A/N: Sorry it took me so long to write this chapter, moving house takes up
a lot of time, god bless the holidays! I have some reviews, 8 I think at
the moment, but please, would you mind reviewing each chapter as I go? I
want to know what you all think, if you have any good ideas for the story
line, if you pick up mistakes, if you liked it or even if you hated it. I
would like to thank those of you who have reviewed it (Rach, Sarah, Lara,
Jess), it is people like you who help me to continue writing.
Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine (as usual) they all belong to JK Rowling, only the story line is my own.
Snape re-awoke in the warm bed in the hospital wing. He sat up abruptly hoping that with movement & awareness of reality, the visions & memories with had plagued his sleep through the night would fade. They didn't. They were swirling in his consciousness and forcing him to remember. He heard a bustle & saw Madam Pomfrey walk in carrying a large tray of food.
"Ah, you're awake, good, good! I brought your breakfast for you," she announced as she handed the tray to the Professor. "It should help you to get your strength back. From what I've heard, you've been through a lot lately, com'on, eat up."
Snape eyed the meal suspiciously. It looked okay he supposed. Warm toast with some kind of golden spread, a mug of hot chocolate & two chocolate frogs. This made even Snape grin. Madam Pomfrey, seeing the approval on Snape's face, cheerfully hurried away to attend to some other patients.
When Snape had finished his breakfast Dumbledore arrived for a visit & a chat.
"How are you my boy?" Dumbledore asked in a fatherly manner.
Snape didn't know if he liked being talked to in such a way, but on the other hand, it did make him feel secure, so he merely replied "As well as can be expected."
Dumbledore prompted Snape to eat his chocolate frogs, to which, Snape happily complied.
"I've been thinking, Severus, this presence…it seems to come only to you." Dumbledore concluded.
"No, don't forget young Potter, he felt it too" Snape reminded defensively.
"Ah, yes, but, it was only when he was with you, he hasn't sensed it at any other time, and, it didn't torment him it the way it did to you" Dumbledore clarified.
Snape realised he was right, the presence seemed only to be interested in him! But why? He couldn't figure it out. Obviously, it had some connection to his past, as it seemed that every time he had any contact with it, he would fall into a trance-like state and remember so much that he had chosen to forget. Maybe it was Voldermort? Maybe it was James?! Snape went ghostly pale at this thought, so Dumbledore suggested that Snape go out for a walk to get some fresh air. Give himself some time so sift through his thoughts in solitude.
Snape went and changed into his robes. Madam Pomfrey had agreed that a little fresh air would do him good. Snape was ready & walked swiftly outside, into the grounds, his black cloak swishing as it was forced to keep up with his fast pace. Snape walked through the gardens, past the green houses, and past the Whomping Willow, down to the lake. He sat down on the grass and listened to the birds singing and the water lapping gently on the dark rocks, which were a great contrast to the pale blue of the lake. The sun caught a ripple on the water, causing the glaring light to flicker onto Snape's pensive face. He quickly glanced up to find the source of the flash, looking to the rippling lake. He stood and walked over to it, so as to see what beautiful creatures where swimming in it this day. Snape bent over the tranquil lake & was caught off guard by his reflection & stumbled back. 'Stupid, so absolutely Stupid!' He cursed his own lack of realisation. He steadied himself on his feet and looked back in the water, this time expecting to see his own reflection. He did. He was appalled be his own ugliness, it disgusted even himself. His hooked nose looking excessively large for his thin face. His sallow skin traced the sharp outline off his easily definable bones. His eyes were dark, and Snape could recognise some of the same emptiness he had seen in James' eyes when he was working for Voldermort. This actually made him sad, to know how awful he seemed. Although, he knew why he looked that way, it was from his time spent serving Voldermort, it had drained him, his soul was now only half of what it had been, and it hurt him to know this. His reflection became easier to look at as he held its gaze. Maybe it was just that he hadn't really looked at it properly for so long and he was just getting use to it. But…no, his reflection was changing, growing younger & healthier looking. Snape was confused and amazed, what was it doing? What was causing this reaction? Then he saw Lily's reflection in the water beside him, young, beautiful, alive…He watched as they both faded and as another scene appeared…
Severus could now only feel complete hate radiating from James, there was no longer any of his friend left, it was entirely overtaken by Voldermort. Severus looked up at the leader, wearing no hood, revealing the face of Voldermort, who was glaring down at him. "You say you are good at potions, eh? Well, you'd better start being useful right now! What ingredients would I need to make a potion strong enough to kill a person and banish their spirit?"
