Chapter 15.
Read and review! Read and review!! Thanks to all those who have, especially Ambrosius, Silverfox and Pervert Bitch.
DISCLAIMER: I own the plot. Not the characters/settings etc. Just the plot.
What Should he Do?
Snape sat waiting in the darkened classroom. He had only lit one torch, and he was sitting away from it's light. Anyone entering the room would not be able to see him at all. It was exactly half past twelve. He had arrived five minutes early, to make sure that he was there before Draco. He believed that first impressions were important. A quiet knock came on the door. Severus left it unanswered. The door opened slowly, and Draco's head came into view, peering into the gloom. Noiselessly, he slipped in and closed the door behind him. He checked his watch and looked round. "Snape?" He whispered into the darkness. "Draco," answered Snape, moving into the torches flickering light. The silence that followed was not an easy one to break. They stood and stared at each other, both unsure where to start. Finally, Snape drew out two stools from underneath the bench nearest the lighted torch, sat in one, and offered the other to Draco with a wave of his hand. Draco took it. The pause returned. "So," said Snape finally, sensing that Draco would not break the silence. "What happens next?" "I don't know," answered Draco, quietly. He has such a beautiful voice, Snape noted before he could stop him self. Melodic. "We must forget about it, Draco," he said, contradicting his thoughts. "I know we must. But I can't! I can't stop thinking about. . ." Snape wondered whether Draco had stopped just before an 'it' or a 'you'. "It's not easy," he said, ambiguously. Draco looked up sharply. "You've done something like this before, haven't you?" he said, astutely. "But never with a student," Snape confirmed, glad of the bad lighting. The conversation stopped again. This time, Draco broke it. "It's not. . .I can't. . .It's not easy. I still want. . .you," he started hesitantly. The last word was a whisper. Snape closed his eyes and ran a hand through lank hair. "It's not easy. It's never easy. It should never have happened. We can't carry on what we should never have started," he said. He had meant to say it firmly, but it came out slightly longingly. "We could," Draco murmured. This time the silence was electric. "No. We couldn't. Someone would discover us somewhere. We must be practical." "But you'd like to?" Damn, damn, damn, damn! Thought Snape. Why had Draco picked up on that?! Why couldn't he just ignore it?!! "That's beside the point, the imp. . " "No, that IS the point, Severus!" Draco cut across him, and finished more calmly, "Snape, sorry." Snape leant on the desk and buried his head in his hands. "No, no, no, no it's not, Draco! It's more complicated than that! It's not just the fact that you're a student and I'm you're teacher, there are other issues here too! For gods sake, do you even know whether you're gay or not?!" Snape could feel Draco stare. "I. . ." Draco gave a shrug that Severus couldn't see, his head still buried in his hands, "I must be. " The silence returned. Snape sighed, and lifted his head to meet Draco's watchful gaze. "Wait there," he said, and stood up. He left the room in the swish of a cloak. He went into his office, and snatched up the letter and book that still lay there. He swept back into his classroom, and returned into the light. He sat back down and lay the two things on the desk, the letter folded and back in its envelope. Draco stared. "Now listen, Draco," began Snape, quietly, not quite sure where he was going with the sentence. "Tell me, what do you know about Dillemand of Atlantis?" he said, deciding it to be the only really feasible option. Draco shrugged again. "I know it was banned when it was published. I know Father read it when I was about nine. I know that he left it to you. That's it really." Snape nodded, he turned the book over and over in his hands, almost unthinkingly so. "It was banned for what were considered. . .a-ha, inappropriate content. You know that. The content was homosexual issues. The protagonist, or main character, Dillemand, fell madly in love with his best friend and companion, Mercer. It tells of how they went on adventures, and Dillemand's love for his companion grew, until eventually, they ," Snape searched for the right phrase. " Got together, if you like. They were found out, outcast and persecuted by their city and so on. . ." Snape dropped the book heavily onto the desk, where they both stared at it for some time. "But why did he leave it to you?" Draco inquired. Snape feigned ignorance. Shrugging, he said, "Maybe he found out what I am? Maybe he was trying to say that he would have been my friend through anything, thick and thin, I don't know. " Draco appeared satisfied. "What about the letter then? It's in my father's handwriting." Snape picked the letter up in turn. "In this letter, he told me to watch over you, look after you. If