OMG! I am SO sorry for the wait. I tried and tried to write this chapter but I just couldn't seem to focus on anything. I looked for any errors but if you happen to find some please let me know. Thanks. This chapter isn't as long as I would have liked but I knew that I needed to update soon if i wanted to live :D Well, I won't keep you any longer so please enjoy ...
Chapter 4: Mission Quirrel (A/N: I know I know! Stupid title but hey I'm tired starts to giggle uncontrollably)
Day after day passed in this way and life went on for both Severus and Harry. Severus tried not to be as horrible to Harry as he had been during that first Potion's class, but he couldn't help it. Every time he saw the eleven-year-old boy he saw James. How it was possible, he didn't have a clue. Maybe it was just his imagination or his mind playing tricks on him, but he could never be sure.
All he knew was every time he saw young Harry, he saw his childhood nemesis, the young man who had tormented him from age eleven until his death, and every time his mind played this game with him, all he wanted was revenge.
Revenge for the years of torment that he had to live through.
Revenge for the taunting.
Revenge for the humiliation.
Revenge for losing Lily in school and in life.
He knew that Harry had nothing to do with these things, but when he saw that image of James, a screen of red clouded his vision and his reason. He tried the hardest he could to treat Harry kindly. He tried to apologize for his attitude towards him. He wanted so much to sit Harry down and explain everything. Everything from his childhood to meeting Lily to Hogwarts and to his life afterwards. He wanted to tell him the truth. He wanted to hold Harry in his arms and tell him that everything was going to be alright. He wanted to tell him that he was there for him and that he'd never be alone again.
But of course, no matter how badly he yearned for those things, he could never actually do them. His entire life had been a game of pretend since the night Lily died and reality was too horrific to deal with. He felt like a coward, but knew that there might also be another reason for his hesitation. Lately, he had the feeling that something was off but he didn't know what. He hoped that his meeting with Professor Dumbledore would shed some light onto this new feeling. He had spoken with Albus earlier that day to express his concern and Albus had gotten that look on his face. The same look he had on his face when he and Lily had discussed their plans and fear of Voldemort's wrath. Something was wrong and Albus knew it.
Severus was headed there now. He charged through the empty halls and didn't run into any trouble until ……
"Oh look! Look who it is! Little Wittle … Snivelly!!" Peeves taunted. Severus froze at the name that he had become all too familiar with over the years. He slowly turned around to face Peeves, his face contorted with rage. One would have thought that Severus would be free of the torment with James and Peter dead and Sirius in Azkaban, but Peeves had made sure that he would never hear the end of it. Peeves cackled mischievously as Severus opened his mouth to tell Peeves off, but as he began to speak, he heard steps and someone muttering approaching from behind him. Peeves aimed a raspberry at the Potions professor and disappeared. Severus glared at the spot where Peeves had been, sneered, then turned around to see who the newcomer was.
"I kn-know. I m-must not fail. I must not fail." Professor Quirrel was walking along the corridor, mumbling and bumbling to, seemingly, himself. Severus rolled his ebony-colored eyes when Quirrel looked up, saw his colleague, and jumped nearly a foot into the air from surprise. "Oh, S-S-Severus. I d-didn't s-see you there."
Severus arched an elegant eyebrow. It might have just been his imagination but it seemed to the Potions Master that Quirrel seemed very … off somehow. He was paler than usual (if that was possible). His hands shook nonstop as he stood under the gaze of the suspicious professor and couldn't seem to meet his eye.
"I was just on my way to see Minerva. She asked to see me about a certain student. I apologize if I startled you." Severus lied. Quirrel merely responded with an "Oh" before quickly rushing past Severus. Snape crinkled his nose as he noted to himself that the students were certainly not trying to be funny when they said that his peer's turban was beginning to develop an odor.
He continued on his way until he reached the statue that marked the entrance to the Headmaster's office. "Lemon Drop," he stated clearly and the statue began to move. He stepped onto the moving stairway. When he reached the top, he raised his hand to knock, but before he got the chance, he heard a voice call,
"Come in Severus." Sev held back the urge to smirk at Dumbledore's skill to know when someone else was around. He entered and replied, "You wished to see me Headmaster?"
Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, seemingly staring off into space without a care in the world, but Severus knew better. The Potions professor spotted the Headmaster's Pensieve and knew that his old friend had been sorting out his thoughts. Albus looked up at Severus and gestured toward the chair in front of his desk. Severus sat in the indicated chair, crossed his legs as he leaned back, and raised an elegant eyebrow as he waited for Albus to proceed with whatever it was he wanted to talk about.
After several moments, the Headmaster began to speak. "Severus, you came to me earlier today to express your concern over your recent feelings. I believe you said that you felt as if something wasn't right. Am I correct?" Severus curtly nodded and waited patiently for Dumbledore to make his way to the point. The Headmaster took a few moments to think about his next few sentences and took a breath.
