I thought I would try my hand at a fan fiction starring the one character I thought I would never be able to write- Severus Snape. I see this as a sort of challenge, if you will. As such, I assume many of you will have comments and/or reviews critiquing this new attempt. Please, let me know what yout think! There is always room for improvement! :)

October 1981

Anne Davenport hurried alone through the hallways of Hogwarts, her way lit by the flickering torches hanging in their iron sconces. She kept her dark blue traveling cloak wrapped tightly around her against the October chill that had settled over the castle's old stones. Swiping away the tears that tracked down her cheeks with the back of her hand, she took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Her waist-length hair tumbled down around her shoulders in a golden cloud, its glossy color a testament to the Veela blood- inherited from her grandmother- that sang through her veins. Awoken in the middle of the night, she hadn't paused to plait it before Apparating to Hogsmeade and striding up the long drive to the school.

Pausing before a large stone gargoyle, Anne said curtly, "Fizzing Whizbangs." The gargoyle immediately came to life and leapt aside, revealing a spiral stone staircase. Climbing swiftly, she knocked once on the door at the top of the stairs. It swung open easily, and Anne stepped inside.

"Ah, Miss Davenport." An old man greeted her warmly as soon as she entered the circular tower room. Albus Dumbledore was the headmaster of the wizarding school, and a renowned sorcerer. His beard and hair were the color of new snow, both reaching past his belt, and his twinkling blue eyes, now rheumy with grief and lack of sleep, were partially hidden behind half-moon glasses.

Anne ignored him, turning instead to the younger man standing by the door. He was tall and thin, with a hooked nose and dark hair. He was dressed entirely in black, and his face was streaked with tears. She moved towards him swiftly, anguish and concern for her childhood playmate warring in her heart. "Severus."

Severus Snape turned away, wiping his face on his dark sleeve and brushing his black hair out of his eyes. "What are you doing here, Anne?" he asked bluntly, refusing to look at her.

She frowned, reaching for him. "I heard about Lily Potter- my God, Sev, what has happened?"

Severus rounded on her, his hands clenched so tightly into fists that his knuckles were white. "And, what- you're here to gloat? To tell me that I was wrong? That's it's my fault?"

Anne took a step back, unprepared for his attack. "No, of course not," she protested, stammering. "I- "

"Her son survives, Severus," Dumbledore said softly. His ancient face looked grim.

Severus ignored him, continuing to address Anne. "Because I served the Dark Lord? Because I didn't do enough to stop him? To keep her safe? It's my fault, that's what you're thinking, I know it." He looked quite deranged with grief in the light of the dozens of candles scattered about the room.

"If you think those things, it is on your head," Anne said evenly, meeting his eyes- black and cold and haunted- with her own. "I do not blame you, Severus. You blame yourself."

"He has Lily's eyes," Dumbledore said, speaking louder. "You remember what Lily's eyes were like, I think, Severus? Green, and-"

"DON'T!" Severus cried, grabbing handfuls of his own hair. "Dead- gone-" He slumped into a chair and leaned forward, making a keening cry that sounded like a wounded animal.

Anne felt her own eyes fill once more with hot tears. She turned to Dumbledore. "Stop it," she commanded, speaking over Severus' heartbroken sobs. "Why are you doing this to him?"

"The boy needs protection, Anne," Dumbledore said.

"The Dark Lord is gone," Severus snapped, not looking up. "What could he possibly need protection from?"

"The Dark Lord will come back," Dumbledore said sternly. "And the boy must be kept safe until then."

Anne knew that her own face mirrored the pale expression on Severus'. "Back?" she whispered.

Dumbledore's lips were pressed in a thin line. "Back," he repeated.

Anne turned to Severus and knelt beside his chair. "Sev, please, talk to me," she begged, using her childhood nickname for him and reaching out to touch his shoulder. He flinched away from her, as if he had been burned, and she began to cry in earnest. "You're not the only one who lost someone tonight, Sev," she snapped, rising to her feet. "Lily was my friend, too."

Severus turned and fixed her with a glare. "I loved her," he bit out. He turned to Dumbledore. "You told me you would protect her! You promised-"

"Lily and James placed their faith in the wrong person, Severus," he said calmly. "As did you."

Severus' eyes were wild. "I knew he wouldn't spare her!" he cried. "That's why I came to you!"

Anne stepped forward determinedly once again and gathered her old friend into her embrace. "Shhh," she soothed, pulling him to her. This time, he did not protest, turning his head into her shoulder and breaking down into sobs once more. "Gone…gone…"

"I want your word, Severus," Dumbledore broke in. "I want you to promise to help me protect the boy. Her boy."

"My word," Severus murmured into Anne's shoulder, his falling tears hot on her skin. "You have my word." Suddenly, he turned, and his black eyes flashed. "But, I want your promise- no one- no one- must know! I couldn't bear it! Not Potter's boy…"

"You want my word to never reveal the best part of you?" Dumbledore asked disbelievingly. Finally, he nodded, resigned. "Of course, Severus. You have it."

Severus nodded curtly before sweeping out the door of Dumbledore's office, the door snapping shut behind him.

The Headmaster took Anne's cold hands in his. "Anne, I need you to keep an eye on him. I know you have your own life, now, and that wonderful position at Flourish and Blotts. But I have asked him to play a dangerous role. He needs someone to support him."

She swallowed. "You know I will."

He nodded and squeezed her hands once before letting go. "I know," he said, and his voice sounded resigned. He walked to the casement window and gazed out at the large, orange, harvest moon before addressing her once more. "Do you still love him, then, Anne?" he asked mildly, as if her answer were of no consequence.

He ignored her sharp intake of breath, keeping his back to her and giving her time to replace the emotionless mask she always wore on her beautiful features. She drew herself up to her full height. "I have loved Severus Snape since I was ten years old," she said calmly. "Nothing will ever change that."

Dumbledore shook his head. "I hope that he handles your love better than Lily Potter ever handled his."

With those words of warning ringing in her ears, Anne left Dumbledore's office and returned home to London.