Disclaimer: Stop looking at me like that, I don't own the brilliant Harry Potter universe. If I did I'd be called JK Rowling and rolling in it. lol! Anyway, she owns all, and I own squat, please don't sue me.

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Author's Note: Short and sweet as it were. This is the Next Chapter. I hope it can be enough cause I am busy with revision at the minute. Please review and tell me what you think. ^_^

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Even at a time like this,

When the morning seems so cold,

Think the pain belongs to you,

Well it's happened to us all.

It's all right, to make mistakes your only human,

Inside everybody's hiding something,

Take time to catch your breath, and choose your moment,

Don't Slide.

('Slide,' by Dido.)

Somniator

"Snape!" An echoic voice called. "Wake up!"

"Go away..." he groaned, rolling onto his side then back to his front again.

"What happened?" The voice continued, it was the softest of tones, but one that fatigued you tirelessly.

"Go away... I think I have a hangover... leave me alone," he grumbled.

"He has one hell of a bump on his head, what do you suppose happened to him?" A woman's voice in the background asked.

"I don't know," was the voice of an older man. Severus was beginning to recognise the voices.

"Severus, this is Minerva, can you hear me?" She asked placing a hand on his forehead. "He's awfully cold," she said to the person with her.

"He'll be fine I'm sure, Minerva," was the reply as the man conjured a stretcher.

"But Albus, he doesn't look all right, someone has beaten him senseless... and there is some torn cloth here, do you suppose there was another in the same state as him?"

"Could have been - but I think it would be better if we get him back to the castle and ask him there," was the voice of the wise old Headmaster.

"Okay..."

Everything faded out again until he discovered himself in the Hospital wing where Madam Pomfrey was muttering about bad effects of alcohol and the trouble with society today. Glinting above him were Dumbledore's half moon spectacles, all Severus could see was the light from above him, it was the most irritating thing because he wanted to sleep again but the light just wouldn't stop shining, waking him up. It was almost as if Dumbledore's glasses were some annoying insect that just wouldn't quit buzzing above his head. He tried to imagine Dumbledore's expression has he tried to knock the 'insect' out of the way. It allowed him an inward snigger, but why was he in here in the first place?

"Can you tell us what happened, Severus?" Dumbledore asked looking down at Snape's squinting eyes.

"Those to chimps you call Sirius Black and Remus Lupin! That's what happened!" He hissed, moving into a sitting position. It wasn't only the old Headmaster sitting in with him, but his ever-faithful henchman - or to be correct henchwoman. Just recently there wasn't anywhere they didn't appear to have gone together, Severus was beginning to suspect they were joined at the hip - oh! God what a horrible thought...

"What do you mean?" Minerva asked.

"They attacked Lucius Malfoy and myself... I was trying to get some information about the Death Eaters - keep my end of the bargain..." he looked to Albus who was still processing the information. Sirius and Remus... do something wrong? It was always clear to Severus however that those two were infallible in his eyes. "To see if they still trust me after everything that has happened," Severus began. "I had just got Lucius, to put his wand away when out of nowhere - your gorillas attacked us. Now I haven't a clue where there will be any Death Eater activity and I am going to have to wait for them to find me and hope - they don't kill me."

"Are you certain it was them, Severus?" Dumbledore said calmly.

"Of course I'm certain!" He snapped back indignantly. "Do they not understand that I am supposed to be on their team this time? What is so difficult to believe about that?" McGonagall looked to Dumbledore who was stroking his beard thoughtfully. "I made my bed... it keeps me out of Azkaban," he said, getting out of the bed, in the hospital wing. Well if it could be called a bed, he'd never been so willing to get out of bed. Sleeping in a hospital bed was like trying get to sleep on a rock... cold and tough as old boots. His ribs ached and he was pretty sure that there was an enormous bruise seated just under his diaphragm, it made breathing painful - where was that blasted nurse when you need a good healing potion?! Do it yourself, at least you can be sure it'll work.

"Professor Snape!" Was the commanding voice of the old witch. "Get back in bed, and stay there until, I say you can leave!"

