Hello S.O.S.S. members!!
Here you'll find the first part of the Fanfic we are going to write all together. You have Severus in your hands, let him do whatever you want!! (Janet, if you find grammar errors, feel free to correct them... )

SNAPEWEEK FANFIC CHALLENGE

Severus Snape sat alone in his living room at Spinner’s End. He sighed and closed his book. Another weekend in that cold house; and it was even his birthday! Maybe it had been better to stay at Hogwarts, but since his colleagues had started mocking him because he never went anywhere, he had decided to pretend he was having a social life. Not that he really cared for what his colleagues whispered behind his back. He was used to this since he was a boy… but he couldn’t allow such attention to be drawn on him...not now.
While he was lost in his thoughts, a sudden, strange noise alerted his reflexes, and in one quick motion he hid behind the heavy window curtains …



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He stood in stone silence to wait for who or what was coming. He waited with his breath held. He waited until he had a cramp in his calf muscle. He waited until he thought he might fall asleep. Ocassionally he peered out from behind the curtain to see if anything had come. Finally, though, he gave up his hiding place and exited the musty smelling curtains. With a deep sigh of disappointment, he made his way to the sofa. He had half hoped to catch some insufferable soul so he could hex them! It was not to be, however. He sat down more disappointed in his birthday than he could have imagined himself ever to be. But wait! Severus raised a black eyebrow. What was this thing sitting on the table before him? It was a box. It was wrapped in shiny green foil. It had a black ribbon tied into a bow at the top. It was a. . . a . . . birthday present? Severus took out his wand and jabbed at the box a few times. It must be some sort of gag gift thought up by a nemesis just to mess with his mind. Surely it was a joke. He looked carefully around the room. Nothing was there; nothing was misplaced. Nothing seemed disturbed. How very strange! He picked up the square box, no bigger than a cake box - no smaller than a watch box. He almost shook it, but what if it was fragile? Then, the corneres of Severus Snape's mouth lifted into a grimmacing grin. Someone had left him, the feared and loathed Potion's Master, a birthday present!

***

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severus cautiously began to unwrap the happily accepted present being very careful not to rip ever the tiniest corner. The shiny green foil fell to the ground as the package reviled itself it was an old school text book but one he reconized the second he saw it, this book had once belonged to the dreadful Marauders. The had all shared the book an wrote in it constantly. He to had done that but not to the extent that they did. He meticulously opened the old Defense Against the Dark Arts book and found a sea of scribbled words everywhere. they even covered the printed words. Severus didn't know where to begin to read so he began from the back not really caring about the beginning of it all only the end. He scanned the last page until he found his own name and began to read.

Snivellus, it began. Narrowing his eyes, Severus glared at the tidy handwriting; elegant but forceful at the same time. He had seen it before, many times. Remus Lupin, he thought with disgust. Snapping the book shut, Snape slammed it onto the table. The noise thundered in the quiet of the dusty room. Some birthday present, he fumed to himself. Picking up his wand again, he looked at the book now lying innocently on the table. The hatred he felt for the Marauders flowed through him. He would destroy their stupid, little book. The record of all their stupid little tricks and triumphs would disappear in a brief lick of flame. He ran his finger briefly down the book’s spine. Smiling again, Severus pushed up the sleeves of his robe and flicked his wand. The book waited patiently on the table.

“You’re just a book, a stupid book,” he grumped at the silent volume. The book remained silent, sphinx-like.

“There’s nothing in you that I care to know,” he snarled, pacing around the table. Severus tried walking into his kitchen but he couldn’t drag his eyes from the book. Bewitched, he thought furiously. Those ignorant clods bewitched that book to make whoever looked at it, keep wanting to look at it. Snape cursed himself for being so trusting, so foolish.

“Alright,” he relented, walking back to the book. “Just one more little peek, and then it’s the fire for you.” Flipping the book carelessly over, Snape opened it to the last page. The same words in the same elegant handwriting shone back at him. But underneath was a tiny black window, someone’s memory. Severus leaned a little closer to look. His own image flashed by briefly. Intrigued, he picked up the book and examined it more closely. The window remained dark. Holding the book up to his eyes, Snape stared at the tiny image. Nothing happened.

“Insufferable bores,” he muttered under his breath. He knew how this was supposed to work, but apparently the Marauders wanted something else before they would allow him to be privy to their memory. His eyes drifted down the page till he saw a floating little bubble. James is the best wizard at Hogwarts, it read. Snape groaned inwardly. How badly did he really want to see this memory? Very badly he admitted and the very thought annoyed him. Gritting his teeth and balling his fists, Severus closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

“James is the best wizard at Hogwarts,” he droned. And with that, Severus felt the familiar rush of falling into someone’s memory.


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Where was he? Severus found himself in a unfamiliar setting, the Gryffindor Common Room. James Potter was lazily sitting on a sofa, playing with the golden snitch, his usual diversion. He was alone and he was whispering a song. "James Potter is the king...He's the bravest he's the best....". Moron, even when he was alone, Severus thought. A door slammed: Lily Evans stormed into the Common Room, and James's lips curled into a smile. "Darling" he started to say, but she silenced him with a gesture of her hand. "James Potter!" she yelled, her cheeks reddened by anger. "I had warned you to leave that boy alone. You're such a...bully, stupid, coward idiot! I can't believe I had...I had feelings for you!". Before James could answer, Remus Lupin entered the Room, a sullen, angry expression on his face.




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"So you admit it then? You like me." James sniggered, dismissing his friend that had just entered. Lily's face reddened even more and her lips curled into disgust.
"That isn't the point!" she screamed. Remus sullenly made his way to the sofa. James' smirk faded, he turned his eyesight away from Lily's enraged green eyes to face Remus.
"And what do you what to say? Moony?" James questioned his friend. Remus' eyesight lowered and a dense and deafening silence seized the common room. Nothing, but nothing except the crackling of the fire could heard as James waited for answer but nothing left Remus' lips. Snape stared on at the unfolding memory; he stared with rising anticipation as Remus' eyes slowly began to cast up to the alarmed and awaiting James.




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At last Remus spoke, " I really think, that this time James, you have pushed things a little too far".
James looked at Remus, and then to Lily and back again, he opened his mouth as if to say something, but this time the witty retort that would normally have come from his lips stayed firmly stuck in his throat. He licked his lips nervously, then suddenly gave out an almighty snort of laughter. "Pah"! he said, "You thought it was hilarious, go one Moony, admit it".

He looked towards Lily once more, her face was still red and he thought he'd never seen her look more angry.

From his view point Severus face broke into a sly grin. "The conceited oaf, that'll teach him, even his so called friends didn't approve of his antics. Oh, how delicious this is, and I always thought that the rest of Potters' cronies never said a word against him".

The silence that ensued was deafening, when suddenly a loud voice could be heard coming through the portrait hole.

"Black"! Severus murmured to himself,"I wonder what he's got to say for himself".

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"Prongs!" barked Sirius as he entered the common room. "That was bloody brilliant, mate! I wish I'd have thought of it. You never fail to impress! I mean, the look on that slimy git's face when his under. . .oh! Hi, Evans." He had his hand up in the air for a high-five that never came. James just stood there, his mouth hanging open ,and Lily and Remus turned to Sirius. "Hey, what gives?" Sirius lowered his hand.

"That's just the type of callous, uninformed thing I'd expect from you, Sirius!" Lily shook her head. "You humiliated him! You do that just to make yourselves feel bigger?" She clapped her hands together, the sound punctuated in the echoe of the deserted room. "Well, congratulations. You've really proven your masculinity now. You can effectively gang up and demean someone who will never be as well-liked, as popular, or as strong as the lot of you. Yes, a big congratulations!"

Snape cringed at her defense. He looked down at himself. Well, perhaps he had never been popular. He'd never had real friends, but he had respect! That was more than any of them could say. Still, he flexed his bicep for a moment . . . he wasn't that scrawny. He could probably take at least one of them on . . .

"Wait a minute, Evans," Sirius began. "You must not have been listening. He called you a mudblood! You think we're going to stand for that?" He puffed out his chest a bit as sat down.

Snape snorted. Of course. Blasted Black. Never could see that his actions effected others. Never wanted to. Never believed he should feel remorse over anything. I hate the lot of them, still.

"You've all called eachother worse," she retorted, holding her ground. "I'm sure you've called me worse!" They shook their heads a collective no. "It doesn't matter, anyways. It was four against one. Did you expect him to just spew forth pleasantries when you were all threatening him?"

James looked genuinely sorry. Whether he was sorry for what he'd done or just sorry that Lily's opinion of him was now even more diminished, Snape couldn't be sure. He suspected the latter.

"I feel horrible," Remus said. "I should have stopped you."

"Couldn't have done," James said. "Sirius and I are unstoppable."

"Brilliant," Lily scoffed.

James started getting defensive, then. "Well what do you want us to do about it, Evans? Want us to send him some flowers?" Sirius choked on his laughter.

Yes, that would have been a good trick. Useless prats. Snape became weary of the Gryffindor common room. What was the point. He had lived through it. He knew the outcome.

Lily walked up to James, getting a little too close for comfort. She wound her arms behind him and started to play with the hair at the nape of his neck. "You like me, don't you? I mean, you really like me?" she asked in an alarmingly sing-song voice.

Of course, Sirius knew this meant trouble. Remus blushed and looked away. Snape was about to be sick.

"Er, yeah, Evans."

"If you ever want to go out with me, James Potter," she said as she wacked him forcibly on the back of the head, "you will apologize to Severus Snape."

"You're not serious!" His mouth hung perpetually open. "How?"

"I'm sure you'll find the perfect, sincere way." She turned on her heel and exited the portrait.

***

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Severus prepared to leave, sure that the memory would be over. So, Lily had given him an ultimatum. Apologise or never go out with her. Severus snorted. He never had apologised.
He waited for the sensation of falling upwards, but it didn't come. Instead, James collapsed into an armchair, his face set in a deep frown.

