CHAPTER 1

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything associated with it. J.K Rowling owns everything

Thank you duj for your review.

Revised version - I revised a bit as the cursed ring event should be earlier than the event of Narcissa.

And fyi, I'm not an English speaker.. But I try my best to improve my grammar.. I did searched for beta, but no one replied me.

-Enjoy-

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-flashback-

-Headmaster office-

"I refer to the plan Lord Voldemort is revolving around me. His plan to have the poor Malfoy boy murder me."

"The Dark Lord does not expect Draco to succeed," Severus responded.

"In short, the boy has had a death sentence pronounced upon him as surely as I have," Dumbledore said, sounding nonchalant. "Now, I should have thought the natural successor to the job, once Draco fails, is yourself?"

"That, I think, is the Dark Lord's plan."

"Ultimately, of course, there is only one thing to be done if we are to save him from Lord Voldemort's wrath."

Raising his eyebrows, Severus said, "Are you intending to let him kill you?"

"Certainly not. You must kill me."

Severus froze a moment. "What are you talking about?!!", appalled Severus, shocked. "Are you insane?"

"If not then, do you have any other option to save the boy?", asked Dumbledore

"We will hide him, Albus. And I WILL find the cure for the curse in your hand", Severus promised.

"There is no cure, Severus", stated Dumbledore sadly.

"I'm done talking". Severus stood up and walked to the door.

"If you don't find the cure, you have to do it, Severus. That's the only way". Dumbledore said quietly.

Severus stopped for a moment. Then, he walked out of the office.

