Take Me Back to Eden

by OhhTaylorJade

"Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love." - Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov.

13. Chapter 12: Another Bad Dream

Chapter Twelve: Another Bad Dream

"Breathe, cold, another bad dream
Got mud on my face that I can't get clean
Feel whole, but I rip at the seams
If I can't get you away from me
Taking showers every hour and I choke on steam
Writing on the mirrors and the space between
All so tall, it broke the fourth wall
Guess our fairy tale had a few plot holes"

---

The booming sound of the cannon broke through the voice of Dumbledore announcing the start of the final Third Task, causing the stands filled with students from all of the participating schools to cheer with excitement for their respected champion. It was just as thunderous as the canon itself. The four champions had lined up in front of the openings where tall, verdant hedges had been formed. They all stepped through the threshold and made their way among the walls of greenery that formed the magical, and dangerous, maze that was set to be their final task. Even though Harry and the other three champions had prepared for this task weeks in advance, a nice change of pace from the way the last two challenges were handled. What little I did know about the maze was that it held anything but niceties that the four champions would have to face. I sighed as I saw him look back and monitor that his eyes had locked onto Alastor Moody before he turned around toward the shrubbery just as it had closed around the four entrances. There was no going back for any of the four that now ventured through their final task.

"Now, we wait," Minerva stated as she leaned toward Aurora and me from her place next to Severus, who stood next to me.

"I wonder how long it'll take them," Aurora commented openly to the three of us. "I mean, I know they have an hour time limit, but what if none of them find it in that amount of time? Are we just gonna wait all night?"

Minerva chuckled and perked up her thin eyebrows to me and looked back to Aurora with the same expression, clearly amused by my assistance out loud thinking. "Have faith, Ramsey, one of them is bound to find it promptly," Minerva answered.

Aurora rolled her head to me and held my stare with deadpan enthusiasm at this answer. Her less-than-happy expression caused me to titter before glancing to my right, eyeing the posture and facial expression of Severus. He merely looked to the side catching Aurora's display before he looked forward once more, flicking his eyes up as the sneer on his lips twitched.

"What about you, Severus?" She leaned forward to make sure he wasn't able to ignore her. "How long do you think it'll last? We can always wager a bet, ya know." The mischievous glint within her gave way to her playful attitude. She was fully aware that Severus more or less tolerated her presence, and for some reason at this point in the school year, she found it entertaining to lightly test his patience. I believe I remember her saying that since she has yet to be able to enter the Slytherin common room, and while sticking to her word and not revealing anything about our secretive relationship, this was her act of rebellion to get him to break. She theorized he wouldn't break easily, and so she decided to play the "long con" as she put it.

Her innocent question was met with a raised eyebrow, but he did not deem it worthy to look at her when he answered. "Longer than necessary if you keep asking about it, Ramsey."

She pulled back and gave me a mischievous snicker. "He's in a great mood, tonight." She mumbled to me. I gave her a light nudge that caused her to cover her smile and look behind, hiding the exuberant moon she was in from the scrutinizing look of the Potion Master. After a moment Aurora gasped as she turned away, waving to someone behind me, her face brightening up immensely. Following where her sights landed, I noticed that Sinistra had made her way to our side where a majority of the Hogwarts staff stood to stand with Aurora. We were accompanied by the parents of the Hogwarts champions; Mr. and Mrs. Diggory, and Mrs. Weasley with her eldest son, Bill Weasley.

Among the excitement and anxiety waiting in the stands of the converted Quidditch field, I found it hard to enjoy anything around me. How could I when the idea of a looming dread over the final task had taken hold of me as if I plunged headfirst into the Black Lake itself? It wasn't sadness that was affecting my mood, and maybe it had to deal with the fact my stomach remained in knots so tight I couldn't finish a proper meal today, but the ugly, underlining feeling of something brewing within the air. A contribution of multiple factors had left me in such an anxious, and slightly grouchy, mood.

Alastor Moody's words kept ruminating within my mind throughout the day, reminding me how still the proverbial waters had been overall quiet; no indication of any type of foul play within the tournament, and with it being the last task I couldn't help but wonder if his idea of waiting to strike would come about. Wouldn't now be the time to strike if the adversary were waiting for the perfect moment? With Harry being by himself through a maze that stretched on, and on, there would've been no way for us to immediately find him unless he sent sparks up. Even then would any of us get there in time, or would we be too late?

Sirius was also convinced something was waiting beyond this Third Task as indicated in his last letter and did nothing to actually ease my concerns with his overwhelming speculating nature. Even with the happier news that I was finally able to help set up a reasonable location, albeit not so reason to him after he found out it was his old family home that he fussed over, at least it was some kind of home and Dumbledore was able to set it up relatively soon.

What didn't help was the strange disappearance of Barty Crouch Sr. and Harry's strange encounter with him. I wasn't sure what to make of the incident when he told me about it but advised him to be on his guard and to not roam around the school without someone trustworthy accompanying him. Victor Krum, though didn't pose an immediate threat, wasn't exactly the idea of comfort I would've picked for Harry. I offered to walk with him at random times, but he didn't seem too thrilled with the idea and dropped the issue. Maybe it was a bit of a hovering suggestion, but what else were we to do than constantly survey his moves and activities?

With Crouch Sr. missing under the mysterious circumstance, I decided to ask Severus what he thought about the situation with the overly stern worker of the Ministry, and I liked his response even less than hearing about it.

"Another Ministry worker disappearing doesn't paint the picture of comfort, does it?"

I had to agree with him. The start of this final task had gone off without so much as a single hitch, yet I felt as if I were stepping closer to the edge of a cliff, one foot in front of the other as I continued to look over the ledge of a bottomless, dark, pit knowing something horrible was about to happen but unable to stop myself.

I blinked away the recurring thoughts and turned to look for Elowyn among the crowd. It took a moment to search for the familiar face while scanning but soon found her socializing with Hermione, and Ron with his family. Molly Weasley was the perfect picture of a warm, kind, and fussy mother that I had heard about. Her bright red hair made her stand out compared to her shorter height, but overall, her energy was pleasant to witness. She studied tentatively at the coupling of Elowyn and George, holding hands with each other as they conversed with their group of Gryffindors. Though George looked to be talking more for the both of them, I could tell that Elowyn was more reserved than most of her time at Hogwarts. I wondered if meeting her boyfriend's mother, the not-so-latest development I happened to just become aware of to no surprise to me, made her nervous. Maybe a little help from me could help bring her out of her shell like I'd seen before.

I excused myself from my staff mates before walking toward the little group of family and students and smiled up at Elowyn who caught sight of me finally and broke into a full smile as she waved in my direction. Molly Weasley noticed this and followed the girl's sights back to me, giving me a friendly smile once I found my spot next to her.

"I see you've found my daughter," I stated while nodding to Elowyn who looked now a little more curious about my sudden arrival next to the Weasley mother.

Molly nodded before speaking realizing the reason for my random appearance. "Oh, yes! I was just chatting with them and watching…" She answered before lowering her voice and taking a step closer to me. "You'll have to forgive me; when my George told me his first girlfriend was a Slytherin I thought it was another one of his jokes." She looked at me with an apologetic smile. "I wasn't exactly thrilled, but after seeing them together and hearing about how she's become friends with most of my children, Hermione and Harry I must say I'm now more pleasantly surprised!"

I chuckled at her response and nodded. "Elowyn tends to go against the grain, so to speak. She takes after me I'm afraid when it comes to breaking Slytherin stereotypes; my first love was a Gryffindor, too." I gave a sly, all-knowing smile to Molly's amused shock and interest, winking at her before we shared in warm laughter.

"I can see it's genetic then! You raised her well, Miss Thorne." Molly complimented. I didn't feel the need to correct the adoption in that moment; sometimes it was just easier within polite conversation to allow the flow of the conversation to go.

"Please, call me Maeve." She extended her hand introducing herself to a name I already knew before releasing my hand after a second. "I'm thinking we'll be seeing each other more often thanks to those two." I nodded to the students in the stands.

We looked at the two teenagers and watched Elowyn, Hermione, and Ginny Weasley giggle while both twins strongly denied something to Ron. Whatever it was it seemed to entertain the group enough during the wait.

"Mum," The voice of a long, ginger-haired young man walked up to the two of us looking back and forth between me and Molly. The Weasley resemblance was undeniable, not just from the genetics of their hair color, but the way he had his mother's nose and kinder eyes. "I'm sorry, but I can't seem to find a spot."

"Oh, don't worry about that dear," Molly waved off the concerns the young man had. "We'll just have to be fine with standing—Maeve, this is my eldest son, Bill."

He smiled politely and extended his hand. "Aren't you one of the new professors here?" He asked as I took his hand and shook it with a nod and mutually dropped from the handshake.

"Yes, me and my assistant are technically new to teaching here. I've been back for almost a whole school year so, of course, it feels like I've reached tenure here." We shared in the laugh of my little joke before the sound of popping could be heard to our left. I snapped my vision to the sound and watched as red sparks burst high above the hedges. I looked to Aurora who had a similar curious and worried expression as she watched the sparks. Minerva and Filius Flitwick headed down a path that had appeared for them among the greenery hedges to attend to their tournament duties and rescue the student.

"Oh, dear, I hope they're alright," Molly murmured after the sound of her sucking on her cheek was heard.

"Maeve!" I whipped around at Elowyn's shout as Ginny and Hermione pushed their way through the crowd of teens before coming closer to my place in front of the stands. "Can you tell who it is, or something? Is it Harry?" She asked leaning over the side of the wall of stands by her waist.

I shook my head and shrugged. "We'll just have to see, my Star." It was true there was no way to immediately know who sent the sparks up, but I had hoped to comfort her a bit more than giving her a directionless answer. The audible teenage sigh was heard, and she leaned up turned to the other two girls and headed back to their spots.

It was almost ten minutes later before McGonagall and Flitwick returned with a very distraught Fleur Delacour who was now being attended to by a Mediwich and her headmistress, Olympe Maxime. Though I was glad nothing terrible happened to her, I was even more relieved that Harry wasn't the one sending up the sparks.