James was avoiding the looks of his friends. He had to find a way. Any way to apologise to snivellus without beeing seen, or heard. He stared into the fire, the creases in his brow deepening. Eventually Remus got up and left, heading for the boys dormitories, glancing backwards at the other two, shaking his head. the common room was silent, except for jamses heavy breathing and Sirius' tapping.

"Look mate, i'm sure she didn't mean it. She can't expect you to actually apologise to the slimy git."
James looked at his friend.
"Of course she does. you know what she's like. Always sees the best in people. Even HIM."

Severus frowned. she had stuck up for him, in front of so many people. Why had he called her a mudblood. It was so long ago, but he still felt the humiliation burning on his face. Turning his pallid skin red. He wanted to be brave. He always had.

James sat there, Sirius sighed. Repeatedly. It was annoying.
"Oh shut up Black!" Severus shouted, knowing they couldnt hear.

James's head whipped round, and Severus was sure that he was looking directly at him. His eyes were boring into severus' skull. Just like his son. Tormenting him, teasing him, taunting him. He spoke to Sirius without taking his eyes off of the-invisible-severus.
"Look Sirius, go to bed. I need to do something."
his eyes left severus and turned toward sthe portrait hole and he bounded towards it, taking care to cover himself with that bloody invisibility cloak.
Severus's jaw clenched, and he felt himself falling backwards, backwards into the dark.

The sensation of falling continued for several seconds during which Severus began to wonder if he was leaving the memory altogether, until he landed with a jolt. The darkness confused him for a moment, but he soon realised where he was from that old, familiar scent of ancient books. Severus had spent so many hours here during his time at Hogwarts; the peace and comfort he derived from sitting in the library after it had officially closed was unlike any other to be found throughout the castle. One of the tables right at the back was his favourite, where the dim light from his lamp wouldn’t attract the attention from any prefects passing by.

He knew he would see himself sitting there even before his dark-adapted eyes detected the faint glow from behind the Potions bookshelves. But this wasn’t his memory…it couldn’t be – so who else had been here with him on this night? He vaguely remembered retreating here after his humiliation earlier that day; remembered trying to concentrate on the text of the books even as the words blurred before his tear-filled eyes; remembered angrily dragging the back of his hand across his eyes, hating the vulnerability he had seen within himself.

And now, he hated himself for it still.

Until something brushed past him, like the ethereal touch of a ghost.

This wasn’t his memory, but he had been alone…whose memory was this?

It couldn’t be…

Not…Potter?

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Of course he wouldn’t find Potter behind the stacks. There would be no remorseful little scholar struggling with their penance. Why had he even entertained such a dim witted notion? He would only find his sixteen year old self, whimpering in the gloom. Perhaps he would even see Potter or that loathsome Black, gloating at his pathetic self from behind the books; getting their last snicker at him. Severus tasted the acid sting of bile in the back of his throat. He really hated those guys. Preparing to step forward, anger rising with every footfall he froze instantly. A slow panic began creeping in around the edges of his thoughts. His heart started to race. Something had touched him a moment ago, something like the ethereal touch of a ghost.

He was in someone else’s memory, he thought quickly; nothing here could touch him. Nothing here, echoed his thoughts. But back in Spinner’s Lane, in the quiet of his little room, anything could be happening. Or maybe this book was not the work of the Marauders but really the product of some dark sorcerer and he was not safe from harm. Severus shuddered at the notion. That can’t be right, he told himself. Nothing touched me, he decided fiercely, it was my imagination. But in the back of his mind he wasn’t so sure.

Stepping around the bookshelves he spied himself; thin and colorless as a ghost. His initial reaction of pity was replaced quickly by disgust. How he hated himself. The boy’s hands were bound tightly around his arms as if he was afraid they would fall off. His head bent low over some ancient tome, greasy black hair falling like a curtain around his face. Even from this distance, Severus could hear the faint sniffling. Why was I so weak, he cursed himself. Why did I allow those malodorous trolls to annoy me?

Stepping through the stacks Severus thought he saw movement, a brief flicker past his hiding place. So Potter did spy on me, he thought angrily. He watched as book after book moved from the shelves only to have a piece of parchment inserted into each one and then carefully replaced. Severus watched carefully for the better part of half an hour, each time trying to read the writing. But reflexes born of constant practice with the Snitch kept him from getting even the barest glimpse. Finally, the distortion that he knew to be Potter slipped silently into the hall, the door barely opening. Severus waited. This couldn’t be Potter’s memory or he’d have to follow and clearly, whoever’s memory it was, was still here.

“Is he gone yet?” a voice whispered in the darkness. It sounded female.

“Yes.” It was Lupin’s voice. Severus walked toward the whispering. For the second time that night the breath caught in his throat. Lily Evan was standing in front of him.

“Ugh. I thought he’d never leave, the brainless prat,” she sneered. Severus gulped; brainless prat? This was the man she was going to marry.

“I thought you liked him.”

“Well,” Lily stammered, “I do. I just don’t like the way he acts sometimes. He just needs somebody to take him down a peg, put him in his place. Somebody neither he nor that other conceited troll can strike back at.” She paused. “Did you see where he put all those ridiculous notes?”

Severus saw Lupin grinning wickedly in the darkness. “You know Evans, I would have never expected you to have this particular streak of evil.”

“Oh this isn’t evil Remus,” Lily chuckled darkly. “But I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. I pity those two fools.”

“James and Snape?”

Lily looked scandalized. “James and Sirius,” she corrected. Eyes bright, she walked up to each volume that Potter had removed. Tapping each one lightly on the spine, each book shuddered and then lay still. For the better part of an hour Remus and Lily roamed around the library, never once attracting attention. Their work complete Lily pocketed her wand and smiled to herself.

“I pity those two fools,” she repeated.

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Snape felt himself falling back to his living room; he was far too experienced in this kind of activity to be affected by the coming back after a peek into old memories, but he felt dizzy, anyway, the sensation caused by uncomfortable feelings.

He took a quick look around him, to detect a presence - the one he had felt before- but the room was empty. The Potions Master left the dangerous book on the table, and held his head for a moment, trying to fight the strange emotions that kept disturbing his composure. So many ghosts from the past, familiar and unfamiliar places, old emotions...it was a singular way to celebrate his birthday.

The man took a deep breath and went to the small cabinet where he kept his favorite wine. I need a break, he said to himself. He sat again on his chair, sipping some amber-coloured, aromatic wine; his mind going over and over Lily's last words.
What really had hit him was Lily's and Lupin's concern for him. Especially Remus'. Snape couldn't help recalling that once, a life ago, he had desired Remus' friendship. The werewolf's passive attitude had hurted him more than anything. Remus could have done - or said- something when Sirius and James tormented their favorite victim, but he never did, although he was a Prefect.
Where Lupin was now, Severus didn't know. Remus, too, was a spy, and they shared a destiny of danger and loneliness; and after all, Severus was still willing to help him.

But it wasn't the thought of Remus that kept dancing in his head. While Snape was recollecting memories of the past, his brain had kept working on hints and details; and now, as struck by a sudden realization, Snape took his cloak, and prepared himself to Apparate.

A deep dense fog circled around his ankles as his apparition was now complete. Snape’s cold dark eyes turned to the sky. A full moon, Severus' thoughts jumped to Remus but he shook the thought away. The full moon lit up the midnight blue sky so the light of the stars were blinded by the light of the moon. And the moon’s luminosity illuminated the many gravestones which were all covered in a coat of earth. The moss was as green as the Slytherin’s badge. Snape trod one step forward uncertain of where he was treading as his feet where invisible to him as the fog thickened exactly. He looked around, choosing a direction to proceed in. Should I go left or right? Or maybe perhaps I should go backwards; no I'll go forwards... , his thoughts whispered.

Still the fog thickened and continued to forbid Snape's sight to see were his feet were leading him. His eyes now scanned the names of those lost. Suddenly he froze, his eyes pierced onto a name. His eyes remained transfixed to the name as he moved closer to the gravestone, his black cloak grabbing at his feet as he moved closer still. It was the grave he was looking for, it was why he was here.
“Lily Potter.” He murmured out loud.



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Severus glanced further down the headstone to read the inscription.

L I L Y P O T T E R
Loving mother to Harry.
Two Hearts combined,
forever entwined.
With an Unbreakable Vow.
Cruelly taken from this world.

Underneath, was a smaller inscription, so small that it could barely be seen. It read 'James Potter'.

Severus took no notice of this inscription and knelt before the grave. I'm here lily, what can I do for you?

I know that it was you who made sure the book got to me. But why? What can I do to help you?

Severus stayed that way for a full ten minutes before he heard the sound he had known would come on a night like this. The howl pierced the silence, but with the fog being so thick and closing in all the time he could not tell which way it had come from, all he knew was the direction it's owner would be heading and that would be to the place where he was kneeling right at this precise moment.

Severus decided that for his own safety he would head for the old chapel that stood in the grounds of the cemetry. Once inside he drew out his wand and cast an unspoken spell to ignite the remnants of two dusty candles. He leaned against the cold damp wall and began to think about what had brought him to this place. Some birthday, this is! he thought. As he stood there, he pictured the simple headstone on Lily's grave, the headstone that he had put there himself all those years ago.

Although the sounds of the night seemed to have abated, Severus stayed in his damp sanctuary for some time, his thoughts drifting between the past and why he was here, now, on this night. Suddenley, he felt the same sensation that he had felt earlier when he had gone into the memory in the Library.

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Disgust over took Severus. He had been over taken by his guilt, this wasn't the work of the dead, what could they do now. This was all just a cruel joke, but who would do that to him? almost everyone who hated him was dead and why would anyone who liked him do this to him. as if his mind was being read a voice answered him.