"I will help you, headmaster," he whispered to himself. "I will do my very best."

~~~

Severus cursed the moment Narcissa and Bellatrix entered his house. He scowled inwardly at Wormtail who opened the door for them. He poured some wine into two glasses and give it to them. Then, he listen to Narcissa.

After Narcissa begged him to protect Draco

all he could said was"I can try,". Cissy seemed accepted but Bella backed her up.

"Swear to it", challenged Bellatrix.

Severus' eyes shift, meet Bellatrix's challenging gaze, then looked away.

"You see. It's just empty words. Coward!", She accused him, threw a disgust look at him.

"Take out your wand", sneered Severus. Many death eater doubt his loyalty, especially after the event at Department of Ministry, which the order came in time to save those kids.

Severus faced Narcissa. Bellatrix put the tip of her wand over their linked hands.

Bellatrix began, "Will you, Severus Snape, watch over Draco Malfoy as he attempts to fulfill the Dark Lord's wishes"

"I will"

A single strand of liquid fire issued from Bellatrix's wand and wends its way around their hands.

"And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?", continued Bellatrix.

"I will". Severus' felt his heart beating fast, nervous as she seemed to have more than 2 conditions.

A second strand of liquid of fire intertwined with the first.

"And should it prove necessary, if it seems Draco will fail... Will you yourself carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?"

Severus froze as he heard the third condition. His hand twitched a bit within Narcissa's. Not sure whether she noticed or not. Bellatrix waited and started narrowed her eyes towards him.

No.. he already promised Dumbledore that he would find the cure. No, he won't do it. There must be other way.

"No", he replied after a moment's silence.

Narcissa eyes widened and gaped at him.

"See Narcissa, I told you. It just empty word", Bellatrix snarled at him.

Severus pulled back his hand.

"It's enough. I did vow to protect him, did I?"

" Severus, Draco could be killed by the Dark Lord if he fails", cried Narcissa.

"Do you think Dumbledore can be easily killed by me? if yes, I already kill him long time ago. Because should I failed or get caught, my cover will be blown. The Dark Lord still need the information. I still haven't receive any order from him about my cover. That's mean I still need to maintain my cover until he say otherwise. Even though Dumbledore died, the Order still alive and Mad eye Moody might lead them", explained Severus calmly.

Bellatrix sneered at him. "You think I believe you?"

"I don't care whether you believe or not. What I know now, you already disobey him by telling me this when you were not allowed", Severus sneered at her. "I have no intention to disobey him. If he order me to kill Dumbledore, I would be honoured to carry out the task", continued Severus, smirked at her.

"It's alright, Severus. But please protect him for me", begged Narcissa.

"Of course", He replied softly.

Narcissa walked out, followed by Bellatrix who glared towards him.

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-Astronomy Tower-

"Good evening, Draco." Dumbledore said calmly. "What brings you here?"

"Who else is here?" Draco snapped. "I heard you talking!" His voice was trembling and his wand shook violently in his hand.

"I often talk aloud to myself. I find it extrodinarily useful." Dumbledore lied.

Draco stood, his wand still shaking. He was holding back tears as he quickly scanned the room.

"Draco, you are no assassin." Dumbledore said calmly.

"How do you know what I am? I've done things that would shock you!" Draco snapped.

"Like Cursing Katie Bell hoping that she would bear a cursed necklace to me?" Dumbledore started. "Or replacing a bottle of mane with another laced with poison? I can not help but to think that these actions are so weak that your heart couldn't really have been in them."

Tears began to pour from Draco's face and down his cheek.

"Draco, years ago I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices." Dumbledore started. "Please. Let me help you."

"I don't want your help! Don't you understand? I was chosen!" Draco pulled up his sleeve to reveal the same mark all Deatheaters wore. The tattoo covered his forearm.

Dumbledores eyes widened as he saw the mark, a look of sorrow and guilt covered his face. Harry clutched his wand tighter. He knew that Draco was a Deatheater, yet not a single person believed him.

"You don't understand. I have to kill you. Otherwise, he'll kill me"

"Then I shall make it easy for you." Dumbledore said as he raised his arms.

"Expelliarmus!" Draco cried.

"Very good, Draco." Dumbldore said softly.

A loud bang was heard down stairs, the slamming of a door was followed up by loud footsteps coming up the staircase. Draco glanced at the doorway and then back to Dumbledore.

"There are others?" Dumbledore asked in a curious voice. "How?"

"The vanishing cabinet in the Room of Requirement" Draco snapped.

"Ingenious."

Bellatrix emerged in the doorway. She stopped and smiled when she saw Draco occupying Dumbledore. She stepped in the room, behind her followed Fenrir Greyback, Amycus Alecto Carrow.

"Albus Dumbledore, alone. Albus Dumbledore, unarmed." Bellatrix said, a smirk marking her face. "Well done, Draco."

"Good evening, Bellatrix. I believe introductions are in order, don't you?"

"I wish we could stay and chat, Albus, but we're on a tight schedule."

Harry was still watching, his wand still pointing towards Draco. Harry felt the prescence of someone to his left. He slowly looked over to see a wand pointed his way. He jerked his wand in that direction, but quickly realised the wand belonged to Severus Snape. Snape lowered his wand and placed his finger over his lip signalling for Harry to be quiet. Harry nodded his head as Snape turned around to leave.

"Do it Draco!" Bellatrix ordered.

"No." Snape said, emerging from behind the Carrows.

Draco stepped away as Snape walked to his side. Bellatrix glared ay Snape.

"Severus..." Dumbledore's voice sounded like a beg. But he was still calm.

A short silence filled the room.

"Please..."

Severus' eyes met Albus' blue eyes. He readied his wand and took a deep breath.

"Stupefy!" he stunned Greyback.

"Traitor!" yelled Bellatrix. Severus quickly turned his attention to her.

Albus reacted instantly. He summoned his wand and stunned the carrows while Harry came running up and raised his wand to stun Malfoy. But the boy already saw that. Both Harry and Draco dueled each other.

Severus faced Bellatrix. Bellatrix was a good dueler. A killing curse was just missed him about an inch earlier.

"Sectumsempra!", Severus put an end to his fight.

Bellatrix went down in spurts of blood.

Severus felt relieved and steadily himself. He turned around saw Albus was about to kneel down.

"Albus!" He hurried over and support Albus to stand.

Severus wasn't aware that Bellatrix was still moving and she already halfway to stand. The sectumsepra curse only got at her right side. She took out a knife using her left hand and throw it over Dumbledore.

Harry who had done defeated Draco. He stunned Draco at last. Then, he saw Bellatrix holding a knife and throw it to his left direction where Snape and Dumbledore were standing.

"Watch out", shouted Harry.

Severus looked up quickly and move over to shield Dumbledore from the knife. The knife stabbed at his back, pierced directly to his heart.

Severus coughed up blood and lost his balance.

"Severus!!" Albus was horrified to see Severus took the knife.

"Harry, call Poppy quickly", ordered Dumbledore.

Dumbledore pulled the knife out, Severus groaned in pain. Blood spurted on the floor.

Harry nodded but in the halfway he saw the order emerged from the door. The said Poppy already on her way. She had prepared if there were any students injured. All of them quickly took the stairs and saw Severus was on Dumbledore's lap. There was a pool of blood below them.

"Severus, why didn't you do it?" asked Dumbledore sadly. The Slytherin shook his head weakly.

"No, Albus. You are more important than me"

"I'm still dying, Severus. You have to live"

"I have a way to save you", replied Severus as he smiled and grabbed Dumbledore's robes and pulled into his embrace. Their body began to glow a soft, warm, gold colour magic surround them. The order who watch the scene was amazed at them.

When done, Severus stay like that and said.

"Look at your hand. The curse gone right?" Severus whispered to him. He was glad that he able to remove the curse.

Albus raised his right hand, which was fully restored. He didn't knew how Severus do it, but now he really grateful. Tears glistened his eyes.

"Severus, keep fighting please.. Poppy is on her way" pledged Dumbledore.

"You have been a father to me, Albus."

"And you are my son, Severus." Tears fall freely on his cheek.

Harry felt himself crying as he saw Dumbledore and Snape. He may not like Snape but what he had done now was really brave and amazing. Snape sacrifice himself to save Dumbledore, a man he thought as a father.

Albus keep glanced to the door, searching for Poppy. As he saw Poppy emerged from the door, Severus went limp.

"Severus!!"

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TBC

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