Snape Apparated directly into the Headmaster's office. He had only one hour to find the boy and deliver him to the Dark Lord. He found himself all alone. The portraits hanging around the walls were all empty. Not a single headmaster or headmistress remained. They had scurried away apparently, charging through the paintings that lined the castle, so that they could have a clear view of what was happening in the battle. So much for his plan of sending his only allies around the castle to patrol for Potter. Fine. He would have to send his doe Patronus to find him. Potter would trust it and follow it, of that he was sure.

He glanced at Dumbledore's deserted frame, which hung directly behind the Headmaster's chair – his chair for the past year. He brushed his palm across the desk, just to stall a little. He had one whole hour at his disposal, had he not?

He swung the empty portrait aside and revealed the cavity which contained all his most prized possessions. He took Lily's picture and letter in his hands and lingered on her smile. He didn't know how long he stared at it, but he eventually folded both pieces and carefully hid them deep inside his robes. Whatever he would do, it will be with her name, her love, and her smile close to his heart. He needed something to give him courage.

This was it. It all culminated to this moment.

For Lily.

The thought stung him deeply in his chest. Because it wasn't for Lily he was doing all this. It was for the greater good. Had it been for Lily, he would have gone looking for the boy only to hide him somewhere no one could find him and let him live until the brat was sick of living.

He took a deep breath and withdrew his wand to call upon Lily's memory one last time. Before he could utter a single word, he heard his name being called somewhere from the walls. Suddenly Dumbledore appeared striding through empty portraits until he reached his own frame somewhat short-winded.

"Severus! Thank goodness you're here!" he panted. "You have the perfect opportunity right now. Harry is on his way up here," Dumbledore informed him.

Severus sighed and nodded, his stone-pale face holding no emotion. This turn of events simplified his mission, but it brought him no relief or satisfaction. He turned around and strode towards the door ready to face Potter.

"You must tell him everything," Dumbledore's portrait emphasized. "He won't believe you otherwise," he added softly.

Snape turned back, this time a murderous glance stretched over his eyes.

"No," he objected, "I will take him to the Dark Lord immediately. He'll finish him off, and neither of them will ever know that the boy was holding a piece of His soul inside him all along."

"What makes you think Harry doesn't know that already?" Dumbledore asked quietly. "No, Severus. You have to tell Harry everything," he countered with a firm note in his voice. "He needs to know the whole truth, and it is essential that he goes to Voldemort willingly."

"Why? Do you wish to torment the boy before his death?" Snape spat while his face distorted in an ugly grimace.

"Of course not," Dumbledore whispered and averted his gaze. "I regret what Harry must do. Alas, it is the only way. You don't want Harry to die in vain, do you?" he added quietly.

Severus' eyes became livid with fury. "I don't want him to die at all!" he snapped at the former Headmaster. "I wasn't the one who had been preparing him for slaughter since the very beginning! Ever since Lily died I have been protecting him for her! And now – I must be the one to –" Snape's voice broke for the first time, and his eyes glimmered strangely, but he took a deep breath and steadied himself quickly.

"If Harry sacrifices himself to save his friends, they will all be protected from Voldemort. His sacrifice will protect them, just like Lily's sacrifice protected Harry. Voldemort won't be able to hurt them, and you will have the perfect opportunity to finish him off," Dumbledore explained gently, his eyes twinkling strangely.

Snape stared at the late Headmaster and slowly gave a curt nod. Yes, of course, it was all for the greater good; no matter how much a select few had to sacrifice and suffer for the cause.

"Severus, be very careful," said Dumbledore firmly. "I am counting on you. You will be in a perfect position to finish Voldemort after it is done. However, before the opportunity presents itself, you must kill the snake first, do you understand?"

There was a firm and urgent note to Dumbledore's voice. Snape narrowed his brows with anxiety. "I must kill Nagini, too?"

Dumbledore nodded firmly. "Yes. It is essential that you kill Nagini before you try anything against her master," he advised, stressing the importance of this task with a fixed gaze.

"The snake has a portion of His soul, too, hasn't she?" Snape murmured darkly with comprehension. This newly appointed assignment further complicated Snape's role.

"Yes," Dumbledore confirmed with a sombre expression.

Snape wondered briefly how he was supposed to accomplish this feat without exposing his cover to the Dark Lord. This would probably be the end of him, he realized with dread, but there was no time to dwell on the matter.

"We have to finish our conversation now," Dumbledore said calmly. "I believe Harry just reached the gargoyle."

Snape faced the door again, his wand ready. His eyes were so blank and empty. If he hadn't been standing upright, his nostrils flaring angrily, no one could have guessed he was alive. He was wondering himself how could he still be there in his body because he felt nothing at all, not even the beating of his own heart.

He stood there still as a statue, holding his breath. He could hear Potter's hurried steps echoing behind the door. It suddenly burst open and the boy's head bobbed into view. The rest of his body was evidently hidden under his Invisibility Cloak. Snape didn't let that distract him, and with a simple Expeliarmus, he disarmed the careless brat, catching his wand as it flew towards his outstretched hand. How Potter managed to survive this long was beyond him, seeing how poor his reflexes were.

Potter's green eyes widened in panic before sheer anger conquered his features. "You!" he hissed with disgust.