we carry on like this. . . would I be betraying his last request of me?" Draco stared for a moment. "No," he said decisively. Snape shrugged again. "I don't know. I really do not know," he sighed hopelessly. He put the letter back down onto the table and stared into the gloom. Draco reached out and touched Snape's arm lightly. "Severus, you would be caring for me. You want this, I know you do. So do I. If we're careful, we can get away with it." Severus looked back slowly at Draco, who returned his gaze steadily. "Please, I want you so much. . ." Severus closed his eyes. I want you too, he added silently. "I don't know, " he uttered in a low under tone. With out being invited or asked to, Draco moved nearer, and held the despondent professor in his arms, softly stroking his back. Snape's arms snaked around Draco's slender waist and pulled him down so that he sat on his lap. Gently, he kissed him, savouring every moment. There they sat for a while, entwined in each other, thinking of nothing else but themselves. Gradually, Draco's hand slid up Snape's back to find the fastenings there. He started to undo them, one by one, carefully methodically. Unthinkingly, Snape's hand found Draco's top fastening, and then. . . He stopped. "No, Draco," he whispered. Draco drew back slightly. "Why not? No-one knows we're here. No-one will find us. You WANT this, I know you do. . ." He whispered back, enticingly, running his fingers lightly up and down Snape's spine. "Because," answered Snape. "That's no reason, let yourself go. . ." "No, we mustn't, Draco, Draco, oh, stop it, Draco," moaned Snape, as his partner's hand moved further down. "No. One last time, just one last time," breathed Draco, and pushed Snape onto the desk top. Snape gave in. There was no way he could stop this now. He unhooked Draco's robes quickly, and rolled on top of him, kissing , stroking, feeling. . . The bench was hard and unyielding as they lay on it, but it severed as a bed well enough.
They finished. Snape sat at the end of the bench, hanging his head in guilt. What had he done? Lucius, Lucius, he had betrayed his Lucius. . .So long had he been faithful, waiting for their reunion, and then on the day of his murder . .oh, Lucius, what have I done? He felt Draco watching him. He turned, and looked over his shoulder at him. He looked concerned. "Are you alright?" he asked Snape shrugged, and looked away. "We shouldn't have done that. It wasn't right," he answered lowly. Draco shook his head. "We should, if we wanted to. It's alright. Father's gone now, he won't know, and if he did, he wouldn't mind. . ." he whispered. "Won't he? Who says he's not watching us now? There's no guarantee, Draco. It was wrong of us to start all this," he said quietly, guilt coursing through him.
Draco paused. Of course he didn't know if his Father was watching him or not. But why did Severus feel so bad? There was nothing either of them could do about it, so surely, they could forget it. He stared at his teacher's back; broad shoulders, strong and muscular, lean, wiry. He let his eyes move down. . .the sown his spine, down to the small of his back, base of his spine. . .the flickering torch light showed unevenly on his skin here. Draco moved closer to see. Yes, there it was again! Looking as closely as he dared with out disturbing Snape, he tried to work out what it was. Squinting slightly he saw. Scars. Running over each other, crossing, dancing in the torch light. Draco gasped slightly.
Snape turned around to see Draco looking at him in horror. "What?" he asked, concerned. "Severus your back!" he whispered urgently. "What about it?" Snape asked, surprised by the boys urgency. Instead of answering directly, Draco ran his index finger along the deepest line that cut through Snape's back. Snape finally realised what he meant. Jumping down from the desk, he snatched his robe from the floor, and threw it on. "Severus, what. . .?" Draco whispered, shocked. "Forget it. It was a long time ago," said Snape harshly, his heart pounding. Fingers shaking, he started doing up the fastenings. How could he have been such a confounded fool?! Now there would be questions, like the questions that Lucius had demanded from him. Don't think of it, he told himself, not here, not now. "Severus, please. . ." implored Draco, looking anxious. Hearing his tone, Snape looked back at him, panic slipping from him at the sight of his concern. "I'm sorry, Draco," he said, calmly, sensitively, almost. "It was a long time ago, best left forgotten." "What is? Tell me, you can trust me," Draco said. Snape shook his head. "No. It was. . .no. Just don't, please. There are some things that I will tell no-one, not even Dumbledore, though gods know how hard he's tried to make me." "It troubles you though. Who did this to you? Why?" Draco persisted. Snape looked at him. He was enough like his Father not to stop until he had a half decent answer. He sighed, tossed Draco he robes, and sat down on a