WARNING! SPOILERS FOR HALF BLOOD PRINCE AND BEYOND! DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT AND DON'T WANT SPOILERS!

A/N: Hi guys! Anyway, just to let you know, this story is going to be done a little differently than usual. You see, I'm not the only author this time; after many months of planning, laughing, emailing, and procrastinating, my Bff and I have finally gotten together and started co-authoring (is that what it's called?) this fic. My BFF's pen name is WordsGalore10 if you want to check out the profile. So, here's 10 for you:

10: Hi there! My name's 10 and first things first. I'm really excited about this fic, and I'm grateful to any who reads it. Thank you! :) Also, I thought it'd be a good idea to tell you how this whole thing actually happened. We first got the idea when I noticed that the title Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince pretty much means Harry Potter and Snape, considering Snape is the Half Blood Prince. We both got a laugh out of that! Anyway, from there, this whole fic started to form, and now here we are! We hope you like and please review! :)

OM: Isn't 10 great! :P We've actually known each other for a long time, ever since we were little kids actually.

10: We're like 2 peas in pod (Oh, great simile [note the sarcasm]), and though we have our differences, we're still great friends.

OM: I love you too :)

10: Oh, you shut up.

OM: O.O... For that, you can do the disclaimer.

10: Harry, come do the disclaimer!

Harry: I don't wanna!

10 and OM: *glare*

Harry: Okay, okay, sheesh, I'll do the stupid disclaimer. I own no rights to any of this, and-

Snape: Mr. Potter. What are you doing out of class?

Harry: Oh, just telling everyone about how I don't own anything.

Snape:...A month's detention.

Harry:...

Snape:...

Harry: SECTUMSEMPRA! *runs away*

10 and OM: Enjoy the story! :)

Footsteps echoed through a dreary hallway, the sound bouncing off the grey, stone walls. Torches lit with green flames was the only illumination for the owner of those steps; a tall, hooked nose and greasy haired man. His dark eyes peered into the dimness of the hallway, black robes flowing behind him as he walked. The drip of water down the brick walls and the scuttling of mice accompanied his heavy footsteps, but that was lost to him as he submerged himself in his thoughts.

It was not uncommon to find Severus Snape wandering through the dreary hallways beneath Malfoy Manor; however, it was indeed very rare to see him so unfocused. Always alert, always watching, always ready for everything, no matter how unpredictable or unsettling. The reason; he was the most trusted of the Dark Lord's followers. And yet, here he was, drifting around in his mind. To any who saw him now would cause a great shock, if not be a little unnerving. But Snape did not care, for he had a good reason to be lost in thought. A very good reason.

Summoned by Lord Voldemort himself, to the deepest chamber beneath the manor. A new mission, one to secure his position as leader of the wizarding world. And the only executer of this assignment was Snape.

He was to begin immediately.

All in all, the whole situation befuddled him. It was an urgent matter, one of the utmost importance.

But so little information was given.

Severus just hoped that this meeting with the Dark Lord would be able to shine some light on the subject. There was no possible way he could work solely on what little information he'd been given.

Speaking of light though, Snape began to notice dully that the light in the hall was growing fainter with each step he took. Of course, he was in the older and not so active part of the Manor. No need for light in a place nearly nobody ever used. Pulling out his wand, he muttered a quick 'Lumos' and proceeded on his way. Soon, he had neared the end of the hall.

A large, wooden door stood in his way. It was very old and dilapidated, with small, rusted markings and a door knocker. Taking the knocker in his hand, he pounded it a few times, waiting for a signal to enter. No point in entering without permission and possibly angering Lord Voldemort. That might just deprive him of the information he needed.

Severus waited a few moments, listening for that certain voice.

Just as he was about to knock again, he heard it.

"Enter."

The voice was raspy and malicious, the word echoing off the walls and surrounding Snape before seeming to vanish.

The evil however was still there.

Without further ado, Severus pulled the rusted door open and entered, before shutting it with a creek.

He turned to face his master.

There, sitting behind a long table, was Lord Voldemort. His deathly white skin contrasted harshly with his black robes, showing every vein that ran through his body, from the top of his bald head to the bottom of his feet. Red eyes glanced over Snape, seemingly looking right through him. Two slits represented his nose and a vicious, predatory smile spread across his face, showing a nice set of sharp teeth. Torches were set around the small chamber, lit with green flames, their firelight casting dancing shadows across The Dark Lord, turning him into something even more sinister. It was hard to believe that this... this thing in front of Snape ever used to be human.

