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A.N. - Yeah, yeah, the title sucks, but that's just too bad, because it's four twenty-seven in the morning and I'm coping with insomnia. I'm really too tired at the moment to sit and think up a better title, so I'm sorry! Please forgive me!
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"You know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready . . . if you are prepared . . ."
The words of Albus Dumbledore echoed through Severus Snape's head as he quietly slipped through the front doors of the castle, out into the silence - and the darkness - of the night. The moon hung low and ghostly white on the horizon, and the waters of the lake gently lapped against the shore. Somewhere out there in those waters the giant squid was probably doing laps. It was a beautiful night, and he laughed at the irony of it.
"What's so funny?" a gruff voice asked.
Snape turned to the right, where a single, thin man stood about ten feet away. He looked at him for an instant, then turned back to observe the serene scene playing before his eyes.
"I find this tranquility to be quite ironic, given the events of the past twenty-four hours," he murmured, shoving his hands into the pockets of his robes.
"Too true . . . . Dumbledore's sending you out as well, I suppose?"
"Yes - there are certain . . . tasks that need to be taken care
of. I've got to get going. The longer I delay, the less of
a chance I have of getting back into his good graces . . . .
Good luck to you, Black." Yes, he hated the man, but they were on
the same side now, on the same team. The headmaster had asked that
they cooperate, and as they both revered
him highly, they would do so.
Sirius Black nodded. "And to you, Snape. And to you. Don't get that ugly ass of yours killed." A second later and a large shaggy dog stood where he had been. With a wag of the tail, the animal turned and trotted off into the blackness of the night.
The wind began to pick up, slapping Snape in the face as he started off,
his hair and robes billowing behind him. Time was running short,
and he had so much to attain by the following day. Going back to
the circle, going back to being a spy, going back to face the Dark Lord,
was something that needed to be
done. And it would be done - eventually.
But first - first - there was another matter that needed to be taken
care of.
He knew what Dumbledore needed him to do, he knew what the consequences would be if something went wrong. Convicted of murder . . . sentenced to life in Azkaban . . . possibly even the Dementor's Kiss. Soul-less existence was not exactly how Snape wanted to live out his life. But Dumbledore's orders, his wishes, were clear.
"If you are ready . . . if you are prepared . . ."
It doesn't matter if I'm ready or not, Snape thought as he approached the Forbidden Forest. It has to be done. The man can't live - he's a coward and a traitor. He knows too much of what's happened, knows too much of the school. No, there is no doubt - it has to be done. He has to die.
Karkaroff must die.
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A.N. - Umm . . . this will most likely be continued, I'm just too tired to finish it now, so . . . sorry! You'll just have to wait 'til I'm all rested and feel up to writing the rest. Oh, and kudos to you, Kelly, for your wonderful brainstorming and stuff! Whoo-hoo!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, leave
me alone.