House: Slytherin

Position: Prefect #1

Category: Theme

Prompt: [Speech] "Huh, you weren't kidding that you don't know how to."

Word Count: 2950

A/N: This fic is a companion piece to Daronwyk's theme, Know Thyself. However, it is also stand-alone. Enjoy!

oO0Oo

It would happen tonight. Dumbledore knew that when he took Harry out of Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy would lead the Death Eaters into Hogwarts. In the confusion, Dumbledore would be "cornered", and then he would die. But as always, death was the next new adventure… and Dumbledore knew that everything he was doing tonight was for the Greater Good. He would set Harry on the path of killing the horcruxes — and he would secure Severus's position as Voldemort's trusted operative.

Ah, Severus. How long it had been… how he had barely believed the man would join him… but he had. As they flew back to the castle, where his death awaited, his fever-addled brain kept thinking one thing. Without Severus Snape, it would have been much different. Perhaps he had manipulated the man and countless others, but it had been for the Greater Good... He let his mind wander back to the day Snape had joined the Light, remembering his greatest triumph as he turned Voldemort's best and brightest to him.

It had been a dark night when Severus slipped into Hog's Head. He was young, barely out of Hogwarts, but his eyes were heavy and his gait slow, as though he had seen terrible things that he would never speak of but always carry with him in a burden. Dumbledore supposed that as Tom's servant, that was typical. "I must admit, I was surprised when I received your owl," he said, not moving or even looking surprised as Severus slipped into his chair in the meeting room.

"I had no other choice," Severus replied, his voice sure, certain, and passionate in its intensity. "There was no one else."

Dumbledore smirked slightly, leaning forward in his seat. This was interesting. He was Severus's last hope… "Really."

He could see Severus's jaw tighten; the man no doubt hated himself for what he was doing. "Do you imagine I would come to you if there was anyone else on this earth I could turn to first?"

Dumbledore sighed. "I must admit," he said, steepling his fingers and regarding Severus over the rim of his half-moon glasses. "I had hoped you had moved past such misguided anger." In a clear body-language, he leaned back in his chair, signalling his disconnection from the conversation. "Why are you here, Severus?"

"Lily." He said the word with such desperation, such passion, and Dumbledore was touched/surprised to think he still cared for her. She was married to his childhood enemy, after all, with a son on the way. Severus whispered, as though even saying the words would make them too real, "Her life is in grave danger. Her whole family."

Regarding Severus over the rim of his half-moon glasses, wondering just what was going through the Death Eater's mind, Dumbledore asked, "Why?"

"That damned Prophecy," Severus snapped, his desperation showing evident in that split-second. In that moment, Dumbledore knew that he had Severus in the palm of his hand. "He thinks it's her son. You have to hide her, hide them all."

"Ask your Master to spare her," Dumbledore challenged, knowing full well that Voldemort would never do so.

Snape glared at him, no doubt thinking the same thing. "What makes you think I'd be fool enough to trust his word? Especially with the life of a muggle-born witch?"

"You are his follower," Dumbledore answered simply, his face cold as though it had been carved of granite, not a single expression showing through. "Your left arm bears his mark."

Severus barked out a laugh, humorless, brittle and bitter. "He sees my worth, and I wear his mark willingly. He has promised to try and spare her, but he does not understand the value I place on her life. He will not try very hard."

And in that moment, Dumbledore knew how to end this encounter, how to sway Snape to his side completely and utterly, and bind him though as if there were chains. Lily. Lily had always been the chink in this prickly Slytherin's armor. He had always suspected that Severus harbored feelings for her still… but he had never suspected that they ran this deep. A small half-smirk curved across his lips. "And so you come to me."

"As I said, there was no one else."

"And you think I will save her?" Dumbledore said. He knew he'd taken the boy by surprise; the flicker of desperation in Severus's eyes was clear indication. Good. Keep the boy off-balance and guessing… Lily's protection wouldn't come free, and if he was reading Severus correctly…

"She is a member of your Sainted Order, one of your golden Gryffindors. You have to save her!" Severus cried, clearly at a loss of what to do. Had he expected Lily's salvation to come free? No, Dumbledore would never allow that… a golden opportunity was presenting itself, a chance subvert one of Tom's best and brightest.

Dumbledore sighed, shedding the persona of the kindly grandfather that never failed to put his allies at ease. Severus would see the man who truly lay beneath, and he would understand. "What will you give me in return, Severus?"

He saw the flicker of realization in his eyes, and the helplessness that accompanied it. "Anything," Severus said heavily, dropping his eyes to the table. "For her life, I would give you anything."

As quickly as it had gone, the grandfatherly persona returned. "Then expect my owl in two hours. We shall be seeing more of each other, Severus. Good day." He swept out of the room, rejoicing in what he had accomplished and already planning how he would make use of this valuable asset.