stool. "You know I was a Death Eater, yes?" Draco nodded. His father had told him once, when he was much younger. "Well. Shall we just say that. . .the Dark Lord gets what he wants when he wants it," risked Snape, not quite meeting Draco's gaze. "You mean. . .?!" Draco gasped, staring. "Do not jump to conclusions. I have told you far too much as it is. Forget it, don't bring it up again, please. And what ever you do, don't go and tell Dumbledore," Snape intoned. Draco nodded, slightly dazed. The silence filled the room again. "Is this the end?" he asked softly. Snape looked up at his face, pale as ever, his hair was messy but still the same silver blonde, the grey eyes imploring him to say no. "I. . .it must be, Draco" answered Snape, unwillingly, sadly. Draco said nothing but nodded, excepting this as the last time. He pulled his robes over his head, and fastened them. Snape collected various bits of Draco's clothing that lay on the floor, and handed them to him. He dressed himself. There was no conversation, both thinking their own thoughts. They stopped, both fully dressed. "This is it then," murmured Draco, and turned to leave. "Draco," Snape stopped him suddenly. "Yes?" he answered, hopefully. "Please. . .do one thing for me. . ." started Snape, watching Draco standing ready to leave. "What is it, Sev. . .sir?" Draco asked, feeling Snape's eyes on him self consciously. Snape paused for a moment. Could he ask this of him? "Draco, please. . .what ever happens, don't join the Death Eaters. I don't want to see you hurt. . ." he said in an undertone. Draco stared at him again. There was a very long silence. "Alright. I'll try, but Mother is very. . .vocal on the matter. . ." he said at length. Snape nodded. He knew that she would be. "Thank you. . .goodbye, Draco," he said. "Goodbye, Severus," answered Draco, a sad smile on his aquiline face. He left. Snape stared at the door after him. He shook himself. No. that was it, the end. Don't think of it any more. . . but the scars, the scars. . .it had been so long ago. . .
It had been after a meeting with the Dark Lord, Snape knew that. Only because his mask was one the chair next to his cloak and robes, but it was something at least. He looked around the room in hope of some clue as to where he was. When he came round, his first thought was that Lucius had brought him here, but Lucius, he knew, would never do something like this. The room was dark, and badly lit. Snape could vaguely make out the shapes of torture weapons from all over the world, from different ages, hanging on the wall and in display cases. He was tied to a four poster bed, eagle spread, naked. He had struggled with his bonds, but it was hopeless. Securely tied would have been an understatement. He looked up sharply as he saw the door in the corner of the room open. To his horror, it was the Dark Lord himself who walked through, in plain black robes, carrying a whip. " Ah, Severus. . . you're awake I see," he had said, closing the door behind him. It locked with a loud click. "My Lord, what . . .?" asked Snape, terrified of the whip carrying spectre that stood at the end of the bed. "Are you faithful Severus? Would you do anything for me?" the Dark Lord asked, moving round, to sit on the bed by Snape. "Yes, my Lord," answered Snape staring. What the hell was going on? Surly not. . .? "Yes, Master, in here, Severus," said Voldemort, smiling ever so slightly, and ran his unnaturally long slender fingers over Snape chest. "Yes, Master," whispered Snape in horrified fascination. Voldemort's fingers moved down -
STOP IT! Snape thought sharply to himself, almost hysterically. The images conjured from his imagination flickered and died. That had been the first time. It wasn't so bad the first time, he had thought it would be the last time, the only time. But it wasn't it went on. Snape never remembered going into the room, or getting undressed, or how he got out of it. It became a torture, waking up every day, just in case he found himself in that room. He hadn't used the whip at first but as time moved on, he used it more and more, and sometimes, he used the other implements that filled the room with it. That was why Snape had left Voldemort and turned spy. He couldn't cope with it. He had only told Dumbledore half of it; he had just said that the Dark Lord. . .played with him. Cat with mouse, he had said. Lucius knew more, though Snape told him nothing. He had written in the letter that he knew. . . Memories cast shadows in Snape's mind, playing scenes from that room in his head. . . raped over and over again. . .him, Severus Snape, single minded, independent, strong, taken as easily as a child from the streets. It hurt to think of it. Extinguishing the torch and making sure that the room was as he left it, Snape left for his office.
A voice that was barely a whisper lit its wand. Slowly, Albus Dumbledore came into view. He was pale. It took a lot to shock him, but this. . .What should he do?
