Snape awoke the next morning feeling like he was attacked by a werewolf. He felt incredibly tired and felt like all the blood was drianed from his body. He didnt even have enough energy to make it out of bed to check if Sakarabru had returned with the final ingredient they needed to finish the antidote. Severus shifted postion and heard a cracking nosie and froze. 'That cant be good.' Severus thought. Severus found it getting harder and harder to breath. Severu was not in a good position. 'I need Poppy. But how can I get her down here?' Snape thought. He then remembered the house elves.

"W-Winky!" Snape croaked. The small elf, Winky, popped in.

"What would you like, sir?" Winky asked.

"Get Pop-py a-and Al-bus. T-Tell the, t-to hur-ry." Seerus wheezed. Winky nodded and set off for her task.

Winky appeared in the Great Hall as Albus was telling the students about their Potions Masters role when Winky tugged on his robes. "Yes, Winky? Is this important?" Albus whispared.

"Yes, Master Severus requested Master Albus and Misterss Poppy in his living quaters. He also says to hurry; he looks like to be in bad shape." Albus looked over to Poppy, nodded, and both ran out of the Great Hall.'

"Albus, whats going on?" asked Poppy.

"There is something wrong with, Severus. Winky told me he has requested both of us to come to his chambers. He also told wus to hurry." Albus said.

"Albus, you know if he was not able to contact us himself, he may be dead or dying." Poppy told him.

Albus knew that was the case; he had a hard time accpeting Severus was dying. He had known the boy since he was eleven years old. He may have pushed him aside, had punished him to harshly, but when Severus came to him admitting he was a Death Eater, Albus had come to care for the boy. He even came to love Severus as a son. He never thought he would have a son, but Severus became that person. The child had a rough life. His life did not get better as he grew older; his life actually got worse. He was used, abused, neglected, made fun of, pushed aside, abandoned all his lfe. Voldemort nd Albus where the worst of all these people. Voldemort ws just using him to make potions. Albus was using him to spy and gather intell on the Death Eaters for him.

"Albus? Are you okay?" asked Poppy.

"No, Poppy, I am not. I risk losing or hae already lost my child today. I have no idea if Sakarabru is back with the final ingredent they need to finish the antidote." Albus said as they rushed through Severus' door and into his bedroom. The sigght they where met with was Severus laying in bed with his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling to fast, and he was deathly pale.

"Child, could you, please, open your eyes." Albus said softly. Severus complied and opened his eyes. "Good morning, my boy. Are you okay?" Severus shook his head and looked at Poppy. The look he gave her broke her heart. He was scared. Severus Snape, the feard Potions Master of Hogwarts, Ex-Death Eater, and spy against You-Know-Who, was scared.

"What happened, dear?" Poppy asked gently.

"I-I wo-woke u-up an-and went t-to move and he-heard a-a-a cr-cracking nosie." Severus wheezed.

"Okay, you do not have to talk anymore. Let me see the what the problem is." Poppy started to wave her wand to see what was making it hard for him to breath. "Albus, the last seizure broke some ribs and when he moved his ribs periced his lungs." Poppy said.

"Please, just help him. Sakarabru should be back soon." Poppy set to the task of fixing Severus' lungs. Albus sat on the other side of the bed, storking Severus' hair and comforting him. "Your going to be alright. Poppy is going to make you better. Then Sakarabru will be back and you can start the antidote." Poppy finished fixing Severus' lungs and told him he should spend most of the day in bed.

"What is in the potion?" asked Albus.

"There is dragon, hide, blood, heart, liver, and horn. Erumpent horns and tails. Exploding Fulid, spine of lionfish, which we are out of. Rat spleen, crushed snake fangs, and spiders." Severus said.

"Ew. That sounds disgusting. Do you have to drink it?" asked Poppy.

"Of course! That is the only way to counter act the posion!" Severus snapped. "Im sorry, Im just scared."

"I know you are scared, child. Im scared, as well as Poppy and the rest of the staff." Albus said.

"Why would you be scared?" Severus asked surpised.

"We do not want to lose you. You keep us on our toes, you make us laugh. Yes we may argue, but you make us see things a different way." Poppy said.

"Thank you. It means a lot to me." Snape shifted position and started to fall asleep. Albus laughed and said, "Its okay to fall asleep. You need all the rest you can get. I will be here when you wake up." Severus sighed and finally fell asleep.

