"Take her back to Hogwarts," Voldemort ordered Snape.

Well, at least he obeyed this time.

"Professor Snape!" I practically shouted as we got back into his classroom, "What was that?"

"That was protecting my students!" He snapped back, "He was going to kill you, you foolish girl!"

"I'm going to see Professor Dumbledore," I grunted, slamming his classroom door behind me.

"Acid Pops," I muttered. The stairs formed and I ran up them, banging on Dumbledore's door hard.

"Miss Winters?" He asked as I got there, "What brings you here?"

"Voldemort-"

"She decided to almost get herself killed."

Behind me was Professor Snape. I groaned as loud as I could, making sure he knew his presence wasn't wanted here.

"What happened?" Albus Dumbledore questioned me immediately.

"I went to Professor Snape's classroom for my lesson. He wasn't there when I arrived, but some crazy woman with bushy hair-"

"Bellatrix Lestrange," Snape intersected, earning a glare from me.

"Bellatrix Lestrange," I corrected myself, "...was there. She took me to the Malfoy Manor, where Voldemort told me that my powers were desirable. I tried to reject it, but Professor Snape..."

"I had to, Albus," he said pleadingly, "I told him that Miss Winters is my lover. He backed off, but we all know what happened with L-"

The dark-haired man choked on his words, onyx eyes filled with sadness as he stopped himself.

"I'm a part of them because of him!" I yelled, "Look what they did to me!"

I showed my headmaster the Dark Mark on my arm, embedded in my skin.

"I understand," Dumbledore announced.

"What?!"

"It was for your safety," he said violently, "And I think it's in your best interest that you go along with Severus' mendacity."

I just nodded, looking at Snape.

"It's just while we're in You-Know-Who's company, right?" I asked him.

The dark man scoffed, "Of course, Miss Winters."

"Maybe you should get into the habit of calling me Verita now," I suggested, a smirk clouding the rest of my facial features.

"Not a bad idea," Dumbledore agreed.

My pride heightened as Snape - or Severus, as I'd be calling him, too - said, "I'll see you in class, Verita."

I felt my heart beat faster. But with what? Joy? Pride?

I didn't think so.

"Alright, Severus."