Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Harry Potter world, even the apprenticeship thing isn't mine, I first read it in The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Jacquez. The story is really good, so I strongly suggest you go read it: http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=687280

The rating is just for language, but I don't really know, it probably could be jus PG… oh well, tell me what you think if you want… does anyone head to ratings anyway (unless it's NC-17…)?

Chapter 2: Stupid Acts of Courage

No thought was involved as I scooped Potter up and ran as fast as I could to the school. He felt dead in my arms, though he was surprisingly light. The only thing going through my head during my dash was a constant string of colourful words. But when I reached the giant doors and flung myself inside, I was over come by the memory of the last time I had carried Potter thus.

*** flash back ***

End of Harry's 7th year

It was 2:30 am when I was summoned to go see Albus in his office. I let myself in and waited for him to enter. He did so 5 minutes later, 5 minutes late. This did not help my temper. So I glared at him as he entered. I was about to add words to my stare but behind him entered the most arrogant, stupid, self-centered child I had ever met.

"What is the meaning of this Albus?" I demanded not as calmly as I had wished.

"Not to worry Severus, I'll explain in a moment. Lemon drop?" He replied grinning with that usual twinkle in his eye. I just glared. 'That twinkle was never a good sign.' He turned to the prat. "Please sit down, Harry." As Potter sat, The Headmaster walked around behind his desk. I opened my mouth once more to demand an explanation, but was cut off by it.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news." He started, the twinkle in his eye a little dimmer 'I suppose the lack of it isn't either though.' "One of our own has been kidnapped." 'Oh great. Why can't people be more careful?' "Harry, I'm sorry but Voldemort is holding Sirius in Malfoy's dungeons, of that much I am sure" 'The first good piece of news all day!' I would have laughed had Albus not been there. The boy next to me however, didn't share my sense of humour. He gasped and started to bombard the Headmaster with foolish questions.

"How do you know? How is he? How long has be been there? How are you going to get him out? Is he okay? Is he …" 'child.' I scolded, treating the word as always like an insult.

"Pardon me, Albus, but why exactly does this concern me?" I asked less than politely.

"In time, all in time. First of all, I keep my sources secret for security reasons, Harry, but I assure you the information is truthful. Unfortunately, I have no idea of his status. And as for how were are going to retrieve him, that is the answer to your question, Severus."

"What?! I have to risk my life and my cover for that bloody bastard?" I could hear Potter growl at me, 'ha! Did he really expect me to go save his mutt friend? Stupid child.' "I have more important things to do with my time then-"

"Save someone who risked their life to save you?" 'Damn that child! Has he no respect?!'

"Watch your mouth boy, and don't interrupt me! 5 points from Griffindor!"

"You'd take points away for telling the truth!?"

"For interrupting a professor and not showing any respect!"

"Why should I? You never show it to any one else?!"

"Maybe it hasn't crossed your mind that not many other people deserve my respect!"

"So you're a greasy git and a self centered bastard!"

"100 points from-!"

"Is that your response to everything!?"

"What's the harm of exerting my power, Potter?"

"So that's where Voldemort got it! I had no idea you were so influential!"

"My being a spy is one of the only things keeping you alive!"

"And I suppose that the fact that I've met Voldemort 9 times and lived with no help from you has slipped your mind?"

"You'd be dead without me, Potter!"

"I don't need nor want you to protect me!"

"Are you really as stupid as your father? Too much pride to admit when you need help?"

"Smart enough to know who to get help from! And don't talk about my father!"

"Without saying his royal highness and bowing first, you mean? It's sick the way you idealize him! He was an immature brat with too little sense to keep out of trouble!"

"And you were an angel I assume?!"

"I was smart enough not to get caught."

"But not smart enough to chose your friends wisely? My God Severus, Malfoy had that down by the beginning of first year!"

"And I suppose you find your friendship with Longbottom an act of pure genius!"

"I'd rather an incompetent then a murderer!"

"You dare call me a Murderer?!"

"If the shoe fits."

"Then I suppose you'd prefer Pettigrew to Black?"

"Sirius didn't kill anyone, Pettigrew did."

"Not proven!"

"So you trust Fudge's judgment over Professor Dumbledore's? From Dark Lord to Dumb Lord I suppose."

