DISCLAIMER: I don't own, don't earn… Snape & Co. Belongs to J. K. Prowling, my goddess.

So…ahere it is: No snakes? There's already been one but I haven't written it clear, just given a few hints! I've never liked McGonagall (reminds me of one of my previous teachers – so stiff!) I think revenge may turn anyone evil and they lost their relatives because of DE (but it wasn't Snape) so… Remember, everything in this letter is RUBBISH! All Snape is responsible for are several Unforgivables (but not in such a heinous way, no Imperius for fun) and deaths (not so many and not so brutal). The rest is a pack of lies. What about Flitwick and McGonagall? Dunno yet.

Samson: thanks

Zeynel: THANKS!!! Don't worry; English isn't my first language, too… So: Ron: maybe, or bewitched. What do you think would be better? Haven't decided yet. The thing he saw IS powerful and evil, soon more. Percy: yeah, he is! His girlfriend, too. Sirius: don't worry, he will, though it won't be easy. He's not evil, just confused, mistaken etc. And he will find himself in the power of Severus… Why Voldemort?.. I'll explain but NOT everything at once! Hey, ask any questions you like about the fic, if you like!

WARNING: Very sad. A few people you like will die. Prepare your handkerchiefs…

Chapter 10

PAIN

(Saturday, 5th September)

"Hermione"

"Yes?" – she asks, taking another bite of her toast.

"We're going to Hogsmeade after breakfast." Her eyes widen with shock.

"Are you mental, Harry? It's dangerous!" – she whispers dramatically.

"Fred and George are going, Cho Chang and…"

"And you aren't!" – she says angrily. "Want to meet Death Eaters again?"

"I don't think they were invited." – he smiles, though he must admit she's right. "I'm coming." She sighs but doesn't answer. After breakfast Harry goes back to the dorm, to fetch some money for sweets. He's already late so he starts to run. They are meeting on the third floor… He's so excited he doesn't notice Lea until he literally bumps into her.

"I'm sorry." – he apologizes.

"Never mind" – she smiles. "We were to have a little charm lesson, if I'm not mistaken." It isn't true… Hermione! She must have told her! How could she? But he can't say no, so he quietly follows her professor. He meets Hermione when they descend.

"You've told her!" – he hisses through clenched teeth.

"I have" – she admits firmly. "Hagrid and Bill went to Hogsmeade to bring back the rest."

"I thought you were my friend. First Ron, now you!" – he adds bitterly.

"Harry, I'm waiting!" – Lea has already descended.

"I'm coming." Giving Hermione an offended look, he follows his teacher. They haven't even reached the classroom, when Harry's scar bursts with pain. The suffering is so strong, so overpowering that Harry can't even see anything, it's just a scarlet, dense fog, wrapped around him.

"VE CONMIGO!!!" – a wild roar shatters it into pieces. The fog slowly disappears and when Harry's sight focuses, Snape is still writhing on the floor, yelling like an animal. Lea and Vladimir Karkaroff are holding him but the attack is so strong that they can't keep him still. His eyes are wide open but totally empty. God, how can a man shriek like that?! What does he feel?! Slowly, he goes quiet and stops struggling. He's sprawled on the floor, breathing heavily, sweat running down his pale cheeks.

"What?.. What happened to him?" – whispers Harry, terrified.

"Compassion Charm, Harry" – explains Lea quietly. "He sucked your feelings out of you and fought them instead of you. They could have killed you, hadn't he done that." Good heavens… He must have done the same that night… Why has he risked that again? It was much worse than Cruciatus… Snape's eyes focus and he blinks.

"Severus" – the half-vampire wipes his forehead with a handkerchief. "Can you hearr me?"

"Vlad" – splutters Snape – "Vlad, blood… Blood of wizards… Dead. Hogsmeade." And he faints.

"Vlad, take him to the Healers" – commands Lea. Karkaroff nods wordlessly, lifts Snape and carries him away, pushing through the crowd which has already gathered. "To your dorms! Now!" – shouts Lea. Dumbledore appears from behind the corner.

