Hero
Prologue
Severus Snape, Potions Master and Professor, stood in his customary, intimidating, manner. His back was ramrod straight, and his broad shoulders were squared. His eyes were glaring intensely, and a menacing sneer was firmly in place. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest, until the last student warily filed from the classroom. With a weary wave of his hand, the door slid closed, and locked behind the child with a soft click. If one were to have taken a closer look, they would have seen that that hand was trembling.
He stepped up onto the small dais, and slid bonelessly into his chair. He sighed heavily as he leaned his elbows on the desk, and shoved his fingers through his hair, resting his head in his palms. He closed his eyes, and his shoulders slumped in exhaustion.
Both masters had kept him hopping for weeks. His duties demanded more and more of his time, to the point that he was foregoing sleep in order to keep up the momentum in his classes.
Despite what many perceived to be a hatred for his job, and the students that he taught, Severus actually loved his job. He was good at it, despite his rather harsh teaching methods. He knew his craft, and his harshness was borne out of frustration due to his students lack of understanding of the beauty in what he was trying to teach them.
He opened his bleary eyes, and slowly focused on the parchments before him. Today's essays. He started to read the first few lines of the top page, and Harry Potter's neat scrawl suddenly swam, and then danced in a jumbled riot of loops and swirls.
Severus blinked hard, and tried to clear his vision when the letters rearranged themselves into little stick people that lined up across the page, and shook their spindly stick fists at him. "I've got to quit doing this or it's going to kill me." He muttered under his breath, shoving the offensive paper to the bottom of the stack. He rammed the heels of his hands into his eye sockets, and scrubbed at them furiously, in a vain attempt to clear his vision. "The next time Albus asks me to 'run a little errand' for him, I must refuse." He grumbled to himself. "I just can not do anymore!"
He dragged himself to his feet, never more thankful that his day was over. He staggered to his private chambers, and kicked off his heavy boots. He peeled his soiled teaching robes from his lean frame, and tossed them into a charmed basket that automatically sent them to the house elves for cleaning.
He poured himself a small glass of sherry, and sank into his favourite, worn, leather armchair. He stretched his long legs out before the fire, and sighed heavily once more. "I think I will just close my eyes for a bit before dinner." He murmured as his lids slipped over his eyes, and shut out the world. Within minutes, he dropped into a heavy, exhausted, slumber.
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Severus' boss, and friend, had fire-called the young wizard, intending to send him to Grimmauld Place with a message for Remus Lupin. When he looked into the sitting room of Severus' private quarters, and saw the man sleeping soundly, he didn't have the heart to disturb him.
He knew, and appreciated, all that Severus was so willing to give. He was also well aware of the strain being put on the young man in recent weeks. He knew that Voldemort was calling upon him more frequently, and the poor boy came back each time, a little more beaten, a little more broken, but determined, more than the times before, to complete his mission before retiring to his rooms or the infirmary. Albus also sadly noted, that those times, under Poppy's watchful eye, were on the increase as well. The boy was exhausted, dangerously so.
Even through that exhaustion, Severus held sway over his classes in his usual, forceful, manner. Albus was aware of that as well, and concerned for 'one of his own', his general health and welfare, he let the young man sleep. He charmed the man's quarters to keep all disturbances at bay, ensuring that Severus would be left alone until the morning.
Albus pondered the dilemma he was facing where Severus was concerned. He made up his mind that the young man needed a break away from Hogwart's, and the demands put upon him by his duty to the Order of the Phoenix, at the very least. But, Albus also knew Severus extremely well. There was no way he would convince the man to simply take a much needed vacation. No, he knew he would have to send Severus on a mission for the Light. It was the only way that he could be sure to at least give Severus a break away from his responsibilities to Hogwart's, and the Order. Voldemort was out of Albus' sphere of influence, of course, but he would have to leave that up to Severus to manage. Nodding in satisfaction, his plan in mind, he ended his day.
When classes had concluded for the summer the following week, Severus made his way to the tower office of the Headmaster, pondering the reasons there might be for such a summons. None of them were appealing in the least, and he sighed in resignation, preparing himself for the inevitable.