"At least I don't fancy myself a Lord."

"At least I don't go around facilitating the death of an ally's best friend!"

"Voldemort could have and would have killed the weakling without me!"

"So you helped him, even though you didn't need to?! Jumped at the chance to kill him!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Albus bellowed. "Severus stop being childish, and Harry you should show more respect for your professor!"

"Sorry, sir" the insolent boy mumbled, but not to me. I just glared at the both of them.

"Severus, I'm sorry, but I must ask you to do this. Firstly, Sirius knows important information that we cannot let Voldemort get a hold of. And secondly, all my agents are away on tasks and will not make it back on time, you and Harry are the only ones left." 'WHAT!?'

"Myself and Potter?! He's an incompetent child! Surely you don't mean to say that-"

"I do. You cannot and will not do this alone. Harry, you and Severus will leave tom-"

"Albus! I haven't given my consent yet and never will!"

"I'm sorry you feel that way Severus" The old man took a deep breath and started again in a very official and commanding voice. "As Leader of The Order of the Phoenix and Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I, Albus Dumbledor, order you, Severus Snape, to go on this mission, based on the pledges you gave me upon induction into The Order of the Phoenix and The Hogwarts teaching staff. I'm sorry, but you have no choice." 'No! Dumbledore you will regret this! You give me no choice. But know this! You have called upon my oath; you know you can do that but once! After this, only my will binds me; and that may not last long at all! … Damn that mangy mutt!' I dared not say a word of my thoughts while Albus was in such a mood though, so I glared my sentiments at him; and proceeded to answer him instinctively, in the voice I previously used only with Voldemort.

"Yes, Headmaster."

"Good. Now as I was saying…"

There was a soft knock on my door.

"Enter." Potter came in, looking quite nervous, this was him first mission, 'Lucky me.'. "You are late. 5 points from Gryffindor." 'Hah. That took care of his nerves.' Harry was glaring at me now.

"Your robes are on the chair, put them on." He walked over to the chair and I saw his hand hover over them, hesitating. I couldn't blame him, but I did anyway, "we don't have all day, Potter." I hissed as went to my study.

When I came back a chill traveled up my spine. There standing before me was the savior of the light, dressed in the shroud of the dark. I felt all hope being sucked out of me as he looked up at me, green eyes glistening, he looked sad and frightened and so young.

"Oh god." I breathed a little to loudly; I knew he had heard me. 'We cannot dwell, not tonight.' I put on my mask of annoyed indifference. "You've made us late. Come on." At that we slipped out a secret passage from my chambers to the forbidden forest. "If anything should happen, Potter, apparate back here, and unless you are hurt. Stay. Here." I said very firmly. Most wizards Potter's age didn't yet know how to apparate, and were in fact not allowed to, but Albus had gotten him special permission, as he was such a special boy. 'Humph.' "We will apparate to the back of Malfoy's mansion." I wasn't sure if he had been there before, but since he nodded I assumed he had.

Once there, Potter and I hid behind a tree.

"Put your mask on and follow me." I whispered. He nodded and did so. Luckily as a deatheater and one of Malfoy's friends, I knew that there was a secret entrance… he had truly been foolish to show me it really, but that was his problem, not mine. I tapped on all the appropriate places and we got in without incident.

"I'm amazed, Potter. You haven't managed to screw anything up yet. I suppose you'd like another medal?" I whispered sarcastically, knowing he wouldn't answer, due to out environment. We walked along the tunnel in silence all the way to the main hallway where I exited first, making sure the coast was clear. It was. All I heard was the din of conversation in the distance. I had avidly protested going on that particular night, since Voldemort had called a plenary meeting just a few doors away. Albus had argued that it would be perfect timing since everyone would be at the meeting, and not guarding Sirius' cell, and I could always claim that there was an Order meeting that I had to attend that night. This was true, but if we were heard or seen, we'd never get out alive, it was double or nothing. 'I hate gambling.' I thought as I resignedly opened the door for Potter and motioned him to follow. I knew this place much too well for my own liking and so found my way to the dungeon stairs quite quickly and easily. Surprisingly, Potter managed to keep up, and moved quite silently as well. "I suppose all those midnight rule-breaking escapades has taught you how to be silent." My remark could have been taken as a complement if my tone had been less venomous. 'But where was the fun in that?'

