Forgetting all that is you

A Fanfiction by Hightoppsmadness

He was dead. That was alright. He accepted that. As long as HER son was alright, he would accept that. In the white light he was washed in, he heard HER voice. Not with his ears, but in his mind.

'It is not your time, Severus.' she intoned. 'I thank you, for saving my Harry. But you too, must live. You have much more to do. There is someone waiting for you. Don't keep her waiting.'

And the sound hit him. The noise of panic. He heard yelled orders of nurses and spells. He heard people saving him.

"Give him 60 more milligrams of that anti venom!" he recognized the voice of Madam Pomfrey. "His eyelids are still moving, he's gotten himself a thought! Hurry up with that anti venom!"

"Heartbeat is unsteady, but it's regulating," a man stated.

People actually CARED about him! He smiled in his mind. Then the wave of pain hit him, and his eyes flew open as he arched his back, struggling against the pain.

"We've got him now!" Pomfrey yelled, and he sank back to the bed.

Hours passed, and he noticed people milling about, whispering news.

"One of the Weasley twins is gone. Tonks and Lupin, gone. Even Lavender Brown..." Professor McGonagall wept. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, Professor," spaced words were clipped by sobs. "We've got a few issues with staff, as well. Potter told me why we had to save him. He's been helping us all along, playing the bad guy."

"Then we'll keep him as Defense Against the Dark Arts." Minerva responded. "However, the witch that just arrived?"

"She's been a neutral witch for most of the war, but she keeps muggles out of things. I propose she should stay on Muggle Studies, seeing as she had lived among them for so long." Slughorn fidgeted.

"She hasn't heard where Severus is?"

"No. Not yet, at least. Word is spreading fast."

Severus closed his eyes, and fell asleep. It was peaceful, and he found comfort that people cared about his life.

His dreams consisted of his years as a student at Hogwarts. Of course, most of the memories involved Lily, but that was not who he was focused on. The girl next to her almost always. She had hair far more red than Lily's, almost as red as a Weasley child. She had violet eyes, and a gap in her teeth, but it wasn't very big, and every year it was a bit smaller. She would dance in the hallways, twirling about whimsically. He hadn't ever taken the time to tell her how graceful she was. She was always nice to him, but he never noticed, as he was always doting on Lily. She had even taught him to waltz, so he could ask Lily to a dance. Of course, she went with James Potter. Did he go at all? No, he sulked that whole night. What had she done? She had snuck into the

Slytherin boy's dormitories and comforted him. He had seen her only once after graduation...

He was with a few friends. They weren't his friends now, but he liked them well enough then. They claimed that even though muggles were useless in magic, entertainment was their forte. They led him to a Burlesque Club in Germany. Regensburg was the city, and the club was disguised as an old building. They went to the cellar, and they were let in quietly. All around them was frosted glass, and when they turned the corner, there was a stage. On the stage were five beautiful women, barely dressed.

Severus wasn't really interested, but the woman singing was familiar. Her hair was red, almost orange, and her violet eyes flashed. But he only recognized her when she twirled in her corset, and her gap- tooth smile was given, only the gap was almost gone. He was surprised to find her there, among the muggles, as her song ended. They were given a table near the stage, and after a few minutes, she brought them drinks. Whiskey, he recalled, which he had no taste for. Too bitter. He slipped sugar packets into the drink when no one was watching.

"It's been a while, Severus." she cooly leaned forward, her cleavage straining against the confined space of the corset.

"It has," he admitted. "I didn't have the knowledge you were in Regensburg. Or in a place like this..."

"Yes, well, wizarding jobs are hard to come by when you're neutral to the war, and not many places will take people with a degree from Hogwarts." she stood up, and the crinoline that made a bustle fluffed up, showing off its pink hue.

"Sometimes choosing a side is the best course of action." he implied his Dark Mark.

"Choosing to fight a losing battle is never the best course of action. You and your friends should now know that. Especially when it involves killing an innocent child." she countered, taking up her tray.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean protect the Potter boy." she warned him as she left.

Then he awoke slowly, knowing that he had accomplished what was asked of him.