This was it. His life was ruined. Funny how he had imagined last year that life at Hogwarts would be nice and now he felt like it was the worst.

He would be a spy for both of them. He would be helping the Dark Lord and he knew he would have to hide the fact that the Dark Lord had requested him to do this from Dumbledore because he failed to expose the whole memory. Maybe he should have shown Dumbledore the whole memory. Then he wouldn't have asked him to be a spy and would have killed him on the spot instead.

Now Dumbledore thought he was some crazy pervert that he can use as a spy until the war is over and then cast him side as worthless trash. Now Dumbledore had zero incentive to try and save Lily over her son. Hopefully he would protect all of them. And now Severus had to carefully occlude that the Dark Lord had made this request or he would take his warning as a false trail.

Why couldn't he just be dead? That would have ended their conversation nicely. What will you give me in return?

Please kill me quickly so I can avoid the long and painful death the Dark Lord has waiting for me.

Of course Dumbledore would not have gone for that. He preferred to send people to Azkaban so they could live the rest of their lives remembering all the horrible things that happened to them. Severus didn't need dementors, he relived his worst memories as he slept every night.

Severus needed to calm down and go report to the Dark Lord. He watched his watch tick and counted breaths. Once he was sure he was in control of his emotions, he left the house and apparated to the Dark Lord.

Karkaroff was the one who greeted him. "Come to report?"

Severus nodded and Karkaroff stuck his head in the door, "Snape is here to report to you."

"Very good, let him in." The voice of the Dark Lord replied.

Karkaroff stood out of the way and indicated for Severus to enter. Severus plastered a large smile on his face.

"I have great news, my lord," Severus said as he knelt before the Dark Lord.

"I told you the old man had a soft spot for remorse," the Dark Lord said with a smile, indicating for Severus to stand.

"He informed me that he is looking for a new potions professor. He recommended that I take the job so I could be under his protection as I turn spy against you."

"Perfect, now all I need to do is feed you enough information to keep you in his good graces and he will give you everything I need to defeat him. Excellent."

"Yes, my lord. My first task is to apply for the post tomorrow, then he will interview me to make it look like we never met other than professionally."

"He never doubted for a moment that you were there on your own and not as a messenger from me?"

"No, my lord. He was too preoccupied with the prophecy."

"Even better, this means he will be putting all his energy in protecting the Potters and we can take advantage of his distraction."

There was a pause before the Dark Lord added, "I will meet with you the same time tomorrow with the information I want you to give Dumbledore at the interview. Besides applying for the job, I want you to work on your occlumency skills. Weave me a convincing story that you have talked to and been close to Mrs. Potter since leaving Hogwarts."

"Yes, my lord." Severus said, kneeling once again.

"You may go now."

Severus left and returned home. He went to his room and sat on his bed, alternating between hitting his head on the wall and staring at nothing.

The next morning, after not sleeping a wink, he apparated to Diagon Alley instead of work. He needed a copy of the Daily Prophet in order to apply to the job. He went to Gringotts and exchanged some of his muggle wages into knuts and sickles. Then he bought a copy of the Daily Prophet from the closest vendor and apparated home.

He flipped to the classified section and found the posting. He pulled out one of the few remaining pieces of parchment from his old school trunk and wrote a letter to Dumbledore inquiring about getting the job. He carefully mentioned everything in the description and how he fulfilled the requirements. He folded it up and went to the nearest magical post office and sent it with the fastest owl with his remaining sickles.

He went to work late and obliviated the supervisor to think he had been on time to work. While he began his mindless work of unloading the truck and filling shelves, he imagined a happy story where Lily had re-extended a hand of friendship after graduation. He had even been invited to the wedding until James Potter threatened to kill him if he showed up. He then intertwined the truth of him rescuing her at various battles to make them more believable.

He lay down and stared at the ceiling after work. He didn't want to sleep and sleep was evading him. He was caught off guard when there was a tapping at the window. There was an owl.

It held Professor Dumbledore's response. An interview tomorrow morning, good thing the Dark Lord was meeting him tonight or he would not have any more information to give Dumbledore. He couldn't screw up so early in the game and not have new information for Dumbledore. It would erode his position as useful spy.