Snape slowly walked forward, meeting Voldemort's eyes with his own. As he grew closer, he began to feel the evil intent rolling of his master in waves. Whatever mission he had in mind, it was not good.

"Severus, how nice of you to join me. Sit down, I have much to discuss with you," came Voldemort's crooked voice. It was playful but stern, toying around with Snape like a cat does a mouse.

Obeying his leaders order, Snape pulled a rotting wooden chair out from under the table and sat down nervously. It was not like him though, to be nervous-about anything actually. He had a job to do, and he was going to get it done.

He wondered however, how long his chair would be able to hold him. It wasn't exactly what one would call stable, and the creaking sound it emitted when he placed his weight upon it didn't cause too much reassurance either.

"Severus."

Voldemort startled Snape back to the present. What was he doing!? Letting his mind wander off to think about chairs of all things! What a disgrace.

Focusing his thoughts back on the situation at hand, Snape replied intently, "Yes, my Lord?"

No matter what, Snape could not afford his thoughts to go astray. Especially not now, when Voldemort was right there. Who knows what the Dark Lord would do to him if he thought his mental ability was beginning to lack.

Pleased with Snape's attention, Voldemort took his wand and conjured an item into the air before setting it down lightly on the table.

Snape drew his gaze to the item on the table. A golden box, carved with intricate designs and symbols which held no meaning to him was the center of his attention. Rubies and Emeralds lined the edges, going around all the corners and sides. The only visible flaw with this beautiful piece of art was the broken, gold padlock on the front.

Stretching one pale, skeletal hand towards the lid of the box, Voldemort grasped firmly and lifted it.

A dark aura flew out of the box, sweeping through the room and blowing out the torches. A deathly silence fell upon the chamber as black mist seeped out of the box.

Snape felt like he was being suffocated, like he was wading around in a bottomless pit of water with no air, light, or surface. Just as the mist had escaped the box only seconds ago, his emotions escaped him, not unlike facing a Dementor, but losing most if not all feeling. He felt empty, numb, cold. Not miserable or depressed. Just...

Hollow.

Small chuckles erupted from the silence. Insane, manic chuckles. Accompanying the hysteria was a hissing noise. Starting off soft, it grew louder and louder until it boomed off the walls, filling Severus' ears and searing his brain.

Hastily drawing his wand, Snape stood and quickly turned to face the hissing noise, casting a Lumos spell as well. Light broke through the dark and once again he was able to see.

He almost wished he couldn't.

Blocking the door, and any viable exit, was a long, black snake. Cold silver eyes with red pupils shone in the dark like two daggers as fangs dripping with venom were bared. The acid sizzled once it reached the ground, burning a hole through the thick stone. Blue, glowing markings covered its body, in some foreign script that was most likely dead and forgotten. The being before was ancient, but powerful. Snape could already feel himself growing weaker beneath its gaze, as if all his strength was being leeched away. His mind was contorting; disturbing images flashing through. Blood and screams and tears and death, eons of it, unholy and terrifying.

Dear Merlin, what was this thing!?

"Impressed, Severus?" Voldemort asked from behind him.

"What you see before you is my newest plan. My newest weapon. Those fools in the Order won't stand a chance. I just hope you'll enjoy this mission as much as I will."

Mission...? Oh, right, the mission. He still didn't know what it was! And what did a millennium year old snake have to do wi-

Oh, no.

Please, dear Merlin, no.

Snape turned to face Voldemort, fearing for the worst. If Merlin or God or any other great being ever existed then please don't let this be true. Don't let this be true.

Fate hated him.

Voldemort was standing, his head lax and rolling on his shoulder. That mad grin of his was still there, bigger and brighter than before, threatening to split his face in two. Insanity reeled in his eyes, pupils expanding and glowing crimson.

His wand was pointed at Snape, blue-silvery mist unfurling from the tip, curling and twisting and contorting into insidious images on its descent to the floor.

This was it. This was the end. Everything he worked for. Everything he hoped for. Gone within one hour and four words.

"Brace yourself, Professor Snape."

A/N: And that's a wrap folks! I know, cliffhanger, but hey! We want to keep you coming back for more, remember? So, we're going to be mean and end it there! Sorry! :P

Anyways, tell us what you think. If we should continue, did you like it or not, what can we improve, what can we change, etc. Leave a review with all your thoughts! :)

That's about it then I guess. Until the next chapter then. See you and thanks for reading! :D