Some time later we were passing by mostly empty cells as we walked through the dank maze-like dungeons. Finally though, we got to an occupied one, and sure enough, it was the mutt, in human form. Potter was at the bars in an instant.

"Sirius! Sirius, it's me Harry!" There was no reply. "Sirius, are you okay?" The boy was smart enough to keep his voice down, but it wasn't really low enough.

"Shut your mouth!" I whispered venomously "I'll work on the lock while you stand guard. Here." I thrust a radar-looking devise into his hands. "If you see a blip on the screen, it means someone magical is in range, if so, tell me immediately. Hopefully you can do that, can't you, Potter?"

"Fine. Just get him out." He growled.

"Humph." I turned around and looked at the lock, it was difficult to say the least. 10 minutes later though, I was figuring it out and was about halfway there. I moved onto the next security level and tried the combination of spells I had been using so far. The lock suddenly clicked, but did not open, not a good sign. 'Shit.'

"Professor! There's somebody coming" Potter whispered to me. 'Well of course there is. I just set off the alarm on the lock' I thought, damning myself for my carelessness.

"Oh really? I'm so proud of your observation skills!" I said, my voce dripping with sarcasm. "Next time, do try to add useful information to obvious statements, Potter, how many there are, for example." I hissed.

"At least 12, there may be more coming."

"Damn it." This was not good. I set back to work on the lock, no sense in wasting time.

"Agreed, Sir." There was a pause before Potter continued. "How close are you to opening the lock?"

I didn't trust him to think up a plan, but since I was still busy, I decided to humour him, and then point out his stupid mistakes. "10 to 12 minutes."

"They look to be 6 minutes away…" he paused, thinking. "Fine. Professor you work on the lock, until they arrive I'll work on shielding and enhancements for us. When they get here you will still have 4 to 6 minutes left of work. My shields will hold them off completely for 3 minutes, no more, no less. I can hold them off and guard you until you open the lock. The lock is your first priority, block out everything else until you finish that, then help me. With the cell open we can make a faster get away, and hopefully avoid another load of deatheaters." He looked to me sincerely when he had finished.

"We'll never get out of here alive." I sighed as I continued fighting with the lock "Firstly, Potter, I doubt your wards will be strong enough to stand for more then 10 seconds. Secondly, there is no way you could ever hold of 12 fully trained deatheaters all at once, not to mention for 2 minutes." 'You are so arrogantly stupid, Potter, it amazes me. Bravo.' I added silently. His answer came swift and firm.

"Trust me."

I scoffed before finishing out conversation, "fine, get us all killed." Then sarcastically, "you are the savior of the light after all, what you say is law." The boy growled at me then started casting his spells and charms and what not, as I, all to happily, tuned him and the world out.

5 minutes later

"They're here professor!" The boy told me, a touch of panic in his voice, a touch too much. 'So this is it. Damn mutt.'

"Am I supposed to care? The lock is my first priority, remember?"

"Just thought you might like to know, professor." He uttered through clenched teeth.

"Humph. You're a big boy now right, Potter? I trust I won't have to intervene to save your pathetic life once again before I'm done?"

"Just work on the lock." He ordered, obviously frustrated, as he turned to hex the now present attackers. As requested I tuned out the world and just worked on that damned little lock. I was at the last level 10 minutes later, although I had no idea of the time. I had unlocked the blasted thing so far with codes and a few complex spells but the last level was different. 'Think like a Malfoy!' I yelled to myself, irritated that it was taking so long. 'Humph. Of course, a Malfoy's a Malfoy.' I thought smugly as the answer finally came to me.

"Open," I commanded to the lock in my most Malfoy-esk voice "for I am Lucius Malfoy, purer than any other blood and second in command to The Dark Lord. Open!" And sure enough the bloody thing creaked open.

"Finally." I sighed as I turned around ready to fend of the deatheaters. I was just in time to catch a semi-unconscious Potter who was being thrown back by a particularly nasty banishing spell. I was just surprised he was still alive.

"You're 4 minutes late." He mumbled before slumping in my hold.

"Shit." The next minute was a flurry of spells and hexes being thrown and dodged, until the boy finally woke up.

