I awoke, feeling overly flustered and quite frankly, boiling. I shoved the covers off of myself and turned to see Severus in the same state. His face was reddening by the second and he had already removed his shirt - which made me even warmer.

"What's happening?" I asked as I fanned myself with my hands frantically. Severus rushed to the window and swished back to me in a swift motion as soon as he'd seen whatever was outside.

"We have to leave."

"What?"

"Look outside!" He urged me, thrusting a hand towards the glass panes. I followed his lead and I soon understood as I saw the mess that was the beach we'd lived nearby for quite a while.

Fire was shrouding the sands and the ocean, daring to flicker tauntingly at our windows. The wood at the end of our porch was just beginning to blacken and catch fire. We were in danger. The water from the sea didn't seem to affect the raging inferno which was outside. It was inching closer by the second, almost like a child tempting another with a toy it had stolen.

"Hold onto me," Severus ordered as he slid his arm around my waist and prepared to apparate. We left, and found ourselves in front of the Malfoy Manor.

"I haven't been here in so long," I breathed as I took in its expensive glory all over again. We approached quickly and rushed past Lucius Malfoy, who appeared to just be leaving. He acknowledged me quickly, and almost knowingly - as if he expected me to be there. This alerted me instantly and I sped up, gripping Severus' hand.

"Narcissa!" I shouted carelessly as we entered. "Draco!"

I heard the familiar thumping of footsteps as both the mother and son bounded down the stairs, almost stumbling upon their own feet. I smiled as I saw Draco approach me and I rushed forward to hug him. He returned the favour.

"I haven't seen you in so long," I said quickly before pulling away and turning to his mother. "As much as I would love to spend time relishing in our reunion, I'm afraid that I have a few questions. They planned this, didn't they? Lucius knew."

"Yes," Narcissa sighed. "I was going to contact you, but Lucius has been hovering around me like a fly. He wanted no part of this, but the others insisted. What was left of them, anyway. They're picking up new followers as they go. They're slowing recreating the Dark Lord's army, whether they have a leader as powerful as him or not."

"I see," Severus intervened, stepping forwards.

I looked to Narcissa with hope gleaming in my eyes. I politely suggested, "You don't suppose Lucius could... relay information for us?"

"Why, I thought you'd never ask."

I turned to see Lucius standing behind me with a sly grin - of course, that was just the look he always had about him. "You would?"

"Ever since the destruction caused at the battle, I've decided to put my family first. I can see that you are an important friend of my son's, so I must do what I believe he would wish me to."

"Thank you, father," Draco said before nodding. "I can attend a few meetings too, regardless of whether I am fully a part of them or not."

"Yes, yes. Your company is always cherished by them, my son," Lucius chuckled before pressing his staff to the ground, turning on his heels. "You may stay here for a while, if you'd like, Severus, Verita."

"Thank you," Severus replied gratefully.

"I would hate to overstay our welcome, but we honestly have nowhere else to go," I added.

Lucius left, but seconds later Draco inputted to the conversation.

"Snape?" Draco looked up curiously, studying Severus like he was a statue. "I could barely bloody recognise you!"

"You didn't notice just from the fact that he was with me?" I laughed loudly as I gripped Severus' arm. He turned to me with a giggle too.

"Not really," Draco admitted in a state of embarrassment, shying away from us. This caused his mother to chuckle at her too.

"We are honestly so grateful," I told the two. "I thought we weren't going to make it. You should have seen the flames. They were power hungry."

"Indeed," Severus added, flicking a piece of his brown hair out of his face (something that I had only just grown used to).

Narcissa led us to their spare bedroom where Severus and I managed to settle down. I flung myself across the cushy bedsheets and pillows, luxuriating in the expensive adornments and furniture. Severus let out a light chuckle at me before sitting softly beside me. He moved a hand towards my hair and I leaned my head against his leg as he stroked the brown strands on my head.

"Do you think they'll find us here?" I questioned as I looked up at him. For a moment, I felt inferior. Severus was so much more experienced as me, as were Narcissa and Lucius, and I was just a young girl who would had barely finished her education - had she attended during her last year - stuck in the middle of it all.

"It's likely. We will have to continue on soon," Severus said. "We'll find somewhere else to go."

I nodded slowly as I closed my eyes. I welcomed sleep and I felt Severus moving me gently into the bed covers. I grumbled at him with gratitude but he had already left.