Dumbledore worried about his Potions Master. Snape had hardly been seen about the school in several days. Those who did see him said that he shifted about in the shadows as if avoiding being seen. He had shifted from being merely quiet to shunning human contact. He had knocked on his chamber door and been met only by his voice, sounding worn and tired, telling him through the thick door that he was merely tired and wished some privacy for a little while.
"Severus, open the door. I'm worried for you."
The door opened and Dumbledore entered the room. Snape was sitting near his fireplace, a glass of wine in his hands. He looked up at the Headmaster. His eyes were red and bloodshot.
"Good evening Severus."
"Would you like a drink?"
"No, thank you." He sat in the chair next to him and stole a closer look. His skin was ashen. His clothes were uncharacteristically wrinkled, and from the smell, he hadn't changed them lately. He raised the glass to his lips and drank heavily. "Severus, are you okay? I've never known you to drink like this."
"She's alive, Albus. I've been watching her. It's Medea. Every like quirk. Every little habit. It's her."
"But you, yourself, said-"
"I know what I said," he snapped. "There's no other explanation. I don't know how it happened, but that's her." He refilled his glass, setting the empty bottle at his feet where Dumbledore noticed another bottle on its side. "I need to talk to her. I need to be sure. I need to know what happened."
"Not in this condition, Severus. I won't allow it."
"Tomorrow then." He tossed his glass of wine into the flames of fire. The glass shattered against the back of the fireplace. The flames rose, fed by the alcohol.
"What happened to you?" Dumbledore asked. "Tell me the rest of your story."
Snape sunk low in his seat. "She was wonderful," he said. "I spent every moment I was not with you or Voldemort with her. She was my Avalon, my haven. I loved her more than anything. After Voldemort disappeared, I thought we were safe. I was going to marry her. I gave her a ring, my mother's. She gave me a small silver one she had always worn. I wore it around my neck on a chain. She was everything to me."
"What happened?"
"I broke a promise."
"What promise was that?"
"That I would always come back to her. That night, the night I proposed, I was arrested by the Ministry. I spent six months in Azkaban. Six months! She never knew what happened to me."
"You should have told me."
Snape stared up at him. "I couldn't have. If anyone would have found out about her, they would have killed her because of me. I didn't know if you would tell them I was a spy. If anyone found out-"
"I understand."
Snape held his eyes. Then nodded.
"She never knew where I was all that time. Not until she saw in the papers that I would be tried. She came to the trial. Probably went through one of her father's old friends to get in. But when I was released into your custody afterwards, I went to see her. I know I wasn't supposed to. You trusted me and I broke that, but I had to see her."
Dumbledore was grieved at the thought, but remained silent. He wanted to hear the story.
"She was at home when I found her."
Snape apparated outside her door, uneasy about simply appearing inside after so long away. The door opened slightly before slamming open. Medea flew through the doorway into his arms. He held her, but reminded himself grimly why he came as she led him inside.
"I was so worried," she was saying. "I thought the worst after a few days, and then when I didn't hear about your death, I thought you'd run away. But Jaken showed me the paper about your trial. Oh god, Sev, I'm sorry I left. I couldn't bear to see you like that!"
"Settle down, Medea."
"But you're free now. Is it safe?"
"No, it's not." He had to will himself to take his arms from around her.
"Shall I pack then? We'll go away. They'll never find you."
Snape steeled himself for what he knew he had to do.
"I can't, Medea. I can't leave. I was convicted of being a Death Eater and am in the custody of my Headmaster. He saved my life. I cannot leave him to the Ministry if I disappear."
"But Severus." He had to look away when she tried to search his eyes. "What does this mean?" she asked softly.
"It means that I will go to him. And you will stay here. It's the only way."
"No, it is not the only way! I'll go with you! Explain it to him! Tell him we're engaged! He has to understand!"
"That's not fair to you, and I do not know what is in store for me. I don't know that you will be safe."
"Safe? Safe! How dare you make this an issue of being safe! I waited for you all those nights, every night fearing you were found out and murdered! Every night! What you were doing was not safe, but we found a way around it! And now you're telling me, when He's probably dead, that it's not safe anymore! How dare you!" She tried to slap him as hard as she could, but he grabbed her wrist before she could reach him.
"Medea," he said as calmly as he could. "I was a spy against one of the most powerful and deadly wizards to ever live. If the wrong people find out, they will kill me and you will be a widow. Or worse, they could come after you to get to me. I cannot have that. You must keep your distance from me."
She was crying. He wanted to take her into his arms and say he was sorry. Tell her they would go away together, but he knew he couldn't. He released her and she fell to the ground.
"It would have been easier if you'd have never come back," she sobbed. "I could have believed you didn't love me. Or that you had lost your soul in that- that prison! Why couldn't you just say that you hated me?" Snape could only watch her as she lay crumpled, crying on the floor. "Please say you hate me."
He could only stand there, willing himself to say it, but unable to form the words.
"I-" The words would not come. She stared up at him, her eyes glassy with tears. He had to leave now or he never would. He pulled her ring from under his robes and removed the chain from his neck, laying it on the table next to her.
"I'm sorry." He disapparated hearing a fresh wave of sobs.
"I hated myself for leaving her behind like that. I returned the next-" He was interrupted by a knock at the door. Minerva appeared.
"Professor Dumbledore? I'm sorry to interrupt, but I've been looking everywhere for you."
"What is it?"
"It's Arthur Weasley. He says they've found her brother."