Not much happened after Fleur's disqualification. Aurora joined the friendly conversation with Molly Weasley and introduced herself as the other parent. Aurora and I took the opportunity to explain Elowyn's relation to us and enjoyed an otherwise humorous conversation. The teens proved bored enough to join in with us as they all moved closer to the front of the stands. For this moment in time, there was nothing but pleasant exchanges, jokes, and casual conversation. Eventually, I ventured back to standing near Severus when I noticed just how reserved he was. It wasn't an uncommon thing for him, and I knew he enjoyed his quiet times, yet I couldn't help but be by his side. Call it a pull toward him, or the need to let him know he wasn't alone, I didn't care for the specifics of the reasoning either way. I didn't speak to him to ensure our interaction was minimal, but the comfortable silence of standing near each other felt safe and eased most of my worries. He didn't wander away or move from his spot, but I did note the relaxing in his shoulders as he looked around, possibly noticing me from his peripheral. Time went on for what felt like an eternity with nothing but the prospect to continue waiting. It was becoming maddening the more that it went on with no updates, red sparks, or any accounting of a winner.

With boredom and impatience simmering around my being, I decided to steal a glance from the side to observe Severus, a temptation I had to allow myself with just one little look at the man I cared deeply for. What I expected was an equally bored Severus, but when I noted the change in his demeanor, I couldn't help but look fully at him. I noticed that he gripped his left arm, a tense and concentrated look on his face where the muscles in his jaw were clenching on and off. Looking around it seemed like everyone else remained in their little world, most of the staff had ventured to speak with each other or observe the hedges waiting for something to happen. If there were a better opportunity to speak to him, I wouldn't have known, and with a few careful side steps to close the bit of space between us and leaned lightly toward his direction.

"Something wrong?" I whispered to him without looking in his direction. He grunted while straightening himself up quickly and clearing his throat. I checked his reaction from the corner of my eye to note the small amount of sweat dripping down his temple. He looked at me debating on speaking or not, before motioning with his eyes to his left arm before looking back to me. I stared at him not entirely sure what he meant before it clicked for me. Why else would he have looked grave, stressed, and shocked? Why else would his normal concealed and blank expression be peppered with the air of agitation and trepidation? My calm and collected manner changed as I frantically searched for Igor Karkaroff to see what he was doing. I noticed as he had been taking long strides to leave the area that his face had lost a great amount of color, and the shine of his sweat reflected from the lightning around us. He was gone the next moment as the worries I had experienced most of the day leading to night were justified.

I turned fully to Severus and stood in front of him, staring up at him with a question I dared not ask openly. I wasn't even sure what exactly I was asking, but I knew the idea involved trouble, the involvement of the Death Eaters, and the most horrible idea of them all involved The Dark Lord. To the multiple questions that ran through my mind, he didn't answer but merely gave a single nod. The action caused me to flinch, breath hitched in my throat.

"It can't be…" I choked out trying to swallow sand at this point with how dry my mouth and throat became. The disturbing weight of this revelation carried a panic that I wasn't sure how to handle at the moment. I only responded out of necessity "We have to go–"

"We aren't doing anything right now." He hissed in a low breath as he held my gaze. I blinked at him as the harshness of his words unable to think of anything else to say. He must've caught my speechless shock and swallowed, softening his tone only slightly. "We cannot make a spectacle of the situation at this time. You must remain in control of your actions."

I gawked at him looking around once more before responding. "So, we're supposed to wait for some onslaught?" I challenged him.

"He'd have a plan, Selini." He growled while his left hand clenched into a fist. "Right now, he's calling his followers presumably to gather. He would need to form a plan before attacking. He'd–" Severus stopped for a moment and I watched as the wheels turned in his mind. He understood something at that moment that I didn't as his eyes found mine surely conveyed my worry. "Potter." was all he said.

A sharp intake of breath as my hand shot up to cover my mouth. Of course, this had to be that animal hiding in the grass, the rain that falls to introduce a catastrophic storm! It must've meant something that Harry had scrapped every task to get here. Did that mean Voldemort was gathering time to attack us all? Severus said he needed a plan, but how quickly was he able to develop one? The most important question at that moment as the rest of them ran through my mind was where was Harry right now?

I didn't have to wait long for some sort of answer as the sound of a loud pop rang through the air and pulled me out of my thoughts. Turning on my heel I noticed that Harry had arrived back in the open space where the champions started, letting the Triwizard Cup fall beside him while his body lay over Cedric Diggory who looked unnaturally still underneath the fourteen-year-old. The sight was peculiar, but due to the sound-deafening cheer that instantly erupted, I couldn't tell if Harry was speaking or… crying. The sound of band instruments welcoming them back made the scene before me even worse when I realized that the shaking of his body did resemble someone crying. I acted quickly taking a few steps till the strong hand of Severus pulled me back to him, his hot breath on my ear as he spoke low.

"You'll give yourself away, Selini. Hold back."

"Something's wrong, Severus, I can feel it." My voice trembled as I watched Dumbledore, and Cornelius Fudge huddled over Harry and Cedric. Fudge pulled up and walked over toward me and Severus just as his hand dropped from my arm. "Tell everyone to remain in their seats, a boy has just died." Fudge hissed before venturing off to inform the other adults around.

I blinked a few times before looking up to Severus when Minerva's hand found my shoulder arriving between me and him. "It's Diggory," Was her solemn answer.

"What's happened?" Aurora came up from behind Severus with Sinistra beside her. I just looked at her unable to relay everything that I was thinking or feeling. Why couldn't she just read my mind, or face, to know that these horrible circumstances were just beginning? I noticed movement quickly coming from behind and watched as Cedric Diggory's parents came up to the scene. Their wailing and outcry were truly heartbreaking to watch the display of emotions that I could understand. No matter the loss there is always something to connect the grief. Aurora was pulled away by Sinistra as my friend put a hand over her mouth to subdue her sobs.

"Go with them," Severus said while turning me away from the scene. My chest was rising and falling quickly with the quickened and shuddery breath as the parents' suffering continued. His eyes held concern and a glimmer of something softer I didn't quite catch, but even with a frown his voice lowered for only me to hear, the baritone voice of his comforting me as best as it could. "Go on, Selini." It must've been his way of keeping my mind off the scene, knowing I wasn't able to easily comfort Harry. I moved with the motions of the situation and followed my fellow witches and the other few teachers to tell everyone to remain seated, regardless of the walling family that just lost their son. Murmurs were few and far between as most people had stared dumbfounded, or with sadness in their stares as they continued to watch. After a few moments, I turned around to try and catch a glimpse of Harry but could no longer see him. I kept moving around to get a better viewpoint, but no matter where I moved, I could no longer see the red and black tournament shirt he wore or a black dot of ruffled and messy hair.

"No!" Panic electrified through my body as I pushed my way through the crowd of on-lookers to meet Dumbledore currently trying to ease the anger and pain of Amos Diggory. "Headmaster!" I called out.

His usually composed demeanor was torn into a more frazzled expression which didn't look natural on his olden face. He turned to me as I caught up to him a little out of breath. "Where's Harry? I can't find him, where did you see him last?" I quickly questioned. Instead of answering he looked around him and also could not pinpoint him either. As he turned toward me Severus had arrived next to my side and stared at him, something exchanged between their looks that I couldn't understand. Dumbledore turned back to me before he spoke.

"Come with me, prepare yourselves." Lowering his tone to only speak to me and Severus as he started to head off toward the direction of the exit. Severus did not look at me when he followed by my side, and as we traveled with Dumbledore, he called Minerva forward from her place near the exit but explained nothing more. I looked around back to find that Aurora was preoccupied with the group Elowyn was with, catching the last sight of my adoptive daughter's astonished gaze before disappearing from my sight as we left through the exit covered by more hedges. I could only hope that whatever trouble was brewing it didn't spill over to the rest of my loved ones while I was away.

"Albus what exactly are we doing, we should be back there—"

"Think about it, Minerva!" Dumbledore exclaimed as we headed toward the castle. "Why would Alastor take Harry away from the safest place he could be at the moment? Away from my sight?" I squinted at the back of the long snowy white mane to try and understand where he was jumping around in his thoughts.

"Alastor taking Potter? What are you talking about, Albus?" Minerva questioned.

"Alastor Moody tried to take Harry away before Amos Diggory pulled my attention away," He explained as our group continued toward the castle, across the lawn, and past the Black Lake that held Durmstrang ship.

"The Dark Lord has called his followers," Severus interjected while taking long strides within the small group, earning an audible outburst from Minerva as the shock overcame her.

"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?!"

"The very same, Minerva! While I think the idea of waiting to watch how things unfold was the better choice, I am hoping we didn't wait too late." Dumbledore pondered openly as we entered through the main entrance of the castle. I looked to Severus who glanced only briefly at me before turning his sights forward once more.

"Where do you think Alastor took Harry, Headmaster?" I questioned just as we followed behind Dumbledore as he made his way toward the Defense Against the Dark Arts tower.

"The only place that he feels safest; his office," Dumbledore answered.

"This doesn't make sense, Albus, what would Alastor want with Potter?!" Minerva cried as we ascended upon the stares.

"I'm afraid I can't say," Dumbledore spoke after a moment. "I just know that something isn't right."

His voice almost betrayed that he could've known what wasn't right or at least speculated. I had to force that out of my head and prepare for whatever I was about to walk in on.

Upon stepping up to the door to the DADA classroom Severus made his way to push the door open first, Dumbledore pointed his wand through the now opened classroom. It was empty, dark, and quiet except for the sounds of commotion within the office that could be heard. Dumbledore shot forward with impressive agile movement that forced us to move with him. Crossing through the rows of desks I was able to hear the shouting a bit better as we finally ran up the stairs to the office.

