*~* A Long Dark Walk *~*
Chapter 3 – The Future Looks Brighter
Disclaimer: See previous disclaimers if you don't believe meh!
A/N: Last
chapter!!! Well, besides the epilogue!!! I'm so happy I got it done! *glee* well
ill shut up now and embrace the power of the ri- erm I mean of the story
*sweatdrop* lol jk and don't ask about the chapter title it sounds like
sometime that crack-pot of a Divinitations (sp?) teacher would say o.O
TANKIES SAR FOR HELPING SO MUCH WITH THIS FIC SO FAR!!! *hugglez*
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Severus closed his journal and put a shrinking spell on it, stuffing it under
his mattress in a little hole he had ripped there. Settling on his back to read
a few more chapters in Lord Of The Rings, he quickly lost himself in the simple
yet brutal and at the same time magical world of Arda.
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Severus sighed and took a sip from the flask he had just removed from his belt.
He was in Defense Against the Dark Arts and has nearly fallen asleep. The night
before Voldemort had called him during dinner, and he had gone on his first
raid. Awakening slightly from the potion, he reflected on the night before as
he slowly drank the whole thing. Eighteen muggles dead. Four because of me.
The rush was incredible - holding someone else's life in your hands even if it
was just for a few minutes, and deciding what would be done to them before they
died. It was positively barbaric... and yet strangely satisfying. I suppose the
Dark Lord chose only those he suspected - or knew - would get a thrill out of
that power since they hold such little influence over society when money is not
involved.
He sighed again and tried to pay attention to the lecture on werewolves but he
just couldn't focus - and besides he had known anything about werewolves that
they would teach in the damned school anyway, from the time Christoph locked
him in a room on the night of a full moon with one. Waking up bleeding, Severus
panicked and raced to find all the information he could on werewolves. He
actually ended up learning something about them, and was relieved to find out
from one of the house elves that the blood was only from a cut. The creature
had knocked over a statuette off the table onto Severus, who was cowering half
under it.
Mmmm... I wonder why the creature didn't hurt me more that night... it
surely could have killed me - there was no way Father would have given a damn
if it did. Severus shrugged to himself, attracting some odd looks from his
fellow Slytherins, but not attracting the attention of the teacher or the Hufflepuffs,
whom Severus shared this class with. Damn school - why don't they spend more
money to hire more teachers so we wont be so crowded instead of hiring more
house elves to Malfoy can get his ass rubbed after Quidditch practice?! Oh well
- just the way the world works I guess. Speaking of the world I should really
go to the library later- The little voice in his head interrupted Oh
please like you aren't always there after classes anyway trying to find one
thing or other! Oh shut UP! I get enough shit from the world I don't
need shit from my own brain! Severus was sneering to himself, causing more
curious glances but they just turned their heads and assumed that Voldemort was
summoning him or that he had to go to the bathroom, depending on who "they"
were.
A thought came out of nowhere.
I miss Adriana...
Severus blinked several times, certainly not expecting the change of thought to
turn to that subject. Looking up at the teacher and listening for a few moments
to make sure he wasn't missing anything, he closed his eyes and decided to let
his mind take him where it will.
I want to go back in time and help her - that's such a weird feeling. I've
never wanted to help anything before in my life! I wasn't even sad when she
left because I thought she would always come back after a few years... Now she's
gone. Because of people like me. I'm one of them. And no better. Maybe this
power thing isn't so great after all... Grrr there really should just be a
democracy and a fair one - none of this "we're better than you" crap.
Doesn't help Adriana though... Speaking of which I wonder why we didn't die
that night! and why I didn't get hurt from that werewolf... maybe there's a
magical force around me? But what kind of force? Certainly not a love force,
since no one is stupid enough to do that You said it, Ugly! If you don't
shut it... Fine fine jeez I'll shut up now... Thank you. Now...
why didn't we didn't get-
*DIIIIINNNGGG*
The period was over. Everyone had packed up and were starting to leave while
Severus just blinked stupidly and shoved all his things into his bag and ran
out.
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When classes were over he did just what he said he would - headed for the
library. Straight for the history section. And looked up Dwarves.
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Hours later, way after the library closed, Severus slammed the last book shut.
