Professor Severus Snape stood inside his potions classroom. His mind had
become a foggy mess lately. The tattoo on his arm was a constant painful
reminder that Voldemort was indeed back. Ever since Sirius had died last
June the thoughts kept flooding back. It was obvious to everyone, even to
Dumbledore, Snape knew, they were fighting a losing battle.
Harry Potter had changed. The twinkle in his bright green eyes that so frequently mirrored Lily's laid back view of life, had faded. Harry's eyes had become a green void. His grades had fallen and he spent any free time in the Gryffindor tower, eating only what the house elf Dobby brought to him. Of course everyone wondered if Harry would ever be the same. He was their Hope, afterall. Now their Hope had given up hope and was consumed with the sadness that he lost the closest thing he ever had to a father.
Hermione Granger had changed too. Snape remembered the previous five years. Hermione had been an energetic bright girl. Happy even when a Slytherin tormented her. Now she was as dark and moody as he was. Spending most of the time pouring over volumes of books in the back corner of the library. Still wicked smart though.
Snape gave a tiny smile. For years he had been accused of being moody and cold. Now everyone could see why. Everyone had seen what he had dealt with 16 years ago. They now understood why he was cold and mysterious, not allowing emotion peek through. Emotion was weakness, and now was not a time to be weak.
"Professor?" the girl with light brown hair in the second row called to him. She tucked a wavey strand behind her ear. "Is everything alright?" she asked.
Snape's eyes focused on Hermione. Despite being a brooding mess, she still managed to look her best. Oh to be sixteen again...
Severus suddenly realized he had spaced out. His thoughts had interupted his lecture. The thoughts he knew were ignited by a sharp pain on his left arm, then looking at Harry Potter. The sixth year Gryffindors and Slytherins were all focused on him.
He blinked hard. "Im sorry what was I saying?"
"Magical properties of Algerian mushrooms, sir." Hermione offered.
* * *
Later that night. Hermione found herself in the Astronomy tower, outside looking over the grounds. She closed her robe and shivered against the cool April air. Quietly, walking over to the brass telescopes, she glanced up at the sky.
A tiny patch of dark blue with glittering stars smiled at her. She watched the dark clouds encircle it and let out a sigh. She walked to the edge of the tower and looked down at the ground, twenty floors below.
She remembered the last time she was up here, last June for her Astronomy O.W.Ls, when Hagrid had a run in with Umbridge and her cronies. She had since dropped Astronomy this year, taking only mandatory classes.
Hermione sighed, rather loudly and sat on the stone barrier wall. Her feet dangling over the edge. She was depressed. She knew she was. She had read enough in books about Psychology to know it. She also knew why. Sometime in the near future she would end up just like Sirius Black. A memory. Dumbledore would have a memorial service for her in the Great Hall, perhaps ensuring the House Cup for Gryffindor. Other than that she would be a fading memory.
She chuckled quietly under her breath as she looked at the lake sparkling in the dull moonlight. She almost felt like Trelawney, making foolish predictions of her own demise. But Hermione knew it was neither foolish nor a prediction. It was logic. Voldemort was more powerful than almost anyone, and growing stronger than Dumbledore each day. When she went with Harry in their final battle, that mathematical chances she would survive were practically zero.
The Death Eaters were stronger then her, they knew more magic. She would be lucky to have murmured a stunning spell by the time they attacked. Last June she got lucky. The Death Eaters werent expecting her to be so learned. Now they knew. Lucius and Bellatrix had broken out of Azkaban over Christmas, and Hermione shuddered at what Lucius Malfoy might do to her, if she fell into his clutches.
Harry Potter, the boy who lived, was her only hope. Harry was supposed to defeat Voldemort, bringing the wizarding world back into its state of Euphoria that it celebrated fifteen years ago. Harry Potter had given up on living. Harry Potter was nobody's hope.
Hermione looked at the ground, seventy meters below. The stony field was looking inviting. Why prolong the inevitable. She had no options.
You do have an option...
The thought slithered into her head. An option. She knew what that option was. She had contemplated that option for months now. That option was betraying her friends and family. That option was disapointing everyone she loved. That option was becoming a Death Eater and serving Voldemort.
They wouldn't accept you, youre a mudblood.
Yes they would, if I showed my allegiance to the Dark Lord, she thought darkly. She kicked her legs around and hopped off the wall, heading for the door back inside. Only one person would be able to tell her what the Death Eater's standards were. And he was currently down in the Dungeons, scrawling a failing grade on Neville Longbottom's homework.
