Author's Note: I will update this, though right now I'm just trying to sort through the ideas in my head to see exactly which one I should continue this with. I'll probably try to write a few chapters at a time and upload one every week or so.
Disclaimer: I'm not J. K. Rowling.
1980
Severus held Dumbledore's letter in his right hand, scanning over it again:
Yes, it is to one's advantage to have a lucrative career. Certain jobs don't afford the luxury of what most wizards would consider a normal lifestyle, I understand. Hogwarts is not just about the pay, though, Severus, and I hope you understand that. You will have to deal with many types of young witches and wizards.
He skimmed over the next few lines, muttering to himself as he walked up the stairs.
I can meet with you at the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade next week, preferably next Tuesday evening, if this is convenient for you. If not, please send me an owl back with a better time. Send an owl back anyway, just to confirm a suitable time.
Sincerely,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Why he had signed his whole name, Severus didn't know, but that wasn't part of his business. His business was, well, something he kept tucked inside a minuscule corner of his mind. The Dark Lord had warned him of Dumbledore's skill at Leglimency and Occlumency…
He planned to go to bed soon after he washed up and read by the window of his rented room. If it had been a better time, he might have taken a stroll around the Hogwarts grounds, but it was known, his allegiance… and there were too many horrible memories at that school. He knew he would only see Lily everywhere, hear her laughter, inwardly cringe when he remembered the night she had shut him off forever.
Severus scoffed, shutting her off as well for the time being. He started to clear his mind when he walked by a door and heard a familiar voice…
"Thank you for coming by, Sibyll, but—" Dumbledore's voice was cut off by an unearthly, gruff feminine voice; Severus froze for a moment, backing up as he heard it…
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…"
A rough hand grabbed and pulled at the hood of his robes; Severus whipped his head around and found himself staring at Dumbledore's brother who looked so much like him, Aberforth.
"You — heard — NOTHING!" Severus blinked, steeling himself under the younger Dumbledore's heavy heated gaze. He nodded, reaching up to grab Aberforth's arm. Aberforth ignored him, though; seething, he half-dragged Severus to the front of the pub, banging the door open and throwing him out onto the cobbled stone street.
"My things, though—" Severus reached an arm out, as if he could bring them to him without his wand. Aberforth, his arms crossed, looked down at him before he stepped aside, allowing Severus a moment to point his wand out and accio everything to his side.
The door slammed shut afterward, leaving him to adjust to the darkness.
Severus huffed, picking himself and his shrunken trunk off the ground. He stuffed it into one of the pockets of his robes, casting his eyes upward to look at the moon shining down through thin clouds.
He had nowhere to go for the evening, and it was more than doubtful that Dumbledore wouldn't even speak to him now. It was far-fetched in the first place, but this was what the Dark Lord had wanted him to do. Severus knew it was futile to ask the Dark Lord why, but had he known something like this would come out of it? He raked a hand through his hair and made his way down the street, his eyes flicking back and forth in the vague hope that he'd find another place to stay, anywhere.
Fortune just wasn't on his side, though. Severus sat down against an alley wall, bringing his legs up to his chest; he had to give this information to the Dark Lord, didn't he? If he didn't, he would be murdered anyway. He couldn't keep something of this much importance tucked away in his mind from his master.
But it meant a child, a mere baby, would be killed.
What do you care, though, Snape, a little whisper said, You've aided them in murdering countless other dissenters. What is one more, one more to end it all?
Severus violently grabbed his head in his hands, his wand clenched in one. He couldn't get out anymore, he was too far in.
With a curse directed at himself, foolish bastard, Severus stood and disapparated to his parent's home, empty of their presence for several months now. The musky scent never vanished, though, no matter how hard he tried to rid himself of it.
After fixing himself something small to eat, Severus sat on the torn sofa, fabric frayed in several places. He lit a fire with a swish of his wand, mulling over what he had heard. Thrice defied the Dark Lord… the couple must be held in high esteem within The Order, that he was sure about. And the woman must be with child already, as July was quickly approaching…
He forced himself to shut off his mind then… If he thought about it too much, Severus was certain he would figure out exactly who the prophecy spoke of.
He wouldn't allow that to happen.
He couldn't back out now.