Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters and information do not belong to this author. They belong to J.K. Rowling. So don't sue me… please…
Slithering and hiding
Dark places so foreboding,
Hearts so frozen
Yet destiny so open…
"Is my life really like this?" Snape asked himself as he slumped down bitterly into his chair.
Slithering and hiding
Light not wanted,
Minds unraveling
Love so creeping…
Severus sat in his chair, stroking his hair. "Why is it like this of all things?"
He suddenly remembered the expression on Dumbledore's face when he uncovered his Dark Mark. The professor's thin lips contracted into a sly smile at the memory of the old man's saddened frown and cracked eyes.
"It is bliss to see someone so praised and admired to frown like that over a symbol."
He carefully took out a locket that was tucked in his robes so deep. He flicked open the small pendant—a sphere of gold—and stared at the young face of a girl. He sighed longingly as he touched the flat picture—a muggle picture—and an unnoticed tear fell from his left eye.
Slithering and hiding
Love that is lost,
'Tis never to be found?
Or is it to be glimpsed at?
"I wish that you'd come back… even though…" he was overcome by an attack of sobs and blurred memories.
Slithering and hiding
Memories released,
Memories of sadness,
Memories of chains…
"Severus?" a tiny voice struck the enraged boy.
"What?!" the boy whirled around with his eyes flaming red and blinded by tears and blood.
"I'll go." The girl lowered her head.
"You can't! He mustn't get you!"
"I have to… for your sake and everyone else's." the girl went over to the battle-poised boy.
"I won't let you!" Severus blocked her way.
"I have to, Severus. I'll—I'll try my best to come back to you." The girl laid her arm gently on the boy's shivering shoulder. "Severus, I want you to live. I want everyone else to live. I am what—what He wants."
"You—you can't! It's a trap, can't you understand that?" the boy yelled furiously.
The girl shook her head slowly and leaned closer to the boy and kissed him gently on his cheek. "I'll be back." She said softly and walked past him and under the dark cloak of the towering figure. "I love you." She called back and the cloak of the figure closed over her and a muffled cry was issued.
"NOOO!" Severus screamed and ran forward but one of the figures rushed at him and hit him squarely in the stomach.
"I love you…"
Slithering and hiding
Love returning,
Whispering and crying,
Living and dying…
"You said you'd come back… you said you loved me…" Severus whimpered while clutching the locket in his shaking hands.
"I did and I still do." A familiar tone but a more mature voice rang in the professor's ears.
Slithering and hiding
Hearts unfolding
Snake's eyes aren't closing
On their loved heartstring…
"You…" Severus stood up and stared at a girl with soft brown hair and mellow but stern green eyes.
"It's me, Severus." The girl burst forward and embraced the shocked man. "Oh I missed you so much!"
"I—I thought—thought you were dead…"
"I wouldn't die for you!" the girl playfully kissed the man's lips.
"You Master? What about Him?"
The girl suddenly stopped and a sense of melancholy and misery overcame her. "He's coming… to kill the Boy-Who-Lived…"
"Then—then I must stop you." Severus lowered his head.
"I know."
Slithering and hiding
Unending and eternal,
Guiding but losing,
In darkness and light…
"Severus," the woman brushed a tear away. "My Master wishes that you join us…"
"But I'm a teacher at Hogwarts!" Severus turned away.
"But you'll have wealth, power, glory! You'll have—me."
"I—I can't."
The girl smirked then wrapped her arms around the man's waist, slyly whispering, "Don't you love me?"
"I do." Severus stood rigid with confusion. A sudden thought crossed his mind. He pushed away the girl and looked at her sternly. "What happened to you all these years? What did they do to you?"
She stared blankly at him for a moment then a sly smile slipped onto her lips. "I opened my eyes to the reality of my Master's capabilities and understanding. I went through a lot but that doesn't concern you now… All that matters is that you join us." She took hold of the shaking hand and placed it just above her heart. "Severus, you were born to be one of us. You have the talent and knowledge my Master seeks. You're the son he always wanted. I'll be there."
"What has gone into you?!"
"What has gone into you?!"
Severus stepped back and stared the woman he had loved for so long. He looked into the green eyes and realized he didn't recognize them. She had changed, changed so much, too much. "Who are you?" he reached for his wand in his robes.
"Severus!"
"I said, who are you?"
"I—I am—" the sparkle in her eyes cracked with fear. She clutched her heart and doubled over then started to writhe in pain.
"W—what's going on?!"
"H—Help me!" the girl cried out in a cracking voice.
Severus stood petrified and lost in his place as the girl he thought he had loved for so long suddenly grew still, deathly still.
Slithering and hiding
Love lying
Illusion foreboding
Death that lives…
"Master…" the woman coughed, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth, "I'm sorry…" her eyes rolled up and Severus sensed her heart stopped.
"You can't… no!!" Severus shook the pale body.
"Severus, she's gone. It's too late…" an eccentric voice shook the professor.
Slithering and hiding
Death and rebirth,
Untold and misunderstood,
Words that are killing…
"Albus…" Severus quickly wiped away his tears.
"Don't hide them, Severus." The old man patted the shaking man's back gently. "Her Master took her. We can't do anything anymore… she was chosen long ago and she was taken. You have strength, Severus, great strength. She wasn't able to take you back with her. Her Master wasn't able to take you."
"She didn't have to die, did she?"
"We can't do anything about it, Severus. Fate will just have to squeeze through Hogwarts and we'll have to trust in our own capabilities and in others' capabilities as well."
"I guess so, Albus." Severus nodded weakly.
Slithering and hiding
Faith and life unwilling,
Rage that disappears,
Power uplifting…
"I just wish Potter the best of luck against this 'Master' of hers…"
"I know he'll need it but he'll make it through…" Albus replied.
Slithering and hiding,
Gliding and stalking,
Living and dying…
I'm sorry, Severus…
I love you, Lazuli…
FINI.
Author's Note: Well, I couldn't think of a name at the end and so the Lapiz Lazuli came up to me and I typed it. Actually, I like the name…