"About time!" A yelled angrily.

"Sorry." He muttered as he got up from the floor were I had deposited him. "Sir! Expilliarmus at 10 o'clock!" He warned. 'Shit.' I dodged both that and another curse before continuing the battle and yelling at Potter.

"This is not good, boy!"

"I have an idea, Sir! But…"

"But what?!" He sounded more like a prat then usual.

"Well I haven't tried this before!"

"I doubt this is the time for test runs, Potter!"

"We've no choice! Cover me!"

"What!?" 'Damn that infernal child!' No sooner had he ducked behind me to gather concentration, he scurried back out and held out his wand. 'Oh hell, what now?'

"Omnie-Expilliarmus!" He commanded. I was surprised to say the least, by the power in Potter's voice, but also by the outcome of the spell. Immediately, all of their wands flew over to him, but he didn't bother catching them, he was already onto the next spell.

"OMNIE-STUPEFY!" He said even more forcefully this time, which was logical since the spell did require more energy. The outcome was again not logical though, since once he finished the intricacies of the spell, they were all stupefied.

"What in the world, Potter?" I demanded, but he ignored me and prepared himself for the next spell, obviously more difficult then the last two.

"Omnie Mitto Phoenix Nest" He said more calmly but still very powerfully.

"What the…?" I asked as all 12 deatheaters disappeared into thin air. "Potter! Explain yourself!" I demanded again.

"Not now professor, we've got to get out, then I'll tell you." He said firmly, although weakly.

"Fine." He was right after all, as much as I loathed to admit it. So we entered the cell, and I picked up the mutt (Harry looked as if the weight would kill him. He was having enough trouble walking as it was.)

"Can you apparate?" I asked, he did look quite drained, and now puzzled as well.

"Of course, but aren't there anti-apparition wards or something?" 'Well look who's clever!' I thought sarcastically.

"Really, Potter, would I have asked if there were? No, Malfoy's too proud." He chuckled at this. "Apparate back to were I told you, and wait there! I don't want to have to play find the Potter! Now go!" At that he apparated back to the Forbidden Forest, leaving me behind to concentrate on the more complex task of double-apparation.

When I arrived with the mutt, Potter had already been there sometime. In the moonlight, with his mask off, I could see that he looked a lot better, but his expression was pensive. I was terribly curious though, and you never keep a Snape waiting.

"What, exactly, did you do with those deatheaters, Potter?"

"Hum?" he looked up at me, confused. "Oh, that." He started distractedly, "Professor Dumbledore gave me permission to drop divination so I could work on it. It's a variation adaptable to most spells so that they can be used on many people at once. It's pretty complicated and takes a lot of power, but I taught it to Professor Dumbledore… I'm sure he'll teach it to you when you get back." He paused and added as an after thought, "the last spell I used is also a variation, however its much more difficult. It's like apparation except you apparate someone else instead of your self… sounds easier then it is, though. I apparated the deatheaters into the Headmaster's office." He added, still completely distracted by whatever was going on in Potter Land.

"Would you mind looking at me when I talk to you, Potter? Or is what ever you are thinking about more important then the house cup?" I implied, I was quite impressed by his work, but decided to criticize instead of complement him. At my venomous tone he looked up, totally not registering what I had just said. "Do these spells impede the use of your brain as well, Potter?"

"Oh, sorry sir, no its just…" He trailed off.

"For once just finish your damn sentence will you!"

"Right. Sorry." He glared at me, then mumbled to himself something about not wasting anymore time. 'He's finally gone loony. Wonderful.'

"I-" he looked down at the crumpled man in my arms. "I'm going to end it."

"You mean- Are you really that stupid?!" He cut me off by looking up at me, eyes blazing with assuredness and conviction.

"I won't allow him to continue hurting people. Besides it's the perfect opportunity. Voldemort just lost 12 deatheaters. He'll have the rest of them out looking for them, and us. I can apparate to the main chamber and find Voldemort. Once inside I'll challenge him to a duel, but not before barricading all the other deatheaters out. If I win, I'll apparate back here, if not…" he trailed off, but them looked in my eyes, completely serious. "That won't happen." I had to admit he had a point, sort of. I would never have let him go if it weren't for the calmness and that damned assurance in his eyes.

