Chapter 25 – Two Futures

With thoughts of the terrible consequences of his actions plaguing his mind he fell into a fitful sleep. As he slept he dreamed. Or was it a vision? Or a nightmare? Ahead of him he saw the future and helplessly played out the events he knew were sure to come.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Albus stands on a windswept hill, rain fizzling on the charm surrounding him. He waits for the sight of the man he hasn't seen for many years. There is a crack as a haggard figure appears at the base of the hill. Albus stiffens his resolve, his heart already stiffened from years of regret. The man does not see Albus as he stands under a Disillusionment charm. The man paces, his robes whipping in the fierce gale. He is a stranger now, the enemy. Albus disarms him with a quick gesture and steps out from under his disguise. The man's hood is abruptly blown backwards by the wind revealing a pale, sallow face. He drops to his knees on the wet ground.

"Don't kill me!"

"Why have you come here Severus?" Albus's voice is hard but his heart lurches to see the fear in his eyes. Snape actually believes he might kill him; after all they'd been through. "What message do you bring from your Lord?"

"No – no message – I'm here on my own account!" Severus gazes at the ground.

"I see, why is this?" Albus feels a twinge pity for this lost soul. The man he himself sent into the arms of the devil. But he is the devil's now. Just one more mistake he has to atone for.

"I – I come with a warning – no, a request- please-" Whether he stutters due to fear or the cold the old man can't tell. Albus holds up a hand.

"What do you want?"

"The – the prophesy... the prediction... Trelawney..." Snape babbled. Albus's face hardens once more.

"What have you told him Severus?"

"Everything – everything I heard!" said Snape. "That is why – it is for that reason – he thinks it means Lily Evans!" So that is his only concern. He no longer minds spelling out an infant's death sentence if they are a stranger.

"The prophesy was for a young boy."

"You know what I mean! He thinks it means her son; he's going to hunt her down – kill them all-" Albus tries to keep his anger in check. It was understandable that spending so much time with Tom would have corrupted him yet the phrasing of that statement worries him. He tests the man before him.

"Surely you could ask Voldemort if he would spare her and take the others?"

"I have – I have asked him-" Anger bubbles through his veins and Albus can no longer control himself as he looks down at this sad, pathetic monster.

"You disgust me," Albus says with contempt in his voice. The robed creature that was once Severus shrinks back. "You do not care then, about the deaths of her husband and child? They can die as long as you can have what you want?"Snape says nothing, but merely looks up at him. "You were once a better man." Some vestige of the old Severus flickers briefly in his eyes.

"As were you, though perhaps that was a lie," He spits.

"If you wish to get my help in this matter you are going about it the wrong way," Albus replies pushing the past forcefully back behind them. Severus remembers himself reaches towards him desperately.

"I am sorry, please, hide them all," Severus croaks, "Keep her – them – safe, please."

"And what will you give me in return, Severus?" Albus feels disgust again but this time it's at himself. This isn't about payment. This is about revenge, for a heartbreak that was his own fault to begin with.

"In – in return?" Severus gapes at him. For a moment he seems as though he may agree but then the anger comes forth again. "In return! This is your fault! All of this is you! You manipulate people and you play with them until they break!" Albus feels as though he is punched in the gut.

"I did nothing wrong, I was trying to help-"

"YOU LIED TO ME! You made me care, made me think I had a chance and at the end all YOU cared about was having a Slytherin spy for your precious school! If I hadn't stopped giving you little bits of gossip I bet you'd be glad to have a pawn in the hands of the Dark Lord!"

"THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANTED!" Albus roars. He calms slightly. "Now... it may be our only hope."

"Are you suggesting I spy for you as payment for saving her life!" Severus is no longer kneeling but standing inches from him.

"Forget the payment! I will protect them, but for them not for you. And you should spy until this is over."

"And why, pray, is that?" He says, voice filled with venom. Albus's answer is one word.

"Penance." Severus hangs his head.

"And what will you do?" he asks bitterly. Albus gives a terrible dry chuckle, devoid of humour.

"I? I will start by protecting the potters and their son but for my sins I will still be labouring in hell."

Severus nods once before turning and walking away. Whether that is rain or tears in his eyes, Albus can't be sure. He can't see through his own anyway.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

As he woke, Albus realised that the tears were real. Those used to his strong outward demeanour would have been shocked as he sobbed softly, his soul chained by decades of shame both old and fresh. He stayed that way, new pain washing over him. Unsure whether it was Severus's future self or his own which had scared him more. Unsure whether it was real or all in his head or both. Tears roll down the long beard. Then something inside him, some inner fire that has always still burnt despite the rain poured on it through the years, ignited his heart, mind and finally his body. Because there are two possible futures. He has just witnessed the one in which he does nothing, lets fate take its course. Licks his wounds and carries on. But there is another, barely tangible at first but getting firmer in his grasp every moment. He takes a deep breath and stands, seizing his wand. Because he's not going to stand by and let it happen anymore.

"I'm coming Severus."

OOOOOOOOOOOO

AN: For a long time I wasn't sure how to end this fic. I wanted a happy ending but I could also see how the events led nicely to events detailed in Deathly Hallows. This is my way of showing a sad ending but still having a reasonably positive one.