Not one thing connecting this world to Middle-Earth. And who gave a damn if
Voldemort had a powerful ring or not - Severus was on his side anyway so it
didn't make any difference! And Men always die - it's the law of nature! Men
die - unless they have a certain stone. Severus' eyes widened, Maybe that
stone the tabloids were talking about really exists - and someone can live
forever!!! That would be, well it would be torture. Just think - having to live
forever because of a potion that didn't allow you to hurt yourself or others to
hurt you... Still, Severus was intrigued and decided to keep working. It
was a Friday after all and he had the whole next day to sleep.
Coming back a few minutes later with a stack of books, Severus picked up the
largest one and flipped through it quickly using a "Find" charm to
check the text. Book after book failed Severus, until there was only a thin
white book left. The book was so old that it was written by hand and the title
had been rubbed off from so many students touching it. Still, by the inches of
dust that slid out of it when Severus picked it up, he concluded that it hadn't
been read in a while. Figuring that it was too thin to bother using the charm,
Severus flipped through it by hand, skimming the pages quickly until he found a
passage that might have been of some use to him:
"For centuries, there has been a tale passed down from generation to generation
of a chosen one who was born immortal, yet to the race of Men. The child was
one who had done nothing to deserve it, yet that played such an important part
in history that, without it, things would have changed so the world would have
become a living hell. It is said that is the reason why the person was chosen
to be immortal - that even though the hero of the story could have died, it
wouldn't have been such a loss as the "Behind the Scenes" work of the
child.
The details of the gift were vague, although most of the tales tell of how the
person could live for millions of years with no outside harm being able to get
to him. Some cultures tell that a great force was within the child and that,
whenever he was in danger, the child was able to do great things. One culture
even told that the child passed on the gift to a dear friend in a moment of
great peril. The only thing that was agreed upon within all the cultures was
that there was only one way the chosen one could die - and that was if he
stabbed himself in the heart with a golden blade."
Severus sat there stunned for a while. That's it - Adriana was one of the
chosen children! That's why we didn't get hurt in the car accident! And she
must have sensed that I was in trouble or something and passed the gift to me
unconsciously when I was in that room with the beast! She saved my life!
Twice!
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Severus sat stunned for quite a long time. I can't believe it... she's
immortal! Shaking his head slightly he slipped into the shadows with the
book in his bag as he dodged Filch. Walking down the chilly corridors he realized
that he was spacing out in deep concentration, and decided to go outside rather
than get lost once again in the maze that is the Hogwarts hallways.
Crunching his way over the dying grass he sighed, and watched the ice crystals
form in front of his face for a moment. Shaking his head again and muttering
slightly to himself he began to walk along the path that led around the lake
and near the Forbidden Forest. His mind was in shock. He didn't feel the biting
wind that night, didn't see the forest creatures watching him carefully...
didn't even bother looking up to the night sky. If he had, he would have
noticed that it was the Harvest Moon, and the big bright orange sphere was
illuminating the lake, giving it an eerie glow.
Severus continued walking, trying to get his thoughts under control. As soon as
he decided that he would ask Professor Dumbledore if he knew anything about it,
he heard a twig snap. Jerking his head towards the sound he saw a little rat
darting from the edge of the path into the grass and back looking expectantly
at Severus. Severus, ever cautious, drew his wand and took a step forward
toward the rat. Squeaking, the rat continued to lead him step by step to an odd
tree Severus hadn't noticed before - the Whomping Willow.
Staring at the rat, and then at the tree, Severus froze. The branches of the
tree had started to wave wildly as soon as he had gotten within ten feet of it,
and Severus wasn't about to get pounded by a plant. The mouse gave a shuddering
squeak, catching Severus' attention again. Severus watched in amazement as the
rat ducked under the swinging branched and press a little knob on the trunk of
the tree. The branches froze, and Severus slowly stepped forward. As he did, he
saw a large hole at the base of the tree where the mouse must have disappeared
through. He was about to step forward, but instead took a step back, logic
finally seeing it's way through his brain.
What the hell am I doing?! Who knows whose rat that is, or where it's leading
me! Dammit Severus if this hasn't been the stupidest thing you have ever done I
don't even want to know the rest! Voldemort himself could be down there
waiting! Or you're father! Or maybe the Bloody Baron stays down there - with
any of those choices I'm not going to take my-
Severus' thoughts were cut off as something large, black, and furry tackled him
and sent him crashing through the hole. Limbs, both skin and fur, where one for
a moment before they were able to separate themselves. Severus was on his feet
with his wand pointed forward in a heartbeat, waiting for the unseen danger to
show itself. A low growl echoed through the cavern.