"That's one way to get rid of you I suppose." I drawled, but he got the message. He nodded and turned, then chuckled and faced me.

"He's going to want to kill you for letting me go you know." He chuckled motioning towards the limp body in my arms.

"What else is new?" I sighed. He paused for a moment, and then looked me in the eyes, as if evaluating me.

"Don't let him." He judged seriously.

'Wait!' I yelled inwardly as the words sunk in, but he was already gone. 'What was I thinking, letting him go like that? He couldn't even handle 12 deatheaters for more then 5 minutes! Now he's taking on Voldemort?! He'll be dead by morning, if not sooner… Humph. Why do I care what he does with his life?' I scoffed as I turned to head up to the castle. 'I won't need to worry about Black. He's dead after all' I sighed as I realized we had risked our lives for a dead man, then chuckled sadly 'Albus is another matter though….'

(A.N. take a brake now, go eat some cookies! I would've made the rest another chap… but I didn't think it would be good to break up a flash back)

"Albus…?" I trailed off as I entered his office, the mutt recently deposited in the hospital wing, Poppy of course eyeing me suspiciously about bringing her a dead Black.

"Severus?" He entered the room, and looked at me apprehensively, "how did it go? I received the *ehem* gifts you sent… but other then that?" He sounded like he was afraid to ask.

"We retrieved Black, he was already dead, though. I don't know if they got him to talk, Poppy's testing him now for remnants of veritaserum" At the news his face fell.

"I- I see…" He fell heavily into his chair, holding his face in his hands. "Damn it." He muttered then looked up at me, remembering something. "How's Harry? Where is he?" He asked slowly. I blanched 'Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.' He noticed my change in expression and looked now more sad and worried. "Is he hurt? Did he return to Hogwarts?" 'Oh god help me.'

"As far as I know, he isn't hurt" 'yet.' "He did come back to Hogwarts-"

"How is he?" he interrupted sadly.

"Albus, I need to tell you something." He looked up at me, confusion, sorrow and worry clearly etched into his face.

"Upon returning, Harry decided- he wanted to end it. He didn't- didn't want anyone else to get hurt. I…" 'Damn it! What can I say?! Oh hell! Damn. Damn .Damn.' "I tried to stop him, Albus, but he wouldn't listen! The little prat just left before I could talk some sense into him! He left also be fore I knew about Black." 'There I said it… but wait- no!- that's not what I wanted to say!'

"No." Albus sighed, as he dropped his head into his hands once again, "no…" I decided that now was probably a good time too leave, so I silently slipped out of the old room, and let the now old man grieve alone.

There was no thought of sleep in my mind that night. I sat at my desk, thinking. Thinking about Potter's chances (slim to none), and trying to figure out what had possessed me to let him go. The later kept me busy for hours until I finally came to no conclusion, except that I had acted stupider then even Potter. And then a realization hit me, 'I talked to Albus like Voldemort, I lied to him, I killed Potter… Just what he wanted me to- What if I really am on Voldemort's side? It is getting harder and harder to separate my deatheater self from my… "light" self. What if- what if they are no longer any different? No… this can't be happening! Not after so long! I tried so hard! Why is life so damn hard?!' At this, I crumpled. I sat there crying for the first time in decades and I couldn't stop, until eventually, sleep claimed me.

"Arahhhh!" I woke up screaming, gripping the mark on my left arm. It burned like acid, this was no summoning. As I lifted the sleeve of my black robes, I could see the dark mark glowing a violent red. Potter was dead. 'Crap.' Just as I finished that thought, the mark stopped burning, not only that but started to fade and finally disappeared. 'What?' I rubbed the spot where it had been 'But, no, I don't understand…is- is it possible? He- he won? He won!' All fear, worry and dread disappeared with the mark as I raced up to Albus' office.

"Albus! Albus!" I shouted, happier then I had been in a very long time.

"Severus?" He immerged puffy eyed from his bedroom, looking at me as if I had gone mad.

"Albus, he did it! He won!" I exclaimed as I thrust the mark, or rather lack there of, at him.

"Severus… I- Are you sure?"

"Why else would the mark disappear?" As the realization dawned on him that I was right, his features grew into a bright smile, and to my dismay, he grabbed me into a fierce hug.

