Chapter 11: Life Styles Of The Convicted
{"Open up the book you beat me with again...Read it off one sentence at a time...I'm tired of all the lines...convictions...and your lies...What right do you have to point at me?...Still crowding my space are the things that you still hold against me...You cannot save me."}Convictions, Absent Element/Daughtry
My Thanks to all my readers and reviewers Enjoy-S.S.
Darkness of the abyss was all Snape could see as he continued to fall freely into the sea of blackness that surrounded him. The sharp edges of the shards that held his memories cut into him worse than an any knife. Hermione's presence did little to dull the sting but he had been improving slightly since the previous night. The bushy haired witch nuzzled her cheek against his pale arm and he found comfort in the warmth of her soft warm body being near him. His chest rose and fell from the steadiness of his breaths as did hers. The scent of jasmine filled his nostrils and he found himself calmer than he had been in days. A small glow seemed to get his attention as the weight of the anchor that had been nearly forgotten began to pull him back towards the surface.
{ Beaten and broken twenty something year old Snape layed on the cold stone floor of his prison cell. His raven hair soaked from sweat and blood that seemed to give his notoriously pale hue a pink tinge. His obsidian eyes were glossy from the delirium he had been suffering from as he layed there in the dark. A chill ran through him causing his exposed body to shiver involuntarily in reaction. He said nothing. He asked for nothing. He did not beg nor plead. He did not move an inch since he had been tossed about and landed on his back with his arms and legs sprawled in a heap of battered flesh on the stone floor.
A pool of blood slowly forming around him.
In the darkness he heard a father like voice and a warmth came over him that he didn't recognize. The young wizard had been ready to make his way into the abyss when his eyes forced themselves open and locked onto the blue eyes of none other than Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Severus." said the older wizard.
"Am I in hell?" asked Snape dizzy from the loss of blood.
"No." replied Dumbledore.
"Then why?" started Snape. "What did you do?"
"You're coming with me Severus." said Dumbledore. "You'll have all that a man such as your self would require, room board, safety."
"Safety?" asked Snape in an emotionless tone. "This coming from the man that insisted that I take a wizard's oath after Sirius Black tried to kill me."
"Things were complicated then, Severus." said Dumbledore.
"What could be more complicated than a student needing to feel safe in the only home he's ever known?" asked Snape showing a bit of anger.
Dumbledore's blue eyes softened.
"Give me one good reason why I should ever trust you?" asked Snape.
"Lily Potter." replied The Headmaster.
Snape glared at him.
"Severus, her son needs you." said Dumbledore. "Soon he will be an outcast and you know better than anyone what that's like."
"I wouldn't wish my life on my worst enemy." replied Snape bitterly.
"Severus, wither you like it or not, you have been cleared of all charges and released into my care." said Dumbledore.
"Trading one master in for another makes no difference to me." replied Snape.
"I'm not you're master Severus." said Dumbledore. "I am simply you're employer."
Snape had hardly any time to retort before Dumbledore whipped out his wand and repaired the damaged done to Snape by the Aurors. The young dark wizard found himself nearly healed completely.
With a sigh, Snape got to his feet resigned into the service of Albus Dumbledore. He and The Headmaster left the hospitality of The Wizengamot for the castle of Hogwarts soon after.}
Hermione opened her eyes to find that she had not been in her own bed. She had vaguely remembered wondering the halls after being restless most of the night. She found that she had been snuggled up to the sleeping Potions Master. It should have sent a panic through her about the strange scene as she awakened but it didn't. She had been so use to sleeping next to the man to keep his night terrors at bay that she hardly noticed that she was suppose to be keeping her distance.
Snape had not seemed to mind her presence either, although he had not been in much of a position to say otherwise. Breakfast came and she fed him soup like always. He ate with no problems and his fever was showing real signs of breaking for good in the wake of their treatment the last time it had threatened to remain.
{ Snape did his best to keep in step with Albus as he lead him through the dark dungeons of Hogwarts castle. Snape had not really needed a tour of the place. He knew every aspect of the dungeons from his time as a student. It was safe and felt very much like home here.
"Severus, you will be taking over Professor Horace Slughorn's classes starting tomorrow. " said the older wizard. "In doing so you will not only inherit the Potions classroom and office but you will also be the Slytherin Head of House."
"What ever for?" asked Snape.
"Because Severus, this way you can insure that no Slytherin student can fall into the same vise you did." replied Dumbledore. "With you these students will have someone in their corner ready to fight for them the way that Slughorn did not do for you."
Snape glared at Dumbledore for a moment but said nothing.
"Wither you chose to believe it or not, there is good in you Severus." said the old wizard. "A lot more good than you ever give yourself credit for."
"I believe, we'll have to just agree to disagree." replied Snape bitterly. "Headmaster."
Dumbledore sighed.
"Very well." he said conceding the point. "Are you all set?"
"Yes." he replied. "If I don't have everything I need then I'll acquire it on my own time."
"Well." said Dumbledore with a half smile. "Welcome to the family."
"As if I haven't heard that before." said Snape dryly.
"Not from me you haven't." Dumbledore.
The old wizard put a hand on Snape's shoulder. The young dark wizard wanted nothing more than to be able to shrug off the old man's hand but found much as he hated to admit it, his fatherly approach had been comforting.
"See you at dinner." said Dumbledore pleasantly before taking his leave of the newly appointed Potions Master.
Snape turned his attention to his would be quarters. He had so much work to do with so little time.}
After another round of soup and getting cleaned up, Snape drifted back into an easy sleep with Hermione curled up next to him much like before. He had no other night terrors like that previous night but the scent of jasmine and her warm presence seemed to do him good. The bushy haired witch had taken to reading to him again hoping that it would calm him and let him know that he had not been alone in the dark.
"You're doing much better Professor." said Hermione softly as she stroked his pale sallow cheek like before. "Soon you'll be back to your old self."
Snape let out a soft moan at the contact much like usual. Hermione smiled starting to get the idea that he loved when she touched him. She had started to become fairly certain that she loved touching him. There was something so alluring about him in his peaceful slumber that she could not seem to resist.