Severus didn't like the sound of that at all so he contemplated lying to Voldermort.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you!" warned Voldermort, as if reading Severus's mind.
"I'm not exactly sure what would be necessary, I do not believe such a potion exist as yet, so I would need time to collect many different ingredient and experiment" Severus replied matter-of-factly.
"Alright…go, find your ingredients. I want this potion soon!" Snape turned to walk away when Voldermort thundered "WAIT! I know how people like you think, come back here."
Voldermort then beckoned one of the hooded figures, who complied instantly.
"Inscribe my mark on his left wrist, so if he does run," Voldermort continued, more for Severus's benefit than anyone elses. "No one will trust him, and so I may find him where ever he is."
The hooded figure walked over to Severus & grabbed his wrist. His skin was cold & scaly. The figure revealed his hand, one fingernail reaching far longer than the others did & forming a sharp gray point at the end. The figure placed his fingernail on Severus's wrist, and began to scratch out the Dark Mark. Severus's face twisted in pain, his reflexes told him to pull his hand away, but, although he tried, the grip the figure had on his wrist was far too strong. Finally his hand was released. Severus stared at his wrist, comprehending what had just been drawn. His wrist was bleeding, but now the blood was gray. Severus could feel the change already, he knew he had to stay. The Dark Mark tied him to these people….
A movement in the water caused Snape's mind to come charging back to the present. Still staring at his reflection, he still looked young. Snape blinked and his reflection had changed again, back to being old and worn down. Snape sat back down on the grass, his mind running over the newly released memories. They were hard for him to deal with, that was why he had suppressed them to begin with. He wasn't as strong as people thought he was, his only strength was his weakness. He had to act the way he did, cruel and sadistic, to protect if weak and broken self. Snape held his wrist out in front of himself, so he could observe the Dark Mark that still resided on his wrist. He couldn't stop himself, he started to violently cry, hugging his knees close to his chest, rocking gently forwards and backwards to comfort himself. Then he felt it…the coldness…it was around his shoulders. This coldness frightened him, his fear powered his tears, and he sat there and continued crying, letting out so much emotion that he had suppressed these past years. The coldness moved gently up and down his back, as a friend would, for comfort. Snape's tears finally subsided, and he was aware of the coldness still there…next to him. Snape was prepared not to see anything as he turned to face the presence, but this time, there was more than just mere air…
Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine (as usual) they all belong to JK Rowling, only the story line is my own.
Snape re-awoke in the warm bed in the hospital wing. He sat up abruptly hoping that with movement & awareness of reality, the visions & memories with had plagued his sleep through the night would fade. They didn't. They were swirling in his consciousness and forcing him to remember. He heard a bustle & saw Madam Pomfrey walk in carrying a large tray of food.
"Ah, you're awake, good, good! I brought your breakfast for you," she announced as she handed the tray to the Professor. "It should help you to get your strength back. From what I've heard, you've been through a lot lately, com'on, eat up."
Snape eyed the meal suspiciously. It looked okay he supposed. Warm toast with some kind of golden spread, a mug of hot chocolate & two chocolate frogs. This made even Snape grin. Madam Pomfrey, seeing the approval on Snape's face, cheerfully hurried away to attend to some other patients.
When Snape had finished his breakfast Dumbledore arrived for a visit & a chat.
"How are you my boy?" Dumbledore asked in a fatherly manner.
Snape didn't know if he liked being talked to in such a way, but on the other hand, it did make him feel secure, so he merely replied "As well as can be expected."
Dumbledore prompted Snape to eat his chocolate frogs, to which, Snape happily complied.
"I've been thinking, Severus, this presence…it seems to come only to you." Dumbledore concluded.
"No, don't forget young Potter, he felt it too" Snape reminded defensively.
"Ah, yes, but, it was only when he was with you, he hasn't sensed it at any other time, and, it didn't torment him it the way it did to you" Dumbledore clarified.
Snape realised he was right, the presence seemed only to be interested in him! But why? He couldn't figure it out. Obviously, it had some connection to his past, as it seemed that every time he had any contact with it, he would fall into a trance-like state and remember so much that he had chosen to forget. Maybe it was Voldermort? Maybe it was James?! Snape went ghostly pale at this thought, so Dumbledore suggested that Snape go out for a walk to get some fresh air. Give himself some time so sift through his thoughts in solitude.