"Al-bus, ple-ase" I choked.

"Oh, sorry Severus," he said jovially. "Harry must be ecstatic." He chuckled, "where is he, anyway?" 'Oops.'

"Uh… he said he would apparate back to the Forbidden Forest, I haven't gone yet." I answered a little embarrassed by my priorities.

"Well, lets go!" He seemed unphased by the fact that Potter had yet to be found, and so motioned for me to lead the way. I took him to the spot but when we got there, Potter was nowhere to be found.

"Are you sure this is the spot, Severus?" He asked, a little concern in his voice.

"Yes, I'm sure." I replied solemnly 'this is not good. I suppose he's really-'

"Perhaps he apparated back somewhere else… Actually I have just the thing" He said with a grin. "Accio Marauder's Map" 'Uhg, not that thing again.' He chuckled at the disgruntled expression on my face as he caught the wretched thing. As he looked at it, his expression melted though. "He's not here." 'Oh…' There was a long pause. "Perhaps he needed to rest before apparating again… Severus, tell no one about this. I will tell whoever asks that there was a family emergency. Except for Hermione, I'll tell her that he's gone to see Sirius."

"But the Daily Prophet will surely report the downfall of Voldemort, They won't believe your story after that." He sighed.

"That is why, tonight at dinner I'll tell them the truth."

"What if he apparates back later?"

"I'll ask Hagrid to keep an eye on the map and search the Forest." He started to walk back to the castle "Now we must be getting back, it's almost time for breakfast."

After that morning there was no sign of Potter, nor any dark attacks. Everyone assumed Potter was dead. It was like the fall of 1980 again, bittersweet, everyone celebrating, I myself lost once again. Every night I waited at the spot where I had last seen Potter. I convinced myself that it was because Albus still had confidence that Potter was alive, though with each day it was fading, along with his health. I knew he felt guilty for sending Potter on his first and- his first mission, and nothing I could say would change that. I had my own experience with guilt. I knew it was a solely personal battle. The only thing I could do was go out every night in hopes of finding Potter, I hoped it would lessen his guilt, and my own. It was exactly a month since Potter left when I decided it would be my last night in the Forbidden Forest. Albus had lost all hope and his age was finally catching up to him. He was terminally ill, he needed my help more then a dead Potter did. After my usual six hours of waiting in the Forest, I left for the last time. Before doing so, though, I said a eulogy of sorts for Potter.

"These are to be my last words to you Potter. I hope you can hear them wherever you are. I never spoiled you in my class because I thought it was for your own good. Now you've died anyway. I hope that I postponed your passing by enforcing your backbone… but I may very well have prompted it. Your stubbornness, arrogance, egotism and hero complex led to your demise… and the salvation of our world. I always thought of you as stupidly audacious, but you proved yourself. Something I hear you've always wanted to do. I no longer think that you are just a lucky kid who embraced his celebrity. You deserved it. So, Potter, you have proven yourself… and your point. If you came back, everyone would accept you, including myself." I looked up at the little clearing before me as a cloud of dust rose up in the center. "Potter!?" I called hopefully, running towards the dust cloud. I could see him! I couldn't believe it at first, but yes! He was right there! Sitting right in the middle, tired looking, but smiling al the same! 'Damn lucky kid!'

"Sorry I'm late, Professor." He joked,

"You know I'll have to take points off, Potter" I reprimanded as I knelt beside him.

"You'd better! If you didn't I'd think you stopped caring!"

"Well if you insist" I shrugged as I reached out to tousle his hair. But… my hand went right through him and then he was gone.

"No" I breathed as I stared at the spot my imagination had placed the boy. I sprang to my feet, "NO!" I yelled as I kicked the dust, enraged. Then more solemnly added before leaving that spot forever, "you are dead."

"Albus?" I searched as I entered his office.

"Here Severus," he called back weakly from his chamber adjacent, I don't know why I bothered to ask anymore, he was too weak to be anywhere else.

"How are you this morning?" I asked, entering the deadly silent room.

He smiled, "hopeful."

"Hopeful?"

"While I was reading last night, I came across a certain potion." My eyes lit up. 'A potion that could help you?! I haven't made a potion in weeks! Tell me Albus! I'm the best! I can make it for you!'