Read and review! Read and review!! Thanks to all those who have, especially Ambrosius, Silverfox and Pervert Bitch.
DISCLAIMER: I own the plot. Not the characters/settings etc. Just the plot.
What Should he Do?
Snape sat waiting in the darkened classroom. He had only lit one torch, and he was sitting away from it's light. Anyone entering the room would not be able to see him at all. It was exactly half past twelve. He had arrived five minutes early, to make sure that he was there before Draco. He believed that first impressions were important. A quiet knock came on the door. Severus left it unanswered. The door opened slowly, and Draco's head came into view, peering into the gloom. Noiselessly, he slipped in and closed the door behind him. He checked his watch and looked round. "Snape?" He whispered into the darkness. "Draco," answered Snape, moving into the torches flickering light. The silence that followed was not an easy one to break. They stood and stared at each other, both unsure where to start. Finally, Snape drew out two stools from underneath the bench nearest the lighted torch, sat in one, and offered the other to Draco with a wave of his hand. Draco took it. The pause returned. "So," said Snape finally, sensing that Draco would not break the silence. "What happens next?" "I don't know," answered Draco, quietly. He has such a beautiful voice, Snape noted before he could stop him self. Melodic. "We must forget about it, Draco," he said, contradicting his thoughts. "I know we must. But I can't! I can't stop thinking about. . ." Snape wondered whether Draco had stopped just before an 'it' or a 'you'. "It's not easy," he said, ambiguously. Draco looked up sharply. "You've done something like this before, haven't you?" he said, astutely. "But never with a student," Snape confirmed, glad of the bad lighting. The conversation stopped again. This time, Draco broke it. "It's not. . .I can't. . .It's not easy. I still want. . .you," he started hesitantly. The last word was a whisper. Snape closed his eyes and ran a hand through lank hair. "It's not easy. It's never easy. It should never have happened. We can't carry on what we should never have started," he said. He had meant to say it firmly, but it came out slightly longingly. "We could," Draco murmured. This time the silence was electric. "No. We couldn't. Someone would discover us somewhere. We must be practical." "But you'd like to?" Damn, damn, damn, damn! Thought Snape. Why had Draco picked up on that?! Why couldn't he just ignore it?!! "That's beside the point, the imp. . " "No, that IS the point, Severus!" Draco cut across him, and finished more calmly, "Snape, sorry." Snape leant on the desk and buried his head in his hands. "No, no, no, no it's not, Draco! It's more complicated than that! It's not just the fact that you're a student and I'm you're teacher, there are other issues here too! For gods sake, do you even know whether you're gay or not?!" Snape could feel Draco stare. "I. . ." Draco gave a shrug that Severus couldn't see, his head still buried in his hands, "I must be. " The silence returned. Snape sighed, and lifted his head to meet Draco's watchful gaze. "Wait there," he said, and stood up. He left the room in the swish of a cloak. He went into his office, and snatched up the letter and book that still lay there. He swept back into his classroom, and returned into the light. He sat back down and lay the two things on the desk, the letter folded and back in its envelope. Draco stared. "Now listen, Draco," began Snape, quietly, not quite sure where he was going with the sentence. "Tell me, what do you know about Dillemand of Atlantis?" he said, deciding it to be the only really feasible option. Draco shrugged again. "I know it was banned when it was published. I know Father read it when I was about nine. I know that he left it to you. That's it really." Snape nodded, he turned the book over and over in his hands, almost unthinkingly so. "It was banned for what were considered. . .a-ha, inappropriate content. You know that. The content was homosexual issues. The protagonist, or main character, Dillemand, fell madly in love with his best friend and companion, Mercer. It tells of how they went on adventures, and Dillemand's love for his companion grew, until eventually, they ," Snape searched for the right phrase. " Got together, if you like. They were found out, outcast and persecuted by their city and so on. . ." Snape dropped the book heavily onto the desk, where they both stared at it for some time. "But why did he leave it to you?" Draco inquired. Snape feigned ignorance. Shrugging, he said, "Maybe he found out what I am? Maybe he was trying to say that he would have been my friend through anything, thick and thin, I don't know. " Draco appeared satisfied. "What about the letter then? It's in my father's handwriting." Snape picked the letter up in turn. "In this letter, he told me to watch over you, look after you. If we