"...He is back, Harry Potter, you did not conquer him— and now —I conquer you!" The panic that rose within me came out as a gasp with the urge to push past Severus and Dumbledore. The headmaster was quicker than I was and cast a powerful charm to blast the door open. Through the dust and bits of the wall invading my senses, it did not distract Dumbledore from blasting Stupefy at Moody knocking him out cold upon the floor. Severus slithered behind Dumbledore keeping his wand pointed at the man on the ground, and Minerva came up behind me as I followed. The scarlet-colored energy formed in one of my hands as I kept it concentrated on Moody's body and looked for Harry within the room. I noticed Harry's presence to my right and reached out for him while he limped his way toward me. I dipped low to allow him to lean onto my body for support, his arm hanging around me as I held him under his arm.

"Are you okay? Harry?" I looked him over to see just how a mess he was; bloodied, brushed, cut, and dirty. At that point, it was a rhetorical question to ask him and regretted the foolish words. I held him close to me and watched him nodding but saying nothing else.

Dumbledore went to roll over the unconscious body of Mad-Eye Moody, Severus was checking the contents of Moody's Foe-Glass and Minerva rushed by mine and Harry's side. "Hospital wing, come along with us, Potter." Her words made sense, but Dumbledore thought otherwise.

"No," The headmaster said suddenly.

Minerva and I looked to Dumbledore like he should've been the one sent to the Infirmary as well. "Albus," I started forgetting about any formality I wouldn't normally disregard. "He needs to be looked at—he needs medical attention-!"

"He will say, Maeve, but he must understand. Understanding is the first step in acceptance, and only with acceptance, there can be recovery. He needs to know who has put him through the ordeal he has suffered tonight," Dumbledore looked back to us before he finished. "And why."

It was bewildering to see Dumbledore in such a state; what happened to the peaceful and kind headmaster I knew? This only showed the side of him that showed dark wizards and witches why he must be an adversary, a serious threat to any of their plans.

"Moody," Harry choked out causing me to look back at him. The strained look of disbelief in his eyes aged him in that moment. I could've sworn I had seen a shocked James before me. "How could it have possibly been him?"

"This is not Alastor Moody," Dumbledore answered gravely. "You've never known Alastor Moody, nor did you meet for tea with him, Maeve. The real Alastor would not have removed you from my sight after tonight's events. The moment he took you I knew—and I followed."

I blinked at the back of a now turned Dumbledore who bent down to rummage through the coat of the fake Moody's dark green coats. I swallowed and looked toward Severus who seemed just as surprised at his words, his nostrils flaring and his lips twitching at the corners. Dumbledore looked at Severus for a moment as another knowing stare was shared between them. I didn't know what to think and watched just as Dumbledore pulled out the infamous Skull flask and a shiny pair of keys attached to a small key ring. At that moment Dumbledore turned toward Minerva, Severus, Harry, and I.

"Severus," Dumbledore looked to the Potion's Master and spoke again. "Please fetch the strongest Truth Potion you possess, and then go down to the kitchens and bring up the distraught house-elf named Winky. Minerva, kindly go down to Hagrid's hut, where you will find a large black dog sitting in the pumpkin patch. Take the dog up to my office, tell him I will be with him shortly, then come back here."

It felt like I should've understood both of those requests and their meaning, but all I could do was watch as Minerva hastily went off on her errand just as I caught Severus' eyes as he left in pursuit of his.

"Maeve," Dumbledore called my attention while looking at the keys. "Tell me what you and Alastor spoke of the night you two were here."

I blinked and wracked my brain to try and remember our conversation. "He wanted to discuss keeping up with Harry and his safety," The memories came through and I relayed them as detailed as I could remember. "He… he started to ask personal information about how I knew Harry, why you asked me to follow him, too. I just gave him minimal information—"

"Anything else? Anything that didn't involve Harry?" Dumbledore persisted as he went to the intricate chest.

I felt my heart racing as I realized what he was digging for. "... He asked about me, my abilities… He had mentioned it before at the Yule Ball, and I… I…" I couldn't finish the rest of it as it dawned upon me just the kind of target I had put on my back, and not just myself but Aurora and Elowyn for my loose lips. I cursed under my breath before continuing. "I told him about Aurora and Elowyn…" The words fell out of shame.

Dumbledore said nothing as he looked away from me toward the chest and used each key to unlock different trunks within the large chest containing an assortment of different objects. The last and seventh key was used as the lid was thrown open, I heard an audible gasp from Harry, or maybe even me.

The bottom of the trunk appeared endless, dark, and shadowed like a pit that was at least ten or so feet below. At the bottom appeared to be a sleeping man, thin in his appearance from possible starvation, and upon further inspection looked to be the real Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody. Where his mechanical eye would've been held nothing but the socket, his silver, mechanical leg was missing, and the man had most of his hair missing from his head. I couldn't believe the sight of the man within the trunk who resembled nothing of the famous dark wizard catcher I was told about and thought I knew.

As Dumbledore climbed into the trunk, I stared at him in disbelief watching as he was able to drop down gracefully and examined the unconscious Alastor, bending to look at him more closely. "He's been stunned," Dumbledore shouted. "Controlled by the Imperius Curse it seems… very weak. Of course, they would've needed to keep him alive. Maeve, throw down that imposter's cloak he's freezing." I looked at Harry and walked him to an open chair to sit him down, patted his shoulder, and moved to do just that. Every so often I looked at the unconscious face of the man I peeled the coat off of before finally taking it and tossing it down to the headmaster.

"Madam Pomfrey will need to see him soon, but he seems in no immediate danger," Dumbledore explained out loud.

"Hopefully he'll be able to last a bit longer then," I responded expressionlessly. What else could I say, and what else could've been needed? I watched as Dumbledore crawled out of the trunk, pausing for a moment before picking up the Skull-capped hip flask that was placed on the desk nearest to us. The wise man uncapped the flask and smelled it for a moment, exhaling the scent out before spilling out the thick, and disgusting liquid that splatted against the stone office floor. I recognized the consistency from it immediately.

"Polyjuice Potion!" I exclaimed, remembering an incident between Harry and Severus the fateful night we amended our relationship, the night I had also spoken to the fake Alastor. "Is that what Severus was accusing you of Harry? Of stealing from his potion ingredient supply?"

Harry nodded but said nothing.

"You see the simplicity of it, and the brilliance," Dumbledore explained unprompted. "For Moody never does drink except from his flask, he's well known for that. The imposter needed, of course, to keep the real Moody close by, so that he could continue to make the potion. You see his hair…" Nodding the real Moody within the confines of the trunk before continuing. "The imposter has been cutting it off all year, see where it is uneven? But I think, in the excitement of tonight, our fake Moody might have forgotten to take it as frequently as he should have done… We shall see."

Casually Dumbledore pulled out the chair occupying the desk near us and sat down, his eyes remaining on the unconscious and imposter Moody on the floor. We all stared in silence, waiting for something to happen within the time.

'How stupid was I to openly give out information like that?' I scolded myself, feeling bitterness flutter violently through my chest. Gritting my teeth and letting my hands curl into fists where my nails cut into the sensitive flesh. It wasn't until the face of the man on the floor began to morph before my very eyes did, I let this distraction take hold.

Scars were melting away and the skin was smoothing, aging backward as the large nose began to shrink and shift. His bright orange hair began to recede turning a neutral brunette color. A loud and startling clunk was heard as the metal leg fell away and sprouted a fleshy leg in its absence. Just as that happened the flickering and erratic movement had given a sickening pop out of the man's skull and a very real eye formed. The odd bright blue iris of the eyeball swiveled around in random directions upon the floor.

The man was pale, sickly even, and slightly freckled in his face with his hair scattered about his face. I had no idea the identity of the man, nothing triggered any memory for me to recognize who this was.

The sounds of footsteps brought me out of studying the man's features to turn and look to see Severus returning with a house-elf who looked more shaken and wide-eyed at the scene before us. Minerva showed up just behind him and stared down at the body.

"Crouch! Barty Crouch!" Severus snarled at the man.

"...Junior!" I realized. I only knew so much about one of the most scandalous secrets revealed when I was away on my research, but one thing was for sure the news of the London Ministry of Magic reporting that the well-known Bartimus Crouch Sr.'s son involving himself with the Dark Lord was incredibly surreal to me. News that popular about a son of a Ministry worker like Crouch Sr. joining Voldemort's ranks was bound to make its way to me one way or another, Daily Prophet be damned.

"Merlin…" Minerva breathed while putting a hand over her chest.

The shocking shriek of the house-elf caught my attention as I watched the elf fling herself onto the unconscious body. "Master Barty, Master Barty, what is you doing here!?" Her eyes were leaking rivers of tears as she looked at everyone around the room. "You killed him! You is killed the Master's son!"

Without thinking an eyebrow popped up as I looked at Harry and Severus, earning similar looks from the two.

"He is simply stunned, Winky," Dumbledore explained calmly. "Step aside, please. Severus, do you have potion?" Dumbledore looked at the man in question.

Severus handed Dumbledore the same green vial I had seen before to Dumbledore and moved his body into an upright position against the wall just underneath the Foe-Glass. I caught the sight of Severus, Minerva, and Albus reflected into the glass and glaring down upon Crouch Jr. as the house-elf remained on her trembling knees, holding her face in her tiny hands. Forcing Crouch Jr's mouth open he poured three little drops inside before pointing his wand at the man's chest and said "Rennervate."

Though his eyes had popped open they were unfocused and blank, his face lacking any emotions to his situation. I looked down at Harry to see him focused completely on the man ahead, betraying nothing on his face except for anticipation.

"Can you hear me?" Dumbledore questioned quietly. The man's eyelids flickered in response.

"Yes," He grumbled.

"I want you to tell us how you came to be here." Dumbledore continued. "How did you escape from Azkaban?"

And so, the man explained how he had been able to use his mother's failing condition to switch places upon visitation. The way he spoke truthfully without any sign of concealing, freely exposing his plans of escaping Azkaban with Polyjuice Potion and using his mother as a disguise. Winky the house-elf started to beg her master to say nothing else, pleading for him to keep whatever secrets he had to himself, but the drugged man couldn't stop himself. He further explained that Barty Crouch Sr. had aided him out of Azkaban, fooling the dementors with his dying mother's ailment since he was also in a terrible state from his Azkaban stay. He explained his mother was the one to die in prison, being buried unceremoniously in her son's place.

