This is my first fanfiction, so please bear in mind that my writing will improve as the story goes on. I appreciate reviews with constructive criticism but don't be too harsh please. I hope anyone who's reading this is well in these times (coronavirus).

Disclaimer: I am not J.K Rowling and never will be.

It was May, and there had been no sign of Potter, Weasley or Granger. The insufferable brats were leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves. I had done more to help the war effort then them, and I was Severus Snape, the Death Eater, the double agent! When the Boy-Who-Lived finally saved the world, I would kill him. He caused drama every single year and when we finally needed it, he disappeared off on his Horcrux hunt. The Sorting Hat decided to inform me how Slytherin it was of Potter to wait, sneaking in the shadows, instead of having a mighty duel with the Dark Lord (which he would loose in my opinion, but Dumbledore thought otherwise). The damn Hat had been bothering me all year. It talked to me all day long, and when I locked it up in a cupboard it escaped two days afterwards. The Hat has nerve. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't sit idly in the Headmaster's office all year making up songs. It talks about love and choices. Preach. What choices has it made? Dumbledore informed me that the Hat never gave him any trouble in his time as Headmaster. I sneered. He twinkled back at me. What company I have, a senile, dead old man, a tattered hat and Phineas Nigellus. Even Dumbledore's flaming chicken has deserted this scene. I would too if it was possible.

... Now I'm jealous of a chicken?!

I was in a rare state of calm when Amycus ( the buffoon) barged into my office later that day spitting on about how Potter snuck into Gringotts and escaped on a bloody dragon. I wasn't surprised, he was the very definition of a dunderhead. Dumbledore's portrait smiled infuriatingly. When Amycus left, Dumbledore kindly informed me that the final battle would be happening soon. Sometimes I feel that Dumbledore was the true Dark Lord, being the man who was -still is- fifty steps ahead of everyone, manipulating people left and right, always watching his pawns/minions. He made Black rot in prison -not that I had any complaints- told Potter he had to save the world and let me and many others join the Dark Lord as an innocent seventeen year old. He then forced me to turn traitor at risk of my own life. The worst thing was when he made me the Potions Professor. I loved Lily Evans, I think I still do, but if she wasn't in the picture I wouldn't have had to teach students. That was my worst experience, tied with repeatedly kissing the Dark Lord's robes. Anyway. Potter and the Dark Lord are coming to Hogwarts. This is the beginning of the end.

This was the last thing I needed. An irritate Minerva.

Our tentative... friendship -if you could call it that - had been crushed and I honestly regretted it. She was my only rival amongst the teachers in terms of scariness but her Gryffindor tendencies forbid her from being too unfair. Too many years of watching her students jump through hoops had made her untrusting of the great Dumbledore and it was a relief to find someone who didn't worship the man. She was also a powerful witch and the only Gryffindor I have met who has worn the colour green. Even James Potter, who waxed lyrical about dear Lily's stunning eyes -only thing I agreed with him on- never wore the colour. Speaking of that numbskull, my Potter senses were tingling. The boy was nowhere to be seen, but I knew he was there. Curse that evil cloak. I wish I had it as a student.

Alecto Carrow was an imbecile. As a true Death Eater, just how could she let Potter escape! If she was worth the Dark Lord's time, he would have killed her. She then told me - via Dark Mark- how she was trapped in Ravenclaw Tower. I regretfully had to tell Minerva about Alecto being stuck in Ravenclaw. I would have much preferred to leave her there.

"What made you think she's trapped?" Minerva enquired. I flexed my left arm. She glared daggers at it. I swear her cat claws came out.

Why Dumbledore, did I have to be the spy? My one remaining friend hated me.

She made some dig about me. We then argued for a while longer, but she obviously didn't tell me where Harry Potter was. This act of 'I hate Blood-Traitor's and Muggle-borns ' was exhausting and so I tried (and failed) to appreciate it as the last time anyone would ever question my allegiances. Sadly, I would probably be a corpse in a few hours. I didn't want to die, but what do I have left? I am all alone.