Heart pounding, Severus slowly turned around to face a giant black dog- A
Grim! - with its teeth bared and hackles raised approaching him. Severus
backed up, having read Grims are immune to magic, and he would prefer NOT to
tango with one physically. After a few minutes, Severus had a suspicious
thought.
Why am I being herded backwards?
He started to turn around when a malicious growl was emitted from the end of
the cavern. Turning fully to face the danger, Severus saw a mutated beast in a
room, illuminated by someone's wand set on "lumos". The beast's eyes
glinted madly as it snarled and stalked towards Severus. Panicking, Severus
backtracked quickly. Having never seen a Werewolf before, he was plum
terrified. A half snarl, half roar reminded him what was at the other end, and
he stood sideways against the wall to watch both creatures at once. The Grim
struck first, completely turning him over and pinning him easily to the floor.
His fangs were shape, and were sunk into Severus' leg, tearing at the muscles
and bone until the bone snapped. Severus yelled in pain, his eyes becoming
distorted, and fighting to stay conscious. The Grim gave what sounded like to
be a laugh, and backed off.
Severus, trapped on the floor, unable to move, raised his head slightly... and
found himself staring into the fangs of the second, gigantic pair of teeth
belonging to the massive, mad wolf. Easily the size of a pony, the wolf's fangs
were over an inch long, and it was drooling with a glint in its eye that could
only mean one thing: meat.
Severus screamed again and again as the thing attacked. Wounded terribly,
bloody and mangled, with a hole going through his stomach, Severus finally felt
the wolf back off. Barely opening one eye, Severus was able to make out the
Grim fighting off the wolf, actually trying to protect him. The Grim was
failing, but Severus heard a deep pounding in the floor and saw a large bulk
leap over him.
It was a magnificent stag, and it cornered the wolf using its rack of antlers.
Backing away so the Grim could pin it, the stag made its way towards Severus -
but the wolf got there first. Severus screamed one last time as he felt the
wolf's powerful jaws close around his neck... and was blinded by a flash of
light. He only caught a glimpse of its brilliance before he blacked out.
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Severus awoke to a very strange sight:
Black was sitting in the far corner looking pale and sad with traces of what
looked like ketchup on his face What the fuck...?
Pettigrew was sitting next to Sirius looking slightly smug and proud. What
an odd child...
Potter was sitting next to Lupin, who was crying and shaking looking extremely
pale and with what was clearly blood all over his face, trying to calm him
down. Ok now I'm interested...
He tried to pull himself into a sitting position and was surprised to find
himself whole... and even alive. All the events quickly flashed through his
head as he remembered, and he was silently wondering how the hell he was all
right when Dumbledore turned to him. The room went silent.
"Ahh Severus, you've decided to come back to us. I believe there should be
some explaining done to the both of us," the Headmaster announced with a
pointed look at the Gryffindors.
Lupin broke back into hysterics.
"I'm going to get expelled! I'm going to be sent to Azkaban! I'm going to
be SHOT with silver bullets! I'm going to be tortured with various silver
objects until I finally burst from the inside! SIRIUS HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO
ME?!"
Black paled still more and shouted back.
"Remus I TOLD you it was an accident! How was I supposed to know you would
go bonkers on the Harvest Moon?! How was I supposed to know that you couldn't
control yourself this one night of the year?!"
"How?! HOW?! BECAUSE I TOLD YOU SO LAST WEEK!!! I told you not to go
through with you're little prank this week because the Harvest Moon is the most
dangerous of them all - no werewolf can control himself no matter if there's an
animagi or NOT! I've been doing this since I was 6 Sirius I THINK I WOULD KNOW
WHAT HAPPENS!"
"Moony listen I'm really sorry I just wanted to-"
"NO YOU LISTEN! IT'S NOT EVEN GOING TO BE A REGULAR EXECUTION! YOU HAVE NO
IDEA WHAT'S DONE TO WEREWOLVES - NOT EVEN WEREWOLVES THAT ATTACK PEOPLE! THEY
ARE SET UP TO CAUSE AS MUCH PAIN AS POSSIBLE! THE MINISTRY DOESNT CARE, JUST
LIKE THE PEOPLE! AND GUESS WHAT SIRIUS - I HAVE YOU TO THANK FOR IT!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Dumbledore roared, and the room sat in tense silence
once again. "Now - I want the facts. As soon as your story is done with, I
will speak to each of you individually."
