Claim : Here is my first attempt at a several-chaptered fiction, I wrote this without any clear idea as to where this story will lead to, I will try my best to pursue it. I would like your opinion about this first piece of writing, english is not my mother tongue, I will not mind anyone pointing out my mistakes ;) It's quite short, I'm aware of that, but I intend to write longer chapters in the future ;)

None of the character I'm toying with belongs to me, all credits goes to J.K Rowling, but do I really need to remind you of that? :P

Prologue

"And what will you give me in return, Severus?"

"In - in return?"

"Anything."

Oh that, he did, he gave anything he could have given, he has devoted himself to a worthy cause, he has endeavoured to redeem himself from his monumental mistake that cost the only person he has ever cared about, that cost his sweet Lily her life. He often toyed with the idea that he has indeed redeemed himself, although he often reckoned that redemption did not fit him, he was not fit to the very concept.

And yet.

And yet, Severus Snape has given his life for the greater good, it has claimed his life and he gladly gave it, hoping that it would be enough to heal every wound his miserable fate has bestowed him.

How very wrong he was.

Funnily enough, he has always viewed Albus Dumbledore as a mentor, a paternal figure coming to replace the man who has shattered his childhood into little pieces, into sharp shards that had cut deeper and deeper as Tobias Snape had denied his son a proper father. Dumbledore was the only one who has given him a chance to mend his wretched life, he kept him out of Azkaban, he gave him a proper job, even though Severus Snape had very little affection for his students, he was, at least, safe and reasonably well-esteemed among his colleagues, or so he liked to think.

There was one silver lining in his life, one tiny silver lining : he had an aim, one ultimate task he attempted to fulfill. His sweet Lily, his eternal Lily, the only person who has ever seen some good in him, the only person who was there when everyone else had failed and deserted him. Protecting her blasted son was the least he could do, even if he did so begrudgingly.

Severus Snape shook his head, brooding was not a habit of his and he has never not allowed himself to wallow in self-pity, he never will. He still had papers his students handed in to mark and brewing to complete, he had no time to waste for emotions.

He looked up the name written on the paper at the top of the pile.

5th year Slytherin and Gryffindor, Potter and cie and their miserable attempt at potion, oh joy.

He applied himself to the task and within the hour, half of the pathetic papers of his students were graded and a fair amount of red ink adorned them.

A fire was burning in the heavily garnished hearth of his office, its red light shrouding the numerous glass jars containing floating dead creatures. It was winter and the dungeons, damp and chilly even in summer, were freezing cold that evening, the Slytherin common room will need enchantments to keep his students reasonably warm, Severus thought to himself.

From Albus possible dropping by to the replenishment of his ingredients cupboard for classes, mundane thoughts crossed the professor's mind that night, few things were likely to interrupt his ever -miserable and ever-monotonous life that night.

How little did he know.