"Oh, lad... This is my fault."

Snape shook his head. "Trust me, Headmaster... You have asked much, it's true. But you have given me much in return. You are releasing me from this life. Our debts are repaid."

"You'll have to take care of yourself," Dumbledore said, placing Snape's cup on the small table between the chairs. "We're both tired, but we must remain strong. I know I can count on you."

"Yes, Headmaster. Indeed you can."

Dumbledore sat down with a slight grunt, and for a while there was no sound save the crackling of the logs burning in the fireplace. Then Dumbledore said, "She would be proud of you, Severus."

Snape drew his robes closer to himself and shivered. He stared ahead, his eyes watering.

"Are you cold?" the elderly wizard asked.

"Yes and no," Snape answered at last. "For some time now I have been afflicted by a constant and worsening fever. I have taken various potions, but their effectiveness has been limited." He got to his feet. "I had best return to the dungeons, Headmaster. If the disease continues to progress at this pace... I must make use of the time left to me. After my classes, I have work in my laboratory."

"I understand, but I must insist that you rest frequently. It is a small promise to make."

"As you wish, Headmaster," Snape said, inclining his head. He swept out of Dumbledore's office, his dark robes trailing behind him like a shadow.

Dumbledore sat for a while and stroked his beard. Then he went to his desk, grabbed a quill, and began to write upon a piece of parchment.

The next morning, Dumbledore eyed Snape critically as the latter approached him with a goblet of potion.

"I brewed a larger batch last night and prepared several doses in advance. The potion will only retain its potency for a few weeks, but should my health decline faster than expected... I have labeled the jars and shall continue to ensure that you will be able to instruct Potter even when I become bedridden," Snape said.

"Sit, lad. You slept well?"

"Fairly well." Snape brought his handkerchief to his mouth, coughed and then held his forehead, his elbow propped against the armrest.

Dumbledore drained the cup and said, "That is a most convincing display of alertness, Severus."

"I didn't go to bed very late, Headmaster. I just... woke a lot, that's all. There doesn't seem to be much I can do about it anymore," Snape said, half-slumped in his chair. "I am trying to do everything I can while I still care."

"In that case, there is something I must tell you."

Snape arched his eyebrow.

"I have changed some of my plans," Dumbledore said.

Someone knocked at the door; Snape looked over his shoulder in surprise.

"Ah, Minerva is here," Dumbledore said. He waved his hand and the door opened, revealing the prim, grey-haired witch.

Snape straightened and stowed his handkerchief in his robes.

"You wanted to see me, Albus?" McGonagall said.

"Please join us, Minerva. Severus and I were about to discuss matters of vital importance."

She sat in the plush armchair next to Snape's.

"Minerva," Snape said.

Her gaze lingered upon his wan features and she frowned. "For pity's sake, have you been starving yourself again?"

"I fear it is more serious than that," Dumbledore told her.

"Headmaster?" Snape said, clearly bewildered.

"The situation has become more complicated, Severus, and I have decided to tell Minerva everything."

"Headmaster," Snape said with a warning tone in his voice.

"Almost everything," Dumbledore gently said. "Don't fret."

"Will you two please explain what on earth this is about?" Minerva said.

Dumbledore leaned back, considering how he would begin. He sighed. "I have revelations for the both of you."

Snape and McGonagall exchanged a startled and puzzled glance.

"I have long preferred not to keep all my eggs in one basket," Dumbledore said, "but time is now of the essence, and I've come to the inescapable conclusion that I must rely upon my closest friends if we are to win the war against Voldemort and his Death Eaters."

"Albus, you know full well that anything you tell me in confidence won't leave this room," Minerva said.

Dumbledore retrieved a rolled parchment from his desk. "I am overjoyed to hear you say that. I want you to help Severus care for Hogwarts. I am resigning as Headmaster."

Snape and McGonagall gaped at him, too shocked to speak.

"It will be for the greater good," Dumbledore said.

"You can't be serious!" McGonagall said.

"What nonsense is this?" Snape whispered, his face white. "Have you gone mad? I'm dying, Dumbledore!"

McGonagall gasped.

"Severus has been brewing a potion for me, and I regret to say that it has caused him to become gravely ill. Although I must take it every day, it is merely postponing the inevitable. My days are also numbered," Dumbledore said. "I have incurred a deadly curse."

"Albus... Severus," Minerva said. She clutched the base of her throat, as if unable to breathe. "How could you hide this from me?"

"My death is irrelevant," Dumbledore said lightly. "It is imperative that I teach Harry what he must do in order to defeat Voldemort, and I need more time. Severus has already informed me that Hogwarts will soon be in Voldemort's grasp. We might as well be one step ahead of him and make Severus the new Headmaster. I daresay the Ministry of Magic will approve immediately."

"But... How can I oversee Hogwarts, Headmaster?" Snape said. "I shall be too ill... I shall be useless. Even now I am considerably weakened." Right on cue, he fumbled for his handkerchief and coughed repeatedly.

"You are not completely incapacitated yet, and there's no reason for concern. Minerva will be the one in charge. She'll help you keep up appearances, as it were, until you are confined to bed."

"And what of the Dark Lord? I won't be able to protect either Hogwarts or Minerva when he sees that I am no longer fit to be Headmaster."

"I hope that by then Harry will have accomplished the first half of his mission... We'll have to improvise as events unfold, and have faith."

"This is madness," Snape said, shaking his head tiredly.

"Do you accept, Severus?"

"What choice do I have." Snape turned to McGonagall. "Minerva... Will you assist me? It seems the Headmaster has roped us into his latest impossible scheme."

"I agree with Severus," Minerva told Dumbledore. "This is utter madness. But I suppose we have few options." She sniffed and reaching over to Snape, squeezed his hand. "Don't worry. You won't be alone."