And what an asset Snape had been. A half-smile flitted across Dumbledore's face as he thought of all Severus had done throughout the years. The man's help had been invaluable in shaping Harry into the weapon he was to become. Even after his own death, he knew that Harry would follow the path set before him. Years of careful grooming and planning were coming to fruition; without Severus Snape, he would never have been able to set the final nail on Voldemort's coffin. Without Severus, he would have succumbed to the curse on the Gaunt ring far earlier than his plans permitted, and the "Greater Good" would have died with him. Yes, Severus was quite an asset.

Severus pushed open the door to the Headmaster's Office, a satchel slung over his shoulder. "What have you done, Albus?" he said tersely, striding to Dumbledore's side. Dumbledore silently held out his hand to him, his shrivelled, blackened hand.

As Severus began casting counters over it, poking and prodding with his wand, Dumbledore winced. "I fear I acted rashly, Severus. I… I came across an ancient artefact, a ring, in fact. It lay in an empty room, and I did not think anything of it—"

"Stop lying," Severus interrupted, never ceasing his examination of Dumbledore's blackened hand. "Albus, I need to know exactly what this curse was meant to do if I am to stop it."

Ah, Severus had never been fooled by his flowery sentences. "I went to the Gaunt residence, and I found this ring," Dumbledore said, never taking his eyes off his hand. It would not do for Severus to know about this ring's connection to the Deathly Hallows. He already knew that Dumbledore had been poking around in Tom Riddle's past — Severus was a clever man and entirely capable of putting two and two together, Dumbledore would not insult him and think otherwise. "It was clearly a heirloom, and I put it on."

Severus's wand shook, although from its user's shock or surprise Dumbledore was not certain. "Why were you there? What did you hope to find?" Severus hissed, swearing under his breath.

"I am an old man, Severus, and old men are sometimes foolish," Dumbledore answered.

Severus snorted. "So you will tell me nothing. An inch from death, and you still will not trust me with the truth." He shoved a potions bottle towards him. "I wonder if you are even capable of speaking it anymore."

Dumbledore lifted his hand, marvelling at how, even as blackened and shrivelled it was, the fingers still flexed when he commanded. "Severus," he began.

"No. Do not 'Severus' me, like I am some child having a fit. This is your life, Albus. This curse will kill you. I have slowed it, but there is no way to stop it. You need to tell me."

Severus did not know what he was asking. The truth… the truth was painful and dangerous. Those in possession of the truth bore the weight of the world on their shoulders. It was a burden he would wish on no one, even those who asked for it. It was best for all if only one dealt with the truth, and the rest were given scraps… instead of answering Severus's question, Dumbledore looked into his eyes. "Then you know what must be done."

Severus took a step back. "You would ask me to murder you, destroy what little is left of my soul? Have I not done enough?" Spinning on his heel, he stalked to the other side of the room.

"It must be done, Severus," Dumbledore said calmly, implacably. "And if it is not you, then the unfortunate burden falls upon the Malfoy scion. It would destroy him, and in extension, his parents. I am sure you remember Lucius?"

He could see Severus's head drop in defeat at the mention of Lucius's name. "Do you care nothing for what it will do to me?" Severus said, his tone betraying that he already knew Dumbledore's response.

"I know you will do what is right."

Severus sighed. "One of these days, old man, I will do what is best for me and damn what is right."

"Thank you, Severus," Dumbledore replied, knowing that Severus was far too honourable to do such a thing. "It is better to meet death at the hand of a dear friend than at that of an enemy."

"We are not friends."

"So you say," he said, pausing to once again admire the deathly beauty of his blackened hand. It was hard to believe that soon, he would be dead. But there was much he could accomplish; with luck, his death would not impact the Greater Good. He would work tirelessly to ensure that. "How long have I to live?"

"Perhaps a year, maybe less."

A year would be sufficient. It would be difficult to die, and far more difficult to let go, but he trusted that his plans would continue working even after his death. "That is all the time I need."

"And all the time we have before the world falls apart," Severus said, his voice hopeless.

"Harry shall succeed, do not doubt the boy," Dumbledore said in mild rebuke.

"He is arrogant, petulant, unprepared, and untrained. He is not ready, not to defeat the Dark Lord!"

Ah, Severus still confused Harry and James. How fortuitous. Severus would not seek to meddle, then, with the boy's fate. "He may be unprepared, but I know he can make the ultimate sacrifice."

Severus spun. "What?" he hissed.

"Neither can live while the other survives," Dumbledore quoted serenely. He sighed. "Within him, Harry carries a sliver of Voldemort's soul. To kill Voldemort, Harry must first die."

Severus's eyes bulged. "All this time, you've been raising him like a pig for slaughter!"

It appeared Severus did care for Harry, after all. Dumbledore did as well, but he could not allow it to influence his actions. "It is for the Greater Good," he explained patiently.

