone gave him the power he needed.

"I don't know how to allay her fear," he said. "Not out of this castle."

"It depends on herself, I'm afraid, not on us. Occlumency is a defense tool I taught her, something that makes her feel like she has some sort of control over him and freedom. It isn't enough," Andraste finished in a sorrowful tone.

"What I know is that separating her from you won't help her," said Brighid. "Love gives hope. Hope gives strength and faith. Without you, she'll be weaker, and Tom wants her weak and alone. It's the reason he's never allowed her to have friends or form bonds with anyone, the reason he despises Andry and me so much. We give Skyrah the love he wishes she didn't have at all."

Severus listened closely. He interpreted Tom to be Voldemort's real name, a name he couldn't help but think it sounded quite muggle, common. Everything Brighid was saying sounded quite logical, yet there was a grave issue to solve.

"What do you suggest?" he asked, lost. "It won't help her either if I convince her to keep dating only for one of us to wind up dead."

"Tom doesn't need to know about you," said Andraste, smiling in anticipation. "We've got an ace up the sleeve. We're yet to tell her. It's taken us some time to find it."

"To find what?"

"The object that will hide you from Tom."

"Please stop," begged Skyrah, coming out of the Common Room with her luggage ready. "I can't let history repeat itself. I can't change what happened to Faith, but I have some control over what might happen to Severus. My choice is to get away from him."

Skyrah had never used that tone with her grandmother. Severus could tell by Brighid's uneasiness and the fact that Skyrah could barely meet her eyes.

"You made that decision without knowing about these." Brighid showed two mirrors the size of an open palm. She handed one to Severus and one to Skyrah and instructed them to look at themselves in the mirror. They saw the reflection of their love, not of their own face. Brighid explained, "Two-way mirrors. You'll be able to communicate safely through them until we find a way to stop Tom. It was supposed to be a graduation gift so that you didn't have to break up with the boy. Given the circumstances, you should consider it a future-engagement gift instead. No need for melodramatic heartbreaks."

Severus, though with pinkish cheeks, couldn't help but let out a half-grin. He liked Grandma Brighid's bold, no-nonsense attitude. It was clear just how much she adored Skyrah. It was a bonus that she approved of him and Skyrah staying together and even becoming engaged. He was starting to feel that the future they'd envisioned, one in which they lived apart and with zero contact until the war ended, wouldn't have to come true in the end. Her mother and grandmother were a great support. If only Eileen resembled them a little bit, everything would've been different growing up. Eileen hadn't even shown up at his graduation.

The noise of students getting into the castle echoed along the corridors and reached them. The ceremony had to have ended, and with it, Slytherin students and maybe some family members would venture into the dungeons to pick up their suitcases. Severus retrieved a vial from his pocket which contained invisibility potion, the one he and Skyrah would sometimes take to ensure they weren't seen on their way to their secret meeting spot.

"This conversation isn't over. We must hide. Drink this. To the Room of Requirement. It's—"

"We know where it is," Andraste cut him off, taking the vial from him and drinking a small dose.

His quick thinking allowed the family and Severus to go into the Room of Requirement without being noticed. It was the perfect place to discuss such important matters privately, without risking being seen and heard by people of the likes of Rosier or Avery, the Death Eater circle. Safe in the magical room, Skyrah and Severus held the mirrors.

"My garden?" asked Brighid, touched.

Andraste was smiling too, marveled at the surroundings. They were a faithful replica of the real thing. Even the fresh smell of plants and roses was believable.

"It calms me down. Grandma, I… This gift is…" Skyrah swallowed hard. "Thoughtful. I'm thankful you gave us the mirrors, but Severus and I must break up anyhow."

"You need to put some physical distance for an uncertain period of time. Once Tom's behind bars, you'll be able to be together."

"You don't understand. Severus…"

"I intend to become a spy," he finished for Skyrah. Skyrah trusted these women, so he would, too. "I'll pretend to be a Death Eater and give valuable information to Professor Dumbledore. I know exactly who Tom Riddle is."

The air became tense, quiet. Andraste shook her head slightly as if she couldn't believe it. She touched his arm, a gesture full of warmth that reminded him of Skyrah. Now he knew why his girlfriend was so affectionate despite the terrible father she had.

"Severus, your intentions and courage are admirable, but I don't advise you to follow that route. Tom's merciless, vindictive, and shrewd. You won't be safe. Maybe you can come to the US with us. Find a job or continue with your studies, away from this war. Close to Skyrah, but not too close to avoid Tom learning about you. We'll find a way to protect you."