carry on like this. . . would I be betraying his last request of me?" Draco stared for a moment. "No," he said decisively. Snape shrugged again. "I don't know. I really do not know," he sighed hopelessly. He put the letter back down onto the table and stared into the gloom. Draco reached out and touched Snape's arm lightly. "Severus, you would be caring for me. You want this, I know you do. So do I. If we're careful, we can get away with it." Severus looked back slowly at Draco, who returned his gaze steadily. "Please, I want you so much. . ." Severus closed his eyes. I want you too, he added silently. "I don't know, " he uttered in a low under tone. With out being invited or asked to, Draco moved nearer, and held the despondent professor in his arms, softly stroking his back. Snape's arms snaked around Draco's slender waist and pulled him down so that he sat on his lap. Gently, he kissed him, savouring every moment. There they sat for a while, entwined in each other, thinking of nothing else but themselves. Gradually, Draco's hand slid up Snape's back to find the fastenings there. He started to undo them, one by one, carefully methodically. Unthinkingly, Snape's hand found Draco's top fastening, and then. . . He stopped. "No, Draco," he whispered. Draco drew back slightly. "Why not? No-one knows we're here. No-one will find us. You WANT this, I know you do. . ." He whispered back, enticingly, running his fingers lightly up and down Snape's spine. "Because," answered Snape. "That's no reason, let yourself go. . ." "No, we mustn't, Draco, Draco, oh, stop it, Draco," moaned Snape, as his partner's hand moved further down. "No. One last time, just one last time," breathed Draco, and pushed Snape onto the desk top. Snape gave in. There was no way he could stop this now. He unhooked Draco's robes quickly, and rolled on top of him, kissing , stroking, feeling. . . The bench was hard and unyielding as they lay on it, but it severed as a bed well enough.
They finished. Snape sat at the end of the bench, hanging his head in guilt. What had he done? Lucius, Lucius, he had betrayed his Lucius. . .So long had he been faithful, waiting for their reunion, and then on the day of his murder . .oh, Lucius, what have I done? He felt Draco watching him. He turned, and looked over his shoulder at him. He looked concerned. "Are you alright?" he asked Snape shrugged, and looked away. "We shouldn't have done that. It wasn't right," he answered lowly. Draco shook his head. "We should, if we wanted to. It's alright. Father's gone now, he won't know, and if he did, he wouldn't mind. . ." he whispered. "Won't he? Who says he's not watching us now? There's no guarantee, Draco. It was wrong of us to start all this," he said quietly, guilt coursing through him.
Draco paused. Of course he didn't know if his Father was watching him or not. But why did Severus feel so bad? There was nothing either of them could do about it, so surely, they could forget it. He stared at his teacher's back; broad shoulders, strong and muscular, lean, wiry. He let his eyes move down. . .the sown his spine, down to the small of his back, base of his spine. . .the flickering torch light showed unevenly on his skin here. Draco moved closer to see. Yes, there it was again! Looking as closely as he dared with out disturbing Snape, he tried to work out what it was. Squinting slightly he saw. Scars. Running over each other, crossing, dancing in the torch light. Draco gasped slightly.
Snape turned around to see Draco looking at him in horror. "What?" he asked, concerned. "Severus your back!" he whispered urgently. "What about it?" Snape asked, surprised by the boys urgency. Instead of answering directly, Draco ran his index finger along the deepest line that cut through Snape's back. Snape finally realised what he meant. Jumping down from the desk, he snatched his robe from the floor, and threw it on. "Severus, what. . .?" Draco whispered, shocked. "Forget it. It was a long time ago," said Snape harshly, his heart pounding. Fingers shaking, he started doing up the fastenings. How could he have been such a confounded fool?! Now there would be questions, like the questions that Lucius had demanded from him. Don't think of it, he told himself, not here, not now. "Severus, please. . ." implored Draco, looking anxious. Hearing his tone, Snape looked back at him, panic slipping from him at the sight of his concern. "I'm sorry, Draco," he said, calmly, sensitively, almost. "It was a long time ago, best left forgotten." "What is? Tell me, you can trust me," Draco said. Snape shook his head. "No. It was. . .no. Just don't, please. There are some things that I will tell no-one, not even Dumbledore, though gods know how hard he's tried to make me." "It troubles you though. Who did this to you? Why?" Draco persisted. Snape looked at him. He was enough like his Father not to stop until he had a half decent answer. He sighed, tossed Draco he robes, and sat down on a