"Severus, you are right. Something is out of place - off, as you say - and I think that I may have idea to what that may be." Severus leaned forward in his chair, eager to hear the Headmaster's thoughts, but was careful not to show all of his excitement. Dumbledore continued,
"I have known Professor Quirrel for many years, as you know, and know his personality and how it has changed. He seems fearful, cautious, and just different. He was always a happy and friendly man. Lately, he has become cold and quieter than usual. I mean to say that, although he has always been a quiet man, I've noticed that when he is quiet, it almost seems as though he is observing … watching everything and everybody, taking it all in and recording it in his brain. Your fellow professor is an intelligent man and I fear that if we are not careful with him, we will not have the chance to live and regret it." Dumbledore looked over his half-moon spectacles and his expression told Severus everything.
"Voldemort" Severus uttered quietly. Dumbledore nodded and continued,
"I'm not sure how I know, but I can feel it Severus. There is something wrong with our dear Professor Quirrel and I fear the worst. I trust you with my life Severus, but it's not my life that I need you to protect." Severus tilted his head in confusion and it showed on his face despite his futile attempts to hide it. Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes met Severus' black ones and he explained,
"Severus, would you watch Professor Quirrel for me? You know how Voldemort works and I believe that you alone are able to fulfill this task. You know that I'm not asking you for just me. I fear for our students … one in particular. You know of whom I speak." Severus nodded as the Headmaster continued,
"Watch him, study this new behavior, and see what you can get out of him without arising too much suspicion from him. Remember, if he is indeed working with Lord Voldemort now, anything you say that seems suspicious will be reported. We can't have your cover be blown when Voldemort returns." At this Severus raised his eyebrow again and questioned,
"When? Don't you mean if? Albus shook his head and repeated, "When."
"Severus, you know that I believe Tom Riddle will rise again somehow as Lord Voldemort. You know who he'll go after the minute he is reborn. Is this what you want?" Without giving Severus a chance to answer, the Headmaster maintained control of the conversation
"Severus, please. Help me. Despite what the rest of the Wizarding Community chooses to believe, I can not do this alone. I need you. Wizards and witches around the globe need you." He paused before saying "Harry needs you. Whether he admits it or not, he needs your help in clearing away a few obstacles before he can defeat his monster once and for all."
Severus stared at the ground as he pondered what his friend had told him. As he let it all sink in, he knew Albus was right. Lily's son needed him.
"Yes, Headmaster." With this statement, the Potions Professor rose from his seat, bowed his head to his superior, turned, and left the office.
He left the hidden office and marched back to his private chambers in the same fashion as he had before. He knew what he had to do. Albus was right about his needing to clear a path for Harry and he intended to do what he had to in order to protect the children of Hogwarts and the other people of the world.
He entered his private chambers and made sure that nobody else was around. He went into his room and changed into a pair of black-and-gray checkered pajama pants. He decided to go to bed shirtless since the night was warm and it was not necessary. As he lay in bed, he felt underneath his pillow.
He pulled out a small framed Muggle photo. This particular picture exhibited a young man who had once been Severus Snape holding a beautiful young woman in his arms. This certain woman had fiery red hair and emerald green eyes. She held a tiny infant in her arms. She was looking down at her young son and she smiled with pride. The infant had jet black hair and the same emerald eyes as his mother.
The present-day Severus held back tears as he gazed at the photo. He held the picture close to his heart as he fell asleep with one thought in his mind Nobody is going to hurt my son … nobody.
A/N: WOW! So for Chapter 1 and 2, I got 6 reviews each. For Chapter 3, I got 11 reviews!! :D That made me SO happy! And you know what a happy author means right? Exactly ... this chapter :) Well, I want to give a special thanks to everybody who reviewed so please be patient. (So for all of you Non-Reviewers, don't you feel left out? You see, if actually reviewed then you'd get a special thanks too ... think about it)
In chronological order:
The Queen of Confusion: Hey! Thanks for reviewing. Like I told you earlier, Severus does know that Harry is his son but just is unsure of how to acknowledge that.
ivys and kimXandrea:YAY! Fresh meat! lol jk Thanks for the review
angelinvestigationsfan: Thanks for the review! As for our dear Severus' past, I think I'm going to make Chapter 5 a memory so keep watching
DebsTheSlytherinSnapeFan: I did my best to make this one longer. It wasn't as long as I had originally planned but I have to stop now because my mom doesn't fully understand what we do here so shrugs shoulders I hope this one will do
fifespice: Thanks for reviewing not only Chapter 3 but Chapter 1 as well. I appreciate the feedback and your thoughts
Cielogris: Thank you for the compliment and the review.
Future-Little-Mrs.-Teddy-Lupin: Wow! Everybody here should really thank you because your review made me feel really good and I actually really started to work on this chapter after that. Thank you so much! I look forward to your reviews. They always make me smile and feel good about myself and my story.
The Blind Apprentice: Thank you for your review. It also helped me to want to update faster. I hope this was fast enough ... Oh by the way, the button is sexy no matter what you say :)
VampElfWitch: YAY! So, I'm happy for the review but where's that next chapter? :) Just kidding. I'm still looking forward to another chapter form you but a review is just as good. Thank you and I hope for another review (and chapter hint hint)
Shorty: My loyal reviewer! Thanks a bunch Shorty! I owe you one. As I've said before, I appreciate that you take the time to read my stories and review them ... even with all the crap I put you through smirk i couldn't find another friend like you even if I looked in this universe and the next :D (lol can you tell that I miss you guys?!)