"What happened?" Lea explains and her father turns even paler. "I've sent Hagrid and Bill to bring them back…" – he whispers. "Lea, take ten guardians and go to Hogsmeade with them. Quick!" The Hit Witch nods and runs out of sight. Dumbledore stares somewhere in space, deep in thought. "So it has begun." – he says very quietly. "And we hoped it wouldn't…"

"Was Professor Snape telling the truth? He had a fit and…"

"He saw your nightmare, Harry, and they never lied, didn't they? He can recognize wizarding blood by its smell, I assure you. I'm afraid it was the truth. I've never wanted to be so much mistaken…" They both go to the hospital wing, where Mearas has already put her father to bed. Aegnor kicks the door open and she comes in, carrying the potions. Karkaroff is at her heels, also holding a few bottles. Ignis the Black Phoenix is sitting on her perch, waiting. Her sharp war cry pierces the air, as she flaps her wings angrily.

"So it begins." – says Aegnor, looking at Dumbledore. "How many?"

"I don't know. Harry, who went to Hogsmeade?"

"Fred and George Weasley, Cho Chang… I don't know who else." Aegnor shakes her head.

"Idiots. Risking their life for a pack of sweets." The silence is so heavy… Finally, they can hear hurried footsteps and Lea enters, carrying Ginny in her arms. Then the others come, levitating Fred, George, Bill… Aegnor starts scanning. First Ginny. "Strangling Hex, Mearas. Pull it out." Her sister nods and literally pulls a gray sphere out of Ginny's chest. The girl coughs and opens her eyes. Then Fred. Aegnor scans him once, then again. She turns towards Dumbledore and whispers "Avada Kedavra." Harry's heart sinks. It's just a nightmare, it must be. George… "Avada Kedavra." No, please… Bill… "Just stunned." Neville… "Broken neck. Dead on the spot." No! Cho… "Avada Kedavra." One more and he'll go mad… Katie Bell… "Double Cruciatus. Fainted. She'll be all right." Angelina Johnson, with her robes drenched with blood… "She'll live. Mearas, Blood Clotting Potion, double dose." Finally, Hagrid. Aegnor sighs. "Sorry. Too late." As if the whole world was breaking into pieces… Harry stares at the Healer, unable to move, to speak… They just went to Hogsmeade, they didn't think… "This place has already been attacked." Why hasn't he stopped them? Why hasn't Snape warned them? All the guardians are staring at Aegnor, too shocked to react. Many of them have already seen deadly duels but such a wanton, senseless slaughter? What for? "Mearas, give Miss Weasley Endurance Potion." The blonde Healer follows her sister's orders in silence. Harry just gapes at their quick, skillful movements. There are no emotions on the Healers faces, just deep concentration and something sad in their huge, fathomless eyes.

"What happened, Albus?" Snape has regained consciousness and stares at the group of guardians, bewildered. Then he notices and swears. For the first time in his life Harry hears him swearing. Finally, something breaks inside him:

"Why haven't you warned us? Why, you bloody Death Eater?!" And he bolts out of the room. He doesn't even notice where he's running, the tears are blinding him.. One staircase, then another one… He pushes a door open and sinks to the floor, crying… After a few minutes he feels a strong hand on his arm. He notices a black, leather glove. "Leave me alone, Death Eater!"

"I'm not a Death Eaterr." This voice doesn't belong to Snape. It's Nadia. Harry stares at her, shocked. "Come back" – she says gently. "Come back."

"Where? To this graveyard? They are dead, don't you understand?!"

"To Miss Weasley." – Snape has appeared in the doorway. "She's still in shock and keeps repeating your name. Come, please. She needs you." Snape's voice is soft and low. Harry stares at him.

"Why haven't you warned us?" – he whispers

"I didn't know. I didn't know." – he repeats quietly. "You think I did this on purpose?!" – he shouts suddenly, losing control.

"I'll leave you alone." – murmurs Nadia and flies out of the window. Harry hesitates.

"No… Sorry for calling you names, I didn't…"

"That's all right." Snape kneels at his side and embraces him tight. "Never mind."