And so Severus and Dumbledore listened with rapt attention to their story. The
more Severus heard, the more that made sense.
They heard all about how Black, Potter, and Pettigrew found out about Lupin's Lycanthrope,
and went through the painful process of bringing him around to trust them - in
which case they slowly taught themselves to be animagi so they could stay with
Remus during his transformations. Potter was a stag Heroic Potter comes to
save the day..., Black was a big black dog the grim! I should have known
- their hair is the same! and how Pettigrew was a rat How... fitting .
They heard about Lupin's struggle to live out on the streets by himself during
the holidays because he didn't want to go to anyone's house and accept charity typical
Gryffindor therapy group... look at them hugging its sickening! . They
finally heard about Black's big prank, in which they were simply going to break
his leg to make sure he cant more, and then scare him until he pissed on
himself. Strange as it is, Severus didn't explode, even though he has a strong
gut feeling that Black knew all along that Lupin couldn't control himself and
just wanted to see him dead. I must be on some sort of medication...
After the story was out, Severus was left to himself on the couch while the
other 5 filed into Dumbledore's study for a chat. One by one they came out
looking slightly ruffled but happy none-the-less, and none of them even
bothered to insult Severus as they left. Finally, Dumbledore re-entered with a
wore-out looking Lupin. Severus stared at the floor waiting to hear the door
slam when he looked up and Lupin was looking down at him with red eyes.
"I swear I am so sorry - I've never wanted to hurt anyone. I don't even
remember what happened out there it was so out of control. I could have killed
you - I'm so sorry."
Severus just nodded his acknowledgement and watched as Lupin left the room.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and began to speak again.
"I'm sure you have questions, Severus, but allow me to explain
first." He sighed heavily. "Severus, you are Immortal. That prophesy
you read about was not about your friend, but about you. You can get hurt, yes,
but if you are ever about to be killed, you not only do not die, but, in a
brilliant flash of light as your classmates have said, you heal yourself
completely. There is no one else in the world like you anymore. You were born
Immortal, and you must stay Immortal, until you decide the time is right. I'm
sorry Severus."
Severus' mind blanked out once again, staring at the great oak desk in front of
him. Finally, he decided to confess.
"Sir... I'm a Death Eater."
Severus lifted up his sleeve and showed Dumbledore the ugly mark. Dumbledore's
face quickly turned to pity.
"I know... we do have spies, and someone said they thought you might be
one, but I denied it."
Severus shifted in his seat.
"Well, Sir, don't you think that if the dark- I mean, Voldemort god word
that I'm Immortal that he would use me to wreak havoc on the world?"
Dumbledore sighed.
"Yes, Severus that is a possibility. But, I am willing to make you an
offer, Severus. I want you to work for me as a double agent."
Severus' eyes bulged out and went out of focus as he quickly thought it over.
"It would work perfectly... they can't kill me... and I'll still be part
of it... but less people would die..." He mutters to himself.
Almost 40 minutes later Severus looked up and straight into Dumbledore's eyes.
"I'll do it."
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Saturday / Sunday -
My first night as a double agent. No one suspects a thing. I think this will
actually work. I can't write more - In fact I'm going to destroy this whole
diary just so people don't find it and figure it out. I still have to be
Voldemort's slave, but I'm doing it for the better. Dumbledore made me realize
just how evil he really is, and now it takes all my will power not to throw up
when I see Voldemort.
I'm slowly starting to accept that fact that I'm Immortal. As well as living
forever, I now rest in the fine line between good and evil, with no friends on
either side. But that's ok. It's always been this way. I'll survive. The one
thing I know is that this is my life now, and I must finish what I have
started, no matter what... just like Frodo =)
~Severus Snape
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THE END!!!
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There WILL be an epilogue! This wasn't meant to be such a long fic but I'm
happy the way it turned out! The next part will be an epilogue and it will be
about 30 or 40 years from this point in the future. ^_____^ wazzzaaa! Little
things like added sentences might be changed ones I check the grammar and
spelling and story line, ya know smoothing things out, but this is the gist of
it... and then the epilogue of course! I hope you liked it! Please leave a
comment! Pwetty pwease! With sugar on top! *hugs all and hands out gummy bears
for being such troopers* I lurve you all! And special thanks to SAR, who's the
best beta ever, Al, for helping me with names, and Rachel for just putting up
with my insanity for all these years =P