Chapter 8

I would consider it a personal favour if you would take this position.
The Great Hall was full of the clattering of dishes and the chatter of students and teachers alike. Two people sat quietly, though, unmoving, not eating. Severus and Rebecca were watching each other from their respective tables, as if keeping eye contact would make this evening last forever.

So much had happened this last year. Severus had finally conceded to show Dumbledore the wolfsbane potion. Remus, in thanks, had prevailed upon Peter to leave her alone, so her days were slightly more peaceful. To her great surprise, she was already beginning to feel the dull ache of missing her friends. Until this year, she had never had what could truly be called a friend. And now it was all over. This was the last time she would eat dinner in the Great Hall; tomorrow's breakfast would be the last meal.

She knew she was being morbid, but she felt so hollow and empty inside. For the past few days, Severus had been acting strangely; she knew he was keeping something from her, and it was worrying her. They had never had secrets from each other for very long. She knew it would only be a matter of time before he told her what was bothering him, but until he did, she would keep on worrying herself to death.

Suddenly, Severus stood up and walked out of the Great Hall, motioning for Rebecca to follow. After a moment's hesitation, she did. As she passed Remus, he laid a hand on her arm. "If he hurts you, tries to take advantage of you. . .well, let me know, okay?"

She smiled gently and whispered "thank you, Remus."

Out in the hallway, she found Severus. "What's up?" she asked, but he only took her hand wordlessly and led her away from the Great Hall. He took her through several hidden doorways and passages, until they ended up on the roof of the castle.

He sat and leaned back against a stone gargoyle. She sat next to him. After a few silent moments contemplating the stars, Severus spoke. "Do you remember that article in The Daily Prophet a few week ago? About the group the Ministry is fighting? The Death Eaters?" his voice was hoarse and scratchy. It hurt Rebecca's throat just listening to him talk. She nodded.

"What would you think if I told you I joined them a few days ago?" he whispered.

The bottom dropped out of her heart, but she managed to keep a straight face. "I wouldn't be surprised." He raised his eyebrows. "If you really feel that this is the right thing, no, the best thing. . ." she trailed off. She was twining her hands in her lap. This was killing her. She had known he would join the Death Eaters for a long time now, but having it confirmed was hard. She watched his face carefully. He was looking past her, at the moon. "Are you sure?" she finished weakly.

A cloud passed over his brow. "No. I'm not." he looked at her tenderly. "but I know that Potter and his gang won't be joining up, and I want to stay as far away from him as I can."

There was a strange light in his eyes, reflected from the moon. She lowered her head. "I'll always be here for you, Sev," she murmured.

He slid one hand under her chin and brought her face up toward his. "I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you from everything they did to you," he whispered. "I'm sorry that I couldn't stop Pettigrew torturing you for seven years. I'm sorry I couldn't be with you every minute to protect you. That's why I'm doing this now. I am going to pay them back for everything they did to you if it takes my whole life!"

She met his eyes. "As long as it doesn't shorten your life." She bit back her tears. "Oh, Sev, I'm not worth it! Don't throw away your life on me! You have so much-"

He had put his hand over her mouth. "Beck," he said in a harsh whisper, "don't you ever say that again. You are worth it. I would give my life for your happiness."

"That would counteract your purpose," she said, smiling slightly. "Besides, after a canned speech like that one-" He drew her to him in a fierce hug. She breathed in the spicy smell of herbs and flowers that always seemed to hang around him. Results, she supposed, of his constantly working with them in potions.

After a minute, he whispered, "so you don't like me any less now that I'm a Death Eater?"

When she replied, her voice was muffled by his robes. "I could never love you any less." The world seemed to stop for a moment as she uttered the word "love." She had never spoken it aloud to another person.

He lifted her head to search her face. He looked shocked. "Love?" he breathed. She could only nod. With his index finger, he traced the side of her face and neck. "Rebecca Morgain, are you telling me that not only do you not find me hideous and sadistic, but you love me?"

She smiled. "Yes. I love you, Severus."

He gently touched his lips to her forehead. "I love you too." The breeze ruffled their hair and robes.

"If you get yourself killed, Sev, I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive you." They were sitting knee to knee by now. He slid the ring off his finger and reached out to take her hand.

"I promise I will come back to you, and when I do, if you'll have me, I want nothing more than to marry you." With those words, he slipped the ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand. It was a silver snake with tiny emeralds set in its back, and the Slytherin crest in its mouth. It twined itself around her finger until it fit perfectly.

Rebecca's mouth was hanging open. "I don't believe it. I can't believe it," she whispered.

"Believe it." After a few seconds of stunned silence, Rebecca came to her senses.

"Oh, Sev, how can this work? You know what people say about us already. If I come back to dinner wearing a ring with the Slytherin crest. . ."

Severus pulled out his wand, touched the ring and murmured an incantation under his breath. The crest shimmered, disappeared, then reappeared. "Now it can only be seen by those who are trustworthy. To you," he added as an afterthought. "I suppose I'm not very trustworthy as far as most people are concerned." He laughed hollowly.

Suddenly, a footstep rang out on the roof. They both snapped out of their reveries. Albus Dumbledore was approaching. "You two are the hardest pair to get a hold of," he gasped. "I've been all over the castle. Mr. Lupin suggested to me that you were here."

Rebecca and Snape glanced at each other. "Headmaster," started Severus, but Dumbledore did not let him finish.

"The two of you are entitled to some measure of privacy, and I apologise for intruding, but the awards need awarding, and as each of you have earned a few, I did not feel you would care to miss the presentation. The other students would wonder, you know. If you would care to join me?"

They stood, and the three of them began making their way down to the Great Hall again. As they walked, Dumbledore asked them what they were planning to do with their futures.

Rebecca told him her plans to work for the Ministry of Magic, testing potions and making new ones. When it was Severus's turn, however, he had to admit that he had not given much thought to it. The sadness in his eyes told Rebecca that he plainly expected not to live much longer, despite the promise he had made to her. The Ministry was doing its best to eliminate Death Eaters, killing them if necessary.

Her heart gave a sudden jolt. She would be working to kill him in a roundabout way. Her head swam. She held tightly to Severus's arm for support.

Dumbledore came to the rescue without realizing he was doing so. "Our Potions Master is planning to retire this year, and since both of you are unusually gifted in that subject, I would consider it a personal favour if one of you would accept the job."

Severus cast a glance at Rebecca, who's face had lit up. If Severus was at Hogwarts, under Dumbledore's watchful eye, he would be all right. Severus seemed to read her thoughts, as he always seemed able to do. "I'll consider it, Headmaster," he managed to say.

As they entered the Great Hall, Dumbledore pulled Rebecca aside. "That is a most interesting ring you have on, my dear. I don't know many Gryffindors who would wear the Slytherin crest so bravely."