"the dead have holds on the living, having people do their biddings. Lilly wanted you to see that and i agreed completely but i wanted her to wait but then she died so it became my job to give it to you. See James really did apologizes, just in the form of a note that you never received, Lily always wanted you to know that james wasn't all that bad, He just didn't have very good judgement. The regret you feel for calling her names is forgiven she stood up for you because she always did what was right." The voice shared

"if that is true that he did apologize why didn't i find the note? and Albus Why did you want her to wait? How do you how i feel? I don't feel regret?" severus shot back. as he turned to see the headmaster as calm and collected as ever.

"she waited because you wouldn't have understood them at the time and you never received the note because as you know lily made them invisible to everyone, but i had been there that night and took them out to show you later although i never was ever able to break through lily's spell, she was always a powerful witch, i was able to read it the note had only the deepest remorse i had ever seen come from james. I just thought that the dead deserve to be for given." Albus continued

Severus sighed. "So it was you, Albus, everytime I felt that...well, so near to me..." he murmured. " I knew your powers, but I didn't think you could do this...".

The voice became more affectionate in its tone, and started to fade. "My son - because that's what you have been for me, Severus - you won't lose me...never. I will always be your side, to protect you. Trust me, Severus, as you always did...". Then, a deep silence.

Severus felt relieved and a hidden joy made his lips curl in a little smile; he wasn't a man who let emotions overwhelm him , but he couldn't help thinking how happy he was about Albus' visit. This is the greatest birthday gift , he thought, and the burden he felt since Albus' death seemed to become lighter.

Severus caressed distantly Lily's stone with the tip of his fingers. His mind still worked on a detail which he couldn't catch. Everyone thought Lily and him never mended their mutual offences, but it wasn't so. Thay had the chance to talk privately more than once and become friends; but Lily couldn't make Severus accept James as a friend. "Never" Severus had said, his face cold and unexpressive. "Ask me whatever you want, but not this". Lily was so caring and sweet, always concerned about him, Sirius, Remus... A sudden realization struck him. Lily wasn't alone while hiding the messages: Remus was with her! He should always have known James' feelings towards Severus.

Although the former Potions Master knew now the right spell to reveal James' words, thanks to Albus' memories of Lily, he felt the need to talk with Lupin, and to mend their past, once and for all.

A last caress to Lily's tombstone, and Severus apparated with a loud crack.

remus lupin was spending a peaceful night at home, the full moon was a full week away, when with no warning severus apparated into the room. remus staggerd out of his chair to stand.

"remus we must talk, i know you and lily hid the apology notes james wrote to me all those years ago, i am not sure if i should thank you for all the times you told james and sirius to back off or to be mad for hiding the notes from me. i am just not sure." severus was running out of things to say btu desperatly wanted lupin to close his gaping mouth and answer him.

"how.. how did you know? the only people in the library that day was lily, you and me and you were to far away to see either james or us?" remus inquired finnally responding.

"no we were not alone albus was there that day, and had given me his memory of that night, i know everything you did, why did you defend me and then hid the notes from me?" severus started to rais ehis voice no matter how hard he was tryiny to control his anger.

"we wanted to know that james really did care enough but we didn't want you to have any false hope of being left alone as you can tell wouldn't have lasted more than a day," lupin calmly responed as he sat back down. remus pulled a bottle of wine and two glasses from his cabanet setting them down inbetween the two of them.

Severus woke up with a shiver. He tried to understand where he was, and he realized that the cold surface under his cloak was still Lily Evans' gravestone. He had fallen asleep while thinking about Albus, Lily, Remus...and his sense of fault and his most hidden desires had brought him that strange dream. Severus wasn't used to talk so much, and he giggled at the thought of himself pronouncing all those words...to Remus! Definitely, the ghosts from his past were keeping on haunting him in his dreams.

But, he thought that such a dream had left him an interesting clue on where Lupin was. Could it have been a premonition, maybe? With such a full moon and his absence from Hogwarts' castle, Severus wouldn't have bet on Remus' memory. If it wasn't Severus to remember Remus to take his Wolfsbane potion every month... who knows how many full moons the werewolf had spent running in the woods and scaring the Hogsmeade villagers to death.

Severus wrapped himself in the heavy wool cloak. It was freezing outside; although miracolously not snowy, the weather was cruelly cold. Every breath brought ice to his lungs and he apparated quickly before turning blue.

Hogwarts wasn't so warm in its corridors and halls. But Severus knew how cozy and well heated were the private rooms. Having apparated near Hogsmeade, the black haired man rushed into the village and hoped that being a Saturday night, the Three Broomsticks would stay open until late. He sneezed loudly and couldn't help thinking that he was getting old...he could have been caught by his enemies for such a noise!

Seerus peeked through the window glass. The place was warm and well lighted, and the ladies' laughters were like crystal waterfalls. Suddenly he felt the need to rest for a few minutes. Quietly, he pushed the door and entered The Three Broomsticks.

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Pausing on the threshold, his eyes adjusted to the brightness of the pub. A few of the patrons looked up, their faces questioning.

“Shut the door!” shouted a number of angry voices and Severus responded even before he realized what he was doing. The door swung shut behind him and the silver tinkling of the bell was soon swallowed up by several conversations. Snape looked around again. No one paid him the least attention.

Why should they, he thought. Albus Dumbledore was still alive and at this moment probably sitting in his office. No one knew what he was compelled to do, what he had to do.

“Severus,” Madam Rosmerta began heartily, “it’s been a while since you’ve joined us. What can I get for you? We have some excellent elf made wine and I know ...”

“That will be fine.”

Turning on his heel he strode over to an unoccupied table and sat down. He paid no attention to Madam Rosmerta’s startled glance. What did he care what she thought of him? Leaning back against the chair he closed his eyes.

This is the path I’ve chosen, he reminded himself.

Remembering back to that black day when he first met the Dark Lord, Severus sighed. He was so naïve then. He had been recruited for years; the Dark Lord monitoring every move he’d ever made. And just when he was at his most vulnerable, Lord Voldemort held out his hand to him, Severus Snape, the half-blood. I can help you, he told Severus, and Voldemort held out such promise that for years Snape couldn’t believe the lies people told about him.

They don’t understand him at all, was his mantra.

The bottle of elf made wine appeared before him as did an empty glass. He concentrated on filling it. Tonight he would not drink himself into forgetfulness. But why was he seeing these things, these premonitions? Guilt over what he was doing? Over what needed to be done? Was it a warning? Would the world see him as a traitor like William Joyce or Carter Braxton? Well, Americans viewed Braxton as a hero, a patriot, but who cared what the Americans thought? That was like caring what Muggles thought. Only the thoughts of his world were important. One way or the other, what had to be done before the school year ended would brand him a traitor.

I crossed the point of no return. No matter which path I chose, I cannot not win.

The Order was suspicious of him, as were the Death Eaters and the Ministry. Regrettably, so to was the Dark Lord. A chilling story, unbidden and unwelcome came back to him as he tasted the wine, the story of the Slytherin who would not talk. For a moment it burned bitter in his throat. Little was known about her except that she and the Dark Lord attended Hogwarts at the same time. Severus knew in the end she died, but whether it was at the hands of the Order, the Death Eaters, or the Ministry itself he didn’t know. And the thought of how it was accomplished chilled him even in the warmth of the room. Was that to be his end as well?

“Severus Snape?” The voice, soft and inviting interrupted his thoughts, jolting him out of his bleak reverie.

Severus looked up, angry at the intrusion. His lips curled into an ugly sneer only to have it fade as he gazed into the most exquisite pair of eyes he’d ever seen.

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He felt almost lost in those eyes for a moment. Only a moment.

As the feeling of lightheadedness started to leave him, he managed to focus his gaze on the woman before him. He knew he recognized that voice from somewhere...

"Granger." He sneered.

She cocked her head to one side and looked him over briefly, an irritated look manifesting istelf on her face.

"You're drunk." She told him plainly.

"Go away." He bit back at her, spinning around on his stool to face the bar once more.

Unfortunately for Severus, the insufferable know-it-all would not be sent away that easily. She took the barstool to Severus' right and ordered a butterbeer. She sipped her drink cautiously, allowing the silence to draw out unomfortably between them for several minutes.

Eventually, Severus decided that he could take the silence no longer. He sighed into his wine glass before placing it carefully down on the surface in front of him. He shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as if wishing away a nonexistent migraine.

"What do you want, Miss Granger?" He finally asked her.

"Who says I want anything?" She quipped back before taking another careful sip of her butterbeer.

Severus sighed again and twisted on his stool to face his former student fully. He looked her over and decided that her appearance had changed quite a bit since he had last seen her. She looked much older than he remembered. More worldly. He supposed it probably had something to do with her experience in the final battle. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen her since that very day. He remembered it well:

“Professor?”

The piercing, strident voice sliced through his reverie. Somewhere behind him, conversations continued, buzzing annoyingly like the voice beside him. Glasses clinked in the awkward silence. Severus hoped the voice and it’s owner would disappear, like smoke up the chimney. He tried catching the conversations of others in an attempt to distract himself, lose himself in another world, but the voice was persistent. Looking down, he peered deeply into his goblet. He knew when he looked up again he would not see a middle-aged Hermione Granger. The face would not be lined and tired nor would it have the haunted look of someone who’d seen more than they should have in too short a time, of someone forced to grow up too soon. No, when he looked up he would see the fresh, faced loveliness of a girl on the threshold of becoming a woman. Eyes bright and eager, a rose petal blush on her cheek. Someone, he thought, still innocent and pure, blissfully unaware of what was to be. Narrowed his eyes he cursed his choices. Another Severus Snape might have been eagerly awaiting her graduation. A different kind of man might have looked forward to a different kind of education for her. In another time, in another place a different Professor Snape might have even yearned to look at her another way. But that was not this Severus Snape.

“Can you hear me Professor?” the voice repeated. It sounded a little louder, a little sharper.

Certainly not this Severus Snape and not now with her incessant caterwauling. He pitied the man that would end up with her. Gripping the goblet tightly he downed his wine with one gulp.

“Miss Granger,” he began, his voice frosty. “I believe you are off school grounds and out after curfew.”