'Heart of stone, huh?' I thought to myself as I repeated the fake Moody's–Crouch Jr.'s–words at the hypocrisy of the notorious stickler for rules. Even though I could understand the lengths I'd go to save Elowyn or Harry from peril, I couldn't help but let my biases get in the way.

Dumbledore questioned what happened after Crouch Jr. got out and explained that his father had subdued his own child with the Imperius curse, making sure that he wouldn't leave his sight by being confined to their home. Winky was in charge of taking care of him and showing him kindness in times of need. The house-elf had audibly begged him to not say anything more, thinking they were going to get in trouble by something or someone unknown to me. This led to Dumbledore questioning if something went awry, and Barty explained how Bertha Jorkins, a name I hadn't heard in so long, had used her talents of being incredibly nosy to discover the secret of Barty Crouch Jr. and his father hiding him away. An all-too-powerful memory charm seemed to have damaged her memory permanently.

The Crouch son explained that he was let out at the Quidditch World Cup, expressing a love for the game in a way that I could finally see a bit of human in him. Through the plan to allow his son to see the Quidditch World Cup he explained he was becoming stronger, fighting off the Imperius curse even during the times he could almost break it completely, and he just so happened to steal a wand—Harry's wand—and stole it. More outcry from Winky as he continued, speaking about the Death Eaters and how he wished to join them. He was able to free himself of the house-elf's magic. The Ministry intervened, Winky was dismissed, and father and son were left alone before Voldemort found them.

"...He arrived at our house one late night in the arms of his servant, Wormtail."

"Peter Pettigrew?" I questioned, spitting the name out as the man nodded, the glassy look still present in his eyes.

"My master had found out that I was alive, and he had captured Bertha Jorkins in Albania." Crouch Jr. continued. All the information that Bertha could have been tortured out of her. She spoke about the Triwizard Tournament, Alastor Moody teaching at Hogwarts, and how a rumor of two known professors who taught a new subject about wandless magic were all set to appear at the school. I felt my breath catch in my throat, the realization of something more playing in the background this whole time. I felt the eyes of those within the room glance between me and Harry, unable to meet them I continued to stare at Barty Crouch Jr.

Crouch Jr. seemed to smile at the idea of his father being under the Imperius curse by The Dark Lord, praising how his dark master noticed him to be the most loyal of his followers and how a plan was formed with the information that was given. Winky was now staring at the man, her wide brown eyes looking petrified over his words.

"And what did Lord Voldemort ask of you?" Dumbledore pressed. As much as I wanted to learn more my stomach dropped in preparation for the words.

"He asked if I was ready to risk everything for him, to prove my loyalty even more. I said I was ready. It was my greatest ambition, my dream, to serve and to prove myself to him. He told me he needed to place a faithful servant at Hogwarts, who would guide Harry Potter through the Triwizard Tournament without appearing to do so. To ensure he reached the cup and turned the cup into a portkey. He told me I needed to gather information about the witches or wizards who taught the new subject and see to their affiliations, but first—"

"You needed Alastor Moody," Dumbledore concluded, his blue eyes were icy, but his voice betrayed nothing of such.

The man in his daze continued to explain how he was able to disguise himself as Moody, fool Arthur Weasley into believing he was the Auror, backed up Moody's clothing and devices, and set off to Hogwarts. He kept the real Alastor Moody alive and used the Imperius curse on him to extract any information from him when it came to those in his inner circle. He stated he could even fool Dumbledore with how convincing he was. He explained he stole ingredients from the Potions Master's personal storage and a drop of Veratiserum.

"Why did you steal the Veratiserum?" Dumbledore asked him, wrinkling his brow in concentration.

"My master wanted information about the two professors, but I was finding it difficult to interact with them inconspicuously." He started to explain. "I could tell that Maeve Thorne was reluctant to speak even when I portrayed myself drunk at the Yule Ball. I was able to see that Severus Snape kept the potion within his storage and took only a drop to mix into the tea I served her. I didn't want her to be suspicious of her freely speaking about something she clearly concealed, nor did I want the suspicion of others believing her to be cursed if I used the Imperius curse.

She told me about her abilities, how her assistant Aurora Ramsey isn't as capable of this wandless magic, and how her adoptive daughter Elowyn Beaumont is more adept. I relayed this information to my master, and he expressed great interest in obtaining those abilities for himself and his followers. I believe she has some connection to Harry Potter she isn't forthcoming about. I thought she had drunk the tea just in time to speak about him, but after realizing it hadn't taken effect until she spoke about her abilities, I didn't want to risk alerting her to my plan."

I turned away from the man being questioned, trying to cover my panic with a hand over my mouth and closing my eyes in hopes this was a horrible, awful, nightmare that I would wake up at any moment from. A strong hand was placed on my arm, and I opened to look at the horrified face of Severus. The sting of tears prickled up, but I could not let such a thing show at this moment. I acted on fury driven by fear and whirled around to smack the treacherous face of the man I was tricked by. Using my energy I only meant to slap, but the force was stronger than intended and the sickening crack of the man's nose came as he lulled his face back to the center, blood starting to drip from his nostril. A startled cry came from Minerva, but Severus's grip didn't falter, pulling me back closer to him and looking at me with eyes that told me to slow down, pull back, and gather myself.

"Control yourself, Maeve!" Dumbledore warned without turning around. "I understand your frustration but now isn't the time."

I looked away in shame pulling away from my lover's grip and went to stand next to Harry. I couldn't watch him anymore and refused to look up, placing a hand on his shoulder and trying to regulate my breathing.

"What happened to your father?" Dumbledore changed the subject.

Crouch Jr. explained how his father, just like himself, fought against the Imperius curse and he was deemed unsafe to leave his house. He was forced to send letters to the Ministry explaining his absence, but Pettigrew neglected his duty and wasn't watchful enough. Crouch Sr. was able to escape and was assumed he would head to Hogwarts. He thought he could confess everything to Dumbledore, and admit he smuggled his son from Azkaban. Crouch Jr. was told to stop his father at all costs, and how he used an interesting map he had stolen from Harry, but how it also almost ruined everything. When questioned further about this strange map, I glanced down at Harry who looked up and winced and mentally noted to speak about this at a different time.

The man explained how he waited for the right moment to get to his father, letting Harry believe his confusion shown upon the map. His father entered the grounds, and using his own Invisibility Cloak he went down to meet him, but unfortunately, Harry and Victor Krum were there. He couldn't harm Harry, but that didn't mean he wouldn't harm Victor Krum, stunning the Durmstrang student and going on to kill his father. Winky cried out and persisted once more to stop her master from speaking anymore, but only in vain. He explained he carried the body to the forest and maneuvered around Dumbledore, Severus, and Harry and tried to explain that he played off his presence as there.

He was told by Dumbledore to find his father, and when he did, he waited by the telling of the map and the location of the aforementioned group to leave before transfiguring his father's corpse into a bone. He buried it in front of Hagrid's hut knowing no one would find it.

There was silence in the room for only a moment before Dumbledore broke it. "And tonight…?"

"I offered to carry the Triwizard cup into the maze before dinner. Turned it into a Portkey. My master's plan had worked; he has returned to power, and I will be the most treasured by him beyond the dreams of any of his followers."

His lips had curled into a crazed smile once again before his head drooped to the side. The blood had run down his chin and dripped onto his shirt before he passed out once more with a wave of his wand. The sound of Winky wailing by his side was the only thing that was heard in the room.

Dumbledore stood and stared at the unconscious Barty Crouch Jr. once more with a look of disgust that wasn't normal on his face. With another wave of his wand ropes flew from the tip and twisted themselves around the man's body, binding him tightly in place before turning to Minerva.

"Could I ask you to stand guard here while I take Harry and Maeve upstairs, Minerva?"

"Of course," Minerva replied although she looked sick to her stomach like the rest of us did at the moment. Taking out her wand she pointed it at the tied and bound man, her eyes never leaving him as the house-elf continued to weep next to the body.

"Severus, please tell Madam Pomfrey to come down here; we need to get the real Alastor into the hospital wing. Then go down into the grounds, find Cornelius Fudge, and bring him up to this office. He will undoubtedly want to question the boy himself. Tell him I will be in the hospital wing in half an hour if he needs me."

I pried my sights from Barty Crouch Jr. and looked to Severus who nodded silently at Dumbledore's request before looking to me. He did what he could to contain his emotions, but I could see the glint of culpability in his eyes, the lack of color in his lips and face. It was reminiscent of the same grave look he had earlier. I couldn't understand why, none of this was his fault! I was the foolish one to not detect how weird my behavior was that night, or how I pushed away my thoughts that had noticed something strange in my free speech. Severus seemed to rip himself away from looking at me anymore and swept out of the room without another word.

"Maeve," Dumbledore started while putting a hand on my shoulder causing a jerk from me from the touch. "Harry, I want you to come to my office first." He ordered before stepping away toward the door. I looked at Harry and positioned myself for him to gently lift himself and put his arm over my shoulder as before. With minimal difficulty, the two of us followed him out and headed up toward the passageway. "Sirius should be currently waiting for us."

I snapped my vision at him with another dizzying surprise. At least this time there was a heads-up about his presence, and I wouldn't be the only one sharing the misery of failure which was a bitter thought to have at the time. Stress and Maeve don't mix well, and unfortunately, I wasn't allotted the time to decompress the events of tonight. There was far too much to process within this short amount of time, but the idea of seeing Sirius Black at that moment made everything in my mind swirl.

'At least I'm not alone in helping Harry.' The optimist side of myself needed a balance, and I had to admit I did feel the relief that I could share the weight of responsibility, but also his familiar comfort that regardless of wherever we stood I could wade through. I wondered how exactly he would've gotten through the castle itself as the worry of him being discovered through the halls of the school kept the steady stream of anxiety alarmingly high. Contemplating the feelings that would stir when I saw him, but even trying to distract myself as we walked through the castle did nothing but make me dizzy. To think this would be our official reunion by meeting under the circumstances that our Godchild was being targeted once again and explaining the horrors of what I just found out about myself and my little family. Not to mention the horrible notion that Dumbledore was probably about to interview Harry about the horrible things he witnessed, and I'd have to steel myself, become stone to help pull Harry's self together, in preparing for whatever that entailed.