"Hang the Greater Good!" Severus shouted. "He is a CHILD. Lily's child."

"He is Lily's child." Severus had to understand. He could not risk him influencing Harry. "She would be proud, proud to see her son die to defeat Voldemort."

"Don't you ever speak her name again, you know nothing of what she wanted." Tears were streaming down Severus's cheeks. "I have given my whole life to protect him… and now you tell me that it is for nothing! How dare you?"

Dumbledore sighed. "The strong do as they will; the weak suffer what they must. Severus, this was never my decision to make." He sighed again, casting his eyes to the ground. Then he looked up at Severus. "I am, however, surprised that you care so much for Harry."

In response, Severus drew his wand and muttered, "Expecto Patronum." From the tip of his wand burst a doe, who pranced about Dumbledore's office, filling it with her soft silver gleam. She looked at Dumbledore, her eyes liquid and trusting, then bounded away.

Touched, Dumbledore whispered, "After all this time?"

"Always," Severus said curtly, turning to leave. Dumbledore watched him go, his fears abated. Severus would never abandon Harry, not now. He would never betray the Light. With Severus on his side, Dumbledore's plans for Harry would succeed.

Now, he flew to his death. He had lived nearly an entire year, just as Severus had promised, and now he was ready for the next great adventure. Harry was ready as well, ready to face Voldemort and die for the Greater Good. With every piece in its proper place, he could finally rest. A small, sad smile came to his lips. Perhaps he would finally see his mother or father now. The thought spurred him onwards, making it easy to surrender himself to Severus's Avada Kedavra. He was vaguely aware of his body tumbling into empty space, but only vaguely so… then fog obscured his vision, and when it cleared, he found himself within a train station. King's Cross, to be exact. And in one corner of it sat his sister.

"Ariana?" he said, walking towards her. She was exactly as he remembered. It looked as if not a moment had passed since he had held her cold, limp body in his arms, although her eyes were far clearer than he remembered...

"Albus!" she said, jumping to her feet and giving him a hug. "I've been waiting a long time for you."

"I'm sorry." She really did seem unchanged, but her confidence and maturity was far beyond what he remembered. Although at the time, he had been far too busy plotting with Gellert to really pay too much attention to his younger siblings. "I hope it was not too dull."

"No, it wasn't," she said, taking a seat on the misty bench once again. "My train has waited patiently for me." She nodded to a gleaming white and gold engine in the distance. "It understands that I cannot leave yet."

Dumbledore smiled. "There is a train for everyone?"

"For everyone who has done right with their life," Ariana answered.

"Then my train should be here soon," Albus smiled confidently and sat down beside Ariana. "I've devoted my whole life to the Greater Good."

"But who's greater good?" Ariana said, fixing piercing eyes on him. "Gellert said he was working for the Greater Good. Tom Riddle believes he is working for the good of all."

Albus felt a strange sensation, one akin to… worry? "All I did, I did to protect the wizarding world. I don't know how to do anything else."

Ariana paused, head tilted and staring off into the distance as if watching something only she could see. "Huh, you weren't kidding that you don't know how to," she said sadly. "Was leaving that poor boy with his hateful relatives good for him, brother? What of the young Potions master? All those years you played with his guilt, was that for his own betterment?"

"It was, in the long run," Dumbledore answered. "Sometimes, short-term pain is necessary for long-term gain. Harry and Severus will win the War for the Light. They suffered, but they are better for it. I acted for their good, and the good of the world."

"Then I must say goodbye," Ariana got to her feet, a smile on her face. "Mother and father have already left the station. They must be missing me. When your train comes, join us. And if you see Aberforth before then… tell him to come, too. And be polite!"

"Of course, Ariana."

She smiled and waved at him as she walked into her train, which slowly pulled away from the station. Dumbledore watched it go, until at last it disappeared from sight. Then he sat back down on the bench and waited.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

He didn't know how long he waited. Countless trains pulled in and out of the station, and countless spirits stepped on and off… yet somehow, his train never came. Dumbledore did not allow that to worry him. He had done right in his life — going as far as sacrificing it for the Greater Good — and he knew he would be judged fairly. He had always been scrupulously honest with others, even Harry and Severus. His train would come. There had to be a reason why it hadn't come yet. Perhaps his delay served a purpose.

He felt vindicated when Harry materialized in the fog of King's Cross station. The boy had appeared, looked around, then walked to his side. "Professor Dumbledore!"

"Harry. It is good to see you again," Dumbledore said warmly. "How are you?"

What followed was a long conversation, in which Dumbledore reassured the boy and prepared him for the Final Battle. When Harry left, ready to face Voldemort for the final time, Dumbledore prayed he would succeed… then settled down, certain that now he had met Harry in the afterlife, his train would come. Even in death he served the Greater Good; now, he could go to his eternal rest. After all, he had done everything right...

But his train never came.