This was not the time for brooding ,I realised, as Minerva started firing crazed, feral cats at me from her wand.

Spells were flying. Bodies were littered across the ground and people were sobbing . I passed Neville Longbottom duelling a Death Eater - Nott I think- and he was impressively beating him. The Carrows torture had changed many students and teachers, but Neville Longbottom? So Potions class hadn't changed him forever. This was clearly a sign from the heavens that my intimidation skills were lost.

Hmm. I smelt hair gel. That meant Lucius was nearby. I saw a curtain of white-blonde hair in the corner of my eyes. Yes, definitely Lucius.

"Severus."

"Lucius."

"The Dark Lord wants to see you."

That was bad.

Lucius looked a mess and was shaking uncontrollably. It was probably the Cruciatus Curse. That was even worse.

"Thank you Lucius. He is in the Shrieking Shack?" I said, trying to act calm.

Lucius nodded and I walked away from him , dreading what was about to come. The Dark Lord was angry, you could hear it in his voice when he asked for Potter. And Dumbledore had told me about the Elder Wand. I didn't want to die. I had to do something, fast. On the spur of the moment I apparated into the Potions classroom ( Headmasters have certain... privileges) and snatched a Beozar from the store cupboard. I made my way towards the Shack. If Potter wasn't already there then not only will I have failed Dumbledore, this whole war will be lost.

Dumbledore knew how to pressure a man. My memories were apparently essential.

I stepped into the Shrieking Shack.

It was worse then I thought. I had earned the Dark Lord's trust and I knew him far better then most Death Eaters. He was simmering with rage.

"I have thought long and hard, Severus... do you know why I called you back from the battle?"

No I don't, I wanted to say but was distracted by the sight of Nagini in her enchanted cage. I had a sudden, dreadful idea of what was going to happen to me. I wanted to scream, to shout, but I didn't, for multiple reasons. One was that I decided to be brave, like Lily. I mostly didn't say anything because I knew Potter was in here, and I would not be remembered as a snivelling coward.

'Snivellus' said James Potter in my head. I have truly gone crazy, thinking about James Potter when I am going to die. Harry Potter was the one I should be thinking about, he could be my ticket out of here. Unlikely but possible.

"Let me go find the boy, my Lord. Let me bring him to you. I know I can-"

"I have told you, no! My concern is what will happen when I meet the boy!"

"My Lord, there can be no question, surely- "

I knew there was a question, but I perfected the Art of Lying many years ago.

Voldemort started fiddling with the Elder Wand. I couldn't help comparing him to Longbottom fumbling with ingredients in Potions class.

" Why did both my wands I have used fail when directed at Harry Potter?"

I am going to die.

"My wand of yew did everything I asked of it Severus, except kill Harry Potter. Another wand would work, Ollivander told me under torture, but Lucius' wand shattered when faced with Potter's. So I sought a third wand. The Deathstick, the Elder Wand. I took it from the grave of Albus Dumbledore."

I am going to die.

"The Elder Wand cannot serve me properly Severus, because I am not its true master. You, who killed Albus Dumbledore, are the master of the Elder Wand. While you live, the wand cannot be truly mine. "

Draco Malfoy disarmed Dumbledore, so this is all wrong and I am going to die for no reason.

"My Lord!" I said.

I really don't want to die.

"It cannot be any other way." said the Dark Lord. He waved his wand. Nothing happened, and I had hope for a second, but Nagini's cage came soaring. It encased me and then there was pain, so much pain, there was blood and teeth and red and black . There were black spots in my vision. I could just barely see Potter, who looked disgusted and terrified. I somehow forced the silver memories out of me, and then I was seeing nothing.

"Take it... take it."

Wasn't there something else? I couldn't remember, all I could think of was pain.

Snake poison... Beozar. Beozar.

I forced it down my throat, but I could only see black.