I looked over to my Godson to see the same numbness that I was trying to replicate myself in this situation. He needed someone to be strong for him, to have someone to lean on figuratively and literally in what that meant; I couldn't allow my own worries, fears, and disquietude to intercept that. He was so young, far too young to be put through anything he had ever gone through. It hurt to see the innocence whittling away with every story I had heard, and with each step that we took toward Albus Dumbledore's office, I wondered what the future held for him.

Moments passed with the sounds of only our shoes hitting the stone floors until Harry spoke up.

"Professor, where are Mr. and Mrs. Diggory?" Harry's voice was hoarse as he spoke.

I swallowed at the thought of their grief returning to the forefront of my mind, their collective misery at the thought that their son had been killed. The insurmountable questions of how this could've happened probably plagued their minds. The disbelief that a life so young could be taken, how it could've just as easily been Harry instead of him or both. The tears were returning, and this time I had to be quick about swiping them, turning my face toward the hand that held Harry's and sniffing before clearing my throat. I kept coaching myself to keep it all together. There was simply no time, nor was it the place to do this. Dumbledore answered explaining that the parents were left with Pomona Sprout since Cedric was a part of Hufflepuff House and knew him best.

They had finally reached the familiar stone gargoyle; Dumbledore gave the password, and I watched as it sprang aside before we ascended the spiral staircase. Once we reached the oak door Dumbledore threw it open to reveal Sirius there.

I knew time had changed him, and I knew his treatment at Azkaban would obviously affect him, but at that moment, I didn't recognize him. If Dumbledore hadn't explained who we were to meet I would've wondered who in the Nine Hells, this man was. It broke me even more to see his worried, colorless face and his haggard state that made me regret how I didn't help him earlier—should have helped him earlier than when I did. I blinked as I helped Harry step through before he pulled himself away and limped toward Sirius causing the man to swiftly reach the Gryffindor boy.

"Harry, are you alright?" He questioned as he grabbed him around the shoulders. It was there I could see the young man I knew with his compassion and care. His arrogance and insufferable attitude paled dramatically to the person I knew Sirius could truly be. He glanced in my direction for a moment before his delayed reaction registered back to me, realization lighting his face lightly. "Maeve," He breathed. Those light grey eyes always reminded me of polished silver, shining brightly any time I looked at him. Even with the treatment he had faced over the last twelve years, they didn't fade. His aged face winced just before pulling both of us into a hug.

His strong arms held both of us close to him, and I willingly accepted his comforting gesture by wrapping an arm around him, my face pressed to his chest as Harry was able to move into a similar position. I didn't care about the old and musty smell or the shock of his appearance. I didn't care that I could hardly recognize my first love, and how I just needed a moment of solace. All I cared about was hoping Harry could find the same ease that flowed through this contact and allow him some peace for the time being. Collectively we pulled away and I trailed my sights up to him, the silvery grey eyes were lively with urgency as he looked between the two of us. "What happened? I-I knew—I knew something horrible would—What happened?"

Sirius helped Harry hobble to the chair in the office and asked once again what happened but to Dumbledore this time. The headmaster wasted no time in relaying the story of the interrogation of Barty Crouch Jr. to Sirius, sparing no details of what was exposed. I stared at Harry and watched him space out even as I placed a soothing hand to rub his shoulder and back. I felt powerless to help any issue that might've gone through his head. The sorrow that I experienced from loss in my life could've helped, but I remembered how at first it would've fallen on ears that wanted no comfort, just silence. Just wanted to find different ways of causing myself pain to focus on that instead of the internal…

"They're targeting her?!" Sirius's stupefaction brought me out of my thoughts just as the light breeze of wings from the phoenix came by and sat on Harry's non-injured knee. Harry spoke quietly to the bird and reached up to lightly stroke the elegant scarlet and gold feathering.

"Harry," Dumbledore spoke just as sat down at his desk pulling our attention back to him. "I need to know exactly what happened after you touched the Portkey in the maze."

"Can't that wait till the morning, Dumbledore?" Sirius snapped his words. "He needs rest. Let him sleep." His voice lowered as he turned back to Harry putting a hand on top of his that wasn't petting the phoenix mindlessly. I watched him and felt even more grateful for Sirius's fierce protection of Harry. Even though it was important to get as much information as we could, the fresher the memory the better the recall, but there was the empathy that Harry needed. It wasn't just about getting down to the bottom of the situation like Dumbledore wanted and needed. There needed to be a balance between understanding Harry's emotional state and swimming through the lake-filled information, even though I wasn't sure how much more I could swim.

"If I thought I could help you," The gentle words of Dumbledore held our attention once more. "By putting you into an enchanted sleep and allowing you to postpone the moment when you would have to think about what has happened tonight, I would do it. I know better, however. Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it. You have shown bravery beyond anything I could have expected of you. I ask you to demonstrate your courage one more time. I ask you to tell us what happened to you, Harry."

Curse Dumbledore and his wise words that made sense! It was as if he knew exactly what to say to portray his softer, more understanding side. Biting my lip, I looked to Harry and brought my hand to his cheek, letting my finger lightly touch his skin as he looked at me. I could see it in those haunting green eyes that begged me to not make him do this anymore, the ones that wanted this whole night to end and needed me to intervene. The phoenix let out a soft and warming note that broke through the tension and troubled emotions. A strange sensation overtook me through my chest that spread over my body as I felt hopefulness coming over me. It tasted of perseverance, and it was as soothing as the hug the three of us just shared. I knelt to Harry's level and placed a hand on his arm. "We're with you now," I spoke softly and kept a hold of his gaze fully aware that Sirius was now staring at me. "Just this once, and you'll never have to talk about it again if you don't want to, my Little Lion."

I watched as Harry looked at me, holding me to a promise that was not verbally stated but didn't have to be. He then recounted the disturbingly horrifying incident. The arrival with Cedric Diggory after they both grabbed the Triwizard Cup and how Cedric was killed by Voldemort himself. The more he spoke it seemed to be, yet Sirius who kept trying to speak or exclaim something made the progression of his story slower than necessary. I had to frequently stop Sirius to keep it going, sending annoyed and narrowed eyes his way after another vehement cry told him that he needed to shut up so that Harry could finish. Harry then mentioned his arm being cut. I did have a hard time hiding my gasp that time. The sounds of Dumbledore leaving his chair to walk to the desk and asking Harry to extend his arm were sudden for a man his age, but nonetheless, Harry freed his hand from Sirius and extended his arm to reveal the cuts that crusted with old, dried blood, only a bit of the bright, rusty crimson was noticeable.

"He said my blood would make him stronger than using someone else's," He spoke while gazing up at Dumbledore. "He said the protection my… my mother left in me… he'd have it too. He was right–he could touch me without any pain, he touched my face."

'That disgusting, evil thing…' I thought to myself as the rage flared within me and the only remedy at the time was to look away and bite my tongue.

A beat of silence before Dumbledore went back to his chair, stating that Voldemort had overcome this specific barrier of protection for Harry, and pressed him to continue his story. He explained how Voldemort gave a speech to the Death Eaters that arrived, untied him, and gave Harry's wand back to duel him. It took everything in me from the years of practiced patience in concealing my true emotions in order to focus on Harry and his retelling. It was when he explained the strange golden light that erupted from his wand when it connected to Voldemort's that I was confused, and in awe of the magic he spoke of.

'He saw his parents. He saw Lily and James?' I thought to myself, but before I could say anything Sirius opened up.

"Your wands connected? Why?" Sirius turned to look toward Dumbledore, and I followed his gaze. The wise and old wizard contemplated this for a moment.

"Priori Incantatem…" Dumbledore muttered. He looked toward Harry and seemed to be studying him.

"The Reverse Spell effect?" Sirius questioned.

"Wait, what do you mean?" I asked.

"Harry's and Voldemort's wands share cores. Each of them contains a feather from a phoenix—this phoenix, actually." Dumbledore motioned toward the beautiful bird that was still perched upon Harry's knee.

"My wand's core came from Fawkes?" Harry asked looking up with amazement.

"Correct," Answered Dumbledore. "Mr. Olivander wrote to me you had bought the second wand, the moment you left the shop a few years ago."

"So, the wands are siblings so to speak. What happens when they meet in a duel?" I question. Dumbledore looked at me as he answered.

"They will not work properly in such a state," Dumbledore said. "If, however, the owners of the wands force the wands to do battle… a very rare effect will take place." Dumbledore went on to explain that the force of those two wands made to spare with each other will regurgitate the latest spells performed by them but in reverse. The most recent would be first, following the ones after it performed. He then explained that the forms of Cedric Diggory, an old man, Bertha Jorkins, Lily then James had appeared…

"As if they came back? From the dead?" I asked meekly not sure if I understood the words coming out as they did so.

"No spell can reawaken the dead, Maeve," Dumbledore answered with a heavy sigh. He explained it was as if a shadow of a person, but an exact form of the once alive person.

The conversation went on about painfully extracting the details of how the forms of the dead spoke to Harry, creating a sharp pain within my chest when it came to the subject of his parents. I looked at Sirius and saw the pain in his eyes, his brows running together, and the twitching of a grimace on his face. I put my hand on Harry's arm once more, and with the overwhelming urge to comfort I extended the other to Sirius's hand. The action caught him by surprise as he looked at my hand and then at me. I mustered up a smile I knew still conveyed the pain I felt and shared with him and watched as he offered the same to me before flipping his hand and holding mine firmly.

After Dumbledore asked Harry to describe what these forms did it was incredible to believe he witnessed such a sight. 'At least he got to see them… even in the worst of circumstances, they were there for him.' I thought to myself but didn't believe it was necessary to state. At some point, Harry could not continue, and I had to thank him for it. The grief was returning in the moment, and I wasn't alone in in waves of sorrow. Sirius had tightened his hold on my hand, I matched to pressure for my own sake and watched as his other hand covered his face. Lips were shaking with a deep frown.