"Oh?" I kept my tone calm. He chuckled softly but continued.

"It's supposed to make the drinker happy, Severus, isn't that perfect?" My heart sunk even lower, 'poor old man. That's a third year potion. I was wondering when the effects of so much life sustaining magic would have effect. I suppose he will need some though, now that the en- now that the effects are taking place. Its so unfair that the last days of his li- of his of treatment, will be so filled with pain and confusion.' I petted his head as he fell asleep, 'but no, life is never fair.'

"I'll have it ready soon, Albus." I promised as I left silently, tears begging to be released, but denied permission.

All I could think about was the smile that had played on Albus' lips while I searched for ingredients in the Forest. It had been a proud and truly contented smile. An authentic smile, not like the one he would have plastered to his face after he drank the potion. I stared down in disgust at the Pink Mermit I was picking, 'Why him?!' Its stem broke under my grip, so I relaxed my hold, knowing I had just ruined a perfect ingredient. 'I hate this potion. People should not act happy when they're not. It's infuriating enough when its genuine, but when its faked it's even worse.' I sighed. 'But this is not my problem. It's his. He will need this potion when all the memories start flooding back, mixing up and twisting around. That nightmare will only end when he's dead. My preference doesn't matter.' So I resignedly searched for another Pink Mermit, letting my feet move me while letting my brain concentrate on one thing only, the potion. 'I'll need a double portion of Ragroot if I want it to last for a couple of days, but then it will be too thick so I'll need to also add double Yew Sap, which in turn will cause the unicorn hair to overreact-'

"Ow!" 'Damn tree stump.' I cursed as I took in my environment. "No. Not here. No!" My feet had taken me straight to the last place I wanted to be. The place I had spent far too many nights waiting for someone who would never come. And yet, there he was. I stared in awe for a second at the form of a person lying 4 paces away in the shade, before remembering the night before. "You're dead, damn it! Why can't you leave me alone?" I yelled. "You left on your own accord! I tried to stop you, but you wouldn't listen!" ~Is that what you believe now? You know that's not the truth.~ "Shut up, Potter you're dead! " ~Am I? Who killed me?~ "Of course you are! Voldemort did!" ~Voldemort is dead.~ "Fine then his deatheaters did! What does it matter anyway! You are dead!" ~So you gave up hope.~ "Why wouldn't I? You're dead!" I screamed at Potter's voice. How dare he invade my mind! After all I've been through, I'd had enough! I ran at the figure and kicked him. He was a figment of my imagination, he wasn't real… so why'd he moan? "Potter?" I dropped down next to him in the shadow and reached out to touch him. He was warm, but wet. As I drew my hand back I saw that the wetness was blood. He was covered in it. "Potter!" I panicked and rolled him over. What I saw made me gag. He was covered in blood, bruises, and burns. The limbs attached to his hips were hard to call legs, they were evidently broken in several places, and the flesh shredded. His arms didn't fare much better, they were hideously burned and his torso looked like it had been mauled by several angry hippogriffs. His face was so badly disfigured that I couldn't even be sure it was him. "Potter?" I asked softly. His face twitched as he opened his mouth, he paused gathering strength.

"Mal…foy" He hissed, and then became blank once again.

"Potter?!" Nothing. Not even the slightest movement of his chest. "Fuck." I picked him up gently and ran to the castle, shouting for Poppy.

***End flash back***

"How many times will I have to carry you here, Potter?" I asked the unconscious boy in my arms as I approached the infirmary, but of course there was no reply.

A.N.: soo… what think you? Was that long enough? *smirk* I actually wasn't planning on making it so long… but I finally spotted one of those plot bunnies I've heard so much about …and well, it was just so cute that I had to follow it! Anyway it was only *counts words* 5646, that's not so bad. *Re-reads chap.* Hmph, that's a long flash back, ne? oh well hope you don't mind… if you do then just review! And if you don't then just… review! Oh and for the next chap, I can divide it up it into two parts in which case you'd get the first part in 2-3 days, or you can wait for a longer chap in about a week, so which do you want?

Devil in the Details:

1: any Monty Python/ quest for the holy grail/ holy grenade fans out there??? Did you notice Harry's little part about how long his shields will hold? I was soooooooooo tempted to continue: the number lasted shall be 3, four shall be too long, and 2 too short unless it is continued on to 3 etc. I was in hysterics!

