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Chapter 10:

"Snape."

Severus growled as he threw his covers off of himself. They flew to the floor carelessly. "What?" He demanded.

"Dumbledore wants to see you." A boy with curly black hair and piercing blue eyes said, staring at Snape without any emotion.

"Now, I'll assume. You may leave. I have received the message." He said, waiting until the boy (a sixth year Prefect with patrolling duties tonight) was out of the room before getting up and throwing on pants. He took his time buckling them and putting on a black collared shirt before putting black robes over them.

Why would Dumbledore possibly feel the need to interrupt the seldom sleep Severus got? What did he need? There wasn't any planned attack on his Mum or Dad or his estate. So, that obviously was out of the question. He doubted Dumbledore would call him up to his office at 4 A.M. for a lovely little chat. He didn't think there was any sort of reason that would have him walking up the stairs and down the hall toward the Gargoyle this late (or early, however you wanted to look at it).

Did Dumbledore want to talk about Severus's future? There wasn't a doubt in his mind that Dumbledore knew he was a Deatheater. Dumbledore knew everything that went on within these walls (mostly, anyway). He also tended to show his greatest weakness: his trust for people. He refused to 'give up' on anyone. That was probably the main reason that Tom Riddle succeeded turning into You-Know-Who. He smirked at the thought. Poor, delusional, naïve Dumbledore. It would probably end up killing him.

Severus found himself in front of the statue before he even realized it. "Fudge flies." He said, almost rolling his eyes at the password.

He walked up the stairs, his robes smoothly touching the stairs as he walked to quicken the process (instead of standing there as the stairs slowly moved him to his destination). When he approached the door, he heard Dumbledore's voice telling him to come in. He turned the nob and walked inside. Dumbledore's office was identical to how he remembered it from earlier this year. It had bookshelves lining one of the walls behind Dumbledore. It was cluttered with odd looking contraptions and everything from a sneak-o-scope, to a Muggle globe, to even a jar of peanut butter. The sorting hat looked curiously on from its place next to a bag of what appeared to be lemon drops. There were two steps which led him to Dumbledore's desk. As he sat down in one of the chairs when Dumbledore beckoned him to, Severus noticed that there was an almost perfect view of the Quidditch Pitch and the surrounding area. It was oddly foggy tonight.

Next to his desk he noticed the once brilliant phoenix slowly losing its feathers. It had a few bald spots on its head and near the tail area. The floor under its perch was littered with red-orange feathers. He had read about Phoenix rebirth and signs that it was happening, but he had only ever seen this phoenix. Never had he seen one actually in the process of going through rebirth. He wished he could be there to see it burst into flames before a new one emerged from the ashes.

"I see you've noticed Fawkes preparing for his rebirth. I've personally been waiting for it to happen. He's been losing more and more feathers. If he doesn't do it soon, he'll just be a wrinkled thing with a beak." Severus gave no acknowledgment to Dumbledore other than a small nod. He saw that the Phoenix was almost glaring at the Headmaster. "Oh come now, Fawkes. You've been looking wary for days. You know it's true."

The phoenix squawked loudly before flying into an area Severus couldn't see from his place in front of Dumbledore's desk (which was also cluttered with many odd objects). He looked up at Dumbledore. His eyes were twinkling from behind his glasses. He reached up behind his desk to the bag of lemon drops. He poured it into an almost empty bowl. He reached it out toward Severus.

"No thank you." Severus politely declined. "May I ask why you called me here in the midst of the night, Sir?" Severus asked impatiently. He had probably been in the old man's office for a good ten minutes, and he had said nothing of relevance.

"Patience, Severus. But since you insist that we talk, let's get on with it. May I enquire about your choice of allegience in this ugly, upcoming war?" Dumbledore asked, his twinkle only slightly faltering.

Right. He figured as much. "With all due respect, Sir," he said the title with an icy tone as he stared Dumbledore into the eyes. Annoying old man. "I think you know of my allegiance."

He looked at Dumbledore. His hair was starting to become even lighter than it was before. His blue eyes seemed duller than the excruciating shade of blue that they once were. He developed deeper lines around his face. He sighed loudly. "As I expected. Before I tell you the real reason I called you in, I want to tell you to remember my words now. If you forget everything I've ever said, just remember these words; those who want a second chance are not dim or weak in asking for it."

And what was that supposed to mean? Was he going senile with age? Did he always have to speak in code and riddle? Dumbledore knew nothing of his involvement in the Circle. He was slowly working his way higher up in rank. There was no way he could get out of His clutches other than death. Even his death would be slow and painful, most likely. No one could save him. Not even Dumbledore could save him anymore. His hole was deep enough when he pledged his allegiance, but now it was futile to resist. It would only result in more pain.