I noticed that the phoenix had cried upon Harry's injured leg and watched as the skin had repaired itself of any injury. What a precious moment of healing in this wounded silence. Dumbledore commended Harry once more for his bravery before telling him to come with him to the Infirmary, stating it would be best not to return to his dormitory and aid with a sleeping potion and peace.

"Sirius, Maeve, would you like to stay with him?" I stood swiftly with Sirius and agreed along with him, letting our hands fall away from each other after the moment passed. Next thing I knew he transformed into the great, black dog I had seen time and time again.

'Of course, Minerva must've gotten him from Hagrid's pumpkin field.' The silly thought dawned on me as I sniffed in humor. All four of us were able to head out of the office and take the flight of stairs down to the hospital wing. Nothing else could've been said in our haste to get Harry to the hospital area. When the door opened, I saw the group of Molly Weasley, Bill, Ron, Elowyn, Hermione, and Aurora there grouped around a very agitated-looking Poppy Pomfrey. Aurora was speaking while holding her hands out just as we entered.

"Well, where else could they have gone to if not here?" Aurora pressed.

"Harry!" Molly gave a shrill cry as she hurried toward the boy in the front, but Dumbledore had stepped in between them and held up a hand to the confused woman.

He explained that Harry had gone through too much in one night, a trauma that would surely last a lifetime, and he wasn't to be harassed anymore with questions about tonight's events. He permitted the others to stay with him if they liked, but nothing more than company was necessary. The others weren't sure how to take this command, the younger ones looking to me except for Elowyn who was looking between Sirius and Harry dumbstruck for words. Aurora's eyes were scanning between the four of us before she landed on me, a fretful expression plaguing her features.

"Did you hear? He needs quiet!" Molly stated as she rounded on her younger son, the tension within her voice told me she took on the role to mother hen the situation.

"Headmaster," Madam Pomfrey took a few steps forward keeping her eyes on Sirius. "May I ask what—?"

"The dog will remain with Harry for a while. I assure you he is extremely well trained. Harry–I will wait for you before you fall asleep."

I could only imagine the relief Harry felt with Dumbledore stepping in to prevent the bombardment of questions, and I had to admit I was just as grateful. The last thing I needed to do was relive the information that continuously assaulted my mind. Not to mention having to look at my loved ones to explain my errors—my worst mistake to date. We all took steps to head further inside the Infirmary, Dumbledore explained that he would be speaking to the Minister of Magic and wanted Harry to wait here until he returned the next day before Dumbledore spoke to the school as well. Madame Pomfrey had taken Harry to lead him to one of the beds. He looked to Madame Pomfrey and asked if the person would be okay. Taking a look to see the only other person there realizing it was the same, and real, Alastor Moody lying unconscious on one of the hospital beds. Harry was able to change and get into the bed behind the separation curtain, the feeling of drowning in the silence that created tension within the air made me bite my nails once more. Fuck the idea of healthy nails at this point.

"Maeve," The soft and hesitant voice of my friend, my assistant I had damned, spoke. I couldn't bear to look at her in the eyes and held up a hand to stop her. Though I was looking at the ground I could see her jolt of shock from my peripheral.

"Not right now," I mumbled in a hoarse voice.

My friend backed down and took a few steps away. I kept staring down but heard the rustling of chairs and movement as everyone was able to find a seat near Harry once the separation screen was pulled back. I watched as Sirius chose to sit right next to his bed, looking as if a guard dog was on duty for his shift.

"I'm alright, just tired." He stated to the three friends who looked between each other and then back at him. Without another thought, I took a step over to Harry's side and started tucking him in. It was something to do, something to show that I was present even in his sleep. The boy didn't object as I reached to smooth his unruly hair. "Sleep is coming," I whispered to him with a small smile that he tried to return with the twitches at the corner of his mouth.

Madame Pomfrey returned posthaste with the dreamless sleep potion within a goblet. Harry seemed to drink most of it with ease. It didn't take long before those green eyes closed, and he was headed to sleep. I took a look at the goblet to realize he didn't drink all of it, but regardless he was in the sleep he needed. I removed his glasses and laid them gently next to the bedside table.

The silence was deafening around me, and I wished I could've fallen into the same dreamless sleep as Harry had.

I stood over him for a moment just staring at his peaceful form unable to move. The childlike features showed his innocence and reminded me once again just how young he was. It wasn't until the cold wet nose of a dog had bumped my hand that startled me. I gazed down at the scruffy form of Sirius to see that the giant grey eyes of his dog form looked at me with comfort, a soft whine as he did so. I gave a small smile to him the best I could muster.

"Do you want to sit Maeve?" Molly provided but I declined the chair. I didn't want to be far from Harry no matter how silly the gesture of me sitting down on the cold and uncomfortable floor seemed. Those around me didn't have to understand, but sitting with my back to the bed frame as Sirius moved to lay his head in my lap was all I needed at the moment. Idyllically, I would be able to be alone with Severus and allow myself to process everything in each other's company. Yet, he wasn't here, and I had to continue shoving down the cycle of emotions down as much as I could.

"Can we get you anything?" Hermione's voice offered from above. I heard myself say 'water' and soon was handed a goblet with fresh, cold of water that I drank quickly from.

I started to space out, mindlessly petting the matted fur on top of Sirius's head. I heard and felt movement from my side and turned to see that Elowyn had come to sit close to me, putting her head on my shoulder and grabbing my free arm. Her silent comfort was a gesture I needed but didn't deserve. She had no words, but her presence was enough. The weight of my error hit me all at once; failing to look out for Harry and stopping a horrible incident that unleashed an unforgiving evil upon the magical and muggle word, putting myself in the spotlight of the Dark Lord's interests and the most vital portion was putting my best friend and our child we swore to care for also in harm's way. Through the haze of it all, and with great despair, I realized that I have now employed Severus's double agent status once again. It all fell apart within my mind, and I couldn't suppress it any longer.

I closed my eyes and removed my arm from Elowyn's grip to pull her closer, the tears falling as silently as a leaking dam. Throat constricting and silent, muffled sobs as I refused to open my eyes and my body trembling. My emotions needed release but even as freeing as it felt to let the tower crumble, I still felt some sort of self-consciousness with the eyes I imagined on me or the image of everyone exchanging concerned glances with one another. Whether they were there or not I couldn't contain the dam, or hold the tower anymore. I had to allow myself not to care as I moved my head to kiss Elowyn's crown, smoothing her hair that was left undone and hanging freely.

Another small whine came from under me as I felt the weight of Sirius's head disappear before the wet tongue met my face where my tears fell. The action was so shocking that I pulled back and sputtered a chuckle from the ridiculous notion and shrank back from the gentle affection from dog Sirius, earning a curious look from Elowyn as she cracked a small smile at the scene.

"He really gets into character, huh?" She joked sitting up, I wiped the other side of my face from the tears and sniffled giving a genuine smile to the happier-looking Sirius whose tail wagged a little.

"Don't think I don't know what I meant…" I said softly with a raised eyebrow and pointed finger. He gave a gruff and low bark reply and his tail wagged faster. Shaking my head I patted him on the head. The two resumed their previous stance for some time. An hour or two may have passed but I wasn't sure of the time. It wasn't until I heard the sounds of people yelling aggressively at each other that I realized I had dozed off myself.

"What are they shouting about? Nothing else can have happened, can it?" I wasn't sure who spoke but regardless I blinked away the scratching feeling in my eyes before looking around. Sirius though still curled next to me had raised his head and his ears perked up. Elowyn moved as well with bleary eyes while stretching into an upright position and followed the sounds with her eyes. I maneuvered away from the two and stood on my feet, stretching and regretting the idea of sitting on cold, hard ground whenever I fell asleep. The stiffness in my legs and numbness in my bottom only caused more discomfort.

"That's Fudge's voice, and that's Minerva McGonagall, isn't it? Why are they arguing?" Molly Weasley mused.

"Hold on," Aurora spoke before stepping forward and craning her neck to hear what was said but it seemed unwarranted since the sound of the voices was rapidly approaching.

"Regrettable, but all the same, Minerva–"

"You should've never brought that thing into the castle!" Minerva could off the minister, her temper was quite noticeable as she spoke. "Just imagine Dumbledore when he finds out—"

The sudden sound of the door bursting open before Fudge came striding in front of Minerva with Severus by her side. The Transfiguration Professor's face was blotchy red from the obvious anger she displayed toward the Minister. I spotted Severus who was currently looking at the Minister with a classic scowl; disgust and disapproval written all over his features.

"Minerva," I addressed my former professor while passing through the group catching the attention of all three newest visitors. "Why aren't you guarding him?" I questioned while eyeing her.

"Where's Dumbledore?" Demanded Fudge ignored my question as he glared at me. His face mirrored the same blotchy red cheeks that Minerva had.

I narrowed my eyes at him while eyeing him up and down before answering. "As we can all see he's not here at the moment since this is a hospital wing, and those inside are requiring rest that is currently being interrupted—"

"How dare you—!" Before Fudge could say anything else the doors to the Infirmary were thrown open once more as Dumbledore made his entrance and quickly headed toward the newly formed group.

"What is happening here? Why are you disturbing these people?" Dumbledore questioned sharply looking between Fudge and Minerva before landing on the Deputy Headmistress. "Minerva, I'm surprised at you… I asked you to stand guard over Barty Crouch—"

"There's no need to stand guard over him anymore, Albus!" Minerva shrieked. "Minister Fudge here has seen to that!" The petite woman was shaking with her lividity and understandably so. The red only intensified in her face.

"When we told Mr. Fudge that we had caught the Death Eater responsible for tonight's events," Severus spoke up as he took a step further, speaking lowly. "It seems he felt his personal safety was in question, so he insisted on summoning a dementor to accompany him into the castle. He brought it up to the office where Barty Crouch–"

"A dementor?!" I gasped, causing Fudge to eye me.

"I told him you wouldn't agree with this, Albus!" Minerva fumed, only pushing further the issue at hand.

