Written for QLFC: Season 9, Round 3

Team: Kenmare Kestrels (Beater 2)

Prompt: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James: Write about someone two-faced.

Optional Prompts: (word) Greed / (dialogue) "You're better than this."

Word Count (Excluding AN): 1354

Severus Snape stalked the halls of Hogwarts, peering in each alcove to catch students past curfew. So far he'd only caught two Hufflepuffs enjoying some 'alone time'. As he walked the dark halls, his mind wandered to the upcoming weekend. The Yule Ball was held Saturday night, but he wouldn't be attending.

Voldemort was having a meeting between a few selected Death Eaters, and he was one of the chosen few. He had yet to tell Dumbledore about the meeting, and wasn't sure whether or not he should. So far, he'd informed Dumbledore any time he'd left the grounds for Death Eater business and every time, he'd have a private meeting with the headmaster when he returned.

Voldemort insinuated that there was a reward for those attending the meeting, but wouldn't confirm what it would be. Snape hoped it was either land or money; both could get him out of the castle he was trapped in – where memories of the past were hiding around every corner.

Lost in his thoughts, Snape rounded a corner and came face to face with Minerva McGonagall, almost running into her. She straightened her robe and nodded at him.

"Severus, I didn't know you were out tonight." She walked around him, about to continue on her way. When Snape didn't acknowledge her, she stopped and turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Severus? Are you okay?"

Snape took a breath and turned around to face her, nodding with his trademark blank expression. "Yes, Minerva, goodnight." With that, he pushed past her down his previous route , only for McGonagall to follow him down the corridor. Normally she wouldn't pay his attitude any attention, but tonight felt different.

"Severus, what is going on? Are you okay?" He visibly bristled at her questioning. Snape spun on his heel and scowled at McGonagall.

"I said I am alright. What more do you want? Wretched woman…" Snape stalked past her, deciding to ignore his patrolling duties for the rest of the night. Much to his dismay, she still followed him.

"Severus, I don't know what's going on, but I will find out." At that point, McGonagall lowered her voice and moved closer to her colleague, "I know what you're doing for Dumbledore."

Snape stopped short. Of course the headmaster had told his closest friend about what they were doing. He didn't know how much the witch knew, but didn't want her learning anything else. He was disgruntled that Dumbledore had told her in the first place, since the whole point of spying was that no one knew.

Snape rolled his shoulders, took a steadying breath, and did his best to push aside his anger towards the old man. For a moment, he let himself wonder about the Dark Lord's reward.

If he really was given lands or money from Voldemort, then he wouldn't have to deal with Dumbledore anymore. He could move to a simple house in the country, maybe near a pond. Anything to get away from the cold halls of Hogwarts.

"Be that as it may, Minerva, I won't be sharing anything with you." Snape fought to keep his tone respectful, as she was a colleague and his superior in many ways. During his schooling, McGonagall had counseled him on many occasions about his interactions with James Potter, who single-handedly made his time at Hogwarts a living hell. Shaking free from the memories of James Potter, he fixed his expression which had slipped slightly – showing his distaste for the topic of discussion.

"What aren't you telling Dumbledore?" Snape began gnawing on the inside of his cheek at his colleague's question. How could she tell? McGonagall continued, answering the question he hadn't asked, "I know you're supposed to miss the Yule Ball, but Dumbledore told me that you had some reservations about that meeting." As always, Dumbledore overshared information he believed was his to share.

Snape rolled his eyes at McGonagall's attempt at sympathy. Reservations? That was a laugh. Dumbledore knew that the potions professor resented him, but at the same time wouldn't tell anyone since the headmaster was the only one who had given him a second chance. At the time, Snape was grateful that Dumbledore had hired him despite his past with Voldemort, but as time went on, he realized he'd become a pawn in the old wizard's game against the Dark Lord.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Snape as he was staring down the dark corridor and ignoring McGonagall: if he told Voldemort that Dumbledore wanted to spy on him, and simply left out what he'd done up to that point, the Dark Lord would be so grateful he'd give Snape practically anything he could desire. Dumbledore wouldn't get anything from him and he could be free from Hogwarts for the rest of his life.

"Yes, reservations. Goodnight, Minerva." Snape attempted to hurry down the corridor, but McGonagall was hot on his heels. Speeding up his gait, Snape wanted to be free of the nosy professor as quickly as he could. Fate, however, did not seem to be on his side, as the pair crossed paths with Filius Flitwick, the head of Ravenclaw house. He was no fan of Snape and the feeling was mutual.

Filius delayed Snape only for a moment, before he turned the corner once more and hustled away. He heard McGonagall greet the other head halfheartedly, but Snape wasn't going to stick around and find out what she was saying. Before Snape got too far, he heard McGonagall's hurried footsteps racing after him; she must've cut her conversation with Filius short.

Snape stopped momentarily at the end of the long corridor and turned, noticing the distance between him and McGonagall before rushing off once again. The witch hustled after Snape, but couldn't keep up with his long legs and wide steps. She stopped and leaned against the wall, catching her breath.

He heard McGonagall call out for him from her position against the wall, "Greed is a dangerous feeling, Snape. Dumbledore trusts you. You're better than this!" With that, she took a deep breath and turned on her heel, fully intending to warn Dumbledore of Snape's obvious change of heart.

Snape continued at the same pace, McGonagall's words echoing in his mind. He wanted what the Dark lord could offer, but what did it say about him? For years he'd pined after a girl who was married to his childhood tormentor and even had a child with him, but that hadn't swayed Snape's affection.

When he had found her in Godric's Hollow, his heart had shattered. He cradled her limp body as he sobbed for hours. His sorrow was only broken by the cries of none other than Harry Potter. Snape had wanted to kill the child then and there – what right did the boy have to live when Lily couldn't? The next year, Snape went back to Hogwarts in an attempt to feel closer to Lily in some way.

What he hadn't predicted, though, were the painful memories of ridicule and torture the halls held. Snape's pace slowed until he was standing on a set of stairs, not paying attention to where they were turning.

If Snape left Hogwarts and worked for Voldemort, he could forget about Lily and James and their worthless excuse for a wizard son.

When the staircase finally came to rest and Snape continued on his way, he didn't care where he'd end up as long as it was far away from nosy colleagues.

Eventually, Snape found his way to his office in the bowels of the castle. Stopping outside the door, he relished in the cold air and the faint smell of dampness that permeated every crevice. When he first attended school, the smell bothered him, but he quickly came to realize that the cold, damp, dungeon was a safe haven from his bullies.

The memories of his time at Hogwarts only solidified his resolve. On Saturday night, Snape would tell Voldemort everything. Well, a revised version of everything. He couldn't stay here anymore, he would do whatever the Dark Lord required of him – Dumbledore be damned.