Because of the increasing harassment of Muggles and Muggle-born, Barty Crouch, Sr was finally able to get the Wizengamot to approve the use of the Unforgivables against Death Eaters.
As part of his Healer training, various Healers brought Severus to wards dealing with various maladies. Damocles Belby had, of course, introduced him to the Lycanthropy Management ward, and he'd also spent time in the ward for managing Cruciatus effects. Today, he was training in the soul damage ward of St. Mungo's.
There was one patient in the ward who had cast the AK many times, mutilating his soul over and over again. He had been released from Azkaban so he could be studied, first having been Obliviated so that he no longer remembered how to cast the spell. Severus was struck by the waxy appearance of the wizard's features.
"Why does he look like that?" Snape asked the Healer who was showing him through the ward. "I thought the effects of Unforgivable Curses were primarily mental and psychological."
"Looking at your future, Snape?" spoke Alastor Moody from the doorway. Severus looked up and froze, remembering Moody's back receding as he abandoned him to the locked cell in Azkaban.
Alice Longbottom was with him.
"He specializes in Cruciatus, not the Killing Curse," she said to Moody. Then she turned to Snape. "We're on our way to that ward to see if one of your pal's victims is in shape to testify against him." They both knew the rumors from Hogwarts, and thought it was just a matter of time before they brought Snape in again.
The Healer also knew Snape's reputation, but he was a Slytherin too, and he trusted Belby's opinion of Snape. "We believe the waxy appearance is not caused by soul damage itself, but the actual loss of certain portions of the torn soul due to a not completely successful Dementor attack while he was in Azkaban."
Remus shut the door to Number 39, Diagon Alley, for the last time. The one-year lease Sirius had given him was up. He'd sold everything except his briefcase, but even the money from selling the Firecrabs wouldn't have covered a single month more. And he hadn't had any clients for several weeks. His scant remaining possessions from the flat he'd shared with Sirius were shrunk to fit in a Muggle backpack. After avoiding the Hogs Head for years, he was headed there now to room with Peter until he got his marching orders from the Headmaster.
Dumbledore was right. He couldn't make it on his own as a Wizard. All that was left was to turn spy on Fenrir's werewolves.
Severus was in the Hog's Head again, with a pint of stout and a plate of fish and chips. His pay as a Trainee at St Mungo's was more than sufficient for the occasional meal out. Although its clientele included Death Eaters, being under Evan's patronage provided some protection from the pureblood fanatics, and his reputation for the Dark Arts provided even more. And the honest thugs and hoodlums weren't interested in picking fights over blood purity.
Pettigrew was talking to Rookwood at the bar. Severus had grown used to seeing Pettigrew here. Apparently, he rented a flat upstairs.
When Severus went to pay, Aberforth was at the till. "You're wanted upstairs," he said.
"That's good timing," Severus said. He knew who Aberforth was referring to, and didn't like to keep him waiting.
"Didn't see any reason to interrupt your supper," the barkeep gruffed.
Severus knew he didn't get along well with his brother, so he just sighed and nodded his head. "Thanks. I'll go straight up."
When he got to the upper floor, he tapped lightly on the door and entered. "I came up as soon as I knew ..."
"I know," said Dumbledore serenely, and waved him to a chair on the other side of the fireplace. When Dumbledore didn't speak further, Severus suspected that this was not just an ordinary check-in meeting.
They both sat for long minutes, Dumbledore with timeless patience, Severus stiffly refusing to give the Headmaster an opening. But, as he always did with Dumbledore, Severus backed down first.
"Is this about the Crucio?" he asked, resignedly. "Since I'm not in Azkaban already, I assume no one has actually testified so far."
"Do you wish to return to Azkaban, Mr. Snape? For good cause, this time?"
"I wanted to make sure we didn't run out of Felix Felicis, Headmaster. Evan isn't good enough at Occlumency to shield himself from the Dark Lord. What else can we give him but Luck?"
"Is Evan addicted yet?"
"I ... we ... don't think so. He doesn't seem reckless ..."
"Did he ask you to ..."
"Of course not!" said Severus angrily, pounding his fist on the table. "No more than you would have!"
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows at the outburst.
Severus calmed his temper, which had indeed gotten worse from doing the Crucio just that one time.
"You believe Avery deserved it," Dumbledore. "Perhaps he did, if anyone ever deserves that curse. But I am more concerned about its effect on you, Severus."
"Yes, the effect is worse this time," Severus said. "I had the chance, and I took it. Death Eaters don't usually approach me to do things they can get from law-abiding Wizards. I thought it wouldn't be as bad if he actually deserved it."
"Not as bad for his intended target, no doubt, but worse for you. It is harder to counter the damaging effect of an Unforgivable if you are able to convince yourself it was justified. We will talk later about options to control the damage. You are getting desperate."
"All of Evan's plans fall apart if we can't keep him shielded from the Dark Lord. And he's already marked. And Erwin can't figure out a way to neutralize that."
"I believe you could keep yourself shielded from Lord Voldemort, though," said Dumbledore. "Your Occlumency is quite remarkable. I've had reports from Alastor Moody and Alice Longbottom. They've never seen anything like it. Alastor didn't want to let you out. He told me you had a perfect shield against the Dementors."
"So we replace Evan with me?" asked Severus. "Sure, I would do that, if we can get Evan away from the Dark Lord."
"He would know you were occluding, of course," mused Dumbledore. "So you would have to provide some accessible Memories and make him believe you were not able to shield yourself completely."
They discussed Occluding tactics, and then CIS management before Severus went home.