“Sir, I was just worried--“

“Miss Granger,” he began, his tone getting as dark as his mood, “I do not seem to remember the Headmaster telling me he had appointed you as either my mother or my nursemaid.” His voice was slow, dangerous. It could barely be heard above the din. Hermione looked at him, devastated. “That being said Miss Granger, I strongly suggest you return to Hogwarts whatever way you arrived.”

“But sir,” she sputtered, “I heard about a book, I heard—“

“Enough!” he snarled. “You will return to Hogwarts immediately, do you understand?”

Mutely, Hermione nodded her head, tears glossing her eyes. Severus leaned forward, his face only a few inches from hers. A tear had snuck into the corner of her eye and threatened to fall, he could see her trembling. Ignorant girl.

“You will not discuss any of these events with anyone, ever, is that completely understood?” Again, Hermione bobbled her head in acknowledgement. The tear stole softly down her cheek. Go away, he thought, disgusted.

Waiting until Hermione disappeared, Severus gathered himself up. So, there was more to that book and its mysterious sender. Banging some silver down on the table he arose, swirling his cloak around him. Madam Rosmerta looked up but Severus waved her off. He was finished drinking for the evening; there was work to be done. The crowd parted before him as he walked towards the door. No one spoke to him or gave the slightest inidcation they noticed he was leaving. Severus was glad. He felt invisable The conversations swirled low behind him until the closing door cut them off entirely.

The cold night bloomed starless. Severus watched his breath freeze and then fall slightly. A storm was coming in. Tightening his hand on his wand he waited for the familiar crush of apparaition. Back to Spinner’s End, he thought.

As always, your comments and your thoughts are appreciated.

Crack! Severus had arrived back at spinner's point. Was albus, the graveyard, the book was it a dream, real or was it his own consiusness being weighed down by what he was to do before end of term. The dark lord had asked draco to kill dumbeldore, his one and only friend and when bellatrix had asked for the oath he had given it to her. He hada first gone to Dunbledore told him everything and dumbledore had told him to forfill the orders then flee. Severus knew what he had to do but he still refused to believe that this was really going to happen. Severus turned his attention back to his living room rememory the book that had arrived that evening and began flipp through the pages. About half way through the book severus noticed a small note he had not seen before. it read

Professor
during the course of one of my many late nights in the libray i found this book and believed you might want to see it. Happy Birthday.
-Hermonie

severus dropped the book and the note immediatly. He had wandered what hermonie was talking to him for and now he knew and it surprised him.

Snape flipped the note over. In tiny neat print it read:

PS I’m sorry sir if this might offend you but it is in good concern for your health and I might be of help. You seemed very tired and suffering from a lack of sleep. I couldn’t help but notice, and I’m sorry sir to notice that is, but maybe you should see a dentist. Both of my parents are certified, qualified and have appointments available at any time convenient for you. Many health problems begin with poor dental care…

The note continued on in a blur about the seriousness of gum disease peppered with footnotes to several texts, articles and the good advice Hermione’s doctored parents had told her. Severus blinked and plopped in the shabby chair tossing the tome aside. Before he could settle in a voice carried over from the kitchen. A singing voice. A hideously out of tune voice punctuated with loud bangs against a cooking pot.

There’s a rat in the kitchen, what am I gonna do?
There’s a rat in the kitchen, what am I gonna do?
I’m gonna make rat stew! That’s what I’m gonna do!
I’m gonna make rat steeeew…

Severus entered the kitchen to see Peter Petegrew dancing with a large spoon.

“Where’ve you been all night?” exclaimed Wormtail “You’re in trouble. Not only that, I get dragged into this as well. While you were out ruminating on the good old days…”

“The good old days?” spat Snape. “There were no ‘good old days’. Sirius made sure of that.”

“You’re not FIT to even say his name!” Peter roared. “I went through some crazed pranks myself and came out none too worse…I think…” he scratched his ear distractedly. Then Petegrew’s face crumpled in fear. “Our Dark Lord has mission for you. I have to help.”

An icy dread filled Snape’s veins. He remembered what some of these orders entailed. The worst was years ago. Never could he forget leading the dead in a slow watery march to a hidden cave. There were no ‘good old days’. Not then and not now.

“I’ll do it myself. I’ll get my orders now.” said Snape striding to the door.

“Wait! The Dark Lord already came by and you weren’t here to take them. As I said you’re trouble Severus.” said the smaller man gesturing his arms.

“You’re in this just as deep Wormtail.”

“I blame this cursed arm of mine. It’s a magnet for disaster. What’s your excuse?” sing-songed Peter. Severus Snape had reached to limit of his temper. He spun around gripping Peter’s shoulder.

“An excuse? I. Don’t. Need. One.” the towering DADA professor said emphasizing each word with a shake. He then roughly shoved him away.

Peter cowered, rubbing his shoulder, doing anything to not look into those black eyes aflame with anger.

“What are my orders?” Snape hissed from the shadows.

“To feed and transport Nagini.”

Comments, gripes and other lovelies right here.

"Where?" Severus snarled. "I-I don't know, that's just what the Dark Lord said!" "Then I will go and see him." Snape said grimly. "No, no, no, I would not do that if i were you, he's in a terrible temper-" Ignoring Pettigrew's whimpers, Severus apparated away to the Dark Lord's hideout.

He was in a grim room, cobwebs draping the furniture. Black-and-green chairs sat in a circle around a stone table. At the head of the table, Voldemort sat in a magnificent stone throny-thing, looking cooly at Snape. "Severus." he hissed. "How nice of you to drop by. Pray tell, where were you, last night, when I came to your house and you were absent? Better have a good excuse." "I, ah, I was, erm...visiting, um, well, a...grave." "A grave?" Voldemort said. "Um, yes, a grave. The grave of...my...um, father." "Your father?" Voldemort said incredulously. "We will be discussing this subject later, but for now I will pass over it. You job, as Wormtail has doubtless told you, is to feed and transport Nagini." "Where shall I transport her (him?) my Lord?" said Snape nervously. "You will transport him, after July 31, to a designated area I will give you directions to. You will then progress to stage two of the plan, which I will explain on a later date." "Okay. What should I feed Nagini?" said Snape. Voldemort smiled evilly. "I will be providing you with her preferred food...fresh meat. Now, I will show you where you will transport Nagini to. Actually, I believe she is already there, so that stage is simpler. Come." Then Severus was whirling through a confusing blur of shapes and pictures, and he had landed in a small, grubby room. Voldemort had already arrived, and was looking at Nagini, who was slithering towards him. Looking out of a window, Severus saw rows of neat little houses, with neat little lawns, neat little flowerbeds, and neat little paths. The one nearest to them had a large "1" on it. He saw a sign, which said on it "Privet Drive". Privet Drive. Where young Potter lived. That meant that he was the attempted target.

Hello,

please, all the writers joining the Snapeweek Fanfiction Challenge with their work, be sure you read again the rules here before posting.

Thank you

Clara )O(

S.O.S.S. President

Hey Guys, please read this before posting again:

Ok, Clara and I have talked it over, and we've decided that there needs to be some sort of foundation for this fic. Not that the writing so far hasn't been excellent, because, trust me, it has, but things are starting to get a little with all the varying drabbles.

So, Clara has set up a list of rules on how to post,

and I have set up a list of rules on what to post.

Please visit these links first before contributing to the story. The second link has a summary of the story as it has developed so far (which is wonderful!), and delegates a timeline and cannon compliancy. Hopefully this will clear up any confusion on where exactly we are with this story.

Also, I've been receiving some questions about when this story is expected to end. The honest answer? About six weeks ago . This lovely little piece of cooperative literature was first developed for Snapeweek, then continued on into Alan week, and now it has just taken on a life of its own. So, when is it going to end? When you've all decided to end it, of course !

Honestly, guys, I can't thank you all enough for what you've done with this story... I know I speak for both Clara and myself when I say that it is more than we, or SOSS, could have ever hoped for.

Good luck, and may the muses be with you!

Finally the weekend was over and Snape was back to Hogwarts.
laying on his desk in the DADA classroom was the book he had received as a birthday present two days ago. "If i hated Granger i do it even more now!" thought Snape.
Why did he had to discover all this now? Why did that stupid girl send him this book with all this memories? Now he knew that James Potter had actual apologized for being so mean and arrogant, of course he did it cause Lily made him to, but he did and now Snape had received orders from the Dark Lord to help Nagini to kill James son Harry, even worst Lily's son.
"What am i going to do??" he asked himself,"Just some days ago i hated Potter, both of them father and son, but now..." and with brush of anger he grabbed the book and trow it away.
Than he set back in his chair put his head back and tried to find a solution in the roof, but nothing seemed to ocurred him. It seemed like hours had pass but it had only be a few minutes, Snape's black eyes rolled over the classroom until they met again the book laying open in the corner, he got up and walked in direction of it, laying beside the old DADA book was an old piece of parchment that had fallen from it.
Snape picked it up and started to read it:
"My dear Lily...

Hi there, Chico! I've sent you an owl about the story... if you wouldn't mind reading it and getting back to me

My Dear Lily...
Snape dropped the parchment as if it contained buboter pus and walked over to his hearth. He didn't have time to think about this now. The fire had long since gone out and unfortunately the Memory Draught he had been preparing the day before had gone cement-like in his cauldron.
Great, thought Snape. I have N.E.W.T level potions all morning and my example is useless.

He set to work immediately. A quick scourgify. Accio ingredients and...ugh, company.

The door to the grungy dungeon flew open and in walked his class. Double potions with the Slytherins and Griffendors. Harry, Hermione and Ron settled themselves near the closest window and quickly put there heads together.

Through narrowed eyes, Snape regarded them. Miss Granger was frantic in her animation and facial features. Whatever was going on in that meddling head of hers could not be good, especially if she was sharing it with Weasley and Potter.

"Time for seperation I think." smirked Snape as he viciously waved his wand and all three flew to opposite corners of the room.