2: I wasn't sure about that happy potion thing, I think it was actually a charm (the cheering charm?) but it came to mind, so pretend there is a potion as well, and that Harry and co. made it in 3rd year.

3: please don't complain about the plants being capitalized, I know they probably shouldn't be but other wise the text was too plain so please forgive me ^ ^

Thanks For Reviewing! :

Terry: Wow! My very first ever review!!! You get a cookie! *Gives
Terry a yummy chocolate chip cookie* Thank you very much *grins* And I agree, characters should be as the author wants them… but some people don't think Snape should wear pink robes, I can't figure why though, it would look so nice with his hair ^ ^

Nightshade: Thanks! And I think a "C" is pretty good ; ) … besides, the way I see it, when will we ever need to know english anyway? *smirk* I'm glad to e-mail you when I update, and if anyone else is reading this, I'll be happy to do the same for you!

Nicky: Maybe it's not too evident now what the matter with Harry is, but don't worry, it will be *grin*

Emilycrutcher: Thanks! And, yes, blossom it will *smiles*

Carrington: Thanks, and I'm glad you think this will have a direction! You may just be the first to think so! *laughs* don't worry, I'm sure this will have direction… eventually

Mistress Cresacre: Really? You love it? Yay! *really big grin* All questions shall be answered… eventually… I hope… If not, review with your complaint!

Otonopaz: Wow! You answered ALL my questions! ^ ^ Thanks! But please, not Peeves! Anything but Peeves! Nooooooooo!!! *runs away to write next chap.*

Life: Voila! *Points to chap. above*

Mich shell: Hmm… hope I won't have to hear the rest of that threat any time soon… better get to writing!

Hyperion: Thanks! *grin*

Potions Master Snape Potter: Why thank you! *grin*

Lady FoxFire: Yeah… I know… but it was just so tempting to have Harry call Snape "Master"! I can just imagine EvilHarry kneeling to an even eviler Snape! Ooo… *floats of into her own world* erm.. right, sorry, that won't be happening in this story, *ehem* I did have some reasoning for it though… Harry being the apprentice and Snape being the Master (which will be explained later), and, have you read "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"? Anyway, enough excuses, I've fixed up the last chap so now it's mostly "Sir". Okay?

Oh and I'm very honored that you read my fic! I really like "A Broken Child" and erm… darn forgot the name… no net connection… hmph, I'll have to improvise, "The Fic That's Really Good, Even Though I Don't Think I Could Review Because My Net Wasn't Working, That Has Harry Becoming Blind, And You Calling Vernon A "Monster" A Lot." Fiew, hmm… it's kinda catchy, ne?

LegacyLady: Well, that's very kind of you *grin*, thank you! I Hope you liked what came and what's coming!

Deity: Such flattery! Thanks! *grin*

Saavik: I'm glad you agree! Personally I know Snape's supposed to be all cool, calm and collected, but I think that some things should irk him, like the cruciatus for example. My spelling is atrocious too, *sigh* but as long as I keep praying to the god of spell check and being patient when It doesn't recognize Canadian spellings *grumble grumble* then my spelling stays in check. (That was horrible I know, but I couldn't resist!) Hope you still like where it's going… even if you can't exactly tell at the moment -_-()

Pinkmoon: is that a threat!? *looks indignant*… because they make me work all the harder, so fell free to make 'em! *grin* Here you go! fast enough for ya?

Wink At J00: Your squealing is contagious!!! *bounces off the walls squealing with giddiness at getting such a nice and enthusiastic review* Okay! ^_^ *lands in her chair and immediately starts typing next chap* As a thank you I am going to get this next chap out TONIGHT!!! Yeah! *blinks at what she just said* Oh my, I'd better get to work… BTW I really like The Last Ounce Of Pain...Gone, can't wait for the next chap! *prints review and frames it up on her wall, then squeal in delight before returning to typing furiously*

Sawyer: Thank you and here you are! *points elaborately to chap* Hope it meets expectations ^_^ *grin*

Ow. After grinning at so many times from your lovely reviews my cheeks hurt… But I guess love hurts! *grins* (ow.)