Severus sat in his room, alone as usual. He'd just returned from dinner with the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall when he found the owl waiting for him on his table. Another delivery?, he thought, What now? The owl was bearing a package and a letter. He took the two items from the owl and it flew off.

I hope it's not another letter from Aunt Mairwen bearing bad news. I can't handle more bad news right now, Severus thought as he ripped the Snape family seal on the envelope.

After he read the letter, he sat in a stunned silence. He had known that Tan was old, older than himself, but he'd never realized he was that old! How could he have not noticed his color and demenor when he'd been at Snape Hall? He should have known something was wrong. What kind of master was he that he didn't notice.

Tan had always been a part of Sev's life, one that he'd always taken for granted. He'd been plan to bring Tan to hogwarts, to keep him company in the long nights after classes, when the loneliness got the worst. Even the "mean old Potions mater" got lonely at times.

He sat the letter down and picked up the package, which he figured contained the journal of Tan. It was just a small bound book, nothing magic about it. He turned it over and over in his hands, sadly knowing that this could very well be the last thing he ever read from his dear friend. He fought the urge to run to his fire and go to Snape Hall. He decided that he would read the journal first and then go to Snape Hall. He couldn't bear the thought of Tan alone there, possibly dying with no one near. He opened the book and turned to page one.