"But why?.."

"I don't know." He hugs Harry even tighter, noticing tears running down his face. "Let it out, Harry, let it out." Dumbledore sighs, seeing a former Death Eater, kneeling on the floor and hugging The Boy Who Lived. Severus has always had walls of ice built around his soul. No wonder, his life has been brutal since the very beginning. Being the son of the Assassin and the Dark Potions' Master (and part vampire) was nothing but a constant fear. Aurors, Hit Wizards and Slayers could burst inside every moment and sometimes they did. The first people he killed were two Slayers. They didn't expect the small vampire to defend himself and his relatives so fiercely… They didn't think that he had a gun, and that, cursed and cornered, he would draw it. They laughed, seeing a "Muggle toy". A fatal mistake. Hard to believe, Severus was only nine then. Two of them were shot on the spot, only the third, an Auror, escaped. The same Auror Viper caught ten years later and paid him tit for tat, curse for curse, blow for blow. And Dumbledore was shocked by cruelty of this story. Not by the brutality of revenging Viper (who, after all, wasn't very cruel, according to Death Eaters' standards) but by ruthlessness of these who claimed themselves "working in the name of the law". Law, indeed. Using the Unforgivables against a child to make his father confess…

And now the walls are slowly melting. Strange indeed, they crumble when they should thicken and grow, in the darkest time of their lives. Now, when a spy has to hide his feelings even deeper than usual. Well, his daughters are back, his friends, Falco and Lea, are back, he even made a "truce" with Lupin. And now he's helping Harry. Dumbledore smiles slightly. Many people asked him why he hires such a sarcastic and cruel teacher. That's the reason: harsh as he is (or maybe only seems to be), he'd never ever leave any of Hogwarts' students alone. Even Potter. Especially him.

It's late at night. Snape's working silently in his lab, when somebody knocks the door.

"Enter." It's Lupin. Snape scowls. That's all he needs: another person accusing him. Wordlessly, he beckons him chairs.

"Severus" – Remus breaks the heavy silence. "Why?" God, he looks terrible.

"I don't know." – he whispers hoarsely.

"Professor Dumbledore said you're working on it."

"I am" – he shows them a row of phials. "Analyzing."

"What? I don't understand."

"Analyzing their blood for Enslaving Potions and drugs."

"You think they were forced to go to Hogsmeade?"

"That's possible. Five death Eaters were waiting for them. Don't you think it's strange?"

"I do. We've already tested them for Imperius."

"Can you test the dead for that curse? I didn't know."

"No, Severus, only alive people can be diagnosed."

"And?.."

"Pure. No one was cursed. And what does your analysis show?"

"No drugs. No Enslaving Potions by now. Only the one test remains but if it shows it means…"

"What, Severus?"

"The potion I'm thinking about is the strongest one existing. It's very dangerous and hard to brew, not to mention its price. It costs a thousand Galleons per dose." Lupin gasps.

"So much?" Snape nods.

"Illegal stuff. Ministry Class A. Very expensive on the black market. I spent last three months preparing it for the Dark Lord. Do you know what it means?" – he continues, mixing the Testing Potion.

"Not quite." Snape stares at him.

"Imagine a potion which cost a thousand Galleons a dose, a potion as illegal as possible. Stuff that must be brewed for three months and there are very few wizards able to do it. So, if it was used to make a group of teenagers to go to a pub" – he takes some Testing Potion into a pipette – "that means you really wanted them to. It was very important to you. Don't you find it a bit strange? There are much cheaper Enslaving Potions, but weaker. I bet it would be enough to use the such stuff. Let's see." He lets a few droplets into the first phial. "Neville Longbottom" He heats the phial in his hand for a moment. When he opens it, Remus notices that the blood changed its color. It's transparent now. "Pure. Virginia Weasley… Pure. George Weasley…" Again a few droplets. When he opens his hand, the blood is dark. "Damn."

"The Potion?" Snape nods.

"Angelina Johnson… pure. Katie Bell… pure. Cho Chang... drugged."