Severus was touched and very sorry he couldn't agree with Andraste. "Skyrah's right. If I wasn't a spy, perhaps the mirror could work, but You-Know-Who has shown interest in me. I must become a Death Eater. As a spy, I can help bring him down."

Andraste and Brighid mulled over it and realized Severus was right in that he was trapped. The only way to be in control of his fate was by endangering his life for the Order's cause.

"You can still use the mirror to consult my granddaughter. She knows Tom better than you."

"If we use the mirror, we'll remain close. It isn't sensible," argued Skyrah.

She was about to return Brighid the mirror when Andraste intervened, "If you won't be using that, I will. This family knows Tom inside and out. Severus would benefit from talking to us. Something tells me he'd rather see your face than mine in that mirror." Skyrah looked away. Andraste sighed and spoke in a sweet voice, putting a hand on her shoulder, "You've fooled Tom by dating a half-blood behind his back for a long time. You can trick him again. I'd never give you anything I believed would put you in danger."

The more Severus listened to Skyrah's family, the more he liked them and convinced himself they were onto something. Perhaps he and Skyrah wouldn't be able to use the mirror daily or agree on a hidden place to meet and see each other face-to-face. Nonetheless, if given a cautious use, it'd be the key to remain close in a rather safe way. The mirror would keep them apart and together simultaneously during difficult moments. All was not lost. Skyrah saw Severus in the mirror's surface, begging her with his eyes to listen to Andraste. Maybe this mirror would be the push that would allow her to face her fears, and with that, grow more powerful than Tom would like her to be. She turned her head to look at Severus directly.

"Let's fight together," he said, raising a hand. "Before you say it's dangerous, yes, it is. Not fighting at all is even more dangerous."

"I'm scared," she said, trembling. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"I can get hurt anyway. I'll be a spy. Why don't you seize this opportunity?"

Skyrah looked at the faces of those she loved and who loved her most. Frightened as she was, her Horned Serpent mind was telling her that her family and Severus wouldn't insist if they thought this was a bad idea. On the contrary. Skyrah grabbed the mirror, afraid she'd change her mind if she didn't act quickly, and kept it close to her chest.

"That's my granddaughter," said Brighid, proud.

Skyrah was looking at Severus, though. "What does this mean for our relationship?"

"This?" He raised his mirror slightly. "This is even more promising than any engagement ring I could have got you. We'll work together through this mirror. When the war is won, I'll propose to you again, and this time, you won't be thinking about him but solely about us."

"What are we supposed to be meanwhile: something akin to allies in a war? We can't have a long-distance relationship and keep dating in secret. My father is an extraordinary legilimens. He can't see me in your mind other than as a past classmate. If we use the mirrors frequently, we'll be tempting our fate. A slip will be enough to get you killed."

"So I'll train to become the greatest Occlumens, and we'll keep a minimal, strictly businesslike contact. Something deeper than that, I admit, would play against us. I'd endure the pain of not holding you, of living on different continents, if I knew the reason we're doing that is to be free one day. Would you?"

Severus smiled at her when she nodded. She was almost hopeful, more than she'd been these past months.

"Let your family take care of you when I can't, all right?" he demanded softly.

"Who'll take care of you?"

"Lucius and Narcissa will heal my wounds if necessary. Madam Pomfrey, perhaps, if Professor Dumbledore trusts her."

"What about this?" She put her hand on his chest, where his heart beat. "Who'll take care of this?"

"You're my heart. As long as you're okay, I'll be okay."

She furrowed her brow. "It's not the time to be romantic now. You'll be on your own."

"As it must be. A spy puts those he loves in danger. It's for the best." She was on the edge of crying. "We can do this. We will. We'll be careful."

She fell into his arms, not caring they were being watched by her family. He committed to his memory her sweet scent, the warmth of her body against his and her breath on his neck, her beautiful voice saying that she loved him dearly and always would, and her lips brushing against his for the last time.

That night, in Spinner's End, he put the mirror next to his notebook on his nightstand. With the mirror so close to him, he could pretend she was next to him. With his eyes closed, he could almost hear her voice singing the Irish lullaby, or recall exactly how it felt to fall asleep naked beside her. His last thought before succumbing to slumber was that together, they'd find a way to escape Voldemort. And together they'd stay as long as they kept the mirrors.

...

A/N: I'm back! Sorry for the delay. I've been working a lot lately, but from now on I'll actually have free time :D I'm excited about the next part of the fic: post-Hogwarts. Stay tuned!