A dozen pairs of wide eyes looked up at him. No one spoke. No one moved. No one questioned why he was there instead of Professor Slughorn. An unnatural quiet echoed throughout the classroom. Severus allowed himself a moment to luxuriate in that feeling of absolute power. The dungeon felt colder than it had a moment ago, tomb like. Severus quietly remembered another visit to a tomb and he suppressed a shudder.

“Today,” he began, his voice an icy whisper, “we begin Golpalott’s Third Law.”

“Please, sir,” interrupted Hermione. “We’ve just completed Golpalott’s Third Law. Just last week—”

“Miss Granger,” Snape began coldly as he turned to face her. He felt his pulse quicken as he looked towards her; she appeared calm, confident. Stepping over to where she sat, he tightly grasped both sides of the desk and leaning forward, stared into her face. Deep brown eyes widened with fear. He could count every eyelash, every freckle splashed across her cheeks. His eyes traced out a line that ran down one cheek to her trembling lower lip, then angrily back, to look her full in the face.

“When I require your assistance,” he hissed, “you may be sure, I will ask for it, and not before. Is that quite understood?” For the second time in less than a week, Hermione bobbled her head in acknowledgement. Straightening, Severus leaned back, folding his arms over his chest.

“As I was saying before Miss Granger interrupted, Professor Slughorn been very lax in accepting your work. From his vague notes,” and Severus fluttered them dismissively, “I can see that none of you successfully completed the assignment.” Staring at Hermione again he watched her look down, a determined look in her eyes. That’s better, my dear, he mused. “Therefore, today we begin again, in the forlorn hope that one of you might still be competent enough to complete this ludicrously simple assignment.”

There were a number of sidelong glances and murmurs.

“Sir?” It was Ernie Macmillan who had spoken, “I believe Harry completed the assignment.” Severus sneered at the comment.

“Potter cheated. Now get to work, all of you.” No one moved. Severus glanced around angrily. “Now.”

The usual banging and scraping of desks and chair resounded throughout the room. Severus watched as the twelve students hauled cauldrons together and lined up dutifully to accept their poisons. Of all the students, only Hermione looked confident, determined, unwilling to accept defeat. Harry looked ill, like he had been caught in a lie. Which, thought Severus self-righteously, he had. Weasley looked his usual frightened self.

Watching each of the students pour their poisons into their cauldrons, Severus smirked privately. There’s no way any of them would succeed in this task. The work was well beyond N.E.W.T. level. Wandering through the chilly classroom, he glanced briefly into each sad, sorry attempt. Pausing for a moment next to Hermione he looked into her cauldron. She had already decanted her poison into several crystal phials. Clearly, she understood the principles. But now the hard part, the alchemical part, here she was struggling. Part of him wanted ached to show her the artistry of what she was doing. He wanted to see the expression on her face as the unknown became knowable. He wanted to see that look of gratitude. Balling his hands into fists he fought the urge to say anything to her. Instead he looked down at the tar-like substance in Weasley’s cauldron and waved it away.

“Weasley,” he intoned, “what did you intend to do with that?” Turning quickly on his heel he headed back to his desk but not before he heard one of them whisper, horcruxes.
Severus felt his throat tighten. Why were they discussing horcruxes? Had the Headmaster shown Potter that memory, he thought, horrified. Through narrowed eyes he stared at them. Where had they even heard about horcruxes and why were they involving Hermione? Potter would have to be dragged through the explanation and Weasley wouldn’t understand it in a lifetime, but Hermione would be relentless in her pursuit and she would understand all of it. To study evil, his mother had often reminded him, is to be studied by evil.

No, Albus, not her, he thought bitterly. It’s not fair, she doesn’t deserve this. Suddenly the book, the visit, it all made sense. The way Voldemort claimed you for his own was to destroy everyone around you, so that he alone remained. Then you looked to him alone.

Through the curtain of his own hair, Severus stared at Hermione. She had pushed her sleeves back and he watched the delicate way she added lacewings to her potion, the tiny ingredient fluttering softly from her fingertips. He felt his pulse quicken again. That book, he thought furiously, that book. That’s what started it all. He suddenly didn’t care what secrets it held. All he knew, all he cared, was that the young woman standing a few feet away was blithely aware she was in mortal peril.

Not again, he told himself furiously. After class, he promised himself, I will end this. I will destroy that book.

At that moment Snapes thoughts were interrupted. The door to the potions dungeon had been unceremoniously swept open causing quite a distraction. Neville Longbottom had added a bit too much dragon's blood and the foul, odorous mist that emitted from his cauldron was tickling the noses of the entire class. In her haste to attempt a quick cover up Hermione spun on her heels to rectify his mistake and had unwittingly knocked over her own cauldron which was just about finished.

"Silence!" commanded Professor Snape as he cooly looked about the classroom to see who dare interupt his lesson.

"Ahhh, Severus, m'boy!" Professor Slughorn came wobbling throught the door sending an air of Madam Rosemerta best oak mead through the air rivaling with the stench of Nevilles disaterous potion attempt. " So kind...hic of you...of course, to hic...start my class off...hic for me!"

Snape narrowed his obsidian eyes at the slovenly potions master. How he ridiculed the position with his tardiness and obvious intoxicated state. With an air of superiority, he strode confidently over to the puffalump of a professor.

"Time, it seems is wasted on your efforts to be here." sneered Snape with a slight smirk playing to his lips. "As such, I am more than willing to continue with your class until you can ah...focus a bit more."

Sarcasm however was wasted in the end as Professor Slughorn jovially announced that he was perfectly capable of topping off the lesson.

In the chaos that has taken place, Severus turned to find Harry and Ron feverishly working to clean the spilled potion that was Hermiones brillant work.

"Mister Potter, Mister Weasley, I specificly remember seperating the both of you from Miss Granger for the duration of this class. Ten points each from Gryffindor and I think a weeks detention. I will speak to Mr. Filch directly." Severus loved the looks of loathing he got from both boys...a pity there potion making lacked that kind of passion.

"Oh yes, and Miss Granger, detention...one week...my office at 5:30 every evening."

A small smile crossed his face as he walked purposefully out of the dungeon. If the only way to save her was to seperate her from those hooligans, so be it.

Severus Snape was fuming! Upon returning to his office there was an owl fluttering about the ceiling leaving feathers everywhere and droppings on his most precious papers. Wondering how long it had been there, he coaxed it down, untied the parchement and stared blankly at the words.

It is gone...concern yourself not with it...stay the course...

Snape paced back and forth, running his fingers through his greasy hair. Think Severus, think, he commanded his brain. Nothing forthcoming and he needed to speak to Filch about detention for Potter and Weasley. Those two definately needed to serve detention seperately. Hopefully Filch had some truly disgusting task just waiting for their attention.

Leaving his office and rounding the corner, Severus noticed Harry, Hermione and Ron huddled together in the corner trying to conceal themselves with the giant statue of Merlin. Stealthly he crept closer, keeping his movements small as to go unnoticed.

"I put a boomerang charm on it before I sent it," Hermione said as she showed the book to her two friends.

"Did he give you any idea about what was so important about it?" asked Harry.

"He was drunk.'' replied Hermione

Ron muttered something like 'filthy git' but didn't elaborate more than that and the three of them hurried down the corrider.

Oh yes, thought Snape. I definately need to get back that book.

Without looking up, Severus knew it was nearly 5:30. He always knew exactly what time it was, ever since he could remember. Mother always called it his small, but useful talent. Tobias, for Severus would never think of him as Father, always called him Nick O’Time or Nick for short.

“Old Nick certainly knows what time it is,” Tobias would declare loudly. Severus' jaw tightened briefly as he thought back to the last time Tobias called him that; the day he discovered that ‘Old Nick’ was another name for the devil. Unconsciously, Severus swept the desk in front of him as if sweeping away the bad memories. Put it from your mind, he told himself sternly. Concentrate on what needs to be done.

His thoughts immediately returned to Hermione Granger and the book. How could he get it away from her? Imperiousing her was not an option. Severus suspected she might be strong enough to resist, and then what would he do? Even if she weren’t strong enough, half a dozen Gryffindors knew the signs. He’d be thrown into Azkaban without a trial. Even Dumbledore wouldn’t believe him.

Severus’ eyes strayed down the long lines of green stoppered bottles leading to his private cupboard. He knew of several potions that would leave no trace, that were undetectable. But Severus couldn’t bring himself to drug a student. Certainly Potter had tested his resolve many times, and the Weasley twins had certainly caused him to experiment more with undetectable potions, but he wouldn’t betray Dumbledore’s trust like that. He didn’t want to see that look of disappointment in Albus’ eyes when his misdeed was discovered.

She’s late, he thought. It wasn’t a good sign. While she’d probably never had a detention in her life, Hermione Granger was, if nothing else, punctual. What if those two dunderheads convinced her to look at the book, he pondered. What if they convinced her to peer into that memory? Severus felt his hands ball into fists. What if there was something more sinister in that book; something that might harm her, them. Two soft raps on the door interrupted the wild thoughts beginning to take form in his mind. Looking up, he watched Hermione sheepishly enter. Her eyes remained downcast as if she wanted to blame her feet for her tardiness.

“Miss Granger,” he intoned darkly, “you are twenty minutes late.”

“I’m sorry, Professor.” There was no hint of an excuse, no explanation of any kind. Narrowing his eyes, Severus studied the young woman carefully. What had she seen, what was she hiding? Hermione stood gazing at him, her eyes a little too wide and helpless. Those who study evil, he thought briefly. His lip curled into a sneer as an idea struck him.

“Sit down,” he commanded and immediately, Hermione obeyed. Handing her a rough piece of parchment Severus indicated she should find a quill. Eyes once more downcast, she stared at the paper in front of her.

“Write down every thing you know about that book you gave me,” he ordered. “Unless you’d rather tell me.”

Your comments are always most welcome.