"She looked quite happy lately, you know." – says Lupin. "Maybe it was the effect of the potion." Snape nods again.

"Quite possible. The effect of this stuff lasts for the whole week. Could be given this even before the school started. A nice meeting on the train, maybe, or a polite beer in the pub. This potion is taste- and colorless. Frederic Weasley… drugged."

"So you were right, Severus. I think these three persuaded the others to go. But why? Why did Voldemort want them dead? It cost him a pretty fortune!" Snape folds his arms and stares at his phials with narrowed eyes.

"They wanted to kill them all… A nonsense. Could have cheaper victims. No one of their parents is important enough to be punished in such a way… It would be better to kidnap them in such a case, by the way. What else do they have in common, Remus?" Lupin tries to concentrate.

"They were all from Gryffindor, except Cho Chang." Snape's eyes widen as he suddenly understands.

"Remus, fetch Miss Granger. Now."

"It's three at night!"

"I know but fetch her. I doubt she can sleep, by the way."

"We gave her the Dreamless Sleep Potion."

"So wake her up and bring her here!" Remus nods and leaves the dungeon. Snape stays alone. He stares at his phials, deep in thought. Who on Earth could give them the Enslaving Potion? It's usually added to somebody's drink or food. If this person were in the castle, they could have added it to the real victim goblet but they didn't. And somebody sent Potter a Howler this summer and the Death Eaters were searching for him the same time… The door springs open and Lupin bursts in with Granger at his heels. The girl is in her pajamas, barefooted and disheveled.

"I've told her." – says Lupin. Snape nods, then turns towards terrified Hermione.

"Was there anything between Potter and Cho Chang?" Hermione stares at him, blinking.

"Excuse me, sir?"

"Were their close? Friends? In love, maybe?" Her jaw drops.

"Professor, they weren't after Harry, were they?"

"More probable than after Longbottom or anyone else. So?" Hermione hesitates for a moment.

"Well, I think… I'm not sure… He wanted her to go to the Yule Ball with him but she turned him down."

"I see…" – murmurs Snape. "They forced his two friends and the girl he fancied to go. Hadn't you, Miss Granger, stopped him, he'd have been a goner, I bet."

"I told him it was dangerous!" – she sobs. "I told Professor Lea Fletcher they wanted to go! And Hagrid came to bring them back!"

"Hadn't he and William Weasley burst in, nobody would have survived." – he puts his hand on Hermione's shoulder. "You did your best. Remus, bring her back to her dorm, please." They leave him alone again. Yes, this theory makes sense. They could have been after the boy but there's still no proof for that. Seven of his "colleagues" attacked, so quite a big number to make havoc. Weasley had finished three off, before they hexed him. Snape has never supposed him to be such a good fighter. They won't say anything anymore, so the only people who could explain something are the others but who are they? It's time to see Wormtail again. This idiot craves for the Pain Potion (quite useful when you are Voldemort's personal assistant and servant.) It's enough to add some Veritaserum to it and then listen… Luckily, when you are questioned with it, you don't remember that, even under Memory-Breaking Charms. Maybe he will know who attacked, and, more important – who the hell used the Enslaving Potion??? Snape doesn't like it, really, because he knows the spies are often very close to their "targets". It could have been another student, maybe? Maybe even somebody killed in the raid. Well, it's his job to learn this.

The "interview" with Wormtail gave Snape something but not as much as he wanted. He had no idea who the assailants were and why they were ordered to do this. Voldemort is cunning enough not to inform all his servants about the actions – only these directly involved know, usually. The thing that makes Snape worry is that new recruits are coming. There are 40 Death Eaters who were free, another 40 released from Azkaban and at least 20 new. Another important news is that 5 people were punished for a failure of the action. It means that there was another goal indeed than just some bloodshed (so his Potter theory seems to be true) and that, expect of 4 attackers, another servant was punished. The spy that used the Enslaving Potion, probably, but Wormtail couldn't tell him anything about that person – not even sex or probable age. DAMN!

