Warnings & Disclaimers in Prologue
A/N: I forgot to mention this in the prologue, but I really *really* love to get reviews. They brighten my day and improve my karma. And when you improve one person's karma, you improve the world's karma. So let's make the world a better place! Okay, enough from my silly Buddhist butt, let's get on with the story!
*
Severus Snape was in big, big trouble. He could feel it, sense it, almost taste it in the air. It was a sixth sense he had developed around Voldemort- first as a pure Death Eater, second as a spy for the Light. It was basically a survival tactic. Perceive the danger and run. Run and live to fight another day. It was as simple as that.
Too bad this threat he was feeling didn't have much to do with the Dark Lord.
Granted, Voldemort *was* involved in it somehow. He was only a side character- a supporting role, if you will. But if not Voldemort, then who the hell could fill him with this sense of foreboding? Severus could only think of one other person with that power.
Albus Dumbledore.
*
Sure enough, a few hours later Albus was knocking on Severus' door. With a sigh and a wave from his wand, Severus removed the locks from the door.
"Come in," he called.
Albus stepped through the door and Severus was struck with a sensation of surrealism. If he didn't know better, he'd say Albus was…nervous. Edgy, almost.
Impossible. Albus was the calmest, most composed person he knew. Well, that wasn't quite true. You couldn't get much more composed than Rondiana Weasley. That was what Severus admired so much about her- she was always cool, calm, and in control. It took a lot to shake her. That was an essential quality in times of war. Pity she also happened to be a total bitch.
"What can I do for you, Albus?" asked Snape. "Some tea, perhaps?"
"No, no," said Albus, waving his hand dismissively. "I've only come to ask you if you'll join me in my office tomorrow afternoon."
*Here we go* thought Severus. "Certainly, Albus. May I ask what this is all about?"
"I'd rather wait until tomorrow, if you don't mind," said Albus. His voice quavered and Severus was suddenly struck by the thought of how old Albus was. Usually, Albus gave such an impression of youth and vitality. But in reality, the man was more than a century old!
"That's perfectly all right, Albus," Severus said quickly. No need to stress the old wizard any more than he was already. "What time would you like me there?"
"Three o'clock?" Albus' voice went up at the end like a question, although Severus knew better. Albus didn't ask questions, he gave orders nicely couched in question marks. If he said three o'clock, than that was the time Severus would be there.
"Of course. I'll be there."
A/N: I forgot to mention this in the prologue, but I really *really* love to get reviews. They brighten my day and improve my karma. And when you improve one person's karma, you improve the world's karma. So let's make the world a better place! Okay, enough from my silly Buddhist butt, let's get on with the story!
*
Severus Snape was in big, big trouble. He could feel it, sense it, almost taste it in the air. It was a sixth sense he had developed around Voldemort- first as a pure Death Eater, second as a spy for the Light. It was basically a survival tactic. Perceive the danger and run. Run and live to fight another day. It was as simple as that.
Too bad this threat he was feeling didn't have much to do with the Dark Lord.
Granted, Voldemort *was* involved in it somehow. He was only a side character- a supporting role, if you will. But if not Voldemort, then who the hell could fill him with this sense of foreboding? Severus could only think of one other person with that power.
Albus Dumbledore.
*
Sure enough, a few hours later Albus was knocking on Severus' door. With a sigh and a wave from his wand, Severus removed the locks from the door.
"Come in," he called.
Albus stepped through the door and Severus was struck with a sensation of surrealism. If he didn't know better, he'd say Albus was…nervous. Edgy, almost.
Impossible. Albus was the calmest, most composed person he knew. Well, that wasn't quite true. You couldn't get much more composed than Rondiana Weasley. That was what Severus admired so much about her- she was always cool, calm, and in control. It took a lot to shake her. That was an essential quality in times of war. Pity she also happened to be a total bitch.
"What can I do for you, Albus?" asked Snape. "Some tea, perhaps?"
"No, no," said Albus, waving his hand dismissively. "I've only come to ask you if you'll join me in my office tomorrow afternoon."
*Here we go* thought Severus. "Certainly, Albus. May I ask what this is all about?"
"I'd rather wait until tomorrow, if you don't mind," said Albus. His voice quavered and Severus was suddenly struck by the thought of how old Albus was. Usually, Albus gave such an impression of youth and vitality. But in reality, the man was more than a century old!
"That's perfectly all right, Albus," Severus said quickly. No need to stress the old wizard any more than he was already. "What time would you like me there?"
"Three o'clock?" Albus' voice went up at the end like a question, although Severus knew better. Albus didn't ask questions, he gave orders nicely couched in question marks. If he said three o'clock, than that was the time Severus would be there.
"Of course. I'll be there."