Severus stared hard at Hermione, his eyes never leaving her face. Her look of self assurance faded instantly to that of childish fear. Observing just the faintest traces of movement in her eyes he thought of mice desperately searching for a way out, an escape route. His hands slithered up his arms, crossing at last over his chest.

There are no escape routes, he thought darkly.

Shifting her position ever so slightly, Hermione squirmed uncomfortably under his steely gaze. Severus sniffed loudly, then stiffening his countenance, glared down at her. Not one movement betrayed him. She gulped loudly. Eyes straying down towards the parchment she stared at the quill in front of her. It lay still and quiet. He watched the slow movement of her hands as they slipped into her lap. Three times she made to reach for the quill, but each time her eyes would meet his and then her hand would clench into a fist, falling uselessly back into her lap. With each attempt he raised his eyebrow in question. Inclining his head towards hers, offering her the opportunity to speak. Whether fear or loyalty held her tongue, Severus couldn’t tell. She simply stared back down at the parchment.

The slightest trace of a smirk formed on his lips. Another idea began tugging at the corners of his mind. Pulling the edges of his robe around him like an impenetrable wall he sat in front of her, his face level with hers.

“Miss Granger,” he began, his tone slow and deliberate. “You are to return that book to me immediately, do you understand?”

Nodding in assent, Hermione stood.

“Right now?” she breathed.

“Right now,” he echoed.

“Ms. Granger. How very disappointed am I to see you here in detention”.

Hermione jumped slightly in surprise to see Albus Dumbledore enter the office.

“I seem to be a dumping ground for many unwanted things.” Snape said sourly looking at Dumbledore. The headmaster frowned slightly then turned his attention back to Hermione.

“Dear girl, I do understand the restlessness as one gets closer to that final seventh year. But it is no excuse for trouble making. It’s in bad form during these dangerous times.”

She bowed her head looking downward. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry Professor Snape. I thought, I…” a ragged sniff erupted. Prof. Snape folded his arms exasperated at her emotional quibbling.

“You thought nothing except wasting my time. You’re excused.” Hermione bit her lip and quickly exited the room. Dumbledore sighed and patted his midnight blue robe.

“I seem nibbled out. And they were seedless too. Are you up for a walk?” Snape patted his leg and nodded. “Bad weather has left the Astronomy Tower open Severus. Let’s go there. But not the access portrait please.” said Dumbledore gesturing to the Grand Staircase.

It was a long walk from the dungeons to the topmost tower. Increasing the time were students and teachers acknowledging them along the way and Dumbledore’s checking each oversized urn for the random sweet. “Ha, success!” he exclaimed then looked disappointed to find only two Bertie Bott’s, a red and green. “So which is the bad one?” he said jingling them in his hand. “If it’s a Bott, it’s both.” replied Snape. The headmaster laughed and pressed onward.

All sorts of thoughts occupied Severus’ mind. Why are we going there? Why now? He knows something. Dumbledore always knew something. Is someone following us? Black eyes critically swept about feeling certain he saw three students walk a little too fast into the library. Annoyance grew when he spotted Harry ‘casually’ exiting the library on the next floor. Did that wretched boy get an answer yet? With every step his annoyance grew thinking about Harry. When they arrived upon the tower’s rampart Severus was in a dark mood. Albus Dumbledore however was delighted at the brisk rush of cold air. With a quick step the headmaster rushed to the edge and spreading his arms wide yelling "Weeee!” to the night sky.

“Are we here for health reasons?” grumbled Snape from the shadows. Dumbledore turned to face his DADA professor.

“That would be a ‘yes’ I’m afraid.” he cocked his head. “How odd. I feel deja vu. You sense it as well?”

“No.” came the whispered voice. Dumbledore kept silent leaning against the wall, caressing the massive stonework of Hogwarts behind him.

“I fear the time will come soon when even my own office won’t be safe.” He gestured behind towards Hagrid’s hut. “There will be acceptable in a crisis. Come closer to me Severus. We need to talk about your 'lost' weekend'. Is there anything you would like to tell me?”

“You probably know already.” grumbled Snape taking slow steps forward.

“Please Severus, I’d like to hear your side. It fills in some unknown gaps quite well. Whatever happened didn’t leave so much as a ripple, which is extremely admirable.” The old headmaster could see he was pleased by that comment.

“Sir, it was my hope that this meeting was about something else. Do we have a confirmation?”

“No. I’m afraid Mr. Potter hasn’t found out at this time.”

Snape hissed in disgust. “Time is something we don’t have! The Dark Lord is not as he was before. This mission I have is destroying me. How much longer am I supposed to endure this?”

“Severus, you agreed to it. I know you’re very capable.” added Dumbledore calmly.

“I did not expect it to continue for so long. Each day becomes more dangerous and to know that this goes on because Harry can’t be bothered to get the facts!”

“I will press upon Mr. Potter to his task more diligently.” Dumbledore said firmly. Snape slumped slightly gazing past to the barren winter forest.

“Headmaster, what IF?” he whispered “If that boy is an actual Horcrux you know the implications.”

“If, and only 'if’ then I’ve pressed forward too soon and too boldly on my plan. But I doubt he is. Four is more the likely number and two have been eliminated already. That leaves the core and some valued object of Voldemort’s.” He frowned seeing how Severus didn’t look too reassured. “I’ve been handling crisis before you were born. All will go well, you will see.”

For a long moment it remained silent. The only thing heard was the wind through the trees and slight tinkling of the bells in Dumbledore’s beard.


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“I’ve been hearing reports that you seem weary. It was in the Three Broomsticks you were seen recently. How is your sleep, keeping Legilimens!” Dumbledore’s wand whipped the air. Severus sucked his breath staring hard. For a moment time seemed suspended. He was panting tying a message upon an owl for the Headmaster to immediately return to Hogwarts…A very dead basilisk and Filch saying how he’s not cleaning this mess…The Slytherin students shouting about the werewolf…A packed stadium roared, he is standing up…His hands in fists, clattering sounds echoed as McGonagall called a multitude of points to Gryffindor. ..and 50 for Miss Lovegood, I suppose….Grubby fingers prying a cork from a dusty bottle of Elf wine…

The magic link snapped abruptly. “I’m sorry to pounce on you like that. Voldemort isn’t going to count to three.”

“ My mind is clear and I do sleep well.” said Snape sharply.

“But not perfectly so. Avoiding Voldemort’s attention in all things is paramount. Yet you sought him directly earlier this month.”

“I was given orders in which, somehow, some fool couldn’t remember a simple location.” came the bitter reply. “Bad enough he lives in my home and complains constantly. But to not take it upon himself to have the full orders from the Dark Lord is beyond understanding. I took action immediately as to not call attention to my absence at home. I needed to know where to go. It was to feed and transport Nagini.”

Dumbledore’s blue eyes twinkled. “Oh I see. A pet sitting assignment.” Severus frowned and crossed his arms. “Severus, please…don’t risk seeking Voldemort. Not on your own. I need you to be at an Order meeting.”

“No.”

Dumbledore blinked. “Headmaster, I’d rather not be there.” Snape said softly. Albus slid his half-moon spectacles lower searching the black eyes. Grief echoed hollowly amidst a protective wall of anger. “Mr. Potter’s beliefs have apparently taken some root. I’d rather not be there. I have this. Take it.” Severus produced two vials from his robe. One clear with swirls dancing about it. The second was opaque and hummed with magic.

With a sigh Dumbledore took the elegantly etched items. He clicked them together and smiled slightly.

“So which is the bad one?”

“Both.”

The headmaster smiled grimly and tucked them both into his robes.


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Severus stood against the ramparts looking across to Hagrid’s hut where a warm fire glow poured from the windows. Cold rain beaded his dark robes. He shook it off and turned to the exit leading to the spiral staircase where Dumbledore departed. Standing there at the entry stood Professor Sinistra. She stood tall and slightly gaunt holding a lantern before her.

“I thought I heard Dumbledore on my tower. I was going to ask him something. What are you doing here?” she asked eyes narrowing critically.

“Health reasons. Just ask the Headmaster.” he quipped

“HA! As if you’re interested in anything remotely ‘healthy’. I saw those horrific paintings you keep in the classroom. Obscene they are. Presents from the Malfoys?” she sneered. That bought a hiss of disgust from Snape.

“Is this going to lead somewhere other than your own unhealthy perceptions? I don’t have all eternity to listen and I need my rest.” he said walking past the witch down the staircase.

Sinistra glowered and followed after him. Her lantern swung about leaving long stretching shadows about the walls.

“Go on, avoid the question! Don’t bother answering it. It’s probably pretty obvious, like you being a house head.” she screwed up her face pantomiming a first-year’s look of confusion. “Hmm. Lucius the Death Eater on Hogwart’s governing board and Severus a Death Eater made head of Slytherin. But that has nothing to do with that connection I’m certain.” she sarcastically embellished.

Severus paused to look up at her holding the rail. What was obvious is that she was just looking for a fight. What did she really want Dumbledore for? He wasn’t going to be sucked into her prattle. It wasn’t worth his time or energy.

“A bad class tonight? You couldn’t possibly have real issues with me.” he monotoned bored. “You know perfectly well that everything at Hogwart’s rests upon Albus Dumbledore’s decisions. Now I must ask myself one question. Who are you anyway to not trust in our Headmaster?” She gripped the lantern tightly her face rigid. Snape dropped his head to peer intently at her. It became an almost shadow copy of Dumbledore’s own questioning poise. “Anything of use you’d like to tell me now Professor?” he asked mildly. The tall witch felt uneasy in the long moment of silence as he awaited a response.

“Yes Professor. Take those books you found back. I don’t want them anymore.” she replied in clipped tones. She quickly stepped away with her black robe flaring wildly like a bat. Severus paused then continued downward. He took two steps down when she reappeared holding out a pile of books. He accepted them and without a word she turned and just as silently slid out of sight into the dark. He glanced at the titles and had to agree each one was speculative nonsense of no use to any one. Except maybe someone desperate looking for a glimmer of hope.