"Dear women!" Roared Fudge, the anger in him boiling over in a way I hadn't seen in him before. "I'm the Minister of Magic and it is my decision where I wish to bring protection with me when interviewing a possibly dangerous—"

Minerva's voice boomed over Fudge's this time, not letting him get the chance to cover his tracks. "The moment that—that thing entered the room it swooped down on Crouch and—and…" She could no longer speak of what events happened afterward. She seemed truly appalled by what she had witnessed. I looked to Severus for some kind of answer, reassurance, understanding, or anything at this point. He did not betray anything as he glanced at me before staring back at the Minister.

"A-Are you saying he's dead?" I asked pointing a finger at Fudge who seemed to bluster out a response.

"It's no loss for anyone, is it? It seemed he was accountable for multiple deaths!" Fudge proclaimed.

"Cornelius," Dumbledore stepped between me and the Minister, probably for the best. "He cannot give his testimony, now. He cannot give evidence about why he killed those people."

"Why? Well, that's no mystery, is it?!" Blustered Fudge. "Because he's a raving lunatic, that's why! From what Minerva and Sever have told me, he seems to have convinced himself he was doing it all on You-Know-Who's instructions!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing and turned away from them, shaking my head and fighting the urge to fling him out of the Infirmary over such a wild display of doubt, and wrong assumptions.

Dumbledore explained that Barty was being given instructions, and it was all for Voldemort's benefit of being restored to a body. I didn't want to listen to this back-and-forth mess anymore. It carried on for a bit longer than I felt it should have; why was Fudge denying us so easily? If he had just the opportunity to listen to potion-induced Crouch Jr. or even just listen to Dumbledore, then everything would have the potential to run smoother! He was resisting so much to anything the headmaster explained.

It didn't seem like anything Dumbledore said would sway Fudge to his side. Fudge probed for questions that Albus Dumbledore was able to logically answer, even provide solutions for. Dumbledore even explained what Harry saw only earning what I considered a sarcastic smile while jeering Dumbledore along. I could hear the sound of Sirius growling from behind me.

It wasn't until Harry's quiet voice broke through that I realized he, unfortunately, heard what was being said about him, but his remark was something I could be proud of as he dealt his sarcasm to the Minister of Magic. Fudge didn't back down but in a rather pathetic display of admitting he was gaining information just from the gossipy Daily Prophet.

"So? And if I have? Discovering that you've been keeping certain facts about this boy very quiet? A Parselmouth, hm? All the funny turns all over the place—" Fudge mocked.

As strange as it was that didn't stand for anything in my book. Anything from the news in those papers could easily be faulty, and the fact that the face and leader of the London magical community paid attention, and more so believed that trash, continued to tarnish the already ill image of Cornelius Fudge.

Dumbledore interrupted Cornelius Fudge once more continuing back to forth once again, bringing up how Fudge doesn't see the reasoning to raise alarms of Voldemort's return, and this time Harry had well enough of the situation between the two older men. He started yelling at Fudge bringing the attention between the Minister of Magic and The Boy Who Lived as everyone watched the two. Harry started naming off Death Eaters and Fudge merely swept them under the rug as being cleared, how they were currently working for the ministry. As if that would clear them; if anything, that further dug a pit in my stomach at the realization the government currently possessed active Death Eaters among their ranks. He dismissed this as nothing more than fabrication. Even with the outburst involving the death of Cedric Diggory, Fudge was relentless in upholding his stance and growing more impatient by the minute.

The conversation steered in a more hostile direction when Dumbledore called out Fudge for endangering the lives of all living things, how Cornelius Fudge was blinded by is love for his office. It was a speech worthy of applause but after finishing I only thought anyone else who spoke up would've been imprisoned by the Minister himself. It was enough to stun everyone into silence. When Dumbledore declared that they were parting ways due to Fudge's lack of conviction I gritted my teeth together. It needed to be done if the highest ministry personnel weren't going to listen, but it didn't have to be this way if Fudge wasn't so consumed with retaining his Minister title. Dumbledore wasn't threatening Cornelius, but his words were more of a statement. Fudge however took this as a way of butting heads.

"Now, you see here, Dumbledore," Fudge's pudgy little finger waved in front of the wizard he addressed. "I've always given you free rein. I've had a lot of respect for you and what you do. There aren't many that I would willingly let hire werewolves or keep Hagrid, employ unnatural witches–" A nasty side eye glance to me had my blood boiling, but a tight grip from Aurora behind me told me to rein it in. "-or decide what to teach your students without reference to Ministry-approved curriculum. If you're going to work against me, however–"

"The only one against whom I intend to work is Lord Voldemort." Dumbledore countered. "If you are against him, then we remain, Cornelius! We're on the same side."

I stared between the two as I took a step back. It was becoming too heated for me to continue to listen to. When would Fudge see reason? What could it possibly take? It was then that I caught the movement of a black garment that walked up to the two wizards. Severus kept his face concealed and held perfectly together as he pulled up the sleeve of his left arm to expose a black marking, I had heard so much of. The blackened scaring of his skin rippled lightly, the skull's mouth that the snake hung out of almost looked like it moved, but the snake itself sure was wiggling side to side. I felt my eyes widen and swallowed the uneasiness as I continued to stare at that mark, that sign of damnation to Severus he was willingly showing now as a last resort.

"There," Severus spat. "The Dark Mark. It's not as clear as it was an hour or so ago when it burned pitch black, but you can still see it."

I blinked before lifting my gaze slowly up at Severus, but even with my eyes on him, he did not break contact with Fudge's bulging eyes that remained on his mark, his chest rising in a gasp for air.

"Every Death Eater had the sign burned into him by the Dark Lord. It was a means of distinguishing one another, and his means of summoning us to him. When he touched the Mark of any Death Eater, we were to Disapparate, and Apparate, instantly to him. This Mark has grown darker all year. Karkaroff's too. Why do you think he fled tonight? We both felt the Mark burn. We both knew he had returned. Karkaroff fears the Dark Lord's vengeance. He betrayed too many of his fellow Death Eaters to be sure of a warm welcome back into the fold."

I swallowed and directed my gaze to Fudge's petrified state as he recoiled from the sight. Even with one of the most convincing displays of reasoning it did not change the Minister's mind, but only frightened him. I thought he was too incompetent already before tonight, but now I didn't have to think twice about how idiotic this lousy excuse of a wizard. His mind was truly made up and this understanding made Severus pull his sleeve down, his throat constricting to swallow away what I was sure the less than gratifying exposure.

Fudge gave a hasty and final departure, walking past us to put Harry's bag of winning money onto the bedside table. He put his bowler hat on and made haste toward the exit while slamming the door shut behind him. I hadn't realized I clenched my jaw tightly and tried to relax in an impossible situation. A moment wasn't spared as Dumbledore turned toward the rest of us.

"There is work to be done, Molly… am I right in thinking that I am able to count on you and Arthur?" He questioned the mother.

Her lips were white, her worry present, yet she persisted. "Of course you can. We know what Fudge is. It's Arthur's fondness for Muggles that has held him back in the Ministry all these years. Fudge, somehow, thinks he lacks proper Wizarding pride." A look of disgust was formed on the fierce woman's face.

Dumbledore gave her the mission to request Arthur Weasley's presence, and her eldest son at the time offered to take up the job. After a pep talk of what to run by his father, Bill agreed and gave his goodbyes to his mother, capping a hand on Harry's shoulder as he pulled on his cloak to exit the room.

The headmaster gave his Deputy Headmistress the assignment to retrieve Hagrid to his office, and possibly Madame Maxime with him before asking Poppy Pomfrey to retrieve Winky the house-elf from Moody's office even though she seemed very startled by everything that was happening all at once. Once those three were gone and he made sure that Madame Pomfrey's footsteps had echoed away, he spoke once again.

"Now, it is time for two of our numbers to recognize each other for what they are. Sirius," Dumbledore motioned toward the big black dog that was standing with Elowyn and next to Harry's bed. "If you could resume your usual form." At his request Sirius morphed back into his human form, looking at little anxious to Mrs. Weasley who shrieked at the sight of him.

"Mum, shut up! It's okay!" Ron yelled back at her, and while I was more stunned and offended that he said those words to his mother my expression stayed the same with wide eyes from Molly's cry.

"Him!" I turned my sights to Severus who growled at Sirius, showing disgust and hatred in his eyes I hadn't seen in so long. Eyes of malice that could only come from a teenage boy looking upon his long-time rival. I hadn't seen such lividity from him in years. "What is he doing here?"

"I could ask the same thing, Snivellus!" Sirius snarled that horrid nickname once more. I looked at Sirius to see that he matched the same disgust and vexation of the man he mocked.

Did neither of them have a mind to the situation that was present, or could they both be pulled into old teenage rivalry just by the sight of each other? The idea of both disregarding the immediate threat and danger before them in the name of egotistical male dominance made me sick; if they wanted a wrathful display then they'd get one.

I had enough.

"Don't!" I stepped between them while holding my hands out in front of each man and glared at both of them.

"Don't insert yourself, Maeve–"

"Like Hell, I won't!" I snarled back to Sirius whose once tough demeanor in the face of his advisory had melted in surprise at my nasty tone. "Don't you dare bring your personal grudges into this! Don't either of you understand what's happening?" I glared at Sirius as I took a few steps forward before continuing. "Do you not comprehend that the safety and well-being of Harry falls a majority upon our shoulders? His Godparents, Sirius! Harry is our first priority—not some drawn-out teenage rivalry you easily work yourself up over!" My chest was heaving, my Russian lilt more articulate the angrier I got and the more I spoke. Sirius blinked as his eyebrows raised when looking at me, his Adam's apple moving up and down while his eyes faltered to the ground. It was nearly unheard of to stun Sirius Black into silence, let alone back down from a challenge, but it seemed my choice of erratic words got the message through to him.

"And as for you!" I turned and took advancing steps to stand in front of Severus who did not flinch or falter from my anger but observed me for whatever scolding he was about to receive with his mouth barely parted armed to speak his case if need be. Looking at him I couldn't help but lower my tone; I wasn't ignorant to that I was being softer on him, but I still needed him to understand. "Yes, he is here, and yes he has to be here. He is a part of this whether you want it or not, but what I am asking from both of you–" I motioned with my head back to Sirius "-is some sort of cooperation. We cannot begin to think we stand a chance against—any of this if we can't at least work together!"

