Severus and I downed our third pot of tea before the spell wore off, and I found myself rushed out the door. Whatever Snape and I had, it was fragile. It needed nurturing. He was open and vulnerable with me today, and a single moment later he had closed back up, and turned into the cold professor I once knew. The only difference was now he treated me as an equal, one that he could learn from, not just teach. I could work with that.

I smiled the whole walk back to my dormitory and my friends, as always, had noticed my absence. I wanted to answer their questions truthfully, but I wasn't sure it was the right time, or how Snape would feel about me sharing what we have been up to. It was a secret. Even if he hadn't told me to keep it, I knew that's what he wanted. Besides, I liked the intimacy of these meetings being ours, and ours alone.

Strategically dodging all their questions, I was able to go about my day. The castle was back to normal, so I fortunately didn't have any more chores to help out with. I took to the library, knowing damn well I wouldn't be able to focus on a book. Instead, I stared at a random page and thought about how this school wasn't just destroyed by the battle, it had broken before that. Snape had ruined it. Knowing he was following Voldemorts orders, and merely playing the part of a dark wizard, was comforting. Still, it was hard to stomach the idea of him allowing the torture of students, or turning the school, my home, into a place of fear and darkness. This new and improved Snape, my Severus, didn't seem capable. At least not in my eyes.

This past year has been hard for everyone. I defied the Carrows, and ended up living in the Room of Requirment with other students who did the same. We rebelled against Voldemort and his loyal followers to the best of our ability, waiting for the time Harry Potter or The Order would return and instruct us with the plan to defeat the Death Eaters. But the hope left that room long before that day arrived.

And now, that hope was back. My life was restored to what it was before. No, better. I had Severus now, and there was no gloom lurking over the school, or the whispers about a certain Dark Lord that would one day return. This was the calm after the storm.

I stared into the pages of my book, and imagined what would come next.