stool. "You know I was a Death Eater, yes?" Draco nodded. His father had told him once, when he was much younger. "Well. Shall we just say that. . .the Dark Lord gets what he wants when he wants it," risked Snape, not quite meeting Draco's gaze. "You mean. . .?!" Draco gasped, staring. "Do not jump to conclusions. I have told you far too much as it is. Forget it, don't bring it up again, please. And what ever you do, don't go and tell Dumbledore," Snape intoned. Draco nodded, slightly dazed. The silence filled the room again. "Is this the end?" he asked softly. Snape looked up at his face, pale as ever, his hair was messy but still the same silver blonde, the grey eyes imploring him to say no. "I. . .it must be, Draco" answered Snape, unwillingly, sadly. Draco said nothing but nodded, excepting this as the last time. He pulled his robes over his head, and fastened them. Snape collected various bits of Draco's clothing that lay on the floor, and handed them to him. He dressed himself. There was no conversation, both thinking their own thoughts. They stopped, both fully dressed. "This is it then," murmured Draco, and turned to leave. "Draco," Snape stopped him suddenly. "Yes?" he answered, hopefully. "Please. . .do one thing for me. . ." started Snape, watching Draco standing ready to leave. "What is it, Sev. . .sir?" Draco asked, feeling Snape's eyes on him self consciously. Snape paused for a moment. Could he ask this of him? "Draco, please. . .what ever happens, don't join the Death Eaters. I don't want to see you hurt. . ." he said in an undertone. Draco stared at him again. There was a very long silence. "Alright. I'll try, but Mother is very. . .vocal on the matter. . ." he said at length. Snape nodded. He knew that she would be. "Thank you. . .goodbye, Draco," he said. "Goodbye, Severus," answered Draco, a sad smile on his aquiline face. He left. Snape stared at the door after him. He shook himself. No. that was it, the end. Don't think of it any more. . . but the scars, the scars. . .it had been so long ago. . .
It had been after a meeting with the Dark Lord, Snape knew that. Only because his mask was one the chair next to his cloak and robes, but it was something at least. He looked around the room in hope of some clue as to where he was. When he came round, his first thought was that Lucius had brought him here, but Lucius, he knew, would never do something like this. The room was dark, and badly lit. Snape could vaguely make out the shapes of torture weapons from all over the world, from different ages, hanging on the wall and in display cases. He was tied to a four poster bed, eagle spread, naked. He had struggled with his bonds, but it was hopeless. Securely tied would have been an understatement. He looked up sharply as he saw the door in the corner of the room open. To his horror, it was the Dark Lord himself who walked through, in plain black robes, carrying a whip. " Ah, Severus. . . you're awake I see," he had said, closing the door behind him. It locked with a loud click. "My Lord, what . . .?" asked Snape, terrified of the whip carrying spectre that stood at the end of the bed. "Are you faithful Severus? Would you do anything for me?" the Dark Lord asked, moving round, to sit on the bed by Snape. "Yes, my Lord," answered Snape staring. What the hell was going on? Surly not. . .? "Yes, Master, in here, Severus," said Voldemort, smiling ever so slightly, and ran his unnaturally long slender fingers over Snape chest. "Yes, Master," whispered Snape in horrified fascination. Voldemort's fingers moved down -
STOP IT! Snape thought sharply to himself, almost hysterically. The images conjured from his imagination flickered and died. That had been the first time. It wasn't so bad the first time, he had thought it would be the last time, the only time. But it wasn't it went on. Snape never remembered going into the room, or getting undressed, or how he got out of it. It became a torture, waking up every day, just in case he found himself in that room. He hadn't used the whip at first but as time moved on, he used it more and more, and sometimes, he used the other implements that filled the room with it. That was why Snape had left Voldemort and turned spy. He couldn't cope with it. He had only told Dumbledore half of it; he had just said that the Dark Lord. . .played with him. Cat with mouse, he had said. Lucius knew more, though Snape told him nothing. He had written in the letter that he knew. . . Memories cast shadows in Snape's mind, playing scenes from that room in his head. . . raped over and over again. . .him, Severus Snape, single minded, independent, strong, taken as easily as a child from the streets. It hurt to think of it. Extinguishing the torch and making sure that the room was as he left it, Snape left for his office.
A voice that was barely a whisper lit its wand. Slowly, Albus Dumbledore came into view. He was pale. It took a lot to shock him, but this. . .What should he do?