I swallowed as I stared into the shocked eyes of Severus, his sneer present on his face as he gave a less appalled look toward Sirius with a narrowing sight.

"Severus, Sirius," Dumbledore intervened putting a gentle hand upon my shoulder. I was able to swallow the sudden meekness as I felt the non-imagined eyes upon me after my little speech. "You should listen to your mutual friend, here. I trust both of you, just like Maeve does. It is time for you to lay aside your old differences and trust each other."

My eyes dropped down as the pause of silence took over once again. It felt uncomfortable making it nearly unbearable to see how this would play out. I could only hope the two men could sneer and bear it through this plausibly long process.

"I will settle, in the short term, for a lack of open hostility." Dumbledore continued with a bit of impatience. I blinked as my attention was drawn up to Dumbledore who was giving a look I could only describe as being stern in a gentle way as the presence of his hand was removed. "Shake hands, both of you. You are on the same side now, and time is short. Unless the few of us who know the truth stand united, there is no hope for any of us."

That seemed to reel the two men together albeit very slowly while holding glaring stares just as they gave a rather quick and short shake.

'Not really much else to expect from them… Better than being uncooperative.' I thought while nodding to Dumbledore who gave me a look of agreeance. It was strange, but regardless I didn't feel the need to linger on his all-knowing looks or comment on it.

Dumbledore explained that he had an assignment for Sirius to take care of and instructed him to contact those he dubbed "the old crowd" which included Remus Lupin, and two others I did not know. He informed him to stay with Remus and lie low, that he would contact him once he was with the old friend.

"But—" Harry started which caught our attention. I could see the look of pleading for a different route, something that wouldn't let Sirius depart from each other so soon. Sirius took a couple of steps to Harry and grabbed his hand in his, squatting to be at eye level with the boy. "I promise you will see me very soon, Harry. I have to do what I must. You can understand, can't you?" Harry looked a bit defeated but nodded his head softly. I hated to see him so disappointed even under the circumstances that were implemented.

"Yeah, yeah… of course I do." He answered.

"Excuse me, Mr. Black?" The sudden voice of Elowyn broke through from where she stood at the end of the bed before walking up to Sirius directly. All attention was now focused on her but teenage Slytherin's sights remained on Sirius who chuckled at her.

"Sirius is fine with me." He answered.

"Oh, well, we didn't clarify that last time we spoke." She shrugged before continuing.

"Last time?" Severus muttered with a voice that didn't betray his confusion and supported his disdain for what he heard. I looked at him with a wincing smile, shrugging before looking away before Severus's narrowed eyes could burn through my own. I knew at some point he'd question me to no end about what my ward meant, but thankfully now was not the time even if he audibly thought differently.

"Can you do me a favor when you see Uncle Remus?"

"Uncle!?" It seemed like our little inside joke had confused most of those within the room, and the only voices I could distinguish were Ron's, Molly's, Minerva's, and Severus's. Aurora tittered while stepping up to hold up her hands.

"You never said Lupin was your uncle, Elly!" Ron shouted. Elowyn rolled her eyes and sighed as if it were over-exerting herself to explain what she meant. She turned to look at her bewildered friend.

"I didn't think it mattered!" She defended. Before the whole conversation could be sidetracked anymore Aurora stepped up while putting her hands on Elowyn's shoulder, giving a small and uncomfortable laugh.

"No need to be alarmed, she just calls him that—they're not related!" She gave a sheepish smile while patting Elowyn's shoulder.

"Anyway," Elowyn looked back to Sirius. "Can you tell him he owes me five pieces of his chocolate the next time he sees me, and if I don't see him within the year then it'll be six?" Her light tone seemed inappropriate, only adding to my worry of her not fully grasping the seriousness of the situation we had on our hands.

This didn't seem to bother Sirius as he shook and nodded his head while looking back to the young witch. "Certainly, I can do that, but I'm sure you'll also be able to do that very soon, too." He gave her a warm smile that she offered in return. The way these two operated with each other after only knowing of each other's existence in such a short amount of time made me rub the bridge of my nose between my fingers. The idea of them being the death of me with their carefree personality traits became more tangible. With that, Sirius turned to me and before I could act, he had pulled me into a hug that nearly covered my whole being. I was shocked to feel him so close to me once more, and for a moment unsure what to do but to return the hug gingerly. It was not lost on me that I could feel Severus's gaze burning into the picture of us hugging. A knot of unexpected guilt began to swirl inside of my stomach.

"I had hoped to see you under cheerier circumstances, but if it's all the same I'm still happy to look at you again." He pulled away from me and held me by my shoulders, giving me a genuine smile though I could see the regret within his eyes. I shook my head and waved him off as his hands dropped to his side.

"We can make up for festivities next time." I forced a genuine smile back. "Goodbye, Sirius."

He did not say it but nodded back to me once more before transforming into his dog form and quickly departing from the room. He was able to jump and turn the handle with his paw before he was gone. I had watched him leave before my eyes flickered to Severus who looked almost crestfallen, a sneer on his face as he looked to the ground before looking up to me through his brow. He didn't look angry, but like he was wounded. I wasn't sure what to do, or if I could say anything at all. Was he upset that I was showing a friendly side to Sirius?

"Severus, you know what I must ask you to do." Dumbledore's words sent an icy chill down my spine as I felt I understood perfectly well what he was referring to. The thought was petrifying to me; Severus couldn't possibly be throwing himself in the werewolf's den already, could he? "If you're ready… and if you are prepared…" I didn't want to believe this was the reality anymore, nor did I want to acknowledge the type of tone Dumbledore used for Severus. The dreadful undertone of asking for Severus to put the weight of the world upon his shoulders was nauseating. The lingering anger I had for the older man for asking such a huge risk of Severus spread through my chest and fell to my fingertips. I watched him as he looked to Dumbledore finally, noting the paler complexion and the glint in his eyes I could only think was apprehension.

"I am," Severus stated. I clenched my fists at the mission he accepted.

"Then good luck," Dumbledore said. Severus turned and swept toward the door leaving wordlessly. The door closed and it immediately felt wrong. He was gone too fast, much too fast for my liking and for me to try and steady my nerves. What if this was the last time I would see him? I didn't say goodbye or tell him he had to come back to me. I didn't get a chance to even kiss him once again, just in case…

Without thinking I started to make my way toward the door before a hand stopped me by my shoulder. "Maeve," Dumbledore said, but I ducked under, turning to him slightly to answer.

"I have to say goodbye, please." I said to him as I inched toward the door once again before turning back and quickly making my way out in hopes of catching him. I didn't want someone to tell me I could see him for the last time, I didn't want anyone to take this opportunity away from me. They'd never understand what this moment meant to me!

I threw the door open just in time to see the black robes of Severus descend the steps and called out to him. He stopped and immediately looked back as I made hast to be by his side, watching my feet so I didn't trip. Once I caught up to him, I took a few steps down to stare up at him, I could feel the rise of more tears threatening to fall any moment. My hands shook as I stared into the abyss of his dark eyes. His face was still pale and his chest rising and falling as his eyes conveyed what I could only describe as an apologetic gaze.

"You know I have to," His deep voice didn't shake or falter, but his low tone told me he didn't want this as much as I did. I nodded in response, closing my eyes as I bit my lip before building up the courage. I knew it would be foolish to think he could escape this damnation with the pressing situation that had come to fruition.

"Come back," I whispered feeling the tears run down my face once more, not bothering to wipe them away. "Promise you'll come back each and every time." I begged.

His eyes stayed on me for a moment, crinkling as his lips twitched before he pulled me into his embrace. The earthy and smokey comforting scent he wore cradled my worries and gave me hope, his body and his arms against mine melted away the fears temporarily and ignited fears of never feeling him against me again. He moved his head to where his hot breath was felt from my ear. "Always."

I buried my face into the crevice of his neck and shoulder giving up trying to stifle the tears that were already falling. His hand found its way to my head, fingers running through the strands of hair before he pulled away. His hands came to cup my face demanding me to hold his gaze as he looked into my eyes.

"Wait for me?" He asked as his eyes flickered between mine. Those onyx eyes glittered with need, with a promise to be kept once he came back. I thought it was almost silly before I realized that this must've been a show for what happened earlier with Sirius. I hope he didn't think of me cruel enough to abandon him like that, that he must remember I told him he had my heart. I almost laughed but the way he looked at me with such conviction that I wouldn't stand by him made my heart ache. This was not a humorous moment, but a moment of making my own promises to him. I leaned up to kiss him; secrecy be damned if I couldn't show my love for him. It felt like an answer, a plea, and an understanding that this could be our last shared expression of affection regardless of our promises. It was everything you could ask for in a kiss between two lovers who were now part of an eventual war. I didn't want to release from him but knew that it was inevitable to part. I looked at him through the tears that resurfaced. "Always."

He cracked a painful smile before leaning to kiss my forehead quickly and descending the stairs once more. I closed my eyes and turned away while retracing my steps back to the doors of the infirmary. Stopping just outside of the doors I put a hand over my mouth to contain the sobs that I hoped no one would hear. I wouldn't watch him leave, nor could I bring myself to do it. I had to wait for God's know how long before I could see him again. I had to preserve this sweet and tender moment as a possible last memory of Severus Snape.

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A/N: WOW! THEE longest chapter of this series so far and let me tell you it took a lot out of me lol. I did use the references within about four chapters in G.O.F. and also switched up a bit of the dialogue just so it wasn't a copyright issue. We have ONE more chapter before Act 1 has ended, and our poor love interests can't seem to find a break. I'll be excited to finish Act 1 (something I haven't previously done on any of my other stories) and take time to start Act 2. I will continue to post under the same story, but once Act 2 ends I'll be separating the last two books into a separate story. It's all coming together. I hope you enjoyed the angst and tension as much as I did.

I'm saving the explanation of things not addressed when I post the last chapter of Act 1, but trust me when I say I'm going to wrap up some unanswered questions, and discussions that need to be had and set up more in the last chapter. I'm excited to get the rest of the story out for you all. :D

Much love and thanks,

TJ