He wasn't entirely sure he would go back and change things if he could. More power was being obtained by him. He had everything he'd dreamt about since he was a child. Severus did admit that it didn't feel how he imagined it would. It was a lonely, hopeless feeling. He was at a point where he knew He was probably wrong, but there was nothing he could do about it. In his current state, he was in constant danger of You-Know-Who finding out that Severus thought he was thick at times with his actions and how he went about ruling. He was questioning His leadership more and more. It was a dangerous game either way, but it would've been a lot less dangerous if Severus learned to mindlessly follow like many of the other Deatheaters.

"My dear boy, I see you've worked yourself into quite a state in your mind. We've talked about these grave matters far too much. Are you sure you don't want a lemon drop?" Severus looked at Dumbledore to see the sparkle back in his eyes.

Growling, Severus declined. "You drop these riddled words that mean everything and yet nothing: a way out if I want one. They're all in vain. You don't know as much as you think you do, Professor." He tried to keep his tone cordial and cold, but emotion (a raging anger) dripped into his voice.

He hated this. He was beginning to lose control more and more. It felt like everyone was going out of their way to provoke him. Bade Hudson was getting to be a hopeless romantic and a useless, aggravating dolt he had to deal with. His teachers were incapable of helping him further his own talents and skills even further. He doubted that they had created any of their own spells. All the Slytherins were becoming nosy pricks. The Deatheaters seemed to be gathering power with ways that were less strategic than a game of Muggle Go Fish. And Hermione… he didn't even dare to think about how much she had frustrated him for months on end. It would kill him on the spot.

Right now, all he wanted to do was throw things. He had to calm down. He had to act like he had been taught to. He had to gain back control.

"Miss Granger is in the Hospital Wing. I know of your rela-…" Severus was out the doors the second Dumbledore had completed his first sentence.

Thoughts flooded into his head. There was no way he could gain back control this time. He felt like exploding. He hoped that he would encounter no one on his journey there. No one could stop him from seeing her. No one. Not Merlin. Not Voldemort. Not Dumbledore.

He knew something was going to happen tonight. He knew it in his gut; he knew it with the blood running through his veins. He knew it. Did he listen to himself? No! He had to have endless self doubt and allow her to go on this ridiculous journey, thinking ignorantly that Potter and Black could protect her. They were good for nothing. He couldn't blame them. The only person he could blame was himself. He should've watched over her. She was in dangerous because of him. It was his responsibility, but he didn't come through.

He stormed inside the Hospital Wing, cursing that Dumbledore didn't tell him earlier of Hermione's current state. He saw Potter, Black, and Evans standing outside of a curtained off area. Potter was leaning against a wall, his previously closed eyes now fixed on him. His hair looked more disheveled than usual. His glasses almost slid off the bridge of his nose and away from his concerned, hazel eyes. Evans looked like she had just recently moved away from Potter's grasp judging by the wet spot on Potter's striped shirt. Her green eyes were still shining with tears. She didn't even look at him. She seemed very distraught. She was slightly hunched over and wobbly. Potter had to grab her to get her to stay still.

Then, Severus noticed Black. His gray eyes were filled with a mixture of emotions swirling within them. The most prominent one was guilt. The other one was now anger. He stormed up to Severus where he was standing. His black hair sprung up and down. He was the only other person in the room wearing robes, and they trailed behind him as he walked. When he bridged the short gap between them, he pulled himself up to full height and looked Severus in his eyes, a sneer covering his face as he tried to stare him down.

"I don't care why you're here, Snivellus." Black said, using the nickname he hadn't used in about a year. "Leave."

Severus didn't have time to be having a confrontation with Black right now. He didn't have the time. He didn't even acknowledge what Black had called him. Hermione was laying in a hospital bed, possibly on the verge of death. "Step aside, Black. I don't have patience for this."

"Neither do I. Leave now. Someone is here that needs more attention than you do." Obviously Black knew nothing of his relationship with Hermione.

"I'm here to see Granger. Dumbledore informed me that she was here. Now step aside." He venomously spat. He glared at Black, warning him to move before he took drastic action.

Black let out a low, sarcastic laugh that reminded him of a Deatheater's. "And why could you, worthless little Snape, possibly be here to see Hermione? You've got no right or reason to be anywhere near her. You have nothing to offer her but frustration. For the last time, I'm warning you to leave."

"I won't leave her like you did, Black. I trusted you to have this juvenile, pointless night because I thought that you and Potter could watch over her. I was mistaken. Just because you can't protect her doesn't mean I won't."

He didn't see the shocked looks that were written on all three of their faces. He simply pushed Black aside roughly, stepping into the curtained off area. The sight almost brought him to tears.

A/N: Hhhokai so... I haddddddd to throw in that big long Dumbledore/Snape conversation and the Sirius/Severus confrontation. And... yarr soo... I'm obviously foreshadowing Severus's future actions/ JKR plots a lot in this story. Sevvie is smart. He just doesn't know about his verbal irony yet. Haha. I'm also reporting that this story is becoming middle-aged. It's over the hill (but at least it's not under it). I think I'm only gonna have a few more chapters. Not sure. But yarr. :)

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