Disclaimer: I own nothing, well, I do own two dogs and a cat, but as far as this story goes, all things that you do not recognize as J.K. Rowling's are mine.

Need to know Info: This story takes place in Harry, Ron, and Hermione's Seventh Year.

Dedicated: To the mysterious Severus Snape.

Challenge: I wanted to know if I could make Snape as believable in this story as in the series.

Request: It's my own request.

The Man behind Severus Snape

By: Jade Dragon

Chapter One

The halls of the school were all silent in the wee hours of a Saturday morning. It was very early, around one o'clock, and all were soothed in their beds by the gentle moonlight that cascaded in from the windows. All was quiet, or so it seemed. One person was up, roaming the halls like a predator. However, it was not Severus Snape's usually obligation to stop students from furthering their snogging activities that brought him into the third corridor. A gentle laughter could be heard softly making its way through the cracks of an unused door.

Severus stopped there, looking at the door with caution and pain. He placed a pale hand upon it and twisted the knob, opening the door to reveal a beautiful young woman dancing in the middle of the dust-filled room. He walked in and closed the door behind him, watching as the young woman took notice of him. The woman stood there, looking at him with silver eyes before her face lightened up and she ran to the man before her.

"Severus!" she yelled and gave him a loving hug.

Severus stood there with his arms wrapped around the woman. He smelled her long curly black hair that gently tickled his pale hands that rested on the small of her back. He closed his black tunnel eyes and tightened his grip, wanting nothing more than to stand here forever and hold her. Nevertheless, all things must end. A bitter end for him.

"I missed you. What took you so long? I've been waiting here for ages." she said in a rush and pulled back, gazing up at him with love. He gave a sad smile before pulling his body away from hers, forgetting that there was no warmth that was to be lost.

"Been busy. You know how it is." he replied softly, watching with sad recognition at her expression.

She gave an amused teasing smile, "Aw, yes, the great Severus Snape of Slytherin must always practice his perfect and subtle art and exact science that is potions." she said and gently laughed.

In normal terms, he would've scowled and start laughing with her. However, that was a long time ago, when he was happy and felt alive.

"What's wrong Severus? Where's that scowl I love so much?" she said and came up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Before he could reply, a secret passage from the far right in the back opened and out stood Albus Dumbledore, gazing with sadness at the Potions Master.

"It is not well that you do this Severus." Albus said as he quietly made his way over to the younger man. The sound of the woman's sighs and Albus's crimson robes were the only music gracing the room as the two men looked at each other.

"I know that she is not real." Severus said, tearing his gaze from the headmaster to the woman in his arms. She looked up at him with indignation and replied:

"Of course I'm real silly. What ever gave you such a wild idea?" she said with a laughing tone and tore from his arms.

"Come on, let's dance. We haven't danced in such a long while," she said as she pulled on his hand, laughter dancing in her orbs of grey.

Albus found his way to the side of Severus and looked at the young woman as she began to dance around the dusty room, unaware of the older man's presence.

"I know that she is just made of memories. That her skin holds no warmth and her laugh no light." Severus said as he walked slowly to the dancing woman. He stopped a few feet away from her and watched as she slowly disappeared. He turned around at Albus, his mentor and father figure, and said:

"But Albus, I'm a lost, empty, lonely shell that's been wallowing in self pity for nearly twenty years. I need Elizabeth. I simply need her." he said and walked out of the room before the headmaster could see the tears forming.

AN: Short, I give you that. But is it good?

P.S: Yes, I am also known as Weep You No More Sad Fountains. Yes, this is my dedication, request and challenge account. And yes, I have severe writer's block on my other stories. I'm one of those people that create other stories to knock out the writer's block. But, the question is, what do you do when you hit writer's block and are out of ideas?