"Ah, Severus." The old wizard greeted, sounding greatly relieved to see the younger man. "Another school year closes, and I find myself in need of your expertise once again."
"As ever, I am happy to serve, Headmaster." Severus bowed wearily, sighing inwardly, and shot a mild glare toward the framed portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black, when he heard a mildly derisive snort coming from the canvas above his head. "What do you require of me, Sir?"
"I have been receiving confusing reports from the United States concerning recent activities there which may be of great concern to the Light." Albus gravely gave an account as he came to settle in his chair. He lifted a parchment, and read the words inscribed upon it, handing it over to the younger wizard, and allowing him to read what was written there. "While our initial reports indicate that all is quiet, recently there have been rumours to the contrary. I would like for you to agree to give it your personal attention."
Severus drew a deep breath through his nose, tilted his chin, and narrowed his calculating eyes in the Headmaster's direction. Albus gazed back at him steadily, his mild-mannered demeanour never wavering. "What sort of rumours", Severus demanded haltingly, knowing full well he'd do whatever the old man required him to do, no matter what his answer to the question would be. "and contrary to what?"
"I dont know!" Albus mildly exclaimed, sounding baffled. "Which is why I would like to send you there. You're the only one I would trust with such a mission, Severus. You're the one who would be able to see things that others would overlook!"
"What manner of things, Albus?" Severus snapped, not pleased with the vagary of his explanations.
"I need you to go there, my boy, and keep your eyes and ears open to any signs of trouble." Albus explained, leaning back in his chair with his twinkling, blue-eyed, gaze on full beam.
"Trouble from whom?" Severus snarled, sounding disgruntled by the lack of information.
"Ah ha." Albus replied, holding up one long, gnarled finger, and earning himself an intense glare from the black-eyed man before him.
"As you wish, Sir." Severus growled in resignation, rising to leave. "I shall leave tomorrow morning." With another bow, he swept from the room, his dissatisfaction showing in every snap of his robes as he stalked from the room.
"Well, that went better than I'd hoped, gentlemen." Albus addressed the portraits surrounding him, and they nodded in familiar agreement, but for one.
"You're going to be sorry you messed with the boy, Albus. Mark my words." Phineas declared with a superior sniff as he left his frame.
Those among us who were fortunate, or cursed, enough to know Albus Dumbledore, soon learned that it did one no good to question his motives. He wouldn't reveal his reasons for his actions unless he felt it necessary to do so in order to bend you to his will. Severus considered himself fortunate to know him, although there were times over the course of his life that he was tempted to question his own sanity.
Years ago, as a mere child, Severus had escaped what he thought was a tormented existence, only to find that he had stepped into something far worse. From the day he realized his mistake, and ran, begging for forgiveness, to the Headmaster, he knew he owed his life to the man whom he often referred to with great affection as, 'the barmy old coot'.
Albus Dumbledore gave him sanctuary; a home, an education, an income, and a purpose in his life. But, he gave him so much more than that. He gave his unwavering trust, and an opportunity for Severus to redeem himself. In return, Severus gave him unwavering loyalty. Both men knew there was nothing Albus could ask of Severus that he wouldn't do without question...er...well...without too many questions. Most times, those questions went unanswered, and Severus was graced with Albus' insufferable, twinkling, blue-eyed gaze.
But Severus had vowed to never disappoint the great wizard again, and for this reason, he now found himself here, in this godforsaken place, on this godforsaken continent, because Albus-bloody-Dumbledore asked him to do this. He found himself stuck here, in America, out of his element, living amongst Muggles, and loathing every moment of it. He felt clueless as to what benefit being there could offer the Order, or the wizarding world as a whole, but, Albus ordered it, he would make it so.
His first nightly, narrative to his pensieve upon arrival clearly indicated his feelings on the matter at hand.
***I am Severus Snape, and I am a wizard. I am Potion's Master at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am a former Death Eater, and I am a spy, serving as Second Lieutenant to the Order of the Phoenix. I don't know what in the Hell I am supposed to learn from insinuating myself into the everyday existence, and going's on, of a shelter for battered women. But as I said, I am a spy, and what do we do best? We insinuate ourselves, and we watch...and wait***