Harry has never seen anything sadder than this funeral. Ginny sobbing all the time, Ron so shocked that unable even to cry, Charlie's fists clenched tight with helpless fury… Cho's parents and her little brother. Many people from Hogwarts are here but Snape is absent. He wanted to stay in the castle, "not to watch another funeral" and Harry can't blame him. Strange indeed Snape is one who comforts him in the greatest pain. He speaks little, just allowing Harry's tears to fall. In the last two days Snape's private chambers became a second home for him. Snape is one of the very few people who isn't trying to cheer him up, he just silently listens to him, with his black, wise eyes full of concern and understanding. Sometimes Harry has the impression that many of people he considers friends are like the fine sand – soft and pleasant but giving no support while Snape is like a rock – hard, cold and cruel but strong, offering shelter and a stable ground to stand on. Harry's already heard Snape was an assassin and even now some of this features are visible when he's standing in the dungeons, dark, menacing and dangerous but a perfect guard – deadly and fierce. Harry feels safe with him, feeling that Snape would face any danger to save him, even if it meant fighting Voldemort himself. When he mentions the name Snape's eyes flash in such a way that Harry feels his teacher would rip Voldemort's throat with his teeth, if he could. Harry doesn't know why but he's started trusting this mysterious, dark man, more feeling than knowing that he'll never leave them alone.

Hermione's eyes are full of tears. How could they?.. "We mustn't break" – she says to herself – "You-Know-Who would be pleased if we did. He wants us to surrender. I won't." Her small fists clench so tight that the knuckles turn white. And this terrible Draco… Even he's silent but his eyes remain completely cold. Can't he see what's happening? Most of the Slitherin House is as shocked as the others but he keeps an emotionless mask on. Bastard! Hermione uses such word for the first time in her life and she doesn't feel guilty for doing that. She will become a Hit Witch and she will fight! Pansy Parkinson and her best friend, Millicent Bulstrode are standing silently, gaping at the fresh graves. Pansy is pale as chalk and her thin lips are twisted into an unnatural grimace and Millicent, this heavy-built, tall and muscular fifth year girl (now a Beater for Slitherin), infamous for bullying anyone weaker than her (and only few older boys aren't) is simply staring blankly somewhere in space, as if she couldn't believe the truth. Bjorn Bole, 6th year Slitherin Beater, her boyfriend, is holding her hand. He looks as if he hadn't slept since the attack but he keeps the emotionless mask on, just his red eyes betray him. Harry would bet his life Bjorn has some make-up on, not to look like a zombie. Also many other Slitherins look nothing short of petrified. Now they can see what the Dark Realm really means.

Lupin stares at Hagrid's grave and he can't help crying. He, a werewolf, has never had many friends and lost most of them. First James and Lily, then Sirius for the second time (Black isn't in touch with them since his unfortunate attack of fury) and now, Hagrid. Everybody loved this good, cheerful man, even Snape, and now he's dead and gone. Lupin has always been peaceful but now rage is boiling inside him. He's never killed anybody, neither used Cruciatus curse but now he would. God, he WOULD!!! He would tear them to pieces with his bare hands!!! Somebody gently touches his shoulder. It's Mearas.

"I knew him only for two months but I loved him." – she whispers. "He was a great man, noble and brave." Lupin nods, unable to speak. Mearas embraces him and he can feel energy of a Healer flowing through him, warming him up, giving new courage and hope. Though Aegnor is better at dealing with physical injures and curses, Mearas is the master of relieving mental pain. He sighs, allowing her to clear his mind. It's like stepping into a warm ocean, when the waves, powerful but gentle, wash all weariness and suffering off you, giving you new strength to struggle. Not that Mearas doesn't feel pain herself but she considers it's her duty to help the others with her abilities. She was trained by the greatest Healers, both Unicorns and humans and she knows that the first commandment of their job is not to yield. It's their job to comfort, cure and rebuild. They mustn't show fear or shock, it would only torment the people they are to help. If they surrender, who'll bring help and comfort?

