Severus Snape looked at the letter. It had arrived just that morning. He only had two days to respond. He didn't what to write back. What to say. What to decide. It was either agree or die, and if he died, he wouldn't ever have a chance to help Professor Dumbledore. But if he did… If he did, then Lily would never forgive him. And that would be too much for him to bear. He felt like crying. He had no one to help him, he didn't know what to do. He felt so alone, so lost. The letter lay on the table, but he got the feeling it would jump up and attack him. The writing burned right through him.
Severus Snape, you have been accepted to join the Death Eaters. You have two days to respond, whatever your answer may be. If you dare decline the orders of the Dark Lord, you shall soon regret it. We offer only the best to our followers: riches, power, and protection. Once you have joined, you will be called for a meeting to discuss your intentions with a superior. Give your response to the owl that brought this to you, he will know the way.
Severus gulped. He had to say no. He had to. But he wanted to help, so, so badly. To help end this terror, to say he had helped to defeat Voldemort. Even if he died trying, he would help. He knew that the protection idea was nonsense, if he wanted to stay safe, he'd stay at Hogwarts. But he couldn't, not for long. With only six weeks left of term, he would have to find somewhere to go. If only there was a way to stay at Hogwarts. To avoid being a Death Eater at all. But there wasn't. Unless… Dumbledore would have a solution. Yes, he would go see Dumbledore. Severus stood up, walked down the stairs, into the Slytherin common room, and out into the corridor, where he promptly ran into Dumbledore.
"Professor Dumbledore," he started. And he explained it all. He told Dumbledore everything. How he wanted to help, but knew that either way he wouldn't be able to.
"There is one thing you can do, but it'd be very dangerous. You'd betray Voldemort, be my eyes and ears inside his operation."
If they found out he was a traitor, they would torture, kill him. The might not even kill him with magic. They might kill him the Muggle way, a slow, painful death. They might frame him for a crime, to send him to Azkaban to rot. They might give him to dementors, so his last memory would be the worst. They might do anything to him. But he wanted to help. "I don't care how dangerous it is," said Severus, and it was true.
"Very well then, Professor Snape."