"Severus, it is imperative that I speak with you."
The Potions Master looked up from his gently simmering cauldron to see the Headmaster standing in the doorway of the dungeon.
"Yes, Headmaster?"
Dumbledore held up a rather shabby package wrapped in brown paper. "It has arrived." He brought it over to the table where Snape stood, and placed it on the table. "Just in time, too, for I have received a letter that an attempt has already been made." He pulled a letter out of his pocket and set it next to the little package. It was addressed to Dumbledore from the Head Goblin of Gringotts.
"So, this is really it then?" Snape asked, barely brushing the package with the tips of his fingers. When the Headmaster didn't object, Snape gingerly picked it up and removed the wrappings. A small, somewhat unimpressive, blood-red red stone sat in his hand.
It was completely unremarkable except for the way it reflected the fire under Snape's cauldron. The flames seemed to dance across the surface of the stone, and then reflect through it as thought it trapped the light inside.
"That's really it." Dumbledore replied, jerking Snape out of his reverie.
"So, you really believe that The Dark Lord is after the Stone?" Snape held up the Sorcerer's Stone as if he were presenting evidence.
"As I said before," Dumbledore took the stone and replaced it with the letter. "He has already tried."
Snape opened the letter and scanned the contents quickly, then looked back up at Dumbledore. "Do you believe he knows that it's here?" Dumbledore nodded. "Then, how do you propose we stop him?" He handed the letter back to the Headmaster.
"That is where you come in." Dumbledore replied, a sly smile playing across his face. "I propose that we make a series of challenges for the seeker of the stone to pass through. I have already spoken with Hagrid, Minerva, Filius, and Pomona. The only ones left are you, and Quirinus- the new Defense against the Dark Arts Teacher."
Snape nodded to show that he remembered the professor. "What do you wish me to do?"
"Each of the other teachers is playing to their strengths. Plants, enchanted chessmen, flying keys, three-headed dogs; Even I am providing a protection. I believe that you are familiar with the mirror of Erised." Snape nodded.
"I shall think of something." He agreed. Dumbledore beamed, scooped up the letter, and the stone, deposited both in his pocket, and began to leave the dungeon.
When he reached the door, Dumbledore paused and turned back. "By the way," He began. "More than one acquaintance of yours will be beginning school this year."
"I don't understand…"
"Harry Potter will be entering school this year." With that, Dumbledore swept from the room, leaving Snape to his thoughts.
Suddenly, Severus seemed to go 10 years back in time.
He was walking slowly down the lane in Godric's Hollow – trepidation and fear of what he would find slowing his footsteps. He finally reached the small house. The gate was swinging open by one hinge. His eyes travelled slowly up the face of the house to the second floor. It had been almost completely blown away. He walked through the gate, and passed through the front door and into the house. He moved quietly up the stairs, pausing for a moment when he came across the still figure of James Potter at the top of the stairs, his eyes staring up at him, unseeing, his mouth slightly open. Snape could hear crying from down the hall, and his breath caught in his throat. He stepped over James' body and continued down the corridor towards an open door. He could see moonlight on the floor.
He jerked himself back to his senses. He had a job to do, after all. He pulled a piece of parchment and a quill towards him, his previous potion completely forgotten.