As he rounded the next landing

“Woo-hoo! Presents for the belated Birthday Boy?” grinned Peeves gliding around Snape. “You missed a huge Hogwart’s party, not yours, ha! Did his Bloodiness give his bloody congrats on being alive another bloody year? He’s usually on this tower right about now you know.”

“That would be, no, yes, no and yes I know. What do you want Peeves?” Peeves scratched his chin digesting the answer. He then grinned even broader, looking very pleased with himself.

“I want fun! Do you know that Potty and Co. are looking to ambush you on the third landing?”

Now that information Snape didn’t know about. He stopped his flight downward and peered over the railing. Sure enough he saw a spot of bright red hair near a bushy one two flights below. He drummed his fingers as a slow anger grew. Surely there was a third with a shock of black hair not far away. Snape closed his eyes. Three against one, what a surprise. He probably should’ve given more homework if Potter has time to waste spying. He glanced at Peeves who was clearly delighting at a conflict. Maybe it’s not just one, it’s two.

“Did you see my three books Peeves? This one’s handy and holds much for the seeker. Now this book could be heavy reading for the lightweight and this one I read.

Peeves let loose a loud cackle and swiftly snatched the lot from Snape’s arms. The Poltergeist flew like a runaway train down the middle of the stairwell.

“No. Stop. Wait.” yawned Snape as he slowly walked into the 5th floor hallway away from the staircase. From below he clearly heard two pained yelps and cries of ‘Peeves no!’ He stood before the portrait access to the dungeons his hand hanging mid-air before it. Upon hearing the third yell he stepped through. “Happy Birthday to me.”

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It was well past midnight and Severus could not sleep. He had paced grooves into the cold cement floors of his personal bedchambers. Granger had convieniently weaseled out of giving him any information or retrieving his old Defense Against the Dark Arts book and had sided with that brat Potter. Did they honestly think they could trap him? He had no choice. What ever information that book contained was somehow valuable. He just needed to get his hands on it.

Taking great strides over to his writing desk, Severus penned a letter. It was a long shot and he wasn't sure how soon he would be able to respond, especially without blowing his cover underground but he was the only one still alive with the answers.

21 years ago, parchments in books
Hogwarts Library
Sinister secrets or information valuable?
What were you hiding that night with Lily Evans?
One Book resurfaced
The Three hold its possession

Severus seals it with a seal he hasn't used in years...a seal that he had used just twice before while still a student at Hogwarts when he secretively communicated with Remus Lupin. Merlin only knew where he was or if this would even find him. If the werewolves suspect him of treachary they will rip him to shreds. If Dumbledore discovers he has abandoned his post, he will face reprimand.

Pausing for just a moment to contemplate his latest course of action, Severus shakes off any indecision he may have had. This is the only way. Summoning Hades, his black speckled barn owl, he attaches the parchment to his leg and whispers, "find Lupin...discretely."

As the owl tore from his bedchamber, Severus collapsed in exhaustion over the down comforter across his king sized bed.

Holding his left arm over his head, Severus let the arm of his robe fall back exposing his forearm. Even in the flickering candlelight it gleamed softly, the Dark Mark. It branded him as one of the Dark Lord’s own. Voldemort had put it there himself some nineteen years ago. Tracing the mark with one long forefinger, the events of that night slipped unbidden into his thoughts.

The room had smelled of mold. About a dozen or so doors lined each side and Severus remembered wondering what happened behind them. Candles floated near the ceiling in some obscene mockery of the Start of Term Feast at Hogwarts. His eyes searched the crowd for a supportive face, even a familiar one, but the few he could see where either masked or cast in deep shadows. No one spoke, no one met his eyes, and the room remained deathly silent. Severus became very conscious of his own ragged breathing. Afraid to look up, he had stared at the carpet, certain the other Death Eaters could hear the pounding of his heart as well.

I am not afraid, he tried convincing himself.

His breath formed a gray mist in front of him yet sweat trickled down his back as he approached. He fought back a shiver. Clenching and unclenching his fists, his feet dragged him reluctantly forward. Severus could hear the other Death Eaters moving restlessly around him and he held his breath. Slowly, he looked up. Voldemort stood before him, his silver white face a mask of concern. Crimson eyes shown out in the gloom, yet Severus felt his fear evaporate. He felt an unknown power surge through his body, giving him a strength he’d never felt before. Quickening his footsteps, he hurried to the dark robed man. The Dark Lord extended his left hand and Severus threw himself at the man’s boots.

“Severus,” the Dark Lord had whispered, fingers gently stroking his hair.

“Father,” Severus suddenly pleaded and desperately, he wanted it to be true. He felt the Dark Lord place icy cold fingers under his chin and Severus fought back an overwhelming urge to cry.

“Forever,” he had whispered.

A shiver ran through Snape. Roughly pulling the robe back over his arm, Severus rolled over. Hugging one of the pillows to his chest he tried shaking off the memory.

Betrayer, his thoughts whispered to him. Traitor. Stiffening, Severus fought back the accusing voices in his head. Coward, they tormented.

“NO!” he roared, sitting bolt upright. “I am not a coward,” he seethed. “I will show him. I will prove to him, I am not a coward. He is convinced I can’t do this, that I am weak. That at the last minute I’ll back out to save my own neck.” Severus stared out the window into the blackness and he did not like the face that stared back at him. “He tests me all the time.”

The bottle of purple liquid waited patiently beside his bed. Sometimes he hated himself for having to resort to it for a peaceful night’s sleep and other times he welcomed the bliss that a night of dreamless slumber brought. Downing the contents in one gulp Severus lay back against his pillows. There will be time enough tomorrow, he mused. He relaxed as the drowsiness overtook him leading him down that dark hallway where she waited patiently.

Severus wasn’t sure if he were dreaming or if one of the house elves really was trying to sew his fingers together.

“Gerroff,” he mumbled. The sewing continued.

“I said,” he growled menacingly, “gerroff you--” Hades bright eyes blinked at him contemptuously. Severus stared at the note tied to the owl’s leg. Hastily he untied it. Lupin was short and to the point.

Get the book back.

Sighing heavily, Severus leaned back against his pillows. He had Defense Against the Dark Arts with the Gryffindors right after lunch.

“All right Miss Granger,” he hissed. “Let’s see how you wriggle out of this one.”

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As the Gryffindors filed into the classroom, Severus' breath seemed caught in his throat. He couldn't allow himself to breath until he was positive that Hermione Granger was present. He needed that book. Even Remus agreed that it wasn't safe in the trio's hands.

Well isn't it just typical for all of this to begin on my birthday. A birthday is supposed to be a pleasant day for a person... ok well maybe not pleasant, but certainly not like this! Severus thought to himself as he stood still at the front of the room, arms crossed tight across his chest and his gaze directed solely upon the doorway. He was watching as each student entered. Waiting.

When Harry and Ron came in the room with no Granger trailing behind, it took all of Severus' self control to not violently question the boys on the spot. He was unusually impatient today. On top of the current situation, he was also a bit groggy due to lack of a true restful slumber.

Something’s wrong. He thought. She wouldn't miss class unless something was wrong... really wrong.

He didn't neglect to take notice of how both Potter and Weasley were sitting silently, eyes focused on the ground.

Looking from one boy to the other, Severus thought. That's it! I have to question them. They know something I'm sure. I'll just get the class started on some book work and then call them out subtly.

When all the students were situated and somewhat quiet, Severus gave them the assignment. He then softly, yet loud enough to be heard, called for the boys to follow him into his office. Once both were inside and the door was firmly shut, Severus just couldn't hold it in any longer. "Where's Granger?!" He shouted. "She has to be here, I need that book!"

Ron and Harry looked shocked, probably due to his volume and tone, yet neither answered. Allowing himself a couple silent moments to calm down, Severus paused before asking, "Well?"

"Ughhh-" Harry started quietly, "We don't quite know."

"What do you--” Severus stopped himself. He realized acting irrational and loosing composure wouldn't get him anywhere faster. He restarted his question in a far better tone, "What exactly do you mean by 'you don't quite know'?"

This time Weasley replied, "This morning when we came down for breakfast, she was gone. When we went back up into the common room, we saw the... err... note she left us."

Being sure to sound as calm as he could muster, Severus asked, "And?"

Harry reached in his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of parchment. He hesitated before handing it over and saying, "We're not supposed to show you this, but we're worried about her."

Severus hurriedly opened the parchment and read:



__________________
__________

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Holding back his dread, Severus struggled to keep his voice even and calm.

"The time has now come for an unlikely union. If you want to save your friend from a most painful fate, you both will cooperate with me and you will do it efficiently."

Snape knew that he was being dramatic but the present situation called for such measures. Hermione, in one of her know-it-all moods seems to have gone off by herself on an unknown quest of some sort. She holds in her possession a book of mysterious origins and powers. She has sworn her friends to secrecy and unbeknown to her has stirred peculiar feelings within himself for her well being. Damn that woman! To make matters worse, the Dark Lord is invading his dreams as he often does when he is testing Severus' loyalty. The danger is ever present on all fronts.

"I must know everything you three have discovered about that book."

Severus listened patiently as Harry told him of the discovery of that book and how upon noticing the caption on the bottom of the last page which said that in the event of the death of Lily Evans, the book should be given to Severus in secrecy. It wasn't until after Ron had second thoughts about sending that birthday present and the book was stolen back that Hermione noticed a slight disclaimer by an adolescent Remus Lupin saying that book should under no circumstances be giving to Severus. It would trigger a chain of events and waken suspicions and desires in the dark realm.

At those words, Severus shifted uncomfortably. The dark realm. That could only mean the Dark Lord himself. He is suspicious. He desires something, but what Severus could only imagine. Dumbledore had warned him to let things go, to put the past to rest. What does Remus and now Hermione know?

"Come with me!" Severus shouted at Harry and Ron viciously even as he yanked the boys roughly to there feet. "Take me to the place where this book was discovered."

