Snape almost threw himself out of bed, trying to force down the memories which treatened to overwhelm him completely. For a moment he managed. He dressed thinking the mornings ordeal was over, but as he pulled out his long black cloak his eyes focused on his wand...the very one that had done so much damage back then. Suddenly he was right in the memory again...staring into those innocent eyes...

He managed to hold off the memory with great difficulty. He took deep breaths, forcing his heart to calm down. He got ready and left his chambers to his first lesson today. His only consolation was that Longbottom and Potter's gang would help keep him distracted as they always did. Long enough to go on with the day. For night was a different zone, in which he had no control over his thoughts and memories. He got to the class and started his lesson.

"10 points Potter. Stop talking to Weasley." ignoring the hateful glares directed at him from the griffindor lot. He carried on walking around, bestowing helpful comments on Malfoy. Finally the bell rang, signalling the end of class. Just in time, as he suddenly realised that he forgot to put on his underwear underneath his black robes. Just as well there's a free period next. He hurried back and put on his ......

Summer long johns, grey of course and mid-thigh length ( it was August after all, no need to be too hot).
As he sat in his dimly lit room, he sighed and thought,that's one less lesson of being pleasant to Malfoy, out of the way. That little, fool made him think of all those boys in Sytherin when he was in school,who had tried to make his life a misery. Why did they hate him? He came to Hogwarts full of hope for a better life away from his parents and his cruel governess, but instead found himself the butt of Lucius Malfoys gangs little pranks and jibes.
Lost in thought for a moment he looked up and......

Saw Dumbledore standing in front of him looking at him.
"Head master", Snape said. "I had no idea you were standing there."
Dumbledore merely nodded, his face severe.
"Severus, I'm affraid I must ask you to go on a dangerous asignment."
Snape swallowed hard, knowing it would probably be life threatening.
"Whatever you wish head master", he said. "What is it?"

"Come with me, Severus, and I shall explain all" said Dumbledore, moving towards the door.
"Very well" said Snape, following Dumbledore out of the door, his long, black robes flowing behind him as he swept along.
Dumbledore lead them to the enterance of the school and out of the large front doors. A frown crossed Severus's brow as he wondered where the headmaster was leading him. They ended up at the start of the forbidden forest.
"Within these woods, there is something you must do. The centaurs will point you in the right direction. I cannot say more than that. Let me know when you are done." And with that he turned and walked back to the school.
Severus looked back at the departing headmaster with an interested expression on his face. "Better get on with it then." he said to himself.
He went into the forest, twigs catching on his robes and slippery moss on the floor trying to make him lose his balance. He suddenly heard a noise in front of him and then.............

"Sirius..." he seethed, looking up. He automatically straightened his robes and jerked backwards. They both stared at each other in silence, their fists clenched and teeth bared.
"What are you doing here..?" Snape managed to say in a hoarse whisper. The other man stayed silent and merely continued to glare, his body stiff, his eyes focused.
"What's it to you..?" he finally replied.
"Nothing. So what are you doing here..?"
"I'm on an important assignment."
"I'm on an extremely important assignment."
"What do you have to do?"
"I'm not able to disclose such important and delicate information. Only truly trustworthy people can be told the information by Dumbledore. Do you know what you're doing..?" Severus said suspiciously, a sneer playing round his lips.
"Of course I do." the other man said hurriedly, "I'm on a highly dangerous, complicated and skilled mission for Dumbledore. He obviously hired me especially for it, because he couldn't trust any other person to do the job properly..."
Snape snorted. "Well...I'm searching for the Centaurs..."
Sirius raised his eyebrows, but abruptly lowered them and casually said, "I also happen to be looking for them..."
A deep growling could be heard in the distance, as the forest grew darker and thicker.
"Well are you going..?"

As they turned towards the sounds of the forest, both men eyed each other with a complex mix of emotions. Yes,they knew Dumbledore trusted them both, but that didn't make their partnership any more straight-forward, there was too much history to ever be that simple. Moving steadily,even in the increasing gloom they were silent,but Snape sensed Sirius' need to express himself welling up until he could be mute no more.
"Why Dumbledore trusts you is beyond me, after all you've been" Sirius spat the words at Severus as if to cut him to the bone.
And then stared at Snapes left arm , with a look of repulsion and hatred. But still there was something unsaid between the two, that made an uneasy quiet against the anger shown openly by Black.
Yes, these were the hateful remarks he had become used to over the years, but somehow tonight was different,something about Sirius was different.

They continued on, further into the forest. The silence began to get longer and longer. There was a weird glow up ahead in the distance. Snape noticed it first and nudged Sirius.
"What do you think that is?" pointing at it.
"No idea," said Sirius. "Why don't YOU go and investigate?"
"After you. I absolutely insist. After all Dumbledore asked you first to investigate this didn't he?" said Snape, with a sneer.
"Fine. I'll go first then. Just don't pull any funny tricks or you won't hear the last of it." snapped Sirius.
"Suits me fine."
Lettting Sirius go first, Snape followed behind, sniggering to himself when Sirius nearly tripped on a stray tree root. As they got closer the glow became brighter and there in a clearing was....

Continued...