A/N: So, I wrote a whole ton so far this week for this story, so I might possibly take a bit of a hiatus on updating and writing this one for my other story. Either way, I'm hoping you're enjoying the chapters so far. Please read and review so I know if anyone actually likes this story...other than me, I mean. Happy New Year.

Did You Hear About Snape?

The next day at breakfast, the entire Great Hall was abuzz with chatter. The rumors ran from the Dark Lord capturing Snape to Dumbledore sacking him. The teachers in the Great Hall remained rather quiet, though, as they ate. Four empty places, however, immediately stuck out and gave further proof that something was, in fact, seriously wrong at Hogwarts.

"I just wish everyone would shut up about Snape," Harry mumbled while he pushed his oatmeal around with spoon. Granted, if he hadn't seen the entire spectacle last night in his dreams, he too would have joined in. However, since he knew what had happened, it wasn't necessarily fun.

"Well, it is rather surprising, isn't it?" Hermione Granger, a fifth-year Gryffindor with long bushy hair, asked. "I mean, first, Snape goes missing—"

"He's not missing," Harry grumbled. "He went off to find Malfoy." Harry heard the sounds of spoons clinking instantly afterwards. His head shot up. "I didn't say that," he quickly said.

"Yeah, you did, Mate. Come on. Spill it. What's Malfoy got to do with it?" Ron, another fifth-year Gryffindor with flaming red hair, asked. He looked to be literally on the edge of his seat. He then glanced around before he hit Harry on the arm. "Come on, Mate. Let's go somewhere a bit more private." He then got to his feet and dragged Harry. The Golden Trio flanked by Ginny Weasley, the youngest and only girl of the Weasley family, and Neville Longbottom, a plump fifth-year, then walked past the rest of the Gryffindors. However, soon a pair of redheads stood up, along with at least four other Gryffindors who followed the Golden Trio plus two.

After about four minutes of walking, the little pack of Gryffindors entered their common room. Almost immediately, everyone took his or her spots around the fire. They all looked so intrigued to hear Harry's telling of how he knew.

"Great…" Harry mumbled as he realized that half of the Quidditch team was there.

"Come on, Mate. Tell us. What's Malfoy got to do with Snape being gone?"

"Yeah," Lee Jordan and Seamus Finnegan said simultaneously.

"Snape had a date with Sinistra last night," Harry started with saying. "He was trying to make up for something he said."

"Whoa…Snape and Sinistra were dating?"

"Lucky git," the two Weasley twins muttered.

"Yeah, they've been dating for…I don't know. Snape really liked her, though."

"Huh…that Shadow must have changed a lot about him, didn't it?"

"Well, Snape did seem to be a bit…nicer this term," Fred Weasley, one of the twins said.

"Yeah, didn't even give me and Fred a detention over the whole Umbridge issue. Actually, he told us some ways of how we could improve one of our pranks for her. Thought that was odd, but it is Snape, though," George Weasley quietly said. He then glanced at Harry. "Well, go on, Mate."

"Snape saw the marks on her back from Malfoy, and he just sort of lost it."

"Why would Draco ever want to hurt Professor Sinistra?" Ginny asked.

"Not Draco, his bastard of a father Lucius," Harry corrected. "She's been going on assignments for Dumbledore since summer. Snape was livid when he learned about that. Not as pissed as when he saw the marks, though," he mumbled.

"Harry, you didn't…you know…see her get them, did you?" Hermione asked quietly.

"I saw everything Snape did, Hermione. What do you think?"

"So, Snape's out there right now ready to kill Draco's dad? Wow. I so didn't see that one coming. I thought they were like best friends or something."

"From what I felt, I sincerely doubt that," Harry replied.

"But why are you dreaming about Snape now, Harry? I always thought it was about…you know…you know who?"

"I don't know. I've been dreaming lots of different things since Snape rescued me from Voldemort." Harry instantly saw the cringes on everyone's faces. "Sometimes the dreams are about Snape…others are about you know who. It gets confusing sometimes."

"Yeah, I bet," replied Ron. "So why's Sinistra in the Hospital Wing then?"

"Snape lost his temper when she wasn't answering him."

"Oh, that's awful."

"No. He didn't really hurt her, guys. I mean, he left bruises from where he grabbed her, but he made sure when he was leaving that Professor Vector went to Sinistra. He seemed…well…worried about something…like he was afraid she'd hurt herself or something."

"Well, everyone knows how badly she loves Severus," a quiet voice spoke from the doorway. Professor McGonagall forced a soft sad smile as she looked over her Gryffindors. "Mr. Potter, I do not think that Severus would want you to reveal his most inner secrets to everyone."

"Why does it matter anymore, Professor? You and I both know that Snape's not coming back."

"Be that as it may, Mr. Potter, I…" The lump in her throat refused to go down. She tried to draw in a deep breath, but only a choked out sob came out. She then glanced over to Harry. "I won't even begin to imagine how you're able to see him, but is he…is he still alive, Harry?"

"I don't know, Professor. I only saw last night." Harry watched McGonagall slowly nod. He then quickly glanced towards the twins, who caught his unspoken request.

"Come on, Professor. Let's get you sat down," Fred quietly said as he and George walked towards their Head of House.

"Boys," McGonagall quietly chided.

"For once, Professor, we aren't joking. There's no ulterior motive." The twins smiled as she quietly followed them to the couch. Once she sat down, everyone looked at her and waited. They could all see the ghosts behind her eyes.

"If Severus knew…"

"He won't," Harry flatly stated. "None of us will say a word, right, guys?" Sounds of assent rang throughout the common room.