Vladimir Karkaroff stares at the Weasley with compassion. He himself lost a sister, killed by Slayers and lately his father, tortured to death by Voldemort. Why do the others have to pass through the same ordeal? And what's wrong with Nadia? His 19 years old daughter is lost in her thoughts and Vladimir knows why. Being a Seer is often more a curse than a gift. She must have seen something again. Nadia has, indeed. She can't help thinking about that thing in the Mirror of Fate, this dark sun. She has strange dreams lately and she realizes what it means – a new stream of predictions soon. The problem is they are never clear and she'll spend long hours, trying to solve the riddles of the future.

Meanwhile, Snape is sitting in his chamber, deep in thought, trying to solve the mystery. He simply knows there must be a traitor in the nearby but who can it be? The surge of wrath and pain keeps growing inside his soul. He'll find the bastard responsible for that!!! He strides out of the room, slamming the door shut. He's swooping down the corridors, like an enormous predator, full of bloodlust. No, it isn't a vampire attack coming but simply RAGE. There's a training room down in the dungeons. He starts with Shatten but it doesn't calm him down. Strange indeed, anger and pain can be released only by violence and physical suffering. When he was a boy he tried cutting himself but it didn't help him. He was a son of the Assassin, trained to endure pain since early childhood and it was simply too weak for him. Only casting Cruciatus curse on himself helped but made him weak and shaking, so unable to fight. He shudders suddenly, reminding himself of the time when his own mother and her "colleagues" were teaching him endurance. These endless hours when he was allowed to keep his mouth shut or to throw insults at them but not to yelp or plead, because every sign of weakness meant extra dose of pain. Well, he couldn't blame them: they were brought up the same way by their parents, they by theirs and so on since millennia and, after all, endurance is bloody useful. Ironically, he's the last of them and he will break with the tradition. He'll show all the secrets of fighting he knows to strangers and he won't bring up his kids to be another generation of killers. His ancestors would murder him on the spot, if they could see that but he doesn't care.

There's only one another way to calm down: fencing. He casts away his cloak and goes into the Chamber of Duels. Centuries ago, most wizards were trained sword masters but now most of them trusts only their wands. Usually only vampires and Slayers are skilled with blade. The reason is simple: though vampires are affected by most of the curses and physical violence, Avada Kedavra doesn't kill them. Dragons, Fire Unicorns, vampires, phoenixes werewolves (but they only in their animal form) and a few other beings can't be harmed with it. Mearas didn't have to protect him, she just did it automatically, without much thinking. This led many wizards to believe vampires are immortal. It isn't true: their life expectancy doesn't differ much from human one. (There is also another reason: no matter how old vamps are, they never look older than forty and their bodies keep the strength of a 30-40 year old, till the end of their life. No one notices them growing old till the day they simple turn into a handful of glittering dust, disappearing in the sunlight.) There are other killing curses capable of that but either very difficult to learn or very energy consuming or not very reliable (tending to bounce off the walls, for example) so Slayers usually use special, magical swords to kill their victims: vampires, hags and werewolves. Snape stretches his hand and whispers: "Immensifer" At once, the shining blade materializes in his hand. He smiles, looking the glittering steel. The hilt is decorated with a silver serpent with emerald eyes. Only his friend may wield his sword – the enemy would be bitten by a snake at once and its venom kills very quickly. The name of the sword "VIPER" is engraved on the blade. The steel cuts the air with a swish…

After an hour or so, dog-tired, he comes back to his rooms to take a bath. He stops before opening the door – he can smell somebody inside. Only his spies can come inside but caution is always advisable. Slowly he opens the door – a young woman is sprawled on his sofa, playing with shurikens (metal stars with sharp edges) he must have left on the table. The even row of five of them is already on the wall ant she slings another one before she notices him and leaps to her feet.

"You're skilled with them." – he praises her.

"May be bloody useful, Professor." – answers Naya Zabini, blushing. "Sorry, but I had to wait quite long and thought a little practice would do me good." Well, she has the point

"Can you also fence?"

"Immensifer!" A sword appears immediately. Snape repeats the spell and the two blades meet with a clink.

"Want to try?"  - he asks. She glances at him boldly.