Snape went and changed into his robes. Madam Pomfrey had agreed that a little fresh air would do him good. Snape was ready & walked swiftly outside, into the grounds, his black cloak swishing as it was forced to keep up with his fast pace. Snape walked through the gardens, past the green houses, and past the Whomping Willow, down to the lake. He sat down on the grass and listened to the birds singing and the water lapping gently on the dark rocks, which were a great contrast to the pale blue of the lake. The sun caught a ripple on the water, causing the glaring light to flicker onto Snape's pensive face. He quickly glanced up to find the source of the flash, looking to the rippling lake. He stood and walked over to it, so as to see what beautiful creatures where swimming in it this day. Snape bent over the tranquil lake & was caught off guard by his reflection & stumbled back. 'Stupid, so absolutely Stupid!' He cursed his own lack of realisation. He steadied himself on his feet and looked back in the water, this time expecting to see his own reflection. He did. He was appalled be his own ugliness, it disgusted even himself. His hooked nose looking excessively large for his thin face. His sallow skin traced the sharp outline off his easily definable bones. His eyes were dark, and Snape could recognise some of the same emptiness he had seen in James' eyes when he was working for Voldermort. This actually made him sad, to know how awful he seemed. Although, he knew why he looked that way, it was from his time spent serving Voldermort, it had drained him, his soul was now only half of what it had been, and it hurt him to know this. His reflection became easier to look at as he held its gaze. Maybe it was just that he hadn't really looked at it properly for so long and he was just getting use to it. But…no, his reflection was changing, growing younger & healthier looking. Snape was confused and amazed, what was it doing? What was causing this reaction? Then he saw Lily's reflection in the water beside him, young, beautiful, alive…He watched as they both faded and as another scene appeared…
Severus could now only feel complete hate radiating from James, there was no longer any of his friend left, it was entirely overtaken by Voldermort. Severus looked up at the leader, wearing no hood, revealing the face of Voldermort, who was glaring down at him. "You say you are good at potions, eh? Well, you'd better start being useful right now! What ingredients would I need to make a potion strong enough to kill a person and banish their spirit?"
Severus didn't like the sound of that at all so he contemplated lying to Voldermort.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you!" warned Voldermort, as if reading Severus's mind.
"I'm not exactly sure what would be necessary, I do not believe such a potion exist as yet, so I would need time to collect many different ingredient and experiment" Severus replied matter-of-factly.
"Alright…go, find your ingredients. I want this potion soon!" Snape turned to walk away when Voldermort thundered "WAIT! I know how people like you think, come back here."
Voldermort then beckoned one of the hooded figures, who complied instantly.
"Inscribe my mark on his left wrist, so if he does run," Voldermort continued, more for Severus's benefit than anyone elses. "No one will trust him, and so I may find him where ever he is."
The hooded figure walked over to Severus & grabbed his wrist. His skin was cold & scaly. The figure revealed his hand, one fingernail reaching far longer than the others did & forming a sharp gray point at the end. The figure placed his fingernail on Severus's wrist, and began to scratch out the Dark Mark. Severus's face twisted in pain, his reflexes told him to pull his hand away, but, although he tried, the grip the figure had on his wrist was far too strong. Finally his hand was released. Severus stared at his wrist, comprehending what had just been drawn. His wrist was bleeding, but now the blood was gray. Severus could feel the change already, he knew he had to stay. The Dark Mark tied him to these people….
A movement in the water caused Snape's mind to come charging back to the present. Still staring at his reflection, he still looked young. Snape blinked and his reflection had changed again, back to being old and worn down. Snape sat back down on the grass, his mind running over the newly released memories. They were hard for him to deal with, that was why he had suppressed them to begin with. He wasn't as strong as people thought he was, his only strength was his weakness. He had to act the way he did, cruel and sadistic, to protect if weak and broken self. Snape held his wrist out in front of himself, so he could observe the Dark Mark that still resided on his wrist. He couldn't stop himself, he started to violently cry, hugging his knees close to his chest, rocking gently forwards and backwards to comfort himself. Then he felt it…the coldness…it was around his shoulders. This coldness frightened him, his fear powered his tears, and he sat there and continued crying, letting out so much emotion that he had suppressed these past years. The coldness moved gently up and down his back, as a friend would, for comfort. Snape's tears finally subsided, and he was aware of the coldness still there…next to him. Snape was prepared not to see anything as he turned to face the presence, but this time, there was more than just mere air…