A few minutes later, after evacuating the Library, Harry led Severus over to the very shelf where a fifteen year old James once sat composing a strange letter.
"Professor," began Harry tentatively. "This is where Hermione fainted. When she came too, her eyes were red and she walked purposefully to the row back there." Harry pointed two rows back where Severus once saw Lily and Remus hiding something while they were in school. "She grabbed that book and you know the rest."

"Stay here!" Severus walked to the row and began searching. The aisle reeked of magic both old and new, and something dark. Running his stiff fingers gingerly over the dusty spines of the ancient books, Severus closed his eyes invoking the magic into his soul. Suddenly a piercing at his neck and a warm gush of fluid filled his throat followed by a searing pain. Severus yelped and dropped to his knees. When he came to his senses, Harry and Ron were staring at him with large fearful eyes. He was holding a book firmly in his hands. The title, a single word, sent chills down his spine. HALLOWS
Severus rose to his feet and shoved both boys out of his way. "Get back to your common room. After ten minutes send work to Professor Dumbledore by owl but under NO CIRCUMSTANCES are you two to go off adventure seeking and getting yourselves killed trying to be heroes saving your friend. Am I understood?"

With that, Severus swiftly left the Library. Hermione was in serious danger and though he may be too late, he will not abandon her or fail her as he did another he once cared about long ago.

***Part I of the End.***
Give me until the end of today or tomorrow, and I will wrap this up...Hopefully. If you want to feedback click on one of the links in a previous post as I am pressed for time at the moment to post a proper link here.

Hugs,
~Amanda~

Here it is...the conclusion to the Snapeweek fanfiction! I want to thank EliasOsiris for writing the final installment of the fic. She is a brilliant author and has wrapped things up beautifully!
If you wish to leave feedback, please go to an above post and click on a feedback link.

Thanks to all who participated...

And now...

Severus hesitated. The stone silent hallway loomed wide in front of him. The sound of his own heartbeat became loud in his ears. Certainly the safety, if not the life of Miss Granger hung in serious jeopardy. Annoying though she might be, he felt he had an obligation greater than just of master to student. An obligation Severus was loathe to admit, he hadn’t felt in a very long time. But the words written by the young, Remus Lupin worried him more. Trigger a chain of events and waken suspicions and desires in the dark realm. What could it mean? He had already seen the cursed book. Did that mean it was already too late? Could his feet be slipping down the same dark path as everyone else’s? Severus repressed a shudder. What terrible end were they all speeding towards? Reaching up, Severus ran a hand through his hair as if trying to pull out the thought.

Hermione’s life, he thought, is more important than a cause. Let the others rally around a cause, people were more important. Briefly, he cursed the darkness as he headed down the hallway, his steps dissolving into blackness.

Where is the wretched girl now?

Habit indicated she would have headed for the library. Whenever frightened or upset, that’s where he she headed. It was her happy place. But Severus had just left the library. Did she know about the Room of Requirement? Evidence indicated she did. The previous year she and the others were apprehended by Malfoy and his cronies practicing Defense Against the Dark Arts there. He remembered feeling mildly impressed by their ingenuity at even finding the place. It couldn’t have been Potter, he convinced himself. Potter couldn’t find the bottom of his cauldron and it was a wonder Weasley made it to breakfast every morning. It had to be Granger. Clever girl. He permitted himself a small smile. As far as he knew, only a handful of students ever discovered the room and fewer still knew how to make it change its interior. Clever girl indeed. Robes billowing, Severus hurried to the seventh floor. The darkness grew louder. Feeling with his hands he sought out the entrance.

I need someplace to hide, he thought desperately, I need someplace to hide.

Reluctantly, the door swam into view. Impatient to be finished, Severus grasped the handle, and giving little additional thought, burst inside.

The room appeared blurry, as if he were seeing it through an oily window. Blinking hard he tried focusing, but the room remained stubbornly blurred. His own hands dripped like rained out chalk paintings. Squinting against the haze, he began scanning the cavernous room for Granger. Footprints appeared in the dusty floor in front of him and wandered off into the gloom. Severus hurried after them until they ended in front of the little book, carelessly thrown face down on the floor. He reached down to retrieve the book but no sooner did his hand touch the cover when a wave of vertigo washed over him. The floor moved under him and the walls tilted wildly. He felt sick and dropped to his knees. Squeezing his eyes shut, he forced his thrashing stomach down. All became still. Squinting tightly, Severus looked around. The room appeared oddly uncluttered, more so than only a moment ago. It had sharpened to crystal clarity. Something else had changed. The room had a familiar, yet unfamiliar look to it. As if it were made of memories of rooms he had been in. His eyes roamed from place to place, falling on little mementoes and trinkets from his own past. He fought back a smile.

I need to find Granger, he reminded himself.

“Why?” asked an unbidden voice.

Severus spun around. A voice both known and unwelcome mocked him from the darkness. A voice that had no business speaking to him at all. The voice’s owner sat a scant few feet away, dressed in dirty, canvas jeans and work boots. Plucking at a torn pocket in his shirt, the man searched for something that wasn’t there. Scowling, he raised his eyes to Severus.

“You’re dead,” Severus hissed at last.

“Is that anyway to greet your ol’ Da?” the man chuckled.

“You’re not my father,” Severus growled back.

“True,” the apparition agreed, “but we couldn’t be having this nice little chat in my normal state.”

Severus blanched. Unconsciously, he prodded himself with a finger. He couldn’t be dead. The figure leaned forward. “This is much easier, Severus. For you at least.” The voice sounded bored.

“What do you mean?”

The creature raised an eyebrow. It appraised Severus in a way he found he did not like.

“Your reasoning, so abysmally limited, cannot comprehend my normal state,” it began, “so this illusion is necessary.” It waved its hand. Severus pursed his lips.

“And you chose the appearance of my …” Severus stumbled on the last word.

“Your father?” the voice supplied. “A conceit, I assure you. Plucked right from your deepest fears.” A satisfied smile spread across its face.”

Severus narrowed his eyes. He was wasting time. He needed to find Granger.

“Miss Granger,” the father thing offered in a bored tone, “is quite alright. Which is saying something. Her reasoning being even more limited than your own.”

“If you’ve harmed her--”

“You’ll do what? Hex me? I believe you tried that with your own father.” A ugly grin spread over its face.

“What are you? What do you want?”

“Want? Why I want to help you.”

“And exactly why would you want to do that?”

“Severus, that’s how the spell works. Think of it as getting one wish.”

“I thought a genie always granted three wishes,” Severus sneered.

“I’m no genie and you’re not worth three wishes. In fact,” and the face smiled, eyes closed. “I’m going to do you the singular honor of selecting your wish.”

“I’m not interested.”

The evil face leaned forward. “You will be when I tell you.” Severus tried hard not to look into that face.

“I’ll give you a chance to change the past, thereby changing the future. You will have thirty seconds to change the past, thirty seconds to undo the damage that set has already been set in motion. A mere half minute to win the war, get the girl, and come out a hero.” Severus whipped his head around, staring angrily at the creature. His mind dwelt on the book and the horrible consequences surrounding it.

“Thirty seconds, Severus, that’s all it will take. Interested?”

In his heart of hearts, Severus knew he should have said, no. This was Dark Magic. He knew that deals with the devil were just that. His heart skipped a beat. Closing his eyes, he thought back over the last week and all that had transpired. But if he could set things right. He could be with her again. Taking a deep breath he stared into the laughing eyes.

“Interested.”

“Then Severus Snape, go back, change the past to save the future.” And with that, the room melted away and Severus sunk down into the darkness.

At first Severus thought he was still in the Room of Requirement, but as the light became clearer he realized he’d been returned to his home. It was his birthday again. So much for getting the girl, he thought angrily. The accursed book lay wrapped on his table. A thousand possible scenarios chased each other through his thoughts. He could visit Lily and her thoughts. He couldn’t touch her, couldn’t hold her, couldn’t tell her how much he loved her and how wrong he’d been, but he could see her again. He could smell the flowery scent of her hair. Her voice would once more ring in his ears. Severus’ fingers caressed the package. She was in there, her thoughts, her dreams. Her.

The book slumbered in his hand. Without so much as a backward glance, Severus tossed the volume in the fire. Flames licked hungrily at the wrappings then greedily devoured the contents. Each page trembled and blew in the heat spawned wind, glowing briefly before dissolving and crumbling into ash. Minutes ticked by and Severus watched until the last bit of ash extinguished itself. Throwing his cloak over his shoulders, he rechecked all the locks.

It’s over. My thirty seconds of fame, he thought sadly.

The old clock was solemnly telling the hour as Severus returned to his room. They were all safe, because of him. And they’d never know. Severus allowed himself a sour smile.

“Have a good birthday, Severus?” a cheery voice called out. Severus found himself staring into the grinning face of Professor Slughorn.

“Spectacular,” Severus droned.

“Well, personally, you should have spent the evening at the Three Broomsticks. Wonderful time, charming hostess, --”

“Very tired, professor,” Severus cut him off. “Perhaps we can speak tomorrow,” he finished hoping he wouldn’t even see Horace for another week.

“Certainly, certainly,” Slughorn agreed, shifting a bottle from one chubby arm to the next.

“Not done celebrating?”

“Oh, ho,” declared Slughorn. “My little gift for Albus?”

“I happen to know that the Headmaster does not particularly like that variety of oak-matured mead.”

“Oh.” Slughorn looked crestfallen. “I’d meant to give it to him for Christmas,” he meandered. “Thought I might pop up and have a nightcap with him.”

“Then you might want to take something else,” added Severus. “Perhaps a good bottle of elf made wine?”

“Perhaps,” nodded Slughorn wandering off towards his room, the bottle tucked under his arm.

Severus turned back towards his room. They’re all safe, he told himself. The recognition must come later.

Professor Slughorn waddled back to his room. Lucky for me I ran into Severus, he thought. Now I don’t feel so bad about not giving this bottle to Albus. Stowing the bottle safely in his office, Professor Slughorn totted off to bed.


THE END!!!