"Like hell." Of course, they use a Protecting Charm, so they won't hurt each other. Gosh, she's really good. Her style is strange – resembles a Slayers' one but there are also many vampire tricks and things he's never seen before, probably of her own invention. Is she a Slayer? Strange but this thought is painful to Snape, not just because they are kind of hit men and he would dissuade everybody from such a career, knowing only too well how often it leads to darkness, but it also hurts him personally. Why the hell should it? Finally, he manages to disarm her. The point of his blade touches her throat. Quick like lighting, she turns into an animal, escaping the danger and transforms back, grasping her sword again. He's seen a few Animagi before but she's really impressive. Her strong, agile body, moving so fast and silently… And the light of candles glittering on her skin. She's one of the most awesome beasts he's ever seen, except the Unicorns: swift, strong and lethal. He smiles – that was an impressive trick. She thinks fast and unconventionally and that's the name of the game, when fighting. Only now he notices her weapon is a vampire not a Slayer one, also with a snake but with diamond eyes, shining like tiny suns.

"What's her name?"  - he asks.

"Cobra. And yours?"

"Viper." Two typical sword names.

"Who was your teacher?"

"First a Slayer then a vamp." Strange. Vampires rarely teach humans to fence. She notices his surprise. "Mary had an attack, Professor, and they chained her and called for a Slayer to kill her. Bastards, as if it were her fault!" – she spits angrily. "You know there's only one way to stop the attack." He nods. Her eyes narrow suddenly.

"As Mary would say "you're one of us", aren't you?" God, this girl has the cheek and he likes it. He's always liked people standing up to him, though he's been working hard to put them in their place.

"I am." – he admits. "So what about you and Mary?"

"So you know the way. I gave her a cup of my blood and she came back to normal."

"Weren't you afraid she would bite you?"

"So what? She'd have been killed otherwise. I'd turn into a vamp, right, if she did? It isn't so terrible, I suppose." Damn, this is SOME girl! Many people were afraid of vamps in their normal form, let alone during the attack! Snape remembers how heinous his only one was. Though the other attacks can be prevented, the first in a life of a vamp is not. The only way to bring the unlucky teenager back to normal is a cup of human blood. Otherwise, the vamp could bite somebody, turning the victim into another vampire. This happened to Snape's great-grandmother – she wasn't a vamp by birth, she became one after being bitten. Well, enough this private talk.

"Why have you come?"

"I have the names of the assailants." Girl, you're the queen of spies! Yes, the four bloody names.

"Sure?"

"Absolutely. Given one of them your Veritaserum, Professor." You're the genius, Naya.

"Severus. We are equal now." She blushes again.

"I have to go." – she looks at her watch. "I must be back before the training starts." They shake hands and she steps into the fireplace.

"Severus… Please, be careful."

"You too."

"But… but you're so… brave."

"You too. Go. Now." She keeps standing, hesitating, and finally she whispers:

"If you die, I'll kill myself." Snape's jaw drops. That's all he needs!

"Fancy me?"

"I… I love you."

"Are you mental?" – he hisses. "I'm a Death Eater and a spy! A killer!"

"I'm a spy, too and I killed."

"What?"

"Killed. And maybe I'll have to join the Death Eaters one day. Don't try to frighten me with your past. I've seen worse things."

"So as you are a spy" – he's really furious – "you should understand it's pure IDIOCY. If anyone learns you like me and either me or you are caught you know what will happen. I don't want to listen about such rubbish again. Is that clear?" Her lips are trembling slightly but she nods obediently and disappears in the flames. Severus Snape sinks into a chair, hiding his face in his hands. It's hard to make him cry but this time he can't help it. It's not the first time he has to push somebody away so it should hurt less and less. Why doesn't it? Why does it hurt so much this time?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Right, enough this sadness. Next chap will be more optimistic, I promise.

Pansy, Millicent and Bole are "borrowed" form HP books, if you don't remember them.

OK, Bjorn means "bear"

"Immensifer" is made of "immense" and Latin "ferrum" - iron