"Poppy, could you go back to the Great Hall and tell Minerva everything is fine?" Albus asked, adjusting the covers. Poppy nodded and placed a kissed on Severus' forehead; then left.

"My poor dear child. You have suffered so much. I love you so much. It hurts me to see you in pain. I will do anything to help you." Albus sighed and kissed his forehead. He went to Severus' bookshelf and picked out a book. Albus returned to Snape's side and began to read. Several hours later Severus started to stir. Albus put his book down and put his hand on Severus' left arm.

"Severus, child, how do you feel?"

"Hurt. Everything hurts." Severus said.

"Im sorry, but I dont want to give you anything. The last potion had a bad reaction."

"That was another posion. If you give me a pain releving potion I should be fine. You gave me the other one while I was having a seizure; I am not now." Severus said.

"I-I dont know if I should. The last time we gave you something the seizure lasted two more mintues then the pervious one. I was scared to death when you didnt answer or open your eyes." Albus said. "Im scared right now." Severus looked at Albus with a shocked expression.

"You, the great Albus Dumbledore, are scared?" Severus said.

"Well, I wouldnt say I am great." Albus laughed. "But, yes, child, I am scared. Im scared I am going to lose you and there is nothing I can do to stop it." Albus had tears in his eyes. "I love you like a son. I could not live with myself if I had to wake up everyday and would not be able to see you or talk to you or just annoy you. I never want you to die before me."

"I dont want you to die before me. I could not bare to lose you. It would rip me up inside. Ironic, you are not dead and my insides are being ripped apart." Severus closed his eyes and bit his bottom lip as a fresh wave of pain over took him. Albus let his tears fall and rubbed his arm.

"Its okay. Your going to be okay. It will pass and be over soon." Albus soothed. Severus nodded his head and winced as the movement caused his head to explode in pain. Despite himself, Severus let out a whimper. Albus knew Severus saw this as a sign of weakness.

"Its okay, Severus. You are not weak. You can let it out." Severus finally quited down and opened his eyes.

"Im sorry, Albus." Severus whispared.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." Severus looked up at Albus with tears in his eyes. "Dont cry, Severus. Its alright, it will be over soon." Severus let his tears fall and shook his head.

"Al-Albus, I-Im scared. I-I dont wa-want t-to d-die." Severus sobbed.

"Shh...You are not going to die. I will not let you die."

"S-She's not coming ba-ck."

"Who? Whose not coming back, Severus?" Albus asked.

"You know who I am talking about. Sakarabru, she is not coming back."

"She has to. She went to the Simi demon to get the lionfish spine. How do you know?" asked Albus worriedly.

"Trust me they never come back. No one wants to help me." Severus said sadly.

"Oh, child, maybe the Simi demon is gving her a hard time."

"I did some research last night. No one who ever went to see a Simi demon returned. The book said humans where killed for disturbing her for selfish reasons."

"Severus Tobias Snape, saving your life is not selfish! We are willingly helping you and we are making sure you will have a better life then the one you have right now. Dont you ever say you are being selfish again!" Albus said.

"Im sorry, Albus. I just do not want to live anymore. My life has never been good and will never get better. I am better off dead." Severus said turning his head away.

"No!" Albus said angrily and grabbed Severus' chin and forced Severus to look at him. "No you are not! You are not better off dead! My boy, you are needed and wanted. I need you to teach and to be there for me and to be my friend. The staff feel the same way I do. I love you like a son and I know, for a fact, Minerva does as well."

"But I cant spy-"

"That is not the only reason I have you. I told you all the reasons; you have no idea how proud I am of you." said Albus.

"Why would you be proud?"

"Child, you risked your life for people you dont know or do not like, but you did it so they could live in a world not ruled by Voldemort. So let me ask you this, why shouldnt I be proud of you?"

"Because I am a Death Eater. I was incovered as a spy. I am a horrible teacher. The students hate me-" Albus held up his hand stopping Severus' rant.

"Severus, you are not longer a Death Eater. You havent been for eighteen years. I do not care that you were discovered; in fact I am happy. You no longer have to go to him and be hurt or forced to do things you do not want to do. I no longer wait up at night, worried to death that you are dead or dying and I could do nothing about it."

"I am still dying, but this time we can do something about it." Severus said.

"Yes, we can. Now why dont you get some sleep and maybe Sakarabru will be back later with the lionfish spine." Albus said as Severus drifted off to sleep.