"He wasn't always such a grump, you know. He once was a rather nice young man, quiet, yes, but he was always respectful to his teachers. A person can only put up with so many years of torment before it consumes, though." McGonagall then leveled a hard look at Harry. "As I'm sure you're aware by now, your father and Sirius loved tormenting Severus when they were here. I stood by and did nothing while they bullied him. I thought it would build character. How wrong was I," McGonagall angrily stated. "I watched Severus go from a quiet withdrawn first-year into an angry young man. I did nothing for him. After all, he wasn't in my house, and I knew Slytherins took care of one another. The only thing was that I didn't realize until much later that Severus didn't even fit in with his own House." She shook her head as her gaze turned back to the fireplace. "I remember the day when Albus told me that Severus took the Dark Mark. That day I cried. I could have stopped it, but I didn't. I mean, I saw the signs. I watched him cozy up to Lucius and his little band of Death Eaters. I was there the day he broke her heart by the lake."

"Whose heart?" someone asked.

"My mum's," Harry replied quietly. He watched McGonagall slowly nod.

"He loved her with all his heart. When she died, I'm positive a part of him went with her. This past month, he acted the same way as he had whenever he was around Lily. I thought that perhaps his luck was finally changing for the better. I mean, that horrid thing on his arm was gone. He didn't have to pay for his mistakes anymore." McGonagall then sighed heavily.

"It's because of my mum that he protected me, wasn't it?"

"Yes, but I believe there was more to that, though, Harry. He felt extremely guilty after your parents' deaths. For what he felt guilty for I'm not sure, but you were going to be his salvation, Harry," McGonagall spoke quietly. "He wanted Voldemort dead more than any of us. When Voldemort returned, he knew what he had to do in order to help you succeed. So, he went back to that monster."

"He's going to kill Malfoy's dad," Harry softly muttered.

"Oh, yes, of that I am sure. I remember the day your father and Severus destroyed Albus's office. It was over your mother. Severus used every dark spell he knew towards your father. One of those spells hit Fawkes. He was very lucky that Fawkes is a phoenix because I would hate to come between Albus Dumbledore and his bloody damn bird. According to Albus, Severus showed no fear that day. He was willing to kill your father for some stupid comment that James made. I can only assume he would do the same over Aurora. He loves fiercely, Harry, and he will do whatever it takes to make them pay if they hurt someone he loves." Comfortable silence settled into the room.

"How's Professor Sinistra, Professor?"

"As well as to be expected, Miss Weasley. Albus is with her at the moment."

"Um…Professor…?"

"Yes, Mr. Potter, what is it?"

"Is she…I mean…?" Harry then drew in a deep breath. "Is Professor Sinistra pregnant?" Collective gasps annoyed him slightly, but he understood. It was a rather personal thing to ask.

"I…I do not believe that is any of our concern, Mr. Potter."

"I know, Professor, but I think that's what he was worried about when he left. At least, that's what's been on his mind a lot lately." Harry watched McGonagall's eyes widen.

"I thought he was teaching you Occlumency, Potter?"

"He was, but every now and then I got a stray thought of his last night. I don't think it was intentional. It was just like our minds were connected last night."

"Did you tell the Headmaster any of this?"

"I tried, but he had other things on his mind. He said he already knew, though."

"Well, if the Headmaster knows, there is little I can tell you. As far as I know, she is not. However, I am hardly her confidant. I will inquire to Septima, though."

"I…I think Snape might have seen one of my visions last night during Occlumency."

"Yes, well, I hardly see the point you're trying to make, Mr. Potter."

"Well, I sort of told him half of what I saw. I think he saw the rest of it, though. I mean, I told him that Voldemort killed Sinistra, but I didn't tell him the rest."

"What more could you say, Mr. Potter?"

"When she died, Professor, she was pregnant. I just mean…if I'm truly seeing what is gonna happen, maybe we should keep better tabs on her then."

"You haven't seen any visions of Severus dying, though?"

"No, Professor. I've only seen two things with Snape. One was last night, and the other was the night Voldemort tortured him." Harry watched McGonagall pale immediately.

"You saw that night?"

"I couldn't sleep for days afterwards."

"Well, I don't blame you, Mr. Potter. That night was the worst one I ever experienced with him. I had never seen him so withdrawn before…so vulnerable."

"He couldn't kill a little girl so Voldemort tortured him."

"Yes, I know, Mr. Potter. I know."

"Professor, how are the Slytherins holding up since they don't have a Head of House?"

"Argus has taken over for now until…" McGonagall then glanced to Harry. "I know that it is a rather horrid thing to ask, but could you perhaps…try to sleep, Harry? Just so we'd know." She then turned back to the fireplace. "I know I always acted as if I couldn't stand Severus, but there came a point in my life when I realized that he needed someone to look over him. Albus realized it also and tried in his own way, but… I was always the one to pick up the pieces after Albus's harebrained idea went sideways. In a way these past years, I've thought of him like my son. He hated that, but I couldn't just act as if I didn't care anymore." Her green eyes then held his. "Every time he went back to that monster, it hurt. I knew that when he would come back that he be just as broken as before…if not worse. There were sometimes where I'd go stir crazy, and Albus would have to have Poppy dose me so that I'd sleep. I…I can't just…just not know."

"I understand, Professor. I'll try."

"Thank you, Harry." McGonagall then sighed heavily as she stared into the fireplace. None of her students registered to her anymore. She just continued to watch the flames flicker wildly and listen to the embers crackle. Someone wrapped a blanket around her, but it barely registered in her mind.

"You can say whatever you want about Snape, but this hurts all of us. I say that we stand strong tomorrow with Slytherin. He may have been a right git to us, but he taught us that things aren't handed to you…they're earned." Harry watched his housemates nod. He then walked towards his bed to sleep.