Disclaimer: If the Harry Potter Series belonged to me, the books would have ended differently. As you can see, they didn't. Therefore, they're obviously not mine.

Dedication: For a friend, just because.

Chapter 1 Ambush

The ground was soft beneath Severus's feet after last night's rain. It was the perfect time for him to harvest potions ingredients from his small garden on the inner edge of the forbidden forest. He enjoyed his time alone here, away from the bustle of the castle. The students weren't allowed to step foot in the forest, so his garden was safe from all but the worst troublemakers, and Potter was no longer one of them, so it was secluded for the most part. He preferred it that way. Most the ingredients the students used were provided by Professor Sprout and her greenhouses. This garden was his, only his, for use in the potions products he marketed in his spare time, which he seemed to have in abundance as of late, thanks to his two apprentices.

It had never occurred to him that he would find an apprentice useful. As a matter of fact, he had never wanted an apprentice to begin with, let alone two. Just two more dunderheads for him to babysit. That was what he had first thought when Minerva McGonagall, the Headmistress, had informed him that she had hired them for him to help lighten his work load and give him more time to work on his line of potions that he invented and supplied to the general public. He had muttered obscenely under his breath, but she had beamed at him as though he were supposed to thank her.

Eventually, when the apprentices, two young ladies who went by the names Diana and Madison, it had shocked him to realize that he was actually thankful for them. Not that he'd ever admit it to the headmistress. Admitting that she'd been right about it, that he not only found them useful but also enjoyed their company, would only encourage her to further meddle in his business.

Diana, the eldest of the two of them, had shoulder length brown hair and green eyes. She was very punctual, but had a tendency to take an interest in his projects. Madison had dark auburn hair and green eyes, but was less punctual than Diana was. Lately, Madison had gotten into a habit of disappearing off to somewhere where no one could find her. When Severus questioned her about it, she was vague, to say the least. Severus normally wouldn't tolerate such foolishness, but it hadn't yet interfered with her work for him, which was beyond reproach. As long as it didn't interfere with her work, her free time was her own.

Severus was crouched down next to one of his large plants when he caught sight of movement a little further into the forest. His gaze scanned the forest around him and he quickly became aware of another presence in the area with him. He couldn't pinpoint it, but his instincts told him it was there, and probably coming from the direction of the deeper portion of the forest. It was less likely that whoever it was came from the direction of the castle. He slipped his hand into his pocket and gripped his wand. It took a few more moments of peering into the forest before he caught sight of a figure stepping out of the shadows. The other man, who Severus felt himself unfortunate to be familiar with, was a slightly shorter than Severus and had long, messy brown hair with an obvious red streak in it. He blue eyes were shadowed by the dark lines around them, and short stubble covered the lower half of his face. Scabior normally kept his face clean shaven, but every once in a while he let it grow a little. Severus was familiar with that routine as well.

"What are you doing here, Scabior?" Severus demands sharply, slowly rising to a standing position.

"Getting revenge," Scabior breathes softly, an odd glint flashing in his eyes.

"The war might be over, but traitors still need to be punished." Another familiar voice laughs.

Severus quickly turned to stand at an angle, avoiding having his back to either of the.

"Greyback," Severus sneers in annoyance. Just what he needed. A werewolf invading his garden.

Greyback scowls at him, raising his wand and sending a hex at him. Severus easily blocks it, but Greyback simultaneously launches himself at him. Severus twists out of the way and stuns the werewolf as Scabior takes advantage of his momentary distraction and sends a silent hex at him. Severus turns to face Scabior, raising a magical shield a second too late. A jet of bright green light hits him in the ribs, sending him flying back off his feet and onto his back. A jolt of pain shot through him on impact and his sight went hazy, the breath knocked out of him. It felt as though thousands of sharp needles were pricking his entire body. Darkness crept along the edges of his vision and slowly closed in on him.

Just before he passed out Scabior appeared, leering down at him.

"Don't worry, Severus." Scabior smiles tauntingly, "I'm not going to kill you. It will be much more fun watching your colleagues do it."