"I don't have time to play patient today, Poppy - not today, tomorrow, or the next day... in fact - I'm booked. So... I'll just pass and go do some work," he sneered pressing a flat hand to his ribs as gasping for air. What had hit him that hard... wait a minute, what kind of dog kicks a man while he's down? "Black..." he hissed heading for the door of the infirmary.

"I don't think you heard me Severus!" She snapped grabbing him by the shoulders turning him round and marching him straight back to the... hmm... table, for want of a better word to describe what could only be seen as the bed from hell.

Her grip was immense... like if she had been a Muggle she could have gone in for Shot Putt throwing in Athletics. Not that Snape had much experience with Muggles, his relationship with Muggles, was simple - stay out of my way and I'll do what I can to stop a raving loony killing the lot of you. Not that I like risking my life. His expression changed from determination to submission - that was a superhuman grip she had on him.

"I hear you, I hear you. Will you hurry up with the assessment so that I can get on with my task... not that Bl-ack," he started to say but Madam Pomfrey had pressed a point on his back where he had received a royal kicking. "Careful!" He growled, she then tottered across the room and into a cupboard of sorts to get what she needed. "Before I can agree to attempt to do this work again, I need you to keep Black from getting in my way. Is hard enough as it is to get anyone to trust me, let alone the most untrustworthy person of them all."

"I will have a word with Sirius, okay Severus?"

"All I want is some peace, where I might be of use to you... however I suspect Black doesn't trust me, and assumes that I am going to betray you like I did Voldemort, all those years back. Please believe me Headmaster, I would never dream of turning my back on the people who helped me get my life back on a straight path. That or Sirius wants to make me obsolete so that Voldemort will kill me... I mean that is what he wants isn't it?"

"Don't be daft Severus," Minerva interceded, trying to laugh off the fact that the only near death experiences Snape had ever experienced were at the hands of one Sirius Black.

"You can't deny that his intensions towards me have been... hmm... homicidal, if he crosses me again, I will not be held responsible for my actions - that and I owe him a couple of cracked ribs."

"Why can't you just get along with each other and be normal? It isn't like you can't forgive him for what he's done..." Before McGonagall could finish Snape cut her off sharply with the knife edge of his tongue.

"When you are invited to be the next meal of that monster - Lupin, you'll understand where I'm coming from, until then keep your nose out. Not forgive him... Of course I can't forgive him - it may have been easier to forgive him when he was rotting in that cage in Azkaban - suited him pretty well. I never understood why they never gave him to the Dementors. I can see it now, that destructive - free," he drawled, "- personality of his being drawn out of him like the northern winds steal the winter warmth..." an unusual smile had spread across his lips, McGonagall looked repulsed. "The colour sucked out of his face until there is nothing but sallow features gracing his - 'so called' formally, handsome face, then maybe he'd know what it was like to be me. There would be a cold sound in his ears... terrifying images in his eyes... his entire body would convulse through the pain, and yet - not know what had hit him until, nothing was left, but despair and his final breaths - wouldn't be worth breathing..." he closed his eyes.

"You really hate him don't you?" McGonagall said stating the obvious.

"No Minerva, I don't hate him... I wish we were getting married," he retorted sarcastically.

"White wedding or registry office? I'll need to know where to post my condolences to the unlucky bride or groom..." McGonagall smirked watching as Snape's right eyebrow began to twitch ready to explode back at her.

"Enough Severus," Dumbledore commanded the twinkle from his eye completely absent... perhaps it was taking a summer break, since Dumbledore clearly wasn't.

"Look, I'll do my best, but keep that buffoon out of my way," Snape said before both Dumbledore and McGonagall were ushered out of the Hospital...

There's only us, there's only this,

Forget regret, for life is yours to miss,

No other road,

No other way,

No day but today.

('Life Support,' taken from a song in Rent.)

Author's Note: My apologies for the very short chapter, only I have very important exams this week and rather than not post anything I thought I'd post this. I hope you understand, anyway, please review. Everyone has taken to forgetting. It makes me most sad... *pouts* I need your support guys, my teachers are already ready to kill me. OH NO! Please don't! Well... hopefully I'll be moving schools soon because I can't stand the one I'm at.

Yours suicidally stressed,

I.C. Fire

silver_shadow54@hotmail.com