Can a memory kill? Remus asked himself that question till Babbitt called him to breakfast. He thought of something Sirius had told him once- the number one cause of death in Azakban was suicide. The prisoners were driven mad by their darkest memories till they found the strength to kill themselves. It was both frightening and sad that the memories of past sins had so much power over a person that the memory could become flesh. Severus Snape, he reasoned, gave to much too power to memories. He allowed them to become his own private Azakban. Remus wondered if the memory of Alexander Rouge, the Dark Prince had really failed last night? He silently feared that it was it already done and Snape was living without a soul.

He heard Kaiya laughing down stairs and knew he was wrong because it was joined a moment later by Severus' baritone laughter. He stood and slid out of bed. Dressing in the clothing provided, he walked down to the main hall.

Severus was waving to someone outside. He turned and smiled at Remus. He had his arm in a sling and small cuts dotting his face but he was smiling.

"That was Gideon, he promised to take Alchemy out and so now seemed like a good time for both of them." Severus looked at Remus' limp. "Are you alright?"

"Breathing." He replied and smiled. "I think we have a game to finish."

Severus led the parlor room where the chess game was still waiting.

"There is something I don't understand..." Remus said after they had relaxed in front of their game. "Why those victims?"

"Sara was the first person I ever showed compassion too. She was the first person who made me question what I was doing."

"And Jeremiah?"

"Jeremiah was the only one alive besides Dumbledore and Gideon who knew I had turned spy. He became a close friend because of that. He kept me sane a lot of times I knew I was going to lose it all." Severus' voice was laced with pain. "He named me and I didn't give him the chance to explain why. Turns out he was trying tell the world of the good I had done." He smiled. "He believed I had redeemed myself. Gideon worked in the same fashion, keeping me safe and encouraging me to survive."

"And Kaiya Alchemy proved you had a heart." Remus said. "So why did the memory take the form of Alexander Rouge? Who was he?"

"You haven't figured it out by now?" Severus asked, amused. "Remus I thought you were smart."

"Smart aleck."

"My name is Severus Alexander Snape. In the Auror Academy I took the name Rouge which was the French variation of Snape and used my middle name. Alexander Rouge was my alias." Severus called Babbitt and whispered something into her ear. She nodded and left only to reappear a moment later.

"But two things still puzzle me." Remus continued, staring at the rosewood box Babbitt had given to Severus. "Were you..."

The question died on his lips as Snape pulled out a mask. It was perfectly fashioned, only allowing narrow snake like slits for the eyes. It had three perfect gold streaks passing down its left side over the eye. He lifted it over his face and looked at Remus through the eye holes. He brought it down again and passed it to Remus.

"That was the time of my greatest power and deepest folly." He said slowly as Remus turned the mask over and over in his hands.

"Why did you keep it?"

"To remind me of what I really am." Severus said softly. "And why I can never allow myself surrender to that side again."

Remus passed the mask back. "That's not who you are, Sev. Not anymore."

Severus Snape, in manner expected of him, didn't answer. He simply tucked the mask back into the box and removed one more thing from it. It was hidden in his palm. He looked up and Remus and almost smiled, opening his palm to show him his treasure.

It was the Unicorn's Tear.

Remus laughed. Snape watched Remus' laughing for a long time before he leaned over and moved one piece on the board. The Potions Master leaned back in his chair proudly and announced. "Check Mate."