Disclaimer: Not her, not paid, not even very good. Everything you recognize belongs to JKR.
My sincerest thanks to my beta, sempra, who dealt with my punctuation issues, verb tense issues, clarification problems, etc. Thanks again, my dear!
Her Gifts
Chapter 4
Severus attended Dumbledore's injured hand again that evening, administering healing potions and applying a salve to the blackened skin.
"I am going to attempt to devise a potion for you with the seeds Miss Granger sent. I will start on it tomorrow," Severus said as he wiped off his hands on a conjured cloth. He sat on the edge of a straight-backed chair, putting his potions into his cloak pocket.
"That would not be advisable, my boy," Albus stated, settling back on the over-stuffed chintz chaise. "I believe it would be more beneficial for you to formulate a strengthening potion for yourself and Harry. My demise is imminent, Severus. You know this. I have come to terms with it."
"You cannot be serious, Albus!" Snape snapped harshly. "You will not permit me to find a way to save your life?"
"Circumstances have forced this to a foregone conclusion, Severus. Your work is much more important. By the end of this school year, I will have instructed Harry and given him the tools he will need to defeat Voldemort. With my death, you will be placed in a position of power and hopefully have control of the school. I expect you to do your best to protect the children in what is likely to be a very dangerous time," Albus continued, regretfully. "I am sorry so much has been placed upon your shoulders, my dear boy, but I have great faith in you."
Severus rose stiffly, nodded sharply once and left Albus' sitting room in a dramatic swirl of his robes. The portraits in the Headmaster's office followed him with their eyes as he strode angrily through to the outer door.
Gliding purposely through the castle to the main doors of the Entrance Hall, Severus walked quickly across the grounds, burning off his rage as he went. By the time he reached the edge of the lake, he had cooled somewhat and sought the sanctuary of the boughs of the old elm tree. He sat, gloomily thinking of what was in store. His heart hurt, realizing he would not have the comfort freely given by Albus before the school year was out. The old wizard was more of a father figure to Severus than Tobias Snape had ever been. And yet, what he asked Severus to do was more than he felt capable of accomplishing. It would damage his soul even more than he had already done on his own. Severus had only begun to heal from his past misdeeds, and now he was being asked to tear his own heart out to do this. Crumbling under the weight of the wretched despair encasing his heart, he looked out across the lake with unseeing eyes. He had no hope of recovering from this blow to his psyche.
Knowing what he was going to be forced to do, Severus held his head in his hands. He felt the tears gliding down his cheeks and the sob escape his chest, powerless to stop it. He gulped air, trying to control this momentary breakdown, knowing it was pointless to grieve about it now. His life would be over soon; he could grieve when he was dead. He wiped the evidence of his temporary weakness from his face with trembling hands, took a steadying breath to collect himself and made his way back to his dungeons. He had potions to create.