______ ______ Well what do you think? I have loads of ideas for this story and I cant wait to share them. Please review and tell me you liked this story. Or review and tell me it was stupid. Whatever just review. All are welcome.
Harry Potter had changed. The twinkle in his bright green eyes that so frequently mirrored Lily's laid back view of life, had faded. Harry's eyes had become a green void. His grades had fallen and he spent any free time in the Gryffindor tower, eating only what the house elf Dobby brought to him. Of course everyone wondered if Harry would ever be the same. He was their Hope, afterall. Now their Hope had given up hope and was consumed with the sadness that he lost the closest thing he ever had to a father.
Hermione Granger had changed too. Snape remembered the previous five years. Hermione had been an energetic bright girl. Happy even when a Slytherin tormented her. Now she was as dark and moody as he was. Spending most of the time pouring over volumes of books in the back corner of the library. Still wicked smart though.
Snape gave a tiny smile. For years he had been accused of being moody and cold. Now everyone could see why. Everyone had seen what he had dealt with 16 years ago. They now understood why he was cold and mysterious, not allowing emotion peek through. Emotion was weakness, and now was not a time to be weak.
"Professor?" the girl with light brown hair in the second row called to him. She tucked a wavey strand behind her ear. "Is everything alright?" she asked.
Snape's eyes focused on Hermione. Despite being a brooding mess, she still managed to look her best. Oh to be sixteen again...
Severus suddenly realized he had spaced out. His thoughts had interupted his lecture. The thoughts he knew were ignited by a sharp pain on his left arm, then looking at Harry Potter. The sixth year Gryffindors and Slytherins were all focused on him.
He blinked hard. "Im sorry what was I saying?"
"Magical properties of Algerian mushrooms, sir." Hermione offered.
* * *
Later that night. Hermione found herself in the Astronomy tower, outside looking over the grounds. She closed her robe and shivered against the cool April air. Quietly, walking over to the brass telescopes, she glanced up at the sky.
A tiny patch of dark blue with glittering stars smiled at her. She watched the dark clouds encircle it and let out a sigh. She walked to the edge of the tower and looked down at the ground, twenty floors below.
She remembered the last time she was up here, last June for her Astronomy O.W.Ls, when Hagrid had a run in with Umbridge and her cronies. She had since dropped Astronomy this year, taking only mandatory classes.
Hermione sighed, rather loudly and sat on the stone barrier wall. Her feet dangling over the edge. She was depressed. She knew she was. She had read enough in books about Psychology to know it. She also knew why. Sometime in the near future she would end up just like Sirius Black. A memory. Dumbledore would have a memorial service for her in the Great Hall, perhaps ensuring the House Cup for Gryffindor. Other than that she would be a fading memory.
She chuckled quietly under her breath as she looked at the lake sparkling in the dull moonlight. She almost felt like Trelawney, making foolish predictions of her own demise. But Hermione knew it was neither foolish nor a prediction. It was logic. Voldemort was more powerful than almost anyone, and growing stronger than Dumbledore each day. When she went with Harry in their final battle, that mathematical chances she would survive were practically zero.
The Death Eaters were stronger then her, they knew more magic. She would be lucky to have murmured a stunning spell by the time they attacked. Last June she got lucky. The Death Eaters werent expecting her to be so learned. Now they knew. Lucius and Bellatrix had broken out of Azkaban over Christmas, and Hermione shuddered at what Lucius Malfoy might do to her, if she fell into his clutches.
Harry Potter, the boy who lived, was her only hope. Harry was supposed to defeat Voldemort, bringing the wizarding world back into its state of Euphoria that it celebrated fifteen years ago. Harry Potter had given up on living. Harry Potter was nobody's hope.
Hermione looked at the ground, seventy meters below. The stony field was looking inviting. Why prolong the inevitable. She had no options.
You do have an option...
The thought slithered into her head. An option. She knew what that option was. She had contemplated that option for months now. That option was betraying her friends and family. That option was disapointing everyone she loved. That option was becoming a Death Eater and serving Voldemort.
They wouldn't accept you, youre a mudblood.
Yes they would, if I showed my allegiance to the Dark Lord, she thought darkly. She kicked her legs around and hopped off the wall, heading for the door back inside. Only one person would be able to tell her what the Death Eater's standards were. And he was currently down in the Dungeons, scrawling a failing grade on Neville Longbottom's homework.
______ ______ Well what do you think? I have loads of ideas for this story and I cant wait to share them. Please review and tell me you liked this story. Or review and tell me it was stupid. Whatever just review. All are welcome.