Ok, I started this story because I decided that obviously J.K. Rowling was off her rocker and needed to have her mistake fixed. WELL I'M FIXING IT! SNAPE IS A GOOD GUY!

Standard disclaimers apply---- HBP SPOILERS

Chapter 1

(Severus)

Albus was dead. The Dark Lord would be pleased, but angry. I blew my cover. Narcissa would be so very grateful, her son was alive. The dark emptiness inside me grew with every thought. Draco and I had escaped from Hogwarts, but the Dark Lord would not be pleased. Draco was the one who was supposed to kill Albus, not I.

Avada Kedavra

Two simple words that had so much power. With them I had killed the only person who had believed in me. No one from the Order would ever believe my story. I doubt that if placed in their situation I would believe myself. Next to me Draco sobs on quietly, the horrors he has seen, the things he has done haunt him and he is not yet even eighteen. I know the peace will not last long, the Dark Lord will summon us and we will be forced to answer; if we don't…the consequences will be extreme.

I dare not close my eyes, for if I do, I know that I will be lost. The cold stone wall behind me sucks what little warmth remains in me out. There is no hope for me; I severed all my connections with Albus's death. I may be able to save the boy though. Glancing over at Draco, I remember my first task. I had had to kill someone too.

Don't think about it!

God, what I would give for my Pensieve right now.

"Draco," I whisper hoarsely, startling the blond. He looks up at me with wide, tear-filled grey eyes and I know all he sees is a murderer. What else is there to see? I fulfilled the oath I made with his mother, but I cannot stop there, I have to save him. I can't let him end up like me. I open my mouth to speak again, but a searing pain shoots through my arm. Malfoy whimpers and clutches his arm. I must wait for a better time.

With little difficulty I shove myself up and draw Draco to his feet. He is in no condition to Apparate, so I decide to do it for the both of us. Grasping him closely, I concentrate and take us to hell.

"Severus," our Lord hisses and I bow low, forcing Draco down with me. "Did I not say it was Malfoy who was to kill Dumbledore?" His anger blazed and crashed over me in a wave. It took very little for me to wipe my mind clean and take what was coming.

"Yes My Lord." Excuses did no good, either a yes or no was what he wanted.

"Then why did you disobey my orders?" The quickly gathering Death Eaters were hungry for what was to happen; it had happened to me many times before, but never in front of them. They hated the fact that I seemed to be above reproach. Bellatrix would be bubbling over with happiness at my fall from grace.

"There is no excuse for my behavior and I beg your forgiveness; I should have not acted against your orders." All my words were spoken to the floor. I had to wait for permission to raise my head, and I made sure that Draco was doing what was expected of him.

"Since you seem to think that you should step in and take Malfoy's task then why don't you take his punishment as well?" I can't imagine what is coming. "Or are you above that?"

"I will take whatever punishment you deem I deserve," I tell him softly.

"Take Malfoy away." Draco was taken from my side and I was left to face the congregated Death Eaters who are more than prepared to eat me alive. No one likes the favorite. Wands twirl around me and twisted smiles appear as The Dark Lord tells them to do what they like with me, but I was to be kept alive.

"Crucio!" I knew that one was coming, but nothing ever prepares you for the intensity of the pain. It tears through your entire body. The experience of your skin being flayed off your body, while your insides are set on fire is nothing you can ever get used to. The agony always increases, it never lessens. Screams were ripped from me and I knew that if I could form words I would be begging.

"Levicorpus!"

Hundreds more flew at me and it all just escalated. I knew it would end eventually, but right now it seemed like it would go on forever. Skin was peeling from my bones, I was swelling, every bone was broken at once and then simultaneously healed. My guts do a macabre dance inside my abdomen. Fingernails slowly tear off. Blood splurts from me. The agony. The pain. It's never-ending. My blood turns to liquid fire and sears me as it's pumped through my veins. Nails are driven into every nook and cranny of my body.

A final curse, which I can barely hear over my own hoarse screams, sends the contents of my stomach shooting out of me before I fall into the peaceful abyss of darkness.

Homework assignments, useless bits of parchment that meant nothing, but at the same time could crush you. I had stacks of them left to grade. Why did I even give them out if I hated going over them so? Well, one reason would be the little rats wouldn't learn anything and at a time like this they needed to know everything they could. Barely registering the name at the top of the next one, I pick up I mechanically start to go over it, my quill circling and crossing things out. Annoyance builds in me. Why can't the brats take time with their homework! It is part of their end grade! I know that not everyone is a geek like I was in school, but really; a little effort goes a long ways.

The fire crackles warmly nearby and I debate whether or not to put it out, I'm no longer in the dungeons. There is no persistent damp to sink into my bones and it is almost the end of term. Flicking my hand at it lazily, I watch it extinguish and realize how much it is like a human life. Anyone can put it out, it takes no effort, but unlike humans, it leaves no guilt in the person who kills it. A quick glance sends a glass and bottle of brandy flying over to me so I can pour myself a glass. Muggles do make the best brandy.

"DEATH EATERS! DEATH EATERS IN THE CASTLE! SEVERUS! QUICK!" The short, gnome of a Charms professor rushed into my office. Oh no, what has Draco done now? What horrors has he brought upon us? "THEY'RE HERE!"

"Where are they Flitwick? Where?" I demanded, shoving myself out of the chair.

"The Astronomy tower…" he gasped out before keeling over backwards. He never dealt with shock well. A part of me wanted to stay here and pretend I didn't know, but the other snidely reminded me of the Unbreakable Vow I had so rashly made. Rushing out of the room, I ran into Luna and Hermione; what they were doing, skulking around my office I knew not, but they might be able to bring round Flitwick.

"TAKE CARE OF FLITWICK! I WILL GO FIGHT THE DEATH EATERS!" I bellowed at the two still teens. I never knew my feet could carry me as fast as they did to the Astronomy tower. There were people everywhere, fighting. I didn't take the time to check and see who was injured or not, I had to get to Malfoy before he did something stupid. It seemed to take no time at all to fly up that flight of stairs and there I was, staring down at the one man who had ever helped me, trusted me, loved me. My tears rose in my throat as his voice rasped from him.

"Severus…" Albus was pleading with me. Oh dear Merlin, I wasn't ready for this! Firmly I kept my façade up and shoved my godson out of the way.

'Severus, I know you don't think you can do this.' My mentor's voice rang in my head and I nearly cracked, but no one would be able to guess. 'You know what you have to do.'

'Protect the boy, stop Voldmort,' I replied not paying attention to the ones who remained. 'But why must it end this way?' Twisting my features to show disgust, anger, hatred, anything negative, I fought to not give anything away.

"Severus…please…" 'I am so tired my son. Please…you know what you must do. I need you to do this, I can't exist like this anymore. I am so tired. Please…let me go…' Shoving anything out of my mind I raise my wand and point it at the defenseless man who has done naught but help me.

"Avada Kedavra!" Albus's eyes soften. 'Thank you.' The spell hits him and he flies out into the air and down.